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 and leave the shop.

after her departure, Calvert sneaked back into the room

counter area.

space behind the counter was empty.

in confusion.

was the boss?

got too much free time. Time for some training

see Everard, clad in black, standing behind him. After

Calvert was speechless.-

her marathon of math problem–solving, Cordelia’s performance in the math competition had improved dramatically. She was

increasingly pleased with her homework, placing his greatest hopes on

through a set of math problems, she stretched and

a new message.

texted, [Lia, I’m in

at the

my attention, so ril visit for five days each month. You can come by

address, Cordelia pondered before replying. [rm

back. [Sure, I’ll introduce

white sneakers, and a baseball cap over her flowing hair, Cordelia grabbed

Manor, Juliana was practicing plano.

her eyes to praise when Juliana stopped “Wonderfull

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

outwardly, she was effusive, “Laurinda, you

rushed back from abroad when I heard Stanton was in Greenmeadow. I’ve pulled so

the kitchen doorway, a glint of envy in

a student of the

hadn’t been missing, she could have grown up with her, learning to paint and play piano. Maybe she could’ve been Stanton’s

quickly banished the thought. It was just a fleeting wish. At this

caught Lorna’s look and straightened up in pride. “Lorna, if only Lia could play the piano. Then I could take her

awkward smile as she

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

stung Lorna like a