Finally, he let out a long sigh. "So be it. We''ll leave it to fate."


    "What if the project turns out to be a good one?" Noreen tried tofort him. "Don''t be so pessimistic." In her mind, even if the project had its ws, with Seth managing it, the oue might still be positive.


    "Let''s hope so," Seymour replied, his voice heavy with resignation.


    No sooner had she hung up with Seymour than Sanford Brooke called. They had exchanged contact information when they met at Halley Joyner''s house. He, too, was calling to ask about the high-temperature superconductivity project.


    Noreen gave a more diplomatic answer. "I''ve looked into it. It has potential."


    Sanford, unlike his son, was a seasoned veteran of the business world and far more perceptive. Hearing Noreen''s carefully worded response, his heart sank. "Well," he said with a hint of mncholy, "I suppose we can consider it a learning experience for him." It was the kind of sentiment only the truly wealthy could afford, using a multi-billion dor investment as a training exercise for their child.


    As an outsider, Noreen refrained from offering any personal opinions. Sanford then asked her to look out for Henry, a request Noreen didn''t ept. Besides, she doubted Henry would appreciate it. Sanford''s sigh on the other end of the line was even heavier this time.


    Sophia Cole came in with a snack for Noreen and noticed her pensive expression. "What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing," Noreen said. "I was just thinking about how difficult it is to be a parent." Two fathers, both worrying about their children''s futures. It was a league of worried fathers.


    Of course, it was their business, and Noreen''s reflection was fleeting. Her attention was quickly captured by the soup Sophia had brought. "This soup is excellent today."


    Sophia beamed. "See? My cooking skills are improving!"


    "Or maybe they''re just getting back to normal after a recent decline?"


    "Noreen, you can be so harsh," Sophia pouted.


    A weekter, Henry arrived in Rivercrest City. He went to Halley''s house first, only to be told that Halley was out of town for an academic conference. So, Henry changed course and headed to Rivercrest University. He f


    figured t


    results for the graduate pro?ram admissions should be out soon. While the official online


    announcement was still a ways off, he knew he could get an early update from the department.


    Having apanied Halley to the university several times before, he was acquainted with some of the professors. They knew him as Halley''s prodigy and spoke to him candidly. "Didn''t Professor Joyner tell you? It''s already been decided! It''s going to be Bianca." The professorexined that her


    research proposal was exceptionally strong and perfectly aligned with Professor Joyner''s interests, which was why Halley had personally taken charge of her application.


    Henry was overjoyed for Bianca. He knew she could do it! She had always been the most brilliant person he knew.


    After thanking the professor, Henry


    rushed off to find Bianca, eager to be the first to share the good news Bianca had arranged to meet him at a fine dining restaurant. On the table, she had ced a vase of lilies of the valley.—his favorite and had asked the waiter to light a candle. When Henry arrived and saw the scene, his heart pounded in his chest. He thought she had forgotten, but she remembered everything.


    Back in business school, he had worked up the courage to confess his feelings to her, presenting her with a bouquet of lilies of the valley. "You remembered," Henry murmured, his voice soft.


    "Of course, I do," Bianca replied. "It was a sincere gesture, and every genuine feeling deserves to be remembered."


    In that moment, Henry knew he had given his heart to the right person.