Chapter 46 Superficial Harmony
Hannah noticed Cordelia's calm demeanor, devoid of any victorious joy, and raised an eyebrow.
"You're not happy? You didn't even have to show up, and you still managed to beat her."
Cordelia's expression remained unchanged. "I don't feel anything."
In this love triangle, she wasn't the winner either. She had secretly loved Alaric for years and had been married to him for three, yet she never truly had his heart. How could she possibly be considered a winner?
Hannah paused. "Is there really no chance left for your marriage?"
Cordelia nodded.
As they entered the elevator, Hannah fell silent, and Cordelia didn't continue speaking. The news from last night had been explosive, spreading through the hospital like wildfire. Whether in patient rooms or doctors' offices, everyone was talking about it. Since Cordelia was friends with Ruth, people naturally wanted to hear some inside scoop from her. But Cordelia remained tight-lipped, claiming she knew nothing.
Finally, the end of the workday arrived, but a curious colleague approached Cordelia, eager for details. The Hughes family's affairs always sparked a voyeuristic curiosity.
"I really don't know anything about Mr. Hughes and Ms. Martin. Mr. Hughes and I aren't close."
As soon as she said this, the room fell into awkward silence. The colleague turned to see Alaric standing at the door, his handsome face cold and stern. The colleague felt the awkward tension and quickly excused herself.
Janet had already been discharged, so it was clear Alaric was there for Cordelia. The colleague's eyes seemed to ask, "Is this what you call 'not close'?" How could Alaric come to the hospital for her if they weren't close?
Alaric's gaze was indifferent. "Am I interrupting your conversation?"
The colleague shook her head quickly. "No, not at all. I have to go."
She hurried out of Cordelia's office. Cordelia shut down her computer and looked at Alaric, who had stepped inside.
"Mr. Hughes, what can I do for you?"
Seated at her desk, Cordelia felt the pressure of Alaric towering over her.
"We're not close?"
They had shared a bed for three years, yet she told her colleagues otherwise.
Cordelia paused, staring at Alaric's cold, handsome face. "Mr. Hughes, are you upset that I didn't give you a proper title in front of my colleagues?"
Alaric's eyes narrowed. "Grandma wants me to bring you back to The Hughes Manor for dinner."
"Alright," Cordelia agreed.
Alaric's deep eyes glanced at her. "I'll be waiting downstairs."
Without hesitation, he left. Cordelia got up and headed to the locker room to change out of her lab coat.
Hannah, who had just run into Alaric, asked, "He came for you?"
Cordelia nodded. "Yes."
Hannah muttered, "It's strange. He used to come because of Janet, but now that she's discharged, he's been coming more frequently. Could it be...?"
Cordelia cut her off. "Grandma asked him to bring me back for dinner."
Hannah nodded, thinking about the trouble Ruth caused Janet last night. Even though Ruth won, she must have been exhausted by the ordeal.
Cordelia changed and left. Downstairs, Alaric was waiting with the car parked at the hospital entrance. Cordelia got into the back seat, maintaining a distance that mirrored the emotional gap in their marriage. They drove in silence to The Hughes Manor.
Ruth was waiting in the living room. Seeing them arrive together, she gestured for Cordelia to sit beside her. Alaric noticed the house staff gathered in the living room, his expression darkening.
"What's the big announcement?" he asked, eyes probing Ruth.
Ignoring him, Ruth turned to Cordelia. "Did you bring the agreement?"
Cordelia nodded, pulling the divorce papers from her bag and handing them to Ruth. Alaric's eyes grew colder as he saw the document.
"Grandma, please review the terms," Cordelia said softly.
Ruth didn't read the terms. Instead, she placed the agreement in front of Alaric. "Sign it."
Alaric laughed coldly, tugging at his tie, irritation hidden in his icy gaze. "You were adamant about not divorcing before. Why the sudden change?"
Cordelia smiled. "Isn't this what you wanted?"
Alaric was taken aback, his face hardening as he reviewed the agreement line by line. The more he read, the colder his expression became. The staff remained silent, heads bowed.
"Two billion dollars?" he asked.
Cordelia nodded. "Yes."
Alaric sneered. "Not going after the hundred billion in marital assets?"
Cordelia's gaze was steady. "Divorce litigation takes too long. I want to end this marriage quickly."
Alaric's eyes darkened. "Already found a new lover?"
Cordelia remained silent.
Alaric's face was cold. "Who is it? Dominic? Or one of your colleagues?"
Ruth, sensing his aggressive stance, tapped her cane on the floor. "Enough! Even if Cordelia has found someone new, what does it matter to you? Hesitating to sign—do you not want the divorce?"
Alaric's eyes flashed with surprise, quickly masked by a smile. "Of course not. Two billion is too little. To avoid any regret, I'll double it to four billion."
He tossed the agreement onto the table and grabbed his coat. "This agreement has flaws. I don't want you suing for marital assets later. The Hughes Group's lawyers will fix it, then send it to you. Take this one back."
He stood, glanced at Ruth, and said, "I have work at the office. I won't stay for dinner."
Cordelia watched him leave, stunned. Ruth frowned, reviewing the agreement. It clearly stated Cordelia would not pursue marital assets after receiving two billion. Alaric's refusal to sign puzzled her, but she smiled, sensing his true feelings.
"Cordelia, don't worry. I'll push the lawyers to finalize the agreement quickly."
He didn't want the divorce now? That wouldn't do.