When she knocked and stepped inside, that woman was already draped across Healy''sp, arms looped around his neck as they kissed,pletely absorbed in each other.


    She was probably just one of Healy''s many girlfriends.


    Still, it was surprising to see her at an event like this-she had to be someone important.


    Bianca seemed to havee to the same conclusion. She tugged Seth''s arm and said, “Let''s just go, Seth. I''m a little tired."


    She handled it with remarkable grace.<fnb645> Fresh chapters posted on Find[?]ovel</fnb645>


    Seth immediately reined in his temper and led Bianca away.


    Only then did Noreen make her way over to greet Castle. As she passed Tiana,


    she couldn''t help but nce at her again.


    Tiana shot Noreen a mischievous wink.


    Noreen hesitated for a moment, just as a man in his fifties with a thickening waistline ambled over.


    Tiana slipped up to him and purred, "Honey, there you are! Do you have any idea how dull these parties are? Let''s just go home, I''m exhausted."


    He chuckled, indulging her. "All right, all right, whatever you want."


    Noreen exchanged a few words with Castle.


    Castle lingered for a brief chat, as if he already knew about Mrs. Joyner''s earlier conversation with her, and made it a point to say he believed in her.


    Noreen assured him she''d do her best not to disappoint.


    As she prepared to leave, someone called her name.


    She turned and saw Henry, looking puzzled.


    The next second, Henry''s face was icy as he said, "I''m sorry."


    He didn''t raise his voice, but several people nearby heard it loud and clear.


    For a moment, Noreen thought she must have misheard.


    When she realized Henry really was apologizing to her, she frowned,pletely baffled.


    What was with him? Had he lost his mind, or was he just seriously unstable?


    There seemed to be a lot of people like that these days. Annoying, really.


    Noreen ignored him and walked off without a word.


    Henry''s expression grew even colder as he watched her go.


    He''d gone out of his way to apologize-what more did she want?


    By the time Noreen got back to her hotel, it waste. She was just about to


    shower and go to bed when someone knocked on her door.


    She opened it to find the hotel manager, looking anxious.


    "I''m so sorry to bother you thiste, Miss Gilmore," he began. "There was an incident earlier today—someone bribed one of our staff to steal from guests. May I ask if you''ve lost anything?"


    Noreen was only in town on business, so she didn''t have much with her. It took just a moment to check, and everything seemed to be in ce—except for one thing.


    She remembered the invitation that had mysteriously vanished and mentioned it to the manager.


    "Was it the invitation to Mr. Castle''s g?" he asked, wanting to be sure. "Yes, that''s right."


    "Then that exins it! That''s exactly what they were after." He apologized repeatedly and promised they''d get to the bottom of it. He even offered Noreen a gift as an apology.


    After seeing the manager out, Noreen shook her head. She never expected to find herself in this kind of situation.


    Then again, Castle''s g was pure gold for any businessperson. People would go to any lengths to get in.


    After her shower, Noreen was just about to crawl into bed when the night sky outside her window suddenly lit up.


    She peered out someone was setting off fireworks.


    Her hotel stood right on The Esnade, the liveliest stretch in Harborview City, where fireworks were amon sight.


    They were beautiful. Noreen watched for a while, snapped a few photos on her phone, and posted them to her social feed with the caption: "Beautiful view, beautiful mood."


    Barely five minutester, her phone rang-Healy was calling.


    Noreen stared at the caller ID, puzzled.


    What could he possibly want at this hour?