Cordelia scowled angrily. No wonder Maya had been so “well-behaved” just now; it turned out she was playing the wounded-strategy act!
Too bad for her, Cordelia wasn’t buying it.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?”
Hendrix’s brows tightened slightly. This was the first time Cordelia had ever talked back to him.
Before, no matter what he said, she always responded with that mild, easygoing temper.
As he thought about that, his expression darkened, and his voice grew colder.
“Hey, did you eat something explosive today? Why are you speaking so harshly?”
The anger burning in Cordelia’s chest made it hard to breathe. She was about to speak when Maya cut in.
“Hendrix, my sister’s pregnant. It’s normal for her to be a little moody.”
Her gaze slid to Cordelia’s still-flat stomach. She tugged at the corner of her lips in a barely-there smirk—one full of meaning.
“Hendrix, don’t argue with her because of me. After all, the baby she’s carrying is yours!”
At those words, some of the tension left Hendrix’s face. He turned to Cordelia, saying, “If you’re not feeling well, then rest a little longer. Once dinner is ready, I’ll have the housekeeper call you.
“Maya’s here for the first time. I’ll show her around.”
With that, he turned and left with Maya.
Right before the door closed, Maya shot Cordelia a bold, triumphant smile.
Cordelia took a few long breaths, forcing herself to calm down. Then she printed out the divorce papers. She’d find the right moment to get Hendrix’s signature.
At the dining table, Maya was there, too.
Cordelia immediately noticed the table was covered with all of Maya’s favorite dishes.
There was no need to ask; clearly, Hendrix had told the chef.
Cordelia barely had an appetite to begin with. Seeing this, she turned to leave.
Suddenly, Maya spoke in a fake-sweet, mocking tone.
“Della, Hendrix asked the kitchen to make all this delicious food just for you. You should eat at least a little!”
Cordelia let out a cold laugh. “Yeah. You’d better not waste your dear brother-in-law’s thoughtful gesture.”
Hendrix immediately heard something was off. He frowned at Cordelia.
“Maya’s a guest. Of course, we should treat her well,” he retorted. “You’re the older sister. Why are you always picking on your younger sister?”
That blatant favoritism hit Cordelia like a knife straight to the chest. It hurt so much she could barely breathe.
A moment later, Maya pushed Cordelia down into a chair.
“Della, even if you’re not hungry, you still need to eat for the baby.”
Maya finished speaking and ladled her a bowl of creamy mushroom soup.
Cordelia had no intention of playing along with this fake sisterly act. She stood up immediately.
Maya grabbed her.
In the tugging, the steaming hot soup spilled all over Cordelia’s chest.
The pain shot through her, forcing a gasp out of her throat, her features twisting.
But Maya yelped instead, “Ahhh! It hurts!”
The next second, Hendrix rushed over, shoved Cordelia aside, and pulled Maya into his arms.
His voice was frantic. “Maya! Are you okay? Where did it burn you?”
Caught off guard, Cordelia stumbled, her lower back slamming hard into the table corner. She clenched her teeth from the pain.
But Hendrix didn’t even look at her. His eyes were full of nothing but Maya.
Because of that, he didn’t see the way Cordelia was staring at him unblinking.
The burning pain spread across her body, but none of it came close to the pain crushing her heart.
So this was it.
Even someone as always-calm as Hendrix could lose control when he cared about the woman he loved.
This was the difference between being loved and not being loved.
Noticing Cordelia’s stare, Maya raised a brow and met her eyes. A victor’s smile flashed across her face before she quickly switched to a pitiful expression.
“I’m fine, Hendrix. Go check on my sister instead. I think she got burned because of me.”
Hendrix paused, finally remembering Cordelia existed. He let go of Maya and walked over.
When he saw the red, swollen skin on Cordelia’s chest, he inhaled sharply.
“You’re this badly burned and didn’t say anything? Does it hurt?”
Cordelia let out a mocking laugh. The movement made the pain lance through her lungs.
“And what difference would it make if I said something?”
Would Hendrix worry about her?
No. He wouldn’t.
Since that was the case, why humiliate herself by asking for his concern?
When he heard her sarcasm, Hendrix’s expression shifted. His tone softened.
“Maya’s visiting for the first time. I just didn’t want her getting hurt and having your father blame me when she goes back, so I…”
“Is that so?” Cordelia cut him off. “Then you really are a great brother-in-law.”
She didn’t want to watch his performance any longer. She turned and headed upstairs.
A few minutes later, Hendrix walked into the bedroom with a medical kit. His voice was earnest this time.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I really messed up just now. I shouldn’t have overlooked you. I promise it won’t happen again.”
