"As your friend," Bianca said, her voice soft but pointed, "I have to remind you that Noreen is an outsider. You need to watch your own back, Jude. Don''t let her take you for everything you''ve got."


    Jude hesitated. "I don''t think... I don''t think Noreen is that kind of person."


    His defense, however feeble, made Bianca''s expression harden. It was a subtle shift, but it was enough to make him ufortable.


    She forced a cid tone. "I''m just giving you a friendly warning. Ultimately, you have to judge for yourself."<fn8164> Newest update provided by find?novel</fn8164>


    Justst night, Lillian had sent her a message: Noreen was once again the richest woman in Rivercrest City. Bianca''s own name was now second to hers. The fallout from the fireworks incident had sent Ascendancy Group''s stock into a free fall, shrinking her worth and widening the gap between her and Noreen. TechVenture was drowning inwsuits andpensation ims, and Westbrook had even filed a public suit... It was aplete mess. The inte was buzzing with ims that she would never surpass Noreen.


    A fire of resentment burned in her chest, a ceaseless, scorching me. She could only console herself with one thought: she still had Seth. She hadn''t lost yet.


    Noreen might have some business acumen, but that was all she had. Her background, her education-they predetermined her ceiling. She would never reach the heights Bianca could. Beyond her raw ambition, Noreen couldn''tpare to her in any meaningful way.


    After that topic died, a long silence fell between them. Finally, Jude broke it, asking if she was tired and wanted to go back to her room. Bianca readily agreed.


    He turned the wheelchair around and started pushing her back.


    On the other side of the path was a small, man-made pond bustling with activity. As they passed, Bianca nced over.


    Her eyes immediately found Dn.


    He was picking up a sunhat from the grassy bank, carefully brushing off des of grass before walking briskly toward someone else.


    Bianca''s gaze followed him


    unfil


    never to see again.


    A flicker of bitter irony crossed her face. She quickly looked away and urged Jude to hurry.


    At the entrance to the building, they ran into Padgett Novak, who was also carrying a gift basket, clearly there to visit someone.


    Bianca smiled and offered a polite greeting. Padgett, in turn, gave a curt nod.


    She opened her mouth to say more, but just then, Padgett spotted Noreen in the distance and immediately walked toward her, leaving Bianca''s words hanging in the air.


    He was still as cool to her as ever. But she understood why, so she didn''t dwell on it and let Jude wheel her back to her room.


    Padgett was there not only to visit Noreen but also to deliver some good news. The safety inspection team had concluded its work, he told her and the project was cleared of any issues. She could rest easy.


    The reason he hadn''te sooner was because he had been busy handling it. He''d suspected from the start that the inspection was irregr and had reluctantly called his father.


    His father had been surprised. "This is the first time you''ve ever called me for help. May I ask why?"


    Padgett had always been


    exceptional, excelling in his studies


    and career entirely on his own


    merits, never relying on family


    connections His father''s curiosity was understandable.


    After a moment''s thought, Padgett had replied simply, "Because I like her, and I


    want to do everything I can to help her."


    ***