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Novel Catalog
Chapter 72
Noel’s face faltered for a split second, the smile fading as quickly as it had appeared. She stood there, stunned for a moment, processing his blunt rejection. The confident flirtation she had planned to employ dissolved into awkwardness as she slowly reached out to retrieve the bouquet.
Cordy stood at the door, her arms crossed, watching the interaction with a quiet intensity. She hadn’t expected to find Noel so eager to push her way into John’s room, but the scene in front of her—Noel’s shocked expression and John’s cool demeanor—was exactly what she needed to see. It was a clear reminder of who truly held the power here.
“Mr. Levine,” Noel began, her voice tinged with embarrassment but still laced with an attempt at charm. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry for the flowers. I’ll take them with me.”
John didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the bouquet, then shifting to Noel with cold indifference. “Good,” he said curtly, not offering any further explanation. He then turned his attention back to the hospital bed, making it clear that the conversation was over.
Noel hesitated for a moment longer, a flicker of frustration crossing her features, but she managed to mask it quickly, turning toward Cordy with a forced smile. “Well, since Mr. Levine is… feeling better, I suppose it’s time for me to leave.” She glanced at Cordy with a pointed, almost taunting look, the kind that suggested she hadn’t given up yet.
Cordy, unfazed, stepped into the room, her presence making Noel feel the sting of failure even more acutely. “Yes, you should probably go,” Cordy said, her tone smooth, almost too polite. “It’s clear John’s not in the mood for company.”
Noel shot Cordy a quick, challenging glance but said nothing. She turned on her heel and walked out of the room without another word.
Once the door clicked shut behind Noel, Cordy moved further into the room, walking to John’s bedside with a purposeful air. She glanced at the now empty table where the flowers had been, before meeting John’s eyes.
“That was fast,” she remarked, though there was no surprise in her voice—just a quiet understanding. “You didn’t waste any time sending her packing.”
John half-smiled, his posture relaxing just slightly. “She wasn’t my type,” he said dryly, though his eyes betrayed no emotion.
Cordy raised an eyebrow. “Is that all? Because it looked like she was really trying hard.”
He met her gaze, unflinching. “She may have a way with some men, but I’m not interested in whatever game she’s playing.”
Cordy’s lips twitched slightly in approval, though she couldn’t deny the curiosity gnawing at her. “Are you saying you prefer the ‘straightforward’ type?”
John shrugged, a glimmer of amusement appearing in his eyes. “It’s not about types. It’s about honesty. I don’t do games. And, as I recall, you didn’t come here to chat about Noel.”
Cordy’s gaze softened ever so slightly as she settled in a chair beside his bed. “Right. I came to check on you.”
The air between them grew quiet, a subtle tension thickening as both of them knew there was more to the situation than simple pleasantries. She glanced at him, searching his expression for something more, but John remained unreadable.
“I’ve arranged for a settlement with Simon,” she said after a pause, her voice careful. “The conditions are set. Now we just have to wait for him to fulfill his end of the bargain.”
John’s eyes sharpened, his earlier discomfort now shifting into something more serious. “A settlement? What exactly are you expecting from this?”
Cordy leaned back slightly in her chair, her gaze unwavering. “I want justice, John. And I’ll get it—whether Simon likes it or not.”
John nodded slowly, his expression neutral, though a flicker of something else—perhaps admiration—seemed to cross his face. “You really are something, Cordy.”
She didn’t respond to the compliment, instead focusing on the matter at hand. “It’s not over yet. There are still a lot of pieces moving. But I’m not backing down.”
The room fell into silence for a few moments, the weight of their conversation hanging between them, before John broke the stillness.
“Do you think you can do it?” he asked quietly, his voice low, almost like he was asking about something more than just the settlement. “Do you think you can take down Simon and still walk away from this intact?”
Cordy met his gaze with an unwavering certainty. “I won’t stop until I get what I need. And I’ll make sure everyone who needs to be held accountable is.”
John studied her for a long moment before nodding, his eyes scanning her face as if considering something. “You’re dangerous, you know that?”
Cordy let out a short laugh, her expression softening. “I know.”
They shared a quiet understanding—two people locked in a battle of wills, neither one ready to back down, no matter what it took. And as Cordy stood to leave, she knew one thing for sure: the game had only just begun.