He had been living in a daze recently, unable to feel any joy from hispany''s sessful IPO and his subsequent rise in worth. The mistake he''d made that night had be an insurmountable chasm. He couldn''t even face himself, so how could he possibly face Noreen?


    Mina Holt sidled up to him at some point, nudging him with her elbow. "Brother, what are you waiting for? Go win Noreen over!"


    Mina still didn''t know what had happened on the cruise and was nagging Carman to pursue Noreen just as she always had.


    "I just did ap, and I heard at least a few people asking about Noreen''s rtionship status, trying to set her up. She''s a hotmodity right now! We have a head start, so don''t drop the ball and let someone else overtake you."


    "If you won''t do it, I''ll go talk to her for you!"


    Carman forced a smile, his eyes evasive. "Don''t do anything rash. This event is very important to her. Don''t ruin it."


    "Fine." Although Mina was impatient, she understood the priorities. "Well, you''d better get on it. No more procrastinating."


    "...I know."


    Dn Wilder arrivedte with his fiancée. It was Noreen''s first time meeting her. As the rumors said, she was a beautiful woman of mixed heritage, quite young, with a face full of youthful radiance. Her smile was sweet, her eyes innocent and bright.


    "Dn, you''re here!" Noreen greeted him as she always did, then turned a friendly gaze to his fiancée. "Hello, Miss Chelsea. Wee to Winrich''s g."


    Crystal Chelsea was naturally outgoing. "Looks like we have simr taste in dresses."


    It was only then that Noreen noticed Crystal''s gown was remarkably simr to her own. Both were in shades of deep blue. The only differences were the material, and the style. Noreen''s had a more sophisticated ir, while Crystal''s was sweeter.


    Before Noreen could react, Crystal eximed, "Oh, and our nes are almost the same, too! Though your sapphire is bigger Mine is. smaller, but Dn gave it to me, and I love it. Isn''t it pretty?"


    Noreen couldn''t help but smile. "It''s beautiful."


    "You''re beautiful too," Crystal said with a yful grin. "Dn told me you''re amazing, a total powerhouse! I''m so impressed. I could never be like that. I''ve never been good with beways numbers math ss always felt a foreignnguage to me."


    her


    Her enthusiasm was almost overwhelming. Thankfully, Dn gently pulled her back, reminding her that Noreen had other guests to attend to.


    Crystal stuck out her tongue. "Okay, then. We''ll talk again next time."


    As they walked away, Noreen overheard Crystal asking Dn to send her Noreen''s contact information. She was... quite a character. And a good match for Dn.


    In the past, Jude would have been the life of a party like this, loud and arrogant. Now, he was possessed by a quiet stillness that only time could bestow.


    After Healy went to talk to Noreen, Jude stood alone, sipping his drink, his gaze asionally sweeping across the room without any particr focus.


    Until itnded on Seth in another corner.


    Seth wasn''t looking at him. His eyes were fixed on the other side of the ballroom, and his expression was one of profound affection.


    Jude followed his line of sight and saw Noreen.