Chapter 11

Marcus, who was on the other end of the line, was silent. Even through the phone, Josiah could guess that Marcus looked blank and cold. The latter’s signature skill was keeping a stoic face. “Z…” Josiah started with a cough. “Don’t you have anything to say?” “What?” Marcus sounded like he could either be smirking or not. “I gave it to her. It’s hers. It’s her decision what to do with it.” “But that’s Le Esse. Your great-grandmother wore it before!” Marcus stayed quiet and added weight to his dumbbells. His muscles tensed up when he lifted them, his strength overflowing. “How much did she sell the bangle for?” “Hmm…” Josiah chuckled. “She didn’t!” Marcus furrowed his brows. He had seen the small woman on pins and needles as she’d kept glancing toward the drawer last night. He had guessed that she would sell the jewelry. After all, Yelena had stolen her 40,000-dollar wedding gift from her, and she was in a hurry to pay the medical bills. Where would she gather so much money if she did not sell the jewelry? What Marcus had not expected was that she’d have already entered the jeweler’s and come back out with the bangle. “Z, I happened to be around today, so I recognized Le Esse the moment she took it out. I thought some bold thief had stolen it from you, but it was my sis-in-law!” Josiah cackled. “She’s an interesting one, Z. I thought she was in need of money and asked my guy to give her a high price… Of course, it was nothing compared to Le Esse’s value, but it was definitely a good price for her!” “Hmm, and?” “And…” Josiah scratched his head. “I didn’t expect her not to sell it!” An unusual feeling struck Marcus. The image of Cordelia looking fraught with worry last night flashed in his mind again. They were already husband and wife. Did she not plan to be honest with him? She was facing a difficulty yet she had not told him and she insisted on shouldering it herself… Marcus narrowed his eyes with a cryptic smile. “Whatever,” he said in a deep tone. “Keep an eye on that plot of land. I don’t want the Jenners getting it! Pressure William Jenner as well. Keep them miserable, basically.” “Isn’t that your father-in-law?” Josiah snorted. “Z, what are you trying to do? I don’t get it…” “Do as I say even if you don’t get it. No point crapping about it!” Josiah stuck his tongue out. The two of them had grown up together, and he had long gotten used to the guy’s erratic temper, hoping that a woman would become the bane of his existence one day. It seemed to Josiah that said woman was right in front of them, but… Josiah frowned. “Z, just one more thing. Do you think you and this Cordelia Jenner… will last till the end?” Marcus said nothing. “You’re not even Marcus Grist and you won’t stay long in that village. You’re going back to Centrolis sooner or later. What’s Cordelia Jenner going to do then? Will your family be able to accept her?” The man on the other end of the line went silent for a long time before a deep voice spoke. “Leave the future to the future.” “I’m just warning you. Don’t fall too deep…” “Don’t worry about it. I know what I’m doing.” Marcus sounded intentionally nonchalant. “I don’t care about this marriage at all. It’s just an identity for me to hide behind.” “Okay.” Josiah sighed weakly. “I hope you’ll be able to sound as unfazed before you return to Centrolis one day!”