A Life Debt Repaid

At the same time, Cordy’s heart skipped a beat. She felt as if she was tugged somewhere in her body, but she could not quite describe it.

The boy then ran up to her bed and climbed up to it on his little feet without a pause, snuggling up to her and hugging her with his soft, little body. “Were you bullied, Mommy?”

He then released her and carefully wiped her tears with his stubby hands.

Cordy realized then that her tears were leaking from sheer frustration, and her heart almost melted from the boy’s comfort.

Even so, she was still positive that she did not know him.

Smiling and tousling the boy’s smooth curly hair, she spoke with unexpected mildness. “You have the wrong person, kid.”

“No, you’re my mommy. Daddy and I will protect you from now on.” The boy spoke with confidence and excitement. “Daddy has a bad temper, always pulls a long face, doesn’t like to talk, comes home late, gets stomach aches because he doesn’t eat on time, and smokes… but he’s rich and handsome. Please don’t leave us ever again, Mommy.”

Cordy was left speechless and smiling helplessly. “You’re adorable—but I’m not your mommy.”

“Dicky.”

A cold yet alluring voice spoke from the door just then.

The boy flinched and turned his little head in that direction, with Cordy following suit.

A man stood at the doorway, his white shirt unbuttoned at the collar, and he carried the air of indescribable abstinence.

His facial features seemed sculpted to perfection and his visage projected wit and composure. He stood towering and upright with a noble but nonchalant air.

None of the rich and important men she met held a candle to those bewitching looks!

“Daddy!” Timmy greeted him primly and properly.

Even as Cordy turned toward Timmy again, she realized the reason why the boy was so good looking.

said sternly, “Back to your

but nodded tamely despite his reluctance—he must have been properly disciplined back home.

to go, Mommy. But I’m just

she saw his yearning look, and

she was not his

but everyone calls me Dicky. You should

the man, who must be over six feet tall from a single glance at his tall frame.

Richard appear cuter, even

left, he did not glance his way. However, despite that stiff and aloof demeanor, Cordy somehow did not find him rude… perhaps that was

actually

of bed then.

the floor. It seemed to have grown into a habit, but she was used to being

was like this, allowing her to persevere despite the prospect of facing troubled

washroom, Cordy stepped out and found that Richard’s daddy

startled, and the man watched as her face

look that scary?” he asked with

shook her head. “I just didn’t expect someone else here.”

he was aloof—his abrupt

ever so slightly. “The name’s John Levine. The

cut to the chase—as the owner of the venue, he certainly had a responsibility for

as businesslike as it was solemn. “I hence offer to cover for all your expenditure while you’re staying here in this hospital, and that includes the fees for treatment, hospitality, rehabilitation, and

flatly. “Just covering my medical fees

just then, whereas Cordy’s feet were getting

moving

“No… Oh!”

barely finished when her crutches

was about to fall, John darted forward and caught her squarely