Chapter 1168

As Dylan prepared the tea, his mind continuously drifted toward Noreen.

There were things he wanted to tell her.

But he hadn’t found the right opening.

He needed to be patient and wait.

After several rounds of tea, Halley began boasting about his newest acquisition: a batch of premium koi fish.

They were auction-grade with championship bloodlines.

Each one was worth over four hundred thousand dollars.

Apparently, they were a gift from Wilbur.

Halley absolutely adored them and had already spent a fortune building a specialized koi pond in his courtyard.

He ushered everyone outside to admire his prized fish.

Noreen was just about to stand when Dylan stopped her. “Noreen, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

She assumed it was business-related.

Over the past five years, they had barely seen each other.

It was only in the last few months that their paths had crossed more frequently.

During two of those encounters, Dylan had clearly tried to make his romantic intentions known.

Unfortunately for him, Noreen had mercilessly shut him down both times.

She assumed he had gotten the message and dropped the idea.

But the moment everyone else left the room, the look in Dylan’s eyes shifted.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. The words he had repressed for far too long were finally clawing their way to the surface.

Noreen, give me one more chance.

Or, whatever choice you make, I’ll keep waiting for you.

Even if you choose Seth, as long as you look back, I will always have a place for you.

“Noreen.” He spoke, his voice much lower and raspier than usual, lined with an imperceptible tension.

He stepped closer. The plea for a second chance was right on the tip of his tongue. Suddenly, Halley’s booming, sharp voice echoed from outside. “You Harcourt brat! Who told you you could just waltz in here? The guards at the gate didn’t stop you?”

Seth?

Why was he here?

Noreen’s attention instantly snapped to the courtyard. Without even waiting for Dylan to finish, she hurried out.

Seth seemed to have just walked in. Standing there while being chewed out as a “brat,” he didn’t look the least bit embarrassed. Instead, he radiated a cocky, almost provocative sense of ease.

As soon as Noreen stepped outside, she laid eyes on Seth-dressed impeccably in

a custom-tailored burgundy suit.

The lapel piping and his silk

undershirt were a pristine white. As

the sunlight caught the fabric, the

Sil

gleamed softly blending

seamlessly with his luminous skin and Sharpening his jawline toa devastating degree.

Noreen stood in a daze for a second.

Then, it hit her-the bizarre text he had sent her right before she left the apartment.

He had asked what color she was wearing today.

This was his endgame all along!

Having just finished scolding Seth, Halley glanced at his outfit, then turned to look at Noreen’s dress.

Being a highly observant man, he immediately connected the dots.

The demand for Seth to leave died on his lips.

Forget it. A guest is a guest.

Better to just turn a blind eye.

Halley successfully reasoned himself into acceptance.

Dylan had followed Noreen outside. The moment he saw Seth, his gaze instantly darkened.

Seth’s matching attire was so glaringly obvious that Noreen didn’t dare walk over to him.

She completely avoided eye contact.

She felt guilty.

More than that, she was terrified that standing next to him would expose their secret.

So she stood far off to the side, refusing to close the distance.

Dylan didn’t walk over either, remaining right by her side.

Halley struck up a conversation with Seth. Seth responded verbally, but

his evere constantly locked,

onto Noreen

реч

Dylan had waited for days for a private moment with her, only for Seth to show up and ruin everything.

He knew exactly what this was: Seth was marking his territory.