Chapter 45
Marcus looked at her quietly, his expression dark. Beneath his cold exterior, a complex emotion surged in his deep eyes.
Cordelia suddenly realized what was going through his mind. “I’ve been meeting clients and studying client profiles… He’d better not misunderstand this…”
“Marcus! I-I don’t mean it like that!” she hurriedly explained, panic creeping into her voice. “I’ll never betray our marriage. What I said about lying to you is…”
She paused, nervously licking her lips. Then, in a much softer tone, she continued, “If you ever realized that I don’t deserve all the kindness you’ve shown me… what would you do?”
Marcus stared at her for a while, then chuckled. He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he gently pulled her into an embrace, running his hand through her long hair.
Cordelia’s face rested against his chest as she listened to the rhythmic beat of his heart. It was comforting, offering her a deep sense of security.
“Stop thinking so much,” Marcus murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “Sleep.”
Cordelia grinned, wrapping her arms around his waist, and closed her eyes. Sleep came easily, and she drifted off in a peaceful haze.
Marcus, accustomed to sleeping alone, didn’t rest much through the night. His arm served as Cordelia’s pillow, and his whole body was hers to hold. He didn’t dare move, wanting to savor the moment.
When he woke up groggily the next morning, he realized that Cordelia had clung to him like an octopus during the night. One of her fair legs was hooked over his hips, and her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck. She was even grinding her teeth in her sleep.
Though she looked far from graceful, there was something endearing and real about her that made his heart soften.
Marcus chuckled quietly, not wanting to disturb her sweet dreams. He gently turned her onto the other side, careful not to wake her, and then slipped out of bed to make breakfast.
When Cordelia woke up, she instinctively patted the empty spot beside her. Her heart dropped, and she quickly got out of bed, rushing into the kitchen.
“You’re awake?” Marcus stepped out from the kitchen, wearing an apron. “I didn’t want to wake you. You were sleeping so soundly. Go wash up, and then come eat.”
Cordelia glanced at the breakfast on the table. It was a simple meal—hard-boiled eggs, milk, and toast. But to her, it was a significant improvement from the burnt meals she had gotten used to before.
Her heart swelled with happiness. She was certain now—she hadn’t married the wrong person.
…
“Right, I have something to tell you,” Cordelia said, remembering something midway through breakfast. “I’m going on a business trip tomorrow and will be gone for four to five days. Take good care of yourself.”
“Business trip?” Marcus’s expression hardened as he buttered his toast. “Where to?”
“Centrolis,” Cordelia replied.
Marcus froze, his actions coming to a halt. A dark, subtle look flashed in his eyes.
“Your company has business in Centrolis?”
Cordelia nodded. “Yes. I’ve been tasked with breaking into the Centrolis market. If I succeed, they’ll promote me to sales supervisor!”
“I didn’t want to fight for anything,” she continued, her gaze steady and her voice soft. “But Jesse and Karine are pushing me too far. If I want to save myself, I have no choice but to work hard and climb higher. I’ve even calculated it—if I become sales supervisor, my income will triple!”
She glanced at Marcus, but his expression remained neutral, his face unreadable.
“Honey,” she said, gently taking his hand and smiling. “Once I make more money, we can move into a bigger house and live more comfortably. I’ll buy a cheap car, and you can drive it when you’re free. You won’t have to squeeze into the bus anymore!”
Marcus looked up, meeting her beautiful eyes, which were filled with hopes for the future.
A house? A car? He could have as many of those as he wanted, no matter how big or luxurious. They were as common to him as the butter and bread he was holding.
But there was no other woman like Cordelia in his life. No other woman who would look at him with such devotion, with eyes that only saw him.
Marcus felt something tighten in his chest, like a heavy stone lodged in his heart.
“Silly,” he muttered, rubbing her head fondly. “You really want to take care of me?”
Cordelia blinked in confusion. “Yeah. Why?”
Marcus smiled softly, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. “It’s usually the men who take care of women. But you…”