Seth had the driver buy them some food, but Bianca barely touched hers. Her eyes kept drifting over to Seth, but his expression was so calm it was as if he waspletely oblivious to her hints.


    She deliberately leaned closer, filling the space between them with the scent of her alluring perfume. She was also wearing a low-cut dress, having taken off her coat when she got in the car, iming it was too warm. It was a series of moves that made her intentions perfectly clear.


    Suddenly, Seth raised a hand to his lips and coughed softly. He then gently eased her away. "I have the flu," he said. "You shouldn''t get too close. I don''t want you to catch it."


    Bianca instantly deted.


    At least Seth was thoughtful enough to give her a gift box before dropping her off. It was an exquisite little box, the kind you could tell held jewelry.


    Bianca''s mood instantly lifted. She beamed as she said goodbye to Seth, and the moment his car pulled away, she eagerly tore open the gift.


    Inside was a designer diamond ne.


    She quickly looked up the price online.


    Over a hundred thousand dors.


    While certainly expensive, Bianca felt a pang of disappointment. A ne at this price point was something she could easily buy herself anytime using his credit card; it didn''t feel like a special, thoughtful gift.


    Andpared to the extravagant gifts he''d given her in the past, this ne felt almost dismissive.


    By the time she got home, her mood was somber. Yvonne was surprised to see her. "What are you doing back? Didn''t Seth ask you to stay the night?"


    "He has the flu, so it wasn''t a good idea." Bianca tossed the ne onto the table.


    Lillian picked it up. "A gift from Seth?"


    "Yeah."


    "It''s lovely," Yvonne said, counseling her patiently as she fastened the ne around Bianca''s neck. "Don''t be so impatient. Good thingse to those who wait."


    "As long as the love is there, nothing else matters. What''s meant for you will be yours in the end. It won''t get away!"


    Yvonne tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It looks beautiful on you," she said approvingly.


    Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Bianca felt her anxiety begin to subside.


    She was right. She had been too hasty.


    After all, Seth was getting ready to propose!


    On Friday, Noreen ran into Jude while she was at Seymour Group for a meeting. It looked like he was there to clear out his office.


    After selling off all his shares, Jude had officially left Seymour Group, and his office at thepany was closed.


    As they passed each other, Noreen instinctively nced at the cardboard box in his


    arms.


    With a stony expression, Jude brushed past Noreen and strode arrogantly out of Seymour Group.


    Once outside the main entrance, he turned back to look at the namete bearing the Seymour Group logo.


    One day, he would return. And when he did, he would regain control of thepany and drive Noreen out for good.


    After her meeting, Noreen got a call from Jennifer Shaw. She was in Rivercrest City and wanted to have dinner together.


    Noreen, wanting to be a good host, was about to ask Sophia to book a restaurant, but Jennifer told her she had already made a reservation and that Noreen should juste straight over.


    Just as Noreen got out of her car, she saw Henry getting out of another He was holding arge eye-catching bouquet of lilies of the valley.


    Professor Selwyn had arrived in the same car and got out right after him.


    They must have been talking the whole way, because Professor Selwyn was still in


    an animated discussion with Henry as they walked.


    "Everyone at the university has been


    talking about Bianca''s thesis," Professor Selwyn was saying. "That ck box investment strategy she mentioned is absolutely brilliant! You''ll see just how remarkable it is when it''s finally published!"