Chapter 52

“Of course!” Dylan was never one for pleasantries.
Noreen replied just as decisively, “Alright! Send me your flight details and I’ll be there to pick you up on time.”
That afternoon, Sophia messaged Noreen at work: a package had arrived for her.
On a break, Noreen stopped by Aurelion Group to pick it up. When she opened the box, she realized it was the dress she’d ordered weeks ago.
The one she’d meant for the company’s celebration dinner.
Back when she placed the order, she’d been full of hope–convinced that by now, she would have already proposed to Seth. She imagined everyone at the office would know who she was by then, so she hadn’t hidden á thing: she’d ordered matching outfits for her and Seth, wanting the whole world to see their love.
Just as Seth had always wanted to show everyone how much he favored Bianca.
But now, there was no way she’d ever wear that dress.
Noreen had barely finished steaming the gown when Seth called, asking her to pick up a dress from ‘Myriad Atelier‘ for him.
On the way there, Noreen couldn’t shake her confusion. She’d always been the one arranging Seth’s suits for business events and galas. Why was he suddenly ordering formalwear himself?
When she finally saw the order, the answer hit her hard.
It was a woman’s dress.
But it wasn’t her size.
She didn’t even need to check–the dress was custom–made for Bianca,
Worse, the order date was earlier than when she’d placed hers. Which
Chapter 52
meant, while she’d been dreaming about proposing to Seth, he’d already been planning a special outfit for someone else.
The truth was almost laughable.
Despite all the times she’d tried to numb herself, this discovery sent a
sharp, stinging pain straight through her chest. Breathing felt impossible. She told herself it would pass.
It would all pass.
Once she left Seth, everything would get better.
Noreen hung up her own dress, printed another copy of her resignation letter, and dropped it off on Seth’s desk–just as the workday ended.
For the second time that week, she left the office right on time.
Sophia had apparently gotten used to this; she was no longer surprised the way she’d been before. When she saw Noreen reapplying her lipstick before clocking out, she couldn’t help but ask, “Noreen, got a date tonight?”
“Something like that,” Noreen said, gathering her things. She said goodbye to Sophia and walked out the door on the dot.
Sophia still had work to finish, so she stayed behind to put in some overtime.
Halfway through, Seth’s extension rang. “Where’s Secretary Gilmore?”
“She’s already left for the day,” Sophia replied.
“She left again?” Seth sounded genuinely surprised.
“That’s right.” Sophia picked up on the note of confusion in his voice.
It was understandable. The old Noreen rarely left on time–especially not if Seth was still in the building. Thıs text ıs hosted at
After a brief silence, Seth hung up.
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Sophia couldn’t see Seth’s face, but his tone made it clear he was unsettled. Noreen used to answer his every call, anticipate his every need. Lately, though, something in her had shifted, and the change left Seth inexplicably on edge.
Just then, Bianca strode into his office without knocking, beaming as she spoke. “Seth, how much longer are you working?“,
“Almost done. Just a few more documents to sign.”
“I’ll wait, then. Let’s get dinner together.”
Seth turned back to his paperwork, but as he reached the last folder, his hand froze.
A resignation letter.
Another one.
Her second this month.
Was she still mad at him?