Chapter 951

The early winter morning was brutally cold.

When Noreen went downstairs, she only threw on a cashmere coat, which barely kept the freezing night air at bay.

As she got closer, she realized Seth wasn’t even wearing a jacket.

He must have run after her right away, skipping the private room and his coat altogether to chase her all the way here.

She felt a flare of anger.

Angry that he had so little regard for his own health.

What if she hadn’t woken up in the middle of the night? What if she slept straight through till dawn?

Would he just stand out here freezing until sunrise?

Was the man out of his mind?

He had just recovered from a major illness. The moment he felt slightly better, he was back to torturing himself.

Did he think he was still a hot-blooded twenty-year-old?

He was thirty-four!

Not to mention he was missing a kidney…

The thought of that missing kidney brought a lump to Noreen’s throat.

Her anger vanished, replaced by a wave of undeniable tenderness.

In the end, she opened her coat and wrapped him in her arms.

He was freezing.

Even through her clothes, the sheer chill radiating off his body made her shiver.

Seth realized it too and gently tried to pull away. “I’m too cold.”

Even though holding her was exactly what he wanted.

Noreen just hugged him tighter, desperate to share her warmth with him.

The midnight streets were completely deserted as they held onto each other against the biting wind.

This moment vividly reminded Noreen of the time they were trapped in a blizzard up north while negotiating a project.

Except back then, she was the one who was freezing to death.

She remembered the lighter.

She remembered the agonizing expression on Seth’s face as he repeatedly held the flame to his own palms to keep her warm.

She let out a soft sigh. “Even if you needed to explain, you could have waited until tomorrow or texted or called. There was no need to wait outside my apartment in the middle of the night. What if I never came down?”

“It wasn’t for nothing,” he whispered. “I got to see you, didn’t I? Waiting for you to come back to me is always worth it.”

He leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on her shoulder.

It wasn’t until he breathed in her unique scent that his tormented heart finally settled into peace.

Noreen suddenly recalled what Claire had said.

Claire had sworn that Seth frequently staked out her apartment building.

Otherwise, Claire wouldn’t have kept bumping into him and cursing him out.

She also thought about all the times she had “coincidentally” run into him.

And… the trophy she had thrown away, which he had dug out of the trash and kept at his place.

For him, there must have been countless nights just like this one, waiting for her, only to be left disappointed.

That was why he felt every moment was worth the wait.

As much as he hated to ruin this rare, tender moment, Seth forced himself to let her

go.

Just before stepping back, he

pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. It’s freezing out here. Go back inside and get some sleeps you still have two hours.”

Noreen paused, a bit reluctant. “What about you?”

“I’m heading back too.”

It truly was frigid, and dressed so thinly, he really shouldn’t stay outside any longer.

“Make sure you get home safely,” Noreen said. She looked at him for another second before turning toward her building.

Right before she reached the entrance, she looked back.

Seth was still standing exactly where she left him, his gaze locked on her, looking dangerously handsome and deeply alluring.

Seeing her turn around, he gave a small wave, gesturing for her to hurry inside.

Knowing that he would just stay out in the cold if she lingered, she hardened her resolve and hurried back to her apartment.

The second she entered her room, she flipped on the lights and walked to the window to peer down.

Seth was still there.

She grabbed her phone and texted him: *I’m in my room. Go home.*

Seth replied: *Okay.*

Only after making sure he had gotten into a car and driven off did her heart finally settle.

After all that drama, she was wide

awake when she climbed back into bed, so she took the time to so

through the

chaotic mess of her

thoughts.