<b>Chapter </b>318


    Jude didn’t seem the least bit disappointed. “Well, I’ll see him when you two get engaged, won’t I? Looks like you’re pretty happy with <b>this </b>whole ind engagement setup.”


    <i>“</i><i>Of </i>course I am–it’s all thanks to Seth’s careful nning. I couldn’t be happier.”


    Bianca was practically glowing with joy.


    “So, where is my Seth? I tried calling him, but he didn’t pick up. Is he busy?”


    “He’s off on the other side of the ind sorting out the flowers. That spot’s way out of the way, and he didn’t want me running all over and getting tired. So he told me to just rx here and enjoy the beach while he took care of it.”


    “You two are disgustingly adorable, you know that? I never pictured Seth as the doting husband type. Turns out he’s a real modern–day gentleman!”


    Bianca put on a mock–surprised face. “Oh, he didn’t used to be like this?”


    “Not at all!” Jude replied without hesitation. “He was always distant with everyone, never really let anyone in. You’re the exception.”


    “Seriously? Even with Noreen?”


    She tossed out the question casually, as if it were an afterthought.


    Jude, being Jude, didn’t read into it. “He was even colder to Noreen. Never bought her any real jewelry–nothing like what he did for you, splurging a fortune at that auction for that ne.”


    The mention of Seth’s million–dor splurge jogged Jude’s memory. “Speaking of which, Noreen just dropped a million at an art auction herself.”


    Bianca, who’d been lounging in the sun, drink in hand, froze mid–sip. “A million?”


    “Yep. I couldn’t believe it.”


    “Where’d she get that kind of money?”


    “Who knows<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    The conversation hit a wall. Neither felt like going on, so they wrapped up the call with awkward goodbyes.


    Nearby, Lillian Laurent popped another grape in her mouth, then turned to Bianca. “Cousin, did I just hear you say something about a million dors?”


    Bianca’s face was clouded. “Noreen just spent a million on a painting.”


    Lillian was so shocked she nearly dropped her fruit. “Where’d she get that kind of money?”


    A million dors. Not a thousand, not ten thousand–a million.


    “Who knows?” Bianca said again, her tone sour.


    Lillian frowned. “You don’t think your future father–inw gave it to her, do you? He seems to like Noreen well enough–he even brought her to that charity g. But he won’t give you the time of day,


    08:44


    won’t show up for your engagement, won’t even meet Aunt and Uncle. It’s just cruel.”


    That topic always stung for Bianca.


    No matter what she did or how hard she tried, Wade simply didn’t like her–he wouldn’t even see her. let alone ept her.


    Yvonne Laurent always told her to focus on Seth. After all, there’s no parent who can hold out forever against their own child. As long as Seth’s heart was hers, Wade would have toe around eventually.


    Once she and Seth were married, once they had kids together, everything would fall into ce. Wade only had one son, after all, and the Harcourt estate would inevitably pass to Seth.


    And since Seth adored her, it’d be as good as hers too.


    All she had to do was be patient. It was only a matter of time.


    “Don’t go spreading this around,” Bianca warned Lillian. “Seth and I agreed–we’re telling everyone Mr. Harcourt’s too unwell to attend the engagement. Please, don’t let it slip and embarrass me.”


    “I know, I know,” Lillian replied, rolling her eyes. She understood how serious it was.


    Still, the thought of being dumped in a strange ce while Noreen strutted around drove Lillian crazy with resentment.


    She turned to Bianca. “Cousin, I can’t shake the feeling that Noreen had something to do with that video of mine leaking online.”


    <b>08:44 </b><fnf0c7> The rightful source is find[?]ovel</fnf0c7>