The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan)

Chapter 164

In the days leading up to Christmas, Cordelia was swamped with work, regularly pulling overtime.

During those days, Ronan wasn't really dropping by to see Cordelia at night. He was busy, too, Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

handling all the company's affairs, which left him with almost no time for Cordelia.

They were both preoccupied with their own stuff. However, during the day, Ronan's driver would stop

by Cordelia's place to pick up Shelley and Cordelia's Christmas stuff, before bringing them all over to

Ronan's place.

Shelley was a bit on edge. "Do you think it's normal for us to spend Christmas at Ronan's?" Shelley

asked Judy.

"What's there to fuss about? He's your son-in-law, and from what I can tell, Ronan's been pretty decent

to Cordelia," Judy replied.

Only then did Shelley let out a relieved chuckle.

Cordelia had no idea that Ronan was already in the know about the corneal transplant.

On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, the company closed early.

Brooklyn texted Cordelia. [Merry Christmas, Cordelia.]

Cordelia texted back. [Merry Christmas! Hope you get to spend it with Edwin.]

Brooklyn replied. [Heard the company's handing out bonuses this afternoon. Can't wait to see how

much I've got.]

Cordelia wasn't too sure about the bonus thing. She was busy packing up her stuff to leave.

Ronan texted Cordelia. [Head to the villa first.]

Cordelia didn’t want him to pick her up. She felt something was off between them recently, and it was a

bit awkward.

Cordelia arrived at the villa. Shelley and Judy were already there.

Ronan had also bought a cat, a pure black one that looked like a fancy breed, with sharp eyes.

Cordelia loved it.

“Why did he suddenly buy a cat?” Cordelia asked, sitting on the couch, and stroking the cat's fur.

"Mr. Evans says there aren't enough people at home," Janice replied. "Ever since you went to stay with

your mom, the house has felt kind of empty."

Cordelia asked. "Does the cat have a name?"

Janice hesitated.

"Well?" Cordelia pressed.

"He said to call her Della," Janice finally answered, looking down.

Cordelia pouted. "Why not call her Ronan?"

Barney laughed out loud. "Della, you haven't been coming to see me now that your mom's better,

huh?"

"No, not at all. I was just worried my mom wouldn't adjust well, so I stayed with her. Plus, it's been

really busy around Christmas, I've been swamped. And I know you're healthy as a horse. You'll live to

be a hundred." Cordelia said, her face flushed with laughter. She was really happy this Christmas.

Barney laughed again.

Cordelia's phone buzzed. She checked it and saw that she had received a bonus of $3,500. It was a

reward for all her hard work, and she was over the moon.

Someone knocked on the door. After Janice opened it, the driver brought in loads of fireworks.

"Ronan ordered these fireworks earlier. They were to be delivered." The driver reported to Barney in a

friendly manner.

"Why so many?" Barney asked.

"Ronan likes them. Let him be. It's not easy getting through the year," Shelley said.

What was weird was that Cordelia had never known Ronan to be so fond of fireworks.

Around 5 in the afternoon, it was getting dark, and snow began to fall. He was still not home.

Cordelia wanted to set off fireworks in the yard, so she dragged Janice out with her. They set up the

fireworks in the center of the yard, but Cordelia didn't dare to light them. She tried a few times, but the

sparse snowflakes kept putting out the flame.

Just as Cordelia was about to give up, the door swung open, and Ronan walked in. He was wearing a

mid-length woolen coat, covered in snowflakes. He walked in, leaving footprints in the snow.

Cordelia felt a warm familiarity, and she even had the urge to run over and hold an umbrella for him.

While he was away, Cordelia had been worrying, worrying about the road conditions, worrying about

him getting into a car accident.

Cordelia felt as if she was being overly sentimental. She had already decided to withdraw her feelings

until their marriage was over.

"Setting off fireworks?" he asked Cordelia.

"Yes, but Mrs. Evans tried to light them a few times and couldn't," Janice excitedly chimed in.

Ronan, lighter in hand, walked over to the fireworks.

With a "hiss," the fireworks started to spark, and Cordelia quickly covered her ears and ran off to a

distant spot. The fireworks shot up into the sky, forming a dazzling pattern before exploding.

Cordelia laughed heartily.

"Do you like it?" he asked, standing next to Cordelia.

"Yeah, I love it," Cordelia sincerely replied.

"How does it compare to the fireworks on Halloween?" he asked again.

Cordelia's joyful mood instantly deflated. So he was still bringing up those unpleasant memories,

waiting for her reaction.

Seeing Cordelia's fading smile, Ronan returned to the living room.