A Life Debt Repaid

Chapter 4

you require while you’re staying here.”Then, he instructed, “Girls, present Ms. Sachs’ lunch, please.”Flora and Scarlet swiftly brought over the lunchboxes, laying out an assortment of dishes that would serve as Cordy’s overly scrumptious lunch on her overbed table, even holding out her knife and fork with both hands, respectfully. “Please enjoy your meal, Ms. Sachs.” Cordy actually thought then that John was overdoing it—he did not have to go so far for her, especially since the fire at his hotel must have inflicted serious damages.Still, she took the knife and fork while saying, “Thank you.”Though the food tasted far beyond expectations, Winston suddenly put on a pair of reading glasses and whipped out a little notebook, recording everything while observing Cordy closely. “Apologies if the food isn’t to your taste. May I ask if you have any sort of preferences, or ingredients you don’t like?”Cordy was stumped for a moment, but she then slowly said, “No.”Wintson did not press her further, but simply observed her quietly nearby, while writing down in his notebook: Ms. Sachs prefers fish, but is averse to carrots and onions…As he wrote, he looked up again at the dishes Cordy ate, and summed things up: Refer to Mr. Richard’s preferences.After Cordy finished her lunch, Winston presented her with a box.It contained a mobile phone equipped with a SIM card.Cordy thanked Winston, and he left without lingering since his job was done.On the other hand, Flora and Scarlet stayed since they were supposed to attend to her.“Don’t mind me,” Cordy said as she got into a wheelchair and wheeled herself out of the ward.She had agreed to visit Richard and it was a principle of hers to keep promises, not to mention that there were matters she felt she should discuss directly with John.As she knocked on the door to the next ward, it opened.John’s towering form appeared before her.His shoulders were broad, his waist muscular, and his legs long—the sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up, revealing his chiseled hands.Still, Cordy noticed just then that he was bandaged around the wrist…And he had carried her in his arms!Averting her eyes, she asked, “Is Dicky in?”“Yes, but he’s having a nap.” John replied.Cordy wondered to herself if he was trying to keep her away from his son, and she pursed her lips. “I’ll come by later…”However, Richard seemed to hear her from inside. He suddenly asked out loud, “Are you there, Mommy? Can you sleep with me?”“I need to step out for the moment. Please keep him company if you’re not too busy, Ms. Sachs,” John said right away before Cordy could say anything. “Dicky just had an appendix surgery and his doctors have insisted on bed rest. Help me coax him to sleep if you can.”With that, John left without waiting for her to agree.On the other hand, Cordy was mystified by his behavior. Was he not afraid that his adorable son would be affected?!“Mommy?” Richard called out sweetly to her just then.Cordy inhaled deeply and refrained from correcting him. “Alright, just take a nap. I’ll be here with you.”“Thanks, Mommy,” Richard said, wrapping his little hands firmly around her arm and holding it against his chest.Then, he closed his eyes and yawned, falling asleep at the very next instant.She was certainly envious of the child’s ability to doze off with such ease—she had been taking melatonin pills for years.Still, seeing that he was asleep, she drew her hand out of his grasp.  No sooner had she done that when Richard’s little pudgy hands tightened