Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 330

Obsession is punishing yourself; letting go is the only way to make peace within.

Healy was so floored by Noreen’s unwavering composure that he could barely hide his growing admiration—and a flicker of something more.

Thankfully, Noreen didn’t notice.

He quickly caught up to her, and just as she was about to sit down, Healy slid out her chair with impeccable manners.

Bianca, sitting nearby, took in the entire scene.

Suddenly, the gourmet foie gras on her plate tasted bland and forgettable.

Noreen had been on her feet all day and was genuinely starving.

When Healy told her to order whatever she liked, she didn’t hold back, picking out several of her favorite dishes.

Healy found her honesty utterly refreshing.

He couldn’t help wondering what had been wrong with him before.

Why had he ever thought Noreen was shallow or fake?

Thinking back, he realized: the old Noreen had revolved entirely around Seth, catering to his every whim and losing herself in the process.

As Jude once put it, she was a hopelessly loyal puppy.

Even if the world ended, she would never have left Seth.

But the world hadn’t ended. Instead, Noreen and Seth had gone their separate ways.

It was the middle of dinner rush, and the restaurant buzzed with customers.

Next to them sat a young family: a mother, a father, and their little girl. After her mom had fed her, the girl hopped down from her seat and wandered in circles around their table.

At one point, she paused beside Noreen, then leaned in for a spontaneous hug. “You’re so pretty, miss!”

Her mom called out, “Beatty, don’t bother the lady while she’s eating. Come back here, sweetheart.”

Noreen grinned and waved it off. “It’s fine, really.”

She couldn’t resist gently tousling the little girl’s hair, her voice softening. “You’re beautiful too, darling.”

“But you’re even prettier,” the girl insisted.

Noreen’s heart just melted. She couldn’t help but smile, her whole expression turning warm and gentle. “Would you like some pudding? This caramel custard is delicious.”

The girl’s eyes lit up. “Yes, please!”

“Shall I feed you a bite?”

She’d believed him, and felt a pang of disappointment for a long time.

She’d even tried to console herself: if he didn’t want children, then they simply wouldn’t have any.

So for seven years, they’d been careful. Meticulous, even.

Whenever they forgot, Seth would always pull away at the last moment.

Even if it left him frustrated, he’d rather take a cold shower than risk it.

The only time she got pregnant was after he’d had too much to drink.

The very next day, they had to catch a string of flights overseas—twenty-plus hours of layovers, landing straight into high-pressure negotiations.

Afterward, Noreen was so exhausted she crashed the moment they got back. She completely forgot about being careful.

That’s how she ended up with an unexpected pregnancy—and an equally unexpected loss.

Looking back now, Noreen realized just how naïve she’d been.

It wasn’t that Seth didn’t like kids.

He just didn’t want to have children with her.