Chapter 202 Why is the Once Radiant Alaric So Distracted?
"No."
Alaric immediately responded, but for a moment he couldn't find any strong evidence to refute Cordelia. His eyes reddened at the corners, and his heart felt terribly blocked.
Cordelia withdrew her gaze from him and walked away.
Alaric's eyes darkened slightly.
As Cordelia walked past him, the coldness in her eyes inexplicably made his heart panic.
His eyes darkened, and he stepped forward to catch up, grabbing her hand.
"You can't get a cab here. Let me drive you."
Cordelia kept a straight face, glanced at him, her eyes slightly mocking.
"Mr. Hughes doesn't mind that I'm dirty?"
Alaric's expression froze. "When did I ever say you were dirty?"
Cordelia just looked at him coldly.
Alaric took a deep breath, his tone carrying defeat, saying somewhat helplessly.
"I didn't mean to say you were dirty."
"It's normal for people to have needs."
Cordelia's body stiffened slightly. She could hardly believe these were words that could come from Alaric.
After all, in her memory, Alaric was someone with a strong sense of male chauvinism.
She still remembered him once saying that some things men could do, but women couldn't.
"I spoke without thinking just now. Get in my car, I'll take you back."
This seemed to be the first time Alaric had lowered himself like this in front of her.
Cordelia was momentarily speechless.
In the end, she still got into Alaric's car.
On the way back to The Stone Manor, neither of them spoke.
Alaric stopped the car at the entrance of The Stone Manor.
Cordelia unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door to get out when Alaric grabbed her hand.
His eyes were deep, his gaze serious yet carrying something difficult to express.
Cordelia looked at him with confusion.
"If you want to say something, just say it directly."
Alaric looked at her calm gaze, took a deep breath, and ultimately didn't say what he wanted to say, only saying lightly.
"Get more rest."
Cordelia nodded, got out of the car, and didn't invite Alaric to come sit at The Stone Manor.
After she entered The Stone Manor, Alaric took a deep breath, picked up his phone, hesitated for a long time, typed out a message and sent it to Cordelia.
"When you have needs in the future, can I be the first man you consider?"
Right after sending this message, Alaric immediately recalled it.
He threw his phone onto the driver's seat somewhat discouragedly, his expression very uncomfortable.
When had he, Alaric, fallen to such a state?
Alaric gritted his teeth hard, wishing he could chop off his own hand.
He had actually sent such a humble message to Cordelia.
After calming down for a few seconds, he picked up his phone again.
Cordelia hadn't replied to him.
Alaric just held his phone and stared at it for a long time, then threw it onto the passenger seat.
He both hoped Cordelia had seen the message and hoped she hadn't.
In the complex emotions of regret, anticipation, and conflict, Alaric started the car and left The Stone Manor.
The Stone Manor.
Cordelia returned home.
Amber was playing with toys in the living room.
Donald was sitting cross-legged on the floor, helping Amber build with blocks. Seeing Cordelia enter, Donald didn't ask where she had been last night.
Amber hadn't seen Cordelia all night, and now seeing her figure, she immediately got up from the floor and ran straight to Cordelia.
She hugged Cordelia's legs tightly.
"Mommy, did you go to Mr. Hughes' place last night?"
"You went to play with Mr. Hughes and didn't take me."
Amber pouted, expressing her dissatisfaction.
A flash of embarrassment crossed Cordelia's eyes.
No wonder Donald didn't ask a single question about where she had been.
Amber looked up, staring at Cordelia.
"Mommy, didn't you take Amber because you were afraid Amber would disturb you?"
Last night, Alaric was worried that Donald would be anxious about Cordelia not returning to The Stone Manor, so he called Donald to tell him Cordelia was at Crown Hill Estates.
After hearing this, Amber kept making a fuss about going too.
Donald comforted her for a long time, telling her that Cordelia had gone to treat Alaric's illness, and only then did she quiet down.
The embarrassment in Cordelia's eyes was becoming hard to hide.
She smiled awkwardly and deflected, "Next time I'll take you to see Mr. Hughes, okay?"
Only then did Amber nod obediently, indicating that Cordelia mustn't forget next time.
Donald saw that Cordelia looked like she hadn't rested well and didn't have much energy, so he walked over and picked up Amber.
"Your mommy has been working for a long time and is very tired. Amber, play with me and don't disturb your mommy."
Amber stayed obediently in Donald's arms.
Seeing Cordelia's exhausted appearance, Donald asked softly.
"Have you eaten breakfast? I'll have Allegra heat something up for you. Eat breakfast before you rest."
Cordelia pressed her lips together and said softly, "No need, I just drank a bottle of milk."
Probably because she got drunk last night, she had no appetite now.
On the way back, Alaric bought her a bottle of milk, and now she didn't feel hungry at all, only feeling that her body was extremely tired, as if she had performed surgery all night.
Three years had passed, and last night was her first time having sex in three years, and Alaric hadn't shown any restraint, so she just felt sore all over, feeling like her legs could barely support her body.
"I'm a bit tired, I'll go upstairs and take a nap."
Donald nodded. "Okay."
Amber looked at Cordelia's exhausted appearance, her round big eyes blinking.
"Mommy's work is too hard."
"She didn't even sleep."
Amber's voice revealed concern and heartache. Cordelia stumbled slightly in her steps going upstairs, a strong sense of shame rising in her heart.
She returned to her bedroom, lay on the bed, took out her phone and looked at it, seeing an unread message from Alaric.
She opened the message, only to find that Alaric had already recalled it.
Cordelia held her phone and stared at that unread message for a long time, her curiosity unbearable.
This curiosity about the other person sending her a message that she didn't see before they recalled it lingered in Cordelia's heart.
She took a deep breath, put down her phone, and decided to sleep.
But when she closed her eyes, all she could see in her mind were the words "Alaric recalled a message."
She took a breath, picked up her phone, opened the chat with Alaric, and sent a "?" over.
Right after sending it, she immediately recalled it, and only then did she put down her phone satisfied and go to sleep.
Alaric had just arrived downstairs at the Hughes Group.
He felt his phone vibrate, took out his phone and opened the chat with Cordelia, and saw the words "Cordelia recalled a message."
He frowned, holding his phone and staring at it for a long time.
The elevator arrived at his office floor, and Clio stood at the door, looking respectful.
Seeing Alaric holding his phone and spacing out in the elevator, she reminded him softly.
"Mr. Hughes, the elevator's here."
Hearing this, Alaric nodded slightly and walked out of the elevator, but was obviously distracted.
Clio couldn't help but wonder who had sent Alaric a message.
Who could make the usually spirited Alaric so lost in thought.