Hearing the news, Noreen felt an inexplicable sense of relief.


    It was good that he was out.


    Noreen didn''t ask any more about Seth''s situation.


    Seeing that ire was not in a good state, she let her go home early.


    ire didn''t want to stay there either, especially not to see that shameless pair.


    So she went along with Noreen''s suggestion and left the party early.


    Only after settling ire did Noreen return to the banquet hall.


    Felix arrived with Madeline just before the party officially began,ing over to greet Noreen.


    Originally, Noreen had no particr opinion of Felix and Madeline; after all, they had hardly interacted before.


    But not long ago, Madeline had snatched a role that ire had fought hard to win, and she''d done it with Felix''s help.


    So Noreen wasn''t very warm toward them; in fact, she was rather cold.


    Madeline couldn''t help but overthink it. When Noreen went to give her speech, she


    frowned and asked Felix, "Felix, Ms. Gilmore seems quite cold to me."


    Felix dismissed it. "Probably because she doesn''t know you well."


    But Madeline didn''t think that was it.


    As a woman, she could keenly sense Noreen''s dislike for her.


    Besides, the role she''d pried from ire hadn''t even warmed her hands before someone else snatched it away from her.


    Madeline had inquired privately and was told the order came from the boss of Winrich.


    But she had no connection with the boss of Winrich; there was no reason for them to target her like that.


    So she suspected that ire might have some connection to Winrich.


    But that thought was quickly dismissed.


    What kind of connection could ire have with the boss of Winrich?


    She was just an orphan!


    If it weren''t for Old Mrs. Quigley''s affection for her, what right would she have to marry Felix?


    That was what Madeline hated most!


    She had tried


    Mrs. Quigle0 curry favor with Old


    but the old woman had


    always di?liked her, favoring only ire.


    She even used her authority as an elder to pressure Felix, forbidding him from divorcing ire.


    Lost in these thoughts, Madeline''s mind drifted.


    It was Felix''s voice that brought her back.


    "What are you thinking about?" he asked.


    "Nothing," Madeline replied with an innocent smile, her red lips curving. "Felix you should bring me to more parties like this in the future. want to learn more about social etiquette."


    "Why bother learning that?" Felix asked with a faint smile.


    Madeline answered yfully, "To help you, of course."


    "No need." Felix reached out and affectionately ruffled her hair, just as he used to.


    A wave of warmth spread through Madeline''s heart.


    After the party, Sophia helped a slightly tipsy Noreen downstairs.


    She had called Colby in advance, telling him to have the car waiting at the main entrance.


    In the elevator.


    Sophia looked at the intoxicated Noreen with a sense of helplessness. "Why did you drink so much?"


    Noreen''s voice, thick with alcohol, was a bit husky. "I was happy today."


    Thepany''s relocation was


    indeed something to be happy


    about but not enough to wal


    drinking so much content belongs


    MS


    When they reached the main entrance, Sophia saw the person waiting by the car, and her expression tightened.


    She instinctively nced at Noreen, who was rubbing her forehead.


    She must have been feeling dizzy from the alcohol, so her attention wasn''t focused ahead.


    Besides, Seth was wearing a mask, and his clothes and hairstyle werepletely different from before.


    It would be hard to recognize him without a close look.


    Even so, Sophia''s heart was pounding.


    Seth silently opened the car door.


    Sophia steeled herself and helped Noreen into the car.