Finding an outlet for his frustration, he couldn''t stop himself. "And here I thought you were so high and mighty. Turns out it was all an act. You pretended you were too good to visit Seth, but look at you now." He sneered. "You only dared toe today because you knew Bianca was out of town, didn''t you?"


    Noreen''s eyes were cold. "You really should have been a screenwriter."


    Her simple sentence hit a nerve. Jude practically jumped. "Why can''t you just admit it? Are you going to tell me that soup isn''t for Seth?"


    She shouldn''t have bothered responding. Noreen started to walk away.


    But Jude wasn''t finished. He followed her, his voice dripping with scorn. "Let me guess, you were so moved that Seth identally saved you that you think you have another chance, so you''vee crawling back?"


    "You''re so full of yourself!"


    "Seth and Bianca are getting engaged. You don''t stand a chance, so stop wasting your time!"


    "And no matter how hard you try, Bianca will always be better than you! She develops an Al, you develop an Al. She bids on the Port Redevelopment Project, you bid on it. Sheunches a game, youunch a game. And what''s the result? Her game is having a massiveunch, and yours is nowhere to be seen." A look of sudden realization crossed his face. "You''re doing all this just to get Seth''s


    attention, aren''t you?"


    So, she was still the same drama queen she''d always been.


    Noreen had intended to ignore him-she was busy and still had a meeting after visiting Vincent—but being snapped at like a stray dog was getting on her nerves. She stopped abruptly and fixed him with an icy re.


    Jude, who had been so aggressive just a moment ago, felt a sudden pang of fear. "Wh-what?" he stammered, his bravado vanishing. "Am I wrong? Bianca *is* better than you..."


    "Instead of ying bodyguard for someone else''s rtionship, you should spend your time learning how to run apany. Maybe then your father couldve a few more years!"


    Seymour Group''s situation was dire, and Jude had pinned all his hopes on Aetheria expecting its profits to<fn3001> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? findnovel</fn3001>


    Seir cash flow crisis. Itwas


    pure fantasy.


    "And for the record," she added, her voice sharp, "I hope Seth and Bianca get married and stay locked together for life!"


    They were all delusional, acting like Seth was some kind of grand prize. When she loved him, he might have been a treasure. Now that she didn''t, he was nothing.


    Jude was stunned into silence, his mouth hanging slightly open.


    Finally, some peace and quiet. Noreen turned to leave, but then she heard Jude call out behind her. "Seth."


    Noreen''s brow twitched. Why was her luck so badtely? It was like the universe was conspiring to make them cross paths.


    Seth looked at Noreen, a thoughtful expression in his deep eyes. After a moment, he spoke, "I asked for your blessing before, and you wouldn''t say a word. But now you''re willing to give it?"


    Noreen was speechless. That pot of boiling stew must have scrambled his brains.


    He even had the audacity to say, with a hint of politeness, "I ept your blessing. Thank you."


    There are moments when you are so dumbfounded that words fail you. Not wanting to waste another second, Noreen turned and walked away without looking back.


    Jude stared after her,pletely bewildered. This wasn''t how he had imagined this would go. Wasn''t the soup for Seth?