How charitable of him, Noreen thought sarcastically.


    She yed along. "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Harcourt. I will."


    As soon as Seth left, Jennifer couldn''t help but apud.


    "See? The moment you stop treating men like they''re a big deal, life gets a whole lot easier."


    Her words were crude, but they held a certain truth.


    Jennifer lit a menthol cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Here''s some life advice: you absolutely have to date a younger man. You need to experience the pure joy of having a vibrant young manpletely devoted to you."


    Meanwhile, in the private room upstairs.


    Seth had said he had to step out for a moment.


    The instant he was gone, Lillian nudged Bianca with her elbow. "Do you think he went to get you a surprise?"


    Bianca sipped her juice, its sweetness lifting her spirits. "How would I know?"


    "It has to be!" Lillian dered. "I''m so excited! I have to record this!"


    Bianca immediately asked, "How''s my makeup? Is my hair a mess?"


    "Don''t worry, you look absolutely perfect!"


    When Henry entered the room, both of them looked up expectantly.


    His face was obscured by therge bouquet of lilies of the valley in his hands.


    Thrilled, Lillian quickly pulled out her phone and opened the camera app, ready to start filming.


    But then she realized it was only Henry.


    Even the smile on Bianca''s face froze for a second.


    "For you, Bianca," Henry said, not noticing the shift in her expression as he earnestly offered her the flowers.


    By now, Bianca hadposed herself. She took the bouquet and thanked him.


    Henry had expected her to be thrilled. After all, he had chosen these flowers with great care, as they held a special meaning for them both.


    But Bianca merely set them aside casually.


    "Professor Selwyn, it''s a pleasure," Bianca said her attention clearly behind


    fixed on them Henry Sh


    Wa


    extended her hand for a handshake.


    Ever since reading Bianca''s thesis, Professor Selwyn had be of her


    biggest admirers, praiset


    to anyone who would listen


    her


    Seeing her in person, he couldn''t hide his delight. "It''s wonderful to finally meet you! Lately, we''ve all been discussing the ck box investment technique you proposed. It''s absolutely brilliant!"


    "Thank you for thepliment, Professor Selwyn."


    While Bianca remained modest, Lillian was not nearly as subtle.


    She eagerly asked the professor, "Does this mean my cousin has been epted into Academician Joyner''s graduate program?"


    Professor Selwyn smiled. "Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I would say so."


    "Bianca! You''re really getting a triple blessing!" Lillian eximed.


    Bianca shot her a look, signaling her to be more discreet. "It''s not official yet. Let''s wait for the formal announcement."


    Henry, however, was curious. "A triple blessing? What are the three?"


    Lillian opened her mouth to answer.


    But Bianca stopped her again.


    Henry wasn''t slow. A moment''s thought was all it took for him to guess, and a wave


    of sadness washed over him.


    They were already engaged. Marriage was the natural next step.


    He just hadn''t expected it to happen so soon.


    In that moment, Henry felt as dim and overlooked as the bouquet of lilies he''d brought, now cast aside in a corner.


    A few minutester, the door opened again. Jude entered, pushing a serving cart with two bottles of red wine-his gift for Bianca.


    "Jude, you shouldn''t have. Seth already ordered everything," Bianca said politely.


    "What Seth gives is from his heart, and what I give is from mine. They''re not the same."


    Only then did Jude realize Seth wasn''t there. "Where is he?" he asked Bianca. "How could he be absent on such an important day?"