Noreen finally stopped walking.
After handing her the medicine, Seth had left without saying a single word.
He was so unfazed, so distant, that she almost didn't recognize him.
As soon as she got home, Noreen called Evelyn.
The moment Evelyn picked up, she asked if Noreen had received the medicine.
Noreen replied she’d just gotten it.
“Then Seth must’ve waited quite a while,” Evelyn murmured.
But Noreen had a reason for this call. She needed to make it clear to Evelyn: from now on, don’t let Seth deliver medicine to her anymore.
There was nothing left between them. No possibility, not even the faintest chance.
Carman always said that Noreen seemed so calm around Seth.
Noreen didn’t deny it.
But no one knew how much it had cost her to become that calm, how many tears she’d shed before she could face him without falling apart.
Only someone foolish would repeat that same mistake with him.
“Evelyn, please don’t ask him to bring me medicine anymore. I don’t want to have any contact with him outside of work.”
Evelyn went quiet for a long time before letting out a sigh. “Alright, I understand.”
“Maybe you could just give me the prescription? I can pick up the ingredients and make it myself.”
“That won’t work,” Evelyn replied gently. “Some of those herbs are nearly impossible to find. I had to ask friends in the countryside to get them for me.” She added, “Please, don’t feel like you’re troubling me. You know I never mind, and I’m much more experienced at preparing this sort of thing.”
She paused, then sighed again. “Noreen, I know you and Seth broke up, but does that mean you’re cutting me off too? Mr. Harcourt asks about you, you know. He never says much, but he cares—he’s always keeping an eye on your career…”
Noreen could draw a hard line with Seth, because she’d already done more than enough for him—there was nothing left to give.
The dates worked out, so she had Sophia rearrange her schedule to fit in a trip to the auction.
The auction took place on a Monday. As soon as Noreen wrapped up her meeting, she headed straight there.
The moment she stepped into the lobby, she spotted Seth.
She hadn’t been looking for him. Seth just had a way of standing out—whether it was his stature, his presence, or those striking looks, he was impossible to miss, even in a crowd.
He looked like he was waiting for someone.
Noreen was about to turn away and head into the auction room when Bianca arrived.
So, it was Bianca he’d been waiting for.
Noreen had been to plenty of auctions before, always as Seth’s proxy, which was how she’d gotten to know the auctioneer in the first place.
The auctioneer, not knowing she’d left Aurelion Group, assumed she was here on Seth’s behalf again and immediately escorted her to the VIP section.

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