A Life Debt Repaid

Chapter 6

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 will arrive soon,” John replied. “But I must be clear—we won’t be staying at the manor.”“Why?” Alan sounded clearly upset.“Dicky’s introverted—he doesn’t like having too many people around. I’ll bring him over to meet you, and then leave with him,” John said staunchly.“At least have dinner before you leave.”It was Alan’s final compromise.“…Sure,” John agreed.He rarely returned to North City following his parents’ death, and he would not have returned at all if his grandfather did not coerce him with his own mortality.And if he did not, he probably would not have met her again.…Monday was a clear day.Cordy put on a business suit and light makeup, while letting her silky hair loose nonchalantly over her shoulders. Even though she was still on crutches, it did not hamper her weathered yet beautiful appearance.Her lawyer, Andrew Jacobs, accompanied her to Starstream Group.A man quickly approached them, greeting Cordy. “Ms. Sachs.”“Mr. Lang.” She nodded.Stephen Lang, the deputy general manager of Starstream Group, was one of Cordy’s