Jude saw her message immediately.


    He wanted to say something, but he didn''t know what.


    Even though Bianca''s words were full of confidence, Jude still felt a deep sense of


    unease.


    It was a kind of psychological scar, worn down by repeated failures.


    From SkyMind to the Port Redevelopment Project, and then to Aetheria.


    Every time, he had followed Bianca and taken a major fall.


    He had no confidence left.


    A violent coughing fit from the hospital room pulled Jude back from his wandering thoughts.


    In the end, he didn''t reply. He silently put his phone away and pushed the door open to the room.


    "Dad, have some warm water," Jude said, pouring a ss for Seymour.


    But Seymour refused to drink. After another bout of coughing, he gasped for air and asked, "How did it go? Did she agree to let us pull out?"


    Jude remained silent.


    Seymour mmed his hand against the bed rail in frustration. "It''s over! It''s all over!"


    He was too agitated. After yelling twice, he began to cough violently again, struggling for breath.


    His face turned pale.


    Terrified, Jude quickly pressed the call button for a nurse.


    When Noreennded in Glenhaven City, a driver arranged by Castle was already waiting for her at the arrivals gate.


    She had specifically told Castle not to go to the trouble of arranging a car for her, but he had done it anyway.


    It felt like such an imposition.


    As Noreen, Colby, and Sophia were driven away from the airport, their car passed in front of Bianca.


    Bianca maintained aposed expression, but her eyes were cold.


    Lillian saw that Noreen not only had a private car waiting but that it was a luxury vehicle, and she was consumed with jealousy. "How does Noreen know people even in Glenhaven City?"


    Bianca narrowed her eyes slightly, not answering right away.


    She was also feeling frustrated.


    She couldn''t understand why Mr. Joyner, a man of such high standing in Glenhaven City, held Noreen in such high regard.


    When it came to winning over men, she had always been sessful.


    If she wanted a man, she got him.


    Her past involvement with Dn


    might have seemed like a failure, but he had never explicitly rejected her. She had been the one to fet


    go


    moving on to Seth after realizing


    Group was failing.


    But now, she was finding that more and more high-caliber men were drawn to Noreen.


    Healy Naylor was one, and so was Padgett Novak.


    Now, even Castle treated Noreen differently.


    At least, at least she still had Seth.


    "The car is here. Let''s go," Bianca said, avoiding Lillian''s question.


    After getting in the car, Lillian remembered to ask, "Do you think Seth will make it back in time?"


    "He should. It''s such an important day, he wouldn''t miss it," Bianca replied.


    Lillian thought so too.


    She had seen firsthand how much Seth cared about Bianca and had been envious of it countless times.


    So she teased herself, "What a stupid question! Seth cares about you so much, of course he''ll make it back!"


    This time, Bianca didn''t respond.


    Her feelings wereplicated.


    Lillian, however, chattered on.


    "Do you think he might have a big surprise nned for you? Like, right after you get the notification that PerseTech''s listing is sessful helf get down on one knee and propose!"


    "Wow, just imagining it is so romantic!"


    For once, Bianca contradicted her. "You''re thinking too much. Aurelion Group has a problem. He''s been overseas dealing with the crisis. How would he have time to prepare a surprise"


    "But what if? Sis, have a little more faith in him!"


    He wouldn''t be absent, but after this, his position would change.