<b>Chapter </b><b>183 </b>
<b>Even </b><b>with </b><b>his </b><b>baseball </b><b>cap pulled low</b>, <b>half </b><b>his </b>face <b>hidden </b><b>in </b><b>the </b>shadow<b>, </b>Noreen recognized seth <b>instantly</b>.
<b>He </b><b>stopped </b>as well, <b>keeping </b>a careful distance between <b>them</b><b>, </b><b>his </b>gaze <b>meeting </b>hers. Sunlight ther <b>through </b><b>the </b>window, golden and <b>hazy</b>, <b>casting </b>flickering patterns across <b>Seth’s </b><b>chest </b>as it rose and fell with each breath.
His <b>lips </b>parted<b>, </b>as <b>if </b>he wanted to say something.
<b>But </b>Noreen didn’t give him the chance. She turned and walked away, her <b>steps </b>brisk <b>and </b>decisive,
So brisk, in fact<b>, </b>that it was almost as if they’d never known each other at all.
Noreen decided that was for the best. He weighed his options; she cut her losses. From now <b>on</b><b>, </b><b>their </b>paths would never cross again–no more entanglements, no more regrets.
Seth lingered for a moment before finally leaving.
Out on the tennis courts, Jude was having a rough day. After losing to Dn, match after match<b>, </b>he tossed his racquet down in frustration. “What’s keeping Seth so long? If he doesn’te back <b>soon</b>, I’ll be down to my boxers!”
Biancaughed. “I’ll go check on him.”
As she walked away, Jude watched with a sigh and a tinge of envy. “Now that’s what I call rtionship goals.”
Then, turning to Dn, who was toweling off, Jude grinned slyly. “So, Dn–how do you feel about all this?”
Dn barely nced up. “Don’t feel a thing.”
“Oh,e on, stop pretending!”
Dn ignored him, pulling out his phone to text Noreen: *How’s the new car?<b>* </b>
He knew she was probably at a dinner meeting and might not reply right away. Still, he sent the message–and stared at his screen, waiting.
Noreen, catching a moment between conversations at dinner, saw the message and replied with a single line: *Not bad.*
On the other end, after waiting so long, Dn couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his <b>lips</b>.
Jude, ever the gossip, caught sight of Dn’s expression and craned his neck to peek at the phone. “Who’s making you smile like that?”
Dn noticed and immediately locked his screen.
Jude, denied his dose of drama, pouted. “You’re acting weird, man!”
Dn’s face was unreadable. “Am I<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“You have no idea how ridiculous you just looked grinning at your <b>phone</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
<i>1/2 </i>
19:31
Chapter
Dn said nothing, giving Jude nothing to work with.
Meanwhile, Bianca found Seth standing alone on a balcony, cigarette in hand. The ashtray perched on the trash can beside him was already crowded with seven or eight cigarette butts.
She frowned, concern in her voice. “Seth, is something bothering you?”
Seth’s answer was t. “No.”
“Then why are you smoking so muchtely?”
“Family stuff.”
Bianca remembered Jude mentioning that things weren’t great between Seth and his dad. She tried to reassure him. “Look, I know your rtionship with Mr. Harcourt isn’t easy, but sometimes parents love us in ways we don’t recognize. Maybe, with time, things will work out.”
Seth stubbed out his cigarette, his expression unreadable. “Tomorrow, I’ll <i>go </i>with you to meet Mr. Summers from NaviTech.”
Bianca’s eyes widened with surprise and delight. She hadn’t expected Seth to take such an interest in her affairs. She hadn’t even told him about the meeting.
“How did you know?”
“Secretary Laurent mentioned it,” Seth replied, his voice gentle. “Didn’t I tell you to let me know if you needed anything?”
His concern warmed Bianca’s heart, and her voice softened without her even realizing it, almost teasing. “Why does Lillian tell you everything? I specifically asked her not to bother you, that I could handle it myself.”
Seth raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with leaning on me? I just don’t want to see you struggle.”
His words melted her defenses, and she beamed at him, eyes sparkling. “Fine! From now on, I’ll tell you everything–so long as you don’t mind me being a bother!”