Chapter 186 Hidden Schemes in the Eyes
They had been married for three years, andCordelia never received any response from him.
When the Stone family fell on hard times, he chose that moment to ask for a divorce, sending divorce papers one after another to Garden Vista Estates.
Even now, Alaric didn’t dare imagine what state Cordelia was in during that time.
Under the triple blow of a failed marriage, a family crisis, and Donald's serious illness, how desperate must Cordelia have been?
"Cordelia may look delicate and soft, but she's actually very strong inside. She's not the type to keep her head down and let people walk all over her for a lifetime." Donald looked at Alaric seriously, his tone heavy.
Hearing Donald's words, Alaric felt a vague sense of panic rising within him
Donald saw the unease in his expression.
Thinking back to those three years when Cordelia was married to him, Alaric realized he had rarely returned to the Stone Manor with her.
During those three years, Donald had witnessed all the grievances Cordelia endured.
No father wants to see his daughter wronged.
Cordelia drove to the bar Herschel had mentioned.
As soon as she reached the bar entrance, a curly-haired woman in a tight short skirt approached her.
She was holding a cigarette, and when she saw Cordelia, she tapped it lightly to shake off the ash.
"Didn't expect you'd actually come."
Fiona Murphy walked up to Cordelia with swaying hips and a slim waist, looking her up and down.
She clearly saw the confusion in Cordelia's eyes, and her heart sank—she knew Cordelia had forgotten her.
"I'm Dominic's high school deskmate, Fiona."
She hid the hostility in her eyes and smiled slightly at Cordelia.
"Let's go, Dominic and everyone are waiting for you."
Hearing this, Cordelia frowned slightly and asked.
"Isn't Dominic drunk?"
Fiona smiled and said.
"He's not drunk."
"He just lost a game, so everyone randomly picked a number from his contacts and called that person to pick him up."
"Didn't expect you'd actually come."
Hearing this, a flash of doubt crossed Cordelia's eyes.
Fiona smiled and quickly said, "Dominic's waiting for you inside, let's go in."
As she spoke, she reached out to link her arm with Cordelia’s.
Cordelia didn’t like this sudden familiarityy, so she skillfully dodged it.
Fiona's hand froze in mid-air.
Cordelia's expression remained calm as she took out her phone and called Dominic.
Dominic didn't answer. Cordelia frowned.
Seeing Cordelia's reaction, Fiona said, "Dominic's probably still drinking. It's very noisy in the bar, he can't hear it."
"Plus, many old classmates want to see you, so if you don't show up, they probably won't let Dominic leave."
Cordelia furrowed her brows and put away her phone.
Fiona walked ahead with a smile and pressed the elevator button.
Cordelia followed behind at a leisurely pace.
The two went upstairs together.
As soon as they stepped out of the elevator.
Cordelia saw Dominic walking out of the bar.
Dominic had had quite a bit to drink, his cheeks were flushed, and when he saw Cordelia and Fiona standing in the elevator, his face immediately lit up with a smile.
Herschel and the others also came out of the bar. Seeing Dominic talking to Cordelia, they started teasing them.
In the end, unable to resist their persuasion, Cordelia and Dominic went into the bar together.
From the conversation, Cordelia learned that Herschel was now a shareholder of this bar.
They happened to be having a class reunion today, which was why they came to the bar together.
Herschel poured Cordelia a glass of red wine and placed it in front of her."I wonder if Cordelia has learned to drink after all these years?"
Hearing this, Dominic immediately pushed the wine glass away and said to Herschel with a smile,
"She's still the same as before, can't hold her liquor, and now she doesn't drink at all."
Fiona sat down next to Herschel,placing her hand on his leg and fixing her eyes on Cordelia as she said with a smile,
"Doesn't drink at all, or is Dominic just protecting you too well? Last time I heard from a classmate that Cordelia's already married. Don't tell me you didn't toast the guests at your wedding."
Hearing this, Cordelia looked up at Fiona.
She had sensed Fiona's hostility toward her earlier downstairs.
Now that Fiona said this, Cordelia was even more certain of her suspicion.
She had no impression of Fiona.
But she did remember who Herschel was.
He and Dominic were good friends in high school.
Teenage boys and girls always gathered together to do rebellious things, secretly smoking and drinking.
At that age, doing these things seemed cool.
She and Dominic grew up together, and Dominic would take Cordelia wherever he went.
So Cordelia's first time drinking was with Herschel and the others.
The first time she drank, she had no idea what to expect.. By the time she realized she felt uncomfortable, she was already drunk and showing symptoms of an alcohol allergy.
After that incident, Dominic never took her to such gatherings again.
Not long after, Dominic went abroad, and she saw Herschel less and less.
Seeing that Cordelia didn't answer, Fiona's smile faded slightly.
"Herschel, Ms. Stone probably doesn't remember who you are."
"Just now downstairs, Ms. Stone didn't recognize me either."
Herschel's grip on his wine glass tightened, and he laughed self-mockingly, "Isn't it normal that Ms. Stone doesn't recognize small fries like us?"
"Get Ms. Stone a glass of water."
As Herschel spoke, he glanced at the server standing beside him.
Hearing this, the server immediately went to get water.
Soon the server brought a glass of water and handed it to Cordelia.
Cordelia reached out to take it, thanked him politely, and then placed the glass on the table.
The music in the bar was deafening, and it made her uncomfortable.
Dominic was already somewhat drunk, leaning to one side, listening to the classmate beside him.
Herschel got up from the sofa, walked around Dominic, and sat down next to Cordelia. With a smile, he leaned over and spoke near Cordelia’s ear.
"Ms. Stone, it's been years. Let me toast you with water instead of wine."
His sudden closeness made Cordelia very uncomfortable, and she immediately moved toward Dominic.
Herschel noticed her distance but didn't mind. He picked up the water glass from the table and handed it to Cordelia.
"This is water, not alcohol. Besides, I wouldn't dare let you drink."
"That year when you first drank with us, I got expelled from school. The price was heavy—I wouldn't dare act rashly."
Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Cordelia's face. "Why?"
She had no idea that Herschel had been expelled from school.
In her memory, Herschel's grades were excellent.
Herschel smiled bitterly and didn't continue.He simply pushed the water glass toward Cordelia.
Cordelia took it. Herschel clinked his wine glass lightly against hers, then drank all the wine in one gulp. Seeing Cordelia holding the water glass with a confused look, he smiled and leaned close to her ear, saying softly.
"Back then, when you got drunk and ended up in the hospital, your sister investigated who was drinking with you and went to the school leadership."
Everyone else had connections, so they weren't expelled.
But he came from an ordinary family and got into Shadowpine's private high school purely on his excellent grades.
When Evelyn went to the school, naturally they had to give her an explanation.
Even though he had helped Cordelia turn down many drinks that day, in the school leadership's version, it became him forcing Cordelia to drink, causing her alcohol allergy and hospitalization.
So he, without any connections, became the scapegoat.
He never expected that Cordelia knew nothing about this.
After Herschel finished speaking, he clearly saw the guilt in Cordelia's eyes. He curved his lips into a faint smile, leaned back against the sofa with his head tilted back, and rubbed his temples, hiding the calculating look in his eyes.