Meetings are just so dull. Gossip is so much more entertaining!


    So why wouldn''t anyone gossip with him?


    Bianca couldn''t help but notice the empty seat where Noreen usually sat, her eyes dimming as she looked over. The suspicion that had flickered through her mind earlier now seemed almost certain. Disappointment shed in her gaze.


    That evening, Dn did show up for drinks, but he came alone.


    Jude nudged him as soon as he sat down. "Where''s that woman from earlier? Why didn''t you bring her along?"


    Dn grinned, clearly in a good mood. "She''s not really into this kind of thing."


    "Oh, listen to you already acting protective?" Jude teased. "Come on, who is she, anyway? She must be special to turn you into this."


    Dn justughed. "What''s the rush? You''ll find out soon enough."


    Jude wouldn''t let up. "How soon is ''soon''? Are we talking wedding bells or a baby shower?"


    "Maybe both," Dn replied, sounding perfectly serious.


    Jude nearly jumped out of his seat. "Wait, so you''re actually thinking about marriage?"


    "Yeah," Dn said, without hesitation.


    Bianca sat across from them, hearing every word. Her expression instantly chilled. She''d been with Dn for over six years, and he''d never once brought up marriage. Even when she''d tried hinting at it, he''d always dodged the topic. Now he was saying he wanted to get married.


    She squeezed her ss so tightly her knuckles turned white, her face pale. But nobody seemed to notice her reaction.


    Dn casually nced over at Seth, as if checking for a response. But Seth''s face was unreadable. His eyes were calm, giving nothing away, as if he couldn''t care less about their conversation.


    Jude did his best to pry more details out of Dn, but Dn wouldn''t budge. Eventually, Jude gave up. It wasn''t until he turned to refill his own drink that he realized Seth had quietly downed more than half a bottle by himself.<fn39e7> ?????? ???? find(?)ovel</fn39e7>


    "Seth, what''s up with you?" Jude asked, shaking the nearly empty bottle. "This isn''t some business dinner-why are you drinking so much?"


    Seth replied evenly, "Building up my tolerance."


    "To protect Bianca from having to drink at the engagement party?" Jude joked.


    Seth nodded. "Yeah. The engagement dinner''sing up."


    Judeughed. "You''re too thoughtful, Seth."


    The cloud over Bianca''s mood began to lift at Seth''s words. She offered gently, "Seth, you really don''t have to drink so much."


    He gave her a warm smile. "Alright."


    Jude had long grown used to being the third wheel around these two. He sank back into the couch, looking bored. "No idea what Healy''s been up totely either. I''ve tried to invite him out for a drink but he never shows. Oh, Dn-since you''ve been out of the country, you probably don''t know yet, do you?"


    "Know what?" Dn asked.


    "Mrs. Naylor''s got her eye on Noreen. She wants her as a daughter-inw."


    Dn''s eyebrows shot up. "Since when?"


    "Just recently Jude said. "You wouldn''t believe how much Mrs. Naylor likes Noreen-she spent the whole press conference talking to ber. My dad says Mr. Naylor wanted to introduce Noreen to Healy the first time they met, but Noreen turned him down. Healy''s a sly one-never let any of this slip."


    Dn frowned, deep in thought.


    It was already past ten when Noreen finished her phone call with Vincent. The conversation had been so engrossing that neither of them noticed howte it had gotten. If Mrs. Vincent hadn''te in and reminded them, they probably would''ve kept talking all night.


    Vincent had never met someone


    who saw things the way he did. He''d always thought Noreen was smart capable, and beautiful, but now he realized those qualities paled inparison to her genuine char Even he, someone who''d been worn down by life until he barely had any fight left, found himself inspired by her energy.


    He told Noreen he''d be back in Rivercrest City in a couple of days to meet her in person.


    With that settled, Noreen put down her phone and got ready for a shower and some rest. But just as she was about to head to the bathroom, her phone buzzed again. She nced at the screen, recognizing the familiar number instantly.


    It waste-what could Seth want with her at this hour?