Chapter 141 They Are Actually Cousins?
Listening to Alaric's words, a subtle change flashed across Cordelia's face.
Marigold was Ruth's younger sister, and during Cordelia and Alaric's marriage, she and Cordelia didn't get along well.
But she never expected that Thomas's family would have any connection with Marigold.
She took a quiet breath, calmed herself down, and maintained a gentle smile on her face, keeping up her gracious persona.
"My grandmother wasn't feeling well for a while, but she's been slowly recovering lately."
"This must be my cousin, right? It's been so long, I almost didn't recognize him."
Thomas noticed Cordelia's discomfort and naturally switched places with her while talking to Alaric.
Cordelia quietly breathed a sigh of relief, sitting in Thomas's spot while Thomas took hers.
Alaric glanced sideways at Thomas, his eyes carrying some other meaning.
For some reason, Thomas felt like Alaric was looking at him with a hint of hostility.
But he couldn't figure out where this hostility came from, so Thomas could only respond with a smile.
Alaric's gaze swept over Thomas, then glanced at Cordelia.
"It has been a long time."
Cordelia was already making small talk with Thomas, the two chatting casually.
Seeing his appearance, Cordelia's expression didn't change much, which inexplicably stirred up a sense of irritation in Alaric's heart.
Although Cordelia showed no sign of panic on her face, she was still worried inside that Alaric might say something inappropriate at this moment.
Though she and Alaric had been married for three years, they never had a wedding ceremony, and Alaric had never brought Cordelia to any family gatherings with the Hughes family relatives.
So Cordelia only knew Marigold but didn't know Marigold's son and daughter-in-law.
She never imagined that Thomas was actually Marigold's grandson.
Good thing Marigold didn't come today, otherwise her barely recovered health might have gotten worse from the stress.
Alaric and Thomas weren't very close.
Alaric withdrew his gaze from Cordelia, leaned back in his chair, and said casually, as if making small talk.
"We were still in touch before you went abroad, but after you left, we barely kept in contact."
"I thought you'd forgotten about your cousin."
Thomas smiled awkwardly and was about to explain when Terry spoke first.
"That's just Thomas's personality. He rarely contacts family, even us."
"If we hadn't been pushing him about marriage, he probably wouldn't have come back this time."
After speaking, Terry looked at Cordelia, then said to Thomas.
"Thomas, why don't you introduce her?"
Thomas nodded slightly at the words, looked at Cordelia, and said softly.
"Cordelia, this is my cousin, Alaric. You've probably heard of him - he's famous on the national rich list."
Cordelia nodded lightly, looked up at Alaric, maintaining a gracious smile on her face.
"Hello, Mr. Hughes."
Thomas immediately introduced Cordelia to Alaric.
"Alaric, this is my girlfriend Cordelia."
Alaric looked at Cordelia with a half-smile, "Hello, Ms. Stone."
Cordelia pressed her lips together and politely looked away, unwilling to meet Alaric's eyes, feeling the situation was extremely awkward.
Kenna was a perceptive person. Seeing Alaric's gaze fall on Cordelia from time to time, a flash of doubt crossed her eyes, and she asked softly.
"Does Alaric know Cordelia?"
As soon as Kenna said this, Terry immediately looked at Alaric.
Thomas's gaze fell on Cordelia, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.
Cordelia pressed her red lips together lightly and gave Thomas a look. Thomas raised his eyebrows slightly, then remembered something. His expression changed slightly, and he immediately caught on.
Cordelia's last name was Stone.
And Alaric had a business marriage with the Stone family.
Could it be that Alaric was the bad man who abandoned Cordelia?
Though Thomas was abroad, he often heard Kenna mention gossip about the Hughes family over those years.
She said Alaric was forced into a business marriage by Ruth, but his heart was always with his first love, so he treated his wife harshly.
Alaric didn't even hold a wedding ceremony.
They had never met Alaric's wife.
Thomas immediately looked away from Cordelia and turned to Alaric.
"Alaric doesn't know Cordelia, right?"
Alaric's expression was indifferent. He glanced at Cordelia, looked away, and said in a low, cold tone.
"That's right."
"I don't know her."
Thomas quietly breathed a sigh of relief. If Alaric had said he knew Cordelia at this moment, Terry would probably have his hide.
"Is Thomas planning to get married?"
Alaric asked casually.
Thomas smiled sheepishly and was about to answer "not yet" when Terry spoke first.
"We're hoping Thomas and Ms. Stone can get married soon. After all, they're both not getting any younger."
Thomas was caught off guard.
Alaric nodded expressionlessly, "Thomas is indeed not young anymore."
He glanced at Thomas, "I wonder how long Thomas and Ms. Stone have been dating? If you haven't known each other long, there's no need to rush. Better to understand each other more."
Thomas fell silent.
Terry spoke cheerfully, "Thomas and Ms. Stone have been together for three years. They were classmates."
When Terry first learned that Thomas liked men, he was furious.
Now that Thomas brought Cordelia to meet them, he was very satisfied.
Whether or not Thomas actually liked men, he had to marry a woman. After all, the Thompson family was a respectable family in Shadowpine, and Terry couldn't afford to lose face.
So he was more anxious than anyone, hoping Thomas would get married soon.
Alaric frowned, "Three years?"
His deep eyes gradually turned cold.
Terry didn't notice the unusual look in Alaric's eyes and quickly said.
"Yes, three years. Three years is enough time to understand a person."
Alaric's cold eyes darkened, and he said nothing more.
Kenna quietly observed Alaric's expression, feeling something was off.
Alaric only chatted briefly with Terry, then left the private room.
After he left, Kenna turned her gaze to Cordelia, smiled, and said softly.
"Does Ms. Stone really not know Alaric?"
Cordelia paused. Just as she was about to answer, Thomas spoke first.
"Didn't Alaric already say he doesn't know Cordelia?"
"Mom, what's wrong?"
Cordelia remained silent.
Kenna's eyes dimmed slightly as she smiled and said, "Nothing, maybe I'm overthinking it."
"I just feel like Alaric seems to know Cordelia."