A Life Debt Repaid

Chapter 6

was when John suddenly leaned toward Cordy.She was startled even though she was clearly wary—John had always kept his distance.Still, she looked on as he helped her put on her seatbelt, and she was left pursing her lips.After he was done, he said evenly, “You don’t have to clench your fists, Ms. Sachs.”Cordy promptly looked down.She did not notice that she was doing that.As the awkwardness of the situation unfurled, John added, “Don’t worry, Ms. Sachs. I’m not the type to sleep around.”Cordy was speechless.How narcissistic could he get?!Unable to hold back just then, she blurted, “How did you get a kid if you really were?”She regretted it almost as soon as she said it—she was not close enough to John that they could joke like that.Indeed, John turned to look at her and held her gaze for a long while.However, just as she thought about changing the subject, John said, “It was against my will.”Cordy was dumbfounded—something like that could happen to a burly man who measured up to six feet tall?!“I guess she’s quite assertive.” Cordy tried to play along.“She was on that day.” John nodded, glancing at her again with his dark gaze.Somehow, Cordy felt like their conversation was not that dull.“And? How did you two end up separated?” Cordy asked, trying to change the subject—she was also curious as to why Richard’s mother would leave them.“She doesn’t like me.”Cordy was dumbfounded again—someone dumped a man as gorgeous as him?!“If she doesn’t, why would she bear your child?” It just did not make sense.“She never wanted Dicky,” John said coolly. “She was actually going to abandon him after delivering him.” Cordy’s heart actually felt as if it was cut by a blade right then. She did not even want to imagine the scene where a newly born Dicky, so young and defenseless, was almost dumped without an ounce of sentiment.“It’s right to separate yourself from a woman like her,” she said earnestly.John pursed his lips and stared fixedly at her, as if there was something on her face.Cordy touched her own cheeks self-consciously. “Mr. Levine?”John turned away and kept the back of his head to her for the rest of the journey.Cordy frowned—he was certainly volatile.Still, considering that she mentioned his unpleasant relationship, it would make sense that he would be in a bad mood.The car was silent until it stopped outside Cordy’s apartment.“Thank you,” Cordy said as she maintained her distance from him.John nodded. “Take care, Ms. Sachs.”   “Yeah,” Cordy replied, while feeling relieved inside.She had to admit that she was slightly worried that John would insist on walking her to her apartment unit. Her tolerance toward strangers was already at its limit after he brought her to her apartment block.He was certainly considerate, and she actually felt less wary toward him—even though she should be very wary against him.…Meanwhile, in the car, the chauffeur called out to John. “Sir?”Cordy was already gone from sight, but John was still staring at the direction from which she left, while his phone had been ringing for a while.John eventually turned away, remaining impassive as he answered the call. “Grandpa.”“Isn’t Dicky getting discharged today? Why isn’t he here?” Alan Levine asked.“We