Chapter 934

They wisely let the topic drop.

Whether out of joy or something far more complicated, Noreen drank heavily that night.

After the dinner concluded, Sophia Cole saw the guests off. When she returned, she found Noreen polishing off the last of the wine.

“Ms. Gilmore, why did you drink so much?” Sophia asked, her voice laced with concern.

“I’m happy today,” Noreen replied, her cheeks painted a soft, alluring pink by the alcohol.

Assuming she was just thrilled about Eastvale’s successful IPO, Sophia gently chided, “You still shouldn’t overdo it.”

She gathered Noreen’s coat and purse, supporting her as they walked out of the private room.

“It’s raining outside. Put this on first. The temperature dropped significantly over the last two days,” Sophia murmured, draping a luxurious cashmere coat over Noreen’s shoulders.

Noreen’s steps were slightly uncoordinated, a pleasant, weightless sensation washing over her.

“Is he not coming to pick me up today?” Noreen slurred slightly, looking at Sophia.

Sophia blinked, momentarily lost. “Who?”

“Who else? Your cooking master, obviously.”

Sophia was speechless.

Her boss really had a sense of humor.

But speak of the devil.

Seth walked in from the cold, carrying the chill of the rain with him.

The massive crystal chandelier fractured the light, spilling a cinematic glow over his broad shoulders and accentuating his effortless elegance.

He walked straight toward Noreen, naturally taking over from Sophia as he bent down and swept her into his arms.

Noreen’s long, silky hair cascaded down, the dark strands tangling over his arm in quiet intimacy.

She tilted her head, gazing up at him.

The dimly lit, chaotic atmosphere of the lobby perfectly suited the striking angles of his face.

Seth looked down at her, a faint smile warming his dark eyes. “What are you looking at?”

Noreen didn’t answer. Instead, she reached up, her fingertips tracing the strong, sharp ridge of his brow bone.

His prominent brow made his eyes look incredibly deep.

They were the kind of eyes that could look at a brick wall with devastating devotion.

“Are you drunk?” Seth asked, catching the faint, sweet scent of alcohol on her breath.

Noreen shook her head adamantly. “I’m not. You know me, my tolerance is amazing.”

Seth let out a low chuckle. “Looks like you had quite a bit.”

It was always the drunk ones who swore they were perfectly sober.

Noreen hummed softly. “If I wasn’t drunk, how would you get the chance to pick me up?”

His throat tightened instantly. “So, you got drunk on purpose just to give me an opening?”

She buried her face against his chest, denying it immediately. “Did not.”

“Alright, alright, you didn’t.”

He carefully placed her in the passenger seat of his car.

Once she was settled, he handed her the thermos of warm lemonade he had brought along.

Noreen took one sip and her delicate brows scrunched together. “It’s so sour.”

“That’s impossible,” Seth replied instinctively.

He had made this exact lemonade countless times. He knew the measurements purely by muscle memory, effortlessly blending ter perfect ratio of sweet to tart without even needing to taste it.

So when she called it sour, he immediately doubted it.

“It is,” Noreen insisted confidently. “Taste it if you don’t believe me.”

Confused, Seth took a sip.

It wasn’t sour at all.

Noreen’s eyes sparkled as she watched him. “Sour?”

“No,” he answered honestly.

“Then why did it taste so sour to me?”

Seth was just beginning to wonder if she was sleep-talking when Noreen leaned in closer.

“Maybe it’s just my mouth that’s

sour she murmured, her voice dropping a fraction. Do you want a taste?”

MS

His throat tightened painfully this time. He narrowed his eyes, studying her face.

In the clear reflection of his dark pupils, Noreen could see her own flushed cheeks.

“Are you fishing?” he asked, his voice rough.

“Are you taking the bait?”

“I am.”

Even if she didn’t cast a line, even if there was no hook to be found.

He would gladly dive straight into her trap.

She met his gaze head-on.

His eyes were like twin black

whirlpools, threatening to dragnet

under and never let her face Gontent