Zephyr knew that unless Rowan admitted this to Cordelia or Xyla told her personally, it would feel entirely different
if the girl were to find out from someone else.
Liam coughed with a frown.
Then, the servants served Blossom Mandarin, one portion per person, placing it gently beside them.
“Cordelia.” Liam was quick to change the topic. “Try this!”
Cordelia snapped back to her senses and nodded with a smile.
She recalled back when she had not known about Zephyr’s identity yet and he had taken her on a honeymoon to
the hot spring hotel. It had been spring, and the mountain by the hot spring had been blooming with peach
blossoms. It had felt like paradise.
Back then, the signature dish of the hot spring hotel had been Blossom Mandarin. She had picked the fish eye and
given it to Zephyr.
She did the same now. The most precious things were meant for the most precious people.
There was unnoticeable envy on Liam’s jaded face when he saw it. After some time, he muttered softly, “Your
grandmother… did that for me in the past too.”
Zephyr and Cordelia put their cutlery down at the same time.
This was the first time Zephyr saw his grandfather wear a sorrowful expression in his life. His grandmother had
passed away before his birth, so his impression of her was only limited to the oil painting in Liam’s study and the old
photos on the table.
Growing up, his understanding of Liam had always been that he was cold, strict, and merciless and he was known
for his impartiality and ruthlessness in business.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThat was why he had never known that there was a sensitive, fragile side to his grandfather that no one knew of,
that there was a secret garden where someone he treasured the most lived in.
“Grandpa…”
“Hah, it’s fine! It’s nothing!” Liam recomposed himself very soon. “Dig in! No need to mind me! Sigh, once you get
old, you like to reminisce…”
“Grandpa,” Cordelia said with a smile. “If it’s okay, I’d like Zephyr to take me to see grandma tomorrow.”
Zephyr was surprised, and Liam looked at her with a flash of warmth in his eyes.
The old man was feeling even more grateful that the woman his grandson had married was this warm and kind girl,
not a wealthy heiress with all sorts of unreasonable demands.
Nelly would definitely have thought that it was unlucky to pay one’s respects to the dead when she had just gotten
married and would definitely have kicked up a fuss over this.
Liam smiled. “Cordelia, I understand your good intentions, but the two of you just got married.”
“I’m already your granddaughter-in-law. I should pay my respects to grandma.”
“Don’t you think it’s unlucky?”
“Of course not!” Cordelia beamed. “It’s grandma, someone who’s very close to us. What’s unlucky about it?”
“Mm, go on.” Liam smiled, his eyes wet. “Your grandmother will bless you and Zephyr.”
After the meal, Cordelia and Zephyr walked around the manor hand in hand.
The afternoon sun of the early winter felt comfortable on them, and Zephyr suggested taking her around the horse
ranch. Cordelia agreed easily.
When the two of them reached the stable, however, the horse trainer hesitated and kept stalling as they picked
their horses.
Zephyr scowled and scolded him. “Do you not understand what I say? Cordelia and I want to ride. Do you not want
to work here anymore? Is that why you’re stopping us?!”
“No, sir!” The trainer was pale from horror. “It’s… It’s…”
Cordelia quickly asked, “Is this something hard to speak of?”
The trainer looked troubled. He said nothing and took them around the stable to a small hut behind it.
The cabin looked dingy and run down. There was an iron lock outside too.
While Cordelia was surprised, a shrill scream suddenly came from inside.
“Cordelia? Cordelia Jenner! Is it you?!”
Cordelia froze before a disheveled woman rushed toward her. Shocked, she stood rooted there, so Zephyr caught
her in his arms and the two of them took several steps back.
“Cordelia! Cordelia!”
The woman’s shrill voice was chilling.
Cordelia snapped out of her trance and recognized the ghostly woman, who was actually Yelena!
Zephyr looked at the horse trainer sternly.
The trainer stammered, “I-Its… It’s Mr. Yale—who locked her up.”
Cordelia sucked in a cold breath. “Why’d he lock her up?“
”I don’t know, I really don’t know!” The trainer was caught in a predicament. “Mr. and Mrs. Zephyr, don’t tell
others… Mr. Yale said that he locked this miss here so she’d clear her head on her own and forbid anyone from
giving her anything to eat. Then… Then, he left and he hasn’t appeared since.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmYelena gripped the metal door and shook it, making it clank. The sound felt terrorizing as it echoed in the quiet
ranch.
“Cordelia… I beg you!” Yelena plopped on her knees. “Give me something to eat and… and bring me some candied
drops. I want candied drops…”
What she said sounded incoherent, and Cordelia was confused.
“Cordelia, you can’t just watch me die!” Yelena was hysterical! “I’m your sister! Let me out… Hurry, let me out!”
“Yelena, snap out of it!” Cordelia frowned. “Look for whoever locked you in there. Leave me alone!”
It was not just that Cordelia was incapable of saving her. Even if she was capable of it, she would not want to do it.
However, Cordelia could not help feeling chills when she saw how frenzied Yelena looked and noticed her dazed
gaze and erratic behavior. She had said that she wanted… candied drops?
Only drugs could make someone less of a human yet not a ghost.
Could the candied drops she had mentioned be a kind of drug?
Zephyr put an arm around her to lead her away, ignoring Yelena.
“Cordelia, don’t go!” Yelena shouted. “Who’ll save me when you leave?!”
“Keep an eye on her,” Zephyr instructed the ranch staff. “Do whatever Mr. Yale says and let him take care of it.
Don’t interfere.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Cordelia, you’re not saving me… You think I need you to save me?!” Yelena was cackling like mad. “Hahaha…
Dad’ll be here soon even if you don’t save me! I’ll tell you now, you’ll get nothing when dad gets here! Hahaha…”
Cordelia snapped her head back.
Zephyr held her shaking shoulders and comforted her. “Don’t take Yelena seriously. She’s not herself now.”
“But…” Cordelia’s brows were tightly knitted. “She said that I’ll lose everything… What does that mean?”