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Novel Catalog
Chapter 50
Kyle clenched his fists, his anger rising as his father’s words sank in. The memory of his own humiliation at the banquet was still fresh in his mind, and now, learning that his sister had been upset too only added to his frustration. How could things have gone so wrong? How could he have been so easily outplayed by John Levine? And now, Cordy—she was the one who was standing tall, while he felt like he was crumbling.
“I’m fine, Dad,” Kyle muttered, his voice tight with suppressed fury. “Just… just leave me alone for now.”
Dandy Jessop shot his son a look of concern but chose not to press further. He knew better than to push Kyle when he was like this. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t frustrated with the situation as well. The Jessop family had always been proud, always presented a facade of success and superiority. But last night, that all came crashing down.
“Do you know what your sister’s been crying about?” Dandy asked, his voice tinged with frustration. “She’s worried about the mess your behavior has caused. And now she’s convinced everyone in the family is involved in this scandal because of you!”
Kyle felt a sharp pang of guilt at his father’s words, but it was quickly overtaken by the raw bitterness bubbling inside him. It’s not my fault, he told himself. It’s Cordy. It’s her fault for acting like she’s above everyone. He couldn’t shake the image of John Levine standing up for her, even when all the other eyes at the banquet were on Cordy. Why did he have to make things worse?
He could still feel the sting of embarrassment as the memory of the incident replayed in his mind. The powerlessness, the way people had laughed and gossiped behind his back. And now, to top it off, Cordy was brushing him off—blocking him. The nerve.
He stormed into the living room and sat down, staring at his phone with rage. He had sent her those photos to hurt her, to make her see what kind of man John was—but instead, she had ignored him. No, worse—she’d blocked him. The simple rejection hit him harder than he’d expected. She was playing him, just like everyone else.
Suddenly, his phone pinged again. This time, it wasn’t from Cordy. It was from Zoe York.
“I know you’re upset. I don’t blame you. I’m planning something big, and I need you to help me with it. We can both get back at them. I’m sure John’s been playing you, but I know how to make him regret it. I’ll get everything on Cordy and take her down, while you focus on your revenge.”
Zoe’s message was dripping with calculated venom, and for a split second, Kyle thought about the offer. It wasn’t just about his family’s pride anymore. It was about winning back control, about proving that he wasn’t just another pawn in someone else’s game.
But then, something inside him faltered. Was this really the answer? The thought of using Zoe’s manipulation against Cordy made him hesitate. He hated the idea of being a puppet, especially not when it came to Cordy. There was a part of him that still cared, even though his pride would never let him admit it.
He stared at his phone for a long moment, torn between what Zoe was offering and the part of him that knew revenge wouldn’t bring him peace. But who else was going to stand up for him? He didn’t have many options.
Meanwhile, at Levine Manor, Cordy had finished breakfast and was trying to focus on the day ahead. The lingering effects of the hangover still held her in a fog, but she pushed through, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling of unease that crept up on her when she thought about John.
She glanced at her phone once more, almost expecting another message from him. Why hadn’t he texted? He had been so considerate the night before, leaving the note, taking care of her, but now, there was nothing.
She bit her lip and shoved the phone aside, determined not to let it affect her. She had too much going on to waste time thinking about John Levine. Still, the thought of him lingered, just like the strange sense of something important left unsaid between them.
Maybe it was best this way, she told herself. She wasn’t ready to face any more complications, especially not from someone like him.