<b>Chapter </b><b>225 </b>


    Noreen had been busy until well past ten, and exhaustion was setting in as she got ready for bed.


    That’s when she found two fat, red envelopes tucked beneath her pillow–Rosalind’s doing, no doubt,


    For as long as she could remember, every Christmas and birthday, Rosalind would give her two festive envelopes.


    Once, Noreen had asked her, Why two?


    Rosalind had answered, “Because every other kid gets two. So should you.”


    Noreen understood. Her mother was showing her, in the most tangible way, that whatever fatherly love shecked, Rosalind would make up for it–double.


    So even though she grew up in a single–parent home, Noreen never felt she was missing out. She never felt lesser because of her family background.


    After all, she had the best mom in the world.


    Still hugging the envelopes to her chest and smiling, Noreen’s phone buzzed.


    She didn’t even have to check to know who it was.


    Opening WhatsApp, she found a message from Wade–a holiday money transfer, same as every year, right on the dot.


    But this time, Noreen hesitated. Things were different now. She and Seth had broken up; it didn’t feel right to ept this gift anymore.


    She replied with a simple, “Peace and joy to you.”


    In the past, he hardly ever replied. But tonight, surprisingly, he did: “Peace and joy.”


    Then, as always, he reminded her not to forget to ept the gift.


    “Mr. Harcourt, Seth and I have broken up,” she replied, making it clear she no longer had any reason


    or standing to ept.


    Wade’s response was brisk: “What does that have to do with me giving you a gift? If you still wish to call me Mr. Harcourt, take it. If not, then don’t.”


    After that, Noreen didn’t dare hesitate. She epted the gift.


    She added a word of thanks. Thank you, Mr. Harcourt.


    At midnight, fireworks outside burst into raucous celebration.


    Noreen found the noise overwhelming, so she put on her headphones, blocking out the chaos, and finally drifted off to a peaceful sleep.


    The next morning, Rosalind asked if she’d seen the fireworks at midnight.


    “No, I watched a show around nine. Didn’t see the point in a second round,” Noreen said, shrugging. “Fireworks are all the same. See one, you’ve seen them all.”


    13:01


    Rosalind sounded almost wistful. “Mrs. Laurent from downstairs said the midnight show was spectacr. It went on for ages–she even sent me photos. Look, there were words in the sky and everything.”


    Noreen humored her, taking a nce.


    In the photo, fireworks blossomed across the night sky, and at the center, four bright letters stood out: Peace and Joy.


    For a moment, Noreen’s hand stilled over her breakfast egg.


    “See? Not like the usual ones. It’s a shame you missed it,” Rosalind said.


    Noreen collected herself and just smiled. “If I missed it, I missed it. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be–no use regretting it.”


    Rosalind studied her, hesitating before finally asking, “Noreen… have you been alrighttely?”


    “I’m fine,” Noreen replied, puzzled by the sudden question.


    “Would you–would you tell me what happened between you and Seth?”


    Rosalind had been holding this question in for a long time, afraid to upset her daughter, afraid to dig up old wounds. So she’d kept silent, carrying it around in her heart.


    Noreen was stunned. “When did you find out?”


    “When I was leaving the hospital, I saw him with another girl. I guessed it then. Later, when he came to see me, I asked directly. He admitted it.”


    So she’d known all along.


    But she’d never brought it up, probably out of fear of hurting Noreen’s feelings.


    In that moment, Noreen realized just how simr they were–both willing to hide their pain, just to spare each other. <fn9bff> For more chapters visit find(?)ovel</fn9bff>