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Novel Catalog
Chapter 71
Cordy hesitated at the door, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in the sight of Noel standing there, looking like she was caught up in her own little world. There was something too cheerful about Noel’s demeanor, something that felt off considering the circumstances.
“Hey, sis!” Noel greeted her, her voice almost too bright, as though she were trying too hard to make the moment seem casual.
Cordy’s lips curled into a tight smile, though there was a coldness behind her eyes. “What are you doing here, Noel?”
Noel blinked, playing the part of the innocent, unaware younger sister, but Cordy knew better. “Just checking on John… he’s been asking about you.” She said it as though she were making an innocent visit, but the glint in her eyes told a different story.
Cordy could feel her patience starting to wear thin. She didn’t have time for games. “Noel, I don’t have time for this,” she said, her tone sharper now, though she didn’t raise her voice. She needed to get to John and wrap up the matters she had to deal with. “Why don’t you leave? I need to talk to John.”
But Noel seemed determined, her posture shifting to one that was just a little too eager. “Oh, don’t be so serious, sis. I know things have been rough with Dad lately, but we can still talk, right?” She moved a little closer to Cordy, putting on her best attempt at acting concerned, but it felt too rehearsed.
Cordy crossed her arms, not bothering to mask the annoyance she was feeling. “You’ve been talking to Dad, haven’t you? You’re here to check on John, sure, but you’re also checking on me, aren’t you?”
Noel’s smile faltered for just a moment before she quickly recovered, though Cordy saw the slight shift in her demeanor. “No… no, not at all. I just… I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Cordy didn’t buy it. “Is that so?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. She took a step forward, closing the distance between them. “Because I think you’ve got other things on your mind.”
Noel swallowed, her earlier confidence wavering under Cordy’s gaze. She tried to maintain her composure, but it was clear that she had underestimated her sister.
“I know you’ve been working hard, and things have been chaotic with everything going on,” Noel said, her voice now lacking its usual lilt. “But you don’t have to do it all alone, Cordy. We’re family, after all.”
Cordy let out a soft, humorless laugh. “Family? You’re hardly acting like it. You’ve been siding with him—Dad—this whole time, even if you won’t admit it.”
For a moment, there was silence between them, thick with unspoken tension. Noel’s smile had faded entirely now, replaced with something more guarded, more cautious.
“I didn’t know it would get this bad,” Noel said quietly, almost to herself. She took a step back, then met Cordy’s eyes with a look of guilt. “I just don’t want to be caught in the middle. You’re right… I don’t want to pick sides. I just want things to be… normal again.”
Cordy’s expression softened, though only slightly. “Normal?” she repeated. “You think we can ever go back to that? After everything Dad’s done? After what he’s put me through?”
Noel bit her lip, looking like she wanted to say more, but ultimately remained silent. It was clear that they were both caught in a web of their own making, each of them tied to a different side of the same battle.
After a long pause, Cordy exhaled, the weight of it all pressing down on her. She hadn’t asked for this—none of it. And yet, she was the one left holding the pieces. “I don’t have time to argue with you, Noel. I have work to do.”
Noel nodded, looking a little lost, a little deflated. “I get it. I’ll go. But… just know that I’m here if you need me.”
Cordy didn’t respond immediately, her thoughts racing. She didn’t know whether she could trust Noel. The lines between them were becoming more and more blurred, and Cordy didn’t like the uncertainty.
She watched as Noel turned to leave, and for a moment, the weight of it all felt too heavy to bear. The fight for control of Starstream, her strained relationship with her family, the pressure of everything she was dealing with—it was all too much.
But there was no turning back now. She couldn’t afford to lose herself in the chaos.
When Noel had finally left, Cordy stood still for a moment, letting the silence fill the room. She needed to focus. She needed to get her head in the game, especially with Simon pushing her for that settlement. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to shake off the distraction. There was too much at stake.
She turned toward John’s bed, where he was still lying, looking at his phone as if nothing had changed. She walked over, setting her laptop down on the nearby table.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice softer now.
John glanced up at her, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. “Do you always look this serious when you’re about to make a deal?”
Cordy raised an eyebrow, her lips pressing together into a thin line. “It’s not a deal. It’s a matter of getting things done.”
John chuckled lightly, but then he noticed the tension in her eyes. “You seem… different today. What happened?”
Cordy hesitated, her hand resting on the edge of his bed. She wanted to keep it professional, to maintain the distance. But she couldn’t help but wonder—just how much of herself was she willing to give away in this mess?
“I’m handling things,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “But it’s a lot more complicated than I thought.”
John raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting. “You think you can handle it all on your own?”
She met his gaze, her voice firm. “I don’t have a choice.”