Chapter 8
Cordelia’s smile faltered, a flicker of sorrow tugging at her heart.
Linda was right. Marriage was supposed to last a lifetime, and she had entered it mindlessly. She hadn’t even gotten the chance to experience a real relationship. It was true—she was giving up her happiness for good. But…
She pressed her lips together, forcing a chuckle. “It’s not all bad. Honestly, I owe Marcus a thank you. If he hadn’t married me, I wouldn’t have gotten $40,000!”
As long as her mother recovered and her brother could continue his education, that would be her greatest happiness.
“Okay, I’ll stop here!” Cordelia hurried to end the call. “I’m going to ask for the money today. I’ll call you with the good news!”
She tucked her phone back into her bag and made her way to the busiest street in Jangasas. Standing amidst the busy crowd, she couldn’t help but feel that time had slipped away from her, as if it had been years instead of days since she last stood there.
As Cordelia walked toward her family’s home, she was greeted by a sharp, mocking voice. “Oh, you’re back, Cordelia!”
Yelena appeared at the top of the stairs, her eyes scanning Cordelia with obvious disdain. Yelena was delighted at the sight of her sister, knowing that Cordelia’s life was far from perfect. After all, she was married to a man with no money—an infamous thug, no less.
Yelena had always been envious of Cordelia. From the time they were children, Cordelia had excelled in everything—beauty, grace, intelligence—while Yelena had always struggled to gain the same admiration. Even when Cordelia wore worn-out clothes, people still admired her.
Cordelia’s gentle nature and natural charm had made her beloved by others, while Yelena felt like an outsider. No matter what Cordelia did, Yelena could never surpass her, and now, it seemed, she had lost yet another battle—marrying Marcus, a man she considered beneath her.
Yelena couldn’t hide her glee as she spoke, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, Cordelia, how does it feel to be married? Does it feel great?”
She tugged at Cordelia’s arm, feigning friendliness, but the smile on her face was anything but warm. “I heard that back in the day, people married without meeting their spouses first. Did you go for that old-fashioned approach too?”
Cordelia laughed dryly, pulling her arm out of Yelena’s grip. She didn’t care about her family’s judgment anymore. All she wanted was to leave with the money she came for and have nothing more to do with the Jenners.
Yelena, sensing a chance to strike, continued, her voice dripping with mockery. “I heard your husband’s been in jail a few times for fighting. What’s he up to now? Does he even have a proper job? How’s he taking care of you?”
Cordelia’s gaze hardened. Yelena’s insults didn’t phase her—she had grown used to them over the years. But Yelena wasn’t finished.
“If he can’t find a decent job, I could help him out. Maybe I can get him a position in construction or as a port laborer. He’d be a good fit for that, right? Or maybe the company needs a security guard. He could always be the dog that keeps watch.”
Cordelia’s eyes snapped to Yelena, an icy chill settling between them. Yelena, taken aback, could sense something different in her sister’s gaze today. Cordelia wasn’t the same pushover she used to be.
Taking a deep breath, Cordelia looked Yelena squarely in the eye and responded coolly, “My husband has his flaws, but he is still the breadwinner of our family. Even if he needed a job, we wouldn’t be coming to you for help. You can keep those jobs you mentioned for your future husband.”
Yelena’s face twisted with indignation. “Who do you think you’re talking to, Cordelia?”
Cordelia remained calm, her voice sharp. “What? You think construction, port labor, and being a security guard are great jobs? You think you’re helping by offering them to my husband? Then, as a sister, it’s only fair I ask you to keep them for your future husband!”
Yelena, clearly enraged, rolled her eyes and huffed, making her way up the staircase. “You’re so loyal to that man. He must really be a gem, huh?”
With a smug grin, she turned back to Cordelia. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re really after. You came back today for the money, right? Well, it’s a waste of your time. Dad’s not home.”
Cordelia’s heart skipped a beat. A sense of foreboding washed over her.
“What did you say?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.