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 . 1/3 11:54 Chapter 3 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 ! " Noreen's heart skipped . That was the position Seth had promised her . She'd given years of her life to Aurelion Group , and everyone knew it . By company standards , she should have been promoted to director long ago , running her own projects . But Seth had insisted he couldn't do without her as his secretary , said no one else could replace her . He'd always promised the director's chair would be waiting for her . Once Aurelion Group went public , he'd hand her the promotion himself . " Really ? " Noreen tried to sound casual , though her eyelid twitched with anxiety . " Do you know her name ? " " Something like Bi … Bi … ca ? " Sophia confessed , squinting as if she could read the name off her memory . " Didn't catch the rest . " Noreen's hand trembled . The mug slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor , hot water splashing everywhere . Sophia jumped . " Noreen ! Are you burned ? " " No. " The water wasn't hot , but somehow it left her feeling more scalded than boiling water ever could . " Bianca Lowell , " she said quietly . Sophia looked confused . " What ? " 213 11:54 Chapter 3 Noreen took a steadying breath . " Her name is Bianca . She's about to be appointed as Director of Investment Division III . " " That's it ! That's the name ! Noreen , do you know her ? " " No. " She picked up her mug and went to refill it . News of the parachute hire spread through the company like wildfire . People kept coming to Noreen for confirmation until her patience finally snapped . " If you're all so curious , " she said , her tone sharper than usual , " why not just ask Mr. Harcourt yourselves ? " Her words had barely faded when the entire executive office fell silent . Then a woman's soft voice broke the hush . " Seth , your employees seem to have quite the temper . " Noreen turned toward the voice and felt the sting of seeing them - standing side by side , an inseparable pair . After days apart , Seth barely spared Noreen a glance , his expression cool as he introduced the woman at his side . " Everyone , I'd like you to meet our new Director of Investment Division III , Ms. Lowell . From now on , she'll be taking charge of Division III's projects . " 212