Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 1134

Watching the crowd shower Noreen with praise, Gia felt the bright smile on Noreen's face was unbearably blinding.

...

The lighting in the private room was dim and seductive, the music blending with laughter, the air sweet with the scent of champagne and buttercream.

Dylan was surrounded by a circle of friends, but the birthday boy seemed entirely distracted.

His gaze kept drifting past the crowd, subtly landing on Noreen again and again.

Noreen wasn't looking at him. She was entirely focused on chatting with Claire and Jennifer, occasionally nibbling on the snacks Seth handed her.

When Dylan glanced over once more, he was met with Seth's warning glare.

After that, whenever Dylan's eyes drifted in their direction, Seth would seamlessly shift half a step forward.

He would adjust his cuff.

Or lean over to grab a napkin.

His movements were flawlessly natural, looking like casual shifts in posture.

But they perfectly blocked Dylan's view of Noreen every single time.

Noreen saw it all.

She nearly burst out laughing.

She found him incredibly childish.

After all these years, his jealousy over Dylan hadn't faded in the slightest.

She deliberately chewed her cake slowly, glancing up just in time to meet Seth's lowered gaze.

His expression was completely neutral as he solicitously asked, "Would you like another slice?"

Noreen shook her head, but under the table, she lightly bumped her knee against his.

It was half a warning, half an indulgent tease.

Seth's eyes darkened, the corner of his mouth tipping up a fraction of an inch.

On the other side of the room, Dylan finally pulled his gaze away and took a slow sip of his drink.

He felt a deep sense of melancholy.

Even though Noreen had rejected him, he still clung to a sliver of hope.

He felt that as long as she didn't publicly announce her relationship with Seth, as long as she was still hesitating, he had a chance.

Even if that chance was infinitesimally small, he wanted to try his hardest.

What if?

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