Chapter b303 /b

After dinner, Padgett Novak drove Noreen home.

Ordinarily, she’d have invited him upstairs for a drink, maybe some coffee. But Noreen worried that might send the wrong signal–give him the wrong idea. So she said goodbye at the entrance to her apartmentplex instead.

Padgett Novak was always the perfect gentleman about this. He never made her feel ufortable.

She watched his car pull away, then turned to head inside–only to be greeted by a sneering voice behind her.

“Quite the operator, aren’t you? Even Padgett Novak’s fallen for your act.”

Oh, for God’s sake. Why won’t he just stay gone?

Noreen took a deep breath before she turned around. She didn’t bother even ncing at Seth, just walked straight for the gate as if he were invisible.

But Seth, persistent as ever, caught up in two strides and grabbed her arm.

Noreen spun and pped him across the face. The crack echoed in the night air.

Seth’s head snapped to the side. He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, then gave a cold littleugh. “Did I hit a nerve? Is that why you’re so angry?i” /i

“No, I just thought I’d give you a lesson in manners on Mr. Harcourt’s behalf. Take your hand off me, or I’ll hit you again.”

Seth didn’t let go.

Before she could raise her hand a second time, he caught her wrist.

He stared at her with a chilling calm. “First it was Dn. Now it’s Padgett Novak. How many guys are you lining up to rece me, Noreen?”

Once, she might have tried to exin herself–insisted that she was innocent, that there was nothing going on with anyone.

Now, she couldn’t be bothered.

Like hell she’d exin anything. fncdee This content belongs to fι?dnοvel/fncdee

“I could date a hundred men, and it still wouldn’t have anything to do with you. Get that through your

thick skull.”

“And if I can’t?”

“Then go to hell!”

Noreen yanked her arm free and turned to leave.

Only then did Seth finally get to the point. “Evelyn asked me to bring you your medicine. It’s in my car–wait here, and I’ll get it.”

But by the time Seth returned, Noreen was long gone.

b15:41 /b

Wait for him? Not a chance.

She didn’t want to waste another second on him–not even to breathe the same air.

When Noreen got home, she was still fuming. The phone rang; it was Evelyn. Noreen forced herself to sound calm as she answered.

Evelyn asked if she’d gotten the medicine. She exined she’d gone to a lot of trouble to get it, that it would be good for Noreen’s health–a special herbal tonic, already brewed and carefully packed in pouches because she knew Noreen was always busy and didn’t have time to make it herself. She’d send more once she finished this batch.

“Evelyn, you really don’t have to go to all that trouble,” Noreen protested.

“It’s no trouble. You really need to take care of yourself. Dr. Wynne told me you’re not in great shape.”

Noreen’s heart skipped a beat. “What else did Dr. Wynne say?”

“Just that you need to rest and take care of yourself. Nothing imore/i.i” /i

Relieved, Noreen lied, “I got the medicine, Evelyn. Thank you.”

“Good. Please remember to take it on time, okay?” Evelyn urged.

Noreen promised she would.

After hanging up, most of her anger had drained away. She was just about to take a shower when someone knocked on her door.

She frowned, instantly knowing who it was.

Honestly, she didn’t want to answer. She’d moved, started over, all to leave the past behind. She’d fought so hard to get here–she wasn’t going to let anyone drag her back.

If Seth tried his old tricks, pounding on the door and trying to intimidate her, she wouldn’t hesitate–she’d call the police right then and there.

iNoreen /ipulled up the emergency number on her phone, finger poised to dial.

But this time, the hallway fell silent after just three knocks. No shouting. No threats. She checked through the peephole. The corridor was empty. Seth was already gone.

15:41