Chapter 522


    Victoria cast a discreet nce at Ronan from afar, struggling to find any ws in him. Even in his


    middle years, he seemed to shimmer with a certain charm.


    "Sure, a man in his prime is something, but eventually, he''s just that – middle-aged. Those young


    studs, though, they''ve got some serious moves in the bedroom," she mused, a sly grin spreading


    across her face as she remembered something. "Although Ronan''s not too shabby in that department


    either, he won''t be at his peak forever."


    "Are you scouting for a man or a bedroom athlete?" Cordelia retorted yfully.


    Victoria chuckled, "Why not both?"


    "I''ve got his picture. Want to cuddle with it at night?" Cordelia quipped, not entirely serious.


    Ronan overheard the exchange and simply shot Cordelia a knowing look, apanied by a smirk.


    Out in the vast white expanse of snow, Harold cut a dashing figure in his army green attire.


    Upon seeing Harold, Cordelia felt a pang of guilt but couldn''t find the words. Likely feeling the same,


    Harold beat a hasty retreat as soon as Cordelia approached, slinging his backpack over his shoulder


    and walking away.


    This departure would mean not seeing him for at least two years.


    Despite everyone''s efforts to keep Janice in the dark, schools were a hotbed for gossip. With a fresh


    wave of students arriving to see Harold off, Janice had caught wind of the situation. Her gaze darkened


    upon seeing Cordelia, lost for words.


    Janice, the intellectual, was also a believer in fate. The fortune-teller''s prediction that Harold would join


    the military had seemed far-fetched to her, given his academic prowess. But now, she believed. It was


    all because of Cordelia''s situation.


    "Mr. Evans, could you keep an eye on the kid? I''m worn out today. I''ll head home and cook up some


    dinner," Janice told Ronan, her voiceced with fatigue.


    Ronan, sensing her mood, nodded in agreement.


    Victoria noticed the family atmosphere and made her exit. "Oh, right, my intern just sent me a message


    on Messenger about the report. I need to check it out. Cordelia, where are your house keys? Hurry up.


    I need to get back to her."


    Cordelia furrowed her brow, fixing Victoria with a stare. Unfazed, Victoria grabbed the keys and headed


    to Cordelia''s ce.


    ...


    "Thwack!" A snowball hit Cordelia right in the cor, and Callum stood giggling mischievously in the


    distance.


    Cordelia couldn''t help butugh along, her smile bright and genuine. She scooped up a handful of


    snow and lobbed it back at Callum. The two of them frolicked in the snow, undeterred by the heavy fall.


    While many students were enjoying the snow outside, none paid much mind to Cordelia and Callum''s


    yful fight. Ronan watched the pair, lighting a cigarette and squinting through the smoke, observing


    them like an older brother might.


    Unbeknownst to Callum, Cordelia was getting pretty drenched, but since most of her snowballs missed


    their mark, Callum remained pristine.


    Ronan saw Cordelia''s cheerful demeanor, which seemedpletely for the sake of her child, and had


    nothing to do with him.


    After about an hour of y, it was time for Callum to head home. "Mom, will you walk me home?"


    Callum asked, noticing Cordelia''s wet hair and clothes, which looked rather messy. However, her face


    was flushed with happiness.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    "But a friend’s waiting for me at home," Cordelia replied, straightening up from her crouched position.


    "She is old enough to take care of herself. I am still little and can''t look after myself. Are you okay with


    that, mom?" Callumined, clearly unsatisfied.


    Cornered by her son''s logic, Cordelia had no choice but to agree to walk him home.