Chapter 7: Cordelia, Remember Your Identity

Confusion flickered in Cordelia’s eyes as she looked up at Alaric.

He just gave her a mysterious smile and let go of her hand.

Puzzled, Cordelia pulled her hand back.

Dominic, who was sitting nearby, looked visibly tense. He gripped his utensils so tightly that the veins on his hands bulged, yet he remained composed and gently served Cordelia some food.

Cordelia didn't notice Dominic's change in mood and quietly thanked him.

Throughout dinner, Dominic acted like Cordelia's guardian. Knowing she had surgery the next day and couldn't drink, he made sure she avoided alcohol.

By the end of dinner, Dominic was clearly intoxicated.

As they were leaving, someone patted Dominic on the shoulder and teased Cordelia.

"Mr. Gray is so protective of Ms. Stone. Ms. Stone, you better take good care of Mr. Gray when you get home."

Cordelia felt a bit embarrassed at the comment. Dominic leaned closer to her, draping his arm over the back of her chair, creating an intimate and subtly suggestive atmosphere.

"Don't worry, Cordelia is kind-hearted and will naturally take good care of me."

Alaric's handsome face turned cold, and his eyes darkened. He slowly stood up, shot a disdainful glance at Cordelia, and walked away.

Cordelia was completely bewildered, with no idea what had upset him this time.

Dominic had shielded her from a lot of alcohol tonight, and Cordelia was immensely grateful.

She was not good at socializing and had almost been disrupted by Alaric. If not for Dominic's support, she might have been too nervous to speak.

"Dominic, can you stand?"

She bent down to check on Dominic and realized he was heavily intoxicated. She put his arm over her shoulder, lifted him from the chair, and wrapped her arm around his waist, struggling to walk outside.

Alaric sat in his car, watching Cordelia support Dominic as they staggered out. His eyes instantly darkened.

Robert, sitting in the driver's seat, felt the oppressive atmosphere. He glanced at the restaurant entrance and swallowed nervously before speaking cautiously.

"Mr. Hughes, should I go help Mrs. Hughes?"

Alaric withdrew his gaze from the window, his face expressionless as he remained silent.

Drawing on his years of experience working with Alaric, Robert got out of the car and hurried toward Cordelia.

"Mrs. Hughes, let me help you. I'll take over."

Cordelia had already performed a four-hour surgery earlier and was exhausted, so supporting Dominic was indeed difficult. When she saw Robert coming to help, she quickly handed Dominic over to him and hailed a taxi.

Robert promptly placed Dominic in the back seat of the taxi.

Cordelia got into the front passenger seat, thanked Robert, and instructed the driver.

"To the Evergreen Hotel."

Robert was about to tell Cordelia that Alaric was still waiting in the car, but she had already left with Dominic.

He glanced back at the luxury car parked nearby, sensing the intense glare from the back seat.

At the Evergreen Hotel.

Cordelia struggled to pull Dominic out of the taxi and support him to the hotel lobby. Dominic eventually vomited.

Dominic's vomiting made Cordelia, who was in the early stages of pregnancy, feel even more nauseous.

The Evergreen Hotel was owned by the Gray family. The manager noticed Dominic was drunk and immediately stepped in to help.

They quickly got Dominic to a room.

The manager saw that Cordelia's clothes were stained and immediately instructed the receptionist to get her some spare clothes and take her to another room to clean up.

The smell clinging to Cordelia was unbearable. Even after washing and changing into clean clothes, she still felt nauseous, as though the stench were lingering around her.

"Ms. Stone, why don't you stay here tonight? We have extra suites available," the manager suggested, seeing her discomfort.

Cordelia shook her head, gagging a couple of times, and politely declined.

"I have to work tomorrow and need my patient files at home," she said, stepping out of the hotel.

The night breeze eased her stomach slightly.

Robert, sitting in the driver's seat, cautiously glanced at the rearview mirror.

Alaric's cold eyes were fixed on Cordelia, his expression so dark it seemed almost tangible.

Robert took a deep breath and remained silent.

Cordelia and Dominic had been in the hotel for forty minutes, and she emerged in different clothes with wet hair, indicating that she had just taken a shower.

Any adult would understand the implication.

"Drive," Alaric ordered coldly.

Robert didn't hesitate, immediately starting the car and driving away.

Cordelia waited about ten minutes for a taxi.

She returned home past midnight.

As she stepped into the living room and changed her shoes, she was met with Alaric’s cold, handsome face.

Cordelia froze, surprised to see Alaric at home.

Since their last intimate encounter a month ago, Alaric had refused to come here. Even when he dropped her off that day, he didn't enter the house.

His sharp gaze fell on her. Seeing her pale and startled face, his expression grew even colder.

"Come here," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

Cordelia subtly bit her lip and walked over, asking, "Is something wrong?"

Before she could finish, Alaric cut her off, his voice icy.

"Take off your clothes!"

Cordelia trembled slightly, staring at him in confusion. Realizing what he was implying, her expression stiffened.

"You think I had an affair with Dominic?"

Saskia, standing nearby, quickly tried to mediate.

"Mr. Hughes, there must be some misunderstanding. Mrs. Hughes isn't that kind of woman."

Alaric cut her off, his sharp voice ringing out again.

"Take off your clothes!" He said angrily.

Cordelia bit her lip tightly and lowered her gaze, slowly unbuttoning her shirt.

Saskia rushed to stop her.

"Mrs. Hughes, don't."

Cordelia pushed Saskia's hand away.

"Saskia, it's okay. We're both women. I don't mind," she said, already unbuttoning her shirt.

Saskia turned away, feeling embarrassed.

Cordelia's bare skin was exposed to the cool air. Seeing Alaric didn't stop her, she reached back to unbutton her bra.

Alaric watched her stubborn expression. Suddenly, he stood up, grabbed a suit jacket from the coat rack, and wrapped it around her, his eyes fierce and filled with warning.

"Cordelia, remember your place!"