Chapter 1185
The sofa cushions dipped under his weight.
The heat of his kisses seared into her skin, inch by inch. She turned her head, clutching his wrist with the very last shred of her fading sanity, her voice trembling. “What are you doing?”
Whatever control he normally maintained was shattered beyond repair.
“The drug is flaring up again.”
Noreen didn’t believe him for a second. “You’re in a completely different state than you were earlier.”
“I said it’s flaring up, so it’s flaring up.”
With that, he covered her body with his.
The narrow confines of the sofa hardly hindered his dominant stride. Their heavy, synchronized breathing echoed loudly in the quiet living room.
By the time it was over, Noreen was so exhausted she couldn’t even muster the strength to move a single finger.
Seth had to carry her into the bathroom. Since the apartment only had a shower and no tub, he held her firmly by the waist the entire time to keep her from sliding to the floor. After quickly washing her off, he wrapped her in a massive towel and carried her to bed.
By the time he finished blow-drying her hair, Noreen was already fast asleep.
Seth instinctively softened his touch, gently drying the last damp strands. He turned off the lamp, slipped into bed beside her, and pulled her tightly against his chest from behind.
His heart swelled with endless devotion.
“Noreen, you’re finally mine again.”
Noreen slept incredibly deep, so deep that she completely lost track of time.
She eventually woke up to the sensation of being unable to breathe, struggling slightly in her pleasant haze. The bedroom was pitch black, the heavy curtains blocking out all sunlight, and the familiar scent of cedar completely enveloped her
senses.
He was kissing her again.
Noreen gave his chest a weak push. Only then did his demanding lips slowly pull back. “You’re finally awake?”
Noreen’s breathing grew chaotic. “What are you doing…”
“Your assistant’s wake-up service.”
“
He had kissed her until all the strength melted from her bones.
“Be good,” he coaxed against her ear, his breath so hot it made her shrink her neck. “Just one last time.”
Through her sleepy haze, Noreen had one coherent thought:
Men were completely full of it.
…
Early the next morning, Claire Chase arrived at Winrich carrying a thermos of chicken soup.
Rosalind Gilmore had ordered it. Rosalind assumed Noreen had stayed out late networking, so she woke up early to brew a restorative broth to soothe Noreen’s stomach after a night of drinking.
But Claire waited in Noreen’s office for what felt like hours, and Noreen never showed up.
She asked Sophia Cole. Sophia was just as clueless. “Ms. Gilmore is never late. This is literally the first time she hasn’t been here on time.”
Sophia found it shocking. Their boss, who practically worshipped her work, was actually a no-show! Hell must have frozen over.
And to make matters worse, she wasn’t picking up her phone.
Unable to wait any longer, Claire eventually left.
Noreen didn’t get home until late that evening. By the time she arrived, Rosalind had already eaten dinner and taken Beau out for a walk. Only Claire was home, curled up on the sofa watching a boring reality show.
Noticing Noreen walking a bit stiffly, Claire couldn’t help but ask, “Did you pull a muscle in your back?”
Noreen: “…”
Was it really that obvious?
This was entirely Seth’s fault!
“And your face… you look radiant, but also completely drained.” Claire noted the unusual flush on her friend’s cheeks, growing even more curious. Why would she be so tired if she was living like a nun?
Noreen guiltily avoided eye contact.
But the more guilty Noreen looked, the more suspicious Claire became. “Were you fooling around with Seth last night?”
Noreen lowered her eyes. “He was drugged last night. To keep himself from losing control, he cut his own hand with broken glass. I stayed to take care of him.”
Claire’s eyes widened in shock. “He went that far? He’d rather slice his own hand open than touch you?”
Noreen: “…”
“Well, not exactly…” she mumbled evasively. “I got mad, so I just… took the initiative.”
Claire: “…Of course. He wasn’t the only one desperate.”
Noreen scowled. “If you want to stay friends, you’ll stop talking now.”
After Seth dropped Noreen off at home, he finally returned Jude’s call.
Jude had been waiting by the phone all day. He knew exactly why Seth was calling, so the second he picked up, be reported his findings. “Crystal Chelsea spiked the drink. Looks like she did it to force Dylan into giving up on Noreen.”
Then Jude asked, “Do you want me to handle Crystal?”
Seth let out a low chuckle. “Honestly, I should be thanking her for the assist. How
could I repay her with cruelty?”
Hearing that, Jude nearly fell out of his chair. Had the man completely changed his personality? Was he so blissfully satisfied that he was feeling merciful? Did this mean that if Jude asked for a vacation right now, the success rate would be 100 percent?
Just as Jude was strategizing his pitch, Seth’s voice went ice cold. “But you have to strike a snake where it hurts. The only reason. Crystabis so arrogant is because she hides behind her fathers money Ruin Raymond Chelsea. Bankrupt him.”
Jude: “…”
And he actually claimed he wasn’t going to be cruel?