The man paused, looking at her cold, impassive face.
The air seemed to congeal into a stagnant pool of silence.
After their eyes met for a few seconds, Noreen looked away and walked straight down the steps, brushing past Seth.
A few restless gusts of wind swept by.
Noreen got into her car and left.
Seth stood there a moment longer before rigidly turning his eyes away.
Once in the car, Noreen called Wade Harcourt to ask about his car accident.
Wade explained that he had something to take care of that day and had postponed his hospital check-up. He'd only sent his driver to pick up his medication, which was how he had unexpectedly avoided the crash.
Noreen let out a sigh of relief.
It was truly a blessing in disguise.
The two chatted for a bit longer.
Wade was mainly asking if she had set a date for the IPO bell-ringing ceremony.
Noreen said she had. "Next Wednesday."
Wade did the math. "Isn't that your birthday?"
Noreen was surprised that Wade remembered her birthday.
"I chose that day on purpose," Noreen admitted.
Wade thought it was a meaningful choice and asked, "So, what are your birthday wishes this year?"
The question actually stumped Noreen.
Birthday wishes…
For the past seven years, she had made the same two wishes every year.
She wished for her mother to live a long, healthy life.
And she wished for Seth to get everything he ever wanted.
It was the same, year after year.
This year, it was finally time for a change.
This year, she would wish for her own desires to be fulfilled.
Noreen thought to herself.


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