Love or Die CEO’s Daily Dose of Swoon

Chapter 5

Cordelia mulled over the day’s bizarre events as she walked home, her pale fingers brushing against her chest, where her heart beat with a sense of foreboding. Her usually stoic eyes betrayed a hint of confusion. At school that afternoon, she had fell perfectly normal, but the pain from the morning loomed in her memory, stark and startling.

Love or die. “What could cause such a thing?

Even after returning home, she couldn’t unravel the mystery Lost in thought, she was about to head upstairs

when Juliana’s voice, filled with surprise, echoed behind her. “Edwin, Belinda!”

Cordelia paused mid–step, only then noticing the quests in the house.

Ainda sat on the living room sofa, her smile warm and welcoming. However, Lorna was the picture of

istress beside her, eyes red rimmed from crying.

Across from them were a man and woman, both middle–aged. The woman glanced at Juliana with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, then turned a critical gaze on Cordelia, lips curling as she said in a flippant tone. “So this is Lia? Pretty enough, I suppose…”

Before Cordelia could respond, Laurinda huffed, “Yes, she grew up in an orphanage, has no manners to speak of, and doesn’t even know how to greet you properly. Dull as a doorknob. Not like our Juliana here, who’s been bright and sensible since she was a child, diligent and studious.”

Cordelia promptly shut her mouth.

Juliana beamed a smile, trotting over to sit beside Laurinda and cooing, “Edwin, Belinda, what brings you here?”

The couple exchanged awkward glances, remaining silent.

soon be turning eighteen, and after your

gaze turned stern. “The Foster family and we have been close for years. The engagement was supposed to strengthen our bond. If you insist on Cordelia marrying into their family, you’d be doing

“How is Lia marrying into their family a feud?” She couldn’t bear the thought of her hard–found daughter being so rejected.

And Cordelia? What does she have to offer? Can she engage in intellectual discussions with Hanley? Can she dance at balls? Play the piano? She’s clueless! Them together would be a laughingstock. But our Juliana is a perfect choice

but Laurinda didn’t give her any chance,

landed on

the biased grandmother, her well–meaning but weak mother, the malicious cousin, and the Foster elders who looked down on her. And she had noticed Hanley at school, nowhere near the

as she said coldly. “Let’s just leave it at that.”

indifference suggesting she wasn’t

“Since Cordelia knows her place, it’s settled! Let’s discuss

details.”

Cordelia. She seemed off today

she didn’t miss the chance to run down

explained, “Lia hasn’t had the chance to

cutting her off. “What good would a tutor do? It’s a waste of money. We’d better buy Juliana a new dress. The Delaney kids are all sharp. That girl’s a fool and likely got your family’s genes.

shame. She clenched her fingers, and anger

family. Her father was a college professor but suddenly suffered from mental disease a few years ago. Since then, Laurinda, who didn’t like her from the get–go, hadn’t wasted any

her.

had even cursed her daughter,

you like, but you can’t talk about Lia like that!”

Snap!