Chapter 174 Seeing Their Relationship is Not as Harmonious as It Seems, He is Very Happy
When Marigold spoke, she gripped Cordelia's arm tightly.
Out of the corner of her eye, Cordelia caught sight of Alaric walking out of the elevator. Her eyes flickered slightly as she held Marigold's hand in return.
Her voice was very soft, speaking in a volume only she and Marigold could hear.
"Thomas saved me and Amber, so Amber can be his daughter."
Marigold paused for a moment, immediately understanding what Cordelia meant.
As long as they didn't make a fuss and didn't disturb Amber, Cordelia wouldn't hold these matters against them.
But if the Thompson family continued to cause trouble, affecting Amber's normal life, or even exposing these matters to the public, then Cordelia would only reveal the truth.
Marigold's expression became very serious, and she finally fell silent.
Cordelia smiled faintly and said softly, "Marigold, I'm not preventing you from seeing Amber. It's just that you're too eager, and I'm afraid you'll upset Amber."
Marigold let out a heavy breath. Having accepted the fact that Amber wasn't Thomas's child, she calmed down accordingly.
She didn't respond to Cordelia's words and left, gripping her cane.
Cordelia watched her leave.
Marigold looked troubled, keeping her head down the whole time. She didn't even notice when she walked past Alaric.
Watching her current state, Cordelia raised her eyebrows slightly, thinking that what she had just said must have hit her pretty hard.
But what she had said earlier was indeed too much.
Alaric knew Marigold's personality—she had always been strong-willed and unwilling to compromise.
If anyone upset her, she would definitely make a huge scene.
Unexpectedly, with just a few words, Cordelia had gotten Marigold to leave quietly without even a single argument.
A trace of confusion flashed in his eyes as he looked at Cordelia, whose expression remained calm and composed, and said in a low voice.
"Looks like you really have a way with old people."
First Ruth, and now Marigold too.
Cordelia smiled calmly and replied, "Maybe I just have a natural talent for attracting elderly people."
She turned and walked back into her office.
Alaric followed her in.
When Cordelia turned around and saw the mess in her office, she paused, having forgotten about this.
Alaric also saw the documents scattered everywhere in her office.
Clearly, her conversation with Marigold hadn't been as harmonious as it appeared on the surface.
He glanced at Cordelia, and for some reason, seeing that the conversation between Marigold and Cordelia wasn't as peaceful as it seemed on the surface, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief.
Cordelia smiled awkwardly, stepped in, and picked up the documents from the floor.
Alaric also helped pick up some and placed them on Cordelia's desk.
Cordelia organized the documents to one side and looked at Alaric.
"Are you here to see your grandmother?"
Alaric shook his head and said in a deep voice, "The medicine you prescribed is almost finished, so I came to get the third course."
During this time, Cordelia had been so irritated by the Thompson family's affairs that she had almost forgotten about this.
Previously, Alaric had taken his medicine on and off—sometimes taking half a month to finish a week's worth. This time, he had finished it on schedule, which Cordelia hadn't expected.
"No social events recently?"
"There were, but I didn't drink." Alaric answered honestly.
"Looks like Mr. Hughes is a man of his word." As Cordelia spoke, she opened her computer to prescribe the third course of medicine for Alaric.
Alaric's gaze fell gently on Cordelia as he spoke.
"Don't I have credibility with you?"
Cordelia raised her eyebrows and denied, "That's not what I meant."
Alaric looked at her perfunctory expression, feeling somewhat frustrated.
Cordelia's eyes remained on the computer, and soon she had prescribed his third course of medicine.
She handed the medical card to Alaric, and just as she was about to give him some instructions, Dominic's voice came from the doorway.
"Cordelia."
Cordelia looked up toward the door and saw Dominic pulling a suitcase with one hand and carrying a gift box with the other, walking into the office.
A flash of delight crossed her eyes, and she immediately broke into a smile. "Didn't you say your flight was tomorrow? How come you arrived today?"
Dominic saw Alaric sitting in Cordelia's office, and a subtle change of expression flashed in his eyes. Then he smiled and said to Cordelia.
"I was afraid the flight might be delayed tomorrow and I wouldn't be able to celebrate your birthday with you, so I changed my flight."
Cordelia suddenly realized—she had been so busy lately that she had forgotten her own birthday.
"It's rare that you remembered my birthday."
Dominic placed the gift box in his hand on Cordelia's desk.
"This is a birthday present I prepared for you. You'll definitely love it."
Hearing Dominic say this, Cordelia became very curious about what was inside the gift box.
What could it be that she would definitely love?
Alaric sat in his chair with a cold expression, watching Cordelia's delighted reaction as she talked with Dominic, feeling very uncomfortable.
He reached out to take the medical card, his tone low and displeased.
"Dr. Stone, you haven't told me how to take the medicine yet."
Cordelia suppressed her desire to open the gift box and began instructing Alaric on how to take his medicine.
Alaric couldn't focus at all. His mind was full of the image of Cordelia staring intently at the gift box, wanting to open it.
So this was what she looked like when receiving a gift—showing the eager expression of a teenage girl.
Alaric felt somewhat gloomy.
During the three years he lived with Cordelia, even on their wedding anniversary, he rarely prepared gifts for Cordelia, let alone for her birthday.
He didn't even know when Cordelia's birthday was.
He had never seen what Cordelia looked like when opening a gift she loved.
Dominic noticed Alaric's increasingly intense gaze on Cordelia. As a man himself, he naturally understood what Alaric's look meant.
He wanted to possess Cordelia.
After this realization formed in his mind, Dominic became alert.
He didn't know how Cordelia and Alaric had been getting along during this time.
But he clearly sensed that three years after divorcing Cordelia, Alaric had developed a strong attachment and possessiveness toward her.
"Is Mr. Hughes not feeling well?"
Dominic spoke at the right moment, inserting himself into their conversation and asserting his presence.
Cordelia had been speaking to Alaric in a gentle and natural tone. Being suddenly interrupted by Dominic, a flash of displeasure crossed Alaric's eyes.
He glanced coldly at Dominic, his tone indifferent.
"Naturally, I'm not feeling well, which is why I came to see her during her working hours."
When he said "working hours," he emphasized those words more than the others. After speaking, his gaze fell on Cordelia again, with slight displeasure.
"As a patient, I was just ignored by Dr. Stone. Can I file a complaint against you?"
Cordelia fell silent.