Evelyn Fowler was Evelyn''s full name.


    There was no way Evelyn could have afforded to pay that much rent. The answer was obvious.


    Sophia was still asking what was going on.


    Noreen''s mind was already reeling. "Don''t worry about the lease. This ce is


    rented for another twenty years."


    "What? That long?"


    Noreen grabbed her jacket and headed for the door. Sophia asked where she was going, but Noreen didn''t answer, as if she hadn''t heard.


    She drove straight to the Harcourt residence. But when she arrived at the gate, she hesitated. If she went in now, she would shatter the peace she had built. She had fought so hard to pull herself out of that swamp. She didn''t want to—couldn''t— disrupt that fragile tranquility.


    In the next instant, Noreen started the car and drove away, as if she had never been there at all.


    On the day of Winrich''s relocation party, it seemed like every prominent figure in Rivercrest City hade to offer their congrattions. The venue was bustling. Noreen saw many old friends, like Healy Naylor and Carman Holt.


    Strangely, Carman hade alone. Sophia had explicitly invited both him and his wife.


    But that was their personal business, so Noreen didn''t ask.


    She was surprised to see Padgett Novak. It had been a year, and he looked even more like a seasoned official. She''d heard he''d been promoted again. She''d also heard he was still single.


    "Ms. Gilmore, congrattions on the new office. I wish yourpany a prosperous future, continued sess, and many more great achievements toe!"


    "Thank you, Mr. Novak."


    gett Novak gave a wry smile at the formal title. "After all these years, doesn''t that sound a bit too formal?"


    "Well, I can''t very well call you Director Novak anymore, can I?"


    Padgett sighed. "Fine, call me whatever you like."


    Given his current position, he couldn''t linger at a business event like this for long. After offering his congrattions, he said his goodbyes to Noreen. As he was about to leave, he paused and added, "I almost forgot to wish you a happy engagement."


    Noreen was taken aback for a second before smiling and thanking him.


    Once their car was on the road, Padgett Novak''s secretary asked him, "Mr. Novak, did you really fly all the way to Rivercrest City just to congratte Miss Gilmore in person?"


    Padgett Novak was supposed to be on a business trip to the Northwest but had made a special detour to Rivercrest City, only to stay for a few minutes. It seemed like a lot of time and effort, which made the secretary curious. In his experience, Mi Novak was always a calm andposed individual; he had never seen him do something so seemingly impulsive.


    Padgett didn''t answer, his gaze fixed on the view outside the window. He just..... wanted to see her.


    Dn Wilder and Crystal Chelsea arrived just as the party was about to begin. Crystal seemed more mature and poised than before. Although Noreen hadn''t spent much time in Rivercrest City these past few years, she still kept up with the local news. Dn and Crystal had be the city''s modek couple known for being deeply in love. With the help of Crystal''s father, Omniva Group had ovee its crisis and was back on track. The only rumored regret was that they still didn''t have any children after years of marriage.


    Noreen wasn''t particrly interested in such matters, but Crystal was as sociable as ever. After


    apanying Dn to greet


    Noreen, she stayed behind to chat, telling Noreen how beautiful she looked and how she envied her for her sessful career and for finding her soulmate. Then, she seamlessly transitioned to gushing about her own marriage-how wonderful Dn was to her, how he felt she was still young and didn''t want her to be a mother too early, which was why they hadn''t had children yet.


    Noreen had little patience for this kind of domestic gossip. The moment she received a text from ire, she immediately excused herself from Crystal''spany to go greet her friend at the entrance.