<b>Chapter </b><b>137 </b>
Noreen had a fantastic time tonight.
She hadn’t drunk much–just enough to feel pleasantly tipsy, warm<b>, </b>and content. It was the most rxed she’d felt in three months.
That feeling vanished the moment she saw Seth.
Time has a way of dulling everything, of changing even the things you thought would never change. Once, if Seth hade looking for her like this, she would have been thrilled–over the moon, even.
Now, all she felt was disgust.
Before she could say a word, Seth beat her to it, his voice sharp. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
Noreen rummaged slowly through her purse for her keys, barely ncing at him. “Didn’t see your call,” she replied, deliberately nonchnt.
“You expect me to believe that?”
His eyes were dark, hiding a storm that threatened to break loose at any second.
She couldn’t care less if he believed her or not. The fact that she even bothered to reply was already more courtesy than he deserved.
“Believe it or don’t, it’s up to you.” She finally found her keys and looked him square in the eye, her tone cool. “Mr. Harcourt, would you mind stepping aside? You’re blocking my door.”
Seth obliged, moving out of the way.
Noreen unlocked her apartment and slipped inside. Before Seth could follow, she mmed the door shut–quick, sharp, and with finality.
It was clear she didn’t even want to spend another second in his
presence,
But Seth was faster. He thrust his hand out to stop the door from closing,
<b>09:14 </b>
probably thinking she would hesitate.
She didn’t. The door mmed down on his hand, hard,
He let out a muffled groan of pain.
Still, he didn’t let go. His grip on the frame was irond, determined to keep her from shutting him out.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Noreen snapped, her voice rising in anger. “I thought we agreed everything was over between us! Whatever that was before–whether you admit it or not–it’s finished! From now on, you take your road, I take mine. We don’t cross paths anymore. I don’t care if we never see each other again!”
“In short, it’s over between us. Done.”
“So please–stop interfering in my life! Do <i>you </i>understand?”
Her words were sharp, almost like she was ready for a fight–like she saw him as the enemy.
Seth looked stunned, caught off guard by her outburst.
He rarely ever let his emotions show. But this time, the shock lingered for several seconds.
His face darkened, eyes lowering, and the tension in the hallway became so thick it was hard to breathe. His hand, still caught in the door, was trembling from the pain, but he stood there, unmoving, silent.
Noreen had said everything she needed to say. She was done. With Seth standing right there, she closed the door in his face.
This time, he didn’t try to stop her. He simply let the door shut, sealing himself out.
From that moment, they were separatedpletely.
For the first time, she was truly resolute.
It was as if she no longer cared. No matter how hurt he was, even seeing
his hand injured didn’t make her waver.
09:15
Half an hourter, Zachary pulled up to find Seth.
He was standing outside in the cold night air, smoking with his uninjured hand, a shroud of gray smoke curling around his face, half–obscuring <b>his </b>expression.
Zachary got out and hurried over. “Mr. Harcourt, it’s freezing out here. Come on, get in the car.”
Seth took onest drag and stubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray by the trash can. There were already seven or eight butts piled up–Zachary realized he must have been standing there for quite a while.
Once Seth got into the car, Zachary asked, “Back to the hotel, sir?<b>” </b>
“To the hospital.”
Zachary assumed he wanted to visit Wade, and was about to set the GPS for Wade’s hospital.
But Seth told him a different address.
That’s when Zachary finally realized “Mr. Harcourt, <i>are </i>you hurt? Is it serious?”
<b>09.15 </b>