"I''m getting engaged."


    "What? Ahem-"


    Of all the possible reactions Noreen had braced herself for, she never imagined ire would choke on her own saliva.


    It took several moments of Noreen patting her back before ire could catch her


    breath.


    "Engaged to who?" ire demanded urgently.


    "Castle. The man who came to see mest time."


    ire tilted her head, thinking. "He''s handsome. Very gentlemanly, has that old- money vibe."


    "He''s a bit older, sure, but older men know how to take care of you!" ire analyzed the situation like a doting mother.


    After listing a series of pros, however, she asked Noreen, "Are you getting engaged to him because you love him?"


    "Is that important?" Noreen replied, as if the question was utterly abstract.


    ire thought for a moment. "No, it''s not. People who chase after true love never have a happy ending! It''s better to go for fame and fortune!"


    This time, it was Noreen''s turn to tilt her head and study her.


    After a long pause, she asked, "Honey, have you been hurt by a man?"


    ire''s eyes darted away, avoiding Noreen''s gaze as sheughed nervously. "No way! My heart is made of stone. No man can hurt me! I''m the one who breaks their hearts!"


    "I hope that''s true."


    Noreen reached out and stroked her hair. "I''ve been so busy these past few years, I haven''t been there for you. I''m sorry, sweetie."


    "I''ve been eating and drinking just fine. You worry too much."


    She was her usual carefree self. And maybe being carefree was for the best.


    ...


    In Northcrest, the September air cut like a knife as day turned to night.


    Down a long corridor, one iron gate after another nged open. As the final gate swung wide, he smelled it for the first time in years the scent of the wind.


    The elderly man behind him stopped, watching as the man ahead tilted his head back to feel the sun on his face.


    A momentter, he spoke. "Seth, you''re free."


    Seth Harcourt knew how hard the old man had worked for this moment.


    "Thank you for everything."


    The old man smiled. "It was necessary. We couldn''t let you sacrifice yourself for real, could we?"


    He said it lightly, but back when Seth


    had decided to use himself as bait,


    the old man had been terrified for


    him Any misstep, any mistake, could have exposed them or alerted the mastermind hiding in the shadows, casting Seth into


    irreversible ruin.


    Thankfully, they had seeded. Thankfully, he had saved Seth.


    "Go on. Return to your old life. Be the


    real Seth again," the e


    pping him on the shoulder t


    Was


    both an instruction and a farewell.


    Seth stepped through thest iron gate, finally standing fully in the sunlight He could taste the freedom.


    stood there for a long


    time before picking up his meager bag and walking away, neverlooking back.


    Outside, Jude Wilder had been waiting for a long time. The moment he saw Seth,


    he ran toward him.


    "Seth!"


    Jude''s voice was filled with unrestrained joy and excitement as he threw his arms around him. "Seth! You''re finally free!"


    "Let''s go straight back to Rivercrest City! The private jet is already waiting at the airport!"


    "Evelyn has cooked a whole spread of your favorite dishes!"


    "Oh, and Mr. Harcourt is waiting for you too! Everyone''s been waiting for this day!" Jude chattered on and on.


    Seth''s expression remained unchanged. Only after Jude had finished his excited rambling did he finally speak.


    "What about her? Is she okay?"


    Jude''s mind stalled for a moment before he finally realized who "her" was.


    After a brief silence, he finally answered.


    "She''s getting engaged today."