♥ I Never Thought I'd Love You ♥

~Chapter 53: That Should Be Discreet

~Chapter 53: That Should Be Discreet

            Cornelius looked at me, pain in his eyes. I suddenly regretted pushing that far. Stepping away from him, I struggled to apologise. “Cornelius, I’m sorry--.”

            “No, it’s fine. I said I’d answer.” He looked away from me and answered, “Honest to God, I don’t know.”

            I was shocked. That was NOT the answer I was expecting. “You… you don’t know?” I asked.

           Cornelius shook his head. “No. I don’t. I was separated with her since I was two years old. Or so my father tells me. I have never met my mother.”

            I looked at him. “Cornelius… How old are you?”

            “I’m twenty-one years old.”

            He’s three years older than me, I thought. I started piecing up bits of information. Mum died when I was six. Dylan was already my stepfather when I was born. That means Mum was divorced with my father BEFORE I was born. But why did they divorce so fast? I moved to the USA after Mum died… If it wasn’t for my her, I’d never have known I was born in Ireland. The different events all happened at different times, and I couldn’t think straight. My head was spinning like a top as I struggled to stay focused on reality.

            “Cordelia? Are you feeling alright?” I heard Cornelius ask.

            I snapped back to reality in a flash. “Yeah. I’m fine.” I shook my head, trying to shake the thoughts away. “Well, I’m done with my questions. Goodbye, Cornelius.” I turned to leave, but Cornelius I called my name. I turned around.

            “I know you have a lot more questions for me, but you’re just too afraid to ask. Here…” He pushed a sheet of crumpled paper towards me. “It’s my number. You can text me about it. I find it easier to answer your questions virtually.”

            I scowled a little, but picked up and left his office without looking back. The chief made no remark as I walked out the door. I went straight back home, trying to piece up my new information with the stuff I already knew.

~~~~

            I dumped all my stuff down on the kitchen counter when I got home. Niall would get so mad if he ever saw me texting Cornelius, I thought. But I have no choice! If I want to find out more, I have to. But I can’t tell Niall either, because he’ll keep pestering me with questions. I started debating on whether or not I should text Cornelius. You need to tell Niall, Cordelia. No, I can’t! It’ll make him more stressed to keep worrying about me talking to Cornelius! But I can’t go behind his back… I’m breaking our trust like that. I sighed and pushed my phone away from me. I snatched my iPhone 5 back up before it slid off the kitchen counter and shattered the screen. “UGH!” I said. All of a sudden, my hands took over and texted Cornelius, “Hi, it’s Cordelia and I’m not gonna text you much, only when I’m asking you questions” and sent it. “There. That should be discreet.”

~~~~

            I heard Niall walk in the door. I was in the upstairs living room, texting Janelle, and occasionally, Cornelius. “I’m home, Cordelia.”

            “No shit,” I mumbled to myself.

            I heard some shuffling of keys and papers downstairs. He’s probably looking through my stuff, I thought. Typical. I gasped. CORNELIUS’ NUMBER! I LEFT IT ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER!