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Novel Catalog
Chapter 23
giving him a gentle smile. Her eyes narrowed for a moment, clearly surprised to see Cordy there, especially with a child.
“Well, well, look who we have here,” Noel said, trying to keep her voice casual but failing to hide the curiosity in her tone. “What’s this? You’re playing mommy now?”
Cordy raised an eyebrow, her gaze steady as she kept a tight grip on Dicky’s hand. “What’s it to you, Noel?” she replied coolly, not giving her the satisfaction of a reaction.
Mandy, still caught up in her self-absorbed chatter, didn’t seem to notice the tension between the two women and instead turned to Cordy with a bright smile. “Oh, is this little Richard? How cute! I bet he’s a handful, huh?”
Dicky giggled in response, his small hand slipping out of Cordy’s for a moment as he reached up to tug on Mandy’s sleeve. “Mommy says I’m the best helper,” he said proudly.
Cordy’s heart softened at the sight, though she quickly masked it, giving Dicky a loving but firm smile. “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you that tuxedo,” she said, redirecting the conversation away from any potential awkwardness.
Noel watched the interaction, her mind churning. It was clear that Cordy was close with the child, but there was something about the way she handled herself that bothered her. What was this about? Was this John Levine’s child? And if so, why was she walking around with him so casually?
Noel turned back to Mandy, trying to focus on the conversation. “I really don’t understand why Cordy insists on getting involved in everything John does. She’s acting like a second wife already.”
Mandy shrugged, unfazed by the mention of Cordy’s relationship with John. “Honestly, who knows? Maybe John likes having her around to take care of the kid. But let’s not focus on that. We’ve got more important things to discuss.”
Noel, still unsettled by the scene she had just witnessed, couldn’t shake the feeling that Cordy was playing a deeper game. She had always been the underdog, but now it seemed she was starting to rise. The question was—how would Noel handle it? Would she just sit back and let Cordy take everything from her?
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to check out some of the new arrivals,” Noel said abruptly, turning away from the group and heading toward the boutique, trying to clear her mind.
As she walked away, she couldn’t help but think about the subtle power dynamics at play. Cordy wasn’t the same woman who had once meekly followed her every command. She was evolving—becoming more self-assured, more unpredictable. Noel’s grip on control, on her ambitions, was slipping.
She had to act, and fast.