Two female officers immediately walked over to her, showed their badges, and spoke in a cold, official tone. "We have reason to believe you are connected to two separate car idents. We are taking you in for questioning. Please cooperate."


    Lana panicked. "Officers, you must have made a mistake! How could I be involved in a car ident? You''ve got the wrong person..."


    "Lana! Cooperate now!" one of the officersmanded.


    "Just go with them," Yvonne whispered, worried Lana would say something foolish


    in her panic. "I''lle down as soon as this is over." She gave Lana a look, warning her to keep her mouth shut.


    Lana, her face pale with terror, was escorted out by the police.


    The video ended there. It really was trending under crime.


    "Why wouldn''t they cut the livestream?" Noreen wondered aloud. An incident like this was a public rtions nightmare. Yet, PerseTech had let it all y out for the world to see. It would be a devastating blow to thepany. It didn''t make sense. Seth was never this reactive.


    Noreen rewound the video and saw it: throughout the entire ordeal, Seth''s eyes had been fixed on Bianca.


    *Wow,* she thought. *So besotted he forgot to pull the plug.* Love really was a dangerous thing.


    "Even with the disaster, their viewership is through the roof," Sophiamented. "It almost makes you wonder if this was some kind of bizarre PR stunt."


    Noreen was speechless. Sacrificial marketing? That would certainly be a first.


    Though InnoCore''s livestream numbers weren''t as high, the roadshow itself was a massive sess. Before Carman had even finished his presentation, Healy and Mrs. Naylor found Noreen in the crowd.


    "Noreen, the second InnoCore goes public, I''m buying shares!" Mrs. Naylor dered, her voice filled with excitement. "I''m putting my entire dowry into it!"


    Healyughed. "All of it? You''re not going to save any for me to get married?"


    "It''s your wedding, not mine. Why should pay for it?" Mrs. Naylor


    dismissed him and turned back


    Noreen, gushing about how moved she was by Carman''s presentation.


    Healy shook Noreen''s hand. “Congrattions, Noreen," he said sincerely. "You


    did it. InnoCore is going to be incredible."


    "Thank you," Noreen replied.


    Just then, Dn approached with a bouquet of flowers and his own


    words of congrattions. The smiles vanished from the faces of Mrs. Naylor and Healy. Mrs. Naylor nudged her son with her elbow, ring at him for hisck.


    initiative. How could he not think to bring flowers? At this rate, he would never find a girlfriend.


    Healy felt a pang of regret. He had rushed back from a business trip overnight and hadn''t had time to prepare anything. Seeing Dn''s bauquet, he knew he''d made a. mistake.


    Dn was about to say something more to Noreen when her phone rang. It was Padgett Novak. After a brief nod to the others, Noreen stepped away to take the call.


    “Congrattions, Noreen," Padgett said. "I watched the livestream. It was excellent.” He added, "I''m sorry I couldn''t be there in person."


    "Don''t worry about it. Your good wishes are more than enough."


    Knowing she was busy, Padgett kept it brief and hung up.


    Just then, arge crowd of people began to gather at the entrance to the hall.