Chapter 92 She Apologized Humbly, Looking Pitiful
Everyone eagerly grabbed a glass to taste Allan's homemade wine.
Cordelia got one too.
As everyone clinked their glasses, their eyes turned to Cordelia.
Janet looked puzzled. "Isn't this wine Dr. Stone's favorite?"
With Janet's comment, Allan also turned his gaze to Cordelia. He took great pride in his winemaking skills.
In the past, Cordelia would have taken a sip. But now, she was pregnant and had experienced symptoms of a threatened miscarriage recently, so she couldn't drink.
"No, that's not it."
"I just don't drink."
Allan nodded, understandingly. After all, Cordelia was a doctor, and it made sense for her to abstain from alcohol.
"Then Ms. Stone, please enjoy the food."
Cordelia nodded. "Sure."
She placed her wine glass in front of Alaric and added softly, "I can't drink, but Alaric can drink for me."
Alaric raised an eyebrow and smiled at her.
Cordelia put down the glass and smiled gently. "Drink up."
Her tone was soft, yet carried a hint of command.
Everyone had seen the announcement from the Stone Group the day before, and knew that Alaric and Cordelia were divorced. Seeing Cordelia speak to Alaric like this, their curiosity was piqued.
Alaric looked at the glass in front of him, smiled, and clinked glasses with Allan.
"Mr. Jennings, Cordelia and I wish you and Mrs. Jennings good health."
Allan nodded with a smile, and Cordelia and Delphine raised their water glasses, using water in place of wine.
Seeing Alaric accommodate Cordelia like this, everyone subtly glanced at Janet.
Cordelia took a sip of water, put down her glass, and glanced at Janet.
Janet had tried to set a trap for her, but Cordelia wouldn't let Janet off easily.
Janet gripped her glass tightly, seeing Cordelia's gaze, she bit her lip and pretended to be relaxed.
Cordelia withdrew her gaze and quietly continued eating.
As Alaric started drinking, people at the table began to toast him.
Previously, whenever he visited, he never drank, always finding excuses to avoid it, even when Allan asked.
Today, faced with Cordelia's request, he drank.
The dinner table was often where relationships were built, so naturally, no one wanted to miss this opportunity.
Alaric usually had a high tolerance for alcohol, but today, after a few glasses of wine, he seemed slightly tipsy.
Allan didn't advocate excessive drinking, so he called it a night.
After dinner, the women helped clean up the dishes.
Cordelia, who hadn't helped much before, joined them in the kitchen.
While putting the washed dishes into the cabinet, she accidentally bumped into Janet.
The plate in her hand slipped and shattered on the floor.
Janet let out a startled cry.
Janet's friend Vivian, who was washing dishes, saw the broken pieces and, with her preconceived notions, thought Janet and Alaric were meant to be together. If it weren't for Cordelia's interference, Janet would be Alaric's wife now.
Vivian sighed, her eyes mocking. "Dr. Stone, you're used to a life of luxury. This kind of work isn't suited for you. Why compete with us?"
Cordelia bent down to clean up.
As she picked up a large shard, Janet suddenly grabbed her hand.
Caught off guard, Cordelia instinctively pulled away and cut her finger on the shard.
Janet paused and admonished, "Dr. Stone, don't pick up shards with your bare hands. You'll get hurt."
Alaric, coming from Allan's study, heard the commotion and hurried to the kitchen.
He entered just in time to see Janet holding Cordelia's bleeding hand.
"What the hell is going on here?"
His voice was sharp, his eyes angry.
Janet's expression changed, and she quickly explained, "Alaric, I was just..."
Before she could finish, Alaric strode over, pulled her away, and checked Cordelia's finger.
"What happened?"
He frowned deeply and glanced at Janet, his eyes full of blame.
Janet's face turned pale, she stepped back, looking utterly aggrieved.
Vivian came over to support Janet, glaring at Cordelia.
"Dr. Stone hurt herself. How can you blame Janet?"
Cordelia's expression remained calm. She glanced at Alaric and withdrew her hand, "It's just a minor cut, nothing serious."
Allan approached, seeing Cordelia's injury, he quickly called her to the living room to treat the wound.
Cordelia calmly left the kitchen.
Alaric's eyes darkened as he looked away from Janet and followed Cordelia.
Janet felt a wave of despair, barely able to stand with Vivian's help.
Vivian, who had been Janet's confidante during her relationship with Alaric, was furious at Alaric's distrust and Cordelia's seemingly fake demeanor. She stormed out to confront Cordelia.
"Dr. Stone, Alaric misunderstood Janet. Shouldn't you explain it to him?"
Delphine was applying disinfectant to Cordelia's hand, her expression darkening at Vivian's words.
"Vivian, stop causing trouble."
Vivian, seeing Delphine and Allan siding with Cordelia, was incensed.
"Mrs. Jennings, she's doing this on purpose! It's just a minor cut, it'll heal before she even gets to the hospital. What's with the act?"
Janet quickly tried to calm Vivian down.
"Vivian, stop. It's just a misunderstanding."
Vivian, unwilling to let it go, continued, "What misunderstanding? She's clearly targeting you. You're in debt and lost your job because of her."
Alaric frowned, his face cold as he looked at Vivian.
Vivian was intimidated by his fierce gaze and fell silent.
Cordelia slightly furrowed her brows and looked at Vivian, her eyes calm and graceful.
"Alaric misunderstood her, not me. And what does Ms. Martin's debt have to do with me?"
Vivian was about to respond when Janet quickly pulled her back.
"Stop talking."
Cordelia smiled softly, her eyes fixed on Janet.
"Ms. Martin, you're lucky to have a friend who stands up for you. Let her speak."
"I want to know how these accusations are linked to me."
Janet looked pained and embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Stone. Vivian doesn't know the truth. She just wanted to defend me. I apologize for the trouble."
She apologized humbly, her eyes red, looking pitiful and aggrieved.
Cordelia sat gracefully on the couch, resembling the villain in a novel who bullies the innocent heroine.