Chapter 529 Lipstick Mark
Elizabeth tried to stand up from the couch but stumbled and fell back onto it.
She sniffled, grabbed a few tissues to wipe her tears, and then used a wet wipe to clean the marks on her skin.
But the purple-red marks Michael had left on her were impossible to erase.
With a soft sigh, Elizabeth changed into a black dress and sat down at the vanity to touch up her makeup.
Foundation and blush covered her pale complexion, long lashes almost hid her slightly red eyes, and bold lipstick concealed her swollen lips, bitten by Michael.
She adjusted her hair in the mirror, took a deep breath, and walked out as if nothing had happened.
Michael and Cordelia were already back in the ballroom, flaunting their affection in front of everyone.
Elizabeth turned her head away, refusing to look at them.
It was clear Michael wasn't going to leave with her. Her heart sank heavily.
In the ballroom, Cordelia clung to Michael's arm, smiling at him as if nothing had happened.
She had already noticed the kiss marks on his neck and the faint lipstick stain on his shirt.
Being so close to him, she could smell the perfume on his clothes, which was definitely not his.
Cordelia smiled while subtly scanning the crowd for Elizabeth.
The ballroom wasn't very large, but she couldn't spot the bright red dress.
Cordelia frowned slightly.
Where was Elizabeth? She must still be hiding in one of the rooms.
Earlier, she had slept for so long. She had stood in front of Michael, practically undressed, yet he had remained unmoved.
Cordelia began to doubt her own allure. Was she not beautiful enough? Was her figure not attractive enough?
It couldn't be that Michael was incapable—he had fathered three children with Elizabeth, after all.
No, it must be that he didn't love her or wasn't interested in her.
The kiss marks on Michael's neck were undoubtedly from Elizabeth. They had had plenty of time for a tryst.
Cordelia whispered something to Michael and reluctantly left his side.
"Michael, I'm still feeling a bit dizzy. I'm going to get some fresh air."
Michael looked at her tenderly. "Alright, stay away from the edge of the deck. Be careful."
Cordelia stepped onto the deck, near the staircase.
She glanced back to make sure Michael wasn't watching and called out to a bodyguard in the shadows.
"Where's Elizabeth?"
The bodyguard stepped forward. "Ms. Murphy, Elizabeth spilled wine on her dress. She went to the changing room."
He pointed. "There she is, in a black dress now."
Cordelia followed his direction and saw Elizabeth, now even more striking in her new outfit.
Cordelia clenched her fists in anger. This Elizabeth had once had her husband and now had the audacity to come to her home and sleep with her fiancé. It was intolerable.
Cordelia's chest heaved with anger, her eyes fixed on Elizabeth.
After a moment, she regained her composure.
Gerald had told her that Michael's memory had been erased; he no longer remembered Elizabeth as his lover, only as his enemy.
Gerald needed Michael's help to keep the Murphy family under control, so she had to keep Michael on her side.
The bodyguard approached her again. "Ms. Murphy, Mr. Murphy is here."
Cordelia's eyes lit up. "Victor is back? Take me to him."
Before she could move, a young man's voice called out behind her. "Cordelia, I'm here."
Cordelia turned quickly to see a man in a silver-gray suit standing not far away.
Victor smiled at her, arms open. "Cordelia, I'm back."
Cordelia's face broke into a wide smile. She lifted her dress and ran to him, throwing herself into his arms. "Victor, you're finally back. I've missed you so much!"
Victor hugged her back, laughing. "I heard your heart calling me. I finished my business as quickly as I could to get back."
He gently stroked her hair. "I was only gone a few days, and our Cordelia got married."
Cordelia apologized. "Dad said it was urgent and couldn't wait. So, we didn't wait for you..."
Victor smiled faintly. "It's alright. But it must have been hard on you, Cordelia. Such a big event, and it was so rushed. Dad didn't even let you have a proper wedding."
Cordelia looked up. "Victor, I'm not upset. Michael is wonderful. I'm happy to marry him."
Victor frowned slightly. He had heard about the complicated history between Michael and Elizabeth. He wasn't sure if Michael could make Cordelia happy.
But now that he was back, if anyone hurt Cordelia, they would pay dearly. If he found out Michael was mistreating her, he wouldn't hesitate to take drastic measures.
Victor knew why Gerald had rushed the marriage—to keep him in check.
Victor laughed at himself. What kind of father guarded against his own son like a thief?
Gerald would rather place his hopes in an outsider than trust him.
Victor pulled away from Cordelia and tidied her windblown hair. "I need to go for a bit. You go have fun."
Cordelia looked up. "Are you going to see Dad? You came to see me before seeing him?"
Victor smiled indulgently. "Yes. How could I not, when our Cordelia is so lovable?"
Cordelia tilted her head and smiled. "Go see Dad. He's probably waiting for you."
Victor's assistant accompanied him upstairs.
Cordelia watched him disappear around the corner, her smile fading.
The bodyguard approached. "Ms. Murphy, Mr. Murphy's original schedule didn't include coming here."
Cordelia's face was calm, a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor.
She was like a different person from the one who had hugged Victor. "Victor rushed back because he's worried my husband might share power with him?"
The bodyguard answered respectfully. "Ms. Murphy, you know Mr. Murphy married you to Mr. Thomas to keep Mr. Thomas in the Murphy family. You know what Mr. Murphy is thinking."
Cordelia looked at the empty hallway upstairs and said softly, "Is the Murphy family such a great place? A father who isn't like a father, a son who isn't like a son, and a sister who isn't like a sister."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
