Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 3

Jude's gossiping was relentless, the kind that never seemed to run out of steam.

Everyone else in the room kept egging him on, voices rising until the whole place felt like a rowdy tavern.-

Noreen couldn't make out what Seth was saying through the din; all she could focus on was the sharp, twisting pain in her stomach.

But the ache in her gut was nothing compared to the sharp, hollow agony in her chest.

October tenth.

The date burned in her mind—the day she'd landed in the ER with alcohol poisoning and lost the baby.

She'd clawed her way through hell alone, while he was off rekindling things with his golden girl.

"Miss Gilmore, are you all right? Are you feeling unwell?"

A passing waitress had stopped in her tracks, startled by the sight of Noreen crouched on the floor, face drained of all color.

Noreen asked her to call an ambulance.

By the time she was lying on the stretcher, drenched in cold sweat, Seth's name lit up her phone.

Any other day, no matter how tired or busy she was, she'd have answered his call in a heartbeat.

But today, the pain was overwhelming.

So overwhelming, in fact, that for once, she didn't care. She didn't want anything, not even Seth.

…

Noreen spent five days in the hospital with a severe case of gastritis.

The doctor said it was a consequence of the last time—she hadn't taken care of herself after the alcohol poisoning and miscarriage.

Throughout her stay, Seth never visited. Not a single text, not even a call.

Maybe she'd never mattered in his world—not really. She just hadn't realized it before.

Monday morning, Noreen returned to work. Her assistant, Sophia Cole, dragged her aside with an air of conspiracy. "Noreen, have you heard? We've got a new parachute hire coming to Aurelion Group! And it's a woman!"

"A parachute?" Noreen frowned, unconvinced.

Seth had always been strict about hiring from within. Even Noreen herself had started as an intern at the bottom of the ladder. There'd never been a precedent for outside hires—let alone parachuting someone straight into management.

But Sophia was adamant. "I swear, I saw Mr. Harcourt's signature on the offer letter myself! She's going to be Director of Investment Division III!"

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