Chapter 64
Cordelia paused mid-sentence, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. “To be honest, I have no idea who Carter’s dad is either. I only remember that when I was seven, my mom dolled herself up and left. She had the neighbor watch me before she went, and she didn’t come back for a whole month.”
Her voice wavered as she continued. “I thought she had abandoned me. But when she returned, she was the same as she had been when she left—beautiful—but there was no light in her eyes. It was like she had become a zombie wandering the streets. No matter what I said, she wouldn’t respond to me.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke of the pain. “Then she gave birth to Carter. My dad got furious and yelled at her. The day they fought, I saw her laughing at him. The sound of her laughter—it was terrifying. Every time I think about it, I feel a chill run down my spine.”
Cordelia’s voice dropped to a whisper. “That day, my dad left a check and walked out. We barely had time for a quick goodbye before I got married. I guess that check was his way of cutting ties with me and my mom.”
Marcus, who had been sitting beside her, wrapped his arms around her frail shoulders, pulling her into his embrace. He hadn’t been in her life before, but now, he wasn’t going to let her suffer alone.
…
Outside Fredric’s office, people looked on in surprise when they saw Marcus sitting there. Fredric was a well-known attorney in Centrolis and Jangasas, serving the upper class, so his office had a certain reputation. Marcus, dressed casually with a baseball cap, exuded an intimidating coldness that made people wonder about his background.
“How did Mr. Constable get acquainted with such a person?” one person whispered.
“I heard he’s been involved in criminal cases… Is he a criminal here to cause trouble?” another speculated.
Marcus glanced at the door, and as soon as he did, the murmurs stopped, and people quickly scattered.
Fredric walked briskly into his office, closing the door behind him and drawing the blinds. He poured a cup of the highest quality Darjeeling tea and chuckled.
“I overheard them talking on my way in,” Fredric said with a smile. “They called you a criminal, told me to watch out. Hah, Z, looks like you’re much more imposing than Marcus. He’s just a thug, but you—there’s something criminal about you.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer. Instead, he changed the subject. “Have you ever dealt with any real estate cases?”
Fredric looked puzzled. “Real estate? You mean like private property?”
“Yes,” Marcus confirmed, his gaze hardening.
Fredric smiled awkwardly. “I usually have my associates handle those smaller civil cases. I haven’t taken on anything big in real estate.”
“Well, you should start,” Marcus said, tossing a document onto Fredric’s desk. “It’ll be good for your career to take on new challenges.”
Fredric flipped through the papers quickly, his expression changing as he processed the contents. He finally looked up at Marcus, stunned by the significance of what he had just seen.
“Z,” Fredric said slowly, realizing Marcus’s intent. “Don’t tell me you want me to take this case for Cordelia? You know my policy when it comes to lawsuits. This is just…”
“That’s all,” Marcus interrupted, his tone cold. “William Jenner gave this house to Cordelia and her mother. They’ve lived there for years. How can he just take it back? It doesn’t make sense to me.”
Marcus scoffed, flicking the cigarette butt from his fingers as his eyes turned hard.
“Z, this is the law,” Fredric replied patiently. “Yes, they’ve been living there a long time, but Cordelia’s mother isn’t the owner of the property. It was William Jenner who bought it. He can take it back whenever he wants.”
Marcus glared at him, his expression darkening.