The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan)

Chapter 551

Ronan gently nudged Cordelia, who was slumped over a booth in the bustling gastropub. The loud

chatter and clinking of pint glasses did nothing to stir her.

"Let's head home. What a state you're in," Ronan chided, though his words were lost on the inebriated

Cordelia. Without a second thought, he scooped her up into his arms.

Cordelia instinctively curled into Ronan's embrace, showing signs of coming to as she mumbled to

Victoria, who was equally disoriented. "Are you coming home with me?"

Victoria's response was slurred and confused. "Am I mad? Why would I let my future mother-in-law see

me like this, a complete mess?"

Then, she slumped back onto the table, succumbing to sleep once more.

Ronan settled Cordelia into the back seat of his car. Her hair fell into her face, causing her discomfort.

She tried to flick it away, but it stubbornly refused to cooperate, eliciting frustrated hums from her.

Ronan gently tucked the stray lock behind her ear, and she finally settled down.

"Drunken mess," he muttered under his breath as he headed for the driver's seat. He dialed his driver

to pick up Victoria from the gastropub and take her home.

When his car pulled up to the gates of the half-timbered mansion, Ava's car arrived simultaneously.

Ronan, carrying Cordelia, bumped into Ava at the entrance.

"Perfect timing, Mr. Evans. I want to know what’s going on with this business about Thomas and Alana

and if Cordelia has any proof. She wouldn't marry my son when she had the chance, and now that

we're welcoming a new daughter-in-law, why is she stirring up drama?" Ava glared at Cordelia, who

was oblivious in Ronan's arms, her presence slightly deflating Ava's resolve.

Ronan's brow furrowed. He knew the scoop about Alana and Thomas. Cordelia had shared it with him,

but how Ava came to know of it was unclear. “Cordelia didn’t say anything! If you want to know what

happened, you should ask Thomas,” Ronan said curtly before carrying Cordelia into the house and

shutting the door in Ava’s face.

Ava stomped her foot in frustration. If Thomas had told her anything, she wouldn’t have bothered

coming here. Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Once inside, Ronan told the housekeeper, Janice, to whip up a hangover cure. Victoria had spoken

highly of Cordelia, so Janice was quick to oblige.

With a steaming bowl in hand, Ronan propped Cordelia against him and helped her sip the remedy.

Her cheeks flushed from the warmth, and after a moment, she cuddled into Ronan, finally settling into a

deep slumber. She slept the entire afternoon away.

When Cordelia awoke, she searched the room frantically.

"What are you looking for?" Ronan's deep, resonant voice asked.

Caught off guard, Cordelia felt a twinge of embarrassment. She turned to find Ronan lounging on the

couch, casually reading a book with one leg crossed over the other.

For a moment, Cordelia felt as if time had stretched and they were still in the past, or perhaps not—

maybe they were caught in the flow of time, unchanged. In that instant, she felt an overwhelming

closeness to Ronan.

Propping her head on her hand, Cordelia's eyelids fluttered slightly. "Hey," she called out softly.

Ronan's gaze shifted to her. "Who are you calling?"

"Who else is in the room? Who else could I be calling?" Cordelia's newly awakened courage made her

bold.

"What is it?" Ronan asked, suppressing any irritation.

"How did I get back here?" she inquired.

"You flew, of course," Ronan replied nonchalantly.

Cordelia pouted in response.

"And Victoria?" she asked, still groggy.

"I had the driver take her home."

Cordelia nodded in understanding.

"Did you spread the story about Alana and Thomas?" Ronan probed further.

"What story? To whom? I only told you. What about it?" Cordelia was genuinely puzzled.

Ronan's frown deepened. There had to be a third person involved, but who?

"Never mind," Ronan said, dismissing the subject.

It was only then that Cordelia remembered. "Isn't today Jamie's wedding? I completely forgot..." After

sending a generous gift online to Jamie, Cordelia lay back down, closing her eyes to continue sobering

up.