Chapter 129 Ultimately, It's Not Good to Continue Holding Fantasies About Him
A slight smile curved at the corners of Cordelia's lips, and she smiled along.
She lifted her eyes to look at Alaric, who was just a step away from her, and said softly.
"Mr. Hughes is overthinking it. During these three years in Astoria, I've long since broken the bad habit of needing a familiar sleeping environment. No matter who's beside me, I can sleep soundly."
Taking advantage of the moment when Alaric was distracted, Cordelia reached out and snatched the car keys directly from his palm.
"No need to trouble Mr. Hughes."
After speaking, Cordelia turned and left Alaric's bedroom.
With the car keys taken from his hand, Alaric frowned. He withdrew his hand, tucked both hands in his pockets, his eyes slightly cold.
Robert, who had been in the study and heard the conversation between Cordelia and Alaric, immediately came out when he heard Cordelia's footsteps, trying to make her stay for Alaric's sake.
"Ms. Stone, breakfast is ready. Please have breakfast before you leave."
Cordelia shook her head in refusal. "No need."
"I'll eat at home."
After saying this, she walked out the door.
As the sound of the door closing echoed, Alaric finally walked out of the bedroom, his expression not looking too good.
Robert kept his head down, not daring to make a sound.
"Mr. Hughes."
Although Alaric's eyes were cold, he still walked straight into the dining room, sat down, and ate his meal in an unhurried manner.
Robert had thought Alaric would hold him accountable for calling Cordelia over, but unexpectedly, Alaric didn't mention it at all, and his anxious heart relaxed.
Cordelia drove all the way from Crown Hill Estates back to The Stone Manor.
Dominic and Donald were already awake, exercising in the yard.
Amber was sitting on a small stool, obediently eating fruit on the side.
Seeing Cordelia walk into the house, Amber immediately jumped down from the small stool and ran toward Cordelia.
"Mommy."
Cordelia bent down and picked Amber up, her face showing a gentle smile as she nuzzled against Amber's face.
"I missed you so much."
Amber also hugged Cordelia's neck tightly, leaning close to her. "Where did Mommy go last night?"
Last night, after Cordelia carried Amber to Evelyn's room, Amber had woken up.
She watched Cordelia leave with her own eyes, then moved closer to Evelyn and asked in a small voice.
"Aunt Evelyn, is Mommy going out to save someone?"
Her sensible and well-behaved manner made Evelyn's heart ache.
If it weren't for a very important meeting at the Stone Group this morning that required her personal attendance, Evelyn really wanted to spend the whole day at home with Amber.
"A patient suddenly fell seriously ill in the middle of the night, so I had to go deal with it."
"I left in such a hurry last night that I forgot to tell Amber. I'm sorry, it was my fault."
Amber, having gotten the answer she wanted, rested her little head on Cordelia's shoulder. "It's okay."
She generously forgave Cordelia.
Dominic and Donald also stopped exercising.
Before Dominic could ask anything, Donald spoke first.
"Is Alaric alright?"
This morning when Evelyn left, she told Donald that Cordelia had gone to Alaric's place.
The Gray family had also been calling Donald recently, hoping that the Stone family could help Dominic give up his feelings.
The Gray family could naturally see that Cordelia's heart wasn't with Dominic, but Dominic refused to give up.
Only by making him give up completely would he be willing to go on blind dates.
Donald didn't want to hurt Dominic's feelings, but if he continued to persist like this, it really wouldn't be good for the friendly relations between the two families.
Hearing Donald's words, Dominic paused and looked up at Cordelia.
Cordelia's expression remained normal as she carried Amber into the house.
"Nothing serious. He just drank alcohol last night and had an episode, and couldn't take medicine to ease it, so he was in pain all night."
Amber tilted her little head to look at Cordelia and asked obediently.
"Is Alaric Mr. Hughes?"
Alaric's name had been appearing frequently around Amber lately, so she remembered it right away.
Before Cordelia could answer, Amber's expression immediately became worried.
"Is Mr. Hughes sick again?"
Cordelia raised an eyebrow. Seeing how nervous she looked, she reached out to pinch her little cheek and changed the subject.
"Has Amber had breakfast?"
Amber nodded obediently. "Yes, I have."
Although she answered Cordelia's questions dutifully, her mind was still on Alaric.
"Didn't Mommy cure Mr. Hughes's illness?"
Her little head was still filled with images of Alaric with needles in his hand.
She had a natural fondness for Alaric, so she was very worried.
Cordelia looked at her worried little expression, pressed her red lips together lightly, and didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Donald reached out and took Amber from Cordelia's arms, saying kindly, "Mr. Hughes's body needs to be nursed back to health slowly."
"Does Amber miss Mr. Hughes?"
Amber nodded obediently.
Donald smiled. "As it happens, I'm going to Mr. Hughes's company this afternoon. Do you want to come with me to see Mr. Hughes?"
Amber nodded. "Yes!"
After answering, she looked down at the casual clothes she was wearing. "Need to wear pretty clothes."
As she spoke, she struggled with her little legs, wanting to get down.
Seeing this, Donald let her go.
She ran to Allegra's side, pulled Allegra's hand, and asked Allegra to take her upstairs to change clothes.
Allegra usually agreed to all of Amber's requests. She put down her work and took Amber upstairs.
Cordelia rubbed her temples. "Dad."
She had just started speaking when Donald interrupted her.
"I know what you want to say, but Alaric is Amber's father after all, and Amber really likes him."
"Amber is growing up day by day. There will always be times when she needs her father. Letting them spend more time together now is ultimately a good thing."
Cordelia was suddenly at a loss for words.
Dominic, standing to the side, had no opportunity to insert himself into this conversation.
Donald glanced down at the time, as if remembering something, then looked up at Dominic and said, "Dominic, your flight is at ten in the morning?"
Dominic nodded.
"Yes."
Donald looked at Cordelia and said quietly, "Cordelia, take Dominic to the airport for me in a bit. You two can have a good talk on the way."
Cordelia knew what Donald wanted her and Dominic to talk about.
She had also heard when people from the Gray family called a few days ago.
After breakfast, Cordelia left with Dominic.
Dominic sat in Cordelia's passenger seat. Usually quite talkative, today he didn't say a word.
After hesitating, Cordelia chose to speak first.
"Dominic."
Dominic looked up at Cordelia and interrupted her.
"Cordelia, we're just friends."
Cordelia paused, completely not expecting Dominic to say this.
This statement from Dominic completely blocked the words she had prepared. It would be rather awkward for her to tell Dominic not to have any illusions about her now.