Married a Secret Billionaire

Chapter 55

Cordelia peeled her heavy eyelids open. She felt like her bones were dismantled and reassembled. The pain was unbearable.

She was greeted with white walls and the smell of antiseptic while being bandaged in gauze from head to toe. What was even more exaggerated was that her leg was hung high.

She was stunned when a large hand held hers, and the warmth of it seeped into her heart.

Cordelia turned to meet the man’s deep eyes.

He looked at her quietly with complex emotions running through them. Worry, frustration, concern, affection… and self-blame. He forced a smile and stroked her hair softly, speaking hoarsely. “You’re finally awake.”

Cordelia jostled, her head buzzing. Other than pain, she could not feel anything.

“What happened to me?”

“You don’t remember?” Marcus held her hand in his and rubbed it gently.

Cordelia’s lips were dry, and her throat was so parched—it felt like it was on fire. Her streams of consciousness slowly poured in, and she remembered everything that had happened that night.

Michael and Jesse kept making her drink and pushed her to Josiah. The latter took her into the car. She was unwilling to be taken advantage of, so she took off her bag strap and strangled the driver, then…

Cordelia grew restless and gripped her fists.

“It’s fine now,” Marcus consoled her softly. “Everything’s over. As long as you’re okay.”

“Honey,” she called out softly, looking at him with her arms stretched for a hug.

Marcus smiled and sat next to her to help her up and carefully take her into his arms.

Cordelia was back to the warm and secure embrace again. Upon listening to the familiar heartbeat, her grievance and fear she had been suppressing were finally released, along with her tears. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Marcus’ heart squeezed as he rubbed her head.

“Sorry I came late,” he said in a deep tone. “Your coworker, Annie, actually texted me about your situation once you finished work. You texted me a few times after that too. But I didn’t see any of them.”

“You’re not to be blamed.” Cordelia pressed her lips together. “I should have watched out.

“But things like this can hardly be avoided in the workplace.”

Cordelia went quiet and felt her calf hurting. She gnashed her teeth, and her expression changed. She looked at her leg that was hung up.

“It’s a light fracture,” Marcus told her. “This one’s more serious. Aside from this, it’s scrapes everywhere else. Consider yourself lucky.”

“So, I won’t get to walk for some time?” Cordelia was dazed.

“Yeah.” Marcus chuckled. “I’ll take care of you for the time being.”

Cordelia paused. He would be taking care of her? She had experienced his culinary skills. If he were to take care of her, she would have blanched vegetables every day.

She chuckled weakly, her hands around his waist wrung tighter.

Marcus looked down at her with an increasingly solemn look. After a while of silence, he asked her, “Why did you do that?”

“Hmm?”

“Why jump off the car?”

Cordelia took a deep breath and told him everything.

“I drank quite a bit at that time. If I didn’t hear Michael and Jesse’s conversation in advance, I might already…” She bit her lips as tears welled in her eyes.

“Jumping out of the car as self-defense was my only choice in that situation. I couldn’t sit around and wait for my doom and let Josiah take me to the hotel.”

“But do you know how dangerous it is to strangle the driver from the back and jump out of the car recklessly? What if you fell to your death!?”

Cordelia’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up at the man. He looked stern and serious, his dark eyes rather frosty. Although he rarely smiled, he was not often this stern.

She felt kind of wronged. Was she wrong to have done that?

Cordelia looked at him and murmured with a pout, “Would you rather some man take me to the hotel?”

“I just want you to stay alive!” Marcus’ tone was deep.

Cordelia quieted down with her heart thumping. No matter what happened, his wish was for her to stay alive. Warmth gushed into her heart, and she wrapped her arms around him.

“Silly.” Marcus’ tone was still chastising. “Is your innocence more important than your life?”

Cordelia nodded without hesitation.

“You…” Marcus glared at her, but the girl flashed him a naïve and pure smile.

Powerless, he sighed heavily after a long time and told her seriously, emphasizing each word, “Remember, your life matters the most whenever it is.

“This is no longer the ancient traditional times. Women’s chastity isn’t that important, and I’m not one to mind something like this.”

He held her hand and looked into her eyes. He had not spoken loudly, but each word knocked at Cordelia’s heart.

“You’re the only one I mind. I want you to stay alive and live well. Don’t confront danger stubbornly. As long as you’re alive, anything can be exchanged. Understand?”

Cordelia did not agree with what Marcus said but smiled and nodded in order to not make him worry.

“You’re lucky that nothing too bad happened.” Marcus looked at her with a look. “But those superiors of yours, are you planning to let them off the hook so easily?”

“Of course not!” Cordelia’s anger flared when they were brought up.

Despite that, she was just venting.

Michael was one of the company’s shareholders, and Jesse was his niece's boyfriend.

What could a small employee like her do to them?