Chapter 148

Chapter 148

The tension crackled. Bianca stepped forward with an explanation. "That's not it. I was worried about Cordelia, so I asked Nathan to come with me."

"There's such a strong fake-innocent vibe off you." Bethel's ruined voice came out like a duck's squawk, but her words cut sharp. "You're the other woman who wrecked Cordelia's marriage?"

Bianca's brow twitched at the grating sound, but the words hit harder. Hadn't she heard that Bethel and Cordelia didn't get along? Why was the woman suddenly playing protector?

Her expression soured. "Mrs. Landry, you don't know the full story. Please don't make baseless accusations. I'm not 'the other woman.'"

Bethel opened her mouth to fire back, but Axel clamped his hand over it. "What are you doing? You want to lose your voice completely?"

Bethel stomped on his foot, eyes blazing.

Someone was coming after her future daughter-in-law. Was she supposed to just stand there?

Axel read her perfectly. He patted her shoulder. "Relax. Logan and I are right here. You don't need to fight this battle."

He turned his cool gaze on Nathan and Bianca, appraising them with open disdain. "Even if Mr. Foster believes his relationship with Ms. Johnson is innocent, you can't blame people for drawing conclusions when you're joined at the hip."

Nathan pressed his lips together, brow furrowing.

Every single person in this family had a vicious tongue.

Logan didn't just talk ugly—he acted ugly too.

He raised a hand toward the pair. "This floor is privately reserved. We won't be entertaining visitors. See yourselves out."

Nathan was silent for a beat. "She doesn't have to see me. But our daughter is worried about her."

"Cordelia is fine. She'll be even better without you around." Logan didn't miss a beat. "So stop bothering her."

Nathan stood there, shut out completely. The Landry family had made their position crystal clear. He finally turned on his heel and left.

Bianca set the bag of supplements on the floor. "These are from Nathan and me. Please give them to Cordelia. We wish her a speedy recovery."

She hurried after Nathan.

Bethel squeezed out a contemptuous hum from her damaged throat. She pointed at the supplements, then jabbed her finger toward the trash can nearby—the message unmistakable.

Their family could afford anything Cordelia wanted. They didn't need charity from those two.

Logan nodded. "Got it. You and Dad go rest."

He watched his parents disappear into their room, then picked up the supplements and dropped them straight into the trash. He turned back to the room.

Cordelia couldn't speak, but she'd heard enough through the door. Her eyes questioned him.

Logan nodded. "They're gone."

Cordelia dipped her chin.

She still suspected Bianca. Hearing about Nathan's defense of the woman killed whatever slim desire she might have had to see either of them.

Logan pulled a chair to her bedside and sat. "He tried using the kid as leverage. He's not giving up."

Cordelia thought for a moment, then picked up her notepad and wrote.

[Just handle it for me when the time comes.]

Seeing Yara meant seeing Nathan. To spare herself the headache, better to avoid them both.

---

That afternoon, colleagues and friends came in droves to visit. The room buzzed with energy.

Cordelia couldn't speak, so Logan translated for her.

After the last guests left, Kaida—who'd been huddled in the corner staring at Cordelia with guilty, glistening eyes—finally broke. She launched herself forward. "Cordelia, I'm so sorry!"

Cordelia looked at Sherry.

What was this about?

Sherry gave her a helpless smile. "She's convinced it's her fault you're in the hospital. She's been miserable for days."

Cordelia smiled softly, reached up, and wiped Kaida's tears. She shook her head.

Logan translated from beside her. "She says it's not your fault."

Kaida only cried harder. "No—if I hadn't left my post, the door wouldn't have been locked. You and Mrs. Landry would've been fine. It's all my fault."

Kaida was gearing up for another dramatic sob when Sherry grabbed her by the collar and hauled her back. "Enough. Cordelia doesn't blame you. What's with the waterworks? Instead of beating yourself up, figure out how to make it up to her."

Kaida sniffled, wiped her face, and raised her hand in a solemn oath. "I'm handling all of Cordelia's meals for the next few days. Whatever you want to eat—just tell me."

"You look hideous when you cry." A small, disdainful voice came from the doorway.

Kaida looked up and met a pair of unimpressed eyes.

Rhys stood there, lip curled in judgment.

Kaida hastily scrubbed at her face. Crying like a mess in front of a kid—mortifying.

"You're the ugly one. Your whole family's ugly."

Rhys smiled, pleased with himself. "My whole family includes your boss."

Kaida choked. She turned to Logan, stricken. "Mr. Landry, I didn't mean—you believe me, right?"

Logan placed a hand on top of Rhys's head. "All right. You know she's not the sharpest. Stop teasing her."

Kaida felt a stab directly to the heart. Her lip jutted out.

That wasn't any better. Calling her slow to her face—was that really necessary?

Cordelia rapped her knuckles against the bed rail, drawing everyone's attention.

These two were cut from the same cloth. Equally terrible.

Logan explained, "You were gone for days. Rhys was worried, so I told him the truth."

"Who was worried?" Rhys muttered, turning his face away.

He hesitated, then walked to Cordelia's bedside. His eyes landed on her bandaged hands. His small brow furrowed. "Looks awful. Does it hurt?"

Cordelia smiled and shook her head.

Such a little tough guy—saying one thing, meaning another.

Sherry, ever perceptive, grabbed the still-sniffling Kaida by the arm. "I've got something to handle at the office. We're heading out."

Kaida protested. "But I'm supposed to stay and take care of Cordelia—"

"Her husband and kid are both here. She doesn't need you. Let's go."

The two of them bickered their way out the door.

A smile lit Cordelia's eyes.

Days of silence and stillness had been suffocating. Thank God for Kaida and her endless entertainment value.

Rhys watched her smile return. He pressed his lips together and tugged at Logan's hand. "Can I not go home? I want to stay at the hospital."

The plan had been for the driver to take Rhys home after his visit.

Hearing him dig in his heels, Logan's brow creased.

But he understood—Rhys was worried about Cordelia. After a moment's thought, he relented. "Fine. But if you stay, you take good care of Cordelia. No making her upset."

Rhys nodded twice, solemnly.

Since they were here, it would be rude not to visit Bethel too.

Logan took Rhys next door.

The room fell quiet. Cordelia was just settling in to rest when the door cracked open and a small figure squeezed through.