A chilling light entered Seth''s eyes. "Because she touched Noreen."


    Jude understood immediately.


    Four broken ribs... she deserved it.


    ***


    The next day, when Noreen arrived with Castle at the Caldwells'' birthday dinner, Sue was already there, standing beside Jaxon Caldwell.


    She had abandoned her usual style for a simple, long dress of white velvet.


    Embroidered on it were a few sparse white roses, their color so pale they looked as if they''d been washed in morning mist.


    It was an elegant look.


    And a familiar one.


    Noreen saw through Sue''s ploy at once. She was deliberately mimicking Mrs. Joyner''s style of dress.


    Even Castle froze in his tracks. Noreen heard him whisper, "Harriet."


    Jaxon saw Castle and immediately greeted him with a smile. "Castle, you''re here."


    Sue turned, her eyes lighting up with joy when she saw Castle. "Brother-inw." But when her gaze fell on Noreen, it turned sharp.


    It was a pathetic attempt at mimicry.


    Even if she looked like Mrs. Joyner, even if she deliberately copied her style, the difference between them was still night and day.


    Castle seemed to realize it too, and his eyes grew as sharp and cold as a honed de.


    He ignored Sue, simply nodding to Jaxon before leading Noreen to their seats.


    He didn''t spare Sue another nce.


    Sue felt both wronged and filled with a burning hatred for Noreen.


    She believed Castle was only ignoring her because of Noreen''s presence.


    Noreen didn''t forget her purpose for being there. Throughout the evening, she maintained a close, affectionate demeanor with Castle.


    In return, she received countless daggers from Sue''s eyes.


    Though it was just a simple birthday dinner, the Caldwells had invited quite a few people.


    There were ten full tables.


    Noreen and Castle were seated at the main table.


    As for Jude and Seth, a server had seated them at a table in the very back.


    They were too far away for Noreen to notice them.


    Seth had just sat down when he overheard the other guests at his table talking about Castle and Noreen.


    "See that? That''s Castle''s fiancée. She''s gorgeous, so elegant. I heard she runs several bigpanies, she''s loaded!"


    "They look good together."


    "Yeah, they seem really close. When I went over to wish Old Mr. Caldwell a happy birthday, I saw her peeling. shrimp for Castle. Theyre obviously head over heels."


    "Sigh. Castle and the eldest Miss Caldwell were so in love. Now she''s gone, and


    he''s already found someone new. It''s a bit sad, isn''t it?"


    "That''s such an old-fashioned way of thinking! Mrs. Joyner has been gone for five years. He waited long enough. Look at other guys-some


    Tem bring a new woman home before their wife is even cold in the ground. Now that''s* heartless."


    As their chatter grew more animated, Jude suddenly reached across the table in front of them.


    When they looked at him in surprise, he smiled innocently. "Just grabbing the wine."


    He brought the bottle of red wine back and nudged Seth. "Seth, give me the ss. You''re going to break it."


    Only then did Seth loosen his grip on the wine ss.


    "Maybe you should stick to water-"


    Before Jude could finish, Seth took the bottle and filled his ss to the brim.


    And just as Jude was about to tell him to slow down, Seth downed it in one go.


    Jude sighed.


    Drinking like that, he was going to get drunk.


    "Seth..."


    "She doesn''t like peeling shrimp," Seth said, his voice dangerously low. "She hates peeling any kind of shellfish. She can''t stand the smell leaves on her hands."


    And yet, she was peeling them for Castle.