"You''ll never get a girl if you''re this shy, you know!" Mina was genuinely worried for her brother. It had been so long, and he''d made absolutely no progress. When would she finally get to call Noreen her sister-inw? She decided she had to step in and help. At his current pace, it could take another five years.


    "Noreen, besides being a bit reserved, my brother is a really great guy. You should give him a chance!" Mina pleaded. "Plus, you two co-own InnoCore! He provides the technical expertise, you handle the business side-it''s like a perfect partnership. You''d be unstoppable!"


    "Mina," Carman cut in, his voice tinged with panic.


    Noreen, sensing Carman was about to scold his sister, stepped in to smooth things over. "Grown-up matters are for grown-ups. Your focus right now should be on your studies." She added gently, "And rtionships between adults are a lot moreplicated than you think."


    Mina always listened to Noreen, so she nodded obediently. "Okay, I get it."


    The lively chatter from Noreen''srger party carried over into Bianca''s private room, including Mina''s attempt to y matchmaker. Hearing Noreen''s gentle refusal, Bianca curled her lip in a disdainful smirk and exchanged a knowing nce with Lillian. It was obvious Noreen was just ying hard to get, stringing the man along.


    They were unaware that Mina had suffered from depression and was still in a sensitive adolescent phase. Her therapist had advised that she needed to be handled with care and asionally cated, which was why Noreen''s response had been so diplomatic. Unfortunately, her kindness was being misinterpreted by others as a coy tactic.


    Jude Wilder was thest to arrive, having been held up at the hospital. Seeing it was only Jude, Lillian''s face fell with disappointment. "Oh, it''s just you."


    "Who were you expecting? Healy?" Jude said, taking a seat. "He''s not even in Rivercrest City. He''s out of town at one of the factories."


    Lillian''s shoulders slumped. It seemed she wouldn''t be seeing Healy today after all.


    After downing two sses of water, Jude turned to Bianca. "So, how''s the PerseTech IPOing along?"


    "We''re just waiting for the final review from the securitiesmission."


    "Wow, that was fast!" Jude eximed. "If it passes, PerseTech will be the fastestpany to go public in Rivercrest City history! Looks like I backed the right horse!"


    Seth paused, then asked Jude, "Does your father know you invested in PerseTech?"


    Jude shook his head. "Are you


    kidding? fd never tell him! You know how conservative my dad is. I''m nning on surprising him. When hè sees how sessful this is, he''ll finally have to take me seriously!"


    Seth said nothing more, but Jude was already caught up in his grand ambitions, determined to make a name for himself alongside Bianca. He was going to prove to everyone that he, Jude Wilder, was nota lost cause. Bianca had painted a rosy picture of PerseTech''s future, and Jude''s confidence was soaring.


    But halfway through dinner, his phone rang. It was Seymour Wilder. Jude had barely managed to say "Dad" when Seymour''s roar echoed from the other end. "Get your ass to the hospital right now!"


    "But I''m having dinner with friends."


    "I don''t care where you are! Get over here! Now!" Seymour''s voice was choked with


    rage, and he broke into a fit of violent coughing.


    Jude didn''t dare dy. He hastily


    excused himself and rushed to the


    hospital. Seymour had just calmed


    down when he saw his son, and his


    anger instantly red up again


    Go


    and pull every penny you invested in PerseTech out right now!"