He had lost the father who doted on him most.


    Seth and Bianca were in prison.


    Dn was getting married, but not to the woman he loved.


    It seemed like no one was having an easy time.


    No, that wasn''t entirely true.


    At least Noreen''s life was getting better and better.


    After leaving Seth, she seemed to be on a constant upward trajectory.


    On the first day of the new year, Noreen first paid a visit to Halley, then went to see Wade.


    Jude was there when she arrived.


    He was in the living room, drinking tea and chatting with Wade.


    When he saw Noreen, Jude instinctively stood up, a bit awkwardly making room for her to sit.


    While Jude was there, Wade had been making small talk with him.


    But after Noreen arrived, their conversation shifted to business matters.


    Jude couldn''t understand a word of it.


    But he could tell that Noreen was incredibly sharp.


    She could hold her own in a conversation with Wade, trading insights back and forth.


    It was only then that Jude understood why Seymour Wilder had insisted he learn from Noreen.


    He also realized that Noreen''s sess was not a matter of luck, but an inevitability.


    So, when Samuel Johnson had said Noreen was wasted as Seth''s secretary at Aurelion Group, he wasn''t exaggerating.


    Her willingness to stay by Seth''s side as his secretary for seven years was purely out of deep-seated love.


    Seth really owed Noreen a great deal.


    After they finished discussing business, Wade asked Noreen about her studies.


    Noreen said she had about six months left of her courses with Halley and nned to attend WT Business School for advanced studies afterward.


    Jude, already impressed by Noreen''s capabilities, was even more astonished to hear she was going to WT Business School.


    So, she hadpleted Halley''s graduate program in just over half a year and secured a spot for further study at WT Business School?


    She was some kind of genius!


    Compared to Noreen, he felt like he was just taking up space in the world.


    Wade was very supportive of


    Noreen''s choice. "If you want to take Winrich global, you definitely need a systematic understanding of the economic systems and rules various international business alliances. It''s a very wise decision."


    That was exactly Noreen''s thinking.


    Wade paused, then brought up Noreen''s personal life.


    "If you meet someone suitable, you could give it a try." "Okay."


    Hearing this, Jude instinctively nced at Noreen.


    He noticed her expression was calm.


    But within that calmness, he sensed the faint, restless winds that precede a storm.


    On the sixth day of the new year, Noreen attended a government meeting.


    The usual host, Padgett Novak, wasn''t there; a deputy director was presiding instead.


    During a coffee break, some people were discussing Forrest Lowell''s dismissal.


    They said he was likely dragged down by his wife and daughter, which was why he was removed from his position right when his career was on the rise.


    Herwyer sent a message saying that the trial for Yvonne Laurent and Lana''s intentional homicide case would be fext Monday, asking, Noreen wanted to attend.


    Noreen replied that she would.


    The case was straightforward, but Noreen still wanted to witness their fate with her


    own eyes.


    That evening, Noreen attended a business dinner that didn''t end until after nine.


    Fortunately, she had messaged


    Rosalind beforehand, telling her not


    to wait up, to eat and sleep on time and to remember to take her


    medicine before bed.


    As Colby dropped her off downstairs, he nced at the pavilion ahead. "Ms.


    Gilmore, I think that''s your mother over there."


    Noreen leaned forward to look.


    There were two figures in the pavilion. Though they were far away, Noreen recognized Rosalind.


    But she couldn''t make out the man with her.


    He was half-hidden by the shadows of the trees.