Chapter 871

Noreen told her, “You’re definitely drunk.”

Claire refused to admit it. “I’m not drunk! That guy just looks like a stray puppy, just like I was when I was a kid.”

Noreen felt a lump in her throat. She squeezed Claire’s hand. “I’ll always want you.”

Claire’s heart melted completely.

She cast a sympathetic glance at the ‘stray puppy’ across the street, then frowned. “Why does that puppy look exactly like Seth?”

Only then did Noreen look across the street.

It was unmistakably Seth.

The road wasn’t wide, giving Noreen a clear view of his face—and the fresh bruises marring it.

They hadn’t seen each other in over ten days. She never expected their paths to cross like this.

She wanted to ignore him. In the past, she absolutely would have.

But from this angle, the scene eerily mirrored that day in Harborview City when he recklessly rammed his car into Brianna’s to protect her.

Her conscience won out.

Once the car was parked, she turned to Claire. “Wait for me in the car for a minute.”

She stepped out and walked straight toward Seth.

Seth hadn’t expected her to notice him, let alone that her first reaction wouldn’t be to ignore him, but to approach him.

In the few steps it took her to reach him, a million possibilities raced through his mind.

Ultimately, his chest tightened. He assumed she was coming over to tell him to get lost.

The truth was, ever since returning from Harborview City, he had come to sit outside her apartment building every single day.

Sometimes during the day. Sometimes at night. Sometimes, he’d sit there until dawn.

If he was lucky, he’d catch a distant glimpse of her.

On bad days, he wouldn’t see her for three days straight.

Tonight, after getting into a brawl with Healy, he wanted to see her more desperately than ever. That was why he was here.

He hadn’t expected to actually see her; he just felt that being near her was the only way to anchor his restless heart.

As Noreen drew closer, Seth slowly stood up and took a step back.

He had just been smoking, and the scent of tobacco clung to him. He didn’t want to bother her with the smell.

Noreen noticed a pile of cigarette butts discarded on top of the nearby trash can most likely all his doing

She frowned, about to speak.

But Seth beat her to it.

His voice was heavy, sounding as

thent

boulder were crushing his were

I know you don’t want t

“I

me’ll leave right now

With that, he turned to walk away.

Noreen called out to him. “Wait.”

see

Seth froze. When he turned back around, his entire body was rigid.

His heart hammered nervously against his ribs.

Noreen asked, “How did you get those bruises on your face?”

Seth pressed his lips into a tight line. After a few seconds, he replied, “I got into a fight.”

Her beautiful brow furrowed. “How old are you? You’re still getting into fistfights? Over what?”

He wanted to say it was because of her.

But he knew she wanted absolutely do with him so he

noth

swallowed her name and changed his answer. “A woman.”

The answer caught Noreen slightly off guard.

But the surprise vanished in a flash.

She simply kept her tone level. “If you’re hurt, go to the hospital. What are you doing hanging around here?”

“I know,” he replied, as submissive as ever. “I’ll go right now.”

Noreen’s gaze swept the road behind him. Hers was the only car in sight.

If Seth was going to the hospital, he’d have to walk all the way out to the main road

to hail a cab.

It was getting very late.

She hesitated for a moment before saying, “Get in my car. I’ll take you to the hospital. It’ll be faster.”

“Okay.”

Noreen told Claire to head inside first, saying she had something to take care of.

Claire eyed Seth warily. Unwilling to leave her alone with him, she declared, “I’m going with you.”

“You’re drunk. Wouldn’t you rather just go upstairs and sleep?” Noreen asked.