Chapter 178 He Just Wants to Kiss Her! Kiss Her!
Seeing Cordelia's silence, Janet forced a smile onto her face, straightened her back, turned around and walked out of Cordelia's office.
As she reached the door, Cordelia called out to her.
"Ms. Martin."
Janet stopped, the corners of her lips curling up slightly. She thought Cordelia had been shaken by what she'd just said, but when she turned around, Cordelia simply glanced at the gift box on the desk.
"Your things—don't forget to take them with you."
Janet's expression stiffened.
Cordelia just gave her a brief look, then walked past her.
Janet stood there frozen, watching Cordelia's retreating figure, her expression quite unpleasant.
That speech she'd just given had almost made herself cry—it was the fantasy she had about how the relationship between her and Alaric should be.
She wanted Cordelia to know that Cordelia could never reach the emotional level where she and Alaric were each other's spiritual support.
But she hadn't expected Cordelia to show no reaction at all.
Her expression remained unchanged, her calm demeanor once again making Janet feel like she'd punched cotton with all her strength.
Janet felt nothing but frustration. Thinking back to what she'd said in front of Cordelia, she also felt a bit scared—scared that Cordelia would expose the lies she'd made up.
She suddenly felt uncomfortable all over.
She even started to feel like a stupid fool.
She bit down hard and suddenly knocked over the delicate gift box on the desk, scattering the pastries all over the floor.
Cordelia had left her phone in the office. After reaching the elevator, she turned back.
When she got to the office door, she stopped. She saw Janet crouching on the floor, picking up the pastries piece by piece.
Putting them back in the gift box, Janet tried to arrange the pastries to look as nice and delicate as before, but the pastries that had fallen on the floor were already broken and messy. No matter how she arranged them, they couldn't return to their original state.
Janet noticed Cordelia standing at the door and paused.
She quickly calmed down, trying hard to hide her embarrassment.
Cordelia walked into the office, picked up her phone, glanced at Janet, and said quietly.
"What's the point? No matter how perfectly you prepare it, he won't like it anyway."
Just like back then, when she'd put all her heart into Alaric, restraining her own willfulness to become the dignified image that perfectly fit a wealthy family's wife, Alaric still didn't like her and still wouldn't give her a second glance.
So, what was the point?
Janet didn't answer Cordelia's question. She picked up the gift box and left in embarrassment.
Cordelia watched her retreating figure, standing quietly in place for a long time without moving.
Donald took Cordelia's first birthday after returning to the country very seriously.
Cordelia had always kept a low profile. When she was younger, they would hold birthday parties for her.
But after she grew up and developed her own opinions, she preferred to travel on her birthday rather than hold parties.
So later on, she never had birthday parties like other wealthy young ladies.
This time, Donald planned to prepare a small birthday party for Cordelia.
The guests invited were all the Stone Group's business partners over the years, as well as some families they had good relationships with.
Cordelia had specifically scheduled her day off for today, planning to sleep in, but she was soon woken up by some noise.
She got up with a bit of morning grumpiness. After going downstairs, she discovered that the Stone Manor had been completely redecorated.
There were also many balloons floating from the ceiling.
Amber was even helping Donald, sticking things here and there, her little legs running all over the living room.
Cordelia walked over and picked up Amber, asking Donald.
"Will there be a lot of guests at home today?"
Donald nodded.
"Not too many, all people you know. There definitely won't be any random people."
Cordelia raised her eyebrows slightly at his words.
She remembered that when she was little, Donald loved organizing birthday parties for her, and each of her birthday parties was very grand.
Back then, the Stone Group was a leading company in Shadowpine, so many people wanting to curry favor with the Stone family would come to her birthday parties even without invitations, bringing her gifts.
After she turned fifteen, Cordelia started disliking this kind of formal birthday party.
So she never let Donald organize them again.
Now, seeing Donald busy but smiling, Cordelia let him do as he pleased.
After a busy day, the party started in the evening, and guests gradually arrived at the Stone Manor.
Cordelia stood beside Donald receiving guests, listening to these familiar people wishing her happy birthday, responding with a smile.
When most of the guests had arrived and were chatting in small groups, Cordelia slipped away to the backyard.
She wasn't good at socializing.
Even though today's guests were all people she knew, she couldn't keep interacting with them the whole time.
When Alaric found Cordelia, she was sitting on a bench in the backyard, looking up at the stars.
He walked over and sat down beside Cordelia.
Cordelia sensed someone sitting next to her. Looking over, she saw Alaric had sat down beside her.
Today he was still wearing a black suit jacket, but underneath was a burgundy shirt, making him look even more handsome and attractive.
Looking at the specially dressed-up Alaric, Cordelia raised her eyebrows and asked.
"How did you know I was here?"
Alaric sat beside her, looking at her with a smile.
"This is the quietest place in the Stone Manor, and you like quiet."
Cordelia made a soft sound of acknowledgment, then looked away from him toward the distance.
Alaric took out the gift he'd prepared from his pocket. Without any fancy gift box, he put it on her wrist himself.
This bracelet was something Alaric had started preparing not long after Cordelia returned to the country.
Three years ago, he'd found Cordelia's bracelet and knew what that bracelet meant to her.
After Cordelia returned to the country, he'd never seen her wear the bracelet she used to always have on, so he guessed she might have lost it again.
Based on his memory, he kept revising the design until he finally recreated the bracelet from his memory.
Cordelia felt a slight coolness on her wrist. Looking down, she saw Alaric carefully putting the bracelet on her.
She watched quietly. This bracelet was almost identical to the one she'd lost. Her expression froze slightly, her gem-like eyes hiding all her emotions.
Seeing her gaze fixed on the bracelet, Alaric said softly, "Happy birthday."
Hearing this, Cordelia looked up at him, her beautiful eyes staring intently into his deep ones.
Being watched by her like this, Alaric felt his heart racing. At this moment, only one thought remained in his mind.
Kiss her!
Kiss her!