Chapter 10


    By the time they arrived at Birchwood, it was already 4 p.m.


    Before getting out of the car, Ronan said to Cordelia, "Mind your manners when you address me."


    "Huh? What?" Cordelia didn''t get it.


    "No more, Mr. Evans."


    Cordelia thought for a moment, then said without hesitation, "Alright, hubby."


    This response was so quick; "hubby" was said so naturally, it surprised Ronan a little. He guessed she


    probably called her boyfriends that all the time. Girls these days were quite open-minded. This thought


    made Ronan a bit ufortable.


    However, Cordelia knew full well. He had given her so much money, she had to put on a more


    convincing act. Cordelia was always professional, not the kind to work only under pressure from the


    boss. She was fully aware of her situation.


    Upon arriving at Barney''s house, Cordelia immediately became serious. She knew she needed to


    She reminded herself to stay alert.


    Ronan''s grandfather used to be aw professor at Birchwood College, highly respected within the legal


    field. He even appeared on TV as a guest, discussing some legal issues in marriage. No wonder


    Ronan said that his grandfather would be able to tell if the marriage license was fake. How could such


    an intellectual not see through a fake marriage license?


    Ronan''s grandmother passed awayst year. This year, his grandfather was diagnosed with lung


    cancer. Ronan had lived with Barney and his grandmother since he was a child, and the bond was very


    strong. Barney hoped to see Ronan''s lifeplete before he could pass away peacefully.


    Barney''s kind eyes scanned Cordelia, "How old is Cordelia?"


    "Twenty-three," Ronan said.


    Cordelia was a little taken aback. How did Ronan know her age? But then she remembered, he had


    nced at her driver''s license when they registered. That nce allowed him to answer Barney''s


    question very naturally in front of him. He was a crafty one.


    "A good bit younger than you," Barney said to Ronan. "eight years?"


    "Yes." Ronan smiled, speaking in a kind tone that Cordelia rarely heard.


    "With her being so much younger, you must treat her well." Barney''s smile became even more


    benevolent.


    "Of course." Both Ronan and Cordelia sat on the couch. Ronan grabbed Cordelia''s hand and casually


    kissed it.


    A wave of electricity seemed to surge through Cordelia, making her feel tingly all over. Cordelia wanted


    to pull her hand away but was afraid to blow their cover, so she just let Ronan hold it, her palm getting


    sweaty.


    "Cordelia is an intern. She didn''t want her coworkers to know about the marriage, to avoid gossip.


    But…" Ronan''s tone suddenly became a bit suggestive. He even nced at Cordelia, his eyes seemed


    to be talking, looking at Cordelia with a mixture of teasing and yfulness. "But recently, we felt it was


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    the right time, so we registered our marriage, and I brought her to meet you."


    No doubt, by "right time," Ronan meant they had sex.


    "It''s a bad time for you guys toe. I didn''t know you wereing, and the housekeeper has already


    taken another job. There''s no one to cook. Let''s eat out," Barney said, then suddenly remembered


    something. "If your grandmother was still here, she would''ve made you handmade pasta. You loved it


    since you were a kid."


    As he spoke, Barney''s eyes welled up.


    Barney was a schr. He and his wife never hired a housekeeper. After his wife passed away, Ronan


    wanted to hire a full-time housekeeper and a couple of caregivers for Barney, but Barney said, "I''m an


    old man now, no need for such fuss."


    Barney lived alone, with asional help from a housekeeper to cook.


    "I can make handmade pasta. If Barney doesn''t mind, I can do it. I often cook for Ronan. Right,


    hubby?" Cordelia stood up, speaking naturally and appropriately.


    Her offer to cook was partly moved by the story of Barney and his wife, and partly because of the


    money. She remembered clearly that the contract stated, that a delicious meal could earn her twenty


    grand. Plus, her disy of affection with Ronan was so convincing, that Barney would be pleased and


    more at ease.


    Ronan sat on the couch, legs crossed, hand on his chin. He didn''t expect Cordelia to be so proactive.


    He wondered if she was taking this opportunity to get into character or was just acting. But her


    performance was beyond professional.


    "Alright, Grandpa. Let her do it," Ronan smiled and spoke.


    Then, Ronan''s gaze swept across Cordelia''s face meaningfully. Cordelia, looking as if she had been


    seen through, went to the kitchen.