bChapter /bb291 /b

For a split second, Noreen wondered if she was hearing things.

She nced at Seth, puzzled.

But then Seth repeated the words she thought she’d imagined.

“Noreen, help me pick out a tie.”

A surprised smile tugged at her lips. “What’s this? Did Mr. Harcourt finally get dumped by his dream girl?”

Seth ignored the jab, pulling a dark blue tie from the rack and holding it up for her opinion. “How about this one?”

“I remember most of the ties you picked out for me used to look like this.”

Her gaze drifted from the tie in his hand to the healing bruise on his forehead.

She paused for a beat before saying, “Looks like Mr. Harcourt took a nasty fall in that car ident. I’d suggest you get a full checkup at the hospital–if you wait any longer, it might be toote to fix your

head.”

As Carman emerged from the fitting room in fresh clothes, Noreen didn’t spare Seth another nce.

Carman checked his watch and turned to her. “It’s almost dinnertime. Want to grab something together? Didn’t you say a few days ago you were craving some barbecue?”

Noreen didn’t even remember mentioning it, but clearly Carman had.

Still, she shook her head at his suggestion.

“Let’s go to that old ce at Acuity za for some coconut chicken soup. Your stomach’s been acting uptely–something light would be better for you.”

“Whatever you say,” Carman replied easily, as always deferring to her judgment.

Whatever Noreen wanted, that’s what they did.

The shop assistant packed up their purchases, and Carman took both his and Noreen’s bags as they left Myriad Atelier side by side.

Watching them walk away, the saleswoman couldn’t help but sigh to herself, “What a perfect couple.”

Seth tossed the dark blue tie back onto the rack, and for the first time, a crack appeared in his otherwise impassive expression.

Hearing the sound, the saleswoman hurried over. “Mr. Harcourt, would you like some help choosing?”

Seth stared at the tie for a long moment, then quietly asked, “Between him and me, what am I missing?”

Later, over a bowl of chicken soup, Carman finally felt his stomach settle a bit.

He turned to Noreen. “Once I’m feeling better, we’ll go for that barbecue you fn4548 Content originallyes from findnovel/fn4548

wanted.”

12:27

“Sure,” Noreen said, without a hint of objection.

Just beyond a divider of potted nts, Seth sat alone, quietly listening as their conversation drifted

over.

His face remained nk, but sharp pain throbbed in his palm–he’d dug his fingernails so deep into his hand that it had gone numb.

Still, he didn’t let go. He just kept his fist clenched tight.

His throat felt stuffed with cotton, his chest heavy and tight.

Even after Noreen and Carman finished their meal and left, Seth hadn’t touched his food.

Bianca called. As soon as he saw her name on the screen, all the turmoil in his eyes disappeared.

He answered, voice calm and steady. “What’s up?”

“Yeah, I’m just grabbing dinner out.”

“Alone.”

Bianca pressed, “Why didn’t you call me? I coulde keep youpany.”

“No need,” he replied, “I’m almost done here anyway.”

When the call ended, Seth picked up his fork and forced down a few cold mouthfuls of food.

He barely tasted a thing.

The day of NaviTech’s anniversary g arrived. Noreen and Carman showed up right on time.

It was everything you’d expect from a leading tech firmvish, with a guest list full of heavy–hitting investors.

This was always Noreen’s busiest time.

Carman stuck close to her side. He couldn’t drink much, so he wasn’t much help fending off toasts, but he made sure she was taken care of.

Unlike the other women at the event, Noreen wore a sharply tailored, deep green velvet suit–confident, striking, and utterly self–assured.