Chapter 269


    Cordelia was lounging on her bed when a message from Brooklyn popped up on her iPhone. [Cordelia,


    I just touched down in Millstone. How about treating me to dinner?]


    Cordelia had quite a free schedule for the next few days, so she replied, [Sure thing. You pick the


    ce.]


    [I can''tpete with your worldly travels with Mr. Evans, why don''t you choose?] Brooklyn suggested.


    Cordelia remembered a quaint little bistro that Ronan had once taken her to, which served pretty


    decent food. She sent the location to Brooklyn.


    [Here?] Brooklyn asked. [Did Mr. Evans take you?]


    [Are you saying if he didn''t take me there, you won''t go? Yes, he took me there.] Cordelia rolled her


    eyes.


    [Anywhere Mr. Evans goes is bound to be a bit pricey. I''ll have to fleece you properly. How about


    tomorrow morning? I need to drop something off for my sister first.]


    "Sounds good."


    As Cordelia was about to head out, Janice decided to tag along. But just as they were leaving, Janice


    rushed out from the bathroom eximing, "Cordelia, the faucet''s broken. It''s leaking non-stop and I


    don''t know how to fix it. I don''t even know the number for maintenance."


    Tristi had already messaged Cordelia, waiting for her downstairs.


    ncing at her watch; it was already eleven. "Forget it, just plug up the leak with something for now.


    We''ll call maintenance when we''re in the car," Cordelia suggested.


    "Alright." Janice quickly went back to the bathroom, returning shortly after.


    Once they were in the car, Janice was busy texting away, messaging Ronan. [Mr. Evans, the faucet''s


    leaking in the bathroom, I don''t know the maintenance number. Could you let me know so I can call


    them?]


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    No reply came from Ronan.


    "I messaged Mr. Evans about the maintenance number, but he hasn''t replied," Janice informed


    Cordelia.


    "He''s probably busy," Cordelia suggested, although she was just as clueless about what could be


    upying him.


    "What do we do now? If it keeps leaking, the floor''s going to be slick. I''m worried you might slip," Janice


    fretted.


    Cordelia felt a warmth spread in her heart hearing Janice''s concern. She had intended to tell Janice to


    stop involving Ronan in everything but swallowed back those words.


    "No worries, I''ll just avoid that bathroom," Cordelia assured her.


    As they reached the bistro, they bumped into Brooklyn. After handing Cordelia over to Brooklyn, Janice


    took off with Tristi. She asked Cordelia to call her when she was done, as she nned to spend the


    rest of the day shopping with Tristi.


    Unfortunately, as they entered the bistro, they were told that all the private rooms were taken and they


    would have to dine in the courtyard. But it was fully enclosed and heated, so it wasn''t chilly. Cordelia


    knew the ce would be busy during the holiday season, so she didn''t mind.


    The waiter led them to a cozy spot under a window, where Cordelia nestledfortably into a plush


    sofa. Through the window, she could see a private room with two upants, Ronan and Deanna.


    Outside conversations filtered through the ss clearly, but whatever was being said inside the private


    room was inaudible to Cordelia and Brooklyn.


    "Well, isn''t this a coincidence, bumping into your ex-wife. She''s showing quite a bit," Deanna remarked,


    eyeing Cordelia''s baby bump. Therger Cordelia''s bump got, the happier Deanna felt. After all, the


    baby wasn''t Ronan''s. Seeing Cordelia pregnant with Jamie''s child would undoubtedly irk Ronan.


    "Yes," Ronan replied nonchntly, ncing out the window. He had spotted Cordelia the moment she


    entered the courtyard.


    "You two aren''t living together anymore?" Deanna asked, an alert glint in her eyes.


    "No. I''m staying at Pearl Palms," Ronan replied, casually twirling his teacup in his hand.


    "Everything''s in the past now, right, Ronan?" Deanna probed further.


    "Yes."


    Hearing Ronan''s response, Deanna finally rxed. After all, Ronan was divorced from Cordelia, they


    were living separately, and Cordelia was carrying Jamie''s child. There was no more room for Cordelia


    in Ronan''s life. With the thorn removed from her side, Deanna could finally breathe easy.


    "How''s Samantha? How''s she doing?" Ronan suddenly asked.


    Deanna was taken aback, "Why do you care?"