Chapter 1203

He stayed huddled on the cold, filthy floor, entirely deaf to the nurses trying to pull him away and Madeline’s horrified shrieks in the background.

It was as if he were trapped in a vacuum where only one thought survived.

He had to find those cufflinks.

Even if they were covered in blood. Even if they were coated in grime.

Even if Claire didn’t want them anymore, he had to get them back.

Because they were the only tangible proof left that she had ever loved him.

Standing on the sidelines, Secretary Lynwood was absolutely stunned.

She had always assumed her boss’s heart belonged to Madeline.

After all, Felix was incredibly devoted to her.

He had blown off Claire for Madeline countless times.

No matter how important the meeting was, no matter how far away he was.

If Madeline needed him, Felix dropped everything to run to her.

Yet, he had never publicly acknowledged her as his partner.

She had also heard the rumors that Felix was forced to marry Claire because Claire’s father had saved Old Mr. Quigley’s life.

The only reason they hadn’t divorced yet was supposedly due to the terms of Old Mr. Quigley’s will.

Secretary Lynwood had stumbled upon this secret by accident.

She had immediately shared it with Madeline.

Because in her mind, Felix would undoubtedly marry Madeline the second his divorce went through.

So, she had been trying to win favor with the future Mrs. Quigley.

But watching him now, she realized she had misjudged everything.

Felix’s care for Madeline had always felt clinical, like he was just following a program.

It was calm and steady.

It was nothing like this unhinged, self-destructive desperation.

“Found them!”

After three grueling hours of sifting through the trash, Felix finally pulled them out.

The moment his fingers closed tightly around the metal, he collapsed onto the floor, unconscious.

…

Claire didn’t see Noreen Gilmore until two days later.

“Wait, are you telling me you two didn’t leave that hotel room for

asket

forty-eight hours?” Clane asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

belongs

Noreen remained silent.

“Wow…” Claire clucked her tongue.

Her gaze said everything that couldn’t be said out loud.

“Pace yourself, honey. Don’t forget, he only has one kidney!”

Noreen sighed.

She wanted to pace herself.

But Seth Harcourt was an absolute beast in bed!

He had an endless, terrifying amount of stamina!

Taking advantage of Seth’s temporary absence, she

called Healy Naylor tone

for

standing him up.

Healy brushed it off easily. “Are you still in Northcrest?”

“Yeah, heading back tomorrow.”

“Do you have time tonight?” Healy asked.

Noreen thought about it.

Jude Wilder had shown up that morning and was currently locked in a business meeting with Seth.

That was the only reason she had managed to slip away to see Claire.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to get out of bed.

Figuring their meeting would last a while, she agreed. “I’m free.”

She would just tell Seth she was having dinner with Claire.

What were best friends for if not to be used as a shield?

Sure enough, when Seth heard she was eating with Claire, he didn’t. question. Hesmply told y told her to eat well.

When Noreen met up with Healy, their conversation stayed strictly professional.

It was just a simple, innocent dinner between colleagues.

What she didn’t know was that Gia Vance was watching from the shadows, snapping photos of them.

Gia, of course, was stalking Healy.

She sent the photos to Crystal Chelsea, who gleefully posted them on her social media.

Since Jude was friends with Crystal online, he saw the post within minutes.

Noreen was doomed.