Because so much time had passed, finding it was a bit of a challenge.


    Fortunately, her time as Seth''s secretary at the Aurelion Group had ingrained in her the strict habit of keeping meticulous records.


    So, after some effort, she actually found the paper.


    She had a good idea why Halley wanted it.


    She carefully organized all the timelines and evidence.


    By the time she finished, it was already past eleven.


    As she went to close the window before bed, she noticed a ck sedan parked under a tree outside again.


    It wasn''t a designated parking spot, and in a high-endplex like this where everyone had their own assigned space, it was unusual for someone to park randomly.


    After a moment''s thought, Noreen made a call.


    Ten minutester, the shing lights of a police car swept across the street below.


    Noreen rolled over and went to sleep, feeling secure.


    Meanwhile, Bianca arrived home, her face a mask of disappointment.


    It waste, but Yvonne was still up, clearly waiting for her.


    Seeing her daughter return, she immediately asked, "Well? Did Seth propose?"


    Bianca''s voice was heavy with dejection. "No."


    "What happened?" Yvonne frowned.


    "I don''t know. He just didn''t do anything," Bianca said listlessly.


    She had expected Seth to propose when they were alone.


    But he had simply dropped her off at home, said goodbye, and left, just like any other day.


    From the moment she learned he had bought the ruby, she had been eagerly anticipating his proposal.


    She waited and waited, but he never mentioned the ruby jewelry, and he never proposed.


    As for all those expensive auction items Mrs. Chase had mentioned, she didn''t even


    know if it was true anymore.


    Lillian chose that moment to call.


    Bianca didn''t need to guess why she was calling.


    Annoyed, she declined the call.


    Less than a minuteter, a text from Lillian came through.


    "Am I interrupting you guys?!"


    "Is he proposing to you right now?!"


    The questions only made Bianca''s mood sink further. She turned her phone offpletely.


    "I think we may have been a little too hasty," Yvonne said after a moment of thought.


    "Those expensive auction pieces


    have to go through a lot of red tape


    to be shipped into the country. It takes time. And besides, the timing Isn''t quite right yet."


    Bianca paused. She hadn''t considered that.


    Yvonne continued to soothe her, "We just need to be a little more patient. Seth only has eyes for you. You''re his first love, and that has a powerful hold on a man. No one can rece you in his heart, so don''t you worry."


    That was right. She was Seth''s first love.


    The one he had been thinking about for seven years.


    What was there to be anxious about?


    If Seth could wait seven years, she could certainly wait a little longer for him.


    Monday, Rivercrest University.


    Noreen arrived as scheduled.


    Her good mood soured the moment she saw Bianca and her entourage.


    She ignored thempletely and walked straight inside.


    Bianca, with equal disdain, looked away from Noreen, treating her like thin air.


    Jude nced at Noreen, then


    deliberately asked Bianca, "So,


    Vel


    we celebratingter?


    already ordered the


    ordered the champagne!"


    He spoke louder than usual, clearly intending for a certain someone to hear.


    That certain someone did nce over at the group, but her eyes quickly moved away as she left.


    Still, Henry noticed Noreen''s reaction.


    Her expression... it looked like... scorn?


    But what right did she have to look down on anyone?