Love or Die CEO’s Daily Dose of Swoon

Chapter 40

Calvert was about to spill the beans when a low cough echoed through the room, sending a shiver down his spine. He turned to find Everard, who seemed to dwell in the shadows forever.

The courage Calvert had mustered deflated like a pin–pricked balloon.

Yet Cordelia locked her gaze on him, commanding. “Speak.”

The strength of her presence made Calvert swallow hard,

Suddenly, he felt that opening his mouth might be worse than staying silent, trembling between two formidable forces. After a prolonged silence, he picked the safest thing to say, “Boss has no ill intentions toward you.”

After speaking, Calvert ducked his head, fearing Everard’s reprimand, and trotted toward the back of the Midnight Scent. “I’ll go, uh, boil some water for coffee!”

Cordelia stood motionless, her expression unreadable.

Calvert’s words had plunged her into a sea of confusion.

What she had first called a “curse” had nothing to do with Everard. But how did he know that date was necessary if it didn’t?

Yet she quickly remembered that Everard had never forced her. The hand–holding had been with her consent.

He made his request for that kiss when she was about to be late for school and tried to leave, ignoring the pain in her chest. And that kiss, as she thought about it, was restrained, within the bounds of what she could.

accept.

Cordelia glanced deeply at Everard, who sat behind the counter, his sharp features half–hidden in the dim light, his eyes unfathomable, his whole being exuding an aura of mystery.

This man must have secrets

After a moment of silence, Cordelia finally spoke. “I’m off to school.”

It was a truce to their recent cold war.

Everard seemed surprised she spoke first. His eyes lifted slightly, and he smiled. “Okay.”

then did Cordelia turn

into the room from the yard, peering toward the

counter area.

behind the

in confusion.

was the

behind. “Seems you’ve got too much free time. Time for some

to see Everard, clad in black, standing behind him. After saying that, he rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing lean, muscular forearms.

Calvert was speechless.-

math competition had improved dramatically. She was no longer using advanced knowledge beyond the

her homework, placing

weekend, after breezing through a set of math problems, she stretched and picked

new message.

[Lia, I’m in

the message Where

clinic in Greenmeadow. A patient here requires my attention, so ril visit for five days each month. You can come by the clinic to hang

Cordelia pondered before replying. [rm on

texted back. [Sure, I’ll introduce you to a

and a baseball cap over her flowing hair, Cordelia grabbed a small

at the Delaney Manor, Juliana

the sofa, feigning sleep but opening her eyes to praise when Juliana stopped “Wonderfull Juliana, you play so

act, Rachel rolled her eyes inwardly “What did the country bumpkin know about music?”

she was effusive, “Laurinda, you have great

in top form. I rushed back from abroad when I heard Stanton was in Greenmeadow. I’ve

a glint of envy

of

her, learning to paint and play piano. Maybe she could’ve been Stanton’s pupil, too. But there were no

a fleeting wish. At

if only Lia could play the piano. Then I could take her to meet Stanton, too. It would be

face fell into an awkward smile

“True. The orphanage environment isn’t great. Lia probably hasn’t even touched a

stung Lorna like a