Chapter 69

Rosalind’s question caught her off guard, leaving her feeling exposed and utterly humiliated.
She didn’t even dare look at Seth, afraid of what his reaction might be.
She worried Seth would read too much into it—or worse, see right through her act.
Thankfully, Seth was a master at keeping his composure. After a brief pause, he replied, steady and unhurried, “I haven’t really thought that far
ahead.”
Noreen felt an ache in her chest.
Had he really just not thought that far, or had he never once considered marrying her?
For a moment, she nearly lost her grip on the charade.
But then Seth looked up and asked, “What kind of wedding would you like,
Noreen?” Googlᴇ search ͟.net
Rosalind’s curious gaze landed on her, prompting Noreen to quickly look away from Seth and mumble a vague answer, “Something… meaningful, I guess. Something with a real sense of ceremony.”
Rosalind lit up with excitement. “I agree! A ceremony makes it feel important, like you’re truly valued.”
While Seth and Rosalind continued making small talk, Noreen found her thoughts drifting far away.
Fortunately, Seth didn’t stay long. When he announced he was leaving, Noreen let out a silent sigh of relief.
She barely managed to form the words, “Take care,” before Rosalind nudged her, urging her to walk Seth out.
The performance had to be convincing, so Noreen forced herself to go through the motions, pretending she was reluctant to see him go.
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But as soon as they stepped out of the room, her expression changed. She couldn’t keep up the act for another second.
“Mr. Harcourt, I won’t keep you,” she said flatly.
Her abruptness made Seth laugh in disbelief. “Did you always know how to burn bridges this well, or did someone teach you?”
Noreen shot back, her tone sharp, “I started my career working for you. Who else would I have learned it from?”
Seth smirked. “That’s not the only thing I’ve taught you.”
Noreen was no naive girl–she caught the implication in his words immediately.
She opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Seth’s phone rang.
He answered right in front of her, whatever emotion had been in his eyes vanishing as he softened his tone. “Hey. What’s up?”
Bianca’s voice came through, a little pouty, “Where did you go? You’ve been gone forever. Did you leave without telling me?”
The hallway was quiet enough that Noreen could hear every word.
Seth’s patience was endless. “No, I just ran into someone I know and stopped to chat for a bit. I’m on my way to find you now.”
“Hurry up, I’m so bored without you,” Bianca whined.
“Alright, I’m coming.”
He ended the call and turned, about to say something to Noreen–only to find she’d already slipped away.
He didn’t think much of it, simply shrugged, and walked off.
Around the corner, Noreen leaned against the wall, frozen as if rusted in place.
So Seth hadn’t come to see Rosalind specifically.
He’d accompanied Bianca to visit her future mother–in–law–and just
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stopped by Rosalind’s room as an afterthought.
That was Seth for you–always finding a way to cut deep without breaking
a sweat.
When Noreen returned to the room, Rosalind was scrolling through her phone, her face alight with excitement. “Noreen, look at this wedding! Isn’t it creative? You young people would love it. I can’t wait to dress up and attend my daughter’s wedding.”
Noreen couldn’t bring herself to shatter Rosalind’s dreams. She simply sat and listened quietly.
Rosalind described the scene in vivid detail, but when Noreen didn’t
respond, Rosalind looked at her in concern.
“Noreen, are you feeling alright? You look so pale.”
Noreen pressed her face into Rosalind’s warm palm, sighing softly. “Mom, your hands are so warm.”
She kept her eyes closed, hiding the storm beneath her lashes.
Rosalind gently rubbed her cheek. “That’s because your face is so cold.”
Noreen stayed with her mother for a while longer before heading home.
Tomorrow was the celebration banquet–she needed to be up early to help set up at the hotel, so staying overnight to look after Rosalind wasn’t
an option.
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