No doubt, Cornelia knew it must be because Marcus had done something. So those people who were hostile to her before, suddenly changed their attitude towards her, "What did my husband say to you?"
The woman shook her head, "He didn't say anything."
Cornelia raised an eyebrow, staring intensely at the woman.
She didn't say anything, but the woman felt guilty and so she honestly told Cornelia, "He just asked me if I wanted to move..."
Cornelia, "Is that all?"
The woman went on, "Do you remember Leila and Marina, Orlando’s aunts? They recently sold their houses at a price lower than the market price, and then hastily left Rosenberg, saying they would never come back. I, like others, thought they left because Orlando went to jail and they felt disgraced. But just now I learned from your husband that he must have done something that forced those families to sell their houses and leave Rosenberg."
By the time she got to this point, Cornelia had understood.
The day she returned to Rosenberg with her grandmother's ashes, Leila and Marina insulted her, and Marcus heard it. Cornelia thought it was over, but she didn't expect Marcus to do so much for her silently.
The woman went on, "Nelly, you know, my family has been living here for generations, where else can we move to? Please forgive me. You should know how much influence I have in the community, as long as you forgive me, I promise there will be no one in our community who will defame you again. I can even help you look after your house for free, I won't let Robison take over your house."
Probably worried that Cornelia would hold a grudge, the woman hurriedly continued, "If you don't forgive me, your husband will definitely make me move. It's possible that we won't just be moving out of this community, we might not even be able to live in Rosenberg anymore. I have elderly parents and school-aged children at home. I really can't move..."
The woman was crying as she spoke, "Nelly, your husband is not an easy man to deal with. I accidentally offended him before, and I really won't dare to do it again..."
Cornelia had no major grudge against this woman, so she didn't need to force her to leave Rosenberg.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Impulsive Vow to an Enigmatic Husband