A Life Debt Repaid

She was certainly disenchanted with him after he abandoned her to save Noel. However, forgiveness notwithstanding, she could afford to listen to an explanation because they had been together for three years.

And yet, she felt that asking for one would only demean herself.

On the other hand, Kyle turned to look at the other man and paused because he was too good-looking. Kyle soon recognized him as one of the firefighters who had rushed into the hotel last night and saved Cordy. Still, he did not see his face clearly at the time and merely found his stature towering.

That was when Cordy said, “Let’s break up, Kyle.”

Kyle actually felt an aching over his chest as she declared the end of their three-year relationship, and he wheeled on her with a look of disbelief.

Overwhelmed with rage, he bellowed as he pointed at the other man, “Do you even know who he is, Cordy Sachs?! He’s just a firefighter! You’re dumping me for the likes of him?!”

John’s eyes twitched ever so slightly—there was contempt and coldness in his gaze.

However, he chose to remain there in silence, appearing to have no inclination to leave.

“You know very well why we’re breaking up!” Cordy’s cool tone was now showing a tinge of anger. “Everything was clear when you chose to save Noel last night, so don’t treat me like I’m an idiot!”

Kyle’s indignant expression stiffened right then, and he had no comeback against that.

He stayed silent for a while, myriad emotions tangling in his eyes, though he soon found solace.

“Maybe we never should have been together,” he said, looking at her with regret and misery. “You’re so strong and independent, Cordy… I felt inconsequential. I feel stressed when I’m with you. You never needed me.”

Cordy watched him in return, and she suddenly smiled despite the numbing pain she felt inside.

She met Kyle while they were abroad—she was working as a street musician. He had been young and innocent at the time, his smile was as warm as summer. Cultured and refined, he dropped a generous donation for her performance, and he would come by often to support her afterward.

As time went by, these strangers became lovers in another country.

a troubled past but he dismissed it, saying

faced a crisis, his family recalled him to the country as soon as he graduated from university. Cordy returned with him as her career started to take off and both of them promptly

he used to be grateful, even vowing never to leave her… And now, he was saying that being with her was stressful, and that her strong and independent nature was

guilty, he also appeared relieved. “Take care. You can come to me if you’re ever in need, since we’re still

and taunting. “Remember this, Kyle Jessop—I was

scolding left Kyle

last night, and there

with no way to talk things out with her.

a long look, he then quietly said,

turned toward John, who returned his gaze with

men like him who have the looks but are penniless,” he growled, indignant from the injustice. “They’re all losers, oily bastards who trick women out of money and pleasure.

him. “Do I look like a

straightened his hair just

his

want to end up in the dumps, suit yourself,” Kyle retorted and stormed off, leaving the ward in abrupt

you for helping me to my bed and with Kyle,” Cordy eventually said. “But may I ask you to

“Sure. Please get some rest, Ms. Sachs.”

about to leave, he returned to put a stack of tissues near her bed while saying, “If a man feels stressed being with you, it is he who’s

a double take as she suddenly

…

he left Cordy’s ward and he whipped out his phone to make a

Levine?” The response was respectful.

of food for the patient

“…Yes, Mr. Levine.”

as John hung up, he got a call.

caller ID, he greeted,

a fire in your hotel as soon as you return to the