Chapter 1017
Felix paused.
After a long, suffocating silence, he nodded. “Okay.”
The driver followed Claire’s instructions and dropped her off at the airport.
Without looking back, Claire stepped out of the vehicle with crisp, decisive movements.
Felix instinctively reached for the door handle, intending to grab her luggage for her.
But before his fingers even grazed the metal, Claire was already at the trunk, pulling out her own suitcase.
There was zero hesitation. No lingering glances. She didn’t even offer a goodbye before she turned and disappeared into the bustling crowd.
Felix’s hand remained frozen on the door release button, his fingertips mindlessly tracing the cold metal.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, but from start to finish, he didn’t say a word.
He watched her retreating silhouette weave through the sea of people, so resolute and uncompromising that it made his chest ache.
At that moment, it suddenly hit him: she wasn’t just walking toward her departure gate. She was walking toward a future that had absolutely nothing to do with him.
Felix’s lips twitched into a bitter, self-deprecating smile as a dull ache spread through his ribs.
It was only then he realized that some departures were simply a long-awaited release.
The icy wind whipping through the airport terminal slapped against his face. He slowly closed his eyes, his mind consumed entirely by the memory of her walking away.
Elegant. Calm. But like a beautifully forged blade, slicing away the last pathetic shreds of hope he’d kept buried in his heart.
…
The business dinner concluded, and Noreen Gilmore stepped out of the restaurant alongside Leonardo Soares and his daughter.
Playing the perfect gentleman, Leonardo asked, “Would you like my driver to take you home?”
The two of them had hit it off tonight, naturally leading to a few extra glasses of wine.
Noreen offered a polite, luminous smile. “Thank you for the offer, Mr. Soares, but my ride is already on the way.”
Leonardo instantly caught her drift
and chuckled. “My mistake. A
woman as stunning and successful as yourself obviously doesn’tlack a knight in shining armor.”
Even Cecilia couldn’t hide her curiosity. “Ms. Gilmore, you’re so amazing. The men
chasing you must be incredibly impressive, right?”
Noreen wasn’t entirely sure how to navigate that question.
What was she supposed to say?
After all, Cecilia had previously harbored a major crush on Seth Harcourt, even begging her father to play matchmaker.
Just as the tension reached a delicate peak, a sleek black Rolls-Royce glided silently up to the curb.
The window rolled down, revealing the sharp, predatory lines of a man’s profile. “Noreen.” Seth’s voice was a low rumble that easily cut through the night air. The moment Cecilia recognized the man in the driver’s seat, a spark of delight flashed in her eyes. “Mr. Harcourt?” she blurted out instinctively.
But her smile froze the second she watched him lock onto Noreen with absolute purpose.
Seth’s gaze swept over Cecilia with total indifference.
He bypassed her entirely, stepping out to smoothly take Noreen’s handbag from her grasp.
“Mr. Soares. Miss Soares,” he acknowledged them with a brief, formal nod, his tone impeccably polite yet miles away.
Catching the dynamic immediately,
Leonardo clapped his daughter on
things over
the shoulder to sus
Well, since Mr. Harcourt is personally playing chauffeur, we won’t keep you. Cecilia, say O goodnight to Mr. Harcourt and Ms. Gilmore.”
Cecilia acted like she hadn’t heard a word her father said. Gathering her courage she stared at Seth with burning hope, her voice practically pleading. “Mr. Harcourt, it’s so late. We shouldn’t make you go out of your way.”
“Um… if it’s not on your route, I could actually drive Noreen home. It would give us a chance to chat some more.”
Her intentions were so glaringly obvious that even Leonardo visibly cringed.
Noreen, feeling a bit awkward, opened her mouth to decline, but Seth effortlessly stepped between them, shielding her.
With practiced ease, he reached around and pulled open the passenger door for Noreen.