<b>Chapter </b>95


    “Seth is such a jerk! Seven years, Noreen! Not seven days, not seven months–seven whole years! How could he do this to you?”


    After that phone call, ire headed straight <i>from </i>the airport to pick Noreen up and bring her home.


    Whenever Noreen was feeling down and ire was free, she’d always cook for her, no matter how tired she was.


    It wasn’t just ire’s looks or enviable figure–she was a fantastic cook,


    too.


    Every time Noreen ate ire’s food, it felt like a balm on her wounds.


    ire always tailored her menu to Noreen’s mood.


    If Noreen was just a little upset, she’d whip up a simple dinner–maybe a couple of dishes and some soup.


    If things were worse, ire would go all out with a spread fit for a family gathering.


    And if Noreen was truly heartbroken? ire would practically try to put on a whole Thanksgiving feast, just to cheer her up.


    Tonight was one of those nights.


    Even though ire had just gotten off a flight after two exhausting months abroad, instead of resting, she was bustling around the kitchen, making sure Noreen had something delicious to eat.


    “Hey, babe, that’s enough! Seriously, I can’t eat that much!” Noreen finally protested, unwilling to let ire tire herself out.


    ire eyed Noreen’s face, making sure she really did look a little less miserable than before. Only then did she finally wash her hands and sit down to join her.


    “Want a drink?” Noreen offered, more out of habit than hope.


    07.28


    They used to enjoy a ss of wine together sometimes.


    But this time ire shook her head firmly. “With your stomach? And after all this stress? No way. The soup’s good for you–stick to that


    Noreen had no choice but to sip her soup.


    Honestly, as much as she craved thefort of a drink, she knew it wasn’t good for her.


    Kind of like Seth, really,


    So Noreen let the wine go and focused on her soup.


    That night, the two of them squeezed into the same bed, talkingte into the night about nothing and everything.


    With ire by her side, Noreen slept better than she had in ages.


    No nightmares, just peaceful rest.


    The next morning, right after breakfast, Noreen got a call from the HR department at FortuneRise Group, inviting her in for an interview.


    It felt like a fresh start.


    Sure, FortuneRise wasn’t as big as Aurelion Group, but it was still a respectablepany in its own’niche.


    jre, ever the perfectionist, pulled out all the stops to help Noreen get ready.


    “See? This is the real you!” ire dered, beaming as she admired her


    handiwork.


    She couldn’t resist teasing, “And those dreary old suits you used to wear–I’m tossing them all out! Not leaving a single one!”


    “Hey, those cost real money, you know!” Noreen protested, halfughing, half–groaning.


    “Ugly clothes belong in the trash, right next to that loser ex of yours,” ire shot back.


    07:28


    “…Fine! I can live with that.”


    ire looked her up and down, thoroughly pleased. “But seriously, Noreen–why did you ever dress to hide yourself like that?”


    It was something she’d never understood.


    Noreen looked away, fumbling for words.


    But under ire’s relentless prodding, she finally confessed.


    “Seth didn’t like it when I dressed up. He said it would attract the wrong kind of attention.”


    ire let out an indignant snort. “Please. That’s just his possessiveness talking, in and simple.”


    7-


    Back when Noreen was still hopelessly in love, she might have defended Seth, convinced he only said it because he cared.


    Now, she didn’t argue. She just nodded in agreement.


    Men are all the same.


    At ten o’clock, Noreen arrived at Fortune Rise Group. The HR manager greeted her personally, asked a few professional questions, and seemed genuinely pleased with her answers.


    “If <i>you </i>don’t mind waiting here a moment, I’ll take your résumé up to Mr. Suthend,” the HR manager said with a big smile.