Chapter 7
After a moment of contemplation, Marcus spoke, his voice calm and unaffected. “Go to the drawer in the room. There’s a box inside. Bring it to me.”
Cordelia followed his instructions, opening the drawer and digging deep into it. At the bottom, she found a beautifully carved wooden box. The intricate patterns on the box were mesmerizing, and there was a faint, refreshing scent that seemed to linger in the air.
Marcus took the box from her and opened it. Inside, nestled carefully, were several pieces of gold jewelry: a necklace, a pair of earrings, a ring, and a bangle. The bangle, in particular, stood out—crafted from both gold and jade, its radiant color and cool touch caught her attention.
Cordelia’s eyes widened, a confused expression crossing her face. “This is…”
“I haven’t given you a proper wedding gift yet,” Marcus explained, inspecting each piece of jewelry with a nonchalant air. “Consider these my gift. Take a look, and let me know if you want anything else.”
Cordelia nervously clenched her hands under the table. Despite his casual demeanor, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of being spoiled. These pieces were incredibly beautiful, but she couldn’t help but wonder—how had he come by them?
Marcus, seemingly reading her thoughts, chuckled softly. “Don’t worry. I didn’t steal these. They were obtained the rightful way.”
Cordelia’s face flushed a deep red, mortified by her own suspicion. How could she doubt her husband like that?
“Keep them,” Marcus said, closing the box and pushing it toward her. His eyes remained fixed on her, silent but intense. “These are all I have to offer. This house and everything in it belong to you now. We’re married, and as the woman of the household, I’m giving you everything that’s mine.”
“Marcus, I—”
He cut her off, his tone suddenly firm. “One more thing. I won’t be going with you to visit your family today. Apologize to them on my behalf.”
Cordelia was initially taken aback, but a wave of relief washed over her as she exhaled sharply. “Hmm, okay,” she replied with a soft smile. “You go ahead and take care of what you need to. I can manage on my own.”
Marcus chuckled inwardly, shaking his head. It was clear how relieved she was. He found it amusing—his wife wore her feelings so openly, unable to keep even the smallest secret. It seemed almost impossible for her not to get taken advantage of this way.
Taken advantage of?
Marcus paused, a sudden thought flickering through his mind. What if she was bullied by her family when she went back today? But then again, what did that have to do with him?
He frowned, frustrated by the direction his thoughts had taken. Grabbing a quick meal and pulling on his jacket, he prepared to head out.
Cordelia, unaware of his departure, busied herself cleaning the house before heading to the bus stop. On the way there, her phone rang. It was Linda Quimby. As always, Linda didn’t hold back, immediately launching into a tirade.
“Seriously, aren’t you a little too carefree? What day is it today? You’re going back to visit your family, and your husband’s nowhere to be found? Does he even care about you or your marriage?!”
Cordelia only giggled on the other end of the line, listening to her friend rant. Linda, two years older than Cordelia, had always been outspoken and blunt. They’d been best friends since school, and Cordelia often joked that if Linda had been born earlier, she’d have made an excellent female knight.
“Honestly,” Linda continued, “a broke *ss like him must have saved the world in his past life to land someone like you! And he can’t even appreciate his good luck! How could he not go with you? He—”
“Alright, alright!” Cordelia winced at her friend’s fiery words. “I didn’t want him to come with me anyway. I’m going back to ask for money today. If he came, everything would be exposed!”
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, followed by a heavy sigh from Linda.
“Cordelia… you’re saying goodbye to lifelong happiness.”