The Contracted Ever After novel Chapter 539

In the back of the taxi, Cordelia's phone buzzed to life, revealing Ronan's name on the screen. She pressed the phone to her ear, her voice laced with urgency. "Hey, Ronan, where are you?"

He replied with a hint of nonchalance, "At school, looking for you. What's up?"

"I just left. Petra... she's on a ledge at Empower Tower, threatening to jump. You need to get over here, fast!" Cordelia's words tumbled out in a rush.

"Jump? As in... off a building?" Ronan's skeptical tone echoed through the speaker. "Is this for real?"

"Who jokes about their own life, Ronan?" Cordelia frowned, her mind racing. He clearly didn't know about the love letter scandal that had pushed Petra to this point. His casual demeanor grated on her nerves.

"Empower Tower, you said?" Ronan didn't push for details. He knew Cordelia had little faith in him at the moment.

"Yeah."

With the call ended, Cordelia urged the driver to step on it, her thoughts a whirlwind. Why would Petra choose Empower Tower of all places? It was a stroke of terrible luck, and the scandal was linked to Ronan, which indirectly tied Cordelia to the mess. If Petra actually jumped, would Cordelia's position at Empower Operations be jeopardized? How would Peter view her now?

Cordelia had always had reservations about Petra, and now they were magnified. She knew Petra was sensitive, and the public shame might have been too much to bear. Everyone was talking about Petra's crush on Ronan, which had been a secret until now. But despite Cordelia's personal feelings, she remembered the kindness Petra had shown her: Petra had been the one to introduce her to Birchwood College and had always been good to her.

Arriving at the base of Empower Tower, she spotted Peter clutching his briefcase with a look of sheer exasperation. He had been about to leave work when the news of a potential jumper had reached him. If someone were to jump from his building, not only would Empower Tower be marked by tragedy, but it could also cast a shadow over his entire Edith Hills development. "Of all the places to choose for such an act," he muttered under his breath, clearly annoyed by the disruption.

Cordelia, too preoccupied with trying to reach Petra, barely noticed Peter's irritation. "Yeah, she's my colleague," she said distractedly, dialing Petra's number once again.

Peter grumbled, "Why here, of all places? There's a whole town to pick from, and she has to bring the chaos to my doorstep."

Cordelia couldn't help but think how insensitive Peter could be.

Unbeknownst to Cordelia, Samantha was lingering nearby. She had been staying at a hotel; her acting opportunities dried up since Alana had returned to England, seemingly abandoning her. To add insult to injury, Harold, the young heartthrob she'd set her sights on, had enlisted in the military—a decision Samantha was convinced had something to do with Cordelia.

Now that Harold was gone, Sienna felt relieved. She believed her daughter deserved far better than the unwanted attention. With Harold out of the picture, the tables had turned, and Samantha was the one fuming.

Samantha sensed the opportunity to fan the flames of Peter's frustration with Cordelia. "Cordelia, look at the mess you and Ronan have created. This woman is so aggrieved by your affairs that she's contemplating jumping, and she chose your workplace to do it. Talk about making a statement," Samantha said with a hint of glee, stirring the pot.

Samantha wasn't aware of the love letter incident flooding the school noticeboards. She knew Petra was a teacher but was oblivious to her relationship with Cordelia. However, seeing Cordelia's anxious demeanor, she jumped to conclusions, and, wanting to tarnish Cordelia's reputation in front of Peter, she spun a tale of Petra choosing Empower Tower as her stage.

Cordelia turned around, finally noticing Samantha. Her face darkened instantly. "Don't spout nonsense!"

But Peter seemed convinced. Why else would a university teacher, with the whole town to choose from, decide to end it all at Empower Operations? It had to be connected to Cordelia. Peter's expression soured. If it weren't for Cordelia's relationship with Ronan, he would seriously consider her future at Empower Operations.