Chapter: 241

Meeting Sean's gaze, Norah averted her eyes, unable to bear the intensity of the moment. "I got drunk last night. I hope you don't take it personally."

By now, Norah was really mortified. She didn't want to talk to Sean about what had happened the night before while they were still naked.

"I... I must attend to my duties. Sean, I implore you to depart upon dressing." Norah was eager for Sean to get out of there.

"We're both adults here. I don't mind indulging in a bit of casual fun," Sean remarked, his tone remarkably blasé.

"What if I do?" Norah looked up and shot back, incredulous.

Norah was looking quite stunning right now. In the early light, her face appeared to shine like a rose covered in dew.

Sean took a drag of his cigarette and said slowly, “And why? Last night was perhaps your first time, wasn't it? You never did it with Derek before?"

Norah's annoyance simmered. "That's none of your concern, Sean!"

Chuckling, Sean remarked, "Oh, but it is. Your first time was with me!" He had a deep, husky laugh that had a captivating charm.

With a resigned sigh, Norah covered herself protectively, her anger tinged with embarrassment. "Just leave!"

"You didn't sleep well last night. Trust me, take the day off." Sean remained undeterred, and he called Phillip instantly. “The hospital is not a cause for concern. Get plenty of rest. I'll get you some breakfast."

Sean put out his cigarette with his palm and tossed it into the garbage bin since he couldn't find an ashtray.

"Anything you want to say, you sure can say it after you rest." He got out of bed, donned his clothes and made his exit, leaving Norah alone with her thoughts. "Call me if you need anything."

As Norah watched the door seal shut, she crumpled onto the bed, feeling like a wilted flower drained of its last drop of dew. In her heart, she castigated herself for entangling with Sean.

Yesterday, she had aimed to keep her distance, but today's revelation of their intimacy complicated matters further. Norah couldn't fathom how they'd descended into this mess.

Gripping her phone from the bedside, she glimpsed several unread messages from the previous night.

Sean said in a text, "I like you! And I mean it! I'll be there soon."

It left her stunned as she held the phone. She'd expected radio silence, not an inundation of messages. At that moment, she couldn't discern if Sean's sentiments were genuine.

Overwhelmed, Norah couldn't confront this surge of emotion. She squeezed the phone tightly, admitting to herself that she harbored feelings for Sean, yet had never intended to pursue him.

Fresh from a failed marriage, she had no desire for another relationship.

Norah knew she didn't want to be with Sean. Though she couldn't decipher Sean's intentions, she resolved not to subject herself to love's wounds again.

“Joanna, you've been smashing it in training lately. You've got some real talent."

Joanna was drenched in perspiration from her exercise session. She wiped her perspiration with the towel that the coach had given her.

“Mission or no mission, talent's always handy. I'm just honing my self-defense skills," Joanna replied, realizing her vulnerability. She didn't want to be a liability to Norah.