Chapter 48
Marcus chuckled slightly over the phone. However, the meaning behind his chuckle was unclear. Josiah, unsure of the reason, hesitantly asked, “Mr. Z… Why did she come to me? For work?”
Marcus paused. As he remembered that Cordelia had been researching Josiah all night, an uncomfortable feeling surged through him. He muttered in irritation, “Because you’re good-looking!” and abruptly hung up the phone.
Josiah spent the entire day in unease, but in the end, he decided to wait. He would see what Cordelia did next and handle it accordingly.
Later that evening, Cordelia found herself standing alone at the entrance of the Splendor Dynasty. The building, as grand as a castle, was brightly lit. The atmosphere was lively with luxury cars lining the property, and some guests had even landed their private helicopters on the helipad behind the hotel. Everyone invited was of high status, and Cordelia felt out of place in her plain attire.
She tried to hide behind a pillar to avoid the crowd but would glance around occasionally, worried she might miss Josiah. However, with everyone dressed in elaborate, elegant clothing and luxury cars parked everywhere, it was nearly impossible to spot him.
Cordelia sighed and continued waiting, clutching the documents in her hands. Soon, she saw a few familiar faces approaching her, and before she could run, Yelena’s voice rang out loudly, “Cordelia?”
William and their stepmother, Joanne Garcia, suddenly stopped in their tracks. Cordelia awkwardly showed herself from behind the pillar, greeting them with a nod.
“Cordelia?” William asked, equally surprised. “W-What are you doing here?”
She bit her lip, choosing to remain silent.
Yelena crossed her arms, stepping on her heels as she circled Cordelia, sizing her up with a sneer. “Do you really think you belong here? Don’t tell me you’re here for the Hamertons’ ball too?”
“What? What makes you think you belong here?” Joanne chimed in mockingly. “Cordelia, didn’t you look at yourself in the mirror before you came? Aren’t you embarrassed to show up like this at such an event? You think Mr. Z will take a liking to you looking like this? He might be disgusted even if you threw yourself at him!”
“That’s right! You’re married, but instead of staying at home with your useless husband, you came here to embarrass yourself! Or are you just like your mother, always trying to seduce men?” Yelena and Joanne threw insults, seizing any chance to humiliate Cordelia.
Cordelia felt like a heavy weight had settled on her chest. She knew her mother had done shameful things in the past and was painfully aware that she was an illegitimate daughter. Because of this, she had always lived her life carefully, even substituting for Yelena in marrying Marcus.
When would they ever let her be?
She took a deep breath, her fists clenched as she tried to steady herself. Her body shook slightly.
William, frowning at her, asked, “Cordelia, are you really here for the ball?”
“No,” she replied softly. “I’m here for work. I’m waiting for someone.”
“Work?” Yelena snickered. “Oh, I almost forgot. My sister is doing so well at Bowfest Foreign Trading. I heard you’re getting promoted to supervisor?”
“Wow, a promotion comes so quickly for you! Sigh, working so hard to feed your useless husband. How many men did you sleep with to get promoted so fast?”
“Stop slandering me, Yelena!” Cordelia’s face turned pale as she tried to defend herself. “You’re ruining my reputation with your lies. I could sue you!”
“Oh, you know the law now?” Yelena taunted. “Sue me then!”
Yelena was smug, pointing her finger at Cordelia before poking her in the head with her sharp nail. Before Cordelia could react, the sharp pain from the scratch on her scalp made her flinch.