She’d already rehearsed a dozen sarcastic remarks for the car ride if he’d been stupid enough to agree.
After rubbernecking for a while, she had finally regained strength in her feet and was about to walk to the car on her
own.
Just then, Declan took off his suit jacket and scooped her up into his arms.
Startled, she gasped.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
He looked at her, his expression utterly serious. “Your foot was asleep, right?”
“Yeah…”
“Then stay put. Unless you want to fall and end up with a fracture.”
She closed her mouth obediently.
Meanwhile, Darrell, who was standing to the side, gaped at them.
His handsome face was filled with utter disbelief.
During the years when Cordelia and Declan had fought the most, their only physical contact had been her slapping
him.
He couldn’t help but admit–Marvin was right. Live long enough, and one would see everything.
Before getting into the car, he quickly took out his phone and snapped a photo of the two of them.
Belinda was equally shocked.
Her eyes widened as she watched the scene unfold.
The smile on her face was replaced by embarrassment the moment no one was looking at her.
She stared as the Rolls–Royce Cullinan vanished from sight.
Just days ago, she had managed to get it out of Darrell that Cordelia and Declan were finalizing their divorce next week.
What the hell just happened?!
In the Cullinan, Cordelia leaned against the door, feeling her heart hammering against her ribs.
It was astonishing. A man as rigid as Declan had actually carried her to the car in front of so many people?
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09:33
Chapter 9
The moment he scooped her up, her mind went completely blank.
Maybe… he had been enlightened by his intimate experience with Belinda, which finally made him softer.
At such a thought, she felt a bit disgusted.
She immediately shook her head, trying to dislodge the absurd and untimely thought.
Just then, a furious curse erupted from the back seat. “Fuck! They lost again?”
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Darrell’s curse snapped Cordelia back to reality. Then, Jordan’s words echoed in her mind again-“Everyone at school knows this pathetic fuck doesn’t have a mother.”
Her initial fury gradually subsided, replaced by a heavy, sinking feeling.
Exactly what kind of failure of a mother must she be for her son’s peer to say that?
“Could it be,” she muttered, more to herself than anyone, “that I’ve never acted like a proper mother before?”
Hearing this, Darrell sneered, “Have you ever?”
The sharpness of his retort left her speechless.
She was plunged into even deeper confusion.
She didn’t believe she was a terrible person. At the very least, she would never outright turn a blind eye to her chil-
dren.
There had to be some sort of misunderstanding.
But from Declan and Darrell’s attitude, she could piece together a general picture. The misunderstanding must be pro- found, and a few simple words wouldn’t be enough to mend it.
With this, she made her stance clear at once.
“Darrell, forget the mother I was before.
“From now on, I promise–I’ll be a good mother who guides you properly.”
Declan, who was driving, shot her a strange glance.
He could hardly believe his ears. Had she actually just said that?
Meanwhile, Darrell let out a cold, dismissive laugh. He didn’t take her promise seriously in the slightest.
She had been absent for fifteen years, and a few words now couldn’t possibly change his attitude.
Back at home, he retreated to his room and collapsed onto his bed.
No matter what, not having to go to school for now was great news for him.
He didn’t want to go anyway.
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09:33
Chapter 9
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This suspension was exactly what he wanted.
After a satisfying nap, he woke up and fumbled for his phone next to the pillow, ready to call Marvin and hit the
streets.
Just then, he keenly noticed something that wasn’t supposed to be in his room.
He immediately shot up in bed.
It wasn’t something. It was ten completely bald men, all clad in identical black suits.
Greatly startled, he shouted, his eyelids twitching violently, “What the fuck! Who the fuck are you?”
The ten men grinned in unison, their teeth gleaming unnervingly under the light.
“Greetings, Mr. Darrell. We are your personal bodyguards.”
Downstairs, Cordelia was enjoying her chicken soup.
Upstairs, Darrell wailed miserably.
His cries penetrated the floor, strong and clear.
Elton, who was crouching beside Cordelia, was so scared that the painting in his hand clattered to the floor. He wrapped his arms tightly around her thigh, his wide eyes filled with terror.
Conrad, sitting in the opposite corner of the sofa, slowly lowered his book. His gaze turned toward the ceiling, his eyes distant and glazed over.
Cordelia quickly put down her spoon and soothed them with a gentle, unnerving smile.
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