<b>Chapter </b><b>261 </b>


    Seth insisted on taking her to the hospital.


    Noreen let out a sharp gasp. “Seth, you’re hurting me!”


    He immediately panicked and let go.


    She quickly stepped back, putting a safe distance between them, rubbing her reddened wrist. Her expression was cold, her voice dripping with the same biting sarcasm he used to wield so easily.


    “Since when did you get so nosy? If you’re that desperate to help someone, why don’t you go check on your precious sweetheart instead?”


    Noreen tore her gaze away, refusing to waste another second on him.


    Her hand throbbed painfully–it was clear she’d need a doctor to take care of the burn.


    She raised her arm to g down a cab, not sparing another thought for the man whose mood could turn on a dime.


    Seth pulled out his phone and called Zachary. “Bring the car around and drive Noreen to the hospital.” If she didn’t want to go with him, fine. Zachary could take her. As long as she got her injury treated quickly.


    But before Zachary could arrive, a red sedan pulled up to the curb.


    Padgett Novak rolled down the window and called out, “Miss Gilmore, where are you headed? Need a ride?”


    Normally, Noreen wouldn’t have epted a favor from Padgett Novak. But right now, she just wanted to get away from her vtile ex as fast as possible. She slipped into the passenger seat without hesitation.


    “Would you mind taking me to the hospital?”


    Padgett smiled, happy to help.


    When he heard where she needed to go, concern flickered across his face. “What happened? Are you sick?”


    “I burned my hand,” she replied.


    Without wasting another moment, Padgett drove straight to the hospital, anxious to get her there as quickly as possible..


    Seth stayed where he was, watching in silent torment as she got into Padgett Novak’s car. Even after the taillights disappeared down the street, he couldn’t tear his gaze away. His eyes narrowed, dark and stormy, emotion flickering beneath the surface. It felt like a giant hand was squeezing his heart, leaving him breathless and aching.


    When Zachary finally arrived and didn’t see Noreen, he asked, “Where’s Miss Gilmore?”


    Seth’s jaw tightened. “She left with someone else.”


    <b>15:07 </b>


    Zachary fell silent, not daring to say a word.


    Noreen’s burn turned out to be mild. After the doctor cleaned and dressed the wound, she received a prescription for burn ointment and antibiotics.


    Padgett stayed with her the whole time. <fn1182> Chapters first released on find?novel</fn1182>


    Even when Noreen told him she could manage on her own, he didn’t budge.


    When they left the hospital, Padgett insisted on driving her to her office.


    Noreen offered to buy him dinner as a thank–you.


    Padgett grinned. “I’m free tonight.”


    “Then let’s do tonight,” Noreen agreed easily.


    “I’ll pick you up after work,” he said. “Since your hand’s injured.”


    “Alright. See youter.”


    At the stroke of five, Padgett called to say he was already outside her office.


    For once, Noreen didn’t have to workte. She clocked out on time, nning to return the jacket Padgett had loaned her the other day.


    As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she spotted him waiting beneath the covered entrance, holding a ck umbre.


    It was the rainy season in Rivercrest City–the sun hadn’t broken through in over ten days, and the air was heavy and damp.


    “Why aren’t you waiting in the car?” Noreen noticed that his jacket was speckled with raindrops. “I was worried you might not have an umbre,” he replied. “This way, I can walk you out.”


    As he spoke, he shifted the umbre to cover her, letting his own shoulder get wet.


    Noreen edged closer, worried he’d get soaked.


    They walked side by side under the same umbre to the temporary parking area, where Padgett’s car was waiting.


    Noreen had already made a reservation for dinner and gave him the address once they were inside. Padgett handed her his unlocked phone. “Can you pull up the directions? My hands are a bit full.”


    “Sure.” Noreen tapped open the navigation app.


    Just as she finished, a call came in.


    The name on the screen was familiar–Henry.


    Could this be the Mr. Brooke that Matthew Cole wanted to introduce to her?


    It wasn’t amonst name; the odds of two Henry Brookes were slim. Still, Noreen wasn’t entirely


    sure.


    Padgett nced at the dashboard screen, saw the iing call, and pressed the button to answer


    15:07


    <b>παρισι </b>ενι


    through the car’s speakers–so Noreen could hear as well.