Noreen sat by theke for a long time, the wind helping to clear some of her


    thoughts. Just as she was about to get up and head home, her phone rang. It was Evelyn, who told her a fresh shipment of seafood had just been flown in and invited her over for dinner.


    Noreen considered it for a moment, then agreed toe right over.


    Evelyn was overjoyed. Before Noreen hung up, she could hear her excitedly telling Wade Harcourt, "Noreen said she''s on her way! I''ll go steam the king crab right now. It''s her favorite!"


    She had Colby drive her directly to the Harcourt estate. It was a long drive, over an hour.


    By the time she arrived, Evelyn had already steamed the king crab.


    "You''re just in time! I just finished making the dipping sauce. This seafood is really top-notch, Noreen, you have to try some," Evelyn said, bustling around.


    Noreen greeted Wade, who urged her to go and eat.


    "The crab meat has just been shelled. Eat up," Evelyn said, cing tworge containers on the table. "These are for your mother. Take them with you when you leave."


    "Thank you." As Noreen sat down, she noticed that the te in front of her was piled high with neatly shelled crab meat. She paused.


    She had always known that Evelyn wasn''t good at shelling crab. And she also knew who was.


    Evelyn and Wade remained tight-lipped, saying nothing. Of course, Noreen didn''t ask. They all maintained a delicate bnce.


    After dinner, Noreen didn''t stay long. As she was leaving, Evelyn insisted she take the packed seafood with her. Noreen couldn''t refuse and finally epted it.


    After leaving the Harcourt estate, Noreen got into the car.


    "Straight home?" Colby asked.


    Noreen hesitated for a few seconds. "You can take a taxi back. I''ll drive myself hometer."


    Colby didn''t ask why. He handed her the keys and quietly got out of the car.


    Noreen called Sophia. “Send me Seth''s phone number."


    Sophia, who had been about to go to sleep, was instantly wide awake.


    A moment after she hung up, Sophia sent the number. Noreen dialed it immediately.


    Back in the Harcourt family living room, Seth came downstairs five Noreen had left.


    minutes after the table


    Evelyn was clearing


    muttering to herself, "Didn''t Noreen used to love king crab? Why didn''t she even touch it today?"


    Seth stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling on the table. The te of crab meat was still there, perfectly arranged seemed she had


    ed he was the one who shelled


    it, and that''s why she hadn''t touched it. She was determined to draw a


    line between them.


    The thought was a bitter one. As the bitterness spread through his chest, his phone rang. He was too dejected to even look at it. Instead he sat down at the table, picked up the fork Noreen had used, and began to eat the crab meat she had left, tasting nothing.


    It was Evelyn who finally reminded him about his phone. He slowly pulled it out. When he saw the number on the screen, the fork ttered from his hand onto the table.


    Evelyn jumped. "What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing... nothing," Seth stammered, his voice trembling.


    Though suspicious, Evelyn didn''t press him. Seth stood up and walked out into the


    courtyard, his fingers shaking as he pressed the answer button.


    But as if fate were ying a cruel joke, he was a second toote. The call disconnected.


    Noreen, who had lived her life in the fastne for years, had for the first time found enough patience to make a phone call. But it hadn''t connected. She didn''t know if Seth hadn''t seen it, or if he simply didn''t want to answer.