Calculated Obedience

Cordelia caught Gideon's sleeve before he could pull the ringing phone from his pocket. "Tonight was supposed to be about making things up to me," she murmured, tilting her face up. "Can't work wait just this once?" Never before had she put on a sweet, coaxing act for him, yet tonight she leaned right into it.

Gideon froze for a second before letting out a surprised laugh. "Are you actually pouting right now, Cora?"

Caught slightly off guard by her own boldness, Cordelia ducked her chin with a faint smile.

Reaching out, Gideon cupped her jaw gently and lowered his head to kiss her.

Four years of marriage had kept their affection strictly lukewarm and routine. Because she had never softened toward him like this before, his pulse picked up fast enough that he let the incoming call ring out completely unanswered.

When the screen lit up a second time, Cordelia asked on purpose, "Should you take that? It might be urgent."

Gideon glanced at the caller ID, his brows drawing together. "Nothing worth worrying about. Just someone unimportant."

Cordelia hid a dry, mocking curl of her lip. *Does he brush off my calls as someone unimportant while he's tangled in Mallory's sheets?* Men really were laughable creatures, greedy enough to reach for everything even when their hands were already full.

Still, she knew Gideon well enough to realize divorce was the last risk he would take right now. For four years, she had stood beside him at every corporate gala, helping him cement a spotless reputation as a devoted husband. Ending their marriage would get complicated fast.

Mallory clearly recognized that roadblock too, pushing this battle of wits in hopes of cornering Cordelia into walking away first. Had Cordelia been healthy, she wouldn't have wasted a minute competing over such a two-faced man. Sadly, she was dying, and her life had been far too dull to end in quiet defeat.

As the coastal breeze blew across the shoreline, she looked up at him. "Gideon, we've been married four years now. Do you love me?"

Gideon slipped off his coat and settled it over her shoulders. "We're husband and wife."

He never once answered that question straight. Holding the title of a wife didn't make her the woman he loved.

Unable to reach Gideon directly, Mallory soon fired a WhatsApp text straight to Cordelia's phone, breaking the quiet with a sharp chime. The woman didn't even hide her nerve: *[Tell Gideon to pick up his phone.]*

Reading the message, Cordelia lifted wide, puzzled eyes to her husband. "Gideon, Mallory is your secretary, right? Did an emergency come up?"

His demeanor shifted slightly, a crease forming between his brows. "Could be an office matter. It's pretty windy out here, so I'll head to the car and return the call."

Cordelia nodded quietly and sat down on the sand to wait. Inside the car, Gideon stayed on the line with Mallory. Cordelia couldn't hear what they talked about, though his dark, heavy expression when he walked back spoke volumes.

"The wind's picking up. Let's head home."

Cordelia nodded without complaint, deliberately playing the agreeable wife. Drawing a sharp contrast against Mallory's pushy arrogance was the easiest way to make Gideon notice the difference between them.

Unexpectedly, he offered an excuse. "Urgent matters came up at the company, so I'll have to work overtime tonight."

Stepping close, Cordelia wrapped her arms gently around his waist. "Work matters, of course, just don't wear yourself out. I'll cook a nice meal tomorrow morning and bring it straight to your office."

"All right," Gideon said. He clearly wanted to turn her down, yet her quiet warmth and thoughtfulness left him no room to refuse.

Throughout the drive back, Cordelia maintained a calm silence, gazing out the passenger window like a serene portrait.

Back when they first met, that exact poised beauty matching his expectations had been the main reason Gideon chose to marry her.

"I'll make tonight up to you another day," he said after dropping her off at the house, speeding away immediately.

Knowing Mallory must have reeled him in with tears and drama, Cordelia let out a bitter laugh as tears stung her eyes.

In marriage, the sensible partner rarely walked away as the winner. Mallory probably assumed she had triumphed again, watching Gideon choose her side once more.

Cordelia drew a deep breath and headed upstairs to her bedroom to pack a bag. She needed to get away for a while, because four steady years had made Gideon far too used to having her around.

Her phone chimed shortly after. Cordelia already suspected Mallory was looking to provoke her. Sure enough, a photo came through showing Gideon's car parked downstairs at Mallory's place, captioned: *[You can keep the ocean and the stars, because Gideon belongs to me.]*

Cordelia didn't reply, acting as though she hadn't seen the message at all.

When two rivals faced off, keeping your cool was the surest way to make the other side lose theirs and expose a weak spot. Whatever stunts Mallory pulled, she remained a shameful mistress, while Cordelia still held the rightful place as his legal wife.