Chapter 15


    Cordelia moved into thepany''s housing, right across from the office. It was super close. This way,


    she could save on travel expenses and rent.


    She shared the house with Brooklyn and two girls from the customer service department. The house


    wasn''t big, and because they moved inter, the two other girls had already taken the sun-facing


    rooms. Brooklyn wanted to argue about it, but Cordelia said, “No name on the door, if they''ve already


    moved in, just let them be.”


    So, Brooklyn dropped it.


    Cordelia even gave Brooklyn the slightly bigger room and chose the smallest one for herself. There


    were no windows in her room, and the venttion was poor. It was summer, the room was still stuffy


    and humid.


    After a few days, Cordelia found her dim room not quite up to snuff. The apartment block had many


    rooms, and theirs was in a not-so-great location, hers being the worst. She often had to dry herundry


    in the bathroom first before taking it back to her room.


    However, thepany''s housing was located on the pricey Magnolia Terrace in Millstone, where


    housing prices were the highest in the country and were a hotmodity. Rent would take up almost


    all the sry of a fresh grad, so you had to apply as soon as you got a full-time position. If you were


    On Friday, Cordelia got her period. She thought to herself, “Finally, I don''t have to worry about whether


    or not Ronan and I should have sex when I go back to Barney''s.”


    That night, Cordelia got a message from Ronan. [We''re going back to my grandpa''s tomorrow. Prepare


    yourself.]


    [Sure, Mr. Evans, wait for me near The Artful Brew at the end of Magnolia Terrace.]


    She was worried that if Ronan picked her up at the dorm, her colleagues would gossip.


    On Saturday, Cordelia got into Ronan''s car.


    This time, Ronan switched to a high-end Mercedes, not as shy as the Maybach. As usual, they sat in


    the back seat without much conversation. Suddenly, Ronan sniffed and asked, “What''s that smell?”


    Cordelia sniffed it, too, but didn''t smell anything in particr.


    Ronan squinted at Cordelia, “Your clothes, why do they smell like that?”


    Cordelia was so used to the smell that she didn''t realize what it was. She only felt embarrassed that


    Ronan had noticed a strange smell on her. She was a girl, after all.


    She thought for a second, “Is it like a damp smell?”


    “Close enough.”


    “Oh, it''s probably because of my room. My clothes never dry properly, so they get this smell after a


    while.” Cordelia instinctively med it on her surroundings, it would be way too awkward if Ronan


    thought the smell came from her.


    Ronan nced at Cordelia, said nothing, and continued to look out the window.


    This time, when they went back to Barney''s, Barney was very happy. He and Cordelia had a great


    rtionship.


    Compared to Ronan, Cordelia''s rtionship with Barney was more like a genuine grandparent-


    grandchild rtionship. Perhaps because Ronan was mature and stoic, he neverined to Barney


    about his problems and always dealt with them on his own. Barney couldn''t even help. So, Barney''s


    affection for Ronan wascking, they were more like friends.


    But with Cordelia, it waspletely different. She would always ask Barney all sorts of questions, and


    they would talk about everything, like the differences between Birchwood College and her school,


    Millstone College''s curriculum, Barney''s interesting teaching experiences, and those pesky students he


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    had to deal with. Barney never talked about these things with Ronan, but with Cordelia, he was all


    smiles and enthusiasm.


    Ronan could hear theirughter when he was quietly reading by himself. It felt like he was the one


    being left out. Barney even half-jokingly reminded Cordelia, “De, have you ever thought about having


    a kid? I''d love to see what your child would look like.”


    It was as if Cordelia was his biological granddaughter.


    Barney had started to call her De. The first time Barney called her De, Cordelia''s heart warmed up,


    and her eyes welled up. She felt like she could hear her dad, mom, and Logan calling her “De,


    De.” They were her closest family.


    But now, her closest family were all gone. She didn''t know if her mom would ever get to call her De


    again in this life.


    Barney was the only one in the world who called her De now.


    Cordelia''s hand froze in mid-air as she was eating, she felt incredibly guilty. She thought Barney''s wish


    might note true. She agreed to marry Ronan for the sake of the agreement, but they hadn''t


    nned on having kids. If they did, she would have had more strings attached.


    “Grandpa, you''ve always been an intellectual, advocating for personal growth. Why are you suddenly


    so interested in kids?” Ronan tried to change the subject for Cordelia.


    “Ah, it''s not...” Barney''s eyes dimmed a bit. His past and current thoughts were worlds apart.


    Seeing Barney like this, Ronan didn''t say anything. He knew his grandpa''s wish was impossible.


    Cordelia also felt down. Remembering her father''sst moments and looking at Barney, she felt even


    sadder.


    Once back in her room, Cordelia made a point to leave her tampon right on the nightstand.


    Ronan spotted it immediately, and he got the message.