Chapter 108 Alaric, Actually Cordelia's Child Is
For some reason, over these past two years, Alaric had been dead set against remarrying Cordelia.
Yet right after their divorce, Alaric seemed to have some feelings for Cordelia.
Ruth sighed, finding it harder and harder to understand the grandson she had raised with her own hands.
But given Alaric's attitude, she couldn't go against her agreement with Cordelia and tell Alaric about Amber.
If Alaric had no feelings for Cordelia, yet learned they had a child together, with Alaric's methods, abandoning Cordelia and taking Amber away was something he was perfectly capable of doing.
Ruth sighed, "Call him and ask if he's coming home tonight. If not, forget it!"
After saying this, she turned and went back inside.
Hearing this, Clifford immediately called Alaric.
Not far from The Hughes Manor, inside a black business van parked under the trees, Alaric's phone lit up.
He sat in the back seat with his eyes closed, resting.
Robert sat in the driver's seat, and hearing Alaric's phone vibrate, he reminded him quietly.
"Mr. Hughes, you have a call."
Alaric opened his eyes and glanced at his phone expressionlessly. It was a call from Clifford.
He didn't answer.
Earlier, when the Stone family's car left The Hughes Manor, they had seen it clearly from here.
Robert carefully watched Alaric's expression.
For some reason, he felt like Alaric was deliberately avoiding Cordelia.
If he truly didn't care, why would he be afraid to face Cordelia?
Seeing that Alaric didn't answer the phone, a hint of hesitation flashed in Robert's eyes, but he still spoke up.
"Mr. Hughes."
Before he could finish, Alaric had already opened the car door and stepped out, walking toward The Hughes Manor.
He had drunk quite a bit tonight, and his steps were slightly unsteady.
As soon as he reached the entrance of The Hughes Manor, the security personnel spotted him.
Robert sat in the car for a while, letting out a soft sigh. Only after Alaric had gone inside did he start the car and leave.
Over the following period, Alaric's schedule was packed with social engagements.
Cordelia had also completed her onboarding procedures at Sunrise Valley Hospital and successfully started work.
The emergency department was currently short-staffed.
So as soon as Cordelia joined, she was snatched up by the emergency department director.
Although Hannah was quite dissatisfied, she could only let her go.
Many of the doctors in the emergency department were ones Cordelia was familiar with.
So everything went smoothly with her onboarding.
Some of the medical students Cordelia had previously mentored had also joined Sunrise Valley Hospital. After Cordelia started, at the morning meeting Rufus briefly said some polite words welcoming Cordelia back, and then everyone went about their busy work.
The emergency department was exceptionally busy, but Cordelia quickly adapted.
After work, Rufus suggested that the department doctors get together.
But there were always some doctors who needed to be on duty at the hospital, so emergency department gatherings were almost always missing some doctors.
Everyone was used to this by now.
After the dinner, Cordelia returned to The Stone Manor.
Seeing that Cordelia had started work and that the Gray family's business in Astoria was having some problems, Dominic returned to Astoria.
Amber was being looked after by Allegra and Donald.
When Cordelia got home, Amber was already asleep.
Cordelia returned to the bedroom and saw Amber lying on the bed, looking so adorable in her sleep that all the fatigue from a long day completely disappeared.
After washing up in the bathroom, she lay on the bed and turned on her side to look at Amber. Amber seemed to sense some movement, opened her eyes, and seeing it was Cordelia, reached out to hug Cordelia's arm.
"Mommy."
Cordelia reached out and pulled her into her arms, her eyes full of smiles.
The Hughes Manor.
Alaric returned after his social engagement.
Ruth sat on the sofa with a stern face.
"Why have you been drinking every day lately?"
Over the past three years, Alaric had worked day and night, sometimes so busy he even forgot to eat. In just three years, his stomach had developed problems and often hurt.
This morning, while cleaning, Saskia found empty stomach medicine bottles in the trash and only then learned that Alaric had been taking medication all this time.
Alaric had drunk relatively little tonight.
Last night his stomach wasn't feeling well, so tonight he had shown some restraint.
Seeing Ruth's livid expression, he walked over and sat down on the sofa, his whole body sinking into it.
Clifford immediately poured him a glass of water.
Alaric took the glass, drank a sip, and placed it on the table.
"Don't worry, I know my limits."
Ruth snorted coldly, looking at Alaric with displeasure and saying sternly.
"I don't know where you get these so-called limits from."
Ruth threw her phone onto the table with a cold face. The photo showed tonight's dinner gathering, with Janet there too, sitting right next to Alaric.
"You and Janet, you haven't gotten back in touch, have you?"
Alaric glanced indifferently at the photo.
This dinner was arranged by Julian.
Janet was also brought by Julian.
It had nothing to do with him.
Throughout the entire dinner, he hadn't even said a word to Janet, so how could that count as being in touch?
He rubbed his temples and answered, "No."
Ruth looked at Alaric with displeasure, her face cold. "If you're not in touch, how could you be eating at the same table?"
Alaric didn't answer.
Ruth sighed, "Cordelia has returned to the country, she—"
Before she could finish, Alaric cut her off.
"Is she the only woman in this world?"
"Grandma, can we please not talk about her?"
Ruth was so angry at Alaric's words that her head spun.
She took a deep breath, looking at Alaric heavily, and got tough herself. "Fine, I will never mention her to you again!"
Alaric nodded slightly, his expression indifferent. After a few seconds of silence, he said.
"You just want a granddaughter-in-law, right? Tomorrow I'll bring home my fiancée who I'm planning to marry and let you meet her. Will that satisfy you?"
Hearing these words, Ruth's expression changed dramatically.
Alaric picked up his water glass and took another sip, his eyes full of irritation.
"Don't worry, it won't be Janet."
Ruth looked at him with a stern face, unable to say a word for a long time.
She frowned tightly, looking at Alaric.
"Do you really not like Cordelia?"
Alaric's cold eyes darkened. "I don't like her. I never have."
Ruth's expression froze. She stared at him for a long time, then activated her wheelchair and returned to her bedroom.
Alaric leaned back on the sofa, tilting his head to look at the ceiling, his stern face showing little expression.
Seeing this, Clifford spoke respectfully.
"Mr. Hughes, Ms. Stone's—"
Alaric frowned and said coldly, "Clifford, do you want to retire early?"
His voice was low and sharp, filled with deep displeasure.
Looking at Alaric's sinister eyes, Clifford paused, a flash of fear crossing his face.
He had been planning to tell Alaric about Cordelia's child.
But seeing how Alaric's eyes filled with irritation and disgust at the mere mention of Cordelia's name, his expression stiffened slightly.
Looking at Alaric's attitude, perhaps he really didn't like Cordelia.
His unusual behavior right after their divorce was probably just him not being used to suddenly having no relationship with Cordelia, who had shared his bed for three years.
Robert wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Good thing he hadn't mentioned Cordelia's child.
Otherwise, he might have caused trouble for Cordelia.