The other women chimed in with their own praise, asking Yvonne for her secrets to raising such an outstanding daughter. Yvonne demurred, saying Bianca had always been a bright and well-behaved child.


    Suddenly, one of the women gasped. "It''s Mr. Harcourt! Wade Harcourt is here!"


    Yvonne froze, following the woman''s gaze. It was true. Wade''s presence silenced the entire room. Even Seth excused himself from his guests and hurried over.


    "Dad, what are you doing here?"


    Wade''s sharp eyes swept across the room before finallynding on his son. His expression was cold, devoid of warmth. They looked less like father and son and more like strangers.


    Bianca approached, suppressing her excitement, and greeted him politely. "Mr. Harcourt."


    The women around Yvonne whispered excitedly. "Is Mr. Harcourt here for Ms. Lowell? Does this mean he''s finally epted her?"


    "What else could it be? He''s here, isn''t he?"


    "He''s his only son, after all. What parent doesn''t dote on their child? In the end, they alwayse around."


    Yvonne found herself thinking the same thing.


    But Wade''s first words were a p in the face to everyone present.


    "I''m in the wrong ce," he said tly. Then, he turned and walked out, leaning on his cane.


    Bianca''s expression froze. The room fell silent once again, but this time, the silence was thick with tension. Even Yvonne, a master of social graces, was at a loss for words.


    One of the women muttered under her breath, "And here I thought he''d finallye around to Ms. Lowell."


    The rumors had been circting for a while, but now they had seen the truth with their own eyes. A ripple of unease went through the crowd, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Even Henry was stunned by the repeat performance First alley, and now Wade. Was it possible Wade was also here for Noreen?


    As he pondered this, he heard Sethforting Bianca. "That''s just how he is. Don''t let it get to you."


    Though she was seething inside, Bianca forced a brave face. "It''s okay. One day, I''ll earn his respect with my own achievements."


    Henry immediately concluded that Wade''s support for Noreen wasn''t genuine appreciation, but rather a way to spite Bianca Perhaps Noreen had been poisoning Wade against her. He had seen her maniptive tactics firsthand, after all.


    Just as the atmosphere became unbearable, Seth walked onto the stage and began to speak, delivering an impromptu opening address. was clear to everyone that he was doing it to defend Bianca, to make his position unequivocally clear. As long as he was by her side, no one would dare look down on her.


    It was just as Noreen had said. No matter how many times Bianca fell, or how


    hard, Seth would always be there to pick her up. He was her safety.


    The guests who had been ready to gloat quickly wiped the smirks from their faces and resumed their polite facades. Even though she knew he cared for her, in that moment, Bianca''s heart still skipped a beat.