<b>Chapter </b><b>260 </b>


    Noreen instinctively dodged to the side, worried the steaming mug might burn him.


    But the sudden movement made the hot water slosh out, sshing all over the back of her own hand. <fnddf7> ?????? ???? </fnddf7>


    She gasped at the sting, but still managed to grab the little troublemaker with her free hand, stopping him from crashing straight into a flowerpot.


    Even so, the boy tumbled to the floor and immediately started wailing at the top of his lungs.


    His mother came rushing out, saw her son bawling, then spotted Noreen gripping his cor. Her expression twisted. She rounded on Noreen, shouting, “What kind of grown woman bullies a child? You look respectable, but you’ve got no shame at all!”


    The sudden outburst left Noreen momentarily stunned, not least because her hand was still burning and she hadn’t processed what just happened.


    By the time she was ready to snap back, a familiar, icy voice cut through themotion. “It’s bad enough you’re ugly, but are you blind too? Use your brain for once–can’t you see she just saved your son’s neck?<b>” </b>


    The woman was caught off guard by the man’s blunt words and stood there, speechless.


    Seth ignored the ranting mother and strode over to Noreen, taking her wrist to examine where the hot water had burned her skin.


    Noreen’s mind spun. What on earth was Seth doing? Was he actually standing up for her? Did she need him interfering?


    “It’s a nasty burn. We’re going to the hospital,” Seth said after inspecting her hand, his tone colder than before–amand, not a suggestion.


    Noreen yanked her hand free, her voice frosty. “I don’t need your help.”


    Seeing Seth and Noreen weren’t on the same side, the woman’s bravado returned instantly. “My son was just walking along, and if you hadn’t grabbed his cor, he wouldn’t have fallen!”


    With his mother backing him up, the boy’s crying grew even louder, his shrieks echoing across the entire restaurant lobby.


    “Enough!”


    “Enough!”


    The shout came from both Seth and Noreen at once, their voices slicing through the chaos.


    Startled, the boy actually fell silent.


    Noreen ignored Seth and faced the hysterical mother directly. “Your son ran into me without looking. My mug had hot water in it. I pulled back so he wouldn’t get burned–and ended up burning myself. I grabbed his cor to stop him from crashing into that vase.”


    “Oh, so you say, and I’m just supposed to believe you?” the woman sneered, clearly unreasonable–no wonder her son was such a handful.


    15:07


    Noreen’s patience snapped. “Fine. Let’s check the security cameras. And by the way, my hand got burned because of your son. As his guardian, you’re fully responsible.”


    The woman looked uneasy but refused to back down. “Check the tapes? Go ahead! I’m not scared of you!”


    Just then her husband appeared, and she immediately ran to him toin. “Honey, they’re picking on our boy–aren’t you going to do something?”


    The man took one look and his expression changed. He addressed Seth carefully, “Mr. Harcourt, I’m <b>so </b>sorry. My son didn’t know any better–I apologize.”


    “To me?” Seth’s gaze was cial.


    Realizing his mistake, the man quickly turned to Noreen, offering a sincere apology. He even told his wife and son to apologize as well, promising to cover all medical expenses. The arrogance from moments before hadpletely vanished.


    Clearly, this family needed something from Seth, which exined the sudden humility.


    Noreen didn’t want to argue with a child. “Forget it,” she said quietly.


    Seth spoke sharply to the man. “Send the medical expenses to me. And next time, try actually raising your kid instead of waiting for someone else to do it.”


    Not caring how the man’s face fell, Seth took Noreen by the arm and started leading her out of the restaurant.


    “What do you think you’re doing? Let go of me!”