Chapter 918
Even though Seth had always known his place in Noreen’s heart was lightyears behind Claire’s, actually hearing her take her friend’s side still stung with a
frustrating sense of grievance. “I’m just worried about you. I can’t think straight when it comes to your health.”
Hearing the slight hurt in his voice, Noreen’s resolve crumbled instantly. “I didn’t mean it like that…”
Claire stood on the sidelines, taking in the entire display with absolute crystal clarity. She ground her teeth together, hating Seth with a fiery passion.
This despicable bastard! Where the hell did he learn to act so pitifully manipulative?!
He was playing the victim flawlessly!
Still, prioritizing Noreen’s health over her own pride, Claire resigned herself to washing her hands and aggressively spraying herself with disinfectant.
The moment she was finished, she marched right back into the living room to reclaim her territory. “Alright, I’m clean. You can get the hell out now!”
Seth calmly cleaned up the remaining Durian from the table, his tone perfectly flat, yet laced with biting sarcasm. “Did you take a spaceship here? You made excellent time.”
“That’s because I was in Creston City!”
Creston City was barely an hour’s drive from Rivercrest City.
No wonder she had arrived so quickly.
Seth had fully anticipated that Claire’s arrival would result in his immediate eviction.
He just hadn’t expected her to show up so soon.
He was deeply frustrated, but he had no choice but to accept his fate.
“Let me check your temperature one last time. If the fever is gone, I’ll leave.”
He grabbed the ear thermometer and carefully checked Noreen’s temperature.
As the pad of his finger brushed against the shell of her ear, the heat that had just faded from her cheeks violently flared up all over again.
Ninety-nine point one.
She was perfectly fine.
The heavy anxiety gripping Seth’s chest finally dissipated. He asked her softly, “What about your head? Does it still hurt?”
Noreen shook her head. “Much better.”
“Your stomach?”
“Doesn’t hurt either.”
Part of him selfishly wished she would recover just a little slower, just so he could have an excuse to stay and dote on her.
But the rational part of him desperately wanted her to heal as fast as humanly possible.
He couldn’t stand the thought of her suffering for a single second longer.
He packed up the medical kit, grabbed his coat draped over the dining chair, and looked back at Noreen. “I’m leaving.”
Noreen gave a soft “Mhm” without meeting his eyes.
Seth let himself out.
Once the two women were completely alone in the apartment, Claire finally spoke, completely dumbfounded. “He actually just lett? Just like that?
She had fully braced herself for a screaming match to get him out the door.
Even Noreen was a little surprised.
She
relatt want to dwell on anything
Seth, so she quickly
l.ne
redirected the conversation, “Have
you had dinner yet?
“No.”
She had been in such a frantic rush to come back and play bouncer that she hadn’t
even thought about food.
“There should still be some leftovers in the kitchen.”
Claire was genuinely starving at this point, so she darted into the kitchen.
Seconds later, she poked her head out and stared at Noreen.
“Honey, did that jerk Seth make all this?”
Noreen nodded. “Yeah.”
Claire happily shoveled food into her mouth while shouting to Noreen in the living room This bastard is actually a tenfyingly good cook. The sweet soup is amazing, and ev the side dishes are completely on point.”
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“You don’t think he just ordered takeout from a five-star restaurant and pretended he made it, do you?”
Claire was fiercely suspicious.
After all, in her eyes, Seth had always been nothing more than a scheming, manipulative jerk.
“He’s actually pretty good in the kitchen,” Noreen offered an objective defense.
Claire violently poked her head out again. “Are you falling for his traps again?!” Noreen let out a distinctly unnatural cough. “No.”
“Do not let him fool you!”
Noreen turned her head away, her tongue unconsciously darting out to wet her lips. She lied through her teeth, “I’m not.”
“Good.” Claire finally relaxed and went back to violently devouring her dinner.
Later that night, Claire made sure Noreen soaked her feet in warm water and aggressively reminded her to go to bed early.
Noreen dutifully agreed.
But after saying goodnight to Claire, she didn’t lie down right away.
She waited until her phone buzzed softly on the nightstand with an incoming text.
“I’m home.”
It was an unsaved number, but she knew exactly who it was.
She didn’t reply to the message, but an inexplicable sense of peace settled heavily over her heart.