"We''re sorry, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavable. Please try againter."


    The cold, emotionless recording echoed in her ear.


    She tried again, but the result was the same.


    Noreen Gilmore then dialed Jude Wilder''s number, but it was also unreachable.


    She didn''t know if they were intentionally ignoring her calls or if their phones were off.


    Either way, she couldn''t get in touch with Seth Harcourt.


    And right now, Sue''s fate was hanging in the bnce.


    Noreen worried that Seth would do something reckless because of her.


    He had just gotten out of prison; his life couldn''t withstand any more turmoil.


    Besides, the Caldwell family was still a prominent n in Harborview City. Even a sinking ship has some good iron left. They were on the Caldwells'' home turf. If pushed into a corner, they might resort to a fight to the bitter end, and Seth wouldn''t necessarilye out on top.


    After much hesitation, Noreen called Castle Joyner, hoping to reach Sage Joyner through him.


    Sage had extensive connections; he might know something.


    The moment the call connected, Castle spoke up. "We found Sue. Seth did take her. My brother has already sent people to pick her up. I''m at the docks now."


    Noreen got the address and rushed over immediately.


    Jaxon Caldwell was also there, looking a bit ufortable when he saw her.


    They all waited at the docks for about forty minutes before a speedboat approached the shore.


    Sage Joyner stood at the bow, giving a simple wave to the people on the dock.


    Once the boat docked, he had his men help Sue off.


    Sue was bundled up tightly, her face covered, and she seemed to have no strength, relying entirely on the two men supporting her on either side.


    Noreen didn''t look at her for long, her gaze fixed on the speedboat.


    But she waited and waited, and no one else emerged.


    Sage Joyner greeted Castle, saying he had returned the person safely and had other matters to attend to, so he wouldn''t stay long.


    Castle nced at Noreen, seeming to guess what she was thinking, and casually asked about Seth.


    Sage replied, "He handed her over to me and left. He didn''te back with us."


    After her call with Coley, ire Chase was in a terrible mood. Fuming, she downed an entire ss of ice water.


    As she was about to pour a second, Noreen stopped her. She nced at ire, who was puffed up with rage, and asked, "Felix won''t agree to the divorce?"


    "Exactly!" ire was so angry she put her hands on her hips. "That bastard even said he''s busy and had Coley tell me that if I want something I should just say it directly instead of being so roundabout. He said as long as I


    behave and remain Mrs. Quigley, I can name my price!"


    She mimicked his tone in a high, pinched voice, then turned away and scoffed. "It''s like he doesn''t


    understand in English! He te


    me asking for a divorce is just some tactic to get his attention, and by saying that, he''s made a gesture of cating me, so I should just take the olive branch and stop making a fuss."


    "Bullshit!"


    ire genuinely felt that ending up with an emotionally stunted man like Felix was her karmic punishment.


    She must have been a truly terrible person in a past life to be punished like this in this one!


    As an observer, Noreen was more rational. "That doesn''t sound like he''s trying to cate you. It sounds more like a negotiation between business partners, with him holding all the power."


    There wasn''t a hint of affection between them.


    ire didn''t want to hear another word about Felix; it only annoyed her. She changed the subject, asking Noreen, "Is Seth still avoiding you?"


    Noreen adjusted her rimless sses, her fingers pausing on the keyboard for a fraction of a second. "Yeah. He''s avoiding me."


    After Sue was returned, Noreen had stayed in Harborview City for another week.


    Partly, she wanted to keep an eye on the Caldwell family in case they tried to retaliate.