Yvonne''s expression softened at those words. "A toast, everyone," she said, raising her ss. "Thank you all foring to celebrate with me."


    Meanwhile, Healy had excused himself from a business dinner. As he was leaving, Jude Wilder caught up to him. "Where are you going? Take me with you!" The endless shop talk was putting him to sleep.


    "You sure?" Healy asked nonchntly.


    "Definitely! This dinner is torture."


    "I suppose it''s fine. You know her, after all."


    "Who?" Jude pressed.


    "Noreen."


    Jude''s face fell. "You know what? I think I''ll go back and listen to the boring shop talk after all."


    "I told you that you wouldn''t like it, but you had to ask," Healy teased. "Is this what Noreen''s reputation hase to?"


    "I''m out," Jude said, turning away. He was convinced she was bad luck for him. Just as Healy arrived at The Moonstone Bistro, so did Bianca. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. "Healy, you came! I thought you said you couldn''t make it?" Healy''s mind briefly nked. He hadn''t expected to run into her. Scrambling for an excuse, he asked, "Why isn''t Seth with you?"


    "He had a family matter to attend to but said he''d pick me upter," Bianca exined. "The party''s already started. Let''s go in."


    "Sorry, I''m actually here to meet a friend," Healy demurred. "Please say hello to your mother for me."


    Bianca''s smile faltered, but she kept herposure. "Well, you could at least stop by for a minute to show your face. You know I''ve always considered you a friend."


    "I''ll see," Healy replied vaguely. He gave her a slight nod and walked into the restaurant.


    Bianca watched him go, her expression cool. Instead of heading to her mother''s private room, she followed in the direction Healy had gone.


    Healy had just knocked and entered a room, the door not quitetching behind him. As Bianca walked past she nced inside and saw Noreen. Her brow tightened for a second


    before she smoothed her


    expression, a flicker of


    wno<fnb218> This content belongs to find[?]ovel</fnb218>


    disappointment in her eyes.


    Noreen was surprised to see Healy, though she quickly guessed Mrs. Naylor had tipped him off. He, however, imed he''d heard by chance that she was here and thought he''d stop by to say hello,, remarking on the coincidence Noreen didn''t call him out on it, simply inviting him to sit.


    She and Vincent had nearly finished their meal before he arrived, so it wasn''t long


    before their dinner concluded. Noreen stepped out first to settle the bill and ran


    into Yvonne, who was gging down a waiter to order more dishes.


    Noreen didn''t know Yvonne personally but recognized her from the bid presentation with Bianca.


    Assuming they were close, shaet


    ignored her and went straight to the front desk. The hostess informed her that the owner had already taken care of her bill.


    "I know, but I''d feel better if I paid," Noreen insisted.


    The hostess hesitated, about to call Mrs. Naylor, but Noreen stopped her. "I''ll


    speak with Mrs. Naylor about itter, don''t worry."


    After paying, Noreen was about to return to the room when someone else walked


    in. She nced up instinctively and saw Seth.


    He saw her too. Before she could look away, he was walking toward her.


    "Stomach problems, and you''re still eating spicy food?"


    Noreen''s brow tightened. What was he ying at? He must have had an ulterior motive.