Chapter 50
Marcus was stunned.
He couldn’t believe it. Was his jealousy that obvious? Why was he feeling so worked up over nothing? Josiah had been with him since they were both young. He should have known better than to feel this way.
After a moment of hesitation, Marcus let out a soft cough and grabbed his mug, taking a sip of water. The silence between them stretched on as he avoided looking at Cordelia, unsure of what to say next.
Suddenly, he felt a pair of soft, tiny hands gently tugging at his sleeve.
The familiar scent of her, warm and comforting, brushed against his nose, and Marcus froze, his heart beating faster.
“Hubby,” Cordelia’s voice was soft, like cotton candy. She looked up at him with a sweet, pleasing smile. “I’ll stop if you don’t like me talking about work.”
Marcus couldn’t help but smirk at her words. It was hard to stay mad when she was being so sweet, and it was a relief to feel the tension in his chest start to ease.
“It’s not that I dislike hearing about your work,” he said, his voice low as he turned to face her. “It’s just that you’ve been talking about Mr. Bayer all night. Can we talk about someone else for a change?”
Cordelia blinked at him, eyes wide in surprise. “Who do you want me to talk about?”
Marcus paused for a moment, thinking. “Well… wasn’t that ball organized by the Hamertons? Surely you’ve heard of Mr. Z, right?”
Cordelia thought for a moment, then shook her head lightly.
Marcus’ expression dimmed as a sense of disappointment washed over him.
He wasn’t ready to let it go, though. “You don’t know Mr. Z?”
Cordelia tilted her head slightly and gave him an odd look. “Why are we talking about him?”
She got up to collect the clothes from the balcony, continuing to fold them as she spoke. “I don’t know him, nor have I ever met him. What does his welcome dinner have to do with me?”
Marcus couldn’t help but move closer, his curiosity now piqued. “But I heard he’s a big deal. The Hamertons control Centrolis’ economy, right? A lot of socialites were at the dinner. You were at the hotel. Aren’t you curious about what he looks like? Didn’t you check him out at the ball?”
Cordelia raised an eyebrow, her tone playful yet firm. “Are you out of your mind? Why would I care about him?”
Marcus pressed on, a little too eager now. “Weren’t they picking a wife for him at the ball? If you went, don’t you think you’d have a chance if he took a liking to you? That would be an amazing opportunity, wouldn’t it?”
Cordelia stopped what she was doing, her brow furrowing as she looked up at him, her eyes hardening. “So, I’m just some woman to you?”
Marcus froze.
It was the first time he had seen Cordelia look so serious. She was always so soft and smiling, but now her expression was different—more intense.
“Marcus,” she said slowly, her voice calm yet unwavering, “I know who I am. I’m married. I have a husband. I’ve been taking care of our relationship, and I’ve been loyal to you from the start. I’ve never thought about using powerful men to get ahead. I don’t care who Mr. Z is. Men like him have nothing to do with me. Since the moment I married you, I’ve been committed to spending the rest of my life with you… How dare you say that?”
Marcus felt his throat tighten. His mind raced, and he regretted the words the moment they left his mouth. He had always thought of Josiah as a fool—but hadn’t he been foolish too?
The realization hit him hard, and his face flushed as he struggled to find the right words. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, and he couldn’t make a sound.
Feeling wronged, Cordelia glared at him, clearly hurt, and turned away. She walked to the room, but Marcus followed her, like a lost puppy. He opened his mouth to explain himself, but before he could get a word out, she picked up his pillow and blanket and tossed them on the couch.
Confused, he reached out to hold her hand, but she stubbornly shook it off, then slammed the door in his face.
The sound of the door locking echoed in his ears.
Marcus stood there for a moment, staring at the door, unsure of what to do next.
Sighing, he plopped down on the couch, his eyes falling on the pillow and blanket. They had been in the bedroom before, but now they were here, on the couch… He lay down, pressing his face into the pillow, inhaling the familiar scent of Cordelia. For a moment, he closed his eyes and let the warmth of her fragrance calm him.
He clenched his fists, his frustration building. He turned restlessly on the couch, unable to get comfortable. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and regret. With a deep, heavy sigh, he lay still, realizing that he had messed up in a way he couldn’t easily fix.