<b>Chapter </b><b>193 </b>
Noreen stared at her phone for a couple of seconds, just as a new notification popped <b>up</b>.
Seth had posted something on his feed.
The guy who almost never shared anything online had now posted twice in thest three months.
And both times, it was about Bianca.
This time, he’d written, “Happy New Year.”
Attached was a photo of fireworks.
Bianca replied almost instantly: “Happy New Year!”
Noreen guessed the two of them had probably nned to post at the same time.
Whether Seth replied, and what he might have said, didn’t interest her in the slightest. Before closing WhatsApp, she went ahead and deleted both of them from her contacts. No hard feelings–she just wanted some peace and quiet.
It was the start of a new year, and workaholic Noreen was actually taking a rare day off.
She’d turned down several invitations, picked up some vitamins and supplements, and headed home to see her mother, Rosalind.
Since leaving Aurelion Group, Noreen had thrown herself into work, barely finding time to visit Rosalind at all.
So today, she’d made a point of waking up extra early; it was only 7:30 by the time she got home. Rosalind kept a strict daily routine–7:30 was exactly when she’d be having breakfast.
Noreen had nned to join her, so the moment she walked in, she called out cheerfully, “Mom, I’m home!”
The living room was empty, but she heard noisesing from the kitchen.
Probably making breakfast, she thought.
Noreen set her things down and hurried toward the kitchen. “Mom, what are you making for breakfast?”
But the moment she finished her sentence, her smile froze.
Because standing in the kitchen wasn’t Rosalind at all, but someone she never expected to see.
Sethdled a rich chicken soup from the pot, turned off the stove, and only then looked up at Noreen–whose jaw was practically on the floor, “Calling me ‘Mom‘ might not be quite right, don’t you
think?<b>” </b>
He grinned. “Maybe try something a little more… yful.”
<b>19:32 </b>
Noreen’s good mood vanished in an instant.
Her smile faded, reced by a cold look. “What are you doing here?
Seth took a soup bowl from the cupboard, unhurried as ever, and poured out some of the chicken soup.
Getting no answer, Noreen’s patience wore thin. She red at him and said tly, “You’re not wee here. Please leave.”
Seth acted as if he didn’t hear her. Instead, he picked up a spoon, set it in the bowl, and handed it to Noreen. “Try it. See if it’s any good.”
As if she had any appetite!
All she wanted was for him to go.
But before she could repeat herself, Rosalind came back inside.
“Seth, I just picked some fresh greens from Mrs. Laurent’s garden downstairs. They’re perfect for making a veggie porridge.”
Then Rosalind noticed her daughter and blinked in surprise. “Noreen? Weren’t you supposed to be on a business trip?”
“…”
Noreen was at aplete loss for words.
“Seth said you’ve been swamped with worktely, maybe even too busy for a break over New Year’s.”
While she spoke, Seth took the basket of greens from her and disappeared back into the kitchen.
Rosalind guided Noreen to the sofa, looked her over from head to toe, and tutted, “You’ve lost weight again! Even if you’re busy, you need to take care of yourself.”
“I’m trying to watch my diet,” Noreen mumbled.
“Always the same excuse! You’re thin enough already–no need for a diet.”
But Noreen’s mind was elsewhere. She kept ncing toward the kitchen, and finally couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, why is he here?”
“Didn’t Seth tell you?” Rosalind looked even more surprised. “Maybe because you’ve been busy, he forgot. He’s been dropping by often <i>to </i>check on metely.”
Noreen was speechless.
She suddenly couldn’t figure Seth out at all.
What <i>on </i>earth was he up to?
“Mom, about him and me…”
Noreen felt this situation was getting out of hand and wanted to exin everything to Rosalind.
But before she could finish, Seth stuck his head out from the kitchen and said, “Mrs. Carter, I fixed your water filter. Try it out and let me know if it’s working–if not, I’ll just rece it with a new one.”
212
<b>19:32 </b>