Jude was about to offer anotherpliment, but the mention of Harcourt Group made his expression turn strange again.


    Bianca didn''t notice. She nced at the time. "Why aren''t Healy Naylor and Dn here yet?"


    Jude said he''d call them. Healy replied that he was tied up and couldn''t make it but had already sent a gift. Dn was even more direct he didn''t even answer his phone.


    Bianca''s displeasure was obvious. Had they decided to drop even the pretense of courtesy? They had probably been brainwashed by Noreen, which was why they were distancing themselves from her. It seemed Noreen loved poaching people from her circle, turning them against her. Was it because she couldn''t have Seth, so she settled for stealing everyone else? What a pathetic effort.


    "If they don''t want toe, it''s their loss. We can have fun without them," Bianca said, feigning indifference.


    Just then, she received a message from Henry Brooke. He had justnded in Rivercrest City and was asking if she was free for dinner.


    Bianca sent him her location. "Perfect timing! I''m having a pre-engagement party, but it''s a small group. Come and liven things up.”


    Hearing that she needed him, Henry''s first instinct was to say yes. But then he remembered that Seth would undoubtedly be there. After a moment''s thought, he politely declined and wished her a good time.


    Bianca simply replied, "Alright then," and the conversation ended.


    A wave of mncholy washed over Henry. He hadn''te to Rivercrest City for business. He had simply wanted to see Bianca onest time before she got engaged. He knew it was pointless, but he hade anyway.


    After a while, he called Padgett Novak. "Got time for a drink?"


    Padgett said he did, and Henry sent him the location a few minutester.


    When Padgett saw the name of the club, a sh of memory made him loosen his


    tie, a sudden heat rising in his chest. "Why''d you pick this ce?" he asked.


    "Just a random choice. Why?" Henry replied.


    "No reason. I''ll be there soon."


    In reality, it hadn''t been a random choice at all. He had deliberately picked the club where Bianca.wa having her party. If he couldn''t be there to support her, he thought, at least he could be close by


    Padgett arrived quickly. "I thought you had a girl you were interested in," Henry


    said. "Why didn''t you bring her?"


    "Haven''t won her over yet," Padgett admitted.


    The answer stunned Henry. Padgett Novak was an exceptional man by any standard-family background, charisma, you name it For someone that impressive to be turned down the woman must have impossibly high standards.


    "Who is she?" Henry asked, his curiosity piqued. "Is she in our line of work? Do I know her?"


    Padgett didn''t answer. Instead, he<fnda6c> Checktest chapters at find?novel</fnda6c>


    pulled out his phone and scrolled through his social media, checking to see if Noreen had posted


    anything. She


    arely shared personal updates, but whenever she did, Padgett was always the first to like it. She hadn''t posted today, and a pang of disappointment hit him.


    He decided to send her a message, asking how the preparations for the safety inspection were going and telling her not to hesitate to ask if she needed help. Noreen replied that everything was going smoothly.


    Padgett typed back: *Are you eating properly? Your friend told me you have a sensitive stomach.*


    A long time passed with no reply. Realizing one wasn''ting, Padgett put his phone away and turned his attention back to Henry.


    "Ignoring you, huh?" Henry observed.


    "Yeah."


    "And you''re still into her? How did you even fall for her?"


    "Love at first sight."


    ***