Chapter 919
Claire took her role extremely seriously, practically attaching herself to Noreen’s hip to ensure Seth never had another opening to exploit.
After a full week of relentless guard duty, she hadn’t seen a single trace of him.
She finally felt secure.
While munching on some pastries Sophia Cole had brought in, she complained to Noreen, who was busy working on her laptop. “At least he knows his place. Good thing he hasn’t tried to bother you again.”
Noreen’s gaze drifted half an inch away from her screen, landing on the pastry in Claire’s hand. She looked like she desperately wanted to say something.
But seeing the look of absolute, blissful satisfaction on Claire’s face, Noreen swallowed her words entirely.
That afternoon, Sophia brought in some dessert soups.
Claire patted her blissfully full stomach and praised Sophia to the heavens. “Your assistant is absolutely phenomenal! Right when I started feeling a little peckish, she brought snacks. Right when I was getting thirsty, she brought soup. She is literally reading my mind!”
Claire took a massive gulp of her ice-cold coconut milk, groaning in sheer satisfaction. “This weather absolutely demands a freezing cold drink! Hits the spot perfectly!”
Noreen’s fingers tightened around her own cup.
Hers was piping hot.
She craved an iced drink too.
Sophia, cool and collected as always, gently reminded her, “Dr. Wynne said drinking cold beverages will severely aggravate your cramps.”
Noreen was utterly speechless.
She silently averted her gaze and went back to obediently sipping her hot drink.
That evening, Claire accompanied Noreen to a business dinner.
It was hosted by Mr. Naylor from Eastvale Corporation.
Noreen knew Claire absolutely despised these corporate dinners because the conversations were just endless jargon she couldn’t care less about.
Worried Claire would be bored to tears, Noreen had urged her to stay home. Claire refused instantly. “Absolutely not! What if Seth uses this as an excuse to ambush you? I have to keep my eyes glued to you twenty-four-seven!”
“Do you really hate him that much?” Noreen asked tentatively, masking her own guilt.
Claire practically snarled, “He is my mortal enemy! What do you think?”
Noreen didn’t dare say another word.
She didn’t even dare look Claire in the eye.
The moment Claire arrived at the dinner, her eyes locked onto the entrance like a hawk.
Every time a new person walked in, she scanned them up and down like a human metal detector.
Only when the entire guest list had arrived and she confirmed Seth was nowhere in sight did she finally relax her tense shoulders.
As the appetizers were served, a waiter specifically brought a bowl of Specialty Yogurt straight to Noreen.
Noreen quickly explained that she hadn’t ordered it.
The waiter blinked innocently and replied, “Our boss asked us to bring this to you.”
Claire, sitting right next to her, immediately demanded, “Why didn’t I get one?”
The waiter froze, completely panicked and unsure how to explain.
Claire immediately burst into laughter. “I’m just kidding! Relax.”
Noreen split the yogurt into two portions, handing half to Claire.
“Eating yogurt before drinking ei
alcohol coats your stomach lining and slows down alcohol absorption.”
That was a trick Seth had taught her.
Back when she first started attending these corporate dinners, she was completely clueless and inexperienced.
But Seth would always prepare a small container of yogurt for her beforehand, explaining that having it before drinking would drastically minimize the damage alcohol did to
an empty stomach.
Naturally, he always had a bottle of warm lemon water waiting for her the moment the dinner ended, too.
Because of him, her stomach had remained perfectly healthy during those early years.
The problems only started in their seventh year together.
That year, Seth had shifted his entire focus to the overseas market.
Noreen had been left to manage eighty percent of the company’s domestic operations in Rivercrest City by herself.
She grew impossibly busy, and her mandatory corporate dinners quadrupled.
She barely had time to eat a proper meal, let alone remember to prep yogurt and lemon water.
By the time she finally realized her stomach was actively deteriorating, the damage was already done.
Business dinners were undeniably agonizingly boring for someone like Claire.
So, she made an excuse to step out,
1.n
telling Noreen to call her when things wrapped up and happily
leaned against the wall outside to Scroll through short videos.
The second she unlocked her phone, a notification popped up. Iron Fist, an
influencer she followed, had just posted a new video.
She practically smashed the screen trying to click it fast enough.