Noreen was genuinely drunk. She fell asleep as soon as she got into the car,pletely oblivious to what was happening outside.


    Sophia lowered her voice. "Mr. Harcourt, how could you go back on your word!"


    He had clearly said this would be the only time!


    "I won''t disturb her."


    "You already are."


    After a two-second silence, Seth promised her, "This is thest time."


    Sophia bit her lip and finally relented.


    The car drove smoothly through the streets as the city lights began to glow, the scenery on both sides receding in the rearview mirror.


    Everything was quiet.


    The moment Jude''s call came in, Seth immediately rejected it.


    At the same time, he cautiously nced at the person in the rearview mirror.


    Perhaps because he ended the call so quickly, Noreen wasn''t woken by the ringing and continued to sleep lightly.


    After dropping her off downstairs, he turned off the engine.


    Without the white noise of the moving car, Noreen woke from her light slumber.


    Her head was still spinning.


    It had been too long since she''d had a drink; her tolerance hadpletely vanished. She looked out the window and saw she was home but didn''t get out right away. After rubbing her temples, she instructed the driver, "Take me to Soutke for a bit. I need some fresh air to sober up."


    The person in the driver''s seat suddenly tightened his grip on the steering wheel.


    In the end, he said nothing, simply starting the car and heading toward Soutke.


    When they arrived, Noreen didn''t get out of the car.


    She just rolled down the window, letting the evening breeze drift in.


    The wind at this hour was still gentle, carrying a hint of early autumn chill that was sobering.


    Noreen leaned against the window, enjoying the breeze for a few minutes before telling the driver to take her back.


    When they returned to her apartment building, ire and Katy were waiting for her outside.


    The moment Noreen got out of the car, the two of them nked her, supporting her.


    ire said, "Sophia called and told me you drank too much, so she


    asked me toe get you. Wel.ne


    been waiting for a while. Was there traffic?"


    "I went to Soutke to get some air. I came back after I sobered up a bit," Noreen exined.


    "Let''s go, let''s go. Let''s get you inside. Your hands are so cold."


    Their voices faded as their figures disappeared into the building''s entrance.


    Only then did he look away and open his phone.


    There were several missed calls and messages, all from Jude.


    He called him back.


    Jude answered almost instantly, his voice filled with worry. "Seth! You finally answered! What were you doing? Do you have any idea how worried I was when i couldn''t reach you?"


    "What''s there to worry about? I''m not going to die."


    Seth''s voice was as casual and nonchnt as ever.


    But it was also lifeless, utterly devoid of energy.


    "Where are you now?" Jude asked anxiously. "Over by Summit Avenue."


    Jude paused. Wasn''t that where Noreen lived?


    "You went to see Noreen again?"


    Seth didn''t deny it.


    He adjusted his seat to the right angle. When he looked up, he could


    see how of Noreen''s


    bedroom.


    The light was on.


    eet


    Though the light was far away, it seemed to illuminate something within him.


    He knew he shouldn''t be disturbing Noreen.


    But he couldn''t help himself.


    Every time, he told himself.


    This is thest time.


    Just onest time to see her.


    As long as he could see her once, he could hold on for a while longer.