Ch. 231..240

Chapter 231

Chapter 231

Zennie got up from the bed with a stretch and leaned against the doorframe groggily. Once she smelled the aroma wafting from the kitchen, she perked up and ran out with her bare feet. As expected, the dining table that greeted her did not disappoint!

"Whoa, Cordelia, do you have magic?" She gasped. "You made so many things this early in the morning!"

Cordelia chuckled and considered it done as she placed the pot of chicken soup on the table.

"Dig in!" She passed the cutlery to Zennie.

"I don't know what you like, so I made a bit of both sweet and savory. I hope you're fine with the food!"

"How could I not be!?" Zennie was like a greedy little kitten as she munched on a pancake and held a bun in her hand, eating happily.

Breakfast like this was comforting, and it was as if Cordelia had magic. She made all these ordinary dishes taste so amazing that the chefs Zennie had at home could not compare to her.

It was no wonder that her brother wanted to stay with her. It seemed that a man's appetite must be won over before his heart.

Zennie giggled upon thinking about it.

"What's up?" Cordelia looked at her strangely. "You're so happy having breakfast."

"Nothing, nothing! I just think that Marcus must be so happy to have you! I feel so happy having the breakfast you made too!"

Cordelia blushed.

Zennie sounded exactly like Marcus. Why did these two like talking about feeling happy so much?

She beamed and poured Zennie some milk.

"Zennie, you're staying at Regalia, right? I'll send you back later."

"It's alright!" Zennie grinned. "Someone's picking me up!"

"Who is it?"

Zennie tried to hide her smile, but it was easy to guess that the person picking her up must be a man considering how in love she looked.

A moment later, Cordelia proved her guess right.

Zennie introduced the guy to her downstairs. "This is Phil Nelson, m-my friend!"

'More like boyfriend...'

Cordelia did not expose her. After all, the girl was only 18 years old and would be utterly embarrassed if she was exposed.

Cordelia scanned the boy. He looked tall and clean, a good-looking one who would stand out even among a crowd. For some reason, though, she felt chills when she met his eyes. The boy had an exceptionally depressing aura. Perhaps this was the type young girls liked.

Cordelia smiled politely and saw Zennie intertwining their fingers.

"Cordelia, we'll be leaving then!"

"Mm, be careful."

Zennie skipped away with Phil, but Cordelia could not help the strange feeling that lingered.

...

Zephyr was in the meeting room of Hamerton Manor's main building. He had just discussed some company matters with a few major shareholders.

He leaned back against his chair, rubbed between his eyes tiredly, and then pulled out his phone to browse Cordelia's texts out of habit.

The more recent one was from this morning. Cordelia was learning how to bake a black forest cake, so she had taken a photo and sent it to him.

The corners of Zephyr's lips went up. His expression, which had been icy during the meeting just now, was beginning to melt. He really wanted to go back sooner, but...

Robert came in. Zephyr asked him softly, "How's grandpa now?"

"Fine, I think," answered Robert. "A few hospital directors are checking on him and staying around. He'll be fine.

"But he won't be able to manage the company affairs now."

Zephyr's smile froze.

The night when he nearly choked Yale to death, news about his grandfather getting severely ill came along. A few butlers and servants who usually served Liam had said that the old man had been frightened by him and that his blood pressure had shot up, knocking him out.

Chapter 232

Chapter 232

Liam was ultimately out of the critical state, but he could not tire himself out or receive any shock.

Zephyr could only run the Hamerton Group on his behalf for the time being.

As a result, his return to Jangasas kept being delayed.

Cordelia did not complain about it. She only asked him to do whatever he had to without worry. It was just that Zephyr could hardly not be worried. He would not have peace as long as he did not see her. "Can grandpa meet anyone now?"

"Uncle Clark says that Mr. Matthew's taking care of him."

Zephyr paused and scoffed. He recalled Kate arguing with Henry on the phone two days ago. The cause of it seemed to be Kate asking Henry to take care of Liam since the latter was ill, but Henry, who was slow, remained silent.

Kate had scolded him, "Are you going to let your younger brother outshine you again when you refuse to do anything now? Henry Hamerton, why are you so pathetic!? You won't even get any leftovers if you fight for it with Matthew!"

Well, guess who was right?

Zephyr shook his head and was going to get up when his assistant for the Hamerton Group knocked and came in to drop off another stack of documents.

"Mr. Zephyr, this is the trial proposal for the company's reorganization. Mr. Liam's asked you to hold a meeting with relevant departments today and come up with a preliminary outcome." Zephyr squinted.

His grandfather doted on him. Even when he was energetic in the past, the old man would never make him do so much within a day. Why was he doing this now?

With how unusual things were going, he doubted Liam's intention.

"Got it." Zephyr remained indifferent. "Fix the meeting at 4:00 p.m. I have an hour of free time before that. I'd like to visit grandpa first."

There was a subtle change in the assistant's expression. "Mr. Zephyr, you...."

"What?" Zephyr's presence was intimidating. "My grandfather's ill, and I want to visit him. Are you going to stop me?"

Robert went up to stop the assistant. The latter dared not move and could only watch Zephyr leave.

Liam leaned against the bed. The several big screens across him showed the recent data and reports of the company, as well as the outcome of Zephyr's management over these few days. He nodded with an expression of approval.

Matthew came in with a bowl of tonic and placed it by the bed. He only dared to serve it to Liam after the tonic cooled down.

"Dad, I made this, especially for you. Try it?"

Liam glanced at him and got the remote control to turn off the screen.

"Hah, dad." Matthew continued to say obsequiously, "Zephyr's marvelous! He's running the Hamerton Group so well in just a few days. Everyone in the company says that he's like you back then!" "Of course." Liam smiled. "How could I go wrong with the person I trained personally?"

Matthew was resentful but could not show it.

"Right, Zephyr beat up Yale previously. Is he okay?"

"Certainly!" Matthew answered with a smile, "This brat, Yale, needed to be taught a lesson. Zephyr is right hitting him!"

"I know you're just saying that. Hah, it's your son. You'd be in pain too!"

"Dad..."

"I've advised Zephyr. It's only a woman. No need to get petty with his elder cousin." Liam took a sip of the tonic. It tasted decent.

"Actually, it's a misunderstanding this time." Matthew explained, "That woman wasn't Cordelia Jenner..."

"Even though it wasn't her, it's obvious that Zephyr will lose his cool anytime the woman is around." Liam's gaze darkened. "So Cordelia Jenner must still be eliminated!"

Matthew thought that this was his chance-it was finally time for him to prove himself!

"Dad, I have an idea, but I don't know if it's worth trying it out."

Liam turned to him. His judging gaze felt sharp as he smirked. "I heard that you found a secret weapon and have been keeping it?"

Matthew's heart dropped.

"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking." Liam scoffed. "But since you have a secret weapon, you might as well use it."

"Dad, you mean..." Matthew blinked. "Let Marcus Grist get rid of Cordelia?"

Chapter 233

Chapter 233

His thought was precisely what Matthew had in mind.

Although Marcus had been secretly trained since he was caught, he could not be compared to Zephyr. Who they were at their core were different. No matter how the man was trained, a mouse could never turn into a tiger.

The plan to let Marcus pretend to be Zephyr and send him to Chaiseland to sign the loan... The one in Chaiseland was Zephyr's mother! If something happened, Matthew would be in big trouble. "Does that Marcus really look like Zephyr?" Liam asked him calmly.

Matthew sweated. "Yes... It's said that the Jenners have a marriage agreement with him. For some reason, though, our Zephyr, who had been recuperating in that village—"

Matthew clamped his mouth straight away. If he went on, the plane crash would inevitably be brought up.

"Anyway... that's basically the case!" Matthew chuckled. "Dad, it's a misunderstanding. Maybe Zephyr hasn't met a naive woman from a small place and is only after the novelty.

"When the woman is wiped out, Zephyr will still be the best heir of the Hamertons! Haha..."

Matthew was genuinely laughing this time.

Wiping Cordelia out would be killing Zephyr! This would be much more efficient and useful than tinkering with the plane. Moreover, he would not be directly blamed for it. Liam hated the woman too! The more Matthew thought about it, the wiser he thought he was.

He grinned. "Dad, don't worry. I've already found Cordelia's address. She's opened up a small cafe with Zephyr in Jangasas.

"I'll send Marcus over now. You have to keep Zephyr here!"

Liam looked up at him with a smile. "Sure, you're in charge. Make sure it's clean!"

"But if Zephyr wants to get to the bottom of it..." Matthew had to watch out for the family's overlord. After all, he did not want his grave on Splendor Mountain.

"I'll handle him if that happens!" replied Liam.

That was all Matthew was waiting for. He left, chuckling after that.

"Book Marcus a flight right now. To Jangasas two hours from now!" He made arrangements immediately.

"When he wipes Cordelia out..." Matthew lowered his voice. "Look for a chance and take him out too!"

Before Zephyr got to the main building's door, he saw Clark coming out from there.

"Is grandpa doing better?"

"Much better." Clark had a guilty conscience.

"What does the doctor say?"

"Well..." Clark had no idea what to answer.

Sometimes, he could not figure out what Liam was doing either. Even if he wanted Zephyr to take over the company, he could say it openly. Why must he pretend to be ill? Was he worried that Zephyr would leave Centrolis again?

Even if Zephyr was not in Centrolis, he still worked hard for the company.

Clark shook his head and sighed.

"Sir, age is probably catching up to Mr. Liam. He's not like he used to be. Furthermore, he's not in a good mood. You've got to understand him more."

"Mm." Zephyr nodded. "I'll go take a look."

"He's just fallen asleep." Clark gave him a stack of documents. "Before he slept, he asked you to finish going through these and come again in the evening."

"But didn't he just meet Uncle Matthew?"

Clark froze. "Mr. Matthew did come. He left after sending the tonic."

Zephyr's brows were scrunched together. He kept feeling that something was not right.

He stood outside for some time and turned back to his meeting room. The endless business meetings tired him out. He wanted to lie in the room but received an international call simultaneously.

Chapter 234

Chapter 234

"Hello, Zephyr!" Zephyr knew just from hearing the voice that it was the speed demon.

Zephyr chuckled. "Mom, why are you calling at this hour?"

When considering the time difference, it was supposed to be morning in Ricos. His mother was important in the company, so it was impossible she was free to call and chat just as she started work. "Answer mine first! Didn't you say you have a fake son for me and ask me to capture him alive?

"It's been days. Where's the guy?"

Zephyr frowned. By right, Matthew and Yale should have already made their move.

Zephyr hung up and felt a premonition.

He asked seriously, "Robert, what has Uncle Matthew been doing these days?"

"I think he's been staying by Mr. Liam's side."

"What about Yale?"

Before Robert could answer, the upsetting sense in Zephyr grew stronger. He had never felt something like this. It was like his heart was sliced.

He unconsciously called Cordelia, but no one answered. Zephyr's face fell, and he decided right away. "Book me a flight. I'm going back to Jangasas right now!"

"But sir-"

"Do you not understand what I said!?"

Zephyr was restless for some reason. He tugged his tie and felt his heart thumping.

Cordelia was ready to close the cafe in the evening when she heard noises at the door.

She looked out only to see a tall figure stepping into the porch. Delighted and surprised, she cried, "Darling!"

The man froze a little. As he slowly looked up, he did not seem that charming under the golden hour, and there was a sense of perverseness in his eyes. It was just that this face looked too much like Zephyr's. "Honey! Didn't you say you could only make it back in another week? You're making a surprise attack again. Are you trying to surprise me?"

Cordelia ran over like a gleeful bird and threw herself into his arms to hug him tightly. However, the moment she wrapped her arms around him, an odd feeling suddenly rushed into her.

She paused and let go to look up at him carefully.

What the man wore was not what she had packed for him.

The man's gaze felt rather foreign, but when he met her eyes, she could clearly see the lust in them... He was scanning her recklessly, and that desire raised goosebumps.

Chills ran down Cordelia's spine, and she could not help stepping back.

In the past, when he came back after a few days, he would... too, but he would never look at her like this. What had gotten into him?

Cordelia's heart drummed. She forced a smile. "Darling, are you tired? Why don't you rest up? I'll make something simple for you."

Marcus nodded and walked into the cafe.

Cordelia followed and looked out unconsciously. 'It is strange. Did he not drive back? Where is his luggage?'

She had already changed him out of the habit of wearing black, and he usually wore white and gray... Why was he back wearing all black again today?

Cordelia's mind was a mess. There was an inexplicable change in her husband today that uneased her.

"Why are you standing there?" Marcus turned around. "Come in!"

Startled, Cordelia ran over and tried to hook arms with him.

"Darling, did you... catch a cold? Why's your voice so hoarse?"

Chapter 235

Chapter 235

Marcus looked alarmed and gripped the dagger he hid in his sleeve.

Matthew had told him before he came that he should act fast and speak less, so others would not notice anything.

This woman did not seem easy to handle. Moreover, he had to drag her to some deserted area to kill her. It would be rather dumb to kill her in the cafe.

Marcus could not help looking at Cordelia again. This was her, the wife Zephyr had married in place of him!

He did not expect Zephyr to have settled his marriage for him when he was roaming the streets with a finger chopped.

He narrowed his eyes. Cordelia was pretty. It was a pity to kill her. At least, he should enjoy his time with her first.

Marcus cracked a grin. A wash of evil gleamed in his eyes.

He coughed to cover it while Cordelia quickly poured him some water and asked him to sit and wait. She put on the apron with ease and started to cook.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the man fidgeting on the chair. He looked around with a strange expression, studying even a small coffee cup.

This was a heaven-and-earth difference from the Marcus she knew.

Cordelia paused what she was doing and saw the box of fennel seeds on the side. Without much thought, she grabbed some and sprinkled them over the baked chicken rice she had just made. "Darling, the food's ready." She served it with a smile.

Marcus was startled and nearly dropped the cup with his hand. While he extended a hand to steady the cup, Cordelia noticed the finger cot over his left pinky.

She was astonished. "Darling, what happened to your hand? Did you get hurt!?"

Marcus snapped his head up to glare at her.

Cordelia froze. She had never seen such a ferocious gaze.

"Honey, you..."

"I'm fine." Marcus lowered his head and picked up the spoon with his left hand out of habit before stuffing a spoonful of rice into his mouth.

He ate noisily and spat whatever he did not like on the floor.

What rang a siren in Cordelia was that he did not mind the taste of the fennel seeds! Her husband hated them!

Feeling chills on her back and beads of cold sweat on her palms, Cordelia kept her eyes on him as she slowly inched back.

Marcus finished the baked rice swiftly and wiped his mouth in satisfaction. Cordelia went over to clean up. As he watched her slim figure busy about, he smirked.

"D-Do you want coffee?" Cordelia was unnerved when she met his gaze.

Marcus licked his lips and swiped the corner of his lips with his thumb. He wore an evil smirk.

"Never mind coffee. It's bitter. I've never gotten used to it!"

Cordelia sucked in a cold breath.

Her mind flashed with the person she had met on the beach when she stayed at the hot spring hotel in Centrolis...

The man closed in on her and suddenly pulled out a dagger. The savage glint in his eyes weaved in with the icy gleam of the dagger!

Cordelia screamed and ran for the door instinctively, but her hair was grabbed, and she was dragged back.

"No... Help!

"Honey, save me! Marcus, save me!"

Marcus cackled and threw her to the side.

Cordelia's forehead knocked the bar, and she bled.

Marcus took the opportunity to lock the cafe's door.

Cordelia endured the pain and forced herself to stay conscious. She saw the man slowly walk over to her like a demon. His leather boots on the wooden floor sounded like death knocking. "Hah, stop crying." He smiled. "I am Marcus!"

There was a buzz in Cordelia's ears as she widened her eyes in disbelief.

"You wouldn't not know who you married, huh?" Marcus drew the dagger against her neck. "Hah, I'm your husband. You're my wife!"

"No, no!"

Cordelia's heart shattered. The despair felt like she had stepped into an abyss.

"I know you might be upset when I say this, but I'm your husband!" Marcus snickered. "Don't worry, I'll do it fast, so your death's easier since we're husband and wife!"

Chapter 236

Chapter 236

"But before this..."

...

Zephyr called Cordelia non-stop once he got out of the plane, but no one answered. The premonition ate at him like hundreds of thousands of worms.

He rushed home but saw the men Robert had sent downstairs. They were dumbstruck when they saw him.

"Mr. Zephyr, a-aren't you... in the cafe?"

"What?" Zephyr's heart lurched. "What cafe?"

"Two of our guys there said that they saw you enter the cafe with your own eyes! Robert told us before not to disturb you and Ms. Jenner, so they left after seeing you go in!"

"Damn it!"

Zephyr understood it instantly.

The one who had entered the cafe was Marcus Grist, and right now... Cordelia was facing him alone!

"Drive me there right now!"

The bodyguards exchanged a look and got into the car to drive to the cafe the fastest they could.

Cordelia's face was swollen from Marcus' numerous slaps. Her consciousness was slowly leaving her as well. She clung to the last iota of energy to struggle, but Marcus had the dagger against her neck and cut through her skin. Blood was slowly seeping while his other hand tore her clothes abruptly!

"Wait!" Cordelia cried with all her might. "Marcus.... I-I don't want it here..."

"What did you say?"

Cordelia forced back her tears and calmed down the best she could. "I mean, the floor's too cold..."

"Hah, that's a lot to ask!"

"Because I'm going to die..." Cordelia looked at him.

"Marcus, I'm already trapped here. Are you worried that I'll escape? You said that we're husband and wife, after all. Are you really not agreeing to your wife's first and last request to you?" Marcus looked around. "Where do you say we go then?"

"That storeroom is alright." Cordelia pointed. "There's a mattress in there, and it's soundproof. No one can hear us."

Marcus' hand holding the dagger moved, and the blade left Cordelia's neck.

"If you don't believe me, just tie me up and bring me in."

"Tie you up?"

"Yeah." Cordelia's heart thumped. "Don't you have a belt?"

Marcus looked down and suddenly smirked evilly. He did not expect the woman to like it this way when she looked docile and quiet. Blinded by desire, he put down the dagger to take off his belt. Cordelia was on the floor. While Marcus removed his belt, she suddenly sprang up and kicked the dagger far away. She could not fight him, but she would rather both of them not have it! Marcus was caught unaware. Before he could react, he saw Cordelia grabbing an ashtray from the counter and hurling it at him.

"Ah!" Marcus' flesh split from the blow, and blood flowed from his head.

"F*ck, you b*tch!

"Playing tricks with me, aren't you?"

Cordelia grabbed the glass shard from the floor to stab Marcus, but he was prepared this time. He caught her wrist and twisted it.

Cordelia's head tingled from the pain, and she fell with a thud.

Marcus picked up the dagger again. The gleaming blade hurt Cordelia's eyes.

"B*tch! I'll send you off to h*ll right now!"

Chapter 237

Chapter 237

In Cordelia's daze, she heard a loud noise. The sound of a bullet penetrating glass was deafening. Then, chaos ensued.

Cordelia slumped on the floor, fading into black. She was hanging on to the last sliver of will as she crawled out.

"Honey, save me..."

In spite of it, a hand abruptly grabbed her hair!

The pain, like her scalp was splitting from her skull, made her cry. Before she fell unconscious, she felt an icy blade cut into her skin, and she vaguely heard the man's voice. "Mr. Z, hah... Let me go, and I'll give this woman to you. What do you think?

"You aren't making any loss in this deal! As long as you let me go, I promise I won't appear before you again...

"My wife is yours from now on!"

With Zephyr's growl, his bodyguards surrounded Marcus, but they dared not move recklessly. There was a dagger against Cordelia's neck, and blood was slowly trickling out. Marcus snickered. Just when he got to the door, he shoved Cordelia to Zephyr.

The bodyguards gave chase, but Marcus hopped into a black car stopped by the road. The car had no registration plates and was as if it had been waiting by the road.

The bodyguards failed to catch the man and could not see the person driving the car, so they returned for Zephyr's order.

"To the hospital! Quickly!"

Zephyr had Cordelia in his arms all the way-his body and hands were stained with her blood. He was at a loss. His chaotic mind was blank. He tried to stop her blood in various ways, but it was like it could not be stopped.

"Cordelia! Cordelia!" Zephyr called her in a frenzy. "Open your eyes and look at me!"

Cordelia did not have any reaction. Her face and lips were pale.

Zephyr called her name hopelessly and repeatedly. This was the first time he felt death this close to him.

The black car without plates sped all the way to the desolated suburbs.

The wind by the river was stronger than in the city. The car window was down all the way, and Marcus wanted to close it of how bad it made him feel when he caught the person's dark gaze in the mirror. The man said with a smile, "Mr. Grist, you don't seem to have completed Mr. Matthew's mission."

"You..." It was only then Marcus snapped back to reality. Why and how had he hopped into that car?

When he ran out of the cafe, this car stopped right in front of him... as if it was prepared specially for him. The escape was unbelievably smooth.

However, the more it was like this, the more anxious he was.

"Why were you waiting for me there?"

"Of course, it's on Mr. Matthew's order," the man answered nonchalantly. He turned on the car speaker as well. The heavy metal music was grating on the ears, like the shrill cries of the ghosts. "Mr. Matthew said that after you take Cordelia out, I should... take you out!"

Marcus widened his eyes. He had a hand on the car door as he looked at the man alertly.

The young man before him was fair and clean-looking. He looked harmless, but the glum and ferocity in his eyes did not look like they belonged to a boy merely 20 years of age.

"Don't worry, Mr. Grist." He smiled. "If I wanted to kill you, I'd have done so long ago. I wouldn't drive you here."

Marcus gulped. "What do you want?"

The guy pulled a thick envelope and a business card out of the glove compartment.

"Take this money and go to this address,” he said. "Someone will take you there. The money should be enough for you to go into hiding for some time."

Marcus was lost. He dared not take it, unsure if this would be another trap.

Chapter 238

Chapter 238

"I already informed Mr. Matthew when you failed to kill Cordelia." The man turned to face Marcus. "Mr. Matthew's the one who gave you this sum of money. He said to keep you as you'll still be useful!" The young man suddenly extended a hand to pinch Marcus' face. He looked as if he was just pulling a trick.

"Hah, I think Mr. Matthew's plan is great... It'd be a pity if your face were gone!"

Marcus' hair stood on end. Even when he had spent so long in prison and met gangsters like Nicholas, they were unlike this guy in front of him who sent chills down his spine. "Go." The car was parked at the curb, and the sinister voice was heard in Marcus' ears. "Heh... You'll be useful in the future!"

Marcus opened the car door and fled with the money.

The guy in the car pressed his cap lower, his fair face wearing a smirk.

Zephyr had been waiting outside the emergency doors.

The blood on his hands had dried to a dull red color. His hands were intertwined and shaking slightly, but his expression was icy with a wash of murderous aura in his eyes.

His bodyguards stood behind him in a row, looking serious. The leader went up and said in a lowered tone, "Mr. Zephyr, the surveillance cameras of each junction are basically pulled up. It's confirmed that the car went toward the suburbs.

"But... the driver is sly. And there are a lot of cars without registration plates like this in Jangasas. There's also nothing special about the car model, so investigating it is difficult." Zephyr was silent and terrifyingly cold.

Linda paced back and forth anxiously. Her hands were balled next to her mouth as she nipped on her nails.

The light above the emergency doors felt like a ball of fire that burned her heart.

Nicholas patted her shoulders and glanced at Zephyr. His intention was to ask her to sit down and wait quietly, but she asked with a frown, "Is this man really Zephyr Hamerton?" Nicholas looked at her helplessly and pressed his lips together. Since Linda knew that Cordelia was met with a mishap, she had asked this question no less than 20 times. Each time, Nicholas could only patiently explain, "Yes, he's Zephyr Hamerton, the third heir Mr. Z Hamerton from Ceontrolis..."

Linda gritted her teeth and growled in a low tone, "Nicholas Thompson, you knew everything!"

"Linda, I-"

"How dare you lie to us with him for so long!?" Linda gave him a shove out of anger.

"Nicholas, aren't you a good actor? Should I give you an award?"

Nicholas could not do anything and could only let Linda hit and scold him to vent.

"Why didn't you tell us earlier? Must you wait until something happens to Cordelia? Are you happy now!?"

The more Linda talked, the angrier she grew. After she shoved Nicholas, her flame of fury burned brighter when she saw Zephyr sitting there in a daze. Her hand went up to give him a slap. Nicholas rushed to bring her wrist down.

"Let go of me!" Linda growled, "I'm going to kill this sc*m today!"

"Don't... No, Linda, don't act recklessly!"

"Let go of me!"

Zephyr's bodyguards went forward, but no one dared lay a finger on Linda in front of Nicholas.

Linda finally quieted down after venting. She looked at Zephyr coldly and suddenly chortled. "Hah, right, I shouldn't be the one slapping you. Cordelia should!"

"Linda!" Nicholas kept eyeing her with an emphasized call of her name.

"What? Should I be afraid of him just because he's Z Hamerton?" Linda straightened up and pointed at Zephyr with a huff.

"I'll have you know... I don't care if you're Zephyr Hamerton or Marcus Grist. You're a sc*m as long as you hurt Cordelia. You're my enemy!

"Nicholas!" She turned back to glare at him. "What should you do when someone has a grudge against me?"

Chapter 239

Chapter 239

Nicholas stood rooted with his temples throbbing. After a moment, he looked at Linda with a complicated gaze and said, "Calm down, okay? Zephyr doesn't wish for this either..." "What doesn't he wish for?" Linda raised her voice. "Hah, he's bored of living his rich heir life in Centrolis and came here pretending to be a former convict to get married?"

"Don't make it sound so bad. You don't understand. He was conspired against and got seriously injured. That's why he hid his identity in Jangasas!"

Linda was quiet for a moment and scanned him judgingly before she scoffed. "You knew so much?"

Nicholas was rendered speechless.

"Nicholas Thompson!"

Nicholas wanted nothing more than to slap himself.

"Zephyr Hamerton!" Linda's voice was shaking from how furious she was. "Recover and recuperate all you want. Why get Cordelia involved?

"Do you really think you're a prince? Hah, being a womanizer even when you're badly injured. How much will your rich heir friends be envious of you when you talk about it in the future? Am I right? "But what about Cordelia? Will you really be able to marry her!?"

"Linda!" Nicholas looked stern. "Enough!"

Linda took a deep breath and forced her tears back.

The hallway fell into silence suddenly, as if warped into a vacuum.

The light above the emergency ward went out a while later, and Zephyr got up to run over.

"Don't worry. She's not in a critical state." Seth came out with a relieved smile. "Fortunately, the cut was shallow and didn't cut the artery. As for her other injuries, they're superficial wounds. She just has to rest up."

Zephyr's lips wobbled, and his eyes turned red.

Seth had mixed feelings facing him again. Never in his dreams would he have thought that the man he had saved back then was so distinguished.

He said softly, "M-Mr... Hamerton, the nurses are finishing up inside. Once there's no anomaly after some observation, Cordelia will be wheeled to the ward." Zephyr nodded and thanked him softly.

Seth licked his lips. "Also, I suggest that Linda keeps her company for now..."

"Why?" Zephyr was alarmed.

"She was almost assaulted. There's definitely repulsion toward men. It's a normal reaction. Give her some time and let her recover slowly."

Zephyr was silent with glum.

Linda nodded quickly. "I can do it! I'll go home and pack now and come keep her company!"

"Then... then I'll go with you!" Nicholas followed her.

"No need!" Linda glared at him. "Mr. Thompson, take a break! You men are all liars! All rotten!"

"Linda, you can't overgeneralize us. I'm different from Zephyr "

Linda turned back to glare at him as if saying with her eyes, "Are you saying eight years isn't much for a lie?"

Nicholas caved immediately, standing on the spot and sighing as he listened to the vanishing sound of her heels clicking on the floor at the other end of the hallway.

"I told you to tell her earlier, yet you had to stall it!" he complained to Zephyr. "You're setting me up for this!

"Zephyr, I don't care. You either appease Cordelia or give me back my wife!"

Seth chuckled soundlessly. He was also being lied to for a very long time.

"Yeah, it doesn't feel good being lied to," he said softly. "Mr. Hamerton, even I'm upset that you've gone from Marcus Grist to Zephyr Hamerton all of a sudden. What more could Cordelia feel?" Zephyr bit his lips, his deep eyes oozing despair.

He did not want to lie to her. He could not help it in the past and wanted a chance to tell her everything now... It was just one step away-one small step, and she was nearly killed... Zephyr's palms were cold. The lingering fear could still be felt.

The nurse wheeled Cordelia into the hospital ward.

Zephyr paced around the door for a long time before carefully opening the door and going in softly.

On the bed, Cordelia's cheeks were swollen and bruised. There was a thick bandage of gauze on her wrist. The most shocking injury was the wound on her neck.

Zephyr could never forget the scene when he barged in. Cordelia had been on the floor, wounded and most of her clothes torn, as she had been crying "Honey, save me" in despair...

It hurt so much that Zephyr felt like his insides were crushed.

He sat by the bed and held her cold hand. There was a pinch in his nose, and the corner of his lips felt bitter.

There was movement on Cordelia's lids. Zephyr held his breath as he looked at her silently.

"No... Don't come over, help..."

Cordelia was still in the nightmare. The man with his pinky missing was cackling, holding a knife. She had called him darling, but he wanted to kill her...

"Ah!"

Cordelia cried as her eyes flew open. The pain all over her felt like she was in hell.

Suddenly, someone's gentle voice was heard from the side. "Cordelia..."

As her consciousness came back to her, she focused her gaze on looking at the man in front of her. He was still handsome with his sculpted face and dark eyes, and the warmth of his hand still felt the same, but...

"I'm Marcus, you're my wife!"

"Mr. Z Hamerton, let me go, and I'll give this woman to you. This is a good deal!"

"B*tch, I'll send you to hell right now!"

Cordelia felt like her head was splitting. Her heart drummed. She pulled her hand back abruptly and looked at the man before her in terror.

"Cordelia." Zephyr's voice was hoarse. "Don't be scared. It's me..."

"Go away!"

Cordelia wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, curled up and quivering. "Honey!"

"Who are you?" Her tears fell.

Zephyr's heart felt like it was being stabbed. He tried to stroke her hair.

"Don't touch me!"

"Cordelia..."

"I beg you, don't stay in front of me!" Cordelia was bawling as she buried herself in the blanket. "I can see you hitting me once I close my eyes..." "That person wasn't me."

Cordelia showed her eyes from the blanket after a moment. Her bright eyes lost their luster, which was replaced by fear and terror.

"I know. That's Marcus Grist," she said softly. "But I've always thought that you are Marcus Grist."

Zephyr clenched his fists, not feeling the pain even when his nails stabbed into his flesh.

"I'm sorry, Cordelia." He spoke in a deep tone. "I should have told you everything in the beginning..." Cordelia clutched the blanket as she heard him say clearly, "I'm not Marcus Grist. I'm Zephyr Hamerton."

Chapter 240

Chapter 240

It felt like there was a loud explosion in Cordelia's heart.

Zephyr's extended hand paused in the air before he slowly pulled it back.

"I've lied to you," he said. "I've also caused you harm."

Cordelia screwed her eyes shut and cried.

She finally understood why he seemed to have an extraordinary aura, why every difficulty she met would always be resolved, why he never cared about money, why he seemed fearless...

He was the heir of the Hamertons. The whole world was under his feet. What was there for him to be scared of?

Cordelia chuckled wryly. She had called him silly in the past, but she was actually the silly one who had been tricked! "Cordelia "

"Please leave."

Cordelia hid under the covers. Her weak voice came from the small gap.

Zephyr could only see her disheveled hair and her quivering body. He wanted to pat her back and keep her in his embrace like he used to, but he could not do it now.

He quietly left the ward and sat on the chair in the hallway, never once leaving.

Cordelia was discharged a few days later. When she returned to their rented place again, she suddenly stopped at the door, not daring to enter.

Linda could read her mind, so she asked gently, "Why don't you stay with me first?"

Cordelia looked at her and shook her head. She had troubled Linda these days. Moreover, no one other than herself could push her over this challenge.

Cordelia opened the door with her key. When she changed into her slippers, she saw Zephyr's leather shoes in the shoe cabinet and froze.

Everything at home remained the same.

There were punching bags and boxing gloves for his training on the balcony, clothes he changed out of in the bathroom's laundry basket, and loungewear he usually wore draped on the back of the couch. Their toothbrushes leaned against each other on the rack above the sink like usual, like two people hugging and kissing.

Cordelia felt a pinch on her nose, and her eyes grew wet.

As she entered the bedroom, the sheets were what she had changed not too long ago. They had picked out the iris design together.

She had once told him seriously that the iris' meaning was brimming love and happiness. She just did not know that the iris had a hidden symbol-hopeless love.

Cordelia scanned the house. Everything stayed the same, yet everything was different.

"Cordelia." Linda held her by the shoulders. "Go have some rest. What do you want for dinner? I'll go buy the ingredients now!"

Cordelia sat by the bed with her eyes lowered and said nothing.

Linda was worried. Cordelia had been acting this way since she was in the hospital. She was quiet and dared not meet anyone's eyes. She was quiet in the day and often startled awake by nightmares at night. Linda squatted in front of her in slight distress.

After what happened to Cordelia, she threw a tantrum outside of the emergency ward. To her, things had turned a new page after that. She would have to carry on with life.

When she calmed down and thought about it, Cordelia was so deeply in love with the man. It was imaginable how hurtful a breakup would be to her. Besides, Zephyr did not seem as unforgivable since he had only kept his identity secret.

Linda's phone buzzed. Nicholas texted her to say that he and Zephyr were already downstairs.

Linda stole a peek through the window.

Both men stood downstairs, looking cautious. It was like they had done something wrong and dared not even enter the building.

What was strange, however, was that Nicholas came with his men. There were numerous underlings behind him, and all looked serious with their sunglasses on.

The passersby of the residence could not help looking in curiosity too.

Linda pursed her lips and found it funny.