Love or Die: CEO’ s Daily Dose of Swoon (Cordelia) novel Chapter 24

The elevator arrived.

Cordelia and Louie stepped into the elevator together. As they descended, Louie adjusted his glasses, his face a picture of soft perfection without a single blemish. "Hypnosis exists, but it might not be what you're dealing with since I can't see any signs of it on you."

Cordelia widened her eyes, locked in thought. She trusted Louie's words, but if it wasn't hypnosis, then what could it be?

As they reached the ground floor, Louie chuckled, "Got a cell phone?"

Cordelia replied hesitantly, "...Yeah."

They exchanged a look before Louie sighed, "When someone asks if you have a phone, they usually want your number. Give me yours so we can keep in touch."

With a dawning realization, Cordelia slowly took out her phone and they swapped numbers. Lifting her head, she said, "Louie, see you around."

After Louie disappeared from sight, she turned and headed back upstairs.

Entering the apartment, Mathilda was lecturing Lorna, "...that's the way! If you keep backing down, she'll push you further. Ah, I never liked that Sanderson for you..."

Sitting nearby, Sanderson let out an awkward cough, signaling his presence.

Mathilda shot him a displeased glance but refrained from harsh words, instead waving Cordelia over, "Come on, let's go see your grandpa."

Cordelia nodded and followed Mathilda into a bedroom where Lacy with salt-and-pepper hair sat in a wicker rocking chair, soaking up the sun with his eyes closed.

Upon their entrance, Lacy opened his eyes. Upon seeing Cordelia, he looked puzzled but then smiled, "Lorna, I thought you were at college. What brings you home?"

Cordelia paused.

Mathilda sighed, "He's forgotten some memories, can only recall things from twenty years ago."

She turned to Lacy and introduced, "This is Cordelia, Lorna's daughter."

Lacy didn't freak out, instead he chuckled, "What are you trying to pull, you old witch? How could Lorna have a grown daughter like this?"

He seemed tired and, after his remark, dozed off in the chair.

At lunchtime, Lorna and Mathilda were busy cooking in the kitchen while Cordelia, kicked out to help, regretted not bringing her study materials.

With Sanderson taking Lacy for a stroll, Cordelia wandered the living room, aimlessly browsing the bookshelf until she stumbled upon a yellowed stack of papers filled with mathematical theorems. Fascinated, she began to read with gusto.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted, "Interested in that? Then it's yours."

She looked up to see Sanderson and Lacy returning.

Unbeknownst to her, she had been engrossed for an hour and a half.

Cordelia lit up her eyes, "...Thank you."

Lacy, famished, headed for the dining table, "I'm starving!"

They all sat down to eat, and by three o'clock were driving back home.

On the way, Cordelia felt a dull ache in her chest. Sitting up straight, she reflected on her relationship with Everard.

Lorna suddenly asked, "Lia, what are you thinking about?"

Cordelia turned, answering honestly, "My boyfriend."

Lorna was speechless.

Curious, Lorna probed further, "What do you like about him?"

Cordelia pondered, then looked at Lorna, confused.

Sensing her daughter's emotional lag, Lorna ventured, "Is he handsome?"