Chapter 107


    "Jamie only said it was your hubby''s money as a way to take a jab at Ronan for not covering your tab.


    But lo and behold, your sly husband saw an opening, nned to throw Jamie under the bus, and


    suddenly it''s cool to ckmail a rival with whatever Mr. Thomas did in his youth? Jamie''s got no clue!


    So what can he do if Ronan gets Mr. Thomas thrown into the mmer for 20 years? Just do nothing?!


    Jamie''s been holed up at home over this, not eating or drinking for days! Drop him a message, give


    him a pep talk! It''s your mess, you sort it out!" With that, Adrian stormed off.


    Adrian only had Jamie''s back because he wanted Cordelia and Jamie to be an item. That way, he


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    could score more perks from Jamie. Plus, Ronan was too stingy. Also, if Jamie and Cordelia hooked


    up, Kendra would stop pestering Jamie. Although Kendra seemed loose, she was still a virgin when


    she was with Adrian, which was a real shock to him. Virgins were hard toe by these days.


    For the first time, Cordelia found herself agreeing with Adrian''s words.


    Maybe that was what made her feel a little wary of Ronan. He was quick on his feet, could spot


    connections between things in the blink of an eye, and make snap decisions.


    Cordelia stirred her coffee. Adrian didn''t take the books and notebooks. They were still there. Cordelia


    picked them up. A note fell out from the book. [Cordelia, I''ve been too ashamed to see you. But the


    book and the notebook are innocent. They could help you in the future. Take them.]


    Cordelia chuckled. Jamie must have felt humiliated being seen by her, kneeling before Ronan. But it


    wasn''t his fault, he was just being dutiful.


    She sent Jamie a message. [Mr. Colby, don''t overthink it. Got the books and the notebook.]


    Cordelia put the books and the notebook into her bag. She had to hide them well when she got home.


    ...


    Before Ronan even made it to the office in the morning, Deanna called. It was her dad''s death


    anniversary.


    Ronan almost forgot. "Where are you? Should I pick you up?" Ronan said, frowning.


    "Ronan, Mom, and I are at themunity gate. We thought you''de get us, but..." Deanna broke


    down as she finished her sentence, sobbing. "You haven''t called. You forgot, didn''t you?"


    "Of course not. I''m on my way." Ronan made a U-turn and headed for Sunnydale Meadows.


    Sure enough, Le and Deanna were there, their eyes filled with sadness.


    Deanna hopped in the front seat, while Le sat in the back. Ronan drove towards Birchwood. When


    Deanna got in the car, she saw a bag on the front seat. It was a lunch box. She moved it to the


    dashboard.


    Cordelia had bragged about her lunch box on Facebook the day before. Ronan evenmented on it!


    Turned out, not only did Cordelia prepare her own lunch, but she also made one for Ronan too.


    To Deanna''s surprise, Ronan actually brought the lunch. He was willing to bring a lunch made by


    another woman! Were they really that close? ,It sent a chill down Deanna''s spine.


    She pretended to wipe away tears, sobbing. "Dad''s been gone for six years, but he hasn''t truly left us.


    He lives on in our hearts. How could you forget him, Ronan?"


    "I didn''t." Ronan answered, a slight frown on his face.


    "I remember Deanna''s father said before he died, although he couldn''t live on, he hoped to bring light


    to others..." Le trailed off, sobbing. "Ronan, you and Deanna, you used to be so close. I thought you


    were going to be my son-inw, but..."


    "Mom, Ronan is married. Stop talking nonsense." Deanna snapped at Le.


    "Ok. Let''s go visit your father." Le wiped away her tears and changed the subject.


    "Mom, did you bring any food? I haven''t eaten since I got home from workst night; didn''t have


    breakfast either while waiting for Ronan. I''m really hungry now. My stomach is aching a bit." Deanna


    clutched her stomach.


    "I was going to visit your father. I didn''t have time to prepare food!" Le scolded Deanna. "We''re on


    the highway now. There''s no ce to buy food. It would take a long time to get to a rest stop to eat. We


    don''t have that much time."


    "There''s food in that bag. Eat that." Ronan pointed at a bag. "It should still be warm."


    Deanna opened the bag. The food inside was still warm. She thought, “Cordelia really takes care of


    Ronan. She prepared so many dishes for him, even coffee!”


    "Did your housekeeper make this? It looks delicious. I''ll take a picture and send it to my assistant. She


    can learn from it." Deanna took out her phone and snapped a picture.


    "No, Cordelia made it," Ronan answered, frowning.


    "Oh, it was Cordelia. I''m sorry, Ronan. I thought such a task..." Deanna pretended to be embarrassed.


    She didn''t finish her sentence, but her point was clear. She thought such a task should be done by a


    housekeeper.


    Deanna started eating. She had barely taken a bite of the first beef steak when she stopped and gave


    a cry.


    "What''s wrong?" Ronan nced at Deanna, noticing her painful expression.


    "The meat is undercooked and there''s too much salt. But it''s okay, I''m really hungry now, I won''t be


    picky. I''m just d there''s something to eat," Deanna continued to eat.


    Ronan thought, “Cordelia really needs to improve her cooking skills.”


    Deanna definitely looked famished. She wolfed down everything Ronan brought and even finished off


    the coffee, not leaving a drop for him.


    "Sorry, Ronan, I kind of ate all your food. I''ll make it up to you somehow." Deanna wiped her mouth.


    Cordelia surely had a knack for cooking, the fried steak was delish, but Deanna said it was gross. Well,


    it was all in her belly now, so Ronan couldn''t taste it anyway.


    "It''s just a meal, no biggie," Ronan said.


    "No matter how small the favor, I''ll repay it in full. Speaking of which, you used to always be with


    Cordelia, going to and from work. Howe she''s not here? Wasn''t she supposed toe with you?"


    Deanna asked curiously.


    "She''s not in the loop."


    "Really?" Deanna shot Le a nce. If she was out of the picture, things would be easier. She


    continued, "Where did she go?"


    "She said she was visiting a ssmate." Ronan replied.


    "Visiting a ssmate..." Deanna mused.


    By eleven, Ronan''s car pulled up to Birchwood.


    At Deanna''s father''s grave, Ronan expressed that for the past few years he''d been taking care of


    Deanna and her mother, living up to the expectations set by her father.


    "Father, Ronan''s been very good to us. He''s married now but he hasn''t let you down," Deanna said.