Ch. 331..340

Chapter 331

Chapter 331

How could this be... How could Cordelia possibly know Feransai!?

Nelly's balled fists shook.

Since she had met Yelena at Yale's the other day, she kept an eye on the woman only to later discover that she was gullible. Thus, she bought her over.

Yelena wanted a studio, so Nelly gave her a studio-as long as this woman gave her any valuable information against Cordelia.

It was unexpected that what Yelena told her was fake!

Yelena had confidently promised her the other day "Don't worry, Ms. Tanner! Cordelia didn't go to school much since she was young, and she didn't study hard even when she did. She didn't achieve much in the end! She could go to university because my father bought her way in!"

Nelly was so angry that her teeth chattered. Now that she thought of it, they could be lies Yelena made up out of her jealousy for Cordelia, and she actually was dumb enough to believe her! "Ms. Tanner." Robert's voice suddenly came from the back. It made Nelly jump.

"Do you really think our boss doesn't know Feransai?" Robert's smirk was mocking. "He grew up in Eropah and goes to Puarvis a few times per year. Feransai isn't a challenge to him."

"But..."

But whether it was a business talk or social event that he attended in the past, he would bring along an interpreter as long as there were foreign guests.

It was not that he did not know the language-he was pretending!

Nelly shook and glared at Robert before she left in her high heels.

It was not until the event ended that Cordelia and Zephyr walked hand in hand.

The night breeze was cooling, blowing away Cordelia's bad mood over meeting Nelly.

The two of them strolled while the moonlight pulled their shadows over the ground. Cordelia's head rested against Zephyr's shoulder as she enjoyed the rare quiet and peace.

"What are you thinking about?" Zephyr's voice was deep and husky as he smiled at her.

Cordelia shook her head and smiled back. "I finally have a moment to relax after so many days. I'm not using this precious time to think!"

"Is it tiring at my mom's?"

"It is, but I like it!"

Zephyr knew that Cordelia was the kind of person who grew happier when she got busier. If work was not challenging, she would wither as well.

He knew from Janine that Cordelia was acting as the celebrities' agent to manage jobs and arrange schedules, and she was even in charge of the debuting artists' training aside from being the woman's senior assistant.

He had also heard that the trainees Imperial Media had recently signed were all young and hot hunks.

Zephyr's expression turned somber as he thought of this. The Baker Group's entertainment niche in Chaiseland had always been manly, tough guys. Why were they signing young hotties here? He really did not know what his mother was thinking!

"Zephyr, what's the matter?" Cordelia's sweet voice rang suddenly.

"Hmm?" It was only then Zephyr repressed his complaints of his mother for the time being and turned to look at her.

"I was talking to you. You didn't hear me again?" Cordelia pouted.

"What did you say?"

"I said..." She smiled helplessly. "I'm going to meet Neil tomorrow!"

"What?" Zephyr glared at her.

Since Neil lost to him the last time, he had almost forgotten about the man. If Nicholas had not tried over 300 lipsticks, Zephyr would not want to have anything to do with this guy. It was unexpected that Cordelia became his rival when he was thinking of ways to sign Neil to Sol Entertainment.

Chapter 332

Chapter 332

"Why are you glaring at me?" Cordelia was exasperated by how he looked.

"Cordelia, you..."

Zephyr did not know how to continue his sentence. Should his tone be hard or soft? Should he act tough or negotiate with her? How was he supposed to be more indirect when he talked to her, and how should he mull over his word choice...

Zephyr pursed his lips, and his originally cold face looked darker.

"Alright, I know what you want to say." Cordelia smiled and intertwined their fingers together as she looked at him innocently.

"This is your mom's instruction. To sign Neil to our company no matter what. We have to agree no matter how harsh his conditions are."

"Why?" Zephyr suddenly raised his voice.

Cordelia was startled and stared at him dumbly.

Zephyr coughed. "I mean... There isn't just one award-winning actor in showbiz. Why must it be him?"

If it were possible, he would chase Neil out of the entertainment industry!

"Yeah, there are plenty of award-winning actors, but one who can act, has popularity, and has a huge amount of fans... There's only him!"

Zephyr really wanted to roll his eyes.

"Before the company became Imperial Media, it hadn't been doing much. It was under the Hamerton Group, but it wasn't managed to its potential," Cordelia said softly. "Imperial Media's just starting to come up now, but it's no rival against its peers...

"So we really need someone significant to represent the company!"

Zephyr stayed silent.

Cordelia knew that this meant he was angry but was holding it in.

Her voice was very soft. "Zephyr, I'm meeting Neil for work. You wouldn't be so petty, right?"

She regretted it a little as soon as she spoke.

What did she mean by saying he was petty? If she put herself in his shoes, she might be pettier if Zephyr told her that he would eat with Nelly for work tomorrow. She would also be jealous and possibly shove or pinch him.

What about him? He was just simmering in anger and could not even bear to talk to her any louder.

Cordelia beamed in bliss and cuddled him, wrapping her arms around him and clinging to him like an octopus.

Zephyr gave in the moment she acted like this. He reached out to poke her head but was worried he would hurt her and ended up swiping her nose.

"Don't worry. I'm not that petty." He smiled. What he meant was: "Go ahead. I'll send someone to follow you."

"Where are you meeting? I can set it up for you."

That meant: "I have to know your whereabouts."

Cordelia grinned and told him an address honestly.

'They are going to meet at Splendor Dynasty?' Zephyr nodded. He did not even have to do this on his own.

"Don't worry. I'll inform the hotel manager and ask for the best arrangement." Zephyr smiled. "I'm a shareholder in Imperial Media too. I should do what I can."

That was more like: "If Neil dares have any ulterior thoughts, I'll do my best to make him disappear from the entertainment industry."

Cordelia looked at him with a pure gaze. To her, Zephyr was graceful and generous, knowledgeable with an open heart, not simply jealous, and would recover being rational even when he did get jealous- basically a perfect man who trusted her 100%.

"Honey..." Her voice was soft. "Why are you so nice?"

He rubbed her hair and chuckled.

"Haven't you always called me a superman?"

"Mm-hmm."

"So when you have a request, your superman only has two words. That's..."

He went closer to her ear and uttered softly in a deep and husky voice, "Yes, ma'am."

Nelly went back to the Tanners' residence, huffing and puffing.

She threw her high heels once she entered.

The servants did not dare approach her, seeing that she was in a bad mood, but the old butler who had been taking care of her went up to say, "Ms. Tanner, a Ms. Jenner's been waiting for you at the side lounge."

'Ms. Jenner?' Just nice!' Nelly had rage brewing in her that she had nowhere to vent!

She went to the lounge and slapped Yelena hard the moment she opened the door.

Yelena's family background was unlike hers, but she had never suffered such a grievance either! She screamed and glared at Nelly. "What are you doing!?"

"Hah, more like what do you want?" Nelly was overbearing as she pressed on. "Yelena, I gave you a studio and fulfilled all your requests. Are you playing me as a fool? I gave you all that in exchange for your intel, not your nonsense!"

"I..." Yelena looked lost. "What nonsense?"

"Cordelia can speak Feransai. Very fluently too, at that!" growled Nelly. "But what did you tell me!?"

"N-No!" Yelena panicked. "I grew up with Cordelia and went to the same school with her. Her grades have always been fluctuating. It's bad!"

"Really?" Nelly gnashed her teeth. "Then what's she like during exams?"

"That's where it's weird!" Yelena looked at her. "The b*tch didn't do well usually, but whenever there was an exam, she knew everything!"

"You..." Nelly nearly exploded in a fury.

It was no wonder William, Yelena's own father, looked down on her as well! The Jenner Group probably would not last long if it was passed to her, given her intelligence!

Yelena finally caught up to the events. "Ms. Tanner, you... didn't succeed today?"

Nelly breathed out a long exhale.

"Succeed? Hah!" She sneered. "I was embarrassed in public!"

She slowly walked to the couch and slumped on it tiredly, propping her legs up on the stool. She wanted to drink but was too lazy to fetch the wine, so she asked Yelena to do it.

Yelena pursed her lips. She resented Nelly but had to act courteously and friendly with her because she wanted to wipe out Cordelia through her!

"Ms. Tanner, don't... Don't feel too bad!" Yelena thought of another trick. "It's simple to set up that b*tch. There's still a trump card Mr. Yale hasn't played!"

"What?"

"Marcus Grist!"

Nelly paused. This might be a good idea... Yet, she was afraid that getting Marcus involved would anger Zephyr and the whole Hamertons would not welcome her. "It's feasible to let Marcus destroy Cordelia." Nelly sneered darkly.

She looked up at Yelena, the latter stood before her cautiously, and she gestured for her to crouch and massage her legs.

"Where's Marcus?"

"My house," Yelena replied with a smile. "Mr. Matthew and Mr. Yale instructed me to find a safe place to shelter Marcus, as he could be of use in the future!" Nelly smirked. "Isn't he now?"

Chapter 333

Chapter 333

Yelena froze before she was filled with delight.

Marcus had been staying at the Janners recently. The man was a freeloader and had awful habits. William had long been repulsed by him. It was just that he could not chase the latter out since he was under Yale. He also turned a blind eye to Marcus' sneaky behavior for this reason.

With what Nelly said now, she meant to release Marcus again... Not only would the repulsive man be sent away, but Cordelia would be played as well!

Yelena grinned and massaged Nelly's legs with more enthusiasm.

"Ms. Tanner, you should consider what I said last time!"

"What?" Nelly picked up a glass of soda water and glanced at Yelena nonchalantly.

"You know... publicize the b*tch and Marcus' marriage!"

Nelly squinted and thought about it.

The last time she met Yale, the man brought it up but did not go through with it. It was mainly to get Marcus to make a fuss about it in public so everyone would find out that he was Cordelia's husband and Zephyr had only married her by pretending to be him...

It did not matter if the marriage certificates were fake or real. The netizens would not investigate that. They only wanted the drama. They were interested in gossip about high society and wanted to see how Mr. Z Hamerton, who was born with a silver spoon, hooked up with a married woman...

When the matter blew up, Cordelia's reputation would be ruined, and she would not be able to explain herself. Zephyr would be affected as well and fall hard.

Nelly would step up and help him, causing him to be grateful and think of how good she was, thus slowly forgetting Cordelia...

There was a frenzied grin on Nelly's face. She made Yelena fetch a glass of red wine and emptied it.

"What's up with Marcus right now?"

"I heard he's sick these days." Yelena stood in front of her politely. "But it's just a common cold and fever. My dad found him a doctor, and he'll recover soon!" Nelly nodded. "Ask him to come to Centrolis when he has gotten better. I'll have to talk to Yale about the plan in particular."

"Are we just leaving that b*tch alone during this time, then?" asked Yelena.

"Of course not!" Nelly straightened up.

It was just that she could not think of anything appropriate for now.

"Ms. Tanner, I have an idea." Yelena smiled obsequiously. "I heard it's going to be Mrs. Hamerton's birthday soon. The Hamertons will surely celebrate it!"

"You mean Kate Cloud?"

Nelly did not have many interactions with Kate usually, but each time she visited, Kate seemed to have her eyes on her head and disregarded her. Nelly snorted in disgruntlement.

What was so great about the Clouds? They were just upstarts and saw themselves as high society!

"Ms. Tanner, Mrs. Hamerton usually rolls her eyes at everyone. She's super pompous! Hah... I think she wouldn't like Cordelia either.

"If Cordelia could be embarrassed at her birthday party and Mrs. Hamerton resents her because of it, you wouldn't have to do a thing in the future since Mrs. Hamerton will take care of her herself!” Nelly gave it a thought and found that it made sense.

She chuckled and pulled Yelena over to sit down. Her rage from earlier was more or less gone too. She asked Yelena kindly, "What idea do you have?"

"Ms. Tanner, you mustn't be too domineering in front of Cordelia." Yelena smirked and lowered her voice. "You have no idea. She hit a female superior who had a conflict with her when she worked in Jangasas!"

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Chapter 334

"What?" Nelly paused. "She hits people too?"

"Yeah!" Yelena squinted. "The b*tch acts pitiful in front of others but behaves like a whole different person in the blink of an eye! She asked the female superior to go somewhere deserted and slapped her a few times, taking advantage of the fact that there weren't any surveillance cameras!

"So, we could set things up in advance at the birthday party, Ms. Tanner!"

"How?"

"Get Cordelia somewhere without anyone as well, and then... you'll have to suffer a little. Slap yourself a few times, and I'll get people over to show everyone that Cordelia hit you!"

"Well..." The more Nelly listened to it, the more wrong it felt.

Why must she slap herself? To be pitiful? Even then, she did not want to do it. Moreover, she no longer dared trust Yelena's tricks completely. It was just that she liked this plan, so she wanted to try it. What if it worked!?

"Ms. Tanner, you must act weak and pitiful by then!" Yelena went on. "Show everyone that Cordelia's a violent woman! Everyone will take your side."

Nelly contemplated and looked at her. "It's a good idea, but...

"Yelena." She adjusted her sitting position. "Our ultimate goal is to embarrass Cordelia at the party and for everyone to see that she's b*tch, right?"

Yelena was startled and nodded.

"As long as we reach this goal, it doesn't matter what the process is."

"Ms. Tanner, you mean..."

"I'll leave the mission of slapping yourself to you!"

Yelena widened her eyes, hearing a buzz in her ears.

She had a mind for revenge when she gave Nelly the idea just now. Who asked the damned b*tch to slap her once she came back!? Her face was still throbbing!

It was just unexpected that Nelly was quite smart and rejected the suggestion to slap herself!

"Ms. Tanner!" Yelena did her best to explain. "You have to do this on your own... I, hah, what's the meaning of me doing it? I'm not the one who has a grudge against Cordelia!" "You have no grudge against Cordelia?" Nelly looked at her like she knew everything. "If that's the case, the b*tch you're calling isn't her but me?"

"I'm-"

"Yelena, we just want our goal achieved!" Nelly smiled and patted her shoulder. "I think you have a great idea. As long as the goal is accomplished, no one cares what the process is like! "Doesn't it prove more that Cordelia's an uncultured shrew when everyone misunderstands that she's ungrateful and hits even her own sister?"

Yelena paled and clenched her fists.

"Don't worry. Just slap yourself hard!" Nelly was triumphant. "I'll bring people over to watch you right away! Right, you need to act weak and pitiful, be merciless to yourself! Understand?" Yelena was so angry that she was speechless.

She did not dare defy Nelly or retort her. She could only do as she said at the birthday party. However, she could not make peace with the fact that she was being ordered around as a pawn! It was really like shooting herself in her own foot!

"Yelena, do it well." Nelly looked at her coldly and smiled. "I'll invest more in your studio. Also, don't you want to be Mrs. Hamerton too?

"I'll speak more on your behalf to Yale."

Nelly's gaze was sinister as she said, "As long as you follow what I say, I won't mistreat you!"

Chapter 335

Chapter 335

It was Cordelia's off day today. Even though it was her rest day, she was still busy. Proposals and reports surged into her email like a wave. Her phone and laptop were never free since early in the morning. Helen brought her breakfast that had been heated up for the third time.

"Ms. Cordelia, have breakfast first!" Helen was anxious. "It's already 9:00 a.m. It might as well be lunch if you keep delaying it!"

Cordelia's eyes were on the screen as she replied in passing, "Mm... I know. Leave it here first. I still have a few words in the agreement to edit..."

"You said the same the last time I brought it up!"

Helen pouted and passed the congee to her, standing in front of her.

"Mr. Zephyr told me personally to watch you finish it this time!"

"Huh?" It took Cordelia a while to tear her gaze off the screen. "Zephyr... isn't home?"

"No!" Helen smiled. "He told you when he left. He had an emergency in the office, so he had to go and take care of it!"

"Oh, I forgot..."

"You didn't forget. You were just too busy that you didn't hear him!"

Cordelia chuckled in embarrassment. Her ears did tend to mute themselves when she got busy.

She took the congee from Helen. It was just nice in taste and warmth, fragrant with chicken and grains. She actually felt hungry and slurped it down.

Helen then passed her some waffles, which she wolfed down instantly.

Hellen smiled, watching her from the side. "Your appetite's great... Is it good news?"

Cordelia choked from the question and coughed violently.

"Aunt Helen, not funny!" She winced. "I just had my period! No good news!"

"Oh..." The old woman was a little disappointed.

She looked at the charms in the room. 'Sigh, it seems like I am not that efficient.'

The lucky charms were not very useful as the two of them still had no child!

Cordelia's gaze was clear as she smiled innocently. "Aunt Helen, I had a checkup last time. The doctor said my constitution is weak, so getting pregnant is not easy. Having a baby or not will simply be up to luck!"

"Weaker?" Helen perked up. It was fine that she was weak-as long as she was not infertile!

"This can be treated! Just leave it to me!"

"Huh?"

"You have no idea. We have various soups and tonics in our hometown since the place thrives with herbs. The recipes are based on what we can get locally!

Helen held her hand with a grin. "Ms. Cordelia, we'll have soup every morning, noon, and evening from today onward. Oh, no. One more time during tea break. I guarantee I'll nourish your body so that you and Mr. Zephyr get a chubby, healthy baby!"

"Aunt Helen..." Cordelia wore a complicated look.

She would be round as a ball in less than a month with how frequently she would be eating soups!

"The art of making these soups is another field of knowledge! Many of those in our hometown didn't go to the hospital when they fell sick. They had soups at home, and their problems were solved!"

Helen grew more excited as she spoke, hardly stopping when it came to a topic she could go on and on. It was just that the doorbell rang when she wanted to elaborate on the benefits of having soups daily. Cordelia paused. They did not usually have visitors. Even Linda had not been here before. Who would it be?

She was a little nervous, and her first thought was the Hamertons.

What if it was Liam or Henry? How should she handle them? They were the people Zephyr was the closest to. Helen looked at her. "It's okay, Ms. Cordelia. Stay here first. I'll get the door!"

Cordelia was in a dilemma.

Helen quickly went downstairs.

Cordelia heard the door open downstairs. After a short moment of silence, a merry peal of laughter echoed.

"Ms. Cordelia, look who came?" Helen came up to call for her.

Cordelia was surprised as she came to the stairs.

"Zennie?" She was delightfully surprised and hurried over. "How did you get here!?"

"What? You both moved to a new place, and I can't come to congratulate you?" Zennie playfully teased her as she placed the cake and wine on the table.

Cordelia held her hands and was so happy that she did not know what to say, quickly asking Helen to prepare lunch.

It was after her delight that she noticed there was someone else behind Zennie.

The young man was fair and thin, with gloom exuding from his gaze.

Cordelia froze.

"He..." She looked at Zennie quietly.

"He's Phil Nelson!" Zennie was ecstatic. "Cordelia, you didn't forget him, did you? You two have met!"

They had indeed met, but Cordelia did not really have a good impression of the young man the last time they met. He was pale and gloomy, while Zennie was like a mini version of the sun. The two of them did not look like they matched.

"This is..." Helen recognized him as well. "Nelson's son?"

Phil nodded. He was smiling, but it did not reach his eyes.

Helen frowned and felt inexplicably uneasy. The Nelsons worked for the Hamertons, and she had met several of them because of Clark. However, it was the first time she saw a young one who was pale and cold like Phil.

She had a sense of foreboding, but it was her employer's affair. It was not her place to comment. She smiled and went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

Cordelia pulled Zennie upstairs, saying she wanted her to see the rooms, but she found somewhere quiet and asked her, "Why did you bring Phil here too?" "Why can't he come?" Zennie was naive.

Cordelia pressed her lips together before she said, "Your brother doesn't like outsiders coming to our place...”

"Phil isn't an outsider!"

"Zennie-"

"Alright! Let's not talk about this, okay?" Zennie cut her off with a bright grin. "Cordelia, show me your room! Right, Zephyr said that he kept a guest room for me. Is it done? Where is it?" Cordelia shook her head weakly. She took Zennie to a few rooms and heard Helen crying out downstairs.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Cordelia's heart dropped, and she instinctively leaned over the railing for a look to see that Phil was snapping photos around with his phone and remained unfazed when Helen stopped him. He said with a smile, "I took photos here because I find the paintings beautiful.

He looked up. "Ms. Cordelia, do you mind if I take photos here?"

Chapter 336

Chapter 336

Cordelia paused, not expecting Phil to make such a request, but she did not know how to answer him. After all, the young man was Zennie's whole world right now. She could not bear to embarrass the girl. Cordelia replied with a smile, "Mr. Nelson, which paintings do you like? I'll gift them to you. You can take them home and admire them, and you won't have to take photos around somebody's home, right?" A dark gleam flashed across Phil's eyes. He smirked and scanned Cordelia with a slightly complex look.

What she had said was significant. It sounded friendly and polite, but she emphasized the words "somebody's home". Anyone with a brain could understand what she implied.

Phil looked up and met Cordelia's eyes. The woman was not as weak as he had imagined. Her big eyes were willful and authoritative. The presence she emitted was the same as Zephyr's.

He considered it and kept his phone, answering with a smile. "No need. Thank you, Ms. Cordelia. Mr. Zephyr probably likes these paintings. A servant like me has no right to take something from my master's home."

"Phil.." Zennie went to him to hold his hand gently.

Cordelia could see that Zennie was completely head over heels for Phil, and she could not help being worried. Girls who were in love were the most gullible.

"Mr. Nelson, that's too serious a thing to say," Cordelia replied softly. "Zephyr's actually very open-minded. Besides, we live in a modern world now. The Hamerton family is just your employer. You work, and they pay you, that's all. What do you mean by servant and master!?"

"As I've mentioned, it's our family's good luck to meet an employer like the Hamerton family!" Phil smiled and looked at Zennie, gently combing her bangs for her.

The girl looked shy with a blissful smile.

Despite that, Cordelia still felt uneasy. She was more doubtful, especially when she saw Phil soundly keeping his phone in his pocket.

It was no place for a guest to simply take photos anywhere in somebody's home during their first visit. Even if he was a long-term employee of the Hamertons and had not received much education, he should at least know basic manners.

Moreover, given how major the Hamertons were, their staff must definitely be trained. Some might even be better than senior executives of small and medium enterprises.

How uncultured must Phil be, or did he have an ulterior motive?

"Cordelia, what are you thinking about?" Zennie's sweet voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

The girl was already at the dining table with Phil while Helen was placing dish after dish on the table.

Zennie waved her hand at her. "Cordelia, come! I'm starving!"

"Oh, coming." Cordelia recomposed herself but felt uneasy knowing that Phil had photos of her home on his phone.

She must think of something...

"Ms. Cordelia, go have some!" Helen went to her.

"I..." Cordelia wanted to say that she was not hungry but noticed the look Helen gave her. She mulled over it and caught on.

She smiled at Helen and nodded lightly before going to the round table in the dining hall.

"Zennie, Aunt Helen's a good cook. You must try it today!"

"Mm!" Zennie smiled radiantly and stared at the dishes like a hungry kitten. "I already know how good they are by smelling them! Heh... Uncle Clark's to be blamed. Why didn't he bring Aunt Helen back knowing she's great!?"

"It's not too late that we know now!" Cordelia laughed and saw Helen come over with a pot of soup.

Chapter 337

Chapter 337

"She makes really good soups too," said Cordelia.

"You're too kind, Ms. Cordelia!" Helen placed the pot on the table mat. She was close to Phil. She peeped at him and continued to speak while smiling. "Okay, all of the dishes are served! Oh, right, I see that young people love taking pictures before they eat! That's a trend, right? Aren't you going to take pictures, miss?"

"Oh, yes!" Zennie responded immediately. "The food you cooked looks really good, Aunt Helen. Of course we'll have to take photos!"

"Hey, Phil!" Helen pushed him. "Don't let her do it on her own. Take photos of her!"

Phil's expression changed. He snapped his head up.

Helen was scared by the fierceness that flashed through his eyes. She instinctively stepped back.

However, it only lasted for a second.

When she returned to her senses, Phil went back to the young man who always had a smile on his face again.

"I'm sorry, my phone is laggy..."

"Really?" Cordelia smiled. "It didn't seem laggy when you were taking pictures earlier."

He fell into silence for a moment and slowly took out his phone.

He looked at Zennie, and she looked rather awkward. "Forget it. Let's eat!"

Helen walked up. "You guys eat. I'll take the pictures! I know I'm old, but I know how to take photos too!'

She wanted to grab Phil's phone but clearly felt he did not want to let go.

He held it tight, and the veins on his hand were bulging.

Helen secretly scoffed. As they entered a stagnant state, she suddenly let go!

He did not expect her to do that he did not see that coming. His phone dropped into the boiling soup. The spilled soup messed up the table, giving his heart a squeeze. The atmosphere was awkward. It was unusually quiet.

Cordelia's heart was pounding. She looked at Helen. She could see that Phil was mad, but he tried his best to suppress his rage and maintain a natural expression.

"Ahh, I'm sorry!" Helen went on with her act. "Look at me, I'm useless! I can't even hold the phone properly. I...”

"It's okay, Aunt Helen." Zennie eased the situation. "His phone is indeed faulty. I was going to get him a new one anyway—"

"No need!" Phil suddenly said that with a cold face on.

Cordelia was shocked. She saw Zennie looking at him, feeling guilty. Her big eyes, which seemed to have stars twinkling in them, were filled with fear.

Phil looked at his phone that was dead in the soup and stood up expressionlessly.

"I suddenly recalled that I still have work. I must leave now," he said in a deep voice. "I won't be eating this time. I'll try your cooking next time, Aunt Helen." Helen smiled and said, "Phil, are you blaming me? Perhaps you can tell me how much your phone costs? I'll compensate you "

He scooped his phone from the soup and left before waiting for her to finish her sentence.

Zennie said goodbye to Cordelia in panic and went with him.

Cordelia felt relieved when they had left far away. She looked at the pot of soup after falling into silence for a while and said to Helen. "Take care of this."

"Sure."

Helen asked her after a while. "Ms. Cordelia, did I... go over the line?"

"No, you did great." Cordelia's voice was soft. "I was actually thinking how to get his phone to get him to delete those pictures, but I didn't have a proper reason."

Helen nodded. "Your concern is right, Ms. Cordelia. No matter what, one shouldn't take pictures of someone else's house when they visit for the first time. That's not okay!" "Harbor no ill intention against others, but never relax vigilance against evildoers." Cordelia sighed. "I hope I'm overthinking."

"What else did you think, Ms. Cordelia?"

Cordelia lifted her eyes to look at her. She only asked after hesitating, "I'm not sure if you saw that... No matter what, I feel the way they treat each other is strange. "I feel..." Cordelia spoke of her suspicion. "Zennie is afraid of him!"

Chapter 338

Chapter 338

Helen came to a realization after hearing what Cordelia said. She looked at her with surprise.

Cordelia went on to speculate. "Did you notice that Phil would look at Zennie before saying and doing anything? Then she was the one who would speak to us."

"It seems..." Helen recalled. "He looked at Ms. Hamerton when he took out his phone. She had a change of expression and said that he did not have to use his phone in a panic." "What do you think she was feeling?"

"It was... fear?" Helen could not tell.

Cordelia's heart squeezed. She felt the same.

Zennie seemed to be scared of Phil.

Perhaps this proved one thing-he was actually controlling her!

Helen's expression suddenly changed.

"Oh my, Ms. Cordelia. Should we tell Mrs. Hamerton right away?"

Cordelia bit her lip and nodded in all seriousness after thinking for a little bit.

However, she did not know how to say it, insinuate it, or how to get Kate to have her guard up against Phil. Everything was so hard.

It would be inappropriate to just say it like that. Nobody would believe her if she did not make it a serious matter. If she made a big thing out of it, what would happen if it was just a misunderstanding? Cordelia thought about it. She had to find a solution to this.

Phil walked in big steps ahead. He looked arrogant.

The young lady followed behind while staggering. He walked fast, so she had to run a little bit. She could not even catch her breath.

"Phil, Phil..." She was worried. "Wait for me!"

He suddenly stopped and turned around when they arrived somewhere that was empty.

She was shocked and froze where she was.

Like a child who had done something wrong, she held her head low sadly while her hands kept rubbing the corner of her shirt.

"Why do you keep following me?" His voice was cold. There was no love in his eyes at all.

It was as if he was different from the person at Royal Manor earlier.

Zennie looked at him, scared. Her voice was soft. "Didn't you like me following you around in the past?"

Phil scoffed. There was mockery in his eyes.

"Yes, you knew that it was in the past."

She felt tears rolling in her eyes while there seemed to be something stuck in her throat. It was so uncomfortable that she could not make a sound.

He used to treat her well and spoil her.

She had no idea when he changed.

He was cold to her, would keep a distance, and even look down on her.

He would often say that she would be nothing if she did not have the Hamertons supporting her.

He said that she was a stubborn princess who did not understand his life at all. He said she always wanted to have fun and that she did not have any ambitions or a sense of responsibility. He said it would be hard for her to get into university.

She had been studying hard, getting straight As in all subjects. Even her teachers said that she would definitely get into a prestigious university.

However, to him, she was nothing.

"D-Do you not like me anymore?" Zennie choked. She asked that with all of her might. "Then why are we still together?"

"Together?" Phil glared at her with his sharp eyes. "Did you misunderstand something, Ms. Hamerton? Was it I who insisted that we're together, or are you clinging onto me?"

"Phil! You-"

"Don't you dare behave like a princess with me!" His eyes were ferocious. He enunciated each word while clenching his teeth. "You think you're a princess? You're just a piece of cr*p if you leave the Hamertons! You can't even take care of yourself!"

Phil left after screaming that at her, ignoring her begging. She staggered behind and almost fell.

She cried her heart out, wrapping her head with her arms. She ignored the judgmental people who passed by.

Zennie wandered the streets aimlessly alone.

When she got to the bustling city center, she was surrounded by couples.

The entire world was in love, yet she was the only sad one.

She arrived at DL as she walked. She had the sudden urge to shop there. She forgot when was the last time she shopped there.

Just because Phil had said that she was a spendthrift, she had put away all of her cards. Not only did she not buy new clothes, but she also stopped wearing the clothes that she used to wear. Instead, she would shop in the sales section with him, the kind where there were many pieces for 10 dollars.

Nobody could tell that she was the daughter of the Hamertons when she was in school. Even the students from regular families dressed better than she did.

Phil had especially 'granted' her to dress nicer since they were going to Royal Manor today.

Zennie felt terrible, and her eyes turned red again.

She wiped her tears and walked into DL in big steps. The luxurious brands' sales assistants would usually fight to serve her whenever she walked in. However, perhaps nobody recognized her at the moment...

She held her head down and unintentionally saw her naked face.

She froze and recalled the old her who loved dressing up. She was shining bright like a proud, colorful flower before.

However, Phil had told her that he did not like others seeing her beautiful face. He wanted her to belong to him and to him only!

"Zennie, I'm the only one who loves you in this world. You can't live if you leave me!

"What else do you have apart from being the daughter of the Hamertons? You have no skills and can't do anything. I would've killed myself if I were you! "Zennie, look into my eyes... You can only depend on me in this world!"

"Ahh!" Zennie suddenly felt a splitting pain in her head. A great fear came rushing like a wave.

She wrapped her arms around her head and staggered as she ran out. She suddenly slipped, missed the stairs, and fell hard from the spiral staircase!

Chapter 339

Chapter 339

When Cordelia rushed to the hospital, she saw Zephyr and Kate waiting at the emergency room's entrance.

"How's she?" she asked with concern.

He pulled her aside and whispered, "We don't know the exact situation. When I got the call from DL's manager, they said she fainted at the shopping mall and rolled from the stairs." Cordelia felt a squeeze in her heart.

"Why was she at the shopping mall?" she asked.

Zephyr was stunned. He did not think too much about it. "Isn't it normal for a young lady to go shopping sometimes? Moreover, she's DL's VIP. She's a frequent customer there."

"I mean..." Cordelia hesitated and frowned.

She was not sure whether Zennie passing out had anything to do with Phil, but that indeed happened after they left Royal Manor.

"What's wrong, Cordelia?"

"There's something that I want to tell you." She pursed her lips with a complicated look in her eyes. "We better find somewhere there's only the two of us. Don't let Aunt Cloud know about this yet-" Before she was done, Kate ran over and screamed, "She's awake! Zephyr, your sister...

"Cordelia, you're here too?"

"Yes." Cordelia nodded.

"Is Zennie alright, Aunt Cloud?"

"She's fine." Kate's eyes were red. "She hit her head and got three stitches."

Cordelia bit her lip. She could not help but feel sad.

"Can we go in to see her now?"

"Not yet. The doctor said we'd have to wait." Kate shook her head and forced a smile. "This girl's clumsy, I've told her many times. See, she fell really hard today! It's good that this happened. This ought to teach her a lesson!"

Zephyr walked forward and patted her shoulder lightly.

From what he remembered since he was young, Kate had always been a strong and optimistic person. Although she said that, he knew that she was the saddest person among them.

The nurse came over to tell them that they could go in now. Kate rushed over.

Zephyr held Cordelia. "Aunt Cloud's birthday dinner is coming. But now that Zennie has fallen, I'm afraid she won't be in the mood to throw a party.

"But the Hamertons don't care what she feels. They'll go on with all of the celebrations."

"So... the birthday dinner will still go on?" Cordelia was stunned.

"Mm-hmm." He forced a smile and played with her hair, "Families like ours are cold-blooded.

"Nobody cares about the meaning of everyone's birthdays and festivities, but the banquet itself. The banquet is a vanity fair. It is the place to exchange resources and make connections. How would they miss this opportunity? Moreover, the invitation was sent out a month before. The people will start talking if it's canceled out of nowhere."

Cordelia nodded.

"What are you thinking about?" Seeing that she had fallen into silence, he became nervous.

Could it be that she thought such a family was too much that she did not want to marry him anymore?

He felt a chill down his spine when he thought of that. Cold beads of sweat were dripping from his forehead.

"I'm thinking..." Cordelia lifted her eyes to look at him as she said gently. "It must have been quite difficult for you to live in such an environment since you were young."

He squinted. He could not help but feel happy. Did she sympathize with him?

He instantly went with it and caressed her hand. "It's quite hard. That's why I appreciate you even more after we met."

Cordelia looked determined. "I'll take good care of you!"

Zephyr was stunned. He could not help but laugh.

Cordelia had sworn that she would take care of him for the rest of his life when they were in Jangasas.

Chapter 340

Chapter 340

And now Cordelia said she would take good care of him.

Zephyr used to think that his life was unfair, that he had been living in the shadow of cunning affairs, making him think that he would be poisoned and assassinated anytime since he was 3 years old. He had his guard up against the world.

He could not see the good in people. There was a barrier around his heart, and he could no longer experience the wonder of the world.

However, he came to a realization after meeting Cordelia. 'It turns out that what the world takes away from you will give back in another way.'

Zephyr had also realized that he was quite talented in pretending to be weak in her presence since meeting her...

He smiled and pinched her cheeks softly.

However, he heard footsteps coming from the other side of the corridor at the moment.

Cordelia's heart squeezed when she saw who that slender man was.

"Phil?"

Zephyr was stunned too. He had his guard up as his eyes turned cold. "Why are you here?"

"Mr. Hamerton, Ms. Jenner." Phil looked worried. "How's Ms. Hamerton?"

Cordelia observed his face. His dark eyes were filled with concern for Zennie. There was none of the sleeping slyness he had revealed at Royal Manor.

"Zennie fell down and had stitches on her head," she told the truth.

"What?" The corner of Phil's lips switched. He looked sad. He really looked like a man with deep affection.

Phil walked to Zephyr and bowed, looking humble. "Mr. Hamerton, let me take care of her, please?"

"No need," Zephyr responded coldly.

"Phil, three generations of your family have been working for the Hamertons. You guys have been loyal and responsible. I hope that you can maintain this advantage." His voice was cold, and he looked majestic. "After all, we've never mistreated your family, am I right?"

"You're right, Mr. Hamerton." Phil's voice was shaking. "But I'm... really worried about her. I had a sudden task today, so I wasn't in her company. I didn't think that she would fall. It's all my fault. It's all my fault!" Zephyr had no expression on his face. He remained unmoved.

Zennie and this man had a difference akin to heaven and earth. It was impossible that they could be together. He should kill his hope from the beginning. However, the sensitive Cordelia noticed that this man seemed to have two personalities.

Perhaps not only two but many... He was a responsible employee with Zephyr and a passionate young man who was willing to do anything in Royal Manor.

However, what was he like when he was with Zennie?

Cordelia dared not think about it.

She instinctively took two steps back when she unintentionally locked eyes with Phil.

Zephyr seemed to have noticed something and held her hands softly. The warmth of his palms calmed her.

"Mr. Hamerton, Ms. Jenner..." Phil was still begging. "I just want to see her, even if it's just a peep from outside!"

"Go home," said Cordelia." The doctor said that she needs rest. Even we have to wait outside."

"But-"

"Do you not understand?" Zephyr's tone became serious. His majestic aura forced Phil back.

"Okay." He nodded. "Please tell me when she wakes up!"

He turned around and left after saying that.

Cordelia watched his back, and her big eyes betrayed her suspicion.

"What did you see?" Zephyr asked softly. "I noticed something off about you."

Cordelia took a deep breath. "Zephyr, If I were the one who was hurt and someone stopped you when you wanted to visit me, what would you do?"