Lillian tried to talk to him, but he ignored her, focusing only on downing one drink after another.


    "What''s wrong with him?" Bianca asked.


    Healy just kept drinking sullenly. One of his friends nearby offered an exnation. "Seems like he just got his heart broken. He''s been drinking like this for a while."


    Bianca fell silent. Lillian wanted to offer some words offort, but Healy gave her no opening.


    Even his friend couldn''t watch anymore. "What''s with you, man? I''ve never seen you act so ungentlemanly. Thedy is trying to toast you."


    Healy shot him a re, and the friend backed off. He turned to Lillian instead. "Sorry about that, beautiful. Healy''s in a bad mood today. I''ll drink with you."


    "It''s alright," Lillian replied, putting on a polite front.


    But just as their sses touched, the friend remarked, "You know, you look really familiar. I feel like I''ve seen you somewhere before."


    Lillian assumed he was trying to hit on her. Though her heart was set on Healy, his friends were all wealthy and influential, so making new connections couldn''t hurt. She was about to tease him about his cliché pickup line when he snapped his fingers.


    "I remember now! It was from that scandalous video..." Realizing what he''d just blurted out, the man quickly covered his mouth.


    Lillian''s face turned a ghastly shade of pale, then red. The atmosphere became intensely awkward, and Bianca had no choice but to lead her away.


    "Cousin, I''ll never be able to show my face in public again," Lillian sobbed as soon as they got in the car. She thought enough time had passed for people to forget, but someone had recognized her and in front of Healy, of all people How could she ever face him again?


    Bianca''s expression was grave. "Keep a lower profile from now on. And give up on Healy. It''s impossible."


    Lillian cried even harder. She now understood that a video like that could truly ruin a person. She had once plotted to destroy Noreen the same way, never imagining she would be the first to taste such bitter consequences.


    ...


    Over the weekend, Rosalind Gilmore asked Noreen to deliver a basket of local specialties to Wade as a thank-you for his care while she was in the hospital.


    As Noreen drove, she passed the property where Seth''s old house used to be. The foundation, which had beenpletely cleared, now supported the frame of a new house. They were working quickly. It was clear Seth was in a hurry.


    When she arrived at the Harcourt


    estate, Wade had just finished


    Hein


    dinner. He invited her to join him for tea, and as usual, he inquired about her business, offering insightfu advice. Noreen found it rxing that Seth was never around during her recent visits. She always teamed so much from Wade-about vision, perspective, and even market forecasting.


    He was a man who had built amercial empire. Even after nearly a decade of quiet retirement, with the Harcourt Group operating at only a third of its peak size, it still remained the top conglomerate in Rivercrest City.


    But today, after they finished discussing business, Wade asked Noreen a more


    personal question. "Have you given any thought to your love life?"


    "I''m not really thinking about that right now," Noreen answered honestly. Between her demanding job and studying for her grad school entrance exams, she felt like she needed to split herself in two just to get everything done. There was no time for romance ire called her a heartless work machine, and she couldn''t really deny it.


    Wade paused. "Is it because you haven''t moved on?"