Chapter 1176

How was that not completing the mission?

When Crystal reached Dylan’s office, his secretary blocked her path.

“Ms. Chelsea, you can’t go in. Mr. Wilder has a guest.”

“Get out of my way!” Crystal snapped, forcefully shoving the secretary aside and bursting into the office.

Dylan had timed it perfectly-Noreen should have been walking through that door.

So when it flew open, he looked up with absolute hope burning in his eyes.

But the moment he saw Crystal, the warmth vanished, replaced by freezing indifference. “What are you doing here?”

Crystal met his cold glare, then her eyes locked onto the massive bouquet of roses resting in the sitting area.

She lunged for it.

Dylan realized her intent and jumped up to stop her.

But he was a second too late.

Crystal snatched the card tucked into the flowers.

She was just about to rip it open when Dylan snatched it back.

But it was too late. She had seen the name.

Noreen.

He called her Noreen.

So intimate.

They had been married for years, and he had never once used a pet name for her. It was always her full name!

The devastating contrast snapped the last thread of Crystal’s sanity.

“Dylan Wilder!” Crystal screamed, the corners of her eyes flushed red with rage. “Were you going to confess to Noreen?!”

He didn’t answer. He just slowly crushed the card in his fist, his knuckles turning stark white.

“Do you have a heart?!” Tears spilled down Crystal’s face, her voice piercing the air, pouring years of bitter waiting into her words. “You know I’m still waiting for you, but you’re out here chasing someone else! What am I to you?!”

He remained silent, his eyelids half-lowered, casting dark shadows over his eyes. He stood there, as cold and unyielding as a stone at the bottom of a frozen well.

His silence pushed her over the edge.

Crystal grabbed the bouquet of roses and hurled it at the ground with everything she had.

Water exploded outward, petals scattering across the floor to be crushed under her heels, leaving brutal, bruised streaks behind.

But that wasn’t enough. She grabbed documents, pen holders, the heavy crystal ashtray from his desk.

She swept them all to the floor. The sharp, violenterash of shattering

porcelain echoed through the el

sprawling office.

He never moved. He never tried to stop her.

He just stood there, watching her destroy the room with absolute apathy.

Watching her cry, watching the chaos unfold.

As if he were looking at a complete stranger.

Not a shred of emotion in his eyes.

…

When Noreen arrived at Seth’s apartment, he was still busy in the kitchen.

At the sound of the front door, the tense line of his shoulders slowly relaxed. Noreen rushed straight to the kitchen, grabbing his hand to inspect the damage.

The cut was tiny, and he had already wrapped it in a bandage.

But Noreen still frowned. “Why are you cooking when you’re hurt? The I should get wet

ngs

Wr

“It’s fine. It’s just a little scratch.” He turned his head to press a kiss to her cheek. “The kitchen’s smoky Go wait outside. I left some sliced fruit on the table. Dinner will be ready soon.”

Normally, Noreen would have happily walked away.

But seeing the bandage on his finger made her heart ache.

“Let me do it. You can just tell me what to do.”

Seth raised an eyebrow, giving her a look that clearly said, Are you sure about that?

Noreen refused to back down. “I have you directing me, don’t I?”

Seth smiled, his tone dripping with affection. “Alright, I’ll direct.”

And so, Noreen took over.

Seth watched her for about five minutes before confirming one undeniable fact.

She was absolutely hopeless in the kitchen.

She mixed up the spices and ruined the temperature control.

Terrified of hurting her pride, he practically held her hands through the entire

process.

When she did something right, he kissed her as a reward.

When she messed up, he kissed her to make her feel better.

And when she got frustrated and pouted, he had to coax her back into a good mood.