Chapter 78 Should Never Have Agreed to Divorce from the Beginning
Cordelia smiled faintly and said softly, "The wedding must be a blast. I wanted my wedding to be there too."
Her voice carried a touch of regret.
Hearing this, Dominic's eyes flickered slightly, and he said gently, "There'll be other chances."
Cordelia nodded lightly and replied, "Yeah, if I ever get married again, I'll definitely have it there."
After her marriage with Alaric, Cordelia had no plans to remarry. But to seem more relaxed, she smiled and responded to Dominic.
As Alaric walked to the door with a gift box, he overheard Cordelia's words. His eyes darkened slightly, and he followed the servant into the living room.
"Mr. Stone, Ms. Stone, Mr. Hughes is here," the servant announced.
Cordelia and Alaric's divorce had been so sudden that the servant almost forgot to change how she addressed them.
Due to Cordelia's health issues, Donald had treated Alaric more coldly. Seeing him enter, he nodded slightly, "Mr. Hughes, please have a seat."
Alaric noticed the change in Donald's tone, but he stayed composed. He took a seat opposite Cordelia and Dominic.
"Didn't expect to see you here, Mr. Gray," Alaric remarked.
Dominic responded calmly, "I heard Cordelia was hurt, so I came to check on her. Didn't expect to see you here too, Mr. Hughes."
Alaric didn't respond further. His gaze, now cold, shifted to Cordelia. She sat obediently next to Dominic, looking gentle and demure. They seemed like a perfect match—one gentle and elegant, the other warm and charming.
A wave of frustration surged within Alaric as he handed the gift box to Allegra. "This is a bag my grandma bought for you. She asked me to bring it over."
Allegra placed the gift box next to Cordelia. Cordelia's expression remained calm as she opened the box. Inside was a luxurious handbag, and she paused for a moment.
Though Cordelia wasn't into brand names, she knew luxury items. This bag was a new, limited edition from a high-end brand, with only seven available worldwide, priced over three million dollars.
Cordelia understood that Ruth wanted to make amends for the recent scare with her pregnancy. If she didn't accept the bag, Ruth would feel uneasy. Cordelia smiled lightly, placed the bag back in the box, and handed it to Allegra. Then she turned to Alaric.
"I'll call Mrs. Hughes later to thank her."
Alaric nodded. After a few seconds, he stood up, using work as an excuse to leave.
Cordelia noticed the hidden anger in Alaric's eyes and felt puzzled, but she didn't dwell on it. She shifted her focus away from him.
Donald politely saw Alaric out of the Stone Manor.
Evelyn, having finished her work, returned to the manor and, after greeting everyone, left with Dominic for the airport to attend Arabella's wedding in Astoria.
After they left, the Stone Manor fell into a brief silence. Donald went to the kitchen to prepare a nutritious dinner for Cordelia. Lately, her appetite had improved significantly, which kept Donald in good spirits.
After dinner, Cordelia called Ruth to express her gratitude. They chatted for a while until Cordelia felt sleepy, and Ruth ended the call.
Seeing Cordelia getting drowsy, Allegra approached to help her. "Cordelia, let me help you upstairs to rest."
Cordelia nodded. As she placed her hand on Allegra's arm, footsteps echoed from the door.
"I'll do it," Alaric's voice, rough and serious, cut through the silence as he stepped forward.
Allegra was stunned. Cordelia was also taken aback. They were already divorced, yet Alaric seemed to be showing up more often.
"Mr. Hughes, what brings you here?" Cordelia asked.
Alaric's gaze deepened as he walked up to her, bent slightly, and lifted her into his arms. She felt heavier now, a sign she had gained some weight.
Cordelia was shocked and struggled a bit. "Mr. Hughes, I can walk on my own."
Alaric frowned and said coldly, "Grandma said you got hurt because of me, so she asked me to come and apologize. This is my way of apologizing. If you keep struggling and get hurt again, I can't take responsibility."
Cordelia's expression changed slightly, but she calmed down and stopped struggling.
Alaric carried her upstairs. Allegra followed closely behind, noticing Alaric's slow pace, clearly dragging out the moment. She felt a hint of disdain—he hadn't cherished Cordelia before their divorce, but now he seemed eager to be close to her.
Donald was in the study, hosting a video meeting for Evelyn. Evelyn would be in Astoria for a week, arranging their accommodations, leaving the Stone Group in Donald's hands.
When Donald finished the meeting and stepped out of the study, he saw Alaric carrying Cordelia towards her bedroom, with Allegra cautiously following behind.
Donald spoke up, "Do I need to take my medicine now?"
Allegra nodded immediately, "Yes, Mr. Stone."
Donald remained calm, "Please prepare my medication."
Allegra nodded and went downstairs.
Hearing Donald's voice, Alaric turned towards the study. "Mr. Stone," he greeted.
Donald nodded, looking at Cordelia, who seemed uncomfortable and eager to get down. He gave a heavy reminder, "Cordelia hasn't been feeling well lately. If you need anything, you can talk to me."
Alaric was momentarily stunned but replied, "Okay."
Cordelia took the opportunity to slide out of Alaric's arms and, limping slightly, made her way to her bedroom. Alaric reached out to help her, but she shut the door abruptly, nearly catching his hand.
Alaric stared at the closed door, frowning.
Donald glanced at him and said calmly, "Let's talk in the study."
With that, he turned and entered the study. Alaric followed.
In the bedroom, Cordelia lay on the bed. She had rushed too much, and the pain in her ankle flared up, causing her discomfort and a fine layer of sweat on her forehead.
Donald looked at Alaric, who sat across from him, unusually subdued and dejected. It was a complex feeling.
Alaric had always been somewhat arrogant and distant, even in front of him. Now, sitting properly with a humble attitude was unexpected.
"Alaric, I admire you. Cordelia used to like you a lot. I can't meddle in young people's affairs, but I don't want to see my daughter hurt."
"You've been married to Cordelia for three years. I've never asked anything of you. Now, I only ask you to stay away from Cordelia."
"I can't bear to see her get hurt again."
Alaric paused, about to speak, but Donald waved his hand. "Go home now. I need to take my medicine."
Seeing Donald's emotional state, Alaric took a deep breath, stood up, and looked at Donald seriously. "Mr. Stone, take care."
Donald nodded in acknowledgment.
As Alaric left the study, he glanced towards Cordelia's bedroom, feeling a mix of emotions. Perhaps he never should have agreed to the divorce in the first place.