Chapter 11
Marcus, silent on the other end of the line, didn’t respond immediately. Even through the phone, Josiah could sense the cold, blank expression that Marcus was undoubtedly wearing. It was his trademark: an impenetrable, stoic face.
“Z…” Josiah began with a cough, his voice tinged with curiosity. “Don’t you have anything to say?”
“What’s there to say?” Marcus’s voice was flat, emotionless. “I gave it to her. It’s hers now. What she does with it is up to her.”
“But that’s Le Esse! Your great-grandmother wore it before!” Josiah protested, his disbelief growing.
Marcus remained silent, focusing instead on lifting the dumbbells in front of him. His muscles tensed, his strength evident in each movement.
“How much did she sell the bangle for?” Marcus asked after a pause, his voice tinged with disinterest.
Josiah chuckled. “Hmm… She didn’t sell it.”
Marcus furrowed his brow, a hint of confusion in his voice. He had seen Cordelia, visibly anxious, constantly glancing toward the drawer the night before. He’d assumed she would sell the bangle. After all, Yelena had stolen her $40,000 wedding gift, and she had urgent bills to pay.
Where else could she get the money if not from the jewelry?
What Marcus hadn’t expected was that Cordelia had entered the jeweler’s, only to leave with the bangle still in hand.
“Z, I happened to be in the area today,” Josiah continued, amusement in his voice. “When I saw her take it out, I thought some bold thief had stolen it from you. But no, it was my sis-in-law!”
Josiah’s laugh was loud and rich with humor. “She’s an interesting one, Z. I thought she was desperate for cash, so I told my guy to offer her a high price. Of course, it was nothing compared to Le Esse’s true value, but it was a good deal for her.”
“Hmm, and?” Marcus’s voice was low, intrigued.
Josiah scratched his head. “I didn’t expect her to walk away without selling it!”
Marcus was struck by an unexpected feeling. The image of Cordelia, fraught with worry the night before, replayed in his mind. They were married—had she not planned on being honest with him? She was clearly facing a problem but chose to bear it alone, hiding it from him.
His gaze hardened as a cryptic smile tugged at his lips.
“Whatever,” Marcus replied in a deep, controlled tone. “Keep an eye on that plot of land. I don’t want the Jenners to get it. Pressure William Jenner too. Make their lives miserable.”
Josiah snorted. “Isn’t that your father-in-law? Z, what are you trying to pull? I don’t get it…”
“Just do it. No need to ask questions,” Marcus said sharply. His voice left no room for argument.
Josiah stuck his tongue out, unfazed by the gruff tone. Having grown up with Marcus, he was used to his erratic moods. He often wondered if a woman would someday become the source of his turmoil. It seemed like that woman might be standing right in front of him now… but Josiah’s amusement faded into concern.
“Z, just one more thing. Do you think you and this Cordelia Jenner… will last until the end?”
Marcus didn’t answer immediately.
“You’re not really Marcus Grist, and you won’t stay long in that village. You’re going back to Centrolis sooner or later. What’s Cordelia going to do then? Do you think your family will accept her?”
The silence on the line stretched long before Marcus’s deep voice finally responded.
“Leave the future to the future.”
Josiah frowned. “I’m just warning you. Don’t fall too deep.”
Marcus’s tone remained deliberately nonchalant. “Don’t worry about me. I know exactly what I’m doing.”
“I don’t care about this marriage,” Marcus continued, his words deliberate, each one carefully chosen. “It’s just an identity for me to hide behind.”
Josiah let out a soft sigh, his voice heavy. “Okay. I hope you’ll be able to sound as unfazed when you return to Centrolis one day.”