The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan)

Chapter 540

Samantha's words, though stinging, served as a wake-up call for Cordelia. Birchwood was vast, so why

on earth would Petra choose to throw herself off the rooftop of Empower Operations, of all places? It

was clear she didn't want Cordelia to have a moment's peace.

But those thoughts were for another time...

Cordelia tried calling Petra to no avail, and just then, Ronan showed up, sans child. "Where's Callum?"

asked Cordelia, panic edging her voice.

But looking at Ronan's face, not a trace of worry furrowed his brow; he seemed utterly nonchalant.

Cordelia couldn't help but wonder, “Are all these business types so heartless? Peter was one thing, but

Ronan, too?”

"He's with Victoria now. She's watching him. I'll head up," Ronan said, his gaze piercing Petra with a

thinly veiled disdain.

Yet Cordelia's mind raced with other concerns. They were on the brink of a life-or-death situation, and if

Petra did jump, what would become of Cordelia's own standing?

Upon reaching the rooftop, Ronan found Petra in tears, a child in tow. "I can't bear to live with this

shame!" Petra exclaimed at the sight of Ronan. She longed to throw herself into his arms – a rare

opportunity in her most vulnerable moment, yearning for comfort. But noticing Ronan's hands firmly

pocketed, Petra recoiled.

"What are those letters doing on the bulletin board?" Ronan inquired. Victoria had filled him in when he

passed Callum to her; he knew the whole story.

"I returned those love letters to you years ago, and I kept them boxed up and forgot all about them. The

kid must've found them the other day. I meant to trash them - they're history, after all. I thought I

dumped them, but somehow, they ended up on the school's bulletin board. Someone must have found

them." Petra, face in her hands, started crying again.

"Mom, stop crying. What will I do if you jump?" Jayson tugged at Petra's sleeve, his voice trembling. Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

Petra hesitated.

"There’s hope in life. Come down," Ronan said, then turned to leave as if certain Petra wouldn't jump.

Petra touched Jayson's face and followed Ronan down.

Back on the ground, Petra's face was streaked with tears.

Peter, seeing Petra safe and sound, breathed a sigh of relief. A tragedy would've devalued his building,

and then he might’ve been the one contemplating a leap. He grasped Ronan's hand tightly, a gesture

of gratitude, to which Ronan responded with an impassive expression.

Petra, Jayson, and Cordelia got into Ronan's car.

"Dad... I mean, Uncle Ronan, can you stay with mom tonight? I'm afraid she'll do something foolish,"

Jayson asked Ronan, concern lacing his words. "She's unstable."

Hearing this, Cordelia clenched her fist. She wanted Petra to live, but not if she lived as a rival for a

man's affection. Petra's intentions were slowly becoming clear, far more threatening than Deanna's

ever were.

"I'll stay with your mom. Uncle Ronan is a man, so it would be inappropriate," Cordelia interjected.

Petra glanced at Cordelia, then at Ronan, but remained silent. Petra had gambled her dignity, hoping

against hope for a comforting embrace from Ronan. Yet, she received nothing – not even that final

consolation, which came from Cordelia instead.

The Petra of now was no longer content with just seeing Ronan; her ambition had grown. Cordelia had

become an obstacle. Petra's feelings for Cordelia had shifted from utilitarian to spiteful. Human greed

knows no bounds; once, she had merely wished to see Ronan, but now, she wanted him to be hers.