Chapter 63
Chapter 63
Cordelia suddenly stopped cutting the meat and bit her lip. A complicated expression flashed through her tiny, pretty face.
Her eyes turned red after falling into a moment of silence. Tears were pouring.
“I’m sorry… I’ve been deceiving you. I’m not Yelena, but Cordelia. I’m not the Jenners’ heiress. I’m just a disgraceful illegitimate daughter. I’m poor…
“If you’re mad, I’m willing to make it up to you. Name whatever you want. All I’m asking is not to be mad at my mom and Carter. They don’t know that I married you. I…”
“Whatever I want?” Smirking, Marcus walked to her.
“Huh?”
He was smiling with his eyes. He said with his voice deepened, “My compensation is expensive.”
Cordelia was scared but said with determination. “It’s okay. Just tell me, and I’ll definitely fulfill you.”
Marcus was intrigued. Suddenly, he embraced her slender waist while looking into her bright eyes.
In all seriousness, he enunciated each word. “I want you to compensate me forever.”
Cordelia was stunned.
“What? Is forever too short?” He chuckled. “Then let’s do that for all our lives to come.”
She stared at him for a while. Like a burden being released, she finally smiled, leaned on him coquettishly, and hugged him tightly.
As usual, Marcus patted her head softly. There was a boundless softness in his deep voice. “I want you, not some Jenners’ heiress. Also… I didn’t come from a prestigious background. I think I hit the jackpot that you’re not disgusted by me.”
“You’re my husband. Why would I be disgusted by you?”
“That’s right.” He looked at her with a smile. “You’re my wife. Why would I be mad at you?”
Cordelia smiled from ear to ear. The two faint dimples contained all of the goodness in the world.
Marcus, on the other hand, looked a little dejected. The person who had been lying was him.
…
Cordelia put the meat and vegetables back in the fridge. Putting on a pretty dress and holding Marcus’ hand, they headed out.
They arrived at the Regalia Hotel and sat at the table near the window again.
She ordered lobster risotto, but she ordered a big portion this time which was enough for the two of them.
“Order whatever you like!” She chuckled playfully. “I got a raise. I can afford to feed you with the commissions and rewards I got before!”
Marcus scratched her nose. “I’ll let you feed me, then.”
“For sure!”
He chuckled and ordered two more dishes and a soup.
However, he asked the attendant to pack the food.
“Why did you do that?” Confused, Cordelia looked at him. “Is it not enough for you to eat here that you want more to go?”
“I ordered these for your mom.” He put down the menu and looked at her quietly.
Cordelia’s heart skipped a beat.
“I suppose she hasn’t eaten yet. Let’s eat quickly so that we can send her the food,” he said softly. “She’s my mom too. We’ll take care of her together.”
“Hubby…” She had a complicated feeling. She felt a lump in her throat and did not know what to say, so she gave him a smile. Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.
“Thanks for your kindness, but I’ll visit her myself. You should go ahead and go home.”
Marcus’ eyes dimmed. “What’s wrong?”
Cordelia forced a smile. “My mom… She’s scared of strangers. To be honest, she can’t even recognize me sometimes. If you appear out of nowhere, I’m worried she might be triggered.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Mental illness.” Her voice was soft. “She hardly has a clear consciousness. She’s delirious most of the time. Not only that, but her illness has caused many of her organs to fail. She almost lost her life once.
“This is the reason I replaced Yelena to marry you.” She bit her lip. “My dad said as long as I agreed to marry you, he’d give me a sum that’s enough to treat my mom.”
Marcus frowned lightly. His eyes were dull.
As usual, Cordelia gave him more than half of the portion when the lobster risotto was served. She even placed the lobster that she carefully peeled onto his plate.
She told her story as she ate with a spoon.
“I don’t know much about my mom, but I heard from the previous maids at the Jenners in the past that she used to be a maid in the family too. One night, my dad went into her room when he was drunk. Then…”
Cordelia paused. Her heart ached when she talked about what her mother had gone through.
“From then on, she became unstable. She didn’t even know that she was pregnant. It was the maids who noticed that. I was mature at that time, and it would have been risky to abort me, so she could only give birth to me.
“Later on, my dad got my mom and me to live here.” Cordelia looked at Marcus. “Since I was young, I don’t remember my dad visiting us often. Joanne, however, would always come and throw a fit. She said every terrible thing, making my mom’s illness even worse.
“My mom never argued with anyone. She would hold everything in to the point that she was sick. IV drops and medicine sustain her life.”
Cordelia sniffled, and her eyes dimmed.
Marcus held her hands. He frowned even more now.
“Then what about Carter?” He was confused. “What’s the story behind it?”