The Contracted Ever After (Cordelia and Ronan) novel Chapter 727

The next day, August headed back to Lumos Enterprises for another solo meeting with Ronan.

Once they wrapped up the business talk, August brought up his desire to buy a house in Millstone.

"Thinking of buying a place?" Ronan asked, casually crossing one leg over the other like they were just chatting over coffee. "Why bother? I've got more houses than I know what to do with."

August chuckled. He liked Ronan's laid-back attitude that came with being wealthy. However, Cordelia's words from the day before had made him a bit wary. He wasn't as open as usual, even a bit reserved.

Ronan, always perceptive, could pretty much guess what Cordelia and August had said about him the night before. Words like 'ruthless' and 'no-holds-barred' probably came up.

But Ronan didn't mind.

"I'd still prefer my own place. I can afford it. I'm looking for a spacious home to bring Alana over, like our own little haven. You've got the connections—can you help me find the best neighborhood?" August asked.

"How about a villa?"

"That works."

"Take Serenity Manor. Lumos Enterprises built it a few years ago in a traditional style, and I kept one for myself. It's yours," Ronan offered. "It's move-in ready."

"I can't just accept such a generous gift. Name your price," August said, flashing a grateful smile. Ronan was incredibly generous.

"It's nothing. Your daughter's precious, and I've taken a liking to her," Ronan said nonchalantly.

Cordelia's background was a tangled web. Ronan had never met Castiel Haselwood, only Shelley, whom he quite liked, and he hadn't formed much of an impression of Alana. As for August, Ronan had a lot of respect for him. Like Ronan, August was a businessman—polished, straightforward, and consistent. Unlike Ronan, who, despite his calm exterior, occasionally let his more 'rogue' side slip through.

Cordelia watched the couple lost in their world of affection, feeling as if she had been an outsider in their lives for decades. It was a bit awkward.

August shared the news about buying the villa and Ronan's offer to give it to him.

"You accepted?" Cordelia asked.

"I did, but I'll definitely offer him something in return. It's only right to reciprocate. To do otherwise wouldn't be proper," August explained.

Cordelia's pace slowed as she ate, thinking to herself: Maybe that had been his plan all along—to always have a calculation in mind for everyone. Perhaps Ronan felt that if Cordelia was impenetrable, he could get to August, to strike from the side. That's how Ronan always operated. But what was the point?

Her dissatisfaction with Ronan was growing.