"You''ll help me, won''t you?" Mrs. Joyner asked, her eyes filled with hope.


    Fighting back the lump in her throat, Noreen nodded firmly. "Yes."


    Her answer seemed to put Mrs. Joyner at ease. "You know," she said, holding Noreen''s hand, "Castle has told me so much about you. He says you''re intelligent, with incredible foresight and ability. He admires the kind of courage you have, a maturity beyond your years."


    Noreen was surprised to hear that Castle Joyner held her in such high regard.


    "That''s why I always wanted to meet you, to see if you were as brilliant as he described. It seems Castle was right." Mrs. Joyner genuinely liked Noreen, seeing a reflection of her younger self in the young woman.


    They talked for a long while before Mr. Joyner returned. Castle rushed upstairs to find his mother, clearly aware of her illness. He was surprised to see Noreen there and gave her a brief nod.


    Noreen returned the gesture and stood up. "I''ll go find Mr. Vincent and the others."


    She found Sophia wandering the estate, marveling at the sights. She was in the middle of taking a picture of a priceless orchid when she spotted Noreen and insisted on taking a photo with her, dering it would be a crime to visit such a magnificent ce without documenting it. Noreen sighed but obliged.


    Meanwhile, the butler was politely turning Henry away at the gate. "I''m very sorry, Mr. Brooke, but Madam is unwell and not receiving visitors. Pleasee back another time."


    Henry frowned, his gaze falling on Noreen and Sophia in the distance. Mrs. Joyner was seeing Noreen but not him. Her "illness" was clearly just an excuse. It seemed she was set on choosing Noreen. Realizing the opportunity was lost, Henry stopped pressing the butler and simply said, "I understand."


    As he left, he shot a contemptuous look at Noreen, who was still posing for pictures, and scoffed. *This* was the woman Mrs. Joyner praised for her vision? What vision? The vision of someone who''d never seen the real world.


    Mrs. Joyner insisted that Noreen and her team stay for dinner and invited her to a charity g the following evening. As the founder and president of the charity, she was hosting the event. Noreen epted.


    Mrs. Joyner also arranged for them to get ready together, presenting Noreen with over a dozen couture gowns and sets of jewelry to choose from. Noreen instinctively gravitated toward a ck dress.


    "Why do you always choose such dark colors?" Mrs. Joyner chided gently. "You''re young, you should wear something vibrant. Try this one."


    She handed Noreen a


    champagne colored, mermaid-style gown, intricately embroidered ck and gold crystals. The


    it fit Noreen''s hourss figure perfectly. When Noreen emerged from the dressing room Mrs. Joyner''s eyes lit up Stunning," she dered with yful smile. "If I were a man, I''d be on my knees."


    silhouette was demanding


    Noreen blushed at thepliment.


    Mrs. Joyner chose a pure white gown for herself, exining that it would help conceal her pale and wearyplexion Thement sent a pang of sadness through Noreen, but she forced a smite, only letting her eyes well up when Mrs. Joyner wasn''t looking. <fn1061> Checktest chapters at F?ndNovel</fn1061>


    Castle arrived to pick up his mother; as the event''s host, she needed to be there early Noreen''s hair and makeup werent finished yet, so she would followter. Before leaving, Mrs. Joyner told Castle to arrange a car for Noreen, and he agreed. Cóntent


    Once Noreen was ready, she was about to message Mrs. Joyner when a ck SUV pulled up in front of her. The driver got out, opened the door, and said he had been sent by Mr. Joyner to pick her up.


    Without a second thought, Noreen got in.


    ***