On the flight to Rivercrest City, Jude filled Seth in on the changes over the past few years.


    "Noreen... she''s incredibly powerful now. It''s no exaggeration to say that half the businesses in Rivercrest City are connected to her in some way."


    Seth listened quietly, not asking any questions, not saying a word. He was like a ghost,pletely disconnected.


    In Glenhaven City, the engagement party hosted by the Joyner family was a grand andvish affair.


    Noreen, with her arm linked gently through Castle''s, moved through the banquet hall with him, greeting guests and making conversation.


    "Mr. Joyner." Ss approached with a ss of champagne, greeting Castle, but his eyes were fixed on Noreen. He couldn''t believe that the woman he''d been searching for for five years was now someone else''s fiancée.


    Noreen seemed to have no memory of him. She merely clinked her ss with his politely, her gaze not lingering for even a second.


    Although Ss''s status had risen over the years, he was still insignificantpared to a powerful family like the Joyners. Castle exchanged a few brief pleasantries before leading Noreen away, leaving Ss standing alone, his eyes glued to Noreen''s back, unable to look away.


    A momentter, his phone rang, pulling him from his trance.


    It was his sister, Ynde,ining that the crazy woman at home was smashing things again.


    "Let her," Ss said tly. "Stay out of her way so she doesn''t hurt you."


    Ynde''s voice was full of resentment. "I just feel bad. All those things cost money." Having grown up poor, she cherished everything they now had.


    Ss''s mind was clearly elsewhere; he wasn''t really listening to Ynde''sints.


    "Brother, are you even listening to me? Why don''t you just send her to a mental hospital? I can''t take it anymore!" Ynde sounded angry.


    Ss finally snapped back to reality. "I saw her," he said.


    Ynde paused, immediately understanding who he meant. "Where? Does she remember you?" she asked excitedly.


    Ss''s voice was heavy. "She doesn''t remember me."


    Getting engaged was aplicated affair, especially for a prominent family like the Joyners of Glenhaven Gity By the end of the day, Noreen


    felt like her legs were about to fall off.  s?novels


    Fortunately, Castle was considerate. As soon as the party ended, he arranged for Noreen and Katy to be driven back to Joyner Mansion.


    The moment she sank into bed after her shower, she felt like her bones were about to dissolve. Just as she was drifting off, there was a soft knock on the door, hesitant and careful.


    Noreen got up to open it and found Katy standing outside, clutching a worn-out doll. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" she asked timidly.


    "Of course, you can."


    Noreen weed Katy into the room. As the two of themy in bed, a rare sense of peace settled over them.


    Katy murmured softly, "This is nice."


    Noreen didn''t ask what was nice, simply telling her to hurry up and sleep. As she drifted into a hazy slumber, she heard amotion from downstairs. A house like


    Joyner Mansion was boundelmet


    to have excellent soundproofing, so for her


    to hear the noise at all meant it had


    to be significant.


    Noreen hesitated, thinking about going down to check. But just as she sat up, a message from Castle came through.


    [Sleep peacefully.]


    So Noreeny back down. The noise downstairs subsided soon after, and exhausted, she fell asleep.


    In the morning, the doctor knocked on her door for Katy''s daily health monitoring. It was part of her


    routine. Due to Katy''s special


    condition Castle had hired a private physician to track her health daily, ensuring there were no surprises. Cóntent