Lana and Spencer thought the same. After all, the couple was already engaged and deeply in love; marriage was the logical next step.


    "Yes," Bianca confirmed with a confident smile. "That''s the n."


    Lillian sighed with envy. "He loves you so much! He got engaged to you first to make sure no one else could snatch you away. And now he''s pouring everything into building your career so the Harcourt family will ept you when he marries you. If I were you, I''d want to marry him immediately!"


    Yvonne, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "That''s the difference between you and Bianca. A woman needs her own career and can''tpletely rely on a man. That''s one of the reasons Seth loves Bianca."


    Noreen didn''t hear the rest of their conversation as she had already walked away.


    Just as she suspected. Seth was the one who got Lana out.


    She was about to call Colby when Healy caught up to her. "Noreen."


    She turned, her expression cool. "Thank you for the birthday gift," he said, still holding the box.


    "You''re wee." Noreen''s tone remained distant, maintaining a clear boundary between them.


    Healy, however, was determined to break it down. "You don''t seem to like ces like this. If you want, I can take you somewhere else for dinner." He quickly added, afraid she would misunderstand, "Just the two of us." His friends, clearly, were now a secondary priority.


    His words made Noreen pause, and she instantly understood. "Mr. Healy, you don''t have to go out of your way for me. Besides, a birthday is best spent with friends."


    She trusted he was smart enough to catch the hint in her words. They weren''t even really friends.


    Her use of "Mr. Healy" was like a bucket of ice water on his enthusiasm. Was she really not going to give him even the slightest chance?


    With anyone else, Healy would have pressed the issue. But based on his understanding of Noreen, pushing her now would mean she''d avoid him entirely, except for purely professional asions. The words he had wanted to say for so long died on his lips, reced by a polite, formal farewell. "Drive safe on your way home, then."


    "I will." Noreen gave a slight nod and walked away.


    Healy stood there for a long time, so lost in thought that he didn''t notice Seth and Bianca standing nearby.


    Bianca hade to pick Seth up, and they had witnessed the entire exchange. Her expression darkened, while Seth remainedpletely impassive, like a stranger watching a scene that had nothing to do with him.


    Seth had only made a brief appearance at Lana''s celebration before heading over


    to Healy''s party. It was only then that Bianca and Lillian realized it was his birthday.


    "Cousin, didn''t Healy invite you to his birthday?" Lillian asked, confused.


    Bianca''s face tightened slightly. "He probably knew I''ve been busytely, so he didn''t mention it."


    Lillian epted the exnation. In her mind, Healy, just like Jude, was one of Bianca''s devoted admirers. "Well, let''s go over and say hello now. Her mind was already racing with other ideas.


    Bianca eventually took her over. Lillian hadn''t seen Healy in a while, and her heart


    began to flutter. "Healy, happy birthday."


    But Healy seemedpletely lifeless, showing no interest in anyone.