Chapter 269

Chapter 269

Cody shook his head, heavy with emotion.

"Forget it. No more talk of him. He made his choices. He can live with them."

He looked up, his gaze moving between Cedric and Katniss, then patted the chairs beside him. "You two. Come sit."

They obeyed, settling into the seats in front of him.

Cody studied them, a stubborn glint in his eyes.

"These old bones of mine—who knows how many years I've got left. So I want a straight answer from you two today. Are you splitting up or staying together? Don't leave me wondering on my way out."

Katniss lowered her head, staring at her hands resting on her knees. She was silent for a few seconds.

Then she looked up and pressed her lips together. "Grandpa, give us a little more time."

Cody's eyebrow twitched upward.

Katniss let out a quiet sigh, her heart a tangled mess of emotions she couldn't name.

"Too much has happened. He and I need to get to know each other again."

"I don't want to stay together just for the sake of going through the motions, and I don't want to split up on impulse either. We both need time to figure out what we really want."

Cody listened without reacting right away.

He turned to Cedric. "And you? What do you have to say?"

Cedric met Cody's gaze, his voice low and serious. "Whatever she decides."

Cody stared at him for several long seconds, then slowly nodded and leaned back, closing his eyes.

"Fine. You young people sort it out yourselves. I'm too old to meddle anymore."

He waved a hand. "Go on, get out of here. Let me have some peace and quiet."

They stood and slipped out of the room.

The instant the door closed, Cody opened his eyes and looked at it. A faint smile ghosted across his lips.

"That boy finally got a clue."

---

The next day, Cedric rejected the divorce petition.

The lawyer called Katniss with the news while she was in her apartment, cooking noodles.

She held the phone, listened to every word, was silent for a few seconds, then said "Mm" and hung up.

She set the phone on the counter and watched the water boiling in the pot. She dropped in the noodles and stirred.

Through the rising steam, her expression was impossible to read.

She didn't move back to the York Villa. Cedric didn't ask her to.

Her phone chimed. Katniss paused, then picked it up. A message from Cedric.

[I had the lawyers draft a share transfer agreement. Half of my York Group shares, transferred to your name. Whenever you're free, just sign it.]

Surprise flickered in Katniss's eyes. She stared at the words on the screen for several seconds, then picked up her phone and called him directly.

Two rings before he answered.

"Hello?"

"I don't want your shares."

Katniss didn't mince words.

A beat of silence on the other end. "It's what I owe you—"

"I don't want your money."

Katniss cut him off, her voice calm.

"What I want is your trust. Cedric, if you think transferring half your shares makes up for what you put me through, then you still don't understand what the problem was."

A long silence on the other end.

"You're right." His voice was slightly hoarse. "I understand."

"Good."

"I'll hold onto the shares for now. Whenever you want them, just say the word."

"Okay."

Another brief silence. Then Cedric let out a soft laugh.

"Anyway—no big deal, but I was wondering if you're free this weekend. There's a new restaurant I heard about. Great reviews. I'd like to take you."

Katniss held the phone, listening to his careful, tentative invitation. The corner of her mouth curved upward—so slight she didn't even notice it herself.

"Sure."

---

Saturday at noon, Katniss arrived to find Cedric already waiting in the private dining room.

He wore a light gray casual shirt, no tie, sleeves rolled to his forearms. He looked far more relaxed than he ever did at the office.

Two place settings were arranged on the table, and a pot of floral tea sent up wisps of fragrant steam.

When she walked in, he stood—his movements oddly awkward. "Hey, you're here. Have a seat."

Katniss sat across from him and glanced around the room.

The decor was elegant. A landscape painting hung on the wall. Outside the window, a small grove of aspens rustled in the breeze, leaves whispering.

"Nice place."

"A friend recommended it."

Cedric poured her a cup of tea.

"Apparently their pan-seared branzino is incredible. I remembered you like fish."

Katniss lifted the cup, took a sip, and said nothing.

The dishes arrived one after another. The branzino sat in the center, surrounded by simple, home-style plates—no pretentious plating or garnishes, just the kind of food that smelled so good it made you hungry all over again.

They ate in comfortable quiet, exchanging a few words here and there. Light topics. Neither touched anything heavy.

Halfway through the meal, Cedric set down his fork. "Katniss, there's something I want to tell you."

Katniss looked up.

"I've been reading."

"Reading?"

She blinked, confused.

"Yeah." Cedric looked slightly embarrassed. "Psychology books."

Katniss stared at him for a moment, then couldn't help it—she laughed. "You? Reading psychology?"

"I know it sounds ridiculous."

Cedric pressed his lips together, self-conscious.

"But I wanted to try to understand why I became that person. Why I kept hurting you when that was the last thing I wanted to do."

Katniss set her fork down and looked at him. Something in her gaze softened. "So what did you learn?"

"The book says a lot of problems in intimate relationships come from insecurity."

Cedric recalled the content carefully.

"Because of insecurity, you try to control. Because you're afraid of losing someone, you choose suspicion. And all of it—at its core—comes from not being sure of yourself."

He paused and gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I'm pretty sure that book was written about me."

Katniss didn't comment. She picked up her tea, took another sip, then said softly, "Then keep reading. Tell me what you learn."

Cedric caught the faint trace of a smile at the corner of her mouth, and something warm—something he couldn't quite name—bloomed in his chest.

"Deal."

---

After lunch, they walked out of the restaurant and said goodbye at the entrance.

"Let me drive you home?" Cedric offered.

"No need. I'll take the subway—it's only two stops."

"Then I'll walk you to the station."