《Never Mistake A Queen for a Lapdog》
Yes-man 1
It¡¯s said every man has a woman he once loved but could never have¨Cthe one who haunts his heart, the one who got away.
Noreen Gilmore always thought Seth Harcourt was the exception. After all, they¡¯d shared a passionate youth, tangled up in each other¡¯s lives for years.
But the world, it seems, is just one grand stage for lost loves. And Seth, for all his stoic charm, was no different.
Noreen had been with Seth since she was eighteen¨Cseven years, more than two thousand days and nights. They¡¯d shared everything lovers could, and yet, none of itpared to that fleeting, unforgettable girl from his past.
The irony of it all almost made herugh.
Seven years, and she still couldn¡¯t see clearly into a man¡¯s heart.
So just how deep did that love run, that Seth could bury it for so many years and never let her close enough to dislodge it?
Lost in thought, Noreen barely registered Seth¡¯s growing impatience. He tightened his grip, a silent warning to pay attention or risk his displeasure.
Seth was always intense in bed¨Cforceful, relentless. In the heat of things, his sweeping movements sent a ck velvet box tumbling from the nightstand. He caught it midair, careful not to let it fall on her.
He nced at it, curiosity flickering across his face. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±
Noreen slipped the box from his hand, tossed it asid¨¦ without emotion, and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his throat. ¡°You¡¯re getting distracted at a time like this? Tired of me already?¡±
Seth couldn¡¯t resist her. Whatever curiosity he had vanished in an instant.
As he lost himself in her, Noreen¡¯s gaze drifted to the ck box lying forgotten on the floor. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Seth, you¡¯ll never know what¡¯s inside that box.
***
A month earlier, Aurelion Group had gone public. Seth¡¯s friends threw him a small
celebration.
Noreen dressed to the nines, determined to propose to Seth that night.
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Proposing was supposed to be the man¡¯s job. But Noreen loved Seth so much that she was willing to set aside her pride¨Cshe¡¯d ask him to marry her.
No one knew she¡¯d waited seven years for this day.
Seth¡¯s career was everything to him. Noreen switched her major to finance for his sake, even though it bored her to tears. She turned down an offer from a
prestigious overseas university and joined Aurelion Capital, starting at the bottom just to be near him.
She worked her way up from the lowest rung to be his executive assistant. No one but Noreen knew how much she¡¯d sacrificed.
There were so many nights, when love burned brightest, that she wanted to ask
Seth:
Will you marry me?
But she always swallowed the question.
Her mother used to say¨Cnever ask for gifts or love. If someone gives it willingly, it¡¯s a blessing; if you have to reach out and take it, it¡¯s charity.
And Seth was never one to talk about his feelings. Still, after all these years, she was the only woman by his side. No one else had evere between them. It felt inevitable, like they were simply waiting for the right time.
For that future, Noreen had fought tooth and nail for Aurelion Group, taking on every challenge, no matter how big or small. She couldn¡¯t remember how many nights she¡¯d spent drinking with clients, or how many times she¡¯d ended up in the hospital.
The time she suffered alcohol poisoning and lost their child, she nearly died on the operating table.
Her best friend ire Chase asked her once, ¡°You nearly died for this man, Noreen. Don¡¯t you regret it? Was it worth turning yourself into this for him?¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°It was worth it.¡±
ire gave her a nickname¨CLove¡¯s Warrior. She said, ¡°I hope you don¡¯t lose.¡±
Back then, Noreen had answered with unwavering certainty, ¡°Seth won¡¯t let me lose.¡±
That belief kept her going all the way to Aurelion Group¡¯s IPO.
No one knew that the day Seth rang the bell at Harborview City, Noreen locked
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herself in her room and cried her heart out. When she was done, she dried her tears and started nning the perfect proposal.
Seth was busy, after all. The IPO meant new projects, endless congrattions from friends, family, and business partners. He barely had time to think about their rtionship.
So she decided to take the leap herself¨Cto shoulder some of his burdens, and maybe, finally, secure their future together.
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3/3
hapter 2
Yes-man 2
Even though she had spent the whole day mentally preparing herself, Noreen still couldn¡¯t keep the nerves at bay when the moment finally arrived.
She stood outside the door, struggling to steady her breathing, rubbing her trembling hands in an attempt to calm herself.
What if, the moment she walked in, she choked up and couldn¡¯t even recite the engagement vows she¡¯d practiced a thousand times?
Inside, the party was in full swing. Laughter and conversation drifted through the doorway, voices ovepping.
¡°Seth, are you still in touch with Bianca Lowell?¡±
¡°Bianca? Wasn¡¯t she Seth¡¯s first love? Why bring her up all of a sudden?¡±
¡°I heard Bianca¡¯sing back to the States.¡±
¡°Well, doesn¡¯t that mean Seth gets another shot at his first love?¡±
Noreen¡¯s hands, already trembling from anticipation, froze mid¨Cmotion.
¡°Honestly, Bianca¡¯s dad has made quite a name for himself these past few years. If Seth married her, it would be a huge boost for him¨Cand for the Aurelion Group. Power couple, perfect match.¡±
¡°Plus, she¡¯s his first love. He¡¯d have it all, both romance and sess.¡±
The one saying this was Jude Wilder, Seth¡¯s childhood friend. He liked to joke that he and Seth grew up sharing everything, so he spoke,with the confidence of someone who assumed he knew all the secrets.
First love? Seth¡ has a first love?
A sharp pain seized Noreen¡¯s heart, catching herpletely off guard.
¡°So, what about Noreen?¡± someone asked Seth, curiosity in their voice. ¡°She¡¯s stuck by you for years. Even if she hasn¡¯t achieved much, she¡¯s certainly paid her dues.¡±
Jude shrugged it off. ¡°Just give her some money and send her on her way.¡±
¡°Or hey, if you really like her, keep her around after the wedding. Happens all the time¨Cwife at home, fun on the side.¡±
Noreen¡¯s fingers clenched so tightly that she could no longer feel her own hands.
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She needed Seth¡¯s answer¨Cdesperately.
She wanted him to speak up right away, to tell everyone, loud and clear.
That he loved Noreen. That she was the one he wanted to marry.
But all she heard, after a long pause, was his cool, dismissive voice: ¡°When did you guys get so nosy?¡±
No denial. No objection.
If anything, it sounded like he was admitting to everything.
¡°Yeah, yeah, let¡¯s talk about something juicy for once¨Cit¡¯s a party, after all. I¡¯m about to fall asleep over here,¡± Jude said, springing up from the sofa to liven things up.
Jude was a notorious yer, cycling through girlfriends faster than most people changed their socks. He was the king of party games, always bringing up something wild. Tonight, he proposed a round of confessions.
¡°Everyone, share the wildest thing you¡¯ve ever done.¡±
Someone blurted out, ¡°Hooked up in a car.¡±
Jude scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s your idea of wild?¡±
The guy shot back, ¡°On a train.¡±
The whole room burst intoughter and shouts. ¡°Now that¡¯s next¨Clevel!¡±
Jude turned to Seth, who looked bored out of his mind. ¡°What about you, Seth? Ever do anything wild?¡±
Seth seemed to think for a moment before answering, ¡°I became the other man for love.¡±
The whole room exploded.
This was Seth¨Cthe heir to one of Rivercrest City¡¯s most powerful families. He could have any woman he wanted. If he did something like that, it had to be for real love.
Jude was the most dramatic of all, his voice rising so loud Noreen could hear every word through the door.
¡°It was Bianca, wasn¡¯t it? I knew you still loved her! Back then, you were into Bianca, but she was into Dn Wilder, so you became the other man for love! Seth, you¡¯re unbelievable¨Ca true romantic hero!¡±
Theirughter crashed over Noreen like buckets of ice water, freezing her to the
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core.
Her stomach twisted painfully. She slid down, crouching by the door, fighting the urge to be sick.
Jude was still going, his voice carrying over the noise. ¡°Come on, Seth, be honest. On October tenth, did you meet up with Bianca?¡±
Seth replied, ¡°How¡¯d you know about that?¡±
¡°She posted on Instagram that day¨Csomething about ¡®reunions being the most romantic thing in the world.¡® I just knew it had to be you!¡±
¡°So, how¡¯d it go? Sparks flying? Did you pick up where you left off?¡±
Yes-man 3
Jude¡¯s gossiping was relentless, the kind that never seemed to run out of steam.
Everyone else in the room kept egging him on, voices rising until the whole ce felt like a rowdy tavern.-
Noreen couldn¡¯t make out what Seth was saying through the din; all she could focus on was the sharp, twisting pain in her stomach.
But the ache in her gut was nothingpared to the sharp, hollow agony in her
chest.
October tenth.
The date burned in her mind¨Cthe day she¡¯dnded in the ER with alcohol poisoning and lost the baby.
She¡¯d wed her way through hell alone, while he was off rekindling things with his golden girl.
¡°Miss Gilmore, are you all right? Are you feeling unwell?¡±
A passing waitress had stopped in her tracks, startled by the sight of Noreen crouched on the floor, face drained of all color.
Noreen asked her to call an ambnce.
By the time she was lying on the stretcher, drenched in cold sweat, Seth¡¯s name lit up her phone.
Any other day, no matter how tired or busy she was, she¡¯d have answered his call in a heartbeat.
But today, the pain was overwhelming.
So overwhelming, in fact, that for once, she didn¡¯t care. She didn¡¯t want anything,
not even Seth.
:
Noreen spent five days in the hospital with a severe case of gastritis.
The doctor said it was a consequence of thest time¨Cshe hadn¡¯t taken care of herself after the alcohol poisoning and miscarriage.
Throughout her stay, Seth never visited. Not a single text, not even a call.
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Maybe she¡¯d never mattered in his world¨Cnot really. She just hadn¡¯t realized it
before.
Monday morning, Noreen returned to work. Her assistant, Sophia Cole, dragged her aside with an air of conspiracy. ¡°Noreen, have you heard? We¡¯ve got a new parachute hireing to Aurelion Group! And it¡¯s a woman!¡±
¡°A parachute?¡± Noreen frowned, unconvinced.
Seth had always been strict about hiring from within. Even Noreen herself had started as an intern at the bottom of thedder. There¡¯d never been a precedent for outside hires¨Clet alone parachuting someone straight into management.
But Sophia was adamant. ¡°I swear, I saw Mr. Harcourt¡¯s signature on the offer letter myself! She¡¯s going to be Director of Investment Division III!¡±
Noreen¡¯s heart skipped.
That was the position Seth had promised her.
She¡¯d given years of her life to Aurelion Group, and everyone knew it. Bypany standards, she should have been promoted to director long ago, running her own projects.
But Seth had insisted he couldn¡¯t do without her as his secretary, said no one else could rece her. He¡¯d always promised the director¡¯s chair would be waiting for her. Once Aurelion Group went public, he¡¯d hand her the promotion himself.
¡°Really?¡± Noreen tried to sound casual, though her eyelid twitched with anxiety. ¡°Do you know her name?¡±
¡°Something like Bi¡ Bi¡ca?¡± Sophia confessed, squinting as if she could read the name off her memory. ¡°Didn¡¯t catch the rest.¡±
Noreen¡¯s hand trembled. The mug slipped from her grasp and ttered to the floor, hot water sshing everywhere.
Sophia jumped. ¡°Noreen! Are you burned?¡±
¡°No.¡±
The water wasn¡¯t hot, but somehow it left her feeling more scalded than boiling water ever could.
¡°Bianca Lowell,¡± she said quietly.
Sophia looked confused. ¡°What?¡±
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Noreen took a steadying breath. ¡°Her name is Bianca. She¡¯s about to be appointed as Director of Investment Division III.¡±
¡°That¡¯s it! That¡¯s the name! Noreen, do you know her?¡±
¡°No.¡±
She picked up her mug and went to refill it.
News of the parachute hire spread through thepany like wildfire. People kepting to Noreen for confirmation until her patience finally snapped.
¡°If you¡¯re all so curious,¡± she said, her tone sharper than usual, ¡°why not just ask Mr. Harcourt yourselves?¡±
Her words had barely faded when the entire executive office fell silent. Then a woman¡¯s soft voice broke the hush.
¡°Seth, your employees seem to have quite the temper.¡±
Noreen turned toward the voice and felt the sting of seeing them¨Cstanding side by side, an inseparable pair.
After days apart, Seth barely spared Noreen a nce, his expression cool as he introduced the woman at his side.
¡°Everyone, I¡¯d like you to meet our new Director of Investment Division III, Ms. Lowell. From now on, she¡¯ll be taking charge of Division III¡¯s projects.¡±
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Yes-man 4
Everyone greeted Bianca warmly as she entered.
Bianca had a sunny personality; she smiled at everyone and said, ¡°I look forward to working with all of you.¡°¨C
She¡¯d even brought small wee gifts for the team, with Seth helping her carry the bags.
Noreen gave a wry tug at the corner of her lips.
Back when she and Seth had worked together, she¡¯d always been the one running around, juggling files and coffee, while he never so much as lifted a finger to help. But now, with his ¡°first love¡± here, he was suddenly eager to lend a hand.
There really is a difference between loving someone and not.
Bianca handed Noreen a gift too¨Ca set of capybara¨Cthemed wrist rests for her mouse pad.
¡°Oh wow, we picked out the same thing!¡± Bianca eximed, noticing the identical wrist rest already on Noreen¡¯s desk.
She turned to Seth and said with a yful smile, ¡°Seth, you two really have simr
taste.¡±
Then, Bianca gave Noreen an apologetic grin. ¡°Seth actually helped me pick out these gifts. I had no idea we¡¯d get the same one. If you¡¯d prefer, I can get you something elseter.¡±
¡°It¡¯s no trouble, I don¡¯t mind,¡± Noreen replied, epting the extra wrist rest.
Seth turned to her, his tone brisk and professional. ¡°Secretary Gilmore, please show Mr. Lowell around the office.¡±
Noreen had no reason to refuse.
One of the cardinal rules for Aurelion Group¡¯s secretaries: the CEO¡¯s orders alwayse first.
It was easy to see Bianca¡¯s appeal; she spoke to everyone gently, always polite and considerate. She was beautiful too¨Cstunning, really, with a face that seemed almost too perfect.
But of course, only someone extraordinary could have been Seth¡¯s ¡°one that got away.¡±
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After Noreen finished showing Bianca around, Bianca asked if she could see her new office.
The space had just been renovated two weeks ago¨CNoreen herself had overseen every detail. The furnishings, theyout, everything had been designed to her taste. More than anyone, she had looked forward to sitting in that office. Just like she¡¯d once dreamed of marrying Seth.
But here she was, and she had neither.
¡°I really love the vibe of this office. It¡¯s so much warmer than I expected¨Cand it¡¯s so close to Seth, too,¡± Bianca said, clearly delighted.
Unable to contain her excitement, she hurried off to the next room to share her joy
with Seth, leaving Noreen standing alone.
Noreen looked around at the office she¡¯d painstakingly designed, her heart clenched so tightly she could barely breathe.
She felt like a fool.
Lunchtime brought thepany¡¯s weekly executive meeting¨Cthe most important event at Aurelion Group, when the entire staff was expected to be on their best behavior. No one dared show upte. Noreen was no exception.
Except¡ Bianca.
Despite being a brand¨Cnew hire, Bianca waltzed inte, breaking one of Seth¡¯s
strictest rules.
Noreen was sure Seth would be angry. At the very least, she expected a stern word
or two.
But he didn¡¯t say a thing. Not one harsh sentence. He simply asked Noreen to hand out the meeting materials, his tone perfectly calm.
In that moment, Noreen felt a strange sense of disorientation.
She remembered back when she was an intern. She¡¯d once beente to a meeting because she¡¯de down with the flu¨Cironically, after staying up to care for Seth
when he was sick. He¡¯d called her out in front of the entirepany, showing her
no mercy.
He¡¯d never even acknowledged that she¡¯d gotten sick looking after him.
She had felt hurt, evenined about it afterward. Seth¡¯s only exnation had
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been that thepany was just getting off the ground and he had to set the tone¨Cmake an example of someone.
And she had be the tool for his authority.
She told herself that he was just being professional, that it wasn¡¯t personal.
But now, yearster, watching him quietly bend the rules for someone else, the memory stung like a p to the face.
So, he could make exceptions¨Cjust not for her.
There really was a difference between people.
Just as there¡¯s a difference between being loved, and not.
????
Yes-man 5
When Noreen turned around after sending the documents, she found Biancal already seated.
But Bianca had taken Noreen¡¯s usual spot.
Noreen froze for a moment, about to say something.
But Seth spoke first. ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll sit over there.¡±
Bianca nced at Noreen with an apologetic smile. ¡°I still have a lot to learn around here, and it¡¯ll be easier to ask Seth questions if I¡¯m closer.¡±
Seth had made his decision¨Cwhat could Noreen say?
Without a word, she gathered her files andptop and moved to a seat by the window.
No one else in the conference room dared to speak, but Noreen could feel the sympathetic nces from her colleagues.
And those looks of pity felt like needles against her skin.
Halfway through the meeting, Seth raised a question about one of the projects.
¡°Why hasn¡¯t this project moved forward yet? Who¡¯s responsible?¡±
His tone was sharp; everyone who knew him could sense he was about to lose his
temper.
The entire room fell silent.
Under the weight of that silence, Noreen stood up. ¡°I¡¯m the one responsible.¡±
Seth shot her a cold look. His voice was even sharper now. ¡°Exin.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was sick for a few days, so the timeline got pushed back-
It
She didn¡¯t even finish before Seth cut her off. ¡°That¡¯s not an excuse. I¡¯ve made it clear¨Cno one is allowed to let personal issues interfere with work. That¡¯s the rule.¡±
Noreen fell silent. She didn¡¯t argue, just nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up on the progress.¡±
Seth finally seemed satisfied.
Before the meeting ended, Seth turned to everyone with an announcement.
He said he was hosting a wee party for Bianca that evening at Hesper Lounge,
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and everyone from thepany was invited.
Hesper Lounge was the most upscale club in all of Rivercrest City¨Cexpensive, exclusive.
A grand gesture, no doubt.
And it made Seth¡¯s favoritism toward Bianca all the more obvious.
Everyone¡¯s attitude toward Bianca shifted.
Even Sophia, who was usually oblivious to office drama, picked up on the tension.
As she helped Noreen tidy up the conference room, she whispered, ¡°Noreen, are you okay?¡±
She was one of the few who had an inkling about what was really going on between Noreen and Seth.
Noreen managed a calm reply. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±
¡°But you look so pale¡¡± Sophia said, concern written all over her face.
Noreen touched her own cheek. ¡°Is it that bad?¡±
Sophia nodded earnestly. ¡°It¡¯s obvious.¡±
¡°My stomach¡¯s acting up, you know how it is. Old problem,¡± Noreen said, making up
an excuse.
¡°Are you going to the wee party tonight?¡±
Noreen considered it, then shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll skip it. Could you let Mr. Harcourt know for me?¡±
Seth had invited the entirepany to Bianca¡¯s wee party. With so many people there, one more or less wouldn¡¯t make a difference.
Maybe Seth wouldn¡¯t even notice her absence.
It didn¡¯t matter anymore if she went or not.
¡°Good idea. Go home early and get some rest. Your healthes first, Sophia said, her voice gentle with concern.
Even Sophia could see something was wrong.
Yet Seth, who had once shared every intimacy with her, couldn¡¯t see it at all.
>>She used to fool herself¨Cit was just that Seth was focused on his career, too busy
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to notice the small things.
But now, she couldn¡¯t believe that lie anymore.
As if on cue, the pain in her stomach red up again.
She still had a stack of work to get through, so she popped another antispasmodic and forced herself to keep going.
By the time she finally got home, she was so exhausted that all she could do was copse on her bed, curling up and barely able to move a finger.
Bone¨Ctired, body and soul.
She stayed curled up for a long time. When the pain eased a little, sleepiness overtook her.
Maybe a good night¡¯s sleep would help, she thought.
But just as she drifted off, her phone rang sharply.
That ringtone¨Cit was Seth¡¯s, the special one she used just for him.
Once upon a time, it would have made her heart skip with anticipation.
Now, it just felt like torture.
Yes-man 6
She let the phone ring, making no move to answer.
She knew Seth wasn¡¯t the patient type¨Cif she ignored the call, he¡¯d never bother to dial a second time.
But tonight, Seth broke his own rule.
When she didn¡¯t pick up the first call, the phone vibrated again, his name shing insistently.
This time, ignoring it would only look bad.
¡°Noreen Gilmore speaking. What do you want, Mr. Harcourt?¡± Her tone was detached and cold when she finally answered.
Nothing like before.
Seth frowned at his screen, double¨Cchecking that he¡¯d called the right number before asking, ¡°Where are you?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, so I won¡¯t make it tonight. Hope everyone has a great time.¡±
She was ready to hang up right there.
But Bianca¡¯s voice chimed in from the background, unmistakably bright and curious: ¡°Secretary Gilmore isn¡¯ting? Seth, is it because I¡¯m not wee?¡±
Then Seth¡¯s voice cut through, icy and sharp. ¡°Noreen, drop the act. Everyone¡¯s here but you. Trying to set yourself apart?¡±
¡°¨C¡±
¡°I¡¯ll give you twenty minutes. If you¡¯re not here by then, don¡¯t bothering in to work at all.¡±
He hung up on her.
Listening to the dead line, Noreen almostughed.
All this¨Cover missing a single wee party. Seth was ready to fire her for it.
So what did all her years of hard work mean? Thete nights, the endless stress, even the stomach ulcer she¡¯d earned from drinking on business deals¨Cwhat were
those worth?
??1
11:55
By the time Noreen arrived at the Hesper Lounge, the private room was in full
swing.
Jude was leading the cheer, egging Seth and Bianca on to share a toast, arms high and voice booming.
Seth¡¯s tone was indulgent, a far cry from the man on the phone moments ago.
¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±
¡°Oh,e on, Seth! Live a little. We¡¯re all celebrating tonight. You can¡¯t back out
now.¡±
Before Seth could refuse, Bianca picked up her ss with a confident smile and turned to him. ¡°It¡¯s just a game, Seth. y along, don¡¯t make this awkward for me.¡±
With everyone watching, Seth lifted his ss of iced tea. For a split second, as Bianca¡¯s arm slipped around his, his gaze caught Noreen¡¯s at the door.
Their eyes met for a single heartbeat¨Cthen he looked away, focusing on Bianca as he raised his ss.
Jude whipped out his phone to capture the moment, probably to gossip about itter, and in his excitement, identally bumped into Bianca.
¡°Careful.¡±
The two stood close, almost pressed together.
Seth instinctively reached out to steady Bianca, catching her as she stumbled against him.
The room¡¯s energy peaked,ughter and cheers reaching a fever pitch.
From Noreen¡¯s vantage, the two looked like a couple locked in an intimate embrace. Oddly, her chest didn¡¯t ache this time.
Maybe she¡¯d just gone numb.
But her stomach twisted painfully, waves of nausea rising up.
A sudden gasp shattered the lively mood.
Sophia, unable to hold back her surprise, called out from across the room,
¡°Noreen? What are you doing here? Weren¡¯t you feeling sick? You should be home. resting!¡±
Her concern stuck out awkwardly in the boisterous atmosphere.
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Bianca, still nestled in Seth¡¯s arms, lifted her head and greeted her with a radiant smile. ¡°Secretary Gilmore, you made it! Come join us¨Cwe¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±
¡°Sorry, something came up and I got dyed,¡± Noreen replied smoothly, stepping into the room with an air of calm.
Jude, suddenly sheepish, realized he might¡¯ve gone a little too far with the party games. He opened his mouth to exin, but Seth cut in, his voice cold and remote. ¡°Theter should down three drinks to show some sincerity, don¡¯t think?¡±
you
The mention of alcohol made Noreen¡¯s stomach churn violently, sharp pain threading through the nausea.
It felt like a storm raging inside her.
Yes-man 7
apter 7
Chapter 7
Sophia¡¯s face tightened the moment she heard there¡¯d be drinks.
¡°No way. Noreen¡¯s not feeling well¨Cshe shouldn¡¯t be drinking.¡±
Last time Noreen ended up with alcohol poisoning, Sophia had been the one with her at that business dinner. She remembered every detail, and the memory still haunted her. The doctor even said that if they¡¯d gotten to the hospital anyter, Noreen might not have made it.
Jude looked annoyed. ¡°Come on, Sophia. You¡¯re seriously underestimating Noreen. Everyone knows she can hold her liquor better than most guys here. Remember when she and Seth went up north for those negotiations? Twenty people at that dinner, and she kept pace with every round¨Cdidn¡¯t even flinch. And now you¡¯re telling me she can¡¯t handle three sses? Is it just me, or is she picking favorites? Or is she trying to disrespect Bianca in front of everyone?¡±
Bianca jumped in, trying to smooth things over. ¡°Jude, give Secretary Gilmore a break, will you? She¡¯s ady¨Cdon¡¯t make things hard for her.¡±
Jude refused to back down. ¡°How am I making things hard? I¡¯m just stating the
facts.¡±
She looked at Seth for backup. ¡°Seth, am I being unreasonable here?¡±
Seth barely looked up, his gaze unreadable as it flickered over Jude¡¯s face. His lips curled in a cool, indifferent smile. ¡°Not at all.¡±
With that, Jude felt vindicated. ¡°See? Even Seth thinks I¡¯m not. Bianca, you¡¯re just too soft¨Chearted. Unlike Noreen¨Cshe¡¯s a real yer in the business world. She
knows how to look out for herself.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t rise to the bait. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Seth, searching his eyes for any trace of something else¨Ca hint of concern, maybe even the smallest sign that he¡¯d step in for her. She waited, hoping he¡¯d say something¨Canything¨Cto get her out of this. Just one word, or even a half¨Chearted ¡°that¡¯s enough.¡± It was the kind of desperate hope thates right before giving up.
But Seth stayed silent. His eyes held nothing but cold detachment.
In that moment, something inside Noreen shifted. It was as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water down her back, freezing out thest bit of hope she¡¯d been holding onto.
She forced a faint smile, her expression distant. Leaning forward, she picked up the
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wine ss in front of her, her voice steady. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m the one breaking the rules here. Fine. I¡¯ll drink.¡±
She¡¯d learned plenty of tricks to survive these business dinners¨Clining her stomach. beforehand, sipping slowly, milk or yogurt to cushion the blow. Those strategies had helped her outdrink plenty of seasoned negotiators. But tonight, she ignored every one of them. She just drank, fast and reckless.
One ss.
Two.
Three.
The burn of the liquor seared her throat and made her stomach cramp even more painfully than before. Still, she forced herself to smile and lifted her empty ss toward Seth. ¡°There. I finished. May I go now, Mr. Harcourt?¡±
Noreen never heard if Seth gave her permission to leave. She didn¡¯t wait for his answer¨Cshe just got up and walked out.
Her stomach churned violently as she hurried down the hall. She was terrified she might throw up right there in front of everyone. She barely made it to the bathroom before she was doubled over the sink, heaving until her vision blurred. Somewhere in the middle of it, she caught herself thinking¨Calmost bitterly grateful¨Cthat at least she¡¯d taken her stomach meds before drinking, not antibiotics.
Nobody¡¯s born a heavyweight. Before joining the Aurelion Group, Noreen hadn¡¯t touched a drop of alcohol. The first time she went with Seth to a business dinner, the clients insisted they show some ¡°good faith¡± by drinking. The problem was, Seth was allergic to alcohol¨Che couldn¡¯t touch the stuff. So Noreen stepped up and took his ce. She had no idea what she was doing, choked on her first sip, but when she thought about how hard Seth had worked for that opportunity, she forced herself to swallow it down.
That was the first project she ever won for him.
Seth once told her she was the pride of the Aurelion Group, and that when they finally made it, they¡¯d celebrate their sess together. For that promise, Noreen never let him touch another drink at a business dinner. No matter what, she always took his ce.
Her ability to drink wasn¡¯t some natural gift. It was forged, one bitter ss at a
time.
11:55
Chapter 8
Yes-man 8
n arrow that, after seven long years, struck Noreen right between the eyes.
It hurt¨Cterribly so¨Cbut pain had a way of sharpening rity.
By the time she left Hesper Lounge, rain had started to fall outside. Late autumn showers always arrived without warning.
Noreen¡¯s stomach, still unsettled after vomiting, offered her little relief. Her face
was drained of color.
She pulled out her phone to call a ride, but
Seth¡¯s driver spotted her and jogged over. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, is the party over? Where¡¯s Mr. Harcourt? Didn¡¯t he leave with you?¡±
¡°He¡¯ll need a bit longer,¡± Noreen replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Inside, the party was still going strong, and Seth¨Ccharming as ever¨Cwas in thepany of histest muse. He likely wasn¡¯ting out anytime soon.
The driver nced back at the entrance, then at Noreen¡¯s pale face. Taking matters into his own hands, he said, ¡°Ms. Gilmore, why don¡¯t I take you home? It¡¯s pouring and hailing a cab at this hour won¡¯t be easy.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t protest. She felt so wretched, stubbornness seemed pointless.
They¡¯d barely made it halfway when Seth called, his voice clipped and cold as it came through the car¡¯s speaker. ¡°Where are you?¡±
The driver answered honestly, exining that Noreen had felt unwell and, assuming Seth would be a while, he¡¯d decided to take her home.
Seth¡¯s response was icy: ¡°Do you remember who signs your paychecks?¡±
The driver stiffened. ¡°I¡¯lle back for you right away, sir.¡±
But just before the line disconnected, Seth¡¯s tone melted into something gentle, almost warm. ¡°The car will be there soon, Bianca. It¡¯s cold out¨Cwait inside.¡±
Bianca¡¯s reply was soft and sweet. ¡°Will you keep mepany, Seth?¡±
Noreen never heard his answer; the call had already ended.
The driver looked uneasy.
11:56
Noreen spoke up. ¡°Zachary, just drop me at the curb. I¡¯ll get a cab myself.¡±
She knew this stretch of road¨Cthere wasn¡¯t a taxi in sight, nor even an awning to keep off the rain.
The driver, guilt¨Cridden, handed her the car¡¯s umbre before she got out.
Maybe luck pitied her for once that night, because only a few minutes after stepping out into the rain, a car finally pulled over.
Even so, by the next morning, Noreen was feverish and shivering.
Her body, still frail after a miscarriage, was no match for the cold and the constant strain on her health. Her immune system was shot; even a light drizzle left her defenseless.
But she had an appointment that day with Mr. Chase from Valiant Capital Group¨Cthe same project Seth had called her out for during the meeting.
If she postponed again, there was no telling what snide remarks Seth would throw her way.
Noreen nced at the thermometer: 101.3¡ãF. Not life¨Cthreatening, but miserable all
the same.
She could take something for the fever, but unfortunately, Mr. Chase was a notorious drinker. He insisted on discussing business over drinks.
With a sigh, Noreen tossed the medicine back in the drawer, grabbed her files, and headed out without looking back.
She¡¯d just ordered food and drinks when Mr. Chase arrived.
Seeing the spread¨Ceverything he liked¨Che broke into a satisfied grin. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, are you sure you won¡¯t consider jumping ship to Valiant Capital? Name your sry and the job¡¯s yours!¡±
¡°Thank you for the offer, Mr. Chase, but my contract with Aurelion Group isn¡¯t up yet. I¡¯m not looking to make a move right now.¡±
It was the answer she always gave.
Noreen¡¯s reputation preceded her¨Cher skill was well¨Cknown, and she was always in demand. There was no shortage of people trying to poach her.
Once, at a dinner, a tipsy business partner even tried to recruit her right in front of
11.56 /
Seth.
Seth hadn¡¯t said a word at the time, but that night he¡¯d taken his frustration out on
her in bed.
In the end, it was Noreen who signed a long¨Cterm contract with Aurelion Group, just to coax Seth into letting it go.
11:56
2/2
Yes-man 9
Victor Chase couldn¡¯t help a touch of envy as he listened to her. ¡°Mr. Harcourt is a lucky man, having someone as talented as Secretary Gilmore on his team. No wonder his business is thriving.¡±
¡°You tter me, Mr. Chase. If anything, I admire you more¨Cbuilding yourpany from the ground up is no small feat.¡±
They were exchanging the kind of pleasantries people always tossed around at these dinners, but Noreen¡¯s words still managed to put Victor in a thoroughly good mood.
¡°I always enjoy working with you, Secretary Gilmore. You have a way of making negotiations feel so pleasant. Here, let me raise a ss to you.¡±
¡°Your doctor told you to stay away from alcohol,¡± Noreen replied with a smile. ¡°Let me drink this one for you. I¡¯ll finish it¨Cyou do as you please.¡±
Victor genuinely liked people who were straightforward, and Noreen¡¯s easygoing manner only made him appreciate her more.
As soon as she downed the ss, he leaned in, lowering his voice in concern. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard. This project? I¡¯m only signing with you. Doesn¡¯t matter who elsees knocking.¡±
¡°Thank you, Mr. Chase.¡± Noreen poured him another drink herself.
Victor suddenly noticed a pallor creeping over her features. ¡°Are you unwell, Secretary Gilmore? You don¡¯t look so good.¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine, really.¡±
¡°Let me call my driver to take you to the hospital, just in case.¡±
Noreen was about to reassure him when a knock sounded at the door.
A waiter entered. ¡°Mr. Chase, Mr. Harcourt heard you were dining here and asked me to bring you this wine.¡±
Victor nced at the bottle in the waiter¡¯s hands.
Roman¨¦e¨CConti. Impressive.
But what puzzled him more was, if Seth was here at the Grand Oak, why wasn¡¯t he
with Noreen?
Before Victor could ask, Seth arrived¨CBianca on his arm.
11:56 M
¡°Mr. Chase, do you like the wine?¡± Seth¡¯s gaze slid past Noreen as he greeted Victor. He wore only a crisp white shirt, tailored perfectly to his lean frame, making him look both refined and unapproachably elegant.
As for his jacket¡
It was draped over Bianca¡¯s shoulders, a gesture of intimacy that left nothing to the imagination.
The irony wasn¡¯t lost on Noreen¨Cshe was the one who¡¯d picked out that jacket for
Seth.
¡°A thoughtful gift from Mr. Harcourt¨Chow could I not appreciate it? And this is¡?¡± Victor¡¯s eyesnded on Bianca, instantly sizing up the situation.
A man giving his jacket to another woman¨Cno further exnation needed.
Victor nced at Noreen, almost reflexively.
She seemedposed enough, but her face was even paler than before.
¡°Let me introduce you,¡± Seth said smoothly. ¡°This is Bianca Lowell, Director of Investment Division III at Aurelion Group. Bianca, this is Victor Chase, from Valiant Capital Group¨Can old friend of ours.¡±
Bianca stepped forward, extending her hand. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Chase. I look forward to working together.¡±
¡°The pleasure¡¯s mine, Ms. Lowell.¡±
Valiant Capital and Aurelion Group had partnered on several projects, so Victor was well aware of thepany¡¯s inner workings.
Division III had only been established within the past year, and the director¡¯s seat ¨C had remained conspicuously vacant¨Ceveryone assumed it was reserved for
Noreen.
After all, she¡¯d been managing Division III¡¯s projects all this time, juggling two jobs and propelling the division to the top of Aurelion Group¡¯s rankings within a year. No one could deny she¡¯d gone above and beyond.
No one expected, though, that after all her hard work, someone else would step in to reap the rewards.
Even Victor, an outsider, couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her.
¡°By the way, Mr. Chase,¡± Seth continued, ¡°from now on, Ms. Lowell will be your main
11:56
contact for the joint project between Aurelion Group and Valiant Capital. I brought her over to introduce you two.¡±
Victor frowned, unable to hide his surprise. ¡°But I¡¯ve always coordinated with Secretary Gilmore. This sudden change¡¡±
Seth shrugged, unbothered. ¡°Noreen is just a secretary. Mr. Lowell was away, so she temporarily handled the project. Now that the director is back, it¡¯s only right the responsibility returns to her.¡±
He added, as if to reassure Victor, ¡°Don¡¯t worry¨CBianca holds a PhD in Finance from Meritania WT Business School and has worked at some of the world¡¯s top banks. I personally recruited her for Aurelion Group. Her expertise is second to none.¡±
Victor¡¯s real concern wasn¡¯t about Bianca¡¯s qualifications. He just couldn¡¯t help feeling sorry for Noreen.
F
Yes-man 10
Chapter 10
After all, she had poured her heart and soul into this project.
Now Seth was just handing it over to someone else as if it were nothing. Even as an outsider, he found it hard to watch.
But Noreen¡¯s reaction was surprisingly calm.
Seth personally introducing Bianca to the new partners¨Cit was clear he was determined to look out for her.
He was genuinely considerate.
In a way Noreen had never experienced before.
So she spoke with quietposure. ¡°I¡¯ll organize the project files and hand everything over to Mr. Lowell as soon as possible.¡±
¡°Thank you, Ms. Gilmore,¡± Bianca replied, her tone perfectly polite.
Noreen gave a slight nod, picked up her bag, and turned to Victor. ¡°Mr. Chase, you can discuss the details directly with Mr. Lowell. I¡¯ll excuse myself now.¡±
Victor wanted to stop her, but he had no grounds to do so.
In the end, all he could do was quietly take Noreen¡¯s side. ¡°Well, this is an internalpany decision. As an outsider, I have no objections. It doesn¡¯t matter who I negotiate with¨Cthe project is the same. But Mr. Harcourt knows how I do business: I like to build friendships over a drink. I remember Ms. Gilmore once impressed me by downing nine shots at a dinner party. I wonder how Mr. Lowell holds his liquor?¡±
¡°Maybe not as well as Ms. Gilmore, but I¡¯ll do my best to keep up,¡± Bianca replied with a confident smile, lifting her ss.
Before she could take a sip, Seth smoothly took the ss from her hand. ¡°She¡¯s not feeling well. I¡¯ll drink this for her.¡±
Without waiting for Victor¡¯s response, Seth downed the drink himself.
Victor knew Seth was allergic to alcohol. At every business dinner, it was always
Noreen who drank in his ce.
They¡¯d known each other for years, and this was the first time Victor had seen Seth step in to shield someone else.
So what did all those times Noreen took his drinks mean?
11.56
Outside the meeting room, Noreen was wondering the same thing.
Later that night, Noreen got home, took her medicine, and had just settled into bed when ire called.
She checked in on Noreen, asking if she¡¯d been getting enough rest, if she was taking care of her health, and if she¡¯d been following the doctor¡¯s
orders¨Cespecially the one about staying away from alcohol.
Noreen¡¯s answers were evasive at best.
ire could tell she was lying. ¡°So you drank again, didn¡¯t you?¡±
¡°It¡¯s just business. I didn¡¯t really have a choice.¡±
ire exploded on the other end. ¡°Are you trying to kill yourself? Did you forget you nearly died from alcohol poisoning? And Seth¨Cwhat the hell was he thinking, letting you go out drinking again?¡±
¡°It won¡¯t happen anymore,¡± Noreen promised.
ire didn¡¯t buy it for a second. ¡°You said that before!¡±
¡°This time I mean it.¡±
¡°How much do you mean it?¡±
Noreen hesitated, then asked, ¡°Do you know any goodwyers? The kind who could take on Aurelion Group¡¯s legal team?¡±
ire¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What are you nning to do?¡±
¡°I¡¯m thinking of breaking my contract with Aurelion Group. But you know how tough their legal department is, and my contract is airtight and really unfavorable for me. Mostwyers wouldn¡¯t dare touch it.¡±
That¡¯s when ire realized Noreen wasn¡¯t joking. She couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°Are you really Noreen?¡±
¡°Last time I checked,¡± Noreen deadpanned.
ire burst outughing. ¡°This is a day worth celebrating! My hopelessly¨Cin¨Clove best friend is finally waking up!¡± She was genuinely happy for Noreen.
If she didn¡¯t know Noreen needed her rest, ire would have dragged her out for an all¨Cnight talk.
11:56
¡°Leave thewyer to me. I¡¯ll find you someone with real teeth.¡±
Before hanging up, ire made sure to reassure her.
After talking things through, Noreen felt lighter. Sleep was just beginning to pull her
under when Seth called.
She answered, her voice steady.
¡°Yes, Mr. Harcourt?¡±
¡°I need you to bring me my allergy meds,¡± Seth said, as matter¨Cof¨Cfact as ever.
¡°Of course, Mr. Harcourt,¡± Noreen replied.
After their call, she turned off her phone and finally let herself drift into peaceful sleep.
As for Seth ying the hero, stepping in to shield Bianca from a drink despite his own allergies¡ What did that have to do with her anymore?
11:5
Yes-man 11
The next morning, Noreen had barely set foot in the office when Sophia sidled over, looking conspiratorial, and showed her what she¡¯d discovered earlier.
¡°Looks like Mr. Lowell spent the night at Mr. Harcourt¡¯s ce,¡± Sophia whispered, her voice barely more than a breath, ncing around to make sure no one else could hear.
On her phone screen was the evidence¨Ca photo she¡¯d snapped on the sly.
¡°This morning, they arrived in the same car. And Mr. Lowell¡¯s wearing the exact same clothes as yesterday.¡±
Noreen nced at the photo. In it, Seth stood by the car door, half his face lost in shadow as he looked down at Bianca, who was about to step out. Maybe it was the angle, or maybe the moment itself, but there was a subtle intimacy about the scene. Something lingering and soft.
She stared at the image for a few seconds, then looked away, tossing a handful of pills into her mouth. Chasing them down with several gulps of hot water, she felt the liquid course down her throat¨Cno pain, no difort.
Truly, nothing at all.
She spent the entire morning sorting through project files, making sure every detail was in order. Somewhere in between, she found the time to draft her resignation letter.
Meanwhile, Bianca made four separate trips to Seth¡¯s office, each visitsting more than half an hour. Noreen guessed Seth was in a good mood with Bianca there; he didn¡¯t even mention being stood up by Noreen the night before.
Just before noon, Seth and Bianca finally emerged together. As they passed Noreen¡¯s desk, Seth didn¡¯t spare her a nce.
Bianca was chatting with him, asking what he wanted for lunch. She said it was her treat¨Ca thank you for helping her out with drinksst night.
Seth suggested a ce nearby, a little bistro known for its nourishing broths. Their signature soup, he said, was supposed to be good for the blood¨Cjust what she needed right now.
Bianca looked genuinely touched. ¡°Seth, that¡¯s so thoughtful.¡±
As the elevator doors closed, Noreen typed her name at the bottom of her
11:57
resignation letter.
Sophia texted: What do you want for lunch?
Noreen thought for a moment before replying, ¡°Let¡¯s go to Bone & Broth.¡±
Sophia agreed.
It was lunchtime, and the ce was buzzing with people. The moment Noreen walked in, she spotted Seth and Bianca. It was impossible not to¨Cthey were seated right in the middle of the room.
¡°Seriously?¡± Sophia muttered under her breath, worried Noreen would be upset.
But Noreen kept her cool, ncing past them as if they were invisible. ¡°There¡¯s a
free table over there.¡±
One of the servers recognized Noreen and came over with a friendly smile. ¡°Miss Gilmore, back for our valerian root soup today?¡±
Noreen shook her head with a smile. ¡°Not today. I¡¯ll have something gentle on the stomach, please.¡±
¡°Did your boss finally solve his insomnia problems?¡± the server asked, almost out
of habit.
After all, every time Noreen came to Bone & Broth, it was to pick up a special sleep remedy for her boss¨Crain or shine. Over time, she¡¯d be something of a regr, and most of the staff knew her by name.
Noreen¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°Yeah. He won¡¯t be needing it anymore.¡±
From now on, she just needed to take care of herself.
Sophia piped up, ¡°Do you have anything that¡¯s good for, you know, boosting blood and energy? It¡¯s that time of the month and I keep getting lightheaded.¡±
¡°We do, actually!¡± the server replied, unable to hide her excitement. ¡°There are only three servings of our specialty ck chicken and astragalus soup today¨Cyou¡¯re lucky, there¡¯s one left. The other two went to that gentleman over there, for his girlfriend.¡±
There was a hint of envy in the server¡¯s voice. ¡°They¡¯re such a great couple¨Csmart, good¨Clooking, and so elegant. And he¡¯s so attentive! Men like that are hard to find these days.¡±
Sophia nearly reached out to cover the server¡¯s mouth.
212
11:57
She was talking about Seth and Bianca, of course.
So Seth had brought Bianca here for the nourishing soup because she needed it this time of the month.
3/3
Yes-man 12
He said yesterday that she wasn¡¯t feeling well and stepped in to drink for her. That must be the reason, right?
Just how close¨Chow deeply entwined¨Cdo two people have to be for him to know her so well?
Seven years together, and it wasn¡¯t as if Seth had never been gentle or considerate. But even the closest couples aren¡¯t immune to the infamous ¡°seven¨Cyear itch.¡± She and Seth were no exception.
As Aurelion Group grew, its reach expanding across the business world, Seth became busier than ever. He barely had a second to breathe, let alone time for
romance.
Noreen couldn¡¯t even remember thest time the two of them had gone on a real date, just the two of them. Let alone the kind of attentive, caring gestures that once
felt so natural.
After the waiter left, Sophia immediately leaned in, her voice tight with concern. ¡°Noreen, are you okay?¡±
Noreen shook herself out of her thoughts, offering a faint smile and a small shake of her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±
The nourishing soup at Bone & Broth really did live up to its reputation. After two small bowls, her stomach felt warm and settled,fort spreading through her
body.
Sometimes, you really do have to take care of yourself. Being good to others doesn¡¯t alwayse with a reward, but being good to yourself does¨Cevery time. And it¡¯s the most direct reward there is.
That afternoon, there was an investmentmittee meeting.
For Bianca, it was her first time attending as Director of Investment Division III. Everyone was curious about the capabilities of this newly appointed director.
Bianca started off by introducing her background: PhD in Economics from MeritaniaWT Business School.
The entire conference room buzzed with surprise.
No wonder Mr. Harcourt had personally recruited her from overseas! No wonder
11.67
she¡¯d parachuted straight into Aurelion Group!
So that¡¯s what a high¨Cachieving star looks like.
MeritaniaWT Business School was ranked among the world¡¯s top business schools. Securing a PhD in Economics from WT was nearly unheard of.
And she wasn¡¯t just brilliant¨Cshe was strikingly beautiful, too.
No wonder Secretary Gilmore hadn¡¯t stood a chance.
Some people who¡¯d previously felt sorry for Noreen were starting to waver. After all, everyone admired strength¨Cthey were no exception.
Noreen, after all, had only graduated from a domestic university with a bachelor¡¯s. She didn¡¯t even have a master¡¯s¨Chow could shepete with someone like
Bianca?
Noreen focused on taking minutes, just as she always did. But when her fingers hovered over the keys to type ¡°WT Business School,¡± she paused for a few
seconds.
Once, she¡¯d received an offer from WT Business School herself. She gave Seth, turning down a chance at the life she¡¯d dreamed of.
it up
for
Because of that choice, her university professor had never forgiven her.
She never imagined that yearster, she¡¯d lose out because of the decision she made back then.
With Bianca¡¯s glittering credentials, Seth¡¯s announcement that she¡¯d secured the Valiant Capital Group project no longer seemed out of ce to anyone. It was as if the project had always been Bianca¡¯s aplishment.
How ironic.
Sophia, fuming, fired off a flurry of messages to Noreen.
Can you believe it? How does the Valiant Capital Group project suddenly belong to
Mr. Lowell?
The messages kepting, rapid¨Cfire, full of indignation.
That was the project younded after drinking yourself sick! How is this fair?
How can Mr. Harcourt be so tantly biased?
I don¡¯t get it. I really don¡¯t get it!
11:57
I¡¯m about to explode!
Noreen tried to calm Sophia down.
Hey, it¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t make a fuss. It¡¯s not important anymore.
After all, if she could let go of Seth¨Cthe man she¡¯d loved for seven years¨Cthen what was a project inparison?
But Sophia wouldn¡¯t let it go.
But that was the project you fought tooth and nail for. Does Mr. Harcourt even know you lost a child because of it?
Yes-man 13
11:57
¦Ò¦Ó¦Ï¦Ì¦É¦Ó¦É ¦Ó¦Ï
The mention of her child was like a crack in a dam for Noreen¨Cthe pain she¡¯d forced herself to suppress began seeping out, spreading slowly through her chest.
She could never forget the icy brightness of the hospital¡¯s fluorescent lights, the sharp, chemical tang of disinfectant in the air, or the chill that sank into her bones after the procedure.
Those memories would stay with her for life.
She¡¯d always remember the agony of something torn from her very soul.
Looking back, maybe her child had sensed it all along. That¡¯s why he¡¯de quietly and left just as silently, almost as if he¡¯d arrived just to help her weather a storm.
When the meeting ended, Bianca turned to Sophia. ¡°Send me the minutes from today¡¯s meeting.¡±
Still simmering with irritation, Sophia snapped, ¡°They aren¡¯t ready yet.¡±
¡°Then send them over when you¡¯ve finished,¡± Bianca replied,posed.
¡°I¡¯m swamped. I don¡¯t have time to sort them out.¡±
Bianca shot Sophia a look, her brow furrowing.
But Sophia ignored her, busying herself gathering up Noreen¡¯s things and tidying the conference room.
Only after Sophia left did Noreen speak gently, trying to calm her down. ¡°You need to remember¨Cnever bring your emotions into work. That¡¯s not tolerated here at Aurelion Group. If you want to go far here, don¡¯t cross anyone, especially those above you.¡±
¡°I just don¡¯t think it¡¯s fair to you,¡± Sophia muttered.
¡°There¡¯s no such thing as ¡®fair¡® or ¡®unfair¡® in these things,¡± Noreen said, her tone cooling.
To her, love was never a transaction.
Her kindness to Seth was her own choice. How Seth responded was up to him.
She never tried to bnce the scales between them¨Cshe knew that wayy only disappointment.
>She loved Seth. That was why she was willing to bet her future on him, giving up a
11:57 BY
chance to study abroad, staying to help him build his business, ying the support
role behind the scenes.
It hadn¡¯t ended the way she¡¯d hoped, but she¡¯d never regretted it.
Sometimes, life demanded you ept the oue and move on¨Coften, your greatest enemy was the prison of your own thoughts.
Still, the end of a rtionship always left you exhausted and hollow.
She just needed a little time.
She¡¯d get through this.
Right before clocking out, Noreen messaged Bianca to let her know all the project files from Division Three were ready and she could deliver them anytime.
Bianca replied almost instantly:
[Secretary Gilmore, please bring the files to Seth¡¯s office. I¡¯ve just returned to the States and I¡¯m not familiar with the local businessndscape. I need Seth to help me analyze them.]
She called him Seth¨Cover and over, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Seth never corrected her. He let Bianca call him by his first name as much as she
liked.
But Noreen remembered all too well how much Seth hated anyone in thepany using anything but his formal title.
For seven years, Noreen had never slipped, always addressing him as Mr. Harcourt in the office and at any business function.
Diligent. Professional. Always keeping her distance.
Now, it all seemed like a cruel joke.
Seth¡¯s rules, it turned out, were only for outsiders.
And she was the outsider/
With the people he favored, there were no boundaries.
Noreen simply replied ¡°Received,¡± then gathered the project files¨Calong with the documents needing Seth¡¯s signature¨Cto bring to his office.
Before she left, she took her signed resignation letter out of her drawer and tucked
11:57 m
it into the stack she was handing over.
Whether Seth would sign it or not was out of her hands. But she had to go through
the motions.
Arms full of paperwork, Noreen headed straight to Seth¡¯s office.
As always, she knocked, then pushed open the door without waiting for an answer.
This was the only privilege Seth had ever given her. As his secretary, she often needed quick ess for work matters, and not having to wait at his door saved them both time.
It had be muscle memory¨Cknock, then enter.
But this time, before she could even greet him, what she saw inside hit her like a punch to the chest, leaving her heart twisted and aching.
Yes-man 14
Bianca was perched casually on Seth¡¯s desk, her upper body leaning toward him.
Seth¡¯s face was so close to Bianca¡¯s chest that they were almost touching.
Their posture was shockingly intimate.
¡°Oh-!¡±
Bianca seemed startled by Noreen¡¯s sudden entrance and tumbled straight into Seth¡¯s arms.
Seth¡¯s brow furrowed in annoyance as he snapped at Noreen, ¡°Do you not know how to knock?¡±
Noreen wanted to say she had knocked.
But in this moment, arguing felt pointless.
¡°No sense of professionalism! Is this how you do your job?¡±
His tone was icy, his gaze sharp, as if he¡¯d forgotten he was the one who¡¯d granted her special ess in the first ce.
¡°Sorry, it won¡¯t happen again,¡± Noreen replied quietly.
Because, in her mind, there would be no next time.
Bianca finally lifted her head from Seth¡¯s embrace, her cheeks flushed and lips rosy, as if she¡¯d just been thoroughly adored.
¡°Seth, don¡¯t be so harsh,¡± she pouted, her voice soft and sweet. ¡°I¡¯m sure Secretary Gilmore didn¡¯t mean to barge in.¡±
Then Bianca turned to Noreen with a bright, innocent smile. ¡°You¡¯re here to drop off the project files, right? Could you leave them on the desk for me? I¡¯m a little tied up at the moment.¡±
Noreen kept her eyes down, doing her best to remain expressionless as she set the folder on the desk. ¡°There are a few documents inside that still need your signature,
Mr. Harcourt.¡±
¡°Alright, you can leave,¡± Bianca said, dismissing her with the authority of ady of
the house.
Seth added, ¡°Don¡¯te in unless it¡¯s urgent. That goes for everyone else, too.¡±
11:57
Noreen¡¯s heart twisted, her fingers trembling as she balled them into fists. ¡°Understood. It won¡¯t happen again.¡±
She gave her word.
She couldn¡¯t even recall how she managed to walk out of that suffocating office.
All she remembered was that, right up until she left, Bianca stayed nestledfortably in Seth¡¯s arms-
Completely unbothered.
And Seth showed no intention of pushing her away.
His anger¨Chis fury¨Cwas for being interrupted at such a convenient moment, wasn¡¯t
it?
In all their seven years of knowing each other, Noreen had never seen Seth lose hisposure like that.
It was as if his calm, rational mask had finally slipped.
Maybe men only lose control when they¡¯re with the women they truly desire.
How else could you exin him getting so carried away in broad daylight, turning his office into a stage for this sort of y?
As soon as the clock struck five, Noreen powered down herputer and stood to
leave.
Her coworkers in the admin suite stared in shock.
After all, Secretary Gilmore was famous around Aurelion Capital for being a workaholic, holding thepany¡¯s all¨Ctime record for overtime hours.
Especially since she¡¯d started covering for the Investment Division III, she practically lived at the office¨Cher whole life orbiting the workce.
But today, she was leaving on time.
It was almost unbelievable.
She¡¯d barely stepped out of the building when her phone rang¨CSamuel Johnson
was calling again.
Any other day, Noreen would¡¯ve hung up or found a polite excuse to decline.
Johnson was a headhunter.
He¡¯d tried to recruit her more times than she could count, and she¡¯d shot him down
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11:574
every time.
But today, she answered without hesitation.
On the other end, Johnson was so surprised, he almost forgot why he¡¯d called in the first ce.
Noreen took the initiative. ¡°Mr. Johnson, do you have time for dinner?¡±
Johnson was ted. ¡°Absolutely! If Secretary Gilmore¡¯s inviting, I¡¯ll make time! Any preference? I¡¯ll book whatever you like!¡±
¡°If possible, a lighter menu,¡± Noreen replied. ¡°My stomach¡¯s not in the best shape.¡±
¡°No problem at all! I¡¯ll find a ce and send you the location. See you soon!¡±
¡°See you soon.¡±
Noreen went home to change before heading out. Her apartment was close to the office¨Cexpensive, but worth it for the easymute and endlesste nights.
Seth had never understood her choice, alwaysining it was too small and too cluttered. He¡¯d visited only once before refusing to ever set foot there again.
Whenever he needed her, she was expected toe to his ce instead.
Yes-man 15
Chapter 15
He had no idea that the real reason her room was always a mess was because it was overflowing with his things.
Seth was aplete workaholic. As his chief assistant, Noreen had to be on call for him twenty¨Cfour hours a day.
Her desk was stacked high with all kinds of files and documents he might need at a
moment¡¯s notice.
The walls were covered in his schedules, memos, and color¨Ccoded charts.
Her closet was packed with his formal suits and tuxedos for business dinners.
Even the floor space was crowded with the gifts he¡¯d bought for clients¨Cbottles of wine, gourmet baskets, and branded keepsakes.
That cramped little apartment she rented had basically be her second office.
In the entire room, the only thing that belonged solely to her was the narrow twin bed in the corner.
Not that Seth ever appreciated it. He¡¯d onceined that her bed was too small, and after that night, he¡¯d never set foot in her ce again.
Before heading out, Noreen called the movingpany, asking them to send someone over that weekend to help sort through the mess.
It was time to clear out everything that wasn¡¯t hers.
***
Johnson had picked a trendy new French restaurant that had just opened downtown¨CLuna Eclipse Dining. It was apparently all the rage these days.
He must have remembered her mentioning over the phone that her stomach wasn¡¯t great, because he¡¯d ordered a selection of mild,forting dishes¨Cdelicate soups, soft breads, light sds. Thoughtful of him.
People who care never need to be taught how.
She¡¯d always convinced herself that Seth just cared too much about work to notice the little things in life. So she¡¯d taught herself not to mind, and to ept him as he
was.
But today, she learned something new: Seth would specially take Bianca out for a nourishing broth at Bone & Broth when she was on her period.
11.57
So, he could be thoughtful. Just not with her.
Tonight, Noreen looked nothing like her usual self. Gone was the severe business suit she seemed to have welded on; her long, dark hair was finally loose. The pale dress she wore made her already porcin skin seem to glow.
When Johnson arrived, he nearly walked right past her.
It was Noreen who greeted him first, ¡°Mr. Johnson, sorry to keep you waiting.¡±
He stared at her, wide¨Ceyed, practically gaping. ¡°Secretary Gilmore? Is that really you? I almost didn¡¯t recognize you!¡±
As she sat down, a strand of hair slipped off her shoulder. She brushed it back casually.
¡°Secretary Gilmore, can I ask you something?¡± Johnson couldn¡¯t help himself.
¡°Go ahead,¡± Noreen replied with easy confidence.
¡°Does yourpany have some weird rule or something?¡±
She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Like what?¡±
¡°Like making attractive women dress down on purpose.¡±
Noreenughed, amused. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as apliment, Mr. Johnson.¡±
¡°I wasn¡¯tplimenting you. I¡¯m just very good at telling the truth!¡±
Johnson¡¯s quick wit and charm made the atmosphere warm and rxed in just a few words¨Cno wonder he was one of the city¡¯s top headhunters.
Jude emerged from one of the private dining rooms just then, and immediately spotted Noreen sitting by the window.
At first, he was simply struck by her beauty.
She¡¯d chosen her seat well; the evening sun was pouring through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, bathing her in golden light. She looked almost ethereal, aglow with a kind
of divine radiance.
Jude was transfixed, moving toward her almost without thinking.
At that moment, Noreen happened to nce his way.
He froze in his tracks, stunned, hardly able to believe it. That was¡ Noreen?
She looked like her, but then again, she didn¡¯t.
11.57
Chapter 15
In his mind, Noreen was always dressed like an antique¨Coverly prim, hopelessly old¨Cfashioned, with not a hint of femininity. He used to secretly wonder what Seth was thinking, choosing her over the many gorgeous women around him.
Now, looking at her tonight, Jude realized just how wrong he¡¯d been.
Seth had been enjoying a feast these past few years, and everyone else had been
blind to it.
* ?/?
Yes-man 16
Noreen met Jude¡¯s gaze for a brief moment before looking away, her expression calm and detached, as if she were looking at a stranger.
That stung Jude¡¯s ego more than he cared to admit.
He had never thought much of Noreen¨Cjust another sycophant at Seth¡¯s beck and call. What right did she have to act so aloof in front of him? She was still putting
on airs!
Jude recognized Johnson, too. He strode over, deliberately ignoring Noreen, and greeted him with an exaggerated warmth.
¡°Mr. Johnson! Long time no see. What¡¯s keeping you busy these days?¡±
Johnson, after all, knew who Jude was¨Cthe wild child of the Wilder family, with plenty of resources, even if he wasn¡¯t exactly known for his work ethic. Courtesy was a given.
¡°Oh, you know what I do, Mr. Jude. Always out hunting for talent.¡±
¡°Hunting for talent, huh?¡± Jude shot a meaningful nce at Noreen, his lips curled in a mocking half¨Csmile¨Cpart taunt, part scorn.
¡°Your headhunting skills seem a little rusty.¡±
Johnson justughed it off. ¡°Now, now¨CSecretary Gilmore is highly sought¨Cafter in our field.¡±
Jude didn¡¯t take the bait. Instead, he said, ¡°I bet you haven¡¯t heard¨CMr. Harcourt from Aurelion Group just brought in a top recruit from overseas. PhD from WT Business School, used to work for Grand Trust Bank, and now he¡¯s the new director
of Aurelion¡¯s Investment Division III.¡±
He couldn¡¯t hide the smugness in his voice. ¡°That kind of talent would be considered top¨Ctier even in your circles, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±
Johnson nodded, honest and unbothered. ¡°That¡¯s definitely high¨Ccaliber.¡±
¡°So, looks like you¡¯ve got some room to improve,¡± Jude said, giving Johnson a friendly p on the shoulder.
Johnson just grinned. ¡°Appreciate the advice, Mr. Jude.¡±
After his little performance, Jude was practically glowing. ¡°Oh, by the way, I have a stake in this restaurant. Tonight¡¯s dinner is on me.¡±
11:57 ÄÜ
¡°Oh, I couldn¡¯t possibly-¡±
¡°No need to be polite. Who knows, maybe someday I¡¯ll need your help finding someone. Consider this a gesture of friendship.¡±
As they left, Jude swept Noreen with a haughty look, clearly hoping to see some hint of embarrassment on her face, some sign she felt outssed.
But Noreen¡¯s expression remained as calm as ever. There was nothing for him totch onto.
That irritated him even more.
So, the moment he stepped outside, he called Seth toin.
¡°Seth, guess who I just ran into!¡±
Seth was still at the office, workingte, barely ncing at his phone. He pressed the inte for the secretary¡¯s office. ¡°Miss Gilmore, bring me a coffee.¡±
On the other end, Jude hesitated.
Did Seth really not know Noreen wasn¡¯t at the office?
Interesting.
While he waited for his coffee, Seth finally asked, ¡°So, who did you see?¡±
¡°Johnson,¡± Jude replied, not getting to the point. ¡°He¡¯s out headhunting.¡±
Someone knocked on Seth¡¯s door. ¡°Come in,¡± he called.
It was Sophia, delivering the coffee.
Seth paused, frowning. ¡°Where¡¯s Miss Gilmore?¡±
¡°She¡¯s left for the day,¡± Sophia replied.
Seth¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°She didn¡¯t stayte tonight?¡±
¡°No, she didn¡¯t.¡±
That was unusual, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it¨CNoreen was nothing if not reliable. He just assumed she had other matters to attend to.
He dismissed Sophia and took a sip of the coffee. His brow furrowed again.
It wasn¡¯t the blend he was used to.
His desire for coffee evaporated. He set the cup down, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his temples. ¡°So, who¡¯s Johnson trying to poach?¡±
11
Finally, Jude got to the point, practically tripping over his own excitement. ¡°He¡¯s trying to recruit Noreen!¡±
3/3
Yes-man 17
Jude had expected Seth to be shocked.
But to his surprise, Seth¡¯s reaction was remarkably calm. ¡°Hasn¡¯t Johnson given up yet?¡±
¡°So you mean¡this isn¡¯t the first time Johnson¡¯s tried to poach Noreen?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡± Seth soundedpletely unfazed, even certain. ¡°He won¡¯t seed. Noreen would never leave with him.¡±
Jude agreed, letting out a derisiveugh. ¡°Exactly. There¡¯s no way Noreen would ever walk away from Aurelion Group.¡±
Besides, as long as Seth remained at Aurelion Group, Noreen would never consider leaving.
¡°She¡¯s really got a knack for scheming, that one,¡± Jude went on, half¨Cmocking, half¨Cgloating. ¡°I bet she invited Johnson to Luna Eclipse just so I¡¯d bump into them, then made sure you¡¯d hear about it. She wants you to think she¡¯s considering a job switch¨Choping you¡¯ll make the first move to keep her.¡±
He sounded like he had it all figured out.
¡°My guess? She saw you giving Bianca all this attention and felt left out, so she¡¯s ying these little games. It¡¯s so clich¨¦. Doesn¡¯t she know guys hate it when women get jealous and try these petty tricks? The more she acts up, the more she¡¯ll push you away.¡±
¡°She really overestimates herself. Who does she think she is, anyway? How can she possiblypete with Bianca? Anyone with half a brain knows who you¡¯d choose.¡± Seth had no patience for Jude¡¯s gossip. He brushed him off with a few perfunctory remarks and ended the call.
He opened the folder of documents awaiting his signature, and right at the topy Noreen¡¯s resignation letter.
His brow creased, almost imperceptibly.
Then he set the letter aside without a second nce and continued signing the rest of the papers.
11:58
Noreen had enjoyed her conversation with Johnson; she was in high spirits as she stopped by the corner flower shop to buy herself a bouquet on the way home.
It wasn¡¯t until she unlocked her front door that she remembered¨Cshe didn¡¯t own a
vase.
The cheerful mood faded a little as she looked around at all the things in the apartment that didn¡¯t truly belong to her.
She grabbed a cardboard box and packed away all her files, finally clearing off the dining table.
A sweep of the room, and she finally spotted something that could serve as a makeshift vase: a trophy.
The Aurelion Group¡¯s ¡°Outstanding Employee¡± trophy.
Presented to her personally by Seth.
She¡¯d always treasured it.
She remembered thest time ire had too much to drink and crashed at her ce. In the middle of the night, ire, feeling sick, had grabbed the trophy, ready to use it as a vomit bucket.
Noreen had snatched it away at once¨Cshe¡¯d rather have ire throw up on the sheets than disgrace her prized trophy.
Noreen filled the trophy with water and arranged the flowers inside.
She gazed at it for a long while before murmuring to herself, ¡°At least it¡¯s finally good for something.¡±
Right before bed, she turned off her phone¨Ca new habit she was cultivating to help her sleep better. That night, she slept soundly.
At nine sharp the next morning, Noreen arrived at the office.
Her colleagues were surprised to see her show up at this hour; she was usually the first one in every day.
And today, she wasn¡¯t dressed in her usual stiff business attire. Instead, she wore a light¨Ccolored blouse and skirt.
¡°Secretary Gilmore, you look different today,¡± someone remarked.
Noreen smiled. ¡°Different how?¡±
¡°You look beautiful.¡±
To be more precise, she looked stunning.
Though she only wore a touch of makeup, her whole demeanor had
changed¨Cfresh, graceful, and softly radiant.
She was the kind of woman whose elegance drew everyone¡¯s eye, men and women alike.
¡°Thank you.¡± Noreen¡¯s mood lifted even higher.
She¡¯d already had breakfast on the way in, so once at the office, she headed for the break room to get some water and take her stomach medicine.
Just as she reached the door, she overheard a conversation inside.
¡°Who do you think is prettier, Secretary Gilmore or Director Lowell?¡±
¡°They¡¯re not even the same type. You can¡¯t reallypare them.¡±
¡°Maybe before, Director Lowell had the edge¨CSecretary Gilmore always looked so stiff, her clothes and makeup too severe, made her seem ten years older. But she¡¯s got natural good looks. All it takes is a little effort and she just¡glows.¡±
¡°I know, right? She¡¯s got such a vibe. I almost want to call her ¡®big sis¡®!¡±
?? ??
Yes-man 18
When it came to looks, Secretary Gilmore had a slight edge, but Director Lowell¡¯s pedigree and education were leagues ahead¨Csomething Secretary Gilmore simply couldn¡¯tpete with.
¡°Yeah, intelligence and family background¨Cthose aren¡¯t things you can choose. Being born into the right circumstances is a skill in itself.¡±
¡°I heard Secretary Gilmore grew up in a single¨Cparent household¡¡±
Noreen¡¯s timely entrance put an end to the office gossip swirling around the break
room.
¡°Good morning.¡± Unfazed, Noreen strolled in to fill her water bottle, greeting everyone with easyposure as if she hadn¡¯t heard a thing.
After exchanging pleasantries, the others quickly dispersed.
Noreen had just returned to her desk after taking her medication when Manager Selwyn from Division Three hurried over, asking for the evaluation report on the AeroEdge Drones project. Apparently, Mr. Harcourt had personally requested it.
As Noreen handed him the file, he asked, ¡°Secretary Gilmore, is your phone
broken?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± she replied, genuinely puzzled.
¡°Then why couldn¡¯t we reach you? Mr. Harcourt left on a business trip this morning and urgently needed this report, but no one could get through.¡±
Noreen gave a cool, nonchnt answer. ¡°Maybe my phone ran out of battery.¡±
It was a flimsy excuse, and Selwyn clearly didn¡¯t buy it.
Still, he didn¡¯t press the issue. ¡°Mr. Harcourt went out with Mr. Lowell to inspect the AeroEdge Drones project. They probably won¡¯t be back until next week. I¡¯ll send this report over to him now.¡±
Noreen nodded slightly and turned to herputer, ready to start her day¡¯s work.
She¡¯d been the driving force behind the drone project from day one, handling both rounds of site visits and negotiations herself. Seth had never shown any interest, let alone apanied her on business trips out of town. After all, this was just one of many projects under the Aurelion Group¡¯s umbre¨Cnot worth Seth¡¯s personal involvement.
?? 1.
11:58
Chapter 18
But this time, he¡¯d gone in person.
Anyone with half a brain could see what was really happening: Seth wasn¡¯t there to evaluate the project, he was there to back Bianca up, lending her some authority.
Well, good for them. There was finally a touch of ¡°husband supports wife¡± about the whole thing.
With Seth out of the office, Noreen¡¯s workload was cut in half. She was also relieved of responsibility for Division Three¡¯s projects, leaving her with plenty of breathing room.
It felt good. She could finally rx.
Noreen had made an appointment with Dr. Harrison after work, hoping he could prescribe something to help with her chronic stomach issues. Her health had deterioratedtely¨Cshe needed to take better care of herself.
Dr. Harrison was one of the most respected doctors in Rivercrest City, and getting an appointment with him was nearly impossible. Noreen had only managed to get to know him because she¡¯d spent so many early mornings at the hospital, lining up for appointments on behalf of her clients¡® families. After so many visits, they¡¯d be acquainted.
Dr. Harrison admired her drive, but always reminded her to take care of her own health. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can neglect your body just because you¡¯re young. You¡¯ll regret it when you¡¯re older.¡±
It was rare for Dr. Harrison to see Noreen actually prioritizing her health, so he agreed to stayte for her appointment.
But halfway there, Noreen¡¯s phone buzzed. It was Ramsey Caldwell, owner of AeroEdge.
¡°Secretary Gilmore, we¡¯ve got a situation here! You need to get over here right away!¡±
Noreen frowned, asking what had happened.
Ramsey exined that the Aurelion Group team hade for the site visit. Everything was going smoothly¨Cuntil, during the project discussion, Mr. Lowell from Division Three abruptly demanded a three percent cut from the valuation they¡¯d already agreed upon. He imed Aero Edge¡¯s drones were too industrial,ckedmercial appeal, and didn¡¯t have the market share of other consumer brands¨Cso he kept pushing the price down.
¡°Secretary Gilmore, the only reason we even considered Aurelion Group was
2/3
11:58
because you seemed more sincere than the rest, and your proposal actually fit what AeroEdge needed. You know we had plenty of other investors interested. What you¡¯re doing now¨Cthis isn¡¯t ying fair! I¡¯ll only negotiate with you from now on. If you don¡¯te, then this deal is off the table!¡±
Yes-man 19
Noreen barely had time to calm Ramsey down before he hung up on her.
She was about to call him back when Seth¡¯s number shed across her screen.
She had no choice but to answer.
¡°Come to Rivergate.¡±
Seth¡¯s voice was curt, brusque¨Camand, not a request. He hung up before she could say a word.
Noreen hesitated for a few seconds, then made up her mind to go to Rivergate. She wasn¡¯t going for Seth, though. This was about AeroEdge and Ramsey.
AeroEdge was the project she¡¯d chosen, something she¡¯d poured her heart and soul into from the start. She¡¯d been the one to chase Ramsey down, reworking proposal after proposal to finally get him on board. The idea of just walking away now felt impossible.
But this meant she had to cancel her appointment with Dr. Harrison, and she could already imagine the earful she¡¯d get as a result. She promised him she¡¯d cooperate fully with her treatment once things calmed down.
When her ne touched down in Rivergatete that night, rain wasing down in sheets and the temperature had dropped sharply. She¡¯d left in such a hurry that she hadn¡¯t packed anything, and now a dull ache had settled in her abdomen, making everything feel even worse.
She forced herself to grab a cab to the hotel. By the time she checked in, it was past midnight.
It waste, but she wanted to speak with Seth about the AeroEdge situation before
morning¨Cshe didn¡¯t want to risk confusing Ramsey or derailing the next round of
talks.
As soon as she got into her room, she didn¡¯t even bother to dry her rain¨Csoaked hair before dialing Seth.
The phone rang several times before someone finally picked up.
Before Noreen could say a word, a woman¡¯s voice came through the line.
¡°Seth, Secretary Gilmore is on the phone.¡±
Seth¡¯s reply was muffled, indistinct¨Cshe couldn¡¯t make it out.
11:58
The woman, Bianca, ryed the message: ¡°Secretary Gilmore, Seth¡¯s in the shower. Maybe you could call backter?¡±
Noreen felt a strange tightness in her throat.
¡°It¡¯s nothing urgent,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I won¡¯t bother Mr. Harcourt.¡±
She ended the call.
Alone in her hotel room in the middle of the night, with a man and woman sharing a suite just down the hall, it was easy to imagine where this was going.
Rain battered the window, and as she stood in front of the ss, she couldn¡¯t shake a chill that seemed to seep right into her bones.
Rivergate really was colder than Rivercrest City.
The ache in her lower abdomen was getting worse. When she finally made it to the bathroom, she realized her period hade nearly a week early¨Cand it hurt more than ever before.
Sweating and pale, she called the front desk for help, asking them to bring up painkillers and sanitary supplies.
When the staff arrived and saw how white her face was, they looked genuinely rmed.
¡°Miss Gilmore, would you like us to take you to the hospital?¡±
Noreen shook her head. ¡°No, thank you. The painkillers should help.¡±
Still, the staff lingered. ¡°If you feel worse, please call us right away.¡±
¡°I will,¡± she promised.
But somehow, she made it through the night. By morning, though, she looked awful¨Cmakeup did little to help. She could only hope Seth wouldn¡¯t make a fuss; he hated when employees showed up to work looking less than their best.
Still taking her medication for her stomach, Noreen made her way to the hotel restaurant just in time to grab a bite.
As she arrived, Seth and Bianca were just leaving, breakfast finished.
The three of them met at the doorway.
Bianca greeted her first. ¡°Just getting up, Secretary Gilmore? There¡¯s hardly any food left.¡±
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11.58
Noreen kept her expression neutral. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a bitte.¡±
Seth didn¡¯t look at her. He nced toward the hotel entrance, then turned to speak with Bianca.
Yes-man 20
His voice was low and gentle. ¡°It¡¯s raining out, and the temperature¡¯s dropping. Let mee with you to grab a jacket.¡±
¡°Alright.¡± Bianca gave Noreen a nod, then left with Seth.
So Seth could be thoughtful, after all.
Noreen stood frozen for a few seconds, surprised¨Cshe¡¯d never seen this side of him.
Back in the dining hall, just as Bianca had said, there wasn¡¯t much left to eat.
Noreen grabbed a couple of bread rolls, nning to make do, and was about to sit down when her phone rang. It was Seth.
She answered.
His voice was cold now, none of the warmth from earlier. ¡°Come out.¡±
¡°Now?¡± Noreen nced at the bread in her hand, hesitating.
¡°What, are you nning to keep us waiting?¡±
She paused, then quietly agreed. ¡°Alright.¡±
She shoved the bread into her bag and hurried to the main entrance. By the time she got there, Seth and Bianca were already in the car.
The two of them were sitting together in the backseat, leaving only the front passenger seat open for her.
Noreen lowered hershes, hiding her thoughts, and quietly took her ce in the
front.
No sooner had she closed the door than Seth told the driver to go, his impatience
obvious.
The bread in her bag was still warm, but Noreen didn¡¯t get a chance to eat¨CSeth didn¡¯t like anyone eating in his car.
After seven years as his secretary, she knew all his preferences by heart. They¡¯d be second nature; she obeyed them on instinct.
Even now, when her stomach ached for something to settle it, she didn¡¯t reach for the bread.
11:58
Not that Seth would have given her the chance; he cut straight to business.
¡°How exactly did you negotiate with AeroEdge before?¡±
His tone was usatory, as if the project¡¯s setbacks were all her fault.
Noreen kept her voice calm. ¡°The project¡¯s already through two rounds. The term sheet is signed, and the investment ratio was agreed on from the start. If we suddenly change the terms, Aero Edge is bound to have concerns-¡±
Seth cut her off before she could finish. ¡°As long as the process isn¡¯t finalized, anything can still change.¡±
He paused, eyes meeting hers in the rearview mirror, lips curving in a slight, cool smile. ¡°You¡¯ve worked with me this long and still don¡¯t get that?¡±
Noreen looked down, then asked quietly, ¡°Then can you tell me why the investment
ratio has to be cut?¡±
This time, Bianca answered. ¡°From where I stand, Aero Edge¡¯s drones just aren¡¯tmercial enough. There¡¯s no way the market will live up to what their proposal promises. That¡¯s why I rmended lowering the ratio.¡±
¡°AeroEdge is an established brand, with solid tech and full after¨Csales service. That¡¯s what caught Aurelion Group¡¯s eye in the first ce,¡± Noreen argued.
¡°But business is about profit, not sentiment,¡± Bianca countered, dismissing the point
with a wave of her hand.
She shed Seth a teasing smile. ¡°Looks like you haven¡¯t taught your people very
well.¡±
Seth gave a nomittal hum, then nced at Noreen with a casual air. ¡°That¡¯s why she¡¯s just a secretary, not an investment director.¡±
Bianca let out a lightugh. ¡°Investment takes brains and vision. Secretary
Gilmore¡¯s only got a bachelor¡¯s degree¨Cit¡¯s no wonder handling a project like this is too much for her.¡±
???
Yes-man 21
the two of them headed for the door together.
Not once did he spare a thought for Noreen.
She couldn¡¯t me him, really. After all, it¡¯s impossible to shield two people from the rain with one umbre.
Seth¡¯s favoritism was so tant, Noreen had long since stopped trying to keep
track.
She opened her car door, bracing herself for a dash through the rain.
It wasn¡¯t far, butte autumn rain was sharp and cold, biting through her coat the
instant she stepped out.
¡°Wait up, Ms. Gilmore!¡±
A voice called from the entrance, and someone jogged over, umbre in hand.
It was Ramsey.
He hurried over to cover Noreen with his umbre. ¡°This rain¡¯s icy¨Ceasy way to catch a cold,¡± he said, falling into step beside her. ¡°Especially fordies. You really shouldn¡¯t get chilled like this.¡±
¡°Thank you, Mr. Caldwell,¡± Noreen said, genuine gratitude in her voice.
¡°Oh, no need for thanks between us. Besides, that doctor you rmended for my wife worked wonders¨Cshe¡¯s been feeling much better after just two rounds of treatment. She insisted I thank you in person, and she wants to take you out to dinner¨Ctonight, if you¡¯re free!¡±
¡°Please tell Mrs. Caldwell it was nothing, truly. Just a small favor.¡±
They chatted andughed as they made their way inside, the picture of easy camaraderie.
Bianca and Seth stood waiting by the doors, watching the scene unfold.
?? 1
11:59
§³§ä§Ñ§â§ä§Ö§Ô
Bianca arched an eyebrow and turned to Seth. ¡°Looks like Ms. Gilmore and Mr. Caldwell have quite a rapport. No wonder he refused to resume negotiations yesterday unless she was present.¡±
Her tone dripped with implication¨Canyone with a bit of office experience could read between the lines.
Seth¡¯s reaction was cooler than Bianca expected. He simply averted his gaze, handed his umbre to a nearby security guard, and strode inside without a word.
Bianca, satisfied with his indifference, smiled to herself and followed.
When Noreen and Ramsey reached the conference room, Bianca was leaning in toward Seth, whispering something with a conspiratorial air. Their bodies nted together almost unconsciously.
There¡¯s a theory in psychology¨Cwhen you¡¯re attracted to someone, your body instinctively leans closer.
Noreen had told herself she was past caring.
But seeing that, she still felt a sharp twinge, as if a needle had pricked her heart.
After loving someone for so many years, you can¡¯t just put it all behind you overnight.
She looked away and chose a seat as far from them as possible.
The meeting began. Bianca took charge right away, insisting that AeroEdge give up an additional two percent of the deal.
Ramsey refused. ¡°We already agreed on the split. It wouldn¡¯t be right to change terms at thest minute.¡±
Bianca pressed on. ¡°Previously, Ms. Gilmore was handling this project, but she¡¯s just a secretary. Shecks the necessary business expertise, which is why we¡¯re requesting a revision.¡±
Ramsey nced at Noreen, as if hoping she¡¯d speak up.
But Noreen was staring at her phone, lost in whatever was on the screen.
Bianca let out a barely audible scoff, her disdain for Noreen barely concealed.
¡°Mr. Caldwell, I think you should give this some serious thought,¡± Bianca said, reclining in her chair, every inch the picture of cool confidence. ¡°You know the Aurelion Group has no shortage of promising investments.¡±
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11:59
Ramsey was clearly torn.
AeroEdge desperately needed a cash injection to keep things running. Their R&D had already swallowed a fortune, and that¡¯s why they were courting investors in the first ce.
Bianca had zeroed in on their vulnerability, squeezing AeroEdge¡¯s margins at the worst possible moment.
It was ruthless¨Cssic business.
But if AeroEdge epted Bianca¡¯s terms, thepany¡¯s future would be bleak. Most of the profits would go straight into the hands of the investors. How could AeroEdge hope to survive?
11:59
Yes-man 22
After weighing his options, Ramsey ultimately decided to walk away.
Finding new investors would slow down AeroEdge¡¯s current operations, but if he gritted his teeth and pushed through, they¡¯d survive. Worst case, he¡¯d mortgage everything he owned¨Cit was still better than having no future at all.
He was just about to speak when Noreen finally broke the silence.
¡°Sorry, I have a few things to say.¡± She cast her phone screen onto the projector, showing several news headlines.
Fresh off the press¨Cannouncements about a new national initiative to elerate the development of modern agriculture.
¡°AeroEdge has always specialized in agricultural drones, providing crop protection UAVs and smart farming solutions. Our products are already being used across several countries. When I wrote the project proposal, I factored all of this in¨Cthe data I provided is solid and well¨Csupported. With government backing, AeroEdge¡¯s prospect¡¯s will only look better than our predictions.¡±
She kept it brief, said her piece, and sat back down.
Ramsey felt a surge of gratitude toward Noreen. When he turned back to Bianca, his confidence had returned. ¡°Secretary Gilmore may just be an executive assistant, but her business instincts are razor¨Csharp¨Cthey rival anyone¡¯s with an Ivy League MBA.¡±
Bianca¡¯s expression shifted slightly.
Seth, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. ¡°Director Lowell only just returned to the country, so she¡¯s not fully up to speed with local policies. That¡¯s probably why she overlooked this point.¡±
Hisment was clearly meant to give Bianca a way out.
Noreen had expected Seth to stand up for Bianca, but she hadn¡¯t expected him to do
it so tantly.
Maybe that¡¯s what favoritism looks like.
Bianca smiled with effortlessposure, emboldened by the support. ¡°That¡¯s on me. Sorry to have made things awkward for you, Mr. Caldwell.¡±
Ramsey didn¡¯t get a chance to respond.
11:59
Instead, Seth stepped in to rify, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. You¡¯re new to this project. If anyone¡¯s to me, it¡¯s Secretary Gilmore¨Cshe didn¡¯t hand over the project properly. That was her misstep.¡±
His voice was calm, but his wordsnded like a dull de, each one sinking into
Noreen¡¯s chest.
Clean. Unhesitating.
Ramsey couldn¡¯t stand it and stepped in for Noreen. ¡°How can you me Secretary Gilmore? That policy was only announced ten minutes ago. She couldn¡¯t possibly have predicted it when she drafted the proposal. If she had, it would¡¯ve been nothing but empty promises.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t want to argue anymore.
She didn¡¯t even want to say another word.
One by one, the figurative lights in her mind flickered out, and the rooms of her heart grew darker.
¡°Excuse me, I¡¯m not feeling well. I¡¯ll step out for a moment.¡±
She hadn¡¯t eaten all morning, and now her stomach was rebelling.
The bread in her bag had gone cold and tough, but she forced herself to eat, bit by
bit.
Thankfully, there was hot water in the pantry. After half a cup, her stomach finally settled.
She took her medication, and gradually, the world seemed a little brighter.
Seth and Bianca walked out of the conference room together, their faces rxed and pleased.
Ramsey followed close behind, also looking in good spirits.
So, it seemed the deal had gone through.
Noreen let out a silent sigh of relief.
¡°Secretary Gilmore, Director Lowell wants to tour Aero Edge¡¯s production line. Would you like to join us?¡±
Noreen was about to decline when Seth cut in, ¡°You didn¡¯t coordinate the project properly before, nearly jeopardizing this partnership. Now you don¡¯t want to help Mr. Lowell get better acquainted?¡±
11:59
Chapter
So, he really did believe the near¨Cmiss was all her fault.
Seven years of tireless work for the Aurelion Group, and in the end, it meant. absolutely nothing.
11:59
?/?
Yes-man 23
Back when she was conducting due diligence for the project, Noreen had visited AeroEdge countless times¨Cshe knew the ce inside out.
Whenever she introduced thepany, she did so with effortless confidence and professionalism.
Even Ramsey, the boss, looked at Noreen with genuine approval and admiration.
The AeroEdge staff were just as warm. From engineers to security guards, even the cleaningdies¨Ceveryone greeted her with heartfelt familiarity.
¡°Secretary Gilmore, are you leaving today? If not,e over for dinner after work! My wife¡¯s been wanting to thank you in person. If you hadn¡¯t helped her find a new school for our son, he probably would¡¯ve dropped out.¡±
Ryan Cole, Aero Edge¡¯s chief engineer, made a point ofing over to thank her.
¡°How¡¯s Howie adjusting to his new school?¡± Noreen asked Ryan, rolling right into
the conversation.
¡°He¡¯s doing great¨Call thanks to you! He loves that e¨Csports program, he¡¯s more motivated than ever, and his teachers say he¡¯s top of the ss. My wife and I used to think gaming was a waste of time. Who knew it could be a real career? We owe you so much for opening our eyes.¡±
Noreen smiled. ¡°Oh, it was nothing. I just happened to know a bit about e¨Csports projects, that¡¯s all. I¡¯m d I could help¨Ctell your wife there¡¯s really no need to fuss.¡±
¡°No, really, you don¡¯t know what a huge problem you solved for us. We can¡¯t thank you enough!¡±
¡°I¡¯ll probably have to head back to Rivercrest City tonight, but I appreciate the invitation.¡±
Ryan looked genuinely disappointed to hear she was leaving so soon.
Ramsey chimed in, ¡°AeroEdge and Aurelion Group have a partnership now. There will be plenty more chances to treat Secretary Gilmore to dinner¨Cno need to rush.¡±
Ryanughed. ¡°True, I guess I¡¯m just impatient. Next time, then, you have to let us host you properly!¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t give a definite answer.
11:59
She was about to leave Aurelion Group.
No matter what Seth thought, her decision was made.
¡°Secretary Gilmore¡¯s really popr around here,¡± Bianca remarked.
Ramsey grinned. ¡°Popr? If we ranked staff favorites, Secretary Gilmore would be ahead of me by a mile!¡±
Bianca¡¯s tone was hard to read¨Chalfpliment, half something else. ¡°I¡¯ve been abroad too long¨CI¡¯m hopeless at navigating all theseplicated social
situations. I should take notes from Secretary Gilmore.¡±
Seth smirked. ¡°No need. You¡¯re the investment director, not the PR manager.¡±
Bianca¡¯s smile widened, her tone suddenly yful. ¡°I just want to be as well¨Crounded as Secretary Gilmore.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to,¡± Seth replied, his voice gentler now, almost indulgent. ¡°I know you hate that stuff. Don¡¯t force yourself.¡±
Ramsey, watching from the sidelines, took it all in with interest.
Once the others had walked off, he turned to Noreen, who was still standing in ce. ¡°So, Director Lowell¨Cis she Mr. Harcourt¡¯s girlfriend?¡±
Noreen opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat. ¡°I¡¯m not really sure.¡±
After all, Seth hadn¡¯t made anything official. It wasn¡¯t her ce to define their rtionship.
Even if she knew it was only a matter of time.
Ramsey, on the other hand, was certain. ¡°I¡¯ve got a feeling she is. I just hope I didn¡¯t offend the future Mrs. Harcourt with how firm I was earlier.¡±
With that, he hurried off to catch up with the others.
Noreen stayed where she was, a heavy ache twisting in her lower abdomen.
Who actually enjoys schmoozing?
All these years, she¡¯d forced herself to be perfect charming anyone who might be a partner to Aurelion Group.
Yet to Seth, none of it mattered.
All that hard work, in the end, just became ammunition to cut her down.
It took her a while to gather herself.
212
11:59 1
She didn¡¯t follow the others. Instead, she pressed both hands to her stomach and slowly crouched down.
The painkillers had stopped working.
When Ramsey returned with Seth and the others, they found Noreen sitting in a
chair, quietly sipping the warm ginger tea the cleaningdy had made for her.
Yes-man 24
¡°Is Secretary Gilmore not feeling well?¡± Ramsey asked, noticing the pallor in her face, concern evident in his voice.
¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, just a bit under the weather,¡± Noreen replied, trying to sound tough¨Cher usual habit.
The cleaningdy, fussing nearby, shook her head. ¡°Bad cramps are no small matter, dear. You really ought to take care of yourself.¡±
Seth frowned, finally saying something human for once. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, you should see a doctor. No point pretending you¡¯re fine.¡±
Noreen stood up. ¡°Going to a doctor won¡¯t help. Are we done with the tour?¡±
All she wanted was to finish up here and retreat to her hotel for some much¨Cneeded
rest.
Bianca chimed in, ¡°We haven¡¯t seen the other side yet.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the new workshop,¡± Ramsey exined. ¡°It¡¯s still under construction, nothing much to look at.¡±
But Bianca¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°I¡¯d like to take a look. Everything we¡¯ve seen so far was all prepped in advance¨Cdoesn¡¯t really give me a genuine picture.¡±
Ramsey looked awkward. ¡°It¡¯s a mess over there, honestly. Not safe.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t mind. I just want a quick look,¡± Bianca insisted. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking over this project soon, so I need to understand it better.¡±
Seth¡¯s face was unreadable, but he clearly had no intention of stopping her.
Ramsey had no choice but to lead them over. ¡°It¡¯s still a construction site. We¡¯ll need to wear hard hats.¡±
Bianca leaned in to whisper to Seth, ¡°Will I look ridiculous in a hard hat? Promise me you won¡¯t stare¨CI don¡¯t want to ruin my perfect image in your eyes.¡±
Seth looked down at her with a rare softness. ¡°You could never ruin it. You¡¯re perfect to me, hard hat and all.¡±
Bianca broke into a smile, clearly reassured and no longer bothered about her
appearance.
Noreen, on the other hand, had no desire to go.
Before she could refuse, Bianca called out, ¡°Come with us, Secretary Gilmore! You exin things so much more clearly¨CMr. Caldwell gets lost in technical jargon half the time and I can¡¯t keep up.¡±
Up until now, Noreen had never had any issues with Bianca. After all, it wasn¡¯t Bianca¡¯s fault the man¡¯s affections had shifted.
But this time, she could feel Bianca deliberately singling her out. As a fellow woman, Bianca had to know how miserable menstrual pain could be¨Cyet she still insisted on dragging Noreen along.
When Noreen nced at Bianca, searching her face for a hint of intention, she was met with the same innocent, unbothered expression as always. Perhaps Bianca truly just needed her help, nothing more.
The new workshop was unfamiliar territory for Noreen¨Cshe¡¯d never even been inside, so there wasn¡¯t much she could exin.
The site was chaotic, tools and materials everywhere. Ramsey kept warning everyone to be careful.
Noreengged behind, her difort slowing her down. She found herself trailing the group, watching Seth and Bianca walk side by side ahead of her.
Halfway through, Bianca tripped over a stray wire. Seth¡¯s reflexes kicked in; he reached out and caught her around the waist.
¡°Careful,¡± he said gently.
¡°Got it,¡± Bianca replied, sticking out her tongue in a yful gesture.
Noreen purposely slowed her steps, wanting to put more distance between herself and the pair.
¡°Excuse me!¡± someone called out as a forklift rumbled by.
Noreen stepped aside. The forklift was loaded with a mountain of materials and backed up toward a towering shelf, which was also piled high.
The overloaded supplies blocked the driver¡¯s view¨Che didn¡¯t notice when the rear of the forklift clipped the shelving.
The whole rack tilted dangerously. Boxes and metal parts began to tumble down.
Noreen didn¡¯t have time to think. Instinct¨Cseven years of ingrained habit¨Cpropelled her to reach out for Seth.
But her hand closed on empty air.
12:00
A shower of heavy materials rained down, one sharp edge slicing across her arm.
In the chaos, Bianca¡¯s panicked cry rang out. ¡°Seth!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be scared.¡± Seth¡¯s voice was steady as he pulled Bianca into his arms, shielding her with his own body as the debris crashed down on his back.
The thud of falling boxes echoed around them.
12:00 @
Yes-man 25
After the chaos, a crowd rushed over to pull the two apart.
Noreen found herself pushed aside in themotion.
Her body wobbled,pletely out of control, until she steadied herself against a wall.
Even as heads milled around in her field of vision, she saw, with perfect rity, that
Seth had thrown himself over Bianca, shielding her from harm.
A sharp pain shot through Noreen¡¯s injured arm.
She nced at the wound and let out a bitter, silentugh.
That tangled knot of anxiety, fear, and worry that had seized her moments ago quickly drained away, leaving only a hollow ache behind.
Her mind cleared, reality settling in.
Habit is a terrifying thing.
Even in that split second of danger, her instinct had been to protect Seth.
Just like three years ago, when she¡¯d apanied Seth out of town to inspect a real estate project.
There¡¯d been a dispute between the developers and the locals¨Csomeone had hurled something at Seth.
Noreen had reflexively stepped in front of him, shielding him from the blow, and when someone raised their arm for a second attack, she¡¯d struck hard, knocking the assant off bnce.
That single, decisive action had sent Aurelion Group¡¯s stock price soaring against the market trend.
Back then, she¡¯d risked herself to keep him safe. But now, that same man was holding someone else in his arms, protecting her without a second thought.
Once Ramsey confirmed Seth wasn¡¯t seriously hurt, he let out a long, relieved sigh.
Bianca, on the other hand, was pale and trembling, her eyes rimmed red as she tried not to cry. ¡°Seth, does it hurt?¡±
¡°It¡¯s just a scratch, I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Seth murmured, his tone gentle, meant to soothe her.
12.00
¡°But you¡¯re bleeding¨Chow can you say it doesn¡¯t hurt?¡± Bianca¡¯s voice broke as she fussed over him, gently blowing on his wound. ¡°Let me take you to the hospital.¡±
¡°No need.¡± Seth waved her off, clearly unconcerned.
But Bianca wouldn¡¯t let it go. ¡°We have to get you checked out, Seth! Please, just listen to me, okay?¡±
Faced with her stubborn persistence, Seth finally nodded.
Since the incident had taken ce at AeroEdge, Ramsey knew he had to apany them.
He quickly arranged a car and personally helped Seth inside.
After everyone was settled, Ramsey suddenly remembered Noreen. ¡°Where¡¯s Secretary Gilmore? She didn¡¯te with us? It was chaos back there was she hurt?¡±
Bianca barely nced up. ¡°She was pretty far from the crowd. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s fine. She¡¯s not a child¨Cif she got hurt, she¡¯d say something.¡±
Given the confusion, Ramsey hadn¡¯t seen where Noreen had ended up.
Seth spoke up, his voice dismissive. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her.¡±
Ramsey nodded, then told the driver to head for the hospital.
Noreen, not far away, heard Seth¡¯s words as clear as day.
Don¡¯t worry about her.
Just four words¨Ct, emotionless.
Cold as the rain that swept through Rivergate, chilling her to the bone.
She looked at her injured arm and let out a self¨Cmockingugh.
Seven years together, and in the end, it meant nothing at all.
No matter how high the mountain or wide the river, she was the first piece of baggage he¡¯d chosen to abandon.
That night, Noreen flew back to Rivercrest City. Just before boarding, she sent Seth
a message on WhatsApp, letting him know she was heading home.
As expected, Seth didn¡¯t reply.
??
12:00 0
Maybe he hadn¡¯t seen it¨Cor maybe he was just busy.
That¡¯s what Noreen told herself on the ne.
But when shended and turned her phone back on, there was still nothing.
Instead, she got a notification that Seth had just updated his status.
She blinked in surprise.
Seth never posted anything on social media.
Curious, Noreen clicked in, wondering what could have prompted this once¨Cin¨Ca¨Cblue¨Cmoon update.
*Feeling cherished. Grateful for the warmth around me.*
Beneath the words was a photo.
Just an ordinary meal, nothing special on its own.
But it was a short video, and as she tapped in, voices spilled from the speakers.
Bianca¡¯s voice, soft and yful: ¡°Seth, you need to eat more if you want to heal quickly. I got you this special chicken broth¨Cit¡¯s supposed to help you recover.¡±
12:00 @ 1
Yes-man 26
Because the video clip had a time limit, Noreen couldn¡¯t hear Seth¡¯s reply.
But really, the answer was obvious.
After all, he¡¯d already shared it on social media.
Still, Noreen distinctly remembered that Seth never ate fish.
He actually loathed it.
Yet here he was, willing to eat something he hated¨Call for Bianca.
And not just that. He¡¯d even risk an allergic reaction to alcohol just to shield her from drinking.
If this wasn¡¯t true love, what was?
Just as Noreen was about to close WhatsApp, two newments popped up under that post.
They were from Jude, a mutual friend of hers and Seth¡¯s.
Noreen only had Jude on WhatsApp because of Seth. Their circle of friends met up often, and once,te at night, Jude had called her¨CSeth had gotten sick after drinking, and Jude asked her to bring his allergy meds. Seth¡¯s phone had died, so to get the location, Noreen added Jude on WhatsApp.
They¡¯d kept each other as contacts ever since. Whenever Seth went out with that group, Noreen would message Jude, asking him to keep an eye on Seth and make sure he didn¡¯t drink.
Jude never replied. Not once.
Noreen knew why¨Che couldn¡¯t be bothered. He, like the rest of Seth¡¯s friends, looked down on her.
It never used to bother her. She¡¯d believed love was between two people; what others thought didn¡¯t matter.
But now, Jude was practically ecstatic in thements under Seth¡¯stest post.
¡°Never thought I¡¯d live to see the day Seth shows off his girlfriend on social media! Must be true love!¡±
The nextment, maybe in reply to someone else, read:
12:00
¡°Isn¡¯t that what true love is for? If you don¡¯t show it off, it¡¯s not real!¡±
Yeah. If you don¡¯t show it, you don¡¯t love.
It was a simple truth¨Cone Noreen seemed to have learned a little toote.
In all those seven long years, she had never once appeared in Seth¡¯s posts.
Their rtionship was a secret known only to a handful of people.
And she¨Cshe¡¯d loved Seth for seven years, nameless and invisible.
When you¡¯ve given all of yourself and there¡¯s nothing left, the final lesson is always letting go.
That weekend, Noreen packed up all of Seth¡¯s things and had a movingpany haul them to the office storage.
The apartment, once crowded with his presence, was finally empty.
It felt¡ lighter. Morefortable somehow.
She nced around, her gazending on the little velvet box that held their matching rings.
She still didn¡¯t know what to do with them.
Monday morning, the moment Seth arrived at the office, he buzzed Noreen¡¯s extension, asking her to get things ready for the weekly meeting.
But it was Sophia who picked up.
¡°Where¡¯s Noreen?¡± Seth asked, frowning.
¡°She called in sick,¡± Sophia replied.
¡°She¡¯s sick?¡± Seth sounded puzzled.
Sophia was more surprised than he was. ¡°You didn¡¯t know? Didn¡¯t she go to the AeroEdge factory with you? She got hurt there¨Ca piece of equipment fell on her. That¡¯s why she¡¯s on sick leave!¡±
There was a pause on Seth¡¯s end before he said, ¡°Right. I know.¡±
Not long after the Monday meeting, Seth¡¯s friend Healy Naylor called.
¡°Seth, did Noreen really quit Aurelion Group?¡±
Seth¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Where did you hear that?¡±
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13.00
2/2
Healy said, ¡°I was out golfing with Mr. Quigley from Qunda Group. He said Johnson. managed to set up a meeting with Noreen for him. I was honestly
surprised¨Cthought there was no way Noreen would ever leave Aurelion Group, or you! Figured Johnson was bluffing. But Mr. Quigley sounded pretty certain, so I wanted to check with you. What¡¯s going on?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not true,¡± Seth said tly.
Healyughed. ¡°Knew it! No way she¡¯d leave!¡±
Everyone believed Noreen would never leave Aurelion Group. Never leave Seth.
Including Seth himself.
Yes-man 27
¡°By the way, Secretary Gilmore is a real asset¨Cyou¡¯d better keep an eye on her. There are plenty of people out there who¡¯d love to poach her. Mr. Quigley¡¯s been after her for ages,¡± Healy reminded him, half¨Cjoking, half¨Cserious.
Seth¡¯s reply was cool and unyielding. ¡°She won¡¯t leave for anyone else.¡±
Healy realized his concerns were probably unfounded.
After all, everyone had seen how Noreen had treated Seth over the years. For seven years, she¡¯d devoted herself to him, her world orbiting around him with hardly any room for anything personal. How could someone like that just walk away at the drop of a hat?
Behind closed doors, people would joke that Noreen was Seth¡¯s most loyal follower¨Cthe sort that wouldn¡¯t leave even if you tried to push her out.
It was no wonder Seth was so certain she¡¯d never leave.
¡°Oh, right¨CDn¡¯s back in Rivercrest. How about we get together tonight?¡±
Seth paused mid¨Csignature, then asked, ¡°What time?¡±
¡°Eight o¡¯clock, same ce as always.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± Seth agreed.
The ¡°same ce¡± Healy mentioned was the Hesper Lounge.
Noreen was there that evening, too.
But she wasn¡¯t there for Seth. Johnson had asked her to meet him.
ording to Johnson, Mr. Quigley from Qunda Group was meeting an important client there, so to save time, he¡¯d arranged to have their discussion at the same
location.
When they arrived, the important client was still in the lounge.
Mr. Quigley waved them right in.
As soon as Noreen walked in, she recognized Mr. Quigley¡¯s guest¨Ca powerhouse of a woman named Jennifer Shaw, whom she¡¯d met briefly at the Venture Capital
Summit.
12:00
Jennifer recognized her, too, and called out in surprise, ¡°Secretary Gilmore? It¡¯s been ages!¡±
¡°Hello, Ms. Shaw.¡± Noreen greeted her politely.
Mr. Quigley nced between them, intrigued. ¡°You two know each other?¡±
Jenniferughed and exined, ¡°We met atst year¡¯s Venture Capital Summit in Stanton City. Secretary Gilmore really helped me out¨CI never got a chance to thank
her!¡±
¡°You¡¯re too kind, Ms. Shaw. It was nothing, really.¡±
Noreen wasn¡¯t just being modest; it truly had been a minor favor.
Right before Jennifer was due to ept her award onstage, she¡¯d been hit with awful cramps. Dressed in an evening gown, unable to reach her phone, she couldn¡¯t even get hold of her assistant or ask for anything she needed.
With her stage time fast approaching, Jennifer was on the verge of panic.
Noreen happened to walk in, and¨Chaving a habit of always carrying essentials in her purse¨Cwas able to help Jennifer with some painkillers and other necessities.
It was a small thing to Noreen, but Jennifer had never forgotten it. That summit had been a turning point in her career¨Cone of the most important moments of her life.
¡°No, you truly saved me!¡± Jennifer said warmly, pulling Noreen down to sit beside
her.
Mr. Quigley watched this with obvious satisfaction. After all, Jennifer had
connections everywhere. If Noreen¡¯s rtionship with her grew closer, he stood to benefit.
The conversation flowed easily, and after a while, Jennifer learned that Mr. Quigley was hoping to recruit Noreen to hispany.
She turned to Noreen. ¡°Are you thinking of making a move?¡±
Noreen nodded. ¡°I am, actually. I feel it¡¯s time for a change.¡±
¡°Have you considereding to Stanton City?¡± Jennifer offered. ¡°Come work with
me.¡±
Noreen knew Jennifer¡¯spany was impressive, but Stanton City was much too far.
She had to decline, though she did so as graciously as possible.
12:00
Jennifer was disappointed but didn¡¯t press. ¡°Qunda Group is a great choice, too. Mr. Quigley knows talent when he sees it.¡±
The whole exchange was pleasant, and Jennifer ended up lingering a little longer than she¡¯d nned.
Yes-man 28
Until someone came looking for her.
Chapter 28
He was a young, handsome man¨Cone of those fresh¨Cfaced types who looked like he¡¯d just graduated college.
And clingy, too. The minute he walked in, he swept Jennifer into a French kiss that left everyone else in the room shifting awkwardly in their seats.
Jennifer,ughing and yfully shoving her boyfriend away, finally managed to get free. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright with barely contained amusement. ¡°This is my boyfriend,¡± she said, a little breathless. ¡°He¡¯s young and full of energy¨Cl can barely keep up. Sorry for the scene.¡±
Mr. Quigley and Johnson exchanged a look, eyebrows raised.
No wonder¨Cthey couldn¡¯t help but notice the age gap between Jennifer and her boyfriend. At least twenty years separated them.
Her young beau was eager, tugging at Jennifer¡¯s hand, urging her to go. She didn¡¯t linger long, rising to say her goodbyes.
Noreen, ever polite, walked her to the door.
On the way, Jennifer looped her arm through Noreen¡¯s and leaned in conspiratorially. Her boyfriend, catching the hint, ducked into the car to wait.
¡°You¡¯re probably wondering why I¡¯m dating someone so much younger, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jennifer asked, not the least bit embarrassed.
Noreen gave a sheepish nod. ¡°A little, yeah.¡±
Jennifer waved it off. ¡°Oh, men. Let me give you a little advice from someone who¡¯s been around. If a man¡¯s got money, use his money. If he¡¯s got connections, use his connections. If he¡¯s strong, use his strength. Don¡¯t get hung up on love and all that nonsense¡ªit¡¯s pointless.¡±
She blew a kiss toward her boyfriend sitting in the car. ¡°Of course, I was a fool for love when I was young, too. You can see how well that worked out for me.¡±
¡°Just remember the rule of the world: every rtionship has an answer. If you don¡¯t want it anymore, you walk away. Problem solved.¡±
As Noreen returned to the lounge, she ran into a familiar face by the garden atrium.
12.00
Her steps faltered.
He was sitting on a bench, cigarette between his fingers, arm drapedzily over the backrest, watching the smoke curl up into the air.
Dn Wilder.
It had been so long since she¡¯d seen him that for a moment, Noreen felt disoriented, almost like she was dreaming.
That split second of hesitation was enough for Dn to notice her.
Hiszy gaze sharpened, turning sly when he caught her eye.
He mouthed a word at her-¡°Little apprentice.¡±
Noreen dropped her gaze and attempted to slip away.
But Dn wasn¡¯t about to let her escape. He stubbed out his cigarette, stood, and caught up in just a few long strides.
¡°Not even going to say hello to your old mentor? What would our teacher say if she knew how rude you¡¯d be?¡± His voice was teasing, but there was an edge to it.
Noreen forced herself to reply. ¡°She doesn¡¯t even im me as her student anymore.¡± ¡°Oh? So now you y turtle, pretending you don¡¯t see me?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that. I just don¡¯t know what to say.¡±
Dn reached out and tapped her on the head¨Cjust hard enough to make his point. ¡°Just like the old master said¨Cheartless little brat.¡±
Seth and Bianca had just arrived at the Hesper Lounge when they walked in on this
scene.
¡°Wait, Dn knows Secretary Gilmore?¡± Bianca whispered, surprised, ncing at Seth.
He didn¡¯t answer, but something dark flickered in his eyes as he watched the two.
Bianca took the initiative, walking over to Dn. ¡°Hey, Dn. When did you get here?¡±
¡°Just now,¡± Dn drawled, slipping back into hiszy tone.
Noreen took the opportunity to slip away.
Dn let out a low chuckle.
13.00
Bianca nced between them. ¡°So, you two know each other?¡±
Yes-man 29
Dn shrugged it off. ¡°No idea who she is¨Cprobably just someone trying to get my
attention.¡±
Bianca smirked. ¡°Bet she thinks you¡¯re an easy mark. I¡¯ve seen plenty like her.¡±
Dn didn¡¯t respond, instead greeting the man standing behind her. ¡°Hey, Seth. Long time no see.¡±
Seth nodded, his tone cool. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been a while.¡±
Jude, hearing that Seth and Bianca had arrived, hurried out to greet them. He caught the tail end of their conversation and couldn¡¯t resist joking, ¡°When did you two get so formal? Or is it just that rivals always get prickly around each other?¡±
Bianca rolled her eyes. ¡°Cut it out.¡±
Despite her words, there was a flicker of pride and satisfaction on her face.
After all, Seth and Dn were the two most exceptional men of their generation¨Cone her ex, the other soon to be her current.
Meanwhile, Noreen¡¯s meeting with Mr. Quigley had gone smoothly. They¡¯d had an enjoyable conversation, but since her contract with Aurelion Group hadn¡¯t officially ended, she refrained from giving him a definitive answer.
Mr. Quigley insisted on seeing her out to the entrance of the Hesper Lounge. Noreen assured him she¡¯d already called a car and told him to head home first, especially since he¡¯d had a bit too much to drink.
As she waited for her ride, a familiar license te caught her eye.
Seth¡¯s car.
She used to drive it all the time. Even now, hanging from the rearview mirror was the little good luck charm she¡¯d gotten for him at church.
The sleek ck Maybach pulled up smoothly in front of her. The window slid down, revealing Seth¡¯s impossibly handsome face.
Their eyes met across the small distance.
Maybe it was just her imagination. Or perhaps it was the midnight hush and
shadows ying tricks¨Cbut for a moment, Noreen could have sworn there was an unmistakable tenderness in the way Seth looked at her.
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She felt her heart skip a beat.
How many times, in those nights tangled up in each other, had she lost herself in those dark, fathomless eyes? When passion reached its peak, he¡¯d whisper her name over and over at her ear¨Crough, tender, desperate.
A kind of intimacy that lingered, deep in her bones.
¡°Seth, have you been waiting long?¡± came Bianca¡¯s voice from behind her.
Noreen snapped back to reality in an instant.
What was she thinking, imagining Seth was here for her?
Fortunately, her own ride had arrived. Grateful for the escape, she climbed in and left in a hurry.
On the drive home, she kept her window down, letting the cool air wash over her. The driver couldn¡¯t help ncing at her through the rearview mirror every so often, curiosity written all over his face.
¡°Rough night? Had a bit too much to drink?¡± he asked.
Noreen forced a smile. ¡°Just trying to clear my head.¡±
Truth was, she hadn¡¯t had much to drink at all.
As they neared her ce, the driver hesitated, then ventured, ¡°Just so you know¨Cif you get sick in the car, it¡¯s a $200 cleaning fee.¡±
Noreen blinked, a little taken aback./
She touched her face, half¨Cwondering if she really looked that heartbroken.
Since she¡¯d had a little alcohol and was worried about her stomach acting up, Noreen stopped by ate¨Cnight diner near her apartment and ordered a steaming bowl offorting soup before wandering home in no rush.
As soon as she walked in, she spotted someone sitting in her living room.
Seth.
For a moment, Noreen just stared, caughtpletely off guard.
Shouldn¡¯t he be spending the night with Bianca right about now? What on earth was he doing here, in her tiny, shabby apartment?
She nced at the keypad on her front door and sighed inwardly.
Out of everything she¡¯d thought of, she¡¯d forgotten one thing¨Cchanging the entry
2:2
12.01
code.
Of course, she¡¯d been the one to give Seth the code in the first ce, all trusting.
eager
and
Impressive that he actually remembered it. Then again, numbers were his thing¨Cmaybe that¡¯s just how finance guys¡® minds worked.
Noreen slipped off her shoes, taking her time, mind already racing with possible reasons for Seth¡¯s unexpected visit.
This was the first time they¡¯d been alone together since she¡¯d realized he had someone else in his heart.
Was he here to finally say goodbye?
12.01
Yes-man 30
That¡¯s true. It¡¯s about time they both had some closure.
Seven years at the very least, there should be an exnation.
Better a clean ending than one that neveres.
Noreen moved with uncharacteristic sluggishness, nothing like her usual efficient
self.
Strangely, Seth didn¡¯t rush her. He just watched, silent and steady.
The overhead light cast sharp shadows across his brows, hiding his eyes in darkness, making it impossible to read his expression.
¡°Would you like some water?¡± Noreen asked, after changing her shoes, her voice breaking the quiet.
There was no escaping what was bound to happen.
¡°No, thanks.¡±
She poured herself a cup of hot water instead.
She needed to take her medication.
When Seth noticed, his brows drew together. ¡°Is it serious?¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°Sophia said you called out sick today. Said you got hurt down at AeroEdge,¡± he rified.
Three days had gone by before he bothered to ask¨Cwasn¡¯t that a littlete?
Noreen drained the hot water, feeling the warmth seep into her chest, finally at
ease.
She spoke, calm and unhurried, ¡°It stopped hurting ages ago. And I¡¯m just taking something for my stomach.¡±
Seth¡¯s brow eased, then furrowed again. ¡°Did you see a doctor?¡±
¡°I did.¡±
¡°What did they say?¡±
¡°No alcohol. Take it easy and let myself heal.¡±
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Seth¡¯s frown deepened.
Was he worried she wouldn¡¯t be able to run interference for him at parties anymore, or regretting he¡¯d let Bianca pressure her into drinking that night?
Noreen figured it was probably the first.
But to her surprise, Seth finally said something almost human: ¡°Try not to drink so
much from now on.¡±
Noreen almost wanted to check if the sun would really rise in the west tomorrow.
¡°Alright,¡± she replied.
After all, she was already nning to quit.
Seth, who¡¯d been sitting this whole time, suddenly stood and walked toward her.
Noreen¡¯s lower back pressed against the dining table as he closed the distance,
step by step.
He stopped right in front of her.
She didn¡¯t say a word, holding his gaze, determined to memorize his face¨Cjust in
case she never saw it again.
Seth was undeniably handsome.
The kind women whispered about: a night with him would always be worth it.
And she¡¯d spent seven years with this man.
The knot in her chest, tangled for weeks, suddenly came undone.
Sometimes, all you need is a different perspective.
¡°Let me see,¡± Seth said abruptly, breaking her reverie.
¡°Huh?¡± Noreen blinked, caught off guard.
Was he always this direct? No warm¨Cup, nothing?
¡°Your injury,¡± Seth rified.
¡°Oh.¡± She nced away, suddenly self¨Cconscious. ¡°I told you, it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore-¡±
Before she could finish, he reached for her arm and rolled up her sleeve, somehow knowing exactly where to look.
The body is a strange thing¨Cwounds slowly heal themselves.
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The injury wasn¡¯t as gruesome as it had been at first, but the cut was long, running across her forearm.
¡°Will it leave a scar?¡± he asked.
¡°Maybe. Maybe not.¡± Noreen felt uneasy, not used to this version of Seth.
Almost as if he actually cared.
Was this their final moment of tenderness?
There was no need for that. Not anymore.
She pulled her arm back, her voice cooling. ¡°Is there something else you wanted?¡±
Wasn¡¯t this just the end?
Even if he didn¡¯t say it, she would, sooner orter.
Seth¡¯s long fingers skimmed her waist.
He knew all her sensitive spots¨Ctoo well.
Noreen¡¯s body went rigid, a shiver running through her.
His voice was low, right at her ear. ¡°Is this the end?¡±
So this was it. They¡¯d finally reached that point.
13.01
Yes-man 31
Chapter 31
Seth was far too close, his breath hot against her ear.
A silent provocation.
Normally, Noreen would have melted halfway at this point.
But tonight, she felt nothing. In fact, a wave of revulsion crept over her.
She reached out, trying to push him away.
But the moment her hand touched his chest, he tilted his head and kissed her.
It was sudden and unguarded¨Ca kiss she didn¡¯t have time to dodge, one thatnded squarely and unrelenting.
Once, she¡¯d been addicted to kissing Seth. She used to crave it, lose herself in it.
Seth was the picture of restraint¨Cnever smoked, never drank.
Kissing him had always felt like tumbling into a mint¨Cscented morning mist, intoxicating and fresh.
But this time, before he could deepen the kiss, Noreen turned her face away.
Seth didn¡¯t seem to notice her withdrawal. His lips grazed the shell of her ear, warm breath sending shivers down her spine.
¡°Is it over?¡± he murmured, his voice low and hot.
Pressed so close together, Noreen could feel his body¡¯s response.
Had Bianca not been enough for him these days?
Seth finally sensed her detachment. His hand tightened at her waist, pinning her against the dining table.
They were closer than ever.
¡°If you won¡¯t answer, I¡¯ll just check for myself,¡± he warned, his hand slipping lower along her waist.
Noreen caught his wrist, only then realizing what he meant¨Che was asking if her period was over.
She opened her mouth to answer, but just then, Seth¡¯s phone rang.
The sharp ringtone shattered the quiet of the room.
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Noreen instantly recognized it as his private line.
Without hesitation, Seth pulled out his phone.
She saw the caller ID: Bianca.
Almost in defiance, Noreen grabbed the hand holding his phone, rose up on tiptoe, and pressed her lips to his.
This time, it was Seth who turned away.
¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he said sharply.
¡°I thought you wanted it?¡± she challenged, her meaning clear.
Supposedly, when a man¡¯s desire takes over, he forgets everything else¨Cevery person, every obligation.
She wanted to test that, to see if it was true.
Seth didn¡¯t disappoint.
He pushed her away, decisively, and answered Bianca¡¯s call.
In that moment, all the strength and strategies Noreen possessed drained out of her.
She leaned against the table, watching him turn away and calmly answer the phone, ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡±
He ended the call, strode over to the couch, grabbed his jacket from the armrest, and walked out the door.
Not once did he look back at her.
The door closed. For a long, long time, Noreen didn¡¯t move.
She told herself, it¡¯s fine. He¡¯s left her behind before; this wasn¡¯t new.
She picked up her phone and changed the smart lock code on her app, then stared out the window.
Of course, the sun wasn¡¯t going to rise in the west.
Later that night, Bianca personally walked Seth to the parking lot.
¡°Seth, thank you so much for tonight. I don¡¯t know what I would¡¯ve done without you.¡±
¡°It was nothing,¡± he replied.
¡°It might be nothing to you, but to me, it meant everything!¡± Bianca¡¯s voice
trembled¨Cshe was clearly shaken by what had just happened. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been there, my mom might have-¡±
¡°But she¡¯s okay now. Don¡¯t scare yourself with what¨Cifs,¡± Seth reassured her, his tone steady.
Bianca drewfort from his calmness. ¡°I just hope the test results are good.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve spoken to the hospital staff. If you need anything, just talk to Dean Grayson,¡± Seth said, making sure everything was arranged.
¡°Thank you, Seth.¡± Bianca thanked him once again, her gratitude sincere.
Yes-man 32
This time, though, the voice and the way he looked at Seth were noticeably
different.
There was something else in his eyes¨Ca hint of affection.
After leaving the hospital, Seth called Noreen on his way back.
He only meant to ask how long she nned to rest and when she¡¯d be back at the office.
Noreen wasn¡¯t there, and the woman filling in for her, Sophia, had made a total mess of things. Seth had never felt so out of sorts.
But what caught him off guard was that Noreen¡¯s phone was switched off.
In the past seven years, that had never happened.
Seth frowned deeply, realizing for the first time that Noreen wasn¡¯t quite the same as before.
He couldn¡¯t say exactly how she¡¯d changed; he just knew she had.
Noreen took three days off before returning to work.
No sooner had she set foot in her office than Sophia came rushing over to unload her grievances.
¡°Noreen, thank God you¡¯re back! Anyter and you might not have found me alive¨Cl was nearly worked to death.¡±
¡°What happened?¡± Noreen asked, still in surprisingly good spirits.
After seven years of being treated like a workhorse, she¡¯d finally had a taste of her own life. It felt good. All her previous frustrations seemed to have evaporated.
¡°What happened? You know perfectly well what Mr. Harcourt is like! These past few days, I thought I¡¯d lose my mind dealing with him!¡± Sophia was clearly at the end of her rope, desperate to vent about Seth, the office tyrant.
¡°He¡¯s really that bad?¡± Noreen tried tofort her.
¡°Of course! You know how he is¨Cimpossibly demanding with a sharp tongue. Make the tiniest mistake and he¡¯ll tear you to pieces! Noreen, how did you survive all these years?¡±
12.01
Sophia genuinely couldn¡¯t imagine what Noreen¡¯s daily life had been like for the
past seven years.
Noreen knew Sophia wasn¡¯t exaggerating.
Seth¡¯s reputation for being difficult was well¨Cearned¨CNoreen had known it from her very first day.
She¡¯d only managed to stick it out this long thanks to sheer stubbornness and grit.
In the end, she¡¯d lost badly, but at least it wasn¡¯t toote to start over.
¡°Isn¡¯t there a board meeting today? You¡¯d better get ready¨Cit¡¯s one of the most important meetings this quarter.¡±
That was the main reason Noreen chose to return to work today.
But Sophia shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s been canceled. They moved it to next Monday.¡±
Noreen, who had just started drafting the meeting agenda, paused mid¨Csentence. ¡°Canceled?¡±
¡°Yeah, Mr. Lowell took some personal days, so Mr. Harcourt rescheduled the meeting for next week.¡±
Suddenly, it all made sense.
It was for Bianca.
Everything fell into ce¨CSeth had bent the rules for her before.
Noreen deleted the meeting files without a second thought, hardly surprised.
After venting, Sophia looked much more rxed. She turned to Noreen. ¡°By the way, you seem differenttely.¡±
¡°Do I? How so?¡±
¡°You look different! You used to wear those stiff, severe suits every day, with your hair pulled back so tight you looked ready for battle. Now you¡¯re so much softer¨Cand honestly, you look beautiful! That lipstick color really suits you, too.¡±
¡°Beautiful, huh?¡± Noreen asked with a smile.
Sophia nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Absolutely!¡±
Noreen¡¯s mood lifted even more.
But the feeling barelysted a few seconds before Seth¡¯s name shed on her phone.
¡°Ms. Gilmore,e to my office. Now.¡±
Sophia, who¡¯d clearly been traumatized by Seth these past few days, instantly wilted
at the sound of his voice. ¡°Nope, I¡¯m not here, you didn¡¯t see me.¡±
With that, she scurried back to her desk.
Noreen¡¯s bright morning instantly clouded over at the sound of Seth¡¯s call.
Yes-man 33
Noreen knocked on the door of Seth¡¯s office. Only after he gave her permission did she turn the handle and step inside.
¡°Mr. Harcourt.¡± Her tone was all business, crisp and formal.
Seth looked up. ¡°I¡¯ll be heading to the hospital soon to visit a patient. I need you to stop by the Harcourt estate and pick up an old ginseng root and a few other health supplements that a client gifted us. I¡¯ve already told Evelyn you¡¯d being, so just go straight there.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Noreen replied. After all, this was part of her job.
That ginseng root was exceptionally valuable¨Cover a hundred years old, by all ounts. Seth was willing to give it away.
Whoever it was for, they must be someone important.
Noreen didn¡¯t pry. Her mind was preupied with thoughts of her resignation letter. It had been a week already.
But Seth hadn¡¯t said a word about it.
Had he missed it? Or was there another reason?
She wanted to ask, partly to rify things, partly to gauge his reaction¨Cso she¡¯d know how to n her next move.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Seth¡¯s personal phone rang.
It was sitting right on his desk, and when the screen lit up, the name ¡°Bianca¡± shed across it.
Noreen¡¯s brow furrowed.
Within moments, Seth had answered the call and put it on speaker, showing no intention of keeping the conversation private.
Well, why should he? After all, Bianca was his long¨Clost love¡ªthe one he¡¯d quietly cherished for years. Now that fate had finally brought them back together, why wouldn¡¯t he want the world to know?
Unlike her. Seven years, always in the shadows.
¡°Seth, I just woke up and saw your message,¡± Bianca¡¯s voice was thick with sleep,
12:01
as soft andnguid as silk warmed by morning sunlight.
There was a drowsy lilt to her words¨Ca sweetness that could drive any man crazy.
Noreen was a woman herself; she understood those subtle tricks women used.
She didn¡¯t know if Seth noticed, but she could tell he was enjoying every second of it.
¡°I figured as much,¡± Seth said. ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t want to wake you.¡±
¡°If you ever need anything, just call me,¡± Bianca¡¯s voice was almost syrupy, making Noreen¡¯s skin crawl.
¡°It¡¯s nothing urgent. I just wanted to let you know¨CI¡¯ll stop by the hospital to visit your motherter.¡±
So that was it. Noreen understood now.
No wonder Seth was being so generous. He was going to visit Bianca¡¯s mother.
Trying to win over his future mother¨Cinw, of course.
Bianca clearly perked up when she heard he wasing to the hospital. ¡°Really? When will you get here?¡±
¡°Around noon.¡± Seth checked the time on his watch.
¡°Perfect. Let¡¯s have lunch together. It¡¯ll be my way of thanking you for helping us out. My mom keeps telling me to thank you.¡±
¡°Sure.¡± Putting down his pen, Seth gave Bianca his full attention.
Noreen took the hint and slipped quietly out of the office, leaving them to their loved¨Cup conversation.
Still, that sickly¨Csweet scent of romance seemed to seep right through the closed door.
She decided to leave the Aurelion Group a little early and head to the Harcourt estate to pick up the ginseng.
Seth didn¡¯t live at the old family house except for special asions, when he¡¯d return to have dinner with Wade Harcourt.
Most of the time, the estate was quiet¨Cjust Wade and Evelyn, who looked after him. Everyone else left after work.
It had been over two weeks since Noreenst visited the Harcourt estate.
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12-02
She made a small detour on the way, stopping by a bakery to pick up Wade¡¯s favorite pastries.
When she arrived, Wade was in the garden, scattering feed for the koi in the pond.
The front gate, as always, was half¨Copen¨Cshe could just let herself in.
Noreen knew this was Wade¡¯s way of weing her.
Every time she was expected, Wade would have Evelyn leave the gate open for her. Evelyn had confided this little secret to Noreen once, since Wade himself was always so stern and reserved.
Yes-man 34
The rtionship between father and son had always been strained.
When Noreen first met Seth, things between him and his father were at their
absolute worst.
Wade wanted Seth to take over the Harcourt family¡¯s business empire, but Seth was determined to strike out on his own.
Evelyn once said the two of them had an explosive fight that night¨Cscreaming matches echoing through the study, the ce left in shambles, priceless antiques shattered beyond repair.
In the end, Seth had stormed out, mming the door behind him.
Wade made it crystal clear to everyone: no one was to support Aurelion Group out of respect for the Harcourt name¨Cor for Wade himself.
So during those first couple of years, Aurelion Group barely scraped by.
Even though Seth was the only heir to the Harcourt family, it didn¡¯t give him the slightest advantage.
It was only in recent years, thanks to Noreen¡¯s efforts, that the rift between father and son began to heal.
Truth be told, Wade hadn¡¯t cared much for Noreen at first, either.
He was curt and icy¨Cdisdainful res and harsh words were the norm.
That¡¯s when Noreen realized exactly where Seth had inherited his sharp tongue and cold temperament.
But Noreen wasn¡¯t one to give up easily; she kept reaching out, warm and persistent, even when Wade met her kindness with indifference. Instead of backing down, she only became more determined.
It was her tenacity that finally broke through Wade¡¯s frosty exterior, softening his
attitude toward her.
Evelyn often said that if anyone deserved credit for mending the bond between father and son, it was Noreen.
If she hadn¡¯t worked so hard to mediate, who knew how long Seth and Wade would have kept up their silent war.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, feeding the fish?¡± Noreen paused at the door, schooling her features
1/3
12:02
into a bright smile before stepping into the room to greet Wade.
Wade¡¯s face remained impassive, but he gave a brief grunt in reply.
Noreen set the box of pastries she¡¯d brought on the table in front of him. ¡°These just came out of the oven, Mr. Harcourt. Best while they¡¯re still warm¨Cif you wait too long, they lose their crunch.¡±
Wade put down the bowl of fish food, dusted off his hands, and picked up a pastry. He ate two in quick session.
When he reached for a third, Noreen whisked the box out of his reach.
He red at her.
She grinned back, unruffled. ¡°Easy, Mr. Harcourt. Watch your blood sugar. Save the rest for tomorrow¨CI¡¯ll have Evelyn put them away for you.¡±
Wade snorted, then, after a moment, asked, ¡°How¡¯s he doing?¡±
Noreen knew exactly who he meant: Seth.
She answered with a cheerful smile, ¡°He¡¯s doing well.¡±
Spring hade for Seth, and it suited him.
After all, when you¡¯ve found sess in both love and business, what¡¯s not to be happy about?
¡°And you?¡± Wade asked.
Noreen hesitated. She wasn¡¯t used to Wade showing this kind of concern.
But she replied politely, ¡°I¡¯m doing well too.¡±
¡°You¡¯re twenty¨Ceight this year, aren¡¯t you?¡± Wade resumed tossing fish food into the pond.
Trust the wealthy to even have koi that looked plump and pampered.
Noreen wondered what he was getting at.
Before she could figure it out, Wade continued, ¡°You¡¯re not so young anymore. It¡¯s time to think about the next stage of your life.¡±
His words tugged at something inside her, splitting her emotions in two.
She had nned to take that next step with Seth this year.
She¡¯d even bought the ring.
12-02
She¡¯d been so close.
Just a little further¡
But that tiny gap had thrown her entire life off course.
In love, she always seemed to fall just short of happiness.
Noreen didn¡¯t know how to answer Wade¡¯s question¨Cshe¡¯d already made up her mind to step away.
Three¡¯s a crowd.
She¡¯d chosen to be single, to find happiness on her own.
Wade, however, mistook her silence for embarrassment and offered, ¡°Let¡¯s find a time soon. Seth and I can take you and your mother out to dinner, talk about your wedding ns.¡±
Yes-man 35
Wade had just finished speaking when Evelyn stepped out from inside the house, cradling an ornate jewelry box in her hands.
Her face glowed with a warm, delighted smile.
Noreen¡¯s eyes lingered on the box, her heart twisting with a bittersweet ache.
Evelyn gently set the jewelry box down on the table in front of Noreen.
Wade said, ¡°This was passed down from Seth¡¯s mother. She always intended it as a gift for his future wife. I think it¡¯s time you have it.¡±
Evelyn chimed in from the side, genuinely happy for Noreen. ¡°Well, what are you waiting for? Go on, open it!¡±
Noreen reached out, her fingers brushing over the polished rosewood box, but her throat felt too tight to speak.
If this had happened before, she would have been overjoyed.
Because this meant she had Wade¡¯s approval.
But at this moment, there was no joy. Only regret.
After taking a deep breath, she pushed the box gently back toward Wade.
Summoning theposure she¡¯d honed in years of business negotiations, she spoke as calmly as she could. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t ept your kind gesture, Mr. Harcourt.¡±
Evelyn¡¯s face clouded with concern. ¡°What¡¯s happened? Did you two have a fight?¡±
Then, in her soft, motherly way, she tried to reassure her, ¡°Oh, couples argue all the time. It¡¯s nothing to worry about, really.¡±
Noreen shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡±
¡°We¡¯ve broken up.¡±
Wade¡¯s brow furrowed as he studied Noreen, silent, as if he was trying to determine whether she was telling the truth.
But Noreen¡¯s eyes were clear and unwavering.
This wasn¡¯t a joke.
That realization made Wade¡¯s expression even more severe, his features growing
10.03
colder by the second.
Noreen had no intention of staying long. As she handed a box of pastries to Evelyn, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll send you the baker¡¯s WhatsAppter. If Mr. Harcourt wants more, you can just message him directly to ce an order¨Cno need to wait in line. I¡¯ve already let him know you¡¯ll be in touch.¡±
Her words brought tears to Evelyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Noreen, what on earth happened between you and Seth?¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t want to get into it.
She had onlye to collect her things.
And, she supposed, to say goodbye.
After all, both Wade and Evelyn had always treated her kindly.
¡°The pastries are delicious, but Mr. Harcourt should watch his blood sugar. I¡¯ve also scheduled your check¨Cup for next month; Dr. Wilder¡¯s office will contact you directly.¡±
¡°If I have time in the future, I¡¯lle visit.¡±
Noreen always thought of everything, whether at work or in life.
She kept her words simple, took her things from Evelyn, and left.
¡°How did ite to this?¡± Evelyn murmured sadly. ¡°Everything seemed so good¡¡±
Once Noreen was in the car, she checked the driving time. If she went straight from the Harcourts¡® to the office, she¡¯d make it just in time for lunch.
She decided to eat back at work, and her medication was there as well.
Just a few days ago, when she¡¯d gone to the hospital to check on the injury to her forearm, she¡¯d run into Dr. Harrison¨Cthe same doctor she¡¯d once stood up.
He¡¯d wasted no time pulling her into his office for a checkup.
The results hadn¡¯t been great.
ording to Dr. Harrison, her body was still weak after the miscarriage, and her stomach was in bad shape too.
She¡¯d need a long period of careful recovery. The first rule: eat regr meals and take her medicine on time.
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12:02
She had to follow medical advice to the letter, and Dr. Harrison had even made her
promise.
For the past couple of days, she¡¯d done well¨Cand today would be no different.
But halfway through her drive, her phone rang.
Seth was calling.
He asked her to bring his things directly to him.
Noreen asked where he was.
Seth told her he was out for dinner.
And in the background, she could hear Bianca¡¯s voice.
Yes-man 36
Noreen heard every word, crystal clear.
Bianca asked, ¡°Seth, is there anything you¡¯d like to eat? Or would you rather order yourself?¡±
Seth replied, ¡°You go ahead and choose. I¡¯m not picky.¡±
Noreen nearly burst outughing at that.
She was afraid she¡¯d actuallyugh out loud ande off as rude, so she hung up immediately and messaged Seth on WhatsApp.
¡°Send me the location.¡±
Seth, not picky?
That had to be the funniest joke she¡¯d heard all day.
She¡¯d never met anyone as fussy about food as Seth.
He wouldn¡¯t eat most vegetables. Lamb and fish were off the table. He had strong opinions about how food looked and felt, too.
How picky was he? Well, if he was eating barbecue ribs, they had to be cut into perfectly even pieces. If one looked odd, he wouldn¡¯t touch it. Anything gooey or sticky was out of the question.
Honestly, the man was a walking collection of quirks.
In the seven years they¡¯d known each other, the number of times they¡¯d gone out to eat¨Cjust the two of them¨Ccould be counted on her fingers.
Every time, Noreen would n ahead, researching menus and reviews, terrified she¡¯d miss something and Seth would get upset.
And now, here he was telling Bianca he wasn¡¯t picky.
How could someone be this much of a hypocrite?
Noreen was genuinely impressed.
While she was busy grumbling to herself, Seth sent over his location.
She tapped to open it, zoomed in, and when she saw the name of the restaurant,
she froze.
Willow Brook.
1/3
12:03
Of course, Willow Brook.
She exited the chat and opened Seth¡¯s private messages. She searched for ¡°Willow Brook,¡± and instantly, the relevant conversations popped up.
Fromst March through Valentine¡¯s Day this year, she¡¯d mentioned wanting to try Willow Brook seven different times.
The owner was someone she¡¯d met during a work project¨CJoanne Pierce. Noreen had seen Joanne promoting Willow Brook on social media.
The restaurant¡¯s style and menu were exactly Noreen¡¯s taste, so she¡¯d been eager to visit since it opened.
But a year and a half had passed since then, and she still hadn¡¯t gone.
Every time she¡¯d brought it up with Seth, he was either ¡°too busy¡± or he¡¯d agree and then cancel at thest minute.
After being stood up so many times, eventually her enthusiasm just fizzled out. After Valentine¡¯s Day this year, she stopped mentioning it altogether.
Now, Noreen couldn¡¯t even remember thest time the two of them had gone out
for a meal alone.
It felt like ages ago¨Cso long that the details were starting to blur.
A brief pang of disappointment shed through her, but she shook it off and opened her GPS.
One nce at the route, and she felt a surge of frustration.
Willow Brook was clear on the east side of Rivercrest City, while she was all the way on the west side.
Which meant she¡¯d be missing her own lunch break.
Damn it¡
Her mouth itched to let out a string of expletives, but she managed to hold back.
Noreen ended up crossing half of Rivercrest City. By the time she delivered the package to Willow Brook, Seth and Bianca had already finished their meal and were waiting out front.
She had no idea how long they¡¯d been standing there, but the impatience was written all over Seth¡¯s face.
213
12:03
Bianca, in contrast, looked perfectly polite. When she took the package from Seth¡¯s hands, she even offered a courteous, ¡°Thank you, Secretary Gilmore.¡±
Noreen¡¯s stomach was aching, her mood already fraying at the edges, so she forced a tight¨Clipped smile and replied, ¡°No problem. It¡¯s what I do, after all.¡±
Bianca blinked, caught off guard.
Seth shot her a cold look, brows knitting together. ¡°What¡¯s with the attitude?¡±
Wow. Quick to defend, aren¡¯t we?
No wonder she¡¯s the golden girl.
The
power she held was on a whole other level.
Yes-man 37
Noreen forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. The delivery¡¯s done, so I¡¯ll head back to the office.¡±
All she wanted was to find somewhere to grab a quick bite and shake off her bad mood.
Seth seemed too preupied with winning over his future mother¨Cinw to bother with her.
Noreen ducked into a random restaurant nearby for lunch.
The food helped settle her uneasy stomach, and only then did she make her way back to Aurelion Group.
She had just reached the parking lot when her phone rang¨Ca call from the hospital. After hearing the situation, Noreen¡¯s expression changed. ¡°I¡¯m right nearby. I¡¯ll be there right away!¡±
She sped to the hospital, parked in a hurry, and dashed inside. In her rush, she
collided with someone at the entrance.
It was a middle¨Caged man, sharply dressed in a suit with perfectlybed hair.
He looked rather frosty, his brow furrowed¨Clikely annoyed at being run into.
Noreen, pressed for time, just managed a quick apology before rushing off. She made sure he wasn¡¯t hurt before leaving, but she didn¡¯t notice the man¡¯s gaze lingering on her retreating figure.
He stood there, lost in thought, until Bianca appeared and called out to him, snapping him back to the present.
¡°Dad, what are you looking at? You were so out of it¨CI called you three times!¡±
Bianca slipped her arm through his, pouting yfully.
Forrest Lowell¡¯s expression instantly softened as he looked at his daughter. ¡°Nothing, sweetheart. What are you doing down here on your own?¡±
¡°Mom sent me. She must be missing you,¡± Bianca replied with a grin.
He sighed, guilt flickering in his eyes. ¡°Sorry I¡¯ve been away so much for work. She¡¯s had to cope alone.¡±
12:03
Bianca squeezed his arm reassuringly. ¡°Mom understands, Dad. She doesn¡¯t me you for anything. Come on, she can hardly wait to see you.¡±
Just then, his assistant entered carrying a bouquet of fresh flowers.
Bianca¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Mom¡¯s going to love these. You always think of the sweetest things, Dad.¡±
When Noreen reached the oncology department, Rosalind Gilmore had already finished some of her tests, though the results weren¡¯t in yet.
Seeing Noreen burst in, breathless and flustered, Rosalind gave her a gentle, reassuring smile. ¡°Noreen, you¡¯re here? I told Dr. Quigley not to bother you¨Cit¡¯s just a routine checkup, but she insisted on calling. I hope this didn¡¯t mess up your work schedule?¡±
Noreen felt a sting at the tip of her nose.
Even now, her mother was worried about being a burden on her.
¡°It didn¡¯t, Mom. But why didn¡¯t you tell me you weren¡¯t feeling well?¡±
¡°It¡¯s just the same old problem¨Cnothing serious. I know my own body.¡± Rosalind reached out, brushing Noreen¡¯s cheek, her eyes full of concern at how much weight her daughter had lost.
¡°Why are you so thin again? Are you overworking yourself?¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m just on a diet,¡± Noreen said, forcing a light tone despite the lump in her
throat.
Rosalind frowned, torn between irritation and affection. ¡°You¡¯re not even overweight¨Cwhy diet?¡±
Noreen scrambled for an excuse. ¡°So I can fit into a pretty dress, of course.¡±
She just wanted to ease her mother¡¯s worries.
Rosalind paused, and then her eyes sparkled with hope. ¡°Has Mr. Harcourt proposed to you?¡±
In that moment, Noreen felt her carefully constructed defenses nearly shatter.
But Rosalind was still beaming, her voice full of joy. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this day has finallye. You have no idea how long I¡¯ve been waiting for this.¡±
¡°There were times I worried I wouldn¡¯t make it to see this day. But here we are.¡±
12:03)
¡°It¡¯s wonderful. Now I don¡¯t have to worry about you being alone.¡±
Noreen felt herposure slipping. Afraid her mother would see the tears gathering in her eyes, she turned away under the pretense of asking the nurse a question.
???
Yes-man 38
¡°Is Dr. Quigley in his office right now?¡±
The nurse nodded. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s in.¡±
Noreen said she¡¯d go and ask Dr. Quigley for an update, then hurried out of the hospital room.
The second she stepped into the corridor, the tears she¡¯d been holding back finally
broke free.
Afraid Rosalind might see her like this, she kept walking, head down, until she found a quiet corner away from people. Only then did she let the tears flow.
She pressed a fist to her mouth, doing her best not to make a sound.
In the adult world, breakdowns always happen in silence.
From somewhere nearby, she heard voices approaching¨Ctwo people talking as they passed.
¡°Seth, thank you foring to see my mom today. She¡¯s in such a better mood than thest few days. The doctor said a good mood helps her recovery.¡±
The woman¡¯s voice was soft, almost yful.
Seth replied, ¡°No need to thank me. I just spoke with Dean Grayson¨Che mentioned an international team of specialists will be visiting the hospital soon. He¡¯ll see if he can get your mom on their list.¡±
The man¡¯s thoughtfulness made the woman¡¯s voice grow even warmer.
¡°Seth, you¡¯re always so good to me. I don¡¯t even know how to thank you.¡±
Heughed. ¡°Silly, did I ever say I needed anything in return?¡±
How strange.
Noreen, who¡¯d been on the verge of falling apart, suddenly felt¡ calm.
It was like someone had given her a sedative.
Or, to put it more precisely¨Cshe just felt cold, numb inside.
A businessman¨Csomeone like Seth, a dyed¨Cin¨Cthe¨Cwool capitalist¨Ciming he didn¡¯t want anything in return?
Of course, it was only because the woman was Bianca. His Bianca, the unreachable
12:03
love he¡¯d kept hidden in his heart for years.
For her, he was willing to give without asking for anything back.
Not just in her career¨Che shielded her from every storm¨Cbut in her life, too. He looked after her, doted on her, gave her everything he could.
He¡¯d give her the world, if she asked.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, thank you so much for being willing to donate bone marrow for my mother.¡±
Eighteen¨Cyear¨Cold Noreen had once thanked someone just as sincerely.
Back then, Seth was twenty¨Cone. He was as cold and aloof as ever.
He looked at her with eyes that held no warmth, no emotion. ¡°Words mean nothing, Noreen. I¡¯m not the kind of person who does things out of the goodness of my heart, and I haven¡¯t seen any real sincerity from you.¡±
Noreen, still na?ve and untouched by the world¡¯s cruelty, tried desperately to figure
out what he meant.
In the end, face burning with shame, she began unbuttoning her blouse, one trembling button at a time.
She had nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The only thing she could offer, the only thing she thought might interest him, was her young body.
Just as her fingers reached thest button, Seth spoke up.
¡°Stop.¡±
He turned away, polite but clearly flustered¨Chis voice sounded less icy, almost
nervous.
¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡±
Embarrassed beyond words, Noreen turned her back and fumbled to button herself up again, cheeks ame!
In the end, Seth proposed another trade: she coulde work for him at Aurelion Group.
Back then, Aurelion Group was barely more than a dream. Including Seth, there
were just four people in the wholepany.
When Noreen joined as an intern, they became a team of five, squeezed into a cramped office on the top floor of a run¨Cdown apartment building.
The summers were scorching, the winters bit through your bones.
That year, Rivercrest City was hit by the worst heatwave in fifty years¨Cmore than forty days straight of over a hundred degrees.
Their attic office turned into an oven. Noreen suffered heatstroke three times.
She almost didn¡¯t make it¡
If you looked at it on paper, she¡¯d been right there with Seth, struggling through every hardship.
Now, with Aurelion Group thriving, finally poised to reap the rewards together-
She¡¯d been left behind.
It all made sense, didn¡¯t it?
The first strike, after reaching safe harbor, always falls on the one you once loved.
12:03
Yes-man 39
When Noreen finally found Dr. Larson Quigley, he was just examining Rosalind¡¯s
scans.
As soon as he learned she was the patient¡¯s daughter, he began exining the results without dy.
¡°Do you see this shadow here?¡± Larson pointed to a dark spot on the scan. ¡°That¡¯s the tumor. Its location is quite problematic¨Cthe surgery would be extremely challenging andes with significant risks.¡±
A sinking feeling gripped Noreen, dread settling heavy in her chest.
¡°We still don¡¯t know whether the tumor is benign or malignant. We¡¯ll need to wait for the biopsy results tomorrow before we can say for certain. This is where things stand right now, so you need to prepare yourself for any oue.¡±
Larson kept his exnation clear and to the point.
¡°Dr. Quigley, if-¡± Noreen¡¯s voice faltered, ¡°I mean, if it turns out to be malignant, what then?¡±
Even the strongest, calmest person can feel powerless in the face of life and death. Larson¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Let¡¯s set aside whether it¡¯s benign or malignant for a moment. Even if it¡¯s benign, removing a tumor in this location is extremely difficult. And with your mother¡¯s underlying health issues¡ Given our current resources, I¡¯m afraid-¡±
He adjusted his sses, an apologetic look on his face.
Noreen felt as if a boulder was crushing her chest¨Cshe could hardly breathe.
Desperation edged her voice. ¡°What about other hospitals?¡±
Larson replied, ¡°Don¡¯t panic just yet. In the past, I would have rmended transferring to one of the country¡¯s leading cancer centers. But there¡¯s another opportunity now, though it might be a bitplicated.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t care howplicated!¡± Noreen blurted out. She would do anything to save her mother.
¡°Tomorrow, an international team of specialists will be visiting our hospital. Among them are some of the world¡¯s top experts in this field. If your mother¡¯s case is selected as one of their research topics, surgery should be much more promising.¡±
12.02
Larson¡¯s words sparked a flicker of hope in Noreen. ¡°How can we make sure she¡¯s chosen as a case study?¡±
¡°That¡¯s really a matter of luck,¡± Larson admitted. ¡°You have to understand, these kinds of top¨Ctier resources are highly sought after. Competition is fierce.¡±
Noreen knew he was telling the truth.
She was grateful for Larson¡¯s honesty. If she wanted to secure this chance for her mother, she¡¯d have to be thoroughly prepared.
As Noreen left, a colleague from Larson¡¯s department walked in.
ncing at the scans on the lightbox, the colleague remarked, ¡°What are the odds? Two patients in a row with tumors in almost the exact same spot.¡±
Larson nodded. ¡°First time I¡¯ve seen it myself. But Yvonne Laurent¡¯s situation is much better than Rosalind¡¯s¨Cher tumor is benign, and she doesn¡¯t have any underlying conditions. Her surgery has a much higher chance of sess.¡±
His colleaguepared the two scans, then joked, ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d pick the easier case any day. Higher chance of a good oue, after all. These visiting specialists want impressive results to pad their credentials, you know?¡±
The words weren¡¯t kind, but they reflected reality. Larson couldn¡¯t argue.
The colleague put Rosalind¡¯s scan back on the desk, giving Larson a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ll have to make your own call.¡±
Meanwhile, in the patient ward-
Forrest was gently coaxing Yvonne to drink some herbal tonic.
Illness had left Yvonne pale and without much appetite, but Forrest patiently encouraged her until she finished a whole bowl.
When Yvonne said she wanted some fresh air, Forrest wheeled her out into the
hallway.
A little distance behind them, Bianca and Seth followed.
¡°My dad and mom¨Cdo you think they love each other?¡± Bianca broke the silence, trying to make conversation.
???
Yes-man 40
Seth gave a brief reply.
¡°My friends always say I have a great personality, but honestly, I owe it all to my parents. I grew up in a loving, stable home, so I don¡¯t have any of those personality issues you see in people from, well, less fortunate families. They tend to be harder to get along with¨Ctouchy, insecure.¡±
Bianca paused deliberately for effect before adding, ¡°Like Secretary Gilmore, for example. I¡¯ve heard her family situation wasn¡¯t so great. Poor thing.¡±
Seth¡¯s tone turned impatient. ¡°Why even bring her up?¡±
Bianca just smiled innocently. ¡°Guess I was feeling a little too sympathetic.¡±
With Rosalind in the hospital, it was only natural for Noreen to stay and take care
of her.
She¡¯d rushed over in such a hurry, she hadn¡¯t brought anything with her, so now she needed to dash home and grab a few essentials.
Before leaving, Noreen let the nurse know, then hurried off toward the elevator.
Every minute counted¨Cshe couldn¡¯t afford to be away long.
She reached the elevator just as the doors were about to close.
¡°Hold the elevator!¡± she called out.
She jabbed the button, and the doors slid back open just in time.
Relieved, she stepped inside¨Conly to freeze when she saw who was already there.
Bianca¡¯s surprise was obvious. ¡°Secretary Gilmore? What are you doing here? I thought you went back to the office.¡±
Seth, standing beside Bianca, wore his usual mask of indifference. Noreen¡¯s appearance didn¡¯t spark so much as a flicker of recognition in his eyes; he looked at her like she was any other stranger.
Out of politeness, Noreen answered Bianca¡¯s question with the minimum effort.
¡°Someone in my family is sick.¡±
Bianca made a sound of feigned interest. ¡°Oh, what a coincidence¨Cmy mom¡¯s in
the hospital too.¡±
Noreen had neither the time nor the patience for small talk. All she wanted was to grab her things and get back before the nurses changed shifts.
So she stepped into the elevator without hesitation, even if it meant sharing the ride with people she¡¯d rather avoid.
As the elevator descended, Noreen stood at the front, eyes fixed straight ahead on
the doors.
Behind her, Bianca chatted with Seth. ¡°Seth, where are we having lunch? Going back to Willow Brook? I really like that ce¨Cthe atmosphere¡¯s great, and the food¡¯s not
bad either.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll go to Willow Brook, then,¡± Seth agreed, quick to please.
Honestly, after knowing Seth for seven years, Noreen had never seen him this amodating.
He doted on Bianca, did whatever she wanted¨Cutterly devoted.
Noreen understood. Bianca had always been his first love, the one he could never forget.
Thankfully, the elevator was fast. Before their conversation could drag on, the doors opened on the ground floor.
Noreen slipped out without a backward nce.
At the entrance, she discovered it was pouring outside. The heavy rain had stranded a crowd by the doors.
Before she could push through, Bianca and Seth caught up.
Bianca nced at the rain. ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s pouring. And at this hour, with all the traffic, it¡¯ll be impossible to get a cab.¡±
Seth never bothered to drive himself¨Che usually had a driver, or Noreen would give
him a ride.
Judging by Bianca¡¯s tone, Seth¡¯s driver wasn¡¯t at the hospital today.
Noreen felt a bad premonition and instinctively tried to disappear into the crowd.
But Seth called out first. ¡°Noreen.¡±
She considered pretending she hadn¡¯t heard, but the man blocking her path was built like a linebacker¨Cshe tried several times and couldn¡¯t squeeze past.
Seth was already striding over, looming above her.
Left with no choice, Noreen faced him head¨Con. ¡°What can I do for you, Mr.
Harcourt?¡±
Yes-man 41
¡°Take us to the restaurant.¡±
Seth¡¯s tone was curt, leaving no room for negotiation.
Just like before¨Che summoned her when he pleased and dismissed her just as easily.
But Noreen wasn¡¯t the same woman she once was.
She wasn¡¯t going to run after him anymore, desperate for even a scrap of his
attention.
Her voice was calm,posed, refusing to bend to his will. ¡°Willow Brook isn¡¯t far from here, Mr. Harcourt. You can easily call a cab.¡±
Seth¡¯s frown deepened, impatience flickering in his eyes as he reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re driving apany car. I decide how it¡¯s used.¡±
Noreen felt the energy drain out of her all at once.
He was right.
The car belonged to Aurelion Group.
Aurelion Group belonged to Seth.
None of it had anything to do with her now, even after she¡¯d devoted herself to Seth and hispany for seven long years.
Swallowing the ache in her chest, Noreen handed him the keys. ¡°Here. It¡¯s yours.¡±
She was done¨Cwith the job, with him. There was no reason to keep the car.
All of these things¨Cher job, the car, every privilege¨Chad been gifts from him. And now, he was taking them back, one by one.
Her reaction was almost unnaturally calm, her expression soposed that Seth hesitated for a moment.
Lately, she seemed like a different person.
But he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on what had changed.
A strange sense of unease gnawed at him, as though something important was slipping away and he didn¡¯t even realize what it was.
Noreen looked up at him, her eyes¨Cstill a little red from earlier¨Cgrowing cold, as
16.29
t and lifeless as a dead sea.
She spoke slowly, her tone distant, ¡°Mr. Harcourt, if there¡¯s anything else of yours, I¡¯ll return that as well.¡±
Seth lifted his gaze, his features as sharp as ever, but his eyes held no warmth.
¡°What¡¯s with the attitude?¡±
Cold rain pressed against the windows, seeping its chill into the air, but it was nothingpared to the numbness settling in Noreen¡¯s heart.
So even now, he thought she was just being difficult?
¡°Fine. Call it whatever you want.¡± She didn¡¯t bother to exin or defend herself.
When your heart finally goes cold, all you can do is step back and let go.
She knew all too well that if confessing her pain would only spark another argument, then there was no point in clearing up old misunderstandings.
Sometimes, silence and a clean break are the only answers left.
Without another word, Noreen turned and strode out into the rain, not looking back.
She had no more time to waste on Seth.
Seven years¨Cit was enough. More than enough.
The early winter rain was bone¨Cchilling, but Noreen hardly noticed. Her slender figure quickly disappeared into the downpour.
¡°What¡¯s wrong with Secretary Gilmore?¡± Bianca asked, clearly out of the loop.
Seth nced away, his voice t. ¡°No idea. Forget about her. Let¡¯s just go eat.¡±
He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over Bianca¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s not far. Let¡¯s run
for it.¡±
Under Seth¡¯s protection, Bianca made her way safely into the car. She caught a little
rain, but not much.
¡°This rain¡¯s freezing,¡± she said, rubbing her arms for warmth.
Seth thoughtfully turned up the heater.
Once she¡¯d warmed up, Bianca started chatting. ¡°Secretary Gilmore seemed off today. Are you sure she was here because of a sick rtive? That¡¯s quite a coincidence, considering this is the oncology wing.¡±
16.29
Her words were casual, but she was fishing for Seth¡¯s reaction, trying to gauge his feelings for Noreen.
After all, Noreen had been by his side for seven years, even if Seth had never made her status public.
Bianca couldn¡¯t help but feel a little wary, even if she didn¡¯t see Noreen as a real threat. It wasn¡¯t unusual for a man like Seth to have other women around before she came along. She could ept that¨Cso long as those ties ended now that she was here.
Seth¡¯s response was cool, almost indifferent. ¡°Was she? I didn¡¯t notice.¡±
Yes-man 42
Hearing those words, Bianca managed a small smile, feeling a bit more at ease.
¡°Achoo!¡±
Maybe it was the afternoon rain, but by evening, Noreen¡¯s head felt foggy and her limbs heavy. The symptoms of a cold were impossible to ignore.
Dr. Lynwood had warned her that her immune system was shot, and it clearly wasn¡¯t just an exaggeration. These days, her body seemed unable to withstand even the slightest chill or downpour.
Not wanting Rosalind to worry, Noreen slipped out into the hallway, stifling one sneeze after another. She couldn¡¯t stay away for too long though, so after a quick trip to the pharmacy for some medicine, she returned to the hospital room.
Rosalind looked even more fragile than usual, her face almostpletely drained of color and her body wasting away. The sight made Noreen¡¯s heart ache in a way she couldn¡¯t put into words.
For as long as she could remember, her mother had been the only family she had. She¡¯d never met her father¨Cdidn¡¯t even know who he was. As a child, she hadn¡¯t understood; when ssmates teased her about being the daughter of a ¡°nobody,¡± she¡¯de home in tears, begging Rosalind to tell her where her father was.
Rosalind would just hold her close, rocking her gently and whispering, ¡°Noreen doesn¡¯t need a dad. As long as you have your mom, that¡¯s enough.¡± To Noreen, her mother was her whole world. Whatever happened, she had to hold up that sky¨Cfor her mother¡¯s sake and her own. That had always been true, and it still was.
The next day was Friday. Noreen didn¡¯t go to work, nor did she bother to call in sick. Her mind was nowhere near thepany anymore. She¡¯d already decided to leave Aurelion Group, so none of their rules seemed to matter.
Rosalind¡¯s biopsy results finally came in. Thankfully, the tumor was benign. Noreen felt a small wave of relief.
Larson exined that Rosalind¡¯s underlying conditions were severe, which meant the surgery would be far riskier than usual. The team of specialists might not even be willing to take on such a difficult case.
Noreen¡¯s worry surged up again. She told Larson that even if the odds were slim, she still wanted to try.
16:29
ter 42
Meanwhile, Sophia crept nervously into Seth¡¯s office, clutching a stack of documents. Seth didn¡¯t even nce up, but just as she was about to make her escape, his voice cut through the silence: ¡°Where¡¯s Secretary Gilmore?¡±
¡°She¡¯s not in today,¡± Sophia blurted, not daring to hide the truth.
Seth¡¯s brow furrowed, his handsome features icing over with a chill that made Sophia forget to breathe.
But in the end, he said nothing more.
As soon as she left the office, Sophia couldn¡¯t help but clutch her chest, her heart pounding. She¡¯d nearly been scared to death by the ¡°Grim Reaper¡± himself!
She darted into the bathroom and quickly called Noreen.
¡°Noreen, howe you didn¡¯te in today?¡± she whispered.
Noreen paused, then asked, ¡°Did Mr. Harcourt ask about me?¡±
¡°He did, but that¡¯s all.¡±
Noreen figured he¡¯d just asked out of habit. After all, she¡¯d been his go¨Cto assistant for seven years¨Cher sudden absence was bound to feel strange.
¡°I have some things to take care of. I won¡¯t being in for a few days,¡± Noreen
told her.
¡°Should I let Mr. Harcourt know?¡± Sophia asked.
¡°No need,¡± Noreen replied. There was no point.
With both of them still technically at work, Sophia didn¡¯t dare linger on the phone. They exchanged a few more words and hung up.
Setting her phone aside, Noreen focused on preparing the medical files for the team of specialists. She barely had time to wonder whether Seth cared about her
absence.
It was nearly midnight by the time she finished organizing everything. Rubbing her aching neck, Noreen nced at her phone and realized it was already after twelve.
She¡¯d had her phone on silent while working, and only now noticed the notifications piling up on WhatsApp.
Opening thepany group chat, she saw someone had tagged her.
It was Seth.
Yes-man 43
Noreen¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she saw the familiar name pop up on her phone.
But once she actually read the message, she let out a silent, self¨Cmockingugh.
Seth hadn¡¯t tagged her personally at all.
He¡¯d mentioned everyone in the Aurelion Group¡¯s team chat¨Cno one special.
The announcement said that, to celebrate Director Bianca from Division Threending her first major project since joining Aurelion Group, the entirepany was invited to a two¨Cday team¨Cbuilding retreat at Azure Springs Resort next Friday
after work.
The chat was flooded with excited replies¡ªeveryone cheering, everyone thanking Seth and Bianca.
Noreen knew the world wasn¡¯t fair. Sucking up to the powerful and slighting the weak was just the way things worked.
Still, seeing it unfold before her eyes stung.
It¡¯s as if everyone had forgotten that the AeroEdge project had only been signed after she¡¯d spent more than six months running around, negotiating, and pushing it through.
Now, all the credit belonged to Bianca.
And Seth had forgotten, too.
Without hesitation, Noreen left thepany group chat. She just wanted a little peace and quiet.
¡°Noreen, why aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡±
The faint glow of her phone must have disturbed her mother¡¯s already restless sleep. Rosalind¡¯s voice was/gentle, but tired.
¡°Just about to, Mom. You should try to get some rest, too.¡± Noreen quickly put away her phone, lying quietly on the low cot beside her mother¡¯s hospital bed.
The cot was barely half the height of the hospital bed¨Cperfect for keeping close and making it easier to care for Rosalind.
All Rosalind had to do was reach out, and her handnded softly on Noreen¡¯s head.
She stroked Noreen¡¯s hair, just as she used to when Noreen was a child¨Cgentle,forting, full of love.
In the darkness, Noreen pressed her lips together to keep from sobbing, but tears still crept silently from the corners of her eyes.
She was grateful the lights were off and her mother couldn¡¯t see.
Rosalind¡¯s voice was barely more than a whisper, frail and thin. ¡°Noreen, could you ask Mr. Harcourt toe by the hospital sometime?¡±
Noreen swallowed hard, fighting back the lump rising in her throat. ¡°He¡ he¡¯s really busy.¡±
¡°I know he is, but it¡¯s about your future. I want to talk to him face to face, if only once.¡±
Noreen pressed her hand over her mouth, terrified she¡¯d start crying and give herself away.
Thankfully, Rosalind didn¡¯t notice. She just kept talking, her voice growing softer, ¡°I¡¯m just worried something might happen during the surgery, and I won¡¯t get the chance to ask him to take care of you.¡±
Noreen reached up, taking her mother¡¯s hand in both of hers.
Her mother¡¯s hand was so cold.
She squeezed it tightly, hoping to pass a little warmth across the gap.
Her voice trembled, ¡°He¡¯s been traveling non¨Cstop for work. I haven¡¯t seen him in weeks. You know how busy he is since Aurelion Group¡¯s subsidiary went public¨Che hasn¡¯t even had time to throw a celebration dinner.¡±
Rosalind just sighed.
¡°I suppose you¡¯re right. Still, remind him to take care of himself. No job is worth ruining your health when you¡¯re still young.¡±
¡°¡I will, Mom. Try to get some sleep now.¡±
¡°All right. You too.¡±
The cot was hard and narrow. With so much weighing on her mind, Noreen barely slept at all.
By dawn, she was already up, helping Rosalind through a whirlwind of check¨Cups and tests.
213
16.20
Chapter 43
Later, Larson came by with news¨Cthe team of specialists would arrive on Monday, though no one knew exactly when.
Noreen made a mental note to wait outside the hospital on Monday morning, just in
case.
She barely rested all weekend, only sneaking nces at her phone during fleeting
breaks.
Her social feed was flooded with pictures and posts from her coworkers¡® team¨Cbuilding trip.
Who could me them? Azure Springs Resort was the most exclusive retreat in the city¨Cof course everyone wanted to show off.
Thepany had organized plenty of team events before, but when Noreen had handled them, she always picked somewhere practical, somewhere budget¨Cfriendly.
Avish ce like Azure Springs Resort had never even been an option.
But this time, Seth had pulled out all the stops for Bianca¨Cbooking the most expensive resort in Rivercrest City, never mind thepany¡¯s finances.
Spending a fortune to impress a beautiful woman.
It made Noreen look stingy byparison.
Yes-man 44
So when Noreen scrolled through her coworker¡¯s social feed, she saw Colleague A ¨Cbuilding trip.¡±
¡°All those previous gatherings? Might as well have been cattle roundups.¡±
Colleague B couldn¡¯t agree more. She chimed in, ¡°Director Lowell really knows how to live it up! Great food, great drinks, and she¡¯s not just gorgeous and kind¨Cshe¡¯s from a top family and went to school overseas. She and Mr. Harcourt are the perfect match! Unlike some people, who haven¡¯t seen the world and pick such tacky ces. I can¡¯t even bring myself toin anymore¨Cso embarrassingly provincial!¡±
Colleague A quickly replied, ¡°Hey, have you had too much to drink? Did you remember to block ¡®you¨Cknow¨Cwho¡¯?¡±
By the time Noreen refreshed the feed, the post had vanished.
It was clear now: she was the ¡°you¨Cknow¨Cwho¡± in question.
Post after post, Noreen saw different angles of Seth and Bianca together.
In one, Bianca was feeding Seth slices of fruit.
In another, Seth was offering Bianca a bite of his barbecue.
But by the second half of the night, the two of them had disappeared from the group entirely.
In one video, someone asked, ¡°Where did Mr. Harcourt and Director Lowell go? Haven¡¯t seen them in a while.¡±
¡°Come on, we¡¯re all adults here. Do you really have to ask?¡± someone teased.
¡°I thought I saw them heading back to the hotel together¡¡±
Laughter and yful banter/filled the rest of the clip¨Ceveryone seemed to be having the time of their lives.
Noreen put her phone down and refocused on revising her proposal.
She just wanted to make the n as concise and persuasive as possible, hoping it would win Rosalind a chance for a consultation.
22:06
Early Monday morning, after making sure Rosalind was in the care of the nurse Noreen headed straight for the hospital¡¯s front entrance.
She was determined not to miss a single opportunity to run into the expert medical
team.
But she waited from morning until afternoon, and still there was no sign of them. Anxiety gnawed at her.
Sophia messaged: Could shee back to the office? Seth was losing his temper.
Noreen didn¡¯t reply.
Even if the Aurelion Group was copsing, she didn¡¯t have time to care right now.
So she simply turned off her phone and kept waiting.
Back at the Aurelion Group, Sophia, still without a response, had no choice but to nervously enter Seth¡¯s office.
Seth, already in a foul mood, looked up when he saw her. His expression darkened. ¡°Where¡¯s Noreen?¡±
Sophia¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°She hasn¡¯te in yet. I texted her, but she hasn¡¯t replied.¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t just call her?¡± Seth¡¯s tone was icy.
Sophia had never seen him this angry. Flustered, she hurriedly dialed Noreen¡¯s
number.
But all she got was the dead sound of a phone switched off. Swallowing her fear, she reported, ¡°Secretary Gilmore¡¯s phone is off.¡±
¡°Impressive.¡± Seth¡¯s sharp features grew even colder, his face stormy.
Before he could say more, Bianca breezed into the office. ¡°Seth, I¡¯m here to give you my report.¡±
She immediately sensed the tension and asked, ¡°What happened? Is something wrong?¡±
¡°Noreen¡¯s absent without leave,¡± Seth said tly.
Bianca raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is Secretary Gilmore really this undisciplined now? That¡¯s not good forpany management.¡±
Sophia, pale with nerv¨¦s, tried to defend Noreen. ¡°Secretary Gilmore must¡¯ve been caught up in something urgent. Mr. Harcourt, you know how dedicated she
22:06
is¨Cthere must be a good reason.¡±
¡°If rules are only for when it¡¯s convenient, what¡¯s the point of having them?¡± Bianca said sweetly, ncing at Seth. ¡°Seth, she¡¯s your secretary. The way you handle this sets the tone for the wholepany. If you y favorites, people will talk.¡±
Seth¡¯s voice was cold and decisive. ¡°We¡¯ll followpany policy. Dock her quarterly bonus. If she doesn¡¯t show up tomorrow, treat it as resignation.¡±
Sophia felt a chill run straight to her heart.
22.068
Yes-man 45
Noreen had no idea what Seth had decided. All her attention was fixed on the expert medical team.
As the workday drew to a close, there was still no sign of the experts.
Growing anxious, Noreen sought out Larson for information.
Larson had just stepped out of surgery and looked genuinely surprised when she asked. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard? Dean Grayson went straight to the airport to pick them up in person. They won¡¯t being to the hospital today.¡±
Noreen caught another emotion flicker across Larson¡¯s face and pressed further. ¡°Did Dean Grayson go alone?¡±
Larson let out a sigh. ¡°Of course not. He invited me to go as well, but I had an operation and couldn¡¯t leave.¡±
Noreen knew that with such top¨Ctier medical resources, there were always plenty of people eager to get close.
She couldn¡¯t afford to rx for a second. Hurriedly, she asked Larson where the expert team had gone.
Larson checked with a colleague who¡¯d apanied Dean Grayson and found out that the group was currently dining at The Grand Regent Hotel.
With that, Noreen wasted no time. She hailed a cab and hurried to The Grand Regent Hotel.
Evening rush hour had Rivercrest City locked in gridlock. Noreen checked the time again and again, growing more restless by the minute.
What should have been a half¨Chour ride stretched to forty minutes, then fifty, as traffic crawled along.
Unable to wait any longer, Noreen paid the fare early, hopped out, and grabbed a rental e¨Cbike nearby, determined to make it in time.
She weaved through gaps in traffic, pedaling furiously.
After twenty minutes, she finally spotted the gleaming entrance to The Grand Regent, bustling with dinner guests.
But there was still a busy intersection ahead. She needed to go around the traffic lights to reach the entrance.
22:06
Chapter 45
In her rush, as she rounded the corner to avoid an oing car, her wheel clipped a curb. She lost control, and both she and the bike crashed to the pavement.
A sharp, burning pain shot through her elbow and knee¨Cshe must¡¯ve scraped them badly.
Still, she was grateful it was only a scrape.
The ck Bentley she¡¯d nearly collided with came to a stop, and someone stepped out, striding straight toward her.
Noreen braced herself for a scolding. After all, the ident was entirely her fault.
She didn¡¯t even bother to get up. She blurted out, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! It was my fault. Really, you don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡±
¡°Are you hurt?¡±
A man¡¯s voice sounded above her, tinged with concern.
Noreen looked up and saw a familiar face.
It was Dn.
Dn hadn¡¯t expected to run into Noreen here, either.
He immediately bent down to help her up. ¡°Where are you hurt?¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a scrape.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡±
But Noreen had bigger things to worry about. She politely refused Dn¡¯s offer. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really. Just a scratch. No need to go to the hospital.¡±
Dn frowned, not in the mood to argue. He guided her toward the car anyway.
Noreen resisted. ¡°I¡¯ve got something urgent to take care of. I¡¯ll go to the hospitalter if I need to.¡±
¡°What could be more important than getting your wounds treated?¡± Dn¡¯s tone grew more serious.
¡°People¡¯s lives are on the line!¡± Noreen shot back, her voice trembling as her eyes grew red with frustration.
With Dn¡¯s support, Noreen hobbled toward the entrance of The Grand Regent.
913
22:061
Right at the front door, they ran into some familiar faces.
Noreen hadn¡¯t expected to see Seth and Bianca here.
Clearly, neither had they.
Seth stood on the steps, gazing down at her with cold, silent eyes.
Bianca¡¯s gaze flickered between Noreen and Dn before she finally asked, ¡°What are you two doing together?¡±
Dn exined, ¡°There was a little ident. She got knocked down.¡±
¡°Secretary Gilmore, are you alright?¡± Bianca actually sounded concerned.
¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Noreen replied, her tone t.
She slipped her arm from Dn¡¯s grasp and limped inside.
22.068
Yes-man 46
She had no intention of wasting her time on people who didn¡¯t matter.
But she was still a step toote.
The restaurant staff told her that Dean Grayson and his party had already left¨Cjust ten minutes earlier.
She could have epted being half an hourte, or even twenty minutes, but ten minutes? That was the worst. She¡¯d missed them by such a narrow margin¨Cif only she¡¯d hurried just a bit more, she would¡¯ve seen them.
The cruel reality sapped every ounce of strength from Noreen. Drained and
defeated, she walked out of the restaurant.
Outside, Seth and Bianca were already gone.
Only Dn was still waiting for her.
His persistence was unwavering. ¡°Can we go to the hospital now?¡±
Noreen hadn¡¯t lied; the injury really wasn¡¯t serious, but the cut looked nasty. Especially the one on her knee¨Cevery step tugged at the wound, sending a sharp pain straight through her.
¡°I¡¯ll take you home,¡± Dn insisted, only rxing after she¡¯d let him clean and bandage her knee.
¡°No, there¡¯s something I still need to do.¡±
Noreen wasn¡¯t ready to give up. She wanted to try one more time.
¡°What¡¯s so important that you¡¯re this anxious?¡± Dn¡¯s patience wore thin; his ice was cold.
It was a personal matter¨CNoreen saw no reason to tell him. She just wanted him
gone.
But then her phone buzzed, It was Larson.
Afraid she¡¯d miss any news, Noreen answered right away.
Larson sounded apologetic. The selectionmittee had already made their decision; he suggested she start considering other options.
A wave of heat stung her eyes, her nose prickling as she pressed her thumb hard against her index finger joint, as if that could steady her.
22.06
But her voice still trembled. ¡°Didn¡¯t the just arrive in Rivercrest City thr afternoon? They haven¡¯t even been to the hospital¨Chow could they already have picked someone?¡±
¡°It was Dean Grayson¡¯s arrangement. I don¡¯t know the details,¡± Larson replied, helpless.
He was just a department doctor. There wasn¡¯t much he could do.
When the call ended, it felt as though Noreen had fallen into a frozenke, icy water closing in from every side.
¡°What happened?¡± Dn noticed the color draining from her face and couldn¡¯t help but ask.
Noreen didn¡¯t even know where to begin.
¡°I know Dean Grayson pretty well,¡± Dn offered. ¡°Maybe I can help.¡±
His words were like a sliver of light, giving her hope once again.
That night, Noreen didn¡¯t stay at the hospital but hired someone to sit with her
mother instead.
Partly, she didn¡¯t want Rosalind to find out about her injury and worry. And after days in the hospital, she needed a break.
Dn drove her home himself, stopping at her building. ¡°I¡¯ll see you at the hospital
tomorrow at ten.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t put so much pressure on yourself. Things have a way of working out.¡±
He¡¯d seen how much she was struggling.
Noreen nodded quietly.
Dn couldn¡¯t resist reaching out to ruffle her hair. ¡°Go on, it¡¯ste. Get some rest.¡±
As she got out of the car, he added, ¡°Keep the wound dry and remember to put on the ointment. It¡¯ll scar if you don¡¯t.¡±
¡°I know. You should get home too. And¡ thank you. For everything today.¡±
For the first time, Dn¡¯s frown rxed. ¡°That¡¯s rare¨Chearing you thank me.¡±
Noreen shooed him off, and he finally drove away.
Thanks to Dn¡¯sfort, her anxiety eased¨Cif only a little, enough to let her
breathe.
Night winds gusted, cold air biting.
Noreen pulled her coat tighter and started for home, but stopped short when she saw the man standing under the streemp, his face cold and forbidding.
It was Seth¨Csomeone who shouldn¡¯t have been there at all.
Yes-man 47
Noreen had no idea why Seth was here.
Not that she cared to find out.
After a fleeting nce in his direction, she shut down her emotions and strode inside.
But Seth was standing right by the entrance; if she wanted to get home, she¡¯d have to walk past him.
In that moment, Noreen could only hope he¡¯d pretend not to see her.
No such luck.
As she drew closer, Seth spoke, his voice colder than the night itself. ¡°Why are you getting home sote?¡±
He sounded like he had every right to question her.
Noreen almostughed out loud.
Who did he think he was, demanding answers from her?
When she didn¡¯t respond, Seth reached out and grabbed her arm.
The movement pulled at the wound on her elbow, and she couldn¡¯t suppress a sharp intake of breath.
Realization dawned on Seth¡¯s face; he quickly let go, his brow creasing even deeper than before.
¡°Where are you hurt?¡±
¡°Is it serious?¡±
He sounded concerned.
But his concern came far toote, and felt far too hollow.
Noreen had stopped wanting it a long time ago. Now, it meant nothing.
¡°What do you want, Seth? Just say it.¡±
Her voice was cold and unyielding, making Seth frown again. For the first time, he seemed to realize her recent distance might have something to do with him.
Seth, uncharacteristically, softened his tone. ¡°About appointing Bianca as the new
29.05
department head¨CI should¡¯ve told you in advance. Things were just¡ hectic, and 1 didn¡¯t get the chance.¡±
Busy. The perfect excuse.
It worked in every situation, every rtionship.
Except for the ones where it mattered most.
Because then, it was just another way of brushing someone off.
Noreen heard his exnation, but it didn¡¯t stir anything inside her.
¡°Are you finished? Can I go now?¡±
Seth hadn¡¯t expected this.
After seven years together, what he¡¯d always valued most about Noreen was how understanding she was¨Cnever pushing, neverpeting, always capable.
He¡¯d always assumed she¡¯d ept whatever he decided, no matter what. That if there was ever a misunderstanding, he only needed to exin, and she¡¯d believe him without question.
But not this time.
The warmth in her eyes was gone, reced by a cool detachment that blended into the night.
Something about her indifference unsettled him.
¡°Noreen, I¡¯ve said what I needed to say. I get that you¡¯re upset, but you need to know
when to stop.¡±
¡°Skipping work for no reason¨Cthat ends here.¡±
His tone slipped back intomand.
¡°I understand,¡± Noreen replied, lowering her gaze to hide whatever flickered in her
eyes.
Seth¡¯s brow finally rxed. ¡°It¡¯ste. Get some rest. We¡¯ve got that board meeting in the morning, so be at the office early to prepare.¡±
¡°These past few days you¡¯ve been gone, your assistant¡¯s made a mess of things. We¡¯re behind on a lot.¡±
Noreen wanted to point out that if he hadn¡¯t dyed her, she¡¯d have been home and in bed by now.
22:06
From the way Seth lingered, it was clear he nned to follow her upstairs
She was about to refuse when Seth¡¯s private phone rang.
This time, Noreen didn¡¯t even bother ncing at the screen. Any curiosity she¡¯d once had about his life was long gone.
Seth seemed to know exactly who was calling. He didn¡¯t answer in front of her just said, ¡°Go on inside.¡±
Noreen turned and walked away.
She¡¯d barely reached the elevators when she heard his voice behind her, speaking into the phone. ¡°Bianca, what is it?¡±
Of course.
The elevator doors slid open. Noreen stepped inside, pressed the ¡®close¡® button without hesitation, and prayed for the world outside to disappear.
Yes-man 48
Noreen hadn¡¯t slept well for days, and tonight, insomnia kept her wide awake,
She tossed and turned for what felt like hours, unable to drift off.
A little after eleven, her phone buzzed¨Ca message from ire.
ire sent over seven or eightwyers¡® WhatsApp contacts, some well¨Cknown, others found through friends of friends.
She was doing everything she could to help Noreen.
Since sleep was out of the question, Noreen figured she might as well talk to thesewyers.
At first, every one of them sounded confident, promising the moon. But the moment she mentioned her case was against Aurelion Group¡¯s legal team, the
conversations dried up.
Things were even trickier than Noreen had imagined.
After all, she had willingly signed that contract herself.
Just that fact alone was enough to lose her the case.
Taking this to court was a dead end.
If the other side decided to drag things out for years, her career would be over.
So, her only option was to go through Seth.
Which meant, like it or not, she¡¯d have to deal with him again.
The realization made her clench her jaw in frustration.
Poetic justice, she thought bitterly. Who told you to fall head over heels and forget to use your brain? This is the price you pay.
ire messaged: ¡°So what now?¡±
Noreen steeled herself. ¡°I¡¯ll just have to swallow my pride and push through.¡±
ire was genuinely impressed. ¡°Noreen, you¡¯ve finally woken up! I¡¯m proud of you!¡± Well, betterte than never.
Awakening, she realized, is only one percent from others¡® reminders. The other ny¨Cninees from being cut to pieces by life.
The next morning, Noreen arrived at the office early.
Seth came in with nca. Seeing Noreen quietly at her desk, he felt reassured
So her odd behaviortely really was just a tantrum directed at him.
He¡¯d given her a simple exnationst night, and she¡¯d fallen right back in line,
Seth was pleased with Noreen¡¯s sense of propriety.
After entering his office with Bianca, he pressed the inte and asked Noreen to bring in two coffees.
Noreenplied without a word.
¡°Seth, can you take another look at my presentation? See if there¡¯s anything else I should fix?¡± Bianca¡¯s voice was soft and syrupy.
¡°Didn¡¯t I already help you with itst night?¡±
¡°I made a few more changes.¡± Bianca¡¯s tone was almost childlike.
Noreen couldn¡¯t help but wonder¨Chow did someone even manage to talk like that?
Seth patiently reviewed Bianca¡¯s slides. Noreen set a stack of documents on Seth¡¯s desk. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, these papers need your signature.¡±
¡°Leave them there,¡± he replied, eyes never leaving Bianca¡¯sptop.
Noreen quietly slipped out. She sent the finalized meeting agenda to Sophia, then left Aurelion Group.
She made sure to remind Sophia: if Mr. Harcourt asked, just say she was organizing theunch party.
Every time one of Aurelion Group¡¯s subsidiaries went public, they hosted avish celebration. Noreen had always handled the arrangements, and this time was no
different.
No one would question her excuse¨Cnot even Seth.
By 9:30, Noreen was at the hospital. She headed straight to Rosalind¡¯s room.
No change¨CRosalind¡¯s condition hadn¡¯t improved.
When Noreen walked in, Rosalind instinctively nced behind her, as if expecting someone else.
22:06
When she realized Noreen was alone, the disappointment in her eyes was obviou
Noreen knew exactly who she was hoping to see, and what Rosalind wanted to ask Seth. But she couldn¡¯t be honest with her, not yet.
For now, she could only let Rosalind focus on getting better.
While waiting for Dn for half an hour, Noreen got a message from Sophia meeting?¡±
Yes-man 49
Noreen asked casually, ¡°What happened?¡±
¡°It¡¯s Director Lowell¨Cshe shut down every project you had lined up! Not a single one left standing!¡±
Sophia was clearly hiding out in the restroom, her voice barely above a whisper.
Noreen was taken aback. ¡°All of them? She rejected everything?¡±
¡°Yeah, all of them! Even the Al Initiative and that game development project you were so excited about.¡±
Sophia soundedpletely exasperated.
Noreen frowned. ¡°What did Mr. Harcourt say?¡±
¡°Nothing. Mr. Harcourt didn¡¯t say a word.¡±
For a moment, Noreen¡¯s mind went nk. But it didn¡¯t take her long to figure it out.
Seth knew perfectly well which projects were worth investing in. If he didn¡¯t say anything, it was only because the one doing the rejecting was Bianca. He was letting Bianca make her mark, making sure everyone in thepany respected her
and fell in line.
Just like always¨Cshielding Bianca, putting her in the spotlight.
¡°Do you think Mr. Harcourt¡¯s been hypnotized or something? Since when does Ms. Lowell get to call all the shots?¡± Sophia grumbled, looking for someone to vent to.
¡°It¡¯s simple. He¡¯s just consolidating Ms. Lowell¡¯s power,¡± Noreen said, resigned. At this point, she wouldn¡¯t even be surprised if Seth announced he was handy the entire Aurelion Group over to Bianca.
¡°What does she need that much favoritism for? Is he nning on making her the next Mrs. Harcourt or something?¡±
Sophia had always been the type to speak before thinking. The words were out before she realized what she¡¯d said, and she froze mid¨Csentence.
¡°Noreen, that¡¯s not what I meant¡¡±
Noreen stayed calm, even managing a joke. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right. So you¡¯d better keep yourints to yourself¨Cif anyone hears you, your job won¡¯t be safe for long.¡±
?? 1
22.06
But Sophia didn¡¯t care about herself. She just felt bad for Noreen
¡°Mr. Harcourt¡¯s going to regret this, I just know it!¡± Sophia¡¯s voice wavered her mind shing back to the image of Noreen pale and lifeless in a hospital bed. Shed barely made it out alive.
¡°No, he¡¯ll definitely regret it!¡± Sophia choked out, her frustration clear.
Whether Seth would regret it or not didn¡¯t matter to Noreen anymore. Whatever happened, she was ready to walk away.
¡°It¡¯s just a shame about those projects,¡± she said quietly, herposure unshaken. What really stung was having all that hard work dismissed so easily.
Sophia agreed, ¡°Yeah, you put in all that effort¨Cdiligence, research, hand¨Cpicking each one. I wonder which lucky firm will scoop them up now.¡±
Sophia meant it as a passing remark, but Noreen heard something else in her words. If she started her own firm¡could she take those projects with her? But all her connections and resources right now revolved around Seth and Aurelion Group. Once she walked out that door, who would still take her calls?
Dn arrived right on time, clearly having coordinated with Dean Grayson in advance. He was already waiting when they walked into the office.
Dean Grayson greeted Dn warmly, shaking his hand. ¡°Mr. Wilder, right this way.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t know exactly who Dn was, but it was obvious from Dean Grayson¡¯s
attitude that he was someone important.
Dn got straight to the point.
Dean Grayson hesitated. ¡°The slots were finalized yesterday. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to make changes now.¡±
Dn said, ¡°Miss Gilmore is a friend of mine.¡±
That put Dean Grayson in a tough spot.
Noreen stepped in, her tone earnest, handing over the materials she¡¯d prepared. She exined her case as sincerely as she could.
Dean Grayson, not wanting to offend the eldest son of the Wilder family from Rivercrest City, made an excuse and stepped out.
He was gone for quite a while.
Meanwhile, Larson messaged Noreen, saying he¡¯d shown her materials to a pant of experts at a recent conference. They were actually more intrigued by her proposal for Rosalind¨Cit seemed more challenging to them.
Noreen felt a bit more at ease just as Dean Grayson finally returned.
Yes-man 50
This time, his response was firm. ¡°Mr. Wilder, I¡¯m truly sorry, but the appointment was scheduled in advance and everything¡¯s already set. It just can¡¯t be changed at thest minute.¡±
Noticing Dn¡¯s expression turning cold, he quickly tried to soften the blow. ¡°But please don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll do our absolute best for Miss Gilmore¡¯s mother as well. If Miss Gilmore is concerned, I can even help contact a more renowned hospital for a second opinion.¡±
As thest glimmer of hope faded, the light drained from Noreen¡¯s eyes.
¡°Noreen, wait outside for a moment,¡± Dn told her.
Noreen left the room in a daze, barely aware of her surroundings.
Dn turned back to Dean Grayson, his gaze sharp. ¡°Dean Grayson, let¡¯s be honest. What would it take for you to perform Rosalind¡¯s surgery?¡±
¡°Mr. Wilder, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. I really can¡¯t help you with this,¡± Dean Grayson replied, his tone apologetic.
Dn understood instantly. He didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries. ¡°Would you mind telling me who¡¯s putting you in this difficult position?¡±
Dean Grayson hesitated, unable to give a straight answer.
There were only a handful of prominent families in Rivercrest City, and even fewer whose influence rivaled that of the Wilder family.
It didn¡¯t take much for Dn to piece it together. ¡°Is it Seth?¡±
Dean Grayson neither confirmed nor denied it, but his silence spoke volumes.
Dn nodded, resigned. ¡°I understand. Thank you for your time.¡±
With nothing else to say, he left the hospital without so much as a word to Noreen.
She could sense, too, that their chances were slim. Left with no other options, she started researching expert medical teams online, hoping to find an alternative.
Meanwhile, Dn headed straight to the Aurelion Group to find Seth.
When he arrived, Bianca was there as well.
¡°Dn! This is a surprise,¡± Bianca greeted him cheerfully.
¡°I¡¯m here to see Seth,¡± Dn replied.
¡°He¡¯s in his office. I¡¯ll take you to him,¡± nca offered, leading the way
Seth had already guessed this confrontation wasing¨CDean Grayson had called him an hour earlier to say Dn was seeking a spot with the expert medical team.
But Seth had already promised that opportunity to Bianca. He wasn¡¯t about to change his mind.
Dean Grayson, caught in the middle, could only turn Dn down as politely as possible.
Dn got straight to the point as soon as he saw Seth. ¡°Can you give me the expert team¡¯s appointment slot?¡±
Seth didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Sorry, Dn. I can¡¯t give up that slot.¡±
Bianca, realizing what this was about, quickly exined, ¡°Dn, Seth arranged that for me. My mom¡¯s in the hospital¨Cshe really needs it.¡±
¡°So you¡¯re the one who took the slot?¡± Dn asked, his voice tight.
Bianca nodded. ¡°Yeah. Who are you trying to help?¡±
Dn didn¡¯t answer, only giving Seth a long,plicated look before leaving in a rush.
That evening, Rosalind said she wanted some fresh air, so Noreen bundled her up and wheeled her outside for a walk.
The sunset painted the city in a brilliant wash of scarlet and gold¨Ca rare jht for early winter.
Not far away, Bianca was also out for a stroll, pushing Yvonne¡¯s wheelchair. Noreen, not wanting to run into them, changed direction.
Bianca, absorbed in conversation with her mother, didn¡¯t notice Noreen at all.
¡°Mom, just rx and wait for the surgery,¡± Bianca was saying. ¡°The team operating on you is world¨Css. There¡¯s very little risk.¡±
Yvonne looked reassured. ¡°We¡¯re so lucky Seth pulled this off. You must thank him properly for me.¡±
Bianca grinned. ¡°Seth says we don¡¯t need to stand on ceremony.¡±
¡°Well, he¡¯s right. Especially since you two are practically family already.¡±
¡°Oh, Mom¡¡± nca blushed..
¡°I¡¯m not wrong, am I? Anyone can see Seth truly cares about you. Your dad and F both see it.¡±
The mother and daughter¡¯s voices faded as they moved farther away.
But under the shade of a tree, Noreen stood frozen, her face drained of color.
She never imagined it would be Seth who helped Bianca snatch away the appointment slot they so desperately needed.
Yes-man 51
All the humiliation she¡¯d bottled up over the past few days crashed over her in a tidal wave.
Even the strongest defenses can crumble in an instant.
Emotion overwhelmed reason, and before she could stop herself, Noreen was already on her way to confront Seth.
By the time her mind caught up with her body, she was standing outside Seth¡¯s apartment building.
A bitter wind whipped through the street.
She¡¯d left in such a hurry she hadn¡¯t even grabbed a coat.
The cold bit into her skin, creeping down her neck and making her shiver.
But now that she was here, Noreen decided there was no turning back¨Cshe needed to talk to Seth, honestly, face to face.
She reached for her phone, but just then, Seth¡¯s car pulled up outside.
The headlights red, forcing her to squint. By the time her eyes adjusted, the car was parked neatly in his private space.
Noreen was just about to call out when she saw Bianca step out of the passenger seat, her face bright withughter.
The words stuck in Noreen¡¯s throat.
Seth got out next. He popped the trunk and pulled out a small, pink suitcase.
It was unmistakably a woman¡¯s.
The two of them chatted and joked as they walked inside together.
The front door closed behind them, and Noreen felt something inside her break away, just a little more.
She stood there for a long, long time, unable to move.
So soon¡ they¡¯re already living together?
Of course. After all, they¡¯d loved each other for years. Now that they could finally be together, why wait?
Only people who don¡¯t care keep dragging things out.
22:07
There¡¯s no such thing as love that just takes time.
In the end, it¡¯s just indifference, isn¡¯t it?
The realization hit her all at once, leaving her heart cold and hollow.
She stood beneath the trees, watching the lights flicker on inside the apartment.
A sharp ache pulsed in her chest, breaking through the numbness she¡¯d worn like
armor.
She didn¡¯t shy away from it. She let herself feel it.
Once, she¡¯d pinned half her soul to Seth. Now, as she pulled herself away, it felt like ripping out that half and leaving it behind.
All she could do was try to stitch herself back together, even if the pieces were still bleeding.
She forced herself to ept it: sometimes, someone can just stop loving you, the only way out is to tear yourself free, no matter how much it hurts.
That night, Noreen stood for ages in the freezing wind.
and
She watched as the lights inside the apartment glowed, then faded into darkness.
The long, agonizing hours passed, and in that time, all the questions that had haunted her finally found their answers.
When she couldn¡¯t secure a spot for the surgery, Noreen decided to transfer Rosalind to the best oncology hospital in Royalston.
But before she could finish the paperwork, Dn called.
He told her he¡¯d managed to bring in one of the country¡¯s top specialists to perform Rosalind¡¯s surgery right there at the hospital.
Larson also advised keeping Rosalind where she was. Her condition was fragile, and moving her could take a toll¨Cboth physically and emotionally¨Cwhich would only make recovery harder.
The best option was to wait for the specialist to arrive.
Noreen agreed. For the first time in days, she felt the weight on her chest begin to lift.
She told Dn she didn¡¯t know how to thank him. She owed him so much now.
22:07 13
Chapter
After all, Dn had rushed to Royalston overnight to find the specialist for Rosalind.
It was a debt Noreen knew she had to repay,
¡°Just put it on my tab. I¡¯ll let you know when I think of something, Dn replied. He was still waiting for his flight at the airport.
¡°What time will you get in?¡± Noreen asked. After all he¡¯d done, she felt she at least owed him a meal.
¡°Why? You nning to meet me at the airport?¡±
¡°Do you need me to?¡±
Yes-man 52
¡°Of course!¡± Dn was never one for pleasantries.
Noreen replied just as decisively, ¡°Alright! Send me your flight details and I¡¯ll be there to pick you up on time.¡±
That afternoon, Sophia messaged Noreen at work: a package had arrived for her.
On a break, Noreen stopped by Aurelion Group to pick it up. When she opened the box, she realized it was the dress she¡¯d ordered weeks ago.
The one she¡¯d meant for thepany¡¯s celebration dinner.
Back when she ced the order, she¡¯d been full of hope¨Cconvinced that by now, she would have already proposed to Seth. She imagined everyone at the office would know who she was by then, so she hadn¡¯t hidden ¨¢ thing: she¡¯d ordered matching outfits for her and Seth, wanting the whole world to see their love.
Just as Seth had always wanted to show everyone how much he favored Bianca.
But now, there was no way she¡¯d ever wear that dress.
Noreen had barely finished steaming the gown when Seth called, asking her to pick up a dress from ¡®Myriad Atelier¡® for him.
On the way there, Noreen couldn¡¯t shake her confusion. She¡¯d always been the one arranging Seth¡¯s suits for business events and gs. Why was he suddenly ordering formalwear himself?
When she finally saw the order, the answer hit her hard.
It was a woman¡¯s dress.
But it wasn¡¯t her size.
She didn¡¯t even need to check¨Cthe dress was custom¨Cmade for Bianca,
Worse, the order date was earlier than when she¡¯d ced hers. Which
Chapter 52
meant, while she¡¯d been dreaming about proposing to Seth, he¡¯d already been nning a special outfit for someone else.
The truth was almostughable.
Despite all the times she¡¯d tried to numb herself, this discovery sent a
sharp, stinging pain straight through her chest. Breathing felt impossible. She told herself it would pass.
It would all pass.
Once she left Seth, everything would get better.
Noreen hung up her own dress, printed another copy of her resignation letter, and dropped it off on Seth¡¯s desk¨Cjust as the workday ended.
For the second time that week, she left the office right on time.
Sophia had apparently gotten used to this; she was no longer surprised the way she¡¯d been before. When she saw Noreen reapplying her lipstick before clocking out, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Noreen, got a date tonight?¡±
¡°Something like that,¡± Noreen said, gathering her things. She said goodbye to Sophia and walked out the door on the dot.
Sophia still had work to finish, so she stayed behind to put in some overtime.
Halfway through, Seth¡¯s extension rang. ¡°Where¡¯s Secretary Gilmore?¡±
¡°She¡¯s already left for the day,¡± Sophia replied.
¡°She left again?¡± Seth sounded genuinely surprised.
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Sophia picked up on the note of confusion in his voice.
It was understandable. The old Noreen rarely left on time¨Cespecially not if Seth was still in the building.
After a brief silence, Seth hung up.
Sophia couldn¡¯t see Seth¡¯s face, but his tone made it clear he was unsettled. Noreen used to answer his every call, anticipate his every need. Lately, though, something in her had shifted, and the change left Seth inexplicably on edge.
Just then, Bianca strode into his office without knocking, beaming as she spoke. ¡°Seth, how much longer are you working?¡°,
¡°Almost done. Just a few more documents to sign.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll wait, then. Let¡¯s get dinner together.¡±
Seth turned back to his paperwork, but as he reached thest folder, his hand froze.
A resignation letter.
Another one.
Her second this month.
Was she still mad at him?
Yes-man 53
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bianca looked up just in time to catch the odd expression on Seth¡¯s face. Concerned, she asked quietly.
Seth casually snatched up the resignation letter and tossed it into his desk drawer. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m done for the day. Let¡¯s go grab dinner.¡±
¡°Alright.¡± Bianca¡¯s eyes sparkled with anticipation at the thought of sharing a meal with him.
Noreen arrived at the arrivals gate right on time.
As soon as Dn emerged, he spotted her immediately.
¡°You really came to pick me up?¡± Dn grinned, clearly in high spirits.
Noreen smiled back. ¡°Of course. I promised, didn¡¯t I? I keep my word.¡±
¡°That¡¯s more like it,¡± Dn chuckled, falling in step beside her as they left the airport together, chatting andughing.
Noreen had already reserved a table at a restaurant, so after picking Dn up, she drove straight there.
They arrived right at the dinner rush, and the ce was buzzing with diners.
Once they were seated, Noreen took a moment to tell Dn about the restaurant¡¯s specialties.
Dn seemed pleased, but as they began to eat, he noticed that Noreen only picked at the lighter, more nd dishes.
He couldn¡¯t help but a?k, ¡°I remember you used to love spicy food. What¡¯s up with the change?¡±
Noreen exined, ¡°My stomach¡¯s been acting up these past couple of years. The doctor told me to stay away from spicy stuff¨Cso I¡¯m stuck with the mild options for now.¡±
11:38
Chapter 53
¡°No wonder you¡¯ve gotten so thin.¡± Dn frowned, studying her. ¡°I still remember the first time I met you at Father Benedict¡¯s house, you had the cutest round cheeks.¡±
He nced her up and down. ¡°Now you¡¯re as skinny as a rail.¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t being slim a good thing?¡± Noreen asked with a shrug.
¡°No way!¡± Dn shot back instantly. ¡°You need to take better care of yourself.¡±
With that, he waved the waiter over and ordered every nourishing, stomach¨Cfriendly dish on the menu.
Noreen tried to protest, but he cut her off.
¡°There¡¯s no way I can eat all that!¡±
¡°I¡¯ll help you! You have no idea how miserable I¡¯ve been with nd foreign food these past few years. Every time Ie back, the first thing I do is run straight to a restaurant and devour real food!¡±
The two of them joked andughed, their easy banter filling the air with warmth.
On her way to the restroom, Bianca passed by the restaurant and, to her surprise, spotted Noreen.
Since Dn was facing away from her, Bianca didn¡¯t see his face and didn¡¯t recognize him.
But one thing was clear: Noreen was having dinner with another man.
The discovery thrilled Bianca. She hurried back to the private dining room, eager to share her news with Seth.
¡°Seth, guess who I just saw outside!¡±
¡°Who?¡±
¡°Secretary Gilmore!¡± Bianca lowered her voice for emphasis, watching Seth¡¯s reaction closely.
Chapter 53
Seth¡¯s response was calm, almost indifferent. ¡°And what¡¯s so surprising about that?¡±
¡°Running into Secretary Gilmore isn¡¯t the interesting part! The interesting part is that she¡¯s on a date¨Cwith a man!¡± Bianca made sure to highlight thest part.
¡°Eat your dinner,¡± Seth reminded her, unruffled.
Bianca watched his face, searching for even the slightest reaction, but found nothing. She was more than satisfied with what she saw.
Clearly, her worries had been unnecessary.
Seth didn¡¯t have any feelings for Noreen. Over the past few years, Noreen had been the only woman around him, but it was obvious he just saw her as an assistant, nothing more.
After all, men have their needs. To put it bluntly, Noreen was just a convenient outlet for Seth.
Otherwise, how could seven years pass with absolutely no progress between them?
Besides, Bianca had never thought much of Noreen. Sure, the woman was pretty, but Bianca considered herself just as attractive.
What Bianca had, though, Noreen could only dream of¨Clike an impable family background, and an elite education.
Those were things Noreen would never have, no matter how hard she tried.
That¡¯s why Yvonne had always told Bianca there was no need to worry about Noreen. She should keep her eyes on Seth and let everything else fall into ce.
Chapter 54
Yes-man 54
Looking back now, it was clear¨Cher mother¡¯s instincts were sharper than hers. Wisdom only came with age, she supposed.
¡°Alright, alright, I get it!¡± Bianca replied, in unusually high spirits.
Rosalind¡¯s surgery was scheduled for Friday.
Noreen arrived at the hospital early that morning. For the past couple of days, she¡¯d been showing up at the office every day, handling her work as quickly as possible before heading to the hospital under the pretense of preparing for the uingpany party. She¡¯d always been the one in charge of those celebrations, so organizing everything was second nature¨Cthere was no need to oversee every detail.
That meant she could spend most of her time at the hospital, keeping Rosalindpany.
Rosalind, of course, worried that Noreen was neglecting her job to take care of her. Noreen simply told her that Seth had given her the time off. Rosalind liked hearing that¨Cshe even praised Seth for being such a thoughtful man.
Noreen just scoffed inwardly. Seth was thoughtful, all right¡ªjust not to her. His kindness was reserved for Bianca, and no one else.
Nearly every day, Rosalind would ask about Seth, and every time, Noreen brushed her off with the same excuse: he was busy with work and woulde when he could.
While they were preparing for surgery, Rosalind asked again. Noreen stuck to her story. ¡°He¡¯s busy, Mom. He¡¯lle when he has a free moment.¡±
This time, Rosalind looked genuinely disappointed. ¡°I just worry I might not make it out¡¡±
¡°Mom!¡± Noreen cut her off, voice firm. ¡°You¡¯re going to be fine. Don¡¯t even
Chapter 54
think like that!¡±
Rosalind managed a weak smile. ¡°Alright.¡±
Dn arrived shortly after, carrying a bag of healthy snacks for Rosalind. She didn¡¯t recognize him, so Noreen introduced him as a friend. Rosalind didn¡¯t press for details.
Dn stayed and helped Noreen escort Rosalind to the operating room. When the doors swung shut, Noreen thanked him quietly.
He brushed off her gratitude with a mock frown. ¡°Since when are we so formal with each other?¡±
¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Noreen said, a little exasperated.
He grinned. ¡°Just teasing. No need to be so serious.¡±
Dn was the same as ever¨Cstill with that annoying habit of ruffling her hair. When they were younger, Noreen always protested, ¡°If you keep doing that, I¡¯ll never grow tall!¡±
Dn would justugh and say, ¡°If you stay short, I¡¯ll just have to take care of you forever.¡±
It was just a childhood joke, something he tossed out without thinking, and something she¡¯d never taken to heart.
The waiting was long and agonizing, but having someone there made it a little easier.
By coincidence, Yvonne also had surgery scheduled for that day, just a bitter than Rosalind.
On Bianca¡¯s side, it was Seth who stayed by her. Forrest had work obligations and wouldn¡¯t arrive untilter.
¡°Seth, I¡¯m so d you¡¯re here,¡± Bianca murmured, her eyes still red. ¡°You have no idea¨Cmy hands were shaking when I had to sign the paperwork.¡± Seth gently rubbed her back, trying tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The best medical team in the world is operating today¨Cyour mom¡¯s in good
Chapter
hands.¡±
Bianca sniffled and nodded, tears glistening as she blinked them away, looking heartbreakingly vulnerable.
Just then, Noreen returned with coffee. The first thing she saw was this intimate little scene: Bianca, head bowed and eyes rimmed with red, confiding in Seth; Seth, his hand tenderly on her back, his voice soft and reassuring.
It was a picture¨Cperfect moment¨Cif only they weren¡¯t blocking the hallway.
¡°Excuse me, could you move?¡± Noreen cut in, her tone t and abrupt, shattering the cozy mood.
Bianca quickly turned away, wiping at tears that hadn¡¯t quite fallen. When she saw who it was, her eyes widened in surprise.
¡°Secretary Gilmore?¡±
Seth looked up too, and when he realized it was Noreen, his expression cooled, the warmth from before disappearing. ¡°What are you doing
here?¡± he asked, irritation edging into his voice.
Noreen almost shot back, ¡°Is this your hospital now?¡± But then she remembered¨CSeth had actually invested in this hospital.
Yes-man 55
The words caught in Noreen¡¯s throat; she swallowed them down and forced a practiced, social smile¨Cthe kind she reserved for work events. ¡°It¡¯s a public hospital. If you two can be here, so can I.¡±
Seth¡¯s frown deepened, clearly unimpressed by her answer.
Bianca, however, seemed to remember something. She turned to Noreen. ¡°So your family member really is sick?¡±
Noreen almostughed at the question.
Did Bianca honestly think she¡¯d lied about her family being illst time? Did she suspect her of following them on purpose?
Who would make up something like that out of the blue?
Seth probably thought the same, didn¡¯t he?
But Noreen didn¡¯t care what he thought anymore.
All she wanted was to leave, so she strode past them without hesitation.
Dn was waiting further down the hall. When he saw her return, a smile tugged at his lips. ¡°I was starting to wonder what took you so long¨Cturns out you went to get coffee.¡±
¡°I couldn¡¯t just leave you waiting,¡± Noreen replied, handing him the cup.
¡°Shouldn¡¯t be much longer now.¡± Dn checked his watch.
It had already been five hours since the surgery began.
No news hade out during that time, but Dn reassured her this was
a good sign¨Cit meant everything was going smoothly.
Thatforted Noreen a little.
Dn gave her hair a gentle ruffle. ¡°Everything¡¯s going to be alright.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Noreen agreed softly.
Chapter 55
A little further down, Bianca was visibly anxious, ncing at the surgery doors every few seconds.
¡°Seth, I¡¯m so nervous,¡± she whispered, hoping forfort.
But Seth seemed distracted, eyes fixed on something in the distance. He
didn¡¯t answer.
¡°Seth?¡± Bianca called again.
He snapped out of it. ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°What are you looking at?¡± Bianca followed his gaze, but saw nothing unusual. Her curiosity only grew.
¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Seth replied, his expression as unreadable as ever. Still, he remembered to reassure her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything will be fine.¡±
With him by her side, Bianca finally managed to rx..
Rosalind¡¯s surgery was a sess, and for the first time in days, Noreen was able to sleep soundly.
On Sunday morning, she rose early to make a pot of chicken soup for Rosalind, hoping it would help her recover. Just as she reached the hospital room, she heard a familiar voice drifting out from inside.
She froze, wondering if she¡¯d gotten the wrong room.
But after checking the room number twice, she was certain she hadn¡¯t.
So¡ had Seth walked into the wrong room?
Inside, Seth was speaking with Rosalind.
¡°Sorry I haven¡¯t visited sooner. Work¡¯s kept me busy,¡± he said, sounding perfectly sincere.
Anyone who didn¡¯t know the backstory would probably believe him. But to Noreen, it just sounded fake.
Then again, of course he was busy¨Cbusy spending all his time with his darling Bianca. That had to count as ¡°work,¡± right?
Rosalind, though, seemed genuinely pleased by Seth¡¯s visit. She smiled warmly and reassured him, ¡°Workes first. You¡¯re young, your career should be your priority. Besides, you gave Noreen time off so she could take care of me, didn¡¯t you? Having her here has been just as good.¡±
¡°She¡¯s¡ been working hard these days.¡± There was a hint of guilt in Seth¡¯s voice, though not much.
Noreen chose that moment to enter. ¡°Mom, how are you feeling today?¡±
¡°Much better, sweetheart. Actually, I was just wondering¨Cwhy didn¡¯t you twoe together?¡± Rosalind asked, genuine confusion in her eyes. Noreen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She¡¯d forgotten about that little detail. All this time, she¡¯d kept up the charade so Rosalind could focus on recovering, letting her believe that she and Seth were still happily together.
The surgery might be over, but Rosalind was still far too frail for the truth.
Chapter 56
Yes-man 56
If she ever found out the truth, she¡¯d only end up worried sick.
So after her brief panic, Noreen nced at Seth, silently hoping he¡¯d catch her signal.
After all, they¡¯d spent seven years practically joined at the hip¨Csurely, he¡¯d pick up on her cue.
Seth understood. With practiced patience, he turned to Rosalind and exined, ¡°I just got back from a business trip. I came straight here before I could let her know.¡±
¡°Oh, is that so? Well, you¡¯d better hurry home and get some rest. Business trips really take it out of you. Every time Noreen gets back from one, she looks like she¡¯s lost ten pounds!¡±
¡°She works so hard.¡±
The words sounded more grating than sympathetic.
Still, Noreen had to admit¨CSeth was quite the actor. Handsome too. If he ever got tired of his day job, he could probably make it in showbiz.
Under Rosalind¡¯s gentle prodding, Seth didn¡¯t linger much longer before gathering his things to leave.
Noreen figured he was probably in a rush to see his real future mother¨Cinw.
Rosalind nudged her. ¡°Go on, walk him out.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not necessary. He knows the way,¡± Noreen muttered, making no
move to get up.
Rosalind shot her a sharp look. ¡°Go. Now.¡±
¡°¡Fine.¡± Noreen dragged herself to her feet, resigned.
Seth had the nerve to take her up on it too, waiting expectantly as though
there was nothing awkward about the whole thing.
11:38
She walked him to the elevator. Once she was sure Rosalind couldn¡¯t overhear, Noreen¡¯s polite smile vanished, her expression turning icy in an instant.
Seth didn¡¯t miss a beat, catching the change in her face. He narrowed his eyes, voice edged with usation. ¡°You don¡¯t seem very happy to see me.¡±
Noreen barely resisted rolling her eyes. At least he noticed.
Still, she had to admit¨Chis sudden arrival had eased the pressure she¡¯d been feeling. Rosalind¡¯s questions were relentless, and Noreen was running out of lies.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, you¡¯re joking, right?¡± she said, neither confirming nor denying.
Seth let it slide. ¡°I¡¯ve already spoken with the hospital. They¡¯ll take good care of your mother.¡±
A flicker of sarcasm twisted Noreen¡¯s lips. ¡°My mother¡¯s not here. There¡¯s no need to keep up the act.¡±
¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Seth¡¯s brow furrowed, his tone growing
colder.
Noreen was done pretending. ¡°Why keep ying dumb, Mr. Harcourt?¡±
¡°Say what you mean.¡±
He really was going to keep up the charade!
Well, she was done with it. Time to put all the cards on the table. ¡°Fine. We should¡¯ve had this talk a long time ago.¡±
She was tired¨Cso tired of all of it.
It had been twenty¨Cfive days since she¡¯d learned Seth¡¯s heart belonged to someone else, each one dragging by in agony.
She was desperate for a way out.
Now, finally, the moment hade.
384
She looked Seth straight in the eye, her voice clear and unwavering.
¡°Seth, let¡¯s end this.¡±
The finality in her words was unmistakable¨Cshe wasn¡¯t just talking about a breakup, but about cutting all ties, for good.
Once, she¡¯d thrown herself into this rtionship, risking everything, believing that sincerity would be enough.
But now, she realized that kind of faith was a luxury she couldn¡¯t afford.
She¡¯d run headlong into a wall for love¨Cbled for it, even.
But not anymore. She¡¯d run out of love to give. It was time to let go.
From now on, she¡¯d just have to learn to love herself.
Seth stared at her coldly, as if trying to see through her.
Seven years ago, she¡¯d believed love was all that mattered¨Cbrave,
idealistic, unwilling to measure gain or loss.
Seven yearster, she finally understood: love might be the most useless thing in the world.
The warrior who once charged into battle for love had lost, utterly andpletely.
She was exhausted and needed her freedom.
As Seth studied her, Noreen repeated herself, voice firmer than before.
¡°Seth. It¡¯s over.¡±
Yes-man 57
¡°Seth, I¡¯m so scared.¡±
As soon as Seth arrived at Yvonne¡¯s hospital room, Bianca¨Cher eyes red from crying¨Crushed into his arms, trembling all over.
¡°My mom just started coughing up blood.¡±
Seth had hurried over the moment he got Bianca¡¯s call. The doctors and nurses had gotten there first and were already running a thorough exam on Yvonne.
He gently tried to calm Bianca down.
When the doctor finished, he reassured them, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be rmed. That wasn¡¯t actually blood from her lungs¨Cjust a little blood mixed in with phlegm. Sometimes, when a patient coughs violently, tiny blood vessels can break. It¡¯s nothing serious; her body will heal itself.¡±
Bianca finally let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank God.¡±
Once the doctor left, she looked at Seth with a shy, almost embarrassed smile. ¡°Sorry, I panicked and was so scared. The only person I could think to call was you. I hope I didn¡¯t wake you up?¡±
¡°Not at all. You can rx now, okay?¡±
Bianca¡¯s smile returned as she nodded, a little too enthusiastically. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you came.¡±
Just then, Forrest rushed in. After Bianca exined what had happened, relief washed over his face.
¡°Thank you for everything these past few days.¡± Forrest shook Seth¡¯s hand warmly. ¡°Bianca¡¯s been run ragged looking after her mom. Let me take over here¨Cyou two should get out this weekend, enjoy yourselves, take a break.¡±
He turned to Bianca with a fatherly smile. ¡°And while you¡¯re at it, make
11:30
sure you treat Seth to a nice dinner for me. Once your mom¡¯s home from the hospital, we¡¯ll have him over to the house for a real meal.¡±
Bianca couldn¡¯t hide her happiness. ¡°Will do!¡±
Before leaving, she reminded Forrest to pick up Yvonne¡¯sb results from diagnostics.
Forrest nodded, gave a quick word to the nurse¡¯s aide, and headed to theb. As he flipped through a stack of reports searching for Yvonne¡¯s name, a familiar one caught his eye.
He paused, then flipped back a page. Rosalind. Rosalind Gilmore.
The name sounded almost identical, though the spelling was a little different. The age matched up, too.
Probably just a coincidence, Forrest thought, brushing it off. He turned his attention back to finding Yvonne¡¯s report.
Outside the hospital, Bianca asked Seth if there was anywhere special he wanted to eat.
He shook his head. ¡°Not really.¡±
¡°In that case, let¡¯s just go back to Willow Brook,¡± she suggested.
Seth nodded, but as they started walking, he suddenly stopped in his
tracks.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bianca asked, puzzled.
Seth¡¯s gaze was fixed on something ahead.
Bianca followed his line of sight and instantly spotted Noreen¨Calong with Dn.
She stared in disbelief. ¡°Why are those two together again?¡±
A flicker of cold sharpness shed in Seth¡¯s eyes, but Bianca didn¡¯t notice. She kept specting aloud. ¡°Wait, do you think back at Hesper Lounge, your secretary was already cozying up to Dn?¡±
Bianca scoffed at the thought. ¡°Seth, I have to admit, your secretary is pretty crafty.¡±
Seth didn¡¯t respond, simply turning away with an even colder expression than before. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m starving.¡±
Bianca hurried to keep up, but couldn¡¯t resist ncing back at Noreen and Dn, her eyes full of meaning.
From across the way, Noreen saw Seth and Bianca, too.
Just as she¡¯d expected¨CSeth was leaving with Bianca again.
She¡¯d told him, quite seriously, that things between them were over.
He hadn¡¯t bothered to reply. As soon as Bianca called, he¡¯d turned his back and walked away.
Yes-man 58
It was as if he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to waste another word on her.
Noreen had never realized how hard it was to end a rtionship the right way to part on good terms, to say goodbye with dignity. In the end, the conclusion always felt more abrupt and messy than the beginning.
But she didn¡¯t care anymore.
As far as she was concerned, it was over.
Whether Seth acknowledged it or not, whether he said anything or just nodded, none of it mattered now.
Dn hade to pick Noreen up for dinner, iming he¡¯d finally figured out how she could repay him for his help. But Noreen had never expected the restaurant he¡¯d chosen¨CWillow Brook.
Life really does have a twisted sense of irony.
For so long, she¡¯d dreamed ofing here, always hoping Seth would bring her. But in the end, it was Seth who brought Bianca here first.
And now, she was the one arriving¨Cwith Dn.
¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t like the ce?¡± Dn asked when he noticed her lingering in the foyer. He mistook her hesitation for reluctance and quickly offered, ¡°We can go somewhere else if you¡¯d prefer.¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s not that,¡± Noreen replied, shaking her head with a faint smile. ¡°I actually love this ce.¡±
Loved it so much, in fact, she¡¯d always imagineding here on a date with someone she truly liked.
¡°I knew you would,¡± Dn said, grinning. ¡°This ce is all over social media¨Cmost women love the vibe here.¡±
He¡¯d reserved a private room, and the elegant, tranquil atmosphere did wonders to lift Noreen¡¯s spirits.
11:39
When it came time to order, Dn handed her the menu but added a
gentle reminder: ¡°Just don¡¯t pick anything too spicy. Your stomach can¡¯t handle it.¡±
Noreen went ahead and ordered every dish she¡¯d been craving
Before Dn could say anything, she held up her hands in surrender. ¡°I know, I know. I promise, I¡¯ll just have a taste. I won¡¯t overdo it.¡±
¡°Just this once,¡± Dn relented atst.
Midway through the meal, Dn¡¯s phone rang and he stepped outside to
take the call.
When he returned, he wasn¡¯t alone. Someone else trailed in behind him.
Noreen recognized him right away¨CJude.
Jude could hardly believe his cousin was here, having dinner with Noreen of all people.
¡°Let me introduce-¡± Dn began.
¡°No need,¡± Jude interrupted breezily. ¡°I know her. Noreen, right? Seth¡¯s assistant.¡±
His tone was unmistakably mocking, just like always. The contempt in his eyes was hard to miss.
Out of respect for Dn, Noreen didn¡¯t react.
¡°Hey, Dn¨CSeth and Bianca are here, too. Why don¡¯t youe join us?¡± Jude suggested, deliberately using ¡°you¡± instead of ¡°you guys,¡± pointedly leaving Noreen out.
Dn declined politely/¡°I need to talk to Noreen about something. You go
ahead.¡±
¡°Suit yourself,¡± Jude grumbled, clearly not expecting Dn to turn him down for Noreen.,
¡°I¡¯ll head over, then.¡±
Chapter 58
Bianca, anticipating Jude¡¯s arrival, had already asked the waiter to set another ce at the table.
But when Jude walked in, he was wearing a sullen expression, as if someone had just ruined his day.
Biancaughed and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
Jude thought mentioning Noreen would just kill the mood, so he shook his head. ¡°Nothing.¡±
After all, Bianca was so impressive¨CNoreen didn¡¯t evene close.
Not even worthparing.
Surely Dn and Noreen were just sharing a casual meal.
Besides, with a cousin who had once dated someone as outstanding as Bianca, how could he possibly be interested in a woman like Noreen?
That thought settled him. He rxed, reassured.
Still, sitting with two finance prodigies, Jude couldn¡¯t get a word in edgewise. He sat quietly, listening to them discuss business deals, risks, and future opportunities.
At that moment, it was in as day¨CSeth and Bianca were a perfect match.
Women like Noreen weren¡¯t even in the same league. She wasn¡¯t even fit to carry Bianca¡¯s bags.
Chapter by
Chapter 59
Yes-man 59
Halfway through the meal, Seth came out to settle the bill, and Jude followed right behind him.
He jogged to catch up, lowering his voice as he tattled, ¡°Seth, Noreen¡¯s here too¨Chaving dinner with Dn.¡±
Seth¡¯s reaction was calm, almost indifferent.
Clearly, Noreen didn¡¯t mean much to him anymore.
Jude felt a surge of smugness, but couldn¡¯t help taking a jab at Noreen. ¡°I wonder how she managed to cozy up to Dn. She¡¯s not even being subtle about it, sticking so close to him.¡±
¡°Maybe this is hertest ploy tond herself a man?¡±
It seemed entirely possible to Jude. ¡°Remember before, when she tried to get your attention by flirting with that recruiter? But you ignored her, so now she¡¯s switching tactics. She¡¯s really got a mind for scheming, hasnt she?¡±
¡°Got a cigarette?¡± Seth asked suddenly, cutting him off.
Jude was caught off guard. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t smoke?¡±
¡°I¡¯m just¡ a little on edge,¡± Seth muttered.
Jude wanted to ask what was bothering him, but one look at Seth¡¯s expression made him swallow the question.
The ¡°favor¡± Dn had mentioned turned out to be an invitation¨Che wanted Noreen to be his date to a formal event.
Noreen almostughed, thinking he had to be joking.
After all, with Dn¡¯s status, there were plenty of women eager to be seen on his arm.
Cooing her skepticism, Dn decided to level with her. ¡°I¡¯ve just taken a
Chapter by
new position at Omniva Group. Everyone in Rivercrest City is watching my every move. I can¡¯t afford a single misstep right now. You get what I mean, right?¡±
Even though he didn¡¯t go into details, Noreen understood exactly what kind of situation he was in.
The past couple of years, Omniva Bank had been aplete mess, with endless infighting and chaos.
Dn¡¯s return to the country was clearly to clean up Omniva Group.
Anyone seen with him now would be scrutinized, their motives questioned.
¡°You seem to trust me a lot,¡± Noreen teased, feigning nonchnce. ¡°What if I have my own agenda?¡±
After all, these events were all aboutworking and connections.
Dn just smiled. ¡°If I¡¯m asking you, I¡¯ve already considered every possible oue.¡±
He leaned back, a yful glint in his eyes. ¡°So, will you help me or not?¡±
¡°I¡¯m in!¡± Noreen agreed right away.
Hesitating even a second was practically an insult to opportunity.
Dinner with Dn turned out to be a delightful escape. Whatever gloom Seth had left her in earlier was gone by the time she left the restaurant.
New people and new experiences really are the best cure for old attachments.
Dn insisted on driving her home, and Noreen didn¡¯t have the heart to refuse.
He¡¯d dropped her off once before, so this time he knew the way.
On the drive, Dn asked, ¡°So, did you buy your ce or are you renting?¡± ¡°Renting, obviously. Real estate around here is crazy expensive.¡±
Chapter 59
¡°With your sry, you could afford to buy a ce, couldn¡¯t you?¡±
She probably could, if she took out a mortgage.
But it was something she¡¯d never really considered. Partly because work kept her so busy, and partly because¡ well, she¡¯d always assumed she¡¯d marry Seth, so buying a separate ce just never crossed her mind.
After all, once you¡¯re married, you live together, right?
Come to think of it, Seth¡¯s current ce¨Cthe one he lived in now¨Cshe¡¯d helped him pick it out.
Seth hadn¡¯t liked the original interior, so Noreen had hired a design firm to redo the entire apartment.
Everyyout, every detail, even the smallest piece of decor¨Cshe¡¯d chosen it all herself.
What had she been thinking back then?
She¡¯d imagined it as the home they¡¯d share in the future, so she poured her whole heart into it.
At the time, her own work was relentless, too¨CAurelion Group was going public for the first time, and Seth was practically living out of a suitcase.
Yes-man 60
Noreen wasn¡¯t doing much better herself.
Still, no matter how busy her days got, she always made time to stop by this ce before bed, as if a fleeting look could somehow sweep away the exhaustion clinging to her.
Back then, she truly believed she and Seth would spend their lives together.
She just never imagined Bianca would move into that apartment before she did.
In the end, when Dn asked, Noreen only shrugged and said she simply hadn¡¯t found the right ce yet.
But Dn seemed to hear what she left unsaid. ¡°You will. Sooner orter,¡±
he told her.
Passing the flower shop downstairs, Noreen remembered thest bouquet she¡¯d bought¨Cnow wilted, leaving her table feeling empty and bare. On a whim, she bought a fresh one to take home.
The shop assistant enthusiastically rmended the red roses, promising they were the best quality.
¡°Red roses, then,¡± Noreen agreed.
It didn¡¯t matter what kind, really; any flowers would do. She hadn¡¯t thought
much about it.
There¡¯s something about fresh flowers that can heal a person¡¯s heart. Noreen felt lighter, even humming a tune as she unlocked her door.
But her good mood vanished the instant she saw the man inside.
Stunned, Noreen looked from her door to Seth and back again, almost doubting her senses.
Hadn¡¯t she changed the door code?
11:39 11
Chapter 60
The apartment was dark, making it impossible to read his expression, but there was a coldness radiating from him¨Can unmistakable,
keep¨Cyour¨Cdistance kind of chill.
¡°How did you even get in?¡± she asked, genuinely curious despite herself.
She couldn¡¯t stand that heavy, oppressive atmosphere, so she flicked on every light in the ce.
As the room flooded with brightness, she caught the sharp sh in Seth¡¯s eyes, there and gone in an instant.
He looked down at her, voice t, eyes as ck as te. ¡°Change it as many times as you want. I¡¯ll figure it out every time.¡±
Noreen felt a lump settle in her chest, thick and suffocating.
Fine, she thought bitterly¨Ctomorrow she¡¯d call someone to swap the lock for an old¨Cfashioned mechanical one. See him try to guess that.
Seth had no idea what she was plotting. His gaze lingered on the roses her arms, his eyes darker than she¡¯d ever seen.
¡°Why is this ce so empty?¡± He masked whatever he was feeling, his tone clipped and distant.
Noreen almostughed.
Didn¡¯t he noticest time he barged in? Just proves he never paid attention to anything that mattered to her.
¡°I cleared it all out,¡± she said, arranging the flowers carefully in a makeshift vase.
When Seth saw what she was using, his eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re putting flowers in that?¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t have a vase,¡± Noreen replied, casual as ever.
Before he could say anything else, she cut him off. ¡°But you didn¡¯te here to talk about flower arrangements, did you?¡±
Seth clearly couldn¡¯t stand her indifference. He tugged at his cor,
¦Á¦Ì¦É¦Á ¦Ï¦Ô
irritation bleeding into his voice. ¡°How long are you going to keep this up?¡±
Noreen hissed under her breath¨Cthe rose¡¯s thorn had pricked her finger, a bead of blood blooming on her skin. But she only smiled.
Even now, after everything, he still thought she was just throwing a tantrum?
No surprise, really. She¡¯d spent seven years trailing after him, doing everything he wanted. Now that she had her own thoughts and her own choices, he couldn¡¯t stand it.
¡°I thought I made myself clear at the hospital¨Cwe¡¯re over, Seth.¡± She didn¡¯t mind repeating it.
Whether he was clueless or just pretending, she wanted him to understand: there was no going back.
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you ever saw me as your girlfriend or not. We¡¯re finished. For good.¡±
:
Yes-man 61
The room was silent for what felt like ages, the air so still it might as well have frozen solid.
Seth stared at her, cold and unyielding, his dark eyes glinting with nothing but icy disdain.
After a moment, he finally spoke, his voice cutting through the night like a de. ¡°Is it because of Dn?¡±
For a split second, Noreen¡¯s mind went nk. She couldn¡¯t quite follow.
It wasn¡¯t until she caught the mocking sneer in his eyes that the meaning
behind his wordsnded.
So, in Seth¡¯s eyes, this was the kind of woman she was?
Utterlyughable.
Maybe it was the recent cold snap, or maybe it was just him, but as Noreen drew in a sharp breath, it felt like the chill had seeped all the wa into her bones.
Freezing. Down to her core.
Who did he think he was?
He was the one who fell out of love first. The one who betrayed her first.
So why was he turning it all around on her, throwing usations like dirty water, as if she was the one to me?
The biting cold helped her keep herposure. She heard her own voice¨Csteady, almost indifferent¨Cas she shot back at him, ¡°I¡¯m just following your lead, aren¡¯t I? Turns out moving on without missing a beat is actually kind of entertaining.¡±
Lately, everyone at the office had noticed a change in Secretary Gilmore. She wasn¡¯t the same as before.
Chapter 61
Now she clocked in and out on time, her style had shifted, and there was a new light in her eyes, a vitality that left people baffled.
After all, as far as everyone knew, her career had hit a rough patch, and her love life¡ well, that was no better.
Mr. Harcourt had never made their rtionship public, but anyone with half a brain could read between the lines.
Now that the ¡°real¡± girlfriend was back, everyone expected Noreen to fall
apart.
But instead, she carried on as if nothing had happened. She did her work, stayed busy, and showed not a trace of sadness or regret.
If anything, it was Mr. Harcourt who seemed off.
He should have been on top of the world¨Csessful in business and love¨Cbuttely, he¡¯d been walking around with a storm cloud over his head.
The tension in the executive suite was suffocating.
Aside from Bianca, the director of Division Three, every other investment director had been chewed out mercilessly.
In the past, whenever things got like this, everyone would turn to Noreen for help.
She was the only one who c
She was the only one who could tolerate Seth¡¯s temper, knew how to calm him down, and always managed to put out fires before they spread.
But this time, Noreen politely refused, one after another.
Matthew Cole, the director of Division Two, was on the verge of tears. ¡°Please, Noreen, you have to help me. I¡¯m seriously out of options here.¡±
¡°Sorry,¡± Noreen replied, ncing at the clock as she shut down herputer. She made her position clear. ¡°I can¡¯t help you.¡±
¡°Noreen, please¨CSecretary Gilmore-¡±
She ignored himpletely. As usual, she gathered the documents
requiring Seth¡¯s personal attention, added a fresh resignation letter to the stack, and left them on his desk before heading out right on schedule.
Matthew Cole was practically pacing holes in the carpet.
If Mr. Harcourt didn¡¯t approve his funding soon, his project would tank.
He was counting on that project to put him in the ck this year.
¡°Ruby, aren¡¯t you close with Noreen? Go ask her¨Csee if she¡¯ll help!¡± Desperation had Matthew grasping at straws, sending his subordinate, Ruby Wilder, to plead his case.
Ruby, of course, was the one who¡¯d posted those snidements about Noreen during thest team¨Cbuilding outing.
She didn¡¯t dare go.
She might have forgotten to block Noreen from seeing.her drunken posts, but someone had tipped her off in time to do damage control.
Still, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Noreen had already seen everything.
After all, these past few days, whenever she¡¯d needed anything from Noreen, she¡¯d been met with nothing but cool professionalism.
When problems cropped up, Noreen wouldn¡¯t offer any pointers or advice like she used to. She¡¯d just send her back with a rejection.
¡°What are you waiting for? Go!¡± Matthew snapped, raking his hands through his hair in frustration. ¡°If this project falls through, it won¡¯t just be you out the door¨Cit¡¯ll be me too!¡±
Yes-man 62
Ruby Wilder realized how serious things were and didn¡¯t dare to waste any time. ¡°I think it¡¯d be better to ask Director Lowell for help.¡±
¡°Then go, hurry!¡±
Back during thepany retreat, Ruby had gone out of her way to cozy up to Bianca. They had a bit of a rapport because of it.
So when Ruby found Bianca, Bianca agreed without hesitation.
¡°I was just heading to see Seth anyway. I¡¯ll take care of this file for you!¡±
¡°Thank you so much, Director Lowell!¡± Ruby¡¯s gratitude was almost overwhelming.
¡°We¡¯re colleagues, aren¡¯t we? No need to be so formal. Who knows, maybe I¡¯ll need your help someday too.¡±
Ruby nodded eagerly. ¡°Just say the word.¡±
Bianca¡¯s smile widened.
Winning people over was something she¡¯d always been good at.
Ever since she started at Aurelion Group, Bianca had made a point of rejecting every project Noreen had previously managed, just to undercut her predecessor¡¯s achievements.
Now, with no decent projects on her own te, she had to look for other ways to make her mark.
Ruby didn¡¯t realize it, but by turning to Bianca, she was practically handing herself over on a silver tter.
When Bianca went to find Seth, he¡¯d just wrapped up a video conference and wore a hard, unreadable expression.
She didn¡¯t bother knocking¨Cjust pushed the door open, ready to speak.
Before she could, Seth said, ¡°Noreen, make me a cup of coffee.¡±
Bianca paused, swallowed her words, and silently slipped out to make
coffee for him.
When she returned, Seth was still deep in work.
She quietly set the mug on his desk.
He took a sip, then frowned. ¡°What happened to your coffee¨Cmaking skills?¡±
It wasn¡¯t until he looked up that he realized it wasn¡¯t Noreen, but Bianca.
¡°Is it that bad?¡± Bianca asked, sounding a little hurt.
Seth was silent for a moment. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡±
Despite his words, he didn¡¯t touch the coffee again. Instead, he asked what Bianca needed.
¡°This is an urgent file from Division Two. They need you to handle it.¡±
¡°Why are you bringing it? Where¡¯s Noreen?¡± Seth¡¯s frown deepened, his tone impatient.
¡°I think she¡¯s already left for the day.¡±
Seth¡¯s hand stilled on the paperwork.
Leaving right on time again?
The answer made something in his chest twist with annoyance.
Since that disastrous night, he and Noreen hadn¡¯t exchanged a single real conversation.
Seth had assumed that, as always, if he just gave her the cold shoulder, she¡¯d realize her mistake ande to him, apologizing and begging for reconciliation.
But two days had gone by, and she hadn¡¯te looking for him. Every day, she left the office early and seemed to vanish without a trace afterward¨Che couldn¡¯t reach her at all.
Seth knew this Noreen was different from before, but he still thought she
14-26
was just being childish, acting out to get his attention by slipping out from under his control.
As Seth reviewed the documents, Bianca, bored with waiting, started idly. flipping through the stack of files on his desk.
She didn¡¯t expect to spot Noreen¡¯s resignation letter among them.
Startled, Bianca pulled it out and asked, ¡°Seth, is Secretary Gilmore really resigning?¡±
Seth didn¡¯t even look up, just grunted an affirmative.
¡°Did you ept her resignation?¡± Bianca pressed, more curious now.
¡°No.¡±
¡°Why not? She¡¯s just a secretary. You can easily find a recement.¡±
Seth didn¡¯t even raise his eyes. ¡°She¡¯s different.¡±
Bianca¡¯s grip on the resignation letter tightened ever so slightly.
Different. That was a dangerous word.
Yes-man 63
Bianca, sensing the tension, didn¡¯t press for more details. Instead, she smoothly changed the subject, steering the conversation toward the uing celebration dinner.
Only then did Seth remember the dress. He quickly told her he¡¯d already arranged for it in advance.
¡°Really? Where is it? Let me see!¡± Bianca¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. Without thinking, Seth replied, ¡°I had Secretary Gilmore pick it up.¡±
He paused before adding, ¡°But she¡¯s already left for the day.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll ask Sophia. She probably knows where it is.¡± Bianca was clearly eager to see the dress.
Seth gave his tacit approval.
Before leaving the office, Bianca happened to notice Seth sliding Noreen¡¯s resignation letter into the drawer on his right. If she wasn¡¯t mistaken, there were several more resignation letters in there as well.
Which could only mean one thing: Noreen had tried to resign some time ago, but Seth had never approved it.
The discovery left Bianca with a prickle of difort and a creeping sense of threat.
She couldn¡¯t tell whether Seth was reluctant to let Noreen go because he valued her as a person, or because he simply depended on her work and didn¡¯t want the hassle of recing someone so capable. Either way, it was a wild card Bianca couldn¡¯t tolerate.
Getting Seth to ept Noreen¡¯s resignation would be easy¨Cshe just had to say the word, and he¡¯d agree. But to her, that would be letting Noreen off far too lightly.
Resignation and being fired were two very different things.
L:1/3
14-26
Bianca wanted Noreen to be cklisted, to make sure she¡¯d never find a foothold in Rivercrest City again. She wanted a wedge driven between Noreen and Seth, wanted Noreen gone from his world for good.
Noreen was uneasy from the moment she arrived at work the next morning, haunted by the sense that something bad was about to happen. Seth was out of the office for the morning, and Noreen had just begun to appreciate the rare quiet when Sophia burst in, her face stricken and her hands trembling.
¡°Noreen, it¡¯s bad! Something¡¯s happened!¡±
Sophia looked so pale, she seemed ready to faint.
¡°What is it? Slow down, tell me what¡¯s wrong,¡± Noreen said, concern sharpening her tone.
¡°The dress you picked up from Myriad Atelier the other day¨Cthe one for Bianca¨Cit has a huge tear in it!¡± Sophia¡¯s voice shook.
Noreen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°A tear? How did that happen?¡±
She remembered steaming the dress herself and hanging it carefully in the wardrobe. How could it possibly be ruined?
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Sophia stammered, nearly sobbing. ¡°Director Lowell wanted to try it on just now, but when we took it out, there was this big hole. She asked me what happened, but I couldn¡¯t exin.¡± Tears streamed down Sophia¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Noreen, what do we do? Director Lowell said the dress was really expensive¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ll take a look. Don¡¯t panic,¡± Noreen said, hurrying to the storage room.
Bianca was already there. When she saw Noreen enter, she arched an eyebrow and said coolly, ¡°I was just about toe find you, Secretary Gilmore. You picked up this dress, didn¡¯t you?¡±
Noreen answered calmly, ¡°Yes. I also steamed it myself and hung it in the
E2/2
14.26 :
wardrobe. The dress was in perfect condition when I left it.¡±
¡°Then what¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Bianca¡¯s tone sharpened, full of the cold authority of someone used to getting her way. ¡°Care to exin?¡±
Noreen knelt to inspect the damage. The tear was jagged, as if pulled by force, right at the front of the waist. There was no way this could be repaired.
¡°This dress was custom¨Cmade for me by Seth a month in advance at Myriad Atelier,¡± Bianca said, her voice growing icy. ¡°Never mind the price¨Ctomorrow is the celebration dinner. I was supposed to wear it, and now it¡¯s ruined. Who¡¯s going to take responsibility for this?¡±
Bianca¡¯s presence was so overwhelming that Sophia stood frozen, hardly daring to breathe.
¡°After I brought the dress back, did anyone else handle it?¡± Noreen asked, turning to Sophia.
No now. Please check yourwork.
Yes-man 64
phia shook her head. ¡°No, it was only when Director Lowell asked for a fitting just now that we realized the dress was damaged.¡±
So, from start to finish, only two people had handled the dress.
One was Noreen. The other was Bianca.
She couldn¡¯t say for sure whether Bianca had damaged the dress on purpose, but she was certain about one thing: this whole mess was aimed squarely at her.
She wasn¡¯t someone who went looking for trouble¨Cbut that didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d run from it, either.
Now that it hadnded on her doorstep, there was no reason to hide.
¡°Sophia, have Security pull the surveince footage,¡± Noreen instructed immediately.
Bianca remained perfectlyposed, as if the ruined dress truly had nothing to do with her.
After Security finished their review, Noreen received a few key details.
Once the dress had been returned, only three people had entered the storage room and had a chance to handle it: Noreen, Sophia, and Bianca. But there was a catch¨Cthere were no cameras in the storage room, so there was no way to confirm direct evidence of sabotage.
Sophia panicked first. ¡°It really wasn¡¯t me! I would never dare ruin the dress! I couldn¡¯t afford it even if I sold everything I owned!¡±
Bianca scoffed. ¡°Are you saying it was me? Seth had this dress custom¨Cmade for me. I treasure it¨CI¡¯d never dream of ruining it. What am
I supposed to wear to tomorrow¡¯s celebration if it¡¯s ruined?¡±
Her meaning was clear: the only one left to me was Noreen.
14 26
¡°Maybe someone¡¯s jealous. Maybe someone deliberately sabotaged the dress so I couldn¡¯t attend this important celebration.¡±
Her words hung in the air, and even Sophia cast a sidelong nce at Noreen.
Just then, Bianca¡¯s phone rang.
She nced at the caller ID, and her face lit up in an instant. She answered sweetly, ¡°Seth, I was just about to call you! The dress you ordered for me¨Cit¡¯s ruined.¡±
¡°I have no idea how it happened. Secretary Gilmore just checked the cameras. The only people who touched the dress were me, Sophia, and Secretary Gilmore.¡±
¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the big night, and the dress just happens to get ruined now? What a coincidence, right?¡±
Seth asked Bianca to hand the phone to Noreen.
Bianca hesitated, but did as he asked.
As Noreen took the phone, she saw what Bianca had saved Seth¡¯s contact as: ¡°Sweetie Seth.¡±
The kind of intimacy she could never put into words.
Seven years, and she¡¯d never achieved that level of closeness.
Was this the power of the ¡°one who got away¡°?
Noreen didn¡¯t have time for self¨Cpity¨CSeth was waiting on the other end.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, this is Noreen,¡± she said evenly.
¡°Was it you?¡±
No beating around the bush¨Cno questions, just a direct usation.
For a moment, Noreen felt as if she¡¯d fallen into an ice¨Ccoldke, her chest smothered under a thickyer of frost that numbed her to the bone.
14.26
Chapter 64
She could ept his betrayal. She could ept that he¡¯d fallen out of
love.
She could even ept that their paths were diverging for good.
But she could never ept his doubt or his contempt.
Seven years together, and she¡¯d thought he at least knew her character¨Cthat Noreen Gilmore would never stoop to petty jealousy or
sabotage.
It takes endless days and nights to build trust between people. It only takes a second to destroy it.
Noreen drew a steadying breath and answered him, her voice
unwavering. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡±
¡°Bianca says only you and Sophia had ess to the dress. Sophia wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±
¡°So now, Mr. Harcourt, you¡¯ve started making judgments based on your own assumptions?¡± Noreen¡¯s tone was sharper than she intended.
Seth clearly hadn¡¯t expected her to snap back; silence stretched between
them.
Noreen¡¯s gaze, cold and unflinching, fell on Bianca. ¡°Let¡¯s call the police. Let them decide what¡¯s right and wrong.¡±
14:26!
Yes-man 65
¡°Noreen, do you have any idea what calling the police could do to thepany?¡± Seth¡¯s expression shifted in an instant, his face hardening.
Of course, Noreen knew.
But what did that have to do with her anymore?
This was no longer the Aurelion Group she once cared about; there was no reason for her to keep making sacrifices.
So she stood her ground. ¡°All I want is to clear my name.¡±
Maybe it was the first time Seth had ever seen Noreen so resolute, because for once, he fell silent.
The air hung heavy with tension.
Noreen handed Bianca¡¯s phone back to her.
She hadn¡¯t expected Seth¡¯s permission¨Cdidn¡¯t even hope for him to take her side in this moment.
She only had herself to rely on.
Without a second thought, Noreen dialed the police.
Bianca¡¯s face drained of color. ¡°Seth, she called the police. You¡¯d better get back here. Now.¡±
Seth arrived almost at the same time as the officers¨Cprobably worried that Bianca might be upset, he¡¯d rushed straight over.
Noreen gave the police a straightforward ount of what had happened, asking them to help uncover the truth and clear her name.
Because there was no security footage from inside the storage room, the officers suggested a technical investigation¨Cfingerprint analysis and the like. It would be a hassle, but it would identify the real culprit.
But for that, they¡¯d need authorization from the owner of the gown.
14.26
In the end, it still depended on Seth¡¯s approval.
Bianca instinctively moved closer to Seth. ¡°Seth, this could turn into something much bigger than we want. We really have to think about what this means for thepany.¡±
Seth¡¯s face was like carved ice. His gaze swept the room, finallynding
on Noreen.
She couldn¡¯t help but shiver.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, officers. This is an internalpany matter. We¡¯ll handle it ourselves. Thank you for your trouble,¡± Seth said atst.
Noreen had expected as much, but hearing him say it aloud still made her heart twist painfully.
The officers, seeing that the parties could settle things privately, were only too happy to leave.
As soon as they were gone, Seth¡¯s demeanor turned calm on the surface, but his eyes were cold and sharp as a de.
¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± he asked Noreen.
She gave a tight smile, her voice anything but gentle. ¡°Are you ming me, Mr. Harcourt?¡±
¡°You know what kind of damage this could do to thepany. Why go to the police?¡±
Seth looked down at her from above, his stare dark and menacing.
Noreen didn¡¯t feel she¡¯d done anything wrong. She met his gaze head¨Con, her words ringing out clear and strong.
¡°Because I won¡¯t take the fall for something I didn¡¯t do. Because I want my name cleared.¡±
¡°Or do you think I should just swallow the me, Mr. Harcourt? Why? What makes you think I owe you that?¡±
She didn¡¯t owe anyone here¨Cleast of all Seth.
27/2
14.26
Chapter 65
Why should she back down? Why should she be the one to endure it?
Right now, Noreen was bristling with invisible quills, like a hedgehog ready to defend herself against the world¨Cincluding Seth.
To him, she seemed like a stranger.
The Noreen in his memory had always been yielding, never fighting, always putting the Aurelion Group¡¯s reputation above her own.
Sophia, standing to the side, was so startled by the confrontation that she didn¡¯t even dare to breathe.
The tension was suffocating until Bianca broke the silence. ¡°Let it go, Seth. Maybe Secretary Gilmore really was wrongly used¨Cno wonder she¡¯s upset.¡±
¡°She¡¯s been your secretary for years. You chose not to go ahead with the forensics because you trust her. The truth isn¡¯t important anymore. Let¡¯s just put this behind us.¡±
Noreen looked at her, truly seeing the ugliness in people¡¯s hearts for the
first time.
What a clever move¨Cpretending to smooth things over, but every word was full of hidden barbs.
Yes-man 66
Seth seized the chance to end the conversation. ¡°That¡¯s it. No one is to bring this up again,¡± he ordered, his tone final.
Not once did he speak up for Noreen.
That was all she needed to know.
It felt as if something inside her was tearing apart, ripping through her chest and leaving every nerve raw and aching.
She lost the will to keep searching for the truth.
What was the point of exining? Seth had already condemned her in his mind. Why waste her breath?
For a moment, she almost wished she really had done what they used
her of at least then, Seth could fire her and be rid of her.
Wouldn¡¯t that be a kind of freedom?
Bianca let out a regretful sigh, fiddling with her evening dress. ¡°The celebration¡¯s tomorrow. What am I supposed to do if this dress is
ruined?¡±
Seth nced around the wardrobe, his gazeing to rest on a white satin dress. ¡°Try this one.¡±
He was pointing to the gown Noreen had designed for herself¨Cthe one that matched his suit, the one no one else was supposed to wear.
Bianca¡¯s eyes lit up the moment she saw it. ¡°Oh, this is beautiful too! I think it¡¯ll look great on me.¡±
Without a care for Noreen¡¯s presence, they began discussing the new dress, as if she didn¡¯t exist.
She was left alone, caught in the wake of that emotional storm, unable to break free.
Noreen couldn¡¯t take another day of this.
14:27
She longed for an ending¨Cany ending.
So she cut through their cozy back¨Cand¨Cforth, her voice sharp enough to slice ss. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, when are you finally going to approve my resignation?¡±
The words had barely left her mouth before both Seth and Bianca turned to look at her.
Seth narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her expression as if trying to read her mind.
Bianca was surprised that Noreen would choose this moment to bring up leaving, but she assumed it was just a bluff¨Ca way to test Seth¡¯s reaction. After all, she knew how women yed these little games.
But what mattered now was Seth¡¯s answer.
Noreen didn¡¯t care to decipher whatever was flickering in his eyes. She was done wasting her energy on him.
Afraid he might not realize how serious she was, she spelled it out. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting every day for you to approve my resignation. It¡¯s been ages. In case you missed it, I print a new copy every morning. It¡¯s getting wasteful. Why not just sign it and be done?¡±
Seth¡¯s eyes turned dark, swirling with something cold and unreadable. He let out a low, mockingugh. ¡°So, you¡¯ve found another job already? Did Johnson pull some strings for you? Offer you some great incentive to ditch Aurelion Group?¡±
Of course Seth knew she¡¯d been in talks with Johnson¨Ceveryone in Rivercrest City knew everyone¡¯s business.
He took a step closer, his gaze icy enough to cut. ¡°Do you really think anyone in Rivercrest would dare hire you if I say no?¡±
¡°Noreen, don¡¯t tter yourself. Thepany won¡¯t fall apart without you.¡±
That was the problem¨Cshe had always thought she mattered, that she meant something to Seth. She¡¯d been dead wrong, and it had cost her everything.
???
14:27
She¡¯d remember that lesson.
¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. Harcourt. Thepany won¡¯t miss me. I¡¯m not
important. So there¡¯s no reason not to approve my resignation. Let¡¯s not. drag this out.¡±
Sophia, standing nearby, sucked in a sharp breath. She wished she¡¯d slipped out of the room earlier.
Seth¡¯s voice dropped, cold and razor¨Csharp. ¡°If you want to leave that badly, I won¡¯t stop you.¡±
14.07
Yes-man 67
Noreen found herself holding her breath, almost without realizing it.
She hadn¡¯t expected things to go this smoothly.
Maybe Seth never really cared whether she stayed or left.
That was fine by her.
In fact, it was perfect.
From now on, they owed each other nothing; they could both get on with their lives.
Bianca, whose nerves had been stretched taut, finally rxed a little at Seth¡¯s words. She even allowed herself a faint smile.
But Seth¡¯s jaw was clenched, his eyes stormy with restrained anger. ¡°We stick to the contract. Pay the penalty today, and you¡¯re free to walk out¨Cno one¡¯s going to stop you!¡± His words struck Noreen right where it hurt.
She realized she¡¯d overestimated Seth again.
He was a textbook capitalist¨Cwhy would he suddenly develop a conscience?
In a quiet corner, unnoticed by anyone, Bianca pressed her lips together, worry flickering in her eyes.
Was Seth really only holding onto Noreen because of the penalty use?
That afternoon, Noreen barely got anything done. She just hunched over herputer, poring over the irond employment contract she¡¯d foolishly signed.
The Aurelion Group¡¯s legal team was no joke.
There wasn¡¯t a single loophole she could exploit.
In other words, unless she coughed up the penalty or Seth, out of the goodness of his heart, approved her resignation, she had no other way
out.
The realization left her feeling hopeless.
All the impulsiveness from before hade back to haunt her, and now she was drowning in regret.
You really do have to pay the price for youthful recklessness.
If she couldn¡¯t beat him head¨Con, then maybe she should just give up and let this capitalist pay her to sit around and do nothing!
Noreen powered down herputer right on the dot and left work as usual.
She¡¯d barely stepped into the elevator when her phone rang¨Cit was Seth.
As if he¡¯d calcted her every move, he didn¡¯t bother calling her office line. He went straight for her cell.
Apparently, from now on she¡¯d have to shut off her phone as punctually as she logged off herputer.
Reluctantly, she answered.
Seth¡¯s voice was cold andmanding. ¡°Meeting in ten minutes.¡±
Noreen paused before replying, ¡°Mr. Harcourt, my workday¡¯s over.¡±
She could practically picture his face darkening with irritation.
But so what?
Out of sight, out of mind.
So, without hesitation, she hung up.
All the frustration she¡¯d bottled up that afternoon finally found a release¨Chowever fleeting.
It felt good, even if it wouldn¡¯tst.
14:27
If Seth refused to let her go, he¡¯d better be ready to deal with her little acts of rebellion.
She had nothing to lose¨Cwhat did she have to be afraid of?
Still enjoying her tiny act of defiance, Noreen had just stepped out of the office building when she ran into someone familiar.
It was Dn.
He¡¯de specifically to find her, saying he wanted to take her to try on dresses for the uing charity g.
She¡¯d almost forgotten she¡¯d agreed to be his plus¨Cone.
What Noreen didn¡¯t expect was that Dn would take her to Myriad Atelier, one of the most exclusive dress boutiques in Rivercrest City.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dn asked when he noticed her lingering outside,
staring at the sign.
Noreen shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡±
¡°This ce is pretty famous around here. I just hope they have something you¡¯ll like.¡±
It was clear Dn had called ahead; the manager greeted them personally and with great enthusiasm.
¡°These are ourtest arrivals,¡± the manager said, eager to help.
Noreen picked out a palevender gown and was about to try it on when the manager received a phone call. Her expression shifted, and she returned looking apologetic. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, but this dress has already been reserved by another client.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t mind and selected another style instead.
With her figure, she looked good in anything, so it didn¡¯t take long for her to decide.
Dn checked his watch. It was just about dinner time, so he suggested they grab a bite to eat together.
14-27.
Yes-man 68
Chapter 68
Noreen had been about to bring it up herself, so when he mentioned it first, it was as if they were perfectly in sync.
They had barely left when Seth arrived at Myriad Atelier with Bianca in tow, just moments behind them.
The two cars passed each other at the entrance, barely missing one another.
Bianca was the first to recognize Dn¡¯s car. ¡°That looks like Dn¡¯s ride,¡± she said, ncing out the window.
After a brief pause, she added, ¡°Why is Noreen with him again? Those two have been spending a lot of time togethertely. Is Secretary Gilmore skipping overtime just to meet up with Dn?¡±
¡°No wonder she¡¯s so eager to quit. Looks like she¡¯s found herself a more promising branch to climb.¡± Bianca didn¡¯t bother hiding the disdain in her voice.
Seth, on the other hand, kept his opinions to himself, making it clear he had little interest in Noreen¡¯s affairs.
That left Bianca questioning whether she¡¯d overanalyzed things at lunch.
Maybe Seth¡¯s refusal to approve Noreen¡¯s resignation was really just about the contract. After all, if he made an exception for her, it could set a precedent and make others who¡¯d signed contracts start getting ideas.
Bianca tried on the very same dress that had first caught Noreen¡¯s eye¨Cthe one Seth had personally called ahead to have reserved.
It made Bianca feel like Seth was really thoughtful¨Cmaybe even a little
smitten.
But after slipping the dress on, she found herself less than thrilled. ¡°Seth, honestly, I think the white dress from the office is better. This one isn¡¯t bad either, but¡¡±
14:27
Seth was scrolling through his phone but still managed to give her his full attention. ¡°Then keep both. Wear whichever you like¨Cor both, if you feel like changing in the middle. Whatever¡¯s easiest for you.¡±
Bianca beamed. ¡°Seth, you spoil me!¡±
Noreen and Dn had just arrived at the restaurant when her phone began to ring.
It was Rosalind.
Noreen assumed something urgent had happened at the hospital and answered immediately.
But instead, Rosalind was simply asking why she hadn¡¯te to the hospital with Seth.
Noreen was dumbstruck.
Seriously, what was Seth¡¯s deal? Why would he run to the hospital to see
her mother?
Dinner ns officially ruined.
By the time Noreen rushed to the hospital, Seth was still there, sitting by Rosalind¡¯s bedside with single¨Cminded focus, peeling an apple for her.
He was so attentive that Rosalind was positively glowing, her face alight with happiness. Even her voice was bubbly as she greeted her daughter, ¡°Noreen, you¡¯re done with work? Seth said you had to stayte.¡±
Seth just had that way about him¨Che could make people feel cherished, special, like they truly mattered. It was so easy to get swept up in the warmth of it all.
But he was just as capable of slipping a knife between your ribs with a smile, leaving you to wonder if you¡¯d imagined the pain.
Noreen had no idea what game Seth was ying, but in front of her mother, she had no choice but to y along and pretend everything was
14:27
fine.
¡°Just had a little more work to finish up. Sorry I took so long,¡± she said, forcing a smile.
She turned to Seth. ¡°You too¨Cyou could have at least told me you wereing to see my mom.¡±
Seth looked up at her, meeting her gaze with a deliberately casual air before replying, ¡°When you¡¯re busy handling things out there, it¡¯s only right I take care of things at home.¡±
What was that supposed to mean? All this talk of inside and outside¨Che made it sound so convincing.
Maybe she was imagining things. Or maybe it was just the warm lighting in the room, but for a second, she thought there was a trace of gentleness in the way Seth looked at her.
¡°Two people have to support each other if they want to go the distance,¡± Rosalind said, her recent worries melting away in an instant.
¡°Oh, and Seth, Noreen mentioned you proposed. So, when are you two getting married? What kind of wedding will you have?¡±
Noreen¡¯s heart nearly stopped.
She¡¯dpletely forgotten about that.
Yes-man 69
Rosalind¡¯s question caught her off guard, leaving her feeling exposed and utterly humiliated.
She didn¡¯t even dare look at Seth, afraid of what his reaction might be.
She worried Seth would read too much into it¡ªor worse, see right through her act.
Thankfully, Seth was a master at keeping hisposure. After a brief pause, he replied, steady and unhurried, ¡°I haven¡¯t really thought that far
ahead.¡±
Noreen felt an ache in her chest.
Had he really just not thought that far, or had he never once considered marrying her?
For a moment, she nearly lost her grip on the charade.
But then Seth looked up and asked, ¡°What kind of wedding would you like,
Noreen?¡±
Rosalind¡¯s curious gazended on her, prompting Noreen to quickly look away from Seth and mumble a vague answer, ¡°Something¡ meaningful, I guess. Something with a real sense of ceremony.¡±
Rosalind lit up with excitement. ¡°I agree! A ceremony makes it feel important, like you¡¯re truly valued.¡±
While Seth and Rosalind continued making small talk, Noreen found her thoughts drifting far away.
Fortunately, Seth didn¡¯t stay long. When he announced he was leaving, Noreen let out a silent sigh of relief.
She barely managed to form the words, ¡°Take care,¡± before Rosalind nudged her, urging her to walk Seth out.
The performance had to be convincing, so Noreen forced herself to go through the motions, pretending she was reluctant to see him go.
14:27
But as soon as they stepped out of the room, her expression changed. She couldn¡¯t keep up the act for another second.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, I won¡¯t keep you,¡± she said tly.
Her abruptness made Sethugh in disbelief. ¡°Did you always know how to burn bridges this well, or did someone teach you?¡±
Noreen shot back, her tone sharp, ¡°I started my career working for you. Who else would I have learned it from?¡±
Seth smirked. ¡°That¡¯s not the only thing I¡¯ve taught you.¡±
Noreen was no naive girl¨Cshe caught the implication in his words immediately.
She opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, Seth¡¯s phone rang.
He answered right in front of her, whatever emotion had been in his eyes vanishing as he softened his tone. ¡°Hey. What¡¯s up?¡±
Bianca¡¯s voice came through, a little pouty, ¡°Where did you go? You¡¯ve been gone forever. Did you leave without telling me?¡±
The hallway was quiet enough that Noreen could hear every word.
Seth¡¯s patience was endless. ¡°No, I just ran into someone I know and stopped to chat for a bit. I¡¯m on my way to find you now.¡±
¡°Hurry up, I¡¯m so bored without you,¡± Bianca whined.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ming.¡±
He ended the call and turned, about to say something to Noreen¨Conly to find she¡¯d already slipped away.
He didn¡¯t think much of it, simply shrugged, and walked off.
Around the corner, Noreen leaned against the wall, frozen as if rusted in ce.
So Seth hadn¡¯te to see Rosalind specifically.
He¡¯d apanied Bianca to visit her future mother¨Cinw¨Cand just
14:27)
stopped by Rosalind¡¯s room as an afterthought.
That was Seth for you¨Calways finding a way to cut deep without breaking
a sweat.
When Noreen returned to the room, Rosalind was scrolling through her phone, her face alight with excitement. ¡°Noreen, look at this wedding! Isn¡¯t it creative? You young people would love it. I can¡¯t wait to dress up and attend my daughter¡¯s wedding.¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t bring herself to shatter Rosalind¡¯s dreams. She simply sat and listened quietly.
Rosalind described the scene in vivid detail, but when Noreen didn¡¯t
respond, Rosalind looked at her in concern.
¡°Noreen, are you feeling alright? You look so pale.¡±
Noreen pressed her face into Rosalind¡¯s warm palm, sighing softly. ¡°Mom, your hands are so warm.¡±
She kept her eyes closed, hiding the storm beneath hershes.
Rosalind gently rubbed her cheek. ¡°That¡¯s because your face is so cold.¡±
Noreen stayed with her mother for a while longer before heading home.
Tomorrow was the celebration banquet¨Cshe needed to be up early to help set up at the hotel, so staying overnight to look after Rosalind wasn¡¯t
an option.
Yes-man 70
Truthfully, this was just the recovery phase after surgery¨Cthere wasn¡¯t much to do.
Besides, Noreen had already hired a nurse, so everything was under control.
When Noreen took the elevator downstairs, she unexpectedly ran into a
familiar face.
The other person was just as surprised to see her.
¡°Secretary Gilmore? What brings you here?¡±
Carman Holt was holding a thermos, clearly visiting someone in the hospital as well.
¡°My mom¡¯s been admitted,¡± Noreen exined, then asked, ¡°How about you, Mr. Holt? Visiting someone close?¡±
¡°My mother. She took a fall a few days ago.¡±
¡°Was it serious?¡±
¡°She broke a bone, but it¡¯s nothing too bad.¡±
¡°I¡¯m d to hear she¡¯s okay.¡±
Noreen and Carman had met through work¨Con that Al Initiative project she¡¯d been so optimistic about, only for Bianca to veto it at thest
minute.
Thinking of it now, Noreen felt a little embarrassed. She¡¯d been the one to approach Carman in the first ce.
Carman, for his part, hadn¡¯t understood why things changed so abruptly. Now that they¡¯d run into each other, he decided to just ask.
¡°Secretary Gilmore, wasn¡¯t Aurelion Group really interested in my Al
14:27
application? Why did they suddenly back out of the deal?¡±
Carman was a tech guy, not one for corporate games, and he spoke inly.
¡°I¡¯m really sorry. Aurelion Group brought in a new investment
director¨Cshe¡¯s the one making all the calls now. I don¡¯t have a say in these things anymore.¡±
Carman frowned. ¡°I thought something was off. You handled everything from the start, but in the end, it was someone else who told me the deal
was off.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±
Carman shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t have anything to apologize for. You went back and forth so many times for this project and walked away empty¨Chanded. I should be the one apologizing.¡±
¡°At least it was still early days. You can still find new investors¨CI hope this hasn¡¯t set you back.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve talked to a few others since, but honestly, I don¡¯t think they get what I¡¯m trying to do. All they care about is profit.¡± Carman let out a long sigh. ¡°You were the only one who really understood me, Secretary Gilmore.¡±
Their conversation drifted in that direction, and Carman finally voiced something that had puzzled him for a while. ¡°Secretary Gilmore, I¡¯ve always wondered¨Csomeone with your insight and ability is wasted as a secretary. You could have been an independent investor a long time ago. Why stick around Aurelion Group as an executive assistant?¡±
Noreen found herself at a loss for words.
Why indeed?
Carman seemed to sense her difort and didn¡¯t press further.
Instead, he offered, ¡°Secretary Gilmore, have you ever thought about striking out on your own? If you ever decide to raise capital or start a project, I¡¯d wait for you.¡±
14:27
He hesitated, then scratched his head awkwardly. ¡°But I can¡¯t wait forever¨Cmy studio has a lot of people depending on me.¡±
Sophia had suggested something simr before, and Noreen had been tempted then.
Now, hearing Carman say it too, she couldn¡¯t help but waver.
But she still had her contract to deal with, so she couldn¡¯t give him a definite answer.
¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Noreen replied.
Carman brightened. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for good news.¡±
After they parted ways, Noreen stood outside waiting for her ride, turning
Carman¡¯s words over in her mind. She didn¡¯t notice Seth and Bianca
standing just behind her.
Nearby, someone sighed, ¡°What a gorgeous couple. They look perfect together.¡±
¡°If those two had kids, they¡¯d be beautiful!¡±
Noreen nced back, then quickly looked away.
Just then her car pulled up. Without hesitation, she got in and closed the door, shutting out the noise from outside.
Yes-man 71
On the day of the g, Noreen was busy at the hotel from the early morning, never setting foot in the office.
Sophia arrived that afternoon to help out, and the moment she saw Noreen still in her usual work attire, she hurried her, ¡°Go on¨Cgo get changed into your dress!¡±
But to Sophia¡¯s shock, Noreen replied, ¡°I forgot to order a dress.¡±
If anyone else had said that, Sophia might have believed them. Buting from Noreen¨Cthe famously meticulous, unppable, can¨Cdo secretary¨Cit was hard to swallow.
This was Noreen, who never let anything slip through the cracks. Forgetting her own formalwear? Impossible.
Sophia was about to press her, but Noreen just calmly gave out instructions, her expression unreadable, betraying not a flicker of
emotion.
So, all the words offort Sophia had prepared were swallowed back down.
By five thirty, Seth still hadn¡¯t shown up, but guests were already arriving in steady streams.
With no other choice, Noreen had to stand in for Seth, greeting guests and making small talk, so busy she barely had time to catch her breath¨Cher cheeks ached from the constant smiling.
At five fifty, Noreen checked in with Sophia again about Seth.
Sophia, looking harried, admitted, ¡°No idea¨CI can¡¯t reach Mr. Harcourt.¡±
Noreen thought for a moment, then instructed her, ¡°Call Director Lowell. See if she knows.¡±
Sophia did as she was told.
A few minutester, after hanging up, Sophia¡¯s expression was
14-28
Chapter 71
On the day of the g, Noreen was busy at the hotel from the early morning, never setting foot in the office.
Sophia arrived that afternoon to help out, and the moment she saw Noreen still in her usual work attire, she hurried her, ¡°Go on¨Cgo get changed into your dress!¡±
But to Sophia¡¯s shock, Noreen replied, ¡°I forgot to order a dress.¡±
If anyone else had said that, Sophia might have believed them. Buting from Noreen¨Cthe famously meticulous, unppable, can¨Cdo secretary¨Cit was hard to swallow.
This was Noreen, who never let anything slip through the cracks. Forgetting her own formalwear? Impossible.
Sophia was about to press her, but Noreen just calmly gave out instructions, her expression unreadable, betraying not a flicker of
emotion.
So, all the words offort Sophia had prepared were swallowed back
down.
By five thirty, Seth still hadn¡¯t shown up, but guests were already arriving in steady streams.
With no other choice, Noreen had to stand in for Seth, greeting guests and making small talk, so busy she barely had time to catch her breath¨Cher cheeks ached from the constant smiling.
At five fifty, Noreen checked in with Sophia again about Seth.
Sophia, looking harried, admitted, ¡°No idea¨CI can¡¯t reach Mr. Harcourt.¡±
Noreen thought for a moment, then instructed her, ¡°Call Director Lowell.
See if she knows.¡±
Sophia did as she was told.
A few minutester, after hanging up, Sophia¡¯s expression was
14:28
¡°What did Director Lowell say?¡± Noreen asked.
Sophia couldn¡¯t hide the truth. ¡°Mr. Harcourt is with Director Lowell. He¡¯s¡ he¡¯s helping her with a dress alteration. They¡¯re on their way now, but might be a few minuteste. She asked you to hold down the fort until they arrive.¡±
Her voice wasced with sympathy by the time she finished.
Noreen took it in stride, herposure unbroken. ¡°I understand. Go take care of your other tasks.¡±
The guests were all here for Seth, so naturally, his absence raised questions.
Noreen could only field them one by one.
And fielding them meant endless rounds of wine and politeughter.
She¡¯d been on her feet at the hotel all day, barely eating. Now, with each ss she downed, her empty stomach began to protest.
Seth and Bianca finally arrived at 6:10¨Cten minuteste.
Not a huge dy, but it happened to be the moment everyone was most expectant.
As soon as the two walked in, they became the center of attention.
Whispers broke out across the room.
¡°Who¡¯s the stunning woman with Mr. Harcourt? Haven¡¯t seen her before.¡±
¡°No wonder Secretary Gilmore isn¡¯t in a gown tonight¨Clooks like Mr. Harcourt has a new plus¨Cone.¡±
This came from someone who clearly knew Seth¡¯s habits¨Che¡¯d always brought Noreen to these events before.
¡°You guys haven¡¯t heard? That woman is none other than Bianca Lowell, daughter of Forrest Lowell. Her family¡¯s on equal footing with the
14.28
Harcourts.¡±
A few gasps circled the group.
¡°So, is Mr. Harcourt finally settling down?¡±
¡°Sounds like an engagement might be around the corner.¡±
Every word drifted to Noreen¡¯s ears. She set down her winess and nced in Seth and Bianca¡¯s direction.
Seth was wearing the very tuxedo she¡¯d chosen for him¨Csleek, perfectly tailored, fitting him to a T.
Of course, she¡¯d measured him herself. There wouldn¡¯t be a single mistake.
Bianca, on the other hand, hadn¡¯t worn the dress Noreen had ordered for
her.
But Noreen recognized the gown instantly¨Cit was the very one she¡¯d first set her eyes on at Myriad Atelier just yesterday.
It was clear Seth doted on Bianca.
After the original dress was ruined, he¡¯d gone straight to Myriad Atelier to buy her a new one.
He¡¯d even apanied Bianca for the alterations, never mind that it would make themte to the g.
And this, when he was the host.
Seth had always been punctual to a fault. Yet when it came to Bianca, the rules seemed to change.
He broke his own code for her, again and again, upending everything Noreen thought she knew about him.
14:28
Yes-man 72
In that moment, Seth felt like a stranger.
Yet they had once shared the most intimate moments imaginable.
¡
Sophia poured a cup of hot water for Noreen, her eyes full of concern. ¡°Noreen, are you alright?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine. I can manage,¡± Noreen replied, taking a sip and feeling the warmth settle her stomach. ¡°How are things outside?¡±
¡°Everything¡¯s under control,¡± Sophia sighed, a note of resignation in her voice. ¡°You should really worry about yourself for once¨Cthere¡¯s not a trace of color in your face.¡±
¡°Go on, I¡¯ll just rest a bit,¡± Noreen said softly, knowing Sophia was needed elsewhere. ¡°If there¡¯s anything, I¡¯ll call.¡±
¡°Alright. Don¡¯t hesitate if you need me.¡±
As soon as Sophia left, Noreen leaned against the wall, hoping for a brief moment of quiet, but her phone buzzed before she could close her eyes.
Seth.
She answered, her voice heavy with fatigue. ¡°Mr. Harcourt.¡±
¡°Where are you?¡± His tone was icy, even through the phone.
¡°In the restroom.¡±
¡°Hurry up ande here.¡±
Noreen wanted to ask why, but he hung up before she could utter another word.
Apparently, saying anything more to her was a waste of his precious time. Forcing herself to rally, Noreen stepped back into the reception hall.
11-20
Seth stood amid the guests, all easy charm andughter.
How could he not be in good spirits, with both his business and romantic life thriving?
When he saw her approach, his smile faltered and a faint frown creased
his brow.
He was probably annoyed she hadn¡¯t put on a proper dress.
But with the guests watching, he said nothing¨Cjust lifted his chin slightly, signaling her to serve drinks.
Clearly, that call had been nothing more than a summons: he wanted her to run interference for him, just like before¨Cready at his beck and call.
Noreen hesitated for a heartbeat. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, my stomach isn¡¯t feeling
well.¡±
Seth¡¯s frown deepened, as if he hadn¡¯t expected any resistance.
His voice dropped, cool and insistent. ¡°This is Mr. Naylor from Eastvale Capital.¡±
A leading figure in the Northfield investment circle¨Csomeone who simply had to be amodated.
With no choice, Noreen picked up a ss of wine and clinked it with Mr. Naylor¡¯s.
The words came to her automatically, so well¨Crehearsed they felt etched
into her bones.
¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Naylor¨CMr. Harcourt has a severe allergy to alcohol, so I¡¯ll drink on his behalf.¡±
Fortunately, Mr. Naylor was gracious. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, you don¡¯t need to drink for us. The friendship between Mr. Harcourt and me doesn¡¯t need to be measured in sses.¡±
¡°Thank you, Mr. Naylor.¡±
With his lead, the other executives let the drinking ritual slide.
14:29 S
Noreen breathed a silent sigh of relief¨Cjust as Bianca arrived.
She slipped her arm through Seth¡¯s, a picture of effortless intimacy, and joined in the conversation with practiced ease.
Noreen noticed Bianca¡¯s ss held only fruit juice¨Cnot wine. Seth must
have allowed it.
After all, he¡¯d once set aside his own alcohol allergy to shield Bianca from drinking.
This¨Cthis was what it looked like to be cherished, to be someone¡¯s
priority.
Seven years by Seth¡¯s side, and Noreen realized she had never once been on the receiving end of such consideration. Not even a hint of warmth.
Even now, when she told him directly that she was unwell, all he cared about was not offending an important guest.
Bianca had only been in his life a month, yet already received every ounce
of his attention and care.
It was different¨Cof course it was.
A man¡¯s one true love, the kind they put on a pedestal, is something they never let go.
Turns out, not even Seth was immune to that clich¨¦.
Noreen calmly turned away, ready to slip out unnoticed, when she saw Dn approaching her through the crowd.
Yes-man 73
Noreen hadn¡¯t known Dn wasing. He hadn¡¯t mentioned it, at least not to her.
But the more she thought about it, the less surprising it seemed.
Rivercrest was a small city¨Ceveryone in the same social circles, and Seth. and Dn had grown up together. Their families had always been close.
Now that Dn was back in the country and getting established, it made sense that he¡¯d show up at gatherings like this.
Bianca spotted Dn too, her face lighting up as she waved him over. ¡°Dn, finally! We¡¯ve been waiting for you forever.¡±
¡°Traffic was a nightmare,¡± Dn said, offering a rueful smile.
Bianca reached over to adjust his tie, smoothing it with practiced ease. ¡°You¡¯re wearing the one I gave you, aren¡¯t you? It looks great on you.¡±
The gesture was intimate, but not inappropriate¨Ca perfect bnce, just enough to hint at closeness without crossing any lines.
It was then that Noreen remembered the gossip she¡¯d overheard outside the Hesper Lounge.
Seth had once joked that the craziest thing he¡¯d ever done for love was to be the ¡°other man.¡± That offhandment had led Jude to guess that the woman Seth was pining for was Bianca.
Jude had also let slip that Bianca had chased after Dn when he moved overseas.
Which meant¡ Seth and Dn were rivals in love.
Noreen was still trying to untangle this web when Dn suddenly approached her. ¡°You don¡¯t look so good. Did you not sleep well?¡±
His unexpected concern caught her off guard. She shook her head, a little awkwardly. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡±
¡°Have you been drinking?¡± Dn asked, catching the faint scent of
alcohol on her. His brows drew together in gentle disapproval. ¡°You know you shouldn¡¯t with your stomach.¡±
¡°Couldn¡¯t get out of it,¡± Noreen replied, sounding resigned.
Before Dn could say anything else, someone approached Noreen with a drink in hand, ready to toast. It was a partner from Aurelion Group¨Csomeone she couldn¡¯t afford to offend.
Just as she epted the ss, Dn took it from her and raised it instead. ¡°Mind if I take this one for her?¡± he said, clinking sses with the man.
The other man seemed starstruck, clearly recognizing Dn. ¡°Of course, of course! Mr. Wilder, it¡¯s a pleasure¨CI¡¯m Scales, from Unity Holdings.¡±
In her seven years in business, Noreen had never had anyone step in to
drink on her behalf before.
It felt strange¨Cunfamiliar, almost vulnerable.
She found herself staring at Dn, lost in thought, until she realized and quickly looked away.
Her eyesnded on Seth¨Cand in that instant, their gazes locked.
His look was dark, almost chilling, like staring into deep water. She frowned, trying to read him, but he broke eye contact and nced at Dn instead.
This time, his expression was even more intense.
Noreen caught a sh of jealousy there, lingering for several seconds.
She was surprised. In all the years she¡¯d known Seth, she¡¯d never seen that look on him before. He was always so calm, so hard to read.
So, he was jealous¨Cbecause he cared about Bianca, and Dn was the threat. Even Seth¡¯sposure could crack when it came to love.
Love, she thought, really does make people lose their heads.
14.28
Chapter 79
Meanwhile, Dn¡¯s gesture hadn¡¯t gone unnoticed by the others¨CBianca, Seth, and Jude had all seen him step in for Noreen.
Bianca looked genuinely surprised. She¡¯d already felt uneasy after repeatedly running into Dn and Noreen together. Now, seeing him so openly protect Noreen made her eyes narrow with suspicion.
Jude, never one to keep his thoughts to himself, muttered, ¡°Since when does Dn drink for Noreen? Are they really that close?¡±
He¡¯d meant to ask Seth, but someone else pulled Seth into a conversation, so he swallowed the question.
Noticing Bianca¡¯s sour expression, Jude hurried to add, ¡°Don¡¯t let it get to you, Bianca. Honestly, I think Dn¡¯s just putting on a show¨Cit all looks a bit forced, don¡¯t you think?¡±
Yes-man 74
Chapter 74
¡°Men know men,¡± Jude scoffed, the disdain in his voice unmistakable. ¡°Even after you break up, there¡¯s always that possessiveness over an ex. Trust me, Dn¡¯s only using Noreen to get a rise out of you. That¡¯s all
there is to it.¡±
He sneered, not bothering to hide his contempt. ¡°And honestly, after you¡¯ve dated someone better, who¡¯d settle for second¨Crate leftovers? Dn has better taste than that. You shouldn¡¯t waste another thought on people who don¡¯t matter.¡±
Bianca felt a wave of relief wash over her as she listened. Jude¡¯s words
soothed something raw inside her.
Still, she couldn¡¯t help ncing at Seth, searching for any flicker of
reaction.
Seth had seen Dn step in for Noreen, taking her drink for her, but now, he seemedpletely at ease, chatting about work with a few others as if nothing had happened.
Clearly, Noreen didn¡¯t even register on his radar.
Bianca¡¯s unease finally melted away. She picked up her wine and slipped her arm around Seth¡¯s, joining the conversation with a bright smile, letting Noreen and Dn fade to the background.
By the time the party was in full swing, Noreen hadn¡¯t touched another drop of alcohol. Instead, Dn kept piling her te with food, making sure she ate enough to settle her stomach and, with it, her nerves.
She was in the middle of thanking Dn when Seth approached, Bianca glued to his side as always. The two were inseparable, moving through the crowd as a single unit.
Bianca¡¯s attention turned warmly to Dn. ¡°Dn, you¡¯ve had quite a bit to drink tonight, haven¡¯t you? Are you alright?¡±
Dn waved it off. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Really, I haven¡¯t had that much.¡±
1/2
14:28
Noreen noticed, somewhat surprised, that Seth was holding a ss of wine rather than his usual sparkling water. She was still puzzling over it when Seth raised his ss to Dn.
¡°It¡¯s been a busy night¨CI haven¡¯t had a chance to toast you properly. Dn, thanks foring,¡± Seth said, clinking their sses.
Dn looked at him, slightly confused. ¡°Wait, Seth, I thought you couldn¡¯t drink?¡±
Before Seth could answer, Bianca beamed and squeezed his arm, her face aglow with happiness. ¡°This is my first time attending an event as Aurelion Group¡¯s investment director. There¡¯s a lot ofworking, and even more drinking. Seth actually took allergy meds ahead of time, just so he could take the drinks for me tonight.¡±
Sheughed softly. ¡°He¡¯s handled every toast on my behalf. I haven¡¯t had a single sip.¡±
Her smile was radiant, pure contentment born of Seth¡¯s unwavering
devotion.
But for Noreen, the moment felt like a plunge into icy water¨Ca bottomless ache opening up inside her.
She¡¯d always known how much Seth favored Bianca, but hearing it out loud, in Bianca¡¯s own words, shattered herposure.
She¡¯d fought so hard for him, for Aurelion Group, battling through endless rounds of drinks at business dinners until her own body gave out. She¡¯d even lost a child because of it.
All of it¨Cher sacrifices, her pain¨Chad been utterly one¨Csided.
Seth never saw any of it. He didn¡¯t care, not about her efforts, her health, or her suffering.
He only cared about Bianca.
He¡¯d do anything for her¨Cpave her way, introduce her to the right people, even pop allergy meds so he could shield her from drinking.
14.29
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wine rather than nis usual sparkling water. She was still puzzling over it when Seth raised his ss to Dn.
¡°It¡¯s been a busy night¨CI haven¡¯t had a chance to toast you properly. Dn, thanks foring,¡± Seth said, clinking their sses.
Dn looked at him, slightly confused. ¡°Wait, Seth, I thought you couldn¡¯t drink?¡±
Before Seth could answer, Bianca beamed and squeezed his arm, her face aglow with happiness. ¡°This is my first time attending an event as Aurelion Group¡¯s investment director. There¡¯s a lot ofworking, and even more drinking. Seth actually took allergy meds ahead of time, just so he could take the drinks for me tonight.¡±
Sheughed softly. ¡°He¡¯s handled every toast on my behalf. I haven¡¯t had a single sip.¡±
Her smile was radiant, pure contentment born of Seth¡¯s unwavering
devotion.
But for Noreen, the moment felt like a plunge into icy water¨Ca bottomless ache opening up inside her.
She¡¯d always known how much Seth favored Bianca, but hearing it out loud, in Bianca¡¯s own words, shattered herposure.
She¡¯d fought so hard for him, for Aurelion Group, battling through endless rounds of drinks at business dinners until her own body gave out. She¡¯d even lost a child because of it.
All of it¨Cher sacrifices, her pain¨Chad been utterly one¨Csided.
Seth never saw any of it. He didn¡¯t care, not about her efforts, her health, or her suffering.
He only cared about Bianca.
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Setting
Night
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Noreen noticed, somewhat surprised, that Seth was holding a ss of wine rather than his usual sparkling water. She was still puzzling over it when Seth raised his ss to Dn.
¡°It¡¯s been a busy night¨CI haven¡¯t had a chance to toast you properly. Dn, thanks foring,¡± Seth said, clinking their sses.
Dn looked at him, slightly confused. ¡°Wait, Seth, I thought you couldn¡¯t drink?¡±
Before Seth could answer, Bianca beamed and squeezed his arm, her face aglow with happiness. ¡°This is my first time attending an event as Aurelion Group¡¯s investment director. There¡¯s a lot ofworking, and even more drinking. Seth actually took allergy meds ahead of time, just so he could take the drinks for me tonight.¡±
Sheughed softly. ¡°He¡¯s handled every toast on my behalf. I haven¡¯t had a single sip.¡±
Her smile was radiant, pure contentment born of Seth¡¯s unwavering
devotion.
But for Noreen, the moment felt like a plunge into icy water¨Ca bottomless ache opening up inside her.
She¡¯d always known how much Seth favored Bianca, but hearing it out loud, in Bianca¡¯s own words, shattered herposure.
She¡¯d fought so hard for him, for Aurelion Group, battling through endless rounds of drinks at business dinners until her own body gave out. She¡¯d even lost a child because of it.
All of it¨Cher sacrifices, her pain¨Chad been utterly one¨Csided.
Seth never saw any of it. He didn¡¯t care, not about her efforts, her health, or her suffering.
He only cared about Bianca.
He¡¯d do anything for her¨Cpave her way, introduce her to the right people, even pop allergy meds so he could shield her from drinking.
14.28
Chapter 74
Noreen felt her heart squeeze, as if something sharp and cold was driving needles into every inch. The memories of sacrifice and heartbreak wed at her, tearing open wounds she¡¯d tried to bury.
She was terrified she¡¯d break down in front of everyone. Grasping for an excuse, she escaped as quickly as she could.
She knew she looked pathetic.
But in that moment, running away was the only way she knew how to protect herself.
Loving Seth had cost her everything¨Cand in the end, she¡¯d lostpletely.
Yes-man 75
The Aurelion Group had hosted their victory parties at this hotel more than once, so Noreen knew theyout by heart. She could easily pinpoint the quiet corners where no one would disturb her.
A cold front had swept down from the north, dragging the temperature lower each day. The wind sliced through her coat, sharp enough to jolt her wide awake. Thankfully, she hadn¡¯t worn a cocktail dress tonight¨Cotherwise, she¡¯d never havested out here.
Rosalind had texted earlier, reminding her not to drink too much. Noreen replied that she understood. Then Rosalind asked her to pass along congrattions to Seth. Noreen hesitated for a few seconds before sending a terse ¡°Got it.¡±
When the alcohol had finally ebbed from her system, Noreen stood to head back inside¨Cjust as someone pushed open the door from within.
She hadn¡¯t expected to run into Seth. And he was alone. Instinctively, her eyes darted behind him, half¨Cexpecting to spot Bianca trailing after him
as usual. But there was no one else.
¡°Who are you waiting for?¡± Seth¡¯s eyes were cast half¨Clidded, his features sharply handsome yet utterly cold. ¡°Dn?¡±
Noreen¡¯s freshly rxed brow tensed again. She hated the way Seth spoke to her¨Cso dismissive, as if she were beneath him.
¡°Excuse me,¡± she said, striving to keep her voice even.
Seth didn¡¯t budge. His gaze held a weight she¡¯d never felt before; it was suffocating.
Before Noreen could lose her temper, Seth spoke again¨Chis tone somewhere between a warning and a threat. ¡°Noreen, the Wilder family is obsessed with pedigree. They¡¯d never ept someone from your background. My advice? Drop whatever foolish ideas you¡¯re harboring and stay put at Aurelion Group.¡±
14.20
Chapter 75
It took Noreen a moment to register what he was implying.
He thought she was trying to worm her way into the Wilder family.
A hot, inexplicable anger surged inside her. She couldn¡¯t help but fire back, ¡°Is that really what you think of me? That¡¯s how you see me?¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± His voice was biting. ¡°You keep hanging around Dn, thinking you¡¯ve found yourself a newdder to climb. Now you think you¡¯ve grown wings and can just resign from Aurelion Group?¡±
His eyes were dark, turbulent¨Cshadowed with contempt. A mocking smile twisted his lips. ¡°Do you even realize what leaving me would mean? Without my approval, no one in Rivercrest City would dare hire you. Not even Dn. Try it, if you don¡¯t believe me. Without me, you¡¯ll be lucky tost three days out there before youe crawling back.¡±
He stepped closer, his gaze ice¨Ccold and unyielding.
Noreen didn¡¯t move. She simply looked at him, calm and steady, as ifmitting every cruel line of his face to memory¨Cso that if she ever felt the urge to look back, she¡¯d remember exactly how heartless he
could be.
When the tension had stretched to its breaking point, Noreen finally spoke. Her voice was even, but each word rang with quiet conviction. ¡°Let¡¯s see, then. Let¡¯s see if Ie crawling back to you.¡±
Back at the banquet hall, Noreen was barely through the door before someone approached her.
¡°Ms. Gilmore, I¡¯ve been looking all over for you!¡±
It was Mr. Selwyn from Monarch Capital, one of Aurelion Group¡¯s major
partners.
¡°It¡¯s been a while, Mr. Selwyn.¡± Noreen greeted him with practiced politeness.
He reached out and pped her on the shoulder. ¡°It has, hasn¡¯t it, Ms.
14.29
Gilmore? And you¡¯re looking lovelier than ever!¡±
¡°Thank you, Mr. Selwyn, you¡¯re too kind.¡± As she exchanged pleasantries, Noreen subtly shifted back, widening the distance between them.
Mr. Selwyn had a notorious reputation in the business world¨Cgreedy, predatory, and not shy about it. Yet his instincts were sharp; every investment he touched seemed to turn to gold. Over the years he¡¯d amassed quite a fortune, and for that, everyone in the industry felt obliged to humor him.
Back when theirpanies first started working together, Mr. Selwyn had made his intentions toward Noreen painfully clear, always hinting at something more.
Yes-man 76
Chapter 76
He¡¯d once told her that if she stuck with him, she¡¯d never have to ve away in the corporate grind again. Her days would be filled with
shopping sprees and weekend getaways¨Cher only responsibility would be keeping him entertained.
He promised her a limitless ck card, hers to use as she pleased.
There¡¯d be a new house, a luxury car, even a private jet if she wanted.
But Noreen never wavered. She turned him down with polite firmness, careful not to burn any bridges.
Mr. Selwyn, though disappointed, never pushed the issue.
Still, he couldn¡¯t help himself¨Cwhenever business brought them together, he always tried to find some advantage.
¡°Mr. Harcourt really knows how to pick his team,¡± Selwyn was saying now, sidling closer to Noreen. ¡°Not only is his assistant beautiful, she¡¯s brilliant too. If I had someone like Secretary Gilmore backing me up, I might be running a bigger operation than Harcourt himself!¡±
¡°Mr. Selwyn, you¡¯re giving me too much credit,¡± Noreen responded smoothly, stepping aside as she refilled his ss. ¡°I¡¯m just a secretary. Everything Mr. Harcourt¡¯s achieved, he¡¯s earned on his own.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too modest, Secretary Gilmore! Everyone knows half of Aurelion Group¡¯s most profitable deals have your fingerprints all over them. Keeping you as just a secretary is a waste,¡± Selwyn insisted, inching even closer.
Noreen used the excuse of offering a toast to subtly put space between them. ¡°To your health, Mr. Selwyn.¡±
Across the room, Bianca watched the exchange with a raised brow. She nudged Ruby Wilder beside her. ¡°Who¡¯s the guy talking to Secretary Gilmore?¡±
Ruby nced over. ¡°That¡¯s Mr. Selwyn from Monarch Capital. They¡¯ve
been making wavestely¨Cnot quite as big as Aurelion Group, but close.¡± Bianca¡¯s eyes lit up with interest, and she headed straight toward them.
Just as Noreen was steering the conversation back to business, Selwyn perked up. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about this gaming project you mentioned, but I¡¯ve never managed to connect with the people in charge. If you wouldn¡¯t mind making an introduction, Secretary Gilmore¡well, there¡¯s plenty of profit to go around!¡±
Before Noreen could respond, Bianca cut in. ¡°Mr. Selwyn, hello¨CI¡¯m Bianca Lowell, Director of Investment Division III at Aurelion Group. If you¡¯d like to talk about projects, you can discuss them with me.¡±
Selwyn didn¡¯t recognize her, but seeing her striking features, he broke into a broad grin. ¡°I had no idea Aurelion Group¡¯s investment directors were this beautiful. How did I miss that?¡±
¡°I just started recently,¡± Bianca replied, tossing her hair back. Then, turning to Noreen, she said, ¡°Secretary Gilmore, fetch me a drink.¡±
It wasn¡¯t so much a request as an order, treating Noreen like an errand girl.
Noreen didn¡¯t bother to argue. As she handed Bianca the drink, she lowered her voice. ¡°Be careful with Mr. Selwyn. He has a reputation.¡±
Bianca took the ss, thinking Noreen was just trying to guard her own connections. She clinked sses with Selwyn and said, ¡°Mr. Selwyn, if it¡¯s about the project, you¡¯ll want to speak with me. Secretary Gilmore is only handling administrative tasks now¨Cshe doesn¡¯t have authority over
deals.¡±
Well, that was one way to throw someone under the bus.
Noreen managed not to roll her eyes. She¡¯d done her part by warning Bianca, and Bianca was an adult¨Cshe could make her own choices. With that, Noreen went back to her own business.
It didn¡¯t take long for Selwyn to whisk Bianca away, supposedly to discuss
the project in private.
Later, once Seth had sobered up, Jude found him and asked if he¡¯d seen Bianca¨Cshe¡¯d vanished from the party.
Seth scanned the room but didn¡¯t see her, so he turned to Ruby Wilder.
Ruby shrugged. ¡°You might want to ask Secretary Gilmore. She probably knows where Director Lowell went.¡±
Seth tracked down Noreen, his tone usatory from the start. ¡°Secretary Gilmore, where¡¯s Bianca?¡±
14:29
Yes-man 77
Seth¡¯s voice and expression were both full of urgency¨Cit was obvious how much he cared about her.
But Noreen couldn¡¯t quite understand it. Was it really necessary to get this worked up just because Bianca had stepped away for a few minutes?
¡°Say something! Where is she?¡± Seth¡¯s patience was thinning, his tone growing sharp.
Noreen frowned, finding his attitude strange. ¡°How would I know where she is? She¡¯s not a toddler. I¡¯m not responsible for keeping an eye on her every second, am I?¡±
Jude, standing off to the side, snapped, ¡°Ruby Wilder said you were thest one who knew where she was. Who else are we supposed to ask?¡±
Noreen¡¯s brows knit together in irritation.
She hated their usatory tone, but this was about someone¡¯s safety¨Cthere was no time to argue. She answered honestly, ¡°A few minutes ago, Director Lowell was with Mr. Selwyn from Monarch Capital. Maybe he knows where she is.¡±
The moment the words left her mouth, Seth¡¯s face turned cial. The chill in his eyes made Noreen shiver.
¡°Noreen, you know exactly what kind of man Selwyn is. And you still let him take Bianca off alone?¡± Seth¡¯s voice was sharp with usation.
Stunned, Noreen didn¡¯t know how to react. He hadn¡¯t even bothered to ask for details¨Che was just piling all the me on her?
Jude, who also knew Selwyn¡¯s reputation, red at Noreen. ¡°If anything happens to Bianca, I won¡¯t forgive you.¡±
With that, he hurried off to search for Bianca, panic clear in his stride.
Seth¡¯s gaze was cold and unwavering. ¡°Noreen, even if you dislike her, that¡¯s no excuse for using such underhanded tactics against her.¡±
14:29
In that instant, it felt as if a wave of saltwater crashed through Noreen¡¯s veins¨Cbitter, stinging, and cold.
So, this was how Seth saw her? As someone who would stoop to anything?
Noreen was the event coordinator, more familiar with the venue than anyone. Even though she¡¯d started searchingter than the others, she managed to find Bianca first.
By then, Bianca had already been led by Mr. Selwyn into one of the private lounges.
Noreen couldn¡¯tprehend it¨Cwhy would Bianca be so naive, letting herself be taken off alone by a man like that?
When Noreen barged in, Mr. Selwyn¡¯s face darkened with annoyance at being interrupted. ¡°Secretary Gilmore, have you forgotten your manners? Do you always just barge in? Is this how yourpany treats its guests?¡± Bianca looked dazed, cheeks flushed, clearly tipsy and not entirely aware of what was happening. Even so, she tried to defend herpany, ¡°Please don¡¯t be upset, Mr. Selwyn. I¡¯ll take a drink as an apology.¡±
Mr. Selwyn slid his arm around Bianca¡¯s waist, pulling her close. ¡°No need to be upset. Not at all.¡±
¡°Hey, Mr. Selwyn, what are you doing¡¡± Bianca¡¯s voice was startled, and she struggled to pull away.
But she was drunk, her body limp with barely any strength to resist¨Cif anything, her movements only seemed to excite Mr. Selwyn further.
Bianca was Seth¡¯s most cherished person. If something really happened,
Seth would lose his mind.
Noreen quickly dialed Seth¡¯s number, hoping he¡¯d get there in time, all while keeping her voice steady. ¡°Mr. Selwyn, it looks like Director Lowell has had a bit too much to drink. Let me help her get some rest.¡±
14.29
¡°What¡¯s your problem, Noreen?¡± Mr. Selwyn snapped, annoyance in in
his voice.
¡°Mr. Selwyn, Director Lowell is a friend of Mr. Harcourt¡¯s.¡± Noreen didn¡¯t dare say girlfriend¨CSeth hadn¡¯t made anything official, and it wasn¡¯t her ce to announce it. But she made sure to emphasize the connection, hoping it would give Selwyn pause.
¡°I¡¯m friends with Harcourt too. He won¡¯t mind. Now get out!¡± Selwyn¡¯s patience had run out; his hands were growing bolder by the second.
Yes-man 78
¡°Mr. Selwyn! Mr. Harcourt is looking for Director Lowell right now. Why don¡¯t you let her go for now? I¡¯ll stay and have a drink with you,¡± Noreen said with a forced smile, stepping in front of Bianca to block his path.
Mr. Selwyn narrowed his eyes at her.
He found Noreen attractive too, but having his prize snatched away at thest minute left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Everyone in business circles knew the unspoken rules. Noreen couldn¡¯t possibly be oblivious, yet here she was, stubbornly ruining his fun.
It made Mr. Selwyn¡¯s temper re.
Without warning, he grabbed his ss and flung the entire drink in Noreen¡¯s face. ¡°You think you¡¯re so important? Why should I do you any favors? You¡¯re just a lowly assistant. What gives you the right to tell me
what to do?¡±
The cold liquor sshed over Noreen before she could react. It dripped down her face and seeped into her cor, sending a chill through her that, oddly, helped her keep herposure.
¡°Mr. Selwyn, you¡¯ve thrown your drink and vented your anger. I¡¯m taking her with me now. Enjoy your evening. We won¡¯t trouble you further,¡± she said coolly, then took Bianca¨Cwho was limp from fright¨Cby the arm and started to lead her out without a backward nce at Mr. Selwyn, no matter how loudly he cursed after them.
At the far end of the corridor, Seth and Jude appeared, hurrying over.
When he saw them, Jude called out, ¡°Bianca!¡±
Bianca, who had been so unsteady she needed support, instantly broke away from Noreen and rushed straight into Seth¡¯s arms.
He caught her and held her tightly.
Noreen, shoved aside, stumbled into the wall and couldn¡¯t have looked
14:29
more disheveled.
By the time she¡¯d regained her bnce, Seth already had Bianca wrapped up safely in his embrace, looking down at her with concern. ¡°Are you alright?¡±
Bianca¡¯s eyes were red and watery, her voice trembling as she confessed, ¡°I didn¡¯t know Mr. Selwyn would get¡ handsy¡¡±
Seth¡¯s face darkened. He nced sharply at Noreen, all tenderness gone, reced with icy suspicion. ¡°Noreen, you¡¯d better have an exnation for this.¡±
An exnation? Would he listen if she gave one? Would he even believe her?
It was pointless. Noreen knew all too well that no matter what she said, Seth wouldn¡¯t trust her now.
So she simply replied, her voice t, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I made a mistake.¡±
¡°One apology and that¡¯s it? Is this how you handle things, Noreen?¡±
See? Even when she admitted fault, he wouldn¡¯t let her off the hook. He¡¯d find a way to me her, no matter what.
¡°It was my mistake. I¡¯ll resign.¡± Noreen took off her work badge, her expression unreadable.
A heavy silence fell over them, tense and suffocating.
It wasn¡¯t broken until Mr. Selwyn staggered out after them, forcing augh. ¡°Oh, Mr. Harcourt, I had a bit too much to drink and mixed people up, you know how I am. My apologies¨Cthank goodness nothing serious happened.¡±
At the sound of his voice, Bianca shrank back, clinging to Seth.
He pulled her closer, his face still grim. ¡°Mr. Selwyn, maybe you should cut back on the alcohol.¡±
¡°Yes, of course, Mr. Harcourt. I¡¯ll remember your advice.¡±
14:29
¡°Seth, I don¡¯t feel well¡¡± Bianca whimpered, voice wavering between fear
and neediness.
Seth shot Mr. Selwyn a final cold look, ignored his two¨Cfaced apologies, and led Bianca away, leaving Noreen to deal with the mess.
He knew exactly what kind of man Mr. Selwyn was, but he still left Noreen alone to cope with the fallout.
Noreen felt utterly numb, as if all the life had been drained out of her.
Yes-man 79
Her clothes, soaked in alcohol, clung to her like a sheet of ice.
Mr. Selwyn was still talking, but his words barely reached her ears. The noise of the crowd and the sight of Seth¡¯s retreating figure blurred together until everything around her faded to gray.
She had done everything to keep the peace, to minimize the damage, to preserve Bianca¡¯s reputation and protect the partnership between Aurelion Group and Monarch Capital. She¡¯d even spared a thought for Mr. Selwyn¡¯s dignity.
The only person she¡¯d failed to consider was herself.
And now, faced with her own humiliation, she had no idea what to do.
The anger that had colored Mr. Selwyn¡¯s face just moments ago had drained away, reced now with something almost like pity.
¡°So, Secretary Gilmore, are you really nning to resign?¡± Mr. Selwyn asked, feigning concern.
Noreen didn¡¯t answer, just quietly dabbed her face with a napkin, trying to wipe away the alcohol.
¡°If you¡¯re serious about quitting, you could alwayse to Monarch Capital. I¡¯d be happy to take you on,¡± he said, a half¨Csmile on his lips.
Noreen replied tly, ¡°If I did that, you might lose your deal with Aurelion Group.¡±
Mr. Selwyn fell silent.
That was reality. No businessman would ever choose a person over profit.
Seth was no different.
Perhaps feeling sorry for her, Mr. Selwyn paused before leaving and said, with a meaningful look, ¡°Your Director Lowell isn¡¯t as simple as he
seems.¡±
14.29
He didn¡¯t exin further, but Noreen was sharp enough¨Cshe¡¯d figure out
what he meant sooner orter.
Sophia hurried over, her eyes welling with tears when she saw Noreen¡¯s state. Before she could say a word, Noreen reassured her, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±
¡°I have some clothes you can change into,¡± Sophia offered, grabbing her hand. ¡°They might be a size too big, but it¡¯s better than staying in wet clothes. You¡¯ll catch a cold.¡±
Sophia¡¯s clothes hung loose and shapeless on Noreen,pletely at odds with the elegant image she¡¯d projected earlier. But Noreen couldn¡¯t bring herself to care. When she returned to the ballroom, Seth was onstage with Bianca, both perfectlyposed.
Bianca, who not long ago had been tipsy and unsteady, now stood radiant and poised. She¡¯d even changed into a new dress¨Cthe very one Noreen had ordered for herself.
In the end, it was Bianca who wore it.
The two of them stood together in matching outfits, drawing every eye in the room. All around, people whispered about what a perfect couple they
made.
Thepliments reached Bianca, too. She glowed with satisfaction, basking in the attention.
In that moment, Noreen understood exactly what Mr. Selwyn had meant.
Adults. No one here was na?ve enough to miss the obvious.
Bianca had gone along with Mr. Selwyn¡¯s n for one reason: to get Seth¡¯s attention, or¨Cfailing that¡ªto make Noreen take the fall. She¡¯d seeded on both counts, which was why she looked so triumphant
now.
Noreen stood quietly in the corner, watching the two of them side by side. The lights weren¡¯t even that bright, but they stung her eyes.
She was wearing fresh clothes. The room was warm. She was dressed more heavily than anyone else in the hall.
14.30
Still, she felt impossibly cold.
Noreen let out a quietugh, not even sure what she wasughing at.
At some point, Dn appeared beside her. Seeing her arms wrapped around herself, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
It was still warm from his body.
Noreen steadied herself, managing a small thank you.
Dn¡¯s gaze lingered for a moment on the dazzling couple onstage before he turned to her, his voice gentle. ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡±
Noreen nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±
By the time the party ended, it was already ten o¡¯clock.
14:30
Yes-man 80
Noreen was in charge of the entire event, so naturally, she had to be thest one to leave.
After seeing the final guests out the door, she finally let herself exhale and headed back inside to find Sophia. As she rounded a corner, she unexpectedly overheard Jude talking.
He was asking Seth, ¡°Seth, do you think Noreen actually wants to quit, or is she just saying that?¡±
¡°Would she really leave thepany for good? I just can¡¯t believe it,¡± he went on, sounding skeptical.
Then, with a mockingugh, Jude added, ¡°Honestly, you should¡¯ve just agreed to let her go and watched how she tried to talk her way out of it! Knowing her, even if you agreed, she¡¯d find a way to stay. And if she did leave, you can bet she¡¯d try toe back somehow.¡±
Noreen walked past the group, pretending she hadn¡¯t heard a thing, and went off to look for Sophia.
A few minutester, Bianca and Jude stepped outside and spotted Dn waiting by the entrance.
Bianca¡¯s eyes lit up. She called out, ¡°Dn, you¡¯re still here?¡±
Jude grinned. ¡°Dn¡¯s waiting for me. I¡¯ll leave you two to talk¡ªI don¡¯t want to be the third wheel.¡±
Bianca¡¯s smile never faltered. ¡°You guys go ahead. I¡¯m waiting for Seth¨Che should be out soon.¡±
Just as Jude was about to get in the car, he seemed to remember something and turned to Dn. ¡°Oh, by the way, Dn, have you decided who you¡¯re bringing as your date to the Omniva Group g? The board members are a handful, and if you show up solo, they¡¯ll be all over you, trying to set you up to strengthen their connections.¡±
He nced at Bianca. ¡°But you just got back to town, so you probably
14.30
don¡¯t know many people. Why not ask Bianca? She¡¯s trustworthy, and it¡¯ll look good.¡±
Bianca looked at Dn, her hopes rising.
The Omniva Group g was all aboutworking and making deals¨Cthere was no telling what opportunities mighte up, and it would be the perfect way for her to reinforce her position at Aurelion Group.
And, if she was honest, she also hoped Dn hadn¡¯tpletely moved on from their past.
It was Bianca who broke things off, but she still felt a twinge of regret.
Dn hadn¡¯t tried to win her back. It was as if¨Cwell, as if their rtionship had never really mattered to him.
But Jude always insisted Dn returned to the city right after Bianca did, which could only mean he came back for her.
That thought kept Bianca guessing.
Dn, however, just nudged Jude. ¡°Are we leaving, or what?¡±
¡°Yeah, yeah, let¡¯s go. It¡¯s impossible to get a ride at this hour anyway.¡± Jude hopped into the car and waved goodbye to Bianca.
Dn didn¡¯t invite her to the g, and Bianca couldn¡¯t help feeling a stab of disappointment.
But that feeling vanished the moment Seth appeared.
¡°Seth, looks like it¡¯s going to rain. It¡¯s getting chilly out here,¡± she said, wrapping her arms around herself.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, the car will be here any minute,¡± Seth replied, his tone gentle and patient as always.
The driver pulled up just in time, and Seth personally opened the door for Bianca.
Momentster, the rain arrived, sudden and heavy.
14:30
When Noreen and Sophia finally stepped outside, the downpour was already in full force.
Sophia was on the phone with her boyfriend. ¡°I¡¯m at the entrance. Can you see me? Yes, right here.¡±
A car pulled up right where they stood. Sophia turned to Noreen and offered, ¡°Do you want a ride? It¡¯s going to be hard to get a cab right now.¡±
Noreen shook her head. ¡°No, you two aren¡¯t headed my way. If you drop me off, you¡¯ll be getting home after midnight. You¡¯ve been on your feet all day¨Cgo home and get some rest.¡±
Sophia nodded. ¡°Alright. Just be careful, okay?¡± She gave Noreen a quick hug before getting into the car and driving off.
The rain wasn¡¯t all that heavy, but the dampness crept in, cold and biting, seeping through her clothes and up her neck.
Noreen kept refreshing the ride¨Cshare app, but no one was epting her
request.
So this was Rivercrest City¨Ca city so vast, yet not a single car would stop
for her.
14:30
Yes-man 81
Noreen waited nearly forty minutes before she finally slid into the car.
By the time she got home, it was already past midnight.
What a long, exhausting day.
She forced herself to take a hot shower, but when she stepped out, she couldn¡¯t even muster the energy to dry her hair. Copsing onto her bed, she was asleep almost instantly.
Thankfully, the next two days were the weekend. For once, Noreen let herself sleep in without an rm.
After waking, she simmered a pot of chicken soup and got ready to visit Rosalind at the hospital.
She¡¯d barely stepped out the door when she ran into the cleaningdy from the building, who was muttering under her breath. ¡°Who smokes in the stairwell? Some people have no manners, honestly.¡±
Rosalind was doing much better¨Cshe looked far more energetic than before.
After finishing her soup, Rosalind quietly suggested she wanted to be discharged,ining that the hospital felt stifling.
But Noreen knew the real reason: Rosalind was worried about the bills.
¡°That¡¯s not up to me,¡± Noreen said gently. ¡°We have to listen to the doctor. When they say you¡¯re ready to leave, then you can leave.¡±
Rosalind fell silent. It was clear she¡¯d already tried, unsessfully, to convince the doctors and was now hoping Noreen would take her side.
¡°If you¡¯re bored, I can take you out for a walk, get some fresh air. The weather¡¯s not great, though.¡±
It had rained off and on through the night, and the temperature had dropped noticeably.
1/3
21-24
Noreen walked with Rosalind through the park next to the hospital. When they happened to pass a young couple posing for wedding photos, Rosalind¡¯s steps slowed.
She gazed at the couple, eyes full of longing, probably imagining what her own daughter would look like in a wedding dress.
A pang twisted in Noreen¡¯s chest.
¡°Noreen, when are you and Seth going to take your wedding photos?¡± Rosalind asked, her eyes hopeful.
Noreen¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°He¡ he¡¯s just been so busytely. We haven¡¯t set a date yet.¡±
Rosalind sighed softly. ¡°Seth is always busy, I know. But you two have been together for seven years. People say the longer you date, the less likely you are to actually get married. I just worry something might change.¡±
Her words hit Noreen like a needle straight to the heart.
But it wasn¡¯t fear of losing Seth that hurt the most.
What really stung was that, at twenty¨Csomething years old, she was still making her sick mother worry about her.
Rosalind had raised Noreen on her own.
She¡¯d gotten pregnant before marriage, and her image¨Cconscious parents had thrown her out, cutting off all contact for years.
When Rosalind gave birth to Noreen, she suffered massive blood loss. The doctors barely managed to save her, but the ordeal left her with lingering health problems.
When she was younger, Rosalind had powered through¨Cworking to support them both, raising Noreen by herself.
But as the years went by, her body grew weaker.
When Noreen was in middle school, Rosalind fell gravely ill.
21-24T
It was right before Noreen¡¯s entrance exams. Not wanting to distract her, Rosalind kept her hospitalization a secret, spending over two weeks in the hospital without telling her daughter.
Noreen only found out after the exams, when she finally came home.
During high school, Rosalind became a regr at the hospital, her health deteriorating day by day.
She made the doctors promise not to tell Noreen the truth, only letting her believe it was anemia from poor nutrition.
In reality, it was severe astic anemia¨Ca life¨Cthreatening condition.
It wasn¡¯t until Noreen¡¯s senior year, when the hospital issued a critical notice, that she finally learned the truth.
To Noreen, Rosalind was her whole world.
When that world threatened to copse, she experienced, for the first time, the true terror of losing someone to death.
The doctors said Rosalind needed an urgent bone marrow transnt.
For weeks, Noreen searched everywhere for apatible donor, even turning¨Csecretly¨Cto the Gilmore family, her estranged rtives.
Not a single one of them agreed to get tested.
Noreen knelt outside the Gilmore mansion for a day and a night, but not once did anyone open the door.
3/3
Yes-man 82
She would never forget the weather that day¨Cit was just like today.
Gray clouds nketed the sky, and a chill wind drove icy rain straight through her coat, seeping all the way into her bones.
But what stayed with her most was the image of a ck umbre held steady above her head.
That was the first time she met Seth.
Back then, Seth was like a ray of light that pierced the darkness of Noreen¡¯s world, a world that had felt hopeless and shuttered for as long
as she could remember.
For the next seven years, she never stopped chasing that light.
She followed it, wholeheartedly, never once looking back.
But the same light that once illuminated her path was the very thing that wouldter cast her into the abyss.
The following days passed in much the same way as before¨CNoreen clocked out right on time every evening. Before leaving, she¡¯d print out her letter of resignation, neatly ce it on Seth¡¯s desk, and walk away.
Maybe one of these days, Seth would be in a good mood and finally sign - it.
Wishful thinking, perhaps, but it was all she could do.
Seth was rarely at the office those days, which meant Noreen finally had a bit of peace.
Bianca was gone, too!
Sophia, ever the office gossip, pulled Noreen aside to share thetest: not only had Bianca skipped work all week, she hadn¡¯t even bothered to clock in or out.
21.24
¡°Shees and goes as she pleases,¡± Sophia whispered, rolling her eyes. ¡°Honestly, she acts like she already owns the ce.¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Does Mr. Harcourt know about this?¡±
¡°Of course he does, but he hasn¡¯t said a word.¡± Sophia pursed her lips, clearly annoyed.
Noreen wasn¡¯t surprised.
With Seth, everyone else was expected to y by his rules¨Cexcept Bianca. She was the exception, and that was exactly how Seth wanted it.
But Noreen wasn¡¯t interested in office politics; her thoughts were elsewhere. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying Mr. Harcourt¡¯s actually beening in this week?¡±
Sophia nodded. ¡°Yeah, but almost always after you¡¯ve left.¡±
It was odd, but Noreen didn¡¯t dwell on it. Seth was the head of Aurelion Group¨Che coulde and go as he pleased. Still, if he¡¯d been in, he¡¯d definitely seen her resignation letters.
On Thursday, Dn invited Noreen to dinner so they could talk through any issues that mighte up at the uingpany g. They wanted to make sure their stories were straight and avoid any unnecessary drama.
As usual, Noreen nned to leave work right on time.
She didn¡¯t expect to run into Seth just as she was about to drop her resignation letter off in his office.
The two nearly collided outside his door.
Noreen greeted him calmly, her tone polite but distant. ¡°Mr. Harcourt.¡±
Seth¡¯s dark eyes lingered on her for a moment before dropping to the resignation letter in her hand¨Cher intent was in as day.
He gave a soft, dismissiveugh and strode into his office without another word.
21.34
Noreen was about to follow when Dn appeared.
¡°Seth,¡± Dn called out first.
Seth froze, his gaze turning icy. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±
Dn smiled, undeterred. ¡°I¡¯m here for Noreen. We¡¯re grabbing
dinner¨Cwe made ns, and I happened to be nearby, so I thought I¡¯d pick her up.¡±
Noreen hadn¡¯t expected Dn toe upstairs, let alone bump into Seth like this. In the past, she would have rushed to exin herself¨Cback
when her rtionship with Seth was different.
But now, there was no need.
She hadn¡¯t even gotten a word out before Seth cut in, his voice cold and low. ¡°Secretary Gilmore, have you forgotten thepany¡¯s code of conduct? Using work hours to flirt with your boyfriend?¡±
3/3
Yes-man 83
Noreen hadn¡¯t expected Seth to say something like that¨Cespecially right in front of Dn.
A wave of frustration tightened in her chest.
There it was again: the rules of Aurelion Group.
He never let her forget about them.
Funny, wasn¡¯t it? The only person who ever had to follow the rules seemed to be her.
The tension in the room grew thick, on the verge of snapping, when suddenly, the chime announcing the end of the workday began to y.
Without hesitation, Noreen thrust her resignation letter into Seth¡¯s hand. ¡°Work¡¯s over now, isn¡¯t it? I suppose I don¡¯t have to follow Aurelion Group¡¯s rules anymore, do I, Mr. Harcourt?¡±
She spun around and headed straight for her desk to collect her things, not bothering to nce back and see Seth¡¯s reaction.
Seth¡¯s expression soured, his entire demeanor turning icy.
Dn¡¯s gaze lingered on the resignation letter in Seth¡¯s hand. ¡°Seth, if I recall correctly, Noreen already handed in her resignation ages ago. Why are you still holding onto it?¡±
¡°That¡¯s an internal matter,¡± Seth replied curtly, tucking away the letter, his face nk and intimidating. ¡°It¡¯s none of your concern.¡±
Dn gave a mild shrug, a faint smile ying on his lips. ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t dream of meddling in yourpany¡¯s affairs.¡±
¡°It¡¯s better that way,¡± Seth said, his voice t.
Dn¡¯s polite smile remained, but there was no warmth in his eyes. ¡°Just a friendly reminder: if she¡¯s really set on leaving, there¡¯s nothing you can do to stop her.¡±
21:24
The night of the Omniva Group g, Noreen arrived a littlete after getting caught in traffic.
Dn, the guest of honor, was busy working the room and couldn¡¯te greet her at the door.
Noreen insisted it wasn¡¯t necessary; she could manage on her own.
What she didn¡¯t expect was to run into Jude and Bianca right at the
entrance.
Jude hade out specifically to meet Bianca¨Cand clearly hadn¡¯t anticipated bumping into Noreen.
¡°Why do you turn up everywhere?¡± he sneered, making no effort to hide his dislike. With no one else around, Jude dropped all pretense.
¡°Like a fly, you just show up wherever there¡¯s a whiff of trouble.¡±
He¡¯d mocked her often enough in the past, but Noreen had usually let it slide¨Cfor Seth¡¯s sake, if nothing else..
But that was in the past.
She didn¡¯t care about saving face for Seth anymore, so why should she
bother with Jude?
¡°If I¡¯m a fly, maybe you should ask yourself why you stink,¡± she shot back.
Jude was momentarily stunned, caught off guard by her retort. A beatter, his face flushed with anger. ¡°What are you so smug about, Noreen? What right do you have to act superior? Didn¡¯t you say you were quitting? Why are you still clinging to Aurelion Group?¡±
¡°Honestly, who are you trying to fool with that act?¡±
¡°If you¡¯ve got so much time to throw shade at me, maybe go talk some sense into Seth instead¨Ctell him to approve my resignation already. Let¡¯s see who¡¯s really desperate to stay!¡±
Dealing with someone as impulsive as Jude didn¡¯t even require her full
21:24
effort.
Jude nearly lost it.
Just then, Bianca arrived.
Jude¡¯s demeanor flipped in an instant; he practically tripped over himself
to hold the door open for her. ¡°Bianca! You¡¯re finally here¨CI¡¯ve been waiting forever!¡±
If he had a tail, he¡¯d be wagging it like a helicopter.
The very picture of apdog.
Bianca was immactely dressed as always, greeting Jude with a bright, polished smile. ¡°Sorry, traffic held me up.¡±
As she stepped out of the car, she caught sight of Noreen and registered a flicker of surprise.
Given how friendly Dn and Noreen had seemedtely, she guessed Noreen must be here hoping to tap into Omniva Group¡¯s connections and
resources.
Her lips curled into a dismissive smirk as she turned back to Jude, losing
interest.
Just then, Noreen¡¯s phone rang¨CDn, calling to check if she had arrived. After answering, she headed inside.
Yes-man 84
Bianca leaned in, lowering her voice. ¡°What¡¯s she doing here? Did Omnival Group invite her?¡±
Jude gave a derisive snort. ¡°As if! Who knows where she scrounged up an invitation. Noreen¡¯s always scheming¨Cbet she¡¯s here for theworking opportunities.¡±
That was exactly what Bianca had suspected, and Jude¡¯s words only confirmed her suspicions.
¡°Someone like her, wing her way up from the bottom, she¡¯s not going to let a single chance slip by. Miss one, and it might nevere again.¡±
Jude¡¯s mood had soured after Noreen¡¯s snarkyment earlier; he clearly wanted nothing to do with her. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about her. She¡¯s like a bad penny¨Calways turning up. If I were Seth, I¡¯d fire her on the spot!¡±
¡°Seth¡¯s not the type to mix business with personal feelings. Unless Secretary Gilmore actually slips up, he won¡¯t fire anyone without cause.¡±
Jude groaned. ¡°Exactly! Seth¡¯s too much of a straight arrow, and that¡¯s why someone as conniving as Noreen can keep getting under his skin!¡±
¡°Enough about her,¡± Bianca said, steering the conversation away. ¡°Did Dn bring a date tonight?¡±
Jude shook his head right away. ¡°Nope, not a chance. And even if he did, you know you¡¯re the only one he¡¯d ever consider bringing. You¡¯re the only one who could keep up with him.¡±
Bianca¡¯s smile grew. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head inside. I brought Dn a little gift for his new position.¡±
As they entered, they spotted Dn across the room. He had just greeted Noreen and was exchanging a few words with her.
Bianca strode over with confident poise and greeted him warmly. ¡°Congrattions, Dn! I brought you something¨CI hope you¡¯ll make even more of a mark at Omniva Group.¡±
21.24
¡°Thank you.¡± Dn epted the gift and passed it to his assistant without a second nce.
He didn¡¯t even bother to unwrap it.
Bianca had expected at least a flicker of anticipation. Her smile faltered for a split second. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to open it?¡±
¡°I¡¯m a bit tied up right now. I¡¯ll open itter.¡±
His answer seemed to reassure her, at least on the surface. ¡°Well, I made sure it¡¯s something you¡¯d like. I¡¯ve always remembered your preferences.¡±
There was an unspoken intimacy in her words¨Cjust enough to hint at their past, but not enough to cross any lines.
She struck the perfect bnce.
Just then, someone else approached Dn to offer congrattions. Bianca, seizing the moment, picked up a ss of champagne and prepared to stand by Dn¡¯s side, just like they used to at receptions
abroad.
But before she could step forward, Dn bent his arm¨Cand Noreen, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, slipped her hand through it.
Bianca¡¯s expression froze.
Jude looked just as stunned, his jaw practically hitting the floor.
If there hadn¡¯t been so many people around, he would have marched right over and demanded to know what spell Noreen had cast on Dn.
Why her of all people?
Anyone else would have been better¨Cwhy did it have to be Noreen?
But Dn had no time for their shock. He guided Noreen around the room, introducing her to one guest after another.
There were board members from Omniva Group, as well as important
partners.
213
21-24 1
Omniva Bank had nearly fifty years of history behind it, a legacy that fledglingpanies like Aurelion Group¨Cbarely seven years
old¨Ccouldn¡¯t hope to match.
Aurelion might be growing faster now, and its assets might have even surpassed Omniva¡¯s, but Omniva¡¯s status as an established leader in the financial world was unshakable.
For professionals in the industry, these people were connections worth their weight in gold.
That was why Bianca hade to this g in the first ce.
She¡¯d been sure that, given her history with Dn, he¡¯d at least throw her a bone and introduce her to a few key yers.
But now, watching him and Noreen work the crowd together, Bianca felt a sharp pang of envy.
Luckily, Seth arrived just then.
Noreen had expected he woulde. After all, if Bianca was here, how could Seth not show up?
Yes-man 85
When Seth greeted Dn, Noreen was right by Dn¡¯s side.
She felt a pang of guilt and unconsciously tightened her grip on Dn¡¯s arm, avoiding Seth¡¯s gaze.
But soon enough, she realized she was overthinking it.
Seth didn¡¯t seem to care who she¡¯d arrived with, not even sparing her a second nce.
After exchanging a few words with Dn, he simply moved on to find
Bianca.
Noreen felt a wave of frustration at her own weakness¨Chow, even now, Seth¡¯s mere presence could still unsettle her.
But she tried to reassure herself: letting go was never going to happen
overnight.
It would take time.
At least, she told herself, she was already doing much better than before.
Seth¡¯s arrival seemed to breathe new confidence into Bianca.
She clung to his arm for the rest of the evening, never once letting go.
And Seth¨Cbeing one of Rivercrest City¡¯s most sought¨Cafter rising stars in finance¨Cwas always at the center of attention wherever he went.
Bianca, by his side, drew more than a few curious stares.
As Noreen stepped out of the restroom, she overheard a conversation nearby.
¡°Who¡¯s that Miss Lowell with Seth? He¡¯s pretty protective of her¨Ctheir rtionship seems more than just casual.¡±
¡°You haven¡¯t heard? She¡¯s likely the Harcourt family¡¯s intended match,
1/3
21:24
Forrest¡¯s daughter.¡±
The other woman clearly knew the Lowells, and kept her voice low. ¡°Forrest¡¯s career has been going well these past couple of years, but there¡¯s still a huge gap between his family and the Harcourts, isn¡¯t there?¡± ¡°Forrest only just transferred back to Rivercrest a little over a year ago¡ªit wasn¡¯t even a promotion, just ateral move.¡±
¡°To most people, he might seem high up, butpared to the old¨Cmoney families, he doesn¡¯t evene close.¡±
¡°If Seth is willing to personally vouch for Miss Lowell, introducing her to all his connections, it can only mean one thing: he¡¯s serious about her. She¡¯s not just some pretty distraction on the side.¡±
¡°Looks like we¡¯ll have to get closer to Director Lowell from now on.¡±
With Seth backing them, the Lowells were bound for bigger things. The earlier you cozy up, the better your chances¨Cwait too long and you won¡¯t even make the list.
They hurried away, eager to ingratiate themselves with Seth and Bianca, while Noreen stood frozen in ce, lost in thought.
She remembered the conversation she¡¯d overheard outside the private room that day.
Jude¡¯s voice echoed in her mind:
¡°If you like her that much, just keep her around after you¡¯re married.¡±
So, was that all she¡¯d ever been to Seth? Just some ything he kept for his own amusement?
Was that why he refused to ept her resignation¨Cbecause he hadn¡¯t had his fill yet?
Just as Jude had said: even if Seth married someone else, he could always keep her on the side.
Calling her when it suited him; discarding her just as easily.
A chill seeped through her, as if she¡¯d been encased in ice.
Seven years¨Cwhat a cruel joke.
¡°Noreen! There you are!¡±
Jennifer¡¯s cheerful voice yanked her out of her frozen stupor.
¡°Mr. Shaw,¡± Noreen greeted, forcing a smile.
Jennifer took her hand and frowned. ¡°Why are your hands so cold?¡±
¡°I must¡¯ve juste in from outside,¡± Noreen said, offering the first excuse that came to mind.
Jennifer led her toward a warmer corner of the room, eager to catch up.
When she learned that Noreen still hadn¡¯t managed to resign from Aurelion Group, her brows knit in concern. ¡°What¡¯s Seth ying at? He won¡¯t give you the position or pay you deserve, but he won¡¯t let you go either? That¡¯s beyond unfair.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t want to dwell on these troubles, so she steered the
conversation toward the Al Initiative project.
Jennifer¡¯s interest was instantly piqued, and the two of themunched into an animated discussion.
After all, aside from Carman, Noreen knew the project better than anyone.
Yes-man 86
Every aspect of her analysis was impressively thorough.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Jennifer leaned in. ¡°Did you studyputer science or something?¡±
Noreen shook her head. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡±
Jennifer raised her eyebrows. ¡°Really? You sound so knowledgeable¨Cl just assumed you had a tech background.¡±
¡°I make a point of fully researching every project before I get involved,¡± Noreen exined. ¡°I need to figure out which ones are worth investing in, which to watch, and which to let go. So I end up knowing more than most, but honestly, it¡¯s just surface¨Clevel¨Chardly an expert.¡±
Jennifer already liked Noreen¡¯s personality, but seeing her professionalism in action sealed the deal. Without hesitation, she grinned. ¡°I¡¯m in. I¡¯ll invest in this project.¡±
Noreen looked surprised. ¡°But I haven¡¯t even given you the details yet¡ª¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. I trust your judgment.¡± Jennifer¡¯s faith in her was
absolute.
Noreen was grateful. ¡°Let¡¯s set up a time to go over everything in detail.¡±
¡°Anytime. I¡¯ll be in Rivercrest City all week¨Cjust call me whenever you¡¯re free.¡±
Noreen raised her ss, ready to toast, but a sharp, biting voice cut through the air behind her.
Jude.
¡°Some people really are ungrateful, aren¡¯t they? The kind that bites the hand that feeds them.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be like that, Secretary Gilmore,¡± Bianca chimed in, as ifing to
Noreen¡¯s defense.
1/3
21:25
But Jude hadn¡¯t named anyone. Bianca¡¯s words only made things more obvious.
¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth,¡± Jude continued, voice edged with resentment. ¡°Still working at Aurelion Group, but already introducing outside projects to otherpanies. Wouldn¡¯t surprise me if she¡¯s been double¨Cdealing for a while. Seth should really look into it.¡±
Bianca nced helplessly at Noreen. ¡°Secretary Gilmore, I do think you should exin things to Seth. After all, you haven¡¯t officially left yet.¡±
Before Noreen could respond, Seth arrived.
¡°What needs exining?¡±
He looked at Noreen with cold indifference, his expression unreadable.
Bianca spoke up. ¡°Jude overheard Secretary Gilmore discussing projects with otherpanies. She just thought it was inappropriate, since Secretary Gilmore is still at Aurelion Group. If any confidential projects were leaked, it could be a problem.¡±
Seth said nothing. His eyes narrowed, and a chill seemed to radiate from
him.
Jennifer couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She stepped in to defend Noreen, but Noreen gently stopped her, her face calm as she addressed the group.
¡°Director Lowell, you¡¯re overthinking it. The project I mentioned to Mr. Shaw is one you already turned down. I felt bad for the people behind it, so I offered to help them find new investors. There¡¯s no conflict of interest and nothing inappropriate about it.¡±
She turned to face Seth, meeting his gaze head¨Con, unwavering.
¡°In all my years at Aurelion Group, no one knows my character better than Mr. Harcourt. If you do have doubts, it might be best to approve my resignation sooner rather thanter¨Cno need for Director Lowell to keep losing sleep over me.¡±
Jude was taken aback¨Che¡¯d never seen Noreen stand up to Seth like this, especially not in front of so many people. He, who usually had a snide
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21.25
remark ready, was left speechless.
Even Bianca was thrown off by Noreen¡¯s resolve. She¡¯d only meant to
nudge Seth into resenting Noreen, never expecting Noreen to draw such a hard line.
The atmosphere grew tense, hanging by a thread.
Noreen braced herself, certain Seth would ignore her or brush aside her resignation, as he always had.
Instead, he finally answered.
¡°Fine,¡± Seth said. ¡°Come in Monday to finalize your departure.¡±
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Yes-man 87
Everyone was caught off guard.
Noreen included.
But beneath the surprise, there was a sense of relief.
Atst, things hade to this.
She realized it the moment she found herself doing everything wrong, no
matter how hard she tried.
The problem had never really been her¨Cit was simply that her rtionship with Seth had run its course.
She spoke calmly, ¡°Alright. I¡¯lle in first thing Monday to file the paperwork.¡±
Jude waited until Noreen had left for a while before frowning and grumbling, ¡°No way. Is she really just going to walk away?¡±
He didn¡¯t buy it for a second.
¡°Seth, I¡¯ming by on Monday to watch the show,¡± Jude announced,
determined not to miss the fallout.
¡°Do what you want,¡± Seth replied coolly, his tone giving nothing away.
For Noreen, the evening turned out to be quite fruitful.
Of course, the biggest win was that Seth had finally signed off on her resignation.
So, for the rest of the night, she let herself drink a little more freely. If Dn hadn¡¯t kept an eye on her, she might have ended the night.pletely wasted.
¡°When you get home, make sure you drink some sobering broth, or you¡¯ll wake up with a killer headache,¡± Dn reminded her.
¡°Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Has anyone ever told you you¡¯re a real nag?¡±
Noreen slurred, a little looser than usual from the alcohol.
21.25
¡°What did you just call me?¡± Dn stopped short.
¡°I¡ I think I¡¯m going to throw up.¡±
Dn rolled his eyes and helped steady her. He didn¡¯t want her making a scene in public, so he guided her toward the restroom.
¡°Be careful in there. If you need anything, just call.¡±
He waited outside; it would be awkward for him to go in after all.
Noreen didn¡¯t end up being sick¨Cmaybe because Dn had made sure she ate between drinks instead of just downing wine all night.
Not wanting to make Dn wait too long, she sshed some cold water on her face, fixed her hair, and headed back out. But as she reached the door, voices drifted in from the hallway.
Speak of the devil¨Cit was Jude, as loud as ever.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Bianca, I¡¯ll be at Aurelion Group on Monday to make sure Noreen actually quits. Even if she has second thoughts, I¡¯ll force her out! She¡¯ll never be a threat to you trust me!¡±
¡°You really don¡¯t need to worry about her. There¡¯s noparison between you two,¡± Jude went on.
¡°But she¡¯s been with Seth for seven years,¡± Bianca replied, her voice tinged with sadness.
¡°Seven years is a long time. Even if you just had a pet for that long, you¡¯d get attached. Let alone a person,¡± Jude said.
¡°You¡¯re overthinking this! Men and women aren¡¯t the same. I promise you, Seth only ever saw Noreen as a tool¨Ca free one at that! Just look at it: after all these years, he never once spent money on her, not even bought her an apartment. Even if you keep a songbird, you at least buy it a cage. Noreen? She was just there for his convenience. Honestly, that¡¯s why I look down on her.¡±
Bianca sounded surprised. ¡°Seth¡ never spent money on Noreen?¡±
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21-251
Jude sounded utterly convinced. ¡°Never! Isn¡¯t itmon wisdom that a man only spends on a woman if he really cares for her? That proves Seth never had real feelings for Noreen. So, you have nothing to worry about.¡±
¡°And she¡¯s about to quit, too. Once she leaves Aurelion Group, she and Seth will be like parallel lines¨Cnever crossing again. You can rx.¡±
Bianca seemed reassured, her mood visibly lifting. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go find Seth. It¡¯s gettingte.¡±
Their footsteps faded down the corridor. Only when Noreen was sure they were gone did she finally step out.
Seven years¨Cit really was a long time. Long enough to see people¡¯s
hearts change, long enough for Seth to grow tired of her.
She pressed her lips together, eyes burning with unshed tears.
She stood there for a long moment, willing herself to breathe, to swallow down the ache and let it go.
Dn still had guests to entertain, so he couldn¡¯t take her home himself. Instead, he called the driver and instructed him to make sure Noreen got home safely.
21.25 #
Yes-man 88
Before leaving, he draped his own coat over Noreen¡¯s shoulders, worried she¡¯d catch a chill.
As she waited for the driver to fetch the car, she saw Seth¡¯s vehicle glide past right in front of her.
Inside, the cabin was warmly lit. Bianca stared at Seth with stars in her eyes, chattering happily about something or other.
Seth, head slightly bowed, wore a tenderness on his face that Noreen
rarely saw.
The car sped away, sending a gust of cold wind whipping across Noreen¡¯s face.
It was sobering¨Cpainfully so.
She pulled the borrowed coat tighter around herself, thinking wryly that sometimes, a man wasn¡¯t even as useful as a coat.
At least on a night like this, a coat could actually keep out the cold.
The wine she¡¯d had packed a punch, and by the time Noreen got home, her head was spinning.
She fumbled at the door for ages before finally unlocking it.
Thank God she remembered her keys. Otherwise, she might not have
made it home at all.
Not that it was entirely her fault¨CSeth was to me for this too. If not for him, she wouldn¡¯t have changed the locks, and now she had to lug her keys everywhere. What a hassle.
Alcohol always left her mouth dry, and of course, there wasn¡¯t a drop of water left in the fridge.
After drinking, she always craved ice water. With the fridge empty, she had no choice but to order delivery.
21.25
She ced her order and waited about ten minutes before the doorbell
rang.
That was fast.
Noreen didn¡¯t think twice. She went over and opened the door.
Only to find¨Cnot a delivery guy, but Seth.
Her reaction was pure instinct; she tried to m the door shut.
But Seth was quicker. He wedged his foot in the gap, stopping her.
His chest heaved gently in the yellowish glow from the hallway light.
Noreen didn¡¯t even manage to finish her sentence- ¡°What are you doing
here?¡±
Before she could, Seth gripped her chin and kissed her, not gently.
She tasted alcohol on his lips¨Che must have been drinking at the party, probably taking shots for Bianca again.
That made her stomach twist.
She lifted her hand and pped him across the face, the smack ringing out in the hallway.
But the wine had left her weak. The p didn¡¯t sober Seth up¨Cinstead, it only seemed to provoke something deeper in him.
Seth was always forceful in moments like this, and with Noreen half¨Cdrunk, she was no match for him.
She barely protested before he tossed her onto the bed, her mind goingpletely foggy.
He didn¡¯t give her a chance to catch her breath¨Che was on top of her in
an instant.
Tonight, Seth was nothing like before.
He was fierce, relentless.
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?1 ?? ¨C
He knew every sensitive spot on her body, like a general exploiting every weakness on the battlefield.
It didn¡¯t take him long to break through her defenses.
Noreen wasn¡¯t about to give in without a fight. She grabbed his jaw and bit down, hard.
She didn¡¯t let go until she heard his muffled groan.
It was like a tug¨Cof¨Cwar, neither of them willing to yield, both desperate to conquer the other.
But in the end, Noreen lost.
Between a man and a woman, physical strength was never equal.
Her nails dug into Seth¡¯s shoulders as her breath grew ragged and her voice fell apart. ¡°I really like your moves,¡± she gasped.
Her praise only spurred him on.
Seth was always wild in bed.
In his rough enthusiasm, he knocked over a small, ck velvet box on the nightstand.
He caught it just in time, stopping it from falling on Noreen.
Curiosity flickered in his eyes¨Che¡¯d never seen the box before. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asked.
Noreen, her tone t, snatched the box from his hand and tossed it aside. She hooked her arm around his neck and pressed her lips to his throat. ¡°You¡¯re getting distracted at a time like this? Getting bored of me already?¡±
He couldn¡¯t resist her; whatever curiosity he had vanished instantly.
As Seth lost himself in her, Noreen nced at the little ck box lying forgotten on the side, her eyes growing misty.
Seth, you¡¯ll never know what¡¯s inside that box.
Yes-man 89
Tonight, Seth was tireless, almost ruthless, leaving a trail of bite marks and bruises along her waist.
Noreen, not one to back down, responded in kind, marking his neck with her own passionate traces.
Hepletely lost control, restraint slipping further away with every passing moment.
All Noreen could do was clutch the sheets, her fingernails creasing them in chaotic lines.
By the end, she was utterly spent. She simply closed her eyes and let him have his way.
On Saturday morning, Noreen had to pick Rosalind up from the hospital, so she forced herself awake early.
The aftermath of a night of indulgence hit hard: when she stood up, her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
As she brushed her teeth, Seth wandered into the bathroom, and without hesitation, wrapped his arms around her from behind. ¡°Come back to bed with me,¡± he murmured, voice thick with sleep.
Noreen ignored him, finishing her rinse, then met his eyes in the mirror and spoke, crisp and deliberate: ¡°It was just breakup sex. No need to get so¡ sentimental about it.¡±
The drowsiness vanished from Seth¡¯s face. He stared at her, eyes
narrowed, for several seconds before asking, ¡°So you¡¯re still mad at me?¡± So, all that effortst night¨Cwas it just to win her back?
Effort, sure, but clearly misdirected.
Noreen gently pulled away, extracting herself from his embrace. Her tone was calmer than ever. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to smooth over, Seth. We both got what we wanted.¡±
24.96
His gaze turned dangerous. ¡°We both got what we wanted?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Noreen turned to face him head¨Con. ¡°We¡¯re both adults, Mr. Harcourt. Surely you understand how this works.¡±
Whatever warmth was left on Seth¡¯s face disappeared, reced by a cold. indifference.
They locked eyes for half a minute before he finally turned and left, mming the door so hard it rattled the walls.
As the echo faded, Noreen felt a wave of relief wash over her.
See? When you stop expecting anything from someone, even disappointment vanishes.
The weather was perfect that day, and Noreen¡¯s spirits soared.
Even Rosalind noticed. ¡°You look happy today. Something good happen?¡±
¡°You¡¯re finallying home. That¡¯s the best thing that could happen.¡±
Rosalind¡¯s heart melted. Just like when Noreen was a little girl, she reached out and gently smoothed her daughter¡¯s hair. ¡°You¡¯ve always looked after me, sweetheart.¡±
After leaving the hospital, Noreen was about to call a cab when she spotted a familiar figure up ahead. She immediately pulled Rosalind aside. ¡°Mom, I need to use the restroom.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡±
¡°Come with me?¡± Noreen insisted, tugging at her hand.
Rosalind gave her a look of mock exasperation. ¡°You¡¯re a grown woman. Still scared to go alone?¡±
¡°Apparently so. Come on, humor me.¡±
So Rosalind waited patiently outside the restroom door.
Noreen lingered inside longer than necessary, waiting until she was sure those two unwee people had left. Only then did she emerge, taking
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her time.
¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± Rosalind¡¯s first instinct was concern.
¡°Just a little stomach trouble. Must¡¯ve eaten something badst night.¡± Noreen offered the excuse easily.
¡°Well, we¡¯re at the hospital anyway. Let¡¯s have a doctor check you out.¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine, really. Let¡¯s go¨Cthe car¡¯s here.¡±
Noreen reassured Rosalind several more times before her mother finally rxed and followed her outside.
¡°By the way, I thought I saw Seth just now,¡± Rosalind remarked offhandedly.
Noreen¡¯s heart skipped a beat.
¡°But I¡¯m not sure,¡± Rosalind continued. ¡°Could¡¯ve been someone else.¡±
Noreen forced a casual smile. ¡°Must¡¯ve been a mistake. He¡¯s out of town
on business¨Cnot even in Rivercrest.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± Rosalind said, sounding reassured.
After all, the man she¡¯d glimpsed had been walking with a young woman, the two of them looking ufortably close.
She must have been mistaken. Or at least, she hoped so.
Yes-man 90
Monday morning, Noreen had barely set foot in the lobby of Aurelion Group when she ran into Jude.
He always had too much time on his hands¨Canything for a good show, especially if she was the star.
Too bad for him, he was about to be disappointed.
¡°Noreen, bet you didn¡¯t expect to see me, did you?¡± Jude said, his wordsced with the usual sneer.
Noreen didn¡¯t bother replying. She brushed past him and headed straight for her desk.
Jude trailed after her, refusing to let up. ¡°I bet you spent your whole weekend wondering how to keep your job here, didn¡¯t you?¡±
She shot him a frosty re.
Jude just grinned, convinced he¡¯d hit a nerve. ¡°What, did I get it right? You¡¯re mad because I figured you out? Let me tell you, Noreen, it doesn¡¯t matter if you want to leave or not¨Cyou¡¯re out today. I¡¯ll be watching you
the whole time.¡±
He pointed at his own eyes with two fingers, then at her. ¡°Always watching!¡±
Ignoring him, Noreen powered on herputer. The first thing she did was send her resignation letter to print.
She¡¯d already submitted her resignation more than once, but who knew if Seth still had a copy? Just to be sure, she printed another.
¡°Jude, what brings you here?¡± Bianca appeared with Seth, both arriving together.
Jude¡¯s eyes lit up as if he¡¯d stumbled on some office scandal. ¡°The two of youing in together this early¨Cis it what I think it is?¡±
He threw a pointed look in Noreen¡¯s direction, clearly hoping for a
21:25)
reaction.
But Noreen didn¡¯t even flinch. Her mind was elsewhere: if Seth and Bianca were already living together, why had he acted so desperate that night? Like a man starved of affection.
Two days had passed, and she still felt sore. She pressed print, then finally got up to retrieve her resignation letter.
Jude scoffed under his breath, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. ¡°What a good actress.¡±
He smirked. ¡°You¡¯ll be crying soon enough.¡±
He was convinced Noreen was just pretending to be calm, certain she was a nervous wreck inside.
¡°Jude, why are you always picking on Secretary Gilmore?¡± Bianca piped up, pretending to stand up for Noreen. The concern sounded just a little too practiced¨Cfake, even¨Cbut at least she made the effort.
Seth, of course, didn¡¯t even react.
Jude had insulted Noreen plenty of times before, and Seth had never once taken her side. He¡¯d seen it and always chosen to look away. Clearly, her difort had never mattered to him.
By the time Noreen snapped out of her thoughts, her resignation letter was waiting in the printer tray. She double¨Cchecked it for mistakes¨Cshe didn¡¯t want any dys. Honestly, she didn¡¯t want to spend another second in this ce, even if it had once been somewhere she thought she¡¯d protect forever.
Satisfied, she walked straight over to Seth.
Jude instinctively moved to block her path. ¡°What are you doing?¡±
Noreen held out the letter. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, here¡¯s my resignation. Please approve it.¡±
Seth looked at her¨Ccold, detached, not a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
Jude snatched the letter from her hand, reading it over and over, convinced she was putting on an act.
Bianca stole a nce as well. It looked just like the other stack of resignations Seth kept locked away in his desk drawer.
¡°It¡¯s really her resignation! Seth, just sign it!¡± Jude was practically more eager than Noreen, as if terrified she might change her mind.
But Seth refused, his voice even colder than his expression. ¡°Take it to HR. They¡¯ll handle it.¡±
Without another word¨Cor another nce at Noreen¨Che strode into his office and closed the door behind him.
His reaction left the other two stunned. He couldn¡¯t have made it clearer: he wanted nothing more to do with her.
Yes-man 91
Noreen didn¡¯t seem to care. She snatched the report out of Jude¡¯s hand and walked straight to Human Resources.
¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding,¡± Jude muttered, convinced Noreen was just putting on a show.
Meanwhile, Bianca trailed Seth into his office. ¡°Seth, are you really letting Ms. Gilmore go?¡±
¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? She¡¯s just a secretary,¡± Seth replied, his tone t and indifferent.
Bianca studied his face for a moment, searching for any trace of emotion. Two days ago, when Seth had picked her mother up from the hospital, Bianca had noticed faint marks on his neck¨Cintimate marks, the kind you didn¡¯t just get by ident. The discovery had unsettled her.
Still, she knew better than to confront him now; challenging a man like Seth would only push him away. So she pretended nothing was wrong, even as unease gnawed at her.
Who was the woman who¡¯d left those marks on Seth¡¯s neck? Was it
Noreen?
And if it was, why was Seth so willing to let her go?
Jude wandered back in, grumbling under his breath, just as the head of HR called Seth¡¯s office.
Naturally, the call was about Noreen¡¯s resignation.
Ms. Gilmore was a fixture at Aurelion Group. Even as a secretary, her influence and seniority went far beyond her job title. The HR manager didn¡¯t dare make a decision on her resignation without consulting Seth first.
But Seth¡¯s response caught him off guard.
07:27
¡°Just followpany protocol,¡± Seth said coolly.
The HR manager hesitated, thinking perhaps Seth hadn¡¯t realized who was resigning. He rified, ¡°Mr. Harcourt, it¡¯s Noreen Gilmore who wants to resign.¡±
Seth¡¯s voice turned icy. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? I said it doesn¡¯t matter who it is. Handle everything ording topany policy. You don¡¯t need to call me about this.¡±
With that, he hung up.
On the other end, the HR manager was left staring at the phone, looking distinctly ufortable.
Noreen seemed to sense what had happened. She remainedposed as she turned to the manager. ¡°Please just process my resignation ording topany policy.¡±
¡°¡Alright,¡± he replied, though he still seemed uneasy.
Once the paperwork was done, HR sent Seth a formal email. He approved it without a second nce.
Jude and Bianca were both in the office with him at the time. Watching Seth¡¯spleteck of reaction, they finally realized Noreen was truly leaving Aurelion Group.
Even so, Jude remained skeptical. He couldn¡¯t quite believe it. He was sure that even if Noreen left, she wouldn¡¯t stay away for long¨Cgive it a few days, and she¡¯d be back, looking to return to Seth¡¯s side.
She¡¯de running back, He was certain of it.
Just wait and see.
Most people, after working themselves to the bone for seven years, would drop everything and take a long, well¨Cdeserved break the moment they were free.
07:27
Not Noreen.
Maybe she was just born to be a workhorse.
On the very day she resigned, Noreen was already out meeting with potential partners.
She was there to discuss the Al Initiative Jennifer had mentioned.
To her surprise, Jennifer had chosen to meet at a high¨Cend gentlemen¡¯s
club.
This ce was famous for one thing: it had the best¨Clooking male hosts in all of Rivercrest City.
Quintessential Jennifer.
When Noreen found the private lounge, Jennifer was already inside, nked by two of the club¡¯s most handsome men.
They were clearly the top of the line¨Chandsome, charming, and attentive. One was feeding Jennifer peeled grapes, the other pouring her wine, both calling her ¡°gorgeous¡± and fussing over her.
Jennifer was positively glowing with delight. She waved Noreen in. ¡°Noreen, don¡¯t you dare be shy! You like a particr type? Just say so¨Cmy treat tonight. Let¡¯s have some fun!¡±
07:27
Yes-man 92
Noreen smiled politely and declined, ¡°I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Shaw, but I¡¯ll pass. I¡¯m really not into this sort of thing.¡±
Jennifer grinned, her tone teasing. ¡°Makes sense. After you¡¯ve been with
a man like Mr. Harcourt, I guess everyone else starts to look a little
nd.¡±
Noreen had no idea how to respond to that, so she busied herself with her ss of water, hoping her awkwardness didn¡¯t show.
Jennifer let the joke hang in the air a moment longer before finally waving the two models away.
Once they were alone, Noreen brought up the project.
¡°Now that you¡¯ve resigned, are you thinking about going solo, or joining another firm?¡± Jennifer seemed genuinely curious.
¡°I¡¯m nning to join apany,¡± Noreen replied honestly.
She knew she wasn¡¯t ready to start her own business¨Cshe didn¡¯t have the resources or experience for it. Even if Seth didn¡¯t go out of his way to make things difficult, the risks were still sky¨Chigh. She¡¯d weighed the options carefully before making her decision.
Johnson had already helped her screen a few solidpanies. She¡¯d even had preliminary talks with their HR departments, and the feedback had been positive.
¡°Qunda Group?¡± Jennifer recalled that Noreen had met with Mr. Quigley before.
¡°Yeah, Qunda Group offered the best terms out of all of them,¡± Noreen admitted.
¡°So does that mean you¡¯ll be bringing your project to Qunda Group?¡±
Noreen nodded.
Jennifer leaned back in her chair. ¡°I¡¯ll be straight with you, Noreen. Qunda
07:28
Group has a cash flow problem. If you¡¯reing to me on behalf of Qunda Group, this deal probably won¡¯t happen.¡±
Noreen froze for a moment.
¡°On paper, their numbers look wless, so not many people know about this, I only heard through some special channels. You know how it is¨Cbusiness is business,¡± Jennifer added, sounding a little apologetic.
Noreen understood Jennifer¡¯s position¨Cit was just business. Still, if even Qunda Group didn¡¯t have the resources to meet Jennifer¡¯s standards, there weren¡¯t many otherpanies in Rivercrest City that could.
Sensing Noreen¡¯s hesitation, Jennifer seized the moment. ¡°Let me give you some advice, Noreen, from someone who¡¯s been through it all.¡±
¡°If you like someone, don¡¯t hesitate¨Ctake him to bed, whether or not you win his heart. If he¡¯s rich, go for his money; if he¡¯s not, at least enjoy the man. If he¡¯s got neither, well, try something new. If you¡¯re lucky, you¡¯ll get love; if not, at least you¡¯ll have a good time.¡±
¡°In the end, men¨Cthey¡¯re either for sleeping with or for using.¡±
Noreen heard the real message beneath Jennifer¡¯s words.
She wanted ess to Aurelion Group¡¯s resources.
And honestly, why would anyone invest in her when she had nothing to offer?
Jennifer gave Noreen¡¯s shoulder a friendly squeeze. ¡°Think about what I said. Life¡¯s about being practical, not moralistic. Women who are too principled end up with neither money nor love. Just look at me.¡±
While Noreen was in the restroom, Jennifer called the models back into the private room.
When Noreen returned, she was startled to find the ce full of them. Jennifer greeted her with delight. ¡°Noreen,e over here¨Csee if any of
07:28
them catch your eye!¡±
¡°Mr. Shaw, really, I¡¯m good,¡± Noreen said, trying not to rain on her friend¡¯s parade, but she genuinely wasn¡¯t interested,
¡°Oh,e on! There are a couple here who look a lot like Mr. Harcourt.¡±
Noreen just sighed internally.
Jennifer insisted on dragging her over, and two of the models obligingly came up and linked arms with her.
¡°Pick me, darling,¡± one of them said.
Before Noreen could even protest, a familiar voice rang out from the hallway.
¡°9208, Seth, this is the one.¡±
Jude¡¯s voice echoed as he pushed open the half¨Cclosed door.
He stopped cold at the sight inside.
Once he took in the scene, Jude let out a cold, mockingugh. ¡°Well, well, Noreen. Didn¡¯t know you had it in you.¡±
07.28
Yes-man 93
Trying to make sure Seth didn¡¯t miss a thing, Jude even stepped aside so Seth could get a clear view of the scene inside.
And he didn¡¯t waste the chance to mock Noreen, either. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this something? All this time, acting so holier¨Cthan¨Cthou in front of Seth¨Cturns out you¡¯re wilder than any of us behind closed doors! Guess I
underestimated you!¡±
Just then, Bianca¡¯s voice rang out from the hallway. ¡°Seth, I¡¯m so sorry¨C1 told Jude the wrong room number. I was worried you¡¯d get lost, so I
hurried over.¡±
What a lively gathering.
So Seth was supposed to meet Bianca, but thanks to a mix¨Cup, he¡¯d stumbled upon Noreen¡¯s room instead.
Jude frowned. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it 9208?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s 8926,¡± Bianca replied.
There was a big difference between 9208 and 8926¨Cthey weren¡¯t even on
the same floor.
Yet Bianca managed to mess that up.
It made you wonder just how legitimate her so¨Ccalled PhD in Economics from WT Business School really was.
¡°Oh! Secretary Gilmore!¡± Bjanca eximed, feigning surprise as if she¡¯d only just noticed Noreen.
Then she seemed to remember that Noreen had resigned from Aurelion Group and quickly corrected herself, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m used to calling you Secretary Gilmore. I forgot you¡¯re not with thepany anymore.¡±
Her gaze swept the room, making it clear she was here for the drama.
Or maybe, she¡¯d orchestrated the whole thing just for this moment¨Cto catch Noreen in the act and drag Seth in to witness it.
1/3
07:28
Chapter 93
Very thoughtful of her.
¡°Are we¡ interrupting you, Miss Gilmore?¡± Bianca¡¯s tone sounded apologetic, but her expression gave her away.
Seth still hadn¡¯t said a word. He stood a few paces away from Noreen, eyes deep and dark as ink, his lips pressed into a thin line, every sharp angle of his jaw tense. The chill he radiated was enough to bring the room¡¯s energy to a standstill. Even Jude forgot to keep jeering at Noreen. Jennifer, ever observant, sensed things were going south and tried to step in and exin for Noreen.
But Noreen beat her to it, voice calm and steady, not a trace of emotion betraying her.
She turned to the guy on her left, who bore a faint resemnce to Seth, and asked coolly, ¡°How much do you charge for an overnight?¡±
The man, thinking he was about to get picked, put on his best professional smile. ¡°Three hundred,¡± he said. ¡°But for ady like you, I can make it a discount.¡±
Noreen smirked and smoothly slid her arm free from his, ¡°That¡¯s expensive. You only look like Mr. Harcourt¨Cyou¡¯re not the real deal.¡±
Her gaze driftedzily toward the doorway, and she met Seth¡¯s eyes, calm and unflinching. After two beats, she spoke, slow and deliberate. ¡°Besides, I never pay to sleep with the original. That¡¯s always free.¡±
Her words dropped into the room like a stone, plunging everything into dead silence.
But Noreen, unfazed, simply bid Jennifer goodbye and walked out.
Jude was always teasing her for being used for free? Well, let him see now who was really getting the better end of that deal.
After Noreen left, Seth¡¯s eyes narrowed, his entire presence radiating ice. Jude shivered, voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Seth¡¡±
07:28
Seth shot him a cold look. ¡°What did you have to go and mess with her for?¡± With that, he turned and strode out.
¡°Seth.¡± Bianca¡¯s face had lost its color, but she hurried after him. ¡°Mr. Suthend¡¯s been waiting for ages. I told him you¡¯de, and he¡¯s still
there.¡±
She was clearly worried Seth would ditch her meeting with Mr. Suthend.
Fortunately, Seth, unaffected by the drama, still apanied her to meet
him.
Yes-man 94
The day after Noreen and Jennifer met, they dove into researching Qunda Group¡¯s operations.
And sure enough, there was trouble.
Several old projects had supposedly been retired from the market, yet Qunda Group was still listing them as profitable. The financials were being tantly faked.
Of course, everyone knows investment firms are prone to a bit of smoke and mirrors¨Cjust usually behind closed doors, not so grantly out in the open. If they¡¯d let it get this obvious, thepany must be nearly bled dry.
Noreen had no choice but to give up on Qunda Group.
As if on cue, Mr. Quigley from Qunda Group called her, asking when she¡¯d be starting at thepany.
Noreen brushed him off with a vague excuse.
But it was clear Mr. Quigley¡¯s motives had little to do with hiring her. Whether she joined or not, he didn¡¯t seem to care. Instead, his questions circled back to Aurelion Group.
He was obviously interested in Aurelion Group¨Cand, more specifically, in Seth. That was the real reason he¡¯d reached out.
¡°We have some performance metrics at Qunda Group, Miss Gilmore,¡± Mr. Quigley said, his tone almost casual. ¡°If you were toe on board, how many projects could you bring in for us?¡±
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Quigley, I¡¯ve signed a nonpete with Aurelion Group.¡±
¡°Oh, I know, I know. Industry rules and all. I¡¯m just saying, Aurelion Group is such a massivepany¨Cthey must have more projects than they know what to do with. Even if you brought over a few leftovers, that¡¯d be enough for us to get by. It¡¯s all about finding a little shade under a big tree, right?¡± Mr. Quigley made no effort to hide his real agenda.
07-28
He pressed on, ¡°Besides, with your rtionship with Mr. Harcourt, even if you slipped a project or two our way, he wouldn¡¯t make a fuss. Men always get sentimental about their exes.¡±
Noreen¡¯s heart sank.
And that wasn¡¯t even the worst of it.
Over the next few days, she spoke with HR managers from several other firms. Their intentions were exactly the same as Mr. Quigley¡¯s¨Cthey were after Aurelion Group, and Seth by extension.
Left with no choice, Noreen lowered her expectations and reached out to smaller investment firms and boutique banks.
Her academic background wasn¡¯t dazzling, but her resume more than made up for it. At first, severalpanies seemed genuinely interested. They said all the right things.
But as conversations went on, the tone would suddenly shift, and they¡¯d tell her she just wasn¡¯t the right fit.
But her qualifications had been clear from the start. She hadn¡¯t hidden a single thing.
When she pressed for answers, one HR manager¡ªsomeone who¡¯d spoken with her for days and clearly liked her¨Cfinally admitted, in the most diplomatic way possible, that the problem was with her reference check.
In other words, someone at Aurelion Group had smeared her reputation, making otherpanies wary of hiring her.
Seth¡¯s words echoed in her mind:
¡°As long as I don¡¯t give the word, do you really think anyone in Rivercrest City would dare to hire you?¡±
So it was Seth. Seth was the one sabotaging her.
Tears are a strange thing. You can hold them back when you¡¯re in pain, or. when you¡¯re exhausted. But when you feel wronged¨Cthen, suddenly,
07:28
they¡¯re impossible to control.
On a bustling street, surrounded by strangers, Noreen¡¯s eyes filled with
tears.
ire called, checking in.
She¡¯d been abroad for fashion shows the past two months, so busy she barely had a moment to herself, let alone to check on Noreen. Now, finally back in Rivercrest City, her first call was to her best friend.
The second Noreen heard her voice, she broke down, sobbing so hard she could barely speak.
¡°Did that bastard Seth do something to you? I swear, I¡¯ll go confront him right now!¡±
Even though Noreen hadn¡¯t said a word, ire had hit the nail on the
head.
¡°What are you, psychic? How did you know it was about him?¡±
¡°Who else could hurt you like this?¡±
Noreen paused, her nose stinging. ¡°Is it that obvious?¡±
ire sighed, her voice full of sympathy. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s obvious.¡±
Yes-man 95
Chapter 95
¡°Seth is such a jerk! Seven years, Noreen! Not seven days, not seven months¨Cseven whole years! How could he do this to you?¡±
After that phone call, ire headed straight from the airport to pick Noreen up and bring her home.
Whenever Noreen was feeling down and ire was free, she¡¯d always cook for her, no matter how tired she was.
It wasn¡¯t just ire¡¯s looks or enviable figure¨Cshe was a fantastic cook,
too.
Every time Noreen ate ire¡¯s food, it felt like a balm on her wounds.
ire always tailored her menu to Noreen¡¯s mood.
If Noreen was just a little upset, she¡¯d whip up a simple dinner¨Cmaybe a couple of dishes and some soup.
If things were worse, ire would go all out with a spread fit for a family gathering.
And if Noreen was truly heartbroken? ire would practically try to put on a whole Thanksgiving feast, just to cheer her up.
Tonight was one of those nights.
Even though ire had just gotten off a flight after two exhausting months abroad, instead of resting, she was bustling around the kitchen, making sure Noreen had something delicious to eat.
¡°Hey, babe, that¡¯s enough! Seriously, I can¡¯t eat that much!¡± Noreen finally protested, unwilling to let ire tire herself out.
ire eyed Noreen¡¯s face, making sure she really did look a little less miserable than before. Only then did she finally wash her hands and sit down to join her.
¡°Want a drink?¡± Noreen offered, more out of habit than hope.
07.28
They used to enjoy a ss of wine together sometimes.
But this time ire shook her head firmly. ¡°With your stomach? And after all this stress? No way. The soup¡¯s good for you¨Cstick to that
Noreen had no choice but to sip her soup.
Honestly, as much as she craved thefort of a drink, she knew it wasn¡¯t good for her.
Kind of like Seth, really,
So Noreen let the wine go and focused on her soup.
That night, the two of them squeezed into the same bed, talkingte into the night about nothing and everything.
With ire by her side, Noreen slept better than she had in ages.
No nightmares, just peaceful rest.
The next morning, right after breakfast, Noreen got a call from the HR department at FortuneRise Group, inviting her in for an interview.
It felt like a fresh start.
Sure, FortuneRise wasn¡¯t as big as Aurelion Group, but it was still a respectablepany in its own¡¯niche.
jre, ever the perfectionist, pulled out all the stops to help Noreen get ready.
¡°See? This is the real you!¡± ire dered, beaming as she admired her
handiwork.
She couldn¡¯t resist teasing, ¡°And those dreary old suits you used to wear¨CI¡¯m tossing them all out! Not leaving a single one!¡±
¡°Hey, those cost real money, you know!¡± Noreen protested, halfughing, half¨Cgroaning.
¡°Ugly clothes belong in the trash, right next to that loser ex of yours,¡± ire shot back.
07:28
¡°¡Fine! I can live with that.¡±
ire looked her up and down, thoroughly pleased. ¡°But seriously, Noreen¨Cwhy did you ever dress to hide yourself like that?¡±
It was something she¡¯d never understood.
Noreen looked away, fumbling for words.
But under ire¡¯s relentless prodding, she finally confessed.
¡°Seth didn¡¯t like it when I dressed up. He said it would attract the wrong kind of attention.¡±
ire let out an indignant snort. ¡°Please. That¡¯s just his possessiveness talking, in and simple.¡±
7-
Back when Noreen was still hopelessly in love, she might have defended Seth, convinced he only said it because he cared.
Now, she didn¡¯t argue. She just nodded in agreement.
Men are all the same.
At ten o¡¯clock, Noreen arrived at Fortune Rise Group. The HR manager greeted her personally, asked a few professional questions, and seemed genuinely pleased with her answers.
¡°If you don¡¯t mind waiting here a moment, I¡¯ll take your r¨¦sum¨¦ up to Mr. Suthend,¡± the HR manager said with a big smile.
Yes-man 96
Noreen said yes.
ire messaged her on WhatsApp, asking how the interview went.
Noreen replied that everything went smoothly.
ire sent a flurry of celebration emojis and insisted Noreen owed her a meal.
Noreen agreed and told her to pick any restaurant she liked.
With that, ire practically skipped off to start browsing ces.
Noreen waited for about half an hour before HR returned, her expression visibly changed.
A knot of unease twisted in Noreen¡¯s stomach. Something was off.
¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Miss Gilmore. Mr. Suthend decided not to move forward.¡± The HR manager handed Noreen back her r¨¦sum¨¦, looking apologetic. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for taking up your time.¡±
Noreen epted her r¨¦sum¨¦ calmly enough.
She was disappointed, of course, but this wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d been
in this situation.
After a while, repeated rejection got easier to swallow.
¡°Could you tell me why Mr. Suthend turned me down? If it¡¯s something you¡¯re allowed to share?¡± Noreen asked, genuinely seeking feedback.
The HR manager shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t want to press her further, so she thanked her and left.
While waiting for the elevator, ire messaged her the name of the restaurant she¡¯d picked.
Noreen replied, ¡°Sounds good.¡±
As the elevator doors slid open, footsteps and voices echoed behind her.
Voices so familiar they made her skin prickle.
Just her luck.
It was Seth¨Cand Bianca.
Seth really couldn¡¯t go anywhere without Bianca these days.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, you¡¯re too kind! I never expected someone of your caliber to personally handle a project like this. I¡¯m truly ttered,¡± Mr. Suthend
was saying.
Seth responded, ¡°Director Lowell is taking the lead on this one. She¡¯s juste back from overseas and isn¡¯t too familiar with the local yers yet.
I¡¯m here to make sure she feelsfortable.¡±
Mr. Suthend caught the drift immediately. ¡°So Mr. Harcourt is here to back Director Lowell up.¡±
Bianca shed a gentle smile. Her tone sounded helpless, but she was really showing off.
¡°Seth just worries about me too much. I can handle things myself, but he insists oning along. I couldn¡¯t talk him out of it.¡±
Even with her back to them, Noreen could feel the tidal wave of their sweetness washing over her.
She clenched her r¨¦sum¨¦ into a crumpled ball, emotions she¡¯d kept tightly locked away suddenly crashing to the surface.
Noreen turned to face them.
¡°Miss Gilmore, you¡¯re still here?¡± Mr. Suthend recognized her¨Che¡¯d just seen her r¨¦sum¨¦ ten minutes ago.
He hadn¡¯t expected her to be even more striking in person, and for a split second, he regretted rejecting her so quickly.
Noreen wasposed, her gaze ncing briefly over Seth before
settling on Sean Suthend. ¡°Mr. Suthend, may I ask why you rejected
07:28
my application?¡±
Sean hadn¡¯t expected her to be so direct. He was momentarily at a loss for words.
¡°Was it something you discovered during yourpany¡¯s background check that led you to turn me down?¡±
¡°Uh¡¡± Sean started to sweat.
¡°Since Mr. Harcourt is here, if you¡¯re unclear on anything, why not ask him directly? I¡¯d love to know how Mr. Harcourt would answer.¡± Noreen¡¯s eyes met Seth¡¯s, her expression steady, almost numb.
She wanted to know: after seven years of pouring her heart and soul into everything¨Cfor Seth, what did it all mean?
All those nights spent tangled together, all that trust and devotion¨Cdid any of it matter to him?
Seth didn¡¯t look away.
There was a hint of a smile on his lips, but it never reached his eyes. His gaze, a cool brown, was distant and cold.
07 28
Yes-man 97
¡°So, Mr. Harcourt, what¡¯s your assessment of me over the past seven years? I¡¯m actually quite curious to know.¡±
Noreen repeated the question, her voice steady and unwavering.
Bianca was just as eager to hear the answer. After all, this was about Noreen¡¯s standing in Seth¡¯s eyes.
A flicker of something stormy crossed Seth¡¯s gaze, but it faded as quickly as it appeared, reced by his usual cool detachment. His voice was as emotionless as ever, cold and distant. ¡°My assessment? As a secretary, you were¡ passable. As for handling projects-¡± He let out a dry, dismissive chuckle.
That single, indifferentugh said it all.
Contempt. Mockery. Disdain.
Even a hint of scorn.
Seven years of her youth, and this was all she got in return¨Ca careless,
offhandment.
Maybe loving too much was her biggest mistake.
Noreen¡¯s face turned pale. She had thought her heart was already numb, immune to his contempt, but it still ached at his words.
Fortunately, seven years in the corporate trenches had taught herposure; she managed to keep her voice even. ¡°Looks like really failed, then. Still, thank you for your honesty, Mr. Harcourt.¡±
Without hesitation, she looked away from him and turned to Sean with an apologetic smile. ¡°Looks like Mr. Suthend was right to turn down my job application. Sorry for the trouble. Goodbye.¡±
Seth stood there, watching her head for the elevator, watching her retreat until she finally disappeared from sight.
Only when the elevator doors slid shut did Bianca finally rx.
1/3
07:28
So she¡¯d been overthinking it after all. Seth truly didn¡¯t care about Noreen. Even when Noreen was at rock bottom, he hadn¡¯t shown her a shred of
mercy.
Bianca¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Seth.¡±
Seth nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±
Later that evening, Noreen and ire shared a pleasant dinner.
Noreen hid her feelings well, not letting a trace of emotion slip through. In that moment, she was deeply grateful for the self¨Ccontrol she¡¯d honed during seven years of corporate battles¨Cenough to fool even ire.
No one knew that behind her calm exterior, her heart was a battlefield¨Cwounded, raw, and bleeding.
They hadn¡¯t finished eating when ire¡¯s agent called: she needed to catch ate flight out of town for an audition.
Noreen insisted on ending dinner early and drove ire to the airport.
ire was reluctant to leave. ¡°I really wanted to spend more time with you¡ but work calls.¡±
¡°Work¡¯s important, and I¡¯m honestly fine now.¡±
¡°Are you sure?¡± ire studied her face intently.
Noreen shed a bright, convincing smile. ¡°Of course. I ditched the wrong guy, fixed my hopeless crush, andnded a new job. Life¡¯s great!¡±
Her act was wless.
ire didn¡¯t notice anything amiss, but an uneasy feeling lingered. ¡°No matter what, Seth was your whole youth. Letting go is going to hurt¨Ca lot.¡±
Just for a moment¨C
She almost broke.
07-28
Luckily, the airport announcement came on, distracting ire at thest second.
¡°Go on, don¡¯t miss your flight!¡± Noreen urged.
ire finally boarded, ncing back several times.
Noreen stood there the whole time, waving and smiling, not dropping her hand until the ne was out of sight. Only then did her arm fall limply to her side.
After saying goodbye, Noreen caught a cab back home.
About a mile from her ce, traffic came to a standstill because of an ident up ahead.
She decided to get out and walk the rest of the way. It wasn¡¯t far, and she was exhausted¨Cemotionally and physically¨Cfrom days of job hunting.
Walking alone in the chilly night air, she felt numb and strangely pitiful.
She¡¯d thought leaving Seth would fix everything.
Now she realized she¡¯d underestimated reality¡¯s cruelty¨Cand overestimated Seth¡¯s character.
Yes-man 98
He really had left her with no way out.
No wonder¨Cno wonder he¡¯d agreed to her resignation so readily. He¡¯d been nning for this all along.
This was his way of telling her: without Aurelion Group, without him, she was nothing.
He was trying to force her toe crawling back, to make her surrender and beg.
Seth had once said that without him, she¡¯d be back within three days, begging for forgiveness.
If she had any less pride, maybe she would have.
But she¡¯d told herself¨Cshe would never go back.
Not in her career.
Not in love, either.
Whatever doesn¡¯t kill her would only make her stronger.
Noreen steadied herself and called Johnson, hoping to invite him out for dinner the next day.
He used to answer her calls almost instantly, but this time her phone rang and rang with no response.
It wasn¡¯t evente; just past seven.
And Johnson was never the early¨Cto¨Cbed type.
If he wasn¡¯t picking up, there was only one exnation: he was feeling the pressure from Seth as well.
Rivercrest City wasn¡¯t that big, after all¨Cwho would risk offending the city¡¯s new financial kingpin, just for her?
Noreen was just starting to feel defeated when Dn¡¯s name shed on
07.29
Chapter 98
her screen.
She assumed it was just a check¨Cin, but as soon as she picked up, Dn
got straight to the point. ¡°Heard you¡¯re job¨Chunting?¡±
Noreen wasn¡¯t surprised he¡¯d heard¨Ceveryone in finance talked.
¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
¡°Found anything good yet?¡±
He actually sounded genuinely concerned.
She could hear voices in the background, someone urging him to drink¨Cclearly, he was at some after¨Chours gathering.
Dn told them to wait, then returned to her, ¡°Ever considered joining Omniva Group?¡±
The thought honestly hadn¡¯t crossed her mind.
It wasn¡¯t that she looked down on Omniva¨Cjust that it was a bank, and banking was a different beast from investment firms or private equity.
She wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d be up to the challenge.
But right now, she was wavering. She was running out of options.
Dn didn¡¯t push for an answer. ¡°No rush. Think it over and let me know when you¡¯re ready. I need to get back to this dinner, so I¡¯ll talk to you
¡°Okay.¡±
Whatever happened, she couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful¨CDn was offering her a lifeline, not kicking her when she was down.
Unlike some people.
As Dn ended the call and turned to head back to the private room, he nearly bumped into Bianca standing right behind him,
From the look on her face, she¡¯d overheard every word.
07:29
Bianca was the first to break the silence. ¡°Dn, you¡¯re really thinking of hiring Noreen?¡±
He gave a casual, almost mocking shrug. ¡°Why, are you going to police my business decisions too?¡±
Bianca frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t like her.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t like a lot of people. Should I avoid all of them?¡±
¡°It¡¯s different with Noreen. Dn, do this for me, okay?¡±
It was rare for Bianca to sound so soft.
He didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Sorry, your requests only carry weight with Seth.¡±
Her expression darkened at that.
¡°So, what, are you jealous?¡± Bianca finally blurted out, remembering something Jude had said.
Dn onlyughed. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. Noreen¡¯s talented. Why wouldn¡¯t I want her on my team?¡±
¡°That¡¯s all it is?¡±
He shot back, ¡°What else would it be?¡±
Despite all the years they¡¯d dated, Bianca had never quite figured Dn
out,
She still had no idea now.
Inside, in the private room, Healy was also chatting with Seth about Noreen¡¯s job search.
¡°Heard you trashed Noreen in front of Sean today¨Creally tore her down, huh?¡± Healy sounded positively delighted by the drama.
Yes-man 99
¡°News sure travels fast around here.¡±
Seth lounged in the booth, his handsome face utterly impassive, not a flicker of emotion to be seen.
¡°If you hadn¡¯t put your foot down, I bet Sean would¡¯ve tried to poach Noreen. You know what he¡¯s like¨Ca total creep.¡±
Seth didn¡¯t respond. He just picked up his ss and took a slow sip.
Healy looked surprised. ¡°I thought you were allergic to alcohol?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been doing desensitization therapy. I can handle a bit now.¡±
Healy raised his eyebrows, more puzzled than before. ¡°What made you suddenly start drinking again?¡±
Jude jumped in before Seth could answer. ¡°Obviously, he¡¯s getting ready to shield Bianca from the shots. She¡¯s his golden girl¨Cthe one that got
away.¡±
Healy was about to ask Seth for confirmation, but Bianca and Dn returned to the table.
Healy switched back to the earlier topic. ¡°So why are you giving Noreen such a hard time, anyway? Seven years is a long time to stick by
someone. You¡¯re not usually this cold.¡±
¡°Oh,e on. Noreen brought this on herself. Seth¡¯s just letting off steam,¡± Jude scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°She thinks she¡¯s all that, acting like Seth would beg her to stay. Just wait¨Cshe¡¯lle crawling back, sooner orter.¡±
Dn grabbed his jacket and addressed the group. ¡°You guys carry on. I¡¯ve got something to take care of.¡±
¡°What could possibly be more important than a night out with your friends?¡± Jude called after him, trying to get him to stay.
But Dn didn¡¯t even look back as he walked out.
07:29
Bianca¡¯s face had clouded over. Jude leaned in, concerned. ¡°Bianca, you okay? You look pale.¡±
She hesitated, then said, ¡°I think Dn¡¯s considering hiring Noreen.¡±
Seth downed the rest of his drink in one go.
The alcohol brought a flush to his cheeks, making his dark eyes seem even deeper and more mysterious.
Fresh from the shower, Noreen sat down at her desk and opened herptop, scrolling through job postings.
She¡¯d take a smallerpany. She didn¡¯t care if it meant a longer
She wasn¡¯t about to give up¨Cnot so easily.
She refused to believe Seth¡¯s influence could reach everywhere.
As she browsed, her phone rang. An unfamiliar number shed on the
screen.
Noreen answered, and the caller introduced himself¨Ca surprising one.
Sean, from FortuneRise Group.
Sean asked if she¡¯d found a new position yet. Noreen answered honestly:
not¡¯yet.
¡°How abouting to work for me as my assistant?¡± Sean offered.
Noreen frowned. ¡°But I interviewed for an investment manager position. Is there some mistake, Mr. Suthend?¡±
¡°No mistake. I¡¯m calling personally to see if you¡¯d consider being my personal assistant,¡± he stressed the word ¡°personal¡± a little too much.
Noreen caught on immediately and refused, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
Sean, stung by the rejection, snapped back, ¡°Who do you think you are?
07:29
Everyone knows you¡¯re yesterday¡¯s news¨CSeth¡¯s cast¨Coff. He doesn¡¯t
want you, he¡¯s cklisting you, and here I am, doing you a favor, but you put on airs? Please.¡±
¡°Ungrateful.¡±
Noreen hung up on him. For a moment, she was actually relieved she hadn¡¯tnded the job at FortuneRise.
If Sean was her boss, she wouldn¡¯t havested long anyway.
Seth¡¯s interference wasn¡¯t entirely useless, at least¨Cit kept some of the
dirt away.
That thought made Noreenugh at herself.
She fired off a few more r¨¦sum¨¦s, not caring aboutpany size
anymore.
Anything that felt remotely suitable, she¡¯d give it a shot. Who knew¨Cmaybe she¡¯d get lucky?
After she finished, she stood to head to the bedroom, but a sharp pain twisted through her abdomen, making her break out in a cold sweat.
That feeling¨Ctoo strong, too familiar.
Her period. Early again.
Ever since the miscarriage, her cycles had been a mess¨Cirregr and unpredictable.
And the cramps were worse than ever.
07-29
Yes-man 100
Chapter 100
The distance from the couch to the desk was barely thirty feet, yet Noreen had to cling to the wall for what felt like ages just to make it
across.
Her hands trembling, she fished some painkillers from the drawer, tossed them into her mouth, and swallowed them dry.
When she touched her forehead, it was slick with cold sweat.
Dr. Harrison had warned her that her body was severely weakened. Even with careful treatment, she might never return to how she was before.
A broken heart could heal, given enough time.
But physical damage¨Cthat was permanent, irreversible.
Noreen curled up on the bed, her mind foggy and nk.
Thankfully, the painkillers began to work, and the ache in her abdomen gradually dulled.
Still, she couldn¡¯t shake the cold. A bone¨Cdeep chill crept over her.
It was that kind of cold that dragged her straight back to that rainy night.
The heavy door mmed shut,/
A ck umbre shielding her from the storm.
A hand pulling her out of the mud.
A sudden, frantic knock at the door startled her awake. Noreen jerked upright in bed.
The empty room reminded her it had all just been a dream.
Before she could collect herself, the knocking came again¨Clouder, more
insistent.
Thud, thud, thud. Each knock pounded against her skull, making her want.
to scream.
67901
She nced at the clock. It was well past midnight.
Who on earth would be knocking at this hour?
Before she could even go check, her phone red urgently from the nightstand.
¡°Sex partner¡± shed on the screen.
Half¨Casleep, Noreen didn¡¯t immediately register it¨Cshe¡¯d changed Seth¡¯s contact name in a fit of anger after he¡¯d left her miserable that night.
It wasn¡¯t until she heard Seth¡¯s voice outside the door that she snapped to
attention.
¡°Open the door! Noreen!¡±
Who let their dog out in the middle of the night to bark at her door?
Noreen had no intention of dealing with him. She pulled her nket over her head, determined to go back to sleep.
But Seth wouldn¡¯t give up. His knocking only got louder and more
relentless.
If he kept this up, he¡¯d wake the entire building.
Unwilling to get aint from the neighbors, Noreen stomped out of bed to open the door, muttering curses under her breath.
But she wasn¡¯t stupid¨Cshe cracked the door open just enough to block him, ring out with one eye.
¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night, Mr. Harcourt. Are you sure you¡¯ve got the right address?¡±
He¡¯d never set foot in her dumpy little apartment before, buttely, he¡¯d started showing up again and again.
It was absurd, really.
Didn¡¯t his gorgeous wife care? Was she really that forgiving?
¡°Open the door,¡± Seth demanded, as if he owned the ce.
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07.29
Noreen wasn¡¯t about to indulge him. She held the door firm. ¡°You know this counts as harassment, right? Keep it up and I¡¯ll call the cops
¡°Go ahead. Call them.¡±
It was the first time in her life anyone had ever asked her to do that.
Fine. Noreen called his bluff and dialed 911. ¡°Hello, officer? There¡¯s someone harassing me. Please send someone right away!¡±
Seth: ¡°¡
¡°1
The police arrived quickly, and by the time they did, the two were still locked in their little standoff.
Noting Seth¡¯s clean¨Ccut appearance, the officer¡¯s tone was polite as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±
Without missing a beat, Seth replied, ¡°Just a lovers¡® quarrel.¡±
The officer¡¯s expression soured instantly. He turned to Noreen and scolded, ¡°You realize it¡¯s a crime to waste public resources at this hour?¡± Noreen protested, ¡°We¡¯re not a couple! Officer, don¡¯t believe him!¡±
Seth¡¯s smirk was icy. ¡°She¡¯s got a red birthmark on her left breast and a mole on her inner thigh¡ª¡±
¡°Sorry! I was wrong, I¡¯ll never call in a false report again!¡± Noreen yanked him inside, mming the door behind them, and offered the police a mortified apology.
She was terrified that if she hesitated a second longer, Seth would spill everyst one of her secrets right there in the hallway.
07:29
Yes-man 101`
Noreen forced a smile and apologized profusely as she saw the police officer out the door. Only after he left did she turn back to confront the real troublemaker. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±
Her face was icy, and her tone matched.
Seth hated when she was like this. Agitated, he tugged at the cor of his shirt.
Scarlet blotches had broken out along his neck¨Che was clearly having an allergic reaction.
That¡¯s when Noreen realized: Seth was obviously drunk.
In all the seven years they¡¯d known each other, she¡¯d never actually seen Seth drunk before.
And now, apparently, he was a terrible drunk¨Cthe kind who caused a scene at her ce.
Fury simmered inside her, and her expression darkened.
But Seth, stubborn as ever, simply ordered her around, just like old times. ¡°Do you have any allergy meds here?¡±
¡°No!¡± she snapped.
What did he think this was, a pharmacy?
¡°Then get me a ss of hot water,¡± Seth muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose, his mood sour and restless.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, you really do have a selective memory. Did you mistake me for your ever¨Cobedient Secretary Gilmore?¡±
Seth bristled at her sharpness. His voice dropped, low and reprimanding. ¡°How long are you going to keep this up?¡±
Noreen could hardly believe it.
After everything that had happened, he still thought she was just throwing
2011
a tantrum?
Sorry, but she didn¡¯t have time for his drama.
¡°I¡¯ve said what I needed to say, and done what I needed to do. If you still don¡¯t get it, Mr. Harcourt, maybe you should take a dor and find one of those kiddie rides outside the supermarket. Sit on it and keep rocking until you figure it out.¡±
Seth¡¯s expression turned even darker, his eyes almost ck, and a cold, oppressive air seemed to fill the room. He let out a chillingugh. ¡°So now that you¡¯vetched onto Dn, you don¡¯t even bother pretending anymore?¡±
He stepped closer, voice dripping with sarcasm, his face void of warmth. ¡°Noreen, did you already forget how you used to grovel for me?¡±
There it was. Even now, he still treated her like she was beneath him.
But if she could be her own person, why should she let him treat her like a dog?
¡°You said it yourself¨Cthat was before. People change, Seth. Haven¡¯t you?¡± Her voice suddenly softened, so quiet it almost vanished.
So quiet, it slipped right through his grasp.
¡°So, you¡¯re nning on using those same tricks to win over Dn now?¡± Seth sneered, not holding back an ounce of malice.
But this time, Noreen didn¡¯t feel hurt by his cruelty.
It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d tried to belittle her, after all.
She couldn¡¯t even bother to exin herself. ¡°Think whatever you want.¡±
Turns out, fighting fire with fire¨Cdealing with a jerk on his level¨Cwas both satisfying and efficient.
She didn¡¯t even have to ask him to leave. Seth stormed out on his own.
And he made sure to m the door.
Chapter 101
Noreen wasn¡¯t troubled by his visit in the slightest. She went about her evening as if nothing had happened.
The next morning, as she headed out to toss her trash, the cleaning in the stairwell was grumbling under her breath again.
¡°Who keeps throwing all these cigarette butts everywhere? Some people have no manners, honestly!¡±
On her way back, Noreen¡¯s phone buzzed with a call from Sophia.
She sounded rushed and worried. ¡°Noreen, have you seen the
messages?¡±
¡°What messages?¡±
Sophia hesitated. ¡°You haven¡¯t? You¡¯d better check.¡±
As soon as Noreen hung up, Sophia sent her a string of chat screenshots. She opened them¨Cand nearly exploded.
Someone with the WhatsApp name ¡°Sunny¡± was spreading rumors in a popr Rivercrest City finance group.
The message imed that Noreen had cozied up to Dn, the new executive director at Omniva Group, and had quit her job at Aurelion Group to jump ship.
The posts were loaded with innuendo, painting Noreen as a social climber who used her looks to get ahead.
Worse, the rumor monger even said that after Noreen failed to pressure Seth into marrying her, she pulled every trick she had totch onto the Wilder family.
The tone was cruel and/contemptuous.
Sophia messaged her ¡°These people are unbelievable¨Ctwisting the truth and making things up! I tried adding that person as a friend so I could give them a piece of my mind, but they wouldn¡¯t ept. If they had, I¡¯d have told them off so badly they wouldn¡¯t know what hit them!¡±
0729
¡°Forget it. There¡¯s no point.¡±
Yes-man 102
Noreen closed out of the chaotic group chat, but the frustration lingered.
Justst night, Seth had mocked her, and now, scandalous rumors about her were spreading like wildfire. It was hard not to connect the dots. If Seth really was behind this¡ Well, that would mean she¡¯d been
She had nned to confront Seth about it, but before she could, Dn¡¯s call came through.
She figured it must be about the rumors online. She was right¨CDn had called because of the online gossip.
¡°I¡¯ll take care of it. You don¡¯t need to worry or get involved,¡± Dn said immediately, his tone steady. ¡°Since I took over, I¡¯ve made some tough calls¨Cfired two board members for corruption. I guess they¡¯re holding a grudge and started these rumors out of spite.¡±
¡°So that¡¯s what happened.¡±
¡°I never meant for you to get dragged into this. I¡¯m really sorry,¡± Dn apologized.
¡°It¡¯s, fine,¡± Noreen said lightly. She¡¯d been the target of this kind of gossip more times than she could count.
Trying to secure new contracts for the Aurelion Group had earned her plenty of enemies. When those people couldn¡¯t beat her fair and square, they¡¯d stoop to backhanded insults and rumors. Nasty things¨Cims that she¡¯s an assistant by day and a whore by night. The nder ranged from crude jokes to outright lies.
Honestly, the scious stuff was the least of it.
At first, it had hurt. She¡¯d felt wronged. Seth had always seen what she went through, but never once had he stepped in to defend her.
07.29 1
She remembered confronting him once, eyes red and voice trembling. What he¡¯d said was still crystal clear in her mind.
¡°If you can¡¯t handle the pressure thates with managing projects, then you¡¯d better just stay an assistant for life.¡±
It was a cold thing to say. If Seth had only been her boss, she might¡¯ve shrugged it off. But there was more between them, and that¡¯s what made it sting.
Still, looking back, Seth¡¯s harsh words had toughened her up. Now, they almost felt like a strange source offort.
Seeing her taking things in stride, Dn sounded relieved. ¡°I was going to invite you to interview at Omniva Group today, but with all this going on, it¡¯s probably not the right time. Let¡¯s wait until this blows over and talk
then.¡±
¡°You told me to think it over yesterday. I have.¡± Noreen gave her answer inly. ¡°I won¡¯t be joining Omniva Group.¡±
Three more days passed. Noreen didn¡¯t receive a single interview call. Every r¨¦sum¨¦ she¡¯d sent out seemed to vanish into thin air.
There was really only one exnation. Seth was making sure she had nowhere to go.
Maybe he even had a hand in the media storm swirling around Omniva Group.
Noreen was furious, but there was nothing she could do. If the job market was a dead end, she¡¯d have to consider another path.
Starting her own business.
But that was easier said than done. The economy had been on a downward spiral these past two years. Even well¨Cconnected
entrepreneurs had watched their ventures crumble, some never bouncing
back.
07:29
Chapter 102
Noreen wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d be one of the lucky ones.
Despite her doubts, she sat down to tally her assets. To be fair, Seth had always paid her well¨Ctop sry, generous bonuses, and she¡¯d made a decent amount from dabbling in the stock market. All told, she could pull together a little over a million dors.
Not a small sum, but hardly enough tounch a full¨Cscale startup¨Cespecially in something as cash¨Chungry as an Al initiative.
Research and development would burn through money fast, and it could take ages to turn a profit. The risk was enormous.
Still, Noreen figured she should talk things over with Carman. At the very least, he deserved to know what was really going on.
Carman had been waiting for her call. They agreed to meet at a cozy caf¨¦ to discuss things.
But as Noreen reached the caf¨¦ entrance, she spotted Seth and Bianca walking in together. They strolled side by side, deep in conversation, though it was mostly Bianca doing the talking.
¡°My parents are already here¨Cjust waiting on you,¡± Bianca said with a smile.
Noreen froze in her tracks.
Meeting the parents already? That was fast.
07.29
Yes-man 103
If Noreen remembered correctly, Seth had been away on a business trip these past few days and was supposed to be flying back today.
Noreen, for her part, hadn¡¯t really bothered to keep up with Seth¡¯s affairs.
It was Sophia who had called, seeking advice about Seth¡¯s preferences during business trips¨Cwhat flights he liked to book, what kind of hotels he preferred, his dietary quirks, and whether he liked to head straight home afternding or stay overnight somewhere.
Sophia had reasoned that nobody knew Seth¡¯s likes and dislikes better than Noreen.
When Sophia called for help, she sounded on the verge of tears,
Noreen had asked if Seth hadn¡¯t hired a new chief assistant since she left.
Sophia said no, that HR had suggested it several times, but Seth had shot down the idea every time.
Rumor had it, Sophia confided, that Mr. Harcourt was deliberately keeping that position open.
And as for who it was reserved for¨Cwell, everyone could guess.
Even Sophia had quietly asked Noreen if she was nning to return to Aurelion Group.
Noreen¡¯s answer was firm. ¡°That day will nevere.¡±
From the looks of things, Seth had probably rushed straight from the airport in Rivercrest City to have dinner with his beloved¡¯s parents.
Thoughtful, as always.
But then, Seth had always gone above and beyond for Bianca.
That kind of devotion was something Noreen would never have dreamed of for herself.
She remembered how, back when Rosalind¨Cher own mother¨Cfound out¡ she was dating Seth, she¡¯d gently suggested meeting him. Noreen had dodged the issue for ages, making excuse after excuse.
Eventually, she couldn¡¯t keep up the charade and brought it up to Seth.
She remembered his reaction perfectly: his face turned cold, his brows knit in irritation. The impatience in his eyes was impossible to miss, and his voice was icy. ¡°What¡¯s there to meet about?¡±
At the time, Noreen was still basking in the glow of first love, and his words hit her like a bucket of ice water.
Wasn¡¯t dating supposed to mean mutual affection, meeting each other¡¯s families, moving forward together?
She was hurt for a long time and grew distant with Seth.
Later, he tried to exin that he had no experience dealing with parents, and she had believed him¨Cafter all, he barely got along with his own father.
Eventually, Seth did meet Rosalind, but it was a long timeing.
And yet, Bianca had been back in the country less than two months, and Seth was already running around, arranging top surgeons for her mother¡¯s operation and delivering rare ginseng to help her recover.
His level of concern spoke volumes.
Some things just can¡¯t bepared.
¡
Meanwhile, Carman had been waiting on Noreen¡¯s answer for some time now. He was nothing if not persistent.
Noreen had noticed this about him back when they first worked together
Aurelion Group had dropped this project a while ago; Carman could have
07:30
Chapter 103
easily found new investors.
He was a brilliant engineer, after all, and plenty of people would jump at the chance to back him.
Noreen had known that from the start, which was why she¡¯d poured her heart into winning him over, showing him nothing but sincerity.
In the end, though, the deal had fallen through.
Noreen hadn¡¯t tried to hide anything; she¡¯d told Carman the whole story, every detail, holding nothing back.
She wanted him to know he still had better options out there.
But Carman had been clear: ¡°I only want to work with you.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re at apany, then I¡¯ll work with yourpany. If you strike out on your own, then I¡¯ll work with you. Either way, Noreen, it¡¯s you I choose.¡±
Yes-man 104
He went on, ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m almost relieved our partnership with the Aurelion Group fell through. If I¡¯d signed a contract only to find out after that you¡¯d left them, that would¡¯ve been a real mess¨Chardly worth it.¡±
Noreen was genuinely touched by his words.
But even as that warmth settled in, she didn¡¯t let herself forget the mountain of problems they now faced. She made sure toy them out clearly for Carman.
First, there was the obvious issue of funding.
They only had a modest amount of seed money, and once things actually got rolling, it would run out fast.
If their cash flow dried up, the whole project could copse before it even ¡®began.
That would be thest thing Noreen wanted, especially after all the work Carman had already poured into this.
So her suggestion was simple: they needed to find new investors as soon as possible.
If they could partner with someone, they¡¯d have a chance to take this project off the ground.
Of course, bringing in outside investment meant giving up some control over their data, and that wasn¡¯t ideal¨Cbut it was still better than watching the whole thing crash and burn.
¡°I¡¯m no expert in business,¡± Carman admitted, ¡°but I trust your judgment, Ms. Gilmore. Let¡¯s split up the work: you find the investors, and I¡¯ll handle
the tech.¡±
Ms. Gilmore?
Noreen had to admit, that sounded pretty good.
For the first time in days, the cloud that had been following her finally
20:21
lifted.
¡°Then let¡¯s do this. Here¡¯s to a great partnership!¡± She shook Carman¡¯s hand, her tone sincere.
¡°To a great partnership,¡± Carman echoed.
Just as Noreen was starting to feel optimistic, someone decided to ruin
her mood.
It was Bianca.
How she managed to find Noreen here, Noreen had no idea. But Biancal made a point of strolling over and greeting her. ¡°Noreen, it really is you! I thought I recognized you, but I wasn¡¯t sure at first.¡±
Even as she spoke to Noreen, Bianca¡¯s eyes kept flitting toward Carman, clearly trying to figure out what was going on between them.
After all, Carman was about the same age as Noreen, and the two of them were eating alone together¨Cit didn¡¯t take much imagination to draw
certain conclusions.
Noreen wasn¡¯t in the mood for Bianca¡¯s games, so her expression stayed cool.
Carman picked up on her reluctance and kept quiet as well.
Theirbined silence andck of response left Bianca awkwardly hanging.
Luckily for her, Seth arrived just in time.
With Seth there, Bianca¡¯s confidence came rushing back. She beamed at him, her voice suddenly softer and sweeter than it had been with Noreen and Carman, as if she were trying to be cute.
¡°Seth, guess who I just ran into? It¡¯s Noreen! Isn¡¯t that a coincidence?¡±
Seth nced at Noreen and Carman with an unreadable expression, his eyes cold and distant.
Bianca clung to his arm, swaying it slightly in a familiar, flirtatious way.
20:21
¡°Since we all ran into each other, why don¡¯t we invite them to join us?¡±
Noreen instinctively frowned, already preparing to refuse.
But Seth cut in, ¡°On a day like this, are you sure you want to invite two strangers to join us?¡±
His tone was calm, almost casual, but the word ¡°strangers¡±nded like a needle straight into Noreen¡¯s chest.
All those nights they¡¯d spent together¨Csuddenly, they felt like a cruel joke. Bianca, on the other hand, was delighted by his answer. Whatever awkwardness she¡¯d felt a moment ago vanished. Her smile was dazzling. ¡°Oh, I was just being polite. Noreen might not want to join us anyway.¡±
¡°Besides, they look like they¡¯re on a date. Seth, aren¡¯t you even a little
curious?¡±
Seth¡¯s face remained impassive. ¡°Why would I be curious about people who have nothing to do with me?¡±
Nothing to do with him.
Just four simple words, but they summed up seven years of Noreen¡¯s life.
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Yes-man 105
Chapter 105
Bianca left with Seth, practically glowing with happiness. As they walked out together, she clung to his arm and yfully chided him, ¡°Seth, you really didn¡¯t have to go all out for this meal. When it¡¯s just family,
something simple would have been more than enough¨Cno need for such a fancy restaurant.¡±
She was considerate, perfectly poised, and had an impable sense of propriety.
Apparently, Seth appreciated her graciousness. His tone was noticeably gentler than when he¡¯d been speaking to Noreen earlier. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Really, it¡¯s the least I can do.¡±
After they¡¯d gone, Noreen sat in silence, her mood heavy.
Carman waited a moment before quietly asking, ¡°Miss Gilmore, are you alright?¡±
¡°Do I look like I¡¯m not?¡± Noreen replied, her voice even.
Carman, always honest, admitted, ¡°A little bit, yes.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll survive.¡± Noreen took a long drink of ice water.
Truthfully, she was upset¨Cbut it wasn¡¯t because of Seth.
She was grieving for the person she used to be, the woman who had once risked everything for love.
In this whole rtionship, the only person she¡¯d truly let down was
herself.
The dinner had ended abruptly with Bianca¡¯s arrival. Noreen lost her appetite, and naturally, so did Carman.
He got up to settle the bill, but Noreen stopped him.
¡°I¡¯ll get it.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t let ady pay,¡± Carman protested.
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20-218
¡°Oh,e on. After you called me Ms. Gilmore? This meal is on me! Don¡¯t be so formal. We¡¯ll have plenty of meals together in the future¨Cyou can pick up the tab next time.¡±
With Noreen¡¯s persistence, Carman relented. ¡°Alright, but next time, I¡¯m paying.¡±
As Noreen walked over to the cashier, a well¨Cdressed middle¨Caged man
arrived at the counter at the same time.
He asked the attendant, ¡°Has the bill for the Sapphire Room been settled?
If not, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±
The attendant checked and replied, ¡°Mr. Harcourt has already paid.¡±
The man nodded and turned to go, but he paused when he caught sight of Noreen standing nearby.
He hesitated, his gaze lingering on her a moment longer.
But Noreen¡¯s attention was on the cashier; she didn¡¯t notice him at all.
When the attendant handed her the receipt, she signed her name and left. The middle¨Caged man stood there, caught by something.
His eyes drifted from Noreen¡¯s retreating figure to the name on the bill
beside him.
Gilmore?
Could it really be such a coincidence?
Carman watched as Noreen¡¯s car pulled away, then took out his phone
and dialed.
As soon as the call connected, he couldn¡¯t hold back his excitement. ¡°Mina, Secretary Gilmore broke up with him.¡±
He paused, realizing the title wasn¡¯t right, and corrected himself. ¡°Miss Gilmore broke up with him!¡±
Mina Holt was Carman¡¯s younger sister.
213
Back when Noreen was trying to sign Carman¡¯s project, she¡¯d often dropped by his studio.
At the time, Mina was in the middle of a grueling school year, overwhelmed and on the verge of burnout.
She was struggling mentally, listless and withdrawn.
Carman, ever the textbook engineer, had no idea howplicated things could be for a teenage girl. He just assumed it was all adolescent rebellion and tried to force extra tutoring sessions on her.
Under mounting pressure, Mina finally snapped. After a huge argument with Carman, she waited until he left for a meeting, then found his prescription sleep meds in the office and swallowed a dangerous
amount.
It was pure luck that Noreen came by just then to see Carman, only to stumble upon Mina in the middle of her overdose.
While someone called for an ambnce, Noreen acted fast, using first aid skills to help Mina.
Realizing that Mina had just taken the pills, Noreen immediately induced her to throw up.
By the time Carman rushed back, Mina was violently ill, and
Noreen¨Cunfazed by the mess¨Cwas right there, gently helping her through it.
20:21
Yes-man 106
It was that moment¡ªseeing it with his own eyes¨Cthat truly moved.
Carman.
Thanks to Noreen¡¯s quick thinking and first aid, Mina was out of danger.
During Mina¡¯s short stay in the hospital, Noreen stayed by her side the entire time, offering support and gentle guidance.
It was then that Carman finally realized the problemy in his own approach to parenting.
Afterwards, Noreen personally took Mina to see a therapist and even
tutored her after school.
With Noreen¡¯s help, Mina gradually began to heal. In the end, she was epted into her dream high school.
Mina grew especially close to Noreen, confiding in her like an older sister she could trust with anything. Naturally, she learned a few things about Noreen¡¯s private life.
One of those things was that Noreen had a boyfriend¨Cher boss, no less.
As for Carman¡¯s feelings, Mina saw right through him.
She teased him often,menting, ¡°You¡¯re toote¨Cshe¡¯s spoken for. Guess it just wasn¡¯t meant to be.¡±
But Carman was a true gentleman. Knowing Noreen already had someone she cared for, he kept his feelings to himself.
He exercised restraint, never once crossing the line.
Until just now, when he watched Seth with another woman¨Cand realized Noreen had resigned from Aurelion Group.
It didn¡¯t take much to piece things together. Carman quickly concluded that Noreen and Seth must have broken up.
In that instant, hope bloomed in his chest.
20:22 3
He couldn¡¯t wait to share the news with Mina.
Mina was sprawled on her dorm bunk, binge¨Cwatching a show when Carman called. The moment she heard, she shot upright and smacked her head on the ceiling, howling in pain.
But she didn¡¯t care about her head. She was too busy shouting into the phone, urging Carman on.
¡°What are you waiting for?¡±
¡°Go get her!¡±
¡°I want Noreen as my sister¨Cinw!¡±
Determined not to let down Carman¡¯s trust, Noreen spent three sleepless nights crafting a wless business proposal.
With her n in hand, she eagerly began reaching out to the investors she¡¯d met in the past.
She¡¯d already steeled herself for rejection. After all, she had no resources, nowork, and no powerful backers anymore.
She knew there was no guarantee anyone would give her the time of day.
But reality proved even harsher than she¡¯d imagined.
Dozens of calls led nowhere.
Still, Noreen refused to give up. She switched tactics¨Cvisiting potential investors in person, proposal in tow, pitching her vision door to door.
After several days, exhaustion set in. Her mind was numb, her legs felt like lead, and she¡¯d drunk so much lukewarm office coffee she felt sick.
She kept telling herself it was normal for things to be tough at the start. Starting a business was never easy.
Stay calm. Try again.
After grabbing a quick bite on the street to keep herself going, she
???
20:22
Chapter TUD
headed off to her next meeting¨Cwith Joyner, the CEO of Evergain Capital.
Joyner was polite, unlike some others who had stopped answering her calls the moment they heard she¡¯d left Aurelion Group.
He read through her proposal carefully. Noreen could tell he was interested, but he looked hesitant.
¡°Is there something about the n that concerns you?¡± she asked, keeping her tone gentle.
Joyner shook his head. ¡°The proposal is excellent.¡±
¡°So what¡¯s holding you back?¡± Noreen pressed quietly.
Joyner leaned back. ¡°Are you aware that Director Lowell from Aurelion Group recentlyunched an Al initiative?¡±
Noreen answered honestly. ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡±
Joyner nodded. ¡°Mr. Harcourt brought Director Lowell to one of our
investor dinners not long ago. She pitched the idea there, and it made quite an impression.¡±
Noreen knew Seth doted on Bianca.
But she hadn¡¯t expected this¨Che¡¯d personally taken her to meet investors, letting her present her own project at the table:
20:22
Yes-man 107
Back when Noreen was Seth¡¯s assistant, she had asionally been lucky enough to attend these business dinners.
But she¡¯d never been important enough to sit at the table. Most of the time, her job was to stand by Seth¡¯s side and turn down drinks for him.
When there wasn¡¯t any drinking to do, she¡¯d simply wait outside the door.
After all, these gatherings of power yers were always about business secrets that regr people could only dream of hearing.
Yet now, Seth was bringing Bianca along openly, personally introducing her to hiswork, paving the way for her and handing her opportunities on a silver tter.
Noreen couldn¡¯t help but wonder: Just how much did Seth love Bianca, to go to such lengths for her?
CEO Joyner seemed interested in Noreen¡¯s project, but he was, at heart, a businessman¨Cprofit was always his bottom line.
He closed the proposal and got right to the point, skipping the pleasantries.
¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I think your project has real potential. But as you know, the economy¡¯s been rough these past couple of years, and the investmentndscape is full of risks. Most people are choosing to stick together for safety, pooling resources to minimize exposure. You know what I mean, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°I understand.¡±
¡°So,¡± CEO Joyner continued, ¡°have you thought about showing this proposal to Mr. Harcourt?¡±
¡°If Mr. Harcourt¡¯s in, I¡¯ll be happy toe onboard as well.¡±
He spoke earnestly. ¡°Miss Gilmore, you know as well as I do: it¡¯s always easier to weather the storm when you¡¯ve got someone powerful behind
20:22
you. Frankly, I¡¯m leaning toward Director Lowell¡¯s project¨Cshe has Mr. Harcourt¡¯s support, after all.¡±
But Noreen? She stood alone, with no one backing her.
Who would be willing to take a chance on her?
When Noreen stepped out of Evergain Capital, she was surprised to find it
had started to rain.
Not a downpour, but cold enough to chill her to the bone.
Winters in Rivercrest were always like this¨Ca little rain, and suddenly the damp cold crept right into your bones.
Her phone buzzed with a message from ire: It was snowing in Brenton, the first snowfall of the year. ire wanted to know if Noreen wanted toe and see it with her.
Both of them had grown up in Rivercrest, where snow was rare, and so they¡¯d always had a special fondness for it.
Noreen was tempted.
But in the end, she replied, ¡°Next time, honey. I¡¯ve got a project that isn¡¯t finalized yet, and I wouldn¡¯t be able to rx if I left now.¡±
ire, exasperated by her workaholic friend, could only sigh and remind her, ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard. Take care of yourself, okay?¡±
¡°I know.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not enough to know, you actually have to do it.¡±
That little bit of care from a friend was enough to chase away the chill that came with the rain.
Just as Noreen was about to leave Evergain Capital, her phone
rang¨CMina was calling.
¡°Noreen! My brother¡¯s sick¨Ccan youe to the hospital? He refuses to
20.33
stay overnight, and I can¡¯t talk any sense into him!¡±
Noreen hailed a cab immediately and rushed to the hospital. When she found Carman, he was arguing with the doctor, insisting he couldn¡¯t be admitted because he still had too much work to do.
The doctor, stern¨Cfaced, scolded him. ¡°You¡¯re still thinking about work in this condition? Are you trying to kill yourself? Look at these test results¨Cyour ALT levels are almost three hundred! Normal is up to forty!¡± Mina spotted Noreen and, as if seeing her savior, called out in a panic, ¡°Noreen! Please, talk some sense into my brother!¡±
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Noreen asked, frowning.
¡°It¡¯s nothing serious-¡± Carman began.
But Mina cut him off, determined to expose the truth.
¡°Nothing serious? He¡¯s been throwing up and passing out at the office! If his assistant hadn¡¯t forgotten something ande back to find him, who knows what would¡¯ve happened?¡±
Fuming, she didn¡¯t stop there,pletely ignoring Carman¡¯s warning re.
¡°Go ahead and re at me, I¡¯m still going to say it! Noreen, you have to do something¨Che doesn¡¯t care about his own health at all! He¡¯s doing the work of ten people, basically living at the office¨Chis assistant says he hasn¡¯t been home in a week! Eating, sleeping, everything¨Che does it all at work! It¡¯s like he¡¯s trying to work himself into the grave!¡±
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Yes-man 108
As Mina grew more emotional, her eyes reddened and her voice
trembled. ¡°If something really happened to you, what would Mom do? What would I do?¡±
When Carman¡¯s father passed away, Mina was still in elementary school, and their mother¡¯s health had never been good. Overnight, all the family¡¯s burdens fell on Carman¡¯s shoulders. He became the pir of the
household¨Cthe only support Mina and their mother had.
That¡¯s why she reacted so strongly.
Noreen pulled Mina into a hug,forting her. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll keep an eye on him, I promise. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
Once Mina had calmed down, Noreen finally had a chance to get to the bottom of things.
¡°Mina tells me you¡¯re doing the work of ten people all by yourself. What¡¯s that about?¡± Noreen¡¯s tone was stern, her expression enough to make
anyone nervous.
¡°It¡¯s not that dramatic,¡± Carman tried to brush it off, even now.
But Mina called him out right away. ¡°Why else? He¡¯s trying to save money! Cutting costs everywhere!¡±
Noreen felt a pang of guilt.
Even though Mina hadn¡¯t spelled it out, she could more or less guess what was going on. Carman must have realized her funds were running low and, with no new investmentsing in, decided to tighten the belt¨Cworking himself to the bone to save her money.
Noreen¡¯s expression darkened. Sensing the shift, Carman fell silent, then finally exined himself.
¡°Sries for engineers are sky¨Chigh these days. Even a junior starts at six figures. The project hasn¡¯t attracted new investment yet. I just figured, if I can do more myself, I should.¡±
20:22
¡°That¡¯s not ¡®a bit more¡®¨Cyou¡¯re practically handling every technical position yourself,¡± Mina shot back.
¡°Don¡¯t exaggerate,¡± Carman muttered, not wanting to make Noreen worry.
He¡¯d kept the studio¡¯s troubles from her, never mentioning how bad things had gotten. He never expected to end up sick from overwork¨Cexposing everything in the process.
But Noreen saw right through it.
Finally, sheid down thew. ¡°Focus on getting better. If we need to hire people, we¡¯ll hire them. Your job is the technical stuff; leave the finances to me. Stop stressing about money that isn¡¯t yours to worry about.¡±
¡°See? Noreen¡¯s the only one who can keep my brother in line!¡± Mina grinned, linking arms with Noreen and shooting Carman a smug look. ¡°Behaving yourself now, aren¡¯t you? Noreen, if only you were my sister¨Cinw already.¡±
¡°Mina!¡± Carman protested, embarrassed.
Noreen justughed it off and asked Mina if she¡¯d taken time off school toe to the hospital.
Mina nodded quickly, exining she¡¯d only gotten a few hours off and would have to head back soon. She urged Noreen to take care of Carman while she was gone.
Noreen promised she would.
As she left, Mina gave Carman a series of exaggerated winks, making it clear he shouldn¡¯t waste this opportunity.
Carman knew full well Mina had taken more than a few hours off¨Cshe was just trying to give him a chance.
Noreen stayed with Carman until his IV finished. He knew she¡¯d been running around for days and was exhausted herself.
So, the moment she went to the restroom, he subtly sped up the IV drip, hoping it would finish faster so he could send her home to rest. He kept
???
20:22
insisting he¡¯d be fine on his own, and that it wasn¡¯t right for a woman to have to look after him.
When Noreen finally left the hospital, the rain was stilling down.
Night had fallen, bringing a chill that seeped into her bones. Sitting in her car, she hesitated for a long while before finally opening WhatsApp.
She¡¯d deleted every trace of her conversations with Seth. The contact that had been pinned to the top of her chats for seven years was now gone
from her recents.
To message him now, she had to search his name in her phonebook. The years of messages she¡¯d once preserved so carefully were wiped clean¨Cjust a nk screen where memories used to be.
A reflection of what their rtionship had be.
She typed out a message to Seth: Are you there, Mr. Harcourt?
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Yes-man 109
As soon as Noreen sent out her message, someone in the group chat tagged her.
Her finger brushed the notification by ident, opening the chat before she realized it was from one of those old team¨Cbuilding groups from Aurelion Group. She¡¯d never saved it, so she¡¯d forgotten to leave.
The message was from Ruby Wilder, who had tagged everyone.
Her excitement leapt off the screen.
¡°Guys, guess who I just ran into in Brenton City? I bumped into Mr. Harcourt and Director Lowell! They came all the way here just to see the first snow! Isn¡¯t that the most romantic thing ever?¡±
¡°No way! Mr. Harcourt and Director Lowell are such a perfect couple!¡±
¡°I read online that when a man invites a woman to watch the first snow, it¡¯s a sign of love¨Cso Mr. Harcourt is confessing to Director Lowell, right?¡±
¡°Wishing them the best!¡±
¡°May theyst forever!¡±
A steady stream of well¨Cwishes flooded the chat.
Bianca, who¡¯d been tagged, replied graciously¨Cpolite but warm. ¡°Thank you all so much.¡±
She even shared a photo she¡¯d just taken of the first snowfall.
In the top right corner of the picture, a familiar figure stood with his head down, focused on his phone. The pale glow from the screen outlined the sharp angles of his face.
Who else could it be but¨CSeth?
So, were they making their rtionship public now?
It happened sooner than Noreen expected, but she couldn¡¯t say it was a
20:22
Chapter tu
surprise.
After all, their families had already met. It was only a matter of time before everyone else found out.
The group chat buzzed with congrattory messages, everyone eager to send blessings.
Silently, Noreen left the group, opened her chat with Seth, and deleted the message she¡¯d just sent him.
He didn¡¯t reply. Maybe he was swamped.
But if Noreen was honest, it felt more like he was ignoring her.
It wasn¡¯t the first time.
When had it started?
She searched her memory, and realized Seth¡¯s attitude had begun to shift about a year ago.
He started traveling abroad for business alone. He always used to take
her with him¨Cshe was his assistant, after all.
Looking back, maybe those trips were just a cover for seeing Bianca.
Not bringing her along made perfect sense, in hindsight.
But at the time, she had no idea. She thought he was just busy with the subsidiary¡¯s IPO.
She¡¯d even gone out of her way to prepare everything before he Jeft¨Cmaking sure he had what he needed, finding restaurants he¡¯d like, reminding him not to drink too much¡
Seth had always seemed distant then, his gazeplicated whenever he
looked at her.
Maybe he¡¯d already decided it was over, but didn¡¯t want to be the bad guy¨Cso he chose indifference instead.
And she, foolishly, kept telling herself he was just under a lot of pressure
20:23
at work.
In the end, she was the one who didn¡¯t get the hint.
Noreen didn¡¯t let it get to her. She went to bed on time, determined to recharge for tomorrow.
When she woke, it was a brand new day, and she felt ready for anything.
Mina messaged her on WhatsApp, asking if she was going to visit Carman today.
Noreen replied that she was.
Mina sent back, ¡°I¡¯ll leave my brother to you, then. No need to be a third wheel.¡±
All Noreen could do was smile wryly. She didn¡¯t bother replying.
It wasn¡¯t hard to guess what Mina was thinking.
But after the end of a seven¨Cyear rtionship, Noreen was too exhausted
to even consider a new one.
Besides, Mina meant well¨Cno need to dampen her enthusiasm.
As she closed the chat, her eyes drifted to her conversation with Seth.
Still no response.
Without hesitation, Noreen removed him from her recent chats, then
headed out to chase down more investors.
She visited twopanies that morning, but came up empty¨Chanded.
At lunchtime, she picked up some food and went to the hospital to see Carman, only to find him working on hisptop, an IV drip still in his arm.
He was so engrossed, he didn¡¯t even notice the IV bag had run dry, and blood had started to back up into the tube.
27.32
Yes-man 110
Noreen hurried over to help. With practiced movements, she reced the IV bag and cleared out the air bubbles, her hands steady and efficient.
Carman couldn¡¯t help but ask, curiosity getting the better of him. ¡°How do you know how to do that?¡±
She gave a small shrug. ¡°My mom¡¯s health hasn¡¯t been great. I picked it up taking care of her.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± Carman replied, and then found himself at a loss for words.
He was more of a tech guy¨Cgreat withputers, hopeless with people, especially women. Mina knew this about him all too well and was always trying to coach him on how to talk to girls. She¡¯d offered him a whole arsenal of tips, but Carman never really figured out how to use them. Whenever he tried, the conversation would circle in his mind until, by the time he opened his mouth, it came out sounding like a project update. ¡°Did everything go okay today?¡±
¡°Not bad,¡± Noreen said, her tone still upbeat. ¡°I¡¯ve got meetings at two morepanies this afternoon.¡±
But Carman had noticed the raw skin on the back of her heel¨Cher high heels had rubbed it raw. He didn¡¯t say anything, just pressed the call button to summon a nurse and asked for some ointment for blisters.
Noreen thought he¡¯d hurt himself and leaned in, concerned. But then Carman handed her the ointment, nodding toward her heel as a gentle hint.
Noreen blinked in surprise¨Cshe hadn¡¯t even realized her foot was bleeding. Her mind had been entirely on the project.
¡°Do you really have to wear those shoes?¡± Carman asked. ¡°You could go for something morefortable.¡±
She shook her head, a little smile lifting her lips. ¡°A polished image really does help with professionalism. It builds trust with clients.¡±
Carman¡¯s eyes widened in understanding. ¡°That makes sense.¡±
The truth was, Carman had been approached by a few other investment firmstely, but he¡¯d turned them all down. Seeing how hard Noreen was. working, he started to wonder if he should reach out after all. As soon as she left, he picked up the phone and called each of those firms one by
one.
They were all interested in his project¨Cuntil he mentioned he already had a seed investor. Then, like clockwork, each one made some excuse to pass. In this line of business,ing inte means a smaller share and bigger risks. Unless a heavyweight investores in during the early rounds, nobody wants to y catch¨Cup.
That¡¯s exactly why Noreen kept hitting dead endstely.
Reality could be harsh, but Noreen took it in stride. Years of pitching had given her nerves of steel. Back when she¡¯d started, Seth had taught her ¡®the ropes, but his methods were strict and his standards sky¨Chigh. If she made a mistake, he¡¯d call her out¨Cno sugar¨Ccoating, no second chances.
Under that kind of pressure, Noreen improved quickly and learned how to handle stress. So now, setbacks like these barely fazed her. She wasn¡¯t about to let it get her down.
She used to think Seth was just toughening her up, preparing her to manage projects on her own. But seeing how differently he treated Bianca¨Cwith all the care and protection in the world¨CNoreen realized she might have been kidding herself. There was no ¡°tough love,¡± just indifference. Only Bianca, his darling, ever got his full attention and
support.
That evening, when Noreen was sure the day would end in
disappointment, her phone rang. Mr. Selwyn from Monarch Capital was on the line. He said he was interested in her project and invited her to
meet at The Velvet Club.
She checked the time. It waste, but what if he really meant it? Noreen hailed a cab and headed over.
20:23
As she arrived at the club, she ran into Jude at the entrance.
He spotted her and immediately scowled. ¡°Noreen, are you stalking Seth now? Found out he was here and just had to show up? You¡¯re like gum stuck to his shoe¨Ccan¡¯t shake you off, can he?¡±
Noreen froze.
Seth is here too?
Yes-man 111
Chances were, Bianca would be here too.
Those two were practically glued at the hip.
Noreen had no intention of engaging with Jude. Arguing with a guy like him felt about as productive as yelling at a dog¨Cutterly pointless.
Aplete waste of breath.
She tried to sidestep him and head straight in, but Jude wouldn¡¯t let it go. He grabbed her arm, deliberately goading her.
¡°Noreen, why are you always so difficult? Do you have any idea how much effort Seth¡¯s put into winning Bianca back? When Bianca and Dn¡¯s rtionship hit the rocks a year ago, Seth dropped everything to chase after her. He¡¯s practically been racking up frequent flyer miles ever since, and now, finally, he¡¯s got his happy ending. Can¡¯t you take the hint and just disappear from his life?¡±
Noreen turned back, her voice icy. ¡°Then do him a favor and send those two up to the sun, let them bask in peace up there. He can spend eternity with whoever he wants, and when they both burn to ashes, they can be together forever.¡±
Jude was stunned; he¡¯d never seen Noreen this sharp. For once, he was at
a loss for words.
It was only after Noreen had left that he snapped out of it, kicking over a nearby vase in frustration and making a racket.
When he returned to the private suite, the scowl on his face hadn¡¯t faded.
¡°Just my damn luck,¡± Jude muttered, unable to keep anything to himself.
Bianca nced over. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Who got under your skin this time?¡±
Jude was practically waiting for someone to ask. Finally, the chance to
vent.
¡°Ran into something filthy out there.¡±
20:23
¡°This ce just opened,¡± Bianca replied, puzzled. ¡°Where would there be anything filthy?¡±
They were here today to support Jude. He¡¯d gone in with a handful of other rich kids to open this new club. Sure, it wasn¡¯t as shy as the Hesper Lounge, but it wasn¡¯t far off either.
After all, none of them were short on money.
¡°I don¡¯t mean a thing, I mean a person,¡± Jude said, downing half a ss of whiskey to cool off. ¡°Bumped into Noreen at the door.¡±
At the mention of that name, Bianca instinctively nced at Seth, who was half¨Creclining on the couch with his eyes closed, looking as if he might be asleep¨Cor maybe just pretending.
Bianca turned back to Jude. ¡°What did she say to get you so riled up?¡±
Jude wasn¡¯t about to repeat Noreen¡¯s actual words¨Che¡¯d never been put in his ce by her like that before. But he still couldn¡¯t swallow his pride.
¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he grumbled. ¡°She¡¯s always got a nasty tongue. But she won¡¯t have thestugh, that¡¯s for sure.¡± He suddenly remembered what he¡¯d just found out and smirked. ¡°You know what else? I just heard Noreen¡¯s here to see Yves Selwyn¨Cyou know, Monarch Capital¡¯s Mr. Selwyn. The one you metst time, Bianca. The guy who tried something shady before he knew who you were.¡±
¡°I remember him,¡± Bianca said, her brow furrowing. ¡°He¡¯s got a bit of a reputation. Noreen knows exactly what kind of man he is, and she¡¯s still meeting with him?¡±
By now, Noreen¡¯s search for investors wasn¡¯t much of a secret. Bianca had heard bits and pieces, so she could guess what Noreen wanted with
Yves.
¡°Yves has always had his eye on her,¡± Jude said, his tone gleeful. ¡°Back when she was with Seth, he didn¡¯t dare cross the line. Now that they¡¯re done, she¡¯s bound to get burned.¡±
Bianca frowned slightly. ¡°Noreen¡¯s from Aurelion Group, after all. Maybe I
20.23 8
Chapter 111
should go say hello, just in case.¡±
¡°Bianca, you¡¯re too soft,¡± Jude scoffed. He nudged Seth with his foot. ¡°Seth, you gonna do something about this?¡±
Seth shifted, barely cracking an eyelid. ¡°Not my business.¡±
Jude grinned. ¡°See? Seth doesn¡¯t care.¡±
¡°And honestly, if we butt in, she might just use us of meddling and ruining her chances.¡±
A fleeting smile passed through Bianca¡¯s eyes, but her voice was tinged with a sigh. ¡°True enough. These days, if a woman wants to make it in the business world, she either needs serious connections or has to make
certain sacrifices.¡±
¡°Just goes to show how much Seth cares about you,¡± Jude added quickly. ¡°You have no idea¨Cwhen he found out things were rocky between you and Dn, he could barely sit still. He kept flying out of the country, just to be near you!¡±
Bianca blinked. ¡°When did that happen?¡±
¡°You didn¡¯t know? Seth¡¯s got it bad for you, and he hides it well.¡±
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Yes-man 112
Jude opened his mouth to say something else, but Seth gave him a sharp kick under the table.
He shut up immediately, reading the room.
Bianca didn¡¯t press for more details. She seemed perfectly content, a subtle smile ying on her lips.
Yves¡¯s intentions toward Noreen were anything but innocent.
So the moment she arrived, he made every effort to get her drinking.
Unfortunately for him, Noreen could really hold her liquor, and before long it was Yves¨Cwho hadn¡¯t drunk nearly as much¨Cwho started showing signs of tipsiness.
Growing impatient, he finally cut her off mid¨Cstory, interrupting her with forced enthusiasm.
¡°Noreen, I¡¯ve never doubted your business instincts or your ability to lead a project. I know you¡¯ll pull this off brilliantly.¡±
¡°So, are you willing to invest, Mr. Selwyn?¡± Noreen didn¡¯t bother with small
talk.
Yves leaned in, cing his hand over hers. ¡°I can invest¨Cbut there are conditions attached. You¡¯re a smart woman, I¡¯m sure you know what I
mean.¡±
¡°Oh, I know,¡± she replied evenly.
Yves¡¯s eyes lit up, thinking Noreen had finallye around. Just as he reached for her, the private room door swung open from the outside.
His ns were abruptly interrupted.
Annoyed, he turned, ready to curse whoever had barged in.
Noreen, meanwhile, stood up gracefully, slipping her hand free without
20:23
drawing attention. She greeted the visitor with a bright, weing smile. ¡°Mrs. Selwyn, you made it! We¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±
Yves¡¯s smile froze, and he realized toote that Noreen had nned for this.
He¡¯d underestimated her.
After all those years at Seth¡¯s side, how could she not have picked up a few tricks? If she¡¯de to this meeting alone, she must have
considered everything.
Mrs. Selwyn ignored Yvespletely, her focus on Noreen as she swept in and took her hand warmly. ¡°Noreen! I¡¯m so d to finally see you. I¡¯ve been wanting to thank you for your help the other day.¡±
¡°You¡¯re far too kind, Mrs. Selwyn. It was nothing, really¨Chappy to help.¡±
¡°No, I insist. People should know how to be grateful. If you lose your sense of gratitude, you lose your humanity.¡±
Yves coughed awkwardly on the side, clearly ufortable.
Everyone present understood Mrs. Selwyn was taking a jab at him.
Yves had always seemed like a man blessed by fortune. He didn¡¯te from wealth, nor was he particrly striking, but somehow he¡¯d managed to marry a rich heiress like Mrs. Selwyn.
With her family¡¯s backing, his business had flourished.
As the saying goes, money changes a man. Once Yves was firmly established, he started showing his true colors, chasing after other women at every opportunity.
Mrs. Selwyn had been hurt too many times to count, and in the end she simply turned a blind eye. Their interests were too entwined for divorce to ever be an option, thanks in no small part to her farsighted father, who¡¯d put protections in ce before he died.
In truth, Mrs. Selwyn and Noreen had only met twice. The first time hadn¡¯t gone well at all.
20-23
Back then, Mrs. Selwyn was having lunch with a group of society wives when she spotted Yves and Noreen discussing business over coffee. Jumping to conclusions, she and her friends surrounded Noreen and gave her a hard time, convinced she was Yves¡¯stest fling.
When Noreen realized who she was dealing with, she calmly exined herself and managed to defuse the situation.
Their second meeting was at a corporate g. Mrs. Selwyn, apanying Yves, had been tricked into wearing imitation jewelry. It seemed trivial, but in those circles, it was a major embarrassment. She¡¯d panicked, hiding out in the restroom, terrified she¡¯d be aughingstock.
It was Noreen who came to her rescue, calling in a favor to get genuine jewelry delivered in time for her to swap out before anyone noticed.
That was the ¡°big favor¡± Mrs. Selwyn had mentioned.
Mrs. Selwyn¡¯s timely arrival put an end to Yves¡¯s little scheme, forcing him to actually pay attention to Noreen¡¯s project.
And the truth was, the proposal was excellent.
He arranged to meet her at his office the next day to discuss it in detail.
As they left, Noreen and Yves ran into Seth and the others, who were also heading out.
Mrs. Selwyn had gone to fetch the car, so only Noreen and Yves were left standing by the entrance.
Jude caught sight of them together, a mischievous glint in his eye and a sly arch to his brow. His words dripped with innuendo. ¡°Well, Noreen, you really are something. Managed to win over Mr. Selwyn in just one
evening.¡±
On instinct, Noreen nced at Seth standing behind him.
His expression was unreadable.
And for a second, it felt like he might be thinking the same thing.
20-23
People are fickle by nature.
Yes-man 113
Noreen had long since stopped expecting anything from Seth, so she certainly didn¡¯t hold out hope he¡¯d ever defend her.
She quickly averted her gaze, her expression calm and indifferent.
When she looked at Jude, it was as if she were staring at something
filthy.
Jude had been itching to throw a few barbs Noreen¡¯s way¨Cto w back some dignity after being put in her ce just moments before.
But he hadn¡¯t expected this kind of reaction from her.
Noreen¡¯s face was open andposed, utterly devoid of the anxious guilt one might expect after being ¡°caught in the act.¡± In fact, her eyes were filled with nothing but disdain.
With the alcohol already burning in his veins, Jude¡¯s irritation red, and whatever came out of his mouth now went far beyond mere sarcasm.
¡°What are you staring at me for? Did I say anything wrong? You¡¯re a hypocrite, Noreen! And let¡¯s not forget yourck of integrity¨Calways scheming, always chasing after whatever benefits you the most, no matter the cost-¡±
¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±
Seth, whose face had remained impassive throughout, finally spoke up.
Jude still hadn¡¯t vented all his anger, but with Seth intervening, he had no
choice but to swallow the rest.
Standing awkwardly to the side, Bianca offered a hasty apology. ¡°Sorry,
Noreen. He¡¯s had too much to drink.¡±
Noreen¡¯s tone was icy. ¡°Then please, Mr. Harcourt, keep your dog on a leash. Not everyone¡¯s as fond of him as you are.¡±
20:24
¡°Noreen, you-¡±
¡°Leave it, Jude. Just let it go.¡± Bianca hurried to restrain him before he could say anything else.
As Noreen and Yves left together, Bianca nced at Seth, curious to see how he might react to all this.
But Seth¡¯s expression stayed as detached as ever.
It was as if Noreen were nothing more than a stranger to him.
The moment she walked out, he looked away, as though he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to spare her a second nce.
The next day, Noreen arrived at Monarch Capital as scheduled to discuss the project with Yves.
Yves¡¯s sess wasn¡¯t just a matter of luck¨Che had a keen eye for
investments.
He¡¯d reviewed Noreen¡¯s business proposal in depth and was clearly
interested.
But the partnership he proposed gave Noreen pause.
In essence, Yves wanted her to join Monarch Capital, incubating the project under their roof as a project manager. In other words, he was after more control and arger share of the profits.
That was the mark of a true capitalist¨Cprofit above all else.
If that had been the only condition, Noreen might have considered it. After all, Monarch Capital had deep pockets, and Carman desperately needed a cash injection. Sacrificing some of her own stake was something she could live with.
But Yves wanted more. He insisted that Carman sign a nonpete
agreement.
Yves was shrewd; he¡¯d already figured out that Carman was the real linchpin of the project, so he wanted to tie him down.
213
20-24
Noreen could overlook her own interests, but not Carman¡¯s.
So she politely turned Yves down.
He didn¡¯t seem disappointed. Instead, he reminded her, ¡°I know a bit about your situation, and I know you¡¯ve approached a lot of other firms¨Cwith no luck. Sure, you can keep searching for fresh investors, but this industry moves fast. Wait too long, and you risk being left behind.
Think it over. There¡¯s no rush for an answer.¡±
After leaving Monarch Capital, Noreen went straight to the hospital to pick up Carman, who¡¯d insisted on checking out early despite the doctor¡¯s objections.
Her n had been to take him home to rest, but Carman was adamant about stopping by the studio first, iming he needed to pick up some important documents.
It wasn¡¯t until they arrived that Noreen realized what he meant by ¡°important documents¡°-he wanted to sign the contract with her.
¡°I know you¡¯ve been stalling on signing this contract so I¡¯d have more options,¡± Carman said, looking her in the eye. ¡°But I¡¯ve told you before, I only want to work with you. So let¡¯s stop dragging this out and get it done today.¡±
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Yes-man 114
This was his show of good faith¨Cand the clearest sign yet of the trust he ced in Noreen.
She felt a flicker of emotion. Carman had seen right through her
intentions, and she hadn¡¯t expected it.
¡°I met with Mr. Selwyn from Monarch Capital today,¡± she said. ¡°He told me the Al industry is evolving so fast that even a day¡¯s dy could leave us behind. He asked me to really think it over.¡±
Noreen gripped the contract, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Now I¡¯m passing those words on to you. I hope you¡¯ll really think this through.¡±
Carman picked up the pen on the table and handed it to her, his attitude firmer than ever. ¡°I already have. This is my answer. Sign it.¡±
¡®As she took the pen, Noreen¡¯s eyes grew warm with unshed tears. ¡°Onest warning: if you sign, there¡¯s no turning back.¡±
¡°Just sign it already!¡± Carman pressed, impatient as ever.
¡°By the way, when you first came to me, you didn¡¯t exactly trust my skills, did you? You think I¡¯m going to get left behind?¡±
When it came to his area of expertise, Carman was nothing if not confident.
Noreen didn¡¯t hesitate any longer. She signed her name in a swift, practiced stroke.
Things went both better and worse than expected.
Every problem a startup could face, Noreen encountered¨Cwithout exception.
But she kept herposure. After all, the past few years had toughened her up; she wouldn¡¯t be crushed so easily.
20:24
She tackled it from both ends: pitching to investors while applying for
bank loans.
The loan process was abyrinth¨Cslow, tedious, and, in the end, not nearly as helpful as it seemed.
Watching thepany¡¯s funds dwindle day by day, the anxiety finally got to her.
After another fruitless visit to a bank, she slumped into a seat on the subway, exhaustion washing over her.
Right then, her phone started buzzing¨Cagain and again.
She didn¡¯t need to check to know who it was.
Who else but Sophia?
Sophia had a habit¨Cshe couldn¡¯t send a single thought in one message. What could be said in a sentence, she¡¯d break into three or four texts.
Noreen opened her chat.
Sure enough, Sophia was venting again.
¡°Noreen.¡±
¡°Some people-¡±
¡°Are just infuriating, you know?¡±
¡°Guess what?¡±
¡°Mr. Harcourt, just now-¡±
¡°Dropped a fortune for Director Lowell-¡±
¡°Bought her a vi in Laurel Heights!¡±
While Sophia kept sending message after message, Noreen¡¯s mind went nk for a moment.
A vi in Laurel Heights¨Cnothing there went for less than five million.
???
20:24
??????
Seth was certainly extravagant.
He¡¯d always been generous with Bianca. Noreen was used to hearing about it.
It never bothered her to hear people talk about how good Seth was to Bianca.
But hearing that he¡¯d spent five or six million on a house just for her? That¡ that got to her.
She¡¯d been running herself ragged these past few days trying to get a loan for a few hundred thousand, while someone else could buy a luxury home on a whim just to please his beloved¡
Some people really were born lucky.
Sophia was still going on: ¡°Honestly, Mr. Harcourt ispletely
bewitched by that femme fatale¨Cat this rate, Aurelion Group is going to crash and burn under his spell!¡±
¡°So, I¡¯m quitting!¡±
Noreen replied with a single question mark.
Sophia fired back: ¡°Noreen, I heard you started your own business. Need
an assistant to fetch coffee?¡±
Noreen joked right back: ¡°Three grand a month. You in?¡±
Sophia: ¡°Deal!¡±
Noreen:
¡±
11
Sheughed it off¨CSophia was clearly joking. Just then, the subway pulled into her stop.
As she got ready to get off, WhatsApp shed with a familiar name.
Seth: ¡°What scandalous secret did you just delete?¡±
???
Yes-man 115
Noreen could only shake her head at the message.
Nearly two weeks had gone by¨Cso much time that whatever was urgent had long gone cold¨Cyet only now did Seth bother to ask. If nothing else, it proved he¡¯d seen her message much earlier and simply chosen to ignore it. Maybe all those times her messages disappeared into the void, it was the same story. She just hadn¡¯t wanted to see it before, blinded by her own wishful thinking.
She stared at his message for a few seconds, then removed him from her recent chats without a second thought.
Did he really expect her to go back to the way things were? Always chasing after him, replying in an instant, picking up his calls at any hour, ready to drop everything for him? Not a chance.
What¡¯s done is done. She¡¯d moved on.
And why didn¡¯t she just delete his contact altogether? Because that was the kind of thing kids or people who couldn¡¯t let go did.
The next day, Noreen dropped by Carman¡¯s studio, only to find it quieter than usual. At first, she thought maybe people hadn¡¯t clocked in yet and didn¡¯t dwell on it. But by the time she was leaving, it was obvious¨Csome desks were just empty.
She pulled Carman¡¯s assistant aside and asked what was going on. At first, he shook his head and refused to say anything, but Noreen pressed him until he finally caved.
It turned out that, in order to cut costs and take the pressure off Noreen, Carman had let several people go. Most of their work? Carman had taken it on himself. On top of that, he¡¯d been picking up side gigs to help keep thepany afloat.
All this meant Carman was running on fumes, going days with barely any sleep.
20:24
The assistant¡¯s worry was written all over his face. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, Mr.
Holt¡¯s barely getting three hours of sleep a night. He can¡¯t keep this up. If it goes on much longer, his health¡¯s going to give out.¡±
They desperately needed new investment.
Noreen left the studio, her expression grim. Their project was the kind big corporations wouldn¡¯t touch, and smaller ones couldn¡¯t afford. Calling it an uphill battle was an understatement.
With no options left, Noreen called ire.
But the moment ire picked up, Noreen hesitated, not sure where to begin.
ire didn¡¯t wait. ¡°You¡¯re calling because you need something, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing, really-¡±
¡°Cut the crap! Spit it out, I¡¯m busy over here!¡±
Noreen finally managed, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner about starting your own business? What, you think I¡¯m some stranger? You want me to cut you off for good?¡±
¡°I just¡¡±
¡°Save it. No point in excuses. Write me a ten¨Cthousand¨Cword apology and maybe I¡¯ll consider forgiving you.¡±
Noreen knew her friend wasn¡¯t really upset.
Sure enough, ire had her bank details. Not long after they hung up, Noreen¡¯s ount pinged with a deposit.
1,486,409,
Every cent, right down to the odd digits.
The sight of that number burned in Noreen¡¯s eyes. She knew what it meant¨Cthis was everything ire had.
20-24
ire had spent five years wing her way up from a nobody in the modeling world to a halfway decent name. The pay was never great; every penny she¡¯d saved came from years of hard work and sacrifice.
There was no way Noreen could let that money go to waste.
She transferred every cent into thepany ount and told Carman to start hiring immediately. He couldn¡¯t keep carrying the whole project on his back. If he copsed, the project woulde to a grinding halt¨Cand the loss they¡¯d suffer would dwarf anything they¡¯d saved by cutting
corners.
Noreen swallowed her pride and started hitting everyworking event and industry party she could find, chasing every opportunity, no matter how small.
It felt like she¡¯d been thrown back to her very first project at Aurelion Group. Back then, at least she¡¯d had thepany¡¯s name behind her. ¡®Things had been a little easier¨Cthough only just.
Because even then, Seth had kept his distance. He never stepped in, never offered help, never so much as asked how she was doing.
Yes-man 116
He often shot down her ideas, dismissing her hard work as if it meant. nothing.
But Noreen wasn¡¯t the type to back down from a challenge.
The more he belittled her, the more determined she became to prove herself.
So the obstacles she faced in starting her own business didn¡¯t bother her much. She¡¯d expected things to be tough.
Tonight¡¯sworking event was packed with familiar faces.
Among those she knew were Mr. Quigley from Qunda Group, Joyner, the CEO of Evergain Capital, Yves from Monarch Capital, and a handful of other executives from various investment firms.
The invitation, in fact, hade from Johnson. He was probably trying to make up for letting her down before.
Of course, these seasoned yers easily guessed that Johnson was behind Noreen¡¯s presence tonight, and teased him for not keeping things fair.
Noreen raised her ss in mock¨Cpenitence, downing three shots and exining to the group that she¡¯d asked Johnson for the favor.
Johnson chimed in on her behalf, ¡°Come on, folks, starting a business isn¡¯t easy for Miss Gilmore. Why not give her a hand? There¡¯s plenty of money to go around.¡±
Mr. Quigley, who always wore a sly smile, replied, ¡°When has starting a business ever been easy? We all crawled our way up the same way. Even Mr. Harcourt from Aurelion Group went through it¨CMiss Gilmore probably knows better than any of us about his infamous ¡®rm clock discipline.¡±
He leaned back, his toneced with mockery. ¡°If you can¡¯t handle the
pressure, Miss Gilmore, maybe you should just go back to being Mr.
20:24
Harcourt¡¯s chief of staff.¡±
The jab was deliberate¨Ca petty payback for Noreen¡¯s past refusal to work with him.
Noreen just smiled, unruffled by his sarcasm. ¡°Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Mr. Quigley. I¡¯ll do my best.¡±
Someone else piped up, ¡°Miss Gilmore, if you don¡¯t want to go back to Aurelion Group, you¡¯re wee to be my assistant. I could use someone smart and attractive on my team.¡±
¡°If we¡¯re talking about hiring her, you¡¯ll have to wait in line. I made Miss Gilmore an offer ages ago,¡± another cut in, grinning.
¡°I¡¯ve never had the honor of a toast from the chief of staff at Aurelion,¡± someone else joked. ¡°Ourpany was so small back then, we barely registered on Secretary Gilmore¡¯s radar.¡±
Thisst remark came from a manager whose partnership proposal Noreen had rejected years ago, and it was clear he hadn¡¯t forgotten.
¡°So tell me, Miss Gilmore, am I finally worthy of a toast from you tonight?¡± Johnson started to step in, but Noreen took the initiative. She picked up her ss, lowered her stance, and offered him a toast herself. ¡°You¡¯re giving me too much credit, Mr. Wolfe. I¡¯ll drink as an apology.¡±
She downed the drink in one go, leaving him with nothing more to say but a grudging, ¡°Well, it¡¯s certainly an honor to be toasted by Aurelion¡¯s former chief of staff.¡±
As the group continued to drink, someone else called out, ¡°Are wete to the party?¡±
Jude entered, making Noreen¡¯s brow furrow instantly.
¡°Well, look who it is¨CNoreen. Haven¡¯t seen you in a while. Didn¡¯t expect to find you ying hostess at a party like this,¡± he said with a sneer, even nastier than before.
20:25
Noreen¡¯s expression grew cold, but with so many people watching, she kept herposure. After all, Jude was backed by the powerful Wilder family; everyone here was eager to stay on his good side.
¡°Aren¡¯t you going to have a drink with me? Or am I not good enough for you?¡± Jude pressed, making things deliberately difficult.
¡°What are you staring at? Pour me a drink! Or do you need me to teach you how to do your job? Not very professional, are you?¡±
Jude was clearly set on humiliating her, and the others kept their heads down, unwilling to get involved.
Noreen clutched her ss, fighting to keep her emotions in check as the room fell into an awkward silence.
Just as Jude prepared to push further, two figures appeared at the door.
One of them called out, ¡°Jude, knock it off. Bianca¡¯s not feeling well¨Cshe¡¯s had too much to drink.¡±
???? ??? ???? ??????
At the sound of that familiar voice, Noreen felt her blood run cold.
Seth didn¡¯t look her way, but his presence alone made her ufortable. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that his sudden appearance was a
deliberate reminder of her failures, as if he were silently saying, See? This is what you¡¯ve been reduced to without me.
Yes-man 117
Chapter 117
Although Seth had only made a brief appearance, the atmosphere in the private room shifted noticeably.
Even those who had been giving Noreen a hard time earlier now looked at her with a hint of sympathy.
Noreen, however, quickly pulled herself together and resumed her pitch, trying to persuade a few of them to invest in her project.
Drinks, of course, were unavoidable.
No one could openly make things difficult, so they found subtler ways to target her.
One ss of wine would somehow turn into three, forced on her with a smile.
No matter how well Noreen could hold her liquor, there was no way she could outdrink ten people on her own.
Halfway through, she excused herself to the restroom and threw up until her stomach waspletely empty.
Feeling utterly drained, she slumped onto the toilet seat, rummaged through her purse, and pulled out a bottle of yogurt she¡¯d brought
along a trick to soothe her aching stomach.
It was one of those survival skills she¡¯d picked up over years of business
dinners.
Funny enough, it was Seth who had taught her this little trick.
Back when she used to drink on his behalf at events, he¡¯d always find ways to help her recover after she¡¯d had too much, just so she could keep going for him.
Sometimes, when she really couldn¡¯t take it anymore, she¡¯d pass out in thedies¡® room.
Seth would alwayse and find her, dragging her drunken self out and
20:25 0
taking her home.
That was how she¡¯d survived all these years.
She knew exactly how much she could drink, and when she needed to
find a way out.
Feeling a bit better, Noreen stepped out of the stall¨Cand immediately ran into someone she recognized.
It was Molly, Mr. Naylor¡¯s assistant from Eastvale Capital.
They¡¯d met before at an Aurelion Group celebration; that night, Seth had even asked her to keep Mr. Naylorpany for drinks.
¡°Secretary Gilmore? You¡¯re here too? I didn¡¯t see you earlier,¡± Molly eximed, surprised.
Noreen paused, keeping herposure. ¡°Is Mr. Naylor here tonight as well?¡±
¡°He is. Your Mr. Harcourt invited him over to talk business.¡±
¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Noreen asked as she leaned in close to the mirror, carefully fixing her smudged makeup.
Molly washed her hands at the sink. ¡°Pretty well, I think. That Director Lowell from your side¨Cshe can¡¯t really hold her liquor. Two sses in and she was out. Mr. Harcourt seemed worried about her, said he¡¯d take
her home ande backter.¡±
So he really does care, Noreen thought.
Willing to go out of his way just to make sure the person he cares about gets home safe.
For a moment, Noreen¡¯s mind wandered.
Molly lowered her voice, curiosity getting the better of her. ¡°Secretary Gilmore, is Mr. Harcourt¡ interested in Director Lowell? They seem pretty
close.¡±
¡°What makes you say that?¡± Noreen replied, only realizing as she spoke
37:25
that her lipstick had faded¨Cshe took it out and reapplied.
¡°Well, the project they¡¯re pitching tonight is still in the early stages, right? But Mr. Harcourt brought Director Lowell himself to meet with our Mr. Naylor. Isn¡¯t that a bit unusual?¡±
Unlike Molly, who seemed genuinely surprised, Noreen had seen it all
before.
This wasn¡¯t the first time Seth had shown special treatment toward
Bianca.
He¡¯d even apanied her to a minor funding meeting once, just for a small expansion project.
When Noreen left the restroom, she followed Molly back to the private
room to greet Mr. Naylor.
In business, you couldn¡¯t afford to miss any opportunity.
Mr. Naylor remembered her, even joked that she looked much better tonight than at the celebration.
Apparently, not wearing a cocktail dressst time had worked in her favor¨Cit made her more memorable.
Mr. Naylor, being from up north, could hold his alcohol.
Noreen yed to his strengths, raising her ss to toast him.
But he waved her off. ¡°You¡¯ve got a sensitive stomach, don¡¯t push it. Tea will do just fine.¡±
Tea made for better conversation anyway.
Besides, she¡¯d already had more than enough to drink¨Cany more would
have been torture.
Brushing off the difort, Noreen put on her professional face and started discussing her project with Mr. Naylor.
Hearing it was an Al initiative, Mr. Naylor looked confused. ¡°Is this the same Al project Director Lowell mentioned? She brought it up earlier, but
20.053
honestly, I wasn¡¯t all that impressed.¡±
Yes-man 118
So Seth had brought Bianca to meet Mr. Naylor for the sake of that Al Initiative Bianca was working on.
He really went out of his way¨Cpulling strings all over town just for her.
Noreen took out the business proposal she always kept on hand and handed it to Mr. Naylor, answering his questions with practiced ease. No matter what he asked, she had a ready, articte response for everything.
She noticed a new glint of appreciation in Mr. Naylor¡¯s eyes as their conversation went on.
By the time Seth returned, Noreen had nearly wrapped up her pitch.
After all, she was the one benefiting from his connections tonight, so she ¡®made a point of greeting him politely.
He acknowledged her with a brief nod, his eyes barely lingering on her before moving past to Mr. Naylor. ¡°What are you two discussing?¡±
Mr. Naylor had just begun to exin when Seth¡¯s phone started buzzing with message notifications¨Csomeone was clearly eager to reach him.
¡°Carry on. I need to reply to something,¡± Seth said, sitting off to the side. He pulled out his phone, his attentionpletely absorbed as he began responding.
Out of the corner of her eye, Noreen glimpsed the familiar profile picture lighting up his screen.
Bianca.
Well, that exined a lot.
He was so preupied with Bianca¡¯s messages that he was perfectly content to leave Mr. Naylor waiting.
Not that Noreen minded, of course. In fact, she was secretly relieved¨Chis
distraction gave her even more time to discuss her project with Mr.
1/3
20:25
Naylor.
And things really did y out just as she wished.
Seth barely said a word for the rest of the meeting, utterly absorbed in his conversation, a faint smile drifting across his face now and then¨Ctender, indulgent, so gentle it was almost jarring to witness.
In the seven years she¡¯d known him, Noreen had never seen this side of Seth before. The man who always drew a strict line between business and pleasure, who could go days without replying to her messages, was now neglecting important business and ignoring everyone else just to chat with the woman he adored.
It had never been Noreen¡¯s fate to inspire that kind of devotion.
For a brief, fleeting moment, she allowed herself to mourn the woman she used to be¨Cthe woman who had once loved so humbly, almost to the point of disappearing.
But it passed quickly. She tucked away the thought, indifferent now.
She didn¡¯t love Seth anymore, so seeing this double standard no longer stung. All she wanted was to throw herself, heart and soul, into her work.
The meeting ended on a high note¨CMr. Naylor was deeply interested in her project, and for the first time in ages, Noreen felt a glimmer of hope after all those months stuck at rock bottom.
When the crowd was finally dispersing, Seth¨Cstill busy texting¨Cstood up atst, put his phone away, and said goodbye to Mr. Naylor.
As soon as Mr. Naylor left, Noreen¡¯s smile faded. She was ready to head out without another word when Seth¡¯s voice stopped her.
¡°By the way, Noreen, where did you used to order my birthday cakes from?¡±
She paused, frowning, puzzled by the sudden question. ¡°Why do you
ask?¡±
¡°Bianca wants some cake,¡± Seth replied, his tone as cool and
???
20:25
disinterested as ever. ¡°I don¡¯t care for sweets, so I never paid attention to that stuff. I just remember the cakes you brought tasted pretty good. I want to get one for her.¡±
Oh. So it was for Bianca, of course.
Noreen managed a small, wry smile. ¡°You can give up on that idea, Mr. Harcourt. You won¡¯t be able to buy those anywhere.¡±
Seth¡¯s brow furrowed, his voice growing impatient. ¡°What do you mean, I can¡¯t buy one?¡±
Because those cakes were never store¨Cbought.
She remembered all too well. Knowing he didn¡¯t like sweets, she¡¯d gone out of her way¨Csqueezing time out of her packed schedule to learn from a baker, testing and tweaking recipes again and again until she finally made a cake he didn¡¯t mind eating.
But she¡¯d never told Seth any of this. So of course he¡¯d assumed she¡¯d just picked something up from a bakery.
And she had no intention of telling him now. It simply didn¡¯t matter
anymore.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, are you hard of hearing? I mean exactly what I said. You won¡¯t find it anywhere.¡±
Her voice was calm, but her expression was colder than the midnight air outside.
20.25
Yes-man 119
Seth stared at her for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice cold and low. ¡°Is it that you couldn¡¯t get it, or you just don¡¯t want to tell me? Noreen, you¡¯re happy to use my connections, yet this is the attitude you give me? Is this how you handle people?¡±
Noreen suddenly realized how much Seth loved lecturing others.
He was positively paternalistic.
She honestly didn¡¯t know how she¡¯d put up with it before.
Well, she certainly couldn¡¯t anymore.
¡°How I handle people is none of your business, Mr. Harcourt.¡±
A flicker of something darkened Seth¡¯s eyes. He narrowed them, his tone sharp with anger. ¡°And you think you get the final say on that? Who exactly gave you the guts to talk to me like this?¡±
¡°Dn?¡±
¡°Or Carman?¡±
With every name he uttered, he moved closer, crowding her space.
And with that, came that confusing scent that was both familiar and foreign¨Ca faint trace of women¡¯s perfume.
Noreen had smelled that perfume before. On Bianca.
She turned her face away, stepping back until there was a healthy distance between them. Only when she could no longer catch a hint of that fragrance did she finally look at him again, her gaze colder than ever. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not you, Mr. Harcourt, that¡¯s all you need to know.¡±
Seth¡¯s eyes narrowed further, his voiceced with mockery. ¡°Funny, your never used to be this bold.¡±
Noreen¡¯s reply was even, almost indifferent. ¡°Maybe that just means you
never really knew me.¡±
Her tone and expression were so calm, her emotions so steady, it was almost unsettling.
She hadn¡¯t even been away from Aurelion Group that long, yet she¡¯d already learned this kind ofposure.
Their unpleasant exchange did nothing to dampen her spirits.
Because¨CEastvale Corporation¡¯s Mr. Naylor had scheduled a meeting with her for the very next day to discuss the project in detail!
As for whether Seth managed to buy Bianca¡¯s favorite cake, Noreen didn¡¯t know, and frankly, she didn¡¯t care.
The meeting with Mr. Naylor went smoothly. However, he did have one condition.
He wanted Noreen¡¯s team to put together a prototype first¨Ceven a rough one¨Cso he could evaluate it before deciding whether, and how much, to invest.
Noreen trusted Carman¡¯s abilitiespletely and felt sure Mr. Naylor would be impressed.
But the real problem was whether she had enough funds to support Carman in building that prototype.
Before she could get too anxious about the money, Carman called to say someone hade by the studio looking for her.
Noreen was puzzled¨Cshe honestly couldn¡¯t imagine who would go out of their way to find her there.
She hurried over, only to find Jennifer waiting for her.
¡°Surprised?¡± Jennifer greeted her with a warm hug.
Noreen nodded. ¡°A little! How did you even find this ce?¡±
¡°I was on a business trip overseasst week, but your project has been on my mind. My return flight had ayover in Rivercrest City, so I thought I¡¯d
stop by and see how you were doing.¡±
Once they¡¯d sat down, Jennifer gave her a concerned look. ¡°So? How¡¯s everything going? Still on track?¡±
Noreen gave a wry smile. ¡°You know as well as anyone, Mr. Shaw, starting a business is never easy.¡±
Jennifer tried to encourage her. ¡°Don¡¯t get discouraged. Sometimes you just have to hold on. After the storm, there¡¯s always a rainbow.¡±
It was the kind offort that could only go so far, but Noreen appreciated the sentiment.
At least Jennifer genuinely cared.
¡°I actually came for another reason too.¡± Jennifer pulled a check from her purse and ced it in front of Noreen.
¡°I promised I¡¯d invest in your project. Even though you haven¡¯t reached out to me since, I always keep my word. Consider this my investment.¡±
The amount was hardly insignificant.
One million dors.
Jennifer said, ¡°I¡¯m in as an investor only. I won¡¯t get involved in any decisions. If the project takes off, just give me a share of the profits ording to my stake. If it fails, well, that¡¯s the risk I¡¯m taking. No pressure.¡±
It was the most generous deal an investor could offer.
And it showed Jennifer¡¯s faith in her.
¡°Mr. Shaw, thank you for your trust. But I have to remind you, this project is only just getting off the ground. Getting in now means you have to be ready for the long haul with us.¡±
Yes-man 120
¡°I know,¡± Jennifer said firmly. ¡°Noreen, you¡¯re going to make it.¡±
Jennifer¡¯s investment was a godsend, arriving just in time to pull Noreen out of her financial mess.
Now, all that was left was to wait for Carman to finish building the first
prototype.
To take some of the pressure off Carman, Noreen personally started hiring for the studio.
She hadn¡¯t realized before just how expensive senior engineers were. Every time she signed a new contract, it felt like another chunk of her savings was bleeding away. Money was flowing out so fast, she could barely keep up.
Jennifer¡¯s funding was burning up much quicker than she¡¯d anticipated.
But she didn¡¯t tell Carman¨Cshe didn¡¯t want to stress him out¨Cso she kept her worries to herself.
Meanwhile, Mina had been stopping by the studio whenever she had free time, running errands, making coffee, making copies, even tidying up the space. But she was still a student, and Noreen didn¡¯t want her studies to suffer. She told Mina not toe anymore, assuring her that someone had already been hired to help out.
n n s 2 @ S =
Mina didn¡¯t believe her, because, up until now, Noreen had been handling. all the odd jobs herself.
She was only helping out because she was worried Noreen would wear
herself out.
It wasn¡¯t until Noreen showed her the actual job posting that Mina reluctantly believed her.
Truth be told, Noreen had nned to take the listing down after pacifying. Mina.
20:26
But that very afternoon, someone showed up to apply.
And it was someone she knew.
¡°Noreen, I missed you so much!¡±
Sophia swooped in for a big, enthusiastic hug, so exuberant that Noreen almost didn¡¯t know what to do with herself.
¡°What are you doing here?¡±
Seeing an old colleague made Noreen genuinely happy.
¡°Take a guess,¡± Sophia said, winking at her.
¡°You came to see me?¡±
¡°Nope. One more try.¡±
¡°You¡¯re not here for the job opening, are you?¡± Noreen frowned, voicing her suspicion.
After all, people only showed up here for two reasons: they were either friends or job applicants.
Noreen hadn¡¯t given Sophia the address, which made thetter option far more likely.
¡°Bingo!¡± Sophia shed her a broad smile.
¡°You¡¯re kidding me.¡±
Everyone knew that Aurelion Group was a powerhouse¨Ca safe, cushy ce to work.
¡°Why would I joke?¡± Sophia pouted. ¡°I¡¯m seriously here for the job. I told you before, but you didn¡¯t take me seriously. I¡¯m hurt.¡±
Noreen had honestly thought she was joking, so she hadn¡¯t paid it any mind.
Sophia¡¯s abilities were never in doubt¨CNoreen had actually mentored her during her internship at Aurelion Group.
2/3
20:26
So there was no need for a formal interview process. Still, before signing any contracts, Noreen had to ask why Sophia left Aurelion Group.
Sophia looked genuinely aggrieved. ¡°Because Mr. Harcourt¡¯s been blinded by love, that¡¯s why!¡±
It had only been a couple weeks since Noreen had heard that name, but it still sounded oddly foreign.
¡°What happened?¡± she asked.
Sophia finally exined.
After Noreen left, the chief secretary position at Aurelion Group had stayed vacant. Recently, Bianca had managed to get her own cousin ced in the secretarial department, and Sophia was told to train her.
But this cousin was utterly ipetent. Not only could she not do the job, but she threw her weight around, yed favorites, and turned the whole department into a toxic mess.
Noreen¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°And Mr. Harcourt? He¡¯s just letting this happen?¡±
He was always so strict¨Cit was hard to believe he¡¯d allow things to get so out of hand.
Sophia rolled her eyes dramatically. ¡°What do you think? That¡¯s Bianca¡¯s cousin we¡¯re talking about!¡±
Well, of course.
Seth cared about Bianca, so naturally he¡¯d tolerate her family.
Still, Noreen couldn¡¯t help but sigh.
To think Seth would let his personal feelings cloud his judgment like that. She and Sophia exchanged a nce, perfectly in sync as they spoke in unison.
¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time.¡±
3/3
Yes-man 121
Chapter 121
Noreen took Sophia on a tour around the studio, making sure she saw exactly what kind of situation thepany was in these days.
She was quietly hoping Sophia might change her mind after seeing the reality of things.
After all, thepensation she could offer was nowhere near what Aurelion Group could provide.
But Sophia was determined to stick with Noreen,pletely unfazed by the prospect of a lower sry.
She even tried to encourage herself, half¨Cjoking, ¡°Noreen, I know how talented you are. You¡¯re a real dark horse¨Cbound for sess! So I have totch onto you early. One day, I¡¯ll have to queue up just to work with you, you know!¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Alright then. Come in Monday. You¡¯re
hired.¡±
But before Monday even arrived, Carman brought good news.
He and his team had managed to put together the very first prototype.
For the first time in weeks, Noreen felt a weight lift off her chest.
¡°Thank you, everyone,¡± she said, ncing at the clock¨Cit was already past nine on a weekend night.
Yet her team was still at the studio, workingte. She knew how exhausting it must be.
So, as soon as she got home, Noreen turned right back around and headed out, determined to pick up some treats and snacks to reward Carman and the others for their hard work.
There weren¡¯t many bakeries still open at this hour.
But back at Aurelion Group, she had often done this sort of thing, so she was more than familiar with the routine and knew exactly which shops
20:03
keptte hours.
All that experience came from scouring nearly every bakery in Rivercrest City during her time at Aurelion Group.
She navigated the streets with ease and soon found an open bakery. As she was about to ce her order with the clerk, she ran into someone she hadn¡¯t seen in ages.
Zachary.
Seth¡¯s driver.
Zachary looked just as surprised to see her. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, it¡¯s been a
while.¡±
¡°Zachary, I don¡¯t work there anymore,¡± Noreen reminded him with a smile.
He looked a bit embarrassed. ¡°Old habits die hard, I guess. I¡¯ll try to remember.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t take it to heart, but she was curious as to why Zachary was at a bakery sote at night.
¡°Zachary, weren¡¯t you supposed to be watching your sugar? Buying cake at this hour¨Ctake care of your health!¡± she teased.
He hurried to exin, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not buying it for myself. Mr. Harcourt sent
me.¡±
Noreen frowned.
Seth never had a sweet tooth. This cake¡ was almost certainly for Bianca.
¡°By the way, Ms. Gilmore, do you have any rmendations for good bakeries? I¡¯ve nearly run myself ragged trying every shop in Rivercrest, but I still haven¡¯t found a cake that suits Mr. Harcourt¡¯s tastes.¡±
He sounded desperate. Remembering that Noreen used to handle these things, Zachary naturally turned to her for help.
After all, she knew Seth¡¯s preferences better than anyone.
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20.02
Noreen was caught off guard by his request.
Was Seth really going to these lengths for Bianca?
Why make poor Zachary, a man well into his fifties, run all over town like
this?
Bianca might be Seth¡¯s one true love, but she certainly wasn¡¯t Zachary¡¯s!
Where was the sincerity in that?
¡°I¡¯ll write it down for you,¡± Noreen said, unable to turn Zachary away. She jotted down the cake recipe she used to make.
She hadn¡¯t baked in a while, but the recipe and measurements were etched into her memory. She wrote it out with ease.
¡°Take this to Miss Ginny at Luna Patisserie and have her make it for you.¡±
Zachary practically beamed. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, you¡¯re a lifesaver. Thank you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. Don¡¯t mention it.¡±
Having helped Zachary, Noreen went about her own errands.
When she left the bakery with her bags, she noticed Zachary still waiting
outside.
Seeing her, he walked over. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, it¡¯ste. Let me give you a ride
home.¡±
¡°No need, I¡¯ll just grab a cab.¡±
Yes-man 122
But Zachary wouldn¡¯t hear of it. ¡°You¡¯re carrying so much, and trying to hail a cab in this wind? You¡¯ll freeze before you even get a ride¨Cnot to mention catch a cold. Let me take you home, it¡¯s no trouble.¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t refuse his thoughtfulness, so she epted the ride.
Inside the car, the heater was turned up, chasing away the chill from
outside.
A familiar scent of woodsy cologne mingled with the warmth, wrapping
around her.
Noreen frowned without even thinking. Why did it smell like Seth in here?
Then it dawned on her¨Cof course it did. She was sitting in Seth¡¯s car. Why
wouldn¡¯t it smell like him?
She nearlyughed at herself for being so irrational.
At least she didn¡¯t catch a whiff of anything else¨Clike women¡¯s perfume.
Zachary nced over. ¡°Where to, Noreen?¡±
She gave him her address.
¡°You¡¯re still as driven as ever, Miss Gilmore.¡±
She smiled wryly. ¡°Maybe I was just born for the grind.¡±
The drive wasn¡¯t far, and they made only small talk before arriving.
Zachary got out first to fetch the cake they¡¯d just bought from the trunk.
Before Noreen stepped out, she reached up and took down the small lucky charm hanging from the rearview mirror.
She¡¯d gotten it for Seth, after climbing ny¨Cnine steps at a church, praying for his safety.
20.02
When she¡¯d given it to him, he¡¯dughed, called her superstitious, said he didn¡¯t believe in that sort of thing.
Truth was, Noreen hadn¡¯t been a believer either¨Cuntil Seth¡¯s ident. He¡¯d escaped with minor injuries, but his car was totaled.
When she arrived at the scene to help, her heart had nearly stopped.
While looking after Seth during his recovery, she¡¯d worried constantly, even dreamed of losing him.
She knew there were no gods or spirits watching over them, but seeing him in that hospital bed¡
She¡¯d found herself kneeling, step by step, praying for someone, anyone, to keep him safe.
Because she finally had someone she couldn¡¯t bear to lose.
Now, she was taking that prayer back.
If love couldn¡¯t earn love in return, then maybe it was time to give it to
someone else.
Noreen had always believed in Carman¡¯s abilities, and she¡¯d been right.
Even their first lightweight prototype performed beautifully¨Cbetter than she¡¯d hoped.
Her confidence soared.
¡°You¡¯ve all worked hardtely, I think it¡¯s time everyone took a well¨Cdeserved break.¡±
¡°Hooray for Noreen!¡± someone shouted.
The team erupted in cheers.
They¡¯d started out calling her Ms. Gilmore, but Noreen had insisted on dropping the formality to bring everyone closer¨Cthough, truth be told, some of them were older than she was.
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¡°You too,¡± she said, pointing at Carman.
¡°No way. I need to handle the next round of updates and tweaks.¡±
¡°But you haven¡¯t taken a real break in ages.¡±
¡°I can handle it,¡± Carman replied, determined as ever.
Noreen knew better than to press further.
When everyone else had cleared out, Carman came up to her with something else on her mind.
¡°My old mentor calledst week. There¡¯s an Al Leadership Summiting up in Harborcrest City¨CAGI Innovation & Global Expansion. It¡¯s a big deal, with top minds from around the world. Tons of opportunities.¡±
Noreen perked up. ¡°You¡¯re thinking we should go?¡±
¡°If we could get in, it¡¯d be huge for our project. Problem is¡ we don¡¯t have
an invitation.¡±
They¡¯d just finished their first product. No reputation, no recognition¨Cthere was no reason they¡¯d be invited.
¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do,¡± Noreen said.
She asked around. The summit invitations were like gold
dust¨Cimpossible to buy at any price. Only the most qualified individuals andpanies could get in.
Finally, Jennifer pulled her aside. ¡°Why not ask Mr. Harcourt? He might be able to help,¡±
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Yes-man 123
Chapter 123
Aurelion Group had its hands in nearly every branch of tech, but it was their microchip division that truly put them on the map.
It was thanks to this very project that Seth had turned Aurelion Group into a powerhouse¨Ctaking it from ambitious startup to industry titan.
Compared to small fry like Noreen¡¯spany, which could barely get a foot in the door, Aurelion Group was a natural VIP at high¨Cend industry summits. Invitations to such events were somonce for them, they barely warranted a second nce.
Of course, the idea had crossed Noreen¡¯s mind before, but she¡¯d always shied away from the thought of having to reach out to Seth, even in a strictly professional setting. The mere prospect of any entanglement with him¨Cpersonal or otherwise¨Cmade her hesitate.
It was Jennifer who snapped her out of it.
¡°Business is business,¡± Jennifer had reminded her. ¡°Don¡¯t mix the personal with the professional. In this field, the circles are small. Sooner orter, you¡¯ll keep running into the same people, whether you like it or not. Acting awkward only makes it look like you¡¯re not over him.¡±
After their conversation, Noreen took a breath and dialed Seth¡¯s number.
He picked up faster than she expected, which made her suspect he¡¯d just been scrolling on his phone and answered without much thought.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, do you have a moment to talk?¡± Noreen¡¯s tone was all business.
¡°What exactly counts as ¡®having a moment¡®?¡± Seth replied, a hint of dry amusement in his voice.
There was something strange about his voice, distorted by the phone¡¯s speaker, and it struck her how unfamiliar it had be.
¡°I mean, am I interrupting anything important?¡±
20.02
Seth let out a softugh. ¡°And if you are?¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll wait until you¡¯re free,¡± she volleyed back.
Heughed again, this time sounding slightly exasperated. When he spoke again, his words were clipped. ¡°I¡¯m not busy. What do you want?¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t bother with small talk. ¡°About the summit¨CI need an
invitation. But I assume you¡¯re not just going to give one away for free.¡±
She couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d almost forgotten how much of a cutthroat capitalist he was.
Suppressing her irritation, she asked, ¡°So, Mr. Harcourt, what¡¯s your price?¡±
Seth¡¯s tone turned yful again. ¡°Noreen, I¡¯m craving some cake.¡±
Noreen frowned, barely keeping her annoyance in check. Cake? Yeah, right¨Cmore like Bianca wanted cake.
Who eats cake in the middle of the night and isn¡¯t worried about gaining weight?
Still, a deal was a deal. For two summit invitations in exchange for a
cake? That was a steal.
As for the cake itself¡ Well, bakeries were opente all over the city. She¡¯d just pick something up on the way.
Besides, those two were in the honeymoon phase¨Cso in love they probably wouldn¡¯t notice if the cake was store¨Cbought.
Seth texted her the address. It was a hotel¨Cof course. Leave it to lovestruck couples to keep things interesting.
Noreen arrived, gave her name at the front desk, and was personally escorted to the penthouse suite.
Back when she¡¯d helped Seth renovate his apartment, he¡¯d lived here for nearly half a year. Ironically, it had been Noreen herself who¡¯d hunted all over Rivercrest City to find a hotel that met his endless list of demands.
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She was used to being the stepping stone for others by now. This wasn¡¯t
her first time.
She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if¨Cwhile those two were tangled up in bed¨Cthey ever felt the slightest twinge of guilt about it.
A knock at the suite¡¯s door pulled her from her thoughts.
Noreen stood to the side, waiting.
A momentter, Seth opened the door, looking freshly showered in nothing but a bathrobe.
The deep V¨Cneck showed off a glimpse of toned abs. His hair was still damp, falling messily and softening the sharp angles of his face.
Spotting the hotel staff in the hallway, Seth pulled his robe tighter around himself, then turned to Noreen. ¡°Youe in.¡±
Yes-man 124
The server lingered a moment before leaving, casting a curious nce at Noreen¨Cone that was impossible to miss.
Once inside, Noreen set the cake down on the table without ceremony and got straight to the point. ¡°The invitation, please.¡±
Seth peeled back the cake box at his own pace, pinching off a small piece with his fingers and tasting it. He snorted. ¡°You just grabbed this from some random bakery, didn¡¯t you? Noreen, is that really the best you can do?¡±
She didn¡¯t flinch, not even a hint of guilt at being caught. ¡°Of course not! I bought it from that ce you used to love.¡±
He¡¯d never really paid attention to her cakes in the past anyway¨Cprobably wouldn¡¯t remember the difference.
Maybe it was her unwavering confidence, but Seth seemed convinced. He let the subject drop and, as promised, handed her the invitation.
Noreen snatched it eagerly, but her smile froze as soon as she saw what was inside. ¡°Just one?¡±
Seth leaned against the kitchen ind, shaking out his damp hair with casual indifference. The robe he wore hung loosely, cor gaping wide. Noreen let her gaze linger a second longer than necessary. Well, if it¡¯s free, why not enjoy the view?
His tone was still cool, but there was a mocking note beneath it. ¡°That cake you brought is worth one invitation. Understand?¡±
Noreen pursed her lips, wanting to argue, but before she could, Seth¡¯s phone buzzed on the table.
It was Bianca calling,
Seth answered instantly. His voice softened, warmer than it ever was with Noreen, a smile spreading across his face. ¡°Just got out of the shower. Picked up some cake¨Cwant me to bring you some?¡±
20.03
Noreen ground her teeth lightly, then slipped out, leaving the couple to their sweet nothings.
As she walked out, she ran into the server who¡¯d brought her upstairs. The woman¡¯s surprise was obvious when she recognized Noreen.
Noreen grinned. ¡°Surprised I¡¯m done already?¡±
The server hesitated. ¡°Well¡ yeah. A little.¡±
The next morning, as Seth left for work, the staff were changing shifts. The same server fromst night greeted him with a look that was hard to read¨Cpart sympathy, part regret¨Cand once his back was turned, she shook her head in disbelief.
Such a good¨Clooking guy, and he finished so fast?
Sophia didn¡¯t turn up until Monday afternoon, ming the dy on work at Aurelion Group.
¡°They piled on a bunch of tasks right before I quit¨Ccan you believe it? Absolute ve¨Cdriving!¡± sheined, barely through the door before the frustration poured out.
¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe how unreasonable Mr. Harcourt is. I told him I was leaving today, and he still made me run around all morning¨Cbooking flights, hotels, you name it. It was endless!¡±
Noreen raised an eyebrow. ¡°That took you all morning?¡±
Sophia huffed, exasperated, ¡°It wasn¡¯t just Mr. Harcourt! There was Director Lowell, Director Lowell¡¯s cousin, and even her cousin¡¯s boyfriend¨CI had to book flights for all of them! Are you kidding me?¡±
¡°That¡¯s seriously over the line,¡± Noreen agreed.
Seth¡¯s devotion to Bianca was truly off the charts.
¡°Mr. Harcourt¡¯s going to the ¡®Al Leadership Summit: AGI Innovation & Global Expansion, not on some vacation! What are all those people
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2003
tagging along for?¡±
Something in that sentence made Noreen pause. ¡°Wait¨Care you saying all those people are going to the Al Summit too?¡±
¡°Yeah, the whole lot! Just from Director Lowell¡¯s team, five or six are going¨Cnot to mention her cousin and her cousin¡¯s boyfriend!¡±
Wonderful.
She¡¯d had to beg for a single invitation, like it was some precious handout. But for Bianca, Seth was ready to give away everything he had¨Cheart, soul, and then some.
Typical.
Yes-man 125
Of course, this was Seth¡¯s business. At most, Noreen would roll her eyes and make a few sarcasticments¨Cnothing more.
It wasn¡¯t her ce to interfere.
Frankly, she couldn¡¯t even be bothered to care.
Right now, her top priority was figuring out how to get another invitation to the Al Summit.
Just as Noreen was fretting over the invitation, her phone buzzed with a call from Dn.
Dn had been swampedtely, and Noreen hadn¡¯t wanted to bother him¨Cnot even when money was tight. The idea of asking for his help
never crossed her mind.
She knew a bit about what was going on at Omniva Group.
Truthfully, Dn hadn¡¯te back just to take over thepany; he was here to clean up the mess left behind.
That¡¯s how family businesses went: after enough time, the problems just piled up.
The previous generation hadn¡¯t exactly been ster at the helm, and Omniva Group had been in steady decline for years.
If thepany hadn¡¯t been built on such a solid foundation, it probably would¡¯ve copsed by now.
Since taking over, Dn had been buried in old, festering problems.
So the first thing Noreen asked when she answered the call was, ¡°Are you finally done for the day?¡±
Dn let out a softugh. ¡°Almost.¡±
¡°Things going okay?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡±
It was the simplest conversation, yet for Dn, it felt like a weight had lifted off his shoulders¨Cif only for a moment.
¡°Are you free right now?¡± he asked, getting straight to the point.
Noreen said she was.
¡°Can youe by Omniva Group?¡±
She was a little surprised, but Dn exined, ¡°I saw your loan
application today and wanted to talk it over with you. If you¡¯re avable, could you stop by now?¡±
¡°Sure!¡± Noreen agreed immediately.
Truth was, it was just a small business loan¨Cnothing that needed Dn¡¯s personal attention.
But he was going out of his way to help her, and she wasn¡¯t about to turn down a gesture of goodwill.
On her way over, Noreen stopped at a nearby florist and picked up a small potted orange tree as a thank¨Cyou gift.
Dn had already told his staff she wasing. As soon as she arrived, his assistant greeted her and ushered her into his office to wait.
¡°Miss Gilmore, if you¡¯d wait just a moment¨CMr. Wilder¡¯s in a meeting and should be done in about ten minutes.¡±
¡°Of course. This is for Mr. Wilder,¡± Noreen said, handing over the orange tree. ¡°Maybe you can find a nice ce for it.¡±
The assistant took the nt, and since it wasn¡¯t anything extravagant, just set it on a windowsill near the door.
A short whileter, Dn emerged from his meeting. The assistant let him know Noreen had arrived¨Cand mentioned her gift.
Dn paused in the hallway. ¡°Where¡¯s the nt?¡±
The assistant pointed to the window by the office door.
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20:04
He picked it up and carried it inside.
When he entered, Noreen was flipping through a finance magazine in the waiting area.
¡°Hope you haven¡¯t been waiting long,¡± Dn said, carefully setting the orange tree in the center of his desk before turning to her with a warm
smile.
¡°Not at all.¡± Noreen lifted the magazine. ¡°I haven¡¯t even made it past page three.¡±
¡°So¨Chow¡¯s your projecting along? Things going smoothly?¡± Dn asked as he took a seat.
¡°Pretty well,¡± Noreen answered honestly.
¡°The beginning is always the hardest. Just take it one step at a time.¡±
Noreen grinned. ¡°Right back at you.¡±
It was clear Dn had done his homework¨Che already understood the basics of her project, but he still asked a few in¨Cdepth questions.
Noreen answered without missing a beat, her dedication obvious.
She even pulled out the first prototype of her product for Dn to try.
He was visibly impressed. ¡°This is just a prototype and it¡¯s already this good? Noreen, you¡¯re onto something big.¡±
Sheughed. ¡°It¡¯s still in the pre¨Ctraining phase, so honestly, what you¡¯re seeing now doesn¡¯t even scratch the surface of what the finished product can do.¡±
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Yes-man 126
¡°Impressive already.¡±
The more Dn explored the prototype, the more satisfied he became. ¡°Noreen, I¡¯ve decided to invest in your project.¡±
Noreen wasn¡¯t surprised¨Cshe had full confidence in her product.
Still, she asked, ¡°How much are you considering, Mr. Wilder?¡±
¡°For the initial phase, around five million dors. We¡¯ll see about further funding once we track its growth.¡±
Even with her confidence, Noreen was taken aback by the figure. Five million was more than she¡¯d expected.
¡°Thank you for your support, Mr. Wilder.¡± She stood and shook his hand.
¡°Mutual benefit, Noreen. Get the contract drafted and signed as soon as you can, so the funds can be transferred without dy.¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Noreen didn¡¯t waste time with false modesty¨Cshe needed that money to move forward with the pilot program.
They were in the middle of an animated discussion when Dn¡¯s assistant knocked and announced more visitors.
Jude had arrived, and he wasn¡¯t alone¨CBianca was right beside him.
Noreen arched an eyebrow, ncing instinctively behind them.
She half¨Cexpected to see Seth. After all, he and Bianca were rarely apart.
But to her surprise, Seth wasn¡¯t with them.
¡°Dn!¡± Bianca breezed in with a bright smile, but the moment she caught sight of Noreen, her expression stalled for just a second.
She recovered quickly, feigning nonchnce and ignoring Noreen entirely as she turned her attention to Dn. ¡°Hope we¡¯re not interrupting?¡±
¡°Not at all,¡± Dn replied.
20.04
Jude, on the other hand, was never good at hiding his feelings.
The moment he saw Noreen, his face twisted in irritation.
He didn¡¯t hesitate to go on the offensive. ¡°Why is it that everywhere I go, you¡¯re always there?¡±
Noreen remained perfectly poised. ¡°Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing.¡±
Her voice was gentle, utterly unprovocative, yet her words seemed to needle Jude, like a splinter under the skin. He nearly lost his temper right there. ¡°Noreen, don¡¯t forget the Omniva Group belongs to the Wilders! If I wanted you out of here, it¡¯d take me two minutes!¡±
Before Noreen could retort, Dn cut in sharply. ¡°What on earth are you doing?¡±
Jude instantly deted. He¡¯d never been able to stand up to Dn¨Ceven as kids, he¡¯d always been the underachiever, the family¡¯s ck sheep.
Now, with Dn firmly in control of the family business, Jude had no choice but to toe the line. He shrank back, scowling at Noreen in silent resentment, convinced she was a schemer¨Cgetting close to Dn with an agenda, just like she¡¯d once gotten close to Seth.
¡°Noreen is my guest,¡± Dn said coldly. ¡°Who gave you the right to act like this? Apologize.¡±
Apologize to Noreen? That was unthinkable for Jude, who¡¯d never respected her. But Dn¡¯s tone brooked no argument.
The tension in the room thickened, until Bianca stepped in with her trademark peacemaking tone. ¡°Come on, Dn, Jude didn¡¯t mean anything by it. You know how he is¨Che loves to joke around. He and Noreen go way back, it¡¯s just some harmless teasing. I¡¯m sure Noreen isn¡¯t one to take a joke the wrong way.¡±
Then, with a sweet smile, Bianca turned to Noreen, neatly boxing her in. ¡°Right, Noreen?¡±
It was a clever trap. If Noreen made a fuss, she¡¯d look petty. If she
20 04
brushed it off, she¡¯d have to swallow her pride.
But Bianca underestimated her.
Noreen found a third path¨Cturning Bianca¡¯s own words back on them.
She smiled serenely at Jude. ¡°Why would I take offense? After all, he¡¯s not a Wilder. Wasn¡¯t he a Harcourt before? Or has he changed hisst name again? I suppose he¡¯s collecting them now¨Cmust be aiming for some kind of record.¡±
¡°Hey!¡± Jude exploded. ¡°Are you calling me a turncoat?¡±
Noreen replied in the same breezy tone Bianca had used moments ago, ¡°Just a joke, Mr. Jude. Surely you can take a little teasing too, can¡¯t you?¡±
Yes-man 127
Jude was still fuming, though he kept his anger in check thanks to the warning look Dn shot him from across the room. All he could do was re at Noreen, shooting her several venomous looks when he thought no one was watching.
People are strange like that¨Che was only getting a taste of his own medicine, yet it was enough to rile him up.
Sensing the tension, Bianca deliberately changed the subject. ¡°Dn, that little orange tree on your desk is a charming touch. It really softens the cold, businesslike vibe in here, adds a bit of warmth and life.¡±
¡°And besides,¡± she added, ¡°citrus always symbolizes good fortune.¡±
Jude, ever the sycophant, jumped at the chance to agree. ¡°Absolutely! I noticed it the moment I walked in. It¡¯s so elegant.¡±
Dn looked genuinely pleased. ¡°Right? Nice, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Only after both Bianca and Jude nodded did he continue, taking his time. ¡°Noreen brought it in, actually. I thought it was unique, so I kept it here.¡±
The room fell quiet for nearly half a minute.
Bianca didn¡¯t spare the nt another nce. She dove straight into business. ¡°Dn, I actually wanted to ask you about the new funding
round.¡±
Dn replied, ¡°You should just have the project manager talk directly to the bank rep. No need for you to make a special trip.¡±
She smiled, a little too casually. ¡°I just thought it¡¯s been a while since we caught up. Maybe we could grab a bite together.¡±
She paused, her gaze flickering over Noreen¨Csubtle, but pointed. ¡°Seth will join uster, by the way.¡±
¡°He was supposed toe with me, but something came upst minute. He said he¡¯d pick me up after he¡¯s done.¡±
20:04
Noreen flipped a page in her business magazine, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.
Bianca was convinced Noreen was just putting on a calm front.
In reality, Noreen was perfectlyposed. Of course she¡¯d caught Bianca¡¯s meaning, but it only confirmed what she¡¯d suspected: Bianca and Seth were still as inseparable as ever. Clingy, really.
Dn checked his watch¨Cit was lunchtime. He turned to Noreen. ¡°Noreen, want to grab lunch with us?¡±
She closed her magazine. ¡°Another time. I¡¯ve got ns today, and it¡¯s gettingte, so I¡¯ll head out.¡±
No way was she about to let them ruin her appetite.
Dn didn¡¯t press. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡±
¡°No need. You should get back to work,¡± Noreen declined politely.
¡°Alright. Let¡¯s get together another time.¡±
The moment Noreen left, Jude couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Dn, I really think you should keep your distance from Noreen. That woman isn¡¯t as simple as she looks.¡±
Dn didn¡¯t seem to hear a word, busy spritzing the orange tree with a spray bottle.
Jude grew more agitated. ¡°Dn! I¡¯m talking to you! Be careful around her¨Cshe¡¯s trouble! You know, she actually went out drinking with investors just to get funding for herme project. She¡¯s obviously trying to use connections to climb thedder. It¡¯s pathetic!¡±
He hadn¡¯t finished ranting when Dn aimed the spray bottle at him and gave him two quick squirts right in the mouth.
¡°Ugh¨Cpfft¨CDn, what the hell!¡± Jude sputtered, spitting water onto the
floor.
¡°Just cleaning you up a bit,¡± Dn replied tly.
20:04
¡°Alright, knock it off,¡± Bianca interjected, cutting through their bickering. ¡°Dn, I heard Omniva Group and Eastvale Corporation are interested in coborating on a tech project. Any inside scoop you can share?¡±
That, in fact, was Bianca¡¯s real reason foring to Omniva Group.
Dn paused mid¨Cspray, his eyes turning icy as he nced at Jude.
Feeling guilty, Jude quickly looked away.
¡°Don¡¯t put much stock in rumors,¡± Dn said, his tone suddenly breezy. ¡°People love chasing shadows.¡±
Yes-man 128
Bianca caught his meaning and didn¡¯t press further. It was still early¨Cshe had time. Besides, with Jude acting as her eyes and ears, she wasn¡¯t
worried about missing any important news.
Just then, Seth called, probably to say he¡¯d arrived downstairs.
She turned to the two men. ¡°Seth¡¯s here. Let¡¯s head down.¡±
¡°You go ahead,¡± Dn replied. ¡°I¡¯ll just shut down myputer.¡±
Jude started to follow Bianca out, but Dn called him back, saying he needed a hand with something.
Jude looked bewildered. What help could he possibly offer?
As soon as Bianca left, Dn rounded on Jude. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you? You can¡¯t just go blurting out confidential business info to outsiders! Can¡¯t you remember that?¡±
Jude looked genuinely wronged. ¡°But Bianca¡¯s not an outsider! We all grew up together¨Cshe almost married into the Wilder family, for God¡¯s sake. How can you say she¡¯s an outsider?¡±
¡°You¡¯re overthinking it,¡± Dn replied, cool and dismissive.
¡°What do you mean, overthinking? You two were together for years. If you hadn¡¯t broken up, you¡¯d probably have a kid by now!¡±
¡°There have been plenty of women I¡¯ve dated. Am I supposed to marry them all?¡±
Jude was at a loss for words.
Outside.
Bianca stepped out of the office and happened to see Dn¡¯s secretary moving boxes. Something familiar caught her eye, and she paused.
¡°Hold on,¡± she called out to the secretary.
She picked up an unopened box from the stack, turning it over in her
200
hands. Once she saw what it was¨Ca gift she¡¯d given Dn at his induction ceremony back at Omniva Group¨Cher expression changed.
The secretary looked puzzled. ¡°These are just things Mr. Wilder doesn¡¯t need. I was going to move them to storage. Is there a problem?¡±
Bianca ced the box back in the carton, shook her head, and said, ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Sorry to trouble you.¡±
She walked away quickly.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, the wlessposure on her
face crumbled.
She thought of the little orange tree Noreen had given Dn, the one he kept on his desk and tended with such obvious care.
But the gift she had carefully chosen? He hadn¡¯t even looked at it¨Cjust handed it off for the secretary to deal with.
The double standard stung more than she cared to admit.
Meanwhile, Noreen had just left Omniva Group and spotted Seth.
The guy was, by any measure, striking¨Ctall, broad¨Cshouldered, a face that could stop traffic. Even in a crowd, he stood out. Women passing by couldn¡¯t help but stare, some whispering to each other.
¡°Did you see that guy? He¡¯s gorgeous. He¡¯s literally my type!¡±
¡°Mine too! I¡¯m so jealous of his girlfriend¨Cshe¡¯s really got it good.¡±
¡°I wonder if he¡¯s as strong as he looks. With those arms¡ let¡¯s just say, he probably knows what he¡¯s doing.¡±
Noreen cleared her throat loudly, reminding them they were in public. The women fell silent, looking away in embarrassment.
It was rush hour, and the lobby was bustling with peopleing and going.
Seth was standing by the entrance, eyes glued to his phone,pletely missing Noreen as she walked right past him. She didn¡¯t make any effort
20.04
to avoid him; even if he had noticed, she¡¯d have kept her head high. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong¨Cwhy should she hide?
After waiting a while without hearing from Bianca, Seth finally called her.
When she answered, his voice was warm. ¡°I¡¯m here. Come on down.¡±
Yes-man 129
Noreen¡¯s figure quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Momentster, Bianca came downstairs and immediately spotted Seth waiting by the door.
He looked uneasy, his brow furrowed¨Cprobably because so many people were paying attention to him.
Bianca quickened her pace, calling out, ¡°Seth, have you been waiting long?¡±
¡°No, I just got here myself,¡± Seth replied, his earlier impatience vanishing as he faced her.
¡°Did you see anyone you know?¡±
Bianca asked on purpose.
She and Noreen hade down one after the other, so there was a good chance they¡¯d crossed paths. That was why Bianca had hurried down.
Seth¡¯s answer was cool and nonchnt. ¡°No, didn¡¯t see anyone.¡±
¡°I thought you might have bumped into Noreen. She just left Dn¡¯s
office.¡±
Seth remained calm, barely reacting. ¡°I was calling you just now¨Cdidn¡¯t
notice.¡±
Bianca was more than satisfied with his response, and the corners of her lips curled up in a smile she couldn¡¯t hide.
By the time Noreen returned to the studio, everyone was still working
overtime.
They¡¯d finished the core of the project, but there was still a lot of testing and fine¨Ctuning left to do. After a single day off, everyone was back burning the midnight oil.
Wanting to reward the team, Noreen shared the good news about the
2004
Omniva Group partnership, and announced she¡¯d be treating everyone to
dinner.
They got to choose the restaurant.
After she¡¯d finished arranging for thewyer to draft tomorrow¡¯s coboration contract with Omniva Group, Carman came over with the name of the ce they¡¯d picked.
Willow Brook.
What a coincidence.
¡°How did you end up choosing here?¡± Noreen asked.
Carman exined, ¡°I think I saw you post about it online once. Looked nice, so it stuck in my mind. Is that okay? If not, we can pick somewhere else.¡±
Noreen shook her head quickly. ¡°No, this ce is great¨Cthe food and the atmosphere are perfect for everyone to rx. Let¡¯s round up the team and head out.¡±
She¡¯d only been surprised because she hadn¡¯t expected anyone to remember a random post of hers, especially from over a year ago, when she¡¯d helped promote Willow Brook¡¯s grand opening for the owner.
Carman had remembered all this time.
Some people are just thoughtful, she mused.
Not like Seth¨Cshe¡¯d mentioned things to him countless times, and not once had he remembered. He always managed to forget, or bail at the
The group arrived at Willow Brook.
As Noreen stepped out of the car, she noticed another group getting out of the vehicle parked next to theirs.
It was Seth and his friends.
20:04
Chapter
They spotted Noreen first. Jude frowned instinctively at the sight.
Bianca, however, was perfectlyposed. She slipped her arm through Seth¡¯s, gave Jude a bright, easy smile, and introduced the restaurant as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
¡°Seth¡¯s brought me here a few times. It¡¯s really nice, so I thought you all should try it.¡±
Jude immediately protested. ¡°You two are terrible! Coming to a ce like this and not inviting me? That¡¯s just rude!¡±
Seth shot back, ¡°What, so you could be a third wheel?¡±
Biancaughed, her smile sweet. She leaned in closer to Seth, almost without realizing it.
The two of them made quite the picture¨Cattractive, affectionate, and perfectly matched.
Noreen saw and heard the whole exchange, but her face remained neutral, betraying nothing.
It was Dn who broke the tension by greeting her, ¡°Here for dinner too, Noreen?¡±
She nodded. ¡°Yeah, bringing my team out to celebrate.¡±
Remembering their uing partnership with Omniva Group, she introduced Carman to Dn. ¡°Mr. Wilder, this is Carman, our lead
engineer.¡±
Then she turned to Carman. ¡°This is Dn, general manager at Omniva
Bank.¡±
They shook hands. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Carman said.
Bianca spoke up, her fone casual but eyes bright. ¡°I remember you. We ran into each other at a restaurant before¨Cyou and Noreen looked like you were on a date.¡±
At that, Noreen¡¯s brow furrowed.
DIA
20.04
The others heard too. Seth nced over at her.
Yes-man 130
Noreen hadn¡¯t been paying attention, so she had no idea what expression
he wore.
But she could feel his gaze on her¨Csharp, almost cold.
Bianca, meanwhile, seemed oblivious to Noreen¡¯s change in mood and kept talking, ¡°Honestly, I thought she and Dn were dating for a while. They did seem awfully close back then.¡±
¡°Miss Lowell, you certainly have a vivid imagination,¡± Noreen replied, her tone edged with steel.
Bianca rushed to exin, ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t mean anything by it¡ªit¡¯s just simple curiosity. I¡¯ve always believed that men and women can¡¯t really be just friends, so maybe I overthought it. If it bothered you, Noreen, I apologize.¡±
It was a clever little jab.
In just a few sentences, Bianca managed to paint Noreen as a flirt, implying she¡¯d been stringing along two men in the space of a couple of
months.
But Noreen didn¡¯t rise to the bait. Instead, she countered, calm and measured, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that everyone¡¯s opinions are shaped by the way they see the world.¡±
Bianca¡¯s smile faltered, and she unconsciously tightened her grip around Seth¡¯s arm.
Only Jude looked confused, ncing between them. ¡°Wait, what does that mean? I don¡¯t get it,
Dn knocked him lightly on the head. ¡°Just let it go.¡±
But Dn was fighting a smile.
He¡¯d caught Noreen¡¯s meaning, all right.
Those with dirty minds see dirt everywhere.
1/3
¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you were hungry? Why are we still chatting? People with sensitive stomachs should really focus on eating,¡± Seth interjected smoothly, gentlemanly as ever, steering the conversation away from conflict.
Without missing a beat, he handed Bianca an out, making everything look
easy.
Bianca¡¯s smile instantly returned. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m starving. Come on, let¡¯s head inside.¡±
She and Seth walked in first. Dn and Noreen exchanged a quick nod before following, and Jude snorted, then hurried to join them.
Within seconds, the entryway was empty¡
Noreen¡¯s brow furrowed. She pressed a hand to her abdomen.
Her stomach was acting up again.
After months of careful treatment, her chronic gastritis had improved, buttely she¡¯d been swamped with work and skipping meals, forgetting her medication¨Cnow her stomach was letting her know it wasn¡¯t happy.
When Seth showed concern for Bianca earlier, Noreen¡¯s gut had clenched unexpectedly.
Maybe it was just a reflex.
Or maybe she was just feeling queasy.
Either way, she felt awful.
Carman noticed she looked pale and stepped closer, concern in her voice. ¡°You okay? Want to try another ce?¡±
Noreen shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±
Compared to things she¡¯d been through in the past, this was nothing.
She pulled her jacket tighter. ¡°Why switch restaurants? This ce is fine. Let¡¯s eat here.¡±
20.05
She had no intention of avoiding anyone.
Why should she?
It was a team dinner, and Noreen did her best to keep the mood lively, just as she used to back at the Aurelion Group, where she¡¯d often organized these kinds of department gatherings. She was good at it.
The private dining room was filled withughter and easy conversation, the kind that drifted out into the hallway.
Seth¡¯s group was in the room next door.
Jude, never one to keep quiet, grumbled, ¡°It¡¯s just a small project, barely worth a few million. You¡¯d think we¡¯dnded a billion¨Cdor contract, the
way everyone¡¯s carrying on. Ruins my appetite!¡±
¡°Pipe down,¡± Dn muttered, nudging him under the table.
Seth didn¡¯t seem bothered and even had a drink. His allergy desensitization therapy was finally showing results¨Che could handle a couple of drinks at a work function now without issue.
Noreen¡¯s group lingered over their meal for quite a while.
At the end, she made sure everyone had a safe way home, organizing rides and checking in with each person.
She hadn¡¯t touched a drop of alcohol¨Cpartly to keep her head clear, and partly because Carman knew about her stomach troubles and intercepted anyone who tried to toast her, drinking in her ce until she was tipsy herself.
Once thest group had left, Noreen let out a deep breath.
She was about to call a/ride home when she realized Seth had appeared quietly behind her.
No one else was there. Just him.
Yes-man 131
Even Bianca, who was usually glued to his side, was nowhere to be seen.
Noreen didn¡¯t so much as twitch an eyebrow.
She hesitated for barely a second before deciding to ignore him.
But Seth spoke first. ¡°Noreen, drive me home.¡±
The words felt both familiar and strange.
Familiar, because he used to give her orders like this all the time.
Strange, because¡ he hadn¡¯t asked her for anything in a long while.
His eyes weren¡¯t as cold as usual; the corners were tinged red.
He¡¯d clearly been drinking and seemed to have forgotten she was no longer his assistant.
Noreen stood motionless, staring at him with utter detachment, as if he were just another stranger on the street.
¡°Noreen. I¡¯ve been drinking. Drive me home!¡± His tone sharpened¨Cless a plea, more an order.
Just then, Noreen¡¯s car pulled up. She got in without a word, right in front of Seth, and closed the door with calm finality, shutting him out
That night, Noreen slept soundly for the first time in ages.
The next morning, she stopped by the studio to draft the contract.
Sophia came in, all mysterious. ¡°Noreen, are you still short one invitation to the Al Summit?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡± Noreen nodded.
She¡¯d been trying to find a way, though she¡¯d already braced herself for disappointment. If she really couldn¡¯t get another invite, she¡¯d just send Carman¨Che was the tech expert, after all, and perfectly capable of
08 39
representing their work.
¡°What if I told you I have one?¡± Sophia teased.
Noreen didn¡¯t even nce up from her keyboard, fingers flying, clearly not buying it.
Sophia, frustrated that her suspense had failed, whipped out an envelope and dropped it on Noreen¡¯s desk. ¡°I¡¯m not kidding. See for yourself!¡±
Noreen picked it up and looked it over, her eyes widening. It was real¡ªan
actual summit invitation.
¡°How did you get this?¡± she asked, curiosity piqued.
Sophia grinned andunched into her story. ¡°Remember the day I told you I was quitting?¡±
¡°I remember.¡±
Seth had her handling not just his business trip but travel arrangements for Bianca and her whole entourage. Mixing business with pleasure, as usual.
¡°There was so much going on that day. I was managing travel for over a dozen people, prepping my resignation¨CI totally forgot to return this invitation! Only found itst night when I was unpacking my stuff from Aurelion Group!¡±
¡°You just¡ forgot?¡± Noreen eyed her skeptically.
Sophia could be scatterbrained, but not that careless. She¡¯d never have passed Aurelion Group¡¯s internship program otherwise. And with invitations this exclusive, wouldn¡¯t someone at Aurelion Group have noticed if one went missing?
¡°I¡¯m serious! I was supposed to go to the Al Summit with Mr. Harcourt in Harborcrest City, so I got an invite. And honestly, Aurelion Group gets these in stacks. They won¡¯t miss one!¡± Sophia replied,pletely unbothered.
That part, Noreen had to admit, sounded usible.
08:39
Sophia grinned. ¡°See? Even fate thinks we deserve a break. This is yours¨Cit¡¯s only fair!¡±
Noreen epted it without guilt. After all those years at Aurelion Group, this invitation felt like a fitting bit ofpensation.
With the summit sorted, she could finally focus on finalizing the contract with Omniva Group.
She wrapped it up in two days and delivered it in person.
Dn greeted her himself. His desk nt was thriving as always.
After reviewing the contract, he signed it right away and promised the payment would hit their ount within days.
Everything went more smoothly than Noreen had dared hope.
The next day, half the payment was already in their bank ount.
Yes-man 132
Chapter 132
This windfall was a lifeline for Noreen¨Cher previous funds had long since
dwindled almost to nothing.
As soon as the moneynded, she called an emergency meeting with the tech team at herpany. They needed to get the model trained and ready forunch before the uing summit¨Cno excuses.
But quantitative training required massive amounts of online data, so Noreen flew out to Northcrest to meet with Mr. Naylor at Eastvale Corporation. Eastvale had the most advanced andprehensive database in the country. If she could secure their coboration, it would dramatically boost the efficiency of her project.
What she didn¡¯t expect was to run into Seth and Bianca in Northcrest. The world really was small.
She arrived at Eastvale just around lunchtime. Seth had already invited Mr. Naylor out for a meal. Noreen figured it was just bad luck and she¡¯d have to try again another day.
But then Bianca, exuding graciousness, extended an invitation. As if the past had never happened.
¡°Seth, since we¡¯ve run into Noreen here in Northcrest, why not have her join us for lunch? We all know each other, after all.¡±
Mr. Naylor was on board¨Che¡¯d always been optimistic about Noreen¡¯s project anyway. But it was clear Seth had the final say.
He didn¡¯t hesitate, nodding at Bianca. ¡°It¡¯s your call. You don¡¯t need my permission for something like this.¡±
That kind of trust could onlye from a deep, intimate bond¨Cthe kind Noreen had worked seven years for, with nothing to show for it.
For a moment, she felt herself drifting, lost in thought.
Bianca beamed at her, all friendly warmth. ¡°Noreen,e with us?¡±
08:40
Chapter 132
Noreen didn¡¯t turn her down. After all, she was here for Mr. Naylor. If Seth and Bianca were giving her an opening, she¡¯d be foolish not to take it.
The group piled into Eastvale¡¯spany car and headed to the restaurant. While Noreen chatted with Mr. Naylor in the back, Seth and Bianca sat side by side up front. Noreen didn¡¯t mind the backseat, but she couldn¡¯t help noticing how the view of their heads together was oddly irritating.
Thankfully, the ride was short. Soon, they pulled up to the restaurant.
Seth got out first, opened Bianca¡¯s door, and helped her down¨Cthoughtful and attentive as ever.
Noreen was wearing heels that day; she didn¡¯t need any help, but it would have been basic courtesy for Seth to offer. Too bad he was never one for manners. Not that she needed him anyway.
At lunch, Bianca eagerly steered the conversation toward her own Al Initiative project, pitching it to Mr. Naylor. It didn¡¯t take Noreen long to realize Bianca was after Eastvale¡¯s database too.
As for Seth¨Che was there to y the perfect partner, smoothing the way for Bianca and backing her all the way.
Every time Noreen tried to speak, Bianca cut her off. No wonder she¡¯d been so generous in inviting Noreen to lunch¨Cshe¡¯d only done it to keep her in check.
After listening for a while, Mr. Naylor frowned slightly. ¡°Your project sounds promising, but the advantages aren¡¯t obvious, and the market seems rather niche¨Cmainly targeting corporate professionals who need help with presentations and documents.¡±
¡°Byparison, I think Miss Gilmore¡¯s project has broader potential and a wider market.¡±
Bianca¡¯s expression,faltered.
Seth jumped in smoothly, ¡°It¡¯s just a preliminary concept¨Cwe¡¯re still refining it.¡±
08.40n
With Seth and Aurelion Group backing her, Bianca quickly regained herposure. ¡°Mr. Naylor, your feedback is invaluable. We¡¯ll definitely make adjustments moving forward.¡±
Mr. Naylor, probably swayed by Seth and the weight of Aurelion Group, nodded his approval. ¡°When you¡¯re ready, just coordinate with our team directly.¡±
Just like that, she¡¯d secured support from a major yer, effortlessly.
Noreen couldn¡¯t help but recall the struggles she¡¯d faced hustling for investment for her own project, knocking on doors and chasing leads.
It was true: nothing stings quite likeparison.
Yes-man 133
Chapter 133
After Mr. Naylor finished his conversation with Bianca, he finally turned to Noreen. ¡°So, what brings you here today?¡± he asked.
Noreen finally had her chance to speak, and she wasn¡¯t about to waste it. She threw herself into making her case.
When Mr. Naylor heard that Noreen was also interested in the database, a frown creased his brow. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a bit awkward. I¡¯ve already promised
it to Director Lowell.¡±
Noreen¡¯s heart sank and she grew anxious. ¡°Mr. Naylor, we really need Eastvale Corporation¡¯s support right now. You believed in our product from the beginning, didn¡¯t you? Now that it¡¯s finally ready, we just need thisst piece to make it a sess. I hope you¡¯ll consider helping us
out.¡±
She poured Mr. Naylor another ss of wine and raised hers to toast him, doing everything she could to win him over.
But someone just had to spoil the moment.
Bianca, half¨Cjoking, chimed in, ¡°I¡¯ve heard you can really hold your liquor, Noreen, and now see it¡¯s true. You¡¯ve polished off half a bottle and you¡¯re still steady as ever. What¡¯s your secret? Care to share your tips?¡±
Before Noreen could answer, Seth spoke up first, his tone indulgent. ¡°Why do you need to learn how to drink? You don¡¯t. There¡¯s no need.¡±
Bianca¡¯s heart fluttered at his words, but she pouted yfully, ¡°You can¡¯t be with me every minute, can you? Sometimes I have to handle things on my own. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to know a thing or two.¡±
She shot him a teasing nce. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re not exactly a heavyweight yourself. If I learn, I can help you out when you¡¯ve had enough.¡±
She really was sweet and considerate.
No wonder Seth was so smitten.
08:40
If she were a man, she probably wouldn¡¯t be able to resist Bianca either.
Noreen, however, didn¡¯t let their little disy distract her. She kept her focus, still determined to convince Mr. Naylor.
After all, she wasn¡¯t Bianca. She didn¡¯t have powerful connections or someone to back her up. If she wanted something, she had to fight for it herself.
Mr. Naylor actually seemed to be wavering, but he¡¯d already promised Bianca. He couldn¡¯t just go back on his word, could he? Besides, Eastvale Corporation and Aurelion Group were strategic partners. He owed them
that much.
He looked at Noreen with genuine regret, ready to gently turn her down.
Seeing his expression, Noreen¡¯s heart dropped. Was she really going to leave empty¨Chanded this time?
Just before Mr. Naylor could speak, Seth suddenly broke the silence with an out¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cblue question. ¡°I heard Omniva Group invested in your project, Noreen?¡°,
The question was so abrupt, it caught Noreen off guard.
But Mr. Naylor¡¯s expression changed immediately at the mention of Omniva Group.
Seth gave a soft, mockingugh. ¡°So you really managed to get Dn on your side. I underestimated you.¡±
Bianca snorted too, her nce at Noreen openly dismissive, as if Noreen
had used underhanded means to secure Omniva¡¯s investment.
Noreen bit back her frustration. This wasn¡¯t the time for an outburst.
Keeping her emotions in check was a rule for surviving in the corporate
world.
She steadied herself, ready to try persuading Mr. Naylor again.
But suddenly, Mr. Naylor changed his tune. ¡°Actually, there might be
another way. We could allocate a portion of Director Lowell¡¯s resources
08:40
to you.¡±
Bianca¡¯s face fell, clearly unhappy about Mr. Naylor¡¯s sudden change of heart.
He quickly tried to reassure her, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, Director Lowell.
Eastvale¡¯s database is extensive¨Csharing a small part with Miss Gilmore won¡¯t affect your work at all. There¡¯s no need for concern.¡±
Bianca was about to protest, but Seth spoke first, agreeing easily. ¡°Let her have it. We¡¯ve got the best algorithm engineers on our side. This won¡¯t be a problem for us¨Cin fact, it¡¯ll just prove how good they are.¡±
Hearing that, Bianca rxed. ¡°I have no objections, Mr. Naylor.¡±
¡°Then it¡¯s settled!¡± Mr. Naylor said, delighted to have reached a win¨Cwin oue. He raised his ss to toast everyone, his mood light and
cheerful.
Yes-man 134
Noreen was caught between relief and worry.
On the bright side, the trip hadn¡¯t been for nothing. But she couldn¡¯t help fretting¨Cwould the resources that Mr. Naylor had allocated be enough to keep their project running?
After the dinner meeting, Noreen stepped out of the restaurant and immediately called Carman to update him about Northcrest¡¯s position.
Carman had been waiting anxiously for her call. He picked up so quickly that Noreen almost fumbled her greeting.
Before she could say a word, Carman rushed to reassure her. ¡°If we can partner with them, great. If not, I¡¯ll figure something else out. Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself, alright?¡±
He paused, sounding guilty. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have sent you out there alone. Maybe I shoulde over¨Clet me check for flights¡¡±
Noreen cut him off. ¡°Don¡¯te. It¡¯s all sorted on my end.¡±
¡°All sorted?¡± Carman sounded surprised.
Her tone hadn¡¯t exactly radiated victory. Noreen exined the situation honestly.
¡°That¡¯s no problem! I can work with that. Trust me, I¡¯ll make this go twice as far in my hands.¡±
Hearing his confidence, Noreen finally rxed. The trip had been worth it
after all.
¡°So, when are youing back?¡±
Work aside, Carman¡¯s real concern was for her.
¡°I had a couple of drinks at dinner,¡± she admitted. ¡°Not the best idea to travel tonight. I¡¯ll head back tomorrow.¡±
¡°You were drinking?¡± Carman sounded immediately concerned.
08:10
Chapter 134
¡°It was for work. I didn¡¯t have much choice.¡±
¡°How¡¯s your stomach? Are you feeling alright?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine, really. I came prepared and barely had anything.¡±
Carman still sounded unconvinced. ¡°Did you book your hotel already? Don¡¯t skimp¨Cpick a good one, somewhere safe with decent service. Have them bring you some hangover soup or something.¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t help butugh, cutting off his endless list of worries. ¡°Don¡¯t stress, I¡¯m not drunk. I¡¯m staying at a friend¡¯s ce tonight.¡±
Carman offered a few more words of caution before finally hanging up.
Just then, she heard Bianca¡¯s voice behind her, hushed as if trying not to interrupt, but loud enough for Noreen to catch every word.
¡°Looks like she¡¯s on the phone with someone close. Let¡¯s not bother her.¡±
Even after Carman had hung up, Noreen deliberately kept talking into her phone, stalling for time¨Canything to avoid theirpany. As she¡¯d hoped, Bianca and herpanion left her alone and drove off together.
Probably heading back to the hotel, she guessed, though she didn¡¯t pay them much mind.
Instead, she dialed ire.
ire¡¯s assistant answered, exining that ire was filming an all¨Cnight scene and wouldn¡¯t be home anytime soon. She told Noreen to go ahead and crash at ire¡¯s ce, not to wait up.
Noreen hesitated, then asked for the address of the filming location.
Once she had it, she called a cab straight to the set.
ire hadnded a supporting role in a crime thriller, ying a police officer¨Ca part with plenty of action scenes.
When Noreen arrived, ire was just about to shoot a dive from the ten¨Cmeter tform. She watched, heart in her throat, as ire took a deep breath and leapt, despite her mild fear of heights.
08:40
Noreen stood below, palms sweating, and asked ire¡¯s assistant why she¡¯d taken such a grueling role.
¡°The pay¡¯s good,¡± the assistant replied simply.
A wave of emotion washed over Noreen. Her chest tightened, and her nose stung with the threat of tears. She knew, without a doubt, that ire was pushing herself this hard¨Cfor her.
Yes-man 135
Noreen crouched by the edge of the pool, dipping her hand in to test the
water.
It was icy cold¨Csharp enough to sting her fingers.
Still, ire kept diving in, again and again.
By the time she climbed out, she was shivering uncontrobly, her whole body trembling from the cold.
Noreen didn¡¯t dare make a sound. The assistant had warned her¨Cif she
disrupted ire¡¯s mood, they might have to reshoot the whole scene.
So she kept her worries bottled up, waiting anxiously until the shoot finally wrapped. Only then did she grab a towel and hurry over to dry ire off.
¡°What are you doing here?¡± ire looked genuinely surprised to see her, but there was a spark of delight in her eyes.
¡°Don¡¯t talk. Just get changed first,¡± Noreen said, her eyes red¨Crimmed with
emotion.
Once ire had swapped her wet clothes for something dry, Noreen immediately took off the thick down jacket she¡¯d worn¨Cire¡¯s own jacket, which Noreen had borrowed on purpose just so she could warm her up.
After two steaming mugs of ginger tea, ire finally started to feel human again.
¡°If you knew this kind of scene was torture, why¡¯d you take the job?¡± Noreen grumbled, though she never stopped rubbing ire¡¯s hands between her own to warm her up.
¡°Because it pays well! And it¡¯s a big production¨Cwho knows, maybe this is the break that finally makes me famous!¡±
ire was an eternal optimist.
08:40
¡°If I make it big, you¡¯ll have to book an appointment just to see me. And when we meet, you¡¯ll have to call me ¡®Best Actress ire¡°!¡±
¡°Best Actress ire, if you get famous, are you going to hire someone to take me out?¡± Noreen teased. ¡°I know way too many of your secrets, after
all.¡±
ire lifted her chin with a grin. ¡°Depends on how you behave.¡±
Joking aside, ire didn¡¯t forget to ask Noreen how her business trip
went.
Noreen sighed. ¡°Comparisons will be the death of me. I talked my head off and practically downed a whole bottle of vodka, just to scrape a few
resources out of them.¡±
¡°What happened?¡±
So Noreen recounted the dinner meeting to ire.
ire was furious when she heard it. ¡°Seth again? Why does he keep showing up everywhere like a bad penny? He¡¯s still protecting that mistress of his¨Cpulling strings for her all over town!¡±
¡°Tell me about it.¡±
Just thinking about that night made Noreen¡¯s chest tighten.
With Seth backing her, Bianca was at ease the whole time. She didn¡¯t have to say a single ttering word¨CMr. Naylor just handed over the resources without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Noreen had spent the entire evening walking on eggshells, and all she got was a measly bit of support.
ire jumped to her defense. ¡°If Seth is so eager to bend over backwards for her, why doesn¡¯t he just hand Aurelion Group to her outright?¡±
Noreen replied, ¡°Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he did.¡±
Seth¡¯s devotion to Bianca had already gone far beyond anything Noreen couldprehend.
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08:40
ire rolled her eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that jerk anymore. When I make it big, I¡¯ll have your back. I¡¯ll be your rock, and we¡¯ll send all those scumbags packing!¡±
¡°Then you¡¯d better hurry,¡± Noreen said, blowing warm air into ire¡¯s hands. ¡°When I be a big shot myself, I¡¯ll make you an international star. We¡¯ll conquer the world together!¡±
¡°You make the future sound so sweet! Keep iting¨CI love your
dreams, and I¡¯m hungry for more.¡±
Three days after Noreen returned to Rivercrest City with new resources from Eastvale Corporation, Carman finally cracked the challenge they¡¯d been facing at work.
Using his technical prowess, he pioneered an innovative algorithmic framework that delivered a putational efficiency breakthrough.¡±
By employing a sparse activationwork architecture, he tripled their training efficiency and shed model inference costs by 60%.
This ¡°leanpute, heavy algorithm¡± approach meant their models needed far less processing power while still running at top speed.
The night he solved it, Noreen was workingte at the studio as well.
Carman rushed in as soon as he could, eager to share the triumph.
Ovee with excitement, he pulled Noreen into a tight, exuberant hug, repeating over and over, ¡°We did it, Noreen! We really did it!¡±
08:40
Yes-man 136
Noreen wrapped her arms around him in return. ¡°I knew you could do it!¡±
¡°I really believe our product is going to shine at the Al Summit!¡±
Noreen agreed wholeheartedly.
¡°So, Ms. Gilmore, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time we gave our product a proper name?¡± Carman asked her, his tone sincere and respectful.
Noreen smiled. ¡°You poured your heart and soul into this project. The honor of naming it should be yours.¡±
But Carman insisted, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your support, we wouldn¡¯t have made it this far. You deserve just as much credit.¡±
Noreen opened her mouth to reply, but before she could speak, Sophia piped up, her voice light and teasing. ¡°Oh,e on, you two! The way I see it, you¡¯re both like the product¡¯s parents¨Cone brought it to life, the other nurtured it. You both deserve the credit!¡±
As soon as she said that, the whole team burst outughing and started to tease them.
Carman turned bright red, whether from embarrassment or something else, and stumbled over his words as he tried to shush everyone.
Noreen, on the other hand, took it all in stride. ¡°Jokes aside, let¡¯s settle on a name for our product first. We still need tounch it before the Summit, after all.¡±
With a few simple words, she steered everyone back on track.
After some discussion, they finally settled on a name.
InnoCore.
Everything InnoCore
Noreen remembered a quote she¡¯d once read: ¡°In today¡¯s world, everything is InnoCore¨Cno need to ask for help.¡±
1/3
09:14
It was this phrase that had seen her through countless sleepless nights.
On those long, lonely hours before dawn, she¡¯d sit up and have quiet conversations with herself.
Gently asking herself to let go of certain things.
When the day came for InnoCore¡¯sunch, Carman invited the entirepany out for dinner.
He turned to Noreen and asked if they should invite the investors as well.
Noreen agreed, and personally called Jennifer and Dn.
Jennifer was out of town and couldn¡¯t make it.
Dn, on the other hand, epted right away, promising to be there on
time.
Just as Noreen arrived at the restaurant, her phone rang.
The contact name on her screen made her pause for a couple of seconds before she remembered who it was.
Sex partner.
Seth.
Why was he calling?
But¡
Who cared why?
Noreen ignored the call and walked straight into the restaurant.
Seth, who was usually impatient, seemed to have all the patience in the world this time. When she didn¡¯t answer, he called again.
She still didn¡¯t pick up. No matter how many times he called, she had no intention of answering.
Then Seth sent a text.
Noreen saw the notification but didn¡¯t bother to open it.
2/3
09:14
After a while, the phone finally went quiet.
Most of the guests had arrived by then, so Noreen called Dn to check where he was.
Dn said, ¡°I might be a littlete¨Csomething came up at thest minute.¡±
¡°That¡¯s all right. Take care of what you need to, just let me know when you get here.¡±
¡°Will do.¡±
After hanging up, Dn turned to the man lying in the hospital bed. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, how are you feeling?¡±
Wade replied, ¡°No worries, you go handle your business. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±
¡°Take care of yourself,¡± Dn said, rising to his feet.
Seth walked him out. Once they were in the hallway, he asked, ¡°Was that Noreen on the phone just now?¡±
Dn didn¡¯t try to hide it. ¡°Yeah. Herpany¡¯s having a dinner for the team, and they invited me as an investor.¡±
Seth was still holding his phone.
Before Dn answered Noreen¡¯s call, Seth had been calling her nonstop.
She hadn¡¯t answered once, nor had she replied to his messages.
Yet, she¡¯d called Dn personally to invite him to dinner.
When Seth returned to the hospital room, his expression was dark and stormy, his eyes cold and distant.
Evelyn looked up at him. ¡°When is Secretary Gilmoreing?¡±
Yes-man 137
Chapter 137
Noreen had a fantastic time tonight.
She hadn¡¯t drunk much¨Cjust enough to feel pleasantly tipsy, warm, and content. It was the most rxed she¡¯d felt in three months.
That feeling vanished the moment she saw Seth.
Time has a way of dulling everything, of changing even the things you thought would never change. Once, if Seth hade looking for her like this, she would have been thrilled¨Cover the moon, even.
Now, all she felt was disgust.
Before she could say a word, Seth beat her to it, his voice sharp. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer your phone?¡±
Noreen rummaged slowly through her purse for her keys, barely ncing at him. ¡°Didn¡¯t see your call,¡± she replied, deliberately nonchnt.
¡°You expect me to believe that?¡±
His eyes were dark, hiding a storm that threatened to break loose at any second.
She couldn¡¯t care less if he believed her or not. The fact that she even bothered to reply was already more courtesy than he deserved.
¡°Believe it or don¡¯t, it¡¯s up to you.¡± She finally found her keys and looked him square in the eye, her tone cool. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, would you mind stepping aside? You¡¯re blocking my door.¡±
Seth obliged, moving out of the way.
Noreen unlocked her apartment and slipped inside. Before Seth could follow, she mmed the door shut¨Cquick, sharp, and with finality.
It was clear she didn¡¯t even want to spend another second in his
presence,
But Seth was faster. He thrust his hand out to stop the door from closing,
09:14
probably thinking she would hesitate.
She didn¡¯t. The door mmed down on his hand, hard,
He let out a muffled groan of pain.
Still, he didn¡¯t let go. His grip on the frame was irond, determined to keep her from shutting him out.
¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡± Noreen snapped, her voice rising in anger. ¡°I thought we agreed everything was over between us! Whatever that was before¨Cwhether you admit it or not¨Cit¡¯s finished! From now on, you take your road, I take mine. We don¡¯t cross paths anymore. I don¡¯t care if we never see each other again!¡±
¡°In short, it¡¯s over between us. Done.¡±
¡°So please¨Cstop interfering in my life! Do you understand?¡±
Her words were sharp, almost like she was ready for a fight¨Clike she saw him as the enemy.
Seth looked stunned, caught off guard by her outburst.
He rarely ever let his emotions show. But this time, the shock lingered for several seconds.
His face darkened, eyes lowering, and the tension in the hallway became so thick it was hard to breathe. His hand, still caught in the door, was trembling from the pain, but he stood there, unmoving, silent.
Noreen had said everything she needed to say. She was done. With Seth standing right there, she closed the door in his face.
This time, he didn¡¯t try to stop her. He simply let the door shut, sealing himself out.
From that moment, they were separatedpletely.
For the first time, she was truly resolute.
It was as if she no longer cared. No matter how hurt he was, even seeing
his hand injured didn¡¯t make her waver.
09:15
Half an hourter, Zachary pulled up to find Seth.
He was standing outside in the cold night air, smoking with his uninjured hand, a shroud of gray smoke curling around his face, half¨Cobscuring his expression.
Zachary got out and hurried over. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, it¡¯s freezing out here. Come on, get in the car.¡±
Seth took onest drag and stubbed the cigarette out in the ashtray by the trash can. There were already seven or eight butts piled up¨CZachary realized he must have been standing there for quite a while.
Once Seth got into the car, Zachary asked, ¡°Back to the hotel, sir?¡±
¡°To the hospital.¡±
Zachary assumed he wanted to visit Wade, and was about to set the GPS for Wade¡¯s hospital.
But Seth told him a different address.
That¡¯s when Zachary finally realized ¡°Mr. Harcourt, are you hurt? Is it serious?¡±
09.15
Yes-man 138
Chapter 138
¡°Not dead yet.¡±
The voice from the back seat was heavy and dull.
Zachary stole a nce at Seth¡¯s face in the rearview mirror, careful not to
make it obvious.
He looked terrible.
It wasn¡¯t until they arrived at the hospital that Zachary finally caught sight of Seth¡¯s hand.
The injury was bad¨Cangry, swollen red bruises stretched from the back of his hand to his palm. One look, and it was clear he¡¯d gotten it caught in a door.
The doctor examined it, his tone grave. ¡°If it had been any worse, you¡¯d be looking at a fracture.¡±
A cold sweat broke out over Zachary¡¯s back as he listened.
Once Seth¡¯s hand was taken care of, he told Zachary to drive him to another hospital.
Wade was still awake, lounging on his hospital bed and flipping through thetest issue of *Forbes*.
Seth was on the cover.
The shoot had been done three months earlier, back when Noreen was still with Aurelion Group.
She¡¯d put together the entire look for the cover¨Cworking out every detail with the magazine¡¯s editors.
It suited Seth perfectly.
As soon as Seth walked in, Wade snapped the magazine shut and tossed it aside, feigning indifference, as if the whole thing bored him.
Seth bent to pick up the magazine and nced at the cover. ¡°Not a bad
1/3
09:15
photo, actually.¡±
Wade shot back with a sneer. ¡°All style, no substance.¡±
Seth was used to his barbs. He merely smirked and replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t I learn from the best?¡±
Evelyn walked in just in time to hear the two men trading jabs. She hurried to cut in, ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough, both of you.¡±
Her eyesnded on Seth¡¯s bandaged hand. Her face changed instantly as she gasped, ¡°Seth, what happened to your hand? How did you get hurt? Is it serious?¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a stupid ident,¡± Seth answered coolly, as if it were no big deal.
Zachary couldn¡¯t help but give Seth another worried nce.
But the moment Seth shot him a warning look, Zachary quickly turned away and pretended not to know anything.
¡°How does someone just identally hurt themselves like that?¡± Evelyn was skeptical.
But Seth insisted it was just a fall, and Evelyn had no choice but to believe
him.
Seth then asked about Wade¡¯s condition.
Evelyn exined that Wade hadn¡¯t had much of an appetite¨Che¡¯d barely eaten all afternoon, which was definitely not helping his recovery.
Seth frowned. ¡°If even your cooking doesn¡¯t tempt him, then I don¡¯t think anyone can make something he¡¯d actually eat.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not entirely true,¡± Evelyn protested. ¡°Noreen¡¯s soup always hit the spot for him. I¡¯ve tried to make it, but I just can¡¯t get it right.¡±
At the mention of Noreen¡¯s name, Seth¡¯s frown deepened.
After a moment, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll ask her.¡±
213
09:15
As soon as he left the hospital, Seth messaged Noreen.
Every message went unanswered, sinking like a stone.
For a moment, he wondered if she¡¯d blocked him.
But his phone didn¡¯t show any notifications or warnings¨Cthat meant she could still receive his messages; she was just choosing to ignore him.
Seth couldn¡¯t help butugh at himself. ¡°Little heartless thing,¡± he muttered.
Noreen, for her part, didn¡¯t let Seth¡¯s sudden reappearance ruffle her daily life.
She saw his messages, but had no desire to open them.
She simply ignored them, not even curious enough to tap for a peek. At work, the internal test data for InnoCore¡¯s lightweight model was unexpectedly good, boosting the whole project team¡¯s confidence.
Everyone was hoping InnoCore would shine at the uing Al Summit. The day before her business trip, Noreen took Rosalind to the hospital for a post¨Cop checkup.
While waiting for the results, she ran into Evelyn.
¡°Noreen?¡± Evelyn¡¯s face lit up with surprise and delight. ¡°Finally, you¡¯vee to visit Mr. Harcourt!, Seth keeps saying you¡¯re busy, and tells me not to bother you.¡±
Noreen hesitated, then asked, ¡°Mr. Harcourt is sick?¡±
0915
Yes-man 139
Chapter 139
Noreen ended up visiting Wade after all.
But it wasn¡¯t because of Seth.
Setting Seth aside, Wade had always treated her well enough.
In fact, apart from Rosalind, he was the only elder who ever sent her a holiday gift at New Year¡¯s.
So, both out of gratitude and propriety, she figured she owed him a visit.
After dropping Rosalind off at home, Noreen made her way to Wade¡¯s ce, taking a small detour to pick up his favorite pastries.
Wade¡¯s usually fr¨°sty demeanor thawed a little when he saw her.
He ate two pieces before finally asking how she¡¯d beentely.
Noreen told him she¡¯d left Aurelion Group and started working on independent projects.
So far, things were moving forward pretty well.
Wade didn¡¯t ask why she¡¯d left her old job, nor did he mention anything
about her and Seth.
He focused entirely on her new project, wanting to know the details.
Noreen answered honestly, leaving nothing out.
He listened, gave her a nod of approval, and offered several constructive suggestions.
After all, before his ident, Wade had been a legend in the business world.
Back in his prime, he¡¯d led Harcourt Group to meteoric sess in just five
years.
From real estate to tech, every investment hit the crest of the wave.
09:15
At its height, Harcourt Group¡¯s valuation soared to eighty billion dors.
But not long after, disaster struck the Harcourt family.
Mrs. Harcourt, the group¡¯s CFO, was arrested abroad during a business trip¨Ccharged with ¡°bank fraud¡± by the local authorities.
Wade spent everything he had to try and save her.
But all he got in the end was her ashes.
After that, Wade was never the same. Harcourt Group began its decline.
It wasn¡¯t long before Wade was in a car ident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
He stepped down from dozens of executive roles after his release from the hospital, retiring from business for good and withdrawing from the world.
Still, the impact and achievements from his heyday were undeniable.
When a giant falls, the world shifts.
Harcourt Group¡¯s legacy continued to shape the businessndscape for
years.
Getting advice from Wade was a privilege most people could only drea of.
After going over Noreen¡¯s strategic n, Wade asked about her project¡¯s funding.
She didn¡¯t hide anything, giving him a straightforward summary of her
current status.
Wade paused for a moment, deep in thought, before speaking. ¡°After you¡¯re back from the summit,e see me. I¡¯ll introduce you to some friends.¡±
Noreen¡¯s heart skipped a beat.
Wade¡¯s friends¡ Every single one of them was a titan in the business
09-15
world.
When Seth had started his ownpany, Wade hadn¡¯t even lifted a finger
to help.
So after a moment¡¯s hesitation, Noreen decided to be honest. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, Seth and I have broken up.¡±
What she meant was: I¡¯m an outsider now.
He had no reason to help her.
Wade snorted. ¡°Good. A man like him deserves to grow old alone.¡±
Noreen was speechless.
A real father, through and through.
As she was leaving, Evelyn insisted on walking her out, mumbling questions about her and Seth.
¡°Evelyn, we really did break up. He¡¯s got someone else he likes now,¡± Noreen said, exhausted by the exnation.
Evelyn was adamant. ¡°No way! Seth would never fall for anyone else! He-¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, ask him yourself.¡±
Not wanting to drag it out, Noreen made her excuses and hurried off.
ca
Just as she reached the hospital entrance, she spotted Seth and walking in together, deep in conversation, oblivious to Noreen across the lobby.
But she did notice the bandages wrapped around Seth¡¯s right hand.
Looked likest night¡¯s injury was more serious than she¡¯d thought.
world.
When Seth had started his ownpany, Wade hadn¡¯t even lifted a finger to help.
So after a moment¡¯s hesitation, Noreen decided to be honest. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, Seth and I have broken up.¡±
What she meant was: I¡¯m an outsider now.
He had no reason to help her.
Wade snorted. ¡°Good. A man like him deserves to grow old alone.¡±
Noreen was speechless.
A real father, through and through.
As she was leaving, Evelyn insisted on walking her out, mumbling questions about her and Seth.
¡°Evelyn, we really did break up. He¡¯s got someone else he likes now,¡± Noreen said, exhausted by the exnation.
Evelyn was adamant. ¡°No way! Seth would never fall for anyone else!
He-¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, ask him yourself.¡±
Not wanting to drag it out, Noreen made her excuses and hurried off.
Just as she reached the hospital entrance, she spotted Seth and Beca walking in together, deep in conversation, oblivious to Noreen across the lobby.
But she did notice the bandages wrapped around Seth¡¯s right hand.
Looked likest night¡¯s injury was more serious than she¡¯d thought.
Yes-man 140
Even so, he insisted on apanying his ¡°first love¡± to the hospital.
If only I¡¯d tripped himst night, Noreen thought ruefully. Let¡¯s see if he¡¯d still be running around for her.
Outside the hospital, the weather had cleared. A rare patch of winter sunlight bathed Rivercrest City, warming the pavement and brightening
the air.
Noreen tilted her face upward, letting the gentle sun brush her cheeks, a mocking smile tugging at her lips.
Impossible? Please. People¡¯s hearts are fickle by nature.
That was the lesson she¡¯d learned: she could understand, ept, resolve, and¨Cmost importantly¨Clet go.
Noreen and Carman¡¯s business trip fell on a weekend. Mina had rushed over from college, cornering Carman in his office for a long, excited chat. ¡°Bro, this is a golden opportunity¨Cyou have to seize it!¡±
¡°My chance to call someone ¡®sister¨Cinw¡® depends entirely on you!¡±
¡°Remember, it has to be a proper confession. There must be flowers! That way she¡¯ll know how much you care.¡±
¡°In short, good luck! I¡¯ll be waiting for your triumphant return to Riverci est City!¡±
Carman was starting to get flustered by her enthusiasm. ¡°But¡ what if she turns me down?¡±
¡°Then try again!¡± Mina shot back without missing a beat.
He hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m just worried she¡¯ll feel awkward and we won¡¯t even be friends anymore.¡±
That was his real fear.
Mina nearly exploded with impatience. ¡°Can¡¯t you just grow a thicker
skin? Besides, she¡¯s your business partner now¨Cdo you really think she¡¯s going to disappear on you?¡±
Carman had to admit she had a point. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll do my best.¡±
They¡¯d booked economy ss seats, and Carman worried Noreen wouldn¡¯t befortable. He tried to upgrade her ticket.
But Noreen declined with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve always flown economy for work trips¨Cit¡¯s fine. You workedtest night and barely got any rest. Use this chance to catch up on sleep.¡±
With that, she pulled on her eye mask and snuggled into her seat, determined to get some shut¨Ceye.
But the people in the row ahead wouldn¡¯t stop talking.
Their voices weren¡¯t loud, but they were close enough for Noreen to hear every word.
¡°Why didn¡¯t your cousin book us business ss? These economy seats are so cramped.¡±
¡°She tried, but business was full. My cousin¡¯s boyfriend could easily afford it. If it weren¡¯t for the summit restricting private flights, we¡¯d be on a jet right now!¡±
-The woman next to him spoke soothingly.
¡°And listen, my cousin¡¯s boyfriend really spoils her. He just bought her a mansion in Laurel Heights¨Cyou know, the exclusive estate! Cost over ten million! He¡¯s so generous.¡±
Laurel Heights Estate?/
The name was too familiar. Noreen¡¯s attention sharpened.
So she¡¯d underestimated Seth.
She¡¯d assumed he¡¯d bought Bianca a five or six million dor
no5
house¨Cturns out, it was the crown jewel of Laurel Heights.
Makes sense, she thought bitterly. Anything cheaper would be beneath him. Of course he¡¯d buy the very best.
That meant these two in the row ahead were exactly who Sophia hadined about¨CBianca¡¯s younger cousin and her boyfriend.
So they really did tag along on this trip.
¡°Did you mention my business proposal to your cousin?¡± the man asked.
¡°I did,¡± the woman replied. ¡°She said it needs some work. You should
revise it.¡±
The man sounded annoyed. ¡°Her boyfriend¡¯s loaded. Even just a tiny bit of his resources would be enough to set my littlepany up for life. Can¡¯t you talk her into it? Men are always swayed by their girlfriends, right?¡±
She soothed him again. ¡°I know you¡¯re anxious, but don¡¯t rush. Once their rtionship is more stable, you¡¯ll get whatever resources you want.¡±
¡°What do you mean by stable?¡± he pressed.
¡°Like, an engagement or something. My mom said they¡¯re already nning it¨Cit won¡¯t be long now.¡±
Noreen stared at the back of the seat in front of her, lost in thought.
Seth and Bianca¡ already nning to get engaged?
Yes-man 141
Chapter 141
It happened faster than she¡¯d expected, but honestly, Noreen thought that was for the best.
If anything, it only confirmed 9:
Ver
In the past seven years, Seth had once considered having a real, normal rtionship with her.
Noreen slipped her headphones on, blocking out the world and its noise.
The people in the row ahead were still chatting away.
The man kept pestering his girlfriend, Lillian Laurent, for details about Seth¨Cprobably hoping to cozy up to him .
¡°So your cousin¡¯s basically marrying up, right? I mean, we¡¯re talking about Seth here. The whole Harcourt Group is behind him!¡±
Lillian couldn¡¯t help but sound proud. ¡°Of course she¡¯s marrying up, but honestly, my cousin¡¯s boyfriend absolutely adores her! I even heard he waited for her for seven years. Can you imagine? That kind of devotion¨Clove makes up for any difference between them.¡±
¡°So your family¡¯s about to hit the jackpot,¡± the man said, his tone heavy
with envy.
Lillian grinned. ¡°My aunt and I have always been close. If my cousin¡¯s sessful, I¡¯m sessful. Just wait until I¡¯m chief secretary at Aurelion Group; whatever resources you want, I can make it happen with a word.¡±
Her boyfriend believed every word.
After all, with Lillian¡¯s qualifications, she¡¯d never have gotten into Aurelion Group on her own.
But Bianca had put in a word with Seth, and Lillian got hired¨Cno interview, nothing.
If that wasn¡¯t proof of how much Seth loved Bianca, what was? He¡¯d clearly do anything for her, even looking after her rtives.
Chapter 141
Carman, listening from behind, frowned deeply.
He nced over at Noreen, debating whether to intervene and tell the couple to keep it down.
But he noticed that Noreen seemed unfazed by their chatter. With her headphones on, she¡¯d already drifted off to sleep, calm as ever.
Still, Carman tapped the seat in front, politely asking them to keep their
voices down so others could rest.
Lillian looked annoyed, but she knew she was in the wrong, especially in a public ce, so she quieted down.
The ne in Harborcrest City well after dark.
It must have been rush hour for arrivals; there was a long line at the taxi
stand.
Trying to save money, Noreen had booked a budget hotel, which meant there was no airport pickup¨Cshe¡¯d have to queue up with everyone else.
A cold front had swept in over the past few days, and Harborcrest City was several degrees colder than Rivercrest.
Worried she¡¯d catch a chill, Carman insisted on draping his coat over her shoulders. Noreen tried to refuse, but he wouldn¡¯t hear of it, so she
epted with a grateful smile.
Meanwhile, across town, Seth was staying at a luxury hotel, with a chauffeured car to pick him up from the airport.
He and Bianca had through the VIP exit, so they went straight to the
car, but traffic was a nightmare¨Cthey barely moved at all.
Bianca, growing restless, peered out the window and immediately spotted Noreen and Carman in the crowd.
¡°Oh, look¨Cit¡¯s Noreen.¡±
Seth, who¡¯d been absorbed in his phone, nced up at her voice.
¡°Traveling with Mr. Holt again,¡± Bianca remarked lightly. ¡°Looks like things
14:51
are moving fast between them¨Cthey¡¯re even taking trips together now.¡±
Seth didn¡¯t seem the least bit interested. He barely looked at them before returning to his phone, scrolling through his messages.
Bianca watched him closely, curious to see his reaction to Noreen being close with another attractive man. But he didn¡¯t seem to care at all¨Chis
response was as indifferent as ever.
A small, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Bianca¡¯s mouth.
The summit would be held on the third day, but Noreen and Carman had arrived a day early for other ns.
Carman¡¯s mentor was a VIP at the Al Summit. After trying out InnoCore recently, he¡¯d been so intrigued that he¡¯d called to ask Carman to to Harborcrest City ahead of time.
Yes-man 142
She¡¯d said she wanted to meet up and talk about InnoCore.
Originally, they¡¯d agreed to meet somewhere near the hotel where they were both staying, but the next day, the location was changed at thest
minute.
Noreen had done a bit of homework on Carman¡¯s mentor.
He was something of a legend in the industry¨Ca technical heavyweight who¡¯d trained plenty of students, though precious few had ever truly earned his respect.
Carman was one of the rare exceptions.
ording to Carman, his mentor was notoriously aloof and serious. Back at university, he had a reputation for being a tough taskmaster. If a student¡¯s work managed to impress him, he wouldn¡¯t even bother to give it a second nce.
Every graduation season, thement he¡¯d write most often on student
reports was:
¡°Don¡¯t go around telling people I was your advisor.¡±
¡°So graduating is basically the same as being cast out?¡± Noreen remarked with a wry smile. ¡°In that sense, he sounds a lot like my own professor.¡±
It was a rare moment for her to mention her own past, which piqued Carman¡¯s curiosity. ¡°What did your professor teach?¡±
¡°Finance. But I got kicked out of the nest too,¡± she replied lightly.
This time, Carman didn¡¯t pry further. Instead, he said, ¡°The most dedicated mentors are usually the strictest. Like mine¨Ceven though he¡¯s a distinguished guest at this conference, he wouldn¡¯t pull any strings or hand out invitations to his students.¡±
¡°In his words, ¡®There are no free lunches. If you want something, you earn
20:12
it yourself. That¡¯s why I never dared to ask him for an invitation.¡±
He sounded a bit guilty as he said this.
After all, he knew just how much effort Noreen had put in to secure those two coveted invitations for them.
But Noreen always had a more optimistic outlook¨Cshe saw things differently.
¡°Your mentor called you in early. Clearly, he thinks our InnoCore project is up to his standards.¡±
Carman agreed.
Noreen¡¯s spirits soared. ¡°I¡¯ve got a feeling we¡¯re going toe away from
this summit with a lot to show for it!¡±
Half an hourter, the car pulled up outside the meeting spot¡ªa high¨Cend
restaurant.
Carman was surprised. His mentor was famously frugal; why would he choose such an upscale ce for a meal?
Had there been some mistake?
He hesitated, then decided to call and double¨Ccheck with his mentor.
While Noreen waited patiently beside him, a sleek ck business car pulled up in front of the restaurant.
Probably dropping off some VIPS, she thought, and stepped aside so she wouldn¡¯t block the way..
What she didn¡¯t expect was to see Seth step out of the car.
He noticed Noreen too, but his gaze didn¡¯t linger. Turning, he helped Bianca out of the backseat.
Noreen calmly looked away.
Trailing behind them was Lillian, who bounced out of the car, talking a
mile a minute. ¡°I checked online¨Cthis is the most exclusive restaurant in
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20:12 #
Harborcrest City! It¡¯s exactly how the reviews describe it: ssy, elegant, and totally top¨Ctier!¡±
¡°Thank you, Seth, for making my wishe true!¡±
It was obvious she was addressing Seth, and he didn¡¯t object¨Cjust epted the title with an easy, practiced smile. Clearly, this wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d called him that.
¡°If you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s all that matters,¡± he replied.
Bianca nced over and finally noticed Noreen, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.
Just then, Carman finished his call and turned to Noreen. ¡°This is the
ce. We¡¯ve got the right address. Let¡¯s go in.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t spare another nce at Seth, Bianca, or Lillian. She walked into the restaurant with Carman, leaving the others behind.
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Carman¡¯s mentor, Jed Hollis, was around sixty, and just as Carman had described¨Cstern¨Cfaced and intimidating.
Whenever Carman saw him, he tensed up like a mouse cornered by a cat, back slightly hunched.
¡°Professor,¡± he greeted nervously.
Jed only gave a brief nod, but his gaze shifted to Noreen. He studied her for a moment before asking, ¡°Is this your girlfriend?¡±
Carman nearly jumped out of his seat. ¡°No, Professor, you¡¯ve got it wrong. She¡¯s my investor.¡±
Jed¡¯s expression softened a little. He clearly knew something about Carman¡¯s business ventures, and after learning who Noreen was, his eyes held a new hint of respect.
He even stood up to shake her hand. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Holt¡¯s mentor. Thank you for backing his project.¡±
Noreen rose quickly and shook his hand with both of hers¨Ca small but respectful gesture toward an elder. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Professor Hollis. I¡¯m just doing what any investor should.¡±
Jed disagreed. In his mind, an investor was more than just a
financier¨Cthey were a guide, a champion. Without a guiding hand, even the most talented would struggle to find their path.
Noreen and Carman had barely settled into their seats when the door opened again.
To Noreen¡¯s surprise, it was Seth who arrived.
Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be dining with Bianca and her family? What was he doing here?
This time, though, Seth hadn¡¯t brought Bianca. With him was Matthew Cole, the investment director from Aurelion Group¡¯s second division.
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Matthew looked genuinely surprised to see Noreen at a gathering like this. But with other people present, he kept his questions to himself.
¡°Mr. Harcourt,¡± Jed greeted Seth, rising from his seat.
He motioned for Carman to stand as well, then introduced him. ¡°This is Mr. Harcourt from Aurelion Capital. He¡¯s the one who organized tonight¡¯s
dinner.¡±
Turning to Seth, he added, ¡°This is my student, Carman. He¡¯s here for the Al Summit. I needed to speak with him urgently, so I asked him to join us directly.¡±
Seth waved away the formality. ¡°Please, Professor Hollis, there¡¯s no need to stand on ceremony. I know Mr. Holt as well. If I¡¯d known he was in Harborcrest, I would have invited him myself.¡±
Everyone understood these were just pleasantries. Still, Noreen couldn¡¯t help but notice the respect Seth showed toward Carman¡¯s mentor.
Clearly, Jed Hollis¡¯s status was formidable¨Cotherwise, Seth wouldn¡¯t have gone out of his way to host this dinner.
In other words, everyone at this table was a heavy¨Chitter.
Realizing this, Noreen immediately got up and made her rounds, greeting each guest, raising her ss, and exchanging business cards.
Jude might have called her a ¡°seasoned operator¡°-and, in this case, he wasn¡¯t wrong.
Years of navigating the business world had taught Noreen to seize every opportunity to build connections. She had no one pulling strings for her, so she had to rely on her own wits.
When she finally reached Seth, she simply put her phone away, skipped over him without a word, and returned to her seat.
Matthew Cole blinked in surprise. In all the years he¡¯d known her, Noreen had always been unfailingly polite¨Calmost deferential¨Ctoward Seth. This sudden cold shoulder was a first, and he didn¡¯t quite know what to make of it.
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Seth, however, didn¡¯t seem bothered. He turned his attention to the
summit¡¯s other VIP guests, discussing ns for tomorrow¡¯s event.
Noreen listened intently, aware that their conversation might reveal the next big opportunity.
Carman, on the other hand, looked a little lost. This kind of power¨Clunch was still new to him, and he struggled to find a way in.
Yes-man 144
Noreen always found the right moment to make ament, skillfully steering the conversation toward Carman.
It was usually something rted to work¨Can area where Carman` excelled, so he handled it with ease. The two of them yed off each other so naturally that it gave the room the easygoing air of a well¨Cmatched team¨Calmost as if work felt lighter when they were together.
Someone eventually teased, ¡°Are you two dating or something? You¡¯re so in sync it¡¯s uncanny.¡±
This time, Noreenughed and shook her head. ¡°No, we¡¯re just really good partners. That chemistryes from lots of time working together, that¡¯s all.¡±
Since Jed had asked the same question earlier, the jokes just kepting.
¡°Is it because the boss is around that you won¡¯t admit it?¡± someone chimed in.
Carman¡¯s cheeks turned pink. ¡°We¡¯re not a couple. Not yet, anyway.¡±
There was something telling about that ¡°yet.¡±
Thankfully, the teasing didn¡¯t go any further; everyone knew where to draw
the line.
Just then, Seth stood up and said, ¡°You guys carry on¨CI¡¯ll be back in a bit.¡± No one minded. Seth was footing the bill for dinner, after all, so if he needed to step out, who couldin?
After he left, Matthew Cole leaned in and exined, ¡°Mr. Harcourt¡¯s
girlfriend is having dinner here too. He¡¯s gone over to keep herpany.
I¡¯ll stand in for him and have a toast with you all.¡±
So that¡¯s where he¡¯d gone¨Cto be with nca.
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Even at such an important dinner, he still made time for her. The level of attention he paid her was truly jaw¨Cdropping.
Noreen, however, didn¡¯t seem surprised. She kept the conversation flowing, chatting enthusiastically about InnoCore and the future of Al.
Seth was gone for quite a while, only returning at the end of the meal to say goodbye to everyone.
As Noreen helped Carman to his feet, Seth¡¯s phone rang. His voice softened as he answered, ¡°I¡¯ming now.¡±
No one needed to guess who was calling¨CBianca, of course.
Noreen deliberately took her time, steadying Carman as they walked toward the elevator.
The elevator doors opened just as she pressed the button, and to her annoyance, Seth was already inside.
Nor¨¦en frowned. What were the odds?
Seth stepped to the side to make room.
She hesitated for a moment, then guided Carman inside. There was no need to avoid him. Besides, it wasn¡¯t as if he owned the restaurant.
Unlike most building elevators, this one was narrow and a bit cramped. The three of them stood close together¨Cso close that Noreen could catch the faint scent on Seth: a familiar note of women¡¯s perfume.
This time, she had nowhere to hide. She could only wrinkle her brow and
endure it.
Fortunately, Seth kept his eyes glued to his phone. He didn¡¯t look at her, didn¡¯t say a word. Between them, it was as if they wereplete strangers¨Cjust cold indifference,
The moment the elevator reached the lobby, Seth slipped out without a backward nce, clearly eager to see Bianca¨Cor maybe just anxious not to keep her waiting.
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Noreen took her time helping Carman out. He could barely walk, mumbling incoherently, ¡°I¡¯ll drink¨CI¡¯ll drink for her¨CI¡¯ll toast for her¡¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t help but sigh. With a tolerance like his, what was he
thinking?
At the restaurant entrance, Lillian and her boyfriend had ns to hit a bar, so they weren¡¯t joining Seth¡¯s group back to the hotel.
Bianca reminded her to stay safe.
As Lillian climbed into the car, she leaned out the window and called to Seth, ¡°Sorry for being your third wheel all day! I¡¯ll leave you two to your romantic evening now. Don¡¯t worry about me¨CDennis Ward will look after
me.¡±
¡°Have a great night, you two!¡± she added with a mischievous grin.
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Chapter 145
Thement had been loud enough, the hint more than obvious.
For once, Bianca¡¯s cheeks flushed. Only after Lillian had walked away did she turn to Seth, a little embarrassed, and tried to exin. ¡°Lillian¡¯s always been loud and straightforward, ever since she was a kid. Don¡¯t
mind her.¡±
Seth smiled, his eyes bright with amusement. ¡°Mind what, exactly?¡±
She hesitated, uncertain. ¡°Mind her calling you my brother¨Cinw, or mind her very public blessing just now?¡±
Honestly¨Cno sense of asion, flirting so openly.
Seth really had changed.
He used to blur every line between his personal and professional life, but in the end, even he had surrendered to love.
He seemed like a stranger, someone Noreen barely recognized anymore.
Maybe everything from the past had been nothing but a fleeting dream.
Maybe the man she¡¯d loved was only the version she¡¯d created in her head, not the Seth standing before her now.
Maybe she¡¯d just been moved by her own imagination.
Bianca seemed genuinely shy, unsure how to respond to Seth¡¯s teasing.
Just then, Noreen passed by, supporting Carman on her arm. She nced their way and, a little flustered, scolded yfully, ¡°Hey, there are people around, you know.¡±
Seth merely shot Noreen a detached nce before turning away, his expression unreadable.
Noreen didn¡¯t pause. She walked right past them, heading for the curb to g down a taxi.
Bianca looked at Seth.
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He opened the car door for her. ¡°Shall we?¡±
¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go.¡±
Right before climbing in, Bianca cast a fleeting look in the direction where Noreen had left, the corners of her mouth lifting in a faint, dismissive
smile.
She couldn¡¯t have looked more unconcerned.
Over the past few weeks, she¡¯d watched and considered¨Cand now she
was certain.
Seth felt nothing for Noreen. In fact, he was downright cold toward her.
There was none of that possessive spark¨Cmen sometimes had for
women.
So what if Noreen had spent seven years by Seth¡¯s side? Seven years, and he¡¯d never once acknowledged her publicly, never given her any official
status.
That said it all.
Noreen wasn¡¯t a threat to her¨Cshe didn¡¯t even register.
Bianca saw no reason to worry about her at all.
Their car circled the roundabout and drove right past Noreen, who was still waiting for a ride.
Seth quietly rolled up his window, sealing them off from the cold outside, then turned to Bianca with gentle concern. ¡°Don¡¯t want you catching a chill
from the draft.¡±
Bianca smiled, her voice warm and sweet. ¡°I know, you¡¯re always looking
out for me.¡±
¡°By the way,¡± she said, ¡°how did things go with Mr. Hollis today? Did you pitch the project I mentioned?¡±
Seth nodded. ¡°I did. He seemed impressed.¡±
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Bianca¡¯s confidence soared. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Here¡¯s hoping we get some good news tomorrow.¡±
¡°We will.¡± Seth¡¯s faith in her was unwavering.
His trust always gave Bianca a sense of pride.
After all, she was a PhD from WT Business School, a top talent Seth had recruited from abroad after several attempts.
Not someone an ordinary graduate like Noreen could ever hope topete with.
To even consider her a rival was almost insulting to Bianca¡¯s education.
Of course Seth didn¡¯t spare Noreen a second thought¨Canyone with sense would do the same.
Still, Bianca managed to keep her humility in check. She told Seth she nned to meet with her project team once they got back to the hotel, to make sure everything was ready for tomorrow¡¯s summit¨Cshe wanted to make Aurelion Group proud.
Seth looked at her with genuine concern. ¡°Don¡¯t work yourself too hard.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Bianca replied, ¡°just wish I could spend more time with you.¡±
He was as thoughtful as ever. ¡°Whatever you need, I¡¯m happy to support you.¡±
His unwavering trust left Bianca feelingpletely at ease.
Meanwhile, Noreen and Carman stood by the curb for nearly ten minutes before they finally found a cab.
Carman, half¨Csober from the chilly wind, felt a pang of guilt. He hadn¡¯t helped Noreen at all¨Cin fact, she¡¯d ended up looking after him.
¡°Next time I have to go out for drinks, I¡¯ll handle it myself,¡± Noreen told him quietly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to cover for me¨CI can take care of myself.¡±
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Chapter 146
¡°I know I can¡¯t really hold my liquor, but I still wanted to take a drink for you. I figured, if I could handle one for you, that¡¯s one less you have to drink¡¡±
Those simple words seemed to chase away the winter chill lingering over Harborcrest City.
Noreen didn¡¯t add anything more.
Carman was quiet for a long time before she finally asked, as gently as she could, ¡°Are you okay?¡±
Noreen looked a little puzzled.
Did she really look that bad?
Carman stammered, ¡°Just now, when the car passed by, I saw Mr. Harcourt. He rolled up the window right in front of you.¡±
Noreen¡¯s expression said she¡¯d nearly forgotten about it until Carman brought it up. ¡°Honestly, it doesn¡¯t really bother me anymore.¡±
She meant it, whether or not Carman believed her.
¡°In this world, no one can stick by your side forever. And there¡¯s no one you absolutely can¡¯t live without.¡±
¡°Life goes on, with or without anyone.¡±
The next morning, Bianca¡® was woken by a knock at her door.
Assuming it was Seth, she hurried over, only to find Jude standing there with a suitcase in tow, fresh off a flight to Harborcrest City.
¡°Surprised to see me?¡±
Jude grinned, his suitcase blocking the hallway.
¡°What are you doing here?¡± Bianca asked, genuinely caught off guard.
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¡°I¡¯m here to learn from the best, of course!¡± Jude craned his neck, peering over her shoulder. ¡°Where¡¯s Seth? Still asleep?¡±
¡°Yeah, he¡¯s not up yet.¡±
¡°Oh no! Am I intruding?¡± Jude pped his forehead dramatically, pretending the thought had just urred to him. ¡°I¡¯ll just wait for you guys in the dining room then! Take your time, no rush, don¡¯t worry about me!¡±
And with that, he wheeled off toward the elevator.
Jude ended up waiting in the restaurant for nearly an hour before Seth and Bianca finally showed up, looking far too rxed for the early hour.
Jude didn¡¯t ask why they¡¯d kept him waiting.
They were all adults here¨Csome things didn¡¯t need spelling out.
Bianca took her seat and turned to Jude. ¡°So what brings you to Harborcrest City?¡±
¡°I¡¯m really here to learn!¡± Jude insisted. ¡°Dad¡¯s always saying I¡¯m a good¨Cfor¨Cnothing, always nagging me to take a cue from the overachievers in Rivercrest City. So I figured, why note see what I can pick up from the best of the best?¡±
His ¡°role models,¡± of course, included Bianca herself.
After all, Bianca had a PhD in Economics from WT Business School¨Ca credential Jude could only dream of.
As a second¨Cgeneration heir to one of the country¡¯s oldest and wealthiest families, Jude had grown up with a sense of entitlement that was almost impossible to shake.
Anyone he respected was truly someone remarkable.
Seth made the cut.
So did Bianca.
Noreen, on the other hand, was never included in that category. Jude had
20.13
never bothered to hide his disdain for her.
In his eyes, Noreen had gotten ahead at Aurelion Group by relying on her looks and connections¨Cclimbing her way up to chief secretary through backdoor deals and favoritism, shamelessly aspiring to trade her way up the socialdder.
What a joke.
At least Seth hadn¡¯t fallen for someone as calcting as Noreen. He¡¯de to his senses just in time.
¡°Bianca, help your little brother out, will you? If I keep this up, Dad¡¯s going to cut me off for good!¡± Jude pleaded, only half joking.
Last year, his father had given him half a billion dors to try his hand at investing.
Jude, true to form, managed to lose it all in under a year.
His dad was so furious, he ended up in the hospital for a week, vowing to cancel Jude¡¯s credit cards and ship him overseas if he didn¡¯t finally get his act together.
Bianca couldn¡¯t help but smile at Jude¡¯s dramaticints. ¡°Alright, as it happens, I¡¯ve got something lined up today that should open your eyes. Watch carefully and see what you can learn.¡±
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Chapter 147
Bianca took Jude¡¯s request seriously¨Cso much so that she spent their entire breakfast coaching him on how to be apetent investor. She covered everything from finance basics to industry analysis, risk assessment, and strategic nning.
But most of it went way over Jude¡¯s head. The jargon sounded like a foreignnguage to him. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but admire Bianca even more. In fact, he was practically glued to her side, eager to help with anything she needed.
Whenever they got in or out of the car, Jude would dash ahead to open the door for her, bowing slightly and announcing with mock solemnity, ¡°Your Highness, your carriage awaits!¡±
Dennis watched this spectacle in disbelief. He knew Jude¨Ceveryone in Rivercrest City did. Jude Wilder might be the ck sheep of the family, but as a member of the powerful Wilder n, he was still someone people tried to curry favor with.
Yet here was Jude, practically falling at Bianca¡¯s feet.
Lillian, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t surprised at all. She took the opportunity to brag a little about Bianca¡¯s achievements.
¡°She has a Ph.D. in Economics from WT Business School,¡± Lillian exined. ¡°She worked at a top international bank, and Seth personally recruited her after several attempts. She¡¯s a senior executive now. Every line on her r¨¦sum¨¦ could put most people to shame.¡±
Dennis finally understood. If he¡¯d thought before that the Lowell family had just gotten lucky by forming ties with the Harcourts, he was changing his mind. A woman like Bianca¨Cbrilliant, highly educated, from a good family¨Cwas exactly the type of daughter¨Cinw any elite family would want.
He began to show Bianca the same deference Jude did. If Jude was her right hand, Dennis was quick to be her left, never missing a chance
Chapter 147
to ingratiate himself.
As they arrived at the summit, Jude could barely contain his curiosity. ¡°So, goddess,¡± he asked Bianca, ¡°what¡¯s this eye¨Copening opportunity you promised?¡±
She just smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough.¡±
Jude was practically bouncing with impatience. ¡°Can¡¯t you just tell me? The suspense is killing me!¡±
Seth spotted some acquaintances and went off to mingle, leaving Jude free to tag along after Bianca, pestering her with questions.
Meanwhile, Noreen and Carman arrived at the summit. They didn¡¯t have powerful family backgrounds or corporate connections¨Cno one spared them a second nce. But the conference was full of learning
opportunities, and the two of them kept moving around the hall, soaking up information and getting a feel for the market. It was a chance to listen in on thetest industry buzz.
Near them, a small crowd had gathered around one of the summit¡¯s most prominent figures, Mr. Rhodes. His reputation was second to none, so when he spoke, people listened.
¡°Have any of you tried InnoCore¡¯s new Al software?¡± Mr. Rhodes asked. ¡°It¡¯s incredibly powerful, with clear logic and intuitive interaction. It boosts efficiency and is easy to learn.¡±
He continued, ¡°Its reasoning ability already surpasses most people with poor logic skills. That¡¯s a game changer for education, and I believe it¡¯s destined to be a market leader.¡±
Some in the group shook their heads, but others nodded eagerly. One attendee chimed in, ¡°I was just about to mention that! The Drill¨Cthrough Analysis feature is outstanding. It¡¯s useful in medicine, finance, transportation¨Cyou name it. The potential is huge.¡±
¡°Do you know whichpany developed it?¡± someone else asked, curiosity piqued. Everyone who recognized a good investment wanted a piece of this.
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Mr. Rhodes shook his head. ¡°Not exactly. It¡¯s still in closed beta, and details haven¡¯t been released yet.¡±
But everyone there made a mental note. They¡¯d be looking into it soon¨Cvery soon.
Yes-man 148
Jude and Bianca overheard the conversation as well.
Bianca leaned in, offering him a bit of insight. ¡°Did you catch what they were just talking about? A good investor has to be forward¨Cthinking¨Cable to anticipate changes in the market and spot emerging trends. When an opportunity appears, you have to act fast and make decisions right away.¡± Jude didn¡¯t quite follow all the technical jargon, but he got the gist.
¡°So, you¡¯re saying this InnoCore thing is the next big thing everyone¡¯s chasing?¡±
Bianca smiled, impressed with his grasp. ¡°Exactly.¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to dig up some intel right now!¡± Jude said, excitement lighting up his face as he eagerly dove into the crowd.
Bianca finally felt like she could breathe again.
Truth be told, she was pretty intrigued by InnoCore herself.
She¡¯d have to talk to Seth about itter.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, someone approached with a friendly greeting.
It was a familiar face from a dinner she and Seth had attended a while back¨Csomeone from the Northfield Investment Circle.
¡°Director Lowell, didn¡¯t Mr. Harcourte with you tonight?¡±
Clearly, he was hoping to see Seth.
Bianca exined, ¡°He¡¯s here¨Cjust ran into some old friends and stopped
to say hello. He should be back any minute now.¡±
Hearing this, the executive smiled andmented, ¡°You and Mr.
Harcourt seem to have a wonderful rtionship.¡±
Biancaughed, curious. ¡°Why do you say that?¡±
Chapter 148
¡°Because he keeps you in the loop about everything! Men only do that when they really care about someone.¡±
Bianca felt a little thrill at that, warmth blooming in her chest.
Just then, Seth returned. As he came up beside her, Bianca slipped her arm through his naturally, the two of them now standing shoulder to shoulder as they mingled with the others.
¡°What are you two talking about, Mr. Wolfe?¡± Seth greeted the man.
Mr. Wolfe chuckled, his gaze flicking to their entwined arms. ¡°I was just asking Director Lowell when I¡¯ll be getting your wedding invitation! I wouldn¡¯t miss that celebration for the world¨CI want to share in your happiness!¡±
¡°Trust me, Mr. Wolfe,¡± Seth replied with a grin, ¡°your invitation will be one of the first we send out.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to hear.¡±
Their conversation continued, easy and cheerful,ughtering effortlessly.
Bianca couldn¡¯t help but beam, happiness written all over her face.
Watching from nearby, Noreen f¨¦lt a wave of irritation wash over her.
She¡¯d originally nned to make her way past this part of the room to find Carman. But now? Better to take the long way around.
No sense in crashing their happy moment¨Cbesides, what if she ended up with a wedding invite herself?
As she detoured, she ran right into Jude.
Clearly, she should have checked her horoscope before leaving the house today.
Jude, having just gathered some gossip, was hurrying back to Bianca to show off his findings¨Conly to bump into Noreen first.
His expression darkened immediately, and he bristled like a guard dog.
¡°Noreen! What are you doing here?¡±
¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I be here?¡± Noreen shot back.
Jude¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. ¡°Oh, I get it now¨Cyou just can¡¯t let it go!¡±
Noreen raised an eyebrow, amused. ¡°Let what go, exactly? Enlighten me.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t y coy. You tried to use your resignation to manipte Seth, but he didn¡¯t ask you to stay. So, to save face, you left Aurelion Group. Then, Seth handed your chief assistant position straight to Bianca¡¯s cousin, mming the door shut on any chance you had ofing back. Now you¡¯re desperate to stay on his radar, even chasing him all the way to Harborcrest City.¡±
¡°Noreen, you¡¯re so calcting!¡±
When he finally finished his tirade, he noticed Noreen simply nodded.
¡°Aha! I knew it!¡± Jude looked triumphant.
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Yes-man 149
Jude had expected Noreen to fly into a rage.
Instead, she just shed him a bright, amused smile and asked, ¡°I heard you lost your father half a billionst year. Is that true?¡±
¡°What¡¯s it to you?!¡± Jude snapped, feeling as if she¡¯d jabbed him right in the gut. He was instantly on edge.
Lately, it seemed like everyone who crossed his path had to bring up that humiliating episode. If he wasn¡¯t already half¨Ctraumatized by it, he was getting there.
It was bad enough he couldn¡¯t hold his head up around the Wilders anymore¨Cdid he really have to endure Noreen looking down on him too?
¡°I could show you a way out, you know.¡±
Her smile was dazzling.
For a second, Jude was almost thrown off by it, his thoughts grinding to a
halt.
He blurted out, ¡°What way out?¡±
¡°You should be a screenwriter. I think you¡¯d be perfect for writing those over¨Cthe¨Ctop soap operas.¡±
Meanwhile, Bianca stuck close to Seth, making the rounds and meeting
all sorts of new contacts.
Once again, she witnessed just how much clout Seth carried in the business world¨Ceven though he was one of the younger faces in the
crowd.
But at events like this, influence and reputation spoke louder than age.
It made Bianca even more certain that following Seth back home had been the best decision she¡¯d ever made.
20:13
Dn had been impressive in his own right; otherwise, she never would have followed him abroad in the first ce. But now, Omniva Group simply couldn¡¯tpete with the meteoric rise of Aurelion Group.
Maybe she¡¯d hesitated before. Now, she was all in with Seth.
¡°I really learned a lot today,¡± Bianca said to Seth when they found a quiet moment between handshakes and small talk. ¡°Artificial intelligence is definitely going to drive the next tech revolution. We have to seize the opportunity.¡±
Seth nodded, approving of her sharp business instincts.
Bianca¡¯s confidence grew. ¡°By the way, I overheard quite a few people talking about this Al software called InnoCore. I tried out the beta myself¨Cit¡¯s honestly miles ahead of anything else on the market, and it¡¯s not even the final product yet. I can see it making waves across so many industries; the potential is huge.¡±
¡°Interested in getting involved with the project?¡± Seth arched an eyebrow
at her.
Bianca nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d like to give it a shot.¡±
¡°Then go for it. I¡¯ll always have your back.¡±
That was Seth¡¯s answer.
!
The sweetness of it warmed her to her core.
From the moment she returned, Seth had always been supportive, no matter what she wanted to pursue. In her career, he was her biggest champion; in her personal life, he always seemed to smooth out every bump in the road. He made her feel safe¨Cmore than she¡¯d ever expected.
She felt a sudden urge to tell him how much it meant.
But before she could, Jude stormed over, muttering under his breath, ¡°What a disaster,¡±
Bianca tucked her feelings away and asked gently, ¡°What happened?¡±
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¡°Ran into Noreen.¡±
Bianca had seen Jude¡¯s deted look after run¨Cins with her before, so it wasn¡¯t hard to guess why he was so riled up now.
¡°Couldn¡¯t you just steer clear of her when you see hering?¡±
Jude bristled. ¡°Why should I? Who does she think she is?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not what I mean. I just think, if she always gets under your skin, maybe it¡¯s better to avoid her and save yourself the headache. Sometimes it¡¯s smarter to walk away.¡±
¡°And don¡¯t stoop to her level,¡± she added.
Jude liked that advice; the tension in his shoulders eased. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re the best, Bianca.¡±
And then, as if he¡¯d forgotten who else was there, he turned to Seth and dered, ¡°Seth, you¡¯d better treasure her. Women like Bianca don¡¯te around often!¡±
Seth rolled his eyes. ¡°Did I ask for your input?¡±
Bianca stifled augh and handed Jude a bottle of water. ¡°Alright, calm down. It¡¯s not the first time Noreen¡¯s put you in your ce; no need to let it get to you.¡±
But as she said it, Jude couldn¡¯t help but recall every time Noreen had humiliated him. He was fuming all over again.
Yes-man 150
He clenched his jaw in frustration. ¡°One day, I¡¯ll make her pay for everyst bit of this!¡±
With that, he crushed the empty water bottle in his hand, the stic copsing with a sharp crack¨Can obvious attempt to vent his anger.
Bianca watched his reaction, a silent, amused smile tugging at her lips.
Once Jude had calmed down, he remembered there was something important he needed to discuss with her.
¡°Bianca, I dug up some inside information on thatpany, InnoCore!¡±
Bianca¡¯s interest was instantly piqued. ¡°What did you find out?¡±
¡°Thepany behind this new smart software is based in Rivercrest City. It¡¯s actually a pretty small operation, only about half a million in starting capital. Looks like they haven¡¯t attracted much investment yet, so no one in Rivercrest has really noticed them.¡±
¡°If they¡¯re in Rivercrest, that¡¯s perfect,¡± Bianca replied, clearly pleased by the news.
Jude nodded in agreement. ¡°There¡¯s a product showcaseing up, right? Let¡¯s figure out a way to secure a deal with them directly!¡±
¡°Absolutely.¡± Bianca was confident, her tone unwavering.
After all, with Aurelion Capital and the Harcourt Group backing her¨Cand Seth¡¯s strong support¨Cshe had every advantage she needed.
An opportunity like this? Everyone wanted a piece of it.
No way they¡¯d let it slip through their fingers,
¡°Just promise me one thing¨Clet me be part of this. If I don¡¯t produce some real results soon, my dad¡¯s going to kick me out of the house!¡±
Bianca couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Deal.¡±
Hearing her agree, Jude finally rxed. For the first time in a long while,
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t
he felt like he was about to redeem himself¨Cthanks to Bianca bringing him into the investment. This time, he was sure he¡¯de out on top.
***
Noreen, on the other hand, waspletely unaffected by Jude¡¯s drama. Ever since she¡¯d made a clean break with Seth, she realized that nothing and no one from his world could shake her anymore.
Not even Seth himself could ruffle her calm.
Just as she finished meeting with Carman, Jed approached them.
He informed the two of them that after the product exchange session, there would be a special showcase for select products.
Noreen felt a flicker of excitement and immediately asked, ¡°Mr. Hollis, is InnoCore one of the featured products?¡±
Jed was a bit surprised by her sharp intuition, but he couldn¡¯t help but admire her insight.
¡°The list of featured products was selected internally and is still confidential, so I can¡¯tment on that,¡± he replied.
Smart people knew when to leave things unsaid.
Noreen understood perfectly and didn¡¯t press.
Jed, sticking to protocol, simply exined the rules and significance of the uing showcase.
But even without his exnation, Noreen knew exactly what this meant¨Ca once¨Cin¨Ca¨Clifetime opportunity.
This was a government¨Csponsored conference, gathering top industry minds and corporate resources from across the country. To have their product disyed on such a prominent stage was every innovator¡¯s dream.
They had to seize this chance.
Once Jed walked away, Noreen turned to Carman. ¡°Get ready to present
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our product on stage.¡±
Carman looked at her, curiosity written on his face. ¡°How do you know we¡¯ve been shortlisted?¡±
¡°I could tell from your advisor¡¯s attitude,¡± she answered.
Carman was amazed. ¡°I have no idea how you read that.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re talented in other areas. You don¡¯t need to bother with reading between the lines,¡± Noreen said, her words a subtlepliment.
Carman blushed, scratching his head in embarrassment.
Then he remembered the other important reason foring
here¨Csomething personal. He hesitated for a moment, then called her name. ¡°Noreen?¡±
She murmured an absent¨Cminded reply, eyes still on the summit¡¯s event schedule, missing the nervousness in his voice and the way he fidgeted.
Despite his nerves, Carman pressed on, stumbling over his words. ¡°So¡ after all this is over, would you¨Cwould you have dinner with me? I, uh,
made a reservation.¡±
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Chapter 151
¡°Let¡¯s just order takeout. Eating out at restaurants is pretty expensive,¡± Noreen suggested.
Carman was insistent. ¡°It¡¯s not expensive. We should go to a proper restaurant.¡±
S
¡°Whatever you want,¡± Noreen replied, assuming it was just a simple meal and thinking nothing more of it.
Besides, she had other important things to take care of right now.
Carman, for her part, was busy getting materials ready for the main presentation.
Noreen wandered off to find Harry, one of the event staff she¡¯d just been working with. As they chatted, she pitched in to help him with some tasks.
¡°You all worked hard today,¡± Noreen said as she handed out bottles of water she¡¯d bought for the staff.
¡°Thank you, Miss Gilmore,¡± Harry replied.
The others echoed his thanks as they took the drinks.
¡°No need to thank me. You¡¯ve been at it all day¨Ctake a break! I¡¯ll help move these disy boards for you.¡±
¡°These are actually pretty heavy, Miss Gilmore. You don¡¯t have to¨Clet us handle them,¡± one of the staff protested.
¡°They¡¯re not heavy at all! I¡¯ve got this. You guys rx and have your water first.¡±
Noreen was always efficient and hands¨Con. Without another word, she scooped up a massive stack of disy boards¨Cso tall they practically dwarfed her¨Cand carried them towards the exhibition area.
She was wearing high heels, and the boards were nearly as tall as she was, forcing her to tilt her head as she threaded through the crowd. Her
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awkward gait drew a few stares, and she kept apologizing whenever she identally bumped into someone.
Jude was strolling around with Bianca when he spotted Noreen struggling with the disys. He let out a derisive snort. ¡°Born to be a doormat, that one.¡±
Bianca barely spared Noreen a nce before looking away. Ever since she¡¯d confirmed that Seth had no feelings for Noreen, she hadn¡¯t given her a second thought¨Clet alone seen her aspetition.
Jude, still stewing over a recent slight, muttered under his breath, ¡°She¡¯s always been like that¨Ctrailing after Seth like a lost puppy. Everyone in Seth¡¯s circle used to say she was the dog he could never get rid of. Nobody respected her, and he never acknowledged her, not once.¡±
Realizing he might have gone too far, Jude quickly corrected himself. ¡°Well, to be precise, Seth never acknowledged her, period. He¡¯s only ever had eyes for you.¡±
If he weren¡¯t worried about Seth using him of stirring up trouble, Jude would¡¯ve blurted out the whole story of how Seth was willing to be with Bianca, no matter the cost.
Bianca liked what she was hearing. Beaming, she suddenly spotted someone in the crowd. ¡°Seth¡¯s here.¡±
Seth had only stepped away for a moment, but to Bianca, it felt like an eternity. She lit up and walked over to him.
¡°Seth,¡± she called.
He was in the middle of a conversation but turned at the sound of her voice. ¡°Did you find our booth?¡±
¡°I did. It¡¯s in a great spot,¡± Bianca replied.
¡°Good,¡± he said.
¡°Come, I¡¯ll show you.¡±
¡°Sure.¡±
Bianca¡¯s booth had already been set up, with her team diligently finishing the final touches. Compared to the chaos at the other booths, her area looked organized and serene.
That was thanks to Seth giving her plenty of summit invitations¨Cenough to bring her entire project team along. With so many hands on deck, everything was running like clockwork.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, are you satisfied with this location?¡± one of the event coordinators approached Seth to check in.
Bianca immediately picked up on the subtext. ¡°Seth, did you arrange this spot for me?¡±
Seth hesitated, then smiled. ¡°You caught me.¡±
Bianca¡¯s smile only grew. ¡°Thank you, Seth.¡±
Jude, standing nearby, rolled his eyes and groaned, ¡°Are you two really going to keep unting your rtionship in public? Would someone please spare a thought for us single folks already?¡±
Bianca¡¯s booth was front and center in the exhibition hall, drawing plenty of attention. She and Seth, both strikingly attractive, stood side by side like living advertisements, drawing even more people over to check out their products.
Bianca wasted no time, introducing the products, handing out flyers, inviting guests to try things out, and encouraging them to leave feedback and suggestions.
She even gave out small gifts to everyone who tried their products. Though she called them ¡°small,¡± each one was worth well over a hundred
dors.
Yes-man 152
Bianca didn¡¯t hesitate¨Cshe had a thousand portions ordered, generous as
ever.
After all, Seth never imposed a budget on her.
He stood quietly by her side, watching as she bustled back and forth, handling every detail. When she finally paused for a break, Seth twisted open a bottle of water and handed it to her.
That small gesture drew an excited gasp from a girl nearby who was filling out a suggestion form. ¡°Your boyfriend is so sweet to you!¡± she
eximed.
Other girls nced over, eyes full of envy.
Bianca¡¯s smile never faded.
Just like the sweat that refused to leave Noreen¡¯s brow¡
But in Noreen¡¯s case, it was from sheer exhaustion.
Finally, when the work was done, she sat down for a sip of water, massaging the sore spot on her heel where her high heels had rubbed her raw. Just as she was catching her breath, she happened to witness this little disy of affection.
Honestly, it was touching.
Even she felt a tiny pang of emotion¨Calmost.
Harry, meanwhile, was grateful for Noreen¡¯s help. ¡°Miss Gilmore, I¡¯ve arranged a pretty good spot for your disy.¡±
¡°Oh, thank you so much!¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. You¡¯ve done a lot for us too.¡±
Harry enjoyed working with women like Noreen¨Csharp, socially savvy, and never demanding. She was attentive and helpful, without ever asking for anything in return.
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So, he was more than happy to help her out.
Noreen shared the good news with Carman, and the two of them immediately started gathering their materials to head to the disy area. But just as they were about to set up, Harry¡¯s supervisor strode over, looking stern. ¡°Wasn¡¯t this spot reserved for Summit Peak Group?¡±
Harry exined that Summit Peak Group had chosen a different spot.
¡°Even if they declined, you can¡¯t just give it away to someone else! Remove them!¡±
¡°But sir-¡±
¡°I said remove them!¡± The supervisor wasn¡¯t budging.
Harry could only obey, and their disy was dismantled.
He apologized to Noreen, but she quickly reassured him, ¡°It¡¯s really okay!¡± Still, after all themotion, there were hardly any prime spots left.
Carman worried Noreen would be discouraged, but tried tofort her. ¡°Even a spot on the edge is fine. What matters is the product and our core technology.¡±
But Noreen bounced back quicker than he expected. ¡°You go set up the booth¨CI¡¯ll hand out flyers.¡±
Without missing a beat, she pulled a thick stack of flyers from her bag and dove into the crowd.
She wore a bright smile, bowing slightly as she handed a flyer to each person. If someone refused, she didn¡¯t mind¨Cjust moved on to the next.
Watching her work so hard, Carman felt a surge of motivation himself and set about arranging their booth with renewed focus.
But just as he finished, disaster struck. Someone bumped their table; theptop tumbled to the floor.
07.201
A pointed red heel stepped right onto it.
Crack.
The screen shattered instantly.
It all happened so fast, Carman barely had time to react.
Noreen heard themotion and rushed over.
¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t see it there. How much do I owe you?¡± The words sounded polite enough, but the tone was anything but.
Like a rabid dog, Noreen thought grimly.
She looked up¨Cof course, it was Jude. That mad dog.
As Noreen arrived, Jude shot her a look full of challenge.
Clearly, he¡¯d done it on purpose.
¡°Is theptop still usable?¡± Noreen asked Carman first.
Thatputer was their most important tool.
¡°The screen¡¯s busted, but everything else works. We can use an external
monitor.¡±
Noreen let out a breath, then turned to face Jude¨Cthe culprit.
Maybe her re was too fierce, because Jude, who¡¯d never seen this side of her, faltered for a split second.
Just then, Seth and Bianca walked up¨Cright before Noreen could explode.
¡°What happened?¡± Seth took in the mess at their feet, then looked at Jude.
¡°I just identally knocked their stuff over¨Cand now Noreen¡¯s looking like she wants to tear my throat out,¡± Judeined, ying the
victim.
Seth seemed to buy it, only saying coolly, ¡°Whatever the damages are,
07:301
pay up.¡±
Yes-man 153
Noreen couldn¡¯t help butugh in disbelief at Seth¡¯s casual, dismissive
response.
He knew full well that Jude was stirring up trouble on purpose,
sabotaging her for his own amusement. Yet Seth still chose to believe Jude¡¯s side of the story, as if she were the one at fault.
She didn¡¯t buy for a second that Seth couldn¡¯t see through Jude¡¯s clumsy ploys. He simply allowed it¨Cagain and again¨Cletting Jude humiliate and torment her as he pleased.
Fury churned inside Noreen, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, her voice sharp as ice.
¡°Well, since you¡¯re being so generous, Mr. Harcourt, why don¡¯t you pay me a hundred thousand dors in damages?¡±
Seth hadn¡¯t even responded when Jude cut in with a mockingugh. ¡°Are you trying to ckmail us or something? It¡¯s just aptop. Even the fanciest one isn¡¯t worth that much.¡±
¡°Then we¡¯ll pay the highest possible price,¡± Seth said tly, making the decision for everyone.
He sounded as if he was doing Noreen a favor, as though this should be more than enough to appease her¨Cif only she knew her ce.
He checked the price on his phone, wrote her a check, handed it over, and left without another word. Clearly, he was in a hurry to catch up with
Bianca.
Noreen swallowed her indignation, while Jude looked more pleased than
ever.
¡°See it now, Noreen? You mean nothing to Seth. Not before, not now.¡±
He kicked aside her scattered brochures, smirking as he spoke. ¡°Let me be honest: I trashed your booth on purpose. What are you going to do about it? And that prime spot you worked so hard to secure for your
07:30
team? One word from me and it¡¯s gone.¡±
¡°So here¡¯s the deal: from now on, steer clear of me, Noreen. I¡¯m the kind of guy you¡¯ll never be able to handle.¡±
His eyes flicked to the check¨Ctwenty grand, ording to the amount scrawled across it¨Cand he let out a sneeringugh. ¡°This is all you¡¯re worth. You¡¯re nothingpared to Bianca. Seth gave her her own project, no budget limits, no restrictions¨Ctook her to every important dinner, introduced her to all his contacts, pulled every string to give her the best tform possible, to lift her career.¡±
¡°Noreen, everything you couldn¡¯t achieve in seven years, Bianca got the second she walked back in. She didn¡¯t even have to try¨Cshe just got handed everything you ever wanted.¡±
¡°And you? You spent all those years chasing after Seth¨Cdoing everything for him, getting nothing in return. That¡¯s the difference between you and Bianca.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t even deserve to bepared to her. Got it?¡±
Jude finished, feeling a rush of satisfaction, as if he¡¯d finally paid Noreen back for all the times she¡¯d made him feel small. He couldn¡¯t wait to see her break down¨Cto watch her slink off, tail between her legs, forever
humiliated.
Instead, she calmly handed him a giant cup of iced coffee.
He barely had time to register the gesture before she tossed it straight in
his face.
Before Jude could explode, Noreen spoke coldly, herposure unshaken. ¡°Here¡¯s all you need to remember: I don¡¯t stoop topete with anyone, Jude.¡±
¡°And as for Seth? He¡¯s just one man. If Bianca wants him, she can have
him.¡±
¡°Oh, and I only avoid bad luck. If you want to admit you¡¯re bad luck, I¡¯ll be happy to steer clear.¡±
???
01.201
¡°Noreen!¡± Jude finally lost it.
She nced at him with pure disdain, mimicking Seth¡¯s earlier tone, ¡°Whatever the damages, I¡¯ll pay you back at full price.¡±
¡°And don¡¯t get greedy, or I might just report you for extortion.¡±
With that, she tossed Seth¡¯s check at him as if it were trash.
Better to let garbage end up where it belongs.
Jude was left sputtering, furious at the humiliation. But before he could retaliate, a group of security guards approached to ask what was going - on.
Yes-man 154
Noreen stepped in smoothly, her voice calm. ¡°There¡¯s someone causing a
scene.¡±
The security guard, a seasoned professional, took one look at the chaos and immediately understood what was happening. Without waiting for an exnation, he escorted Jude out.
Finally, a little peace and quiet.
Noreen quickly tidied up the space just as Carman returned with the projection equipment he¡¯d gone off to find.
But thanks to Jude¡¯s outburst, they¡¯d wasted precious time. The crowd had already thinned out before they even got a chance to present.
Carman felt a pang of guilt.
Noreen, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. She even tried tofort him, assuring him there¡¯d be another opportunity.
¡°You¡¯ve got such a good attitude,¡± Carman said, genuinely impressed.
She smiled. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s just experience from the working world. I¡¯ve dealt with much worse than this¨Cthis is nothing.¡±
Whenever she talked about the hardships she¡¯d faced, it was always with a lightness in her tone, as if none of it had ever gotten to her.
But hearing it, Carman only felt more sympathy for her.
He knew exactly how tough it was for women to survive in the professional world. That knowledge made it sting all the more.
Noreen kept arranging their booth,pletely unaware of Carman¡¯s silent thoughts. Her mind, however, drifted as she answered his questions.
The only reason she could handle setbacks so calmly now was because of Seth¡¯s indifference in the past. She¡¯d learned to survive like a wildflower¨Ctoughened by storms, not pampered in a greenhouse where the slightest breeze could break her.
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07:30 T
Her gaze drifted over to Bianca¡¯s booth.
Seth was still there, hovering beside Bianca like a personal bodyguard, always ready to shield her from the slightest trouble.
As if on cue, Seth looked up and their eyes met for a split second across
the room.
Neither lingered; they looked away almost immediately.
Jude reappeared, having changed clothes but still fuming. ¡°The security here is unbelievable! They said I was the troublemaker¨Calmost threw me out! Lucky for me, my dad knows someone, or I¡¯d really have been in trouble.¡±
When he saw that Bianca¡¯s gifts had nearly all been handed out, he felt a bit better. After all, Noreen¡¯s team hadn¡¯t even had the chance to present.
¡°By the way, I couldn¡¯t find InnoCore anywhere,¡± Jude grumbled, but he hadn¡¯t forgotten what mattered most.
¡°No luck?¡± Bianca echoed, surprised.
¡°No. I even asked around, but no one seemed to notice them,¡± Jude said, an anxious edge in his voice.
Whether he could turn his luck around all depended on getting in front of
InnoCore.
Bianca reassured him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get your chance. InnoCore is based in Rivercrest City, so we¡¯ll have more opportunities than anyone
else.¡±
But right now, she had something bigger to focus on.
She¡¯d just been notified that her product had made it onto the shortlist. She¡¯d have ten minutes on stage to present.
She was already working on her speech, determined to deliver it herself. She even asked Seth to look it over.
Seth studied her draft seriously. ¡°It¡¯s too in,¡± he said, ¡°and not technical
07:30 1
enough.¡±
He even took the time to help her revise and polish it.
Jude watched, his envy barely concealed. ¡°Seth, when I make it big and have to give a speech, will you help me out too?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t hold your breath,¡± Seth shot back without missing a beat.
Jude was left speechless.
Favoritism, in and simple.
But then, this was Bianca¨CSeth¡¯s long¨Clost muse. Of course, she was the only one who¡¯d ever get this kind of help from him.
Comparisons really were infuriating.
So, was Noreen¡¯s calm and collected act just that¨Can act? Maybe she was just barely holding it together.
She sure could put on a show.
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Chapter 155
Jude was desperate to prove himself, to finally make a mark that would force people to see him in a new light. He was tired of being the butt of every joke, the guy nobody believed would ever amount to anything.
So he wandered around the exhibition hall twice more, hoping to stumble upon something¨Canything¨Cthat could give him a breakthrough. But luck wasn¡¯t on his side; he came up empty¨Chanded.
Feeling deted, Jude overheard Noreen and Carman talking about a presentation speech. His ears perked up instantly.
Wait¨Ccould they have made it onto the shortlist for the main event?
No way. That was impossible.
At a summit of this level, the featured product list was practically set in stone before anyone even arrived. If you wanted in, you needed powerful backing, top¨Ctier investors vouching for you. You needed to be willing to pour money into research, to pay whatever it took to recruit the best talent. Even if your project looked unimpressive at first, you¡¯d still get plenty of shots to turn things around.
But Noreen? She didn¡¯t have that kind of clout.
Jude had heard plenty of stories about her hustling for funds all over Rivercrest City¨Che¡¯d even run into her on a few of those asions himself. He was sure she didn¡¯t fit the profile.
The only other way onto the shortlist was if your product was truly exceptional¨Cso outstanding that the organizers simply couldn¡¯t ignore it, even if you had no connections at all.
But that couldn¡¯t be it. No chance.
It must have been some backdoor trickery that got them in.
Yes, that had to be it.
After all, in Jude¡¯s mind, Noreen was exactly that kind of person. Hadn¡¯t
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Chapter 155
she always wormed her way into ces she didn¡¯t belong? The only reason she¡¯d managed to stay by Seth¡¯s side all those years was because she knew how to y dirty.
If Bianca and Dn¡¯s rtionship hadn¡¯t soured, and Seth hadn¡¯t finally gotten his shot with his old me, Noreen might have actually gotten
what she wanted.
Jude had to admit¨CNoreen was good at this sort of thing. He¡¯d underestimated her before, but never again.
He couldn¡¯t let her seed. He had to think of a way to trip her up, to make sure she lost out on this opportunity.
Keeping his distance, Jude eavesdropped by the wall and soon learned that Carman would be the one presenting their product on stage.
He scoffed under his breath. So Noreen didn¡¯t even have the guts to get up there herself. She clearly didn¡¯t have any real confidence in her own
work.
Bianca, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t afraid¨Cshe¡¯d be presenting her own project. Noreen must be terrified of embarrassing herself in front of
everyone.
Typical. Always scheming.
Noreen, meanwhile, had no idea anyone was listening in. Her entire focus was on helping Carman prepare for the speech.
¡°Don¡¯t be nervous when you go up there,¡± she reminded him gently. ¡°If you start to panic, just take a deep breath and pretend everyone in the audience is just the housents in your office. Imagine you¡¯re giving the demo to them, not to people.¡±
¡°That¡¯s actually a thing?¡± Carman asked, surprised.
¡°Yeah. Someone once taught me that trick.¡±
Carman wanted to ask who, but seeing the look on Noreen¡¯s face, he decided against it.
07:31 A
She really didn¡¯t want to borate¨Cbecause it was Seth who had taught her that trick, back in the day. Just like she¡¯d told Carman before, for all his other faults, Seth had been a pretty good boss. He had a sharp eye, whether it was for projects or for people, and he knew how to spot potential. His sess had always seemed inevitable.
Well¨Cat least that was how she used to see him. These days, with Seth letting his personal feelings for Bianca cloud his judgment, Noreen could barely bring herself toment.
The order of the main product presentations would be decided by random draw.
When Noreen showed up for the drawing ceremony, Bianca was taken aback for a moment¨Cbut quickly collected herself. There was no need to let Noreen get under her skin.
If Noreen was here, it had to be either dumb luck or some underhanded
tactic. Bianca was convinced it was thetter.
But maybe that was for the best. Noreen would only end up making a fool of herself.
By the end of this, she¡¯d have embarrassed herself so thoroughly that even Seth wouldn¡¯t bother sparing her a nce¨Cand Dn probably wouldn¡¯t either.
Bianca still hadn¡¯t forgiven Dn for backing Noreen¡¯s project. And then there was that little gold citrus nt he¡¯d given her¡ Bianca couldn¡¯t stop thinking about it, like a splinter lodged deep in her s
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Chapter 156
The pain and difort were easy to ignore¨Cuntil she remembered. Then it gnawed at her, impossible to brush aside.
It had to be dealt with. No other way.
Whether by chance or some strange twist of fate, Noreen and Bianca drew back¨Cto¨Cback numbers for the presentations.
Bianca would go first. Noreen would follow.
Bianca actually liked this arrangement. It gave Seth a front¨Crow seat to the ring difference between her and Noreen¨Cexactly what she wanted. She was determined to show everyone that Noreen just wasn¡¯t in her league.
Not in education, not in skill¨CNoreen simply couldn¡¯tpare.
Just the title alone¨CPhD in Economics from WT Business School¨Cwas a summit Noreen would
never reach.
Noreen, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t thinking about Bianca at all. Her mind was fully upied with how to help Carman shake off his nerves for their uing presentation.
People like her¨Ctechies, introverts¨Calways seemed to share the same quirks. They cared about the work, not the spotlight. They thrived in solitude, deep in thought, and rarely mingled with the crowd.
¡°We¡¯ve got ten minutes total,¡± Noreen exined to Carman. ¡°Our speech is about eight minutes, so we have plenty of breathing room. Even if we stumble, there¡¯s time to recover.¡±
She nced at the water bottle in his hand. ¡°You¡¯ve been drinking a lot. Better hit the restroom before we go up.¡±
¡°Right.¡± Carman admired how efficient Noreen was¨Calways thinking three steps ahead.
¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on the other teams¡® presentations,¡± she added. ¡°We can pick up somest¨Cminute tips.¡±
Soon, the main product showcase began.
The lineup was impressive¨Cevery team that made it this far was among the best in the industry.
Bianca was fifth. When Noreen saw her step up to the stage alone, she was genuinely surprised. Usually, it made more sense for the tech lead to present the technical details. But clearly, Bianca was confident in hermand of the material.
Noreen remembered Bianca mentioning her project over dinner with Mr. Naylor at Northcrest. Back then, Mr. Naylor had thought the idea needed more polish. Maybe, in the weeks since, her team had worked out the kinks.
Word had it they¡¯d aggressively recruited new talenttely¨Csome even poached from InnoCore. With Seth willing to throw money at the problem, maybe they¡¯d actually pulled it off.
As Bianca started her speech, Noreen kept one eye on the time and the other on the stage.
10:03
Bianca introduced herself, making sure to highlight her PhD from WT Business School. Predictably, the audience responded with a collective gasp of admiration. It was a credential worth
unting¨Ceven if it had little to do with Al.
Then sheunched into the product demo.
Carman still wasn¡¯t back. Noreen nced toward the restrooms¨Cno sign of him. There was still a bit of time, so she turned her attention back to the stage.
Wait a minute¨Cher brow furrowed in surprise. That product¡ why did it look so familiar?
Bianca was in her element, radiating confidence as she spoke. She was striking, aplished, and perfectly at ease in the spotlight.
The crowd was eating it up.
Scanning the audience, Noreen spotted a familiar face¨Che was watching the stage with rapt attention. Just like she used to watch Seth, back in the day.
But that was a lifetime ago. Now, without hesitation, she tore her gaze away and checked the time again.
Three minutes left. Still no sign of Carman.
What was taking him so long?
Quickly, she dialed his number, urging him to hurry back.
The call connected, but no one answered.
A knot of unease twisted in her stomach. With only a minute to spare, there was no time left to
search for him.
A staff member tapped her on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re up next. Please get ready backstage.¡±
Gritting her teeth, Noreen squared her shoulders and walked up.
10:03
Yes-man 157
Chapter 157
As Bianca stepped off the stage, Jude was already waiting for her with a beaming grin. ¡°My goddess, honestly! You have no idea how captivating you were up there. Only someone with a PhD in economics from a top university could carry herself like that¨Cso poised and confident, you just radiate this sense of authority.¡±
He gave an exaggerated sigh. ¡°If I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve ordered you a bouquet!¡±
Biancaughed, teasing him, ¡°Aren¡¯t youying it on a little thick? Seth didn¡¯t say a word.¡±
¡°Maybe not out loud,¡± Jude shot back, ¡°but you should¡¯ve seen him¨Che recorded your whole speech on his phone!¡±
Bianca nced over at Seth, curiosity lighting her eyes. ¡°Let me see then. I hope you didn¡¯t catch my bad side.¡±
Seth started to reply, but Jude jumped in, ¡°Come on! With a face like yours, every angle is your good side.¡±
Still, Bianca insisted, reaching for his phone.
Before Seth could hand it over, a familiar voice echoed from the speakers.
Noreen had taken the stage.
She looked nervous, almost out of ce. Her hair was a bit disheveled, makeup smudged from helping backstage. At first nce, people probably thought she was one of the event staff.
It wasn¡¯t until Noreen picked up the microphone that the audience realized she was the sixth speaker.
Jude let out a low chuckle. ¡°She actually went up there. Unbelievable!¡±
Bianca blinked in surprise. She hadn¡¯t expected Noreen to be on the roster. Did that mean Noreen¡¯s project had made the shortlist too?
A faint furrow formed between Bianca¡¯s brows.
Noticing, Jude leaned in. ¡°Rx. She¡¯s nopetition for you. With your presentation as the benchmark, she¡¯s just setting herself up to be the punchline of the night.¡±
Bianca raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why do you say that?¡±
Jude just gave her a sly look. ¡°Just wait¨Cyou¡¯ll see.¡±
He was so confident because he¡¯d overheard the backstagemotion. Originally, Carman was supposed to give this speech, and Carman had written all the notes and slides. Noreen might¡¯ve nced at them, but that was hardly the same as being prepared.
Noreen volunteering at thest minute? She was bound to embarrass herself.
Jude even pulled out his phone, ready to record Noreen¡¯s blunder and share it with their inner circle chatter¨Cfor entertainment, and maybe as a warning. Good luck to her ever showing her face in Rivercrest City after tonight.
On stage, Noreen took a deep breath before speaking.
10:03
¡°First, I want to apologize,¡± she said, voice steady but honest. ¡°I¡¯m not a professional, and I probably can¡¯t do our product justice tonight. In fact, until ten minutes ago, I wasn¡¯t even supposed to be the presenter. I don¡¯t have a script, and I didn¡¯t have time to prepare any slides.¡±
Her candor sent a ripple of murmurs through the audience¨Ca crowd made up of industry leaders and well¨Cknown entrepreneurs. Everyone took this summit seriously. Except, apparently, her.
Jude couldn¡¯t help but snicker, nudging Seth with his elbow. ¡°What a disaster, right?¡±
But Seth¡¯s expression was ambiguous, giving nothing away.
Bianca noticed, but didn¡¯t dwell on it. Her focus was fixed on Noreen.
After her confession, Noreen paused. She knew what kind of impression this would make, but facts were facts.
She could¡¯ve tried to bluff her way through, but if she botched the presentation, everyone would just think she was ipetent.
Better to be upfront.
This way, itself.
if the pitch didn¡¯tnd, the me would rest on herck of preparation¨Cnot the product
And she had enough faith in what she was presenting that she wasn¡¯t worried about losing the
audience¡¯s attention.
Yes-man 158
Chapter 158
After the briefmotion died down, Noreen finally spoke up again. ¡°If possible, could you y Miss Lowell¡¯s presentation one more time?¡±
Jude didn¡¯t bother hiding his scorn now and snorted loud enough for everyone to hear. ¡°Is she not embarrassed? If I were her, I¡¯d want the ground to swallow me up.¡±
Even Seth couldn¡¯t help butugh this time.
Bianca watched them, the corner of her mouth curling into a faint smirk.
She realized now how foolish she¡¯d been to consider Noreen a rival. It had only cheapened herself and ttered Noreen far too much. Jude was right: Noreen was never even in her league.
So Bianca turned to Seth with a teasing lilt. ¡°Didn¡¯t the folks at Aurelion Group say she was some kind of prodigy? Is this the best she can do? Seth, maybe your eye for talent needs a little work.¡±
Seth didn¡¯t reply, just let out a soft, dismissive chuckle.
Jude jumped in, grinning, ¡°His taste has improvedtely, hasn¡¯t it?¡±
Bianca caught his meaning immediately, lifting her chin with practiced pride.
Meanwhile, Jude sent the video he¡¯d just recorded to their group chat, tagging everyone to make sure they didn¡¯t miss the spectacle.
¡°Wasn¡¯t Noreen supposed to be pretty sharp? What¡¯s going on?¡± someone messaged, confused.
People who¡¯d worked with Noreen before remembered her as capable.
Jude scoffed, ¡°Capable? Please. That was all Seth¡¯s doing. She just rode his coattails¨Cshe never brought anything to the table herself!¡±
But not everyone was focused on the presentation..
¡°Did Noreen and Mr. Harcourt really break up? If they did, I might just make my move!¡± one person joked, clearly more interested in Noreen¡¯s looks than her work.
Of course, there were a few who cared about the event itself.
¡°Noreen really went up there and embarrassed herself? Lucky for Aurelion Group she¡¯s not with them anymore¨Cotherwise, she¡¯d be dragging Mr. Harcourt¡¯s name through the mud!¡±
Jude grinned. This was exactly the reaction he wanted.
¡°Just sit back and enjoy the show, everyone,¡± he typed, tagging someone in particr.
Dn.
Since this was their usual circle¡¯s chat, Dn was in it too. Jude wanted Dn to see Noreen¡¯s ¡®real¡® abilities¨Cso he wouldn¡¯t be fooled by her looks or that reputation she¡¯d built at Aurelion Group.
But Dn never replied. Probably busy.
No matter. He¡¯d see it when he had time. Jude would keep recording every awkward moment of Noreen¡¯s downfall, ready to send another clip for everyone¡¯s entertainment whenever he wanted.
10:03
Meanwhile, the staff brought up the presentation Bianca had yed earlier. Noreen flipped through a few slides before she began to speak.
¡°During our closed beta, our product received consistently positive feedback from users¨Cespecially for our ¡®Drill¨Cthrough Analysis¡® feature. For example, the presentation Miss Lowell just showed actually used a lot of our product¡¯s advanced capabilities. But unlike SkyMind, our solution is based on a reasoning¨Cdriven model, not just amand¨Cbased one.¡±
¡°Ourpany calls it a ¡®full¨Cpowered modern Sherlock Holmes.¡® Its powerful analytical and deductive skills make it exceptional across fields.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the heart of our philosophy: democratizingputing power.¡±
¡°Democratizingputing means every organization¨Cand every person¨Ccan build their own Al model, without the privacy concerns that used to hold people back.¡±
¡°Our product is called InnoCore.¡±
Before she had even finished, apuse broke out from the audience.
Some of the more distinguished guests even stood to give Noreen a standing ovation.
The thunderous apuse silenced Judepletely.
Meanwhile, the group chat was blowing up¨Ceveryone urging him to post the next video, refusing to be left hanging.
Beside him, Bianca¡¯s confident smile faltered, her expression growing stiff.
10:03
Yes-man 159
Chapter 159
Several people at the venue were already ncing in Bianca¡¯s direction¨Camong them, new contacts and potential investors she¡¯d only just managed to connect with. No one said a word, but their looks were enough to make her wish she could disappear.
Humiliation burned hot across her cheeks. She simply couldn¡¯t understand how data and images pulled straight from InnoCore¡¯s project had ended up in her meticulously prepared presentation. This was the first time in her life she¡¯d ever felt so thoroughly humiliated in front of such a crowd.
She didn¡¯t even dare look at Seth, afraid of finding disappointment written on his face¨Cor worse, seeing his attention drawn to Noreen, who was now dazzling everyone in the room.
Perhaps sensing her distress, Seth was quick to shield her from the whispers, offering quietly, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±
Even though the summit wasn¡¯t over, Seth didn¡¯t hesitate to escort Bianca out. As for Jude, he stayed behind, not sparing them a nce.
Jude¡¯s expression was a tangled mess of disbelief, frustration, and confusion. How could this be happening? How could InnoCore possibly belong to Noreen? The facts were right in front of him; whether he liked it or not, he had to ept them.
Meanwhile, his phone buzzed incessantly with messages from the group chat, goading him to upload a video of Noreen¡¯s supposed embarrassment for everyone¡¯s amusement. Jude, in no mood to exin, shot back a sharp ¡°Drop it,¡± and promptly left the group. At this point, he was the one who¡¯d
lost face¨Cnot Noreen.
Outside, away from the prying eyes and hushed gossip, Bianca finally felt her pulse begin to steady. She wanted to say something, to exin or apologize, but the words wouldn¡¯te.
Seth, ever considerate, spoke first. ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged. No matter what happened, your project still made the shortlist. That¡¯s already a big achievement.¡±
Hisfort soothed her bruised pride. It was clear Seth genuinely cared about her. Even with Noreen basking in the spotlight, Seth hadn¡¯t given her a second nce.
¡°This was my oversight. It won¡¯t happen again,¡± Bianca said, both a promise and an exnation.
Seth smiled gently. ¡°Don¡¯t put so much pressure on yourself.¡±
¡°Alright.¡± She let herself finally rx.
¡°I¡¯ll go get the car, Wait here for me,¡± he said before heading off to the parking lot.
As soon as he was gone, Bianca exhaled slowly, reying the whole humiliating episode in her mind, trying to pinpoint exactly where things had gone wrong.
Noreen¡¯s project was the one Bianca had personally rejected after she became head of Department Three¨Ca decision colored by personal grievances, though she had run it by Seth at the time. He hadn¡¯t objected, telling her she had every right to veto any project in her division and that she owed no one an exnation. He¡¯d supported her every decision.
10:03
That meant the me was hers alone. If she¡¯d set aside her personal bias, the InnoCore project would have been hers, not Noreen¡¯s. Noreen had just gotten lucky; Bianca hadn¡¯t lost to her¨Cshe¡¯d
lost to herself.
The realization made the sting of failure easier to bear. Seth didn¡¯t me her, and he still believed in her, just as he always had.
She needed to shake this off ande back stronger. After all, she was a PhD in economics from WT Business School; her track record spoke for itself. Noreen was just an ordinary college grad¨Chow could she possiblypete?
Bianca¡¯s resilience was remarkable. By the time Seth returned, she was alreadyposed and ready
to move forward.
She was just about to scan the crowd, hoping to spot Seth, when a familiar figure caught her eye.
It was Dn.
She opened her mouth to call out to him, but the bouquet of flowers in his arms made her hesitate for
a moment.
Yes-man 160
Chapter 160
In those few seconds, Dn walked into the hall, bouquet in hand, not once ncing back.
Bianca immediately pulled out her phone and dialed Dn¡¯s number.
He didn¡¯t pick up.
Unwilling to let it go, she called again.
This time, Dn hung up on her.
Her heart sank, icy and heavy.
All those years together, and not once had he brought her flowers.
She¡¯d always thought Dn just wasn¡¯t the romantic type, that he didn¡¯t understand women.
But now¡
Now she realized just how foolish she¡¯d been.
¨C
Jude had wanted to follow Bianca out¨Cthe longer he stayed, the more stifled and frustrated he felt.
He was just about to call her when he saw Dning in, arms full of fresh flowers.
¡°Dn¡¡± he called out, loud enough that Dn had to have heard.
But Dn didn¡¯t even nce his way. Instead, he strode straight toward Noreen, his steps
unwavering.
Jude¡¯s next attempt to call out got stuck in his throat. No words came out.
After the event, Noreen stepped down from the stage and was immediately surrounded by people asking for her contact information¨Csome of them prominent business leaders and investors.
Noreen didn¡¯t turn anyone away. She exchanged numbers with them all.
More friends, more opportunities. She figured it never hurt to build connections; there might be a chance to work together down the road.
When she finally managed to break free from the crowd, a huge bouquet of sunflowers appeared in front of her, sorge it blocked her view of the person holding it.
Noreen tilted her head, trying to see who it was.
The bouquet lowered, revealing Dn¡¯s familiar face.
Surprised and delighted, Noreen eximed, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±
¡°How could I miss such an important moment?¡± Dn¡¯s eyes sparkled as he urged her to take the flowers.
¡°Thank you!¡± Noreen epted the congrattory bouquet with a bright smile.
But there was no time for small talk¨Cshe was worried about Carman and anxious to find him.
10:03
She was just about to call when Carman appeared, wearing an ill¨Cfitting suit, his hair wet, a look of distress etched across his face.
¡°What happened to you? Are you alright?¡± Noreen asked, concern in her voice.
Carman exined that he¡¯d slipped in the restroom.
Someone had spilled an entire bottle of soap on the floor. Lost in thought, rehearsing his speech, he hadn¡¯t noticed and took a hard fall, getting himself filthy in the process.
Thankfully, staff came to clean up and helped him get sorted out.
Carman, pressed for time, tried to refuse their help, but they practically shoved him into a side room.
Everything was a blur. Surrounded by staff, he barely knew what was happening before he found
himself in the bathroom.
He didn¡¯t even have time to shower¨Cjust changed into whatever clean clothes they could find and rushed back.
Then the restroom door jammed.
By the time he forced it open, he was already runningte.
It had all happened so suddenly, so strangely.
Suspicious, Carman questioned several people, but their answers all seemed usible, as if the whole thing had truly just been a freak ident.
Noreen was thinking the same thing. Whoever orchestrated this clearly knew what they were doing and had covered their tracks.
So there was no point in digging deeper¨Cit would only be a waste of time.
Besides, Noreen already had her suspicions.
From several yards away, she looked over at Jude.
For reasons he couldn¡¯t exin, Jude¡¯s heart skipped when he saw her watching him. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet her gaze and instinctively looked away.
Then, realizing how suspicious that seemed, he tried topose himself and looked back¨Conly to find that Noreen had already turned away, deep in conversation with Dn.
They had barely exchanged a few words when her phone began to ring.
Yes-man 161
¡°It¡¯s Yves from Monarch Capital.¡±
He moved fast¨Cno wonder hispany was thriving.
Noreen picked up, exchanging the usual pleasantries.
Yves got straight to the point: he wanted in on Noreen¡¯s project. When would she be back in Rivercrest City? He wanted to meet her the moment shended.
He even pressed for her exact return flight, as if he might show up at the airport to intercept her.
But Noreen would never give a direct answer at a time like this.
She simply replied that her travel ns weren¡¯t set yet. Once she was back in Rivercrest, she¡¯d be in touch.
Before hanging up, Yves repeated himself several times¨Cshe had to call him the minute she got
home.
He was waiting for her.
No sooner had Noreen ended Yves¡¯s call than her phone lit up again¨CMr. Quigley from Qunda Group.
Apparently, bing a boss came with a sharp business nose.
Noreen stuck to her script.
She remembered a time, not so long ago, when she¡¯d gone to them for funding. Back then, each of them had put on airs, giving her the cold shoulder.
Some had even gone out of their way to humiliate her atworking events, making things as difficult as possible.
Now, one by one, they were lining up for a chance to work with her. Funny how quickly people forgot.
Still, Noreen kept things professional. She didn¡¯t bring up old grievances¨Cjust exchanged polite niceties, danced around the subject, kept it all surface¨Clevel.
That¡¯s business, after all.
The world turns for profit.
It wasn¡¯t just Mr. Quigley. Joyner, CEO of Evergain Capital, called as well. Then there were the investors who¡¯d once rejected her, even those executives who¡¯d made snide remarks to her face at those parties. Now they were all calling, eager to coborate.
Each one was unfailingly polite.
But now, Noreen was the one calling the shots. When to start, whom to work with¨Cthat was her decision.
She was in control.
The calls kepting, until finally, she had to power off her phone.
10.02
Atst, a bit of peace and quiet.
Dn let out augh. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, am I going to need an appointment just to see you from now on?¡±
¡°Maybe,¡± Noreen replied with a conspiratorial nod.
They shared a quick smile.
The summit had turned out just as Noreen had predicted¨Can overwhelming sess.
Even with a few unexpected twists, the oue was perfect.
Carman, watching the yback, grinned. ¡°You know, maybe this was a blessing in disguise. If I¡¯d done the presentation myself, it might¡¯ve been too technical¨Cprobably would¡¯ve bored everyone to death. Honestly, it never would¡¯ve made the impact it did.¡±
The best part? Noreen had leveraged Bianca¡¯s PPT to elevate InnoCore to a whole new level.
She wondered if Jude knew that, by trying to sabotage her, he¡¯d actually helped put InnoCore on the map. Would he lose his mind? She almost hoped she could see his face.
After the summit, Noreen politely declined the organizers¡® invitation to the after¨Cparty.
She¡¯d already promised Carman she¡¯d have dinner with him.
Dn showed up unexpectedly, so Noreen naturally asked if he wanted to join them.
He agreed.
Carman hadn¡¯t nned for a third wheel at his carefully arranged confession dinner.
Now he had no idea what to do.
He¡¯d even ordered flowers and a cake. If those arrived while all three of them were dining together, it would be mortifying.
But there was no time to cancel¨Che¡¯d have to y it by ear once they got to the restaurant.
The three of them took a cab over.
Halfway there, Jude called Dn. Since he was in Harborcrest City, did he want to grab dinner?
Bianca and Seth were there too¨Cit¡¯d be a little reunion.
¡°I¡¯m tied up,¡± Dn replied. ¡°You all go ahead without me.¡±
Jude wanted to ask what was so important that he couldn¡¯t spare time for old friends, but Dn hung up before he got the chance.
He didn¡¯t even let Jude get a word in.
At the same time, Bianca and the rest of their group had just arrived at the restaurant. As soon as Jude ended his call, she looked over. ¡°So, when¡¯s Dn getting here?¡±
Yes-man 162
Jude scratched his head. ¡°He said he¡¯s got something to deal with. Noting.¡±
Bianca paused, surprised. ¡°Did you tell him Seth and I are here too?¡±
¡°Yeah, I told him.¡±
Bianca was quiet for a couple of seconds before turning away and heading into the restaurant without another word.
They¡¯d booked a private room for the three of them.
Maybe it was the fallout from the summit, but the mood hung heavy over the table. Even Jude, usually the chatterbox of the group, stayed silent, focused on his food.
Midway through the meal, Bianca excused herself to the restroom. On her way back, she just so happened to bump into Dn¨Capparently dining at the same ce.
Bianca¡¯s eyes lit up. She called out to him right away, ¡°Dn!¡±
He nced her way. Whatever easy smile he¡¯d been wearing vanished, reced by a distant, almost indifferent look. Still, he acknowledged her with a brief nod.
¡°Jude said you were in Harborcrest,¡± Bianca continued, her tone as gentle as ever as she walked towards him. ¡°Honestly, I thought he was making it up. Didn¡¯t expect to really see you here.¡±
She deliberately left out the fact that she¡¯d already spotted him at the summit earlier, pretending this was just a random encounter. ¡°When did you get in?¡±
¡°This afternoon.¡±
So, straight off the ne, he¡¯d gone to the summit. For whom, exactly? Was it for the person she was thinking of?
Bianca kept her feelings under tight control, not giving anything away.
After a bit of small talk, she offered, ¡°Well, since we ran into each other, why not join us? Jude and
Seth are both here.¡±
Jude might have been turned down, but that didn¡¯t mean Dn would refuse her. They had history,
after all.
But Bianca had clearly overestimated how much that history meant now.
Dn replied, his tone neutral, ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯ve got friends here. Maybe another time.¡±
With that, he gave a polite nod and walked off
Bianca stood there for a long moment, stunned by how tly¨Cand unceremoniously¨Che¡¯d brushed
her off.
She didn¡¯t head back to the private room right away. Instead, she followed the direction Dn had gone, curiosity pushing her forward. She wanted to see who he was having dinner with.
When she saw Noreen sitting across from Dn, Bianca¡¯s heart sank instantly.
10:03
So that was it. Dn turned her down because he was having dinner with Noreen?
Even after trying topose herself before returning to the room, Bianca couldn¡¯t quite wipe the look off her face.
Seth was out taking a call, Jude exined.
No sooner had Bianca sat down than her phone started buzzing non¨Cstop. She nced at the screen¨Cit was the group chat where Jude and the others shared videos and updates.
Healy had just dropped a photo of a receipt in the chat, instantly lighting up everyone¡¯s notifications.
¡°Holy crap! Am I seeing this right?¡±
¡°That¡¯s Dn! Dn gave Noreen flowers?!¡±
¡°When did those two start hanging out? How did nobody hear a thing about this?¡±
Someone else chimed in, ¡°They¡¯re sunflowers, not roses. Probably doesn¡¯t mean anything. But where¡¯d you get this photo?¡±
Healy immediately posted the livestream link from the summit.
Bianca tapped it open. There were several photos showing the exact timeline. And there was the bouquet¨Cthe same one Dn had been carrying when she ran into him at the summit entrance.
So¡
He¡¯de all the way to Harborcrest City just to give Noreen flowers?
Bianca¡¯s expression soured again as the realization set in.
Noreen had just stepped out of the restroom when someone lurking in the corner startled her.
She hadn¡¯t even registered the face before the thick smell of smoke hit her.
She wrinkled her nose instinctively, then looked up¨Cto see a figure she knew far too well.
It was Seth.
212
Yes-man 163
In the dim corner, the light barely sketched out the hard lines of the man¡¯s face, leaving his profile
shrouded in shadow.
Only the glowing tip of his cigarette flickered in and out of existence, a tiny ember in the gloom.
Maybe the smoke was too thick, because Noreen could no longer smell the faint trace of perfume that had lingered in the air.
She had no idea how long he¡¯d been standing there, chain¨Csmoking by himself. The ashtray beside him was already cluttered with seven or eight spent cigarette butts.
But in Noreen¡¯s memory, Seth never smoked. Even at the height of thepany¡¯s early struggles, when the pressure was crushing and the nights were long, he¡¯d always kept that line uncrossed.
So why now¨Cwhen he had both love and sess¨Cdid he suddenly take up the habit? The thought was so out of character, it bordered on absurd.
Still, her curiosity was fleeting. Whatever the reason, she couldn¡¯t care less.
She turned her attention away from Seth, ready to head back to the dining room and finish her meal.
But as she took her first step, his voice cut through the darkness behind her.
He sounded as contemptuous as ever, tone dripping with sarcasm.
¡°Scoring a minor deal and you¡¯re already getting cocky? Noreen, I never realized you could be so ungrateful.¡±
Her fist clenched involuntarily, a sharp ache twisting in her chest as if someone had stabbed her with
a needle.
Ungrateful?
Is that really how he sees her?
But Seth didn¡¯t let up. His words came sharper than before, relentless. ¡°Did you forget you still owe me something, Noreen?¡±
He dragged up old debts on purpose, intent on forcing her back into the role he¡¯d always expected¨Csubmissive, yielding, with no boundaries.
He stepped closer, facing her head¨Con.
His eyes were cold as winter, the kind of cold that bore down on her. His face betrayed nothing, but his gaze was deep and imprable, like a midnight sea¨Cremote, detached¡ and hiding something she could no longer read.
Once, she would have tried to decipher those private storms behind his eyes. But not anymore.
Noreen stood her ground, refusing to flinch, matching his icy stare with one of her own. She spoke slowly, each word distinct and unwavering.
¡°Seth, whatever I owed you¨CI¡¯ve paid it back. I don¡¯t owe you anything anymore.¡±
1/2
10:03
Seth¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°You think you can just say that and make it true?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± she answered, voice steady. ¡°I¡¯ve paid back everything I owed you.¡±
She had nothing to be ashamed of¨Cnot after what she¡¯d done for InnoCore.
Seth narrowed his eyes, studying her for a long moment.
Then he let out a short, derisiveugh. ¡°And just what did you use to pay me back?¡±
It was a question that sliced straight through her¨Ca wound so deep it would never fully heal.
She couldn¡¯t even bring herself to think about it, much less speak of it. But Seth, as always, showed no mercy. He threw the past in her face, ripping open old scars she¡¯d tried so hard to forget.
He didn¡¯t care if it destroyed her.
Noreen met his gaze, her reddened eyes slowly turning cold, all warmth draining away until they were empty, lifeless.
¡°In any case, I¡¯ve paid my debt.¡± Her voice trembled, but she forced the words out.
Barely above a whisper.
When she finished, it was as if all her strength had been drained from her. She turned away on instinct, walking off¨Cone step at a time, putting distance between herself and the man she¡¯d once loved without reservation.
Seth just stood there, watching her retreat.
Her pace was slow, but every step was deliberate.
He couldn¡¯t shake the image of the tears she¡¯d forced herself to hold back, the way her eyes had glistened with pain.
A strange heaviness pressed down on his chest, emotions surging up that he couldn¡¯t put a name to.
For a moment, he wondered¨Cwhat had she remembered, in that instant, that could hurt so much?
Before he could untangle that thought, his phone buzzed with a group message from Healy.
¡°Dn isn¡¯t falling for Noreen, is he? I just looked it up¨Csunflowers mean adoration, silent longing, unspoken love.¡±
Healy tagged Dn directly. ¡°Dn? You got anything to say?¡±
Nobody replied.
But Seth stared at that message for a long time, unable to look away.
¡
Maybe it was the mood, but dinner didn¡¯tst much longer after that. The three of them finished quickly and left in silence.
212
Yes-man 164
Originally, Jude had nned to take Bianca out for a nighttime stroll along the bay¨Cafter all, Harborcrest City was famous for its dazzling waterfront views after dark.
But after dinner, he didn¡¯t mention it at all.
No one was in the mood.
Bianca said she needed to head back to the hotel for a debrief with her project team¨Cfigure out what went wrong, and get everyone¡¯s spirits back up.
¡°No wonder Bianca¡¯s going ces,¡± Jude thought, genuinely impressed. ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d probably need ages to recover from a setback like this.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just one loss,¡± Bianca said, already collected. ¡°And honestly? It¡¯s a minor one. Either way, we
made it onto the shortlist.¡±
¡°Exactly!¡± Jude agreed. ¡°I should take a page from your book.¡±
As for Noreen¡
She just got lucky, that¡¯s all.
If it came down to real ability, how could she possibly measure up to Bianca?
While Seth was settling the bill, a waiter wheeled a massive bouquet of sunflowers and a cake across the restaurant, heading toward a table on the right.
Nearby, a couple of servers were gossiping in hushed tones.
¡°Confession¡¯s about to happen! Remember to switch the music¨Cmake it something romantic!¡±
¡°When I went over to take their order, I saw the girl¨Cshe¡¯s gorgeous, really elegant! No wonder Mr. Holt went to such lengths. Booked the ce in advance, nned everything down to thest detail.¡±
¡°But¡ there¡¯s another guy at their table. Wonder what that¡¯s about?¡±
Amid their chatter, the sunflowers and cake found their way to the intended table.
Both Bianca and Jude caught sight of Noreen.
Jude muttered, ¡°Sunflowers again?¡±
Seth came back just in time to hear him.
He nced in Noreen¡¯s direction¨Cjust a quick look, nothing more, no hint of emotion on his face.
He seemedpletely unmoved by the fact that Noreen was being confessed to.
Jude, who¡¯d been quietly worried, felt a wave of relief.
Clearly, Seth didn¡¯t have any lingering feelings for Noreen.
Even seeing her being the center of such a public disy, he didn¡¯t bat an eye.
That kind of indifference could only mean one thing: he didn¡¯t care anymore.
10:04
As Seth turned away, Bianca slipped her arm through his. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said softly.
He nodded and led her out.
Jude hurried after them, identally bumping into a waiter and causing a bit of amotion.
Noreen looked over¨Cjust in time to see Seth and Bianca leaving together, arm in arm.
She froze for a moment, then finally understood.
Back by the restroom, Seth¡¯s coldness toward her¨Che¡¯d been standing up for Bianca, hadn¡¯t he? She¡¯d stolen the spotlight from someone he cared about, so he¡¯d swooped in with biting sarcasm, defending Bianca¡¯s honor.
So protective. So¡ pathetic.
They¡¯d kept out of each other¡¯s way for so long, but now he just had to swoop in and ruin her night.
Across the restaurant, Dn noticed the scene too.
Unlike Noreen, he was secretly pleased to see Seth and Bianca together.
The stronger their rtionship, the less he had to worry about Seth as a rival.
Right now, though, he had anotherpetitor to watch out for.
Carman had originally wanted to call off the whole sunflowers¨Cand¨Ccake spectacle, but Mina had reminded him that since confessing his feelings wasn¡¯t really appropriate with so many people around, they could just treat it as a celebration for InnoCore¡¯s big win.
It was still meaningful.
That¡¯s exactly how Carman exined it to Noreen.
She brightened instantly, and even insisted on cutting the cake herself.
But Dn wasn¡¯t fooled¨Che knew there was more going on.
Guys could always tell what another guy was really thinking.
Yes-man 165
Chapter 165
Just as Noreen had expected, their trip to Harborcrest City proved to be a windfall.
They ended up staying an extra day, tagging along with Jed to meet numerous industry heavyweights and business leaders.
Several promising partners expressed strong interest in working with them, but these things take time¨Cpartnerships are never struck in a single meeting. There would be more negotiations down the
line.
At least now, Noreen wasn¡¯t losing sleep over funding anymore.
Dn had flown back a day ahead of them. Knowing she was due back the next day, he called her first thing in the morning, asking when her flight wouldnd in Rivercrest City.
Noreen assumed he was just making small talk, so she told him.
She never imagined he¡¯d show up at the airport to pick her up in person.
Noreen felt a little embarrassed about troubling him like this.
¡°You¡¯re in high demand these days¨CI have to keep a close eye on you. If someone poaches you, how am I supposed to hit my KPIs?¡± Dn teased, half¨Cjoking.
Noreen thought he was being dramatic.
¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough if I¡¯m exaggerating,¡± Dn replied with a knowing smile.
It didn¡¯t take long for his words to ring true.
Noreen hadn¡¯t even made it to the office when Sophia called, saying several groups of people had stopped by the studio that morning asking for her.
The most enthusiastic among them was Yves. He¡¯d already dropped by twice yesterday, and today he was back again¨Cthe first to arrive. He even bought coffee for the entire team to show his sincerity.
Being this popr was starting to give Noreen a headache.
She could handle these visitors, but she worried that so much foot traffic might disrupt everyone
else¡¯s work.
Which meant she had another pressing task.
She needed to rent an office.
Back when she was pinching pennies, she¡¯d borrowed a desk from Carman as a makeshift workspace. No one was interested in investing in her project then, so she¡¯d had zero visitors, and never disturbed anyone else.
But those days were over.
Now she had to start considering the work environment for the rest of her team.
And with meetings with potential partners on the horizon, she knew showing up without a proper office would be unprofessional.
10:04
Noreen was never one to drag her feet; once she made up her mind, she acted.
On a whim, she decided to skip the office altogether and head straight to a real estate agent.
She told Dn he could just drop her off at any spot where he could park.
¡°Noreen, do you really think I¡¯m thatcking in chivalry?¡± Dnughed.
¡°I just don¡¯t want to take you away from your work,¡± she said.
After all, as an executive VP at Omniva Group, his schedule had to be busier than hers.
But Dn shrugged it off, insisting he wasn¡¯t busy¨Cand besides, she was now an important Omniva client. Meeting with her counted as work.
Noreen had to admit, she couldn¡¯t argue with that logic.
Carman, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t buying it. As a man himself, he could spot Dn¡¯s little tricks from a mile away.
In the end, Carman ended up calling a cab to the studio, while Dn apanied Noreen to the real estate office.
After an afternoon of touring properties, Noreen came to a conclusion: picking an office was asplicated as choosing a husband.
The location had to be right, themute convenient, and the rent affordable.
Sure, money wasn¡¯t tight anymore, but she still believed in spending wisely¨Ca principle she¡¯d always lived by.
After dragging Dn all over town, Noreen insisted on treating him to dinner as thanks.
They chose a nearby restaurant, and as luck would have it, ran into some acquaintances as soon as they walked in.
No sign of Seth this time¨Cjust Jude and Bianca.
For once, Jude didn¡¯t act like a rabid dog when he saw Noreen. He was unusually well¨Cbehaved. Whether it was genuine or just for show, she couldn¡¯t tell.
Bianca, ever gracious, turned to Dn and said, ¡°Since we¡¯ve bumped into each other, would you like to join us?¡±
She deliberately ignored Noreen, focusing only on Dn.
But Dn¡¯s answer was the same as always. ¡°No, you two go ahead. Noreen and I have some work to discuss.¡±
10:04
Yes-man 166
Chapter 166
Bianca nodded mildly, then followed Jude into a private room.
¡°Do
you think Dn¡¯s actually falling for Noreen?¡± Jude muttered the moment the door closed behind them, her tone tinged with resentment.
Bianca remained calm, her answer unwavering. ¡°No, he isn¡¯t.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Jude pressed, clearly more anxious than Bianca.
If Noreen really ended up with Dn, would Jude have to call her ¡°sister¨Cinw¡°? The thought alone made her stomach turn.
¡°There¡¯s no special reason. Dn just wouldn¡¯t be interested in her,¡± Bianca replied, her voice steady.
But she knew exactly why.
Dn was hiding someone in his heart¨Csomeone he kept buried so deeply, Bianca had never found out who it was, not even after six years together. She didn¡¯t even know the name. That¡¯s how well he hid it.
As for Noreen¡
Bianca gave a quiet, dismissiveugh.
Most likely, Noreen was just another passing fling for Dn, no different from any of the others. He wasn¡¯t serious about her, and Bianca was perfectly fine with that.
If anything, she hoped it would happen. It would sever any lingering possibility between Noreen and Seth, and Noreen would only end up being yed by Dn. When he got bored and tossed her aside, Noreen would be a joke in Rivercrest City¨Cno respectable family would ever let her through their doors again.
The thought was enough to lift the cloud that had been hanging over Bianca for days.
As they ate, Bianca casually steered the conversation toward Omniva Group. ¡°I heard my dad mention the project,¡± Jude said. ¡°But ever since Dn came back and took over, he reorganized everything. Now he¡¯s in charge, and my dad doesn¡¯t have a say anymore.¡±
Bianca didn¡¯t push further¨Cafter all, this was sensitive business. If she pried too much, Jude might get suspicious.
She just smiled and said, ¡°I was just curious. I heard people talking about it at a dinner, and they said it¡¯s practically a sure thing¨Cguaranteed profit.¡±
Jude¡¯s eyes lit up at the word ¡°profit.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can find out. If I hear anything, you¡¯ll be the first to know! We¡¯ll get rich together!¡±
Bianca gave her a silent, knowing smile.
The next morning, Noreen got a call from the real estate agent¨Che¡¯d found an apartment that fit all her requirements.
She rushed out without even grabbing breakfast.
Just as the agent promised, the ce was perfect. And the rent was surprisingly low.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention this ce yesterday?¡± Noreen asked, genuinely puzzled.
The agent shrugged. ¡°It just became avable¨Cfirst thing I did was call you.¡±
Noreen took her time, checking every room. ¡°The renovations look practically brand new,¡± shemented, understating her surprise. In truth, everything felt untouched¨Clike no one had ever lived or worked here before. Theyout and style were exactly what she wanted, which would save her a fortune on renovations.
The agent exined, ¡°The previous tenant was going to use it as an office, but went bankrupt right after fixing it up. Now they just want to rent it out quickly, even if it means a loss.¡±
¡°Bankrupt, huh? Doesn¡¯t bode well,¡± Noreen said, half¨Cjoking.
The agent¡¯s smile faltered for a split second, then he quickly recovered. ¡°Tell you what, I¡¯ll give you six months free on the rent and utilities. And honestly, with your luck and presence, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll turn things around here!¡±
Noreen had only brought it up to bargain for a better deal¨Cshe never expected the agent to cave so easily. Six months free? Now that was a good omen.
She signed the lease on the spot.
Standing by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows of her new office, keys in hand, Noreen¡¯s heart surged with
excitement.
Atst, she finally had apany of her own.
212
Yes-man 167
Rivercrest City was famous for its river views and the rolling hills that framed the skyline.
Right now, the best view of the river in the city stretched beyond Noreen¡¯s office window.
She could hardly believe her luck¨Cshe¡¯d managed to find an office that matched all her requirements, in record time, and at a price that didn¡¯t break the bank.
There was only one slight catch¡
Aurelion Tower stood just across the river.
But even that didn¡¯t dampen Noreen¡¯s mood. If anything, it became a motivation to keep pushing
forward.
The first thing she did was call Carman to share the good news.
Carman agreed¨Cit was definitely something worth celebrating.
So, Noreen decided to treat the whole studio to dinner that evening, and she told Carman to invite Mina along too, since Mina happened to be off work for a couple of days.
While she and Carman debated which restaurant to book, Noreen waited for the elevator.
¡°I¡¯m good with anything,¡± she said, phone pressed to her ear. ¡°Let them pick what they want¨CI don¡¯t need you to save money on my ount.¡±
The elevator doors slid open. Absorbed in her call, Noreen barely nced at the people inside.
Once she¡¯d stepped in, she finally heard a voice: ¡°Director Lowell, I didn¡¯t expect you toe by and check out our offices in person. I¡¯m Ethan Laurent. If it¡¯s all right, maybe we could swap contacts? If you need anything, just let me know. I¡¯d be happy to bring any files you need straight to Aurelion Group¨Cno need for you to make the trip.¡±
Catching her reflection in the mirrored wall, Noreen finally realized who else was in the elevator.
Bianca.
No Seth this time¨Cjust Bianca and Ethan.
She recognized Ethan, too¨Cone of the partners at TechVenture. Back when she was still at Aurelion Group, she¡¯d selected him as a project lead, though most of hermunication had been with the other partner at TechVenture.
Still, something didn¡¯t add up. Wasn¡¯t this game project already nixed by Bianca? If she remembered correctly, it had been rejected, right along with InnoCore¡¯s proposal.
As Bianca spoke with Ethan, she caught Noreen¡¯s eye and her expression cooled a little.
Noreen looked away, continuing her conversation with Carman. ¡°What about Japanese? Mina mentionedst time that she was craving sushi.¡±
Carman hesitated¨CJapanese food was a bit pricey, and she¡¯d always been inclined to save Noreen
money.
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But Noreen had made up her mind. ¡°Let¡¯s do Japanese! Sakura Tempest has great reviews. Let¡¯s eat
there.¡±
Carman relented. ¡°All right, Sakura Tempest it is. But you¡¯re all the way across town¨Cdon¡¯t bothering back to the studio just to meet us. We¡¯ll head straight there after work and see you at Sakura Tempest.¡±
¡°Perfect.¡±
Noreen hung up just as the elevator reached the ground floor.
She walked outside, only to discover it was raining.
A new cold front had swept into Rivercrest City, sending temperatures plummeting to their lowest point of the year. Even wrapped in her cashmere coat, Noreen shivered.
In her rush that morning, she hadn¡¯t checked the weather, and she certainly hadn¡¯t brought an umbre.
Now, the sudden downpour had her stranded under the building¡¯s awning.
She pulled her coat tighter and decided to wait for the rain to let up before making a move.
Bianca and Ethan exited the building a momentter.
Noticing the rain, Ethan spoke up immediately. ¡°It¡¯s pouring out. Did you drive today, Director Lowell? If not, I can give you a lift.¡±
Bianca shook her head politely. ¡°Thanks, but my boyfriend¡¯s picking me up.¡±
Ethan¡¯s tone turned teasing and a little envious. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you and Mr. Harcourt have a great rtionship¨Cnice to finally witness it for myself.¡±
Bianca couldn¡¯t quite hide the warmth in her voice. ¡°He was supposed toe with me today, actually, but something came upst minute at work.¡°
No wonder they weren¡¯t together today.
Yes-man 168
Everyone had gotten used to seeing Bianca and Seth joined at the hip¨Cif you spotted one, the other was never far behind. So to see only Bianca show up on her own felt¡ off, almost unsettling.
¡°You two are so close! Don¡¯t tell me¨Care we going to hear wedding bells soon?¡± someone teased, grinning.
Ethan was clearly trying to get on Bianca¡¯s good side, going out of his way to steer the conversation toward topics she liked.
This, Noreen realized, was exactly why she¡¯d always preferred dealing with TechVenture¡¯s other partner instead of Ethan. He was clever, yes, but always scheming¨Cforever working an angle instead of focusing on the business at hand.
Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for Scott Quigley keeping TechVenture on track, the whole , and the color¡ well, you could tell it was picked with a woman in mind. He¡¯d probably bought it just for
Bianca.
Noreen caught herself watching, then looked away and pulled out her phone to call a car. If the rain didn¡¯t let up, she couldn¡¯t stand around waiting forever.
Seth stepped out, holding an umbre over Bianca as he went to meet her. He had a jacket draped over one arm, and as soon as Bianca reached him, he slipped it around her shoulders.
People waiting out the rain nearby shot them envious nces.
How could you not be jealous? Seth was gentle, attentive, charming¨Cand, of course, loaded. Men like that didn¡¯t just walk into your life every day.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, Director Lowell and I were just talking about you¨Cand look, here you are!¡± Ethan said, seizing the chance to cozy up to Seth.
Seth smiled. ¡°Oh? What about me?¡±
¡°We were saying how perfect you and Bianca are together¨Cmakes the rest of us jealous,¡± Ethan replied,
Seth just smiled, neither confirming nor denying it.
Bianca, meanwhile, turned to Seth with genuine concern. ¡°How¡¯s your dad doing? Has he recovered?¡±
¡°Almost,¡± Seth replied. ¡°He¡¯ll be out of the hospital in a few days.¡±
09:02
¡°I really should have gone to visit him,¡± Bianca said, her eyes searching Seth¡¯s.
Seth shook his head. ¡°He¡¯s not exactly easy to get along with. I didn¡¯t want you to feel ufortable.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t mind. He¡¯s your father, after all.¡±
¡°Next time. When the moment¡¯s right, I¡¯ll take you to meet him,¡± Seth promised.
At that, Bianca beamed and said goodbye to Ethan, then, sheltered by Seth, got into the car without a drop of rain touching her.
Noreen didn¡¯t look over, but she heard every word they exchanged.
So that¡¯s why Seth hadn¡¯te with Bianca to the meeting¨Che¡¯d been at the hospital visiting his father. The hospital was all the way across Rivercrest City; he must have crossed half the city just to pick her up.
Suddenly, Noreen understood that line she¡¯d once read online: ¡°For someone who loves you, nowhere is ever out of the way.¡±
Seth cared so much about Bianca that he refused to let her face Wade¡¯s indifference alone.
But what about her? All those times she¡¯d been left to fend for herself with Wade¨Cwhat did that mean? She knew Seth hadn¡¯t been blind to it. He just chose silence, chose to look away.
This rain felt colder than ever.
In the car, Bianca turned to Seth as he drove. ¡°I ran into Noreen in the elevator just now.¡±
¡°Oh.¡± Seth¡¯s response was neutral, his tone making it clear he had no interest in Noreen at all.
Yes-man 169
See? No matter how hard Noreen tries to prove herself, Seth won¡¯t even spare her a nce.
Relief settled over Bianca, washing away the frustration she¡¯d felt when Noreen outshone her at the summit. Now, it all seemed so trivial.
In her mind, Noreen¡¯s victory was nothing more than a stroke of luck.
So aftering back, Bianca refused to let that setback get to her. If anything, it fueled her drive to prove herself even more.
She was determined to show everyone that Seth¡¯s choice¨Cpicking her¨Cwas the best decision he
could have made.
Last time, she¡¯d underestimated Noreen, letting her swoop in and snag the golden InnoCore project. Bianca wasn¡¯t about to make that mistake again. She went back through all the projects she¡¯d previously dismissed, giving them a second look, and handpicked a few promising ones.
One of them happened to be TechVenture¡¯s new gaming project.
That¡¯s why she found herself at TechVenture today.
But what caught her off guard was running into Noreen here as well.
Could Noreen be eyeing TechVenture¡¯s project, too?
Now, this was getting interesting.
If Noreen really thought she couldpete with her for TechVenture, she clearly didn¡¯t know her own limits.
This time, Bianca was determined to outshine Noreen¨Cand do it in style.
On a whim, she changed dinner ns, booking a table at Sakura Tempest¨Cthe very same restaurant where Noreen was hosting her own dinner.
Seth didn¡¯t question it, only ncing over and asking, ¡°Since when are you in the mood for sushi?¡±
She smiled, ¡°I just suddenly had a craving, that¡¯s all. What, you don¡¯t want to join me?¡±
¡°When have I ever told you I didn¡¯t want to do something with you?¡± he replied, all focus on the road but responding to every word.
That answer lifted her spirits instantly.
She quickly called Joyner, Evergain Capital¡¯s CEO, to let him know about the change in dinner venue.
Sinceing back from Harborcrest, Bianca had been pushing forward with the SkyMind partnership. Even though SkyMind had lost out to InnoCore at the summit, with Aurelion Group backing them, their future was secure.
With the right resources, who¡¯s to say they couldn¡¯t surpass InnoCore in the end?
After all, out of all the projectsunched each year, how many actually make it to a sessful IPO?
In this game, thest one standing is the real winner.
1/2
¡°Director Lowell, I¡¯m really sorry, but something urgent just came up and I won¡¯t be able to make it tonight. Can we reschedule? I¡¯ll treat you next time and make it up to you,¡± Joyner apologized over the phone.
Bianca frowned. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. Everything okay?¡±
¡°Yeah, there¡¯s an issue with one of our projects and I need to handle it. Sorry about this.¡±
With Joyner¡¯s tone leaving no room for argument, Bianca had no choice but to agree to a rain check.
After hanging up, she texted Dn, hoping to invite him to dinner as well. She had an ulterior motive¨Cshe wanted in on Omniva Group¡¯s major new project.
But Dn¡¯s reply came quickly: ¡°Busy tonight. Maybe next time.¡±
That made three times he¡¯d politely turned her down.
Bianca stared at the message for a long moment before slipping her phone back into her purse, expression cooling.
¡°Looks like it¡¯ll just be the two of us for dinner tonight,¡± she told Seth.
¡°What happened?¡±
¡°Joyner and Dn both have other ns. They can¡¯t make it.¡±
Seth just grinned. ¡°So isn¡¯t that perfect?¡±
Whatever gloomy mood she¡¯d had vanished at his words.
¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s perfect.¡±
Perfect for a date.
Noreen arrived at Sakura Tempest first, reserving a private dining room before heading to the entrance to wait for Carman and the others.
Carman¡¯s car pulled up soon after.
Mina was the first to hop out, bounding over and throwing her arms around Noreen in a happy hug.
¡°Noreen! I missed you so much!¡±
Her affection was honest and exuberant, making Noreen smile as she gently patted Mina¡¯s head. ¡°How¡¯s school? Is it stressful?¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Mina replied, still clinging to her.
¡°If you ever run into trouble or feel upset, remember¨Cyou can always talk to me.¡±
Yes-man 170
Mina had struggled with mental health issues before, so Noreen always worried a little extra about
her well¨Cbeing.
¡°Got it, secret¨Ckeeper!¡± Mina grinned, using their old nickname.
Noreen was just about to call her colleagues into the restaurant when another sedan pulled up in front of her.
The passenger window rolled down in a hurry, and a woman called out, ¡°Ms. Gilmore, wait up!¡±
Noreen turned and saw it was Joyner, the CEO of Evergain Capital.
Joyner hopped out of the car and practically jogged over to her. ¡°Ms. Gilmore! What a coincidence, you¡¯re here for sushi too? Since we¡¯ve run into each other, let¡¯s eat together!¡±
Noreen managed a polite smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Joyner. We¡¯re here for apany dinner¡¡±
But Joyner wasn¡¯t fazed. ¡°No worries, you all go ahead with your dinner. I won¡¯t intrude. If you have a few minutes, maybe we could chat?¡±
It was obvious Joyner was here for business¨Cspecifically, to talk project coboration.
Noreen wasn¡¯t surprised. For days, her phone had been ringing off the hook with people trying to reach her. She just hadn¡¯t expected Joyner to chase her down at a restaurant.
Still, a guest is a guest¨Cand if she wanted to keep herwork intact, she couldn¡¯t afford to offend a
CEO.
So Noreen agreed.
Joyner¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Great! I¡¯ll book a private room. I¡¯ll text you the details¨Cjuste over whenever you¡¯re free. I¡¯ll be waiting!¡±
She¡¯d already walked a few steps away but turned back to emphasize, ¡°Ms. Gilmore, I¡¯ll be waiting! Don¡¯t stand me up!¡±
Noreen could only sigh.
¡°Ms. Gilmore, I want sushi!¡± Mina piped up, mimicking Joyner¡¯s enthusiastic tone.
Noreen feigned annoyance.
Mina instantly ducked behind Carman. ¡°Uh¨Coh, Ms. Gilmore¡¯s mad!¡±
Their group filed into the restaurant,ughter and chatter bubbling around them.
In the private room next door, Bianca and Seth were already seated.
The walls weren¡¯t exactly soundproof, so the lively banter from Noreen¡¯s group quickly carried over.
Sophia was shielding Noreen from having to drink, her voice ringing out distinctively¨Cno surprise, given her background in ssical singing.
¡°From now on, I¡¯ll drink on Ms. Gilmore¡¯s behalf!¡± Sophia dered, thumping her chest. ¡°She¡¯s model!¡±
my
role
¡°Role model for what?¡± Noreenughed.
¡°Your skills, of course! Sure, you¡¯re Chief Secretary at Aurelion Group, but you¡¯re handling work that¡¯s really for an investment director! The annualpany meeting¡¯sing up, and I wonder who¡¯ll win Employee of the Year. I mean, just look at the reports¨Chalf the KPIs were achieved by Noreen! I¡¯d love to see who has the nerve to go up and im that award!¡±
Next door, Bianca¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment.
Because that morning, during the management meeting, Seth had brought up the Employee of the Year award.
The whole management team, reading between the lines, unanimously rmended Bianca.
Seth approved it on the spot.
At the time, Bianca had felt a surge of pride, thinking Seth was recognizing her contributions, maybe even solidifying her ce in thepany.
But now, she wished she could disappear.
Seth stayed calm, as if sensing her difort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what others think,¡± he said quietly.
¡°Okay.¡±
His reassurance helped. At least Seth was on her side.
A momentter, there was a knock at the door next to theirs.
Bianca recognized the voice immediately.
¡°Ms. Gilmore, I¡¯ve already ordered some food. Whenever you¡¯re done chatting, juste over¨CI¡¯ll be waiting!¡±
Joyner sounded almost desperate, as if afraid Noreen might bail.
¡°I¡¯ll be there in a bit,¡± Noreen called back.
¡°Alright, take your time¨Cdidn¡¯t mean to interrupt.¡± Joyner¡¯s voice faded as she left.
The room barely had time to settle before another knock sounded next door.
¡°Seems I¡¯ve arrived just in time,¡± a familiar voice announced.
This time, it was Dn.
Yes-man 171
Chapter 171
When Bianca heard Dn¡¯s voice, the light in her eyes vanishedpletely.
Her fingers tightened around her teacup, knuckles turning white.
She never imagined that both CEO Joyner and Dn had rejected her for Noreen¡¯s sake.
She could ept CEO Joyner¡¯s decision¨Che¡¯d always been pragmatic.
But Dn? Did their shared history mean nothing to him now?
Seth, watching her closely, reached over and took the wine ss from her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go say hello.¡±
Bianca stared at him in a daze.
¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±
With just those four words, he made it clear: I¡¯ve got your back.
Dn¡¯s arrival was a surprise to everyone.
He exined that he¡¯d just wrapped up a meeting nearby, saw a post about the gathering online, and thought he¡¯d drop in.
Of course, that was just the official story.
The truth was, he¡¯d made up the excuse just to see her.
¡°That¡¯s quite the coincidence,¡± Noreen said cheerfully, showing no sign of suspicion, and asked the waiter to bring another ce setting.
Sophia started to scoot over to make room for Dn.
But quick¨Ceyed Mina jumped up first. ¡°You can sit over here. I¡¯ve just about finished eating, and you guys will be talking business anyway. I¡¯ll go take some photos.¡±
Mina had been seated beside Carman, with a spot between her and Noreen.
Sophia, on the other hand, was right next to Noreen. She had no intention of giving her brother¡¯s rival a chance.
Dn had barely settled into his seat when there was another knock on the private dining room door.
Noreen thought it must be CEO Joyner¨Cshe was already bracing herself.
But to her surprise, it was Seth who entered, Bianca at his side.
The smile faded from Noreen¡¯s face, reced by a cool, distant expression.
She clearly wasn¡¯t thrilled to see these unexpected guests.
Seth, as if oblivious to her reaction, looked straight at Dn. ¡°Dn, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to discuss with you.¡±
Dn raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s so urgent it can¡¯t wait?¡±
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1118
¡°The business leaders¡® summit.¡±
That was important, and everyone at the table knew it.
Dn turned to Noreen with an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯ll have to excuse myself. Rain check on dinner?¡±
¡°No problem, workes first,¡± Noreen replied. After all, she¡¯d been Seth¡¯s chief of staff for years¨Cshe knew exactly how critical this summit was, especially for Dn right now, when Omniva Group needed to solidify its position.
Still, she couldn¡¯t understand why Seth had to pull Dn away in the middle of her dinner.
Dn hadn¡¯t even left the room yet when CEO Joyner arrived, heading straight for Noreen¨Cand ran right into Seth and Bianca.
CEO Joyner, ever the seasoned executive, didn¡¯t bat an eye at the awkward timing. Instead, he greeted them warmly. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Mr. Harcourt and Director Lowell! What a coincidence. You two dining here as well?¡±
Bianca, still stung by his earlier rejection, barely nodded in response.
CEO Joyner didn¡¯t seem to mind, keeping up the friendly front. ¡°Since we¡¯ve all run into each other, why not join forces for dinner?¡±
¡°I¡¯m actually here to discuss the summit with Mr. Wilder,¡± Seth replied, not missing a beat. ¡°But if you¡¯re avable, CEO Joyner, you¡¯re wee to join us.¡±
¡°Absolutely!¡± CEO Joyner agreed right away, not hesitating for a second.
After all, Mr. Harcourt of Aurelion Group was the rising star of Rivercrest City¡¯s financial world. Getting an invitation like this was a stroke of luck, and CEO Joyner knew when to seize an
opportunity.
He still wanted to talk to Noreen, of course, but business came first. Some things simply took precedence.
Watching CEO Joyner choose so decisively, Bianca couldn¡¯t help but let a faint smile y at her lips.
Her gaze brushed past Noreen andnded on Carman, who sat quietly at her side.
After a brief pause, Bianca spoke up. ¡°Mr. Holt, would you care to join us?¡±
Seth may have been the one hosting dinner, but Bianca didn¡¯t hesitate to extend the invitation herself.
Yes-man 172
Chapter 172
She didn¡¯t even bother to ask Seth for his opinion.
Clearly, the two of them were close enough that there was no need to draw any boundaries.
All those strict rules Seth hadid down applied to everyone except Bianca.
He never tried to restrict her, never set limits for her.
Carman, who¡¯d been invited out of the blue, frowned in mild confusion.
Even someone as socially oblivious as him could sense that Bianca was deliberately ignoring Noreen.
Across the table, Sophia clenched her fist in anger.
Who openly tries to steal someone away like this? she fumed.
Under the table, Noreen pressed Sophia¡¯s hand in warning and calmly picked up a piece of sushi, chewing slowly, as if the whole scene had nothing to do with her.
But Bianca could see she was just putting on a brave face.
Behind her stood the Aurelion Group, Seth, the entire Harcourt conglomerate.
This was an olive branch countless people would have begged for, and Bianca had tossed it out herself¨Cshe refused to believe Carman wouldn¡¯t be tempted.
That was the confidence Seth gave her.
She wanted Noreen to recognize her own ce, to know she wasn¡¯t qualified topete¨Cnot in business, not for Seth.
But reality hit fast.
Bianca barely finished her proposal before Carman replied almost instantly, ¡°Miss Lowell, I appreciate your offer, but I only handle the technical side. All business matters are managed by my permanent partner, Ms. Gilmore. I work behind the scenes, she¡¯s the public face. If you want to discuss a partnership, you can talk to Ms. Gilmore.¡±
Bianca was momentarily stunned.
Permanent partner?
That meant Carman and Noreen were already deeply tied together?
How long had it even been?
So Noreen did have some tricks up her sleeve¨Cthough Bianca couldn¡¯t help but wonder what shady methods she used to earn Carman¡¯s trust so quickly.
For the first time that evening, Bianca looked straight at Noreen.
Noreen didn¡¯t look back. She didn¡¯t spare her so much as a nce, just focused on her food as if it was the most exquisite meal in the world.
Bianca¡¯s expression darkened.
1/2
11:18
¡°Will Ms. Gilmore be joining us, then?¡± she pressed.
This time, it was Seth who spoke.
To be honest, Noreen was a little surprised. If she and Seth didn¡¯t have all thatplicated history, she would¡¯ve epted his invitation without a second thought.
But they did have a history¨Ca seven¨Cyear saga that had consumed her youth.
Now, all she wanted was to draw a clear line between them, to leave Seth and the past behind for good.
So she didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°No, thank you,¡± she said coolly.
The refusal was brisk and final, the kind of answer that sounded almost like she was telling him to get lost.
Seth didn¡¯t take offense. He simply left with CEO Joyner.
Bianca hurried after them, sliding her arm through Seth¡¯s without hesitation.
He didn¡¯t shrug her off, just let her hang on.
Carman watched the scene unfold, his frown deepening. He couldn¡¯t understand how Seth could let Noreen go. She was such a remarkable woman¨Cmaybe Seth didn¡¯t deserve her at all.
¡°You¡¡± Carman turned to Noreen, his worry clear in his eyes.
But Noreen just shrugged it off. ¡°Don¡¯t just sit there. Eat. Don¡¯t let irrelevant people ruin your appetite.¡±
She was perfectly fine¨Cher appetite hadn¡¯t suffered in the least.
Even when Seth had tried to poach Carman right at her own dinner, she hadn¡¯t cared.
While their private room quieted, the next room over was lively.
A waiter brought over the menus. As Bianca started ordering, she turned to Seth with a sweet smile. ¡°Seth, is there anything you¡¯d like to eat?¡±
Seth replied, ¡°Whatever you order is fine with me.¡±
CEO Joyner, seated nearby, chuckled. ¡°Mr. Harcourt and Director Lowell, you two really are a perfect
match!¡±
212
Yes-man 173
¡°So, when will we get to toast at your wedding?¡±
Seth replied with something, but his words were lost in the background noise.
Carman nced at Noreen, worry flickering in his eyes.
Noreen caught his look. ¡°Do I have something written on my face?¡±
Carman shook his head.
¡°Then why do you keep staring at me?¡±
¡°¡No reason.¡±
¡°Eat your food.¡±
Carman let out a quiet breath, relief easing the tension in his shoulders.
It really did seem like Noreen had moved on from Seth.
He was genuinely happy for her.
The dinner was just a casual get¨Ctogether, no work talk allowed, so they wrapped up the meal in good spirits.
When it came time to pay, however, the server informed them the bill had already been settled.
Noreen nced at the receipt, realizing Dn had picked up the tab.
She shot him a message: Next time it¡¯s my treat.
Dn replied right away, the smile on his face impossible to miss.
Bianca caught the change in his expression and paused, curiosity getting the better of her.
Her
eyes flicked to his phone, trying to sneak a look at who had messaged him.
Dn immediately locked the screen, hiding it from view.
She didn¡¯t get to see, but her instincts told her it was Noreen.
Once the new office space was finalized, Noreen found herself swamped with work.
Still, she managed to carve out time to visit Wade in the hospital.
She¡¯d intentionally picked Wednesday, knowing it was Seth¡¯s busiest day of the week.
Being his former assistant had its perks¨Cshe knew his schedule better than anyone.
Evelyn was delighted to see her, and even Wade managed a rare, gentle smile.
¡°InnoCore¨Cthat¡¯s the project youunched, right?¡± Wade brought up her work.
When Noreen confirmed, he gave an approving nod.
11:18
¡°Good eye. I had some industry contacts evaluate it. The outlook is excellent.¡±
His encouragement meant a lot to Noreen, giving her an extra boost of confidence.
Evelyn peeled an apple for Noreen and sighed. ¡°Can¡¯t you two talk about anything but work? Wade¡¯s stuck in bed and you¡¯re still discussing business.¡±
¡°Seth¡¯s just the same,¡± she added. ¡°He stopped by yesterday, barely sat for ten minutes before rushing off again. Always in a hurry.¡±
Workaholic? More like obsessed with his rtionship, Noreen thought.
Always busy backing Bianca up, joined at the hip¨Cnever any time to visit his own sick father.
What a model son.
Noreen munched her apple in silence, making noment.
Wade snorted. ¡°Who cares if he visits, anyway?¡±
¡°Stubborn but soft¨Chearted,¡± Evelyn muttered, but didn¡¯t press the issue. Instead, she picked up her phone and dialed Seth, hoping Noreen and Seth would run into each other. She couldn¡¯t help wanting to nudge them together one more time.
She wasn¡¯t expecting a woman to answer.
Evelyn froze, double¨Cchecked the number, and then, baffled, asked, ¡°Who is this?¡±
Evelyn always set her phone volume to max, so even without speakerphone, everyone in the room
could hear.
The voice was unmistakably Bianca¡¯s, and Noreen wasn¡¯t surprised. Seth and Bianca¡¯s rtionship had been progressing smoothly¨Cthey did everything together. Answering each other¡¯s calls was nothing out of the ordinary.
¡°I¡¯m Seth¡¯s girlfriend, Bianca,¡± she said politely. ¡°Is this Evelyn? Is there something you need from Mr. Harcourt?¡±
It was clear Bianca knew exactly who Evelyn was. Her tone was courteous, a far cry from her usual
arrogance.
¡°Girlfriend?¡± Evelyn nced at Noreen, then replied coldly, ¡°Funny, Seth¡¯s never mentioned you.¡±
Bianca hesitated before responding, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should have visited Mr. Harcourt in the hospital, but Seth¡¯s been so busy, it slipped by.¡±
Evelyn had no patience for small talk. If Seth wasn¡¯t going to answer, she had no interest in
continuing the call. She hung up without another word.
Wade¡¯s expression grew even frostier. After a moment, he turned to Noreen. ¡°Are you free this weekend?¡±
¡°I am,¡± she replied.
11:18
¡°Meet me at The Eastern Gardenster.¡±
Yes-man 174
Chapter 174
Wade had promised to introduce her to a friend.
Noreen nodded seriously. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there on time.¡±
When she left the hospital, Evelyn insisted on walking her out, all the way to the entrance. In truth, Evelyn wasn¡¯t just being polite¨Cshe was fishing for information.
Noreen made things clear for her.
She and Seth were over.
For good. No second chances.
Evelyn looked genuinely sad. ¡°How did ite to this?¡±
She just couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it.
That afternoon, Noreen had an appointment with Carman to discuss a potential partnership at NaviTech. For convenience, Carman came to pick her up at the hospital.
As soon as Noreen stepped outside, she saw Carman waiting and heading her way. ¡°All set?¡± Carman asked, handing her a thermos. ¡°Mina made you some ginger tea. She made me promise I¡¯d watch you finish it.¡±
The night before, Noreen¡¯s premenstrual symptoms had red up¨Cever since her miscarriage, every cycle had been almost unbearable. She¡¯d mentioned feeling unwell to Mina in passing, not thinking much of it, but Mina remembered and specially brewed the tea for Carman to bring her. Such a thoughtful gesture.
¡°Tell her thanks for me,¡± Noreen said, epting the warm cup.
¡°It¡¯s getting chilly again,¡± Carman added, pulling a scarf from his bag. ¡°Here, wear thister.¡±
¡°Thanks.¡±
Evelyn watched their easy exchange. With her own experience, she could tell¨CCarman clearly liked Noreen. Whether Noreen felt the same, she couldn¡¯t be sure yet.
At first, Evelyn was surprised, but thinking it over, it made perfect sense. Noreen was a catch¨Canyone would be drawn to her.
Evelyn epted the reality, but her chest still felt tight with unspoken regret. Seth had let such a wonderful woman slip through his fingers. One day, he¡¯d realize just how much he¡¯d lost.
Noreen and Carman¡¯s meeting at NaviTech was with Mr. Hugh Summers.
After seeing InnoCore¡¯s innovations at the recent summit, Hugh had exchanged contacts with Noreen and expressed clear interest in a partnership. He wanted to integrate their Al model into NaviTech¡¯s office suite to boost productivity, enhance data processing, and create personalized virtual
assistants.
11:18
NaviTech¡¯s office software was the market leader, boasting over 700 million registered users, serving more than 25 millionpanies and organizations, and holding the top spot in monthly active users for several years running.
A coboration like this could open extraordinary new doors for InnoCore. Both Noreen and Carman knew what was at stake.
Their meeting went smoothly, with lively conversation and easy rapport. As they wrapped up, Hugh personally walked them to the elevator.
¡°No need to see us off, Mr. Summers,¡± Noreen smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s reconnect to hammer out the details once InnoCore¡¯s open¨Csource model is released.¡±
¡°Absolutely. I¡¯m looking forward to your good news!¡±
The elevator arrived and Noreen bid Hugh goodbye once more before leaving.
Just then, Hugh¡¯s secretary approached with a report. ¡°Mr. Summers, Director Lowell from Aurelion Group called again¨Che¡¯s hoping to discuss a possible partnership. Shall I-?¡±
¡°Keep telling him I¡¯m out of town on business,¡± Hugh replied smoothly.
Bianca was almost certainly angling for SkyMind. Noreen wasn¡¯t surprised; after all, SkyMind¡¯s core was smart office tech¨Ca NaviTech partnership was only logical.
It was rush hour, and the elevator was crowded. Noreen and Carman were pushed to the back. More people squeezed in at the next floor, and a familiar voice caught Noreen¡¯s ear.
¡°Cousin, I really think Mr. Summers is dodging us on purpose. Why don¡¯t you ask your husband for help? It¡¯s better thaning all this way for nothing every time.¡±
Bianca replied, ¡°Let me try on my own first. If it doesn¡¯t work out, then I¡¯ll talk to Seth.¡±
C
Yes-man 175
hapter 175
¡°As long as I ask, Seth will definitely help me.¡±
Bianca¡¯s voice was so sharine, it could melt frosting.
¡°Your brother¨Cinw spoils you rotten!¡± Lillian gushed, her envy barely concealed. ¡°He¡¯s bought you a car and a house¨Che¡¯s so generous! Honestly, if he handed you thepany tomorrow, I wouldn¡¯t even be surprised.¡±
Bianca just grinned. ¡°Seth¡¯s always been generous with me.¡±
¡°Everyone online
says,
if a man truly loves a woman, he¡¯ll do anything for her¨Che¡¯ll spend money on her. Looks like your brother¨Cinw really cares about you,¡± Carman chimed in.
Standing in the corner, Noreen silently reminded herself to tell Mr. Summers that the office elevators desperately needed maintenance. They moved at a cial pace.
When the elevator finally arrived at the lobby, Lillian turned to Bianca. ¡°Hey, could I borrow your car for a bit? I¡¯ve never driven anything that expensive! And you can use the chance to have Seth pick you up.¡±
Between her new car and Seth, Bianca didn¡¯t hesitate: she chose Seth.
She handed Lillian the keys, reminding her to be careful and take good care of it.
After all, it was a gift from Seth, and Bianca treasured it.
Lillian, clutching the keys, was practically bouncing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll take care of your precious love token.¡±
As if on cue, Bianca called Seth to ask if he coulde pick her up.
Whether Seth agreed or not, Noreen never found out¨Cshe and Carman had already slipped into the evening crowd.
It was rush hour; the streets were packed.
If Carman drove her home, they¡¯d be stuck in traffic for ages. Noreen didn¡¯t want to trouble him, insisting she¡¯d take the subway.
Carman couldn¡¯t change her mind. All he could do was remind her to stay safe and text when she got
home.
After he left, Noreen headed toward the crosswalk, making her way to the subway station across the
street.
While she waited for the light to change, Lillian whizzed by in that unmistakable rose gold SUV¨Cthe same one Seth had been driving yesterday.
So it really was Bianca¡¯s.
The subway was packed as usual during rush hour. Her new apartment was farther from work than her old one, and getting around was a hassle. With more client meetings ahead, not having a car would be a real inconvenience.
11:18
She couldn¡¯t keep relying on Carman for rides forever.
By the time she stepped off the train, Noreen had made up her mind.
She was going to buy a car.
Trouble was, she knew almost nothing about cars.
Back at Aurelion Group, she¡¯d either driven apany car or borrowed Seth¡¯s, and most of the time, it
had been Seth¡¯s.
That night, Noreen scrolled through car listings online before bed and decided to visit a dealership the next day during her lunch break.
Just before noon, her phone rang¨CDn.
¡°Weren¡¯t you going to treat me to lunch?¡± he teased.
¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten,¡± Noreen replied. ¡°But it¡¯ll have to be a bitter. I have something to take care of
first.¡±
¡°Busy?¡±
¡°Not really. I¡¯m headed to a dealership.¡±
¡°Buying a car?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡±
¡°Need a hand? I actually know a thing or two about cars.¡°`
Noreen hesitated, then asked, ¡°Are you free now? Because honestly, I could use the help.¡±
She really was clueless about cars.
Dn arrived in no time and drove her straight to the dealership.
She had a budget in mind¨Cnothing over a hundred grand, and she¡¯d need to pay in installments. No way around it; funds were tight.
After hearing what she wanted, the salesperson rmended a few models.
With Dn¡¯s help, they narrowed it down to two solid choices.
Noreen checked out the cars in person, sat behind the wheel, and found herself surprisingly satisfied.
In the center of the showroom sat the dealership¡¯s crown jewel: the exact same model Seth had given Bianca.
Noreen nced at the price tag.
Just under a million dors.
Someone was certainly willing to spend.
Yes-man 176
But Noreen didn¡¯t feel a trace of envy or resentment.
In fact, sitting behind the wheel of a car she¡¯d chosen and paid for herself, she felt far more grounded.
Even if her car cost less than a tenth of what that other one did.
After picking out the model she wanted, Dn suggested she take it for a spin first¨Cjust to see how it felt before making a decision.
So Noreen took the car out for a test drive around the block.
The experience was excellent¨Csmooth, responsive,fortable. She was satisfied and decided to head back to the dealership to sign the purchase contract.
Just as she reached the entrance, she spotted Bianca and Lillian standing out front.
Judging from their posture, they were clearly waiting for someone.
Noreen parked the test car, got out, and followed the salesperson back inside.
Bianca and Lillian saw her too.
Bianca, mid¨Cconversation with Lillian, immediately let her expression cool by several degrees when she noticed Noreen. She quickly looked away and resumed her chat with Lillian.
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bianca reassured her. ¡°The staff said it¡¯s just a minor scratch. Nothing serious, so don¡¯t stress out.¡±
Earlier that morning, Lillian had identally scraped the car¡¯s bumper and, not wanting to dy, had rushed straight to the dealership for repairs.
Once Bianca heard, she came over to check on things.
Fortunately, it was just a small scratch. Bianca¡¯s anxiety eased, and she made a point tofort the still¨Cnervous Lillian.
¡°I was scared out of my mind! That car is the token of love your brother¨Cinw gave you. If something really happened to it while I was driving, I¡¯d never forgive myself!¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine, really. Seth won¡¯t make a fuss about it.¡±
It wasn¡¯t long before Seth arrived as well.
¡°He got here this fast? He must really be worried about you!¡± Lillian teased.
Bianca greeted him with a smile. ¡°It was just a little ident. I told you there was no need to bother Seth, but Lillian insisted on messaging you anyway.¡±
11:19
¡°Hope we didn¡¯t pull you away from anything important?¡±
Ever the considerate one.
Seth replied, ¡°Nothing about you is ever a bother.¡±
Lillian, subjected to their little disy, couldn¡¯t help but protest, ¡°Come on, you two¨Ccould you keep the lovey¨Cdovey stuff to yourselves? I am still here, you know!¡±
Seth apanied Bianca to check on the car, and when they came out, they ran into Noreen and Dn, who had just finished signing the contract.
Dn was leaning toward Noreen, speaking softly, his expression uncharacteristically gentle.
Bianca stopped in her tracks, almost instinctively.
She¡¯d been so sure when she told Jude that Dn wasn¡¯t serious about Noreen. That he was just fooling around, chasing novelty, and would toss her aside once he got bored¨Cjust like he had with other women before.
Besides, Bianca knew Dn still carried a torch for someone else; there was no way he¡¯d fall for Noreen.
But now, watching the two of them together, Bianca felt a twinge of unease.
She¡¯d never seen Dn act this attentive with any woman.
He¡¯d flown all the way to Harborcrest City just to bring flowers to Noreen. He¡¯d turned down Bianca¡¯s own invitations, only to show up at Noreen¡¯s dinner instead. And now, here he was, personally helping Noreen buy a car. For all she knew, maybe he was even paying for it himself.
The salesperson was exining something to Noreen, and Noreen was listening intently, not even ncing in their direction.
The salesperson said the car would be ready in two days, which happened to be a lucky day ording to the calendar¨Can auspicious time to pick it up.
Noreen agreed.
Bianca nced at the car Noreen had chosen.
Then she curled her lip in disdain.
She was overthinking it.
If Dn really liked her, would he have let her pick a car that cost less than a hundred thousand? Not a chance.
Yes-man 177
Maybe Dn¡¯s worth wasn¡¯t quite as high as Seth¡¯s, but he was certainly in the same league.
There was no reason for him to give a car worth only a hundred grand.
If that¡¯s all he sent, it could only mean one thing: Noreen wasn¡¯t especially important to him.
She realized she¡¯d read too much into it.
So Bianca looked away, smiling to herself in silence.
When Dn and Noreen were leaving, they finally spotted Seth and Bianca.
Dn greeted them first.
As Noreen passed by, she didn¡¯t spare either of them a nce, striding past without so much as a
pause.
At that moment, Seth was reassuring Bianca. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor scratch. Once it¡¯s fixed up, you won¡¯t even notice. Tell your cousin not to stress about it.¡±
He didn¡¯t notice Noreen at all.
Bianca felt relieved. ¡°I told you it was nothing, yet you still came all the way over.¡±
Seth just said, ¡°Of course. It¡¯s the least I could do.¡±
Seeing their easy rapport, Dn¡¯s lips curled in the faintest hint of a smile.
After saying goodbye, he hurried to catch up with Noreen, and the two of them left together.
Two dayster, Noreen arrived at the dealership right on time to pick up her new car.
This time, the ce was quiet¨Cno awkward encounters with anyone she¡¯d rather avoid.
She drove straight to the office.
Sophia was waiting for her in the parking lot. Before Noreen could even get out of the car, Sophia thrust something into her hands, acting all mysterious.
Noreen opened it and blinked in surprise.
It was a charm for safe travels.
And not just any charm¨Cthis one looked identical to the one she¡¯d picked up for Seth a while back, the only difference being that Sophia¡¯s gift was brand new.
¡°It¡¯s local tradition here in Rivercrest¨Cwhen you get a new car, you give a blessing. Here¡¯s a good luck. charm for you. May you always have safe journeys!¡±
¡°Thank you.¡± Noreen loved the gesture; it was thoughtful and heartfelt.
She knew how much effort it took to get one of these charms¨Cclimbing ny¨Cnine steps at the old chapel wasn¡¯t easy.
She wondered when Sophia had managed to make the trip.
11:19
7
¡°But what are you doing here? Today¡¯s not a workday,¡± Noreen asked, tying the charm to her rearview mirror.
¡°I came just to give you this!¡± Sophia grinned.
Noreen was genuinely touched. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, you might as well help out for a bit.¡±
Sophia¡¯s face fell in mock despair. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, you¡¯ve changed! You sound just like a ruthless CEO now!¡±
¡°Toote to regret it. You¡¯re already part of my crew!¡±
They were still teasing each other when Carman and Mina arrived.
Mina hopped out of the car and ran over. ¡°Noreen, congrats on your new ride!¡±
She waved Carman over. ¡°Hurry up, bro! Give Noreen the envelope!¡±
Noreen instinctively tried to refuse. ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t have to¡¡±
Mina tugged her arm. ¡°It¡¯s just a little something for good luck. It¡¯s not about the money.¡±
Carman walked up and carefully ced a red envelope on the dashboard, making sure it was visible but wouldn¡¯t block the driver¡¯s view.
Mina chimed in, ¡°Mom says you have to give a red envelope with a new car. It¡¯s for good luck and safe travels.¡±
Noreen was genuinely moved.
The office was already nearly set up. The next big task was hiring staff.
Before heading out to The Eastern Gardens, Noreen told Sophia to post the job openings. She¡¯d go through the resumes at home that night.
When it came to hiring, she wanted to keep a tight grip on the process.
The Eastern Gardens was on the southern edge of Rivercrest City, nestled between hills and a sparklingke, with breathtaking scenery.
The ce boasted top¨Cnotch facilities¨Ca riding arena, tennis courts, even a golf course.
It was the kind of ce where movers and shakers came to talk business.
Noreen arrived early, not wanting to seem disrespectful in front of industry veterans.
She didn¡¯t tell Wade she was already there, just waited quietly in the lobby, taking a rare moment to enjoy the view.
But the peace didn¡¯tst long¨Csomeone came along and shattered the quiet.
Yes-man 178
Chapter 178
¡°Noreen?¡±
She looked up to see who had called her.
It was Healy.
Another of Seth¡¯s childhood friends.
Of course, back in the day, Healy had never been warm to her either.
But unlike Jude, who could fly off the handle at a moment¡¯s notice like a rabid dog, Healy¡¯s cruelty was quieter¨Csharper, somehow.
Like now. Even though he hadn¡¯t said a word yet, the mocking smirk on his face made his opinion perfectly clear.
No doubt he was inwardly sneering, wondering if she was still hopelessly trailing after Seth like a
stray.
There was a time when Noreen would have pretended not to notice, maybe even gone out of her way to strike up a conversation, desperately trying to break into their group.
She¡¯d tried for seven years. Seven years spent banging on a door that was never going to open.
Back then, she thought she just wasn¡¯t trying hard enough.
Now she understood. It was never about effort. They¡¯d simply never wanted her. She¡¯d always been
on the outside looking in.
Different worlds, she thought. No point forcing your way in.
Noreen pulled her gaze away, cold and indifferent. She didn¡¯t greet him. Didn¡¯t acknowledge him at all. Just acted as if he wasn¡¯t there.
That reaction caught Healy off guard.
He gave a quiet, sarcasticugh, then came over and sat down across from her. ¡°News travels fast with you, huh? Heard Seth wasing and rushed over?¡±
Noreen had no idea Seth would be here.
But Healy¡¯s insinuation irritated her.
She shot back, ¡°I¡¯m impressed. How do youe up with this stuff and still live to tell about it?¡±
Healy was momentarily taken aback.
After all, the Noreen he remembered was always gentle, amodating, a pushover. They used to mock her right to her face and she never once got angry, never even blushed.
Even when they met again, she¡¯d always been unfailingly polite.
But now? That sharp retort had caught him totally off guard.
Still, Healy didn¡¯t get mad. He just smirked, ¡°Do I need to make things up? Wasn¡¯t this your thing? Used
11:19
to act like you wished you could glue yourself to Seth. Now you¡¯re denying it?¡±
Noreen stayed calm. ¡°Thanks for the trip down memoryne. I mean, who hasn¡¯t wasted their youth crushing on an asshole or two?¡±
Healy had been waiting for a show, but her reply left him momentarily speechless.
She hadn¡¯t denied her past, but she¡¯d used the moment to take a jab at Seth.
Healy found himself with nothing more to say.
First time for everything, he thought.
She really had changed.
Jude had mentioned it a while back, but Healy thought he was exaggerating. In his mind, Noreen was still thepdog they could never quite shake off.
But seeing her now¡
Interesting.
Just then, Healy¡¯s phone rang. He took the call and got up. ¡°You picked up Bianca? Alright, I¡¯ming.¡±
Finally, some peace.
A momentter, Wade called to say he was almost there.
Noreen hurried outside to wait for him.
When she stepped out, she saw Jude carrying Bianca¡¯s shopping bags like a dutifulckey. Even Healy was holding an umbre for her.
They treated Bianca like one of their own¨Clike family.
Bianca frowned slightly when she spotted Noreen at The Eastern Gardens too.
Noreen didn¡¯t look at any of them, just waited at the curb.
Jude scoffed, ¡°What an act.¡±
Bianca didn¡¯t bother with Noreen. Instead, she turned to Jude. ¡°When¡¯s Dn getting here?¡±
¡°Should be soon,¡± he replied.
Bianca gave a little smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and wait, then. Seth won¡¯t be here for a while.¡±
¡°Whatever you say!¡±
As the three of them headed in, Jude gossiped to Healy, ¡°Noreen definitely followed Seth here.¡±
Healy replied, ¡°She said she didn¡¯t.¡±
¡°If she didn¡¯t, I¡¯ll eat my hat,¡± Jude snorted.
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Chapter 179
Noreen waited at the entrance for about five minutes before Wade arrived.
She personally helped him out of the car, steadying him by the arm.
Wade asked if she¡¯d been waiting long, and Noreen quickly shook her head, insisting she hadn¡¯t.
Even though she denied it, Wade could tell she¡¯d been there a while, and he was quietly pleased with her attitude.
¡°Being punctual is important,¡± Wade said as they walked. ¡°Anyone who wants to achieve great things needs to treat time as their most precious resource¨Cn every task with method and care.¡±
Whatever Wade had to say, Noreen listened with genuine humility.
By the time they reached the private dining room, everyone else was already seated.
As soon as Wade entered, the entire room stood up to greet him.
Some called out, ¡°Big brother.¡±
Others addressed him as ¡°President Harcourt.¡±
But everyone¡¯s demeanor was respectful to the point of reverence.
Even though Noreen had mentally prepared herself for this dinner¨Cknowing full well every guest was
a major yer in their own right¨Cit was something else entirely to stand before them in person.
Any one of these people, she realized, could shake up the entire businessmunity of Rivercrest City with just a word.
She recognized a few faces; others she¡¯d only ever seen on television.
Yet all of them, no matter how influential, treated Wade with clear deference.
It was then that Noreen remembered Wade held another title: President of the Rivercrest Chamber of
Commerce.
The Chamber was a nonprofit association, drawing together the city¡¯s most prominent businesses across manufacturing, finance, trade, pharmaceuticals, education, real estate, tech, and the inte¨Can organization dedicated to serving, uniting, and advancing the Rivercrest business
sector.
Itswork included the top resources in the city¡¯smercial world.
And as President, Wade had mostly kept a low profile in recent years¨Crarely organizing events unless absolutely necessary.
The fact that he¡¯d personally convened this gathering was extraordinary. Every major member of the Chamber was present, all eager to see what Wade had nned or what instructions he might give.
Wade gestured for everyone to take their seats, making a point to ce Noreen next to him at the
table.
The move drew immediate attention.
11:19
Curiosity flickered in every nce as the others sized Noreen up, silently wondering who she was, what her background could be, and how she¡¯d earned a ce beside Wade¨Cthe man who¡¯d practically retired from public view.
Some recognized her as Seth¡¯s secretary and spected that Wade might be paving the way for Seth¡¯s advancement.
But once everyone was seated, Wade asked Noreen to pass out her business cards to the group.
When they read them, the reaction was swift¨CNoreen was listed as General Manager of Winrich Capital.
No one had ever heard of thispany.
Wade quickly addressed their confusion, exining that Winrich was a newly established investment firm, small in both assets and scale.
But the fact that such an obscurepany could win Wade¡¯s personal support spoke volumes. These were savvy people¨Cthey caught the message immediately and treated Noreen with the utmost courtesy.
With introductions out of the way, Noreen had the chance to present the project she was currently
working on.
When she mentioned she was the investment partner for InnoCore, Chase Naylor¨Cthe CEO of Naylor Automotive Group¨Cperked up, his eyes lighting with interest. He struck up an animated conversation with Noreen without hesitation.
Word traveled fast.
Others around the table had at least heard of InnoCore, and soon Noreen found herself fielding questions from other guests as well. But none were as enthusiastic as Chase.
¡°My son told me he thinks Al algorithms can optimize our vehicles,¡± Chase said. ¡°He ims we could achieve advanced intelligent driving with limitedputing power, reduce costs, and¨Cby integrating multiple sources of data¨Canalyze sensor information in real time. That way, our cars could make better decisions inplex situations: urately identify obstacles, n safe routes, and improve autonomous driving overall.¡±
¡°Al really can do all of that,¡± Noreen replied. ¡°Not only can it optimize vehicle performance, it¡¯s also driving innovation across the whole automotive industry. It speeds up research and development, elerates new features, and pushes the industry forward as a whole.¡±
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Yes-man 180
¡°We¡¯re getting old¨Cwe don¡¯t really understand all this new technology,¡± Chase admitted with augh. ¡°But my son¡¯s been studying this stuff for the past couple of years. I¡¯ll have hime in and talk to you!¡±
He was so excited that he called his son right then and there.
Noreen frowned slightly. She remembered that Chase¡¯s son was Healy. And only an hour ago, she¡¯d had a rather unpleasant run¨Cin with him.
Still, business was business. She wasn¡¯t about to let personal feelings get in the way, and she trusted Healy wouldn¡¯t either.
Healy wasn¡¯t like Jude. He actually had some talent.
After returning from his studies abroad two years ago, he¡¯d joined Naylor Automotive Group and had been pushing for innovation ever since¨Cdeveloping new energy vehicles and autonomous driving technologies.
At that moment, Healy was at The Eastern Gardens, keeping Bianca and Judepany on the golf
course.
Seth hadn¡¯t arrived yet, so Healy and Jude were dutifully entertaining Bianca.
When his father called and exined the situation, Healy turned to hispanions. ¡°My dad¡¯s asked me to meet some of his business friends. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±
¡°Hurry up then! Once Seth gets here, we¡¯re due for a rematch!¡± Jude called after him.
Following his father¡¯s directions, Healy found the private dining room. Before entering, he took a moment to straighten his tie and smooth his hair, wanting to make a good impression on the older generation.
He knocked, smiling broadly as he stepped inside to greet everyone.
But the smile froze on his face the instant he saw Noreen.
She didn¡¯t even nce his way, quietly sipping her tea with studied detachment.
Chase gave his son a nudge. ¡°What are you standing there for? Come on, say hello to Ms. Gilmore!¡±
Ms. Gilmore?
Healy was momentarily confused.
Chase continued, ¡°This is Ms. Gilmore from Winrich Capital. She¡¯s leading an Al Initiative that would be a perfect match for ourpany. I don¡¯t know much about this sort of thing, so I wanted you to discuss it with her.¡±
¡°You¡¯re both about the same age¨Cget to know each other. It¡¯ll make future cooperation a lot easier.¡±
Healy had no choice but to bite the bullet and greet her. ¡°Hello, Ms. Gilmore.¡±
Never in his life had he imagined he¡¯d have to speak to Noreen in this polite, formal way.
11.19
Noreen, for her part, gave him a cool, courteous nod¨Cjust enough to be polite, but not an inch more.
Her attitude now was exactly the same as how he¡¯d always treated her in the past.
How the tables had turned.
Healy had only himself to me.
But what really shocked him was the fact that Wade had brought Noreen to this dinner. Healy knew he wasn¡¯t even important enough to get a seat at this kind of table.
Jude, that idiot¡ was he supposed to swallow this or choke on it?
Professionally, Healy still had some substance to offer. He began exining his ideas to
Noreen¨Chow Al could be leveraged to revolutionize the automotive industry.
For reasons known only to himself, Healy dropped one technical term after another, perhaps to show off, or perhaps to test her.
He¡¯d always assumed Noreen was just an investor¨Cher stake in InnoCore probably came down to luck, as far as he was concerned. She was likely only here because of Wade.
He¡¯d heard she had a talent for reading people, and today he was finally seeing it firsthand.
Noreen could tell Healy was trying to trip her up.
But he didn¡¯t really know Noreen at all.
Over the years, Aurelion Group had invested in every kind of project imaginable. As Seth¡¯s assistant, Noreen had always done her homework, learning the ins and outs of each industry before every deal.
She¡¯d made it a habit: every project meant diving deep, studying all the key technical knowledge until she could speak thenguage, if not quite at an expert¡¯s level, then at least enough to hold her own in conversation.
Besides, Healy wasn¡¯t a true specialist himself. How tough could his questions really be?
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Chapter 181
Noreen handled Healy¡¯s questions with effortless poise, even managing to turn his words back on him with pointed questions of her own.
Now it was Healy¡¯s turn to be stumped.
The moment he caught the contempt in Noreen¡¯s eyes, he realized he¡¯d just shot himself in the foot.
¡°Sorry for making youugh, Ms. Gilmore. If it¡¯s convenient, could we exchange contact info? We can discuss the details of our coborationter.¡±
Healy pulled out his phone and held it out, clearly hoping to add Noreen¡¯s number.
The whole scene struck Noreen as oddly familiar.
She¡¯d once stood in Healy¡¯s shoes¨Cjust as sincere, asking for his contact info.
What did he say back then?
¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t use WhatsApp.¡±
But just minutester, he was sending videos on WhatsApp to some new fling¨Cright in front of her, like he didn¡¯t care if she felt humiliated.
Back then, out of respect for Seth, she¡¯d let it pass.
But now¡
Noreen lifted her teacup and took a slow, measured sip.
Healy waited, phone in hand, his expression earnest.
But Noreen only replied, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t use WhatsApp.¡±
Healy was speechless.
Chase opened his mouth, ready to jump in, but Wade stepped in first, skillfully steering the conversation toward the impact of artificial intelligence on global business, smoothly shifting to business models and strategies for coping with Al¨Cdriven changes.
After that, Healy never found another good opening.
Chase was getting desperate.
He threw his dignity to the wind and blurted out, ¡°Ms. Gilmore, you look about the same age as my son. Do you have a boyfriend?¡±
Healy, who¡¯d just taken a sip of tea, nearly choked.
Noreen, however, answered calmly, ¡°I¡¯m single at the moment.¡±
Chase¡¯s eyes lit up with hope¨Cuntil Noreen added, ¡°But I¡¯m afraid Mr. Naylor and I just don¡¯t click.¡±
Healy looked as if he¡¯d swallowed a lemon.
Her rejection was so direct, it left him visibly embarrassed.
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Even Chase finally realized Noreen had no interest in his son and had to swallow his matchmaking ambitions.
Soon after, Chase found an excuse to send Healy away¨Cclearly worried his presence might jeopardize any future coboration between Naylor Automotive Group and Winrich.
When Healy made it back to the golf course, Seth and Dn had already arrived.
Dn was lounging with his phone, scrolling idly.
Seth and Bianca were finishing a round of golf.
Spotting Healy, Jude hurried over. ¡°What took you so long? Don¡¯t tell me your dad set you up on a blind date!¡±
Healy just sighed. ¡°Honestly? He kind of did.¡±
Jude¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Who¡¯s the luckydy? Someone I know? Is she pretty?¡±
Healy seemed lost in thought. ¡°Yeah¡ she¡¯s pretty.¡±
Jude was dying of curiosity. ¡°Come on, spill it already!¡±
Just then, Seth and Bianca returned. Bianca took off her cap and sat down for a drink. Noticing Seth still had his cap on, she asked, ¡°Why¡¯ve you kept your hat on all day?¡±
Seth brushed it off. ¡°Bumped my forehead, that¡¯s all.¡±
¡°Let me see.¡± Bianca sounded genuinely worried.
¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Seth replied, gently refusing. ¡°Just a scratch. It¡¯ll be fine in a couple of days.¡±
He quickly changed the subject, turning to Healy. ¡°So, who was the blind date with?¡±
Healy gave a wry smile. ¡°Noreen.¡±
Jude choked on his drink.
Seth¡¯s reaction was almost indifferent¨Ccalm, cold, as if the name meant nothing to him, as if not the slightest ripple disturbed his mind.
Instead, it was Dn¨Cquietly scrolling through his phone in the corner¨Cwho finally looked up and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±
Truth be told, Healy himself still hadn¡¯t processed it all.
He hardly knew where to begin. ¡°Mr. Harcourt set it up. All the Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce board members were there. Oh, and your dad too,¡± he added to Jude.
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Yes-man 182
¡°What on earth was Noreen doing there?!¡± Jude waspletely baffled.
This kind of gathering¨Cit was way out of his league. Truth be told, even his father only managed to get a seat at the table thanks to the family name and a bit of shameless persistence. As for Jude himself? He didn¡¯t stand a chance.
So, when Healy casually mentioned that Noreen was also present, it was like an earthquake had rocked Jude¡¯s world.
Healy exined, ¡°Mr. Harcourt brought her along.¡±
The room fell silent.
Dn, however, wasn¡¯t interested in any of that.
¡°So why were you and Noreen being set up on a date?¡±
¡°My dad¡¯s ying matchmaker again.¡±
Dn rxed, even cracking a joke. ¡°Let me guess¨Cyou got turned down, didn¡¯t you?¡±
Healy shot him a look that said, ¡°You already know the answer.¡±
With a smirk, Dn lost interest in their conversation and went back to scrolling through his phone.
Bianca¡¯s shock was no less than Jude¡¯s.
Her rtionship with Seth was steady, but even now, she¡¯d never actually met Wade. Her mother, Yvonne, had brought it up several times¨Choping both families could sit down together and settle the wedding ns sooner rather thanter.
Bianca wanted that too. Who wouldn¡¯t want things to be official as soon as possible? But as the woman, she felt she couldn¡¯t be the one to bring it up first.
So she¡¯d been patiently waiting for Seth to make the move. Yet, she was still waiting.
After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Bianca asked, ¡°Seth, should I go over and say hello to Mr. Harcourt? I never got the chance to visit him when he was in the hospital, and I feel like it would be the polite thing to do.¡±
Seth, busy polishing his cue, simply replied without looking up, ¡°No need.¡±
Bianca couldn¡¯t help feeling disappointed.
Jude chimed in, ¡°Seth¡¯s just looking out for you! Mr. Harcourt¡¯s temper is legendary¨Cmost people can¡¯t handle it. Seth probably just doesn¡¯t want you to get caught in the crossfire. Besides, the two of them aren¡¯t exactly on the best of terms.¡±
Hearing that, Bianca felt she might¡¯ve been overthinking things.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait a bit longer.¡±
As long as Seth¡¯s heart was with her, that was enough.
Still, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a twinge of jealousy toward Noreen.
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Wade¡¯s status? He was the chairman of the Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce, with ess to the city¡¯s most exclusive business circles. Every investor dreamed of getting close to him.
And Noreen had done it¨Cjust like that.
How could Bianca not feel envious?
That little revtion put her off her game. She spent the rest of the time sitting on the sidelines, fiddling with her phone.
Dn and Healy were deep in conversation. Only Seth and Jude were still ying.
Dn asked Healy about the dinner.
¡°We¡¯ve all underestimated Noreen. Her Al Initiative is making serious waves!¡±
After all these years, it was the first time Healy had ever praised Noreen.
Bianca paused mid¨Ctext.
¡°My dad wants to partner with them. He¡¯s hoping to bring in their technology and give our automotive R&D a real boost.¡±
¡°InnoCore is a powerhouse,¡± Dn said, clearly impressed. ¡°Unless something crazy happens, it¡¯s going to be the breakout project next quarter.¡±
Healy saw the opportunity too. ¡°I¡¯ll have my dad set up a meeting with Noreen and InnoCore¡¯s founder.¡±
Bianca closed her chat with Lillian and messaged a headhunter friend instead.
¡°Any chance you can get me Carman¡¯s contact info? I¡¯d really like to talk.¡±
Meanwhile, Noreen stepped out to call Carman, telling him to get ready¨Ctomorrow they¡¯d be meeting with the CEO of Naylor Automotive Group to discuss a coboration.
She ended the call and turned around, only to nearly run straight into Seth.
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Chapter 183
Even with his baseball cap pulled low, half his face hidden in the shadow, Noreen recognized seth instantly.
He stopped as well, keeping a careful distance between them, his gaze meeting hers. Sunlight ther through the window, golden and hazy, casting flickering patterns across Seth¡¯s chest as it rose and fell with each breath.
His lips parted, as if he wanted to say something.
But Noreen didn¡¯t give him the chance. She turned and walked away, her steps brisk and decisive,
So brisk, in fact, that it was almost as if they¡¯d never known each other at all.
Noreen decided that was for the best. He weighed his options; she cut her losses. From now on, their paths would never cross again¨Cno more entanglements, no more regrets.
Seth lingered for a moment before finally leaving.
Out on the tennis courts, Jude was having a rough day. After losing to Dn, match after match, he tossed his racquet down in frustration. ¡°What¡¯s keeping Seth so long? If he doesn¡¯te back soon, I¡¯ll be down to my boxers!¡±
Biancaughed. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on him.¡±
As she walked away, Jude watched with a sigh and a tinge of envy. ¡°Now that¡¯s what I call rtionship goals.¡±
Then, turning to Dn, who was toweling off, Jude grinned slyly. ¡°So, Dn¨Chow do you feel about all this?¡±
Dn barely nced up. ¡°Don¡¯t feel a thing.¡±
¡°Oh,e on, stop pretending!¡±
Dn ignored him, pulling out his phone to text Noreen: *How¡¯s the new car?*
He knew she was probably at a dinner meeting and might not reply right away. Still, he sent the message¨Cand stared at his screen, waiting.
Noreen, catching a moment between conversations at dinner, saw the message and replied with a single line: *Not bad.*
On the other end, after waiting so long, Dn couldn¡¯t help the small smile that tugged at his lips.
Jude, ever the gossip, caught sight of Dn¡¯s expression and craned his neck to peek at the phone. ¡°Who¡¯s making you smile like that?¡±
Dn noticed and immediately locked his screen.
Jude, denied his dose of drama, pouted. ¡°You¡¯re acting weird, man!¡±
Dn¡¯s face was unreadable. ¡°Am I?¡±
¡°You have no idea how ridiculous you just looked grinning at your phone!¡±
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Chapter
Dn said nothing, giving Jude nothing to work with.
Meanwhile, Bianca found Seth standing alone on a balcony, cigarette in hand. The ashtray perched on the trash can beside him was already crowded with seven or eight cigarette butts.
She frowned, concern in her voice. ¡°Seth, is something bothering you?¡±
Seth¡¯s answer was t. ¡°No.¡±
¡°Then why are you smoking so muchtely?¡±
¡°Family stuff.¡±
Bianca remembered Jude mentioning that things weren¡¯t great between Seth and his dad. She tried to reassure him. ¡°Look, I know your rtionship with Mr. Harcourt isn¡¯t easy, but sometimes parents love us in ways we don¡¯t recognize. Maybe, with time, things will work out.¡±
Seth stubbed out his cigarette, his expression unreadable. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll go with you to meet Mr. Summers from NaviTech.¡±
Bianca¡¯s eyes widened with surprise and delight. She hadn¡¯t expected Seth to take such an interest in her affairs. She hadn¡¯t even told him about the meeting.
¡°How did you know?¡±
¡°Secretary Laurent mentioned it,¡± Seth replied, his voice gentle. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to let me know if you needed anything?¡±
His concern warmed Bianca¡¯s heart, and her voice softened without her even realizing it, almost teasing. ¡°Why does Lillian tell you everything? I specifically asked her not to bother you, that I could handle it myself.¡±
Seth raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with leaning on me? I just don¡¯t want to see you struggle.¡±
His words melted her defenses, and she beamed at him, eyes sparkling. ¡°Fine! From now on, I¡¯ll tell you everything¨Cso long as you don¡¯t mind me being a bother!¡±
Yes-man 184
His voice was warm and doting. ¡°No way.¡±
When they returned to the court, the two of them looked every bit the sweet, affectionate couple.
Jude rushed over, unable to contain his excitement. ¡°You¡¯re finally back! I just found out something wild!¡±
Biancaughed. ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s Dn¨Che¡¯s got something going on!¡±
Bianca shot Dn a look, her gaze full of meaning.
Only Healy seemed genuinely curious. ¡°Who is it? Is she good¨Clooking? When are you going to introduce her to us?¡±
Dn leaned back on the bench, his tonezy and rxed. ¡°She¡¯s beautiful.¡±
¡°I knew it!¡± Jude nearly bounced with excitement.
Healy jumped in. ¡°How beautiful are we talking? As pretty as Bianca?¡±
Dn didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°She is.¡±
Bianca froze, her smile fading a little.
Healy grew even more intrigued. ¡°Now I really want to meet her.¡±
Dn just shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not the right time yet.¡±
No matter how much Jude and Healy pestered him after that, Dn wouldn¡¯t give up another word.
¡°Seth, aren¡¯t you the least bit curious?¡± Jude finally noticed that Seth hadn¡¯t shown any interest the whole time. He couldn¡¯t help but ask.
Seth¡¯s voice was cool, the words low and quiet. ¡°What¡¯s there to be curious about? We¡¯ll see when he actually brings her around.¡±
Dn let out a soft, knowingugh. ¡°I will.¡±
¡
Early Monday morning, Noreen brought Carman to meet with Chase.
Chase had brought Healy along.
Maybe because Chase was there, Healy¡¯s attitude toward Noreen wasn¡¯t as arrogant as before. In fact, he was almost polite.
But Noreen¡¯s attitude toward him remained indifferent, unchanged.
Healy couldn¡¯t help feeling like he was reaping what he¡¯d sown. If he¡¯d known it woulde to this, he never would¡¯ve treated Noreen so harshly in the past.
Even Carman, usually slow to pick up on these things, noticed something off. He sent Noreen a
19:31
discreet text.
¡°You and Mr. Naylor¨Csomething happened?¡±
Noreen replied, ¡°Yeah.¡±
Carman messaged again. ¡°If you¡¯re ufortable, we can skip this. It¡¯s fine not to work together.¡±
He always thought of her first.
But Noreen wasn¡¯t the type to let personal feelings get in the way. Working with the right partners could lead to great results and help the project seed. Her little grudge was nothingpared to
that.
That¡¯s what it meant to keep personal matters separate from business. She¡¯d learned that from Seth.
Unfortunately, Seth now seemed to have forgotten all about professional boundaries.
Noreen had originally scheduled a meeting with Mr. Summers from NaviTech that afternoon to discuss a partnership, but he¡¯d calledst minute to cancel.
Chase seized the opportunity and had Healy invite Noreen and Carman out for lunch. Since they¡¯d be talking businesster, it was only polite to make the gesture.
The three of them had just arrived at Luna Eclipse Dining when they ran into Seth and Bianca, who
were also there for lunch.
Healy greeted the two of them.
Bianca, meanwhile, had her eyes on Carman. The headhunter she¡¯d hired had tried to reach out to him, but he¡¯d turned down the offer. Still, she wasn¡¯t ready to give up.
¡°Since we¡¯ve run into each other, why don¡¯t we eat together?¡± Bianca directed the question at Healy, confident that their rtionship guaranteed he wouldn¡¯t refuse.
But to her surprise, Healy nced at Noreen, obviously wanting her opinion.
He already didn¡¯t have the best reputation with Noreen. If he went against her wishes and agreed to have lunch together, it could jeopardize their business deal.
Noreen looked at him, her expression cool, leaving him to figure it out for himself.
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Chapter 185
Healy quickly replied to Bianca, ¡°Maybe next time. I have some work matters to discuss with Ms. Gilmore¨Cit¡¯s really not a good moment.¡±
This answer clearly caught Bianca off guard.
She hesitated for a second before forcing a smile. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head in then.¡±
Then she turned to Seth, adding, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we shouldn¡¯t keep Mr. Summers waiting.¡±
Truth be told, there was no real need for her to say this out loud.
But she did¨Cand it was obvious she was dropping a hint.
Mr. Summers?
Noreen¡¯s brows shot up.
Could she possibly mean Hugh Summers from NaviTech?
Just before stepping inside, Bianca cast a quick, almost careless nce at Noreen.
That look carried both contempt and a hint of triumph.
It told Noreen everything she needed to know¨Cher suspicions were right.
Seth had made his move.
He really would do anything for Bianca.
Noreen found herself feeling a bit more charitable toward Healy, simply because he¡¯d had the good sense to read the room.
That alone was enough to make Healy, who had been on edge the whole evening, quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
During dinner, the conversation stayed focused on business.
Healy was genuinely impressed by Noreen¡¯s sharp instincts and skillful maneuvering¨Cshe was clearly in a league of her own.
He suddenly realized that, in the past, he¡¯d always looked at Noreen through a tinted lens.
He¡¯d assumed she had only managed to stay by Seth¡¯s side for so many years because of her looks
and clever tricks.
When Seth left her for Bianca, Healy hadn¡¯t been surprised. After all, beauty fades, and charm only gets you so far¨Ceventually, you need real substance.
But now, his opinion hadpletely changed.
He found himself looking at Noreen with newfound respect.
At one point, Noreen excused herself¨Cnot to use the restroom, but to discreetly ask the restaurant staff about their guests.
19:31
As she suspected, Seth¡¯s guest really was Hugh Summers.
Noreen returned to the table as if nothing had happened, only to stumble upon nca in the middle of some backroom scheming.
This time, Bianca was targeting Carman.
Carman hade out looking for Noreen, but ran into nca first.
¡°Mr. Holt, I¡¯ve always thought your project had promise,¡± Bianca began smoothly. ¡°But when I took over, Noreen had already axed it. I couldn¡¯t understand why she¡¯d pass up something so promising.¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t until she left Aurelion Group and started her own investment firm¨Conly to turn around and back your project herself¨Cthat I realized she had other motives.¡±
Noreen nearlyughed out loud.
And this was Seth¡¯s great judgment? Clearly, he was blinded by love.
Still, she kept quiet. She was curious to see just how far people were willing to go for their own
interests.
Carman, for his part, wasn¡¯t buying a word of it.
¡°As far as I know, Director Lowell made the final call on my project. How does this have anything to do with Noreen?¡±
Even now, caught out, Bianca didn¡¯t so much as flinch.
¡°At the time, Noreen handled all the projects for Division Three and handed them off to me. The write¨Cup for yours was so vague, I couldn¡¯t see any potential, so I turned it down.¡±
¡°Director Lowell had to decide: trust someone he¡¯d barely met¨Cyou¨Cor the colleague who¡¯d been at his side for years, like Noreen. Who would you have picked?¡±
Carman met her gaze and calmly threw the question back at her.
Bianca paused, then said, ¡°I¡¯m just stating the facts. You¡¯re free to draw your own conclusions. I didn¡¯te here to justify myself¨CI want to work with you. Winrich is a tiny investment firm. They can¡¯t offer you meaningful resources or growth. But we at Aurelion Group can.¡±
Mentioning Aurelion Group, her confidence only grew. ¡°You chose Aurelion Group in the first ce for a reason¨Cyou recognized our strength. So why not consider joining forces with me?¡±
Sheid all her cards on the table, certain he¡¯d say yes, her face radiating self¨Cassurance.
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Chapter 186
¡°As long as you¡¯re willing to work with me, I can leverage every resource the Aurelion Group has to help you.¡±
¡°You know about my rtionship with Mr. Harcourt, don¡¯t you? If I want, he¡¯ll back me all the way. Together, we could both win.¡±
She was certainly persuasive.
Noreen was nearly swayed by the pitch.
But Carman didn¡¯t budge.
¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not interested.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not considering it now, and I won¡¯t ever consider it in the future. I hope you¡¯ll stop trying, Director Lowell.¡±
Bianca narrowed her eyes.
She hadn¡¯t expected Carman to be so stubborn. Anyone with half a brain would know which way to choose, wouldn¡¯t they?
Yet Carman had turned her down more than once, and she couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it.
She frowned, thinking for a few seconds. Then something clicked. ¡°You¡¯re in love with Noreen, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Why else would he be so loyal to her?
¡°So what if I am?¡±
Carman didn¡¯t even try to hide it.
He just couldn¡¯t bring himself to tell Noreen, always treading carefully around her, protecting the fragile bnce between them. But that didn¡¯t mean he was afraid to admit it to anyone else.
Bianca let out a breath, a smile tugging at her lips. ¡°No reason. Just curious.¡±
She was disappointed she couldn¡¯t poach Carman, but if those two actually got together, it would at least put her mind at ease on one front.
She honestly wouldn¡¯t mind seeing it happen.
As for the project¡ If she couldn¡¯t recruit Carman, she could always try for someone from his team. Those people might not be as fiercely loyal to Noreen as Carman was.
Noreen had Carman and his technical expertise.
But she had Seth¡¯s backing.
Besides, feelings were fickle things¨Cthere was always a chance for things to change.
Noreen couldn¡¯t count on staying on top forever.
Only after Bianca and Carman had both left did Noreen finally move.
1/3
19:31
She didn¡¯t head back immediately, though; instead, she kept her gaze fixed on the man across from her.
Seth had shown up not long after she arrived, as if summoned by some unspoken agreement. Neither of them said a word¨Cjust stood quietly, eavesdropping from the shadows.
They listened to the entire exchange.
Throughout, neither spoke, just locking eyes in silence.
Seth leaned back, his face lost in the dim light, features gradually fading into shadow.
Noreen didn¡¯t dwell on it. As she left, she simply tossed him a reminder: ¡°Mr. Harcourt, you¡¯d better keep an eye on your people. If you keep trying to steal others¡® talent, you might just end up hurting yourself.¡±
Of course, she knew her warning would go in one ear and out the other.
Seth was so blinded by love, he¡¯d make excuses for Bianca no matter how many times she showed her true colors.
Love makes people foolish.
Noreen proved that to herself the very next day.
Hugh Summers called to invite her to a meeting about a potential partnership. When she arrived, she realized there were others present.
None other than Seth himself.
This time, he¡¯de alone¨CBianca was nowhere in sight.
He was probably worried her presence would affect Noreen¡¯s decision.
Noreen knew she was walking straight into the lion¡¯s den, but still, she took a seat.
From Hugh Summers, she learned that this dinner had been arranged by Seth. The invitation was at his request.
If NaviTech wanted to partner with InnoCore, they¡¯d need cutting¨Cedge processing chips as technical support.
And the best chips in the country belonged to Aurelion Group.
Hugh¡¯s intentions were clear: resource sharing and mutual benefit.
Noreen didn¡¯t mind. After all, everyone was here for business; if cooperation meant maximizing their interests, even working with enemies was eptable.
Still, she wanted to know what Seth¡¯s angle was.
With Aurelion Group¡¯s current size and influence, they hardly needed this partnership.
She asked him directly, holding nothing back.
Seth replied, ¡°I¡¯ll provide the processing chips, and Mr. Summers will allow SkyMind ess to their office modules.¡±
19:31
And suddenly, Bianca¡¯s words echoed in Noreen¡¯s mind.
Chapter 187
Yes-man 187
¡°As long as I want it, he¡¯ll back me all the way.¡±
Seth was her ace in the hole, as long as she chose to y it.
And honestly, she had every right to show off a little.
That¡¯s why she had the nerve to poach Carman in the first ce.
It¡¯s one thing to know your power in theory¨Cseeing it y out in real life was something else entirely. Noreen couldn¡¯t quite name the feeling that welled up inside her.
It wasn¡¯t painful, nor was it pleasant.
But it left her unsettled.
In the end, Noreen agreed to the coboration. Seth¡¯s offer was just too generous to refuse.
When someone practically hands you a fortune, who in their right mind would say no?
Seth really was pulling out all the stops for Bianca¨Che was even willing to share Aurelion Group¡¯s core technology.
Once the deal was struck, Hugh Summers was all smiles, pouring ss after ss of wine for the two of them.
But as soon as Noreen picked up her ss, Seth interjected, ¡°She can¡¯t hold her liquor. I¡¯ll drink for her.¡±
Hugh looked genuinely surprised. ¡°You two know each other?¡±
Otherwise, how would he know how much she could drink?
¡°We do.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t.¡±
They spoke at the same time, but their answers couldn¡¯t have been more different.
Hugh blinked, clearly thrown. ¡°So¡ do you know each other or not?¡±
¡°If she says we don¡¯t, then we don¡¯t,¡± Seth replied, sounding almost exasperated.
Noreen had no idea what he was so exasperated about.
In the end, Noreen really didn¡¯t drink at all.
Seth, on the other hand, kept Hughpany and drank quite a bit.
Noreen watched discreetly.
She could tell Seth¡¯s desensitization training must have been going well¨Che showed no signs of his usual alcohol allergy, even after several sses.
He¡¯d probably built up his tolerance, blocking drinks for Bianca at countless dinners.
1/3
19:32
Noreen sipped her tea, but it tasted bitter and astringent.
ording to the server, this tea cost thousands per pound.
When the dinner finally ended and she stepped outside, a light, misty rain had started to fall,
She texted Sophia, letting her know she was done and asking her to bring the car around.
Since it was a business dinner, drinking was almost unavoidable.
That¡¯s why Noreen hadn¡¯t driven herself; she¡¯d given her car keys to Sophia instead.
Just outside the door sat Seth¡¯s silver¨Ctopped Maybach.
Zachary had been waiting there for a while.
He greeted her with a polite nod.
Seth leaned on Zachary¡¯s arm as he climbed into the car.
Just as Zachary was about to shut the door, Seth spoke up, ¡°Wait.¡±
Both men looked over at Noreen.
She understood what Seth meant, but she turned away and walked to the other side of the entrance, determined to wait for Sophia.
Zachary nced nervously at Seth.
Seth¡¯s face had gone cold and indifferent again. He said tly, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
Sophia arrivedte.
Noreen stood by the curb, letting the night air chill her awake.
Seth had been conditioning himself, drink after drink, to shield Bianca from awkward toasts.
But wasn¡¯t she doing the same?
All this time, Noreen had been training herself, too.
Until now, when Seth stood before her, she could treat him like any other acquaintance¨Ccalm, detached, a stranger in all but memory.
The day before New Year¡¯s Eve, Noreen had the contracts ready and went to Aurelion Group herself to get Seth¡¯s signature.
It was her first time back since she¡¯d left thepany.
Standing before those all¨Ctoo¨Cfamiliar doors, she felt as if a lifetime had passed.
The receptionist recognized her instantly, eyes lighting up. ¡°Secretary Gilmore!¡±
Noreen corrected her gently, ¡°I don¡¯t work here anymore. Just call me Noreen, or Ms. Gilmore if you prefer.¡±
She handed over her business card. ¡°I have an appointment with Mr. Harcourt.¡±
19:32
¡°Oh, right! Mr. Harcourt mentioned you¡¯d being. This way, Ms. Gilmore¨Cplease!¡±
The receptionist personally showed her the way.
Noreen smiled, ¡°It¡¯s all right, I can find my way. You should get back to your desk.¡±
She knew this was the receptionist¡¯s busiest time of day.
And since everyone knew how well she knew thepany, the receptionist was happy to let her go
on her own.
She took the elevator up to the tenth floor. Someone else got in.
It was Ruby Wilder, from Investment Division II.
19:32
Yes-man 188
She caught sight of Noreen and paused, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she let out a dismissive little scoff.
Trailing in behind her was another colleague from the second division.
Noreen gave her a polite nod, just enough to count as a greeting.
As soon as the elevator doors slid shut, Ruby Wilder sneered, ¡°Maybe thepany should step up its security. Seems like just anyone can stroll right in these days.¡±
Her colleague shrank back, wisely keeping quiet.
When the elevator reached the twelfth floor, Eugene Johnson from the executive office stepped in. The moment he spotted Noreen, his demeanor shifted to one of deference. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, the front desk mentioned you¡¯d arrived¨CI was just about toe down and meet you. Didn¡¯t expect you to make your way up yourself.¡±
¡°No need to be so formal. I¡¯ve been here often enough, figured I could find my own way.¡±
Noreen paused, her gaze flicking briefly to Ruby Wilder.
¡°But perhaps next time I should wait for you downstairs,¡± she added lightly, ¡°wouldn¡¯t want anyone to get the wrong idea and mistake me for some random interloper.¡±
Eugene¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°Ms. Gilmore is a valued partner of Aurelion Group, never just some random person. Has someone been saying otherwise? If so, please let me know¨CI¡¯ll make sure Mr. Harcourt hears about it.¡±
Everyone knew Seth¡¯s rules on office gossip were strict¨Czero tolerance. Anyone caught spreading rumors would be fired on the spot and cklisted for good.
A cold sweat broke out down Ruby Wilder¡¯s back.
She shot Noreen a nervous nce, clearly hoping for a little mercy¨Choping Noreen would let it slide.
But Noreen wasn¡¯t exactly known for her charity. She didn¡¯t hand out mercy tokens to just anyone.
¡°You might want to check with Manager Wilder here,¡± Noreen said evenly. ¡°Ask her what she¡¯s been saying.¡±
The color drained from Ruby¡¯s face in an instant.
Noreen didn¡¯t waste time savoring the moment; the elevator had already reached the executive floor.
Eugene led her into the conference room, where Hugh Summers was already chatting with Seth.
When he spotted Noreen, Hugh smiled warmly. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, d you¡¯re heree, have a seat.¡±
He gestured to the spot right beside Seth, as if by habit.
Noreen, however, made her way to the other side of the table, deliberately putting some distance between herself and Seth. ¡°I¡¯ll sit over here, thanks.¡±
Hugh didn¡¯t give it a second thought. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter where you sit¨Cwe¡¯re just wrapping up anyway.
19:32
Just waiting for you to join us.¡±
The terms had already been discussed beforehand, all that was left was to hammer out a few details.
Noreen knew that Seth, in order to help Bianca save face, was willing to let Aurelion Group shoulder some losses.
She didn¡¯t hesitate to seize the opportunity, securing the best possible deal for both Winrich and InnoCore.
She half expected Seth to push back¨Cas he always would have in the past.
But this time, he said nothing. He simply signed off on the documents, quick and decisive.
She¡¯d never realized before that Seth had it in him to y the lovesick fool.
He really was willing to sacrifice for Bianca¡¯s career.
As the conversation wound down, the conference room door swung open without warning.
Noreen arched an eyebrow; she didn¡¯t even need to look to know who it was.
Aurelion Group ran a tight ship¨Crules for everything. Only one person had the privilege to ignore them.
Bianca.
Bianca breezed in, calling out cheerfully, ¡°Seth!¡±
Then she caught sight of the others, realizing she¡¯d interrupted. ¡°Oh¨CI didn¡¯t know anyone else was in here. I thought it was just Seth. Sorry, hope I didn¡¯t disrupt anything?¡±
Clearly, the privilege of not having to knock had been extended to Bianca. Not that it was surprising, given the nature of their rtionship.
Even Hugh Summers seemed unfazed, chuckling as he teased, ¡°No worries. We¡¯re just about finished anyway¨Ctime to return Mr. Harcourt to you.¡±
Biancaughed. ¡°Oh, Mr. Summers, you¡¯re terrible. It¡¯s just about lunchtime¨Ccare to join us?¡±
There was more than just Hugh in the room, but Bianca¡¯s invitation was clearly meant to exclude Noreen.
Noreen grabbed her bag, ready to leave.
Seth called after her, ¡°Ms. Gilmore, would you care to join us for lunch?¡±
10-22
Yes-man 189
Hugh Summers chimed in, ¡°Yeah, Ms. Gilmore, want to join us?¡±
olitely
dy have p
Noreen shook her head politely. ¡°Thanks, but I already have ns,¡±
¡°Guess I won¡¯t be the third wheel then,¡± Hugh said with augh. ¡°Let¡¯s save this dinner for another time.¡±
Seth and Bianca didn¡¯t try to convince him otherwise.
They probably really did have a date lined up.
Unlike Noreen¨Cher excuse was just that, an excuse.
She simply didn¡¯t want to eat with those two. She worried it would ruin her appetite.
The moment Noreen stepped out of Aurelion Group¡¯s building, her phone buzzed. Healy was calling.
She saw his name but ignored the call.
Honestly, she just didn¡¯t feel like talking to him.
Healy had been calling nearly every daytely. She hadn¡¯t picked up once.
But whenever Chase called, she always answered.
This drove Healy crazy.
He was genuinely eager to work with Noreen, but she wouldn¡¯t give him the chance.
Meanwhile, his father kept pushing him, anxious that another autopany would swoop in and steal the deal.
The smart car market was evolving at breakneck speed¨Cevery day counted, and missing out could be a costly mistake.
Healy was feeling the pressure.
When his call went to voicemail again, Healy vented his frustration in the group chat.
¡°Guys, I pissed off a woman. Any advice on how to make it right?¡±
Jude replied instantly. ¡°Seriously? You, of all people, are asking that? You¡¯re the resident yboy¨Ccan¡¯t believe you can¡¯t handle a woman!¡±
Healy typed back, ¡°This is different. She¡¯s not like the others. The usual tricks just don¡¯t work on her.¡±
¡°Oh? Got it bad, have you?¡±
¡°Why does everyone have something going on? Dn¡¯s got his drama, now you do too. Am I the only one left out? Should I light a candle at St. Anthony¡¯s and pray for a miracle? At this point, I¡¯d settle for any kind of luck.¡±
Nobody bothered to respond to Jude¡¯s whining.
Healy tagged Seth. ¡°Seth, any advice?¡±
19:32
Chapter 189
Seth was out to dinner with Bianca, but shot back a quick reply: ¡°If she likes money, give her cash. If she likes romance, send flowers.¡±
¡°nca, is Seth always this blunt?¡± Jude couldn¡¯t help but tag Bianca.
Bianca replied, ¡°He¡¯s already done both.¡±
Jude: ¡°I set myself up for that one!¡±
Healy, for his part, didn¡¯t say anything else.
The next morning, as soon as Noreen arrived at the office, a courier was waiting for her with a huge bouquet of sunflowers.
Healy had chosen sunflowers because of a photo he¡¯d seen a while back¨CDn had given Noreen sunflowers, and she¡¯d looked genuinely happy. That smile had stuck with Healy.
So, when he ced the order, he¡¯d subconsciously picked sunflowers, hoping to see that smile again.
Sophia, her coworker, nced over curiously. ¡°Noreen, is there something you¡¯re not telling us?¡±
Noreen searched through the bouquet, looking for a card, but found nothing.
The courier didn¡¯t know who¡¯d sent them, either.
While she was still puzzling over it, a text from Healy popped up.
He must have known she wouldn¡¯t answer his calls, so he¡¯d sent a message instead.
¡°Did you get the flowers? Do you like them?¡±
Ten minutester, Noreen replied.
¡°You should ask the garbage bin outside our building. It¡¯s got the answer.¡±
Healy was speechless.
When had Noreen gotten so feisty?
He¡¯d always thought of her as meek and easy to handle¨Cpretty, sure, but nothing more. Just a pretty
face.
He honestly couldn¡¯t understand why Seth had kept her around for seven years.
Even the fanciest meal gets old after seven years, right?
So when Seth finally chose Bianca, Healy hadn¡¯t been surprised at all. Bianca was more talented, came from a good family, and just seemed like the better match.
But now¡ Healy was starting to regret all those assumptions.
10:23.
Yes-man 190
Chapter 190
What goes around really doese around.
After his bouquet was turned away and his calls went unanswered, he had no choice but to go find her in person.
The moment he arrived at the base of Winrich Tower, Jude messaged the group chat, tagging everyone to ask about their ns for the night.
It was New Year¡¯s Eve, after all¨Ca night that felt special, even to the most indifferent.
Then, with a flourish, he excluded Seth and Bianca: ¡°Seth and Bianca, you two don¡¯t have to answer. I already know you¡¯ll be spending tonight together!¡±
Bianca replied with aughing emoji, which was as good as admitting it.
Seth, of course, didn¡¯t respond.
Dn wrote, ¡°Busy. Have fun on your own.¡±
Jude pressed him for details, but Dn went silent.
Not even two minutester, Healy replied, ¡°Busy too. Enjoy yourself.¡±
Jude sent a string of question marks.
So he was the only one left behind?
¡°Wait, is everyone paired up but me?¡± Jude finally asked, exasperated.
Naturally, no one answered, leaving him to stew in his own frustration.
Meanwhile, just as Healy finished replying to Jude, he spotted Dn across the lobby.
He hesitated, then decided to walk over and say hello.
¡°Here to see Noreen?¡± Healy asked.
Dn nodded. ¡°Yeah. You?¡±
¡°Same. Just here to talk business.¡±
He paused, then added, ¡°I¡¯m here for that coboration we discussed.¡±
Dn said, ¡°I invested in InnoCore. I¡¯m here to talk work too.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go up together, then.¡±
The two of them headed upstairs to find Noreen.
Noreen was still in a meeting, so Sophia greeted them in the reception area.
Healy nced at her. ¡°Weren¡¯t you with the Aurelion Group? What brings you here?¡±
¡°Quit. Couldn¡¯t stand it anymore,¡± Sophia replied coolly.
Healy was genuinely baffled. Who leaves a big firm for a smaller outfit like this?
19:32
Before Noreen¡¯s meeting wrapped up, Mina arrived too.
School was out for the holidays, so she¡¯de by to hang out with Noreen.
But as she walked in, she immediately spotted the two men¨Cboth here to see Noreen.
One of them she recognized from a dinner party. Back then, the way he¡¯d looked at Noreen had set off all her internal rms. She¡¯d instantly pegged him as her brother¡¯s rival in love.
So, with ruthless efficiency, she¡¯d given up her seat just to keep him from sitting too close to Noreen, lest something spark between them.
Now he¡¯de knocking at their door. Clearly, she was going to have to intervene again.
When Noreen finally emerged, the two men had been waiting a while.
¡°Sorry to keep you,¡± she apologized. ¡°It¡¯s been a hectic day.¡±
Noreen was always polite to guests, so she addressed Healy first.
Healy jumped in, ¡°It wasn¡¯t long at all, right, Dn?¡±
Dn nodded in agreement.
¡°What can I do for you, Mr. Healy?¡± Noreen asked, turning to him.
She already suspected Dn was here about the project¡¯s progress.
Healy replied, ¡°I¡¯m here about the partnership. That ¡®Universal Al¡® concept you mentionedst time¨CI¡¯m really interested. I¡¯d love the chance to discuss it with you in depth, Ms. Gilmore.¡±
Healy was clearly serious.
Noreen hadn¡¯t iced Healy out just for personal reasons. She knew his temperament; if he wasn¡¯t genuinely interested, a little waiting would likely make him give up.
She needed to see if he truly wanted to work together, or if he was just following Chase¡¯s orders. If it was thetter, there was no point wasting anyone¡¯s time.
But now, it seemed Healy was sincere about coborating with InnoCore.
So Noreen let her guard down, at least a little.
¡°It¡¯s gettingte,¡± she said, ncing at the time. ¡°How about we set up a meeting soon to talk through the details?¡±
Healy hesitated, then asked, ¡°Do you have ns tonight, Ms. Gilmore?¡±
After all, it was New Year¡¯s Eve¨Cmost couples would be out celebrating.
Dn turned to look at Noreen as well, clearly just as curious about her answer.
19:32
Yes-man 191
¡°No,¡± Noreen replied.
A date?
A date with whom?
Only people with nothing useful to do with their lives have time for dates!
Dn caught her answer and the corner of his mouth twitched, so subtly it was barely noticeable.
But Healy, sitting across from him, caught that tiny reaction. His heart skipped a beat, as if he¡¯d stumbled upon some earth¨Cshattering secret.
But now wasn¡¯t the time to gossip. No matter how curious he was, Healy kept his excitement in check.
¡°If Ms. Gilmore doesn¡¯t have any other business, why don¡¯t we just talk today? No time like the present,¡± he suggested.
Noreen had no objections. She never distinguished work from personal time¨Ceveryone at Aurelion Group knew she was the queen of overtime.
Still, with Dn present, Noreen deferred to him out of courtesy.
Dn replied lightly, ¡°I¡¯m just here to check on the project. If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to sit in.¡±
Omniva Group was one of the major investors, so he was well within his rights to stay.
So he did.
Healy grew even more certain of his suspicions. Fifty million was pocket change for Omniva Group. Yet, for such a small investment, the CEO himself had shown up? The real reason was obvious¨Cit wasn¡¯t about the project at all.
He didn¡¯t call Dn out, though. Instead, he focused on discussing the partnership with Noreen. Carman, InnoCore¡¯s lead engineer, joined in too.
Meanwhile, Mina was growing anxious outside the meeting room. She¡¯d been hoping to ask Noreen to watch the New Year¡¯s Eve fireworks by the river¨Con her brother¡¯s behalf. If Noreen agreed, Mina nned to excuse herself and leave the two of them alone.
But her n fizzled before it even began.
She¡¯d forgotten¨CNoreen and Carman were both workaholics!
Well, no matter. She had backup ns.
As the conversation inside hit its stride, Mina knocked and entered. ¡°Noreen, I made some honey¨Cpear tea. My brother told me your throat¡¯s been bothering you the past few days.¡±
Noreen had indeed had a sore throattely, though she hadn¡¯t given it much thought. She was surprised Carman had remembered.
¡°Thank you,¡± Noreen said, genuinely touched.
19:32
Mina made sure the others heard. ¡°My brother always worries about you. He kept reminding me to brew this for you to help with your cough.¡±
¡°Mina, we¡¯re in a meeting. Can you give us some privacy?¡± Carman said, flustered.
¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t interrupt.¡± Mina knew when to quit¨Cshe didn¡¯t want to embarrass her shy brother any further.
As she reached the door, she turned back, her eyes wide and pleading. ¡°By the way, tonight¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve. Noreen, when you¡¯re done here, could you take me to see the fireworks by the river?! heard it¡¯s spectacr.¡±
How could Noreen say no? Especially after epting Mina¡¯s treat. She nodded. ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll go after we finish.¡±
¡°Yes!¡± Mina cheered and slipped out, delighted.
The meeting wound down soon after, and Noreen prepared to see Dn and Healy out.
Dn spoke up. ¡°I was nning to catch the fireworks as well. Since it¡¯s on my way, would you like to go together?¡±
There was no reason for Noreen to refuse.
She nced at Healy, about to ask him, when he jumped in. ¡°I¡¯d love to see them too¨Cif you don¡¯t mind me tagging along.¡±
Noreen was speechless.
Were the fireworks really that special? Why did everyone suddenly want to see them?
In the end, the whole group headed down to the river for the New Year¡¯s fireworks. They arrived just as the show was beginning.
The riverbank was packed¨Con New Year¡¯s Eve, half the city seemed to have turned out. Noreen wasn¡¯t particrly interested; she stood off to the side, away from the crowds. Carman stayed close, his attention fixed entirely on her, ignoring the festivities around them.
1
Yes-man 192
As for the two who¡¯de all the way just to see the Fireworks G, it was odd¨Cthey didn¡¯t bother squeezing into the crowd either.
Dn nced at Healy. ¡°Weren¡¯t you here for the Fireworks G? Why aren¡¯t you out there?¡±
Healy shot back, ¡°Aren¡¯t you here for it too? Why are you still sitting here?¡±
¡°I hate fighting my way through a crowd,¡± Dn said, shrugging.
Healy grinned. ¡°Funny, so do I.¡±
Noreen piped up, ¡°Why don¡¯t we just find somewhere to sit and rx?¡±
Everyone agreed without hesitation.
Except for Mina, who insisted on watching the whole spectacle up close, the four of them wandered over to a riverside caf¨¦ with a great view.
No sooner had they settled in than a girl at the next table started excitedly gossiping with her boyfriend.
¡°I just heard¨Cthe fireworks tonight cost millions! Some rich guy put on the whole show just for his girlfriend! We really picked the right night toe!¡±
¡°Talk about hitting the jackpot!¡± her boyfriend replied.
Right as their conversation ended, a shower of dazzling fireworks lit up the sky outside the window. The colors were breathtaking.
Even Noreen couldn¡¯t help but nce up a few extra times.
Jude sent a message to the group chat, and Healy, out of habit, tapped the speaker so everyone could hear.
¡°Seth¡¯s lighting up a multimillion¨Cdor fireworks show for Bianca tonight! You guys have no idea what you¡¯re missing!¡±
Startled, Healy fumbled to turn off his phone, then shot a worried look at Noreen.
After all, Noreen and Seth had a history together.
And it was Seth who broke things off.
Anyone would feel a little stung hearing news like that.
Healy honestly couldn¡¯t tell why Noreen¡¯s feelings mattered so much to him. Still, he was surprised by her reaction¨Cshe seemedpletely unfazed, her face unreadable, as if none of it concerned her in the slightest.
Healy couldn¡¯t tell whether she genuinely didn¡¯t care or was just pretending. Either way, he decided not to respond to Jude, out of respect for her feelings.
Noreen, upon learning that Seth had arranged the fireworks for Bianca, showed no sign of wanting to leave. In fact, she watched the entire disy intently, never taking her eyes off the sky. She was so
19:32
Healy¡¯s attention stayed fixed on her, barely registering the spectacr show outside.
Dn, meanwhile, was even more at ease than Healy. He didn¡¯t seem worried about Noreen at all.
The calmer Noreen appeared, the more convinced Dn became that she¡¯d truly moved on¨Csomething he was d to see.
As for Noreen herself¡
Her mind waspletely upied with numbers.
Millions spent on fireworks, millions on luxury cars, ten million on a mansion¡
In just three short months, Seth had been astonishingly generous with her.
If she¡¯d known how much he cared for Bianca, she would¡¯ve negotiated harder during their business deal¨Cmaybe pushed for a bigger cut instead of ying it so safe.
She was kicking herself now for being too conservative.
At midnight, Noreen¡¯s phone buzzed with a New Year¡¯s greeting from ire. She replied, and as she exited the app, she noticed Bianca had updated her social feed.
They¡¯d added each other long ago during a work handoff and never really interacted since. Noreen barely remembered, but she recognized Bianca¡¯s profile picture¨Ca candid, everyday shot.
Curious, she tapped to view the post.
No surprise: it was a highlight reel of Bianca¡¯s night.
A coge of nine fireworks photos, meticulously arranged, capturing her happiness in every frame.
The caption was simple: ¡°So happy.¡±
Their mutual friend Jude was quick toment underneath.
¡°Looks like serious happiness!¡±
Bianca replied with a smiley face¨Csaying nothing, yet somehow saying it all.
Jude followed up, ¡°Any ns after the Fireworks G? If not, let¡¯s grab some drinks. Healy, Dn, and the rest of us could all get together.¡±
Bianca wrote back, ¡°You guys go ahead. Seth and I have other ns.¡±
Jude replied with a knowing, ¡°Got it.¡±
Noreen understood too. After all, they were all adults.
Yes-man 193
Chapter 193
Noreen stared at her phone for a couple of seconds, just as a new notification popped up.
Seth had posted something on his feed.
The guy who almost never shared anything online had now posted twice in thest three months.
And both times, it was about Bianca.
This time, he¡¯d written, ¡°Happy New Year.¡±
Attached was a photo of fireworks.
Bianca replied almost instantly: ¡°Happy New Year!¡±
Noreen guessed the two of them had probably nned to post at the same time.
Whether Seth replied, and what he might have said, didn¡¯t interest her in the slightest. Before closing WhatsApp, she went ahead and deleted both of them from her contacts. No hard feelings¨Cshe just wanted some peace and quiet.
It was the start of a new year, and workaholic Noreen was actually taking a rare day off.
She¡¯d turned down several invitations, picked up some vitamins and supplements, and headed home to see her mother, Rosalind.
Since leaving Aurelion Group, Noreen had thrown herself into work, barely finding time to visit Rosalind at all.
So today, she¡¯d made a point of waking up extra early; it was only 7:30 by the time she got home. Rosalind kept a strict daily routine¨C7:30 was exactly when she¡¯d be having breakfast.
Noreen had nned to join her, so the moment she walked in, she called out cheerfully, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m home!¡±
The living room was empty, but she heard noisesing from the kitchen.
Probably making breakfast, she thought.
Noreen set her things down and hurried toward the kitchen. ¡°Mom, what are you making for breakfast?¡±
But the moment she finished her sentence, her smile froze.
Because standing in the kitchen wasn¡¯t Rosalind at all, but someone she never expected to see.
Sethdled a rich chicken soup from the pot, turned off the stove, and only then looked up at Noreen¨Cwhose jaw was practically on the floor, ¡°Calling me ¡®Mom¡® might not be quite right, don¡¯t you
think?¡±
He grinned. ¡°Maybe try something a little more¡ yful.¡±
19:32
Noreen¡¯s good mood vanished in an instant.
Her smile faded, reced by a cold look. ¡°What are you doing here?
Seth took a soup bowl from the cupboard, unhurried as ever, and poured out some of the chicken soup.
Getting no answer, Noreen¡¯s patience wore thin. She red at him and said tly, ¡°You¡¯re not wee here. Please leave.¡±
Seth acted as if he didn¡¯t hear her. Instead, he picked up a spoon, set it in the bowl, and handed it to Noreen. ¡°Try it. See if it¡¯s any good.¡±
As if she had any appetite!
All she wanted was for him to go.
But before she could repeat herself, Rosalind came back inside.
¡°Seth, I just picked some fresh greens from Mrs. Laurent¡¯s garden downstairs. They¡¯re perfect for making a veggie porridge.¡±
Then Rosalind noticed her daughter and blinked in surprise. ¡°Noreen? Weren¡¯t you supposed to be on a business trip?¡±
¡°¡¡±
Noreen was at aplete loss for words.
¡°Seth said you¡¯ve been swamped with worktely, maybe even too busy for a break over New Year¡¯s.¡±
While she spoke, Seth took the basket of greens from her and disappeared back into the kitchen.
Rosalind guided Noreen to the sofa, looked her over from head to toe, and tutted, ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight again! Even if you¡¯re busy, you need to take care of yourself.¡±
¡°I¡¯m trying to watch my diet,¡± Noreen mumbled.
¡°Always the same excuse! You¡¯re thin enough already¨Cno need for a diet.¡±
But Noreen¡¯s mind was elsewhere. She kept ncing toward the kitchen, and finally couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Mom, why is he here?¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t Seth tell you?¡± Rosalind looked even more surprised. ¡°Maybe because you¡¯ve been busy, he forgot. He¡¯s been dropping by often to check on metely.¡±
Noreen was speechless.
She suddenly couldn¡¯t figure Seth out at all.
What on earth was he up to?
¡°Mom, about him and me¡¡±
Noreen felt this situation was getting out of hand and wanted to exin everything to Rosalind.
But before she could finish, Seth stuck his head out from the kitchen and said, ¡°Mrs. Carter, I fixed your water filter. Try it out and let me know if it¡¯s working¨Cif not, I¡¯ll just rece it with a new one.¡±
212
19:32
Yes-man 194
Chapter 194
¡°You¡¯ve gone to so much trouble again,¡± Rosalind said, getting up to test the kitchen appliances.
¡°Not at all¨Cit was really simple,¡± Seth replied, following her. ¡°I swapped out the old outlet for you too. Thest one was a pain to use, but this new one has a built¨Cin switch. Just flick it off when you¡¯re done¨Cno more standing on tiptoe to plug or unplug anything.¡±
¡°Thank you, Seth. Really.¡±
¡°No need to thank me, Rosalind, it¡¯s the least I can do. The chicken broth¡¯s ready, by the way. You two should have some while it¡¯s hot.¡±
Rosalind was practically beaming, her smile brighter than usual.
It made Noreen swallow whatever she¡¯d been about to say.
Breakfast was a feast: alongside the ginseng chicken soup, there was a hearty chicken and vegetable porridge.
Under Rosalind¡¯s watchful eye, Noreen managed two bowls of soup and a bowl of porridge, leaving her stuffed.
Afterward, Rosalind told Noreen to do the dishes, but Seth offered to handle it.
Rosalind blocked him, shaking her head. ¡°You cooked, so she should clean. Go sit down and take a
break.¡±
While Noreen was washing up, a familiar ache spread through her lower abdomen.
Her period again¨Cearly, of course.
She hadn¡¯t been prepared at all. Pain broke out in cold sweat across her forehead; her grip slipped, and a te crashed to the floor.
Seth was the first to rush in. ¡°Did you hurt yourself?¡±
He quickly moved Noreen away from the shards, clearly worried she¡¯d cut herself.
The pain was so bad that Noreen couldn¡¯t even think about keeping her distance; Seth half¨Ccarried her over to the sofa.
¡°What happened?¡± Rosalind hurried over, her face written with concern.
¡°My stomach¡ cramps¡¡± Noreen was drenched in sweat.
Somehow, the pain was even worse this time.
¡°We should go to the hospital,¡± Seth said immediately.
Noreen stopped his hand as he reached to lift her. ¡°It¡¯s just cramps. The hospital can¡¯t do anything.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll get you some painkillers,¡± Rosalind offered, hurrying to fetch them.
Seth brought her a ss of hot water, frowning the whole time as Noreen took her medicine.
A few minutester, the pills kicked in, and Noreen¡¯s breathing eased.
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19:36 1
Seth still looked concerned. ¡°You should get checked out, though. You can¡¯t keep relying on painkillers
forever.¡±
Even Rosalind agreed. ¡°He¡¯s right, Noreen. Let¡¯s have a doctor look at you.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve seen one already. It¡¯s just my body¡¯s constitution¨CI need to take care of myself over time,¡± Noreen exined.
¡°How do you take care of it?¡± Seth asked.
¡°Medication, nutrition¡ there¡¯s no quick fix for this.¡±
¡°Which doctor did you see?¡± Seth pressed, sounding more involved than Noreen thought necessary.
She couldn¡¯t tell what his angle was, but she felt like he was putting on a show.
¡°Dr. Wilder. He¡¯s a top specialist.¡±
Seth thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Let¡¯s get a second opinion. I know a great physician¨Clet me make an appointment.¡±
He was as good as his word, pulling out his phone and calling the specialist right away.
The doctor said he¡¯d be on duty tomorrow; they could go straight in.
Seth agreed, then turned to Noreen. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital tomorrow.¡±
Rosalind was all for it. ¡°It¡¯s a good idea. I¡¯ll feel better knowing Seth¡¯s going too.¡±
Noreen opened her mouth to protest, but the words died on her lips.
Seth stayed until after lunch before leaving.
Noreen had nned to stay for dinner with Rosalind, but a work emergency meant she had to head back to the office.
So they left together.
The moment they stepped outside, out of Rosalind¡¯s line of sight, Noreen¡¯s demeanor changed in a
heartbeat.
She shot him a look, her toneced with sarcasm. ¡°Since when did Mr. Harcourt be a master of
time management?¡±
Yes-man 195
Chapter 195
Last night, he was still out under the stars with his old me, spending the whole night in that romantic haze.
And now, first thing in the morning, he¡¯s here at her house, ying the attentive gentleman.
If that¡¯s not master¨Clevel time management, what is?
But what exactly was his goal?
¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I made myself clear, Seth. We¡¯re done, over, finished. Our lives are supposed to stay separate. So why are you at my mom¡¯s ce now? What kind of game are you ying?¡± Noreen¡¯s voice was sharp, her eyes shing. ¡°Do you think this little roundabout approach is going to make me go soft?¡±
If so, he seriously underestimated her.
She, Noreen, didn¡¯t do second chances¨Cand she definitely didn¡¯t go crawling back to old mistakes.
Seth didn¡¯t get angry at her barrage of questions. He just cocked an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Do you really hate me that much?¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. ¡°Of course. If you were locked in a room with a murderer and I had two bullets, I¡¯d shoot you. Twice.¡±
Seth just smiled¨Ca fleeting, enigmatic curve of his lips that almost gave him an air of sincerity.
¡°So, you really do hate me.¡±
Noreen had no interest in dragging this out any longer.
The elevator doors slid open and she strode out, not even ncing back to see if he¡¯d follow.
Seth¡¯s long legs made up for lost time; even though he got off the elevator a beatter, he caught up with her in just a few steps.
¡°Did you take that lucky charm from my car?¡± he asked, matching her pace.
Noreen quickened her stride, refusing to look at him. ¡°No! Don¡¯t try to pin that on me. And another thing¨Cstop bothering my mom, and stop interfering with my life.¡±
He just responded with a nomittal, ¡°Alright.¡±
She had no idea if he was actually listening, but she¡¯d said everything that needed saying.
There was nothing left to discuss.
And she sure as hell didn¡¯t want anything more to do with him.
The day was bright and clear, and the two o¡¯clock sun poured down between them¨Ccasting a literal line in the sand, dividing their shadows sharply on the sidewalk.
¡°My dad¡¯s birthday ising up,¡± Seth said suddenly, his gaze fixed on the two shadows moving apart. ¡°He¡¯s not exactly fond of me. If you can¡ would you go see him?¡±
Noreen stopped in her tracks.
1/2hrshal
19:36
Only then did it click¨Cthis was why Seth had shown up at her house, putting on that act.
Trading in a favor, was he?
She didn¡¯t bother giving him an answer. She just got in her car and drove away.
In the rearview mirror, Seth stood there, unmoving.
He just stood, staring off in the direction she¡¯d gone, lost in thought.
She hadn¡¯t hesitated for a second¨Cwalking away with the air of someone finally,pletely free.
Noreen went straight back to the office to work overtime, and while she was at it, cleared out her overflowing inbox of r¨¦sum¨¦s.
One of them caught her eye¨Ca familiar name.
Ruby Wilder.
Must have been let go by Aurelion Group.
Noreen wasn¡¯t surprised. Seth was always strict when it came to personnel decisions.
Well¨Cexcept for Bianca.
Noreen rejected Ruby Wilder¡¯s application outright.
Sure, Ruby waspetent¨Cotherwise she wouldn¡¯t have made it through Aurelion Group¡¯s notoriously tough screening process.
But she was a schemer, the kind of trouble Noreen had no intention of inviting in.
By the time she finished thest r¨¦sum¨¦, it was nearly eight o¡¯clock.
She stretched, wincing at the stiffness in her lower back, and grabbed her bag to head home.
It was New Year¡¯s break, so the whole building was eerily quiet.
She waited by the elevator for a while before it finally made its way down.
When the doors opened, there was someone inside.
Someone she knew.
Scott looked just as surprised to see her. ¡°Secretary Gilmore? What are you doing here?¡±
He was carrying a cardboard box filled with personal items.
Looked like he¡¯d just cleared out his desk.
¡°I resigned from Aurelion Group,¡± Noreen exined as she stepped in.
Scott hadn¡¯t heard. He looked genuinely shocked.
After all, to most people, Aurelion Group was a dream job¨Cgreat benefits, high pay. People fought tooth and nail to get in.
Yes-man 196
Noreen caught the look on his face and shed her work badge with a grin. ¡°I¡¯m working for myself
now.¡±
Scott nced at thepany name and her new title, surprise flickering across his features before settling into something that made perfect sense. He¡¯d worked with Noreen before and always sensed she was sharp, capable¨Cwasted, really, as just someone¡¯s assistant.
Even working for someone like Seth, it still felt like she was meant for bigger things.
¡°Congrattions,¡± Scott said sincerely.
¡°Thanks.¡± Noreen¡¯s gaze drifted down to the cardboard box in his arms. After a pause, she asked, ¡°Did you¡ leave TechVenture?¡±
¡°Yeah.¡± Scott¡¯s smile was wry. ¡°My partner and I just didn¡¯t see eye to eye anymore. Our differences got too big to ignore, so¡ we split.¡±
Noreen genuinely felt for him.
Scott was talented¨Ca real creative mind. That spark was exactly why she¡¯d picked their project in the first ce.
¡°Sorry you had to go through that.¡±
He shrugged. ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡± she asked.
Scott just shook his head. ¡°Honestly? I have no idea. I¡¯m kind of lost right now.¡±
He and Ethan had been college roommates, friends since their university days. Scott had wanted to make games, and with Ethan¡¯s family money, they¡¯d decided to start a business together.
There¡¯d always been disagreements, but since Ethan was the one investing, Scott tried to let things slide for the sake of thepany. If they hadn¡¯t reached a breaking point, they wouldn¡¯t have ended things like this.
Noreen thought for a moment, then said gently, ¡°Take a break. Give yourself some time to reset.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± he agreed. He really did need to get his head straight.
Noreen pulled a business card from her purse and tucked it into his box. ¡°If you ever want to talk or have an idea, call me.¡±
Scott¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°I will.¡±
The next morning, Noreen¡¯s phone chimed with a hospital appointment reminder.
It took her a moment to remember¨CSeth had said yesterday that he¡¯d go with her to the hospital today.
He actually remembered?
Noreen looked up the doctor online. Sure enough, he was a top specialist¨Cone of those doctors
19:36
everyone tried to see, with a waiting list a mile long.
No way she was about to let that go to waste. She decided to make the most of it and get checked out. After all, health came first.
Her cycles had gotten more and more irregr, the cramps worse every month. Her body had been sounding the rm for a while now; she couldn¡¯t keep ignoring it.
After breakfast, she drove herself to the hospital.
She hadn¡¯t heard a word from Seth all morning. Probably just said he¡¯de to please her mom. Did he really mean it? Doubtful. Getting her an appointment with a top specialist was probably the most she could expect from him.
Anything more? She¡¯d learned not to hold her breath.
At the hospital, Noreen found Dr. Wynne. The moment he heard her name, his demeanor lit up¨Che greeted her warmly and personally led her to the exam room. He was clearly making an effort, likely thanks to Seth¡¯s influence.
Dr. Wynne asked about her symptoms, and when Noreen mentioned she¡¯d had a previous abortion, his expression turned serious.
After several exams, he sat her down with the results.
¡°Your endometrial lining is naturally thinner than average, which makes it very difficult for you to conceive. The fact that you managed to get pregnant at all was sheer luck, but unfortunately you weren¡¯t able to carry to term. That¡¯s put a significant strain on your body, which exins all these symptoms.¡±
Dr. Wynne adjusted his sses, his tone gentle but somber. ¡°If you want children in the future, it¡¯s going to be very hard. I want you to be prepared for that.¡±
Noreen hadn¡¯t realized the miscarriage would have such asting impact on her life.
Chapter 197
Yes-man 197
The less¨Cthan¨Cideal test results weighed heavily on Noreen¡¯s mind.
Since it was Seth who had helped arrange for this specialist, Noreen made a small request of Dr. Wynne before she left.
¡°Please don¡¯t share my results with anyone.¡±
Dr. Wynne adjusted his sses and replied, ¡°Protecting patient privacy is one of the core duties of a doctor. You have nothing to worry about; I take my professional ethics seriously.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
With her spirits low, Noreen left the hospital.
Even the weather seemed to mirror her mood¨Ca dull, overcast sky pressing down, just as heavy as the thoughts crowding her mind.
Seth was nowhere to be seen.
She couldn¡¯t quite name what she was feeling.
The truth was, whether he showed up or not, it made no difference to her anymore.
She¡¯d gone numb to it a long time ago.
Still, she thought, if you can¡¯t keep a promise, maybe don¡¯t make one in the first ce.
As soon as the New Year¡¯s holiday ended, Noreen threw herself back into her busy work routine.
First thing in the morning, she walked into her office and asked Sophia to bring her a strong cup of
ck coffee to wake her up.
Sophia agreed, but when she returned, she handed Noreen not coffee, but a steaming mug of herbal tea sweetened with brown sugar.
Noreen frowned at her.
Sophia exined, ¡°You can¡¯t drink iced ck coffee during your period. The herbal tea will help you
feel better.¡±
Noreen raised an eyebrow. ¡°How did you know I¡¯m on my period?¡±
Sophia grinned. ¡°I can tell. Every time, your face goes pale and you keep pressing your hand to your
stomach.¡±
Noreen smirked and gave her a rarepliment. ¡°Not bad. You¡¯re getting observant.¡±
Sophia was one of her prot¨¦g¨¦s¨Cbright and hardworking, but notoriously scatterbrained.
Back at the Aurelion Group, Noreen had spent countless hours correcting that w.
Now, it seemed, her efforts were paying off.
19:37
35
Sophia beamed, clearly pleased with herself. ¡°Of course! Look who trained me!¡±
Then she added, ¡°Hurry up and drink it! I¡¯ve got a whole pot in the kitchen. Let me know when you want more, and I¡¯ll pour you another cup!¡±
Noreen just shook her head, half amused, half exasperated.
That afternoon, Noreen had scheduled interviews with the shortlisted candidates herself.
As she was heading into the interview room, Sophia caught her at the door to ry a bit of news.
¡°Ruby Wilder is here.¡±
Noreen¡¯s brow creased. ¡°Didn¡¯t I already reject her resume? Who told her toe?¡±
Sophia shook her head. ¡°No idea. I just spotted her at reception when I went to pick up a package. She¡¯s good at making an impression¨Cbrought coffee for the front desk staff.¡±
Noreen knew exactly what kind of person Ruby Wilder was. She flipped through the stack of resumes in her hand, and sure enough, Ruby¡¯s was there.
¡°I¡¯ll go throw it out,¡± Sophia offered.
Noreen stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let her in.¡±
With that, she stepped into the interview room.
Soon, the interviews began.
Since the applicants had already been carefully screened, the ones who made it to this round were all quite capable.
Noreen conducted another round of selection¨Ckeeping those who fit, politely turning away those who
didn¡¯t.
Ruby Wilder was the ninth candidate to enter.
She walked in brimming with confidence, convinced she was the most qualified person in the room.
After all, her r¨¦sum¨¦ sparkled¨Cshe¡¯d been an investment manager at Aurelion Group, and that alone gave her plenty of swagger.
As for her online application being rejected, she chalked it up to some clerical mistake.
That¡¯s why she¡¯d shown up at Winrich in person,pletely sure of herself.
Noreen guessed that Ruby still didn¡¯t know she was the owner of Winrich. If she had, she probably wouldn¡¯t have bothered toe.
Ruby strode in, a confident smile on her face, all set to introduce herself to the panel¨Cuntil she saw Noreen seated at the center.
For a split second, her expression was priceless¨Cher smile froze, words catching in her throat.
Noreen kept her tone strictly professional, gesturing for Ruby to have a seat.
She asked the standard questions, not giving Ruby any special treatment or making things difficult for her.
2/2
19:37)
Chapter 198
Yes-man 198
Instead, it was Ruby Wilder who, because of nerves, kept making mistakes.
¡°Thank you very much foring in today. We¡¯ll announce the results within a week, so please keep an eye on your email and phone for any updates. Also, could you send in the next candidate for me? Thank you.¡±
Ruby left the interview room stiffly.
As for the oue, she could pretty much guess how it would go.
Passing the reception desk on her way out, the receptionist called out to her, ¡°Finished already, Miss Wilder? How¡¯d it go¨Cmust¡¯ve been a breeze, right?¡±
Ruby honestly had no idea how to answer that.
But the receptionist just grinned. ¡°With a r¨¦sum¨¦ as impressive as yours, I¡¯m sure you nailed it! Looks like we¡¯ll be colleagues soon. Looking forward to working with you!¡±
After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Ruby asked, ¡°Noreen¡ she¡¯s your boss?¡±
¡°Yep! Hard to believe, isn¡¯t it? So young, already running her ownpany! She¡¯s not only capable, she¡¯s gorgeous too. Some people just have it all, don¡¯t they?¡±
With each sentence, Ruby¡¯s expression darkened a little more.
¡°But don¡¯t worry, our boss is great. She treats everyone well¨Cnever puts on airs. And don¡¯t let the size of thepany fool you. With her talent, it¡¯s only a matter of time before this ce really takes off.¡±
Ruby drifted out of Winrich like a ghost.
Standing at the front steps of the office building, she felt an overwhelming sense of confusion.
Ever since being fired from Aurelion Group, she¡¯d been hustling nonstop, searching for work.
At first, she only applied to bigpanies¨Cafter all, her Aurelion Group experience looked fantastic
on paper.
But, strangely, every major firm rejected her applications.
After probing discreetly, she finally learned the truth: Seth had cklisted her.
She couldn¡¯t make sense of it. All she¡¯d done was throw a couple of barbed remarks at Noreen¨Cwas that really enough for Seth to go nuclear and ruin her career?
Left with no other option, Ruby lowered her standards and started applying to smallerpanies.
But even the little firms didn¡¯t dare hire her. News must have traveled fast.
In the end, her only hope was to try a startup¨Csurely Seth¡¯s influence wouldn¡¯t reach apany that had just opened its doors. So she sent her r¨¦sum¨¦ to Winrich.
Never in a million years did she expect Winrich to be Noreen¡¯spany.
Her chest felt tight with frustration.
19:37
And more than a little resentment.
Two hourster, Noreen finally finished interviewing all the candidates.
Sophia brought her a bowl of herbal tonic sweetened with brown sugar.
It was supposed to be good for her, and maybe it was, but anyone would get sick of drinking it day after day.
¡°We¡¯ll switch to a different soup tomorrow,¡± Sophia said, reading the look on her face.
Noreen shook her head. ¡°No need to fuss. I¡¯ll be done with interviews by tomorrow anyway.¡±
¡°Then at least let me make something gentle on your stomach. Yours is always acting up, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°Maybe you should focus a little more on your own work.¡±
Sophia just smiled. ¡°I can handle both.¡±
Noreen let her be.
That afternoon, she needed to stop by Carman¡¯s studio. Theunch of InnoCore Framework was just around the corner, and Carman¡¯s team was swamped.
She figured she¡¯d drop by and see if there was anything she could do to help.
But as soon as she reached the building entrance, she spotted Ruby Wilder waiting outside.
It was obvious she was there for her.
The moment Noreen stepped out, Ruby approached, doing her best to be polite. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, could we talk for a minute?¡±
Noreen nced at her watch. ¡°I¡¯ve only got five minutes. Please keep it brief.¡±
Ruby bit her lip before saying, ¡°Back when you left and were looking for a new job, the reason your references never cleared was because Director Lowell ordered it.¡±
Noreen paused, surprised.
She¡¯d always assumed Seth was the one who¡¯d sabotaged her references.
Turns out, it was Bianca.
But then again, Bianca¡¯s wishes were always Seth¡¯s wishes, weren¡¯t they?
Those two had never been anything but inseparable.
Yes-man 199
Noreen wasn¡¯t the least bit shaken by Ruby Wilder¡¯s betrayal; her expression remained as cool and indifferent as ever.
¡°And another thing,¡± she continued, her tone icy, ¡°at the Aurelion Group¡¯s celebration, Bianca left with Yves entirely of her own ord. I even warned her that Yves was trouble, but she followed him anyway. She did it on purpose, hoping you¡¯d get med by Mr. Harcourt for failing to keep her in line.¡±
It was obvious Ruby was desperate¨Cshe was spilling what she thought were secrets, hoping Noreen would take her side.
Maybe she thought this confession would win Noreen over and help her secure the job. But she¡¯d misjudged her audience.
If Ruby hadn¡¯t yed these little games, she would¡¯ve received an offer within a couple of days. She¡¯d sabotaged her own future.
Carman¡¯s studio was as busy as ever, but Noreen noticed the team had thinned out since herst
visit.
She found Carman¡¯s assistant to ask about it and learned that several staff members had recently jumped ship for higher sries elsewhere.
If it were just one or two, it might be normal turnover. But seven or eight people leaving at once? That was no coincidence.
Noreen asked Johnson to look into it, and soon had her answer.
Just as she suspected, Bianca had poached them¨Clured them away to SkyMind with big paychecks.
If they couldn¡¯t steal Carman himself, they¡¯d strip his team instead. It was a tant move against her.
Noreen discussed it with Carman.
¡°We¡¯re stretched thin,¡± Carman admitted. ¡°Even if we start hiring now, it¡¯ll take time to get everyone up to speed. Progress is bound to slow down.¡±
Noreen had made a personal guarantee to Mr. Naylor at Eastvale Corporation. If InnoCore¡¯s new Al model wasn¡¯t online by the deadline, it would jeopardize their partnership.
¡°We¡¯ll have to power through this stretch,¡± she told the team. ¡°Once we¡¯re past the crunch, I¡¯ll make sure everyone gets a bonus.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Gilmore! We¡¯re with InnoCore all the way!¡± someone called out.
Those who stayed¨Cunmoved by money¨Cwere the ones who truly cared about InnoCore. To them, thepany was like a child they¡¯d helped nurture and protect.
Noreen reminded Carman to take care of his health, no matter how busy things got.
The next morning, Healy stopped by Winrich to discuss the coboration again.
He¡¯d even brought Swiss choctes and a bottle of wine as gifts.
¡°Mr. Healy, you¡¯re full of surprises,¡± Noreen said with a polite smile.
10.37
It was standard practice to exchange small gifts between business partners, and Healy had chosen well¨Cthoughtful, tasteful, and not over the top.
¡°I picked these up while skiing in Switzend over the New Year,¡± he exined. ¡°Just a little something I hope you¡¯ll ept.¡±
¡°Did you have a good trip?¡± Noreen asked casually as she skimmed through some files.
Healy smiled. ¡°Not bad. Seth came along, too.¡±
Noreen¡¯s hand paused for a fraction of a second, then she regained herposure. ¡°Next month, InnoCore¡¯s new Al model goes live. We¡¯ll need data from the Naylor Automotive Group for training. Please make sure your team is ready.¡±
¡°Of course! Just let me know when you need it.¡± Healy pulled out his phone. ¡°Would it be alright if we exchanged WhatsApp details? It¡¯ll make things easier.¡±
This time, Noreen agreed.
When her eptance shed on his phone, Healy looked so moved, he was nearly in tears.
After Healy left, Carman called. They needed Naylor Automotive to send over a batch of data for the
base model.
Noreen messaged Healy on WhatsApp. He replied almost instantly: ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll have my team get it over to Mr. Holt right away.¡±
She sent a thumbs¨Cup emoji, then as she was about to exit the chat, her finger brushed Healy¡¯s profile picture, opening his contact card.
Beneath it, she spotted histest status update.
Even in the small,pressed photo, Noreen instantly recognized Seth and Bianca, side by side in their ski jackets.
So that¡¯s why¨Che¡¯d gone to Switzend to go skiing with Bianca. That¡¯s why he¡¯d stood her up.
He really hasn¡¯t changed at all.
Chapter 200
Yes-man 200
Two weekster, SkyMind officiallyunched across every tform.
Noreen hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it. It was only when she was driving past the city¡¯s central square that she noticed SkyMind¡¯s ads rolling across the giant digital billboard.
That billboard was infamous for its staggering price tag.
Thirty thousand dors a minute¨Cfive hundred a second.
Whoever was promoting SkyMind was sparing no expense.
This campaign had to be worth at least several million.
No sooner had Noreen arrived at the office than Sophia showed up, carrying a steaming sk of chicken and mushroom broth.
Sophia had been unusually diligenttely, bringing Noreen a different stomach¨Cfriendly soup every day.
Whether it was the soup or just good luck, Noreen¡¯s stomach had been behaving itself for once.
As she poured the broth into a mug, Sophia couldn¡¯t help butin, ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how much the Aurelion Group is burning on SkyMind¡¯s marketing. That ad is everywhere¨Csubway stations, TV, even the main news sites. You can¡¯t take a step in Rivercrest without seeing SkyMind stered
somewhere.¡±
Noreen sipped the broth, warmth spreading pleasantly through her stomach.
She couldn¡¯t help but think she¡¯d underestimated them. The campaign budget probably wasn¡¯t just several million. It must¡¯ve been close to ten million at least.
Thanks to a bottomless marketing budget, SkyMind shot to number one on the download charts within three days.
And that was just the beginning. Thepany had enlisted a swarm of influencers to promote it¨Cthree trending hashtags every single day.
Bianca, too, was basking in SkyMind¡¯s glory. She¡¯d been invited onto several business talk shows and was suddenly the darling of the media.
Compared to that, Noreen¡¯s own side of things was a whirlwind of exhaustion and chaos.
Carman had already been pulling overtime for two weeks straight.
Every day after clocking out from Winrich, Noreen would drive over to Carman¡¯s studio to help out¨Cdoing anything, everything, whatever needed doing.
The more she did, the less Carman and the others had to shoulder.
By Friday, they were all workingte into the night.
19:37
That evening, Carman warned her they¡¯d probably be pulling an all¨Cnighter.
Noreen volunteered to go out and pick up food and drinks for everyone.
It wasn¡¯t until she was heading back that she realized her car was out of gas.
She¡¯d been so busy she hadn¡¯t even noticed the fuel gauge.
Just as she pulled out her phone to call roadside assistance, a sleek ck Bentley pulled up
her.
beside
The window rolled down, and from the back seat Dn called out, ¡°Noreen? What are you doing out here?¡±
¡°Mr. Wilder?¡± She was just as surprised to see a familiar face.
¡°Car trouble?¡± Dn stepped out, taking in the situation.
¡°I forgot to get gas. Ran out,¡± Noreen admitted, a little sheepish.
Dn nced at the pile of takeout bags in her passenger seat and quickly pieced things together.
¡°Tell you what,¡± he offered, ¡°take my car. I¡¯ll deal with yours. That food¡¯s going to be cold if you wait around.¡±
He was right.
¡°Deal!¡± she agreed immediately.
¡°I¡¯ll swing by your office tomorrow and we can swap cars then.¡±
Noreen had no objections. She was in a rush, so after a hurried goodbye, she left Dn to handle her car and sped off in his.
The next day, Noreen had an important meeting and couldn¡¯t stay all night at the studio.
By the time she finally drove home, it was well past one in the morning.
She¡¯d barely finished showering when someone knocked at her door.
Who could it possibly be at this hour?
Noreen peered through the peephole, frowning.
Seth. Again.
She¡¯d written him off so thoroughly, she might as well have imagined his grave overgrown with weeds by now¨Cso why did he keeping back from the dead?
Noreen had zero intention of opening the door.
But Seth must have guessed. He started pounding on the door, each knock harder than thest.
She could hear her neighbors stirring¨Csomeone was definitely awake now.
To avoid gettingints, Noreen reluctantly unlocked the door.
Seth stood outside, looking darker and more menacing than she¡¯d ever seen him.
213
19:37
He barely waited for the door to open before snapping, ¡°What took you so long? Hiding someone in there?¡±
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Yes-man 201
Noreen caught the heavy scent of alcohol on Seth as soon as he appeared¨Che must have juste
from a bar.
Instinctively, she tried to keep him out, blocking the doorway with her body, refusing to let him in.
But Seth shoved past her before she could react, barging straight into her tiny apartment.
The ce was barely bigger than a shoebox¨Cone bedroom, a small living room, a kitchte, and a cramped bathroom.
It took Seth less than a minute to search every corner.
Noreen didn¡¯t try to stop him; instead, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text.
When Seth finished his sweep and found no one else hiding, he turned back toward her.
She was still focused on her phone, unaware of how fast he was closing in.
By the time she realized, he was already right in front of her.
A sense of danger prickled along her skin, and she instinctively tried to move back.
But the door was pressed against her spine¨Cthere was nowhere left to go.
Seth closed the distance in a heartbeat, pinning her against the door.
He was a grown man, heavy with anger and the force of alcohol; she couldn¡¯t budge him even if she tried.
In one swift motion, he grabbed her chin, forcing her head up, and crashed his mouth onto hers.
The kiss was rough and punishing, the taste of liquor flooding her senses¨Cfamiliar, yet so painfully foreign. Noreen¡¯s eyes burned.
She didn¡¯t hesitate; her hand shot up, aiming to p him across the face.
But he was faster, catching her wrist and yanking it above her head,
Her upper body arched helplessly, giving him more ess, letting him deepen the kiss with reckless abandon.
Her limbs felt weak and useless. All she could do was open her mouth and bite down¨Chard.
No hesitation, no second thoughts.
If anything, her resistance only seemed to inme him.
He jerked his head aside and sank his teeth into her corbone.
He didn¡¯t hold back on the pressure.
Noreen gasped in pain, struggling frantically. ¡°Seth, what the hell is wrong with you?¡±
¡°Let me go!¡±
He said nothing, the fury in his eyes almost destructive.
1/3
19:06
His hand, which had been gripping her waist, yanked at her pajama top, tearing the fabric with a
sharp rip.
The sound shredded herposure. Something inside her snapped.
She summoned every ounce of strength she had left and pped him hard across the face.
This time, he didn¡¯t dodge. The blownded with a crack, jerking his head to the side.
Noreen was breathing hard, her palm stinging just as much as her pride.
She clenched her hand into a fist, forcing herself not to break down.
Perfect. Her heart, patched and battered, had been ripped wide open by him yet again.
Maybe the p jolted him back to reality.
Seth loosened his grip and took a step back.
Her lips were smeared with a trace of blood.
His blood.
The cor of her pajamas hung in tatters, exposing one pale shoulder.
A fresh bite mark stood out, raw and angry, on her skin.
Noreen¡¯splexion was naturally fair, which made the mark look even more vicious.
The red burned into his vision.
Seth¡¯s throat tightened like invisible hands were choking him. He couldn¡¯t find any words.
They stood there, both catching their breath, time stretching out between them.
Atst, Noreen gathered her torn cor around herself and opened the door.
¡°Get out,¡± she said quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper, as if it came from somewhere far
away.
It matched her perfectly in that moment¨Clike she was about to shatter.
Something pierced Seth¡¯s chest.
He stood silent for five seconds before finally speaking. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was drunk.¡±
¡°Oh, so being drunk gives you the right to storm into my home and lose your mind?¡± Noreen¡¯sugh was sharp, almost brittle. ¡°Seth, you make me sick.¡±
He fell silent again, just for a moment.
¡°Just go. Don¡¯te back. Don¡¯t make me regret ever loving you.¡±
Seth¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he tried to swallow whatever words were caught in his throat.
He looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn¡¯t find the ce to begin.
Before he could speak, Bianca Lowell¡¯s call came through.
By the time Bianca arrived, Seth was sitting on the edge of a flowerbed outside, a cigarette burning
19:06
down to the filter between his fingers, unmoving.
A chilly night breeze swept over him.
Yes-man 202
A few glowing embers from his cigarette drifted down,nding on the back of his hand. The sudden. sting made his hand flinch before he could stop himself.
He pulled his gaze away from the distance, staring instead at the angry red mark burned into his thin
skin.
It was obvious.
He couldn¡¯t really feel the pain. He simply lifted the cigarette to his lips again, taking a few more drags with practiced numbness.
Only when it was spent did he crush the butt into the flowerbed at his feet.
¡°Seth.¡± Bianca finally spoke, calling his name.
By the time Seth stood up, his face was once again an unreadable maskposed, cold, detached.
¡°What are you doing here?¡± he asked, his voice rougher and deeper than usual¨Cprobably from all the cigarettes.
Bianca hesitated before answering, ¡°Noreen messaged me. She said you were here and asked me toe pick you up.¡±
Seth didn¡¯t look surprised.
Noreen really was an exemry ex¨Ccutting all ties cleanly, never looking back, determined to keep her life free of any lingering connections.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± was all Seth said.
Bianca had a thousand questions bottled up inside her.
Why had he gone to see Noreen? What had happened between them? And why had Noreen asked her, of all people, toe get him?
But every question stuck in her throat, tangled and impossible to voice.
Seth offered no exnation, and she swallowed her questions, jogging a few steps to catch up to him. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t drink so much,¡± she chided gently.
Seth grunted¨Ca sound just barely qualifying as a reply.
He climbed into the car, shut his eyes and leaned back, his face nk, every line and angle of it shrouded in a cool indifference.
As Bianca turned the car around, her eyes caught a familiar vehicle parked in the lot across the
street.
Her brow furrowed in confusion.
Why was Dn¡¯s car here?
That night, Noreen hardly slept at all. She tossed and turned for hours, and when she finally dozed
19:06
off, the dreams came.
She didn¡¯t dream of the early, grueling days of building a business with Seth¨Cthose days when they had nothing but each other to lean on.
Instead, her mind wandered back to that winter trip up north, when they¡¯d gotten stranded in a snowstorm together.
Had Seth ever truly cared for her then?
The blizzard had swept in without warning, and their car died on a mountain road. No cell signal, the dead of night, no hope of rescue. All they could do was wait for morning and figure out a way to
survive.
Northern winters were brutal. Both of them were southerners,pletely unprepared for such bone¨Cdeep cold.
Seth had kept her wrapped in his arms the whole night, trying to shield her from the worst of it, sharing every scrap of warmth he could muster.
But human warmth was a sad defense against a northern winter¨Cbarely a drop in the ocean.
As Noreen started to drift into a dangerous stupor, her body going numb, Seth rummaged through the car and miraculously found a lighter.
Again and again, he flicked the me to heat his own palms until they were nearly scalding, then pressed his hands to the warmest parts of her body¨Cher neck, underarms, groin¨Canywhere that might help keep her alive.
She didn¡¯t know if his desperate efforts had really helped, but eventually, Noreen stirred, instinctively clinging to his burning hot hands. ¡°So warm,¡± she murmured.
As soon as her body cooled again, he would pull away, scorch his palms once more, and return to
warm her.
Noreen never knew any of this at the time.
She only learned the truth after they were rescued, when the doctors examined them both and discovered Seth¡¯s hands covered in blisters from the burns.
¡°If he hadn¡¯t done what he did, things could have turned out much worse,¡± the doctor told her.
Noreen had cradled Seth¡¯s burned hands in her own, her chest heavy and aching, as if someone had filled her heart with saltwater.
Back then, she¡¯d made a silent vow to herself: she would always take care of Seth, no matter what.
19:06
Yes-man 203
Chapter 203
Those unforgettable moments you share with someone¨Cthey can be a get¨Cout¨Cof¨Cjail¨Cfree card in any rtionship.
But when love is gone, not even a lifetime of golden memories can save you.
Noreen managed to hold on for seven years, mainly because there was never a third person involved. That gave her something to cling to, a way to make peace with herself, to use all those bright fragments from the past to convince herself she was okay.
Even when, in that final year, Seth began to grow distant¨Csometimes cold, sometimes simply absent¨Cshe found ways to ept it.
The one thing she could never ept, though, was betrayal.
Because betrayal doesn¡¯t kill the betrayer. It destroys the one who¡¯s been betrayed.
Despite a sleepless night, Noreen still woke promptly at 5:50 a.m. Maybe it was because she¡¯d spent the night with her hands and feet outside the covers¨Cshe woke up chilled to the bone.
No wonder she¡¯d had that dream.
Even after everything, even after she thought she¡¯d moved on, she still felt a pang whenever she
remembered.
People aren¡¯t spreadsheets; you can¡¯t just delete what you want and keep what you like. Time is the only thing that can dull the edges.
Later that morning, Dn Wilder showed up at Winrich in person to swap cars with Noreen.
It made her feel a little awkward. ¡°You already did me a favor, and now you¡¯vee all the way here yourself. I was going to have Sophia Cole drop the car off for you this afternoon.¡±
Dn had figured as much, which was why he¡¯de himself.
They hadn¡¯t had much reason to interact at worktely, and Noreen had been swamped. He hadn¡¯t seen her in a while and, with the chance presenting itself, decided to take it.
Of course, he didn¡¯t say any of that. Instead, he asked about the project.
¡°It¡¯s moving forward as nned,¡± Noreen said, ¡°but we¡¯re really short¨Cstaffed. Everyone¡¯s working overtime just to keep up.¡±
¡°If you need anything, just say the word.¡±
¡°Thanks.¡±
Dn didn¡¯t linger¨Cjust stayed a few minutes before heading out, since it was obvious how busy she was. His presence would¡¯ve only gotten in the way.
No sooner had he left Winrich than his brother Jude tagged everyone in their group chat, bragging about just finishing an interview with Bianca for Rivercrest¡¯s top business magazine. She¡¯dnded the cover, and the issue would be out next month. Jude insisted everyone buy a copy to show their
support.
19:06
Healy Naylor replied with a thumbs¨Cup emoji.
Dn just turned off his screen and said nothing.
No sooner had he gotten into the car than Bianca¡¯s name shed on his phone. He nced at it, silenced the call, and tossed the phone aside, focusing on the road.
Bianca, surprised her call hadn¡¯t gone through, frowned.
¡°What¡¯s up with Dntely?¡± Jude muttered. ¡°He hasn¡¯t shown up at a single get¨Ctogether, won¡¯t answer dinner invites, and he¡¯s been a total ghost in the chat.¡±
Bianca stared at her phone, distracted.
Even after they broke up, she and Dn had stayed friends. She¡¯d always assumed she still meant something to him.
Buttely, he wasn¡¯t reading her messages, wasn¡¯t picking up her calls. It was starting to get under her skin.
¡°Maybe he¡¯s busy with someone new?¡±
????
Bianca¡¯s expression went cold. It took her a moment to answer. ¡°He¡¯s probably just buried in work.¡±
Jude shook his head. ¡°Come on, even if he¡¯s busy, he¡¯d at least answer a text. I bet something¡¯s up. have to do some digging¨Cwouldn¡¯t want to be blindsided by the sudden appearance of a sister¨Cinw. That¡¯d be wild.¡±
Bianca, in no mood to argue, put her phone away. ¡°Knock yourself out.¡±
With InnoCore about tounch, Noreen was busier than ever. Some days she barely had time to eat.
Luckily, Sophia was around.
Every day, right on schedule, Sophia showed up with a meal¨Calways something Noreen liked. Her stomach pains hadn¡¯t red up in ages.
One afternoon, Noreen looked over at Sophia and asked, ¡°When did you get to know my tastes so
well?¡±
Chapter 204
Yes-man 204
¡°Observation is key! As an assistant, it¡¯s crucial to know your boss¡¯s preferences¨Cthat way, you can provide thoughtful, efficient support and build a solid working rtionship,¡± Sophia said, matter¨Cof¨Cfactly.
Noreen smiled, genuinely impressed. ¡°You¡¯re really getting the hang of this!¡±
Sophia allowed herself a small, proud grin. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve got a great boss to learn from!¡±
¡°Come on, eat up before it gets cold. It won¡¯t taste as good otherwise,¡± Sophia urged, nudging her gently.
Noreen was scrolling through her phone as she ate. Suddenly, something on the screen made her bristle with indignation. ¡°Unbelievable¨Cshe actually has the nerve to ept that award!¡±
¡°What?¡± Noreen asked, only half¨Clistening.
¡°Bianca. Aurelion Group really gave her Employee of the Year!¡±
Noreen simply rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re making a fuss over nothing. Anyway, I¡¯m done eating¨Clet everyone know there¡¯s a meeting soon.¡±
With that, Noreen buried herself back in work.
That night, she ended up stayingte at the office again, not getting home until after midnight. She showered quickly and copsed onto her bed, nearly asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
But just before she fully drifted off, her eyes snapped open. Summoning thest of her energy, she climbed out of bed and walked over to the dining table, where a trophy¨Crepurposed long ago as a flower vase¨Cwas gathering dust. Without hesitation, she grabbed it and tossed it straight into the
trash.
She hesitated for a moment, then tied up the garbage bag and took it outside, dumping it into the building¡¯s dumpster in one decisive motion. Only then did she return home, satisfied atst, and fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Three days before the InnoCoreunch, Noreen wanted to invite major media outlets to attend the product¡¯s unveiling. But after reaching out to several contacts, the answer was always the same: everyone was ¡°unavable¡± on that exact day. A day earlier orter was fine, but theunch day itself was out of the question.
One or two rejections might have been coincidence, but after several in a row, Noreen¡¯s suspicions grew. She asked a journalist friend to look into it¨Cand soon learned the real reason.
It turned out that on the same day as the InnoCoreunch, SkyMind was hosting a grand celebration, and Bianca had invited every major media outlet in Rivercrest City.
That alone wouldn¡¯t have tied up every journalist, though. There had to be someone pulling strings behind the scenes. Noreen could only think of one person with that kind of influence: Seth.
She took several deep breaths, forcing herself to swallow her anger.
Sophia, noticing her tension, asked anxiously, ¡°Noreen, are we still going ahead with theunch?¡±
19:07
Noreen gritted her teeth. ¡°Of course we are.¡±
¡°But we¡¯ll need a backup n: we¡¯ll do a hybrid event¨Clivestreaming theunch both online and in¨Cperson.¡±
Noreen was determined to make thisunch a sess. She personally negotiated with streaming tforms and enlisted respected tech bloggers to help promote the event. For the venue, she reached out to former partners she knew she could count on. Her years of experience paid
off¨Cwithout it, she might have been overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, SkyMind¡¯s aggressive publicity campaign was paying off. Their app had topped the smart tech downloads chart for over two weeks straight.
Bianca was suddenly the industry¡¯s golden girl, featured in high¨Cprofile interviews across Aurelion Group and beyond. Riding this wave, she decided to throw avish celebration for SkyMind.
Originally, the party was scheduled for a weekter. But after some of her newly poached employees let slip that InnoCore was set tounch in three days, Bianca immediately moved up the date.
She wanted everyone to see: Noreen was her defeated rival.
So what if Noreen had stolen the spotlight at the Al Summit? Bianca had always said¨Cthe one whoughsst is the true winner.
Chapter 205
Chapter 205
Yes-man 205
Seven years¨Cso what?
If a man can swoop in and take the lead, so can she.
In her career, she could be the one who rises above, no matter who came before.
Noreen knew Bianca was deliberately targeting her, but she hadn¡¯t expected Bianca to go this far.
A celebration banquet on the very same day¨Cthat could be brushed off. But using the exact same hotel? That was just shameless.
When Sophia told her about it, Noreen was so exasperated she almostughed.
¡°Noreen, should we try to avoid a direct confrontation?¡± Sophia asked, worry in her voice.
Right now, Bianca was at her peak. If InnoCore shed with her head¨Con, there was no guarantee they¡¯de out ahead.
Maybe it was better to steer clear of the spotlight and hold theirunch event somewhere else.
Before today, Noreen might have considered Sophia¡¯s suggestion. She wasn¡¯t one to let her emotions dictate her actions; she always put the interests and growth of the project first.
But now, she felt confident. She wouldn¡¯t back down.
Sophia wasn¡¯t sure what Noreen was nning, but she trusted her judgment and didn¡¯t press the
issue.
She simply followed Noreen¡¯s lead.
Carman Holt felt the same¨Cputtingplete trust in Noreen¡¯s decisions.
Three dayster, the press conference went ahead as nned.
When Bianca got word of this, she smiled to herself, barely concealing her satisfaction.
She¡¯d always thought Noreen was clever, but clearly, she¡¯d given her too much credit.
Even better¨Cthis would be the moment Noreen realized just how outmatched she really was.
Pretty face aside, what did Noreen have topete with her? Nothing.
Bianca, on the other hand, had more than just good looks.
A few days ago, Seth had shown up drunk at her ce, and Bianca had been a little annoyed. But after a moment¡¯s thought, she let it go. Men always have some possessiveness over women they once had¨Cit was normal.
Didn¡¯t she herself keep tabs on Dn from time to time?
But that was all it was¨Cjust curiosity. Nothing more, and nothing would ever happen.
They were all adults now. Weighing pros and cons had be second nature.
Besides, if Seth really cared about Noreen in that way, would seven years have gone by without
19.071
anything happening?
So, wisely, Bianca never brought it up. And Seth never mentioned it either.
Their rtionship hadn¡¯t suffered one bit. If anything, Seth was even more attentive to her than before. He was the one who¡¯d suggested throwing thisvish celebration.
There was no budget, no limits¨Ceverything was tailored to her wishes.
SkyMind¡¯s celebration banquet was a grand affair.
It was Bianca¡¯s first major event since returning to the country, and it meant a lot to her.
She invited all her friends and family to witness her moment of glory.
After tonight, she¡¯d finally have her foot in the door of the investment world.
With Seth supporting her, it wouldn¡¯t be long before she carved out a ce for herself among Rivercrest City¡¯s elite.
Tonight, Bianca dressed to the nines. Her gown and jewelry were the finest money could buy.
Any one of her essories alone could have cost a fortune.
Lillian Laurent watched with envy. ¡°Your fianc¨¦ spoils you rotten! I¡¯m honestly jealous.¡±
Bianca¡¯s face glowed with happiness. ¡°Dennis treats you well too, doesn¡¯t he?¡±
Lillian rolled her eyes. ¡°Him? Forget it. He¡¯s broke as a joke. All the gifts he¡¯s given me over the years don¡¯t add up to the price of a single designer bag Seth gave you!¡±
Bianca tried tofort her. ¡°Well, he does his best. That¡¯s all he can manage.¡±
Maybe it was seeing just how devoted Seth was to Bianca, but Lillian¡¯s attitude toward Dennis had changed a lot.
She was growing more and more dissatisfied with him. Lately, their rtionship was filled with arguments and tension.
Justst week they¡¯d had a huge fight, and in a fit of anger, Lillian blocked Dennis on every tform she could.
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Yes-man 206
The past couple of days at work, she just couldn¡¯t focus. Now, seeing Bianca basking in the limelight, it was impossible not to feel a little envious.
¡°Bianca, Dennis and I are done for good. I¡¯m officially single again. Why don¡¯t you set me up with
someone?¡±
Bianca instantly saw through Lillian¡¯s intentions.
¡°Who¡¯s caught your eye? I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±
A rosy blush crept across Lillian¡¯s cheeks. ¡°That Mr. Healy from Naylor Automotive Group.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve got good taste,¡± Bianca teased. ¡°I¡¯ll put something together soon and give you a chance to meet him.¡±
At least she wasn¡¯t interested in Jude, that spoiled rich kid.
¡°Thank you, Bianca! Wishing you and your husband the very best!¡±
Bianca admired her own carefully finished look in the mirror, brimming with confidence. ¡°We will be.¡±
When Sophia saw Noreen, she did a double take. ¡°Noreen, are you really wearing that?¡±
¡°What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± Noreen nced down at her outfit. It looked perfectly fine to her¨Cjust her usual style.
¡°Well, today¡¯s the InnoCoreunch event. I thought you¡¯d be dressed to the nines.¡±
¡°The spotlight should be on Mr. Holt and his team¨Cthey¡¯re the brains behind InnoCore¡¯s technology. I¡¯m just an investor. No reason to steal their thunder.¡±
That actually made a lot of sense.
Sophia suddenly felt her perspective broaden. No wonder she liked sticking close to Noreen¨Cthere was always something to learn.
Theunch was set for nine in the morning, but Noreen arrived at the hotel by seven thirty. Years of working under Seth, a notorious perfectionist, had ingrained the habit in her. She had to check every detail, confirm every step, and make sure everything was under control.
Even if something went wrong, she¡¯d already have a backup n in ce.
Once everything was checked, Noreen talked things over with Carman one more time.
Everything at the venue was ready.
Except¡ there was no one there.
Not a single reporter had shown up.
Carman was visibly anxious, dabbing sweat from his brow every few seconds.
Sophia was anxious too. She¡¯d run outside several times, scanning the entrance over and over.
19:07
There were plenty of peopleing and going¨Cbut they were all headed to the SkyMind celebration across the hall.
Not a single soul hade to InnoCore¡¯sunch.
At InnoCore¡¯s doors: tumbleweeds.
Over at SkyMind: a full house, packed to the rafters.
The contrast couldn¡¯t have been starker.
The mood in the room was heavy. Everyone just kept busy in silence.
Noreen was the only one who stayed calm, calmly helping to run through the tech onest time. With the final task done, she looked around and, seeing everyone¡¯s spirits sinking, did her best to
encourage the team to keep their heads up.
Sophia was in awe. How could Noreen stay so collected?
She leaned in and asked Noreen for advice, desperate to know her secret.
Noreen thought for a second. ¡°I learned it from Seth.¡±
Seth might have been a mess when it came to rtionships, but as a businessman, he was nothing short of brilliant¨Ca natural, really.
Noreen had worked with him for years and picked up so much along the way.
Back when their chip technology got hit by international sanctions, Seth poured everything¨Ctime, money, energy¨Cinto developing a new generation of high¨Cperformance processors.
Everyone thought he was crazy.
Everyone expected him to fail.
He shuttled between offices at home and abroad, recruiting talent, building teams, hunting for investments, negotiating deals¡
Not a single step went smoothly.
At the worst point, foreign investors cklisted him, and people at homeughed at his ambition.
Noreen, back then, was just as anxious and stressed as Sophia was now.
But Seth never wavered.
He told Noreen, ¡°Never give up until the veryst moment. The race isn¡¯t over¨Cyou and I might just be the dark horses.¡±
And he was right. In the end, Seth proved to be exactly that¨Ca true dark horse.
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Yes-man 207
Chapter 207
Once Noreen had calmed everyone down, she finally had a moment to step outside and check on
things.
By eight¨Cthirty, the street was growing crowded¨Cthough nearly everyone seemed to be heading toward the SkyMind event.
As luck would have it, the moment Noreen stepped out, she ran straight into Yves Selwyn.
Yves looked awkward. He¡¯d made excuses when Noreen had sent him an invitation, iming he was too busy. Now, caught red¨Chanded, he fumbled for words. Before he could stammer out an exnation, Noreen beat him to it.
¡°Mr. Selwyn, you¡¯re headed to the SkyMind celebration, right? Just take a left outside¨Ctheir venue¡¯s over there.¡±
Yves couldn¡¯t decide whether to smile or not. He scratched his head, embarrassment clear on his face. ¡°Uh, Ms. Gilmore, I¡¯ll try to stop by yourunchter and show some support.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t take him seriously¨Cshe¡¯d heard enough polite titudes to know better. After a few more empty niceties, Yves hurried off.
Just then, her phone buzzed. Wade Harcourt was calling. Noreen answered quickly.
She hadn¡¯t told Wade about the InnoCoreunch. She had no idea how he¡¯d found out, but he was asking for an update. Noreen kept things optimistic, glossing over any problems. ¡°Everything¡¯s going smoothly on my end,¡± she assured him.
¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Wade replied.
No sooner had she ended the call than Jude showed up.
He could have headed straight to the SkyMind party from outside, but instead, he made a point of sauntering through InnoCore¡¯s entryway. His intentions were obvious¨Che was here to gloat.
¡°Well, well,¡± he jeered, looking around the empty lobby. ¡°What kind ofunch is this? Looks like you¡¯re throwing a party for yourself.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t even bother replying.
Jude hadn¡¯te alone; he¡¯d brought a whole entourage, several of whom were carrying an enormous bouquet of sunflowers¨Cso big it took two people to hold it.
He¡¯d chosen them on purpose. After all, Dn had given Noreen sunflowers at the summit, hadn¡¯t he? Well, Jude could do better. His were ten times bigger, making a showy statement for everyone to see¨Cjust to remind Noreen she could never measure up to Bianca.
¡°Make way! Coming through!¡± The guys at the front barked twice before shoving Noreen aside.
The force knocked her into the ss door behind her with a dull thud. Stars burst in front of her eyes.
Jude watched the spectacle and offered a half¨Chearted, ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t see you there. If you need anything, just let me know¨CI¡¯ll cover your medical expenses.¡±
19:07
His tone made it clear he didn¡¯t mean a word. Of course, a bump like that was hardly grounds forpensation. He just wanted to mess with her.
Noreen was about to retort when her phone rang again¨CJed Hollis calling.
She ignored Jude and picked up immediately.
Jed¡¯s voice came through, asking if he could bring his students to observe theunch. ¡°Would it be all right for us toe by and learn a bit?¡±
¡°Of course! Professor Hollis, bring as many as you like. Just call me when you arrive, and I¡¯lle meet you.¡±
¡°Great, thanks.¡±
Jed was a professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the country¡¯s top university, a doctoral advisor, and a key member of the national robotics research team. He also served as vice¨Cchair of the Artificial Intelligence Society. His presence was a huge boost for InnoCore.
So, no¨CInnoCore wouldn¡¯t be left out in the cold.
Eager to share the good news with Carman, Noreen turned to head back inside¨Cjust as Dn arrived.
Noreen assumed he was there for the SkyMind party. After all, his rtionship with Bianca was different from everyone else¡¯s. She pointed down the hall. ¡°The SkyMind celebration is to the left.¡±
Dn grinned. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m here for the InnoCoreunch.¡±
He paused, then teased, ¡°Are you trying to get rid of me?¡±
¡°I just thought you¡¯d be at the celebration.¡±
¡°No,¡± Dn said, his tone clear and firm. ¡°I¡¯m here for InnoCore¡¯sunch today. That¡¯s the only thing on my schedule.¡±
Yes-man 208
He was dropping hints on purpose, hoping Noreen would sense his feelings for her.
But Noreen just assumed he was showing up as an investor, and thought nothing more of it.
¡°Mr. Wilder, this way please.¡± She personally led him inside.
As Dn watched her walk ahead, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly.
How could she still be so oblivious, just like back in school?
If she hadn¡¯t juste out of a seven¨Cyear rtionship, exhausted in every way-
If she didn¡¯t need time to recover-
Maybe she¡¯d be ready for something new.
Maybe he wouldn¡¯t have to keep hiding how he felt.
But after waiting seven years, what¡¯s another day or two?
At least she was throwing herself into work, not falling apart over a breakup.
Meanwhile-
Jude made a grand entrance at the SkyMindunch party, carrying a massive bouquet that turned every head in the room.
As soon as Bianca saw the sunflowers, she understood his message and smiled. ¡°Thank you, Jude.¡±
¡°You didn¡¯t have to go all out. Your being here is more than enough.¡±
If you wanted to know what ss looked like¨Cthis was it.
Jude only admired Bianca more. She had the poise of someone born to lead a family empire, and he respected her all the more for it.
¡°I¡¯m here to show my support, so I had to make it memorable! Oh, and I got you a gift as well.¡±
He handed her a diamond ne¨Cperhaps not as extravagant as the jewelry she was already wearing, but it was still an impressive gesture.
¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°I just walked by the InnoCore press conference¨Cce was empty! Noreen really is about to host the flop of the year,¡± Jude said, eager to share the news.
Bianca had expected as much and didn¡¯t seem surprised.
¡°She made such a scene at the summit, I thought she¡¯d at least make a ssh. Guess she fizzled out even faster than I expected.¡±
The more Jude talked, the happier he grew. Whatever frustration he¡¯d felt before was gone, reced by a sense of anticipation, ready to watch the drama unfold.
Bianca just smiled. ¡°In investment banking, failed projects are the norm. People without the skills just
19:07
can¡¯t make the cut.¡±
¡°You really are the best, Bianca!¡± Jude said, utterly impressed. ¡°No joke, if I ever got into WT Business School like you, my dad would throw a month¨Clong party back in Rivercrest City.¡±
Bianca¡¯s pride in her education was obvious, and she replied with a touch of superiority, ¡°The rules set your minimum, your ability determines your maximum. At the end of the day, Noreen¡¯s just got a regr degree¨Cshe¡¯s bound to fall short in some areas.¡±
¡°So basically, Noreen¡¯s here to set a new low,¡± Jude concluded.
Bianca just smirked, keeping her opinions to herself.
Instead she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Dn? Has he arrived yet?¡±
¡°No idea,¡± Jude said. ¡°I messaged him this morning and tried calling, but he didn¡¯t reply. He¡¯s probably busy.¡±
¡°But no matter how busy he is, he¡¯ll definitely show up for your celebration!¡±
Bianca nodded in agreement.
As more guests arrived, Bianca received a steady stream of congrattions.
Healy showed up a littleter than Jude, also bringing a gift.
¡°You guys are too thoughtful. I¡¯m just happy you could make it,¡± Bianca said.
Healy smiled, ¡°It¡¯s the least I could do. But I have something to take care ofter, so I might have to leave early. Just wanted to say congrattions in person.¡±
¡°Thank you,¡± Bianca said, epting his good wishes with a smile.
Jude nced around. ¡°Where¡¯s Seth? Haven¡¯t seen him all night. How could he miss such an important day?¡±
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Chapter 209
Bianca¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°Seth went to pick up my parents.¡±
Jude and Healy exchanged surprised nces.
They¡¯d known Seth for years, yet had never seen him go out of his way for anyone like this¨Cnot even close. He was actually picking up her parents himself.
He must really care about Bianca if he was willing to go to such lengths.
¡°Is Director Lowelling today too?¡±
Bianca nodded. ¡°Yes. My dad¡¯s always supported my career. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d miss an event this important.¡±
¡°Honestly, if I attended half as many things as you do, my dad would probably be waiting at the front door to greet guests himself.¡±
Judeughed at his own joke, then added, ¡°Seth¡¯s setting the bar high for future sons¨Cinw. I doubt Mr. Harcourt ever got that kind of treatment, right? Oh, is Mr. Harcourting?¡±
He didn¡¯t really think before asking thatst question; it just slipped out.
But the words hit a sore spot for Bianca.
No one wanted Wade¡¯s support at her big moment more than she did. If he showed up, it would mean he finally recognized her¨Cand maybe, just maybe, her engagement to Seth could move forward
sooner.
But Seth hadn¡¯t mentioned it, and she didn¡¯t want to bring it up herself.
It just made her feel she hadn¡¯t climbed high enough yet¨Cnot enough to catch Wade¡¯s attention.
So she pushed herself harder, determined that one day, Wade would finally see her worth.
Still, since Jude had asked, Bianca felt she needed to save face.
She replied, ¡°Mr. Harcourt¡¯s been retired for years. He¡¯s made it clear he won¡¯t attend public events like this anymore, so I didn¡¯t want to bother him.¡±
Jude epted this exnation without question. ¡°Makes sense. I think the only time we see Mr. Harcourt these days is when we stop by at Christmas.¡±
Healy suddenly chimed in, ¡°Who says? Didn¡¯t we just see him at The Eastern Gardensst time?¡±
As soon as he mentioned it, the three of them fell silent.
They had seen Wade there¨Cbut only because someone else had brought him. And that someone was Noreen, the very person Bianca didn¡¯t want to talk about.
The mood grew awkward.
Jude quickly changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, I ordered a bottle of champagne from Celestial Vineyards to celebrate with you tonight. Only the best for you.¡±
Atst, Bianca¡¯s expression softened.
19:07
Everyone knew Celestial Vineyards wines were outrageously expensive. Clearly, Jude valued her.
Being valued felt good.
Just then, Yvonne Laurent called to say she and her husband had arrived.
Bianca immediately gathered her dress and went out to greet them.
Jude nudged Healy. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go say hi too.¡±
¡°You go ahead,¡± Healy replied, ncing down at his phone. ¡°I have to take this call.¡±
¡°What could possibly be so important right now?¡± Jude grumbled.
Healy just held up his phone, showing the caller ID. ¡°It¡¯s my dad.¡±
¡°In that case, you better answer. I¡¯ll go on ahead.¡±
Healy assumed his father, Chase Naylor, was calling to remind him about the InnoCoreunch event. He was just about to assure him he¡¯d be there soon and wouldn¡¯t miss a thing¨Cwhen Chase cut him off.
¡°I¡¯m almost at the venue,¡± Chase said.
Healy was caught off guard. ¡°You¡¯reing too?¡±
¡°Of course. Not just me¨Cthe whole business association is here.¡±
Healy¡¯s posture stiffened. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡±
Meanwhile, Noreen was meticulously overseeing the event preparations when her phone buzzed again. It was Wade.
She thought, as before, he was just checking in, so she answered and gave him a straightforward update.
¡°The InnoCore Framework went live in all the major app stores at seven this morning. Downloads look strong, and the numbers are encouraging.¡±
There was a pause on Wade¡¯s end, then he said, ¡°I¡¯m almost at the venue.¡±
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Chapter 210
Noreen paused in surprise. ¡°You came here yourself, sir?¡±
Wade nodded. ¡°Just thought I¡¯d stop by.¡±
He spoke with the casual air of someone out for a stroll, as if he¡¯d just happened to pass through. But Noreen knew better. Ever since he¡¯d retired, Wade had kept to himself and hadn¡¯t attended events like this in years. He was here for a reason, even if he¡¯d never admit it. In that respect, Seth really took after him.
Quickly, Noreen hurried out to greet Wade. In her rush, she bumped into someone near the revolving door. The collision was light, but she apologized at once. ¡°Sorry about that.¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± the man replied,pletely unfazed.
As Noreen hurried off, the man stood where he was, watching after her. For a moment, he felt as if time had rewound¨Che almost called out a name from the past. The illusion only broke because her eyes held no recognition.
¡°Dad!¡± Bianca¡¯s cheery voice rang out as she spotted Forrest Lowell. She dashed over, beaming.
Forrest snapped back to the present, his features softening into a warm, paternal smile. ¡°What are you doing out here? That dress can¡¯t be easy to move in.¡±
¡°I wanted toe meet you and Mom myself,¡± Bianca said, ncing around. ¡°Where¡¯s Mom? Didn¡¯t shee in with you?¡±
¡°She left her phone in the car. Seth went back with her to get it,¡± Forrest exined.
No sooner had he finished than Seth entered with Yvonne beside him. ¡°Mom!¡± Bianca squealed, hugging Yvonne tightly.
¡°Careful, don¡¯t wrinkle your dress,¡± Yvonne fussed.
¡°Don¡¯t worry¨Cthe stylists are here. If anything gets messed up, they¡¯ll fix it.¡± Bianca was in high spirits, basking in her parents¡® affection. She didn¡¯t forget to thank Seth, either. ¡°Seth, thank you for picking up my parents.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s head inside,¡± Seth said, ushering everyone forward.
Bianca took Yvonne¡¯s hand and led her in. ¡°The celebration dinner¡¯s about to start. Good thing you made it in time¨Canyter and you¡¯d have missed the opening. Was there traffic?¡±
Yvonne shook her head. ¡°There wasn¡¯t when we arrived. Maybe Seth hit some traffic going back for me.¡±
¡°It¡¯s all right, you¡¯re here now,¡± Bianca said with a smile. Today, she felt like the luckiest person in the world.
¡°Dad, hurry up!¡± she called over her shoulder, only to see Forrest trailing behind. He looked a bit distracted, not quite himself, but as soon as she called, he snapped back to normal and caught up
with the rest.
Jude came over, eager to greet Forrest and Yvonne. Once Yvonne learned he was the son of Omniva
19:08
Group¡¯s director, she greeted him with polite warmth.
¡°Where¡¯s Healy?¡± Bianca asked, noticing Jude was alone.
¡°She¡¯s taking a call,¡± Jude replied.
Bianca assumed Healy was still inside and let it go.
Among the guests, someone recognized Forrest and came over to say hello. Forrest went off to mingle, leaving Yvonne to seize the moment and pull Bianca aside. ¡°It¡¯s such an important day¨Cdo you think Seth¡¯s father will show up?¡±
¡°Mr. Harcourt stoppeding to these events long ago,¡± Bianca exined. ¡°That¡¯s why we didn¡¯t invite him.¡±
Yvonne couldn¡¯t help feeling a little slighted. Her daughter was so aplished, yet Seth¡¯s family seemed indifferent. Sensing her mother¡¯s disappointment, Bianca squeezed her hand. ¡°Give it time, Mom. At least Seth really cares about me.¡±
Yvonne¡¯s expression softened. ¡°You¡¯re right. At least Seth puts you first.¡±
Yes-man 211
Chapter 211
But she still didn¡¯t forget to remind Bianca, ¡°That¡¯s why you need to strike while the iron¡¯s hot¨Clock things down with him before someone else swoops in and ruins your chances!¡±
¡°That won¡¯t happen. Seth truly cares about me,¡± Bianca replied.
¡°Oh, sweetheart, feelings change in the blink of an eye! Can you guarantee he¡¯ll always be this devoted? Trust me, I know men better than you do. You need to find a way to secure him for good! Don¡¯t let it end up like it did with Dn¨Cyou wasted seven years of your life on that one.¡±
Bianca immediately straightened up, her tone serious. ¡°I understand.¡±
¡°You need to put in more effort. And if the situation calls for it, don¡¯t be afraid to use a little strategy. ying coy doesn¡¯t always work. Take a page out of my book.¡±
Yvonne kept her voice low, not wanting anyone else to overhear.
Bianca bit her lip, saying nothing.
Being mother and daughter, Yvonne instantly understood that look. Her brow furrowed. ¡°You two still haven¡¯t made any real progress, have you?¡±
¡°¡Seth respects me,¡± Bianca managed, almost defensively.
Yvonne¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Respect? Between a man and a woman? I went to great lengths to give you a push, and you¡¯re telling me nothing¡¯s happened?¡±
By ¡°great lengths,¡± Yvonne meant she¡¯d deliberately set fire to their house, giving Bianca no choice but to move in with Seth.
But today was Bianca¡¯s big day, so Yvonne decided to hold her tongue.
¡°Don¡¯t drag your feet. Time¡¯s running out.¡±
¡°I know.¡±
Once Bianca¡¯s parents arrived, the celebration officially began.
The emcee took the stage, and Jude couldn¡¯t help but marvel again at Seth¡¯s generosity¨Ceven the host was a well¨Cknown local TV anchor.
Healy¡¯s seat was right next to Jude, but the ceremony had already started and he still hadn¡¯t shown.
Jude quickly dialed Healy¡¯s number.
To his frustration, not only did Healy not answer, he actually declined the call.
What on earth is that kid up to?
Jude tried again, only for the call to be cut off even faster.
While the emcee was exining the evening¡¯s schedule, Bianca came over to Jude¡¯s table to check in.
¡°Dn¡¯s still not here?¡±
17:37
¡°Yeah, where is he?¡± Jude was even more anxious than she was.
¡°I¡¯ll try calling him.¡±
Jude dialed Dn¡¯s number.
He got cut off, too.
Jude stared at his phone, bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why is everyone ignoring my calls tonight?¡±
Bianca nced at the two empty seats at the main table, a strange expression flickering across her
face.
Right then, Seth put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. ¡°Get ready¨Cit¡¯s your turn to go up.¡±
The uncertainty in Bianca¡¯s heart settled as soon as she heard Seth¡¯s voice.
It didn¡¯t matter if Dn didn¡¯t show up.
It didn¡¯t matter if Healy left at thest minute.
She still had Seth.
Seth was all she needed.
As the emcee worked the crowd to a fever pitch, Bianca stepped onto the stage to deliver her speech.
shbulbs went off like fireworks.
Looking out at the bustling crowd, whatever lingering resentment she felt melted away, reced by overwhelming pride.
This¨Cthis was a triumph Noreen could only dream of.
Bianca epted the microphone withposure, radiating the confidence of a winner as she thanked friends, family, and the media foring to celebrate SkyMind¡¯s sess.
At events like this, it was customary to share a story, to tug at the heartstrings.
Bianca spoke about all the obstacles she¡¯d ovee to make the project a reality¨Cimplying, intentionally or not, that the credit was hers alone.
Yet, in truth, she¡¯d only ever been an investor.
When it came time to present the project¡¯s achievements, the emcee suddenly chimed in, ¡°Director Lowell, your good friend Mr. Jude has popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate. Why don¡¯t we toast and reminisce about SkyMind¡¯s journey?¡±
Everyone agreed it was a great idea, and Bianca was more than happy to go along.
17.27
Yes-man 212
Chapter 212
It was Bianca herself who popped the champagne. Amid a flurry of apuse, she poured the sparkling wine, filling ss after ss as it cascaded down the crystal tower.
The top ss, of course, was hers.
The rest were distributed by the event hostess to the crowd below.
Only when everyone held their sses did Bianca raise hers high, her eyes shining.
She thanked the guests foring, and with the poise of a victor, announced the unveiling of SkyMind¡¯stest user data.
This was the moment she¡¯d been waiting for¨Cthe moment she¡¯d designed herself. She wanted to reveal SkyMind¡¯stest download numbers right here at theunch party, in front of everyone.
SkyMind hadunched with a major publicity push, and Bianca¡¯s confidence was unshakeable. She could already envision the thunderous apuse she¡¯d receive.
But the instant she revealed the leaderboard, the energy in the room copsed. Instead of excitement, a suffocating silence filled the air.
It was so quiet, it was almost eerie.
Bianca hesitated. Had everyone been stunned by SkyMind¡¯s numbers? Not impossible¨CSkyMind had shot to the top of the app charts just three days afterunch. She checked the data every day. That was why she was so sure.
¡°Let¡¯s raise our sses, everyone,¡± she called out again, trying to rally the room.
But below her, the crowd looked at one another. No one so much as lifted their ss.
Bianca finally realized something was wrong. She spun around to look at the projection screen.
When she saw the name at the top of the leaderboard, her face drained of color.
How could InnoCore be number one?
Her hand began to shake; champagne sloshed over the rim of her ss.
Seth, ever quick on the uptake, rushed to cut the feed and switched the screen.
But the damage was done, right there in front of the crowd and the assembled media.
Bianca had no choice but to feignposure, improvising as best she could. ¡°SkyMind has been live for ten days now, and has held the top spot for seven days straight. The download numbers are impressive-¡±
She didn¡¯t even finish before a reporter shouldered his camera and bolted for the exit.
¡°Move, move! Let¡¯s get over there! We¡¯re going to miss it if we¡¯rete!¡±
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± someone else asked.
¡°Word is, a bunch of big names have just shown up at the InnoCore press conference next door! We¡¯d better get over there!¡±
17:37 D
¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±
¡°Wade, president of the Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce¨Cthe whole board is there, actually. And
Mr. Jed, the vice chairman of the Al Society, brought his entire team.¡±
¡°I heard some government officials are attending too.¡±
¡°Hurry up! If we miss this scoop, we¡¯ll regret it for the rest of our lives!¡±
The media rushed out in a frantic stampede, desperate to be the first to cover the story.
Even the guests began murmuring among themselves.
¡°That InnoCoreunch¨Cis that the same InnoCore that just topped the download charts?¡±
¡°It is! I just checked. InnoCore¡¯s only been out for three hours and it¡¯s already number one! SkyMind took three days to get there. And InnoCore barely did any publicity¨Cjust word¨Cof¨Cmouth in the Almunity. Those numbers are the real deal!¡±
¡°I always thought SkyMind¡¯s numbers were inted¨Cmust have spent a fortune¡¡±
¡°Shhh, keep it down¡¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit like popping the champagne halfway through the game? What a waste of good wine.¡± In the midst of it all, the Forrests sat in the front row, catching every word of the guests¡® chatter.
Yvonne¡¯s expression darkened. She¡¯d been so eager to show off her daughter¡¯s achievements¨Cshe¡¯d already let slip in her social circle that Bianca was behind a major new project. The other women were envious, wishing their daughters were half as talented.
She¡¯d even arranged a small private celebration for Bianca, invitations sent, waiting only for this event to end before making their grand entrance.
17:37
Yes-man 213
Now, she¡¯d lost every shred of dignity she had.
Forrest, on the other hand, was no stranger to public spectacle. Even in a situation like this, he managed to keep hisposure far better than Yvonne.
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he murmured, shielding her as they stood.
Yvonne had been itching to leave for ages. The moment Forrest spoke, she grabbed her coat and
hurried out with him.
There were only a handful of guests at the main table. With the couple gone, it was just Jude and
Seth left behind.
Jude still hadn¡¯t processed what had happened. He sat there, dazed, utterly bewildered.
He had no idea what was going on.
Meanwhile, Seth walked up onto the stage amid a flurry of whispers, gently taking the microphone from Bianca and stepping protectively in front of her to shield her from anyone trying to snap a photo.
¡°Sorry, everyone,¡± Seth said, his voice steady, ¡°Director Lowell¡¯s been working under a lot of pressuretely and isn¡¯t feeling her best. I¡¯ll take over the rest of tonight¡¯s program.¡±
The mood in the room shifted again.
Everyone already knew Seth and Bianca were close¨Crumor had it their rtionship went far beyond friendship. And with talk swirling about a possible marriage alliance between the Lowells and the Harcourts, this was the kind of news that made waves among Rivercrest¡¯s elite.
The Lowell family, thanks to this connection, had be the toast of Rivercrest.
Seth¡¯s appearance on stage, and the way he looked after Bianca, only fueled the rumors further.
So what if Bianca had made a bit of a scene tonight? With Seth on her side, it barely mattered.
Despite the curiosity¨Cpeople were itching to slip next door to catch a glimpse of the business tycoons, or maybe sniff out a new business opportunity¨Cno one dared leave just yet.
After all, no one wanted to cross Seth.
So, the celebration wasn¡¯tpletely deserted. Still, it was clear that everyone¡¯s mind was elsewhere.
Some made excuses to sneak out, calling their assistants and urging them to get over to the neighboring event as quickly as possible, fearful they¡¯d miss out on something big.
Others secretly pulled up InnoCore¡¯s livestream on their phones right there at the party.
Jude was among them. He just couldn¡¯t help himself¨Che desperately wanted to know what was happening.
The moment he saw the number of viewers on InnoCore¡¯s livestream top ten million, he thought his eyes were ying tricks on him.
1/2
17:37
Jude¡¯s shock wasn¡¯t unfounded¨Che¡¯d once partnered with friends to start an influencer agency, even poaching a few top¨Ctier inte personalities at great expense. Despite pouring a fortune into marketing, he¡¯d never seen numbers like these.
And it¡¯s not like Noreen had the money to fake the stats.
So this was the real deal. Genuine numbers, every single one.
But that wasn¡¯t all.
On one of the split screens, Jude spotted two familiar faces¨CDn and Healy, sitting together in the second row, focused on the speaker at the front.
So that¡¯s why they hadn¡¯t answered his calls¨Cthey were at InnoCore¡¯sunch event!
Unbelievable.
But that wasn¡¯t even the most shocking thing.
In the front row sat a lineup of heavyweights, each more influential than thest. The entire Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce was there, with Wade himself presiding.
Even government officials had shown up.
And there, seated right in the center, was the very person Jude had always looked down on¨CNoreen.
She was right in the spotlight, surrounded by the city¡¯s most powerful.
Jude was so stunned, he didn¡¯t even notice Bianca hade down from the stage.
He forgot to lock his phone screen, and Bianca caught a glimpse.
Already humiliated, her expression turned even paler.
A suffocating sense of shame pressed down on her.
Jude fumbled, hastily snapping his phone shut, but in his panic, he knocked over his ss of expensive champagne.
He¡¯d never even had a sip¨Cthe whole thing spilled across the table.
¡°Let me see,¡± Bianca said, her voice trembling.
Jude didn¡¯t dare show her. He stammered, ¡°I¨CI was just, uh, watching a¡ a borderline stream. Not really something you¡¯d want to see.¡±
17.37
Yes-man 214
Chapter 214
She didn¡¯t insist. Instead, she quietly pulled out her phone and searched for the livestream of the InnoCoreunch event.
¡°Bianca¡¡± Jude¡¯s concern was palpable; he worried about how she was holding up.
¡°I¡¯m fine. I just want to take a look.¡± Bianca¡¯s voice was steady, but herplexion told another story¨Cshe looked anything but fine.
Jude had no idea how tofort her.
The tension Bianca felt from watching the livestream was a hundred times worse than anything Jude had imagined.
He watched her grip her phone tighter and tighter, her knuckles turning white.
¡°So Dn went to the InnoCoreunch, huh?¡± Her voice trembled slightly.
Jude scrambled for an exnation. ¡°He¡¯s one of InnoCore¡¯s investors. It makes sense for him to show his support.¡±
¡°What about Healy?¡±
Jude was sweating bullets. ¡°His dad made him go! Honestly, his heart is with you, and he came here first thing after that.¡±
But Bianca barely heard his exnations.
All she could focus on was the fact that they¡¯d both chosen to go to Noreen¡¯s side.
¡°Even Mr. Harcourt is there, supporting Noreen,¡± she said quietly.
Jude had no reply for that one.
He wanted to tell her to stop watching, but just then, his phone rang.
It was his father, Seymour.
Jude answered, only to be met with a tirade. Seymour ordered him to get to the InnoCore event¨Cnow.
¡°I don¡¯t want to go.¡±
¡°Fine. Then I¡¯ll book you a ticket overseas this instant,¡± Seymour thundered.
Jude caved immediately. ¡°Okay, okay! I¡¯ll go!¡±
After hanging up, he fumbled for an excuse. ¡°Bianca, my dad¡¯s sick¨CI need to visit him at the
hospital. I¡¯ll make it up to you with dinner another day, I promise.¡±
Bianca didn¡¯t even look at him. Her voice was cold and distant. ¡°Go ahead.¡±
Her eyes never left the livestream.
Jude rushed out, desperate not to be shipped off abroad by his father.
He had no idea that, as he entered the event, the camera caught him on the livestream.
Chapter
Bianca saw everything.
Her face darkened, and she clutched her phone even tighter.
When she was on the verge of falling apart, someone took the phone from her hand.
Seth¡¯s calm, cool voice sounded by her side. ¡°Don¡¯t watch anymore.¡±
Bianca¡¯s eyes were rimmed red, her throat tight with emotion.
¡°Seth,¡± she managed, burying her face in his chest.
He didn¡¯t push her away, letting her wrap her arms around his waist.
He tried tofort her. ¡°SkyMind might not be as big as InnoCore, but you did an amazing job. You¡¯ve worked so hard¨Csometimes it justes down to luck.¡±
Bianca had been feeling utterly defeated, but hearing those words brought her some relief.
¡°You know I hold myself to high standards. That¡¯s why it¡¯s so hard to ept this oue.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay. There¡¯s always next time.¡±
¡°Yeah¡¡±
¡
Meanwhile, Noreen didn¡¯t have the slightest clue about what was happening at SkyMind¡¯s afterparty.
Why would she waste time worrying about people who had nothing to do with her? Time was precious!
Wade¡¯s appearance meant the world to Noreen. Even more impressive was that he hadn¡¯te alone¨Che¡¯d rallied the entire Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce to attend.
That kind of support meant far more than any investment of millions.
When Seymour Wilder arrived with Jude to see Noreen, she had just turned off her phone¨Ccalls from people eager to coborate wereing in nonstop, and she couldn¡¯t take it anymore.
Seymour was surprisingly polite. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, let me introduce my son, Jude.¡±
Then he nudged Jude forward. ¡°Go on, greet Ms. Gilmore!¡±
Yes-man 215
Jude had never imagined he¡¯d find himself in a situation like this.
If he¡¯d known this was , he would¡¯ve kept a much lower profile back then.
Now, the embarrassment was so intense he wished he could curl his toes and sink straight through the floor.
¡°Say something!¡± Seymour hissed, practically ready to explode.
Jude forced out two words, stiff and awkward: ¡°Ms. Gilmore.¡±
Noreen gave a faint nod, her face expressionless, eyes never meeting Jude¡¯s.
Anyone with half a brain could see what was happening.
That nod¨Cshe was only doing it out of courtesy to Seymour.
She had no interest in Jude whatsoever.
Seymour could tell, but he pretended not to notice. He pressed on, ¡°You two are close in age. You should get to know each other¨Cus old folks are on our way out. It¡¯s up to your generation to shape the future of Rivercrest City.¡±
¡°Especially someone as talented as Ms. Gilmore. You¡¯re bound to be a pir of our businessmunity. Jude here could use your guidance¨Che¡¯s interested in Al too. Just invested in an Al initiative recently, called SkyMind.¡±
Jude wanted to melt into the floor.
If he¡¯d known it would be like this, he¡¯d have preferred being shipped off overseas.
At least then he¡¯d only have to suffer, not lose face.
When Noreen heard Jude¡¯s investment in SkyMind, she finally looked at him directly.
Her gaze made Jude squirm; he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she was mocking him.
Noreen said, ¡°VP Wilder sure has a ¡®fine son.¡®
¡°}
Seymour, missing the sarcasm, took it as apliment.
¡°At least he looks decent. As for everything else¡ average at best.¡±
Noreen just smiled, saying nothing more.
Jude couldn¡¯t get away fast enough. He tugged at Seymour, desperate to leave.
If he stayed a second longer, he¡¯d never be able to show his face in public again.
Meanwhile, Carman was wrapping up the product demonstration and began thanking everyone who¡¯d helped along the way.
Dn¡¯s name came up.
Seymour¡¯s jealousy red when he heard Dn had invested in InnoCore¡
1/3
The reason Omniva Group had started to decline was the bitter power struggle between the two Wilder family branches.
Seymour was a bit more capable than his older brother, but unfortunately, his own son, Jude, was a disappointment.
The eldest Wilder, thoughcking in business acumen, had a son like Dn¨Ca rising star.
When Dn took over Omniva Group, he quickly cut down Seymour¡¯s influence.
Now, with his position at risk, Seymour was desperate¨Cdragging Jude around, trying to make connections wherever he could.
But no matter how hard he pushed, he was always a step behind Dn.
He lowered his voice, ordering Jude, ¡°I don¡¯t care how you do it¨Cmake sure you secure a partnership with InnoCore. If you fail, pack your bags and move abroad. That¡¯s final.¡±
Jude was silent.
His good days were over.
The SkyMindunch party ended earlier than nned, the atmosphere a far cry from the lively beginning.
Guests hurried out, skipping even the most basic goodbyes.
It had started with a bang¨Cnow it ended in a whimper.
Bianca locked herself in the dressing room and sobbed.
Lillian tried everything tofort her, but eventually could only sit quietly by her side.
Seth finished dealing with the aftermath of the event beforeing to find Bianca.
She¡¯d cried herself out by then. Her emotions had settled, but her eyes were still swollen and red.
Seth said gently, ¡°Come on, let me take you home.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
The one thing Bianca was grateful for was that Seth had always been on her side.
As the two of them stepped out, a burst of apuse echoed from across the hallway.
Bianca stopped in her tracks, ncing toward the InnoCoreunch event.
The ce was buzzing with excitement.
All the media and guests who¡¯d left their party had flocked to InnoCore instead.
A familiar name rang out over the loudspeakers.
¡°Let¡¯s have a round of apuse for InnoCore¡¯s permanent partner¨CMs. Noreen Gilmore! She¡¯ll be giving the keynote address!¡±
Even Seth couldn¡¯t help but look over.
Noreen walked onto the stage, every eye in the room on her.
17:37
She wore something simple¨Cno dazzling makeup, no expensive jewelry.
And yet, she was the embodiment of poise and quiet confidence.
Yes-man 216
Chapter 216
In that moment on stage, even the spotlights seemed to favor her.
Noreen practically glowed, drawing every pair of eyes in the room.
Everyone was watching her.
Bianca turned, catching Seth utterly transfixed by the scene. Her face drained of color.
Her hand, hanging at her side, slowly curled into a tight fist, her nails nearly digging into her palm.
For a split second, she felt like a fool.
Whatever Noreen was saying, Bianca didn¡¯t catch a word.
She parted her lips, struggling to speak. ¡°Seth, I¡¯m not feeling well. Let¡¯s go.¡±
Thankfully, Seth snapped out of it almost immediately, tearing his gaze away from Noreen.
¡°Alright.¡± He gently steadied her.
He led her out of the event hall.
Only after sinking into the car seat did Bianca¡¯s nerves finally begin to unknot.
¡°Take a few days off. You need the rest,¡± Seth said, always looking out for her.
His concern made her feel a little better. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll be fine after a good night¡¯s sleep.¡±
She couldn¡¯t fall apart now.
And she absolutely refused to lose.
Noreen¡¯s victory tonight was nothing but a fluke.
There¡¯s no way Noreen¡¯s luck would hold out forever.
Bianca forced herself to rally, determined to reim her ce in the spotlight¨Cand win back everyone¡¯s admiration, Wade¡¯s included.
Sure, Noreen had her moment tonight. Maybe even Seth was impressed by her.
But so what?
Seth¡¯s heart was still with her.
And that was all that mattered.
The InnoCoreunch was a smash hit¨Cfar beyond even Noreen¡¯s wildest expectations.
It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say that potential partners were lining up at the door. More than that, InnoCore¡¯s dramatic debut sent ripples across the global tech scene. Al experts worldwide showered it with praise.
14:44
They called it a game¨Cchanger for the future of artificial intelligence.
Analysts said it shattered the old industry notion that Al breakthroughs required endless investment and years of waiting. Western media even dubbed it ¡°Al¡¯s Sputnik moment.¡±
International reactions ranged from awe to outright shock.
It was a phenomenon¨Can innovation that rocked the world of technology.
Some even said it had shaken the foundations of global tech dominance¡
Back home, every major news outlet was scrambling to cover the story.
Carman and Noreen had been running nonstop, jumping from one interview to the next¨Cbusiness journals, financialworks, you name it.
Their schedule was packed to the brim; there wasn¡¯t even time to catch their breath.
Thankfully, Noreen had her ever¨Cresourceful assistant, Sophia, who at least made sure she never
missed a meal.
¡°Cancel all my meetings next Wednesday,¡± Noreen said, sipping her soup while scrolling through her calendar.
Sophia looked up. ¡°Personal ns?¡±
¡°Mhm.¡±
¡°Understood.¡± Sophia made a note.
Just then, her phone buzzed with a new email. She scanned it, then turned to Noreen. ¡°The finance magazine just sent over a draft of the cover photo. They want your feedback before they go to print.¡±
Noreen nced at the image and noticed it wasbeled for the February issue.
¡°Why February?¡± she asked.
She distinctly remembered them saying it would be for March.
Sophia replied, ¡°The magazine wants to release it while the story¡¯s still hot.¡±
That made sense. Noreen had no objections. She picked her favorite shot and sent herments
back.
Business magazines typically hit the stands a week early.
Jude hadn¡¯t forgotten about the issue.
He¡¯d slipped out early from the SkyMind celebration, still feeling guilty for leaving Bianca behind. He¡¯d been messaging Bianca ever since, but she hadn¡¯t replied.
Maybe she was still upset with him.
To make it up to her, he decided to buy the magazine the moment it released.
As soon as it went on sale, Jude ced a bulk order¨Cten thousand copies¨Cthen quickly posted a screenshot in the group chat and tagged Bianca.
14:44
¡°Bianca! I bought your magazine feature! Ten thousand copies! How¡¯s that for a friend?¡±
Before Bianca could reply, Healy chimed in. Follow current nov?ls on F?nd-Novel
¡°Why is Noreen on the cover?¡±
Yes-man 217
Jude opened the message and stared in disbelief.
Wasn¡¯t Bianca supposed to be the featured figure and cover story in this month¡¯s business. magazine?
How did it suddenly turn into Noreen?
Jude could only hope Bianca hadn¡¯t seen it yet.
Luckily, the post hadn¡¯t been up for long¨Che could still delete it.
Before he did, he nudged Healy, who caught on instantly and deleted his own message, too.
But their little cover¨Cup did nothing to save the situation.
Because Bianca had already seen it. She just didn¡¯t say anything.
Or maybe she simply didn¡¯t know what to say.
But in private, she called the magazine¡¯s editor¨Cin¨Cchief and demanded an exnation.
The editor was apologetic, but insisted the decision came from higher up. They needed to boost sales and public interest, and hoped Bianca could understand the pressures of their job.
Bianca hung up, fuming, her expression icy.
Lillian hurried to calm her down. ¡°Cousin, have some coffee, don¡¯t let this get to you. People like that only care about who¡¯s on top. Noreen¡¯s riding high on that InnoCore project¨Cit¡¯s all anyone¡¯s talking about right now. There¡¯s nothing we can do to match her buzz at the moment.¡±
¡°But she won¡¯t be on top for long!¡± Lillian added, her voice full of conviction. ¡°You¡¯re a PhD in Economics from WT Business School¨Cand the pride of both the Lowell and the Laurent families. That¡¯s something Noreen could never hope to achieve in her lifetime!¡±
¡°Besides, your brother¨Cinw didn¡¯t go through all that trouble to recruit you from Grand Trust Bank for nothing. He values your talent above all else. Don¡¯t let a temporary setback shake your confidence.¡±
Bianca did feel a little better after hearing that.
¡°All right, let¡¯s touch up your makeup,¡± Lillian suggested with a grin. ¡°Didn¡¯t your brother¨Cinw say he¡¯s picking you up soon for that resort trip? Cheer up!¡± This text is hosted at find?novel
¡°Okay.¡±
Thinking about how Seth always looked out for her¨Cworried she¡¯d be upset after SkyMind lost out to InnoCore¨Che¡¯d set aside time just to take her on a rxing getaway.
That thought warmed her mood again.
Noticing her cousin¡¯s spirits lifted, Lillian seized the moment. ¡°By the way, have you gotten anywhere with that little favor I asked?¡±
¡°I¡¯ll message Healy right now, see if he can join us at the resort,¡± Bianca replied, pulling out her phone.
14:44
She texted Healy to see if he wanted toe along for the trip.
Healy took a while to respond: ¡°Swamped these days, can¡¯t make it. Have fun, you guys.¡±
When Lillian heard that Healy couldn¡¯te, her disappointment was obvious.
Bianca reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll find another opportunity. Leave it to me.¡±
¡°Okay!¡±
Meanwhile, Jude was still fuming. He ended up returning the entire shipment of ten thousand magazines.
Only then did he drive off toward Seymour Group.
Seymour Group was a subsidiary of Omniva Group, and his father, Mr. Seymour, was the CEO. As usual, Jude greeted the pretty receptionist as he walked in. ¡°Morning, gorgeous!¡±
¡°Good morning, Mr. Jude.¡±
He was about to head inside when the receptionist called after him. ¡°Mr. Jude, this is for you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Jude took the item and realized it was the February issue of the business magazine.
Noreen was on the cover.
His hand trembled involuntarily, and he tossed it right back to the receptionist. ¡°Why are you giving me this? I¡¯m not reading it!¡±
The receptionist looked helpless. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Wilder¡¯s orders. Every employee has to read Ms. Gilmore¡¯s interview¨Cno exceptions. Mr. Jude, that includes you.¡±
Jude thought his father had lost his mind.
He¡¯d just returned the magazines, and his dad had already bought another pile and handed them out to every single person in thepany!
Unbelievable.
¡°I¡¯m not reading it!¡± Jude protested, his whole body radiating defiance.
¡°But Mr. Wilder said if you don¡¯t, he¡¯ll freeze all your cards.¡±
Jude fell silent.
That was a harsher punishment than sending him abroad.
Fuming, he snatched the magazine back and told the receptionist, ¡°Please tell my dad I¡¯ve read it. In fact, I¡¯ve read it so many times my eyes are about to fall out!¡±
14:44
Yes-man 218
At the front desk, the receptionist added, ¡°¡And Mr. Wilder said that once you¡¯re finished, you¡¯re to handwrite a ten¨Cpage reflection for him to review.¡±
Jude was speechless.
He wanted to die.
Wednesday was Wade Harcourt¡¯s birthday.
Noreen had cleared her schedule specifically to celebrate with him. When Seth had mentioned it earlier, she hadn¡¯t responded¨Cnot out of rudeness, but because she simply didn¡¯t feel like chatting with him. Besides, she wasn¡¯ting because of Seth; she wasing on her own terms.
It had been a long time since Noreenst visited the Harcourt estate, yet nothing seemed to have changed. The garden gate was slightly ajar; all she had to do was push it open and walk in.
Wade was sitting in the living room, gazing out the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows when he spotted Noreen near the entrance. He turned to Evelyn and murmured something.
Evelyn hurried out to greet her, beaming. ¡°Miss Gilmore! You¡¯re finally here¨Cwe were just waiting for you!¡±
Just waiting for her? Did that mean Seth was already here too?
Noreen hesitated for a moment, then it made sense. After all, they were father and son; of course Seth would be here. She found herself wondering if Bianca might be ar
ound as well. But whether Bianca was there or not, it hardly mattered to Noreen. She was here for Wade, not anyone else.
So, with her usual poise, Noreen stepped inside.
The living room was empty except for Wade¨Cno sign of Seth, and no one else either. Wade was sipping tea.
Noreen set down her gift on the table. ¡°I had a friend handpick this for me at the source. It¡¯s a rare vintage ck tea, Mr. Harcourt. I hope you enjoy it.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡± Wade was clearly pleased, and he personally prepared the tea, pouring a cup for Noreen
as well.
She epted it with both hands. Get full chapters from find(?)ovel
After tasting the tea, Wade gave it high praise. ¡°This is a rare blend. You¡¯ve gone out of your way for me.¡±
Noreen smiled. ¡°Not really. A friend of mine is from the region. She helped me out.¡±
Evelyn chimed in from the side, cheerful as ever. ¡°Seth actually brought the exact same tea! The two of you are so in sync¨CI have to ask, did you n it together?¡±
Noreen thought for a moment. ¡°If we were truly in sync, we wouldn¡¯t have chosen the same thing.¡±
Seth emerged from the kitchen carrying a tureen of soup, and caught the tail end of her remark.
14:44
Her tone was calm, as if she werementing on the weather.
Yet, for some reason, Seth found himself missing those distant days¨Cthose moments when Noreen would curl up in his arms and whisper about forever, her voice soft and sweet.
It had only been three months, but it felt like a lifetime ago¨Cso distant that his memories seemed faded and unreal.
Realizing she¡¯d put her foot in her mouth, Evelyn quickly changed the subject. ¡°We¡¯re in for a treat tonight. Seth cooked several dishes himself.¡±
Noreen was genuinely surprised to hear Seth could cook. On New Year¡¯s, she¡¯d assumed it was her mother¡¯s handiwork and that Seth had simply passed it off as his own. In their seven years together, she¡¯d never once seen him cook, let alone tasted anything he¡¯d made. Maybe he¡¯d picked it up recently. She didn¡¯t need to guess who he¡¯d learned for¨Cthe answer was obvious. But it didn¡¯t faze her; after all, they¡¯d both learned new tricks for each other over the years, even downing drinks at business dinners just to please the other. Picking up a few culinary skills was hardly unusual. If you wanted to win a woman¡¯s heart, the old saying went, you started with her stomach.
Evelyndled out two bowls of soup for Wade and Noreen. ¡°Enough tea¨Cyou should both try Seth¡¯s soup.¡±
Wade tasted it first, pausing to consider. ¡°Not bad.¡±
Coming from Wade, ¡°not bad¡± was just about the highestpliment possible.
Noreen took a sip as well. When in Rome, after all¨Cyou couldn¡¯t exactly snub the birthday boy.
But as soon as the soup touched her lips, her expression froze for a split second.
14:44
Yes-man 219
There was something strangely familiar about the taste.
Where had she tried it before?
Noreen frowned, unsettled, and took another sip.
She wasn¡¯t a professional foodie¨Cher pte wasn¡¯t refined enough to pinpoint vors or analyze them like a critic. After the second taste, that odd sense of familiarity faded away.
Maybe all ginseng soups tasted more or less the same.
She set down her bowl and said, ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡±
Only then did Seth turn and head back into the kitchen.
Evelyn tried a spoonful herself. ¡°It¡¯s a bit sweet. Seth, did you add sugar?¡±
¡°He knows his father is supposed to watch his sugar intake. Why would he add sugar?¡±
Noreen chimed in, reminding Wade, ¡°Better take it easy on the soup, Mr. Harcourt.¡±
The table was piled high with dishes. ording to Evelyn, Seth had made four of them himself.
Funny thing was, all four happened to be Noreen¡¯s favorites.
If she didn¡¯t know how hopelessly devoted Seth was to Bianca, she might have read too much into it.
To Noreen¡¯s surprise, Seth was actually a decent cook¨Cthough everything leaned a little too sweet for
her taste.
Luckily, Evelyn had prepared a few dishes as well, so Wade wasn¡¯t left with nothing he could eat.
They¡¯d barely made it halfway through the meal when Seth¡¯s phone started to ring.
Noreen was sitting right next to him and caught a glimpse of the name on the screen.
It was Bianca.
Seth stood up and stepped out to take the call. He was gone for quite a while.
Noreen kept her head down, focusing on her food, not giving it much thought.
Evelyn, however, couldn¡¯t help muttering, ¡°Honestly, what kind of call takes that long? Doesn¡¯t he care about his dinner? Food gets cold so quickly in this weather!¡±
A call from Bianca¨Cof course it was important.
Seth really did take his time. By the time he came back, the rest of them were almost done eating.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you grab a coat before stepping outside? What if you catch a cold?¡± Evelyn fussed.
¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±
Noreen agreed. She doubted anything could bother Seth at the moment.
After all, when you¡¯re in love, even water tastes sweet.
13:00
Noreen had no intention of lingering. She was just working out how to politely say goodbye to Wade when Seth grabbed his jacket and announced, ¡°I have to head out for something. Happy birthday,
Dad.¡±
¡°Leaving already?¡± Evelyn sounded genuinely disappointed.
Wade¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. Whether Seth stayed or left hardly seemed to matter to him.
Seth offered a brief exnation¨Csomething urgent needed his attention¨Cthen headed out the door.
Noreen purposely waited another ten minutes before getting up to leave, thinking that would be enough to avoid running into Seth again.
No such luck. Newest update provided by fin?novel
She still bumped into him.
Only, he wasn¡¯t alone this time.
Bianca had arrived.
No wonder Seth had left in such a hurry¨Che was meeting Bianca.
When it came to Bianca, everything was urgent in Seth¡¯s world.
Noreen only nced their way for a second before quickly looking away. She got in her car and drove off without another word.
¡°Why is she allowed to go, but I can¡¯t?¡±
Bianca¡¯s pent¨Cup frustration finally boiled over as she watched Noreen leave.
She knew she shouldn¡¯t be making a scene, but when emotions take over, who can help themselves?
For the past two days, she¡¯d been waiting for Seth to bring it up.
Yvonne had heard about Wade¡¯s birthday from some of her friends and asked Bianca what her ns
were.
Bianca told her Seth hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about it.
Yvonne scolded her a little, hinting that she should be more proactive instead of always waiting for the man to make the first move.
Opportunities don¡¯t just fall into yourp¨Cyou have to fight for them.
But Bianca had always been proud.
And in her rtionship with Seth, he was always the one making the effort, so she¡¯de to assume her ce in his heart was secure.
She was sure he¡¯d ask her toe along, so she didn¡¯t bring it up herself.
Still, she¡¯d already picked out a gift, just waiting for Seth to invite her so they could attend Wade¡¯s birthday together.
But today came and went, and Seth never asked.
Yes-man 220
Chapter 220
Bianca couldn¡¯t sit still any longer. She showed up at the Harcourt estate herself and called Seth right then and there.
She¡¯d already made quite a scene on the phone.
Seth did his best to calm her down, promising he¡¯de out immediately.
And, true to his word, he did.
Bianca¡¯s temper had only just begun to settle when she spotted Noreen walking out the front gates of the Harcourt property.
All the frustration Bianca had managed to tamp down came roaring back.
Seth¡¯s face was unreadable, but there was a forcefulness in his presence that was impossible to ignore.
He asked, ¡°Are you sure you want to see him?¡±
¡°¡ Of course.¡±
¡°Alright. I¡¯ll take you inside. But whatever happens, you¡¯ll have to keep your cool.¡±
He was as good as his word, leading Bianca straight to the Harcourts¡® door.
Evelyn, the housekeeper, assumed Noreen had forgotten something. Hearing themotion, she greeted the door with a smile. ¡°Noreen, did you leave something behind?¡±
But when she opened the door to see Seth, she hesitated. ¡°Seth? What are you doing back? Isn¡¯t Noreen with you?¡±
Bianca poked her head out from behind Seth. ¡°Hello, Evelyn.¡±
Evelyn didn¡¯t recognize Bianca¡¯s face, but she¡¯d definitely heard her voice before.
The moment Bianca spoke, Evelyn¡¯s expression changed.
¡°And you are? I don¡¯t know you, and you¡¯re not wee here. Please leave.¡±
Being dismissed so rudely by a housekeeper made Bianca¡¯s brow furrow.
¡°I¡¯m Seth¡¯s girlfriend. I came to wish Mr. Harcourt a happy birthday.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never heard anything about Seth having a girlfriend. Miss, I¡¯m going to have to ask you to leave.¡±
With that, Evelyn shut the door firmly in their faces¨CSeth¡¯s included.
Bianca stood there for a moment, stunned. She turned to Seth, expecting him to say something.
But Seth¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. There was a cold, indifferent edge to his features as he said, ¡°Now do you see why I didn¡¯t bring you along?¡±
Bianca had known Wade Harcourt was difficult, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to be this bad.
She¡¯de all this way in person, and not only had she failed to see Wade, she¡¯d been turned away at
13:00
the door by a staff member.
It stung even more remembering how warmly Evelyn had greeted Noreen, only to treat her so harshly.
Bianca¡¯s chest tightened with resentment.
But Seth had warned her¨Cwhatever happened, she had to keep herposure.
So, she swallowed her anger. Her hand tightened around the gift she was carrying, and she made a quiet vow to herself: The day she married into the Harcourt family, Evelyn would be the first one she¡¯d deal with.
A housekeeper, getting so full of herself? Readplete version only at findnovel
Bianca bit back her irritation, then tried to sound casual as she said to Seth, ¡°That woman just now¨Cshe works for your family, right? Isn¡¯t she overstepping a bit?¡±
Seth replied, ¡°Evelyn raised me. It¡¯s different. Even I have to listen to her.¡±
His exnation left Bianca with nothing more to say. She had no choice but to swallow her pride.
It took Jude three days to pore over Noreen¡¯s interview and finally write the ten¨Cthousand¨Cword analysis his father had demanded.
He thought he was finally done with it, but then Seymour sent him to represent Seymour Medical Center in negotiations with Winrich about a new smart healthcare partnership.
Jude was both thrilled and anxious.
The thrill: His father was finally letting him get involved in the family business!
The anxiety: Why, of all people, did the partner have to be Noreen?!
He¡¯d been so smug when he¡¯d mocked Noreen before, and now he was really paying for it.
Karma, it turned out, had a sharp sting.
Jude had known this task wouldn¡¯t be easy, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be this hard.
He introduced himself at the front desk.
The receptionist called Noreen¡¯s office.
Five secondster, the receptionist came back with a polite but apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Gilmore isn¡¯t avable. You¡¯ll have toe back another time.¡±
Yes-man 221
Chapter 221
Jude refused to give up. Pulling out his phone, he shot off a message to Noreen.
The instant an exmation mark popped up in the chat window, his mind wentpletely nk.
He hadn¡¯t even realized when she¡¯d blocked him.
Left with no choice, Jude dialed Seth for help. ¡°Seth, Seth, can you do me a favor?¡±
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Seth asked.
Jude sighed. ¡°Can you help me get in touch with Noreen? I just want to talk business with her. Ask her to take me off her block list.¡±
Seth sounded resigned. ¡°Can¡¯t help you there. She¡¯s blocked me too.¡±
Jude was floored.
¡°She blocked you too?¡±
In Jude¡¯s mind, Noreen had always been at Seth¡¯s beck and call¨Cshe would do anything for him.
Blocking Seth? No way. Not in this universe. Not even if the world were ending.
Seven years! She¡¯d chased after Seth for seven years. She¡¯d clung to him no matter what¨Chow could she just let go like that?
When Noreen quit her job before, everyone had assumed she was just throwing a tantrum at Seth.
Once she cooled off, she¡¯d go back to him like always. Like a loyal dog returning to its master.
As for Noreen starting her ownpany,unching her own projects¡ Jude figured she was just trying to prove herself, to get Seth¡¯s attention. At the end of the day, it was all for him.
But now Seth was telling him he¡¯d been blocked too?
What the hell?
¡°She really doesn¡¯t care about you anymore?¡± Jude blurted out.
Seth¡¯s voice was calm and t, impossible to read. ¡°Yeah.¡±
Jude tried tofort him. ¡°Hey,e on, you¡¯ve got Bianca now. That should be enough for you!¡±
Seth hung up without another word.
Jude stared at his phone, confused by the abrupt end to the call.
Was his attempt at constion that bad? Why did it feel like Seth was genuinely upset?
But honestly, Jude had his own problems to deal with. He barely had time to worry about Seth¡¯s feelings.
He rubbed his temples, trying to figure out how to break the ice with Noreen.
The next day, Jude showed up at Winrich again.
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No surprises¡ªhe was turned away at the door, just like before.
Same thing on the third day.
A week slipped by, and Jude was starting to lose hisposure. Desperate, he ced another call for help.
This time, he dialed Healy.
Healy sounded cheerful. ¡°Hang in there. You just have to keep trying. That¡¯s what I did.¡± Chapters first released on ?ovelFind
¡°I¡¯ve tried a bunch of times already! How long did it take you?¡± Jude demanded.
¡°A week, maybe?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve already been at this for more than a week, and she¡¯s still ignoring me.¡±
Healy paused, thenughed. ¡°Well, good luck with that.¡±
Jude could only sigh. Orders from his father were orders; he couldn¡¯t back out.
So, the next day, he returned to Winrich once more.
By now, the receptionist barely reacted to him. Before he could even say a word, she cut him off: ¡°Ms. Gilmore isn¡¯t here.¡±
Jude swallowed his greeting and changed tack. ¡°When will she be back?¡±
¡°No idea.¡±
¡°Alright, thanks.¡±
Looked like another wasted trip.
As he was heading out, he ran into Healy, who had alsoe to see Noreen.
Jude told him casually, ¡°Noreen¡¯s not here today. You came for nothing.¡±
Healy looked confused. ¡°She asked me toe, though.¡±
Just then, the receptionist spotted Healy and hurried over with a weing smile. ¡°Mr. Healy, Ms. Gilmore is waiting for you in her office. You can go right in.¡±
Jude stared, dumbfounded.
Wait¨Chadn¡¯t she just said Noreen wasn¡¯t here?
As the holidays approached, Noreen was busier than ever, barely finding time even for her mother, Rosalind Gilmore.
While waiting for a flight on a business trip, she called Rosalind, reminding her to go to the hospital for her follow¨Cup appointment.
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Chapter 222
Rosalind said she¡¯d already gone for her follow¨Cup at the hospitalst week and was just waiting for the results.
Noreen paused, surprised. ¡°You went by yourself?¡±
¡°No, Seth came with me.¡±
Noreen¡¯s brow furrowed. She couldn¡¯t make sense of what was going on with Sethtely. She¡¯d told him time and time again to stop bothering her mother.
She realized she couldn¡¯t keep things from Rosalind much longer. Maybe it was time to tell her mother the truth¨Cthat she and Seth had broken up.
¡°Mom, actually, Seth and I already-¡±
Just then, Carman called out, ¡°Noreen, we need to board!¡±
Never mind. This wasn¡¯t something she could exin in a few sentences over the phone. Besides, she was about to board her flight. If she started and couldn¡¯t finish, she¡¯d just end up making her mom even more anxious.
Christmas was just around the corner. She¡¯d tell her the whole story then.
¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mom. I have to board now, so I¡¯ll talk to youter. Take care of yourself,¡± Noreen said, hurrying off the call.
She and Carman were heading to Northcrest on a business trip to sign a contract with Eastvale Corporation.
The signing went off without a hitch.
Mr. Naylor was full of praise for Noreen. ¡°I knew you were different from the rest, ever since I first met you at the Aurelion Group¡¯s celebration dinner.¡±
Noreen only remembered that now. She really had Seth to thank for making such a good impression on Mr. Naylor. If it hadn¡¯t been for him, there was no way someone like her¨Cwith no connections and only a small seven¨Cfigure project under her belt¨Cwould have gotten the chance to negotiate with Eastvale Corporation.
On the return trip, Carman asked if she had any ns for the holidays.
¡°I¡¯ll be at home with my mom,¡± she replied. That was her only n for the Christmas break.
¡°Mina said she wanted to hang out with you.¡±
¡°Of course!¡± Noreen grinned. ¡°You¡¯re both wee toe by anytime.¡±
Carman tried to keep his excitement in check, acting cool on the outside. The truth was, Mina had never said any such thing. He just wanted to see Noreen himself.
Christmas was the biggest holiday of the year.
Noreen woke up early, determined to help Rosalind out around the house. But the more she tried to help, the more she got in the way¨Cuntil Rosalind finally kicked her out of the kitchen.
13:00 Fresh chapters posted on ?ovelFind
Really, she had no talent for cooking. As a kid, Rosalind used to sigh, ¡°What are you going to do when you get married if you can¡¯t even cook a meal?¡±
Noreen would just shrug it off. ¡°Simple¨CI¡¯ll find a man who can cook for me.¡±
Somewhere along the line, she¡¯d forgotten her own criteria for picking a partner. Now, she realized¨Cshe didn¡¯t need a man at all. Men only slowed her down when it came to making money.
¡°Mom, there¡¯s actually something I want to talk to you about,¡± Noreen said, leaning against the kitchen doorway, munching on an apple while Rosalind was busy stirring a pot of soup.
¡°Go on, I¡¯m listening,¡± Rosalind replied, not taking her eyes off the stove.
¡°It¡¯s about me and Seth-¡±
She didn¡¯t even get the words out before a loud knock sounded at the door.
Noreen went to answer it.
¡°Noreen! Happy New Year!¡± Mina burst in, arms loaded with gifts and treats.
Carman followed, also carrying bags brimming with holiday goodies.
¡°Happy New Year!¡± Noreenughed, ushering them inside. ¡°You two are here early¨Calready had Christmas dinner?¡±
Mina grinned. ¡°me my brother¨Che kept insisting we eat early, so our family dinner was practically at lunchtime this year!¡±
Noreen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why the rush?¡±
Mina opened her mouth, but Carman quickly covered it with his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her. That¡¯s just the way our family does it.¡±
Mina shot her brother a re, silently using him of putting his own interests ahead of hers.
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Chapter 223
Back in the day, Christmas meant going door¨Cto¨Cdoor, dropping in on neighbors and friends with warm greetings.
But ever since the inte took over, holiday wishes had gone digital¨Ctext messages and WhatsApp had be the new way to say ¡°Merry Christmas.¡±
This year, Noreen¡¯s phone buzzed with more messages than ever. It made sense¨Cafter all, she was now the CEO of Winrich, and a permanent partner at InnoCore. No longer the invisible Secretary Gilmore, always trailing behind Seth, unnoticed and unimportant.
Life really was better with money. Money was so much more reliable than men.
Noreen replied to a few messages selectively, then posted a Christmas greeting to her social feed: ¡°Peace and joy.¡±
It was the same wish she shared every Christmas.
Seth once asked her why she always wrote ¡°Peace and joy¡± when everyone else was posting ¡°Happy New Year.¡± Noreen told him that after her mother fell ill, she realized that peace mattered more than happiness. ¡°Peace and joy¡± embraced happiness, but also carried a deeper hope for her family¡¯s safety and health.
She¡¯d barely set her phone down when another WhatsApp message popped up: ¡°Peace and joy.¡±
The sender¡¯s profile picture didn¡¯t ring a bell. The username was unfamiliar too¨Cjust ¡°Frost.¡± No posts, no details. The ount looked brand new.
Probably someone she¡¯d added for work at some point. She rarely deleted contacts unless she actively disliked someone.
Not recognizing them, she left the message unanswered and put her phone away, ready for Christmas dinner.
After dinner, Carman and his younger sister Mina stayed a while,ughing and ying games with the Gilmore family. As the evening wore on, Mina confided in Noreen about her recent troubles: a boy at school was pursuing her relentlessly¨Cwaiting in line to buy her favorite snacks, saving her seats in the library¡ He was a nice guy, really.
Noreen smiled and told her, ¡°Don¡¯t let yourself be moved by small favors.¡±
Mina nced at Carman¨Cjust a flicker, but it was clear she was testing the waters for his sake.
It was nearly nine when the siblings finally gathered their things to leave. Noreen walked them downstairs. For original chapters go to find¡¤novel
¡°There¡¯s a stall sellingnterns over there¨CI¡¯ll go take a look,¡± Mina announced, making a quick escape and leaving Carman and Noreen alone.
Carman seized the moment. ¡°Do you have any ns for the rest of the holidays?¡± he asked. ¡°Maybe we could go somewhere¨Cthere are some great resorts I know of. Perfect for unwinding.¡±
Noreen shook her head with a gentle smile. ¡°My mom¡¯s health isn¡¯t great. Since I have time off, I want
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Chapter 223
to spend it with her.¡±
Carman seemed disappointed, but he understood. ¡°You¡¯re right. Family shoulde first.¡±
But the thought of not seeing her for days tugged at him. He couldn¡¯t just drop by the Gilmore house every day, not unless he had a different role in her life¨Csomething more than business partner or
friend.
And he didn¡¯t want to be just her business partner anymore.
He stopped walking, took a deep breath, and called after her. ¡°Noreen, can I talk to you for a minute?¡±
She turned, meeting his eyes. She recognized the look on his face¨Cshe¡¯d seen it before, in college, when confessions and love letters found their way into her hands.
Noreen had always known Carman cared for her, but she wasn¡¯t ready to ept it. Maybe she never could, at least not in good conscience. It was time to be honest.
Carman took a leap of faith and finally spoke the words he¡¯d held back for so long. ¡°I like you.¡±
¡°I know,¡± Noreen replied softly.
Her answer made him nervous. ¡°Then¡?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve always thought of you as my closest friend,¡± she said, her voice tender. ¡°I worry sometimes that my actions might give you the wrong idea and end up hurting you.¡±
Carman rushed to reassure her, ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you hurt me¡ª¡±
¡°But I do,¡± she interrupted, meeting his gaze with quiet honesty. ¡°Because I¡¯ve been hurt before, and I know how much it hurts. I don¡¯t want anyone¨Cespecially my dearest friends¨Cto go through that
because of me.¡±
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Chapter 224
¡°I know yourst rtionship hurt you deeply. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been holding back my own feelings all this time. But Noreen, I¡¯m not Seth¨CI would never hurt you.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to give me an answer now, or feel any pressure about it. If being friends with me feels easier, then let¡¯s just be friends¨Cas long as you don¡¯t take away my right to care about you.¡±
He was even more sincere than she was.
¡°When you¡¯re ready to start something new, would you at least consider me first?¡±
Genuine affection always finds a way to touch the heart.
In that moment, Noreen saw in Carman a reflection of her former, wholehearted self.
She couldn¡¯t bear to hurt that version of herself.
In the end, she nodded.
Carman finally breathed out, relieved. ¡°Then¡ could I have a hug?¡±
Noreen wanted to embrace that old self too.
But in the end, she simply patted Carman¡¯s shoulder and said quietly, ¡°Happy New Year.¡±
After Carman and his sister left, Noreen lingered outside for a while, letting the chilly air clear her head before she went back in.
Across the river, fireworks burst into the night, lighting up the whole sky.
For once, Christmas had arrived without rain.
Both riverbanks were dotted with people setting off fireworks, but the disy across the water was especially bright and beautiful.
Noreen paused to watch for a while.
Her phone rang¨Cit was Dn.
She picked up, and his voice came through, ¡°Happy New Year, Noreen.¡±
¡°Happy New Year,¡± she replied.
¡°Are you watching the fireworks?¡± he asked.
Noreen was a little puzzled. ¡°How¡¯d you know I was watching fireworks?¡±
He chuckled. ¡°Just a guess.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t tell me those fireworks across the river are your doing.¡±
¡°Congrattions, you guessed it. Do I get a prize?¡±
Noreen hesitated. ¡°Seriously? That was you?¡±
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¡°Mhm.¡±
The Gilmore family lived in a pretty secluded spot, and Dn¡¯s ce was in the opposite direction entirely.
Yet he¡¯d gone all the way across town just to set off fireworks where she could see them.
Fresh from Carman¡¯s confession, Noreen frowned slightly.
What¡¯s with all this sudden attention? Was she just imagining things?
Hopefully she was just overthinking it.
At least Dn didn¡¯t say anything else¨Cunlike Carman. He just called to ask if she liked the fireworks, and after that, there was nothing more.
When thest firework faded, they said their goodbyes and hung up. Noreen headed back home.
By the time she got in, Rosalind was already asleep.
Her routines were always so precise.
Noreen didn¡¯t disturb her. She quietly went to her room, turned on herptop, and got back to work.
Elsewhere, Jude checked his phone. ¡°Where¡¯s Dn? He¡¯s still not back?¡±
Healy agreed, ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s been gone a long time. Maybe he¡¯s crashing at home tonight?¡±
¡°Or maybe he¡¯s on a date,¡± Jude mused, thinking about how odd Dn had beentely. ¡°Seriously, who could it be? He¡¯s been so secretive¨Cno one¡¯s heard a thing.¡±
Nearby, Bianca overheard them, her expression darkening. Updates are released by FindN()vel
Dn had barelye to their get¨Ctogetherstely. Even tonight, when he finally showed up, he¡¯d seemed distracted¨Cand had stepped out for ages with some vague excuse.
Way out of character.
Maybe Jude was right¨Cmaybe something really had changed.
But who could it be?
¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let me give you a ride home,¡± Seth said as he grabbed his coat, turning to Bianca. Bianca actually wanted to stay a bit longer.
But Seth added, ¡°I promised I¡¯d keep my dadpany for New Year¡¯s Eve.¡±
Bianca, ever the considerate one, just nodded obediently.
Jude called after them with a teasing grin, ¡°You two better actually be spending New Year¡¯s with Mr. Harcourt.¡±
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Chapter 225
Noreen had been busy until well past ten, and exhaustion was setting in as she got ready for bed.
That¡¯s when she found two fat, red envelopes tucked beneath her pillow¨CRosalind¡¯s doing, no doubt,
For as long as she could remember, every Christmas and birthday, Rosalind would give her two festive envelopes.
Once, Noreen had asked her, Why two?
Rosalind had answered, ¡°Because every other kid gets two. So should you.¡±
Noreen understood. Her mother was showing her, in the most tangible way, that whatever fatherly love shecked, Rosalind would make up for it¨Cdouble.
So even though she grew up in a single¨Cparent home, Noreen never felt she was missing out. She never felt lesser because of her family background.
After all, she had the best mom in the world.
Still hugging the envelopes to her chest and smiling, Noreen¡¯s phone buzzed.
She didn¡¯t even have to check to know who it was.
Opening WhatsApp, she found a message from Wade¨Ca holiday money transfer, same as every year, right on the dot.
But this time, Noreen hesitated. Things were different now. She and Seth had broken up; it didn¡¯t feel right to ept this gift anymore.
She replied with a simple, ¡°Peace and joy to you.¡±
In the past, he hardly ever replied. But tonight, surprisingly, he did: ¡°Peace and joy.¡±
Then, as always, he reminded her not to forget to ept the gift.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, Seth and I have broken up,¡± she replied, making it clear she no longer had any reason
or standing to ept.
Wade¡¯s response was brisk: ¡°What does that have to do with me giving you a gift? If you still wish to call me Mr. Harcourt, take it. If not, then don¡¯t.¡±
After that, Noreen didn¡¯t dare hesitate. She epted the gift.
She added a word of thanks. Thank you, Mr. Harcourt.
At midnight, fireworks outside burst into raucous celebration.
Noreen found the noise overwhelming, so she put on her headphones, blocking out the chaos, and finally drifted off to a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, Rosalind asked if she¡¯d seen the fireworks at midnight.
¡°No, I watched a show around nine. Didn¡¯t see the point in a second round,¡± Noreen said, shrugging. ¡°Fireworks are all the same. See one, you¡¯ve seen them all.¡±
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Rosalind sounded almost wistful. ¡°Mrs. Laurent from downstairs said the midnight show was spectacr. It went on for ages¨Cshe even sent me photos. Look, there were words in the sky and everything.¡±
Noreen humored her, taking a nce.
In the photo, fireworks blossomed across the night sky, and at the center, four bright letters stood out: Peace and Joy.
For a moment, Noreen¡¯s hand stilled over her breakfast egg.
¡°See? Not like the usual ones. It¡¯s a shame you missed it,¡± Rosalind said.
Noreen collected herself and just smiled. ¡°If I missed it, I missed it. Maybe it just wasn¡¯t meant to be¨Cno use regretting it.¡±
Rosalind studied her, hesitating before finally asking, ¡°Noreen¡ have you been alrighttely?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Noreen replied, puzzled by the sudden question.
¡°Would you¨Cwould you tell me what happened between you and Seth?¡±
Rosalind had been holding this question in for a long time, afraid to upset her daughter, afraid to dig up old wounds. So she¡¯d kept silent, carrying it around in her heart.
Noreen was stunned. ¡°When did you find out?¡±
¡°When I was leaving the hospital, I saw him with another girl. I guessed it then. Later, when he came to see me, I asked directly. He admitted it.¡±
So she¡¯d known all along.
But she¡¯d never brought it up, probably out of fear of hurting Noreen¡¯s feelings.
In that moment, Noreen realized just how simr they were¨Cboth willing to hide their pain, just to spare each other. For more chapters visit find(?)ovel
Yes-man 226
Chapter 226
All those careful days, hiding her feelings, pretending nothing was wrong¨Cjust to protect someone else.
Rosalind squeezed Noreen¡¯s hand and asked gently, ¡°Are you still sad?¡±
¡°It¡¯s all in the past now.¡±
Of course, there had been sadness.
But these days, she didn¡¯t want to dwell on old memories. Obsessing over the past would only trap her in a cycle of self¨Cpity.
She only wanted to look forward.
Rosalind, ever the wise counselor, told her, ¡°You¡¯ve got to find the courage to start again. Don¡¯t lock yourself inside your own thoughts.¡±
¡°I will.¡±
Rosalind smiled and ruffled her hair. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±
¡°By the way, Mom, since you knew we broke up, why did you even let hime over?¡±
¡°It was just that once¨Cand you happened to run into him.¡± Rosalind threw up her hands in exasperation.
¡°What about your follow¨Cup appointment?¡±
Rosalind exined, ¡°You were busy at the time, so I went to the hospital myself for the checkup. But I couldn¡¯t figure out the process and ended up wasting two days. I don¡¯t even know how he found out, but he went ahead and booked the appointment for me.¡±
¡°I think about how much you did for him in the past, and the fact that he did this one little thing¨Cl epted it without a second thought.¡±
¡°But I¡¯ve already told him clearly not to bother me again.¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty solid argument, Mom. I¡¯ve got nothing to say to that.¡±
She hadn¡¯t expected something she¡¯d been worrying about for so long to be resolved so easily in the
end.
It was actually a relief.
Technically, her holiday was supposed tost until the fifth, but Noreen only stayed home until the third before heading back to work for some overtime.
When she left, Rosalind packed her off with two big boxes full of homemade food¨Cher special dumplings, braised pork, and more.
¡°Just freeze them when you get home,¡± Rosalind instructed. ¡°When you¡¯re hungry, heat them up and they¡¯ll be as good as fresh.¡±
Mostly, she just worried her daughter wouldn¡¯t eat properly when she got busy.
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As Noreen was heading downstairs, she ran into their neighbor, Mrs. Laurent. Updates are released by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?
¡°Oh, Nora, your boyfriend didn¡¯te to pick you up?¡± Mrs. Laurent asked,
¡°We broke up,¡± Noreen replied.
Mrs. Laurent was taken aback, standing there in silence even after Noreen left. Only after a while did she mutter to herself, ¡°How did that happen? Such a nice young man¡¡±
On the seventh, Noreen and Carman were invited to attend a government roundtable meeting with local business leaders.
There, they ran into Dn.
And, of course, Seth and Bianca.
After all, since this was a city¨Csponsored forum for business leaders, most of Rivercrest¡¯s private enterprises were present. It would¡¯ve been more surprising if those two hadn¡¯t shown up.
Noreen and Carman arrived first; Dn showed up a littleter.
As soon as he arrived and spotted Noreen, he made a beeline for her,pletely ignoring Seth and Bianca standing nearby.
Several other people also stopped by specifically to greet Noreen.
Among them were some well¨Cknown entrepreneurs, which made Bianca¡¯s eyes burn with jealousy.
She couldn¡¯t help thinking bitterly: The only reason Noreen got this kind of attention was because of Wade¡¯s connections.
Without Wade backing her, what was Noreen, really?
She probably wouldn¡¯t even have qualified to attend this meeting.
Theunch of InnoCore had caused quite a stir in Rivercrest City.
Many people were here today specifically because of InnoCore.
Within the span of the meeting, Noreen had already secured two potential partnerships.
A productive day, all in all.
Lunch was provided by the city, quick and convenient.
Noreen and Carman followed the staff¡¯s directions to the cafeteria, and as they were leaving, overheard Seth telling an attendant that he wouldn¡¯t need the lunch arrangements because he had personal ns.
The staff member reminded him, ¡°It¡¯s Valentine¡¯s Day, you know¨Crestaurants might be hard to book.¡±
Seth replied, ¡°Already made a reservation, but thanks for thinking of us.¡±
Even at a city business meeting, he didn¡¯t forget about his date.
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Chapter 227
Noreen honestly hadn¡¯t even realized today was Valentine¡¯s Day.
For the past seven years, it had been the one date she cared about most, but suddenly, it didn¡¯t seem important at all.
That afternoon, the meeting wrapped up early. The chair, cracking a joke, said he¡¯d let everyone out ahead of schedule so they¡¯d have time for their dates.
Carman was just about to ask Noreen if she had any ns for the evening¨Cif she didn¡¯t, maybe they could grab dinner together; he¡¯d even booked a table in advance.
But before he could get the words out, Wade called.
He was inviting Noreen to dinner.
If Wade asked, Noreen had to go. Carman knew how things stood and didn¡¯t mention his dinner ns again.
At Wade¡¯s dinner, Noreen found herself among a handful of familiar faces from the city¡¯s business
association.
There were some she didn¡¯t recognize, though.
One man stood out¨Cyoung, maybe early thirties, strikingly good¨Clooking, and with an aura that set him apart from everyone else at the table.
Wade introduced him, and only then did Noreen realize why he felt so different.
He wasn¡¯t in business at all.
He was a bona fide civil servant.
His rank wasn¡¯t exactly high, but if he was at Wade¡¯s table, he was clearly someone important.
The man offered a polite handshake. ¡°Miss Gilmore, it¡¯s a pleasure. I¡¯m Padgett Novak¨Cvery d to finally meet you.¡±
¡°Likewise,¡± Noreen replied, keeping it courteous.
She expected that would be the end of their exchange.
But Padgett went on, ¡°I know who you are. I¡¯ve wanted to meet you for a while now.¡±
That caught Noreen a bit off guard.
Padgett exined, ¡°I watched your presentation at the InnoCoreunch, and I attended the Al Summit in Harborcrest City. You left quite an impression. I¡¯m genuinely happy to meet you in person.¡±
¡°Padgett showing interest in a woman? That¡¯s a first,¡± someone at the table teased.
¡°Isn¡¯t Ms. Gilmore single too? Who knows¨Cmaybe you two are meant to be.¡±
Noreen, being the only woman at the table, felt a little ufortable.
Padgett sensed it and jumped in to defuse the situation. ¡°Mr. Hay, this is literally the first time I¡¯ve met
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Miss Gilmore. You¡¯ll scare her off talking like that.¡°.
Then, turning back to Noreen, he reassured her, ¡°They¡¯re always giving me a hard time, don¡¯t take it seriously.¡±
¡°Of course not,¡± Noreen responded, unbothered.
Mr. Hay chimed in, ¡°Hey, I promised your mother I¡¯d help you sort your personal life out, didn¡¯t I? Thest woman I introduced you to was great, shame it didn¡¯t work out.¡±
So he was getting pressure from home about settling down.
Padgett looked a little embarrassed. ¡°Sorry, Miss Gilmore. Hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±
¡°I get it,¡± Noreen said with a small smile.
Whether by coincidence or design, Noreen found herself seated next to Padgett Novak.
Thankfully, no one brought up the matchmaking again, and the conversation shifted back to business.
By the time dinner ended, rain was falling steadily outside. As one of the younger attendees, Noreen took it upon herself to help the older guests.
She slipped out ahead to hail a cab, only to unexpectedly run into Seth.
He saw her, but his gaze barely lingered before moving past her, breaking into a faint smile.
That smile¨Cshe¡¯d only ever seen it when he looked at Bianca.
So Noreen turned, unsurprised to spot Bianca approaching.
As Noreen passed her, Bianca¡¯s eyes flicked over her just as briefly, before she continued on, her steps light as she made her way toward Seth. Official source is ?ovelFind
Wade and the others came out just then, and Noreen stepped forward to help Wade.
Out at business functions, Wade relied on a cane, moving a little slower than most. The others naturally matched his pace.
They walked together, chatting as they went.
¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± someone remarked. ¡°You all should help Noreen out whenever you can¨Cshe¡¯s
still new to all this. If she needs advice, I hope you¡¯ll be patient with her.¡±
¡°President Harcourt, you can count on us. Anything you ask, we¡¯ll take care of it.¡±
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Chapter 228
¡°Thank you.¡±
Bianca was standing by the door with Seth, chatting, when she nced over and caught sight of the scene unfolding nearby. She couldn¡¯t help but frown.
Wade always kept her at arm¡¯s length, yet he was all warmth and generosity with Noreen.
He even called her ¡°Noreen¡± with that easy familiarity, introduced her to hiswork, and brought her along for major projects.
To say Bianca wasn¡¯t jealous would¡¯ve been a lie.
She turned to Seth and asked quietly, ¡°Should we go over and say hello?¡±
Seth shook his head. ¡°Better not. My dad¡¯s barely tolerating me these days¨Che wouldn¡¯t bother putting on a pleasant face.¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find{n}ovel
Bianca gave an awkwardugh. ¡°Alright then.¡±
After Noreen had seen all the senior partners off and made sure everyone was on their way, she pulled out her phone, ready to call Sophia and have her pick her up.
Before she could dial, a cherry¨Cred sedan pulled up in front of her.
Padgett Novak stepped out from the backseat, holding the door open. ¡°Miss Gilmore, where are you headed? Let me give you a ride.¡±
¡°That¡¯s really not necessary. I was just about to have my assistante get me.¡±
¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. In fact, I have a few questions about InnoCore I¡¯ve been hoping to ask you. If you don¡¯t mind, Miss Gilmore, I¡¯d appreciate the chance.¡±
When it came to work, Noreen never turned down an opportunity.
She slid into the car beside him.
Padgett was true to his word¨Cthey dove right into business, discussing his idea of using InnoCore¡¯s technology to build a new helpline tform.
Noreen thought the n had real potential.
Government contracts like this rarely turned a big profit, but they were fantastic for building a
reputation.
It was all about credibility.
¡°Let¡¯s find time to meet again soon and go over the details,¡± Padgett suggested.
Noreen agreed.
The next morning, Noreen was due at Ascendancy Group to coordinate on a project involvingputing chips.
Ascendancy Group was a subsidiary of Aurelion Group, responsible for its most critical ventures.
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During her seven years working alongside Seth, Noreen¡¯s knowledge of Ascendancy Group was only superficial.
Seth had always kept a tight grip on everything rted to Ascendancy¨Cnever delegating, never letting anyone else have a hand.
Before heading over, Noreen had reached out to Vincent, the group¡¯s director, to confirm the meeting.
He was waiting at the entrance when she arrived.
They knew each other well; Vincent used to report to Seth at Aurelion every week, and it was always Noreen who received him.
So when he saw her, Vincent couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t stay a secretary forever, Miss Gilmore!¡±
He grinned, then added, ¡°You really are one of Mr. Harcourt¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦s¨Cthis InnoCore project is outstanding!¡±
¡°You¡¯re too kind, Vincent.¡±
He led her to a client meeting room.
Noreen assumed they¡¯d get right down to business, but instead Vincent said, ¡°Director Lowell should be here any minute. Shall we wait? Hope you don¡¯t mind, Ms. Gilmore.¡±
Noreen hesitated. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be leading the discussion?¡±
Vincent shook his head. ¡°That was Mr. Harcourt¡¯s decision¨Che calledst night to make the arrangements.¡±
Last night?
Must have been Bianca¡¯s influence.
Truthfully, Noreen was surprised.
Ascendancy had always been Seth¡¯s crown jewel, his most closely guarded project.
For years, he¡¯d handled every detail personally.
Now, he was handing it off to Bianca without hesitation.
Clearly, he saw her as his most trusted ally.
That kind of trust didn¡¯te from affection alone.
Plenty of married couples still kept secrets from each other.
But Seth gave Bianca hisplete faith¨Cand support.
They were operating as true partners now.
The contract had been signed long ago, so even if Noreen would have preferred to keep her distance from Bianca, professionalism demanded she set her personal feelings aside.
Unfortunately, Bianca didn¡¯t extend her the same courtesy.
13:01
Vincent assured her Bianca would arrive any minute.
But minute after minute ticked by.
An hour passed before Bianca finally sauntered in,te.
She apologized to Vincent with a sheepish smile. ¡°Sorry, I slept horriblyst night and ended up oversleeping this morning.¡±
There was a lot left unsaid in that one simple excuse.
Yes-man 229
Chapter 229
That kind of special holiday yesterday¨Cit¡¯s just too easy for people to get the wrong idea.
Vincent could only offer an awkward smile. ¡°Ms. Gilmore¡¯s been waiting a while for you.¡±
Bianca finally nced at Noreen, but didn¡¯t bother with an apology. She simply flipped open herptop and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just get started.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do the introductions-¡± Vincent began.
¡°No need. We already know each other,¡± Bianca cut him off. ¡°After all, Ms. Gilmore¡¯s from Aurelion Group. We¡¯ve got plenty of history.¡±
With that, Vincent could hardly say anything more.
But Bianca switched gears immediately. ¡°I looked into Ascendancy Group¡¯s partnership criteriast night. For a smallpany like Winrich, there¡¯s never been a coboration before. You don¡¯t even meet the threshold. I¡¯m curious, Ms. Gilmore¨Chow exactly did you convince Mr. Harcourt to agree to a partnership?¡±
Vincent sucked in a breath. Fresh chapters posted on findnovel
Why did this feel like a wife interrogating the mistress?
If he¡¯d known it would be this much of a battlefield, he would have faked a sick day for sure.
Originally, Noreen had nned to keep things strictly professional¨Cshe¡¯d always drawn a clear line between business and personal matters.
But since Bianca wanted to y dirty, there was no reason for Noreen to put up with it.
With a sharp snap, Noreen closed herptop and turned to Vincent, who was already sweating bullets. ¡°Vincent, please let Mr. Harcourt know: he proposed the partnership, he signed the contract with me. If there¡¯s any issue now, he¡¯s wee to handle it ording to the agreement. Compensation, penalties¨Cwhatever¡¯s necessary.¡±
Bianca hadn¡¯t expected her to fight back.
In her mind, Winrich should be grateful for any partnership with Ascendancy Group. The twopanies weren¡¯t even in the same league. She thought she could throw a few barbs Noreen¡¯s way and Noreen would just have to swallow it.
She hadn¡¯t counted on Noreen having any backbone.
Even so, Bianca didn¡¯t back down. ¡°I hope you¡¯re thinking this through, Ms. Gilmore. Ascendancy Group has the country¡¯s top performance chips¨CInnoCore can¡¯t thrive without them. Letting emotions dictate your business is the worst possible mistake. Surely you understand that much?¡±
Now it wasn¡¯t just snide remarks¨Cit was a full¨Cblown threat.
¡°Funny,¡± Noreen arched an eyebrow, ¡°because it¡¯s starting to look like you¡¯re the emotional one here. What exactly are you so nervous about?¡±
Just like that, Noreen seized the upper hand. Bianca, already on shaky ground, found herself at a loss
13:01
for words.
¡°Vincent, if you could ry my words to Mr. Harcourt exactly as I said them, I¡¯d appreciate it. Thank you.¡±
With that, Noreen strode out without a backward nce.
Bianca hadn¡¯t seen thating. She¡¯d always assumed Noreen would be the one begging for her
help.
Vincent gave Bianca an uneasy look.
Bianca calmly packed up herptop. ¡°Just pass on what I said, word for word.¡±
She was confident Seth wouldn¡¯t me her.
And he didn¡¯t.
¡°Seth, since you put me in charge of this, trust that I¡¯ll handle it my way,¡± Bianca assured him.
¡°Of course,¡± Seth agreed.
With his support, Bianca¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile.
Later, Lillian asked her how she nned to handle the situation.
Bianca didn¡¯t bat an eye. ¡°Just wait and see¨CNoreen wille crawling to me.¡±
And when she did, Bianca intended to make sure Noreen knew her ce, to humiliate her thoroughly and remind her exactly where she stood.
Just because she¡¯d built InnoCore didn¡¯t mean she could step all over Bianca.
Who did she think she was, anyway?
Lillian chimed in smugly, ¡°Exactly. Who does she think she is? She can¡¯tpare to you. Just look at Seth¨Che¡¯s always on your side.¡±
That, too, made Bianca happy.
Even if Noreen had proved herself with InnoCore, Seth would never spare her a second nce.
¡°Just watch¨Cshe¡¯ll be begging me for help within three days. I¡¯m sure of it.¡±
Lillian grinned. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss this for the world!¡±
¡°Oh, and I made dinner ns with Healy tonight. Get yourself ready¨Cyou¡¯reing with us.¡± Bianca¡¯s mood was positively buoyant.
Yes-man 230
Chapter 230
Lillian¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Great!¡±
¡°And dress nicely this time¨Cdon¡¯t embarrass me,¡± her cousin teased.
¡°Yeah, yeah, I know!¡±
Bianca had made a dinner reservation at Luna Eclipse Dining¨Cthe same restaurant where Jude was a partner.
Jude was already there when they arrived. The group sat and waited for a while, but Healy never showed up.
¡°Jude, call him and see what¡¯s going on,¡± Bianca urged.
After a quick call, Jude ryed the message. ¡°He got caught up with some urgent work. He can¡¯t make it. He said we should go ahead and not wait for him.¡±
¡°Why can¡¯t he evere?¡± Lillian¡¯s excitement deted instantly. She¡¯d been looking forward to seeing Healy, and now her disappointment was written all over her face.
Bianca tried tofort her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we¡¯ll reschedule.¡±
Lillian wanted to say they¡¯d already tried to meet several times, and every time something came up. Who knew when the next opportunity would be?
After dinner, as they stepped outside, they immediately spotted Noreen and Healy sitting together at a table by the window.
The two looked like they were on a date¨Ctalking,ughing,pletely absorbed in each other.
Bianca stopped in her tracks.
So this was the ¡°urgent work¡± he needed to handle?
He¡¯d ditched them for Noreen?
Bianca¡¯s expression darkened.
Lillian was furious.
Healy was the man she¡¯d had her eye on, and Noreen¡¯s actions felt like a deliberate provocation¨Clike she was swooping in to steal him.
¡°Cousin-¡±
¡°Don¡¯t start. Let¡¯s go,¡± Bianca said, steady and collectedpared to Lillian.
She might not think much of Noreen, but with both Healy and Jude there, she didn¡¯t want to make a scene. So she dragged Lillian away before things could escte.
In truth, Healy was only there to discuss work with Noreen.
InnoCore needed new data, and Healy hade over to deliver it in person.
Since their meeting happened to fall around dinner time, the two decided to eat while they talked.
13:01
Chapter 230 Checktest chapters at Find?Novel
Healy had booked the table himself, choosing Luna Eclipse Dining to show some support for Jude¡¯s business.
Once dinner was over, they went their separate ways.
Jude, however, made a point to walk over and say hi to Healy.
¡°Noreen¡¯s so different with you than she is with me! It¡¯s like night and day,¡± Judeined, still frustrated that he hadn¡¯t even gotten a chance to discuss a business deal with her.
¡°Come on, help me out, will you?¡±
If he didn¡¯t make this work, he was sure his father would ship him off overseas.
Healy shut him down right away. ¡°If I help you, I might end up cklisted too. You only have yourself to me for your bad reputation.¡±
Jude cringed, remembering how smug he¡¯d been in the past. The regret now was almost unbearable.
Tomorrow was his father¡¯s final deadline. Jude stared up at the ceiling, already picturing the miserable life awaiting him abroad.
Still, the next day he dragged himself over to Winrich.
He didn¡¯t have much hope left. His whole demeanor was sluggish, almost resigned.
He¡¯d been there so oftentely that the receptionist recognized him. Every time she saw him, she¡¯d recite the same line: ¡°Ms. Gilmore isn¡¯t avable.¡±
This time, as she opened her mouth to speak, Jude cut her off, mimicking her tone, ¡°Ms. Gilmore isn¡¯t avable, right? Fine, I¡¯ll see myself out.¡±
The receptionist blinked, then said, ¡°Actually, Ms. Gilmore asked you to go in.¡±
Jude nearly tripped over his own feet. ¡°What did you say?¡±
¡°Ms. Gilmore wants to see you,¡± she repeated.
Jude was so excited he could hardly contain himself. His persistence had finally paid off¨Che was going to see Noreen atst!
Before he even reached her office, he was already sending a voice message to his dad: ¡°Cancel my flight! I got in! I¡¯m about to talk business with Noreen!¡±
He knocked on Noreen¡¯s door and waited for her to call him in before entering.
For the first time, he addressed her with a kind of nervous formality: ¡°Ms. Gilmore.¡±
He felt like a student summoned to the principal¡¯s office.
Noreen didn¡¯t even look up, her attention fixed on herputer. She just pointed to a stack of papers on the desk. ¡°Those are for you.¡±
For me? What was this¨Ccontracts?
She had everything ready already?
He wasn¡¯t mentally prepared for this at all!
Yes-man 231
Chapter 231
¡°Noreen, I¡¯m really sorry. I was out of line before¨Clet me apologize. You¡¯re the bigger person here, right? Don¡¯t hold a grudge against me.¡±
For the first time ever, a pang of guilt seemed to hit Jude Wilder, and he actually apologized to Noreen Gilmore¨Csincerely, from the heart.
But when Noreen heard his apology, her expression turned oddly amused.
She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Maybe you should take a look at this before you say anything else?¡±
Only then did Jude nce down at the document Noreen had handed him.
The bold letters at the top made his mind go nk.
Legal Notice?!
A legal notice? How was this possible?
Noreen said, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, I don¡¯t have to make a special trip. It saves us both time.¡±
Jude was speechless.
Was she even speaking English? He¡¯de here to discuss working together, not to get pped with
awsuit!
¡°I have a meeting to get to, so I¡¯ll leave you to it,¡± Noreen added, picking up herptop and heading off
to the conference room.
Jude was left fuming,pletely at a loss.
No matter how he tried to wrap his head around it, he just couldn¡¯t understand how Noreen could be
so ruthless.
Fuming, he stormed over to Aurelion Group toin to Seth Harcourt.
¡°Seth, tell me¨Chow can Noreen be so heartless? We¡¯ve known each other for ages, and you two dated for seven years! How could she be this cold? She sent me a legal notice!¡±
¡°She¡¯s out of control! Shouldn¡¯t you say something?¡±
Seth let out a rare sigh and slid a stack of paperwork across the desk toward him. ¡°She doesn¡¯t y favorites. She sent me a legal notice, too.¡±
Jude just stared.
He was still in shock when Bianca Lowell walked in. ¡°Seth, you wanted to see me?¡±
Seth nodded. ¡°This is for you.¡±
He pulled a document from the pile he¡¯d just given Jude and handed it to Bianca.
Bianca nced at it, eyebrows knitting. ¡°A legal notice?¡±
Jude gaped. ¡°You got one too?¡±
13:02)
¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s from Noreen?¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find~novel
¡°What, is she sending these out wholesale?!¡±
Bianca never imagined Noreen would p her with a legal notice.
She scanned the page and realized: SkyMind was being used of misappropriating InnoCore¡¯s trade secrets and illicitly acquiring their technology.
Jude was implicated by association¨Che was one of SkyMind¡¯s investors, after all.
Trade secret vitions were no joke. If they admitted to this, their careers in the business world would be over.
Bianca shook her head adamantly. ¡°This is a false usation!¡±
Seth said, ¡°I looked into it. She¡¯s got a solid chain of evidence.¡±
He paused, fixing his gaze on Bianca. ¡°Didn¡¯t you recruit a bunch of InnoCore¡¯s tech staff for SkyMind?¡±
¡°Well¡ yes, that happened.¡±
¡°InnoCore had a forensic review done. SkyMind infringed on more than forty tech points¨Cover ny percent match or ovep, which legally counts as substantial infringement. So, InnoCore sent out legal notices, demanding fullpensation for R&D costs and triple damages formercial losses.¡±
Jude¡¯s voice shook. ¡°How much are we talking?¡±
Seth sighed again. ¡°With InnoCore¡¯s current valuation, triple damages are conservatively above a billion dors¨Cand that¡¯s just today¡¯s numbers; it¡¯ll only go up.¡±
The office fell into stunned silence.
Jude wondered if his family would disown him by dinnertime.
¡°And Ascendancy Group got a legal notice, too,¡± Seth added. ¡°The contract we signed to secure that partnership was heavily in Winrich¡¯s favor. Now that we broke the agreement, we have to pay damages as stipted.¡°.
¡°How much this time?¡±
¡°At least another billion.¡±
Jude copsed into his chair.
At this rate, Noreen could make two billion just from winningwsuits¡
Yes-man 232
Chapter 232
Bianca¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°So what do we do now?¡±
Seth considered for a moment before answering, ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to Noreen in person about the Ascendancy Group. Things haven¡¯t blown up publicly yet, so there¡¯s still plenty of room to negotiate.¡±
He paused, frowning slightly. ¡°As for SkyMind, let¡¯s see if we can settle things privately. If this really goes to court, a lot of people could go down with it.¡±
On Monday, Noreen went to Carman Holt¡¯s studio for a meeting, and unexpectedly ran into Bianca near the lobby downstairs.
Bianca saw her too. Her expression cooled, and she quickly looked away.
Sophia Cole leaned in, whispering to Noreen, ¡°What¡¯s she doing here?¡±
¡°Probably here to see Carman,¡± Noreen guessed.
Her hunch was soon confirmed.
Carman exined that Bianca had tried every way she could think of to get in touch, wanting to talk about the SkyMind infringement case.
He¡¯d turned her down every time, telling her to go through Noreen directly.
Apparently, Bianca¡¯s pride wouldn¡¯t let her do it, so Noreen had never received any messages.
Now Carman wanted to know how Noreen nned to handle things.
¡°Taking it to court is thest resort,¡± Noreen said. ¡°It¡¯s time¨Cconsuming and exhausting. If we can talk it out, we should, but¡ she¡¯s not qualified to negotiate with me.¡±
¡°You mean you want Seth toe to the table?¡± Carman asked. ¡°Will he actually show up?¡±
Noreen¡¯s expression was cool. ¡°That depends on how much Bianca matters to him.¡±
If Seth cared about Bianca as much as everyone thought, swallowing his pride for her sake was the least he could do.
Honestly, Noreen had to thank Bianca. If Seth hadn¡¯t paved the way for her, Bianca would never have had a shot at partnering with the Ascendancy Group. When they signed, every use in the contract favored Winrich and InnoCore. That¡¯s exactly why Noreen felt so confident sending Seth that legal notice.
¡°I¡¯m not great at this kind of thing,¡± Carman said, as always siding with Noreen. ¡°You call the shots.¡±
Noreen and Carman talked for over an hour. When she headed downstairs, Bianca was still there, waiting patiently.
While Sophia went to get the car, Seth arrived to pick Bianca up.
He got out himself, gently opening the car door for her with all the tenderness in the world.
Watching the scene, Noreen figured it wouldn¡¯t be long before Seth came looking for her.
13:02
Chapter 232
Turns out, it was even sooner than she¡¯d thought.
That evening, just as she got home, Seth¡¯s call came through.
Noreen didn¡¯t answer. She didn¡¯t n to.
She was off the clock.
Who takes work calls after hours these days? She wasn¡¯t the pushover she used to be.
She tossed her phone onto the couch and headed for the shower.
By the time she was done, there were six missed calls and three messages from Seth. Noreen ignored them all, turned off her phone, and went to bed without a care.
The next morning, she arrived at Winrich early and found Seth already waiting.
He¡¯d beaten her in, and he wasn¡¯t even driving the same car he¡¯d used to pick up Bianca, but the old silver Maybach from before.
Noreen didn¡¯t slow down for him. She walked straight past, heading inside.
Seth hurried to catch up, following her all the way to Winrich¡¯s doors. When he saw she still had no intention of acknowledging him, he had no choice but to speak up. ¡°Can we talk?¡± The source of th?s content is find¡¤novel
¡°Sure,¡± Noreen replied, not missing a beat.
But before Seth could say anything else, she reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to make an appointment with my assistant.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll do it right now,¡± Seth said, surprisingly cooperative.
Noreen turned to Sophia. ¡°Check my schedule.¡±
Sophia flipped through the calendar. ¡°You¡¯re fully booked. First avable slot is a week from now.¡±
Noreen looked at Seth, her tone cool and unhurried. ¡°In that case, Mr. Harcourt, pleasee back in
a week.¡±
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Chapter 233
After Seth left, Sophia couldn¡¯t resist gossiping with Noreen. ¡°That¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever seen Mr. Harcourt get put in his ce. Honestly, it was just too satisfying!¡±
Back in the day, Sophia had been on the receiving end of Seth¡¯s tough side more than once. So watching Noreen handle him with such ease left her feeling utterly refreshed.
Her delight quickly turned to curiosity. ¡°Do you really think Mr. Harcourt will do as he¡¯s told and wait a whole week beforeing back?¡±
¡°He won¡¯t,¡± Noreen replied, eyes still focused on the documents in her hand.
Sophia leaned in, intrigued. ¡°How can you be so sure?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve known him for seven years. I know exactly what kind of man he is.¡±
Sophia nodded in agreement. ¡°Fair enough.¡±
Just as Noreen had predicted, Seth showed up again that very afternoon.
She¡¯d already set up a meeting with Hugh Summers from NaviTech forter that day. But when Hugh suddenly changed the meeting location at thest minute, Noreen immediately sensed something
was up.
Sure enough, when she arrived in the private lounge at the club Hugh had picked, Seth was already Find the newest release on find?novel
there.
Hugh greeted her with a friendly grin. ¡°I had a few things to discuss with Mr. Harcourt too, and since you two already know each other, I thought we¡¯d all meet together. Hope that¡¯s all right with you, Ms. Gilmore?¡±
Moments like this, even if she minded, Noreen knew better than to say so. ¡°Of course,¡± she replied smoothly.
Seth had chosen the perfect mediator in Hugh Summers. Hugh was a natural negotiator, breaking down the pros and cons for Noreen in just a few sentences.
Truth was, Noreen had never really intended to fall out with Aurelion Group for good. Ascendancy Group¡¯s influence spoke for itself. If she couldn¡¯t work with them, she¡¯d have to start searching all over again for a techpany to provide chip support. All that running in circles would only waste precious time.
In business, sometimes you had to grow quietly and bide your time¨Ca golden rule Seth himself had once taught her, and one Noreen had never forgotten.
So, she listened to Hugh¡¯s argument, thenid out her own terms:
A public apology from SkyMind¡¯s project lead.
Compensation for InnoCore¡¯s R&D losses.
SkyMind¡¯s withdrawal from the market.
With each demand, Hugh sucked in a sharp breath, as if the air had gotten colder in the room.
13:02
Seth, meanwhile, was remarkably calm. He waited patiently until Noreen finished, then asked, ¡°Anything else?¡±
¡°For now, that¡¯s all I can think of,¡± she said. ¡°I reserve the right to add moreter.¡±
At that, Seth actuallyughed¨Cthough whether it was out of amusement or exasperation, she couldn¡¯t tell. In the end, all he said was that he¡¯d discuss things with the team before giving her an
answer.
The dinner wasn¡¯t even over when Seth¡¯s phone began to ring. He¡¯d left it face up on the table, so when it lit up, both Noreen and Hugh nced at it instinctively.
The caller was Bianca.
Hugh chuckled knowingly. ¡°Still in the honeymoon phase, you two? Back when my wife and I were first together, she¡¯d call every time I went out for drinks, always urging me toe home. Now? I could stay out till sunrise and she wouldn¡¯t even text.¡±
There was a trace of envy in Hugh¡¯s tone as he finished. ¡°Those early days are really something¨Cso passionate and romantic.¡±
Seth just smiled and let the teasing roll off him. Turning his head, he covered the lower half of his face with his hand and spoke into the phone, his voice noticeably softer than before.
¡°I¡¯m almost done here.¡±
¡°It¡¯s raining? No worries, Zachary¡¯sing to pick me up.¡±
¡°Oh, really? I¡¯ll be there as soon as I can.¡±
After he hung up, Seth turned to Hugh. ¡°She¡¯s waiting for me outside. We¡¯re pretty much wrapped up here anyway. Shall we call it a night?¡±
¡°Wouldn¡¯t want to keep ady waiting,¡± Hugh replied with an air of old¨Cfashioned chivalry. ¡°What do you think, Ms. Gilmore?¡±
Noreen gave a faint smile. ¡°As long as Mr. Harcourt is satisfied, it works for me.¡±
Seth¡¯s lips curled, his eyes deep and unreadable.
Hugh, oblivious to the silent undercurrents between them, kept up his good¨Cnatured teasing. ¡°Mr. Harcourt clearly can¡¯t bear to keep his special someone waiting. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±
Yes-man 234
Chapter 234
Seth chuckled, ¡°Yeah, I just don¡¯t want her to wait too long.¡±
For a moment, Noreen¡¯s mind wentpletely nk.
Dinner wrapped up, and the three of them made their way outside to say their goodbyes.
Noreen barely spoke. Head down, she texted Sophia, letting her know the dinner was over and asked her to bring the car around.
Outside, the wind was vicious¨Ca biting chill that seemed even colder than winter thanks to thiste
March rain.
Bianca was waiting by her car for Seth.
She could have stayed warm inside, but no¨Cshe had to stand outside, right in the most conspicuous spot, making it painfully obvious to Noreen that she was staking her im.
A show of dominance. A public deration: no matter what happened, Seth was still firmly on her side, ready to shield her from anything.
Bianca gave Noreen a cool, dismissive nce before turning to Seth, her face lighting up with a dazzling smile. ¡°Seth!¡±
¡°Why are you waiting out here?¡± Seth asked.
¡°I just wanted to see you sooner.¡± Bianca¡¯s voice was soft, deliberately sweetpletely unabashed in showing off their closeness right in front of everyone.
¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll leave you two lovebirds to your private time. My ride¡¯s here.¡± Hugh Summers grinned as he headed for his car. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, Ms. Gilmore, Director Lowell¨Cgood night!¡±
As Hugh drove off, Seth climbed into Bianca¡¯s car. ¡°Good night, Ms. Gilmore.¡±
Noreen gave the smallest possible nod¨Cbarely a response at all.
If she could, she wouldn¡¯t have even bothered with that much.
The two cars pulled away, one after another, leaving the entrance quiet and deserted.
Only Noreen remained, standing alone as the night wind sliced through her. The chill went straight to
her bones.
She pulled her cashmere coat tighter around herself, but the cold still crept in.
He doesn¡¯t want her to wait too long.
If she hadn¡¯t heard it with her own ears, seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed those words came from Seth.
In all the years she¡¯d worked as his assistant, waiting had been her main job. Discover more novels at FindN0vel
Whenever Seth was in meetings, she¡¯d be outside, waiting.
When he had dinner engagements, she¡¯d be in the hallway, waiting.
13:02
Countless asions, just like tonight.
How many times had she waited? For how long? She¡¯d lost track.
The one memory that stood out was when she first started wearing heels. Back then, she¡¯d sometimes have to stand for an entire afternoon.
By the time she got home, her legs would ache so badly it felt like they might give out.
But not once did she everin to Seth¨Cnot a single word.
Maybe it¡¯s true: only those who make a fuss get rewarded.
Fortunately, she wouldn¡¯t have to wait for anyone ever again.
Noreen had no idea how Seth had reassured Bianca that night.
But the next morning, he gave her his answer¨Che¡¯d agreed to all three of her terms.
She figured he must have ¡°worked for it¡±st night.
Either way, the issue was settled. The oue couldn¡¯t have been better.
Winrich came out of this with the greatest advantage, and Noreen was more than satisfied.
News of SkyMind¡¯s delisting spread quickly in the Al world, setting off a storm of spection and gossip.
SkyMind, once a giant in the industry, hade to such an abrupt, unceremonious end.
It was all too reminiscent of the celebration banquet Bianca had thrown for SkyMind¨Ca night that now seemed almost painfully ironic.
Even Sophia couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Bianca¡¯s first big project after taking over, and this is how it ends? How¡¯s she supposed to show her face in the business world after this, Noreen? Do you think she¡¯ll just quit and disappear?¡±
Noreen shook her head. ¡°Not with Seth backing her. He¡¯ll protect her, no matter what.¡±
¡°Really? How¡¯s Mr. Harcourt going to protect her?¡± Sophia was genuinely curious.
Chapter 235
Yes-man 235
Chapter 235
Thursday.
Noreen arrived at the government offices at Padgett Novak¡¯s invitation to discuss the new public support hotline tform.
Padgett was a man who got things done¨Cover the past few days, he¡¯d already drawn up the tform¡¯s blueprint and set out the requirements in detail.
All Noreen needed to do now was take the materials to InnoCore, coordinate with their team, and they could move right into the training phase.
Given InnoCore¡¯s current algorithms and processing speed, she figured they¡¯d have results in less than two weeks.
¡°Well then, I¡¯ll look forward to your good news, Ms. Gilmore.¡± Padgett stood and shook her hand. ¡°If you need anything else, just reach out. I¡¯ll do everything I can to help.¡±
¡°Looking forward to working with you.¡±
Padgett nced at his watch and asked, ¡°It¡¯s just about lunchtime. May I treat you to a meal, Ms. Gilmore, if you have the time?¡±
He was a great coborator¨Cefficient, polite, a real gentleman. Noreen saw no reason to refuse.
Padgett chose a nearby restaurant, just across from his office. It was convenient and had a pleasant atmosphere.
As they walked in, Noreen noticed most of the patrons wore IDnyards from Padgett¡¯s agency.
The waitress recognized Padgett right away, greeting him with a smile. ¡°Director Novak, out for lunch with your girlfriend?¡±
Padgett must have been on friendly terms with the staff for them to joke with him like that.
¡°She¡¯s a business partner from my department, not my girlfriend,¡± he replied, rifying with a polite
smile.
¡°Oh, sorry! You two just look so well¨Cmatched, I assumed you were a couple.¡±
Noreen paid thement no mind; such things didn¡¯t bother her.
Once the waitress understood they were colleagues, she seemed relieved and leaned in to gossip. ¡°By the way, Director Novak, your ex is here for lunch too.¡±
¡°She¡¯s not really an ex,¡± Padgett corrected with a slight shake of his head. ¡°We went on a couple of dates, but nothing came of it.¡±
¡°Alright, but she was just asking about you.¡±
No sooner had the waitress finished speaking than someone began walking toward their table.
Noreen had her back to the entrance and didn¡¯t see who it was¨Cuntil a familiar voice sounded right
behind her.
1/2
13:02
¡°Padgett Novak. Long time no see.¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? ?ovelFind
Noreen¡¯s brow furrowed as soon as she heard it.
Was Rivercrest City really this small? Three thousand square miles and over thirty million people, and yet here she was, running into Bianca Lowell.
Padgett rose with practiced courtesy. ¡°Miss Lowell.¡±
Bianca smiled. ¡°I¡¯m here meeting with Director Moss about the Port Redevelopment Project. I was just talking about you, actually. Fancy joining us?¡±
¡°I¡¯m afraid that wouldn¡¯t be appropriate,¡± Padgett replied smoothly.
Bianca finally nced at the woman sitting across from him. When she realized it was Noreen, her expression cooled. ¡°I see. Well, I¡¯ll be in touch.¡±
With that, she turned and left.
Padgett sat back down, unfazed by the interruption, and picked up where they¡¯d left off.
Noreen had no interest in Bianca herself¨Cbut the Port Redevelopment Project caught her attention.
Just as she¡¯d predicted, Seth had stepped in to back Bianca. Not just with words, either¨Che¡¯d handed her the entire Port Redevelopment Project.
Matthew Cole¡¯s project.
Matthew had spent over a year fighting for that deal, only for Seth to hand it over to his golden girl in a single stroke.
Noreen wondered how Matthew was feeling right now. Probably not great.
Not that she cared. At the moment, she had only one thought in her mind:
She wanted that project.
But with Winrich¡¯s current capital and influence, there was no way she couldpete with the Aurelion Group. If it came to open bidding, she¡¯d be knocked out in the first round.
¡°Ms. Gilmore, is the food not to your liking?¡±
Padgett¡¯s question pulled her out of her thoughts¨Cshe¡¯d barely touched her fork.
Yes-man 236
Chapter 236
Padgett Novak leaned in, a note of concern in his voice.
¡°Everything all right?¡±
Noreen jumped in quickly, ¡°Oh, nothing¡¯s wrong. I was just wondering¨Cwhen are you opening bids for the Port Redevelopment Project?¡±
Padgett grinned. ¡°Are you interested?¡±
Noreen answered honestly, ¡°If there¡¯s money to be made, you can bet I¡¯m interested.¡± For more chapters visit fin?novel
He looked at her, clear admiration flickering in his eyes. After a sip of his lemon water, he set the ss down and, quite seriously, asked, ¡°Forgive me for being forward, but¡ Miss Gilmore, do you have a boyfriend?¡±
The sudden shift almost caught Noreen off guard. ¡°No, I¡¯m single.¡±
¡°What¡¯s your type? Do you think I might qualify?¡±
This was only their second time meeting. Noreen figured he was probably under family pressure to settle down, so she gave a polite but firm answer. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not looking to date right now. At this stage, I¡¯m just focused on building my career.¡±
Padgett took it in stride, his good humor undimmed. ¡°I get it. Women these days want independence, equality, self¨Cfulfillment¨Cit¡¯s great.¡±
¡°But if you¡¯ll allow me, I¡¯d like to get my name on the waiting list.¡±
Noreenughed, genuinely amused. ¡°You¡¯ve got a sense of humor, Director Novak.¡±
Padgett¡¯s gaze was steady. ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡±
When dinner ended and they stepped outside, rain was falling. The weather had been dreary for days.
Noreen realized her umbre was still in her car. Padgett hadn¡¯t brought one either. He gave her a quick nod and ducked back inside to ask the staff if he could borrow an umbre.
While he was gone, Bianca and Lillian Laurent emerged from the restaurant as well. Judging by Bianca¡¯s wide smile, their dinner must have gone well¨Cthough her smile faded the moment she saw
Noreen.
Lillian¡¯s expression darkened instantly as she spotted Noreen. ¡°What¡¯s she doing here?¡± she muttered.
Lillian had never liked Noreen, especially after the mess with Healy Naylor. And Bianca had taken a lot of heattely, all thanks to Noreen¡¯s actions, which only fueled Lillian¡¯s resentment.
She made to confront Noreen, but Bianca held her back. ¡°Just ignore her.¡±
¡°But-¡± Lillian protested, visibly annoyed.
Bianca, however, remained calm. Ever since the SkyMind incident, Seth had never once med her.
13:02
He¡¯d supported her unwaveringly, more than she¡¯d ever expected, and she felt reassured.
Seeing Noreen again, Bianca was no longer so rattled. In fact, she could even manage to soothe Lillian. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Seth¡¯s car is here.¡±
Lillian scowled, swallowing her words, but as they passed Noreen, she couldn¡¯t resist raising her voice, pride dripping from every syble.
¡°Cousin, your fianc¨¦ really dotes on you, doesn¡¯t he? Not only does he have you running part of Ascendancy Group, now he¡¯s given you the Port Redevelopment Project¨Cthat¡¯s a billion¨Cdor deal! Some people go their whole lives without reaching that level.¡±
Bianca¡¯s phone rang, her face softening. ¡°That¡¯s Seth¨Che must be outside. Let¡¯s go.¡±
¡°He¡¯s practically your personal chauffeur these days,¡± Lillian teased.
Bianca smiled, ¡°He just worries too much¨Chates the thought of me driving in this weather.¡±
Noreen looked up at the drizzle. It was barely more than a mist. Not nearly enough to drown out the sound of barking dogs.
Seth¡¯s car pulled up quickly. Stepping out, he spotted Noreen by the entrance and, instead of heading straight for Bianca, walked over and handed her an umbre.
Yes-man 237
Chapter 237
Noreen stared at the umbre Seth offered her, her eyes lingering for several seconds.
The only sounds were the steady drum of rain and the hush that fell over the group.
Lillian¡¯s re was so intense it was a wonder her eyes didn¡¯t catch fire.
Bianca, on the other hand, remainedposed¨Cperhaps confident enough in her rtionship with Seth that she could afford to stay calm.
Noreen¡¯s gaze drifted up from the umbre to meet Seth¡¯s face. She gave him a small, mocking smirk, as if she were looking at a stray dog.
The whole scene reminded her of that day at the AeroEdge nt, when Seth had shielded only Bianca with his umbre, leaving Noreen to fend for herself in the downpour. Back then, she¡¯d thought to herself, Well, it¡¯s not like anyone can hold an umbre for two people at once.
But now¡
Padgett Novak emerged, also bearing a borrowed umbre. He approached Noreen and exined, ¡°Miss Gilmore, I managed to find an umbre, though there¡¯s only one. If you don¡¯t mind, we can share it on the way back.¡±
Noreen ignored Seth¡¯s outstretched umbre and turned to Padgett with a warm smile. ¡°I don¡¯t mind Original content can be found at find[?]ovel
at all.¡±
When she looked back at Seth, her expression and tone were icy. ¡°Sorry, I won¡¯t be needing it.¡±
After all, no one can use two umbres at once.
She didn¡¯t wait for a reply. Instead, she slipped under the umbre with Padgett and together they stepped out into the rain.
Cars sped past on the road, sshing water onto the curb. Padgett, ever the gentleman, walked on the outside, shielding Noreen from the spray.
He tilted the umbre toward her, making sure she stayed dry. His own arm, meanwhile, was quickly soaked, though he didn¡¯t seem to notice or care.
He was unfailingly polite and attentive.
The two walked so close together they could have been mistaken for a couple, strolling side by side through the rain.
Seth lingered, watching them for a moment before closing his umbre and turning to Bianca. ¡°Let¡¯s
go.¡±
Lillian opened her mouth as if to say something, but Bianca silenced her with a look.
Because of the hotline partnership, Noreen found herself at Padgett Novak¡¯s office more often these days, which meant running into Bianca more frequently as well.
Most of the time, the two women simply ignored each other, each keeping busy with their own work.
13:02
Unfortunately, Bianca was rarely without Lillian, who never missed a chance to brag about the major projects Seth hadnded for nca, as if she were basking in reflected glory,
Bianca herself seemed to grow more smug by the day.
Noreen was getting tired of hearing it.
Yet Lillian never seemed to run out of things to say,
When Noreen called Padgett one afternoon, he came down personally to meet her in the lobby.
As the elevator doors opened, they found Bianca already inside. Padgett nodded politely in greeting.
Bianca hesitated, then spoke. ¡°Mr. Novak, I¡¯m having dinner with Director Moss tonight. Would you like to join us?¡±
Padgett declined with practiced courtesy. ¡°Thank you, but I already have ns.¡±
It was the second time he¡¯d turned down her invitation.
Bianca¡¯s eyes dimmed. ¡°Are you upset with me?¡±
¡°Miss Lowell, why would you say that?¡± Padgett¡¯s face was impassive.
¡°My parents arranged that whole matchmaking thing,¡± Bianca exined patiently. ¡°I was willing to give it a try, but it turned out we weren¡¯t really suited for each other. I just thought, maybe we could still be friends.¡±
Padgett¡¯s dark eyes gave nothing away; if anything, his voice was even colder than before. ¡°We really aren¡¯t suited for each other.¡±
Bianca started to reply, but just then the elevator on the other side opened and Noreen arrived.
Padgett instantlyposed himself and smiled at Noreen. ¡°I was just on my way down to meet you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯s my first time here, Director Novak. No need to be so formal.¡±
Noreen had brought Carman along this time and introduced him to everyone. Padgett, who¡¯d heard of Carman before, greeted him warmly with a handshake.
Meanwhile, Bianca¡¯s elevator continued downward.
The moment the doors closed, Lillian couldn¡¯t help but grumble, ¡°That Padgett Novak is so fake! He chased after you like a puppy before, but as soon as you turned him down, he switched to acting all aloof.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t ever say that again,¡± Bianca cut her off sharply. ¡°Not in front of Seth, not in front of Mr. Novak,
not ever.¡±
???
Yes-man 238
Chapter 238
Lillian stuck out her tongue. ¡°I know, you¡¯re worried my brother¨Cinw might get jealous. Don¡¯t worry¨CI¡¯m just venting to you in private.¡±
Bianca¡¯s tone grew serious. ¡°Regardless, Padgett Novak is the department head now. We¡¯ll be working with him a lot more in the future, so it¡¯s important to keep things cordial. You need to know. what to say and what to keep to yourself.¡±
¡°Got it, Bianca,¡± Lillian replied dutifully.
Only then did Bianca finally rx. She¡¯d been so insistent with her warnings because she was afraid Lillian would let something slip.
The truth was, she and Padgett Novak had only ever been set up once. He¡¯d never pursued her with any real interest. If anything, he¡¯d been rather distant.
She¡¯d exaggerated their history just to save face.
At the time, she hadn¡¯t felt any spark with him¨Cmainly because Padgett came from an ordinary background and held a fairly junior position. Other than being good¨Clooking, he didn¡¯t have much going for him.
She never could have predicted how quickly he¡¯d climb thedder. Now, even though he was still young and only a mid¨Clevel manager, his prospects looked promising.
So Bianca made up her mind to stay on good terms with Padgett Novak, just in case.
¡°I just can¡¯t stand that Noreen,¡± Lillian grumbled, wanting to defend Bianca. ¡°She set you up and you took the fall. Thank goodness your fianc¨¦ had your back.¡±
Bianca tried to maintain an air ofposure, but the truth was, the whole ordeal stung far more than she let on. Her mother, too, had suffered the brunt of people¡¯s whispers andughter behind closed
doors.
Thankfully, Seth had always stood by her side, unwavering. He¡¯d even entrusted her with the Port Redevelopment Project¨Ca massive opportunity.
If she could pull this off, she¡¯d finally redeem herself, and all those socialites and trophy wives who¡¯d mocked her would have to sit up and take notice.
That¡¯s why Bianca poured her heart into the project, handling every detail personally and working harder than anyone.
She said to Lillian, ¡°Our main priority right now is winning the Port Redevelopment Project. Everything
else can wait.¡±
She would settle the score with Noreen eventually¨Cbut not yet.
Lillian understood perfectly. ¡°Exactly! Once you secure this big project, your reputation will soar. All those people whoughed at you will have to shut up. And once you and Seth are married, they¡¯ll be lining up to curry favor with you.¡±
Bianca smiled with confidence. ¡°That day wille.¡±
13:03
¡°It has to! Seth¡¯s been supporting you every step of the way¨Chelping you get ahead so you can stand proudly at his side. There¡¯s a saying going around online these days¨Csomething about how the highest form of love from a man is when he supports and lifts up his partner, gives her the tools to seed, stands by her when she¡¯s at her lowest, and has her back no matter what.¡±
Lillian grinned. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that describe Seth perfectly?¡±
Bianca¡¯s eyes sparkled with warmth. ¡°That¡¯s why I can¡¯t let him down. I have to win this project!¡±
Major projects like the port redevelopment were only anticipated in advance by insiderspanies like Aurelion Group. Still, the government was required to follow protocol: public tenders, open announcements, and a formal bidding session.
On the day of the bid opening, Noreen showed up too.
Bianca and Lillian sat confidently in the front row, ready for anything. But as soon as they spotted Noreen, both women couldn¡¯t help but frown. Latest content published on Find¡ïNovel
¡°What are you doing here?¡± Lillian demanded, her tone icy, as if she owned the ce. ¡°Do you even have the right to be here?¡±
Noreen nced over at Bianca, who made no move to intervene on her cousin¡¯s behalf.
Noreen¡¯s lips curled into a chilly smile. ¡°Whether I belong here isn¡¯t for you to decide. If you¡¯ve got time to police the guest list, maybe remind your cousin to pay her damages before it ends up in court. Wouldn¡¯t want to embarrass yourselves any further.¡±
Yes-man 239
Chapter 239
Lillian had only wanted to throw a jab at Noreen to vent her frustration, but hadn¡¯t expected Noreen to turn it right back on her.
The real problem was that Director Moss, sitting in the front row beside Bianca, turned around and asked, ¡°Whatpensation are you talking about?¡±
Bianca¡¯s face tightened, but she managed a polite smile as she exined to Director Moss, ¡°It was an old business dispute. The funds are already set aside¨Cwe¡¯re just waiting for the transfer to go through. I didn¡¯t expect her to bring it up in this setting. Sorry to let you see this, Director Moss.¡±
Director Moss chuckled. ¡°Force of habit. I get anxious whenever I hear about outstanding payments.
Don¡¯t mind me.¡±
Bianca shot Lillian a warning look, urging her toe back and quit provoking Noreen for no reason.
Even Jude couldn¡¯t get the better of Noreen¨CLillian was certainly no match.
Padgett Novak, having somehow caught wind that Noreen was attending the bidding conference, came over to find her.
Spotting her squeezed off to the side without a seat, he made arrangements to get her settled in the second row.
As luck would have it, this was right behind Bianca and Director Moss.
The seats were so close that Noreen could clearly hear their conversation.
Director Moss seemed to think highly of Bianca, asking about her academic background.
¡°I heard you graduated from WT Business School with a doctorate in finance. That¡¯s really impressive¨Cit¡¯s one of the top business schools abroad.¡±
Bianca¡¯s lips curled into a confident smile. ¡°You tter me, Director Moss. My education is just one part of my learning journey; there¡¯s still so much more for me to experience.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too modest. Honestly, you look so young, I¡¯d never have guessed you have such an advanced degree.¡±
¡°I did an elerated master¡¯s¨Cto¨CPhD program, so I graduated two years earlier than most.¡±
¡°That¡¯s even more impressive! So, which high school did you attend?¡±
¡°Rivercrest Academy, ss of ¡¯18.¡±
¡°No wonder! That¡¯s one of the gship schools here in Rivercrest City!¡±
While the two continued their animated discussion, Noreen in the row behind drifted off in thought. Official source is f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
She was also ss of ¡¯18 at Rivercrest Academy, yet couldn¡¯t recall anyone named Bianca.
Of course, there were other possibilities.
Maybe Bianca had transferred in during senior year.
Back then, Noreen had been frequently absent to care for her ailing mother, Rosalind Gilmore.
13:03
¦Ô¦Ð¦Á¦Ì¦Á¦É ¦²¦¯¦´
She¡¯d barely been on campus, with most of her courseworkpleted online..
She tuned out the rest of their conversation, focusing instead on gathering information from the conference.
When the event ended, Padgett Novak reappeared, asking if Noreen had time to grab dinner together.
She really didn¡¯t¨Cshe needed to get back and organize her notes from the meeting¨Cso she politely declined.
¡°No worries. Next time, then. Here, this is for you.¡±
Padgett handed her a sleek,pact ck umbre.
Catching Noreen¡¯s curious nce, he exined, ¡°We¡¯re in the rainy season¨Cthought you might want to carry one just in case.¡±
It was a style typically favored by women, and brand new¨Cclearly something Padgett had picked out for her.
If she turned it down, Padgett wouldn¡¯t really have a use for it.
So Noreen epted it. ¡°This is new, right? Let me pay you back.¡±
Padgett was about to refuse, but knowing how Noreen was, he simply named a price.
She transferred the money to him, and he quietly epted.
After saying their goodbyes, Noreen hurried off.
That evening, after getting her thoughts in order, she called Carman to share her ideas and ns.
¡°This is a fantastic proposal! I think it¡¯s totally feasible!¡± Carman sounded thrilled. ¡°Driving the Port Digitalization Transformation, integrating Al to boost operational efficiency, enhance safety and reliability, and fully optimize logistics, intelligent scheduling, and data analytics¨Cthis could be a game changer.¡±
Noreen was about to respond when her phone, sitting on the table, buzzed with a notification.
She nced at the screen.
It was a deposit alert from thepany ount.
Yes-man 240
Chapter 240
Amount: seventy million. Official source is find{n}ovel
Sender: Seth.
Noreen had worked as Seth¡¯s assistant before. Just one nce, and she could tell this was his personal ount.
Which meant thepensation Bianca paid to Winrich and InnoCore¨Cthe money that had caused such an uproar¨Ccame straight from Seth¡¯s private funds.
She¡¯d mentioned it to Bianca just that afternoon. By evening, the money had already arrived.
That kind of efficiency? If that¡¯s not true love, what is.
¡°Noreen?¡± Carman¡¯s voice crackled through the phone, sounding concerned after a long silence. ¡°Are you still there? Did the call drop?¡±
Snapping out of her thoughts, Noreen set her phone down on the desk and buried herself in paperwork again. ¡°I¡¯m here, sorry. Let¡¯s keep going.¡±
Very few people knew that Noreen was nning to bid on the project. Who would expect a smallpany like Winrich to even try for a government contract?
Bianca¡¯s side, on the other hand, had been making waves for weeks. She was all confidence, spreading the word early.
With the Aurelion Group backing her, she had every right to be.
But ire Chase was fuming. She¡¯d been ranting on the phone for ten minutes straight. ¡°She¡¯s just absurdly lucky! No matter what she does, Seth¡¯s always there, giving her his full support. He even handed her such a huge project! How did I never realize Seth was such a hopeless romantic idiot?¡±
Noreenughed. ¡°You sound even angrier than I am. I¡¯m honestly not that bothered anymore.¡±
¡°I just can¡¯t stand to see you treated this way, sweetheart.¡±
Even through the screen, ire¡¯s eyes brimmed with concern.
She knew better than anyone how much Noreen had suffered in that rtionship. How many times her heart had been broken.
¡°Seth only dares take advantage of you because you never fight back! At least a fifth of Aurelion¡¯s sess is due to your work, right? And now he¡¯s using the money you helped earn to make his new girlfriend happy. It¡¯s beyond messed up!¡±
ire let loose a curse. ¡°I hope the two of them have a kid with no-¡± (She caught herself, gritting her teeth.)
¡°Where¡¯s your elegance, Ms. Chase?¡±
¡°Ran away from home!¡± ire huffed, still venting.
13.03
Maybe, once upon a time, Noreen would have minded.
But now, she just felt¡ free.
She¡¯d found her peace the moment she stopped loving Seth.
¡°By the way, ounting is about to transfer your quarterly dividends. Don¡¯t forget to check your ount.¡±
Noreen had no desire to waste another second talking about those two. She changed the subject
fast.
¡°I¡¯m still getting dividends?¡±
¡°Of course! That money you lent me? I counted it as equity.¡±
ire sounded amazed. ¡°Wait¨Cdoes this mean I can just retire early now?¡±
¡°If you want to, you absolutely can.¡±
¡°So how much is it?¡±
¡°See for yourself.¡±
Almost as she spoke, ire¡¯s phone buzzed with a notification. She stared at the screen, counting zeros, then let out a shriek. ¡°Oh my god! That¡¯s way too many zeros! Are you sure you didn¡¯t transfer it to the wrong person?¡±
Thankfully, Noreen had anticipated the reaction and held her phone away in advance. Still, ire¡¯s shrill voice pierced through.
¡°For the first quarter, your sharees out to thirty¨Cfive million.¡±
¡°I¡¯m never letting go of you! I swear, I¡¯ll cling to your coattails for life!¡± ire dered her loyalty, then sighed, ¡°Seth may not have left you a fortune, but you inherited his investment instincts. You¡¯re going to be filthy rich one day¨Cprobably richer than Aurelion Group itself!¡±
¡°Except he¡¯s still alive,¡± Noreen reminded her dryly.
¡°Right, but he¡¯s got terminal lovesickness. No hope for a cure.¡±
After hanging up, Noreen headed over to Omniva Group to report to Dn.
They grabbed dinner together afterward.
Since Noreen¡¯s car was in the shop, Dn drove her home. He dropped her off outside her apartmentplex, and they said goodnight.
She turned to head inside, but footsteps sounded behind her, sharp and sudden in the quiet.
She hadn¡¯t seen anyone else nearby¨Cshe assumed it was Dn.
Without looking back, she called, ¡°Forgot something, Dn?¡±
¡°Sorry to disappoint, but I¡¯m not here to give you a warm ride home.¡±
The man¡¯s face was cast in shadow beneath the orange streetlight, his eyes cold and dark.
13:03
His voice was like something yanked straight from a freezer¨Ccial and biting..
Yes-man 241
Chapter 241
The moment Noreen heard his voice, her brows Instinctively drew together, a hint of physical revulsion flickering across her face.
¡°What are you doing here?¡±
She was genuinely fed up. Maybe it was time to start looking for a new apartment.
Ever since their breakup, Seth had shown up here more times than in all the previous seven yearsbined.
She used to think she knew Seth pretty well. Lately, though, she realized she hadn¡¯t understood him nearly as much as she¡¯d thought. Take his recent, increasingly erratic behavior, for example.
Even in the dim hallway, Seth¡¯s profile looked distant and cold. His tone was t, almost indifferent. ¡°Evelyn asked me to drop off some king crab for you.¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?
Noreen finally noticed the box in his hand.
Seth added, ¡°Evelyn messaged you.¡±
Noreen pulled out her phone and checked. The message hade in that afternoon, but she¡¯d been too busy at work to notice.
Evelyn had sent her a WhatsApp: the king crab had just been flown in, super fresh, and since she knew Noreen loved it, she¡¯d set aside a couple. Evelyn had said she¡¯d bring them herself, though¨Chow did Seth end up delivering them?
Well, since it was a gift from Evelyn, Noreen epted it without protest.
She took the box and turned to leave, not even bothering with a thank you.
Seth let out a dryugh. ¡°So I¡¯m the delivery guy now?¡±
¡°Not with that attitude, you¡¯re not.¡±
Noreen pressed the elevator button, refusing to give him another nce. All she wanted was to get
home.
They waited in silence. Neither bothered to speak. What was there to say, really?
But Seth didn¡¯t look like he was nning to leave. As the elevator doors slid open, he suddenly asked, ¡°Are you going to pick Dn?¡±
Noreen hesitated, shooting him a sharp, puzzled look.
He was half¨Chidden in the shadows, eyes narrowed, his gaze dark and unreadable.
¡°Are you drunk again?¡± Noreen¡¯s voice was even more cutting than before.
Seth ignored her, pressing on. ¡°You know the Wilders would never ept someone like you as their daughter¨Cinw. You should think clearly.¡±
¡°Someone like me?¡± Noreen¡¯s tone was ice. ¡°Go on, tell me what kind of person am I?¡±
The elevator doors opened, but she made no move to step inside. She just stared at Seth, eyes cold
14:19
and unforgiving.
He looked straight at her, voice low and bitter. ¡°You know exactly what I mean.¡±
Noreen let out a short, incredulousugh¨Cher voice sharper than usual. ¡°You mean because I dated you, I¡¯m somehow ¡®tainted¡® now?¡±
Seth frowned, as if searching for words, but Noreen didn¡¯t give him the chance.
¡°If a girl is supposedly ¡®pure¡® before she sleeps with someone, and ¡®dirty¡® afterward, then maybe you should ask yourself what¡¯s really dirty here.¡±
Nothing more to say. Not even a single wasted word.
Noreen refused to spend another second on this man.
She stepped into the elevator, pulling out her phone to text Evelyn: ¡°Evelyn, I got the king crab¨Cthank you for thinking of me.¡±
Evelyn must have been on her phone; she replied instantly: ¡°You just got it? Seth must¡¯ve been waiting there forever! Is he okay? Still as grumpy as ever?¡±
Noreen was about to reply when a loud crash echoed from the hallway.
Almost at the same time, another message from Evelyn popped up: ¡°Seth has a high fever¨Cyou know how stubborn he is, hates seeing doctors, won¡¯t listen to anyone¡¡±
When Seth came to, he was lying in a hospital bed.
A nurse was threading an IV into his arm, speaking to Noreen with the practiced tone reserved for anxious rtives. ¡°He¡¯s had a fever reducer already. Keep an eye on his temperature for a bit. This drip is an antibiotic¨Cit needs to go slowly, or he¡¯ll feel sick.¡±
14:20
Yes-man 242
Chapter 242
Noreen¡¯s tone was t. ¡°Then speed it up.¡±
The nurse hesitated. ¡°Isn¡¯t he your friend?¡±
¡°Ex¨Cboyfriend.¡±
The nurse blinked. ¡°.¡±
Maybe the nurse felt a pang of sympathy for Noreen, because she actually increased the drip rate.
Seth¡¯s hand ached so badly he could barely stand it. Keeping up the pretense of sleep was impossible, so he forced himself upright.
Noreen sat in the chair beside him. When she saw he was awake, she reminded him without a hint of emotion, ¡°Don¡¯t move around. If the needlees loose, the nurse will have toe back and fix it. No sense making more work for her.¡±
Seth¡¯s throat was painfully dry, his voice little more than a rasp. ¡°Why are you still here?¡±
He knew her well enough to be sure she wouldn¡¯t have stayed to look after him. Getting him to the hospital was already far more than he expected.
So when he opened his eyes and saw her still there, his expression flickered with hope¨Cthough he tried to hide it.
But Noreen cut straight through his wishful thinking. ¡°I wanted to leave, but couldn¡¯t find anyone to take over for me. The nurse wouldn¡¯t let me go.¡±
At the time, she¡¯d had no choice but to dial emergency services.
The ambnce arrived quickly. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find[?]ovel
Seth was still unconscious, and the paramedic insisted someone had to ride along¨Cpreferably someone who could provide key medical information, allergies, that sort of thing.
And Noreen, as it happened, knew all of it.
After a moment¡¯s silence, Seth quietly reached over and slowed the IV drip again.
Noreen checked her watch. ¡°Since you¡¯re awake, you can look after yourself. I¡¯m heading out.¡±
As she stood, she added, ¡°Oh¨Cby the way, I called Bianca. She should be on her way. Just wait here.¡±
Not giving him a chance to reply, she walked out the door.
Back at her apartmentplex, Noreen stopped by the security desk to pick up her king crab. But when she got it home and opened the box, she saw the color was all wrong.
She immediately snapped a photo and messaged Evelyn: ¡°Evelyn, does this crab look spoiled to you?¡±
¡°Oh no, it¡¯s gone bad! Did you forget to keep it in the fridge? Throw it out right away! You can¡¯t eat crab
meat once it¡¯s turned.¡±
Noreen muttered a few choice words about Seth under her breath.
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Of all the times to pass out, he had to pick that exact moment and waste such a prime ingredient!
The next morning, Noreen asked Sophia to help her find a new apartment.
Her requirements were simple: close to the office, easymute.
As for budget¡ she could definitely afford to aim higher than before.
Sophia spent the whole morning searching, but nothing seemed quite right in that price range. Finally, she suggested, ¡°Noreen, why don¡¯t you just buy a ce? With the current market, it¡¯s actually a good investment.¡±
Noreen hesitated.
Then thepany ount received another $300 million.
Once again, the transfer came directly from Seth¡¯s personal ount.
Noreen made her decision on the spot. ¡°Buy! Go for the biggest penthouse you can find. I love penthouses.¡±
¡°On it!¡± Sophia chirped, already browsing listings with renewed enthusiasm.
Even with a billion in the bank, Noreen still had to watch her spending.
The Port Redevelopment Project was worth nearly $10 billion. If she wanted to bid, she¡¯d need to pass the capital verification check.
That meant having at least five to ten percent of the project value on hand¨Cso a minimum of $500 million in assets just to qualify.
Which meant she needed to pull in more investors, and fast.
She was still puzzling it over when Sophia sent over several listings. ¡°These are all great¨Cexactly what you asked for.¡±
Noreen nced at the prices and immediately shook her head. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll just rent for now.¡± Near the end of the workday, Sophia called on the office line. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, Mr. Harcourt from Aurelion Group is here to see you.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Tell him I¡¯m busy.¡±
Sophia lowered her voice. ¡°He scheduled this appointment with you a week ago¨Cremember?¡±
Noreen paused, caught off guard.
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Yes-man 243
Chapter 243
Noreen truly hadn¡¯t expected Seth to be this¨Cwell, this bored. ?????? ???? fin?novel
He had set up an appointment with her a week ago, sure. But since then, he¡¯d already gotten his problem sorted out with Hugh Summers¡® help. So what on earth was he doing here now? For the life. of her, she couldn¡¯t figure out his motive.
The worst part was, it was Noreen herself who¡¯d established the rule: clients must be seen if they¡¯ve made an appointment. If she refused to see him now, it¡¯d be like pping her own face.
¡°Let him in,¡± she finally relented.
Seth knocked and strolled inside. Noreen, still engrossed in her work, didn¡¯t even nce up at him. Eyes fixed on theputer screen, she asked offhandedly, ¡°Is there something you need, Mr. Harcourt?¡±
Seth sidestepped the question. ¡°You¡¯re still not done?¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t have business with me, please leave. I¡¯m quite busy,¡± she said, making it clear she wanted him gone.
¡°You¡¯re never too busy to eat properly.¡±
The two of them¨Ceach sticking stubbornly to their own script.
His words sounded almost caring. Once, that was all she¡¯d longed for. But now, she didn¡¯t need it. Concern that arrived toote was as worthless as a weed.
Since she couldn¡¯t guess what Seth was after, Noreen simply stopped trying. She ignored him and focused on her work. Knowing him, she figured his patience would run out soon enough and he¡¯d leave on his own.
She worked for another hour straight, her neck aching by the time she finally looked up¨Cand nearly jumped in surprise to find Seth still lounging on the sofa.
She frowned. ¡°Why are you still here?¡±
He leaned back, face half¨Chidden in the shadows. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you.¡±
¡°Waiting for what, exactly?¡± She was genuinely bewildered.
¡°For dinner.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t recall agreeing to have dinner with you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s Evelyn who sent me. She wants you home for dinner,¡± Seth exined. ¡°She¡¯s been busy in the kitchen all day¨Cmade that seafood you love. She insisted I bring you over tonight.¡±
He added, almost defensively, ¡°You know I always do what Evelyn asks.¡±
It sounded as if he didn¡¯t have much choice in the matter.
Noreen could refuse Seth¨Cbut she didn¡¯t have the heart to turn down Evelyn¡¯s kindness. Seth had said it himself: Evelyn had been cooking all day, preparing her favorite dish.
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Chapter 243.
Still, she made a mental note to tell Evelyn next time just to call her directly¨Cno need to drag Seth into it. It only soured everyone¡¯s mood.
Noreen didn¡¯t ride with Seth. She drove herself to the Harcourt family home.
Seth didn¡¯t insist. In fact, they didn¡¯t even arrive at the same time¨CSeth showed up half an hourter. Evelyn asked where he¡¯d been.
He replied that he¡¯d taken a call outside, lost track of time.
Evelyn scolded him gently, ¡°What sort of call is so important you have to stand out there in the cold?¡±
Noreen sipped her tea, pretending not to hear any of it.
Seth joined her at the table, sitting across from her to share a drink with Wade Harcourt.
Noreen excused herself and went to the kitchen to help Evelyn, though there wasn¡¯t much she could do. Truthfully, she just didn¡¯t want to be around Seth.
It didn¡¯t take long before Seth wandered into the kitchen, so Noreen promptly escaped to the living
room.
All in all, she avoided sharing a room with him whenever possible.
From the papers spread out on the coffee table, it looked like the father and son had just been discussing work¨Cthe Port Redevelopment Project, judging by the heading.
With Wade gone to the restroom, Noreen was left alone in the living room. If she had any less professional integrity, she could have leafed through those documents and learned a whole lot of business secrets.
But that wasn¡¯t her way; her sense of ethics was too strong.
Evelyn had truly prepared a feast¨CSeth hadn¡¯t been exaggerating. She even opened a nice bottle of wine and asked Noreen to have a few sses with Wade.
Noreen demurred, ¡°I drove here, so I shouldn¡¯t drink.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what Seth is for¨Che¡¯ll drive you home. He¡¯s not drinking anyway,¡± Evelyn said with a wink. That¡¯s when it hit Noreen: the anniversary of Wade¡¯ste wife¡¯s passing was around this time of year. No wonder Evelyn wanted her to keep Wadepany at dinner.
This time, Noreen didn¡¯t refuse. She shared a quiet drink with Wade.
Seth, as always, didn¡¯t touch a drop.
Evelyn turned to him with a smile. ¡°Since you¡¯re not drinking, why don¡¯t you help Noreen with the crab? Those shells are hard¨Cwouldn¡¯t want her to hurt her hands.¡±
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Yes-man 244
Chapter 244
Noreen didn¡¯t even have a chance to refuse¨CSeth had already pulled on his gloves and started cracking open crab legs.
He really did take Evelyn¡¯s words as gospel.
Wade turned to Noreen and asked about her work, and Noreen focused on answering his questions.
Wade had always taken an interest in Noreen¡¯s career and knew quite a bit about Winrich and
InnoCore.
Just as Seth was quietly busy with the crab, he suddenly piped up, sounding rather put out, ¡°Howe you never seem this interested in my work? Honestly, it¡¯s like I¡¯m your real kid, not her.¡±
Wade shot him a frosty re. ¡°Didn¡¯t yourtest investment in SkyMind just lose a hundred million?¡±
Seth choked, silent for a moment.
Fathers really know just where to poke.
¡°Business is about wins and losses, isn¡¯t it? A hundred million¡¯s nothing. Once wend the Port Redevelopment Project, that¡¯ll be pocket change.¡±
Wade snorted. ¡°Why don¡¯t you talk when you¡¯ve actually closed the deal.¡±
¡°Rx. I¡¯m telling you, in Rivercrest City, nobody canpete with Aurelion Group. It¡¯s as good as done.¡± Seth sounded cocky, but he had the track record to back it up.
¡°Don¡¯t count your chickens,¡± Wade shot back.
Noreen was starting to realize that Wade¡¯s parenting style was all about tough love.
Seth bristled, and the two of themunched into a heated back¨Cand¨Cforth, even arguing over the project bid. The source of th?s content is Find¡ïNovel
They really didn¡¯t treat her as an outsider; just like old times, they discussed business in front of her without a second thought.
In the past, Noreen would have tried to y peacemaker between the two of them. But tonight, she felt out of ce.
¡°I¡¯ll go slice some fruit,¡± she said, standing up and heading for the kitchen.
She lingered there for a while, waiting until their voices faded before returning.
When she sat back down, a te piled high with crab meat was waiting in front of her.
Seth, apparently with way too much time on his hands, had arranged the crab meat into a heart shape.
It was honestly a little off¨Cputting.
Noreen picked up her fork and poked at the crab, ruining the shape before she started eating at a leisurely pace.
Dinner dragged on, long enough that even Wade was in high spirits from the wine.
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Noreen was a little tipsy herself by the time they were ready to leave. As they headed out, Evelyn reminded Seth¨Cmore than once¨Cto make sure Noreen got home safely.
But as soon as they stepped outside, Noreen dropped the polite act. ¡°I¡¯ll call a cab and go home myself.¡±
¡°If you want Evelyn to chew me out, just say so,¡± Seth replied.
¡°I¡¯ll tell her you drove me home,¡± Noreen shot back.
Seth¡¯s expression was calm, but the usual sharpness in his eyes was softened. ¡°Do you really think she¡¯s that easy to fool?¡±
He¡¯d barely finished the sentence when Evelyn¡¯s name shed on his phone¨Cshe was calling on video chat.
¡°Here, you answer,¡± he said, handing the phone to Noreen.
Noreen had no choice but to pick up.
¡°Did Seth drive you home?¡± Evelyn asked, right to the point.
¡°Yes, yes, see? I¡¯m already in the car,¡± Noreen answered quickly, angling the camera to show the car interior.
Only after Evelyn was satisfied and hung up did Noreen hand the phone back. The screen lingered on the recent calls list.
She recognized the name at the top.
So that half¨Chour earlier¨Che¡¯d been on the phone with Bianca.
Noreen buckled her seatbelt and turned her face toward the window, shutting her eyes. She had no intention of saying another word to Seth.
He didn¡¯t speak either, focusing on the road.
Silence settled between them.
Whether it was the wine or just exhaustion from work, Noreen drifted off to sleep in no time.
Seth slowed the car after she fell asleep, driving carefully until they reached her building.
He parked and sat for a moment, looking over at her as she slept, her face tinted a delicate pink from the wine¨Ca shade that was quietly, irresistibly alluring.
His gaze lingered on her lips.
Finally, he got out, tugging at his cor as he stepped into the night air, letting the cold wind wash over him and ruffle his shirt.
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Chapter 245
Chapter 245
Yes-man 245
Chapter 245
Noreen woke to find the night well underway.
She nced around the car, but Seth was nowhere in sight, and for a moment her thoughts drifted. Typical Seth, she thought¨Cso irresponsible he¡¯d probably just dumped her on the side of the road and taken off. Latest content published on find{n}ovel
But then she realized the car was still there. Any curse words she¡¯d been about to mutter had to be swallowed back.
Noreen got out and started walking home, not nning to say goodbye or even look for him.
She¡¯d barely taken a few steps when a man¡¯s voice, edged with mockery, called out behind her, ¡°So I¡¯m just your chauffeur now? Not even a thank you?¡±
Busted. Noreen had no choice but to stop and turn toward Seth.
He¡¯d been standing behind a tree¨Cshe hadn¡¯t noticed him there before. Looked like he¡¯d been smoking; the ashtray on top of the trash can was overflowing with cigarette butts.
At the sight of them, Noreen wrinkled her nose without thinking.
Once, she would have worried about his health. She would have tried to talk him into quitting, or at least cutting back. But now, all she did was take a step away, not wanting the smoke to reach her.
¡°If that¡¯s how it is, you can start by paying me back all the ¡®thank you¡¯s you owe me,¡± she said.
Over the past seven years, she¡¯d given him rides far more often than he had her.
Seth took another drag, smoke veiling whatever was flickering in his eyes. Only a faint, raspy note colored his voice. ¡°Alright. Thank you.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not very convincing.¡±
Just because he said it didn¡¯t mean she had to ept it. Besides, bted gratitude didn¡¯t mean
anything now.
Seth managed a crooked smile. ¡°So what would make it convincing?¡±
¡°Wire me five million and we¡¯ll call it even,¡± she shot back.
She really could have used that money right now.
Seth raised an eyebrow. ¡°What would you do with that much?¡±
¡°Hire a harem of male models to keep me entertained.¡±
Seth let out a halfugh, half¨Cscoff. ¡°Sorry, can¡¯t help you. Not a penny.¡±
Then that was that.
Noreen turned and strode off, as cool and unbothered as ever.
This time, Seth didn¡¯t try to stop her.
He took a long,st drag, holding the smoke in until he couldn¡¯t anymore. Only when it slipped from
14:20
his lips and faded into the night did he look after her¨Chelpless¨Cas if something he¡¯d been holding onto for too long had finally slipped away, leaving nothing behind.
For Noreen, the little episode barely registered. By the next day, she¡¯d already forgotten about it.
It was Sophia, always nosy, who cornered her the next afternoon, eyes bright with gossip. ¡°So, what happened yesterday? Why¡¯d Sethe pick you up for dinner?¡±
At that moment, Noreen¡¯s mind was too preupied with scraping together five million in funding to care about Sophia¡¯s curiosity.
But Sophia pressed on, bold as ever. ¡°You two aren¡¯t getting back together, are you?¡±
Noreenughed out loud. ¡°What, do you think I¡¯ve lost my mind or gone blind?¡±
¡°Neither,¡± Sophia replied.
¡°Exactly,¡± Noreen said. ¡°So if I¡¯m not blind or crazy, why would I get back with him?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never believed in getting back together anyway. If you really care about something, you don¡¯t break it in the first ce.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t give second chances. You get it right from the start, or that¡¯s it.¡±
A mistake was a mistake. Some things you just couldn¡¯t undo.
The Port Redevelopment Project was breathing down her neck, and Noreen needed tond investors before the tender meeting.
She called Dn, asking if he was free for lunch.
He said yes.
Noreen made a reservation and texted him the address.
Meanwhile, Dn told his assistant to cancel his international flight and push the business trip back.
The assistant was stunned. ¡°But this trip is crucial for Omniva Group¡¯s expansion and keeping our biggest clients-¡±
¡°Just reschedule it,¡± Dn cut her off.
¡°¡Understood.¡±
Dn actually arrived at the restaurant before Noreen did. By the time she walked in, he¡¯d already ordered for both of them.
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Yes-man 246
Chapter 246
The meal was all about simple, gentle vors¨Ceasy on the stomach and nourishing.
Noreen had brought a bottle of wine, nning to have a proper talk with Dn over drinks,
But Dn stopped her. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the wine today. Soup¡¯s enough.¡±
¡°Alright,¡± she agreed without protest.
She honestly didn¡¯t feel like drinking, but after years in the business world, she was just used to the routine¨Calcohol often felt like a required essory to any negotiation.
Noreen didn¡¯t even get a sip of water before she started bringing up the funding issue.
¡°Have some soup first,¡± Dn insisted. ¡°The chicken broth here is excellent. Try it.¡±
The soup was rich andforting; after just a small bowl, she felt warmth spreading through her whole body.
Dn was like a one¨Cman sales team, enthusiastically rmending one dish after another until she waspletely full.
Strangely, he barely touched his own food.
Only after Noreen had eaten did Dn finally get down to business. ¡°So, what¡¯s this dinner really about?¡± he asked.
She was straightforward¨Cshe needed funding.
But she kept it vague, not mentioning any specific projects. After all, nothing was set in stone yet, and she didn¡¯t have full confidence herself.
Even so, Dn agreed to invest.
But the maximum he could offer was under fifty million.
That was as much as he could possibly manage.
Noreen understood Dn¡¯s situation. His life wasn¡¯t as morous as it looked from the outside. The power struggles at Omniva Group never stopped, and there were always board members stirring up trouble, refusing to ept his authority.
She was genuinely touched. ¡°Thank you, Dn.¡±
He paused before replying, ¡°You haven¡¯t called me by my first name in a long time.¡±
¡°Well, things are different now,¡± Noreen said, always one to respect boundaries. ¡°You have a different role. I shouldn¡¯t be so casual.¡±
Since they were business partners now, it was best to keep things professional¨Cshe didn¡¯t want to make things awkward for him.
As they left the restaurant, Jude and Bianca arrived just momentster.
Getting out of the car, Jude spotted Dn¡¯s vehicle and muttered, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Dn¡¯s car? I thought he was out of town.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel
14:20
¡°He is,¡± Bianca replied, a little too quickly. ¡°I called him this morning¨Che said he had to leaveter this afternoon.¡±
¡°I guess I must¡¯ve been mistaken.¡± Jude didn¡¯t dwell on it.
Inside, the manager greeted Jude warmly. ¡°Mr. Jude, you just missed Mr. Dn! Why didn¡¯t you two make ns together?¡±
Jude hesitated. ¡°Dn was just here?¡±
¡°Yes, he just had lunch with a Ms. Gilmore. They left a moment ago.¡±
¡°Noreen?¡± Jude asked, his tone unreadable.
¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s the name. She made the reservation herself.¡±
At that, Jude¡¯s expression darkened. Bianca¡¯s face didn¡¯t look much better; her hand clenched so tightly at her side that her knuckles turned white.
On Monday, Noreen and Carman went to Padgett Novak¡¯s office.
The hotline tform was entering its testing phase, and Carman was there to keep an eye on the data.
Padgett handed Noreen a folder.
She flipped through it and realized it was information on the Port Redevelopment Project.
¡°I noticed you were interested, so I gathered some materials for you. Hope it helps,¡± Padgett said, as warm and amodating as ever.
¡°You have no idea how much this helps!¡±
This sort of thing wasn¡¯t something money could just buy.
Not only that, but Padgett had organized everything so clearly that even someone new to the field could understand it at a nce.
¡°You¡¯re really thorough,¡± Noreen said, genuinely impressed.
Padgett smiled. ¡°I studied this in college, so I know a bit more than most. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re unsure about, just ask me anytime.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a relief! Don¡¯t me me if I end up pestering you with questions.¡±
Noreen felt like a castaway who¡¯d finally spotted a lighthouse after drifting at sea for ages.
¡°I won¡¯t mind,¡± Padgett promised.
Off to the side, Carman watched the exchange, unable to hide a frown.
¡A new rival?
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Yes-man 247
Chapter 247
Dealing with Dn was already enough to keep him on edge¨Cnow Padgett Novak had to be thrown into the mix.
¡°Mr. Holt, there¡¯s an issue here. Can you take a look?¡±
Carman had been zoning out.
The staff had to call his name several times before he snapped back to attention.
Once the work was finally wrapped up, Padgett Novak personally escorted the two of them. downstairs.
While Carman went to get the car, Noreen chatted briefly with Padgett Novak.
Halfway through, Padgett got a call and had to head back to the office, leaving Noreen standing alone in the lobby.
It was rush hour, and traffic outside was a nightmare. Carman was gone a long while.
Noreen waited by herself for quite some time.
It was just then that Bianca and Lillian came out from inside the building.
Noreen was focused on her phone, not noticing the two approaching, but Lillian certainly saw her.
Bianca did too.
Thinking about how Dn had ditched her for Noreen, Bianca¡¯s expression instantly darkened. A sour feeling twisted in her chest.
Lillian felt the same.
To this day, she was convinced that Noreen had sabotaged things between her and Healy.
She wanted to storm over and demand an exnation from Noreen.
But Bianca caught her arm before she could take a step.
¡°Let it go.¡±
¡°But-¡±
¡°She won¡¯t be gloating for long,¡± Bianca said, calm and collected.
She¡¯d lost to Noreen before, but that was just a stroke of luck on Noreen¡¯s part.
Once Biancanded the Port Redevelopment Project, Noreen would spend the rest of her life looking up at her!
Lillian, convinced by Bianca¡¯sposure, started to cool off.
¡°You¡¯re right. As long as Seth¡¯s backing you up, there¡¯lle a day when Noreen¡¯s the one crying!¡± Lillian lifted her chin defiantly.
Just hearing Seth¡¯s name made Bianca¡¯s mood improve.
14:20
¡°So just be patient,¡± she said.
As they left, Lillian deliberately bumped into Noreen.
Noreen nearly dropped her phone from the impact!
She tightened her grip, looking up to see that the culprit didn¡¯t even bother to apologize¨Cjust walked
away.
¡°Unbelievable. Where are their manners?¡±
Noreen caught a glimpse of their backs as they left, but didn¡¯t recognize Lillian, nor did she have the time to bother with it. She just muttered under her breath.
Right then, ire sent her a news link.
Noreen clicked it open and realized it was an article from a recent magazine interview with Bianca. For more chapters visit f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?
The content had clearly been edited; any mention of the now¨Cdefunct SkyMind project was gone, and all the focus was on the Port Redevelopment Project.
Interviews like these were always vetted in advance.
The fact that Seth had allowed Bianca to publicly mention the project meant he was confident she¡¯d
clinch the deal.
Noreen was still reading when ire started ranting.
¡°Those two are unbelievable! I¡¯m so mad I could scream!¡±
¡°He really handed such a huge project to that witch! How does he not lose everything?¡±
¡°Bianca Lowell must¡¯ve saved the universe in a previous life to have luck like this!¡±
Noreen could only sigh. ¡°Yeah, fortune always smiles on the worst people, and the worst people always seem to show up in my life.¡±
ire was fuming. ¡°Can you steal it? If you can, go snatch that project from under their noses! Let them choke on their own arrogance!¡±
¡°Want the truth?¡± Noreen replied.
¡°Forget it, just ignore me,¡± ire muttered, knowing full well how impossible it was.
How could a small startup that had only been around for six months andpleted a single project possiblypete with a giant like Aurelion Group?
Noreen could imagine how furious ire was, so she tried tofort her. ¡°Look, it¡¯s not impossible. The odds are just¡ pretty slim.¡±
¡°So you¡¯re saying you¡¯re nning to go for it?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Noreen said. ¡°I¡¯m already working on it. Might as well take my shot.¡±
ire practically leapt out of bed. ¡°I knew you¡¯d pull through! I believe in you! Oh, and that profit share
you transferred to mest time¨CI¡¯m sending it right back. Go all in on this!¡±
¡°Maybe keep a little, just in case things don¡¯t work out,¡± Noreen cautioned.
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14:21
But ire never listened to that sort of advice. ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? We can afford to lose!¡± That kind of faith gave Noreen the confidence boost she needed.
Yes-man 248
Chapter 248
¡°I¡¯ll do my best to make sure you don¡¯t lose.¡±
¡°I believe in you¨Cyou¡¯ve got this!¡±
ire was absolutely hyped, flooding Noreen¡¯s phone with a long, rambling voice message full of encouragement.
Since she was in a public ce, Noreen didn¡¯t dare to y the message; she didn¡¯t want people around her staring.
Atst, Carman¡¯s car showed up. He apologized, exining he¡¯d gotten stuck in parking lot traffic and was runningte.
Once Noreen slid into the passenger seat, Carman nced over and asked if she wanted to grab dinner together.
It was right around dinnertime, and Noreen was hungry anyway.
¡°What do you feel like eating?¡± Carman asked.
Noreen thought for a moment before giving him an address.
It was a small, unremarkable diner¨Cone she hadn¡¯t visited in ages.
Back in the early days, when Aurelion Group was just getting off the ground, Seth had rented an office in the agingmercial building across the street.
Noreen had been both his secretary and thepany¡¯s only all¨Cpurpose assistant, so she knew the neighborhood inside out.
She used to stop by this little diner all the time to pick upte¨Cnight snacks for Seth. Sometimes, when they both worked overtime, they¡¯de here together for a quick bite.
When Carman asked her where to eat, for some reason, this ce popped into her head. So, here they were.
The street looked exactly the same as before¨Cnot a thing out of ce.
Even the big ne tree beside the diner was still there, branches wild and full of life.
Her WhatsApp profile picture was taken right under that tree.
She was facing away from the camera, head tilted up, gazing at the tree beside the old streemp, the warm glow lighting her up. In that photo, she looked like someone brimming with hope for the future.
Seth had been the one behind the camera that day.
He¡¯d asked her what she was thinking about at the moment he snapped the photo.
Noreen hadn¡¯t told him.
He¡¯d pressed her for an answer.
She¡¯d promised to tell him someday¨Cwhen the time was right.
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Years had gone by, but she still remembered exactly what she¡¯d been thinking in that instant. Now, though, there was no reason to ever share it. Maybe she never would.
Everything here looked exactly the same.
But to her, it all felt strangely unfamiliar.
Maybe things had changed a long time ago.
The diner was run¨Cdown, with only a handful of customers inside.
That made it easy for Noreen to spot Seth and Bianca, sitting together, eating dinner.
She froze in her tracks, suddenly dazed.
Thest thing she¡¯d expected was for Seth to bring Bianca here.
Carman, focused entirely on Noreen, hadn¡¯t noticed the scene inside. When she stopped abruptly, he looked at her with concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
Noreen shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not really in the mood for this ce anymore. Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± ¡°Sure.¡±
Carman seemed puzzled, but he didn¡¯t ask questions. He just quietly followed her lead, sensing something was off.
He could tell Noreen was upset, but since she clearly didn¡¯t want to talk, he stayed silent and simply kept herpany.
Still, Noreen couldn¡¯t help but wonder: What was Seth thinking, bringing Bianca to this ce? Was he feeling nostalgic, retracing old memories? Or was he introducing someone new to a piece of his past?
After a long moment lost in thought, Noreen did something she¡¯d been putting off for years.
She changed her WhatsApp profile picture, erasing the image she¡¯d kept for seven years.
Some memories were best left buried.
¡°I¡¯m flying to Stanton City tomorrow,¡± she told Carman.
¡°Going to see Mr. Shaw?¡±
Noreen nodded.
Carman seemed to understand her motives right away. ¡°You should take Sophia with you. She¡¯s good at looking after people.¡±
¡°Okay. And if anythinges up with the smart port project, let me know right away,¡± Noreen said.
¡°Will do.¡± Carman hesitated, then tried to reassure her. ¡°Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself.¡±
¡°I know.¡±
She said it, but she didn¡¯t really believe it.
If anyone else had been put in charge of this project, she probably wouldn¡¯t have gotten involved at
14:21 1
She couldn¡¯t lose.
She had to win.
She had to show Seth- Checktest chapters at
He lost her because he was never good enough.
apter 248
all¨Cthe stakes were too high, the pressure immense.
But she couldn¡¯t stand the thought of Bianca getting the upper hand. She refused to let Seth win.
She couldn¡¯t lose.
She had to win.
She had to show Seth-
He lost her because he was never good enough.
Chapter 249
14:21
Yes-man 249
The next day, Noreen flew to Stanton City and met with Jennifer Shaw.
When Jennifer learned why she was there, she didn¡¯t give a clear answer. ¡°Noreen, I¡¯ve always believed in your abilities and trusted you. If I hadn¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t have been the first to invest in InnoCore back then.¡±
But then Jennifer¡¯s tone shifted. ¡°Still,ing to me for such arge investment without even apleted project proposal isn¡¯t exactly following protocol.¡±
Noreen realized she¡¯d been a bit too eager.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Shaw. I rushed things. I¡¯ll go back and put together a proper proposal. I hope you¡¯ll give me another chance once it¡¯s ready.¡±
When they left Grandverse Corp., Sophia looked deted. ¡°Noreen, what are we going to do? Is this project dead in the water?¡±
The funding gap was just too big. Good ideas alone weren¡¯t enough.
Noreen had expected it wouldn¡¯t be easy, so she was calmer than Sophia. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to Rivercrest City.¡±
Sophia nced at her phone. ¡°We¡¯ve already missed thest flight out.¡±
¡°How about the train?¡±
¡°It¡¯s Friday¨Cno tickets left either.¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s just go back tomorrow.¡±
It was the weekend, after all. There wasn¡¯t much they could do back home right away, so they might as well rest for the night.
The next morning, after breakfast, as they were returning to the hotel to collect their bags, Jennifer called. She was waiting outside their hotel¨Cshe had some business near the airport and offered to give them a ride on her way.
The hotel actually provided an airport shuttle, but Noreen suspected Jennifer wanted to talk, so both she and Sophia epted the ride.
Jennifer¡¯s car was a sleek executive SUV, with her male assistant and driver up front.
As Noreen climbed in, she noticed Jennifer looked a little pale. ¡°Ms. Shaw, are you feeling alright?¡±
¡°Just my time of the month. Happens every time,¡± Jennifer replied, her voice a bit weak.
The assistant handed Jennifer a thermos of spiced herbal tea.
She took a few sips, the color returning to her face, and turned to Noreen. ¡°You know, every time this happens, I remember when we first met. You really helped me out that day.¡±
¡°It was nothing, really. You always make such a big deal out of it, Ms. Shaw. You¡¯re making me blush.¡± ¡°No, I remember exactly what you said¨C¡®Only women can truly understand women. That¡¯s why
14:21
women have to support each other.¡® I really believe that¡¯s the only way for us to gain more choices in life, to have more control over our destinies, and to improve our standing in society.¡±
Noreen remembered saying something along those lines, though Jennifer made it sound a lot more profound.
¡°So,st night I thought it over. I shouldn¡¯t have dismissed you like that yesterday.¡± Jennifer reached over to squeeze Noreen¡¯s hand, apologetic. ¡°I¡¯m in. I¡¯ll invest in your project.¡±
The turn of events left Noreen speechless for a moment.
She was deeply grateful for Jennifer¡¯s support. Back when InnoCore was struggling for backing, Jennifer had been the first to step in.
¡°Thank you, Ms. Shaw.¡± Noreen meant it.
¡°Go for it, Noreen.¡± Jennifer gave her a warm smile.
Things were going better than Noreen had hoped. As soon as shended back in Rivercrest City, Wade called and asked her to join him at a business g that evening.
Without missing a beat, Noreen went straight to Myriad Atelier to pick out a dress.
Since she¡¯d be apanying a senior figure, she chose something formal and elegant.
Her makeup was simple yet sophisticated.
Even the stylist at Myriad Atelierplimented her, suggesting that a piece of jewelry would really bring out her features. Chapters first released on find~novel
Noreen was momentarily at a loss¨Cshe didn¡¯t own a single piece of decent jewelry.
She hadn¡¯t really treated herself well these past seven years.
¡°Do you have any rmendations?¡± Noreen asked the stylist.
¡°We have a few pieces left, but I¡¯m not sure if any will catch your eye. Most of our best stock was snapped up by one of our VIP clients.¡±
14:21
Yes-man 250
¡°Let me take a look,¡±
The stylist hadn¡¯t lied¨Cnone of the remaining jewelry really caught her eye.
In the end, Noreen couldn¡¯t decide on anything and gave up.
With time to spare before the event, Noreen decided to swing by the Harcourt estate to pick up Wade.
Evelyn¡¯s face lit up when she saw her. ¡°Noreen, you look absolutely stunning today.¡±
¡°Thank you, Evelyn. That¡¯s very kind of you.¡±
Beingplimented never failed to lift her spirits.
¡°Mr. Harcourt should be ready soon. I¡¯ll go let him know you¡¯re here.¡±
Noreen waited in the sitting room for about five minutes before Wade appeared, leaning on his cane. Evelyn followed close behind, holding a box in her hands.
Once Wade came over, he gave Evelyn a subtle nod.
Evelyn carefully opened the box, revealing an exquisite set of sapphire jewelry¨Cimmediately striking in its rarity and obvious value.
Evelyn smiled. ¡°This is a gift from Mr. Harcourt. It¡¯ll go beautifully with your dress tonight. Let me help you put it on.¡±
Noreen shook her head quickly. ¡°I can¡¯t ept something so valuable!¡±
¡°It was meant for you anyway,¡± Wade interjected, his voice calm but steady. ¡°It belonged to myte wife. It¡¯s been sitting here for years¨Ca waste, really. Pieces like these deserve to be worn, not locked away.¡±
Still, Noreen hesitated. The jewelry was just too extravagant¡ªa lesson Rosalind had drilled into her since childhood: never ept expensive gifts lightly, especially not from others.
Wade¡¯s expression turned cold, his tone hardening. ¡°If you refuse, then don¡¯te see me again. And you can forget about the g tonight.¡±
¡°Mr. Harcourt-¡±
¡°Don¡¯t call me Mr. Harcourt, either.¡±
Noreen fell silent.
Evelyn leaned over and whispered, ¡°Just take it. It¡¯s really okay.¡±
They needed to get to the g soon, and Noreen knew she¡¯d feel guilty if she held everyone up over
this.
Reluctantly, she agreed, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ept it for now.¡±
¡°There we go! Let me help you put it on,¡± Evelyn said, beaming as she fastened the jewelry around Noreen¡¯s neck.
14:21
Wade¡¯s stern demeanor softened noticeably.
The deep blue of the sapphires paired perfectly with Noreen¡¯s ck evening gown, making the gemstones¡® beauty all the more striking.
Evelyn couldn¡¯t stop admiring her. ¡°You look absolutely gorgeous!¡±
Even Wade offered a rarepliment. ¡°Very nice.¡±
Noreen smiled, relieved. ¡°As long as you¡¯re not upset, Mr. Harcourt, can we head to the g now?¡±
Wade¡¯s tone lightened. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
By the time they arrived, the venue was already filling up.
As soon as Wade made his entrance, people flocked over to greet him¨Ceveryone polite and eager for a moment of his attention.
Tonight, he was unusually approachable, responding warmly to each greeting and taking the opportunity to introduce Noreen.
¡°Winrich Capital. Ms. Gilmore.¡±
Thanks to her sess with InnoCore, the name was familiar to most guests¨Cthough they hadn¡¯t expected someone so young.
Some couldn¡¯t help but wonder about her rtionship with Wade.
A friend approached and, in a casual tone, asked Wade, ¡°Mr. Harcourt, why isn¡¯t your son here tonight?¡±
Wade responded with a cool, dismissive, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know.¡±
He never liked discussing his only son, Seth, in public. The two had never attended an event together, and word around town was their rtionship was strained. The source of th?s content is F¦ÉndNovel
Judging by Wade¡¯s answer, the rumors were probably true.
Someone else, better informed, chimed in, ¡°He¡¯s away on business¨Ccouldn¡¯t make it. I just ran into his girlfriend earlier.¡±
¡°Which one is Mr. Harcourt¡¯s girlfriend?¡± the first person asked, ncing over at Noreen, curiosity evident in his gaze. After all, Noreen was young, beautiful, and standing right beside Wade.
Yes-man 251
Wade, who rarely involved himself in these squabbles, suddenly spoke up. ¡°She¡¯s not my son¡¯s girlfriend.¡±
An awkward silence fell over the group.
¡°Ahem¡ Mr. Harcourt¡¯s girlfriend is over there,¡± someone quickly rified, pointing in another
direction.
Noreen followed the gesture and spotted Bianca, who was surrounded by a cluster of admirers.
By coincidence, Bianca had chosen a ck gown for the evening¨Cjust like Noreen. Their figures were a little different, though, and their jewelry choices clearly set them apart.
Bianca¡¯s hair tumbled in glossy curls, and her bright makeup gave her a lively look. She wore an entire set of sparkling diamond jewelry that caught the light and turned heads wherever she went. The value was obvious at a nce.
Noreen, on the other hand, had pulled her hair back in a sleek, ssic style that ttered almost no one¨Cexcept her. With her striking bone structure, the style made her look even more elegant. The crowning touch was the set of rare Kashmir sapphire jewelry she wore, the deep blue stones radiating under the lights. The effect wasmanding; in an instant, Noreen had be the center of attention.
Before she arrived, Bianca had enjoyed being the star. Everyone, having learned she was Seth¡¯s girlfriend, had showered her with ttery, feeding her sense of superiority.
She¡¯d prepared for the event meticulously¨Cchoosing the most expensive gown from Myriad Atelier, wearing her finest jewelry, and making sure her makeup was wless.
But Noreen¡¯s arrival shattered all of that.
The jewelry Bianca had so carefully selected couldn¡¯t hold a candle to the single sapphire on Noreen¡¯s ne. If she hadn¡¯t been so conscious of her image, she would have torn her own ne off in frustration.
The crowd that had gathered around Bianca quickly shifted their attention to Noreen.
¡°She¡¯s stunning¨Cwho is she?¡±
¡°Did you see her jewelry? Those sapphires are incredibly rare. Even one of those stones is worth a fortune, and she¡¯s wearing an entire set! That¡¯s definitely a collector¡¯s piece. I need to get a closer look.¡±
¡°I¡¯ming too!¡±
In the blink of an eye, half the people around Bianca had drifted away. Bianca¡¯s smile faded, her expression darkening.
Lillian, standing beside her, was even more indignant. ¡°Why does Noreen have to haunt us everywhere? Didn¡¯t you say this was a high¨Cprofile event? That nobody could get in without an invitation? How did Noreen get in?¡±
14:22
Bianca¡¯s words had been true: if it weren¡¯t for Seth, she wouldn¡¯t have made it into this kind of event herself. And as for Noreen¡ if it weren¡¯t for Wade, she wouldn¡¯t be here either.
That was what Bianca envied most¨Cand what she couldn¡¯t let go.
Why was Wade so good to Noreen?
Lillian didn¡¯t know Wade. Seeing Noreen on his arm, she sneered, her words venomous. ¡°She must havetched onto that old guy next to her! Shameless. And he¡¯s even got a limp! She really has no standards. Disgusting.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Bianca snapped quietly, her expression clouding over. ¡°That¡¯s Seth¡¯s father.¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find_Novel(.
Lillian fell silent, chastened. After a moment, she grumbled, ¡°Didn¡¯t your fianc¨¦ say his father never socializes, not even with you? Why is Noreen the exception? He even brought her to the party¡¡±
The more she spoke, the colder Bianca¡¯s face became.
¡°That¡¯s enough. I don¡¯t want to hear about her,¡± Bianca cut her off, then turned and walked away.
Lillian hurried after her.
Meanwhile, Noreen spent some time helping Wade mingle with the other guests. After a while, he told her she could go enjoy herself, get something to eat, and do a littleworking¨Cshe didn¡¯t need to stay by his side the whole time.
¡°Alright. Just call me if you need anything,¡± she replied.
She¡¯d been running around since she got off the ne¨Cstraight to hair and makeup, then picking up Wade. She hadn¡¯t even had dinner.
Now, with her stomach rumbling, she piled a small te with food and found a quiet corner where she could finally eat in peace.
44.22
Yes-man 252
Earlier, while apanying Wade at the reception, Noreen had noticed someone in particr and made a point of getting his contact information.
It was Mr. Suthend from VirtuBuild Ltd.
If they managed to win the bid for the Port Redevelopment Project, there was a good chance they¡¯d end up working with VirtuBuild Ltd. That¡¯s why she was thinking ahead¨Cadding Mr. Suthend¡¯s number to her phone before she even needed it.
This was the kind of high¨Cprofile event where even the hors d¡¯oeuvres tasted better than anything you¡¯d find elsewhere.
Noreen treated herself to several canap¨¦s, filling up before she nned to head back and find Wade. Just as she was about to leave, someone approached.
She probably would have walked away if she hadn¡¯t heard her own name.
Unfortunately, someone was gossiping about her¨Cloud enough for her to catch every word.
Bianca had originally wanted towork and make some new connections, but the conversation kept circling back to Noreen. Annoyed, Bianca lost interest and just wanted to find somewhere quiet.
Thankfully, Lillian was there to keep herpany.
Lillian tried to cheer her up. ¡°Don¡¯t let it get to you, Bee. Don¡¯t let that witch Noreen ruin your mood. Like you said, her good luck won¡¯tst¨Cshe¡¯s not worth your attention!¡±
¡°And let¡¯s be real: you have Seth! He treats you like a queen. You can pick out whatever dress or jewelry you want, and that ck card with no limit? I¡¯ve never spent that much money in my life¨Cit felt amazing!¡±
Maybe Lillian¡¯s pep talk helped, because Bianca¡¯s mood really did improve. She even said, ¡°I bought a ton of jewelry today. If you see anything you like, it¡¯s yours.¡±
¡°In that case, I won¡¯t hold back! Seth will just buy you more anyway!¡± Lillian grinned, delighted. ¡°You should smile too. You look stunning tonight¨Cwhen Sethes to pick you up, he won¡¯t be able to take his eyes off you!¡±
At the mention of Seth, Bianca¡¯s spirits soared, a smile tugging at her lips. ¡°He should bending any
minute now.¡±
No sooner had she said it than her phone rang.
Lillian caught a glimpse of the caller ID and teased, ¡°Speak of the devil and he calls! Seth really does keep tabs on you, huh? Should I give you two some privacy for your sweet nothings?¡±
¡°Stop it,¡± Bianca replied, halfughing.
Lillian, always considerate, slipped away to give them space.
She hadn¡¯t taken more than a few steps before something caught her foot and she went sprawling,nding hard on the floor. The noise drew more than a few stares.
14:22
Desperate to save face, she scrambled up quickly, brushing off her dress as if nothing had happened.
Just then, Noreen stepped out from behind a decorative nt, looking utterly unbothered.
Lillian¡¯s expression changed instantly. She put two and two together and shouted, ¡°Noreen! Was that you just now?¡±
Noreen lookedpletely unfazed, even arching her brow with a hint of arrogance. ¡°Yep. That was me. So what?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve had it with you!¡± Lillian exploded, lunging at Noreen, determined to confront her.
Bianca grabbed her arm just in time.
¡°Lillian, calm down!¡±
Lillian¡¯s fall had already attracted plenty of attention. Everyone knew she was there with Bianca, and if a fight broke out, it would be a huge embarrassment. These events were full of important people¨Cleaving a bad impression could hurt Bianca¡¯s reputation, and by extension, Seth¡¯s as well.
She had no choice but to try to rein Lillian in.
Noreen knew exactly how much Bianca valued her image. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t hold back¨Cshe wanted to see Bianca squirm.
Let her run her mouth, Noreen thought. Find the newest release on fin?novel
14:22
Yes-man 253
Chapter 253
Watching Noreen strut away, Lillian¡¯s anger turned to tears. ¡°nca! Did you see how she acted?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure she pays for this,¡± Bianca replied, equally furious.
But unlike Lillian, Bianca kept her cool. She knew this wasn¡¯t the time or ce for a confrontation, so she swallowed her resentment for now.
Bianca¡¯s words offered Lillian somefort, easing the sting in her heart.
When Noreen returned to Wade¡¯s side, there was a subtle smile ying on his lips; he seemed to be in good spirits, his usual stern expression noticeably softer. ¡°You didn¡¯t drink, did you?¡±
¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡±
In the past, these sorts of events always meant Noreen had to drink. But tonight, with Wade as herpanion, most people wouldn¡¯t dare press her to join their toasts. Besides, she needed to drive him hometer, so she hadn¡¯t touched a drop.
By now, the party was winding down, with guests gradually filtering out.
As Wade led Noreen over to say their goodbyes to the hosts, Seth arrived.
He hadn¡¯t bothered with formal attire¨Cclearly, he¡¯d decided to show up at thest minute.
Bianca¡¯s mood improved the moment she spotted Seth. Atst, the person she could rely on had arrived! Even Lillian perked up, bustling around them with renewed energy.
With Seth¡¯s arrival, Bianca was suddenly the center of attention again¨Cmore so than before, in fact. Guests gathered to chat with her, and she basked in the renewed sense of superiority, ncing at Noreen with thinly veiled smugness.
But Noreen didn¡¯t even look her way. So Bianca turned and said to Seth, ¡°Seth, Mr. Harcourt is here. Let¡¯s go say hello.¡±
This time, Seth didn¡¯t refuse, and Bianca¡¯s heart soared.
¡°Dad,¡± Seth greeted, joining the small group. His gaze lingered on Noreen just a moment longer than
necessary.
The pause made Bianca tense up instinctively.
Fortunately, Seth looked away after only a second.
Wade didn¡¯t bother to look at him directly, but still asked, ¡°Youing home tonight?¡± This update is avable on Find1Novel
Seth hesitated. ¡°No, I just got back from a business trip¨Chaven¡¯t even changed my clothes.¡±
He really hade straight from the airport. He must have heard about Bianca¡¯s troubles at the party and rushed over to support her.
Wade didn¡¯tment on Seth¡¯s answer. He simply led Noreen out, never once giving Bianca a second nce. The slight stung Bianca more than she cared to admit.
Seth turned to Bianca. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
15:06
She actually wasn¡¯t ready to leave¨CNoreen had stolen the spotlight all night. Seth¡¯s appearance had finally shifted attention back to her, and she wanted to stay a little longer, to make sure all of Rivercrest City saw their connection.
But considering Seth had just returned from a trip and was likely exhausted, she reluctantly agreed to go, ying the considerate fianc¨¦e.
At the door, Wade ran into Director Moss, an old acquaintance, and paused to exchange a few words. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, you¡¯re a lucky man! Your son and soon¨Cto¨Cbe daughter¨Cinw are both so aplished. Truly enviable.¡±
Wade paused, puzzled. ¡°Daughter¨Cinw?¡±
¡°Miss Lowell, of course! She¡¯s been working directly with me on the Port Redevelopment Project¨Cvery capable young woman. And her credentials! A doctorate from WT Business School¨Cone of the top programs in the country. Who wouldn¡¯t be envious?¡±
Director Moss¡¯s admiration was unmistakable. ¡°Your son¡¯s a rising star in finance, your future daughter¨Cinw¡¯s a top talent¡ The Harcourt family is destined for even greater things!¡±
His ttery made Bianca glow with pride. She shot a contemptuous nce at Noreen, hoping to savor her triumph.
But Noreen seemed utterly unfazed, showing no sign of inferiority in the face of Bianca¡¯s glittering r¨¦sum¨¦.
Yes-man 254
Chapter 254
Bianca scoffed inwardly. Noreen really was quite the actress.
Did she actually think that pretending not to care meant she truly didn¡¯t care?
Let¡¯s put aside family background. Let¡¯s not talk about parents.
And forget about relying on men!
Just her own PhD from a top university overseas was enough to keep Noreen feeling inferior for a lifetime.
At this point, Bianca didn¡¯t even consider Noreen a threat. What mattered more to her was how Wade saw her.
She was convinced that the only reason Wade had ignored her before was because he didn¡¯t know about her academic credentials. He probably lumped her in with those other women desperate to cozy up to Seth, and that¡¯s why he never gave her the time of day.
But now that Director Moss had said everything she¡¯d wanted to show off, Bianca was certain Wade couldn¡¯t possibly keep snubbing her.
¡°Is the Port Redevelopment Project under your supervision, Director Moss?¡± Wade¡¯s focus was nowhere near Bianca.
Director Moss replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been the one overseeing it. Aurelion Group has a great chance of getting the contract, and Miss Lowell¡¯s proposal is excellent.¡±
But Wade just said coolly, ¡°Noted. I have something else to take care of, so I¡¯ll be going.¡±
He didn¡¯t praise Bianca, didn¡¯t even look at her.
Seeing Wade about to leave, Bianca called out, a little flustered, ¡°Mr. Harcourt¡¡±
They were standing so close¨CWade couldn¡¯t possibly not hear her.
But he ignored herpletely, letting Noreen steady him as they left.
Not once did he meet Bianca¡¯s gaze.
Bianca nced at Seth, feeling a sting of humiliation, hoping he might say something tofort her. ?????? ???? Find~Novel
But Seth said nothing at all. He simply led her towards the parking lot.
Noreen¡¯s car was there, too; by the time Seth and Bianca arrived, Noreen was already starting her engine, preparing to leave.
Lillian didn¡¯t take Seth¡¯s car¨Cshe hailed a cab, not wanting to third¨Cwheel.
Seth¡¯s car and Noreen¡¯s pulled out of the lot one after the other.
It was sote, and Seth was still here to pick up Bianca. The implication was obvious¨Cthey must be living together.
When Noreen dropped Wade off at the Harcourt estate, Evelyn hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet.
15:06
She heard the door and came to open it immediately. Seeing Wade return alone, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Seth isn¡¯t back?¡±
¡°No.¡± Wade¡¯s expression was chilly as he leaned on his cane and made his way inside.
Seth hardly ever visited this house, but tonight, both Wade and Evelyn had asked about him.
Noreen was puzzled. She pulled out her phone to check the calendar.
Only then did she realize¨Ctoday was Wade¡¯ste wife¡¯s birthday.
Back when she was Seth¡¯s assistant, Noreen had always kept track of these dates.
But after she left Aurelion Group, she¡¯d wiped every Seth¨Crted reminder from her schedule. Then she started her own business, throwing herself into work sopletely that she¡¯d long forgotten the days that mattered most to Seth.
No wonder Wade had questioned Seth at the party.
And as for Seth¡ well, what could she even say?
He hadn¡¯t bothered toe home for his mother¡¯s memorial, but he somehow had time to y the supportive boyfriend, basking in the afterglow with his darling Bianca.
How could someone be so ungrateful?
Was Bianca really that important?
Important enough to eclipse the parents who gave him life?
That¡¯s not just being love¨Cstruck¨Cit¡¯s pathological.
Monday morning, Noreen had barely stepped into Winrich when Sophia rushed over, practically bursting with excitement. ¡°There¡¯s a guest waiting for you in the lounge!¡±
Sophia¡¯s expression was all mystery and mischief. No matter how many times Noreen asked, she wouldn¡¯t say who it was¨Cjust kept urging her to go see for herself.
When Noreen finally walked into the lounge and saw who was waiting, she instantly understood Sophia¡¯s secrecy.
It was someone she never could have expected.
Yes-man 255
Chapter 255
¡°Director Cole?¡± Noreen eximed in surprise.
Matthew Cole stood up, scratching his head. ¡°I¡¯m not Director Cole anymore¨CI left, remember? Just call me Matthew.¡±
Noreen stared at him, momentarily stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected Matthew Cole to leave Aurelion Group.
He¡¯d practically been a founding pir of thepany¨Csharp, capable, and the reason he¡¯d headed the second investment division in the first ce.
After a few minutes of conversation, Noreen finally realized why he was here: he was looking for a job.
She was ttered, but also skeptical. ¡°With your r¨¦sum¨¦ and reputation, you could easilynd a position at any top firm¨Cor start one of your own. Whye to Winrich?¡±
Matthew gave a wry smile. ¡°Honestly? I just can¡¯t swallow this humiliation.¡±
He didn¡¯t hide anything from her. ¡°You¡¯ve heard, right? Mr. Harcourt handed the Port Redevelopment Project to Bianca.¡±
Noreen nodded sympathetically. ¡°Yeah, I heard.¡±
¡°I poured my heart and soul into that project, you know that better than anyone. But Mr. Harcourt snatched it away for no reason. I can¡¯t let it go. So, I came to join you.¡±
He added, ¡°A friend told me you¡¯re trying to win the Port Redevelopment bid. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. The question is¨Cwould you have me, Ms. Gilmore?¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t ask who his friend was. After all, Matthew had spent years in investment banking; he had plenty of connections, and it wasn¡¯t surprising he¡¯d have the inside track.
Besides, Matthew was a rare talent, and she¡¯d be crazy to turn him away.
She stood and shook his hand. ¡°This isn¡¯t about taking you in, Matthew. We¡¯ll be fighting side by side. Wee to Winrich.¡±
Matthew¡¯s arrival made it all but public that Winrich would be bidding on the Port Redevelopment
Project.
News reached Bianca almost instantly.
She gave a dismissive littleugh when she heard. It wasn¡¯t that she looked down on Noreen¨CNoreen was simply overreaching.
Just because she¡¯d pulled off the InnoCore deal, did she think she could do anything?
Even Healy, usually supportive, was worried. He nced at Seth and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Noreen getting a bit too ambitious? Maybe you should talk to her?¡±
Seth barely looked up from his game of cards. ¡°And why would I do that?¡±
Bianca, sitting nearby, hid a smirk.
15:06 ½â
Healy yed a trump card, blocking Seth¡¯s move. ¡°Come on, you two were together for seven years. She finally managed a big project¨Cshe¡¯s earned her ce. Why not tell her to y it safe? With InnoCore¡¯s profits, she could livefortably for the next decade.¡±
Seth sorted his cards andid down a straight flush, neatly beating Healy¡¯s hand. ¡°We were together for seven years, Healy. Doesn¡¯t mean we were in love for seven years. Whether she seeds or fails¨Cit¡¯s got nothing to do with me.¡±
Healy fell silent, unable to argue.
Bianca, in high spirits, teased, ¡°Geez, Seth, you broke up the whole deck¨Chow are we supposed to keep ying?¡±
Seth tossed his cards aside. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡±
He grabbed his coat and turned to Bianca. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you missed your mom¡¯s cooking? I¡¯lle with you tonight.¡±
¡°Great!¡±
They left together, chatting andughing, leaving Healy behind with a sigh.
Jude, who¡¯d barely spoken the whole time, sat quietly to the side. Healy finally turned to him. ¡°You¡¯re awfully quiet. What¡¯s up?¡± Official source is find{n}ovel
Jude shrugged. ¡°Not in the best mood, that¡¯s all.¡±
¡°Still upset about the settlement?¡±
Healy knew Jude had invested in SkyMind, only for the startup to get hit with a three¨Chundred¨Cmillion¨Cdor infringement penalty.
Jude¡¯s father had been so furious when he found out that he¡¯dnded in the hospital¨Cand was still recovering.
¡°My dad¡¯s health is failing, and he¡¯s been hiding it from me. All he ever wanted was for me to aplish something before it¡¯s toote. But now¡¡±
Jude trailed off, guilt heavy in his voice. ¡°Healy, could you show me the ropes? I really want to make him proud before it¡¯s toote.¡±
Yes-man 256
Chapter 256
¡°I¡¯m really not cut out for project management. You¡¯ll want to talk to Seth about that.¡±
On the other side of the table, Matthew Cole nced at Noreen, gauging her reaction. When he saw she seemed calm, he rxed a little.
Honestly, as a man himself, he¡¯d felt a sting just hearing Seth¡¯s words:
¡°We were only together for seven years. It¡¯s not like we were in love for seven years.¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? fin?novel
Even he thought that was a cruel thing to say¨Che couldn¡¯t imagine how Noreen managed to take it.
He wanted to offer some words offort, but Noreen¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t on the others in the room. She checked her watch and asked, ¡°So, when is Mr. Brooke supposed to arrive?¡±
¡°Should be any minute now,¡± Matthew replied quickly.
Noreen waited another half hour, but Mr. Brooke never showed. Eventually, Matthew had to call his assistant for an update.
The answer came back: Mr. Brooke had ast¨Cminute engagement and wouldn¡¯t being.
Matthew looked apologetic. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Gilmore. I¡¯d hoped to introduce you to a potential investor¡¡±
After so many years in business, everyone knew what st¨Cminute engagement¡± really meant. Mr. Brooke simply didn¡¯t think Winrich was worth his time¨Ca small, newpany with little reputation. He¡¯d just blown them off. It wasn¡¯t the first time, and Noreen didn¡¯t take it personally. ¡°Well, I suppose Mr. Brooke and I just aren¡¯t meant to cross paths.¡±
¡°He¡¯s very young, only twenty¨Cthree. Just finished grad school overseas. Only son in the family, so he¡¯s been spoiled since he was a kid¨Cpretty arrogant, does whatever he wants. Not exactly easy to connect with, but his family¡¯spany has the biggest cash flow in the country. If he¡¯de on board, funding would never be a problem.¡±
¡°I know you did your best.¡±
But fate was fate; there was no point forcing it.
As Noreen and Matthew left, Jude spotted them from down the hallway. He almost went over to say hello, but the distance between him and Noreen these days¨Chis own coldness in the past¨Cmade him hesitate. In the end, he turned away.
The funding problem dragged on, and Noreen grew anxious.
Sophia brought in a bowl of nourishing soup, pausing in the doorway when she saw Noreen¡¯s furrowed brow. ¡°Noreen, how much short are you?¡±
¡°At least two billion.¡± She¡¯d already stretched every resource she had, even managed to pull fifteen hundred million in investments from Jennifer and Dn. But there was still a gap of two billion, and she had no leads yet.
She¡¯d considered reaching out to Wade, but if she epted his investment, she¡¯d inevitably get entangled with Seth again. After all, Harcourt Group would eventually fall back into Seth¡¯s hands. Noreen shook the thought off.
15:06
¡°We¡¯ll find a way. Eat something first.¡± Sophiadled some soup out for her.
Noreen¡¯s stomach hadn¡¯t acted up in a long while, and she had Sophia to thank for that. She had just finished her soup when Wade called, asking her to attend a dinner on his behalf for the Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce.
Wade listed the attendees, and Noreen instantly understood his intention. He must have realized she didn¡¯t want any further ties to Harcourt Group, so he¡¯d gone out of his way to introduce her to other investors¨Che was truly looking out for her.
Noreen felt a rush of gratitude and thanked him.
Wade was quiet for a moment, then said, ¡°It¡¯s the least I owe you.¡±
She arrived at the dinner early, and it was half an hour before everyone finally showed up.
To her surprise, Seth was among them. Then again, it made sense¨Che was a director of the Chamber, after all. This was exactly the kind of event he¡¯d be expected to attend.
Once Seth had taken his seat, the vice president, Chase Naylor, stood up to speak. But Seth interrupted, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a moment. I have a friend joining us.¡±
Noreen¡¯s heartbeat skipped.
She knew instantly who was about to walk through that door.
Yes-man 257
Chapter 257
Everyone was used to seeing Seth and Bianca practically joined at the hip, so catching sight of just one of them for once felt almost disorienting.
So when Seth mentioned that he had another friend joining them, Noreen immediately guessed who it would be.
Strangely, she felt a wave of relief.
Her own odd littlepulsions, she supposed.
Bianca was the only e to arrive. She breezed in with an apologetic smile, ming the traffic.
But everyone else hade by car, too¨Cif you know the roads will be jammed, you¡¯d think to leave earlier.
Still, since Bianca was Seth¡¯s guest, nobodyined. Out of respect for both Seth and Wade, any grumbling stayed unspoken.
Bianca, Noreen suspected, must have known in advance that she¡¯d be here tonight. She didn¡¯t look Noreen¡¯s way when she entered, nor did she seem the least bit surprised.
Chase was the first to break the ice. ¡°Seth, aren¡¯t you going to introduce us?¡±
Someone nearby chuckled. ¡°Oh, Mr. Naylor, haven¡¯t you heard? Everyone knows¨Cthis is Mr.
Harcourt¡¯s girlfriend.¡±
¡°Really, Mr. Naylor, you¡¯re behind the times! They¡¯re practically engaged. Wait a little longer and you¡¯ll be getting wedding cake in the mail!¡±
Chase held up his hands. ¡°Well, that I genuinely didn¡¯t know. Sorry to be out of the loop. Seth, you could¡¯ve given your Uncle Naylor a heads¨Cup!¡±
Seth just smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not toote now.¡±
That was as public an admission as any¨Che and Bianca, together, just like everyone had been whispering.
Practically official.
Chase snorted. ¡°Honestly, me old Harcourt for not saying a word about it. But you are about the right age, Seth. Time to start settling down, huh?¡±
Seth nodded easily. ¡°It¡¯s about time, yeah.¡±
Bianca beamed throughout, clearly, genuinely happy. Not just because Seth was confirming their rtionship in front of everyone, but because he¡¯d brought her along to this business dinner at all.
Noreen¡¯s own presence here was only thanks to Wade. She used to envy that kind of privilege.
But now, that feeling was gone. Even seeing Wade go out of his way to support Noreen still left a bitter taste in Bianca¡¯s mouth, but she told herself it didn¡¯t matter.
She didn¡¯t care if Wade ignored her; it was enough that Seth cared.
15:06
Besides, Wade was old¨Cwho knew how much longer he¡¯d be around?
Sooner orter, the Harcourt family would belong to Seth.
No matter how much Noreen tried to win favor with Wade, it wouldn¡¯t change anything.
When it came to marriage, parents could rarely overrule their children¡¯s wishes.
So, whether or not Wade liked her, Bianca didn¡¯t care anymore.
Having Seth was enough.
Noreen, meanwhile, was preupied with her real goal for the evening: seeking investment. She barely even noticed the couple on the other side of the table, busy parading their affection for all to
see.
While the others toasted to Seth and Bianca¡¯s happiness, Noreen was busy adding contacts on WhatsApp.
When Bianca shot her a triumphant look, Noreen was too engrossed in pitching her project to a potential investor to notice.
She really did look busy.
Bianca smirked, convinced Noreen was just putting on a show, pretending to be upied to hide her difort.
Three coursester, Noreen had already set up a follow¨Cup meeting¨Cher objective for the night clear. Finally, she could focus on eating.
Unfortunately, only leftovers remained, most of them cold.
Not that Noreen minded. She wasn¡¯t picky. She grabbed a fork, ready to take a few quick bites just to fill her stomach.
But then Seth caught the waiter¡¯s attention and asked for more food.
Chase raised his eyebrows. ¡°We¡¯ve all had enough, haven¡¯t we? Why order more now?¡±
Seth calmly ced an extra helping of roast potatoes on Bianca¡¯s te, his voice soft and deliberate. ¡°You barely ate anything. Have a bit more. You know you don¡¯t need to worry about dieting.¡±
Bianca flushed with delight, unable to hide her smile. ¡°How did you know I was trying to lose weight?¡±
¡°Come on, eat. I¡¯ll get you some more if you want.¡±
¡°Alright, if you insist,¡±
Noreen: ¡± ?????? ???? find?novel
Yes-man 258
Chapter 258
So rude.
Honestly, who says something so disgusting while people are eating?
That killed her appetite.
Noreen excused herself from the table, stepped outside for some air, and called Sophia to ask if she coulde pick her upter.
When she returned, she ran straight into Bianca.
Or rather, Bianca had clearly been waiting for her on purpose.
Their eyes met, and Noreen instantly understood Bianca¡¯s intentions.
She stopped walking, choosing to stand her ground and face her.
Bianca arched an eyebrow. ¡°I hear Winrich is nning to bid on the Port Redevelopment Project?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. Why?¡± Noreen replied, making no effort to deny it.
A smirk yed at the corner of Bianca¡¯s mouth as she sized Noreen up, her gaze dripping with contempt. ¡°You really don¡¯t know your limits. I thought after seven years at Seth¡¯s side, you would¡¯ve picked up a thing or two. I actually considered you a worthy rival, but it turns out I gave you too much credit.¡±
¡°You¡¯re nothing special, after all.¡±
She was arrogant¨Cbecause she had someone backing her, she could afford to be.
Noreen didn¡¯t let it get to her; she smiled right back. ¡°You seem awfully invested in this. Why¡¯s that?¡±
Bianca¡¯s expression hardened. After a beat, she said, ¡°Noreen, you¡¯re never going to beat me. Seth will always choose me, no matter what you¡¯ve done these past seven years. All your efforts mean nothing to him.¡±
¡°As for me, even if I do nothing at all, he¡¯ll still pick me¨Cwithout hesitation.¡±
When Bianca left, Noreen¡¯s smile slowly faded.
Bianca had hit her where it hurt.
But it wasn¡¯t Seth¡¯s disregard that stung.
It was mourning for the woman she used to be¨Cthe one who had fought so hard for love.
Only she knew how much she wanted to win this time.
In the private dining room next door, Henry Brooke had invited Padgett Novak out for a meal.
It had been a while since the two had caught up.
Padgett nced at the menu and grinned. ¡°Didn¡¯t you always say you couldn¡¯t stand this ce¡¯s
1/2
15:06
food? What brings you back?¡±
Henry shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not here for the food.¡±
Padgett chuckled. ¡°Then what are you here for?¡±
Henry was ten years his junior, a kid he¡¯d practically watched grow up. Both came from old families, though the Brookes had left public service for business long ago, moving out of the old
neighborhood.
In hindsight, the Brookes had made the right call.
Henry¡¯s father was a shrewd businessman, amassing a family fortune in just fifteen years.
Padgett, on the other hand, had followed his family¡¯s n into politics.
Their paths had diverged, but the friendship remained.
So, when Henry came to Rivercrest City, the first thing he did was call Padgett and ask him out for dinner.
Seeing Padgett¡¯s curiosity, Henry answered unhurriedly, ¡°I¡¯m here for someone I like.¡±
¡°Someone you like? In Rivercrest City?¡± Padgett¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°What¡¯s her name? Do I know her?¡±
Before Henry could answer, his phone buzzed. He looked down at the message, a smile spreading across his face. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you sometime. I have to go¨Cyou take your time with dinner.¡±
After Henry left, Padgett stood up as well. As he stepped out of the dining room, he spotted a familiar figure.
Without thinking, he strode quickly toward Noreen. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find_Novel(.
She had just finished seeing a few senior colleagues off and was about to call Sophia to check how close she was.
Outside, it had started to drizzle.
To make it easier for Sophia to spot her, Noreen stepped a little closer to the curb.
A sudden gust sent the rain sideways, soaking her through.
She stood there, a bit stunned.
¡°Careful,¡± Padgett said, catching up just as she got drenched. He quickly shrugged off his own jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
At that moment, Seth and Bianca were leaving the restaurant together.
Seth¡¯s gazended on the oversized men¡¯s jacket now wrapped around Noreen, lingering there for several seconds.
Yes-man 259
Chapter 259
Before Bianca could notice, Noreen quietly stepped aside.
She hadn¡¯t expected to run into Padgett Novak. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said.
Padgett nced at the rain pounding harder against the windows and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the umbre I gave you?¡±
¡°It¡¯s right here in my bag. I carry it everywhere¨Cit¡¯s pretty handy.¡± Noreen patted her tote with a smile.
Heughed, the corners of his eyes crinkling. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you use it?¡±
¡°I thought I wouldn¡¯t get caught in the rain.¡±
¡°Well, be careful next time. Even if it¡¯s not cold, getting soaked is never pleasant.¡±
Before they could exchange more than a few words, Sophia arrived.
Noreen took the chance to return Padgett¡¯s coat, but he shook his head. ¡°Keep it for now. Just bring it back another day.¡±
Sophia¡¯s car was blocking others behind her, so Noreen didn¡¯t linger. She said goodbye to Padgett, then slipped into the car and left.
That night after a hot shower, Noreen settled in to workte on her business proposal.
Last time she¡¯d gone to Stanton City to see Jennifer, she¡¯d nearly lost Jennifer¡¯s investment because she hadn¡¯t been fully prepared.
She swore she¡¯d never make the same mistake twice. That was Noreen¡¯s rule: always learn from Newest update provided by f?ndnovel
failure.
She was experienced at writing business ns now.
But back at the beginning, she¡¯d been like everyone else¨Crelying too much on emotional storytelling. She still remembered how, at an investment pitch, Seth had called her out in front of everyone: ¡°This isn¡¯t a business n, it¡¯s a stand¨Cupedy routine.¡±
He¡¯d even joked she should submit her stories to *The New Yorker*-maybe she¡¯d earn a few bucks in publishing fees.
Noreen was so furious she locked herself in the bathroom and cried for ages, then ignored Seth for a long time afterward.
As far as she could remember, that was the only time Seth ever caved first.
He¡¯d shown up at her tiny apartment with takeout¨Cthe one and only time he visited her ce in seven
years.
That night, he¡¯d apologized, gently coaxed her out of her mood, and made sure she ate until she was full¨Cbody and soul.
Finally, he sat beside her, guiding her step by step on how to craft a proper business proposal, exining that numbers and data would win investors¨Cnot drama.
15:06)
But afterward, he¡¯dined her apartment was too cramped, and the mattress too hard.
He never came over again.
Noreen worked straight through until ten that night. Sophia texted her: I sent dinner over with a courier. Eat before you get back to work.
Noreen texted back, ¡°How did you know I was workingte?¡±
Sophia replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t have to guess. I knew you¡¯d be burning the midnight oil on that proposal, so I made sure you¡¯d eat. You¡¯ve just gotten your stomach back on track¨Cdon¡¯t ruin it again.¡±
¡°Okay, okay.¡±
Having a thoughtful assistant really was a blessing.
She hadn¡¯t eaten much at dinner, so Sophia¡¯s food arrived just in time¨Cshe was hungrier than she¡¯d realized.
The next day, she met with Mr. Charles from the Chamber of Commerce to discuss her project.
After reviewing her proposal, Mr. Charles seemed genuinely interested.
Still, he was cautious about the risks. He gave her a condition to consider.
After the meeting, Noreen messaged Carman: ¡°It¡¯s settled. How¡¯s your ending along?¡±
Ever since Noreen had decided to pursue the Port Redevelopment Project, Carman had been working overtime, harnessing InnoCore¡¯s powerful algorithm technology to strengthen the project¡¯s core and give Noreen an edge.
Carman replied quickly: ¡°All good on my end.¡±
Noreen felt a fresh surge of confidence.
Sophia messaged again, reminding her to take her medicine¨CDr. Wynne¡¯s prescription for her health.
Noreen opened her thermos, only to find it empty. She asked the restaurant server for some hot
water.
The server brought her a disposable cup, filled to the brim, and reminded her to be careful not to burn herself.
Noreen thanked her, found a seat in the waiting area, and decided to let the water cool before taking her pills.
While she waited, she messaged Matthew Cole to check on his progress.
She was so absorbed in her phone that she didn¡¯t see the little hellion careening out of
nowhere¨Ccharging straight at her like a loose cannon.
Yes-man 260
Chapter 260
Noreen instinctively dodged to the side, worried the steaming mug might burn him.
But the sudden movement made the hot water slosh out, sshing all over the back of her own hand. ?????? ????
She gasped at the sting, but still managed to grab the little troublemaker with her free hand, stopping him from crashing straight into a flowerpot.
Even so, the boy tumbled to the floor and immediately started wailing at the top of his lungs.
His mother came rushing out, saw her son bawling, then spotted Noreen gripping his cor. Her expression twisted. She rounded on Noreen, shouting, ¡°What kind of grown woman bullies a child? You look respectable, but you¡¯ve got no shame at all!¡±
The sudden outburst left Noreen momentarily stunned, not least because her hand was still burning and she hadn¡¯t processed what just happened.
By the time she was ready to snap back, a familiar, icy voice cut through themotion. ¡°It¡¯s bad enough you¡¯re ugly, but are you blind too? Use your brain for once¨Ccan¡¯t you see she just saved your son¡¯s neck?¡±
The woman was caught off guard by the man¡¯s blunt words and stood there, speechless.
Seth ignored the ranting mother and strode over to Noreen, taking her wrist to examine where the hot water had burned her skin.
Noreen¡¯s mind spun. What on earth was Seth doing? Was he actually standing up for her? Did she need him interfering?
¡°It¡¯s a nasty burn. We¡¯re going to the hospital,¡± Seth said after inspecting her hand, his tone colder than before¨Camand, not a suggestion.
Noreen yanked her hand free, her voice frosty. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help.¡±
Seeing Seth and Noreen weren¡¯t on the same side, the woman¡¯s bravado returned instantly. ¡°My son was just walking along, and if you hadn¡¯t grabbed his cor, he wouldn¡¯t have fallen!¡±
With his mother backing him up, the boy¡¯s crying grew even louder, his shrieks echoing across the entire restaurant lobby.
¡°Enough!¡±
¡°Enough!¡±
The shout came from both Seth and Noreen at once, their voices slicing through the chaos.
Startled, the boy actually fell silent.
Noreen ignored Seth and faced the hysterical mother directly. ¡°Your son ran into me without looking. My mug had hot water in it. I pulled back so he wouldn¡¯t get burned¨Cand ended up burning myself. I grabbed his cor to stop him from crashing into that vase.¡±
¡°Oh, so you say, and I¡¯m just supposed to believe you?¡± the woman sneered, clearly unreasonable¨Cno wonder her son was such a handful.
15:07
Noreen¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s check the security cameras. And by the way, my hand got burned because of your son. As his guardian, you¡¯re fully responsible.¡±
The woman looked uneasy but refused to back down. ¡°Check the tapes? Go ahead! I¡¯m not scared of you!¡±
Just then her husband appeared, and she immediately ran to him toin. ¡°Honey, they¡¯re picking on our boy¨Caren¡¯t you going to do something?¡±
The man took one look and his expression changed. He addressed Seth carefully, ¡°Mr. Harcourt, I¡¯m so sorry. My son didn¡¯t know any better¨CI apologize.¡±
¡°To me?¡± Seth¡¯s gaze was cial.
Realizing his mistake, the man quickly turned to Noreen, offering a sincere apology. He even told his wife and son to apologize as well, promising to cover all medical expenses. The arrogance from moments before hadpletely vanished.
Clearly, this family needed something from Seth, which exined the sudden humility.
Noreen didn¡¯t want to argue with a child. ¡°Forget it,¡± she said quietly.
Seth spoke sharply to the man. ¡°Send the medical expenses to me. And next time, try actually raising your kid instead of waiting for someone else to do it.¡±
Not caring how the man¡¯s face fell, Seth took Noreen by the arm and started leading her out of the restaurant.
¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Let go of me!¡±
Yes-man 261
Chapter 261
Seth insisted on taking her to the hospital.
Noreen let out a sharp gasp. ¡°Seth, you¡¯re hurting me!¡±
He immediately panicked and let go.
She quickly stepped back, putting a safe distance between them, rubbing her reddened wrist. Her expression was cold, her voice dripping with the same biting sarcasm he used to wield so easily.
¡°Since when did you get so nosy? If you¡¯re that desperate to help someone, why don¡¯t you go check on your precious sweetheart instead?¡±
Noreen tore her gaze away, refusing to waste another second on him.
Her hand throbbed painfully¨Cit was clear she¡¯d need a doctor to take care of the burn.
She raised her arm to g down a cab, not sparing another thought for the man whose mood could turn on a dime.
Seth pulled out his phone and called Zachary. ¡°Bring the car around and drive Noreen to the hospital.¡± If she didn¡¯t want to go with him, fine. Zachary could take her. As long as she got her injury treated quickly.
But before Zachary could arrive, a red sedan pulled up to the curb.
Padgett Novak rolled down the window and called out, ¡°Miss Gilmore, where are you headed? Need a ride?¡±
Normally, Noreen wouldn¡¯t have epted a favor from Padgett Novak. But right now, she just wanted to get away from her vtile ex as fast as possible. She slipped into the passenger seat without hesitation.
¡°Would you mind taking me to the hospital?¡±
Padgett smiled, happy to help.
When he heard where she needed to go, concern flickered across his face. ¡°What happened? Are you sick?¡±
¡°I burned my hand,¡± she replied.
Without wasting another moment, Padgett drove straight to the hospital, anxious to get her there as quickly as possible..
Seth stayed where he was, watching in silent torment as she got into Padgett Novak¡¯s car. Even after the taillights disappeared down the street, he couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away. His eyes narrowed, dark and stormy, emotion flickering beneath the surface. It felt like a giant hand was squeezing his heart, leaving him breathless and aching.
When Zachary finally arrived and didn¡¯t see Noreen, he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Miss Gilmore?¡±
Seth¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°She left with someone else.¡±
15:07
Zachary fell silent, not daring to say a word.
Noreen¡¯s burn turned out to be mild. After the doctor cleaned and dressed the wound, she received a prescription for burn ointment and antibiotics.
Padgett stayed with her the whole time. Chapters first released on find?novel
Even when Noreen told him she could manage on her own, he didn¡¯t budge.
When they left the hospital, Padgett insisted on driving her to her office.
Noreen offered to buy him dinner as a thank¨Cyou.
Padgett grinned. ¡°I¡¯m free tonight.¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s do tonight,¡± Noreen agreed easily.
¡°I¡¯ll pick you up after work,¡± he said. ¡°Since your hand¡¯s injured.¡±
¡°Alright. See youter.¡±
At the stroke of five, Padgett called to say he was already outside her office.
For once, Noreen didn¡¯t have to workte. She clocked out on time, nning to return the jacket Padgett had loaned her the other day.
As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she spotted him waiting beneath the covered entrance, holding a ck umbre.
It was the rainy season in Rivercrest City¨Cthe sun hadn¡¯t broken through in over ten days, and the air was heavy and damp.
¡°Why aren¡¯t you waiting in the car?¡± Noreen noticed that his jacket was speckled with raindrops. ¡°I was worried you might not have an umbre,¡± he replied. ¡°This way, I can walk you out.¡±
As he spoke, he shifted the umbre to cover her, letting his own shoulder get wet.
Noreen edged closer, worried he¡¯d get soaked.
They walked side by side under the same umbre to the temporary parking area, where Padgett¡¯s car was waiting.
Noreen had already made a reservation for dinner and gave him the address once they were inside. Padgett handed her his unlocked phone. ¡°Can you pull up the directions? My hands are a bit full.¡±
¡°Sure.¡± Noreen tapped open the navigation app.
Just as she finished, a call came in.
The name on the screen was familiar¨CHenry.
Could this be the Mr. Brooke that Matthew Cole wanted to introduce to her?
It wasn¡¯t amonst name; the odds of two Henry Brookes were slim. Still, Noreen wasn¡¯t entirely
sure.
Padgett nced at the dashboard screen, saw the iing call, and pressed the button to answer
15:07
¦Ð¦Á¦Ñ¦É¦Ò¦É ¦Å¦Í¦É
through the car¡¯s speakers¨Cso Noreen could hear as well.
Yes-man 262
Chapter 262
On the other end of the line, Henry asked, ¡°Are you free for dinner tonight? I¡¯d like to introduce you to a friend of mine.¡± Get full chapters from FindN0vel
Padgett Novak knew that, aside from himself, Henry only had one friend in Rivercrest City.
The very same person Henry had feelings for.
If he hadn¡¯t already made ns with Noreen, he probably would¡¯ve said yes.
But tonight, he politely declined. ¡°Maybe next time. I already have ns.¡±
¡°Alright, got it,¡± Henry replied, then promptly hung up.
He immediately dialed another number, and when the call connected, his tone softened noticeably.
Much gentler now, he asked, ¡°Are you outside yet?¡±
Bianca was already heading out. ¡°I¡¯m just at the front door.¡±
¡°Wait there,¡± Henry said, ending the call. He grabbed his umbre, hurried out of the car, and jogged toward the entrance to meet her.
Out front, a red sedan circled the roundabout. Through the window, Bianca spotted Padgett Novak and Noreen inside, chatting andughing together.
Her brow furrowed instantly.
But as soon as she saw Henry striding up with the umbre, she smoothed her expression and gave him a textbook¨Cperfect smile.
¡°There you are.¡±
After dinner, Padgett Novak drove Noreen back to her ce.
¡°Sorry for taking up so much of your day,¡± Noreen said, a little embarrassed.
Padgett shook his head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a bother at all.¡±
¡°Honestly, I¡¯m d I could help you. I hope you¡¯ll give me more chances like this in the future.¡±
Noreen had always known Padgett was the straightforward type¨Cafter all, they¡¯d only met twice, and he¡¯d already confessed his feelings.
But she really wasn¡¯t in the mood for romance right now, so she could only let him down gently. After saying goodbye, she headed upstairs.
It was still early¨Cplenty of time to catch up on some work.
With a big project deadline looming, she couldn¡¯t afford to ck off.
But as soon as she opened herptop, her phone lit up with a new text.
Seth.
15:07
Back from the dead, apparently.
[Take me off your WhatsApp block list.]
What a pain. She didn¡¯t even bother opening the message¨Cjust tossed her phone aside.
But Seth wasn¡¯t giving up. Another message popped up.
[Come on, I need to talk to you.]
Annoyed, Noreen was about to turn off her phone when a third message came through.
[Do you still want your medical reimbursement or not?]
Like hell she¡¯d leave money on the table! Especially her own medical expenses¨Cwhy should Seth get off easy?
She¡¯d take the payment, then block him again.
Noreen unblocked Seth on WhatsApp and sent him a curt reply.
¡°Send the money.¡±
But Seth responded, ¡°Did you sign a wager agreement with Raymond Charles?¡±
Noreen rolled her eyes.
Why was he so interested in her business, anyway?
Oh, right¨Cspying for his precious darling.
¡°So what if I did? What¡¯s it got to do with you?¡±
¡°Stop wasting time. Send the money.¡±
Instead of answering, Seth said, ¡°Do you realize how risky this is? One wrong move and you could lose everything.¡±
Of course Noreen knew.
She¡¯d seen firsthand when Seth signed a wager agreement with Novem Dynasty Group years ago.
Everyone thought he was out of his mind.
Thepany¡¯s leadership, the investors¨Ceven his friends¨Cno one supported such a reckless gamble.
No one except Noreen. Back then, she stood firmly by his side, facing down the world together.
Because she¡¯d believed in him. She knew Seth would win.
And he did. He pulled it off, made a name for himself, and walked away the biggest winner of them all.
Now that it was her turn to bet everything, he was the one urging her to quit.
Was he afraid she¡¯d upstage his precious darling?
He asked, ¡°Do you really want to win that badly?¡±
15:07
454
Noreen shot back, ¡°If winning means you and your precious will be upset¨Cthen I absolutely have to win this time!¡±
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Chapter 263
Noreen always kept her word.
As soon as Seth transferred the money, she epted it in a heartbeat and immediately blocked him¨Cno hesitation, not even for a second.
Instead of making her anxious, Seth¡¯s little phone call to ¡°gather intel¡± left her more fired up than ever, pouring every ounce of energy into the project.
The week that followed was pure chaos¨Cshe barely had time to catch her breath, sprinting between Winrich, InnoCore, and the government offices in a relentless triangle.
With so many meetings and site visits, it was inevitable she¡¯d bump into Bianca now and then. But neither woman acknowledged the other. They both treated each other like empty air.
She also crossed paths with Seth a few times, almost always when he was there to pick up Bianca. Noreen herself barely noticed; it was Matthew Cole who pointed it out.
¡°I heard Bianca¡¯s really invested in the project¨Cworkingte every night, schmoozing at dinners, pulling out all the stops.¡±
¡°Mr. Harcourt seems pretty attentive too. He¡¯s been at her side the whole time. He even set up a ce for her to nap in his office at Aurelion Group, so she can rest when she¡¯s working overtime.¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t help but scoff internally.
A ce to nap? Sure. More like someone to nap with.
That so¨Ccalled office ¡°rest area¡°-she¡¯d been the overtime queen at Aurelion Group for seven years
and had never so much as set foot in there.
What was it Seth used to say? He was worried about appearances. More like he was worried about maintaining his image as the devoted, faithful man.
And now? He could grandly announce to Bianca: ¡°This little haven¨Cyou¡¯re the only woman who¡¯s ever slept here.¡± How perfectly possessive. Bianca must be swooning.
Noreen drifted for a moment, amused by the over¨Cthe¨Ctop romance novel ying out in her mind.
Matthew Cole shot her a puzzled look. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±
She smiled. ¡°Just thinking about something dirty that made meugh.¡±
Matthew looked perplexed. Dirty things could be funny? Had Ms. Gilmore finally lost it after too manyte nights?
¡°Oh, by the way, I ran into Bianca in the elevator this morning. She must¡¯ve beening to TechVenture for due diligence.¡±
Since TechVenture and Winrich shared the same building, running into her wasn¡¯t exactly a surprise.
Matthew mused, ¡°I remember you used to handle that project, before she shut it down. Strange that she¡¯s suddenly picked it back up.¡±
Noreen gave a half¨Csmile. ¡°She just loves picking through the trash.¡±
15:07
Matthew fell silent.
***
On the day of the bid opening, the weather was uncharacteristically bright¨Ca rare treat in Rivercrest City.
Padgett Novak sent Noreen a video early that morning. He¡¯d spotted a magpie outside his office and, thinking it was a good omen, recorded it for her, hoping it would bring her luck.
Noreen was surprised¨Cshe¡¯d never pegged someone as straiced as Padgett as the superstitious type. Still, it was a nice thought. She appreciated the sentiment.
When she arrived at Winrich, Sophia greeted her with a breakfast delivery.
¡°Victory cake for you today! Eat this and you¡¯re sure to win!¡±
¡°You¡¯re superstitious too?¡± Noreen teased.
Sophia corrected her, ¡°It¡¯s not superstition¨Cit¡¯s a blessing!¡±
If it was a blessing, who was she to refuse? Though when she opened the box and saw the lopsided cake, she had to stifle augh. ¡°You¡¯re great at making soup and cooking dinner, but your baking could use some work.¡±
Sophia looked sheepish. ¡°I did my best.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡± Noreen ate it anyway. It tasted better than it looked.
By 10 a.m., Noreen, Matthew Cole, and Carman arrived right on time at the government¡¯s procurement center for the bid opening.
As they checked in, the Aurelion Group team swept in¨Cmaking a grand entrance, a whole crowd bustling in together.
Jude was among them. Noreen couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he¡¯d ordered champagne this time. They made such a racket arriving that she nced over almost involuntarily. Judging by the rxed confidence on every face, they must¡¯ve had a lot of faith in Bianca. Content originallyes from FindN()vel
Yes-man 264
Chapter 264
Of course¨Cwith Seth as her rock¨Csolid supporter, that confidence of hers made perfect sense.
Noreen turned away, and she and her twopanions were the first to enter the conference hall, waiting for the results to be announced.
Yvonne Laurent was here too.
After thestpany celebration, Yvonne had kept a low profile for quite a while.
It wasn¡¯t until Bianca told her that Seth had handed her a multi¨Cbillion dor project¨Cand that Bianca was sure to win it¨Cthat Yvonne finally started showing up again.
Bianca had Lillian apany her, and Lillian was quick to catch Yvonne up on all the gossip.
¡°That woman just now? That¡¯s Noreen.¡±
Yvonne only knew that Noreen was one of InnoCore¡¯s investors¨Cthe woman who¡¯d stolen Bianca¡¯s thunder at the SkyMind celebration. She had no idea what connection Noreen had to Seth.
Bianca had never brought it up. After all, ever since Bianca came back, Seth had treated her extremely well.
Lillian, on the other hand, had been working at Aurelion Group for a while now, and she had picked up on a few things about Noreen and Seth.
So she told Yvonne everything she knew.
¡°You¡¯re telling me Seth kept her around for seven years?¡± Yvonne¡¯s expression darkened.
Lillian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. But he never cared about her¨Cshe was just a tool. As soon as you came back, he kicked her out of Aurelion Group.¡±
Being the oldest of the three, Yvonne saw things from a broader perspective. ¡°Seven years isn¡¯t a
short time.¡±
If a man kept a woman around for seven years, it was never simple.
Meanwhile, Bianca and Seth finished checking in and led Yvonne into the conference hall.
Seating was arranged in order of arrival. There was still one otherpany ahead of Aurelion Group and Winrich¨Canother bidder.
To Noreen¡¯s surprise, the representative was the father of the unruly boy who¡¯d scalded her hand some time ago.
He nced over at Noreen with an apologetic nod, but as soon as he spotted Seth, he hurried over. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, I¡¯m truly sorry about the other day. I went home and gave my son a serious talking¨Cto.¡±
Bianca, curious, smiled and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±
Before Seth could answer, the man jumped in. ¡°My son got a little out of hand and identally spilled something on this youngdy¡¯s hand¨CMr. Harcourt told me to go home and teach the boy some manners.¡±
1/2 Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n findnovel
15:07
Bianca froze for a second.
She turned to Seth, silently asking for an exnation.
But Seth said nothing at all.
Given the asion, she couldn¡¯t press him, so she forced herself to swallow her questions and keep herposure.
Still, she didn¡¯t look happy.
Before the bidding began, Lillian apanied Bianca to the restroom, reminding her to touch up her makeup and freshen up.
After all, once the results were announced, they¡¯d have to face a swarm of reporters outside. The Port Redevelopment Project was a major government initiative, and the media was waiting eagerly for news.
¡°Cousin, why do you look so down?¡± Lillian was puzzled. Today was supposed to be a day for celebration.
Bianca told her what she¡¯d just overheard.
¡°Seriously? You buy that story about the little brat burning her hand? No way. That woman must¡¯ve yed some petty trick just to get Seth¡¯s attention!¡± Lillian was fuming.
¡°We can see right through her act¨Cso why can¡¯t Seth?¡± she huffed.
¡°What a maniptor! I¡¯ll take care of her for youter,¡± Lillian added, still holding a grudge from the banquet when Noreen had tripped her on purpose.
Bianca just said, ¡°Don¡¯t go overboard.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. She¡¯s bound to embarrass herself today!¡± Yvonne had already made up her mind.
She won¡¯t get the project, and she won¡¯t get the man.
She¡¯d always be the one defeated by Bianca¨Cnothing more, nothing less.
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Chapter 265
Bianca glided back into the hall, her makeup wless and her poise restored, a polished smile once again lighting up her face.
She had barely taken her seat when Henry messaged her to say he¡¯d ordered champagne to
celebrate.
She replied, ¡°That¡¯s too extravagant. There¡¯s no need for all that.¡±
Henry shot back, ¡°I¡¯m not that broke college kid anymore. You don¡¯t have to save money on my
ount.¡±
His message made herugh. ¡°Well, whose fault is it for hiding it from me back then?¡±
He answered, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t, how would I have known my senior was such a kind soul?¡±
Bianca grinned, slipped her phone into her purse, and turned her attention fully to the bidding results.
Across the table, Carman asked Noreen, ¡°Are you nervous?¡±
¡°A bit,¡± Noreen admitted, ¡°but I believe in you.¡±
She hadplete faith in their proposal. Carman focused on the technical innovation and R&D, while Noreen led fundraising, resource integration, and business strategy¨Cmaking sure the project had everything it needed to seed.
Each yed to their strengths, working together seamlessly, and their efficiency pushed the project forward at record speed.
The otherpanies at the event didn¡¯t hold out much hope; most were there just to be seen. After all, who in Rivercrest City could trulypete with the Aurelion Group?
Some had already begun cozying up to Seth and Bianca, hoping to get a foot in the door¨Ceven a small slice of the project would be worthwhile.
As for Noreen¡¯s team, no one paid them any mind.
Bianca allowed herself a smug smile.
She¡¯d stumbled once before¨Closing to Noreen in the SkyMind versus InnoCore bid due to a momentarypse¨Cand it had stung. But Seth hadn¡¯t given up on her. He¡¯d handed her an even bigger project, a chance to prove herself all over again.
So what if Noreen had won, just that once?
It was luck, pure and simple. And luck didn¡¯t always pick the same side.
Bianca, chin lifted in quiet arrogance, turned to Yvonne beside her and whispered, ¡°When is my father getting here?¡±
Yvonne reassured her, ¡°He¡¯s on his way. He should arrive right as the results are announced. He wouldn¡¯t miss a day like this.¡±
With everyone important to her firmly in her corner, Bianca felt utterly secure.
15:07
At eleven thirty, the staff took the stage to announce the results.
Meanwhile, Lillian waited by the entrance for a courier to deliver the flowers she¡¯d ordered, wanting to congratte Bianca the moment the results were out.
Just then, she spotted a man approaching with a massive bouquet of sunflowers.
¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± she murmured. ¡°I didn¡¯t order sunflowers. Did the florist mess up?¡±
Before she could sort out her confusion, the man with the bouquet drew close. When Lillian saw his face, she was utterly speechless.
He didn¡¯t spare her a nce, heading straight into the event hall.
Lillian fumbled for her phone and messaged Bianca in a rush.
¡°Cousin! I just saw Dn walk into the award ceremony with a huge bouquet of sunflowers!¡±
But Bianca, focused on the announcement, didn¡¯t see the message.
The staff member stepped up to the microphone and read out the results.
A triumphant smile was already ying across Bianca¡¯s lips. But when the name ¡°Winrich¡± was announced, her expression froze.
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.
Padgett Novak, who had been following the bid closely, wasted no time in congratting Noreen. Soon, others joined in¨Coffering their congrattions, swapping contact information, and hoping for a chance to coborate. Follow current nov?ls on find?novel
Noreen weed them all with politeposure.
Compared to the buzz around Noreen¡¯s table, Yvonne looked visibly upset.
At that moment, Forrest Lowell called, asking for the results.
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Chapter 266
He even said he¡¯d already made a reservation for dinner¨CSeth would join too, and the whole family could celebrate together that evening.
Yvonne¡¯s expression grew icy as she heard this. Without another word, she hung up the phone.
Bianca, who was already feeling humiliated, looked even more miserable after Yvonne left.
She¡¯d worked herself to the bone for this project, running around, currying favor with one person after another, only for things to end up like this.
¡°What are you standing here for? Haven¡¯t you embarrassed yourself enough?¡± Yvonne snapped, ring at Bianca before storming off.
Bianca hurried after her, but as she reached the door, she nearly bumped into Dn, who stood there holding a huge bouquet of sunflowers.
Yvonne, of course, recognized Dn¨Che and Bianca had been together for seven years.
Seeing him waiting at the entrance with that bright bundle of sunflowers, Yvonne frowned in confusion and nced at Bianca.
Bianca turned her face away, refusing to meet Yvonne¡¯s eyes.
That was all Yvonne needed to see. Her expression darkened further, beyond mere anger or disappointment.
Just then, Noreen and her team emerged from the conference hall.
Dn, wasting no time, strode confidently toward Noreen and presented her with the bouquet.
¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be overseas on business?¡± Noreen was taken aback to see Dn here. Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel
As one of the project¡¯s investors, Dn usually received regr updates from her, so she knew he was supposed to be out of the country.
To see him standing there with sunflowers in hand was a genuine shock.
¡°I couldn¡¯t possibly miss such an important asion,¡± Dn said, handing over the bouquet. ¡°Congrattions¨Chere¡¯s to even greater sess.¡±
¡°Thank you!¡± Noreen epted the flowers, beaming. ¡°Come join us for dinner tonight¨Cit¡¯s my treat!¡±
Dn looked regretful. ¡°I¡¯ll have to take a rain check. How about you treat me when I get back?¡±
¡°Work calls?¡± Noreen guessed.
He nodded. ¡°Yeah, the negotiations aren¡¯t finished yet. I¡¯ll have to head right back as soon as I leave here.¡±
He had caught a flight during a break in the talks, racing back just to be here for Noreen¡¯s big
moment.
Now, having delivered his congrattions, he had to rush to the airport with barely a moment to spare.
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1946
Chapter 266
¡°Then I won¡¯t hold you up,¡± Noreen said warmly. ¡°Workes first. We¡¯ll celebrate properly once you¡¯re back.¡±
¡°Deal.¡±
Dn¡¯s car was waiting outside. After saying goodbye to Noreen, he hurried off to catch his flight.
On the ride to the airport, his assistant asked, ¡°Was forty hours on nes, just for a few words with her, really worth it?¡±
¡°It was,¡± Dn replied without hesitation, his gaze unwavering.
For her, no distance was too far, no effort too much.
His assistant nced at his tired face, lost for words.
Things weren¡¯t looking great at Omniva Group¨Csince Dn¡¯s return, he¡¯d barely managed a decent night¡¯s sleep.
And yet, whenever Noreen needed support, he was there. He was always the first to send his blessings when she achieved something.
Noreen walked out of the conference hall clutching her bouquet, and was instantly surrounded by reporters waiting outside.
The bustling crowd formed a stark contrast to Bianca¡¯s side of the building, where not a soul paid attention.
Lillian¡¯s face was livid with anger.
The flowers she¡¯d sent by courier had only just arrived, and in her fury she refused to sign for them, berated the delivery guy, and dumped the whole bundle straight into the trash.
When she looked back at Noreen, her eyes burned with jealousy and rage.
She¡¯d swallowed her resentment for long enough¨Ctoday, she just couldn¡¯t take it anymore.
She was determined to see Noreen humiliated.
Ignoring Bianca¡¯s attempts to stop her, Lillian pushed her way through the crowd of reporters, her shrill voice cutting through the noise. ¡°There¡¯s something you don¡¯t know¨Cshe¡¯s nothing but a homewrecker who stole someone else¡¯s man!¡±
Chapter 267
Yes-man 267
These days, being ¡°the other woman¡± is like being a rat scurrying across Main Street¨Ceveryone¡¯s ready to stomp you out.
Lillian couldn¡¯t stand to see Noreen riding high, which is exactly why she made a public spectacle of calling her out in front of the press. She wanted Noreen to be everyone¡¯s favorite target, to be the scapegoat for all their outrage.
Even if Noreen managed to win the project, Lillian was determined to take a bite out of her reputation.
That was her goal all along.
People love gossip¨Creporters most of all.
As soon as the story broke, microphones were thrust into Noreen¡¯s face from every direction. Was she a homewrecker? Had she stolen another woman¡¯s man?
Carman quickly stepped forward, trying to shield Noreen and angrily ready to defend her.
But Noreen caught his hand, holding him back.
When he looked at her, she shook her head¨Ca silent signal not to act rashly.
Instead, she stepped forward herself, facing everyone, all the cameras, and the room full of hungry journalists.
A hush fell over the crowd. Every eye was fixed on her, waiting for her response.
Faced with Lillian¡¯s humiliation and taunts, Noreen didn¡¯t so much as nce her way. She let out a soft, dismissiveugh. ¡°Stealing someone¡¯s man?¡±
She arched an eyebrow, her tone light and unconcerned. ¡°Why bother stealing a man when you can take his job?¡±
The meaning was clear to everyone in the room.
After all, Noreen had just snatched the port redevelopment contract right out from under Aurelion Group¨Cshe¡¯d taken Seth¡¯s bread and butter, not just his affection.
Bianca and Seth saw the whole thing unfold.
Bianca, who¡¯d just suffered yet another defeat at Noreen¡¯s hands, went pale at those words. Her hand, hanging by her side, curled into a trembling fist.
All she wanted in that moment was to disappear. She instinctively looked to Seth, hoping he would shelter her from the storm, just like he had before¨Choping he¡¯d whisk her away from all this.
¡°Seth, I want to go home,¡± she whispered.
For the first time, he didn¡¯t respond.
He stood right beside her, but his eyes were fixed on Noreen across the room.
Seconds stretched into a silence that felt endless.
No matter how many times Bianca called his name, he didn¡¯t so much as flinch.
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852 Updates are released by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?
Lillian¡¯s rabid attacks didn¡¯t put a dent in Noreen¡¯s good mood.
She¡¯d justnded the biggest deal of her career¨Cif that wasn¡¯t cause for celebration, what was?
That night, she took Winrich, Carman, and the whole studio crew out to Azure Springs Resort for a
team party.
In the past, she¡¯d always chosen budget¨Cfriendly venues to help Seth save money. But now she was the boss¨Cshe didn¡¯t have to answer to anyone, and she was determined to enjoy herself.
The resort manager greeted her at the entrance, calling her ¡°Ms. Gilmore¡± with every other breath, and assembled a small army of staff to give her group a proper wee.
Among the servers, Noreen spotted a familiar face.
Matthew Cole blurted out before she could, ¡°Ruby Wilder? What are you doing here?¡±
Ruby, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her former boss, had no time to hide. She straightened her shoulders and replied stiffly, ¡°I work here now.¡±
The manager, seeing that Ruby knew Ms. Gilmore, immediately assigned her to handle the VIP guests.
He leaned in with a warning: ¡°Ms. Gilmore is one of our most important guests. Make sure you give her the best service¨Cdo you understand?¡±
Ruby bit her lip, lowering her gaze.
¡°Did you hear me?¡± the manager insisted.
Ruby¡¯s answer was barely louder than a whisper. ¡°Yes, sir.¡±
Sophia, sticking close to Noreen, whispered in her ear, ¡°Last time Aurelion Group had a team retreat here, Ruby got tipsy and started sucking up to Bianca¨Csaid she only got to enjoy a fancy ce like Azure Springs because she was in Bianca¡¯s good graces. imed her life used to be nothing but hardship.¡±
In truth, what Ruby said was even nastier than Sophia let on.
She¡¯d gone on about how Noreen was full of herself, acting like she was the future Mrs. Aurelion¨Calways meddling, always penny¨Cpinching, no sense of ss.
Yes-man 268
People always said that Seth would kick Noreen to the curb sooner orter¡
Truth was, even if Sophia hadn¡¯t said it out loud, Noreen knew exactly what kind of person Ruby Wilder was.
But hearing it all again now, she barely felt anything.
She could even joke with ease, ¡°So, she¡¯s finally living her best life now, huh?¡±
Sophia fell silent for a moment.
Had she always missed this side of Noreen¨Cthe dry humor hiding in in sight?
¡°That¡¯s what they call karma. What goes aroundes around,¡± Noreen quipped. Get full chapters from Find~Novel
Sophia couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Look at me and Director Cole. We both left Aurelion Group, and we¡¯re still able to find decent jobs. But Ruby? She had to switch careers and wait tables. Looks like she finally got what she deserved!¡±
Before dinner, Noreen, Matthew Cole, and Carman held a quick meeting to discuss the next steps for their project.
Matthew said he¡¯d already shortlisted a few top architecture firms, and would start reaching out as soon as he got back.
W
¥ê
Noreen handed him a WhatsApp contact.
When Matthew realized it was Mr. Suthend from VirtuBuild Ltd., his eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, when did you get connected with someone at VirtuBuild?¡±
¡°I met him at a g some time ago,¡± Noreen replied, matter¨Cof¨Cfact.
Matthew knew Wade had taken Noreen to a few dinners and events, but stillworking at a party rarely opened doors with apany as big as VirtuBuild. Wade had some sway, sure, but he¡¯d been semi¨Cretired for years now. Business was business, and apany that size wasn¡¯t going to do favors out of nostalgia. Besides, Noreen¡¯s Winrich had no real business ties with Harcourt Group, and Mr. Suthend was a notorious old fox. He¡¯d never make a move without something in it for him.
Which was why Matthew was so surprised.
Noreen, unconcerned, mentioned how she¡¯d gone toe¨Cto¨Ctoe with Seth. ¡°I told Seth, ¡®If you¡¯ll be upset when I win, then I¡¯m going to make sure I do!¡® I wanted to rile Seth and Bianca up, make them take this project seriously. Bianca¡¯s too proud to lose to me, so she¡¯ll throw everything she has into it. Seth¡¯s standing behind her, and he¡¯ll move heaven and earth to clear the way for her.¡±
She smiled. ¡°Think about it¨Cif even Seth from Aurelion Group is fighting for this project, wouldn¡¯t that make Mr. Suthend sit up and take notice?¡±
Matthew smacked his knee. ¡°I get it now! I really get it!¡±
He worked in investment banking; once Noreen spelled it out, he saw the strategy in as day.
Bianca, goaded into action, was working her socialwork overtime, making the whole industry
19:47
think this was the hottest project in town. So when Winrich finally sealed the deal, nobody would hesitate to partner with them¨Ceven though thepany was still small. After all, if Winrich could beat out Aurelion Group, their future was bright.
No wonder Noreen seemed so rxed when word got out that Bianca was running herself ragged for
this project.
It had all been Noreen¡¯s setup from the start.
Bianca would probably never realize that all her hard work had ended up making Noreen and Winrich look even better, turning herself¨Cand Aurelion Group¨Cinto Noreen¡¯s stepping stones.
Genius.
For a long time, he¡¯d really underestimated Noreen.
That night, they had dinner at the spa resort. As soon as Noreen walked into the restaurant, the manager and a server rolled in a cart bearing a bottle of Armand de Brignac Ros¨¦ Champagne.
Matthew¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, going all out tonight?¡±
That bottle had to be worth nearly twenty grand¨Cand it was rare, too.
Noreen shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not that extravagant, trust me.¡± After all, she was still renting an apartment.
The manager smiled and exined, ¡°This is a gift from Mr. Naylor, to congratte you, Ms. Gilmore.¡±
Noreen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Healy?¡±
¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±
She opened the card and saw Healy¡¯s handwriting inside.
¡°Wishing Ms. Gilmore continued sess and a brilliant future.¡±
Yes-man 269
finitely
A gift like that definitely deserved a thank you.
Noreen kept it simple and shot Healy a two¨Cword message: Thanks.
Healy was at a bar with friends when he saw her text. He replied in seconds.
He also sent a photo of himself raising a ss. ¡°Cheers from afar,¡± he wrote.
Noreen didn¡¯t respond this time.
Healy waited with his phone in hand for a while, just in case.
Once he was sure Noreen wouldn¡¯t reply, he finally put his phone away.
Jude nudged him with his elbow. ¡°Didn¡¯t you stash a bottle of Armand de Brignac Ros¨¦ here somewhere? Go on, bring it out¨Cliven up the night for us.¡±
Healy shrugged. ¡°Gave it away.¡±
Jude stared. ¡°You gave away that bottle? To who? That¡¯s generous!¡±
¡°Do I need to file a report with you?¡± Healy leaned back into the booth, making it clear he wasn¡¯t about to spill any details.
No matter how Jude pressed, Healy didn¡¯t give an inch.
¡°Fine, keep your secrets! Let¡¯s see how long you can keep it up.¡±
Jude nced over at Seth, who¡¯d been glued to his phone since the night started. His expression was unreadable¨Ccalm, distant, impossible to guess what he was thinking.
¡°Texting Bianca?¡± Jude asked.
Seth neither confirmed nor denied it.
Jude kept going, ¡°Bianca must be feeling terrible right now. She wouldn¡¯t evene out for a drink. The whole point of this get¨Ctogether was to cheer her up.¡±
He sighed, unable to help himself. ¡°Honestly, who would¡¯ve thought Noreen would actuallynd that deal? We really underestimated her. She¡¯s got guts¨Csigning a risky agreement like that with Mr. Charles. Most people wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±
Something clicked for Jude, and he added, ¡°She kind of reminds me of you back in the day, Seth¨Cfearless, willing to take risks, never holding back. They say business is a gambler¡¯s game. I never believed it before, but now I do.¡±
As the conversation circled back to Noreen, Jude couldn¡¯t resist prying, ¡°Seth, are you really over her?¡±
From the way Seth had been actingtely, it seemed like he was,
Seth drained his ss, then replied in that casually distant tone of his, ¡°Can¡¯t get over something you never picked up to begin with.¡± Content originallyes from F?nd-Novel
Jude fell silent.
19:47
apter
Honestly, even as a guy, that answer sent a chill down his spine.
Healy chimed in, teasing, ¡°Seth only has eyes for Bianca. Why do you keep asking pointless. questions?¡±
Jude grumbled, ¡°Just curious, that¡¯s all.¡±
Healy poured himself another drink. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about something you care about. I think I¡¯ve actually started to fall for someone.¡±
Jude snorted. ¡°That¡¯s what you saidst time.¡±
Healy¡¯s lips curled into a small, secretive smile. ¡°This time¡¯s different. I mean it.¡±
Jude tried to dig for details, but Healy wouldn¡¯t budge¨Cacting like he was guarding the world¡¯s most precious secret.
Seth said nothing, sitting quietly in the shadows at the edge of the booth, watching the other two. The gloom in his eyes only deepened.
Meanwhile, after returning from the team¨Cbuilding trip, the first thing Noreen told Sophia to do was to have their legal rep send Lillian a letter.
She¡¯d been in a good mood at the time and didn¡¯t want these petty issues to ruin it, so she hadn¡¯t mentioned it before.
But that didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d forgotten.
11
Sophia, hearing she¡¯d get to send a legal notice to Lillian, was eager to get it done.
That same day, Lillian received the letter from Noreen¡¯swyer.
She stormed into Bianca¡¯s office without even knocking, desperate to vent her outrage.
¡°Bianca, can you believe this? Noreen actually sent me a letter from herwyer! She¡¯s using me of nder!¡± Lillian was so furious her face had gone scarlet. ¡°You have to stand up for me!¡±
Bianca had already been in a bad mood for days, and Lillian¡¯s dramaticints only made her headache worse.
Yes-man 270
Chapter 270
¡°Who told you to act so impulsively back then? You know as well as I do that Noreen is the kind of person who never lets anything slide.¡±
Lillian¡¯s indignation red at the scolding. ¡°I just couldn¡¯t stand it¨Cthat¡¯s all! And besides, I was standing up for you, Bianca!¡±
Bianca scanned the letter from thewyers.
Noreen was demanding not only a public apology from Lillian, but alsopensation for damages.
The money was one thing¨Cmanageable, if annoying. But a public apology? That would be catastrophic for Lillian¡¯s reputation.
After a moment¡¯s thought, Bianca decided to try and talk sense into her. ¡°You should go to Winrich in person and apologize to Noreen.¡±
¡°No way!¡± Lillian nearly leapt out of her chair. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m lowering myself like that!¡±
¡°Do you still want to marry into the upper crust or not?¡± Bianca broke down the reality for her. ¡°Do you realize what a public apology would do to your social standing?¡±
Lillian immediately fell silent.
¡°I know
you can¡¯t swallow your pride on this. Honestly, do you think I can? But is this really the time to get stubborn? She¡¯s practically untouchable right now. If you go head¨Cto¨Chead with her, you¡¯re just asking to get crushed.¡±
Lillian looked utterly defeated. ¡°Then what am I supposed to do?¡±
¡°Just grit your teeth and get through it,¡± Bianca said. ¡°You can¡¯t take her down now, but that doesn¡¯t mean you never will. Wait for a better opportunity.¡±
A flicker of cold determination shed in Bianca¡¯s eyes.
In the end, Lillian had no choice but to show up at Winrich and apologize to Noreen in person.
She didn¡¯t see Noreen, though. Instead, Noreen had left instructions with Sophia to ry her
message.
Lillian was ordered to stand at the front doors and repeat, ¡°Noreen, I¡¯m sorry,¡± two hundred and fifty
times.
Sophia supervised the whole thing herself¨Cand even recorded it on video for Noreen.
Noreen was surprised, but not really.
It was obvious that, to Bianca, saving face meant more than saving dignity. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find~Novel
A new week dawned¨Cwarm air, spring in full bloom, the kind of day that promised good things.
Noreen headed to the city offices to discuss a project. She hadn¡¯t expected Padgett Novak to be the one greeting her.
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Chapter
A few questionster, she learned that Director Moss was currently suspended pending an investigation. All of his responsibilities had been temporarily handed over to Padgett.
Padgett grinned and joked, ¡°Is this fate, or just a happy coincidence?¡±
Noreen smiled. ¡°You do have a sense of humor.¡±
They discussed work. When they finished, it happened to be lunchtime, so Noreen offered to treat Padgett to a meal¨Cas thanks for all the times he¡¯d helped her before.
Padgett never turned her down.
As they walked outside together, Padgett paused, ncing at the bright sun. ¡°Hold on a second¨Cl forgot something inside.¡±
He dashed off, returning momentster with a sun umbre in hand.
It was brand new,pact, and delicately styled¨Cclearly designed for women.
¡°This is for you,¡± Padgett said, handing her the umbre.
Noreenughed. ¡°Do you always have an umbre handy, just in case?¡±
¡°I figured you might need one someday,¡± he replied, a little sheepish.
He¡¯d thought ahead for her sake.
Noreen could see how thoughtful Padgett was, how genuinely he cared.
He was a gentleman¨Cattentive, considerate, and good¨Clooking, with an impressive career to boot.
If she¡¯d never experienced heartbreak, maybe she would have fallen for him.
But after everything she¡¯d been through, she¡¯de to see love as just another fleeting experience. When she¡¯d needed love most, she¡¯d never truly received it. No matter how much love she was offered now, it just didn¡¯t move her anymore.
She¡¯d rather keep her distance than risk disappointing someone who cared¨Chonesty was its own
form of kindness.
Padgett was perceptive; he always knew when to stop, never pushing, never crossing boundaries, never making her ufortable.
So he never asked for more.
¡°Come on, let¡¯s eat. I¡¯m starving,¡± he said, taking the umbre from her and opening it over her head.
Noreen rxed, and the two of them strolled down the street,ughter and easy conversation making them look, for all the world, like a happy couple.
Across the road, a silver Maybach sped by.
In the back seat, Seth caught a glimpse of the scene: Noreen and Padgett under the umbre, walking together.
The car was gone in a sh, the moment over in an instant.
But for some reason, that image branded itself in Seth¡¯s mind, and no matter how fast the car drove,
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he couldn¡¯t shake it free.
Yes-man 271
Chapter 271
The midday sun was blinding¨Cso harsh that even after Seth Harcourt rolled up his car window, he still couldn¡¯t shake it off.
But only he knew: in that moment, it wasn¡¯t just the sunlight that stung his eyes.
Later that afternoon, Noreen Gilmore had to visit Carman Holt¡¯s office. Once she¡¯d finished her conversation with Padgett Novak, she said her goodbyes and headed out.
She had just reached the front steps when three people appeared, walking up from the street.
Leading them was Forrest Lowell, who had some business to attend to on this side of town.
He spotted Noreen standing on the steps and hesitated for a split second.
Turning to hispanions, Forrest said he had something to take care of and asked them to go on ahead without him.
After the other two left, Noreen started down the steps as well.
Forrest called out, ¡°Miss Gilmore.¡±
There was no one else around, and he¡¯d addressed her by her surname. Even though she didn¡¯t recognize him, Noreen slowed and nced over her shoulder. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Forrest replied, wearing a pleasant smile. ¡°Are you from Rivercrest City, Miss Gilmore?¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t know who he was¨Ccertainly not that this was Bianca Lowell¡¯s father. To her, he was just a stranger, so she wasn¡¯t about to answer his questions.
She kept her tone polite but distant. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t help you with that.¡±
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Forrest standing on the steps watching her retreating figure until she disappeared from sight. Only then did he slowly snap back to himself.
After a moment¡¯s pause, he pulled out his phone and made a call. ¡°I need you to look into someone for me.¡±
It didn¡¯t take much effort to find information on Noreen. By the time Forrest finished his meeting, the report was waiting for him.
When he saw the word ¡°deceased¡± written next to Father in the file, Forrest fell silent for a long time.
Noreen had just arrived at Carman¡¯s office when she overheard his assistant venting, ¡°We¡¯ve been polite all day. The people from Ascendancy Group just refuse to cooperate, but then they turn around and me us for everything. It¡¯spletely unfair.¡±
Carman, known for his easygoing temperament, merely tried to soothe him. ¡°Just hang in there. If it happens again, I¡¯ll go handle it myself.¡±
The assistant knew Carman didn¡¯t want to trouble Noreen, so he swallowed his frustration.
As he turned to open the door, he found Noreen standing right there. From her expression, it was
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obvious she¡¯d heard their conversation. Th?s chapter is updated by find~novel
¡°Ms. Gilmore¡¡±
Noreen stopped him before he could leave. ¡°Don¡¯t rush off. Come in and tell me exactly what¡¯s going
on.¡±
The assistant nced at Carman.
Carman knew they couldn¡¯t hide it from her, so he nodded.
The assistant then gave Noreen a full rundown.
It turned out that a week ago, Seth had handed over management of Ascendancy Group to Bianca. Even before that, Noreen thought it was unusual for her to be involved; she never expected Seth to actually give Bianca full control.
It was generous to the point of being inexplicable.
Bianca running things was one thing, but she constantly nitpicked: one minute missing documents, the next needing extra proof. If something was missing, fine¨Cbut she never said everything at once, dragging the process out again and again.
The assistant had tried arguing their case, but Bianca¡¯s team just twisted things around and used them ofcking good faith.
After Noreen understood the situation, she told Carman, ¡°I¡¯ll go to Ascendancy Group tomorrow. If anything like this happens again,e straight to me and I¡¯ll handle it.¡±
Once the work talk was over, Noreen drove to the airport to pick up someone very important.
There were far fewer people at the VIP arrivals exit than at the main one. Noreen waited there for ire Chase.
As soon as the nended, ire texted her: justnded, waiting to disembark.
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Chapter 272
Before long, people started trickling out from inside the terminal.
Noreen kept her head down, busy texting ire back.
Not far away, three people hurried outside. Leading the way was Henry Brooke, also engrossed in his phone, responding to a message from Bianca.
¡°Justnded. Free tonight? Want to grab dinner?¡±
He¡¯d barely hit send when he mmed straight into someone.
The collision was so forceful that Noreen¡¯s phone flew from her hand and crashed to the floor, dying a dramatic, untimely death.
She scrambled to pick it up, only to find the screen ck and unresponsive. Just as she opened her mouth to speak-
The man who¡¯d collided with her coolly turned to his assistant. ¡°Rece it for her.¡±
He didn¡¯t bother with an apology, just strode away without looking back.
Noreen was stunned by his rudeness, a disbelievingugh escaping her lips. ¡°Wow. Money really does make the world go ¡®round, huh?¡±
Henry paused mid¨Cstep and nced over his shoulder, giving Noreen a thorough, almost appraising look¨Cthe kind that made her skin crawl.
Finally, he gave a slight, sardonic smile. ¡°Money is impressive, isn¡¯t it?¡±
On the ride back, Noreen recounted the whole airport incident to ire.
¡°You¡¯re way too polite,¡± ire huffed from the passenger seat, gesturing wildly. ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d have kicked him right in the face. Let¡¯s see how smug he¡¯d look then! Come on, I¡¯m the Combat Queen! I¡¯d have wiped the floor with that jerk!¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t help butugh, ire¡¯s dramatics instantly lifting her mood. ¡°So, Combat Queen, where are we celebrating tonight?¡±
¡°I want a feast! We have to celebrate you properly!¡±
¡°Deal. I¡¯m at your mercy! You can pick any restaurant in all of Rivercrest City!¡±
ire put on her best starry¨Ceyed face. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, you¡¯re so generous! Need a sidekick?¡±
Noreen ended up taking ire to ¡®Stratus¡®¨Cthe most exclusive restaurant in Rivercrest City.
As the name suggests, it was perched on the top floor of Stratus International za, the city¡¯s tallest skyscraper, soaring 458 meters above the ground. The sweeping windows of its panoramic dining room offered breathtaking views of Rivercrest¡¯s famous sea of clouds¨Cat least during the day. At night, the city lights reced the clouds, glittering far below.
Noreen had made a reservation in advance. But as soon as she sat down, she noticed the man at the
12:24
next table looked annoyingly familiar.
Wasn¡¯t that the arrogant rich guy from the airport?
Small world.
She leaned in and whispered her discovery to ire.
ire, curiosity piqued, snuck a few nces before giving her verdict. ¡°Well, at least he looks halfway decent.¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t want to talk about him anymore¨Cit might spoil her appetite.
Instead, the two friends caught up over dinner, swapping stories andughing between bites.
For the past three months, ire had been deep in training¨Chorseback riding, archery, wirework, and wielding a mean staff. Even the stunt coordinator had praised her fight scenes for their fluidity.
Noreen could tell ire genuinely loved acting. No matter how grueling the training, she neverined.
As for Noreen, her own career was practically taking off; ire didn¡¯t worry about her in the slightest.
What she was more curious about was Noreen¡¯s love life.
Noreen hesitated, then said, ¡°I don¡¯t really want to spend the time getting to know someone new. It¡¯s like writing an essay¨Cyou¡¯re almost finished, but then the teacher rips it up and tells you to start over because your handwriting¡¯s messy. You remember the beginning, sure, but you¡¯re too worn out to rewrite it. You¡¯ve already poured everything into that one essay, right up to thest line, and now you have to start from scratch.¡±
¡°Honestly, being alone makes me feel more grounded.¡±
ire listened, her eyes softening with sympathy. ¡°You¡¯re like someone who¡¯s been bitten by a snake¨Cnow you¡¯re terrified of every rope you see. Seth is such a bastard!¡±
She gripped her fork, looking like she was ready to toss that jerk right off the top of the 458¨Cmeter building. Follow current nov?ls on find(?)ovel
Yes-man 273
Chapter 273
To cheer Noreen up, ire took her out for drinks.
Alcohol was never a good thing at work events¨Cmore of a necessary evil than anything enjoyable. But outside of the office, a drink or two now and then could lift the spirits.
It had been ages since the two of them had gone out for a drink together, and Noreen decided to go along with ire¡¯s n.
ire picked the ce, a trendy new bar downtown called Rhapsody. The d¨¦cor was sleek and modern, with a lively atmosphere that made it perfect for young professionals to unwind after work.
They¡¯d barely settled into their seats when a stranger sauntered over, trying to strike up a
conversation.
Noreen shot him down without missing a beat.
She had a cool, reserved air about her; when she wasn¡¯t smiling, people tended to keep their distance. But that didn¡¯t stop them from trying¨Cthe girl was stunning, and her looks drew admirers like moths to a me.
ire couldn¡¯t help teasing. ¡°See that? Now that you¡¯ve ditched that jerk Seth, the whole world is your oyster. No need to lock your heart away for someone who¡¯s not worth it.¡±
She paused, frowning as she nced at thetest would¨Cbe suitor. ¡°Although, let¡¯s be honest, none of these guys are even remotely tempting. If you are going to consider anyone, at least make sure he¡¯s
hotter than Seth.¡±
ire caught herself. That was a tall order.
Finding someone better¨Clooking than Seth was hard enough. Finding someone richer? Practically impossible.
She sighed in defeat. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s just drink.¡±
A server arrived, carrying two cocktails and setting them carefully on the table. ¡°These are Winston cocktails,pliments of Mr. Naylor for Ms. Gilmore and her friend.¡±
ire arched an eyebrow. ¡°And who¡¯s Mr. Naylor?¡±
Noreen replied, ¡°A business associate.¡± Updates are released by F?ndNovel
¡°He¡¯s generous,¡± ire remarked, swirling the custom cocktail with a grin. ¡°This drink must cost a fortune.¡±
Noreen ignored ire¡¯s banter and asked the server, ¡°Where is Mr. Naylor?¡±
The server nodded toward a table across the room.
Noreen nced over; Healy Naylor raised his ss in her direction.
Out of courtesy, Noreen lifted her own drink in response.
ire wasn¡¯t about to let this slip by. ¡°Not bad! He¡¯s easy on the eyes, and if he can afford to buy you
a cocktail that pricey, he must be loaded. Not interested?¡±
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Noreen took a small sip, then said coolly, ¡°He¡¯s Seth¡¯s childhood friend.¡±
ire pulled a face. ¡°Ugh, talk about bad luck!¡±
Suddenly the drink didn¡¯t taste quite so good. But it was expensive¨Cshe wasn¡¯t about to let it go to
waste.
ire noticed Mr. Naylor sneaking nces at their table, clearly more interested in Noreen than in his ownpany. With a huff, she edged her chair closer to Noreen, blocking his line of sight. When he looked their way again, ire mouthed two silent letters at him.
I¨CD.
Healy blinked, then broke into a smile. Even Noreen¡¯s friends had attitude.
Just then, Healy¡¯s phone rang. Jude Wilder was calling, wondering why he still hadn¡¯te back. ¡°On my way,¡± Healy said, before heading back to his group¡¯s private booth.
He returned just in time to overhear one of Jude¡¯s friends chattering excitedly. ¡°Jude, my buddy says there are two absolute stunners out front. Let¡¯s go check them out!¡±
Normally, Jude would be the first to join in. Their crowd of spoiled rich kids loved nothing more than chasing after women, burning through flings faster than they changed shirts.
But tonight, Jude wasn¡¯t in the mood. He turned down the suggestion.
¡°Come on, my buddy swears they¡¯re something else. Real ice queens. No one¡¯s managed to get a word in.¡±
¡°I said I¡¯m not interested,¡± Jude replied, irritation creeping into his voice.
¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go alone, then.¡±
Once the friend left, the booth quieted down. Jude nursed his drink in silence.
Healy slid into his seat and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Seth?¡±
¡°On his way.¡±
¡°Alone?¡±
¡°Yeah. Bianca¡¯s off with her friends.¡±
No sooner had they finished speaking than Seth arrived¨Calone, just as promised.
Healy offered, ¡°You want a drink or just water?¡±
¡°Water,¡± Seth said.
Healy poured himself a ss of whiskey, swirling the amber liquid in his hand as he spoke, almost off¨Chandedly. ¡°Ran into Noreen out there, by the way. She was with a friend. I sent them a round of cocktails.¡±
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Yes-man 274
Chapter 274
Jude paused mid¨Csip, something clicking in his mind. He turned to Healy. ¡°Were those absolute stunners my buddy mentioned about Noreen and her friend?¡±
¡°Probably,¡± Healy replied.
Jude just fell silent after that.
Seth hadn¡¯t said a word the whole time. He finished his ss of water, stood up, and stepped out to take a phone call.
Meanwhile, ire had gone to the restroom. When she came back, her face was like thunder.
¡°What happened?¡± Noreen asked.
¡°Ran into that jerk Seth,¡± ire said bluntly.
Noreen just chuckled, brushing it off. ¡°So what? Don¡¯t let people like that ruin our mood.¡±
¡°I just can¡¯t let it go,¡± ire grumbled.
She could never forget the image of Noreen lying in that hospital bed, lifeless and pale.
The doctor had said she¡¯d lost her baby¨Cand nearly lost her life.
All of it, every bit of that pain, could be traced straight back to Seth.
So why on earth did he get to be happy?
After everything he¡¯d done to Noreen, why did he get to move on, guilt¨Cfree, and start over with his precious first love?
Why?! This update is avable on find?novel
¡°It¡¯s in the past,¡± Noreen said, her voice calm, almost detached.
In the past. Just four simple words.
But seven years¨Cseven long years¨Chow many times had she forced herself to let go, to move on, to
survive it all?
¡°I¡¯m not feeling well. I¡¯m going to the restroom again,¡± ire muttered, setting her ss down before heading out.
Worried she might¡¯ve eaten something bad, Noreen sent her a message, checking in.
But the message disappeared into the void. No reply.
Noreen¡¯s unease grew. She got up to look for ire.
She hadn¡¯t even reached the restroom when a suddenmotion erupted in the private lounge area.
Amid the noise, she caught snatches of ire¡¯s sharp voice.
A dreadful realization hit Noreen, and she hurried toward the source of the chaos.
The moment she walked in, she saw Seth sitting in one of the booths, his usuallyposed face
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wiped clean of any expression.
His face and hair were dripping¨Cire had just doused him with a drink. Liquor trickled down his sharp brow, soaking his shirt and jacket.
ire stood there, gripping an empty wine bottle, her posture defiant.
It looked like she¡¯d poured the whole bottle over his head.
Noreen felt a headacheing on.
Seth, too¨Che was hardly helpless. That was a huge bottle; it¡¯s not like he didn¡¯t have time to dodge.
Trying to end things quickly, Noreen stepped forward. ¡°Sorry, my friend had too much to drink. The damages are on me.¡±
No one here was easy to deal with; if things got ugly, ire woulde off worse. Noreen wasn¡¯t about to let her get dragged into trouble on her ount.
ire immediately stepped in front of her protectively. ¡°Why are you apologizing? He¡¯s the one who should say sorry! He let you down! You gave up your chance to study abroad for him, worked yourself to the bone helping him build his career, and as soon as he made it, he ditched you! Now he gets to run off with his precious soulmate? Has your conscience been eaten by wolves?¡±
¡°Oh wait, silly me¨Cyou never had a conscience to begin with!¡±
Seth calmly took some napkins and wiped the liquor from his face, his eyes cold and stormy.
That was always his warning sign before he lost his temper.
Before he could say anything, Noreen stepped up, shielding ire again. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for your clothes, too.¡±
Seth let out a low, humorlessugh. ¡°That¡¯s it? You think I care about that?¡±
¡°What do you want, then?¡±
Seth¡¯s gaze swept past her andnded on ire. His voice was icy, sharp as a de. ¡°Either she apologizes, or she can expect to hear from mywyer.¡±
ire bristled, practically vibrating with fury, like a little lioness ready to bite. ¡°Go ahead, sue me! See if I care! You heartless bastard! Noreen almost died because of you¨Cdo you even realize you owe her a life?¡±
For a second, Seth¡¯s stony expression broke. His eyes narrowed. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®a life¡®?¡±
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Chapter 275
ire was about to snap back, anger ring, but Noreen mped a hand over her mouth before she could utter a word.
Noreen¡¯s own voice was eerily calm, her face a mask. ¡°She¡¯s drunk and talking nonsense. If you want to press charges, go ahead.¡±
Without waiting to see Seth¡¯s reaction, she grabbed ire¡¯s arm and headed for the door.
They didn¡¯t get far before Seth caught Noreen by the arm, pulling her back.
¡°Exin it to me. Whose life do you think I owe you for?¡±
Noreen turned, sharp emotion flickering in her eyes. ¡°Are you sure you want to know?¡±
Seth¡¯s hand tightened on her arm, then loosened, then tightened again¨Clike he couldn¡¯t decide whether to hold on or let her go.
Noreen found it almostughable. Her tone turned icy with scorn. ¡°Looks like you don¡¯t really want to know. Frankly, you don¡¯t deserve to.¡±
She led ire out, leaving the room in a heavy, suffocating silence.
Jude opened his mouth several times, wanting to say something, but in the end he stayed silent.
Ten minutester, Seth snatched up his coat and stormed out.
Healy, who¡¯d watched the whole scene from start to finish, drained thest of his whiskey. Leaning on his hand, he turned to Jude. ¡°So, Jude, who do you think Seth actually loves?¡±
Jude didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°It¡¯s got to be Bianca.¡± He¡¯d seen it with his own eyes, after all.
ire couldn¡¯t hold her liquor nearly as well as Noreen. When they got back to their apartment after leaving the bar, she crashed almost immediately.
Noreen, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t sleep at all. Her mind flickered with images¨Cmemories, half¨Cformed and elusive, vanishing before she could grasp them.
Not wanting to disturb ire, she finally got up and stepped out onto the small balcony for some air.
Outside, a light rain had started, pattering softly through the leaves overhead. The damp smell in the air only deepened her sense of heaviness.
As she was heading back inside, Noreen caught sight of a familiar silver¨Ctopped Maybach parked discreetly on the curb. If it hadn¡¯t been for the wind and rain, she probably wouldn¡¯t have noticed it at
all.
Under the glow of the streemp, she saw the man standing beneath a tree. The rain was barely more than a mist, and the branches offered some shelter, but his clothes were soaked through. He must have been standing there for a long time.
But what was the point of this, really?
Maybe before¨Cbefore these seven long years¨Cshe might have been moved. But now, all she felt was emptiness. It all felt meaningless.
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Loyalty, sincerity¨Cthose things were far too fragile.
She¡¯d learned not to expect them anymore.
The old Noreen, the one who fought for every win, who obsessed over every slight, was gone. Updates are released by Find~Novel
Without hesitation, she turned away, went back inside, closed the balcony door, and crawled into bed.
If he wanted to stand in the rain, she figured, let him. He could drown in it for all she cared.
The next morning, while Noreen was eating the breakfast ire had made, she mentioned what she¡¯d seen the night before.
¡°What a performance! Trying to look all tragic and devoted¨Cwhy couldn¡¯t it have hailedst night and knocked some sense into that bastard?¡± ire ranted without restraint, not caring who heard her.
But after venting, she turned gentle again, worry in her voice. ¡°Noreen, you have to keep moving forward. Promise me, okay?¡±
¡°I will,¡± Noreen replied.
The truth was, ever since she¡¯d decided to walk away, she hadn¡¯t even considered looking back. Mistakes, missed chances, regrets¨Cshe had no time for any of it. Cool logic and a little bit of heartlessness were what kept her afloat.
After ire left, Noreen called up Sophia Cole and asked her to help find a new ce. She was determined to move out by the end of the week.
¡°You can count on me!¡± Sophia promised.
Later that day, Noreen made her way to the offices of Ascendancy Group.
This time, it was the deputy director who greeted her, apologizing for the change. Apparently, Director Lowell was supposed to meet with her, but at thest minute, he¡¯d gotten called away to care for Mr. Harcourt, who¡¯de down with a nasty cold.
¡°So I¡¯m stepping in,¡± the deputy exined. ¡°Director Lowell and Mr. Harcourt are incredibly close. There was even a big meeting scheduled for today, but Director Lowell canceled everything just to take care of him.¡±
It was clear from her tone that the woman was a bit of a gossip.
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Chapter 276
After Noreen finished negotiating with the Ascendancy Group, they promised tomunicate more thoroughly in future coborations.
That afternoon, as soon as Noreen arrived at the office, Sophia greeted her with good news¨Cthe apartment was sorted!
Sophia¡¯s efficiency was so impressive that Noreen couldn¡¯t help but shower her with praise.
¡°I figured you¡¯d be moving soon, so I¡¯ve been keeping an eye out,¡± Sophia said, grinning.
After work, Noreen went to see the ce. It was a spacious, modern apartment, just her style.
ording to Sophia, the apartment had originally been renovated by thendlord as a wedding gift for his son. But then¡ his son came out of the closet. In a fit of anger, thendlord listed the property for sale online.
Unfortunately, the housing market had copsed over the past couple of years. No one was willing to buy, so in the end, thendlord had no choice but to rent it out at a low price.
The rent was just double what Noreen used to pay for her cramped studio, but now she¡¯d have a sweeping view and brand¨Cnew interiors.
Noreen loved it at first sight and immediately decided to take it.
The move gave her the perfect excuse for a round of decluttering. She threw out a mountain of stuff and felt lighter with every trip to the dumpster.
Early Saturday morning, Sophia called a movingpany to help with the move. Once all the boxes were loaded onto the truck, Noreen suggested Sophia head to the new ce ahead of her¨Cshe¡¯d be along a littleter.
Sophia asked where she was going.
Noreen just said she had something to take care of.
After Sophia left, Noreen walked alone toward the man¨Cmadeke beside her apartmentplex. It wasn¡¯t far, but somehow it felt like the longest walk she¡¯d ever taken.
The sky was overcast, and a light breeze rustled the trees.
Noreen stood by the water for a while before finally unclenching her fist. With all her strength, she hurled the small object she¡¯d been holding straight into theke.
It was thest thing she had that connected her to Seth.
And something he would never know about.
***
By mid¨CMarch, spring was in full bloom.
Noreen and Carman were invited to attend the city¡¯s first¨Cquarter business leaders¡® summit.
They¡¯d barely arrived at the venue before running into some familiar faces.
12:25 Chapters first released on findnovel
Healy was there, apanied by Jude.
Noreen had heard recently that Seymour Wilder¡¯s health had taken a turn for the worse, forcing him to hand over thepany¡¯s reins to Jude, at least temporarily.
So it made sense that Jude was attending the summit on Seymour¡¯s behalf.
As soon as Healy spotted Noreen, he strode over to greet her.
¡°Ms. Gilmore, it¡¯s been a while,¡± he said, all smiles.
In truth, it hadn¡¯t been that long. He was just making conversation.
¡°Good to see you, Mr. Healy,¡± Noreen replied with a polite nod.
¡°I heard Director Novak is chairing today¡¯s meeting. Is this your first time at one of these events? If you have any questions, feel free to ask.¡±
Noreen thought about saying that, while this was her first time attending as a business owner, she¡¯d actually been to plenty of these summits before, back when she used toe with Seth. She knew the routine all too well.
Still, she simply thanked Healy.
¡°Oh, by the way,¡± he said, ¡°the cherry blossoms at Southmont are in full bloom. Have you had a chance to get out and enjoy the spring?¡±
¡°Work¡¯s been busy. I haven¡¯t had the time.¡±
¡°That¡¯s a shame. Some sights onlye once a year¨Cyou miss them, and you¡¯ll have to wait another twelve months. If you get the chance, you really should go.¡±
While Healy rambled on, doing his best to keep the conversation going, Bianca and Lillian Laurent arrived at the venue.
Lillian had specificallye with Bianca because she¡¯d heard Healy would be there. Bianca, meanwhile, was attending in Seth¡¯s ce.
Spotting Bianca, Jude walked over to greet her. ¡°Bianca! Over here.¡±
She nced around, noticing that Jude was alone. ¡°Isn¡¯t Healy with you?¡±
¡°He¡¯s over there.¡±
Bianca and Lillian looked in the direction Jude indicated¨Conly to see Healy chatting andughing
with Noreen.
Lillian¡¯s expression soured instantly.
Bianca frowned as well.
Since when were those two so friendly?
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Chapter 277
Jude, standing nearby, chimed in, ¡°Naylor Automotive Group recently struck a strategic partnership with InnoCore. Healy¡¯s probably talking business with Noreen¨Cthey¡¯ve been at it for a while.¡±
Bianca withdrew her gaze, no longer concerned.
She¡¯d been overthinking it.
Healy, just like Jude, couldn¡¯t stand Noreen.
Besides, in their circles, Noreen¡¯s background wasn¡¯t nearly impressive enough to matter.
No matter how pretty Noreen was, there was no way Healy would ever be interested in her.
He was polite to her on the surface, but that was only for the sake of their coboration¨Ca matter of courtesy, nothing more.
In private, he wouldn¡¯t spare her a second nce.
Lillian asionally got a little jealous, but Bianca always reassured her not to take it seriously.
Just then, Healy returned.
He¡¯d have liked to chat with Noreen a bit longer, but she was clearly busy¨Cpeople kept pulling her away.
He¡¯d only have been in the way if he¡¯d lingered, so he wisely excused himself.
Spotting Bianca, he greeted her. ¡°Is Seth feeling any better?¡±
¡°He was doing fine, but then he rpsed. He¡¯s still in the hospital on an IV¨Ccouldn¡¯t even make it to the conference. Asked me to fill in for him,¡± Bianca replied.
Healy frowned. ¡°What happened? He just got caught in the rain¨Chow¡¯s he still sick?¡±
Before Bianca could answer, someone else approached to say hello.
¡°Bianca.¡±
It was Henry.
She looked up, surprised. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±
¡°I¡¯m here for the conference too,¡± Henry exined.
¡°Does Brooke Group have holdings in Rivercrest?¡± Bianca asked.
Henry nodded. ¡°A few, not many. We¡¯re nning to increase our investment this year.¡±
Bianca perked up. ¡°We should keep in touch, then. Maybe we can partner on some projects down the line.¡±
¡°Absolutely.¡± Henry agreed without hesitation.
Before the conference started, Bianca ducked into the restroom to touch up her makeup.
Lillian, curiosity getting the better of her, asked, ¡°Hey, Bianca, does Henry have a thing for you?¡±
12:251
Bianca carefully applied her lipstick, checking the color in the mirror before answering. ¡°Back in business school, he did ask me out.¡±
¡°Did you say yes?¡±
Bianca shook her head. ¡°No, I was with Dn then.¡±
Lillian nodded. ¡°Oh, right.¡±
¡°He found out I had a boyfriend and never brought it up again, but he always admired me.¡±
Lillian had looked up to Bianca since they were kids¨Cshe knew exactly how maic Bianca could be.
That Henry had a crush on her cousin didn¡¯t surprise her one bit.
Bianca slipped her lipstick back into her purse and adjusted her hair. ¡°What I didn¡¯t expect is that he¡¯s the Brooke Group heir. Back at school, he seemed like just a broke student, always working odd jobs to pay the bills. I helped him out a couple of times, and he¡¯s never forgotten it. He¡¯s always been grateful¨Cand maybe a little in awe.¡±
There was definitely something more than gratitude there.
As a woman, Bianca could always tell when a man looked at her with more than just admiration.
But now she had Seth, and Henry wasn¡¯t even a consideration. Latest content published on find?novel
Still, a connection like his was too valuable to ignore.
A man¡¯s admiration and affection¨Cthose were the best tools in her arsenal.
When they finished fixing their makeup and stepped out, they spotted Noreen in the hallway, deep in conversation on her phone.
Lillian gave a derisive snort and deliberately raised her voice. ¡°Honestly, Bianca, your husband¡¯s gone above and beyond for you. He put you in charge of Aurelion Group just so you¡¯d have a foothold, and now he¡¯s letting you represent him at the conference. That¡¯s basically what real marriage looks like, isn¡¯t it?¡±
Noreen shot her a look, clearly annoyed by the volume, and shielded the phone.
But Lillian, undeterred, just got louder. ¡°So what if someone¡¯s been a loyal puppy for seven years? If he doesn¡¯t love you, it¡¯ll never be enough. Real love means that even if you do nothing at all, just standing there is enough for him to give you the world.¡±
Yes-man 278
After Noreen ended the call, she strode straight toward the two women.
There was something about her presence that immediately deted Lillian¡¯s earlier bravado.
¡°So when I asked you to apologize before, why didn¡¯t you shout so loud then?¡± There was a steely edge to Noreen¡¯s tone that could be downright intimidating.
Lillian, who had only dared to act tough with Bianca backing her up, shrank under Noreen¡¯s re, biting her lip and not daring to utter a word.
After all, Noreen still had the video of her apology. If Noreen decided to make it public, how could Lillian ever show her face again?
With no other option, she nced desperately at Bianca for help.
Bianca squeezed her arm and said quietly, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t make a scene.¡±
She was here on Seth¡¯s behalf for the summit, and thest thing she needed was a scandal that would cause trouble for him.
Staying under the radar was the smarter move.
Bianca led Lillian away, avoiding a direct confrontation with Noreen.
Across the room, Henry seemed to notice themotion, though from his distance he couldn¡¯t make out exactly what was happening.
Assuming Bianca was in some kind of trouble, he quickly approached her. ¡°Bianca, do you need any help?¡±
She shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing. Just someone who¡¯s a bit of a headache. Best to just ignore her.¡±
Henry shot a nce in Noreen¡¯s direction.
There was a hint of warning in his eyes.
¡°Come on, the meeting¡¯s about to start.¡± He gave Noreen a pointed look, then turned back to Bianca with a gentle invitation.
¡°Alright.¡±
The seating for the conference had been arranged by the staff in advance. Naturally, the top localpanies were ced in the front row.
Bianca, representing Aurelion Group, had a seat reserved in the very first row.
Noreen and Carman were assigned to the second row.
As luck would have it, Henry¡¯s seat was right next to Noreen¡¯s.
When Noreen took her seat and saw Henry¡¯s namete beside her, she couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, wondering if this was the same Henry Matthew Cole had mentioned. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find?Novel
Not long after, Henry entered the room. Spotting his namete, he noticed Noreen sitting beside it
12:25
and instinctively frowned.
He deliberated for only a second before picking up his card and swapping seats with someone else on the other end of the row.
Clearly, he wanted nothing to do with Noreen.
She was too distracted to notice the switch.
It wasn¡¯t until the meeting began that Noreen realized someone else was sitting next to her.
She nced across the aisle and spotted Henry¨Cthe same arrogant man she¡¯d run into at the airport. Matthew Cole¡¯s description of him, she decided, had been far too generous.
Difficult to deal with? That was putting it mildly.
He was downright arrogant and rude.
Not that she cared. They barely knew each other and had no reason to interact¨Cthere was no need to give him a second thought.
The meeting was chaired by Padgett Novak, who was representing the government. He began bymending several outstandingpanies, including the Aurelion Group.
Bianca glowed with pride, as if all ofst year¡¯s achievements had been hers alone.
The others were unfailingly polite to her, though everyone knew it was really out of respect for Seth. Padgett Novak went on to give special recognition to InnoCore for its outstanding development and contributions in the past season.
At that, Bianca¡¯s smile faltered ever so slightly.
During the coffee break, Noreen was surrounded by people eager to discuss potential partnerships. Bianca, too, found herself at the center of a crowd.
Among them was Hugh Summers, who grinned and asked, ¡°So, when are you and Mr. Harcourt finally going to tie the knot and treat us all to a celebration?¡±
Bianca smiled back. ¡°Very soon. And when the timees, you¡¯ll all be on the guest list.¡±
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Chapter 279
Noreen had no idea the others were discussing personal matters nearby.
As far as she was concerned, her own conversation was strictly business.
Padgett Novak was telling her about a new start¨Cuppetition the government and the Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce were co¨Chosting. The winner would receive substantial support to kickstart their business.
The moment Noreen heard this, she was intrigued and started asking Padgett for more details. Discover more novels at F?ndNovel
Meanwhile, Healy had been hoping to chat with Noreen¨Ceven just about work¨Cbut she remained deep in conversation with Padgett Novak. With no opportunity to interrupt, Healy finally gave up.
As he turned to look for Jude, Lillian shyly approached him, offering a bottle of iced tea. ¡°Healy, this is for you.¡±
¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not a fan of iced tea,¡± Healy declined politely.
Lillian quickly added, ¡°Well, what would you like to drink? I can get it for you.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not thirsty.¡±
¡°Then maybe I could keep youpany for a bit?¡±
Healy frowned. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m really busy.¡±
He didn¡¯t wait for her reply, simply walked away. If she weren¡¯t Bianca¡¯s cousin, Healy wouldn¡¯t have bothered speaking to her at all.
Jude was standing by the window, getting some air. He looked more somber than usual, the usual restless energy reced by a shadow of mncholy.
Healy came over. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±
Jude sighed. ¡°I suddenly realized how tough my dad¡¯s had it all these years. These meetings are unbearably dull¨Che¡¯s been enduring them for thirty years. If it were me, I couldn¡¯tst three.¡±
He hesitated, then added, ¡°And running apany is so much harder than I thought. Whenever I look at those financial statements, it¡¯s like they¡¯re written in anothernguage. I just don¡¯t get it.¡±
There wasn¡¯t much Healy could do about that, so he simply encouraged him, ¡°Give it time. You¡¯ll get the hang of it.¡±
Jude¡¯s gaze drifted across the room. ¡°I¡¯m starting to realize how impressive Noreen is.¡± He watched her move through the crowd, seamlessly mingling andughing,pletely in her element.
Healy nced in the same direction, admiration in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re just figuring that out now? She¡¯s definitely not like most women.¡±
He paused, then added, ¡°Not at all.¡±
Both of them were so absorbed in watching Noreen that neither noticed Lillian standing nearby. The stic bottle in her hand was nearly crushed from how tightly she was gripping it.
12:25
Why was it always Noreen? It wasn¡¯t enough for her to steal Bianca¡¯s boyfriend¨Cnow she was after the guy Lillian liked too?
When the afternoon meeting ended, Henry was quick to rise from his seat and make his way over to
Bianca.
Leaning down slightly, he spoke in a low voice, ¡°Want to grab dinner together?¡±
¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t,¡± Bianca replied apologetically. ¡°My boyfriend just texted¨Che¡¯sing to pick me up.¡±
A flicker of disappointment crossed Henry¡¯s face, but he managed a gracious smile. ¡°Maybe another time, then.¡±
¡°Do you two know each other?¡± asked Mr. Renaud, the real estate executive seated beside Bianca. He¡¯d known Henry¡¯s father for years and now looked curiously at the pair.
Henry straightened up. ¡°Ms. Lowell was my senior at university. She holds a PhD in Finance from WT Business School.¡±
Mr. Renaud¡¯s eyes widened in amazement. ¡°A real schr! I had no idea Director Lowell was so aplished¨Cit¡¯s an honor to meet you!¡±
Once the others learned about Bianca¡¯s impressive credentials, they began to exim in admiration, their gazes filled with newfound respect and appreciation.
Some said, ¡°No wonder you captured Mr. Harcourt¡¯s heart¨Cwhat a remarkable couple!¡±
Others chimed in, ¡°With talents like Mr. Harcourt and Director Lowell, Aurelion Group¡¯s future looks limitless!¡±
Bianca epted the praise with practiced humility, but she clearly enjoyed being the center of attention. Amid the flurry ofpliments, she nced over at Noreen, who stood at the edge of the room, nearly forgotten.
What did Noreen have to offer that could possiblypare? Just Bianca¡¯s educational background alone put her miles ahead.
Noreen, oblivious to the admiration Bianca was basking in, was busy asking Padgett Novak about recent user feedback on the hotline tform.
Yes-man 280
Padgett Novak reported that the feedback had been fantastic. The new process cut out so many tedious steps that their service efficiency had improved fivefold, maybe more. Most importantly, it had finally solved a problem that had gued them for years. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find(?)ovel
Noreen just smiled. ¡°I¡¯m d I could help.¡±
Encouraged, Padgett invited her out for dinner.
¡°Sorry, I already have ns tonight,¡± Noreen replied.
Padgett looked a little disappointed. ¡°Maybe another day, then.¡±
At that moment, Carman finished up a conversation and came over to Noreen. She handed Noreen her bag and the half¨Cempty bottle of water she¡¯d left behind, always attentive.
Padgett couldn¡¯t help but nce at Carman a couple more times, taking in her thoughtfulness. Sensing someone¡¯s gaze, Carman looked up and met Padgett¡¯s eyes. Something unspoken passed between them in that brief moment.
As Noreen was preparing to leave, Healy hurried over. ¡°Want to grab dinner and talk about the project?¡±
Normally, Noreen, the consummate workaholic, would have agreed without hesitation. Healy had learned from experience: mention work, and Noreen never turned down an invitation.
But tonight, Noreen shook her head firmly. ¡°Sorry, I already have ns tonight. Rain check?¡±
Healy looked let down, but managed a smile. ¡°Sure, another time.¡±
After he walked away, Padgett¡¯s frown deepened.
As Noreen and Carman left, they ran into Seth, waiting at the entrance to pick up Bianca. Carman hesitated for a split second and nced at Noreen, but noticed that Noreen didn¡¯t look at Seth at all¨Cdidn¡¯t even break stride.
They passed each other like strangers¨Ctwo lines that never intersected, two worlds with nothing in
Carman quickly caught up to Noreen as they left together.
A few momentster, Healy and Bianca came out of the building. When Bianca saw Seth waiting for her at the door, she rushed over with a worried look. ¡°I told you to stay home! You¡¯re barely recovered and shouldn¡¯t be out in this weather.¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Seth replied, his voice still hoarse. The effort of speaking made him cough.
Healy shook his head in concern. ¡°You sure? You¡¯ve lost weight. This illness hit you pretty hard.¡±
Thinking back, it seemed Seth hadn¡¯t really been well since that night at the bar. His sickness had dragged on for over two weeks. Was he always this frail?
12:26
Noreen had cleared her entire evening just to celebrate Rosalind Gilmore¡¯s birthday. As soon as the meeting ended, she drove straight to pick up Rosalind.
Originally, Noreen had made reservations at a restaurant, but Rosalind said she was craving barbecue. It had been ages since Noreen could indulge, thanks to her sensitive stomach, but since it was Rosalind¡¯s birthday, she was happy to go along with it.
They chose a barbecue spot at random. After they settled in, Rosalind went up to make her favorite dipping sauce. Noreen always let Rosalind handle it¨Cthe vor was unique, and she could never quite recreate it herself.
But when Rosalind returned to the table, she was empty¨Chanded and her face looked a bit off. Suddenly, she announced she¡¯d changed her mind and didn¡¯t want barbecue after all.
¡°What¡¯s going on, Ms. Gilmore? You said you wanted barbecue, and now you don¡¯t?¡± Noreen teased. Rosalind just shrugged. ¡°Birthday girl¡¯s privilege. My day, my rules. Noints.¡±
Noreen gave her a helpless, affectionate smile. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go get some nourishing soup instead.¡±
¡°Perfect.¡±
They got up and left as quickly as they¡¯d arrived.
Meanwhile, in one of the private rooms inside the barbecue ce, Forrest returned with a tray of dipping sauces.
Bianca looked at him, half¨Cjoking, halfining. ¡°Why the sudden craving for barbecue? Seth¡¯s barely over the flu.¡±
go find
Seth started to say he didn¡¯t mind, but Yvonne Laurent jumped in, ¡°You and Seth should go another restaurant. Your dad and I will stick with barbecue.¡±
¡°But today¡¯s your anniversary!¡± Bianca protested.
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Chapter 281
Yvonne grinned, ¡°Perfect, then the two of us can enjoy a little mother¨Cdaughter time. You two go have your date.¡±
Bianca knew Yvonne was giving her an excuse to be alone with Seth, so she took the hint and yed along. ¡°Alright, you two eat. Seth and I will head out for a walk.¡±
Seth had no objections¨Che always let Bianca take the lead.
Just before Bianca left, Yvonne pulled her aside and discreetly slipped something into her hand.
Bianca nced down and immediately blushed. ¡°Mom!¡±
¡°Better safe than sorry,¡± Yvonne hinted, her meaning clear.
Bianca could only slip the item quickly into her purse. After saying goodbye, she left with Seth.
Once the kids were gone, the smile faded from Yvonne¡¯s face.
She pushed aside the dipping sauces Forrest had just mixed for her, eyes narrowing in interrogation. ¡°Alright, out with it. Why the sudden craving for barbecue?¡±
Forrest calmly picked up his fork, took a slow bite, and only then replied, ¡°I felt like it, so I did. Does there always have to be a reason?¡±
Yvonne stared at him, searching for something beneath the surface.
But Forrest stayed perfectlyposed, focused on his meal.
In the end, Yvonne could only grumble, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to. And don¡¯t forget, you wouldn¡¯t be where you are today if it weren¡¯t for me!¡±
Noreen took Rosalind to her favorite little soup caf¨¦¨Cthe kind that served nourishing broths she
swore by.
Partway through their meal, Noreen noticed Rosalind seemed distracted, lost in thought. She asked if she was feeling unwell.
Rosalind quickly shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine! You saw my checkup results yourself, didn¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Then why are you so out of it? You¡¯ve been like this ever since we left the barbecue ce.¡±
¡°You¡¯re just being overly sensitive.¡±
Noreen hoped she was just imagining things.
After they finished eating, Noreen called the waiter for the bill, only to be told that a gentleman¨CMr. Novak¨Chad already settled it for them.
Noreen immediately guessed it was Padgett Novak. She texted him a thank you.
Padgett replied that he happened to be dining nearby with a friend; when he saw her, he took care of their check, but didn¡¯t want to interrupt her lunch with her mother.
12:26
Such a gentleman.
Even Rosalind was curious. ¡°Mr. Novak? Is he single? What does he look like? What does he do for a living?¡±
Noreen sighed. ¡°Mom, are you conducting an interview or something?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not interviewing, I¡¯m matchmaking.¡±
¡°So, this Mr. Novak¨Che¡¯s one of your suitors, right?¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t answer, but Rosalind could tell she¡¯d hit the mark. ¡°When are you going to introduce him to me?¡±
¡°I¡¯m really not interested.¡± It was the first time Noreen truly understood what it felt like to be nagged about marriage by a parent.
No wonder Padgett seemed so anxious¨Cmaybe it was contagious.
Rosalind tried to encourage her. ¡°You should give love a chance, honey. Falling in love is a wonderful thing. The best part is having someone who loves you¨Creally loves you.¡±
¡°If that¡¯s so great, why haven¡¯t you found someone for yourself?¡± Updates are released by fin?novel
¡°I¡¯m afraid he¡¯d treat you badly.¡±
Rosalind had nevercked admirers, but she¡¯d never epted any of them¨Cshe¡¯d always put Noreen first, afraid that a new rtionship might affect her daughter¡¯s upbringing.
Noreen¡¯s heart softened at that.
She¡¯d grown up in a single¨Cparent home, but never once felt deprived of love.
If anything, Rosalind¡¯s love had only ever overflowed.
On Wednesday, Jennifer Shaw arrived in Rivercrest City.
Noreen made sure to clear her schedule and invited her out to dinner. She¡¯d originally booked a table at a trendy sushi spot.
But when Jennifer said she was in the mood for drinks, Noreen switched their reservation to an upscale lounge.
When they met up, Noreen realized Jennifer had changed boyfriends again.
This time she¡¯d gone for apletely different type¨Ca younger guy with a wild, sporty vibe.
It wasn¡¯t even summer yet, but he was already showing off in a sleeveless tank top, flexing his physique at every opportunity.
His chest muscles were enough to make any woman feel self¨Cconscious.
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Chapter 282
Jennifer never bothered to hide anything in front of Noreen. As soon as the two of them entered the private lounge, Jennifer plopped herself right onto her boytoy¡¯sp and kissed him deeply, her passion on full disy.
Noreen had grown used to Jennifer¡¯s wild streak, but it still made her a little ufortable. Using the excuse of needing to make a call, she slipped out and lingered in the hallway, intentionally giving Jennifer some space. While she was at it, she dialed into a conference call with Matthew Cole.
Meanwhile, in another lounge, Lillian was sulking. Healy had turned her down, and her mood was in the gutter. Original content can be found at find[?]ovel
She¡¯d invited a group of friends out to have fun, charging everything to the Aurelion Group¡¯spany ount. It wasn¡¯t the first time, either. Seth, out of respect for Bianca, had never said a word about it.
With every sess, Lillian grew bolder, always picking the most expensive, exclusive ces to treat her friends. The food and drinks had to be top shelf, no exceptions. This extravagance had earned her a loyal circle of party friends, all eager to tter her at every turn.
Lillian loved the attention. She hosted parties when she was happy, and even more so when she
wasn¡¯t.
Tonight, her invitation was a remedy for her sour mood¨CHealy had ignored her, and she wasn¡¯t about to let it go.
Her friends did their best to cheer her up, telling her to move on. ¡°There are plenty of fish in the sea, Lillian. Why bother with just one guy?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t get it,¡± Lillian shot back. ¡°Healy¡¯s in a league of his own. I¡¯m not giving up that easily!¡±
¡°Then go after him!¡± someone chimed in.
Lillian scowled. ¡°He¡¯spletely hooked by that little tramp! He won¡¯t even give me the time of day.¡±
¡°Maybe we should go teach that tramp a lesson for you.¡±
This crowd was hardly a collection of saints¨Cthey¡¯d gotten up to plenty behind closed doors. Lillian¡¯s eyes sparkled with malice. ¡°Would you really?¡±
¡°Of course! You¡¯re our girl, Lillian. Just send me her infoter.¡±
¡°Tonight¡¯s the perfect opportunity,¡± Lillian replied, her voice cold and sharp. She¡¯d just spotted Noreen in the club and knew this was her chance.
The group rallied around her, eager to please. It didn¡¯t take long for them to hatch a n and set it in
motion.
At the same time, Lillian called Bianca to let her know she¡¯d run into Noreen at the club.
Bianca immediately understood what Lillian was hinting at. She didn¡¯t call her out, only warned her, ¡°Don¡¯t do anything reckless.¡±
Lillian sounded smug. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t get my hands dirty. No one will trace this back to me. You can rx, cousin.¡±
10.00
She could barely contain her excitement, gripping her phone tight. ¡°Just sit back and enjoy the show, Bianca. Try to bring your husband and Healy over here too. I want everyone to see Noreen¡¯s true
colors tonight.¡±
Bianca felt a chill in her throat. If Lillian pulled this off, Noreen¡¯s reputation in Rivercrest City would be ruined for good.
That would mean one less rival, and Seth would finally move on from his old me.
And then there was Dn Wilder¡
Dn would never look at Noreen again.
The more Bianca thought about it, the more excited she became. She texted Lillian right back: ¡°I¡¯ll find
a way to bring them over. Just make sure you don¡¯t leave any evidence.¡±
¡°Rx, I¡¯ve got this.¡±
Lillian hung up, turned to her friends, andmanded, ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡±
They were all fired up, ready to follow her lead without question.
Just imagining Noreen¡¯s downfall tonight made Lillian feel like she was floating. With Noreen out of the way, Bianca¡¯s marriage would be safer, her cousin¡¯s career would flourish, and maybe¨Cjust maybe¨CHealy would finally see her.
The future looked wide open, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile at the thought.
Yes-man 283
Chapter 283
Noreen was gone for over half an hour, and by the time she returned to the private lounge, Jennifer and her boy toy were still locked in a passionate embrace, kissing as if nothing else existed.
Their clothes were rumpled and disheveled.
But Jennifer, at least, still had her wits about her. She gently pushed the young man away, straightened her blouse, and said, ¡°I need to talk business with Ms. Gilmore. Go have some fun outside. Order whatever you want, it¡¯s on me.¡±
¡°No, put it on my tab,¡± Noreen interjected quickly.
After all, she was the one who¡¯d invited everyone out¨Cit was only right to y the gracious host.
¡°Go on now.¡± Jennifer smiled as she shooed the young man out. Only then did shezily pick up her drink and turn to Noreen, a slow grin spreading across her face. ¡°Ah, to be young¨Cenergy to burn, day and night, without a care in the world.¡±
Noreen was long used to Jennifer¡¯s wild ways and unfiltered candor.
Most of the time, she just smiled and let her talk.
But every now and then, she¡¯d toss back ament.
¡°This one seems even younger than thest.¡±
¡°Mhm. Just turned twenty.¡± Jennifer lit a slim cigarette and took a long, slow drag.
Noreen did the math in her head.
That made him twenty¨Ctwo years younger than Jennifer.
As if reading her thoughts, Jenniferughed. ¡°We met at the exact age when both of us were at the height of our cravings. Perfect match, don¡¯t you think?¡±
Noreen had no idea how to respond to that.
Fortunately, the server arrived with more drinks, giving her the perfect excuse to raise a toast and steer the conversation elsewhere.
Jennifer never questioned Noreen¡¯s work ethic¨Cshe knew better. She¡¯d never once asked about the details of Noreen¡¯s projects.
Only after finishing thest drag of her cigarette and stubbing it out did Jennifer finally steer the conversation back. ¡°I heard Mr. Harcourt¡¯s getting engaged?¡±
Noreen thought for a moment. ¡°If even Mr. Shaw¡¯s heard about it, it must be true.¡±
Jennifer studied her, as if searching for a crack in herposure. ¡°And what do you make of it?¡±
¡°I suppose I¡¯ll just see it with my own eyes.¡±
Jennifer chuckled. ¡°Good. d to see you¡¯re not bothered. There are plenty of men in this world, no need to dwell on one from the past. Even if hees crawling back, you shouldn¡¯t look behind you.¡±
¡°Mr. Shaw is overthinking it. He¡¯s noting back, and I¡¯ve never wanted to go back either.¡±
12:26 Original content can be found at fin?novel
¦Ô¦Ð¦Á¦Ñ¦É¦Ò¦É ¦Ó¦Ï¦Ô
That was the honest truth for Noreen.
¡°Exactly! Why give one man twenty chances when you could give twenty men one chance each? If you can¡¯t find a good one, just find a whole bunch. It¡¯s like keeping a single fish¨Cif it dies, you¡¯re heartbroken. But if you have a pond full, you won¡¯t even notice when one goes belly up. Think bigger. Quantity over quality. If men are always around, it really doesn¡¯t matter which side they¡¯re on.¡± Jennifer raised her ss and grinned.
Noreen couldn¡¯t imagine where Jennifer picked up all these cynical pearls of wisdom.
But it made sense¨Csomeone who¡¯d wed her way through her own darkest hours, saving herself over and over with sharp¨Cedged humor like this.
Noreen, though, didn¡¯t have any such bitter wisdom. She survived on sheer grit.
Just like she¡¯d once loved Seth without a second thought.
If she had the courage to love him, she had the courage to let him go.
A server brought over another round. ¡°This is from the gentleman who just left, for the two of you.¡±
Jennifer beamed. ¡°Now that¡¯s thoughtful¨Calready remembering his big sister while he¡¯s out having a good time. Not bad.¡±
They drank a little more, and Noreen started to feel a strange buzz.
Given her usual tolerance, it made no sense¨Cshe shouldn¡¯t be feeling tipsy so soon.
But her head was swimming, her skin flushed and hot.
Jennifer looked the same, tugging at her cor, visibly ufortable. She pulled out her phone and called her boy toy back, telling him to hurry up.
He listened, showing up in minutes.
As soon as he walked in, Jennifer wrapped herself around him.
Heughed. ¡°Miss me already?¡±
Noreen realized she needed to get out of there. She stood up, mumbling something about getting some air, and left the room to give them privacy.
Her n was simple: find a restroom, ssh her face with cold water, then call Sophia toe pick her up.
But the moment she stepped into the restroom, someone grabbed her from behind, mping a hand over her mouth and nose. A sharp, acrid smell filled her nostrils, overwhelming her senses.
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Chapter 284 Newest update provided by find?novel
Noreen didn¡¯t even have time to struggle before everything went dark and she passed out.
Meanwhile-
Bianca was racing over, phone pressed to her ear. She¡¯d already called Healy and Jude; both promised to be there soon. And, of course, she hadn¡¯t forgotten Seth.
Seth was having dinner at the Harcourt family estate with Wade Harcourt that evening, so he and Bianca hadn¡¯t gone together. But the moment Bianca called, he agreed without hesitation, saying he¡¯de by as soon as dinner was over and that she should go ahead and have drinks with Jude
and the others first.
Just as Bianca was nearing the club, a text popped up from Lillian.
[Can¡¯t wait for the show to start!]
Those few words sent a thrill of anticipation through Bianca.
After sending her message, Lillian turned to herpanion, double¨Cchecking, ¡°You¡¯re sure there¡¯s no problem?¡±
¡°Absolutely. That¡¯s imported stuff¨Chell, even a nun would turn wild after taking it.¡±
Lillian believed him. Her friend had always been into these kinds of questionable things, and he¡¯d
used them to seduce more than a few women. Never once failed.
Besides, tonight they¡¯d given Noreen a double dose. Unless she dropped dead on the spot, there was no way she¡¯d withstand it.
¡°And don¡¯t forget¨Crecord everything!¡± Lillian stressed. Noreen liked to use that apology video to threaten her, didn¡¯t she? Well, two could y at that game. She¡¯d have her own video this time, something to hold over Noreen¡¯s head.
If she ever got fed up or just wanted to vent, she could post the video online and ruin Noreen¡¯s reputation for good. Just imagining Noreen, broken and begging at her feet, made Lillian¡¯s heart race with satisfaction. It was time to finally pay her back for all the humiliation she¡¯d suffered.
¡°Everything¡¯s arranged. Nothing will go wrong.¡±
Her friend actually had other ns for Noreen¨Cshe was gorgeous, easily the most beautiful woman he¡¯d ever had a shot at, and the temptation was eating away at him. But he knew how much Lillian despised Noreen, and saying anything would only risk her wrath. If he wanted to keep enjoying the perks of sticking close to Lillian, he¡¯d have to keep his desires in check. At worst, he could always make a private copy of the video for his own enjoymentter.
In the dim, stifling room, Noreen felt as though her body was on fire. Her mind and reason had abandoned her, leaving nothing but the drug¨Cfueled urges coursing through her veins.
She wed at her own clothes, throat parched and raw, every sound she madeing out as a hoarse rasp, more breath than voice. Each gasp felt like it tore at her lungs. Her entire body was
12:26
weak, and no matter how she struggled, she couldn¡¯t lift herself from the bed.
The door opened, then closed. Light flickered, then was swallowed by darkness again. Some sliver of awareness told her someone had entered.
¡°Mr. Shaw?¡± Her voice was so rough it was barely recognizable.
Under the drug¡¯s influence, Noreen¡¯s thoughts were a jumbled mess. She couldn¡¯t remember how she¡¯d ended up in this room, or what had happened. All she knew was the unbearable, itching agony, like thousands of ants crawling beneath her skin.
A figure approached, a cool hand pressing gently to her forehead. The chill was a blessing, a shard of ice in her inferno.
Noreen instinctively grabbed hold of that hand. ¡°That feels so good¡¡±
But the relief was fleeting. A fresh wave of heat surged through her, more intense than thest, and she writhed helplessly, wing at her clothes as if peeling them away would save her from the mes.
And then, miraculously, someone helped her. The suffocating cocoon of fabric was stripped away, the heat inside her dispersing just enough for a thin thread of rity to return.
She managed to ask, her voice trembling, ¡°Did Mr. Shaw send the male escort?¡±
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Chapter 285
No sooner had the words left her lips than Noreen felt his mouth on hers.
Her thoughts scattered in the haze¡
She felt as if she were drifting helplessly in the middle of a vast ocean, tossed by the waves with no control, sinking and rising with the current.
She had no idea how much time had passed. At some point, Noreen¡¯s hand fumbled blindly across the sheets, mumbling, ¡°Where¡¯s my phone?¡±
¡°What do you need your phone for?¡±
¡°To transfer money.¡±
She couldn¡¯t just sleep with him for nothing, right?
She vaguely heard him chuckle, his breath growing heavier. ¡°I¡¯m more than willing to let you have me for free.¡±
And with that, he bent down and kissed her again, his tongue tangling with hers, the kiss deepening, growing more heated.
By the end, it wasn¡¯t just Noreen who lost control.
He did too. His movements turned rough, overwhelming her, and her nails instinctively dug into his
back.
¡°Slow down¡ please.¡±
It had been too long, and even with the help of the medicine, she was struggling to keep up.
When Bianca arrived, Lillian greeted her personally at the entrance.
Seeing she¡¯de alone, Lillian asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your husband? Didn¡¯t hee with you?¡±
This whole charade was meant for Seth anyway¨Cif he didn¡¯t show, what was the point?
¡°He¡¯s on his way,¡± Bianca replied. ¡°He¡¯ll be here soon. I haven¡¯t forgotten about him.¡±
¡°Good.¡±
Lillian led Bianca to the private room they¡¯d reserved.
The first to arrive after them was Jude.
After all, Bianca had invited him.
As he stepped in, Jude asked, ¡°Where are Healy and Seth?¡±
¡°Seth¡¯s on his way. I¡¯m not sure about Healy,¡± Bianca answered.
Jude frowned. ¡°Healy lives closer than me¨Che should¡¯ve been here before I was.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll give him a call.¡±
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Jude immediately dialed Healy¡¯s number.
The phone rang and rang, but nobody picked up.
¡°That¡¯s weird, where¡¯d he go?¡± Jude muttered.
Lillian was hoping to see Healy too, and nudged Bianca to try calling him.
Bianca grinned at them both. ¡°He¡¯s a grown man¨Che can¡¯t just vanish into thin air. He¡¯s probably caught up with something. Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll show up.¡±
The three of them sipped their drinks and waited, but Healy still didn¡¯t make an appearance.
Lillian checked the time and shot Bianca a look.
Bianca finally pulled out her phone and called Seth to see where he was.
The phone rang several times before Seth picked up. After his recent illness, his voice was rough and hoarse.
¡°Where are you?¡± Bianca asked.
He named a street.
It was less than five miles from the club.
¡°You¡¯re almost here. I¡¯lle out to meet you.¡±
Seth warned her, ¡°It¡¯s cold and raining out¨Cdon¡¯te. I¡¯ll be there in a minute.¡±
Jude teased, ¡°Wow, Seth¡¯s so thoughtful in private. Who would¡¯ve guessed?¡±
¡°Trust me, he¡¯s always been that way with Bianca,¡± Lillian said knowingly. Discover more novels at find?novel
Bianca ignored their teasing and decided to head out anyway.
But just then, a loud crash sounded over the line, followed by a muffled groan of pain from Seth.
¡°Seth? Seth, are you okay? What happened?¡± Bianca¡¯s voice rose in panic.
There was no answer, just the chaotic re of car horns.
Bianca¡¯s heart pounded as she kept calling his name, her anxiety mounting.
Three agonizing minutes ticked by before Seth¡¯s voice came back, weak and strained.
¡°I was in a car ident¡¡±
Without hesitation, Bianca and Jude rushed outside.
Lillian should have gone with them, but right now she was more concerned about Noreen.
She quickly made up an excuse about needing to settle the bill, promising to meet them at the hospitalter.
Jude sprinted off to get the car. Bianca waited by the entrance, only to spot a familiar face she hadn¡¯t expected to see.
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Chapter 286
It was Padgett Novak.
Padgett hurried past, looking nothing like his usualposed self. His clothes were different, and his hair¨Cnormally so meticulously styled¨Cwas a mess, strands falling haphazardly across his forehead.
Bianca opened her mouth to call out to him, but remembered she had more pressing matters and let
it go.
Padgett moved quickly, disappearing from sight within minutes.
Just then, Jude¡¯s car pulled up. Bianca slid into the passenger seat, and they sped off toward the ident scene.
By the time they arrived, Seth was already being loaded into the ambnce.
The silver¨Ctopped Maybach had mmed into a roadside sculpture, the whole body of the car overturned, its front end crushed nearly beyond recognition.
Traffic officers were busy cordoning off the area and directing the flow of cars around the wreck.
Bianca and Jude followed the ambnce to the hospital.
Only when they arrived did Bianca realize how badly Seth was hurt.
There was a gash above his eyebrow where ss had cut into his skin, deep enough that he¡¯d need stitches. Bruises and scrapes covered the rest of him to varying degrees.
Thankfully, none of the injuries were life¨Cthreatening. Bianca let out a long, shaky breath of relief.
While she sat with Seth as the doctors treated his wounds, Lillian called to check in.
Bianca gave her a brief rundown of what had happened.
With others present, neither of them mentioned anything about Noreen. They both knew better than to bring it up.
Lillian, for her part, had learned to read between the lines. She knew Bianca would want to know what happened next, so once they hung up, she sent a text.
¡°Noreen was taken away by Carman.¡±
Bianca froze. ¡°What was he doing there?¡±
¡°Who knows!¡± Lillian replied, clearly frustrated.
Everything had seemed foolproof¨Cuntil it all unraveled at thest second.
She¡¯d even gone to the trouble of hiring a guy from out of town to ¡°entertain¡± Noreen, hoping to paint her as wild and reckless, to ruin her reputation in Seth¡¯s eyes and make him want nothing to do with her.
And yet, after all her careful scheming, Carman¡¯s sudden appearance had wrecked the whole setup.
All that work, wasted. This content belongs to F¦ÉndNovel
12:26
Learning the truth, Bianca couldn¡¯t help feeling let down too.
Still, her mind was more on Seth¡¯s condition than anything else, so she didn¡¯t dwell on it with Lillian.
By then, the doctor had finished stitching Seth up and was running through the aftercare instructions. ¡°Keep the wound dry, avoid spicy foods. It¡¯s a deep cut, so there may be a scar.¡±
Seth didn¡¯t seem worried.
Bianca, on the other hand, was anxious. ¡°Will the scar go away?¡±
The doctor reassured her, ¡°With today¡¯s technology, it¡¯ll be fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡±
Seth even managed to tease her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you going to dump me if my face is ruined?¡±
Jude and Healy walked in just in time to hear that, and Jude groaned, ¡°If you two have the energy to flirt, clearly your head¡¯s still working.¡±
Healy snickered, ¡°What, did you forget how to drive? How¡¯d you manage to hit the curb?¡±
Seth shrugged, ¡°I was on the phone. Got distracted.¡±
Bianca¡¯s face fell. ¡°I never should have called you.¡±
Seth reached for her hand. ¡°Come on, I¡¯m fine. It was my fault for not paying attention. It has nothing to do with you.¡±
Jude rolled his eyes. ¡°Alright, alright, we¡¯ll get out of here before we choke on your lovey¨Cdovey act. First, we miss out on drinks, and now we¡¯re stuck watching you two? No thanks.¡±
Since Seth was alright, Jude and Healy didn¡¯t hang around.
On their way out, Jude suddenly remembered something. ¡°By the way, where were you earlier?¡± he asked Healy. ¡°You know how long Bianca and I waited for you?¡±
Healy nced away, his eyes evasive. ¡°Just had something to take care of. That¡¯s why I waste.¡±
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Chapter 287
Noreen didn¡¯t wake up until noon the next day.
Her mind was still foggy when she heard noise outside the bedroom¨Csomeone was definitely up to something in the kitchen.
She started to get out of bed to check, but the moment her feet hit the floor and she tried to stand, a sharp ache shot up from her thighs, sending her crashing right back down onto the mattress.
Her lower back felt weak and sore too, as if she¡¯d been run over by a truck¨Cevery muscle in her body throbbed with pain.
Her head was pounding, and she was still unbelievably groggy.
It took a long moment before she finally felt awake enough to move. Bracing herself with a hand on her back, she slowly made her way out of the bedroom.
In the kitchen, Sophia seemed to be on the phone with someone. ¡°How much orange peel do I add? About a teaspoon? Got it.¡± She paused, listening. ¡°The beans are soft already¡ Okay, so turn the heat down now? Will do.¡±
Hearing movement behind her, Sophia turned and spotted Noreen. ¡°My boss just woke up, I¡¯ll call youter, Mom,¡± she said, then hung up.
She looked over at Noreen and exined, ¡°I was asking my mom for her recipe for a hangover soup. It¡¯s almost ready¨Cjust give me a minute.¡±
Noreen, feeling like she had no strength left in her body, slid into a chair at the dining table.
Sophia soon brought over a steaming bowl of soup. ¡°Careful, it¡¯s hot. Let it cool a bit before you drink. Seriously, how much did you havest night? I¡¯ve never seen you actually get drunk before.¡±
Sophia¡¯s surprise was understandable. Since she¡¯d known Noreen, she¡¯d never once seen her drunk¨Cnot even that one time Noreen drank herself into a stomach ulcer.
Noreen massaged her temples, exhaustion written all over her face. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t even drink that much, but I cked out.¡±
That almost never happened. Sure, back when she first started going out for drinks, she¡¯d gotten sick or tipsy, but never to the point of losing her memory.
She could only vaguely remember leaving the private booth, getting ready to call Sophia toe pick her up¡ and then nothing.
¡°The more I try to remember, the worse my headache gets,¡± Noreen muttered.
¡°Come on, drink the soup. It¡¯ll help. Careful, it¡¯s still hot,¡± Sophia urged.
The hangover soup actually did help¨Cafter half a bowl, Noreen felt a bit steadier.
¡°Where did you learn to make this?¡± she asked.
¡°My mom,¡± Sophia replied, smiling. ¡°That¡¯s who I was just calling.¡±
Noreen let out a soft ¡°Oh.¡±
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Sophia nced at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Does it taste weird?¡±
Noreen shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡ the vor seems really familiar.¡±
She almost said that it tasted a lot like the hangover soup Seth used to make for her. Back when she drank too much, he¡¯d always be the one to take care of her, brewing up a pot of soup just like this.
Once she built up her tolerance, she hadn¡¯t needed him to do that for her anymore¨Cbut she¡¯d never forgotten the taste.
The only real difference was that Sophia¡¯s version had a more pronounced orange peel vor. Noreen had never been a fan of that, so Seth would always use less when he made it.
¡°Don¡¯t all hangover soups taste the same?¡± Sophia said with a shrug. For original chapters go to fin?novel
Noreen¡¯s expression turned a little wistful. ¡°Yeah, I suppose they do.¡±
With her headache easing, Noreen got up to wash her face. The ssh of cold water chased away thest traces of her hangover.
Suddenly, shes of memory flickered through her mind.
Take it easy¡
Why are you looking for your phone?
To transfer money.
Noreen¡¯s head snapped up as she stared at her own reflection, trying hard to piece together what had happened. But aside from those fleeting fragments, everything else was a blur.
One thing was certain: she¡¯d slept with someonest night.
Was it one of the club¡¯s models?
She couldn¡¯t be sure¨Cjust that whoever it was, he¡¯d had a pretty nice body.
12:27
Chapter 288 28
Yes-man 288
Chapter 288
She seemed pretty capable, too.
That much Noreen could tell from the dull ache lingering in her muscles today.
Clearly, the guy hadn¡¯t held back¡
After washing up, Noreen called Jennifer.
The phone rang for ages before someone finally picked up¨Ca deep, unfamiliar voice. It was Jennifer¡¯stest boy toy, saying she was still asleep, worn out fromst night.
Sounded like they¡¯d had quite the marathon themselves.
Noreen asked him to let Jennifer know to call her back when she woke up. For original chapters go to F¦Énd£Îovel
Nearly two hourster, Jennifer finally returned the call. Her voice was hoarse.
Noreen wasted no time getting the details onst night.
Jennifer groaned, ¡°How would I know? I was way too busy. I don¡¯t even remember when you left.¡±
That only made Noreen more confused.
Could she really have called the male model herself?
¡°Noreen, did you think the drinksst night tasted a little¡ off?¡± Jennifer sounded suspicious. ¡°You think they spiked them? I¡¯ve run into this before¨Csome clubs doctor the drinks so guests get wild and spend more money. Total scam.¡±
¡°And you can¡¯t even prove it. You just end up having to suck it up.¡±
Noreen was silent.
So they¡¯d been set up.
Well, that club was going straight to her cklist.
Later, Noreen ordered some medication online¨Cjust in case. She couldn¡¯t remember much and wasn¡¯t even sure if the guy had used protection.
The doctor had said her chances of getting pregnant were low, but Noreen wasn¡¯t about to take any risks. She took the morning¨Cafter pill anyway.
It was well into the afternoon by the time she made it to the office. As soon as she arrived, Matthew Cole came looking for her.
He told her he¡¯d scheduled another meeting with Mr. Brooke from the Brooke Group to discuss a potential partnership.
The Brooke Group specialized in insurance, and their customer service could easily be optimized through InnoCore¡¯s tform.
Plus, they¡¯d justunched a sessful hotline project with the government. With that case study under their belt, their pitch was even more convincing.
12:27
Since this was a business deal, Noreen put her full attention on it. She wasn¡¯t about to let her personal opinion of Henry get in the way.
Keeping work and private life separate¨Cthat was her rule.
This time, Matthew had even picked a Japanese restaurant, knowing it was Henry¡¯s favorite.
But the two of them waited from seven to nine, and Henry never showed up.
Matthew tried calling Henry several times, but got no answer.
Finally, Noreen waved over the waiter and asked for the check.
She turned to Matthew, ¡°Don¡¯t bother calling again. If he¡¯s not interested in working with us, there¡¯s no point wasting our time.¡±
Matthew looked embarrassed, clearly hadn¡¯t expected Henry to stand them up¨Ctwice now.
Noreen reassured him, ¡°You did your best for thepany. Don¡¯t me yourself.¡±
Meanwhile, Henry was having dinner with Bianca.
He was in a great mood, even took the time to crack open crab legs for her.
¡°This ce flies in all its seafood fresh from overseas. Try it¨Cit¡¯s really good.¡±
Bianca took a bite, nodding in approval. ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s delicious.¡±
Henry smiled, clearly enjoying himself. ¡°So what made you want to go out to dinner tonight?¡±
¡°You¡¯ve been so busytely. I finally wrapped up a big project and had time, so I wanted to treat you.¡±
She nced at him yfully. ¡°What, you didn¡¯t want toe?¡±
¡°Are you kidding? If you invite me, I¡¯ll always make time,¡± Henry replied without hesitation.
That made Bianca smile.
Truth was, she¡¯d asked Henry out on a whim¨Cafter she found out Noreen was trying tond a partnership with him.
Noreen always liked to steal projects, didn¡¯t she?
Well, two could y at that game.
This time, Bianca was determined not to lose.
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Chapter 289
The next morning, as soon as Noreen arrived at the office, her phone rang. It was Scott Quigley.
He wanted to know if she was free for lunch.
Noreen immediately understood what he was getting at and agreed to meet him.
She stopped by Sophia¡¯s desk to let her know and asked her to push the afternoon appointments back.
Sophia leaned in, eyes gleaming with curiosity. ¡°Is this a dinner with drinks? Because if it is, I¡¯ming with you.¡±
¡°It¡¯s just lunch,¡± Noreenughed. ¡°Why would you tag along for that?¡±
¡°To shield you from drinks! From now on, I¡¯ming with you to all those business dinners. I won¡¯t leave your side¨Cno more repeats ofst night!¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Alright, you cane next time there¡¯s alcohol involved. But today¡¯s just lunch. No need to y bodyguard.¡±
When Noreen got down to the parking garage, she ran into the same middle¨Caged man she¡¯d seen outside the government building the other day.
He looked like he was waiting for someone.
Forrest was clearly surprised to see her. He hesitated for a second, then started walking over.
Noreen didn¡¯t linger or make eye contact. She simply turned away and headed straight for her car.
Forrest opened his mouth, about to call out.
Just then, on the other side of the garage, Ethan Laurent personally escorted Bianca downstairs.
As soon as Bianca spotted Forrest waiting for her, she called out, ¡°Dad! How long have you been here¨Chave you been waiting ages?¡±
Forrest stopped and turned to her, his face softening instantly. ¡°I just got here. Are you finished for the day?¡± Updates are released by find?novel
¡°Yeah.¡± Bianca introduced Ethan, who¡¯de down with her.
Noreen was just about to start her car when she heard Bianca call out ¡°Dad.¡± Her hand froze on the ignition for a moment, and then she frowned.
Some people just rub you the wrong way at first sight. Maybe it¡¯s just gics making the choice for
you.
Guess her instincts hadn¡¯t steered her wrong.
She pressed the gas and drove out of the parking lot without a backward nce.
It had been a while since Noreenst saw Scott, and when she arrived at the caf¨¦, she barely recognized him.
Scott lookedpletely different¨Chis skin was tanned, he¡¯d lost weight, and his hair was a mess.
12:27)
But there was a brightness in his eyes now, a genuine smile that hadn¡¯t been there before.
¡°Did I scare you?¡± Scott poured Noreen a cup of tea.
¡°Not scared, just surprised at how much you¡¯ve changed,¡± Noreen replied honestly.
Scott started telling her about what he¡¯d been up to. After leaving his job, he¡¯d traveled to the Northwest, exploring historic sites and natural wonders.
He¡¯d found a wealth of inspiration there and rushed back, eager to share his ideas with Noreen.
She noticed his eyes shining as he spoke. Only real passion could bring that kind of light.
He was so excited, he hadn¡¯t even had time to put together a slide deck¨Cjust words tumbling out, painting the picture.
For most of the meal, Scott did all the talking while Noreen simply listened.
Eventually, he caught himself and scratched his head, embarrassed. ¡°Am I rambling too much?¡±
¡°Not at all.¡± Noreen poured him another cup of tea. ¡°I think your ideas are fascinating. Integrating thosendmarks and stories into our game would be a real cultural breakthrough.¡±
¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m aiming for!¡± Scott felt an instant sense of connection¨Clike he¡¯d finally found someone who really understood him.
He¡¯d always struggled to get his ideas across, but Noreen just got him. Even Ethan, his old college roommate and longtime partner, never quite managed that.
¡°Go home and put all your thoughts together. Once you¡¯ve got the full concept, we¡¯ll talk next steps,¡± Noreen said.
Scott¡¯s confidence soared, all the gloom from his resignation vanished. ¡°Will do!¡±
Lunch ended early, and with time to spare, Noreen decided to reach out to Carman. She called ahead to let him know she wasing.
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Chapter 290
Carman was still at the office when she heard Noreen was on her way over, so she asked Noreen to swing by Ascendancy Group and pick up some documents for her.
Noreen went as a favor, and as usual, she was greeted by the ever¨Cgossipy deputy director.
She took the chance to ask about Vincent.
The deputy director replied, ¡°Mr. Vincent is on vacation, and he hasn¡¯t returned yet. Normally, Director Lowell would be in charge, but Mr. Harcourt was in a car ident, so Director Lowell is at the hospital with him. That just leaves me here to hold down the fort.¡±
Her love for office gossip hadn¡¯t dulled a bit.
Noreen, however, couldn¡¯t care less about Seth¡¯s ident. She took the documents and left.
Back at Carman¡¯s office, the two wrapped up their work. Only then did Noreen bring up the other night.
Sophia had mentioned that Carman was the one who drove her home.
So the person who picked her up from the club was Carman.
Maybe he remembered something useful.
But Carman just looked as puzzled as she felt. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who asked the club staff to call me and have me pick you up?¡±
Did that really happen?
She¡¯d cked out from drinking¨Cshe couldn¡¯t remember a thing.
Oh well. At this point, it didn¡¯t really matter what had happened.
She decided to chalk it up to one night of recklessness, a reminder to be more cautious in the future.
***
The next morning, Noreen received an invitation to NaviTech¡¯s anniversary g, delivered by Hugh Summers himself.
It was NaviTech¡¯s biggest annual event, with all their business partners invited to attend.
This year¡¯s guest list included InnoCore and Winrich.
Of course, Aurelion Group was also a NaviTech partner and on the invite list as well.
In other words, unavoidable run¨Cins all around.
Noreen would be representing Winrich, so she needed to look her best. She made an appointment at Myriad Atelier to pick out a dress.
She invited Carman to join her, and they arrived at almost the same time.
Carman seemed nervous¨Che didn¡¯t have much experience with this sort of thing.
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¡°Rx,¡± Noreen reassured him. ¡°I¡¯ll help you pick something out.¡±
She was a pro at this.
Well, all thanks to her years of picking out suits for Seth. Content originallyes from F?nd-Novel
When Seth arrived, Noreen was busy adjusting Carman¡¯s suit.
¡°This color of tie suits you better,¡± she said, holding a deep brick¨Cred tie up to Carman¡¯s chest to
Carman just smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it. Whatever you say goes.¡±
¡°Here, let me tie it for you.¡± Noreen¡¯s eyes sparkled as sheughed and began knotting the tie, her smile warm and gentle, like a soft breeze that could lift anyone¡¯s spirits.
Carman was so mesmerized he nearly forgot to breathe.
The store clerk chimed in cheerfully, ¡°Your girlfriend has great taste¨Cthe tie looks perfect on you.¡±
Carman¡¯s face instantly turned crimson.
At the entrance, Seth stood frozen, watching the two of them.
He saw her pick out Carman¡¯s suit, tie it for him, and heard the clerk call them a couple¨CNoreen didn¡¯t correct her.
Seth lowered his gaze, expression unreadable, and walked inside.
The clerk spotted him and hurried over with a bright smile. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, are you shopping alone today?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Seth replied, heading straight to the men¡¯s section to browse for a suit.
Noreen nced at him.
Not because she was especially interested, but with only two or three customers in the whole shop, it was impossible not to notice.
There was a bandage on Seth¡¯s forehead and a healing scrape on his right cheek¨Che really had been in a car ident.
But judging by his movements, it hadn¡¯t been too serious.
Noreen looked away and told Carman, ¡°Let¡¯s go with this one. We¡¯ll take it.¡±
The clerk led Carman to the fitting room to change.
That left just Noreen and Seth in the men¡¯s section.
Seth browsed the suits, then stopped in front of the ties and lingered for a few seconds before saying, ¡°Noreen, help me pick out a tie.¡±
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Chapter 291
For a split second, Noreen wondered if she was hearing things.
She nced at Seth, puzzled.
But then Seth repeated the words she thought she¡¯d imagined.
¡°Noreen, help me pick out a tie.¡±
A surprised smile tugged at her lips. ¡°What¡¯s this? Did Mr. Harcourt finally get dumped by his dream girl?¡±
Seth ignored the jab, pulling a dark blue tie from the rack and holding it up for her opinion. ¡°How about this one?¡±
¡°I remember most of the ties you picked out for me used to look like this.¡±
Her gaze drifted from the tie in his hand to the healing bruise on his forehead.
She paused for a beat before saying, ¡°Looks like Mr. Harcourt took a nasty fall in that car ident. I¡¯d suggest you get a full checkup at the hospital¨Cif you wait any longer, it might be toote to fix your
head.¡±
As Carman emerged from the fitting room in fresh clothes, Noreen didn¡¯t spare Seth another nce.
Carman checked his watch and turned to her. ¡°It¡¯s almost dinnertime. Want to grab something together? Didn¡¯t you say a few days ago you were craving some barbecue?¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t even remember mentioning it, but clearly Carman had.
Still, she shook her head at his suggestion.
¡°Let¡¯s go to that old ce at Acuity za for some coconut chicken soup. Your stomach¡¯s been acting uptely¨Csomething light would be better for you.¡±
¡°Whatever you say,¡± Carman replied easily, as always deferring to her judgment.
Whatever Noreen wanted, that¡¯s what they did.
The shop assistant packed up their purchases, and Carman took both his and Noreen¡¯s bags as they left Myriad Atelier side by side.
Watching them walk away, the saleswoman couldn¡¯t help but sigh to herself, ¡°What a perfect couple.¡±
Seth tossed the dark blue tie back onto the rack, and for the first time, a crack appeared in his otherwise impassive expression.
Hearing the sound, the saleswoman hurried over. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, would you like some help choosing?¡±
Seth stared at the tie for a long moment, then quietly asked, ¡°Between him and me, what am I missing?¡±
Later, over a bowl of chicken soup, Carman finally felt his stomach settle a bit.
He turned to Noreen. ¡°Once I¡¯m feeling better, we¡¯ll go for that barbecue you Content originallyes from findnovel
wanted.¡±
12:27
¡°Sure,¡± Noreen said, without a hint of objection.
Just beyond a divider of potted nts, Seth sat alone, quietly listening as their conversation drifted
over.
His face remained nk, but sharp pain throbbed in his palm¨Che¡¯d dug his fingernails so deep into his hand that it had gone numb.
Still, he didn¡¯t let go. He just kept his fist clenched tight.
His throat felt stuffed with cotton, his chest heavy and tight.
Even after Noreen and Carman finished their meal and left, Seth hadn¡¯t touched his food.
Bianca called. As soon as he saw her name on the screen, all the turmoil in his eyes disappeared.
He answered, voice calm and steady. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±
¡°Yeah, I¡¯m just grabbing dinner out.¡±
¡°Alone.¡±
Bianca pressed, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me? I coulde keep youpany.¡±
¡°No need,¡± he replied, ¡°I¡¯m almost done here anyway.¡±
When the call ended, Seth picked up his fork and forced down a few cold mouthfuls of food.
He barely tasted a thing.
The day of NaviTech¡¯s anniversary g arrived. Noreen and Carman showed up right on time.
It was everything you¡¯d expect from a leading tech firmvish, with a guest list full of heavy¨Chitting investors.
This was always Noreen¡¯s busiest time.
Carman stuck close to her side. He couldn¡¯t drink much, so he wasn¡¯t much help fending off toasts, but he made sure she was taken care of.
Unlike the other women at the event, Noreen wore a sharply tailored, deep green velvet suit¨Cconfident, striking, and utterly self¨Cassured.
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Chapter 292
Seth had arrived with Bianca.
Tonight, Bianca had truly outdone herself. She wore a high¨Cfashion, custom¨Ctailored evening gown, and¨Cmost importantly¨Ca set of jewelry worth over five million dors.
Of course, it still didn¡¯t quite measure up to the Kashmir sapphire set Noreen had worn thest time. But Bianca was sure Noreen wouldn¡¯t dare show up wearing that sapphire ne again.
And, as it turned out, she was right.
Tonight, Noreen hadn¡¯t even bothered with an evening dress. She looked in, almost forgettable.
That outrageously expensive sapphire ne? Who knows where she¡¯d rented it from to make a ssh. The moment was over, and now her true colors were on disy.
Sure, maybe Noreen had some skills. After all, she¡¯d been working with Seth for years¨Cshe must have picked up a few tricks, which was how she¡¯d managed tond the InnoCore and Harborfront redevelopment deals.
But so what?
In investment banking, it¡¯s all about connections and resources.
Resources? Bianca had Seth¡¯s full support¨Ca well that never ran dry.
Connections? She could always count on her father, Forrest, whosework was endless.
That was one of the key reasons she¡¯d been able to secure her position at Grand Trust Bank.
International banks and financial institutions love hiring the children of officials. They bring with them their parents¡®works and their own privileged backgrounds.
So, really, Noreen was never qualified to be her rival.
Bianca looked away, dismissing Noreen from her thoughts as if she no longer mattered.
Draped in luxury, she soon became the center of attention, though most of the people who came to greet her were women.
Seth greeted Bianca quickly, then excused himself, saying he needed to mingle.
But he had no intention ofworking. Instead, he drifted over to a spot where he could keep an eye on Noreen.
The room was crowded, and his gaze moved often, so no one would notice whom he was really watching.
He saw Carman sticking close behind Noreen, subtly shielding her from people who nearly bumped into her, swapping out her empty wine ss for a fresh one, and making sure she had something to eat from time to time.
She was still the same as ever¨Cthrowing herself into work like nothing else mattered. One ss of wine after another¡
12:271
No wonder her stomach was in such bad shape.
Seth gestured to a waiter and quietly asked him to bring a warm ss of hawthorn juice to Noreen,
¡°Seth, Seth¨Cwhat are you doing? I called your name, like, three times and you didn¡¯t even hear me!¡±
Jude and Healy finally arrived, fashionablyte.
As they drew closer, Jude looked at Seth with curiosity, following the direction of his gaze. ¡°What are you staring at? You lookpletely entranced.¡±
Jude¡¯s eyesnded on Bianca, who was being surrounded by admirers. He made a face and groaned, ¡°Seriously? Aren¡¯t you tired of fawning over her? You see her every day!¡±
¡°Never gets old,¡± Seth replied, still staring in Bianca¡¯s direction, nodding.
¡°She¡¯s that gorgeous?¡±
¡°She is.¡±
Healy gave Jude a yful nudge. ¡°Why torture yourself? You just had to ask.¡±
¡°Torture myself how?¡±
Just then, Dn walked up.
Jude did a double take. ¡°Dn! When did you get back?¡±
¡°Last Wednesday,¡± Dn replied.
Jude looked even more confused. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us? Bianca treated us to drinks that night, remember?¡±
¡°Didn¡¯t end up happening. Seth got into a car ident.¡±
Dn nced at the bandage on Seth¡¯s forehead and exined, ¡°Something came up. Inded in Rivercrest City on short notice and had to fly out to Harborcrest that same night. Didn¡¯t have time to call you guys.¡±
Across the room, a waiter brought the warm hawthorn juice to Noreen.
She looked at it, puzzled. ¡°Who sent this?¡±
The waiter pointed across the room.
Noreen followed his gesture¨Cand across the sea of faces, her eyes met Dn¡¯s. Original content can be found at findnovel
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Chapter 293
Dn lifted his ss to her in a friendly salute.
Noreen smiled, raising her own ss¨Cfilled with a deep red hawthorn juice¨Cand gave it a little swirl in return, a silent gesture of thanks.
¡°Dn, who are you toasting over there?¡± Jude craned his neck, curiosity in in his voice.
This time, he actually caught sight of Noreen, and his expression shifted.
¡°What¡¯s Noreen doing here?¡±
Healy answered before Jude could puzzle it out. ¡°InnoCore¡¯s one of NaviTech¡¯s partners. It¡¯d be stranger if she weren¡¯t here, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±
At the mention of InnoCore, Jude fell silent.
He¡¯d had some messy history with InnoCore¨Cand not the kind that washed off easily.
His dad was still in the hospital, thanks in no small part to what had happened.
¡°I¡¯m going to say hi,¡± Dn announced, excusing himself and heading straight toward Noreen.
¡°I¡¯ll say hi too,¡± Healy said, quickly following.
Jude scowled, turning to Seth. ¡°Youing?¡±
¡°Why would I?¡±
Jude shrugged off the rejection almost instantly. ¡°Then let¡¯s go find Bianca. I haven¡¯t seen her yet.¡±
Seth¡¯s expression darkened, but he nodded. ¡°Alright.¡±
Dn reached Noreen first. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time,¡± he said, smiling.
It had, in fact, been a while.
With Omniva Group¡¯s negotiations with foreign investors heating up, Dn had been under more pressure than evertely.
But that was an internal matter for hispany¨Csomething Noreen knew better than to pry into. She just asked, ¡°Has everything been going smoothly?¡±
¡°Not exactly,¡± Dn admitted, without hesitation. ¡°But I¡¯m managing.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±
Truthfully, Dn had every reason not to be at this anniversary party tonight.
But he¡¯de anyway, just for a chance to see Noreen.
Looking at her now, he knew the trip had been worth it.
They¡¯d only been chatting a few minutes when Henry showed up.
He greeted Bianca first, then made his way over to Dn and Noreen.
12:27
Noreen arched an eyebrow in greeting.
But Henry breezed right past her, turning instead to Dn. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s been a while, Dn.¡±
¡°When did you get back?¡± Dn asked, surprised.
¡°It¡¯s been a bit,¡± Henry replied, a touch evasive.
¡°You finished your degree early?¡± Dn pressed. By the usual timeline, Henry shouldn¡¯t have graduated until this summer.
Henry gave a small nod. ¡°You and Noreen already came back, so it felt pointless staying over there alone. I applied to graduate early.¡±
He clearly wasn¡¯t interested in lingering; after a few polite words, his gaze drifted to Bianca, and he left, never once meeting Noreen¡¯s eyes.
Once he¡¯d gone, Noreen turned to Dn. ¡°You two go way back?¡± Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel
¡°I forgot to mention¨Che¡¯s thest student our mentor took on,¡± Dn exined.
¡°How many st students¡® does your mentor need?¡± Noreen teased.
Dn couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Maybe you should go ask him yourself?¡±
Noreen immediately shook her head. ¡°No thanks. If he wants to keep closing the door behind new students, that¡¯s his business¨Cnot mine.¡±
Dn grinned, tousling her hair affectionately. ¡°Such a scaredy¨Ccat.¡±
All of this yed out in full view of Seth.
He was standing in the smoking area, half¨Cfinished cigarette smoldering between his fingers. When he saw Dn ruffle Noreen¡¯s hair, his hand tightened, crushing the cigarette in his palm. A glowing ember dropped onto his leg, burning right through his suit pants to the skin beneath. He didn¡¯t flinch. In fact, the sting didn¡¯t even register¨Cnothingpared to the ache in his chest. ¡°Seth, you done? Let¡¯s head back in,¡± Jude called out, oblivious.
Seeing Seth¡¯s cigarette had gone out, Jude assumed he was finished and was ready to rejoin the
party.
Seth flicked the dead cigarette into the ashtray, pulled out another, and lit up wordlessly.
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Chapter 294
Jude looked genuinely puzzled. ¡°Seth, since when did you start smoking so much?¡±
He distinctly remembered that Seth had never been into cigarettes before.
Yet over the past six months, Seth had suddenly picked up smoking and drinking¨Codd, to say the least.
Wasn¡¯t rekindling an old me with the love of your life supposed to be something worth celebrating?
Seth didn¡¯t offer any exnation. He just sat there, brooding, taking deep drags off his cigarette as if it were the only way to let out everything bottled up inside.
Meanwhile, back inside the event, Henry returned to Bianca¡¯s side. She leaned in and asked, ¡°Do you know Noreen?¡±
¡°Who?¡± he replied, barely ncing up.
¡°The woman sitting next to Dn.¡±
Henry gave her a quick look, then turned away, his voice t. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±
¡°I heard she¡¯s hoping to partner with Brooke Group,¡± Bianca said, feigning casual interest.
Henry thought for a moment. ¡°You mean InnoCore? Yeah, I heard something about that.¡±
Judging by his reaction, it was clear Henry had no idea that Noreen was the force behind InnoCore.
¡°InnoCore was a project she snatched right out from under me,¡± Bianca said, her tone tinged with frustration and resignation.
At this, Henry¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°InnoCore¡¯s a solidpany. They¡¯re on a real upswing.¡±
Bianca let out a weary sigh. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m so frustrated.¡±
Henry¡¯s dislike for Noreen only deepened. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s just as well we never worked with them. Someone like that doesn¡¯t deserve to be our partner.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t need to punish yourself¨Cor your bottom line¨Cjust for my sake,¡± Bianca replied, her voice gentle but firm. ¡°Like you said, InnoCore¡¯s a good opportunity. Partnering with them could only strengthen your position at Brooke Group.¡±
She offered a wry smile, her eyes determined. ¡°Look, I lost the project fair and square. I can live with that. Next time, I¡¯ll just do better and prove that in this industry, it takes real skill¨Cnot cheap tricks¨Cto get ahead.¡±
Henry had always been on Bianca¡¯s side, but hearing her say this made him respect her even more.
That¡¯s how real leaders handle setbacks, he thought.
As for Noreen¨Che¡¯d make sure she faced the consequences.
And now, he found her even more distasteful.
12:27
Chapter 294 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find{n}ovel
¡°I¡¯m not partnering with Winrich,¡± he promised Bianca.
She was visibly pleased with his answer, a small, satisfied smile tugging at her lips.
So much for all of Noreen¡¯s scheming, Bianca thought. She¡¯d worked so hard for Brooke Group¡¯s approval, but in the end, a single word from Bianca could undo it all.
As the anniversary g drew to a close, Hugh Summers arrived with Castle Joyner¨Cthe enigmatic owner behind NaviTech¨Cto thank their partners.
It was the first time Noreen had met Castle, and he was even younger than she¡¯d expected.
Thirty¨Cnine, sophisticated and impably charming.
He turned to Hugh and asked, ¡°Is InnoCore in the room tonight?¡±
Hugh grinned, teasing him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a guess, CEO Joyner? Here¡¯s a hint¨Cit¡¯s a female investor.¡±
There were only two women at the table: Noreen and Bianca.
It wasn¡¯t as if they¡¯d chosen to sit together¨Cstaff had simply assigned them to the same table. Noreen was on the far left, Bianca on the far right, as far apart as possible.
They might as well have been at different events.
After a brief nce, Castle extended his hand to Noreen. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure.¡±
Hugh couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s impressive, CEO Joyner! How¡¯d you spot her so fast?¡±
Castle smiled. ¡°It¡¯s all in the presence.¡±
Then, turning to Bianca, he added, ¡°Of course, you¡¯re quite striking as well. I assume you¡¯re apanying one of the investors tonight?¡±
Bianca¡¯s smile froze.
She hadn¡¯t expected that all her careful preparation and elegant attire would amount to nothing more than being mistaken for someone¡¯s decorative plus¨Cone.
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In that moment, Bianca¡¯s face clouded over, her expression difficult to read.
Henry, who had been standing quietly nearby, suddenly spoke up. ¡°Bianca is an outstanding investor in her own right,¡± he announced to the room. ¡°She holds a PhD in Finance from WT Business School.¡±
It was obvious he wasing to her defense.
Castle looked genuinely surprised when he heard this. Recovering quickly, he offered Bianca his hand again, apologizing with a wry smile. ¡°Forgive me¨CI misjudged you. I hope you won¡¯t hold it against me.¡±
Hugh Summers chimed in to help smooth things over. ¡°Honestly, Director Lowell, you¡¯re so beautiful it¡¯s easy to overlook how aplished you are.¡±
With the affirmation from those around her, Bianca¡¯s confidence returned. She shot Henry a grateful nce before turning to Castle. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Joyner.¡±
Perhaps feeling the need to make up for his earlier blunder, Castle lingered in conversation. ¡°WT Business School is a world¨Css institution. You¡¯re proof that talent and beauty can go hand in hand. May I ask¨Cwhere are you working now?¡±
¡°Aurelion Group,¡± she replied.
Castle nodded approvingly. ¡°That¡¯s an impressivepany. Very impressive indeed.¡±
He didn¡¯t miss the chance topliment Seth¡¯s judgment either. ¡°With talent like this on your team, Seth, it¡¯s only a matter of time before your firm eclipses everything your father built.¡±
With the spotlight back on her, Bianca seized the opportunity to engage Castle further, weaving stories of her impressive career.
When Castle found out she¡¯d worked at Grand Trust Bank, his eyebrows climbed higher in surprise. But as Bianca went on, describing her achievements there, his smile gradually faded.
¡°So it was you who orchestrated the Aeterna Industries port sale,¡± he said, his tone suddenly cooler.
Bianca, oblivious to the subtle shift, smiled proudly. ¡°Yes, that deal was worth $25 billion¨Cthe biggest project I handled during my time at Grand Trust.¡±
Noreen, watching from the sidelines, couldn¡¯t help scoffing to herself. Did Bianca really think she was so impressive just fornding that port redevelopment contract? She was celebrating far too soon. After all, Noreen had already closed a project worth nearly $200 billion a full year earlier. Bianca¡¯s crowning achievement was nothing more than Noreen¡¯s starting line.
But after that, Castle merely nodded and, without furtherment, turned his attention to Noreen, asking her about InnoCore instead. His demeanor brightened noticeably during their conversation.
Bianca was confused by Castle¡¯s abrupt change in attitude. She guessed it had something to do with business ties between Castle and Noreen¡¯spany¨Cmaybe he was just being pragmatic.
She nced away, unconsciously searching the crowd for Seth. He¡¯d been gone for quite a while, and she wondered what was keeping him. This update is avable on find?novel
12:28
The air conditioning in the room was on full st, and Bianca, dressed in a strapless gown, started to feel chilled. She instinctively rubbed her bare arms, trying to warm herself.
Henry noticed immediately. He started to shrug off his jacket, ready to drape it over her shoulders. But someone else beat him to it.
Bianca looked up to see Seth, who had just returned, settling his jacket around her.
Henry caught sight of Seth and quietly put his own jacket back on.
Bianca¡¯s irritation vanished the instant she saw Seth. Smiling, she asked, ¡°Where¡¯d you disappear to?¡±
¡°Had to take a call,¡± Seth replied. ¡°It¡¯s raining outside, and it¡¯s gotten a bit chilly.¡±
After making sure she was warm, Seth nodded a greeting to Castle, then signaled he was ready to - go.
Henry, seeing Bianca was leaving, slipped his arms back into his jacket and politely said his goodbyes to Castle as well¨Cthere was no reason for him to stay any longer.
Castle, a little distant, asked Hugh to see the guests out on his behalf, staying behind to continue his conversation with Noreen. He seemed genuinely impressed by her.
Bianca noticed, and her smile faded just a little.
Noreen and Castle hit it off, exchanging contact information before the evening wound down.
By the time the event ended, the rain outside had stopped. Castle personally saw Noreen to the door, telling her they should get together again soon.
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Chapter 296
Noreen agreed without hesitation.
After she left, Hugh Summers turned to Castle. ¡°Seems like Mr. Joyner is quite impressed with Ms. Gilmore.¡±
Castle didn¡¯t bother to hide it. ¡°She¡¯s sharp and has vision¨Ca rare talent in business. By the way, where did she work before?¡±
Hugh replied, ¡°She was at Aurelion Group, but just as Seth¡¯s assistant. A real waste of her abilities.¡±
Castle paused in surprise. ¡°He just let someone that talented go?¡±
¡°Maybe Seth never realized what she was capable of,¡± Hugh spected.
But Castle shook his head. ¡°From what I know of Seth, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d overlook real talent. If he couldn¡¯t spot that, Aurelion Group wouldn¡¯t be what it is today.¡±
After a moment¡¯s thought, Hugh decided to share a piece of gossip he¡¯d heard. ¡°I heard Noreen and Seth had a thing in the past, but she didn¡¯t have much of a background. In the end, Seth chose Bianca. She¡¯s Forrest¡¯s daughter¨CForrest just got promoted to deputy directorst year.¡±
With that, Castle understood.
Sometimes, where youe from matters more than how hard you work.
Men tend to weigh their options.
On the drive home, Carman finally voiced a question that had been nagging at her all evening.
¡°At the dinner, Mr. Joyner from NaviTech seemed really impressed when he heard about Bianca¡¯s education. But then suddenly his attitude cooled. What happened?¡±
He hadn¡¯t noticed anything out of the ordinary, so it puzzled him.
Noreen exined, ¡°Mr. Joyner, along with his father and grandfather, are all known for their patriotism. Earlier, Bianca brought up the Aeterna Industries port sale deal¨Cthat hit a nerve for him. I¡¯m guessing he only kept his cool out of respect for Seth; otherwise, he might have shown her the door.¡±
¡°You have to understand, those ports Aeterna sold are crucial to our country. Castle would naturally be furious, so it¡¯s no wonder his attitude changed.¡±
Noreen had learned about Castle¡¯s background from Seth himself.
Back when Seth hit a wall investing in chip tech, he¡¯d had to fly out to Harborview City to ask the Joyner family for help. That¡¯s how he survived the crisis.
Knowing a bit about the Joyner family¡¯s history, Noreen could easily guess why Castle reacted the way he did.
¡°So that¡¯s it,¡± Carman said. ¡°But doesn¡¯t that make Bianca a traitor?¡±
12:28
Carman always called things as he saw them.
¡°Let¡¯s keep that between us,¡± Noreen cautioned him gently.
After all, Bianca had powerful connections. If she took offense, it would be nothing for her to ruin someone¡¯s life with the snap of her fingers.
Carman always listened to reason. If Noreen told him to drop something, she meant it for his own good.
Still, he¡¯d realized something important tonight.
Noreen seemedpletely unaffected by Seth now.
She was as calm as if she¡¯d run into a total stranger.
But Carman knew how much it had cost her to reach this point. For original chapters go to find[?]ovel
Since Carman hadn¡¯t been drinking, it was her turn to drive Noreen home.
She must have been exhausted; she fell asleep in the passenger seat on the way back.
When they reached her building, Carman couldn¡¯t bring himself to wake her.
She worked so hard every day¨Cshe deserved this rare bit of rest.
Besides, only when she was asleep could he watch her freely, without restraint.
But the close, quiet space made him uneasy; his heart raced, and every breath felt heavy.
Forcing down his restless feelings, Carman quickly opened the door and stepped out into the night. Not far away, inside a silver¨Croofed Maybach, Seth sat expressionless, his eyes cold and unreadable. He gave Zachary a curt order. ¡°Drive into them.¡±
Zachary was stunned.
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Chapter 297
¡°What?¡± Zachary¡¯s palms were slick with sweat as he gripped the steering wheel,
Before Seth could respond, the car ahead of them opened its door. Carman stepped out and wandered to the side of the road, letting the wind hit her face.
Only then did the dangerous tension in Seth¡¯s demeanor begin to fade.
He replied, his voice t and emotionless, ¡°It¡¯s fine now.¡±
If Carman had stayed in that car for just a few more seconds, he would¡¯ve rammed right into it.
The next morning, just as Noreen arrived at the office, Sophia bounced over, practically bursting with excitement.
¡°Noreen, did you see the gossip news today?¡±
¡°When would I have time for that?¡± Noreen flicked Sophia on the forehead. ¡°Are you getting too boldtely? cking off right in front of your boss, gossiping onpany time?¡±
Sophia rubbed her forehead, grinning. ¡°But this scandal is just too wild! You have to see it for yourself. I swear, once you do, you¡¯ll want to ditch work and join the crowd.¡±
Noreen was curious despite herself and nced at Sophia¡¯s phone.
A momentter, she muttered, ¡°¡Okay, that¡¯s pretty wild.¡±
But even that felt like an understatement. She corrected herself: ¡°No, seriously, it¡¯s insane.¡±
Downright mind¨Cblowing.
She actually knew the person at the center of the scandal¨CLillian, Bianca¡¯s cousin.
Her ex¨Cboyfriend, Dennis Ward, had leaked intimate videos they¡¯d filmed together while dating.
That alone would have been shocking enough, but there was more. The videos had been Lillian¡¯s idea.
And the things they did on camera¡ well, let¡¯s just say they were anything but vani.
Whips, wax, handcuffs¡
In one clip, Lillian was on all fours, barking like a dog and calling herself Dennis¡¯s pet, his little ve, begging for his affection.
The footage was jaw¨Cdroppingly explicit.
Dennis imed he¡¯d leaked the videos as revenge. He said that during their rtionship, he¡¯d spent over a million dors on Lillian, but when his business tanked, not only did she refuse to help, she dumped him without a second thought.
He couldn¡¯t swallow his pride, so he decided to expose her ¡°sins.¡±
¡°If you ask me, she had iting,¡± Sophia said with obvious relish. She¡¯d never liked Lillian and was happy to see her get a taste of her own medicine.
20:05
She¡¯d always said what goes aroundes around¨Csooner orter.
Whether it was Ruby Wilder or Lillian, they¡¯d both brought this on themselves. Discover more novels at find?novel
Sophia leaned in closer, lowering her voice. ¡°The videos are everywhere now. And you know how fast this kind of juicy gossip spreads. Even the janitor cleaning the parking lot downstairs knows about it.¡±
She clicked her tongue in mock sympathy. ¡°I don¡¯t know how Lillian¡¯s ever going to show her face again. Honestly, if I were her, I¡¯d throw myself in the river and be done with it.¡±
Meanwhile, Lillian herself was having a meltdown at home.
¡°I can¡¯t take this anymore! I¡¯m going to kill myself! I¡¯ll jump into the river! Don¡¯t try to stop me!¡± Her mother was beside herself, unable to calm her down as Lillian rushed toward the door.
Just then, reinforcements arrived.
¡°What kind of nonsense is this?¡± Yvonne barked as soon as she walked in.
Lillian froze at the sound of her aunt¡¯s voice. She¡¯d always been a little afraid of Yvonne. Now, scolded and ashamed, she crumpled onto the couch, sobbing uncontrobly.
Bianca handed her a tissue. ¡°How could you be so stupid? Filming those kinds of videos with your ex?¡±
Lillian¡¯s face burned with shame. ¡°I¨CI thought it was just for fun¡ How was I supposed to know he¡¯d use them against me?¡±
¡°Foolish!¡± Yvonne snapped, her frustration clear. ¡°Well, that¡¯s it. You can forget about marrying into a rich family now. You made your own bed, now lie in it! And if you jeopardize Bianca and Seth¡¯s engagement because of this, you¡¯ll answer to me!¡±
¡°I really do know I was wrong¡¡±
Lillian was drowning in regret, but at this point, it was far toote for that.
Yes-man 298
Bianca leaned in and asked, ¡°Why would Dennis suddenly leak those videos? Did you have a fight with him recently?¡±
Lillian gave a wateryugh, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Not really. After I broke up with him, I just cut him offpletely. He tried to reach out a few times, but I ignored him. I didn¡¯t want to get dragged into a mess with him again.¡± She wiped her cheeks, her voice cracking. ¡°And those videos¨C1 deleted everything, I have no idea how he managed to recover them.¡±
¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t piss someone off?¡± Yvonne frowned, puzzled.
Lillian shook her head. ¡°Who could I have possibly offended? Ever since I joined Aurelion Group, I¡¯ve thrown myself into work. My social circle is tiny and straightforward.¡±
What was done was done. There was no point now in figuring out how it had happened.
Bianca had already made up her mind beforeing. ¡°We¡¯ll send her abroad,¡± she said quietly.
¡°No! I don¡¯t want to leave,¡± Lillian protested, panic ring in her voice. ¡°I¡¯d bepletely alone over there. I don¡¯t know anyone, I don¡¯t want to go!¡±
¡°It¡¯s not up to you,¡± Yvonne cut in, her tone final. ¡°Until this all blows over, you can¡¯te back.¡±
It was clear she¡¯d lost all say in the matter. The decision was made, and there was no changing it
now.
Lillian copsed back onto the bed, eyes vacant with despair. ¡°How long?¡± she whispered.
¡°At least three years,¡± Yvonne replied, her voice guarded.
And that was being optimistic. Those videos were too damaging¨Ctime would barely dull their impact.
When Lillian heard ¡°at least three years,¡± whatever hope she¡¯d been holding onto vanished. She looked utterly defeated.
Bianca tried tofort her. ¡°Once things settle down here, I¡¯ll figure out a way to bring you back. It won¡¯t be long, I promise. Besides, you know Seth and I are getting engaged soon.¡±
That seemed to spark a tiny light in Lillian¡¯s eyes. She grabbed Bianca¡¯s hand, voice trembling.
¡°Promise me, cousin. You¡¯ll get me back as soon as you can.¡±
¤¹
Bianca squeezed her hand reassuringly. ¡°I promise. It¡¯ll be soon.¡±
April first. Noreen was on her way to a meeting at Ascendancy Group.
The weather wasn¡¯t cooperating. Rain poured down and the temperature had plummeted.
She realized she¡¯d left her umbre in the car, but Sophia had already driven off to park. With a sigh, Noreen decided to make a dash for the building.
Suddenly, a ck umbre appeared over her head, shielding her from the downpour.
She turned and saw Seth.
20:05
He¡¯d materialized out of nowhere, offering the umbre with practiced ease, the canopy tilted protectively toward her.
His face was unreadable, his expression cool and distant. He looked like he¡¯d done this a thousand
times before.
Had he gotten this good at it from walking Bianca to work?
Noreen couldn¡¯t make sense of his behavior. After a moment¡¯s pause, she asked, ¡°Mr. Harcourt, is this your idea of an April Fool¡¯s joke?¡±
Her calm voice was carried to Seth on the wind. ¡°If it is, you¡¯re actually pretty funny.¡±
After her dry assessment, she broke into a jog and hurried inside the building. Fresh chapters posted on fin?novel
While waiting for Sophia, Noreen dabbed the raindrops from her hair with a tissue.
¡°Noreen, did you forget your umbre again?¡± Sophia called as she rushed in, spotting Noreen¡¯s umbre left behind in the backseat.
Thankfully, the car hadn¡¯t been far and the rain wasn¡¯t too heavy.
Sophia smoothed back the wet strands of hair clinging to Noreen¡¯s forehead.
Gazing out at the rain, Noreen asked, ¡°Do you think dissociative identity disorder actually exists?¡± The question caught Sophia off guard. ¡°What? Who¡¯s got a split personality?¡±
¡°I was just wondering,¡± Noreen replied airily.
¡°I¡¯ve never seen it myself,¡± Sophia said, shaking her head, ¡°but I¡¯ve heard experts say it¡¯s a serious mental illness. If you ever run into someone like that, steer clear!¡±
Noreen nodded emphatically. ¡°Exactly. Best to stay far, far away.¡±
Yes-man 299
They waited downstairs for a few minutes before Carman arrived, and then the three of them headed inside together.
It was peak rush hour¨Ceveryone was clocking in for work¨Cso a crowd had formed in front of the elevators. It looked like they¡¯d have to line up and wait their turn.
Fortunately, they still had plenty of time, so the three of them joined the queue like everyone else.
After about five minutes, a suddenmotion rippled through the crowd behind them. The people standing in line parted, making way.
The woman in front of Noreen tugged her aside. ¡°Step back, don¡¯t block the way. The boss¡¯s wife ising.¡±
Quite the spectacle, Carman thought, feeling a little confused.
The entire building belonged to Ascendancy Group, and everyone here worked for thepany. So the ¡°boss¡¯s wife¡± they were talking about could only be¡
Before Carman could finish the thought, he spotted Bianca.
She walked in nked by a secretary and an assistant, moving through the path the crowd had cleared just for her.
Heading straight for the executive elevator, Bianca scanned her fingerprint, then finally looked over at Noreen, waiting with the others for the regr elevator. A slight smile curled on her lips.
¡°If Ms. Gilmore and Mr. Holt don¡¯t mind,¡± she said airily, ¡°you¡¯re wee to ride up with me in the private elevator.¡±
It sounded less like an invitation and more like an announcement.
Carman was about to politely decline, but Noreen epted with cheerful decisiveness. ¡°Thank you, Director Lowell. That¡¯s very kind.¡±
No reason to turn down a free ride.
She walked into the elevator confidently, and Carman hurried after her.
Sophia hesitated, made a face, and said she¡¯d left something in the car and woulde up on her
own in a bit.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Noreen was already engrossed in the messages on her phone.
Bianca flicked her hair back and, with studied nonchnce, remarked, ¡°It¡¯s always so crowded at this hour. That¡¯s why I use the executive elevator every morning¨Cno waiting in line.¡±
Even Carman, oblivious as he usually was, couldn¡¯t miss the smugness in Bianca¡¯s tone. Readplete version only at find?novel
But Noreen was focused on her phone, working through emails, giving Bianca not so much as a nce.
¡°Oh, that¡¯s right.¡± As if remembering something, Bianca reached into her purse and pulled out an embossed invitation, handing it to Noreen. ¡°Seth and I are getting engaged. I hope you¡¯ll join us for
20:05
the celebration, Ms. Gilmore.¡±
Atst, Noreen looked up from her screen, her gaze settling on the gold¨Ctrimmed invitation.
She paused for a second. ¡°Director Lowell, do you really want me to attend?¡±
Bianca hesitated, then replied, ¡°Yes. I do.¡±
¡°All right,¡± Noreen said, taking the invitation.
Carman couldn¡¯t help but think it looked less like an invitation and more like a gauntlet being thrown.
¡°And you too, Mr. Holt,¡± Bianca added, fishing out another invitation for Carman. ¡°The more, the merrier.¡±
As she pulled it from her purse, a small square packet tumbled out andnded right in front of Noreen.
A condom.
Unfazed, Bianca bent down, picked it up, and dropped it back into her bag, all with perfectposure.
It was all perfectly natural, but there was something unmistakably deliberate about the gesture. Noreen had a sneaking suspicion Bianca¡¯s entire purse was stuffed with invitations, ready to hand out to anyone in her path¨Ceager to announce to the world that she and Seth were engaged.
But did she not realize what day it was?
Handing out engagement invitations on April Fool¡¯s Day?
She and Seth really were a match made in heaven.
Noreen had barely made it to the conference room when Healy arrived.
Naylor Automotive was one of Ascendancy Group¡¯s key partners, and their driverless cars relied heavily on Ascendancy¡¯s powerful Al chips.
Healy was supposed to sit on the other side of the table, but when he saw Noreen, he changed seats so he could sit right beside her.
By the time Seth and Bianca walked in, Noreen and Healy were deep in conversation about the project, so absorbed that they didn¡¯t even notice the others¡® arrival.
Seeing Healy and Noreen chatting so enthusiastically, Bianca¡¯s eyes grew noticeably colder.
Not long ago, she¡¯d been trying her hardest to set Healy up with Lillian.
Yes-man 300
But Healy always found some excuse to politely decline, never giving her even the slightest chance.
Yet now he was deep in conversation with Noreen¡
He was so engrossed, in fact, that when she and Seth walked in, he didn¡¯t even notice. Clearly, the two of them werepletely absorbed in their discussion.
Could it be¡ Healy was interested in Noreen?
That couldn¡¯t be possible, could it?
Noreen was beautiful and certainly capable, but even so, it was hard to imagine Healy falling for her.
She decided she was probably overthinking it.
Hadn¡¯t Jude said Healy was already interested in someone else?
He and Noreen must just be talking about work¨Cnothing more.
Besides, it wasn¡¯t likely that even someone as charming as Noreen could win over a man like Healy.
The meeting was scheduled for ten o¡¯clock and was led entirely by Bianca.
Noreen was puzzled, as she hadn¡¯t seen Vincent anywhere. Th?s chapter is updated by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?
Normally, for a meeting this important, the head of Ascendancy Group¨CVincent¨Cshould have been the one running things.
Yet everyone else in the conference room seemed perfectly calm about it, as if they were already used to Bianca taking charge of Ascendancy Group affairs.
Noreen had been preupied with her own worktely and hadn¡¯t paid much attention to what was going on at Ascendancy Group.
Carman had mentioned in passing that Seth had handed over management of Ascendancy Group to
Bianca.
She¡¯d assumed Seth was just saying that to cate his old me or make a show of it, not actually giving her real authority.
After all, Ascendancy Group was the core asset of Aurelion Group.
She hadn¡¯t expected things to have reached this point already.
Wasn¡¯t this just handing Ascendancy Group over to Bianca on a silver tter?
She wondered if this would affect their partnership going forward.
Over lunch, Sophia filled Noreen in on thetest gossip she¡¯d picked up at Ascendancy Group that morning, finally resolving the questions brewing in Noreen¡¯s mind.
Sophia confided, ¡°Word is, Vincent¡¯s beenpletely sidelined by Bianca. He was so furious he took an extended leave¨Cand from what I hear, he has no ns toe back anytime soon.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not even the half of it. Bianca¡¯s been bringing her own people into Ascendancy Group. At this
20.053
rate, she¡¯s practically taken over.¡±
¡°She really thinks she owns the ce!¡± Sophia huffed, indignant.
¡°She¡¯s about to,¡± Noreen replied.
The meeting finally ended at four in the afternoon. Bianca, representing Aurelion Group, invited the business partners to join her and Seth for dinner.
Noreen had been nning to find an excuse to slip away, but when Healy told her Castle would be there, she bit her tongue.
She figured if Seth was inviting Castle to dinner at such a crucial moment, it was probably to pave the way for Bianca.
Ascendancy Group had some ties with the Joyner family of Harborview City, and if Bianca wanted to take over Ascendancy Group openly and secure her position, Castle¡¯s approval was essential. Healy, meanwhile, was oblivious to Noreen¡¯s inner thoughts¨Chis attention was fixed elsewhere. Ever since Seth walked in, Healy had been watching Noreen¡¯s reactions closely.
He barely spared Seth a nce.
It was a stark contrast from the Noreen of before, who used to gaze at Seth with such longing¨Cnow, she seemed like apletely different person.
Bianca went all out and booked The Eastern Gardens for dinner.
They had barely arrived when Castle showed up.
Bianca and Seth were quick to rise and wee him.
It was, after all, Aurelion Group¡¯s event; the others, though eager to connect with Castle, knew not to overstep.
Bianca greeted Castle warmly, setting aside her usual pride and adopting a surprisingly humble
manner.
Yet Castle¡¯s attitude toward her remained cool and distant.
He shook her hand, but only out of politeness.
Bianca, eager to disper any prejudice Castle might have against her, personally pulled out a chair and invited him to sit.
But as Castle nced around and caught sight of Noreen on the other side of the table, his eyes suddenly lit up.
20:05
Yes-man 301
Chapter 301
¡°So Miss Gilmore¡¯s here too¨CI must have picked the perfect day to visit,¡± Castle said warmly, brushing right past Bianca to greet Noreen directly. Chapters first released on find(?)ovel
Bianca¡¯s face soured at being ignored in front of everyone, but Seth quickly stepped in to rescue her from embarrassment. He slid smoothly into the chair she¡¯d pulled out and grinned, ¡°How did you know this was exactly where I wanted to sit?¡±
Someone nearby teased, ¡°You two are so in sync, aren¡¯t you? Looks like we¡¯re not here for dinner, but to watch you two unt your rtionship!¡±
Thanks to Seth¡¯s timely intervention, Bianca¡¯s mood brightened. She took the opportunity to hand out her wedding invitations to everyone present.
Noreen had guessed right¨CBianca¡¯s bag really was stuffed with invitations, and she nned to give one to everyone she met.
Meanwhile, Noreen and Castle were deep in conversation, oblivious to the drama across the table.
Castle told her he¡¯d taken time to seriously test InnoCore when he got back, and was convinced it represented a true leap in innovation. He said the falling cost of Al was an unstoppable trend, one that would make Al applications much more widespread.
He went on to say that InnoCore¡¯s rise proved localpanies were capable of genuine technological breakthroughs, and that this would ultimately reshape entire industries and
dramatically change the domestic businessndscape.
Their discussion didn¡¯t stop at InnoCore. Castle also asked Noreen¡¯s opinion on how international port investments might impact the national economy.
Noreen had her own insights and didn¡¯t hesitate to share them, speaking with confidence and candor.
Castle listened to her with genuine interest. The longer the conversation went on, the more impressed he became¨Cand the more certain he felt thating here today had been the right
decision.
The two were so engrossed in their exchange that Bianca never found a good chance to interrupt and
offer her invitation.
Everyone at the table could see it: Castle was clearly taken with Noreen, even inviting her to visit Harborview City and tour Joyner Group¡¯s businesses.
An invitation like that was no small gesture¨Cit was both an honor and a clear recognition of Noreen¡¯s
abilities.
It looked like Winrich was on the rise, and some people started thinking they¡¯d better find a way to get
in with them.
Healy, who¡¯d been sitting next to Noreen and quietly observing everything, was struck by the scene. He¡¯d already seen glimpses of Noreen¡¯s talents in previous dealings, but now it was clear he¡¯d only scratched the surface.
Noreen was like a book that grew richer the further you read¨Cfascinating and impossible to put
15:40
down.
He couldn¡¯t help but wonder how he¡¯d ever been so blind, once dismissing her as just a shallow, materialistic pretty face.
Bianca had hoped this dinner would bring her closer to Castle and give her a chance to announce her uing engagement to Seth. Instead, she¡¯d unwittingly handed Noreen the perfect opportunity to connect with Castle, and the frustration gnawed at her. There was nothing she could do but grit her teeth and swallow it.
Maybe it was all the lively conversation at dinner, but Noreen had hardly touched her food and found herself starving once she got home.
She couldn¡¯t cook, and her fridge was nearly empty except for a few boxes of frozen meals.
After rummaging around, she finally unearthed a single cup of instant noodles.
She set the kettle to boil and was about to make her noodles when Padgett Novak called.
Unable to find anything to weigh down the noodle lid, she suddenly spotted one of those embossed wedding invitations she¡¯d tucked under herptop. Without a second thought, she grabbed it and ced it on top of the cup, then answered Padgett¡¯s call.
See? Even those invitations came in handy sometimes.
Padgett Novak had been away on business for a while and had justnded back in Rivercrest City. He called Noreen to invite her out for dinner the next day, mentioning he wanted to introduce her to a friend¨Csomeone she might be able to coborate with in the future.
In Noreen¡¯s line of work, connections were everything.
Padgett was only looking out for her, so of course she agreed. Before hanging up, they settled on a time and ce to meet.
15:41
Yes-man 302
Chapter 302
Noreen flicked the invitation envelope off her cup of instant noodles with a practiced snap of her fingers, then grabbed a fork to swirl the noodles around.
Hearing themotion, Padgett Novak nced over and asked, ¡°What are you up to?¡±
¡°Just having some noodles,¡± Noreen replied.
¡°Instant noodles again? That¡¯s not exactly healthy, especially with your stomach issues. You should really eat something more nourishing.¡±
Padgett¡¯s voice was deep, almost velvety, like a slow note on a cello.
Noreen shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s fine every once in a while.¡±
Mostly, it was just convenient.
Padgett hesitated, then offered, ¡°Let me order you something. There¡¯s this French ce I know¨Cyou¡¯d
like it.¡±
Sure, French food was a world apart from the sodiumden noodles she was poking at.
But Noreen knew what it meant if she epted.
She shook her head. ¡°No, thanks.¡±
Padgett didn¡¯t seem surprised, nor did he look disappointed. If anything, he med himself¨Cthought maybe he hadn¡¯t tried hard enough, hadn¡¯t done enough to win her over.
He just needed to keep trying. That was all. Th?s chapter is updated by find{n}ovel
Henry arrived early at the French restaurant where he was supposed to meet Padgett. To his surprise, Padgett was already there, dressed to the nines¨Cdark dress shirt, patterned tie, even matching engraved cufflinks shing at his wrists.
His jet¨Cck hair was neatly parted andbed back, the sides forming sharp, clean lines that entuated his smooth forehead.
As Henry sat down, he eyed Padgett¡¯s outfit. ¡°You sure this is a business meeting and not a date?¡±
Padgettughed, exhaling as if the joke hit a little too close to home. ¡°Honestly, I almost wish it was.¡±
¡°Oh? So you¡¯re saying the other party isn¡¯t interested?¡± Henry grinned, intrigued. ¡°She must have pretty high standards if even you can¡¯t catch her eye.¡±
Padgett shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not that. She¡¯s just not looking for romance right now.¡±
Henry waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Ah, ying hard to get. She¡¯s got you wrapped around her finger, doesn¡¯t she?¡±
Padgett leaned in, a little exasperated. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. She¡¯s a good person. And really, today is about business.¡± He paused, making sure Henry understood. ¡°You¡¯ve met her before, actually. At the entrepreneur summit¨CI even had you two seated together.¡±
15:41 0
Henry, midway through a sip of tea, paused as the realization hit. His brows furrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡ the woman you want to introduce is Noreen?¡±
Padgett nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
Instantly, Henry¡¯s expression went cold. ¡°Afraid I¡¯ll have to pass on your kind offer.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
Before Padgett could press further, Henry¡¯s phone buzzed. He nced at the caller ID, and his demeanor softened noticeably. ¡°Sorry, I have to run. Drinks on me next time¨CI owe you.¡±
He stood up, already answering the call, his tone gentler than before. ¡°Hey, Professor.¡±
When Noreen arrived, only Padgett was there.
¡°Sorry about this,¡± he apologized, looking a bit sheepish. ¡°My friend had somethinge upst minute. Really sorry for wasting your time.¡±
She waved him off. ¡°Actually, it works out. I still owe you a dinner, remember?¡±
Halfway through their meal, Padgett looked up, almost hesitant. ¡°Did you go to The Half¨CLight Club a while back?¡±
Noreen tensed at the name. She¡¯d had a bad experience there.
¡°I did. Why?¡±
Padgett¡¯s eyes flickered away, as if he suddenly found the tablecloth fascinating. ¡°Do you remember anything that happened?¡±
She shook her head. ¡°Honestly, I cked out that night. Don¡¯t remember a thing.¡±
Then she turned the question on him. ¡°Did you see me there?¡±
Padgett paused, then nodded. ¡°Yeah. I did.¡±
For some reason, she watched as he let out a long, relieved breath, as if a weight had been lifted.
Yes-man 303
Chapter 303
After dinner, Padgett Novak drove Noreen home.
Ordinarily, she¡¯d have invited him upstairs for a drink, maybe some coffee. But Noreen worried that might send the wrong signal¨Cgive him the wrong idea. So she said goodbye at the entrance to her apartmentplex instead.
Padgett Novak was always the perfect gentleman about this. He never made her feel ufortable.
She watched his car pull away, then turned to head inside¨Conly to be greeted by a sneering voice behind her.
¡°Quite the operator, aren¡¯t you? Even Padgett Novak¡¯s fallen for your act.¡±
Oh, for God¡¯s sake. Why won¡¯t he just stay gone?
Noreen took a deep breath before she turned around. She didn¡¯t bother even ncing at Seth, just walked straight for the gate as if he were invisible.
But Seth, persistent as ever, caught up in two strides and grabbed her arm.
Noreen spun and pped him across the face. The crack echoed in the night air.
Seth¡¯s head snapped to the side. He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, then gave a cold littleugh. ¡°Did I hit a nerve? Is that why you¡¯re so angry?¡±
¡°No, I just thought I¡¯d give you a lesson in manners on Mr. Harcourt¡¯s behalf. Take your hand off me, or I¡¯ll hit you again.¡±
Seth didn¡¯t let go.
Before she could raise her hand a second time, he caught her wrist.
He stared at her with a chilling calm. ¡°First it was Dn. Now it¡¯s Padgett Novak. How many guys are you lining up to rece me, Noreen?¡±
Once, she might have tried to exin herself¨Cinsisted that she was innocent, that there was nothing going on with anyone.
Now, she couldn¡¯t be bothered.
Like hell she¡¯d exin anything. This content belongs to f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
¡°I could date a hundred men, and it still wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with you. Get that through your
thick skull.¡±
¡°And if I can¡¯t?¡±
¡°Then go to hell!¡±
Noreen yanked her arm free and turned to leave.
Only then did Seth finally get to the point. ¡°Evelyn asked me to bring you your medicine. It¡¯s in my car¨Cwait here, and I¡¯ll get it.¡±
But by the time Seth returned, Noreen was long gone.
15:41
Wait for him? Not a chance.
She didn¡¯t want to waste another second on him¨Cnot even to breathe the same air.
When Noreen got home, she was still fuming. The phone rang; it was Evelyn. Noreen forced herself to sound calm as she answered.
Evelyn asked if she¡¯d gotten the medicine. She exined she¡¯d gone to a lot of trouble to get it, that it would be good for Noreen¡¯s health¨Ca special herbal tonic, already brewed and carefully packed in pouches because she knew Noreen was always busy and didn¡¯t have time to make it herself. She¡¯d send more once she finished this batch.
¡°Evelyn, you really don¡¯t have to go to all that trouble,¡± Noreen protested.
¡°It¡¯s no trouble. You really need to take care of yourself. Dr. Wynne told me you¡¯re not in great shape.¡±
Noreen¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What else did Dr. Wynne say?¡±
¡°Just that you need to rest and take care of yourself. Nothing more.¡±
Relieved, Noreen lied, ¡°I got the medicine, Evelyn. Thank you.¡±
¡°Good. Please remember to take it on time, okay?¡± Evelyn urged.
Noreen promised she would.
After hanging up, most of her anger had drained away. She was just about to take a shower when someone knocked on her door.
She frowned, instantly knowing who it was.
Honestly, she didn¡¯t want to answer. She¡¯d moved, started over, all to leave the past behind. She¡¯d fought so hard to get here¨Cshe wasn¡¯t going to let anyone drag her back.
If Seth tried his old tricks, pounding on the door and trying to intimidate her, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate¨Cshe¡¯d call the police right then and there.
Noreen pulled up the emergency number on her phone, finger poised to dial.
But this time, the hallway fell silent after just three knocks. No shouting. No threats. She checked through the peephole. The corridor was empty. Seth was already gone.
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Yes-man 304
Chapter 304
She hesitated for a few seconds before finally opening the door.
On the wee mat sat a paper bag filled with the herbal medicine Evelyn had brewed for her.
Seth was already gone.
99
On Wednesday, Noreen had arranged to meet Scott at Winrich to discuss a potential project. She told him she¡¯d reviewed his proposal and was genuinely interested.
Scott arrived at Winrich brimming with confidence. As he waited for the elevator, he ran into Ethan, who wasing downstairs to pick up Bianca.
¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Mr. Quigley,¡± Ethan called out, his tone oozing smugness. Lately, everything seemed to be going his way; even his cheeks had a healthy flush.
Put side by side, Scott and Ethan might as well havee from different worlds.
One radiated wealth and sess; the other looked worn down, barely scraping by.
Ethan¡¯s sense of superiority only grew as he took in Scott¡¯s disheveled appearance. ¡°Having trouble out in the real world, huh? I told you before¨Cbusiness is business, dreams are dreams. You can¡¯t eat ideals for breakfast.¡±
¡°You¡¯re way too stubborn, you know that? You never understood I was looking out for you, still turned on me.¡±
and you
Before Scott left thepany, he and Ethan had a shouting match in the office that everyone heard. It had been a humiliating scene for Ethan.
He¡¯d always believed that since he invested the most money, he deserved the final say. Scott, in his mind, was just an employee¨Csomeone who had no right to challenge him.
Ethan straightened his designer jacket, making a show of it. ¡°Just so you know, Aurelion Group has invested in mypany again¨Cmore thanst time, actually. If things aren¡¯t working out for you out there, I could take you back. Let¡¯s call it a favor for old college buddies.¡±
¡°But¡¡± Ethan lifted his chin, ¡°there¡¯s a condition. You¡¯ll have to apologize to me in front of the wholepany. Admit you were wrong. Only then will I take you back. Of course, you¡¯d just be an employee this time¨Cnot a partner.¡±
The elevator chimed.
Scott kept his expression nk. ¡°Could you move? You¡¯re blocking my way.¡± Official source is find¡¤novel
Ethan was still processing Scott¡¯s words as Scott stepped into the elevator and rode upstairs.
He¡¯s not here to beg for help? No way, Ethan thought. With the way he looks, he must be desperate. He just couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it.
Fine. If he cares that much about his pride, let him suffer for it.
Scott and Noreen spent the entire afternoon in the conference room, so absorbed in their discussion
15:41
Chapter 304.
that they didn¡¯t even notice they¡¯d worked right through dinner.
It was Sophia who finally poked her head in to remind them, snapping them out of their deep dive.
¡°Why don¡¯t we grab dinner together?¡± Noreen suggested, asking Sophia to book a table.
Over the meal, their conversation drifted back to the project, until finally, as they were finishing up, Noreen looked at Scott and asked the question she¡¯d been holding in.
¡°Can I ask why you and Ethan went your separate ways?¡±
Scott had never brought it up before, but Noreen had a feeling things between them had ended badly. Now that they were talking about working together, she needed to know where thendmines were. Scott paused to collect his thoughts. ¡°Ethan only wanted to make pay¨Cto¨Cwin mobile games because the money was fast. I was more interested in building big¨Cbudget, story¨Cdriven games, so we shed. Eventually, Ipromised and agreed to work on mobile games, but then Ethan insisted they had to be edgy¨Cprovocative characters, borderline storylines, just to reel in yers. I refused, and we had a huge fight. That was the end of our partnership.¡±
Noreen nodded, not surprised at all.
When she¡¯d done her due diligence, Ethan had pitched the same idea to her, and she¡¯d shut it down immediately. It was only after several rounds of changes¨Conce Scott took charge¨Cthat the project finally met her standards.
She hadn¡¯t expected things to unravel so dramatically afterward.
¡°Well, good things are worth fighting for. From now on, just focus on making what you truly believe
in.¡±
As Noreen went to settle the bill, she ran into Henry at the front desk, who was just finishing up his own payment.
He was about to leave but paused when he spotted her.
¡°Miss Gilmore,¡± Henry said, his tone cool but pointed, ¡°in life and business, it pays to be aboveboard.¡±
15:41
Yes-man 305
Noreen nced left and right, making sure there was no one else nearby. Once she was certain Henry was talking to her, she pulled out her phone, found a video, and yed it at full volume in response to him.
¡°Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay?¡± The voice from her phone echoed loudly.
Henry¡¯s expression soured; his opinion of Noreen dropped even lower.
Noreen, for her part, couldn¡¯t have cared less what he thought. As soon as she¡¯d had her say, she tapped her card and left without a backward nce.
Not far away, Healy¨Cdragged into a blind date against his will¨Ccaught the entire exchange. The moment Henry started giving Noreen a hard time, Healy¡¯s instinct had been to step in and defend her. But before he could do anything, Noreen had already handled it herself.
Her approach was¡ unconventional. But honestly, it was hrious.
If he hadn¡¯t been stuck in his own awkward date, Healy would¡¯ve gone over to say hello to her.
His date, noticing the smile that wouldn¡¯t leave his face, took it as a good sign. She tried to keep the conversation going, but Healy ended the meal early and apologized to her.
She looked genuinely confused. ¡°Can I ask why?¡±
She knew she was attractive, and her family background wasn¡¯t bad either.
Healy paused, and at that moment, a certain face shed vividly in his mind.
He gave her a straightforward answer: ¡°I¡¯m attracted to people with a sense of humor.¡±
Meanwhile, when Henry returned to the private dining room, his expression was noticeably sour.
Inside, Bianca¡® was chatting with Ethan. She looked up when Henry walked in. ¡°What took you so long?¡±
¡°Got held up,¡± Henry replied, not interested in borating.
Bianca didn¡¯t press. Instead, she turned to discuss the results of Ethan¡¯s conversation with her.
Ethan reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Scott. Even if he teams up with Winrich, he won¡¯t make much of a ssh. The only reason I ever respected him was because we were ssmates back in college¨CI even gave him a small stake out of courtesy. But now he acts like he¡¯s running TechVenture.¡± Original content can be found at find?novel
Bianca¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about Scott or Winrich. What I don¡¯t get is why Noreen keeps going head¨Cto¨Chead with me on every project.¡±
¡°I focus on Al, so does she. I bid for the Port Redevelopment Project, she goes after it, too. Now I want tounch a game, and she¡¯s jumping into gaming as well. She¡¯s always trailing in my footsteps.¡±
Henry took a sip of tea beforementing with disdain, ¡°That¡¯s typical copycat behavior you see in the business world back home. Thepetition is cutthroat, and everyone¡¯s chasing quick profits without any regard for innovation or originality. This kind of following¨Cthe¨Ccrowd gets you nowhere in
15:41
the long run¡ªit¡¯s got no staying power.¡±
Bianca, still on the topic, brought up Noreen¡¯s background. ¡°She got some investment experience working with Seth, but she¡¯s just not up to par. Her education¡¯s pretty basic, and that caps her potential.¡±
Henry asked, ¡°What¡¯s her degree?¡±
¡°Just a regr bachelor¡¯s.¡±
Hearing that, Henry understood immediately. No wonder Noreen was always copying others and resorting to questionable methods to snatch projects. She was the worst kind of yer in the industry¨Cthe kind Henry despised most.
He already disliked Noreen; now he found her utterly contemptible.
After the meal, the trio went their separate ways. Out in the parking lot, Ethan spotted Scott, still driving that battered old Volkswagen.
It matched Scott perfectly: shabby and down on his luck.
The car had seen better days¨Ctoday, it wouldn¡¯t even start. Scott was hunched over, fiddling with wires to try and jump the engine when Ethan rapped on his window.
Scott looked up, his brow furrowing in annoyance the moment he saw who it was.
But Ethan, never one to read the room, leaned casually on the window and taunted him, ¡°Still driving this heap, huh? Scott, how do you keep ending up further behind? Or did you forget why your ex dumped you in the first ce?¡±
15:41
Yes-man 306
Chapter 306
Scott¡¯s expression turned cold, and he ignored Ethan.
He knew Ethan too well¨Cengage with him and he¡¯d only get bolder.
¡°I heard you¡¯re trying to pitch your project to Winrich?¡±
Winrich and TechVenture shared the same building. It only took Ethan a quick check to figure out what Scott was up to.
¡°Don¡¯t waste your time. Do you have any idea how much money it takes to run a gaming startup? Winrich is small potatoes¨Chow much could they even offer you? You¡¯d be better offing back to work with me. With Aurelion Group backing us, we actually have a future. Hell, I could even help you trade up from this piece of junk. Look at mine¨Cjust got a new BMW.¡±
Scott finally got his car started. He brushed Ethan¡¯s hand off the window, his tone icy. ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡±
With that, he pulled away.
Ethan stood there, his face darkening. ¡°Fine, Scott. You don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you, huh? Just wait¨Cyou¡¯ll fall on hard times soon enough!¡±
On Friday, Dnnded in Rivercrest City and immediately called Noreen to invite her to dinner.
They met at a Thai restaurant.
Noreen could tell Dn looked exhausted.
And honestly, who wouldn¡¯t be? Omniva Group was an absolute mess.
Still, Dn cared more about how Noreen¡¯s work was going.
¡°Let¡¯s not talk about work tonight. Let¡¯s just have a good meal,¡± Noreen said,dling some hot tom yum soup into his bowl.
Dn smiled. ¡°Alright, no work talk. What else should we chat about?¡±
Noreen was about to ask him the same when Dn beat her to it. ¡°Next Thursday is Father Benedict¡¯s sixtieth birthday. Are you going to his celebration?¡±
Noreen bit her lip, torn. In the end, all she managed was, ¡°If I go, I¡¯ll only ruin his mood.¡±
¡°That¡¯s just your guess. He¡¯s never mentioned you these past years, you know what that means?¡±
¡°It means he¡¯s forgotten about me.¡±
Dn chuckled. ¡°Funny¨Cyou two always give the exact same answer. Father Benedict said the same thing.¡±
Deep down, Noreen felt anxious. After all, she¡¯d let Father Benedict down back then.
He¡¯d been so furious, he said he never wanted to see her again, as if he¡¯d never taken her on as a student in the first ce.
Since then, Noreen truly hadn¡¯t dared show up in front of him.
She still didn¡¯t give Dn a straight answer¨Ctruth was, she didn¡¯t have one.
Dn offered her a ride home and, hearing her new address, realized she¡¯d moved.
¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me up? I haven¡¯t seen your new ce yet.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re not too tired, you¡¯re wee toe in,¡± Noreen replied, letting her guard down around
Dn. Chapters first released on Find~Novel
That was enough for Dn.
But he didn¡¯t want to impose. ¡°It¡¯ste. Maybe next time.¡±
¡°Drive safe,¡± Noreen reminded him.
¡°Alright, you head up.¡±
¡°You go first¨CI¡¯m just around the corner,¡± she insisted.
Dn sighed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go. Get some rest.¡±
¡°Text me when you get home.¡±
To any bystander, their farewell would have looked almost reluctant, as if neither wanted to leave.
And not far away, Seth saw the whole thing.
Dn¡¯s car had barely pulled away when Seth got out of his own, carrying a thermos of herbal tonic Evelyn had prepared, striding straight toward Noreen.
He shut his car door a little too hard. Noreen heard it and nced over.
The moment she saw him, she turned to leave.
Seth called out, ¡°I¡¯ll just give you this and go. I won¡¯t bother you.¡±
15:41 1
???????? ??
Yes-man 307
Noreen finally stopped walking.
After handing her the medicine, Seth had left without saying a single word.
He was so unfazed, so distant, that she almost didn¡¯t recognize him.
As soon as she got home, Noreen called Evelyn.
The moment Evelyn picked up, she asked if Noreen had received the medicine.
Noreen replied she¡¯d just gotten it.
¡°Then Seth must¡¯ve waited quite a while,¡± Evelyn murmured.
But Noreen had a reason for this call. She needed to make it clear to Evelyn: from now on, don¡¯t let Seth deliver medicine to her anymore.
There was nothing left between them. No possibility, not even the faintest chance.
Carman always said that Noreen seemed so calm around Seth.
Noreen didn¡¯t deny it.
But no one knew how much it had cost her to be that calm, how many tears she¡¯d shed before she could face him without falling apart. Get full chapters from F¦ÉndNovel
Only someone foolish would repeat that same mistake with him.
¡°Evelyn, please don¡¯t ask him to bring me medicine anymore. I don¡¯t want to have any contact with
him outside of work.¡±
Evelyn went quiet for a long time before letting out a sigh. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡±
¡°Maybe you could just give me the prescription? I can pick up the ingredients and make it myself.¡±
¡°That won¡¯t work,¡± Evelyn replied gently. ¡°Some of those herbs are nearly impossible to find. I had to ask friends in the countryside to get them for me.¡± She added, ¡°Please, don¡¯t feel like you¡¯re troubling me. You know I never mind, and I¡¯m much more experienced at preparing this sort of thing.¡±
She paused, then sighed again. ¡°Noreen, I know you and Seth broke up, but does that mean you¡¯re cutting me off too? Mr. Harcourt asks about you, you know. He never says much, but he cares¨Che¡¯s always keeping an eye on your career¡¡±
Noreen could draw a hard line with Seth, because she¡¯d already done more than enough for
him¨Cthere was nothing left to give.
But she couldn¡¯t be cold to Evelyn or Mr. Harcourt.
¡°Evelyn, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to talk to you. I just didn¡¯t want to bother you. But if you really don¡¯t mind, then you can keep making the medicine.¡±
¡°But please, don¡¯t let Seth deliver it anymore. I¡¯lle pick it up myself, or we can use a courier service. It¡¯s convenient now¨Cif you don¡¯t know how, just give me a call and I¡¯ll arrange everything.¡±
¡°Alright, whatever you say.¡±
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Finally, Evelyn sounded happy again, and Noreen could breathe easy.
***
After thinking it over, Noreen decided she had to visit her mentor.
Afraid that she might upset him, she chose to go a day early.
But first, she needed to prepare a proper apology gift.
She reached out to an auctioneer she¡¯d worked with before, asking if there were any uing auctions with good pieces, particrly art or calligraphy.
The auctioneer sent her a list of uing lots, and Noreen quickly found two that caught her eye. The dates worked out, so she had Sophia rearrange her schedule to fit in a trip to the auction.
The auction took ce on a Monday. As soon as Noreen wrapped up her meeting, she headed straight there.
The moment she stepped into the lobby, she spotted Seth.
She hadn¡¯t been looking for him. Seth just had a way of standing out¨Cwhether it was his stature, his presence, or those striking looks, he was impossible to miss, even in a crowd.
He looked like he was waiting for someone.
Noreen was about to turn away and head into the auction room when Bianca arrived.
So, it was Bianca he¡¯d been waiting for.
Noreen had been to plenty of auctions before, always as Seth¡¯s proxy, which was how she¡¯d gotten to know the auctioneer in the first ce.
The auctioneer, not knowing she¡¯d left Aurelion Group, assumed she was here on Seth¡¯s behalf again and immediately escorted her to the VIP section.
15:41
Yes-man 308
Chapter 308
Noreen only realized her mistake when she found herself at the edge of the VIP section.
¡°Miss Lockwood, I¡¯m so sorry¨CI forgot to mention, I¡¯m not here on behalf of Mr. Harcourt this time Noreen quickly exined. ¡°I¡¯m actually bidding for something of my own today.¡±
Miss Lockwood blinked in surprise, then nodded. ¡°In that case, let me show you to the back.¡±
Auction houses had rules of their own¨CVIP seating was strictly reserved for premium members.
Just as Noreen was making her way toward the regr seats in the back, Seth and Bianca arrived with their friends.
Jude was among them, his voice carrying across the room¨Cloud enough for Noreen to hear every word.
¡°So let me get this straight,¡± Jude said, his tone teasing. ¡°You two are here to pick out engagement gifts. Bianca picks, Seth pays.¡±
¡°And I¡¯m just here to watch the happy couple unt their love in my face!¡±
Biancaughed and tried to appease him. ¡°You can help me choose! I might get overwhelmed by all the options¨Cit¡¯d be good to have another opinion.¡±
¡°Fine,¡± Jude grinned. ¡°And maybe I¡¯ll bid on something for you two as an engagement present.¡±
¡°That¡¯s way too generous.¡±
¡°It¡¯s the least I can do! This is a big deal for you guys!¡± Jude insisted.
He was still joking around when he turned and nearly jumped out of his skin at the sight of Noreen behind him. He stammered, ¡°N¨CN¨CNoreen!¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t even look at him. With a perfectly nk expression, she walked past the group and headed straight for the seats at the very back.
Jude was so rattled by her that he immediately went quiet.
Seth, on the other hand, didn¡¯t react at all¨Che simply led Bianca and Jude to their VIP seats in the front row, which had the best view in the house.
Meanwhile, Noreen ended up in thest row, separated from them by two entire sections.
Honestly, she preferred it that way. Peace and quiet.
Noreen¡¯s goal at the auction was simple: bid only on what she wanted. She barely paid attention to anyone else¨Ccertainly not Seth and his friends.
She kept her head down, dealing with work emails on her phone, and even found time to chat with Scott about the project.
Since she¡¯d decided to invest in Scott¡¯s venture, she needed to help him get the studio up and running. Lately, she¡¯d assigned Sophia to help out on¨Csite, but whenever she had a free moment, she checked in on their progress herself.
15:41 This content belongs to find?novel
Up front, Jude couldn¡¯t getfortable. He didn¡¯t even know why, buttely, seeing Noreen was like a mouse spotting a cat¨Che just got anxious, uneasy.
Healy liked to joke that Noreen had given him PTSD. Honestly, it wasn¡¯t far off.
Not that Jude would ever admit it out loud.
Just thinking about the ten¨Cthousand¨Cword apology letter he¡¯dbored over for a week was enough to make him break out in a cold sweat.
Not to mention the three hundred million he¡¯d lost in damages. And the fifty million he¡¯d sunk into the Port Redevelopment Project afterward¡
Worst of all, his father was still in the hospital!
Noreen was honestly terrifying. It was like she was born to keep him in check.
Definitely not someone he wanted to mess with.
Unable to help himself, Jude texted Healy to ask what he was up to.
Healy replied he was workingte.
¡°Forget about worke to the auction. Seth and Bianca are here,¡± Jude urged.
Healy shot him down without a second thought. ¡°No time.¡±
Besides, he had no interest in ying third wheel.
¡°Noreen¡¯s here too. High¨Cstakes drama, are you sure you want to miss it?¡± Jude typed.
After that, Healy didn¡¯t reply¨Cprobably busy.
With ten minutes left before the auction started, Jude slipped off to the restroom and ducked outside for a quick smoke.
When he came back, he nearly dropped his phone at the sight of Healy sitting right next to Noreen.
He blinked, convinced his eyes were ying tricks on him.
No way.
Wasn¡¯t Healy supposed to be too busy? How had he gotten here in ten minutes? Did the guy have teleportation powers or something?!
Yes-man 309
15:41
Chapter 309
Although Jude was dying to know how Healy had managed to make it to the auction so quickly, the moment he spotted Noreen at Healy¡¯s side, he pushed his curiosity down hard. Latest content published on FindN0vel
Avoiding Noreen had be second nature to him.
No sooner had Jude taken his seat than the auction began.
Bianca was flipping through the auction catalogue, tapping a pen against the items she¡¯d already
marked.
From the looks of it, she¡¯d picked out quite a few things¨Cmostly jewelry and simr trinkets, all perfect for engagement gifts.
Jude leaned over and dered, ¡°Remember to let me bid on somethingter¨CI¡¯ll get you two an engagement present.¡±
Bianca smiled. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll look forward to it.¡±
Jude grinned. ¡°Only fair.¡±
He couldn¡¯t help ncing back in Noreen¡¯s direction.
Healy was still chatting with Noreen, practically turned sideways in his chair, his attention fixed on her. Even his upper body was angled toward her ever so slightly.
Suddenly, something clicked for Jude. His expression twisted with a sh of realization.
Bianca caught the look. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±
Jude hesitated. Whether to say it or not¨Cit felt awkward either way.
But Bianca was sharp enough; she read the hint in his eyes and nced over her shoulder.
One look, and her expression shifted as well.
The easy smile faded from her eyes, reced by something a little colder.
If Jude could spot it, so could Bianca.
But she didn¡¯t understand.
What on earth did Healy see in Noreen?
Maybe it was just a bit of fun for him.
Still, Bianca couldn¡¯t help feeling ufortable.
She¡¯d always considered Healy a friend¨Cshe expected him to be on her side.
Drawing her gaze back, Bianca wondered what Healy¡¯s father, Mr. Naylor, would think if he knew about this. He would definitely disapprove.
After all, Noreen¡¯s background was hardly presentable.
Thinking it over, Bianca shot a quick message to her mother.
15:41
¡°Mom, are you close with Mrs. Naylor?¡±
¡°We get along well enough. Why?¡± Yvonne replied.
¡°Oh, nothing much. I just noticed Healy seems to be spending a lot of time with Noreentely. Maybe you should give Mrs. Naylor a heads up.¡±
Yvonne had already heard about Noreen¡¯s situation from Lillian, so she immediately understood. Bianca¡¯s meaning.
¡°Alright, I¡¯ll mention it to her tomorrow when we go shopping.¡±
¡°And don¡¯t say it came from me. I don¡¯t want this affecting my friendship with Healy.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know how to handle it.¡±
Only then did Bianca put her phone away, her focus shifting back to the auction block, waiting for the item she had her eye on.
The early lots were all on the cheaper side, not really Bianca¡¯s taste, so she turned to chat quietly with
Seth.
Among the crowd, quite a few people recognized Seth, and from the situation, quickly deduced Bianca¡¯s identity.
¡°So that¡¯s Miss Lowell, the one about to get engaged to Mr. Harcourt. They really do make a striking couple.¡±
¡°I hear Miss Lowell¡¯s family is impressive too¨Cher father just got promoted to deputy director, right?¡±
¡°Looks like wedding bells are in the air.¡±
These whispers inevitably reached Noreen.
She wasn¡¯t bothered by them. She¡¯d grown numb to all the talk about those two.
Healy, eager to change the subject, leaned in to ask if there was anything she wanted to bid on tonight.
¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got my eye on a couple of paintings.¡±
¡°Oh? Are you into collecting art?¡± Healy asked, obviously just trying to keep the conversation going.
¡°No, they¡¯re for gifts. Something for the older folks.¡±
¡°My dad loves art, too. Seems he and your family have more inmon than I thought.¡±
Chapter 310
Yes-man 310
At that very moment, Healy¡¯s father was dominating the card table, blissfully unaware that his son had just unterally decided to change his interests.
Meanwhile, Healy turned to Noreen and asked, ¡°Do you want to head up front? I¡¯m a VIP here.¡±
€ 2 2 =
Noreen declined politely. ¡°No, thank you. It¡¯s quieter back here.¡±
Healy nced toward the front rows and had to admit she had a point.
Noreen then asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going up there yourself?¡±
Healy shook his head. ¡°No, I like the peace and quiet too.¡±
While the two of them chatted, Henry arrived.
He spotted Noreen first, and his brows knitted together instinctively. He quickly looked away, scanning the crowd until his eyesnded on Bianca, sitting dead center in the front row.
He paused for a split second, then changed direction, heading instead to the second section. He was a VIP as well, but with Seth sitting next to Bianca, it didn¡¯t seem appropriate to join them. The second section was just in front of Noreen and right behind Bianca.
After the auction had been underway for a while, something finally appeared that caught Bianca¡¯s eye¨Ca Kashmir sapphire ne with a starting bid of ten million dors.
It was steep, but with sapphire prices skyrocketing these past couple of years¨Cand genuine Kashmir sapphires now all but mined out¨Cit was to be expected. Even at this auction, only the main stone was
a five¨Ccarat Kashmir sapphire; the rest were simr¨Clooking tanzanites worth far less.
Bianca didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. She raised her paddle, bidding fifteen million dors straight
away.
The crowd began to murmur, and soon the price climbed to sixteen million.
Almost instantly, Bianca raised her paddle again.
¡°Twenty million.¡±
Her aggressive bidding quickly discouraged thepetition. Who would possibly pay twice the starting price for a ne?
But Bianca could bid with such confidence because she had the backing to do so¨CSeth¡¯s unwavering support, and his willingness to spare no expense for her. With Seth¡¯s indulgence, Bianca easily imed the sapphire ne as her own.
Ever since she¡¯d lost out to Noreen at the g, Bianca had developed a fixation with sapphires. She wanted Noreen to see that if she set her sights on something, Seth would buy it for her, no matter the cost.
All around, people cast looks of envy her way.
Noreen, oblivious to the drama unfolding ahead, was entirely absorbed in her phone, focused on hashing out work details with Scott.
15:42
Healy had already seen how immersed she could get in her work, but even now, watching her, he couldn¡¯t help but be drawn to her again.
There¡¯s something maic about a woman sopletely lost in her own world¨Ca kind of rxed self¨Cassurance that¡¯s far morepelling than calcted charm. That unassuming self¨Csufficiency made being around her feel effortless, evenforting.
Watching her was like quietly admiring a work of art.
She was focused on her work.
He was focused on her.
It almost felt as if the two of them existed on a different ne from everyone else in the room.
Back at the front, Bianca was already bidding on her second item¨Ca sapphire bracelet.
Jude, curious, leaned over and asked, ¡°Bianca, you really seem to have a thing for sapphirestely.¡±
She replied, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a recent obsession.¡±
The bidding started at five million, but Bianca immediately doubled it to ten million.
After seeing what happened with the ne, the other bidders realized this was another lost
cause. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? FindN()vel
The next several items were all jewelry, and Bianca kept bidding¨Caggressively. Every time, she pushed the price sky¨Chigh. Five¨Cmillion¨Cdor pieces? She¡¯d go straight to ten. Ten million? She¡¯d jump to twenty.
No one else even had a chance.
Before long, the entire auction felt like Bianca¡¯s personal shopping spree.
15:42
Yes-MAN 311
Someone in the audience quietly did the math.
In less than half an hour, Bianca had already spent ten million dors.
No wonder she had a reputation in the world of finance¨Cher generosity knew no bounds.
She spared no expense when it came to her fianc¨¦e,vishing wealth on her without a second thought.
Bianca looked every bit the victor, the triumphant curve of her lips never fading.
She cast what seemed like a casual nce toward Noreen¡¯s direction.
The auction was already halfway through, and Noreen hadn¡¯t ced a single bid. Did she not have money to spend?
Whye to an auction if you can¡¯t afford to buy anything?
After the jewelry lots came the antiques and artwork. Finally, Noreen put down her phone, ready to participate.
The piece she had her eye on¨Ca calligraphy painting¨Cstarted at fifty thousand dors. Noreen, sticking to the rules, raised the price to sixty thousand.
Others joined in, and the bidding crept up steadily to one hundred thousand.
Just as Noreen was about to make a second bid, someone in the middle section called out, ¡°Five hundred thousand.¡±
Seriously?
Who taught them to throw money around like this?
Noreen turned to see who had spoken. When she recognized the face, she went quiet.
It was Henry.
Of course, it made sense. Anyone who hung around Bianca was bound to have the same extravagant habits.
Healy, noticing how much Noreen wanted that painting, casually raised his paddle. ¡°Six hundred thousand.¡±
Noreen assumed he was bidding on her behalf, so she said nothing.
But then Henry raised his paddle again. ¡°One million.¡±
Noreen frowned. ¡°That¡¯s way too much. The markup is ridiculous. It¡¯s not worth it.¡±
Her business instincts kicked in¨Cshe only cared if something was worth the price.
And clearly, this painting wasn¡¯t.
She had others in mind anyway. She¡¯d just wait for the next one.
15.42
So Henry took that painting for a million dors.
The second painting Noreen was interested in started even higher, at five hundred thousand. Once again, she made the opening bid, raising it by fifty thousand as protocol dictated,
But Henry jumped in again, immediately doubling it to a million.
Noreen frowned, finally realizing Henry was doing this on purpose.
She lost her cool for a moment, raising her paddle to one and a half million.
Henry snorted dismissively and was about to bid again when someone at the front raised their paddle.
It was Seth.
He didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Three million.¡±
That number jolted Noreen back to her senses. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?ndnovel
Auctions really did make people lose their heads.
Henry squinted at the front row.
Seth turned back at that moment, their gazes locking across the room.
Two secondster, Henry raised his paddle. ¡°Five million.¡±
The auction room suddenly felt like a battlefield¨Cno smoke, but plenty of fire.
To these men, it was a numbers game, a contest of pride.
Watching from the sidelines, Noreen couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had set these two off.
It had to be Bianca.
Love is possessive, after all¡ªit makes you wary of every man around the one you care for.
That included Dn and Henry.
And Henry had no fondness for Seth. If Seth wanted a fight, Henry certainly wouldn¡¯t back down.
He raised his paddle. ¡°Seven million.¡±
Noreen sat back in her chair, half¨Camused, thoroughly entertained by this disy of masculine one¨Cupmanship.
She¡¯d always thought that watching menpete was far more fascinating than watching women
do it.
Since Seth had started this little war, he clearly had no intention of retreating.
He immediately called out, ¡°Ten million.¡±
Bianca couldn¡¯t stop herself from eximing, ¡°Seth, it¡¯s not worth it!¡±
Seth just shook his head at her, reassuring her that it was fine.
Bianca could only turn to Henry, hope flickering in her eyes.
15:42
¦Ô¦Ð¦Á¦Ñ¦É¦Ò¦É ¦¯
Henry was about to raise his paddle again, but when he met Bianca¡¯s gaze, his hand paused in midair, then dropped.
He gave up.
In the end, the painting went to Seth¨Cfor ten million dors.
Even Healy couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Seth, you¡¯re really going all out. You¡¯ve already dropped twenty million just on engagement gifts. Who knows how much the wedding fund will be? How are the rest of us supposed to keep up?¡±
Yes-MAN 312
Chapter 312
Seeing that neither of the auction items had anything to do with her, Noreen decided there was no reason to stay. She stood up and said to Healy, ¡°Mr. Healy, I have something to take care of, so I¡¯ll be heading out.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve got things to do as well,¡± Healy replied, rising to his feet right away.
¡°But you haven¡¯t bought a single thing yet,¡± Noreen pointed out.
¡°Everything I wanted got snatched up by someone else. Didn¡¯t the same thing happen to you? What are the odds? Looks like neither of us walked away with anything.¡±
Noreenughed at his easy humor. ¡°That¡¯s true enough¨Cso, shall we leave together?¡±
Healy couldn¡¯t have been happier. He hurried after Noreen, as if afraid she¡¯d change her mind at thest second.
Once outside, Noreen headed toward the parking lot.
Healy¡¯s car was on the other side, but he followed her anyway. ¡°Noreen, how about we grab a bite? Since we¡¯ve run into each other and all.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t today. I¡¯ve got ns. Maybe next time,¡± she replied without missing a beat.
As expected, Noreen turned him down politely, said her goodbyes, and drove off. The whole exchange took less than five minutes.
Healy watched her car disappear down the road, feeling a pang of regret.
Honestly, he wanted toy his cards on the table¨Cto tell Noreen he wanted to date her, to ask if she¡¯d give him a chance. But he knew all too well how badly he¡¯d treated her over the past seven years.
You reap what you sow.
If it weren¡¯t for the business ties between their families, Noreen probably wouldn¡¯t even bother speaking to him¨Cjust like she treated Jude.
So Healy forced himself to back off.
Maybe he just needed to wait. There¡¯s always tomorrow.
Noreen figured the auction would be quickly forgotten¨Cshe certainly hadn¡¯t given it a second thought. But the very next day, the tabloids were aze with gossip, and the story was everywhere.
Even ire, who was supposed to be holed up filming with her cast and crew, caught wind of it. The moment she finished work and got home, she was on a video call with Noreen, hungry for thetest
scoop.
¡°Wait, are you telling me Seth dropped twenty million dors on an engagement gift for that ridiculous first love of his?¡±
Noreen nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±
?
08:43
¡°Does he think money grows on trees?¡± ire fumed.
Noreen considered it. ¡°Honestly? That¡¯s not far off.¡±
Seth¡¯s investments had exploded in value over the past few years¨Cespecially the core business, Ascendancy Group, which hadunched him to the top of Rivercrest City¡¯s social scene. The profits rolled in so fast, it really did seem like money was falling from the sky.
¡°Oh, so everyone¡¯s just rolling in cash now, huh? Seriously, has God gone blind? Did He hand all the luck meant for me and you to that jerk and his new fianc¨¦e?¡± ire ranted, then sighed dramatically. ¡°Would it really kill the universe to let me be rich for once?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry, sweetheart,¡± Noreen said calmly. ¡°Our day wille.¡±
ire shot her a skeptical look. ¡°That¡¯s easy for you to say. You¡¯re just dangling a carrot.¡±
Noreen grinned at her. ¡°What¡¯s with that look? I¡¯m actually checking the numbers right now¨Cthe first¨Cquarter financials for InnoCore just came in.¡±
¡°Show me! Let me see!¡±
Noreen angled herptop so ire could see the report.
ire practically pressed her face against the screen, counting the digits. ¡°One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand¡¡±
¡°Noreen, I can¡¯t even count this high! Just read it out for me!¡±
¡°In simple terms, ourpany is making three hundred forty¨Cfive thousand dors a day¨Cwithout lifting a finger.¡±
ire squealed and jumped around in delight. ¡°Look at that! My money really ising out of thin air! Noreen, just you wait¨Conce I get my bonus, I¡¯ll take you to the next auction. We¡¯ll go wild!¡±
See? That¡¯s what best friends are for¨Ctalking big dreams to each other.
Noreenughed. ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that.¡±
After the call ended, Noreen got ready to head to Ascendancy Group.
InnoCore was about to upgrade itstest model, and they needed more support from Ascendancy
Group.
She called ahead, and thepany¡¯s notoriously chatty deputy director answered.
¡°Today¡¯s no good,¡± the woman said.
¡°How about tomorrow?¡± Latest content published on Find~Novel
¡°No can do. Actually, the whole week¡¯s out¨CDirector Lowell and Mr. Harcourt are both overseas, scouting locations for their engagement party. They¡¯re not even in Rivercrest City, and I can¡¯t approve anything this important on my own.¡±
Yes-MAN 313
Noreen frowned in disbelief. ¡°You sent out the engagement invitations but haven¡¯t even picked a venue yet?¡±
The deputy director chuckled, trying to clear things up. ¡°Not exactly. It¡¯s just that Director Lowell didn¡¯t like the wedding venue design, so Mr. Harcourt went with her to work on a new n.¡±
At this, the deputy¡¯s tone was full of barely disguised envy. ¡°You have no idea how much Mr. Harcourt dotes on Director Lowell. He¡¯s like a real¨Clife billionaire romance hero.¡±
Noreen, however, wasn¡¯t interested in any of that. She asked, ¡°What about Mr. Vincent? Is his vacation still not over?¡±
The deputy hesitated. ¡°Oh¡ you haven¡¯t heard?¡±
¡°Heard what?¡±
Since the news was already public and Noreen was a partner who¡¯d be working with them often, the deputy decided there was no point in hiding it.
¡°Mr. Vincent left Ascendancy Group with his entire team. His management style shed with Director Lowell¡¯s, and he decided to move on.¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find~Novel
Noreen¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°When did this happen?¡±
How had she not heard even a whisper about it?
¡°This Monday,¡± the deputy replied, giving her the date.
Noreen¡¯s frown deepened.
Wasn¡¯t that the day of the auction?
Vincent had been a pir of Ascendancy Group¨Che¡¯d been with Seth Harcourt since before thepany¡¯s founding, through all the ups and downs.
He¡¯d earned his ce, both through hard work and loyalty. He was a cornerstone of thepany.
And Seth just let him go, just like that?
And after firing him, Seth could still go on a shopping spree at the auction with his beloved Bianca, as if nothing had happened?
At this point, Noreen wasn¡¯t sure Seth didn¡¯t have some sort of personality disorder.
Maybe he¡¯d been reced by someone else, or reincarnated.
Whoever took over his life must have been a die¨Chard Bianca Lowell fan.
Otherwise, there was simply no way to exin how a person could change so drastically.
She was absolutely baffled.
Completely speechless!
The deputy director broke the silence. ¡°Ms. Gilmore, does this work for you? I can pass your feedback
08:43
along to Mr. Harcourt and get his approval.¡±
Noreen replied dryly, ¡°Sure. Just tell him two words for me.¡±
¡°Okay. What are they?¡±
¡°Despot King.¡±
The deputy fell silent, clearly unsure how to respond.
Before hanging up, Noreen added, ¡°And make sure to quote me exactly. Word for word. Thanks.¡±
The deputy director was left speechless.
Maybe it was time to resign, too.
With all the key yers gone from Ascendancy Group, Noreen decided to put off her visit. That afternoon, she met with Scott Quigley to push the game project forward.
Winrich hadunched several new projects recently, three of which were negotiated by Matthew Cole. With his experience, connections, and sharp investment instincts, all three ventures looked promising.
Noreen gave him the green light to go full speed ahead.
By the time her work wrapped up, it was already six in the evening. Noreen was about to settle in for some overtime when Evelyn called to say the medicine was ready.
¡°I¡¯ll order a courier to pick it up,¡± Noreen offered.
¡°Noreen, could youe in person?¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice was tentative.
Noreen immediately caught the worry in her tone. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
Evelyn exined, ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Harcourt. Something¡¯s really off with himtely. He barely eats, just sits out
in the yard all day, hardly says a word. He¡¯s lost so much weight. Dr. Barlow says several of his health markers are out of whack. If this goes on, his body won¡¯t hold out¡¡±
Evelyn¡¯s voice broke as she spoke, until she was almost in tears.
¡°I just thought, maybe if you talked to him, he¡¯d listen to you.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Noreen promised at once.
Even if Evelyn hadn¡¯t asked, she knew she needed to check in on him.
Besides, she didn¡¯t have to worry about running into any ¡°unwee guests¡°-after all, that particr ¡°trouble¡± was overseas now.
Noreen hurried over to the Harcourt family estate as quickly as she could.
As soon as she stepped through the gate, she saw Wade Harcourt sitting alone in the garden.
Yes-MAN 314
Chapter 314
Dusk was settling in, and the air had grown noticeably cooler than it had been during the day.
A restless breeze rustled through the trees in the courtyard, their leaves whispering in the night.
¡°Mr. Harcourt,¡± Noreen called out.
Wade seemed lost in thought and didn¡¯t respond.
She stepped closer and tried again, ¡°Mr. Harcourt?¡±
He startled slightly, finally registering her presence. ¡°Oh, Noreen.¡±
Now that she was near, Noreen could finally see him clearly. He looked thinner¨Calmost gaunt.
¡°Why are you still out here? It¡¯s getting chilly. You¡¯ll catch cold,¡± she said, crouching down in front of him with gentle patience.
¡°I didn¡¯t notice,¡± Wade admitted, as if only now realizing howte it had gotten.
¡°Come on, let me help you inside.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
As Noreen wheeled him indoors, Evelyn emerged from the kitchen carrying dishes, her face lighting up when she saw Noreen. ¡°You¡¯re just in time! Dinner¡¯s ready¨Clet¡¯s eat!¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go wash up first,¡± Noreen said, tossing her bag onto the sofa with practiced ease before guiding Wade toward the bathroom.
Dinner was plentiful¨CEvelyn had clearly put a lot of care into the meal.
With Noreen there, Wade managed to eat a little, though it was clear he was only doing so out of The rightful source is find{n}ovel
obligation.
Evelyn remarked that this was the most he¡¯d eaten in weeks.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, you really do need to eat well,¡± Noreen encouraged him gently. ¡°Whatever happens, your healthes first.¡±
Wade sighed. ¡°Lately I just feel so¡ drained, like my mind¡¯s running on empty. Maybe it¡¯s my age. My head¡¯s not what it used to be¨CI can¡¯t focus, and I keep zoning out during meetings.¡±
He¡¯d had a terrible car ident before¨Chis leg was permanently injured, and he¡¯d suffered a serious head trauma that required multiple surgeries over the years.
The doctors had warned him: too much mental strain would trigger severe headaches.
So after his recovery, Wade had stepped back from the front lines, though there were still important matters at Harcourt Group that only he could handle.
But now, it was painfully clear he was no longer up to it.
Noreen wanted to suggest that he could just hand thepany over to Seth and focus on his health, but she kept those thoughts to herself. After all, it wasn¡¯t her ce to meddle in their family¡¯s affairs.
08:43
After dinner, Evelyn asked Noreen to keep Wadepany with a cup of calming tea to help him sleep. Meanwhile, she packed up some of Noreen¡¯s medication and a few ready¨Cto¨Ceat snacks.
As Noreen went to prepare the tea, she noticed a discarded painting in the trash beside the coffee
table.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, are you throwing this away?¡± she asked.
¡°Yes, it¡¯s just rubbish,¡± Wade replied without so much as a nce.
Noreen was surprised¨Cthe painting looked expensive, beautifully framed and wrapped. Driven by curiosity, she carefully unrolled it for a better look.
The moment she saw it, she froze.
This was the painting Seth had bought at auction for ten million dors.
And it was just tossed out¨Clike garbage?
Ten million dors!
Heart pounding, Noreen checked the painting, terrified it had been damaged. Thankfully, only the right edge was a little damp; it looked like it could be salvaged.
She tried to reason with him. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, this is the painting Seth bought at the auction¨Che spent ten million on it! Isn¡¯t it a shame to throw it away?¡±
¡°To me, it¡¯s just trash. Why keep it?¡± Wade¡¯s disdain was obvious.
Evelyn entered with a te of fruit just then. When she saw the painting, she sighed. ¡°That was a gift from Seth. I don¡¯t know what happened, but they had another huge argument, and Mr. Harcourt threw the painting out in anger.¡±
¡°What was it this time?¡± Noreen asked, exasperated. She was always the one stuck in the middle, patching things up between father and son.
¡°Mr. Harcourt, what started the fight?¡± she pressed gently.
Wade¡¯s expression grew even colder. ¡°He wants to get engaged to Bianca Lowell. He brought the painting to curry favor with me, hoping I¡¯d attend their engagement party.¡±
08-13
Yes-MAN 315
Chapter 315
So the real reason the painting went for such a high price was to help Bianca win Wade¡¯s favor.
No wonder she was willing to spend that much.
¡°You really don¡¯t have to take it out on the painting, though. It cost a fortune. Wouldn¡¯t it be a shame to just throw it away?¡± Noreen¡¯s only concern was for the artwork itself.
¡°Then do me a favor and get rid of it,¡± Wade replied. ¡°List it on a resale site, sell it for a dor. At least then it¡¯s not eye sore sitting here.¡±
Wade meant it¨Cif Noreen hadn¡¯te by, that painting would¡¯ve been on its way to the dump For original chapters go to F¦ÉndNovel
tomorrow.
¡°That¡¯s a huge loss,¡± Noreen said.
¡°What loss? I was going to toss it anyway. Getting a dor back is better than nothing.¡±
Sometimes Noreen just couldn¡¯t wrap her head around the way rich people thought.
But it was clear now¨CWade truly was ready to throw the painting out.
She thought for a moment, then offered apromise. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, how about this: I¡¯ll ask a professional appraiser to value the painting. Whatever it¡¯s worth, I¡¯ll wire you the money.¡±
¡°You actually like this painting? Just take it,¡± Wade said, not even hesitating.
Noreen had seen thating. ¡°I can¡¯t just take it. I¡¯ll buy it, but if you give it to me for free, I won¡¯t ept it. And honestly, with my n, you¡¯re still losing out¨Cit¡¯s almost like giving it away.¡±
Wade knew exactly how stubborn Noreen could be.
If he tried to gift it to her, she¡¯d never ept.
So finally, he relented. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll do it your way.¡±
After sharing a cup of calming herbal tea with Wade, Noreen got up to say goodbye.
Evelyn, ever thoughtful, had packed her a generous bag of food¨Cfresh fruit and some of her
homemade shrimp dumplings, the kind you could heat up easily. She reminded Noreen to eat proper meals and not rely on instant noodles all the time; it wasn¡¯t healthy.
Noreen felt a bit embarrassed. Every time she came over, she left with her arms full and her stomach
satisfied.
But Evelyn was genuinely happy. ¡°Noreen,e over whenever you can. When you¡¯re here, Mr. Harcourt eats more and seems brighter.¡±
¡°Of course,¡± Noreen replied without hesitation.
Evelyn walked her to the door, reminding her to drive safely.
¡°Evelyn, you don¡¯t have to walk me out.¡± Noreen tried to reassure her, but as she opened the door to leave, she stopped short, startled by the person waiting outside.
No way.
08:43
Chapter 315
What was Seth doing here?
Did she just see a ghost?
Wade looked surprised too when he saw Noreen. ¡°Seth? What brings you here?¡± Evelyn was genuinely pleased to see him.
Seth¡¯s expression shifted quickly from surprise back to his usual cool indifference. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up my medication.¡±
¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t finished preparing it yet,¡± Evelyn said, a bit flustered.
¡°You can just give it to me as it is. I¡¯ll have someone else brew it.¡±
But Evelyn insisted, ¡°I¡¯d rather do it myself. Thest batch I made for you shouldst until tomorrow. Come by again then.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
Noreen overheard the entire exchange and couldn¡¯t help feeling curious.
Seth was sick?
She didn¡¯t ask, nning to slip away quietly.
But as soon as she started to leave, Seth called out, ¡°Noreen, wait a minute. I need to talk to you.¡± Noreen really wanted to avoid any interaction and was about to politely decline.
But Seth¡¯s tone grew serious. ¡°It¡¯s important.¡±
If even Seth said something was important, it had to be.
So Noreen waited outside.
Seth ducked inside to say a few words to Wade, then came right back out¨Cnot even a full minuteter.
All business.
Noreen looked at him. ¡°Alright, what is it?¡±
¡°Let¡¯s talk outside,¡± Seth said. He clearly didn¡¯t want Wade to overhear.
So they walked out past the gates of the Harcourt estate. Once they were outside, before Noreen could even ask, Seth spoke first.
¡°I¡¯m getting engaged.¡±
08:43
Yes-MAN 316
Noreen blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡±
For a split second, she seriously considered throwing everything in her hands right at his face. This was the so¨Ccalled ¡°important matter¡± he¡¯d dragged her here for? Was he out of his mind? Before Noreen¡¯s irritation could fully ignite, Seth spoke again. ¡°My father doesn¡¯t approve of the engagement. He won¡¯te to the party, and I can¡¯t force him. His health is already fragile¨Cyou know that. Evelyn told me he¡¯s barely eating, and he¡¯s been really downtely. So I was wondering¡¡±
¡°You want me to talk Mr. Harcourt into attending your engagement party?¡± Noreen¡¯s look said she thought he needed a psych evaluation.
Seth hesitated. ¡°No. I was hoping you could spend some more time with him. He won¡¯t listen to anyone these days¨Cexcept you and Evelyn.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me,¡± she replied tly. ¡°I already promised Evelyn I¡¯d check in on him.¡±
¡°And¡¡± Seth¡¯s eyes flickered cold and distant as he looked up, his gaze unfocused. ¡°My father might do something reckless. On the day of the engagement¨Ccould you stay with him? Just in case?¡± Noreen raised an eyebrow. ¡°You know your fianc¨¦e already sent me an invitation, right?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t bother with that,¡± he said quietly.
Of course. Bianca had been looking forward to this engagement for ages; thest thing she¡¯d want was anyone turning it into a sideshow. Sending Noreen an invitation was just her way of unting her victory.
Noreen had never nned on going anyway. Waste of her time¨Cand her chance to make some
money.
Seth was being awfully considerate of Bianca¡¯s feelings, Noreen thought with a twinge of annoyance.
¡°Anything else? Go on, just get it all out,¡± she said, ncing at her watch as if every extra second with him was a personal affront.
Seth lowered hisshes. His voice was unreadable. ¡°I¡¯m counting on you to look after my dad.¡±
Noreen frowned. Why did this sound like he was putting his father in her care for good? He was just getting engaged, not about to drop dead.
She couldn¡¯t understand it. Not one bit. Find the newest release on find[?]ovel
¡°You¡¯re really outsourcing your filial duties at a time like this? He¡¯s your father, Seth. No matter what I do, I can¡¯t take your ce.¡± She felt her patience draining. What a waste of time.
¡°And if your dad¡¯s really that against it, why insist on going through with the engagement now? Are you that desperate to marry Bianca?¡± There was no reasoning with a man blinded by love.
¡°Whatever. Do what you want,¡± Noreen muttered, already turning to leave.
This time, Seth didn¡¯t try to stop her. He just stood there, silent, watching her walk away. Something turbulent and unspoken twisted in his chest as his eyes darkened.
1/2
08:43 1
When Noreen got home, she¡¯d barely set her keys down before Evelyn texted to ask if she¡¯d gotten back safely. There was a list of reminders, too: put the fruit in the fridge, freeze the dumplings.
Noreen followed the instructions one by one.
As she sipped her herbal broth, a thought crossed her mind. She messaged Evelyn, ¡°By the way, why is Seth drinking this stuff too? Is he sick?¡±
¡°Oh, he caught a nasty cold a while back,¡± Evelyn replied. ¡°It drained him, and he¡¯s been coughing ever since. Nothing from the doctor helped, so now he¡¯s on this herbal remedy.¡±
Noreen vaguely remembered hearing that Seth had been ill, but she hadn¡¯t realized it had dragged on so long.
Even now, with his own health frail, all he could think about was getting engaged to his precious
Bianca.
True love really did conquer all, she thought with a wry smile.
She no longer suspected Seth was possessed or anything supernatural. At this point, she was more inclined to believe Bianca had some kind of love potion¨Cor maybe a built¨Cin ¡°irresistible charm¡± device.
Otherwise, how else could you exin Seth risking everything¨Chis ailing father¡¯s wishes, his family, his career¨Cjust to chase after love?
0
Yes-MAN 317
Chapter 317
Early the next morning, Noreen cleared her morning schedule and set out, painting in hand, to visit the owner of The Gilded Vault¨CAsimov, a celebrated art appraiser and antique dealer.
Back when Noreen was still working as Seth¡¯s assistant, she¡¯d oftene to The Gilded Vault on his behalf, selecting antiques as gifts. Over time, she and Asimov became well acquainted.
Last night, after getting home, she¡¯d messaged Asimov about the painting. He replied almost immediately, telling her to bring it over.
Asimov confirmed what Noreen had already guessed¨Cthe piece was worth around fifteen million.
He couldn¡¯t help but tease her, ¡°You bought this at auction, Noreen. You should already know the price. Whye all the way here for an appraisal?¡±
Noreen smiled. ¡°Because I have another favor to ask you.¡±
She exined her real reason foring: she wanted Asimov¡¯s help tracking down a painting by Master Parnell.
A couple of years ago, she¡¯d overheard Wade and his father chatting about Master Parnell¡¯s work over dinner at the Harcourt estate. She¡¯d learned then how much Wade admired the artist and had
been hoping to find a piece for him ever since.
Asimov shook his head. ¡°Master Parnell¡¯s paintings aren¡¯t exactly cheap, you know.¡±
¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Noreen replied, her confidence unshaken.
¡°You might be in luck,¡± Asimov said. ¡°Someone just asked me to help sell a Master Parnell. But the price¡ you¡¯ll need to brace yourself.¡±
¡°How much?¡± Noreen asked.
¡°Ten million.¡±
It was a steep price, and Noreen felt a pang at the thought. But after all Wade had done for her¨Cthe help, the gifts, the jewelry, and the painting he¡¯d given her¨Cshe knew it was worth it.
She took a deep breath and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll get in touch with the owner right now and have the painting brought over,¡± Asimov said, pleased. ¡°We¡¯ll sign the sale agreement. Honestly, it¡¯s a good buy. My friend¡¯s only selling because he¡¯s in a tight spot, so it¡¯s already below market value.¡±
He asked Noreen to wait while he made the arrangements.
About forty minutester, the seller arrived.
When Noreen saw who walked in, she blinked in surprise. The feeling was mutual.
It was Jude Wilder.
Jude hadn¡¯t expected Noreen to be the buyer either. If he¡¯d known, he would never havee in person. But he was here now, and there was no backing out¨Cnot when he¡¯d already asked Asimov to broker the sale. For more chapters visit find{n}ovel
08:43
He steeled himself and stepped into the room.
Asimov, ever the gracious host, made introductions. ¡°Miss Gilmore, this is Mr. Jude.¡±
¡°We know each other,¡± Noreen said coolly.
¡°Well, that makes things easier,¡± Asimov replied, unfazed. ¡°Should save us a lot of trouble.¡±
Jude, uncharacteristically silent, let Asimov handle the negotiations. He simply signed the documents and took care of the payment details.
Once the money transferred, Noreen stood, thanked Asimov, and left.
Before starting her car, she called Sophia Cole. ¡°Can you have someone look into the Seymour Group¡¯s financials for me?¡±
From what she remembered, Seymour Wilder was a devoted collector of Master Parnell¡¯s paintings. If he was selling at a discount, something must be wrong with thepany; he¡¯d never part with his favorite piece otherwise.
Meanwhile, back in the vault, Jude finally let out the breath he¡¯d been holding ever since Noreen walked in. He couldn¡¯t remember when exactly it started, but somewhere along the line, he¡¯d developed an inexplicable anxiety around her. Seeing her made him feel jittery, uneasy¨Clike a kid summoned to the principal¡¯s office. It was bizarre.
But right now, Jude was even more puzzled by something else.
Since when was Noreen this wealthy? She¡¯d just dropped ten million on a painting without batting an
eye.
He couldn¡¯t tamp down his curiosity any longer and tried calling Seth, but no one picked up. Undeterred, he dialed Bianca, figuring it made no difference¨Cthose two were always together anyway. If anything, Bianca would know how to track Seth down even faster.
Bianca answered on the first ring, sounding cheerful as ever. ¡°Jude! You should¡¯vee with us. The view here is incredible. You¡¯re really missing out.¡±
Yes-MAN 318
Chapter 318
Jude didn¡¯t seem the least bit disappointed. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll see him when you two get engaged, won¡¯t I? Looks like you¡¯re pretty happy with this whole ind engagement setup.¡±
¡°Of course I am¨Cit¡¯s all thanks to Seth¡¯s careful nning. I couldn¡¯t be happier.¡±
Bianca was practically glowing with joy.
¡°So, where is my Seth? I tried calling him, but he didn¡¯t pick up. Is he busy?¡±
¡°He¡¯s off on the other side of the ind sorting out the flowers. That spot¡¯s way out of the way, and he didn¡¯t want me running all over and getting tired. So he told me to just rx here and enjoy the beach while he took care of it.¡±
¡°You two are disgustingly adorable, you know that? I never pictured Seth as the doting husband type. Turns out he¡¯s a real modern¨Cday gentleman!¡±
Bianca put on a mock¨Csurprised face. ¡°Oh, he didn¡¯t used to be like this?¡±
¡°Not at all!¡± Jude replied without hesitation. ¡°He was always distant with everyone, never really let anyone in. You¡¯re the exception.¡±
¡°Seriously? Even with Noreen?¡±
She tossed out the question casually, as if it were an afterthought.
Jude, being Jude, didn¡¯t read into it. ¡°He was even colder to Noreen. Never bought her any real jewelry¨Cnothing like what he did for you, splurging a fortune at that auction for that ne.¡±
The mention of Seth¡¯s million¨Cdor splurge jogged Jude¡¯s memory. ¡°Speaking of which, Noreen just dropped a million at an art auction herself.¡±
Bianca, who¡¯d been lounging in the sun, drink in hand, froze mid¨Csip. ¡°A million?¡±
¡°Yep. I couldn¡¯t believe it.¡±
¡°Where¡¯d she get that kind of money?¡±
¡°Who knows?¡±
The conversation hit a wall. Neither felt like going on, so they wrapped up the call with awkward goodbyes.
Nearby, Lillian Laurent popped another grape in her mouth, then turned to Bianca. ¡°Cousin, did I just hear you say something about a million dors?¡±
Bianca¡¯s face was clouded. ¡°Noreen just spent a million on a painting.¡±
Lillian was so shocked she nearly dropped her fruit. ¡°Where¡¯d she get that kind of money?¡±
A million dors. Not a thousand, not ten thousand¨Ca million.
¡°Who knows?¡± Bianca said again, her tone sour.
Lillian frowned. ¡°You don¡¯t think your future father¨Cinw gave it to her, do you? He seems to like Noreen well enough¨Che even brought her to that charity g. But he won¡¯t give you the time of day,
08:44
won¡¯t show up for your engagement, won¡¯t even meet Aunt and Uncle. It¡¯s just cruel.¡±
That topic always stung for Bianca.
No matter what she did or how hard she tried, Wade simply didn¡¯t like her¨Che wouldn¡¯t even see her. let alone ept her.
Yvonne Laurent always told her to focus on Seth. After all, there¡¯s no parent who can hold out forever against their own child. As long as Seth¡¯s heart was hers, Wade would have toe around eventually.
Once she and Seth were married, once they had kids together, everything would fall into ce. Wade only had one son, after all, and the Harcourt estate would inevitably pass to Seth.
And since Seth adored her, it¡¯d be as good as hers too.
All she had to do was be patient. It was only a matter of time.
¡°Don¡¯t go spreading this around,¡± Bianca warned Lillian. ¡°Seth and I agreed¨Cwe¡¯re telling everyone Mr. Harcourt¡¯s too unwell to attend the engagement. Please, don¡¯t let it slip and embarrass me.¡±
¡°I know, I know,¡± Lillian replied, rolling her eyes. She understood how serious it was.
Still, the thought of being dumped in a strange ce while Noreen strutted around drove Lillian crazy with resentment.
She turned to Bianca. ¡°Cousin, I can¡¯t shake the feeling that Noreen had something to do with that video of mine leaking online.¡±
08:44 The rightful source is find[?]ovel
Yes-MAN 319
Chapter 319
¡°Why do you say that?¡± Bianca was instantly on guard.
Lillian took a slow breath. ¡°It¡¯s just strange, don¡¯t you think? Dennis Ward and I have been at odds for ages. But why is it that right after I drugged Noreen, everything suddenly blew up? It¡¯s not like Dennis hasn¡¯t tried to extort money from me before¨Che showed up, demanded cash, and stormed off in a rage when I threw him out. But he never once mentioned any video. I deleted it ages ago. If he really had that kind of leverage, why wouldn¡¯t he have used it as ckmail from the start?¡±
It was only after spending some time abroad, away from the chaos, that Lillian had calmed down enough to piece everything together and spot a few ring inconsistencies.
¡°And then, after this supposed video surfaces, why didn¡¯t hee after me for money? Why would he just leak it? What does he gain from that?¡±
She hesitated, her voice dropping lower. ¡°And here¡¯s the kicker: the two guys who helped me drug Noreen that night¨CI¡¯vepletely lost contact with them. Calls, texts, nothing. It¡¯s like they vanished into thin air.¡±
¡°What are their names? Send me their info, I¡¯ll have someone run a check,¡± Bianca said, already pulling out her phone.
Lillian forwarded the details, desperation edging her words. ¡°Please, Bianca, you have to help me get to the bottom of this. If Noreen is really behind it, you can¡¯t let her get away with it!¡±
¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Bianca said quietly, a cold glint in her eyes. Original content can be found at find?novel
Just then, Seth¡¯s name shed on her phone. He¡¯d sent a string of messages: photos and videos bursting with color, all from a flower farm.
He wrote, *¡®I¡¯m picking flowers for the engagement party. Do you like any of these?¡®*
Bianca¡¯s mood lifted as she scrolled through the images, taking her time to choose her favorites.
Seth added, ¡®These will be flown in the night before the ceremony, so they¡¯ll be as fresh and lovely as possible for the big day.¡¯*
Watching from beside her, Lillian tilted her head, unable to hide her envy. ¡°Your fianc¨¦ is unbelievable. He¡¯s helping you with every detail¨Cvenue, flowers, everything. I¡¯m actually jealous!¡±
Whatever frustration Bianca had felt earlier melted away. Seth¡¯s thoughtfulness always had that effect on her. She typed back, asking when he¡¯d be home, adding a yful, *¡®I miss you.¡®¡±*
He replied, ¡®There¡¯s still a blue flower farm I need to check out, so I won¡¯t make it back tonight.¡¯*
Disappointment pricked at her. Bianca had hoped this trip would give her and Seth a chance to really connect, to take things to the next level. She¡¯d nned everything so carefully, but none of it was going as she¡¯d imagined.
Lillian tried to cheer her up. ¡°He¡¯s only doing this to make your engagement party perfect. Cut him some ck, Bianca.¡±
Meanwhile, across the city, Jude hung up with Bianca and immediately dialed Healy Naylor.
08:44
He was never good at keeping things to himself.
When he voiced his suspicions, Healy just chuckled. ¡°Noreen could scrape together a hundred million without breaking a sweat these days.¡±
Jude frowned. ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying, but put all those words together and I still don¡¯t get your point.¡±
Healy sighed. ¡°Winrich just released their first¨Cquarter earnings report. You should take a look.¡± ¡°You know I get a headache just thinking about financials. Why not just spell it out?¡±
Healy relented. ¡°Winrich pulled in over seven hundred million in revenue this quarter, with a profit margin over five hundred percent. Add in the damages from the SkyMindwsuit, and their non¨Coperating ie hit a billion. Does that sound like someone desperate for cash?¡±
Jude was silent.
He regretted calling. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on him¨Che was one of the people bringing in those numbers. In the end, the joke was on him.
That same day, Sophia reported back to Noreen about the investigation she¡¯d been asked to run. Just as Noreen suspected, the Seymour Group was in serious trouble. Thepany¡¯s finances were on the brink; several major projects, years in the making, had been shelved. Seymour himself was still in the hospital, leaving Jude to shoulder all the responsibility.
Noreen knew Jude all too well. He wasn¡¯t going tost much longer.
Yes-MAN 320
Chapter 320
Things weren¡¯t looking too bright on the Omniva Group side either.
Sophia nced at Noreen. ¡°You¡¯re interested in the Seymour Group?¡±
¡°I¡¯m just watching for now,¡± Noreen replied, nomittal. ¡°Who knows¨Cmaybe Jude will pull off a miracle and turn the Seymour Group around himself.¡±
Sophia had a hard time buying that.
¡°Oh, by the way, I found out something else.¡± Sophia leaned in. ¡°Jude¡¯s been selling off his collectibles to invest in TechVenture.¡±
Noreen just stared at her in disbelief.
How could someone trip over the same stone a hundred times and never learn?
Honestly, it was a miracle Jude hadn¡¯t given himself a heart attack by now.
On Wednesday, Noreen cleared her entire schedule for one thing: visiting her mentor.
They hadn¡¯t seen each other in seven years. Now, standing at his front door, her nerves were shot.
She couldn¡¯t bring herself to press the doorbell. Her hand hovered, then fell, hovered again, then dropped back down. By the end of it, her palms were mmy with cold sweat, but the doorbell remained untouched.
Inside the house, Halley Joyner was getting restless too.
In the end, he had no choice but to nudge the housekeeper to take out the trash, just to ¡°identally¡± bump into Noreen outside.
The housekeeper did as told, and Noreen forced herself to introduce, ¡°Hello, my name is Noreen. I¡¯m here to see Professor Joyner.¡±
¡°Oh! Professor Joyner is homee on in,¡± the housekeeper said, ushering her inside.
At this point, there was no turning back; Noreen had to go in.
By the time she stepped into the foyer, Halley was already sitting in his chair, sipping tea with a newspaper open, looking thoroughly absorbed.
Noreen lingered awkwardly by the door, too nervous to take another step.
The housekeeper announced, ¡°Professor Joyner, you have a visitor.¡±
Halley raised his eyebrows and shot a nce toward the entrance.
When he saw it was Noreen, he simply gave a curt look before returning to his paper, as if nothing had happened.
Noreen really wished she¡¯d asked Dn Wilder toe with her. At least then, someone could break this ice¨Ccold silence.
1/3
08:44
¦Ô¦Ð¦Á¦Ì¦Á¦É ¦Ï
She felt like a schoolgirl being punished, standing stiffly at the door, not daring to move.
Only after Halley turned a page in the paper did he finally speak, his tone cool and distant. ¡°What are you here for?¡±
The housekeeper, who was half¨Cheartedly dusting a vase, nearly lost it.
Who was it that, after getting Dn¡¯s call about Noreen¡¯s visit, had been so excited he barely slept all night? And now he was ying it so cool, as if he couldn¡¯t care less. If Noreen really did get scared off, he¡¯d be the first to regret it.
Noreen answered honestly, ¡°I came to see you.¡±
¡°Well, now you¡¯ve seen me. You can go.¡±
Noreen hesitated. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten yet.¡±
¡°What, nning to freeload dinner off me now?¡±
¡°It¡¯s not freeloading¨CI brought a gift.¡± Noreen quickly offered up the present she¡¯d brought. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel
¡°Don¡¯t try to bribe me.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not a bribe, it¡¯s just a small token of respect.¡±
Halley looked unimpressed.
¡°It¡¯s a calligraphy piece by Master Linden,¡± Noreen said hurriedly, unrolling the scroll. ¡°I remember you always liked his work.¡±
She tried her best to look sincere.
Halley had nned to keep up the cold act, but as soon as he met her eyes, the facade began to crack.
¡°Fine. Tell the housekeeper what you¡¯d like to eat¨Cshe makes a great stew.¡±
¡°You still remember I like stew?¡±
¡°Who said I remembered? I¡¯m just saying she makes a good one.¡±
Halley had always been the type with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. The fact that he was even talking to her meant the anger had pretty much faded.
Noreen knew she¡¯d been at fault back then. So she apologized sincerely, said a few kind words to soften him up, and soon enough, he relented.
She ended up staying for dinner.
She¡¯d nned to spend the afternoon, but some urgent situation cropped up at Naylor Automotive Group, so Noreen had to cut her visit short.
¡°Workes first,¡± Halley said.
She hurried out of the Joyner house, and as her car pulled away, she passed a Rolls¨CRoyceing from the opposite direction.
Henry Brooke, sitting inside, caught sight of Noreen through the window. His brow furrowed
08:44
instinctively.
Why did she seem to pop up everywhere he went?
Yes-MAN 321
Chapter 321
When Henry walked in, he found Halley hunched over a table, peering intently through a magnifying ss at a piece of calligraphy that Noreen had gifted him¨Can original by Master Linden.
Halley was practically beaming, unable to contain his delight as he shared his joy with the
housekeeper standing nearby.
¡°Look at this, will you? Now that is real artistry! Good handwriting, finally! That girl¡¯s got some sense, at least¨Cshe still remembers what I like.¡±
All of Halley¡¯s usual aloofness had melted away, reced by rare enthusiasm.
¡°What kind of painting has you in such high spirits?¡± Henry asked, drifting over to join them.
But as soon as he caught a clear look at the artworkid out on the table, Henry froze. Updates are released by FindN0vel
Wasn¡¯t this the same piece that Seth had snapped up at the auction for a fortune? He¡¯d wanted to bid on it himself, but decided against it out of respect for Bianca.
So how on earth did it end up here?
Halley was too absorbed in admiring the calligraphy to bother with Henry¡¯s question.
It was the housekeeper who filled him in. ¡°Oh, that? It¡¯s a gift from Professor Joyner¡¯s favorite prot¨¦g¨¦. He treasures it, you know.¡±
Henry¡¯s heart skipped a beat.
Favorite prot¨¦g¨¦¡
He himself had only managed to be Professor Joyner¡¯s studentst year, thanks to his father¡¯s
connections.
He¡¯d heard vague rumors that Professor Joyner once had a prot¨¦g¨¦ he was especially fond of, but for some mysterious reason, that student had vanished without a trace. No one was allowed to mention that student in Professor Joyner¡¯s presence; he refused to acknowledge their existence to anyone.
Over time, people simply stopped talking about it.
It only came up against year, when Henry was epted as a student, and someone had joked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you already take on a final disciple seven years ago? Howe you¡¯re taking on another
now?¡±
Professor Joyner had flown into a rage, outright denying that he¡¯d ever done such a thing.
Henry¡¯s curiosity had been piqued, so he¡¯d quietly asked Dn, his senior in the program.
Dn confirmed that their mentor did have a favored student once¨Csomeone he¡¯d ced great hopes in. But before he could formally introduce the student to the world, something happened and they parted ways.
As far as Henry knew, only two people were privy to that student¡¯s real identity: Halley and Dn. But Dn had never once breathed a word about the name.
So, even now, Henry had no idea who Professor Joyner¡¯s mysterious favorite had been.
08:44
Chapter 321.
But at this moment, staring at the calligraphy, a bold possibility took root in his mind.
Could it be the person he was thinking of?
It had to be, didn¡¯t it?
The clues all pointed clearly to the same answer.
And that answer left him positively giddy.
Bianca had gone abroad with Dn seven years ago¨Cthe timing matched perfectly. Henry had read all of Bianca¡¯s published work in international academic journals; her research was top¨Cnotch, acimed even. No wonder she¡¯d be the youngest finance PhD at WT Business School.
But the mostpelling proof of all was the calligraphy itself.
It had to be Bianca¡¯s gift.
Extraordinary women were rare, and he¡¯d only ever met one¨CBianca.
That¡¯s why he was so certain she was the prodigy Halley had once been ready to take on as his final prot¨¦g¨¦.
Trying to steady his excitement, Henry asked, ¡°Sir, since you¡¯ve epted her gift, does that mean you¡¯re ready to acknowledge her?¡±
Halley snorted. ¡°I never said that.¡±
Yet he handled the calligraphy with the utmost care, carefully rolling it up and handing it to the housekeeper with strict instructions to store it somewhere safe.
¡°Will she be attending your birthday dinner tomorrow?¡± Henry pressed, unable to hide his curiosity. ¡°She won¡¯t,¡± Halley replied firmly. ¡°Since she chose to visit a day early, it¡¯s clear she never intended to show up at the party.¡±
08.44
Yes-MAN 322
Henry felt a wave of disappointment wash over him when he heard the answer¨Che¡¯d really been hoping to see Bianca at such a public and important event.
He wanted to ask Halley a few more things about this senior of his, but it was obvious she didn¡¯t want to talk about it, so he held back.
After sharing two cups of tea with Halley and chatting a bit about his studies, Henry said goodbye to the Joyners and made his way out.
The first thing he did once outside was call Bianca.
It rang for a while before she finally picked up. Her voice sounded cheerful, and when she said his name, it carried a distinct lilt.
Something fluttered in Henry¡¯s chest.
¡°What¡¯s the asion, Henry? Didn¡¯t expect a call from you.¡±
He tried to steady himself before speaking. ¡°Just wanted to see if you¡¯re free to grab dinner with me.¡±
¡°You¡¯re in Rivercrest?¡±
¡°Yeah, just got here.¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel
¡°That¡¯s a shame. I¡¯m not in Rivercrest right now¨CI¡¯m overseas.¡±
Bianca¡¯s tone grew even lighter, almost bubbling with excitement. ¡°Yep, I¡¯m here looking at options for my engagement party. I won¡¯t be back for another two days. If you¡¯re still around by the time I return, dinner¡¯s on me.¡±
¡°¡Alright.¡± Henry felt the flutter in his heart slowly subside, leaving behind a quiet, unnameable sadness.
¡°I¡¯ve got to run. See you soon, okay?¡±
With that, she hung up, leaving Henry standing alone in the chilly wind for a long while.
So that¡¯s why Father said she wouldn¡¯t be at tomorrow¡¯s birthday celebration¨Cshe was out of the country, nning her engagement.
She looked happy.
So, maybe there really was no hope for someone like him.
Early the next morning, Dn called to ask if she wanted toe to the birthday celebration.
¡°I¡¯ll skip it. Just pass along an extra bit of good wishes for me, okay?¡±
Dn knew her temperament well. ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve already seen him. I¡¯m sure that made him happy.¡±
Noreen simply replied, ¡°I hope so.¡±
After all, she¡¯d disappointed him badly back then. She didn¡¯t expect forgiveness toe so easily.
08:44
¡°If he hasn¡¯t kicked you out, there¡¯s still hope.¡±
Noreen could only hope so.
She ended the call and headed out to drive to Naylor Automotive Group.
She¡¯d just met up with Matthew Cole and Carman Holt when Healy came out to greet them.
¡°I heard Ms. Gilmore would being today, so I made a point to arrive early. Didn¡¯t expect you to be here so soon, Ms. Gilmore.¡±
There was unmistakable delight¨Cand a hint of admiration¨Cin the way Healy looked at Noreen.
Carman had seen that look before, in Padgett Novak¡¯s eyes. He recognized it all too well.
His heart sank. How many rivals was he supposed to have?
¡°It¡¯s not that early,¡± Noreen replied politely. ¡°Let¡¯s head straight to the testing site. Time¡¯s tight.¡±
¡°Of course, right this way.¡± Healy took the lead, guiding Noreen inside.
Everything on the floor was already set up, just waiting for Noreen and her tech team to run the tests. There were five cars to be tested. Noreen had nned to ride with Carman, but Healy assigned one of their own engineers to join Carman in his car for easier technical discussion.
So Noreen settled for the second car, about to call for Matthew Cole, but Healy slid in first.
Matthew, a seasoned professional, read the situation immediately and tactfully moved to the third
car.
Healy was eager to introduce the features of their newly developed vehicle to Noreen. He even leaned over to fasten her seatbelt himself, taking the chance to show off a hidden safety feature.
Henry arrived just in time to see this scene through the car window. His brow furrowed once again.
08:44
Yes-MAN 323
Noreen again.
Chapter 323
How was it possible to run into her everywhere?
And now, in broad daylight, right out in the open, she was getting cozy with Healy in his car?
Henry turned to Healy¡¯s assistant, voice tight with suspicion. ¡°What¡¯s the rtionship between that woman and Mr. Healy?¡±
¡°That¡¯s Ms. Gilmore from Winrich¨Cone of our business partners at Naylor Automotive Group,¡± the assistant replied matter¨Cof¨Cfactly.
¡°Business partner?¡± Henry¡¯s frown deepened.
Naylor Automotive Group was one of the top car manufacturers in the country. To partner with them, you needed real clout and hard¨Cearned credentials.
Winrich? That tiny, strugglingpany?
What right did they have?
And the way Healy was fawning over Noreen¡ Henry felt he already knew the answer.
His disdain and prejudice toward Noreen only grew stronger.
There was nothing he despised more than women who climbed thedder by relying on personal connections¨Cor those without any real ability of their own.
Noreen, in his mind, checked both boxes.
To him, what she was doing was barely any different from selling herself for sess. Disgraceful.
¡°I¡¯ll be in the lounge waiting for Mr. Healy,¡± Henry said curtly to the assistant, wanting nothing more than to get away from Noreen. Without another nce, he strode off.
Noreen had no idea Henry had even been there¨Cher attention waspletely absorbed by the self¨Cdriving car.
Since merging with InnoCore, their autonomous vehicle¡¯s performance had skyrocketed, putting them miles ahead of thepetition and seizing a clear lead in the industry.
Healy told her that in another couple of months, the new car would be ready forunch. He insisted she attend the unveiling event.
Noreen epted the invitation with an easy smile.
When the test drive ended and she reached for the door handle to get out, Healy suddenly locked the doors.
She turned to him, puzzled. Was this part of the test?
¡°Um-¡°Healy hesitated, clearly nervous.
He was supposed to be a seasoned yer when it came to rtionships, yet here he was, acting like a teenager with his first crush.
20:14
¡°Anything else, Mr. Healy?¡± Noreen assumed it was business¨Crted.
Healy fumbled for words before finally blurting out, ¡°Are you free tonight? I¡¯d like to take you to
dinner!¡±
Noreen exhaled in relief. ¡°Oh, I thought it was something work¨Crted. Why so nervous about dinners
Healy wanted to say that he wasn¡¯t just nervous¨Che was sweating through his shirt.
¡°Bad timing, I¡¯m afraid. I¡¯ve got to head out of town this afternoon for a business trip. Rain check on dinner?¡±
Healy looked disappointed, but he understood. Noreen was a workaholic, even if the sky was falling she¡¯d put business first.
He could only ept her promise to reschedule.
Still, he couldn¡¯t help but ask where she was headed.
Noreen replied, ¡°There¡¯s a game developers¡® conference in Glenhaven City.¡±
¡°You¡¯re getting into game development?¡±
¡°Thinking about it, yes. I¡¯m going to learn the ropes.¡±
¡°Sounds great,¡± Healy said, knowing how quickly Winrich was growing under her leadership. She was busier than ever.
Who knew when he¡¯d get another chance?
After Noreen left, Healy¡¯s assistant appeared to remind him that Henry was waiting in the lounge.
Unexpectedly, Healy turned to him and said, ¡°Find a way to get me an invitation to that game developers¡® conference.¡±
The assistant was baffled.
Their whole business was cars¨Cwhat did the gaming industry have to do with them? Besides, the new carunch was just around the corner, and every minute counted. Why would the boss want to go to some unrted conference?
But, of course, Mr. Healy gave the orders. His job was to follow them.
¡°Mr. Brooke has been waiting for you in the lounge,¡± the assistant reminded.
¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± As Healy walked off, he called over his shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t forget the invitation.¡±
¡°Understood.¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel
Henry had already been waiting for quite a while. On any other day, he would never have put up with - it.
Yes-MAN 324
Chapter 324
But today, Henry was willing to wait. He wanted to warn Healy in person¨Cnot to let himself get yed
for a fool.
¡°Mr. Brooke, I¡¯m so sorry to keep you waiting,¡± Healy apologized the moment he entered.
Henry waved it off. ¡°Not at all. I heard your self¨Cdriving car is about tounch?¡±
Healy¡¯s face lit up with pride. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s right around the corner. If you¡¯re free, Mr. Brooke, we¡¯d love to have you at ourunch event.¡± For original chapters go to ?ovelFind
¡°I just visited your test site. That Noreen¡ she¡¯s quite a piece of work.¡±
The easy smile on Healy¡¯s face faded as soon as he heard the name. He frowned. ¡°Mr. Brooke, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about Ms. Gilmore?¡±
¡°No. I don¡¯t even know her,¡± Henry replied tly.
¡°Then maybe you just don¡¯t know her well enough. She¡¯s extremely capable.¡±
Henry simply gave a dismissive smirk. He was only trying to give Healy a friendly warning, but since Healy clearly didn¡¯t want to hear it, there was no need to press further.
People blinded by love never listen to advice, anyway.
¡°I¡¯m not interested in her,¡± Henry stated, making his stance clear.
Healy, unaware of Henry¡¯s bias against Noreen, still tried to pitch her. ¡°Your insurancepany could really benefit from integrating InnoCore. It would streamline a lot of your processes.¡¯
The moment InnoCore was mentioned, Henry¡¯s mind went straight to how Noreen had snatched that project from Bianca. His dislike deepened.
¡°I won¡¯t be working with her. I n to develop this project with my mentor.¡±
¡°Your mentor?¡±
¡°Bianca, the investment director at Aurelion Group.¡±
Henry¡¯s pride was obvious when he spoke of Bianca.
¡°She¡¯s great, but¡ well, she did lose quite a bit on an Al venture before. Mr. Brooke, maybe you should do more research before making a decision.¡±
Henry hated when people spoke poorly of Bianca, so he dropped the subject. After a few work¨Crted pleasantries, he excused himself and left.
Outside Naylor Automotive Group, he texted Bianca, asking her if she had any issues with Mr. Healy. He mentioned Healy seemed to have some prejudice against her.
Bianca took a while to reply: ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll prove myself and change his mind.¡±
Henry admired her poise and confidence. Compared to Noreen¡¯s underhanded tricks¡ there was no
contest.
He went on to ask when she¡¯d be back in the country.
20:16
Bianca said she was flying back today, but not to Rivercrest City. She was headed to Glenhaven for the Game Developers Conference.
¡°Is TechVenture¡¯s projectunching soon?¡±
¡°Yep.¡±
After a moment¡¯s thought, Henry decided to go to Glenhaven, too. He wanted to witness every highlight of Bianca¡¯s career¨Cincluding her engagement ceremony,
Noreen had registered her indie game studio just in time to make the cutoff for the Game Developers Conference.
She was here purely to learn.
The gaming industry had exploded over the past two years¨Cording to official stats, there were now over 674 million users. The market was massive, too vast for any one person orpany to dominate. True growth came from diversity andpetition.
As soon as Noreen and Scott entered the expo hall, they were greeted with a flood of flyers and freebies.
The most extravagant by far came from TechVenture.
The scene felt oddly familiar to Noreen. Earlier that year, at the Al Summit, Bianca had also made a ssh with avish promotion for SkyMind,
Now, the same ybook was being used for TechVenture¡¯s new game.
She wondered how deep Seth¡¯s pockets really were¨Chow long could he keep burning through cash like this?
As the thought crossed her mind, she spotted Seth in the crowd.
No surprise¨Che was glued to Bianca¡¯s side, as always, practically joined at the hip.
Yes-MAN 325
Noreen barely nced at the two people, then led Scott on a brief walk around the convention hall.
Near the main stage, there was a bustling interview area packed with journalists from across the country. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement¨Ca crowd had swarmed around someone giving an interview, though it wasn¡¯t clear who the center of attention was.
Assuming it must be a major figure in the gaming industry, Noreen and Scott eagerly headed over, hoping to observe and learn¨Cafter all, that was one of their main goals for attending this conference.
But the sea of people was overwhelming. Before long, Scott and Noreen were separated by the jostling crowd.
Suddenly, someone identally caught Noreen¡¯s foot. She lost her bnce, stumbling forward in an embarrassingly awkward sprawl.
Right in front of her loomed a sound equipment stand. There was no time to dodge¨Cshe squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the inevitable pain.
But at thest second, a hand caught hers.
A powerful force tugged her upright, and an arm wrapped firmly around her waist. All around, startled gasps and exmations rippled through the crowd.
Before she could open her eyes, her face bumped into a solid chest.
A familiar, cool scent drifted over her¨Ca deep, crisp woody note, tinged with the faintest trace of
tobo.
Stunned, Noreen looked up straight into Seth¡¯s dark, inscrutable eyes.
His expression barely flickered, the only hint of emotion a signature chill in his gaze. He looked as if he¡¯d just caught a total stranger on reflex.
Once she steadied herself, Noreen quickly pulled away, putting distance between them. The sharp, masculine scent faded as she stepped back.
¡°Thank you,¡± she said, because it was only right to do so¨Cnothing more than a polite acknowledgment.
Seth¡¯s reply was just as neutral. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± His tone was t, detached, as if he were a bystander with no stake in the moment.
After that fleeting encounter, they went their separate ways.
Noreen found Scott again, but barely had time to speak before a journalist¡¯s voice rang out above the din.
¡°Mr. Harcourt! Mr. Lowell! Over here!¡± the reporter called excitedly. ¡°I¡¯m your biggest fan¨CI even covered that story about Mr. Harcourt spending twenty million at auction to buy jewelry for Mr. Lowell! I can¡¯t believe I get to see you both in person today¨Cwhat a stroke of luck!¡±
That gossip had been so widely discussed that even ire Chase, shooting on a closed set, had
20:17
heard about it. As the reporter spoke, everyone nearby who recognized the story immediately turned and hurried over, eager for a closer look. Fresh chapters posted on find(?)ovel
Seth instinctively drew Bianca into his arms, shielding her from the pressing crowd¨Ca gesture that drew sighs of envy from the women nearby. Camera shes flickered all around them.
Bianca leaned closer to Seth, their closeness impossible to miss.
¡°Is it true you two are about to make things official?¡± the reporter pressed, angling for the perfect
shot.
Bianca smiled graciously. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re getting engaged soon.¡±
¡°You two are the perfect match¨Cbrains and beauty!¡± the reporter eximed, then turned to the others, eager to share. ¡°Mr. Harcourt hardly needs an introduction¨Che¡¯s a regr feature in the business magazines. But let me tell you about his fianc¨¦e, Mr. Lowell. She holds a PhD in finance from WT Business School!¡±
¡°No wonder Mr. Harcourt is so smitten¨Cwhat a power couple!¡±
Meanwhile, Noreen and Scott finally managed to squeeze their way out of the swarm, grateful for a moment of peace.
¡°I thought it was going to be a real interview, not just some tabloid circus,¡± Scott grumbled. ¡°What a waste of time.¡±
Noreen silently agreed.
They had barely started to leave when a sharply dressed young man approached, all manners and poise. He greeted Noreen with a polite nod. ¡°Miss Gilmore, Mr. Joyner would like to invite you to the VIP lounge for a conversation.¡±
Yes-MAN 326
Noreen recognized the man at once¨Che was Castle Joyner¡¯s assistant.
¡°Right this way, please.¡±
She followed him through the hall. When Noreen entered the VIP lounge, Castle was deep in conversation with a small group.
As soon as he spotted her, Castle stood up and walked over with a warm smile. ¡°Miss Gilmore.¡±
The others rose in unison, their gazes drifting to Noreen. Everyone was silently specting¨Cwho was this Miss Gilmore, and why was Mr. Joyner going out of his way for her?
¡°Good afternoon, Mr. Joyner.¡± Noreen offered her hand.
Castle shook it, still beaming. ¡°I caught a glimpse of you earlier during the conference tour, but got pulled into a discussion and couldn¡¯t break away. Now that things have wrapped up, I asked my assistant to find you.¡±
He almost sounded apologetic, and that only fueled the curiosity in the room. For Mr. Joyner to care this much, Miss Gilmore must be someone important.
¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you again so soon after ourst meeting,¡± Castle continued, ¡°Small world, isn¡¯t it?¡±
He nced at her with genuine interest. ¡°Are you working on a game project yourself?¡±
Noreen nodded. ¡°I am, but it¡¯s still in its early stages. I¡¯m mostly here to learn.¡±
¡°Perfect,¡± Castle said, turning to the others. ¡°Let me introduce you to some veterans in the industry. You¡¯ll learn a lot from them¨Cthey¡¯ve seen it all.¡±
Then, raising his voice so the group could hear, he added, ¡°Everyone, please look out for Miss Gilmore. Share your stories, your missteps¨Chelp her avoid the same pitfalls. It¡¯s not easy building something from scratch, especially as a woman. If you can lend a hand, I¡¯d appreciate it.¡±
There were murmurs of agreement. If Castle asked, no one would refuse.
After Castle invited her to sit down, the group genuinely began sharing their experiences¨Clessons learned, mistakes made, advice for someone new to the field.
Noreen listened intently, soaking up every word, determined to make the most of this rare opportunity.
Halfway through the discussion, a staff member knocked on the door to announce the main conference was about to begin and to invite Mr. Joyner and the other industry leaders to the VIP
seats.
Noreen, of course, was not on that list.
She stood and smiled, ¡°Thank you all for sharing your wisdom. I hope I¡¯ll have a chance to treat everyone to dinner sometime.¡±
But Castle waved it off. ¡°We¡¯re not finished yet, are we? Let¡¯s continue at the venue.¡±
1/2 Get full chapters from f?ndnovel
The staff member immediately caught on and turned to Noreen. ¡°Miss, would you pleasee with us? We¡¯ll make sure you have a seat.¡±
¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± Noreen replied, seizing the chance. She knew opportunities like this didn¡¯t often, and she wasn¡¯t about to let it slip by.
By the time they reached the main hall, nearly everyone was seated
At the head table sat Bianca and Seth, with Castle¡¯s ce set right beside them.
When Bianca caught sight of Castle¡¯s name card, her face lit up. Last time, Beth had tried to introd her to Castle, hoping to help her make a valuable connection, but Noreen had somehow derailed the whole thing. Bianca had been stewing over that ever since.
Now, with a second chance in front of her, she was determined not to miss it. Che leaned towards Seth, whispering, ¡°Seth, why didn¡¯t you tell me Mr. Joyner would be at the Game Developers¡® Summit? I wasn¡¯t prepared at all.¡±
Seth shrugged. ¡°I just found out myself.¡±
Bianca narrowed her eyes, half¨Cjoking, ¡°I thought you were keeping it from me on purpose
Heughed. ¡°When have I ever kept anything from you?¡±
As they bantered, a staff member approached Bianca. ¡°Miss Lowell, I¡¯m so sorry, but there¡¯s been a mix¨Cup with your seat assignment. If you¡¯lle with me, I¡¯ll take you to the correct location¡±
Bianca looked bewildered. ¡°How did my seat get mixed up?¡±
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Yes-MAN 327
Chapter 327
The staff member offered an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry for the inconvenience.¡±
He gently reminded her, ¡°The conference is about to begin. We¡¯d appreciate your cooperation, Miss Lowell.¡±
Although Bianca was far from happy, she had no choice but to get up and follow their directions.
As soon as she stood, another staffer approached to pin a fresh name badge onto her jacket.
Before leaving, Bianca nced over her shoulder.
She caught sight of a staff member cing a new badge over her old one¨Cthe one with her name, ¡°Bianca,¡± emzoned on it.
She squinted and caught a glimpse of the new name.
Noreen.
Bianca froze mid¨Cstep, disbelief written all over her face.
Noreen? How could it be Noreen?
Why her?
She had the urge to turn back and demand an exnation, to ask the staff again just to be sure.
But the staff member leading her called out, ¡°This way, Miss Lowell! We¡¯re on a tight schedule¨Cthank you for your understanding.¡±
With mounting resentment, Bianca allowed herself to be ushered to the back of the room.
Her assigned seat was far from the main table¨Cpractically on the fringes, if she was honest.
Her expression soured as she watched the main table with a mix of frustration and resignation.
Just then, Castle arrived with his entourage. Noreen was right by his side, the two of them chatting animatedly.
To make matters worse, Bianca recognized several of the people with Noreen¨Cbig names in the gaming industry, and even some prominent investors.
Worst of all, this meant that Noreen would be sitting right next to Seth.
Noreen herself only realized this arrangement when she arrived. Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Checktest chapters at F¦Énd£Îovel
Seth noticed her the moment she took her seat.
He looked calm andposed, his eyes lingering on her for just two seconds before he turned away, giving Castle a polite nod.
Noreen quickly looked elsewhere, and once Castle and the others were seated, she took her own ce at the organizer¡¯s table.
There was no further eye contact between her and Seth.
20:17
The air between them was colder than silence between strangers.
No one would have guessed that the two had once shared a seven¨Cyear rtionship.
After taking his seat, Castle chatted across Noreen and Seth, ¡°You know, I have Mr. Harcourt to thank for introducing me to Miss Gilmore.¡±
¡°You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Joyner,¡± Seth replied coolly, his gaze t, as if he barely knew Noreen at all.
He was probably worried that any connection to Noreen would make Bianca jealous.
So he went out of his way to keep his distance, making their separation ringly obvious.
If he really cared that much, he¡¯d stick close to Bianca and make it known. That¡¯s what real devotion
would look like.
Leaving Noreen in this awkward position just left a bitter taste in Bianca¡¯s mouth.
Castle, oblivious to the invisible wall between Seth and Noreen, continued their earlier conversation.
He even asked her opinion on the increasedpetition and toxic rivalries in the gaming industry.
Noreen actually had her own perspective on this.
¡°Our country¡¯s gaming industry isrge enough to amodate titles of all styles and genres. It¡¯s not a zero¨Csum game¨Cthere¡¯s room for everyone to grow. I believe healthypetition is vital, because that¡¯s what drives progress.¡±
As she spoke, Castle leaned in, clearly engaged and listening intently.
He nodded in agreement whenever she made a good point.
It was obvious her words struck a chord with him.
¡°Did you hear that, Zane? You need to broaden your horizons a little,¡± Castle teased the man beside
him.
Zane, caught off guard, wiped nervous sweat from his brow. ¡°Miss Gilmore, those are words to live by.¡±
Noreen suddenly remembered that just a while ago, two leading gamingpanies had been summoned by authorities over their cutthroat tactics.
Yes-MAN 328
One of thepany owners here was none other than Zane.
It was clear Castle was using her as a way to put pressure on Zane,
Noreen felt a wave of awkwardness,
But Zane took the initiative, offering to exchange contact information. ¡°If you have any questions about the gaming project, Miss Gilmore, just let me know. I¡¯ll do my best to help.¡±
¡°Thank you, Zane. I might have to trouble you in the future,¡± Noreen replied politely.
¡°Of course, not a problem at all.¡± Zane was genuinely humble.
At the edge of the room, Bianca was watching the whole exchange, her re so intense it was a wonder sparks didn¡¯t fly out of her eyes.
Every time she saw Noreen chatting warmly with others¨Cespecially getting such friendly treatment from Castle¨Cshe felt a twist of jealousy.
The onlyfort she could find was that Seth hadn¡¯t paid Noreen any attention the entire time. Hel hadn¡¯t even nced in her direction.
At least in this, Seth was still firmly on Bianca¡¯s side.
The moment the conference ended, Bianca sprang to her feet and made a beeline for Castle, determined to finally catch his eye.
¡°Mr. Joyner, hello, I¡¯m Bianca. We had dinner together once, do you remember?¡± she said, trying to sound poised and gracious,
Castle nodded, but there was a thinly veiled impatience in his eyes. Good manners kept it from showing in his tone, and he replied politely, ¡°Yes, I remember. You¡¯re Mr. Harcourt¡¯s¡¡±
He hesitated, as if he couldn¡¯t recall, or perhaps he was just being coy.
¡°Fianc¨¦e,¡± Bianca supplied quickly.
¡°Ah, right. Fianc¨¦e.¡± Castle had almost said ¡®girlfriend¡®, but wasn¡¯t quite sure.
That invitation card she¡¯d been saving for the right moment finally found its use.
¡°Seth and I are getting engaged soon. Mr. Joyner, if you have the time, we¡¯d love for you to join us at our engagement party.¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Castle gestured for his assistant to ept the invitation.
Then, turning to Noreen, he said, ¡°Miss Gilmore, if you¡¯re freeter, I¡¯d like to continue our
conversation from earlier.¡±
¡°Absolutely,¡± Noreen replied with a smile¨Cshe had all the time in the world.
Bianca didn¡¯t even get the chance to mention the new game project she¡¯d been working on before Castle moved on.
A wave of disappointment washed over her, but she couldn¡¯t exactly force him to listen.
20:17
Seth seemed to sense her mood and offered a reassuring word. ¡°Mr. Joyner¡¯s just busy. I¡¯ll make sure you get a proper introduction next time.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
His reassurance soothed her a little, but seeing how warmly Castle treated Noreen still left a bitter
taste.
She couldn¡¯t help but wonder¨Cwhat could Noreen possibly have to discuss with Castle? With her limited credentials, what could she contribute? Probably just a lot of ttery.
After all, ttery always works, no matter the situation.
Still, she hadn¡¯t expected someone like Castle to actually enjoy being buttered up.
Or maybe, Castle¡¯s interest in Noreen had nothing to do with her talents at all.
Beauty, after all, was a woman¡¯s greatest weapon. Even someone as distinguished as Castle wasn¡¯t
immune.
Healy arrived halfway through the conference, dyed by an important morning meeting.
As soon as he hurried into the room, his eyes instinctively searched for Noreen.
Once he spotted her, he headed straight toward her, not even noticing that Bianca and Seth were closer. Discover more novels at fin?novel
It was Bianca who saw him first. Surprised, she waved. ¡°Healy!¡±
Healy grinned at her as he approached.
Bianca was about to ask what brought him here when he breezed right past her, his smile growing even wider.
He walked straight up to Noreen, his tone cheerful and direct: ¡°There you are, Noreen¨CI¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you.¡±
Bianca¡¯s smile froze the instant she heard Healy call out Noreen¡¯s name.
Yes-MAN 329
Chapter 329
She was standing right in front of him, yet he seemedpletely oblivious to her presence.
In his eyes, there was only Noreen¨Che couldn¡¯t see anyone else.
But when she nced over her shoulder at Seth, she noticed he wasn¡¯t looking at Noreen.
¡°Come on, let¡¯s get something to eat.¡± Seth¡¯s tone was calm and unreadable.
Bianca noddedpliantly and followed Seth out, but she couldn¡¯t help ncing back at Noreen.
The smile on Healy¡¯s face hadn¡¯t faded since he¡¯d spotted Noreen; he looked genuinely delighted.
Even from a distance, Bianca could sense the subtle affection Healy felt for Noreen.
When had that started?
Bianca mulled it over as they walked.
When she¡¯d first returned to the country, Healy had been good to her. Not as enthusiastic as Jude, who was always around at a moment¡¯s notice, but Healy always made time for her when he could.
But over time, it became harder and harder to see him.
He always imed he was busy.
Especially during that period when she was trying to set him up with Lillian¨Cshe¡¯d invited him out countless times, and not once had he shown up.
If she remembered correctly, that was right around when Naylor Automotive Group and Winrich started working together.
Thinking of that, Bianca¡¯s expression cooled.
She¡¯d clearly underestimated Noreen.
That woman mightck ability or brains, but she was certainly skilled at getting men¡¯s attention.
Just as Yvonne had warned her.
Noreen had managed to stay by Seth¡¯s side for seven years¨Cthere was no way she was simple.
It was Bianca¡¯s own carelessness that had let Healy fall under her spell.
She pushed those thoughts aside and turned to Seth. ¡°Since we ran into them here, should we invite Healy to join us for dinner?¡±
Seth asked, ¡°Do you want to?¡±
Bianca exined lightly, ¡°It just urred to me that it¡¯s been ages since we all had a meal together. Friendships need some tending, after all.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll give him a call.¡±
Whatever she wanted to do, Seth always supported her¨Che never asked why. Fresh chapters posted on find[?]ovel
Across the room, Healy was still talking to Noreen. When he saw Seth calling, he barely hesitated
20:17
before declining the call.
Seth¡¯s reaction was calm, he simply told Bianca, ¡°He didn¡¯t pick up. Maybe next time.¡±
¡°Next time, then.¡± Bianca knew better than to force it.
If she set her mind to it, she was sure she could win Healy back to her side.
Meanwhile, after ending Seth¡¯s call, Healy turned to Noreen. ¡°Since we ran into each other, how about grabbing dinner together? I actually wanted to discuss some work stuff with you.¡±
Noreen never turned down a work conversation. Healy had learned that much about her.
Sure enough, Noreen agreed without hesitation. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll let Scott know.¡±
Healy had picked the restaurant himself¨Ca trendy spot in Glenhaven City, famous for being the top date¨Cnight destination.
He¡¯d seen the rave reviews online and made a reservation without a second thought.
But when the two of them arrived, they ran straight into Seth and Bianca, who were also dining there.
Worried it might ruin Noreen¡¯s mood, Healy changed his mind at thest minute. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Noreen¡¯s response was far calmer than he¡¯d expected. ¡°I think this ce is great¡ªit¡¯s got a nice atmosphere. Let¡¯s just stay.¡±
She genuinely couldn¡¯t be bothered with the hassle. Leaving now would mean finding a new restaurant, wasting both time and money.
Before heading inside, she made it clear to Healy, ¡°Honestly, you¡¯re overthinking things.¡±
Seth had moved on from her a long time ago.
Even if he and Bianca started passionately making out right in front of her, she¡¯d still be able to enjoy
her meal without batting an eye.
20:17
Yes-MAN 330
Chapter 330
Obsession is punishing yourself, letting go is the only way to make peace within.
Healy was so floored by Noreen¡¯s unwaveringposure that he could barely hide his growing admiration¨Cand a flicker of something more.
Thankfully, Noreen didn¡¯t notice.
He quickly caught up to her, and just as she was about to sit down, Healy slid out her chair with impable manners.
Bianca, sitting nearby, took in the entire scene.
Suddenly, the gourmet foie gras on her te tasted nd and forgettable.
Noreen had been on her feet all day and was genuinely starving.
When Healy told her to order whatever she liked, she didn¡¯t hold back, picking out several of her favorite dishes.
Healy found her honesty utterly refreshing.
He couldn¡¯t help wondering what had been wrong with him before.
Why had he ever thought Noreen was shallow or fake?
Thinking back, he realized: the old Noreen had revolved entirely around Seth, catering to his every whim and losing herself in the process.
As Jude once put it, she was a hopelessly loyal puppy.
Even if the world ended, she would never have left Seth.
But the world hadn¡¯t ended. Instead, Noreen and Seth had gone their separate ways.
It was the middle of dinner rush, and the restaurant buzzed with customers.
Next to them sat a young family: a mother, a father, and their little girl. After her mom had fed her, the girl hopped down from her seat and wandered in circles around their table.
At one point, she paused beside Noreen, then leaned in for a spontaneous hug. ¡°You¡¯re so pretty, miss!¡±
Her mom called out, ¡°Beatty, don¡¯t bother thedy while she¡¯s eating. Come back here, sweetheart.¡±
Noreen grinned and waved it off. ¡°It¡¯s fine, really.¡±
She couldn¡¯t resist gently tousling the little girl¡¯s hair, her voice softening. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful too, darling.¡±
¡°But you¡¯re even prettier,¡± the girl insisted.
Noreen¡¯s heart just melted. She couldn¡¯t help but smile, her whole expression turning warm and gentle. ¡°Would you like some pudding? This caramel custard is delicious.¡±
The girl¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Yes, please!¡±
20:17
¡°Shall I feed you a bite?¡±
¡°Okay!¡±
Across the table, Healy watched the entire exchange, captivated. He¡¯d never seen Noreen so tender,
so radiant.
Every side of her left him in awe.
He pressed down the wild flutter in his chest and asked, ¡°You really like kids, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Mhm,¡± she replied simply.
She liked sweet, well¨Cbehaved kids.
As for the wild ones¡ not so much.
When the conversation drifted away from work, Noreen¡¯s answers were always short, and usually left no room for follow¨Cup.
So Healy had learned to keep the conversation going himself. ¡°How many do you want someday?¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f?ndnovel
Noreen¡¯s gentle expression faded a little.
She¡¯d thought about that once.
She¡¯d even asked Seth how many children he wanted.
He¡¯d answered coldly, telling her he didn¡¯t like kids.
She¡¯d believed him, and felt a pang of disappointment for a long time.
She¡¯d even tried to console herself: if he didn¡¯t want children, then they simply wouldn¡¯t have any.
So for seven years, they¡¯d been careful. Meticulous, even.
Whenever they forgot, Seth would always pull away at thest moment.
Even if it left him frustrated, he¡¯d rather take a cold shower than risk it.
The only time she got pregnant was after he¡¯d had too much to drink.
The very next day, they had to catch a string of flights overseas¨Ctwenty¨Cplus hours ofyovers,nding straight into high¨Cpressure negotiations.
Afterward, Noreen was so exhausted she crashed the moment they got back. Shepletely forgot about being careful.
That¡¯s how she ended up with an unexpected pregnancy¨Cand an equally unexpected loss.
Looking back now, Noreen realized just how na?ve she¡¯d been.
It wasn¡¯t that Seth didn¡¯t like kids.
He just didn¡¯t want to have children with her.
20:18
Yes-MAN 331
1
de
To be precise, Seth had always kept an escape route open for himself a way back to test se the woman had never quite let go
ire had once hit the nail on the head. If he has mained you after seven years, is because t never intended to N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on fin?novel
Seven years with nothing to show for it. Maybe fate was doing her a favor
After polishing off her pudding, the little girl was called away by her mom. The warmth inserts expression faded, reced by her usual cool reserve. Her tone was calm as she finally enonered Healy¡¯s earlier question.
¡°How many kids do you want?¡±
Absentmindedly, Noreen¡¯s hand drifted to her t stomach, her feelings tangled andpleted t Wynne had told her her chances of getting pregnant were slim-so stim, she might never get to be # mother at all.
¡°I don¡¯t n on having any¡±
It just wasn¡¯t in the cards for her
Healy hadn¡¯t expected to wait so long only to hear that.
He¡¯d nned to match her answer, whatever it was. If she wanted two, he¡¯d say two. Even if it was just to keep in sync, he wouldn¡¯t have minded,
But after hearing her answer, he simply went with the flow, ¡°Looks like we¡¯re on the same page. I don¡¯t
want any either¡±
Noreen couldn¡¯t help butugh, her earlier disappointment easing, ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s really up to you¡±
Chase Haylor only had two kids-a son and a daughter. As the only heir, Healy had a family legacy to carry on, it wasn¡¯t exactly up to him whether or not he¡¯d have kids.
Healy grinned, ¡°What, are they going to force me? It¡¯s my life. I figure I still get a say
What he really wanted to say he wouldn¡¯t agree to an arranged marriage. He¡¯d only marry someone he truly loved. He wondered if Horeen caught his drift.
After dinner, Horeen got ready to head back to her hotel. Healy chimed in, ¡°No way-what are the odds? We¡¯re staying at the same ce¡±
Noreen didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°That is a coincidence.¡±
Since they were at the same hotel, it made sense to share the ride back.
What Noreen didn¡¯t realize was that as soon as she told the driver her destination, Healy was already messaging his assistant, ordering him to book a room for Healy in the very same hotel-immediately. No dys, or else his bonus would take a hit.
The assistant didn¡¯t dare ck off, but with the game developers¡¯ conference in town, every hotel
20:26
nearby was packed, including Noreen¡¯s.
As time dragged on without a confirmation, Healy grew impatient. But he was quick on his feet, and in the car, he brought up a work issue-a bug in the driverless car test that needed Carman¡¯s input. Would Noreen be avable for a quick conference call?
And just like that, Noreen found herself roped in-work always had a way of catching up with her.
As soon as they reached the hotel, Noreen took Healy up to her room for the meeting.
Barely had they entered when Seth and Bianca stepped off the elevator onto the same floor. Bianca spotted them first, her surprise obvious. ¡°Wow, things are moving fast,¡± she blurted. ¡°They¡¯re already staying together?¡±
She was so shocked, she didn¡¯t notice the sudden chill in the man beside her.
Inside the room, Noreen and Healy spent the next hour on the call with Carman. In fact, Healy¡¯s assistant had texted him half an hour ago that the room was ready, but Healy had deliberately stretched things out, just to have more time with Noreen.
Finally, when the meeting ended, Healy reluctantly stood to leave. ¡°It¡¯ste. You should get some rest. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow, and we¡¯ll head back to Rivercrest City together.¡±
¡°Okay.¡±
Healy stepped out of Noreen¡¯s room, heading for his own, when suddenly he was caught off guard by the soft, perfumed embrace of someone throwing themselves into his arms.
20:26
Yes-MAN 332
¡°Healy! What are the odds of running into you here?¡±
Before Healy could even process what was happening, a woman threw herself at him, pinning him up against the wall.
Once he regained his bnce, he realized who it was-one of his exes.
He reached down, trying to pry her arms from where they were wrapped tightly around his waist.
But she only held on tighter, pressing herself even closer, lips puckering as she tried to kiss him.
Healy jerked his head away just in time, but her lipsnded right at the base of his neck, leaving a bright red lipstick mark on his cor. For more chapters visit Find?Novel
Annoyance flickered across his face. He shot her a warning, his voice sharp. ¡°Knock it off. Aren¡¯t you worried I¡¯ll tell your husband?¡±
¡°Ugh, you¡¯re no fun.¡± She finally let go, pouting and muttering, ¡°Back when we used to watch the stars together, you called me your sweet little darling. Now you¡¯re all about the new girl and threatening to rat me out. Men really are the worst.¡±
¡°Alright, alright-now that you¡¯re married, try acting like it. Stop screwing around.¡± Healy quickly stepped away, putting a few feet between them, wary of being caught in her clutches again.
Thankfully, her phone rang-probably her husband calling-and she turned away to answer, disappearing down the hall.
Healy exhaled, straightened his shirt, and headed for the elevator to check in at the hotel front desk. He barely made it to the elevator lobby before running straight into Seth and Bianca.
For a split second, he cursed his luck. Seriously, what were the chances?
Why did it feel like, no matter where he went, these two were always right there?
The thought triggered a memory-he and Jude used to joke about Noreen, how she always seemed to pop up around Seth, no matter what. They¡¯d even wondered if she¡¯d secretly put a tracker on him, just to keep tabs.
But looking at it now¡ Coincidences happened all the time, didn¡¯t they? After all, they were all in town for the same conference, and it only made sense to book rooms at the nearest hotel.
He¡¯d even picked the restaurant himself; Noreen had nothing to do with it.
Back then, he¡¯d just been biased-always judging Noreen, seeing her in the worst possible light.
He suddenly wished he could apologize to her.
Lost in his thoughts, he was snapped back by Bianca¡¯s voice, cold and clipped. ¡°Healy, do you have a problem with me?¡±
She¡¯d gotten a message about this from Henry, apparently.
Healy frowned. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±
¡°This whole time, every time I¡¯ve invited you out for a meal or a drink, you¡¯ve said you¡¯re busy. Now we finally run into each other here, and you won¡¯t even pick up Seth¡¯s calls. If we¡¯ve done something to upset you, just say so. Don¡¯t let this mess up our friendship.¡±
¡°Especially with Seth. He thinks of you as a brother.¡±
¡°You¡¯re overthinking it,¡± Healy said, rubbing his temples. All he wanted was to get to his room and have a little peace and quiet, not get dragged into this pointless drama.
But his indifference only made Bianca more upset. She¡¯d already tried to exin, but he clearly wasn¡¯t listening.
What on earth had Noreen done to make Healy act like this? Was he really willing to throw away years of friendship over a woman?
As Healy turned to go, Bianca tried to grab his arm, desperate to stop him.
He shook her off without hesitation.
In the next instant, Seth grabbed him by the cor and, without warning,nded a heavy punch to his jaw.
Pain exploded along Healy¡¯s chin, and the blow sent him crashing to the floor.
Bianca screamed, rushing to wrap her arms around Seth¡¯s waist. ¡°Seth, stop! Don¡¯t fight because of me. Let¡¯s just talk this out!¡±
Healy scrambled to his feet, his temper ring. He swung back at Seth, returning the punch with as much force as he could muster.
Yes-MAN 333
Chapter 333 For original chapters go to find¡¤novel
Seth took the blow squarely but didn¡¯t back down-instead, hended another punch on Healy.
¡°Oh, you want to keep going?¡± Healy spat out blood, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, eyes. zing.
The two of them locked in a messy brawl, fists and kicks flying, every hitnding with a sickening
thud.
Bianca watched in panic from the sidelines, desperate to break them apart. She stepped in, but neither of them noticed her in the chaos. Suddenly, someone shoved her aside-a rough, careless move in the scuffle. She stumbled, falling hard to the floor and smacking her head on a potted nt. Pain shot through her skull, vision swimming with stars.
The fight showed no signs of stopping, so Bianca, her voice trembling, called out for help as loud as she could.
Upstairs, Noreen had just said goodbye to Healy and jumped in for a quick shower, eager to copse into bed. The day had worn her out, and all she wanted was sleep.
But just as she began to drift off, a racket from outside her room yanked her back to full alertness. Themotion was impossible to ignore. Throwing on the hotel bathrobe, Noreen stepped out to investigate.
She hadn¡¯t even reached the source of the noise before she heard Bianca¡¯s tearful plea: ¡°Please, just stop fighting!¡±
A fight? Now that was more interesting than sleep. Wide awake, Noreen hurried down the hallway to see what was happening.
But before she could get a good look, Healy came crashing down in the corridor, a bruise blossoming on his face. Noreen rushed over and helped him up. ¡°What the hell happened?¡±
Healy grimaced, wincing as he touched his jaw. ¡°How should I know? One minute I¡¯m minding my own business, the next I¡¯m getting punched.¡±
Seth didn¡¯t look much better. He was slumped on the ground a few feet away, blood trickling from his lip.
Bianca sat nearby, clutching her forehead, her eyes red and watery. She looked downright miserable.
Noreen ignored the two battered men and focused on Healy, her voice worried and gentle. ¡°Are you badly hurt? Should we get you to a hospital?¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a scratch.¡± Healy straightened up, not wanting Noreen to think he was soft. ¡°I got a few good hits in too.¡±
Seth finally pushed himself upright, though he stayed seated, dabbing the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. His gaze pinned Noreen, eyes cold and sharp-like he was searching for something beneath the surface.
So, she already showered this fast? What was she trying to hide?
20:26
With the fight over, Bianca finally had a chance to check on Seth. ¡°Are you okay? Did you get hurt?¡±
¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Seth muttered, tearing his eyes away from Noreen. His gazended on Healy-and the unmistakable mark of lipstick smeared on Healy¡¯s cor, burning in Seth¡¯s vision.
Bianca¡¯s head throbbed, making her dizzy and, on top of it all, a little hurt. Seth hadn¡¯t even noticed she was injured.
¡°Seth, my head hurts,¡± she said quietly.
Seth¡¯s attention snapped to the bruise on her forehead. He scrambled to his feet, concern etched across his face. ¡°How did that happen?¡±
¡°I got caught in the crossfire trying to break up your fight.¡±
¡°We¡¯re going to the hospital,¡± Seth said, no room for argument.
¡°Okay,¡± Bianca agreed, ¡°and you should have the doctor look at you too.¡±
The two of them fussed over each other, concern passing back and forth like a secretnguage.
Noreen turned to Healy again. ¡°You really don¡¯t need a doctor?¡±
Healy shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m not made of ss.¡±
¡°Come to my room, I¡¯ll clean up that cut for you,¡± Noreen offered.
Healy was about to agree when Seth spoke up, his tone almost caring. ¡°You should go to the hospital too. Just in case.¡±
¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Healy replied quickly.
Bianca chimed in, ¡°You should get checked out, too. This all started because of me.¡±
Noreen arched an eyebrow at that. So, the fight was over Bianca? Unbelievable.
She let go of Healy and said, ¡°Yeah, better safe than sorry. If you¡¯ve rattled your brain, you¡¯ll want a doctor to tell you.¡±
212
20:26
Yes-MAN 334
Her eyesight was already poor-if her mind started going too, that would be the end of it.
Suppressing a yawn, she waved a hand. ¡°You guys go have your fun. I¡¯m heading back to my room to get some sleep
¡°L¡± Healy simply watched Noreen walk away, wide-eyed and helpless.
She really just left.
Seth who had been frowning moments ago, finally rxed a little. He shot Healy an impatient look ¡°What are you standing around for? Move it.¡±
Jude didn¡¯t arrive in Glenhaven City untilte that night.
Originally he was supposed toe with Bianca for the Game Developers Conference, but something came up with his dad and dyed him.
As soon as his nended, he called Bianca.
When he learned she was at the hospital, his worry shot through the roof. He immediately got the address and headed straight there by taxi.
When he arrived, he found all three of them sporting fresh injuries.
He just stood there, dumbfounded. ¡°What on earth happened?¡±
Seth¡¯s expression was icy-he clearly wasn¡¯t in the mood to exin.
Healy was sulking, refusing to say a word.
Only Bianca offered a rundown. ¡°It was honestly just a misunderstanding. We bumped into Healy at the conference. Seth called to invite him to dinner, but Healy hung up. I was worried there was some tension, so I pressed Healy for details. Maybe I sounded too harsh or didn¡¯t phrase things well-Healy got upset and shoved me. Seth tried to defend me and punched Healy, and then the two of them just started brawling.¡±
¡°I got hurt trying to break them up.¡±
Jude couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Are you two toddlers or what? Who fights their own friends like this?¡±
Healy scoffed. ¡°Ask him-he threw the first punch.¡±
*If I¡¯m gonna hit you, I don¡¯t need to wait for a special asion,¡± Seth shot back, still ring.
Trying to break the tension, Jude joked, ¡°Come on, you know how protective Seth is of Bianca. Why¡¯d you have to push her?¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t push her-he¡¯s the one who flew off the handle for no reason.¡±
¡°All right!¡± Jude quickly intervened. ¡°Let¡¯s all take a step back and drop it. Just patch yourselves up and head back to the hotel. I¡¯m dead tired.¡±
Under his mediation, the two finally called a truce.
20:26
By the time the three of them had treated their wounds and made it back to the hotel, it was well past midnight.
Healy headed to the front desk to check in.
Seth was about to head upstairs when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Read full story at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
Bianca looked back at him, puzzled. ¡°Seth? What¡¯s wrong?¡±
¡°Nothing.¡± Seth replied, pulling his gaze away.
The next morning, Jude arranged for everyone to have breakfast together, hoping to help mend fences between the guys.
Both Seth and Healy had gone at it pretty hard the night before; even after treating their injuries, the bruises and swelling were still obvious.
Healy took a seat at the table without ncing at Seth, instead focusing on his phone-texting
Noreen.
He asked if she was awake.
If she¡¯d had breakfast yet.
Noreen replied that she hadn¡¯t-she was just about to head down to the restaurant.
¡°Make sure you go right when you walk in. Don¡¯te left.¡±
Noreen immediately got his meaning and sent back an OK emoji.
¡°Who¡¯re you messaging so early in the morning?¡± Jude craned his neck, trying to sneak a peek.
Healy quickly shielded his phone. ¡°None of your business.¡±
¡°Hiding your sweetheart from us?¡±
¡°Can¡¯t you shut up and just eat for once?¡±
Despite his words, Healy was clearly in a good mood-after all, Noreen had texted him back.
Bianca caught the whole exchange, her gaze darkening.
Yes-MAN 335
The server brought over their breakfast, and Healy was just reaching for a muffin when Seth snagged it right out from under his hand.
¡°Perfect timing. I was just about to eat that,¡± Seth said, matter-of-fact.
Healy red at him. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have just ordered your own?¡±
Jude jumped in to keep the peace. ¡°If you want more, I¡¯ll order you another one.¡±
He raised his hand to call the waitress, but before he could get her attention, a woman in a perfectly tailored dress came dashing over and threw her arms around Healy from behind.
¡°Heaaaaly! Fancy seeing you here-did you miss me?¡± she trilled.
Jude recognized her immediately-Healy¡¯s ex, Tiana Quinn. She¡¯d crashed a few of their parties
before.
Healy quickly peeled her arms away. ¡°Cut it out, Tiana.¡±
She scoffed. ¡°Typical. Men are all the same-hot and heavy one night, cold and distant the next.¡± She shot him a look. ¡°Last night you were all over me in the hotel hallway, and now you¡¯re acting brand
new.¡±
¡°What are you talking about? Don¡¯t make things up.¡± Healy was suddenly very grateful he¡¯d sent Noreen to eat in the other dining room.
¡°Make things up? Want to check the shirt you wore yesterday? Pretty sure my lipstick¡¯s still on the
cor.¡±
Healy had nothing to say to that. Having too many exes was a headache all its own.
Across the table, the tension that had hung in the air all night seemed to finally break. Jude scratched his head and asked, ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be getting married, Tiana?¡±
She shot back, ¡°Can¡¯t a married woman still have some fun?¡±
Jude just shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re too much.¡±
Tiana shrugged, totally unfazed. ¡°I just y men at their own game and win.¡±
Jude was speechless.
Healy¡¯s exes were all like this-each one more outrageous than thest. He seemed to have a type.
After some effort, they finally got rid of Tiana, and Healy let out a long sigh of relief.
Seth slid the stolen muffin back across the table. ¡°Here-my way of saying sorry.¡±
Healy stared at him, bewildered. ¡°You steal my breakfast and then apologize by giving it back?¡±
Who does that?
Seeing Healy and Seth patch things up, Bianca finally rxed. ¡°Let¡¯s just let yesterday go. From now on, let¡¯s stay close like we used to-get together when we can, keep in touch.¡±
20:27
Jude chimed in. ¡°Yeah, and don¡¯t forget we still owe Seth best man duty at his wedding¡±
Healy hesitated. ¡°You¡¯re on your own for that one. I¡¯m out.¡±
¡°What? We agreed-whoever ties the knot first, the rest have to be his best men!¡± Jude protested
Healy shrugged, looking unbothered. ¡°I heard if you¡¯re a best man too many times, you¡¯ll never get married yourself
Jude choked on his coffee. ¡°Where¡¯d you hear that nonsense?¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m not doing it.¡±
No way he¡¯d risk losing points with Noreen by standing up as Seth and Bianca¡¯s best man.
¡°Seth, I want some soup,¡± Bianca said sweetly. Newest update provided by Find~Novel
I¡¯ll get the waitress,¡± Seth offered, about to wave her over.
Bianca stopped him. ¡°No need-just share a little from your bowl. Here, use this small one.¡±
Jude grinned, ¡°Bianca, you¡¯re using a baby bowl too?¡±
¡°A what?¡± Healy asked, totally lost.
Jude exined, ¡°You know-when couples eat together, and the boyfriend scoops a little into a small bowl for the girlfriend, that¡¯s a ¡®baby bowl.¡¯ If no one loves you, you don¡¯t get a baby bowl.¡±
Healy just stared. ¡°I don¡¯t get it, and I don¡¯t want to.¡±
Bianca snapped a photo and posted it to her Instagram story, quoting Jude.
*From Mr. Harcourt¡¯s baby bowl.*
Meanwhile, upstairs, Noreen had just finished her breakfast when her phone buzzed-a message from Sophia: ¡°Got totally grossed out first thing this morning.¡±
Noreen replied, ¡°What happened?¡±
Sophia sent her a screenshot of Bianca¡¯s post.
Noreen texted back, deadpan: ¡°Since when does having a boyfriend mean you can¡¯t even eat properly?¡±
Sophia replied, ¡°Noreen, yourmentary is always on point!¡±
Yes-MAN 336
¡°Noreen, why are you cking off at work and gossiping?¡±
¡°¡Okay, I¡¯m logging off. Vanishing now,¡± Sophia muttered.
¨C
That morning, Noreen attended the closing ceremony, then got ready to head back to Rivercrest City. Before she could leave, Castle¡¯s assistant showed up with a coveted invitation: the Harborview City Chamber of Commerce¡¯s 30th Anniversary G.
An invitation to Castle¡¯s g was the stuff of dreams for most people.
Without hesitating, Noreen changed her flight and asked ire to help her book an appointment with a renowned stylist from Glenhaven City. She wanted to make sure she¡¯d attend the event looking impable.
While she was getting her hair and makeup done, Healy texted to ask when she¡¯d be heading to the
airport.
¡°I¡¯ve got something to take care of. I won¡¯t be flying back just yet,¡± Noreen replied.
Healy was more disappointed than he let on. He¡¯d thought this trip might give him one more chance to spend time alone with her. But things had changed, and all he could do was catch his original flight.
When he came downstairs to check out, Jude, Seth, and Bianca were already waiting in the lobby.
¡°Hurry up, man! We¡¯ve all been standing around just for you,¡± Jude called out impatiently.
¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ming,¡± Healy replied.
While they waited, Henry messaged Bianca, asking if she nned to return to Rivercrest City.
Bianca texted back, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m just about to head to the airport.¡±
¡°I was going to fly back with you guys, but I need to stay an extra day for Mr. Joyner¡¯s g,¡± she
added.
Henry had barely gotten a chance to speak with Bianca during this trip. Seth was always at her side, so most of the time Henry could only watch her from a distance-sometimes, just a fleeting nce.
Seeing Henry¡¯s message, Bianca paused before typing, ¡°When you say Mr. Joyner, do you mean Castle Joyner?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Henry replied.
Bianca¡¯s grip tightened on her phone. She turned to Seth, a note of urgency in her voice. ¡°Did you know Mr. Joyner is hosting a g tonight?¡± This text is hosted at
¡°I did.¡± Seth¡¯s handsome, reserved face didn¡¯t betray any emotion.
¡°Did you get an invitation?¡±
He answered truthfully, ¡°I did.¡±
20:27
¡°Then why aren¡¯t you going?¡± nca couldn¡¯t believe it. This was Castle Joyner¡¯s g!
Seth just looked at her in silence.
Suddenly, Bianca realized-Seth was skipping the g because of her.
Jude, overhearing, piped up, ¡°Come on, only Seth¡¯s important enough to get invited to something like that. The rest of us wouldn¡¯t even make it past the gate,¡±
Bianca felt a twinge of disappointment. Jude was right-she just wasn¡¯t on that level yet.
Seth turned to her. ¡°Do you want to go?¡±
Bianca nodded honestly. Of course she wanted to go, but she knew she didn¡¯t have the standing.
¡°I¡¯ll figure something out,¡± Seth said.
A spark of hope lit up in Bianca¡¯s eyes.
¡°Damn, Seth, you¡¯re just too perfect! If I were a girl, I¡¯d fall for you too,¡± Jude teased, half-joking, half-envious.
Healy rolled his eyes and kicked Jude¡¯s leg. ¡°Why don¡¯t you focus on making some money, get your head out of romance, and save yourself the trouble?¡±
Seth always got things done efficiently. Half an hourter, he told Bianca everything was settled.
He then took her to pick out a dress and get her hair and makeup styled.
This time, Bianca had learned her lesson. She chose a sleek ck dress with a business edge, but paired it with bold, luxurious sapphire earrings that instantly elevated her whole look.
Tonight, she was determined to make Castle Joyner see her in a new light.
¨C
At precisely 6:30 p.m., Noreen arrived at the g.
As she approached the entrance, she caught sight of the man walking in just ahead of her-Henry.
When Henry turned and saw Noreen, his brow furrowed. She shouldn¡¯t be here, he thought. Taking in her morous attire, he couldn¡¯t help but sneer, lips curling in disdain.
What made her think she was worthy of a ce at an event like this?
20:27
Yes-MAN 337
Noreen ignored Henry¡¯s sneer and strode toward the registration desk.
The attendant, following protocol, asked her to present her invitation.
She opened her purse-only to realize the invitation was missing.
She rummaged through her bag, growing more anxious as she searched every pocket, but it was nowhere to be found.
With more guests arriving behind her, the attendant grew impatient. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ll need to see your invitation. No one gets in without one. Please cooperate.¡±
¡°Sorry, let me look again.¡± Noreen stepped aside, not wanting to hold up the line.
Henry, watching from a distance, couldn¡¯t resist a mockingugh.
She really does put on a good act.
Does she think this is just some casual cocktail party?
Is she nning to slip in with some cheap trick, or maybe charm her way past security like she did in the old days?
What a joke.
People like her weren¡¯t even worth a second nce.
With a dismissive nce, Henry turned away and headed into the ballroom.
Noreen hadn¡¯t expected to lose her invitation, but there was nothing she could do now except text Castle for help.
She figured Castle was probably busy-calling would be inconvenient-so she sent a message and braced herself for a long wait.
As time passed, more and more guests arrived.
Among them were Seth and Bianca.
The moment Bianca stepped out of the car, she spotted Noreen and hesitated for a split second.
She realized, with a sinking heart, that they were wearing the same dress.
Both of them had chosen ck halter gowns, the exact same fabric and cut.
The only difference was that Noreen wore no expensive jewelry. Instead, she¡¯d tied a silk scarf to the
strap at her neckline, letting it cascade down her shoulder all the way to her waist.
When a breeze drifted through, the scarf fluttered gently, giving her an air of effortless grace and vibrance.
It was a kind of understated elegance-more striking than diamonds.
Bianca felt a twinge of difort.
20:27
Noreen didn¡¯t even nce her way. She stood quietly, eyes fixed on her phone, waiting for Castle¡¯s reply.
Seth led Bianca to the registration table and handed over their invitation.
The attendant nced at his coworker. ¡°How long are we supposed to wait for thatdy?¡±
The coworker shrugged. ¡°Who knows? Probably hoping to sneak in. You know how it is-every time Mr. Joyner throws a party, there¡¯s always someone trying to slip past the door.¡±
¡°Well, I¡¯ll keep an eye out. She¡¯s not getting through on my watch.¡±
Their conversation was carried straight to Bianca, who smiled to herself.
So Noreen didn¡¯t even have an invitation.
She¡¯d noticed before that Castle treated Noreen differently, and for a moment, she¡¯d wondered if Castle actually cared about her.
Apparently, Noreen thought she was special too-special enough to crash this party.
What a delusion.
Inside the hall, Henry finally found his chance to greet Castle. For more chapters visit
Castle asked after Henry¡¯s father. ¡°How¡¯s your father doing?¡±
¡°He¡¯s been under the weathertely. He couldn¡¯t make it tonight, so he asked me to pass along his apologies.¡±
¡°Give him my regards. I¡¯ll stop by Briarwood City soon to visit.¡±
¡°Thank you, I will.¡±
Castle turned to Henry. ¡°So, you¡¯ve already finished college?¡±
¡°My father¡¯s health hasn¡¯t been great. I applied for early graduation so I coulde home and help
out.¡±
¡°Good thinking,¡± Castle nodded in approval.
Before they could continue, Castle¡¯s secretary hurried over and whispered something in his ear.
¡°Well, what are you waiting for? Go bring her in, now.¡±
The secretary rushed off.
From Castle¡¯s urgency, it was clear this guest was someone important.
Momentster, Seth and Bianca entered the hall.
As soon as Henry saw Bianca, his eyes lit up.
He started toward her instinctively, but stopped short when he remembered she was with Seth. He hesitated, then stayed where he was.
20:27
Yes-MAN 338
He had no say in this matter.
Castle happened to be heading toward the entrance. When he saw the two of them, he offered a casual greeting.
But Henry misunderstood, assuming that the important guests Castle had asked his secretary to invite were none other than Seth and Bianca.
Henry forced himself to look away from Bianca.
He hadn¡¯te to this cocktail party just for show-he had a very clear purpose tonight.
Castle exchanged a few pleasantries with Seth, and after a brief chat, Noreen arrived.
Bianca had just opened her mouth, meaning to strike up a conversation with Castle.
But before she could say a word, Castle shed her a polite smile, then breezed right past both Bianca and Seth to greet Noreen, who had just walked in.
¡°Miss Gilmore, I¡¯m terribly sorry-I didn¡¯t see your message and had no idea you¡¯d been held up at the door. Were you waiting long? Next time, just give me a call directly,¡± Castle apologized, reaching out to
shake Noreen¡¯s hand.
Noreen looked genuinely embarrassed. ¡°Really, I should be the one apologizing. I have no idea how I managed to lose my invitation. I hope I haven¡¯t caused you too much trouble.¡±
Castleughed it off. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it happens to everyone. My wife is always telling me I¡¯m
scatterbrained.¡±
The warmth between them made Bianca¡¯s smile falter.
So, Noreen really had received a personal invitation from Castle. For more chapters visit findnovel
God knows what kind of charm she¡¯d used to make Castle value her so highly.
With so many guests to attend to, Castle only spoke with Noreen for a moment before moving on, instructing his secretary to make sure Noreen was well looked after.
Noreen, however, found herself a quiet corner and told the secretary not to worry about her-she
could take care of herself.
She was an adult, after all.
Noreen wasn¡¯t familiar with Glenhaven City¡¯s business circle. She hardly knew anyone, so she simply helped herself to some food and kept to the sidelines.
To Bianca, watching from across the room, Noreen looked pitifully out of ce and ignored.
Whereas Bianca, having arrived with Seth-who was on first-name terms with half the room-was surrounded by people eager to greet them.
Aurelion Group had several subsidiaries listed here, so Seth¡¯swork was extensive.
People kepting over to say hello.
20:27
A few of them eyed Bianca curiously. ¡°You two seem close. Is there happy news in the air?¡±
Bianca beamed. ¡°Yes, Seth and I are getting engaged.¡±
¡°Congrattions!¡± came the chorus of well-wishes.
What was supposed to be a simple cocktail party was quickly turning into a press conference, thanks to the two of them.
Noreen set down her ss and slipped away to the restroom.
Atst, a little peace and quiet.
As she was washing her hands, she noticed the woman at the next sink bending over-the back of her dress bore a dark red stain.
Noreen quickly alerted her.
The woman spun around, startled. ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s showing?¡±
¡°Let me see if I can help,¡± Noreen offered, grabbing a pack of wipes and kneeling to dab at the dress.
But the fabric was textured, and the stain had already set into the fibers.
The woman saw as much and told Noreen not to bother-she¡¯d just call her secretary to bring a spare
dress.
No sooner had she taken out her phone than a call came through.
She answered, sounding stressed. ¡°A meeting? Right now? I¡¯ve run into a bit of a situation here-can we push it back?¡±
A pause. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±
Apparently, rescheduling wasn¡¯t an option. She hung up, frowning as she nced at her stained hem.
Noreen thought for a second, then unfastened the silk scarf from her own waist and bent down to tie
it around the woman¡¯s.
She adjusted it carefully, making sure the stain waspletely hidden and the scarf looked elegant.
¡°There-should do for now,¡± Noreen said with a reassuring smile.
The woman¡¯s eyes lit up at Noreen¡¯s quick thinking. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±
¡°Noreen.¡±
The woman paused, as if pleasantly surprised. ¡°You¡¯re Noreen?¡±
20:27
Yes-MAN 339
Noreen was just about to ask, ¡°Do you know me?¡±
Before she could, the woman¡¯s phone rang again. She answered in a rush, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there,¡± barely having time to give Noreen a quick apologetic gesture before hurrying off.
Noreen took a moment to tidy herself up in the restroom. On her way back to the main hall, she unexpectedly bumped into Henry in the corridor.
Of all the people Henry could have run into, Noreen was not the one he¡¯d hoped for. He was clearly looking for Bianca, but luck wasn¡¯t on his side tonight. His expression was icy, his eyes cold.
Noreen didn¡¯t even acknowledge him. She simply brushed past, heading for the hall as if he didn¡¯t exist. But just as they passed each other, Henry couldn¡¯t help himself-his voice dripped with sarcasm. ¡°Copycat.¡±
Noreen had nned to ignore him, but when someone brings the fight to your doorstep, there¡¯s no reason to back down.
¡°Did a stray dog just bark at me?¡± She turned, pinning Henry with a sharp, unflinching stare.
Her words cut, and Henry looked genuinely taken aback by her bluntness.
But he quickly recovered, his tone even colder. ¡°Did I say anything wrong? You¡¯ve been imitating Bianca since day one-her projects, even her style. Pathetic, really. You can mimic the surface, but you¡¯ll never have her education or her aplishments. That¡¯s something you¡¯ll never be able to fake.¡±
¡°So what are you, Bianca¡¯s littlepdog?¡± Noreen retorted, finally understanding why he always seemed to have it out for her.
She tried to recall if they¡¯d ever really interacted before. Other than a few missed meetings when they were supposed to discuss a deal, there wasn¡¯t much history. Yet Henry¡¯s hostility had always been palpable. Now she understood why.
Henry bristled at the insult, the word pdog¡± clearly striking a nerve. ¡°I¡¯m not as pathetic as you think.¡±
¡°Pathetic?¡± Noreenughed, the sound light and mocking. ¡°Funny, I never said you were. Looks like I hit the mark.¡±
Herughter made Henry¡¯s face darken. But Noreen wasn¡¯t done. She gave him a slow once-over, her smile growing wider.
¡°And what about your outfit¡ Why do you look so much like Seth today? Who¡¯s the copycat now, Mr. Brooke?¡± Read full story at Find~Novel
That onended. Henry¡¯s face turned a shade darker. He hadn¡¯t expected Noreen to be so sharp-tongued-she¡¯d turned the tables on him in just a few sentences, leaving him speechless.
Noreen found his silence disappointing. If this was all he had, he wasn¡¯t even worth the effort. Honestly, Jude-useless as he was-was still a better adversary.
20:27
He¡¯s just too young, she thought. The future of the country, sure, but not worth crushing underfoot
She withdrew her gaze, ready to rejoin the party, when her eyes identally met Seth¡¯s across the room. His expression was frosty as ever, but there was the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.
Did I imagine that? she wondered. Before she could be sure, Seth looked away and disappeared down the corridor.
Noreen decided this hallway was nothing but bad luck-full of dogs, everywhere you turned,
Back at the main event, Noreen finally noticed Castle on the stage, giving a speech. Standing beside him was the same woman she¡¯d just encountered in the restroom.
She paused to listen and realized the woman was, in fact, Mrs. Joyner-Castle¡¯s wife. The two made a striking couple; Mrs. Joyner was elegant and poised, perfectly matched to Castle.
As hosts of the evening and heads of Glenhaven City¡¯s most influential family, the Joyners were the center of everyone¡¯s attention.
Mrs. Joyner had just managed to slip away from the crowd and was about to approach Noreen when someone blocked her path.
It was Henry.
¡°Mrs. Joyner, hello, I¡¯m Henry Brooke from Brooke Group. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±
Ever the gracious host, Mrs. Joyner greeted him politely, shaking his hand and exchanging a few pleasantries.
But Henry clearly had more than small talk in mind. ¡°Mrs. Joyner, would you have a moment to discuss the Centribro Technologies acquisition?¡±
Mrs. Joyner immediately understood-Henry was here for business.
She smiled politely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t discuss work at social events.¡±
20:27
Chapter
Yes-MAN 340
Henry knew it wasn¡¯t his ce to insist, so he simply said, ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll visit another time.¡±
With a polite nod, Mrs. Joyner took her leave.
Henry followed her with his eyes, watching as she headed straight for Noreen, her intention clear and unwavering.
Seeing this, Henry¡¯s smile faded bit by bit.
¡°Miss Gilmore, I owe you my thanks,¡± Mrs. Joyner said, taking Noreen¡¯s hand in both of hers. She didn¡¯t bother to hide her appreciation.
¡°It was nothing, really, Mrs. Joyner. Please don¡¯t give it another thought,¡± Noreen replied, squeezing her hand gently. Her brow furrowed with concern. ¡°Your hand is freezing. Are you all right?¡± Content originallyes from Find1Novel
Mrs. Joyner hesitated before replying, ¡°It¡¯s just that time of the month. I always run cold.¡±
Noreen had struggled with the same problem in the past, but after some careful treatment, things had improved.
She feltpelled to help. ¡°I used to get chills, too. After some herbal remedies, it got a lot better. If you¡¯d like, I can write down the recipe for you.¡±
Mrs. Joyner waved it off with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s an old issue-I¡¯ve tried plenty, but nothing¡¯s really worked. I¡¯m used to it by now, but thank you, truly.¡± She was clearly delighted with Noreen.
¡°My husband mentioned you to me before,¡± Mrs. Joyner continued. ¡°He said you were remarkable, and I¡¯ve been curious ever since-what kind of young woman could impress him? Now that I¡¯ve met you, I see he was right. You¡¯re really something special.¡±
Mrs. Joyner was so taken with Noreen that she chatted with her for quite a while, holding her hand as they spoke.
Throughout their conversation, several guests came over to greet Mrs. Joyner and offer toasts.
Remembering Mrs. Joyner¡¯s condition, Noreen took the initiative to shield her from the drinks. At first, Mrs. Joyner protested, but Noreen assured her she could hold her liquor-she¡¯d had plenty of practice covering for others at events-so Mrs. Joyner needn¡¯t worry.
Mrs. Joyner looked at Noreen with even greater fondness.
After several rounds of socializing, Noreen had downed more than a few drinks. She didn¡¯t feel tipsy, but her cheeks were flushed with that telltale post-wine glow.
Feeling sorry for her, Mrs. Joyner asked someone to escort Noreen to the lounge to rest for a while.
Noreen took a breather in the quiet room, freshened up in the restroom, reapplied her makeup, and just as she was about to return, someone knocked at the door.
She assumed it was Mrs. Joyner or someone sent by her, so she went to open it.
To her surprise, it was Seth.
He¡¯d been drinking too-judging by the thick scent of alcohol that hit her as soon as the door swung
20:27
open, he¡¯d had more than a little.
Noreen instinctively frowned, her voice frosty. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong room.
Seth acted like he hadn¡¯t heard a word and walked right past her, unsteady on his feet. He found the nearest couch and flopped down, sprawling out as if he owned the ce.
Because of his alcohol allergy, Seth rarely drank. Whenever he did, Noreen had always been the one to give him his allergy meds, after which he¡¯d promptly fall asleep, never causing a fuss.
Lately, she¡¯d heard he¡¯d been taking desensitization treatments so he could drink with clients on Bianca¡¯s behalf. Apparently, it had worked; he could hold his alcohol now. But the habit of passing out after drinking-clearly, that hadn¡¯t changed.
But what right did he have to sleep in her lounge?
Annoyed, Noreen marched over and gave his cheek a few sharp ps-not gentle ones, either. The sound echoed through the room.
¡°Hey, wake up! Don¡¯t sleep here. Go find your master to walk you,¡± she snapped.
People who let their dogs off-leash had no manners at all.
Seth must have felt the sting, because his brows knit in pain. He reached up and caught Noreen¡¯s wrist in his burning-hot hand.
Startled, Noreen reflexively tried to pull away, but Seth was faster, yanking her down so she tumbled right into hisp.
His embrace was even hotter than his hand, and the sudden heat overwhelmed her.
For a split second, she lost herposure-and in that instant, Seth cupped the back of her head, pulling her in until their lips met. His kiss was searing, his deep voice a whisper against her mouth, thick with longing.
¡°I missed you so much¡¡±
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Yes-MAN 341
The sharp crack of a p rang out in the room.
Noreen pushed herself off the man with a look of utter disgust, her movements anything but gentle,
In her struggle, her knee caught him right where it hurt most.
Seth doubled over with a muffled groan, curling in on himself, pain etched across his face.
Not that Noreen felt the slightest bit guilty.
After all, who told him to get handsy in the first ce?
¡°Are you awake now? Take a good look at me-do you even know who I am?¡± she snapped, grabbing a tissue and wiping her lips furiously. ¡°Can¡¯t even tell your own girlfriend apart? Makes me wonder if you ever really loved Bianca.¡±
She was wearing the same dress as Bianca tonight.
Seth had probably had too much to drink and mistook her for Bianca, pulling her onto the sofa and kissing her like a man possessed.
He¡¯d never lost control like this before, even when he¡¯d been drunk.
It seemed only Bianca could make him act this way.
The more Noreen thought about it, the more offended she became. Still seething, she kicked Seth, who was struggling to sit up on the couch. ¡°You. Out. Now!¡±
¡°If you don¡¯t leave this second, I¡¯m calling the police and reporting you for harassment!¡±
Apparently, the threat worked. Seth, worried she¡¯d make a scene, didn¡¯t argue. He took the two kicks without protest.
As he left, he mumbled an apology. Noreen doubted it was genuine-more likely, he just didn¡¯t want her to blow things up and have Bianca get the wrong idea.
Women were hard to reassure, after all.
Not that she¡¯d ever seen Seth try tofort anyone.
Noreen straightened her dress,posed herself, and finally stepped out of the lounge.
She was in such a hurry, she didn¡¯t notice Henry standing a short distance away.
Henry hade to look for Seth on Bianca¡¯s behalf.
He¡¯d waited all evening for a chance to catch Bianca alone. The moment finally arrived, and he hurried over to speak with her.
They chatted for a while before Bianca realized Seth had been gone far too long. She tried calling him, but he didn¡¯t answer, and worry crept in.
Seeing her anxious, Henry volunteered to go find Seth.
After searching around, he finally spotted Seth slipping out of one of the rooms, leaving in a hurry.
20:27
Heery called Bianca, letting her know he¡¯d seen Seth
Before she could reply, she caught sight of Seth returning to the reception, and her face lit up as she called his name. ¡°Seth over here!
Henry knew he¡¯d lost her attention and quietly ended the call, not wanting to intrude
Feeling dejected, he turned and saw Noreen emerging from the same room Seth had just left.
His expression chilled instantly, brows knitting sharply as his eyes hardened.
A momentter, he let out a scoff of contempt.
As expectedpletely shameless. Find the newest release on find¡¤novel
Brazenly seducing someone else¡¯s fianc¨¦!
So where did Noreen get the nerve to speak to him like she had earlier?
A woman like that wasn¡¯t even worth a second nce.
Still he¡¯d have to find a way to warn Bianca, just in case Noreen tried to pull anything.
When Seth returned to the party, a bright red mark burned on his cheek.
Bianca rushed over, concern written all over her face. ¡°What happened to you?¡±
Seth brushed it off, ming it on too much to drink and bumping into a wall by ident.
Bianca¡¯s worry only deepened. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t drink so much for my sake. I can handle a little myself.¡±
¡°Tm fine,¡± he muttered.
Noreen happened to walk by just then, catching their exchange, and couldn¡¯t help letting out a
derisive snort.
Seth¡¯s gaze immediately flicked over to her, cold and unreadable-a far cry from the man she¡¯d seen in the lounge just minutes before.
What was that look supposed to mean?
Was he warning her?
But by the time she looked again, Seth had already turned away, his expression back to indifferent, as if nothing had happened at all.
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Yes-MAN 342
Turning her head, Bianca spoke softly to the man whose arm she held so fondly, her cool voice taking on a gentle warmth. ¡°You¡¯ve been standing for ages in those heels. Why don¡¯t we find somewhere to sit down?¡±
¡°Sure,¡± she replied.
The two of them left, clinging to each other as if nothing else in the world existed.
Noreen nced down at her own high heels, a faint, wordless smile touching her lips.
She rememberedining to ire about this back in college: high heels-the ultimate torture
device.
Once she entered the workforce, she¡¯d had no choice but to adopt the adult uniform, squeezing her feet into shoes she¡¯d always hated. That first year, her feet never really healed. Her medicine cab overflowed with every kind of blister patch and pain relief strip imaginable.
Sprains, raw skin, bruised toes-those became the new normal. The worst was the time she actually broke a toe but didn¡¯t realize it, thinking the shoes just didn¡¯t fit right. She powered through an entire day, shadowing Seth as he inspected a project site. By the time she finally went to the hospital, the pain was unbearable; the X-ray showed a clean break.
The doctor scolded her for being careless, amazed that she hadn¡¯t noticed a broken toe. ire berated her for not taking care of herself and even snapped at Seth for not showing a shred of sympathy. ire threatened to give Seth a piece of her mind, but Noreen talked her down.
Seth had been juggling two major projects then, practically living out of a suitcase. Noreen couldn¡¯t bring herself to add to his worries, so to this day, Seth still didn¡¯t know she¡¯d once broken a toe in her
heels.
Just like he never knew she¡¯dnded in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer after too many business
dinners.
In this rtionship, she¡¯d always thrown herself in, never asking for anything in return. She truly believed that love was about giving, freely and willingly.
That was how she¡¯d loved Seth.
And in a way, she¡¯d been right. Love is about giving-just not always to you. For Seth, the person he was willing to give everything for was Bianca.
Hoping to be loved is thest illusion anyone holds onto. Let it go, and you finally set yourself free.
Like now-she looked at her shoes and realized, to her own surprise, that they actually looked pretty nice. And, for once, they even feltfortable.
¡°What¡¯s got you smiling like that?¡± Castle had appeared at her side without her noticing. He caught sight of her bright expression and couldn¡¯t help but ask.
¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Finished your work, Mr. Joyner?¡± Noreen replied with a cheerful nod.
¡°Yeah. Do you have a moment? There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to talk to you about.¡± Castle sounded
20:28
earnest.
¡°Of course.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a bit noisy here. Let¡¯s go somewhere quieter.¡±
¡°Alright.¡±
Castle led her upstairs to the lounge, mentioning along the way that he wanted to introduce her to
someone.
As Noreen wondered who this might be, she suddenly misjudged her step and caught her foot on her dress. She lost her bnce and pitched forward.
Castle reacted instantly, catching her before she could fall.
¡°Thank you.¡± Flushed and a bit rattled, Noreen steadied herself.
Once he was sure she was alright, Castle politely let go of her waist. ¡°d you¡¯re okay.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by Find?Novel
¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± he added.
Noreen hurried to keep pace, following Castle into one of the rooms upstairs.
Trailing behind them was Henry. He¡¯de looking for Castle and Mrs. Joyner, but instead stumbled upon the scene of Noreen practically throwing herself into Castle¡¯s arms.
This woman¡ utterly shameless.
First she seduced Seth, and now she was making a move on Castle? She looked so innocent, but clearly she was full of underhanded tricks.
No wonder his mentor kept losing to Noreen in every projectpetition.
20:28
Yes-MAN 343
Because Noreen couldn¡¯t match Bianca in ability, she resorted to underhanded tactics to achieve her goals.
With someone so calcting and maniptive, how could the kind-hearted ire possiblypete with her?
If the timing hadn¡¯t been so delicate, Henry would have marched right over to warn Castle not to fall for Noreen¡¯s tricks.
Suppressing his unease, Henry sought out Mrs. Joyner¡¯s assistant and exined his intentions.
He wanted to speak with Mrs. Joyner about the merger deal.
The assistant apologized, saying Mrs. Joyner was meeting with an important guest and wasn¡¯t
avable at the moment.
¡°That¡¯s alright, I can wait. However long it takes,¡± Henry replied, determined to show his sincerity.
Henry hade to Glenhaven City with a single goal: to secure the acquisition of Centribo and break into the chip industry.
Centribo was a local tech firm specializing in semiconductors.
Mrs. Joyner owned a stake in thepany.
In recent years, Centribo had been struggling against Ascendancy Group, losing market share and posting losses for three consecutive years.
Mrs. Joyner was considering a merger as a way to restructure and find a new direction for Centribo.
This information wasn¡¯t public yet.
Henry had only learned about it through one of his father¡¯s connections.
That was why he wanted to get a head start, to approach Mrs. Joyner before morepetitors entered the fray, and convince her to let Brooke Group join the merger.
He was confident he could turn Centribo around and give Ascendancy Group a run for their money.
And when that happened, he was sure ire would finally look at him differently.
He wasn¡¯t sure why, but that thought suddenly brought to mind one of Noreen¡¯s biting remarks:
¡°Is that what you¡¯re wearing? Trying to be Seth now, Mr. Brooke? Imitation is the sincerest form of ttery, I suppose.¡±
Henry¡¯s expression darkened instantly.
Why was he even thinking about that woman?
Noreen hadn¡¯t expected the person Castle wanted to introduce her to would be his wife.
Castle had barely begun his introduction when Mrs. Joyner smiled and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to
20:28
introduce us. We¡¯ve already met.¡±
¡°Really?¡± Castle slid onto the sofa beside Mrs. Joyner, wrapping an armfortably around her shoulders. ¡°When did that happen? Howe I didn¡¯t know?¡±
¡°This-this is thanks to Noreen,¡± she said, pointing to the silk scarf at her waist. ¡°Miss Gilmore was a huge help to me today.¡± Fresh chapters posted on find?novel
Castleughed. ¡°I thought you were just trying out a new look. I was going to say it suits you.¡±
¡°That just proves Miss Gilmore has excellent taste,¡± Mrs. Joyner said warmly, clearly fond of Noreen.
Seeing the rapport between them, Castle said, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll leave you two to chat-I¡¯ve got some things to take care of.¡±
He left the space to the two women.
Mrs. Joyner didn¡¯t waste time with small talk. She got straight to the point, telling Noreen exactly why
she¡¯d asked her here.
To be honest, Noreen was a little surprised.
They¡¯d only just met that day, and knew next to nothing about each other.
Yet Mrs. Joyner trusted her immediately, making Noreen sit up straighter.
¡°I¡¯m really grateful for your trust, Mrs. Joyner, but I have to admit, I¡¯m not very familiar with the chip industry yet. If possible, could you give me a bit of time to do some due diligence? I¡¯d like to prepare a thorough business proposal for you,¡± Noreen said.
¡°Of course. I¡¯m confident you can do it.¡±
Mrs. Joyner added, ¡°Even though we only met today, I¡¯ve heard about you before. I know you have exactly what it takes to lead Centribo to sess. If I put Centribo in your hands, I won¡¯t have to worry.¡±
Castle must have mentioned her before, Noreen thought.
¡°I¡¯ll do my best not to let either of you down,¡± she promised.
20:28
Yes-MAN 344
They chatted a little longer.
But Noreen noticed how exhausted Mrs. Joyner looked, so she gently steered the conversation to a close and urged her to get some rest.
As Noreen stepped out, she ran into Henry, who had clearly been waiting for quite a while.
Neither of them bothered to hide their disdain; they barely nced at each other, each silently judging and resenting the other.
Yet, as Noreen walked away, her steps were unmistakably lighter.
Henry¡¯s assistant approached with a polite apology, exining that Mrs. Joyner wasn¡¯t feeling well and suggesting they reschedule. But Henry was insistent-he wanted to see Mrs. Joyner right then.
The assistant had no choice but to go back inside and exin the situation.
Two minutester, Henry was finally ushered into the room.
¡°Mr. Brooke,¡± Mrs. Joyner began, her tone formal but not unkind, ¡°I must apologize, but I¡¯ve already made my choice for the Centribo acquisition. There¡¯s no need to take up any more of your time.¡±
Henry froze. He remembered the spring in Noreen¡¯s step as she¡¯d left, and suddenly everything clicked into ce.
His eyes darkened, but he pressed on. ¡°Mrs. Joyner, if I may-your preferred candidate is Noreen, isn¡¯t
it?¡±
Mrs. Joyner didn¡¯t deny it.
Henry let out a short, scornfulugh. ¡°Mrs. Joyner, perhaps you¡¯re unaware, but this Ms. Gilmore is hardlypetent. Her education is nothing to write home about. Are you really nning to hand Centribo over to someone so utterly unremarkable?¡±
His words wereced with obvious prejudice and hostility, making Mrs. Joyner¡¯s brows knit together. ¡°Mr. Brooke, you seem to have some sort of bias against Miss Gilmore. Is there some
misunderstanding between you?¡±
The contempt on Henry¡¯s face only deepened. ¡°No misunderstanding, really. I barely know her, but I¡¯ve heard enough stories to gather that she¡¯s not exactly a person of integrity.¡±
Mrs. Joyner leaned back against her pillows, her gaze cooling. ¡°That¡¯s quite a contradiction, Mr. Brooke. If you admit you barely know her, how can you be so sure of her character?¡±
Henry clearly hadn¡¯t expected Mrs. Joyner to defend Noreen so strongly. Thinking he hadn¡¯t made himself clear, he decided toy his cards on the table.
¡°To be blunt, when I arrived earlier, I saw Noreen in the hallway-in a public area-making advances toward your husband.¡±
¡°Is that so?¡± Mrs. Joyner¡¯s tone remained calm, almost indifferent. ¡°Are you implying that I should be concerned about my rtionship with my husband?¡±
20:28
Henry quickly backtracked. ¡°Of course not.¡±
Everyone in Glenhaven knew that Mr. and Mrs. Joyner, the city¡¯s most prominent couple, had been sweethearts since childhood-their bond was legendary.
Still, his words sounded suspiciously like an attempt to sow discord.
But he had, after all, seen Noreen throw herself at Castle with his own eyes.
Since the conversation had reached this point, Henry suggested Mrs. Joyner check the security cameras to verify his story.
But Mrs. Joyner beat him to it, immediately instructing her assistant to pull the relevant footage.
Her assistant was efficient; in less than ten minutes, the recordings were ready. Checktest chapters at F?nd-Novel
¡°Mr. Brooke, let¡¯s make a wager,¡± Mrs. Joyner said, turning to him instead of reviewing the footage right away. ¡°If it turns out, as you im, that Noreen made advances toward my husband, I¡¯ll let your handle the Centribo deal.¡±
Henry was taken aback.
He didn¡¯t even bother to ask about the other side of the bet-he agreed instantly, certain he was right
about Noreen.
¡°Fine. But if Noreen isn¡¯t as you described, you¡¯ll apologize to her in person,¡± Mrs. Joyner continued, her expression turning icy, her gentle eyes now cold and sharp.
She was, after all, the matriarch of a powerful family-her presence left no room for doubt.
Henry, convinced he¡¯d win, agreed without hesitation. ¡°Deal.¡±
And with that, Mrs. Joyner revealed the truth.
212
20:28
Yes-MAN 345
Until the truth finally came out, Henry had been absolutely convinced that his own judgment was right.
But why did Mrs. Joyner trust Noreen so much?
Most likely, she¡¯d been manipted by Noreen¡¯s subtle machinations.
That woman was even more cunning than he¡¯d imagined.
Yet, when the truth was revealed, Henry could only fall silent.
The security footage was crystal clear: Noreen had tripped over the edge of a rug-her bnce thrown off by the high heels she was wearing-and stumbled forward. Castle, acting out of nothing but courtesy and instinct, caught her to keep her from falling.
As soon as Noreen steadied herself, the two of them immediately separated.
From start to finish, there hadn¡¯t been even a hint of impropriety between them.
Henry¡¯s expression darkened, his lips pressed into a thin, hard line.
Only Mrs. Joyner remainedposed, her face as calm and unbothered as ever.
Now that the truth was out, there was no point in dragging things on. She dismissed him without pretense. ¡°Mr. Brooke, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not feeling well, so I won¡¯t be keeping you any longer. And I do expect you to keep your word-please go and apologize to Miss Gilmore yourself.¡±
Henry¡¯s face was grim, but since he¡¯d already made the promise, he had no choice but to follow through, no matter how much he resented it.
As the evening drew to a close, Noreen was preparing to say goodbye to Mr. Joyner before heading
out.
But someone else beat her to it.
Seth and Bianca were already there.
Bianca had been waiting for hours for a chance to speak with Castle, and finally, she¡¯d found her opening. Though she came to say goodnight, she lingered, clearly hoping for more conversation.
Castle¡¯s attitude toward her hadn¡¯t changed: distant and politely indifferent.
Bianca¡¯s spirits sank. She felt helpless, as if her efforts were futile-an all-too-familiar sensation she¡¯d once experienced with Wade.
Seth gave her a reassuring look, trying tofort her.
Noreen, keeping a close eye on Castle and waiting for her chance to say farewell, couldn¡¯t help but notice the over-the-top, lingering nces Seth and Bianca were exchanging in front of everyone.
To make matters worse, Bianca shot her a deliberately provocative look.
Noreen didn¡¯t bother to hide her annoyance, rolling her eyes in return.
20:28
Chapter 345 ?????? ???? find[?]ovel
¡°It¡¯s a tough world out there-funny what some people are willing to fight over, even the trash,¡± someone muttered nearby.
Noreen was taken aback, almost thinking she¡¯d identally said her own thoughts out loud. But then she realized the words hade from a woman in a mint-green evening gown standing not far
away.
She looked vaguely familiar, but Noreen couldn¡¯t quite ce her.
The woman held a wine ss, eyes fixed pointedly on Seth and Bianca as she spoke. Her meaning was unmistakable.
Bianca frowned. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±
¡°Oh, nothing. Just an idle observation.¡± The woman shed a harmless smile. ¡°Unless, of course, you¡¯re the type to take everything personally, Miss Lowell.¡±
Bianca realized she¡¯d walked right into the woman¡¯s trap and her face soured.
In moments like this, Seth always stepped up to defend her, never allowing anyone to so much as slight her-a perfect, attentive boyfriend.
Funny how this was the same man who¡¯d been cold and indifferent through seven years with someone else. It all depended on who you were.
¡°Miss Quinn, have we ever wronged you?¡± Seth ced himself protectively in front of Bianca, his tone icy as he confronted the woman.
¡°Not at all,¡± Tiana replied smoothly. ¡°I just felt like mouthing off tonight, Mr. Harcourt, no offense.¡±
Her words were calcted-if Seth took issue, it was as if he were admitting to being the ¡°trash¡± in question. If he didn¡¯t, he was silently epting it.
Just then, Noreen finally remembered who Miss Quinn was. A couple of years ago, Seth had been outte with Healy and the others, and when he called her to pick him up, she¡¯d seen this woman there.
20:28
Chapter 346
When she knocked and stepped inside, that woman was already draped across Healy''sp, arms looped around his neck as they kissed,pletely absorbed in each other.
She was probably just one of Healy''s many girlfriends.
Still, it was surprising to see her at an event like this-she had to be someone important.
Bianca seemed to havee to the same conclusion. She tugged Seth''s arm and said, ¡°Let''s just go, Seth. I''m a little tired."
She handled it with remarkable grace. Fresh chapters posted on Find[?]ovel
Seth immediately reined in his temper and led Bianca away.
Only then did Noreen make her way over to greet Castle. As she passed Tiana,
she couldn''t help but nce at her again.
Tiana shot Noreen a mischievous wink.
Noreen hesitated for a moment, just as a man in his fifties with a thickening waistline ambled over.
Tiana slipped up to him and purred, "Honey, there you are! Do you have any idea how dull these parties are? Let''s just go home, I''m exhausted."
He chuckled, indulging her. "All right, all right, whatever you want."
Noreen exchanged a few words with Castle.
Castle lingered for a brief chat, as if he already knew about Mrs. Joyner''s earlier conversation with her, and made it a point to say he believed in her.
Noreen assured him she''d do her best not to disappoint.
As she prepared to leave, someone called her name.
She turned and saw Henry, looking puzzled.
The next second, Henry''s face was icy as he said, "I''m sorry."
He didn''t raise his voice, but several people nearby heard it loud and clear.
For a moment, Noreen thought she must have misheard.
When she realized Henry really was apologizing to her, she frowned,pletely baffled.
What was with him? Had he lost his mind, or was he just seriously unstable?
There seemed to be a lot of people like that these days. Annoying, really.
Noreen ignored him and walked off without a word.
Henry''s expression grew even colder as he watched her go.
He''d gone out of his way to apologize-what more did she want?
By the time Noreen got back to her hotel, it waste. She was just about to
shower and go to bed when someone knocked on her door.
She opened it to find the hotel manager, looking anxious.
"I''m so sorry to bother you thiste, Miss Gilmore," he began. "There was an incident earlier today¡ªsomeone bribed one of our staff to steal from guests. May I ask if you''ve lost anything?"
Noreen was only in town on business, so she didn''t have much with her. It took just a moment to check, and everything seemed to be in ce¡ªexcept for one thing.
She remembered the invitation that had mysteriously vanished and mentioned it to the manager.
"Was it the invitation to Mr. Castle''s g?" he asked, wanting to be sure. "Yes, that''s right."
"Then that exins it! That''s exactly what they were after." He apologized repeatedly and promised they''d get to the bottom of it. He even offered Noreen a gift as an apology.
After seeing the manager out, Noreen shook her head. She never expected to find herself in this kind of situation.
Then again, Castle''s g was pure gold for any businessperson. People would go to any lengths to get in.
After her shower, Noreen was just about to crawl into bed when the night sky outside her window suddenly lit up.
She peered out someone was setting off fireworks.
Her hotel stood right on The Esnade, the liveliest stretch in Harborview City, where fireworks were amon sight.
They were beautiful. Noreen watched for a while, snapped a few photos on her phone, and posted them to her social feed with the caption: "Beautiful view, beautiful mood."
Barely five minutester, her phone rang-Healy was calling.
Noreen stared at the caller ID, puzzled.
What could he possibly want at this hour?
Chapter 347
Noreen didn''t answer the call.
But Healy seemed to have something urgent-he called again almost
immediately.
She picked up this time. "What is it?" she asked.
Healy hesitated for a while, clearly struggling with his words, before finally blurting out, "About those fireworks... Seth set them off to cheer Bianca up."
Noreen was silent for a moment.
Just her luck.
She barely managed a curt "Thanks" before hanging up. Opening her social feed
to delete her earlier post, she noticed someone had already liked it.
She nced at the name: it was "Frost."
As long as it wasn''t someone from Seth''s circle, it was fine. Noreen promptly deleted the post.
A momentter, another message from Healy popped up, asking what time she''d
be flying back to Rivercrest City the next day.
Assuming it was work-rted, Noreen told him her flight details.
She didn''t expect Healy to be waiting at the airport for her the next day.
"Is there something urgent?" she asked, a little confused.
"No, not really."
Healy couldn''te up with an excuse, so he just admitted, "Honestly, I just came to pick you up."
Noreen was at a loss for words.
But Healy was only being thoughtful-she couldn''t just turn him down outright. Besides, their families were working together; it would be rude to refuse. So she went along with it and got into Healy''s car.
As soon as Healy''s car pulled away from the curb, Bianca, in the parking lot, noticed.
She paused mid-step as she was getting into her own car, her expression turning a shade colder.
Seth noticed. "What''s wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," Bianca replied, quickly looking away as if nothing had happened. She climbed into the car as Seth started the engine, but as they drove off, she discreetly texted Yvonne.
She asked if Yvonne had seen Mrs. Naylortely and if she''d mentioned anything about Noreen.
Yvonne replied, "Mrs. Naylor was abroad on vacation for a while-just got back yesterday. I''m meeting her for afternoon tea today."
Bianca messaged back, "Then do it soon."
She was worried-give it too much time, and anything could happen. Especially with Healy; she was afraid he''d fall for Noreen''s tricks.
It was the weekend, and Noreen nned to spend time at home with her mom, Rosalind Gilmore, so she asked Healy to drop her off at her building.
As luck would have it, Rosalind was just taking out the trash when she saw her daughtering home. Her face lit up with delight.
Healy helped Noreen with her luggage, greeting Rosalind warmly, calling her "ma''am" with genuine politeness.
Rosalind couldn''t help but give him a second look.
Once Healy left, Rosalind turned to Noreen. "Who was that young man? Not bad- looking, and so polite, too." Checktest chapters at find(?)ovel
Noreen instantly knew what her mother was thinking and hurried to put a stop to it. "He''s just Seth''s friend."
Rosalind''s face changed in an instant. "Forget it, then! Anyone who hangs around with Seth can''t be any better. Absolutely not."
Noreen nodded in agreement. "My thoughts exactly."
She had barely set foot inside-hadn''t even had a sip of water-when Rosalindunched right into her favorite topic: blind dates. "There''s a young man I want you to meet. He works for the city-government position, steady job."
"Mom!" Noreen groaned.
"Don''t ''Mom'' me. I''ve already set it up. Here''s the address-go meet himter." Noreen sighed.
Should''ve known better than toe home.
She was all but dragged into this blind date.
The man was arrogant from the get-go, making a show of his supposed
superiority. "I''m a civil servant. Work in city nning."
Noreen just nodded. "nning department, got it."
He raised an eyebrow. "You know what that is?"
She smiled. "Yes."
"Really? Howe?" He clearly didn''t expect someone as pretty as Noreen to have any idea.
Noreen took a sip of tea before replying coolly, "We work on some government projects from time to time."
His expression froze for a second, but the arrogance didn''t fade.
Chapter 348
"I hope that after we get married, you''ll quit your job and focus on being a full-time wife at home."
Noreen didn''t get upset; she listened to him patiently. "Anything else?"
"My family wants me to get married this year and have a child next year. After a year off, we''d have a second-ideally, one boy and one girl." Chapters first released on F?ndNovel
"Oh, and after the wedding, we''ll live with my parents. I''m their only child, so if I move out, they''ll be lonely. My mother has stomach issues, so meals have to be carefully prepared and always on time-three meals a day. My father has trouble sleeping; the house can''t be noisy. He doesn''t get up until ten, so breakfast iste, which means we''ll need to make four meals a day."
"If I havete meetings or client dinners, you''ll need to prepare a snack for me when I get home."
Noreen nodded along as he spoke.
The man assumed her silence meant agreement. Emboldened, he looked at Noreen and asked, "And you? Do you have any demands? Just so we''re clear- the wedding fund should be reasonable, and you''ll need to bring it with you."
Noreen replied calmly, "I don''t have any demands. Just one question."
He thought she had epted all his terms and, still smug, prompted her, "Go ahead."
"Are your parents tough? I hit pretty hard-most people can''t handle it."
The man was speechless.
Noreen found the whole thing dull and a waste of time. She raised her hand and signaled for the check.
Before she could leave, the man across from her suddenly stood, straightening as if for inspection. "Director Novak, what a surprise to see you dining here!"
Padgett Novak nodded politely, then turned his gaze to Noreen with a gentle warmth. "Ms. Gilmore, it''s been a while."
"It has," Noreen replied, a bit surprised to run into Padgett Novak here.
The man, noticing their easy rapport, looked at Noreen and asked, "You know Director Novak?"
Noreen opened her mouth to reply, but Padgett Novak beat her to it. "Ms. Gilmore is the project lead for our port expansion."
The man''s expression was a sight to behold.
Padgett Novak ignored him, instead addressing Noreen, "If I recall, you still owe me a meal. No time like the present-what do you say?"
"Of course."
The man immediately jumped in, "After you, Director Novak," hoping to curry favor.
Unfortunately for him, Padgett Novak didn''t give him the chance. He turned to Noreen, "Let''s head to a private room. It''s too noisy here."
Noreen had no objection. She gathered her things, inviting Padgett Novak to follow her.
The man tried to tag along, unwilling to miss such a perfect opportunity to cozy up to a superior.
But Padgett Novak nced back and said coolly, "When I said it''s not convenient, I meant for you. Understood?"
With the man''s face frozen in shock, Padgett Novak caught up with Noreen.
Once inside the private room, barely seated, Padgett Novak got straight to the point. "Blind date?"
Noreen shrugged helplessly. "My mother insists."
Padgett Novak nodded. "I get it."
After all, he was no stranger to the relentless pressure to marry.
The two shared a knowing smilerades in arms.
Padgett Novak took a sip of tea, steadying himself before speaking. "I mentioned before that I''d like to get to know you better. Have you thought about it?"
Noreen was caught off guard, nearly choking on her tea. If nothing else, Padgett Novak was direct-never one for games.
Which, ironically, made it harder to answer him.
Sensing her hesitation, Padgett Novak tried again. "You''re under the same pressure I am. Just think of me as another blind date. Why not give it a shot?"
Chapter 349
Noreen Gilmore had given Padgett Novak''s proposal some serious thought, but in the end, she turned him down-gently, but firmly.
It wasn''t for any particr reason, really. It was just that when it came to love, her heart had long since gone numb.
If she were thirty-well, maybe she''d have considered it. After all, that''s the age when people start weighing their options more carefully.
Or if Padgett Novak were twenty-six or twenty-seven, she might have epted his offer, just to see where things could lead.
But as fate would have it, Padgett was thirty-one, right at the age when everyone starts pressuring you to settle down.
And she had juste out of a seven-year rtionship. Her heart felt like it was encased in ice-she simply wasn''t ready for anything new.
If she said yes, she''d only be wasting Padgett''s time.
In the end, she couldn''te up with a single good reason to string him along.
Padgett, ever the gentleman, took her refusal in stride. Not a hint of resentment crossed his face.
After dinner, as he walked Noreen to her car, he allowed himself to cross the line just a little. "Miss Gilmore, you really should try giving yourself a chance."
Once they parted ways, Padgett got a call from Henry Brooke, inviting him out for a drink.
Padgett hesitated for a moment before replying, "I feel like having a drink tonight." The source of th?s content is FindN()vel
On the other end, Henry sounded surprised. "Something on your mind?"
In Henry''s experience, Padgett had always been the picture ofposure and rationality¡ªwhich was exactly why the family had chosen him for a career in public service. He was built for it.
But this was the first time Padgett had ever suggested grabbing a drink.
When they met up, Padgett nursed several sses in quick session, silent and brooding.
It wasn''t until Henry pressed him repeatedly that Padgett finally admitted, "Got turned down by the girl I like. Not feeling great."
"Who could possibly say no to you?" Henry was genuinely curious.
Padgett had it all-looks, pedigree, impable manners. He''d been chased by girls ever since they were kids.
So Henry really wanted to know who this mysterious woman was, the one who''d had the nerve to turn Padgett down.
But no matter how much Henry pried, Padgett refused to say.
And Henry knew that once Padgett mmed up, there was no point trying to force anything out of him.
"All right, that''s enough. I actually have something serious to discuss with you," Henry said, stopping Padgett after he''d downed his sixth ss.
"What''s up?" Padgett brushed off Henry''s hand and poured himself another.
He knew his limits. He wouldn''t let himself get drunk.
"You''ve been in Rivercrest City for about a year now, right? Ever heard of a guy named Vincent? Used to be the general manager at Ascendancy Group."
"I''ve heard of him, but we''re not exactly close."
"Any chance you could get in touch with him?"
Padgett frowned, thinking it over. "I can try. Why? What are you after?"
Henry didn''t bother hiding his intentions. "A couple days ago I went to Harborview City to meet with Mrs. Joyner wanted to talk about the Centrio acquisition, but she wouldn''t even give me a chance.
guess she thinks Brooke Group doesn''t have what it takes in the tech sector."
"So I figured maybe I could partner with Vincent. He''s got the know-how and the experience, I''ve got the capital. That way I''d have something to bargain with when I go back to Mrs. Joyner."
Padgett nodded. It was a solid n. He promised he''d try to make the connection.
But another name came to mind,
and he mentioned it to Henry. "Have
you thought about bringing Winrich
into this? Noreen''s sharp,
forward thinking and she''s got that InnoCore project up her sleeve. Plus, she''s got all the right connections in the Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce. Working with her would be a win-win."
To his surprise, Henry''s face clouded over at the suggestion. "Let''s leave Noreen out of this."
He had no patience for women who, in his mind, schemed their way to the top by cozying up to men.
People like that had no ce as his business partners.
Even though Mrs. Joyner herself had cleared Noreen''s name in a video call,
Henry still harbored a deep-seated prejudice.
Maybe Castle Joyner, with his rigid sense of integrity, hadn''t fallen for her tricks.
But what about Seth Harcourt?
He''d seen it with his own eyes.
Chapter 350
Padgett Novak knew Henry all too well-once he set his mind to something, there was no talking him out of it. There was no point in arguing, so Padgett let it go.
After the dinner party wrapped up, Henry said his goodbyes and made his way to Halley Joyner''s house.
Halley was in the thick of drafting questions for the uing National Computer Olympiad. When Henry arrived, she barely looked up, scribbling a problem on a notepad and sliding it over to him. "Try this one."
It took Henry fifteen minutes to finish.
Halley didn''t bother to hide her disappointment. "That''s all it took for you to get through such a simple question?"
Henry knew better than to protest at times like these. He epted her criticism in silence, head slightly bowed.
"Did you know," Halley continued, her voice tinged with regret, "someone solved this exact question in three minutes, years ago? She was only fourteen. Such a prodigy... It''s a real shame."
Henry spoke up, but quietly. "Are you talking about my senior? The one you never let anyone mention?"
As always, just bringing her up seemed to flip a switch in Halley. She reached for her wooden ruler and tapped Henry lightly on the head. "Did I give you permission to speak?"
That was answer enough. Henry''s suspicions were confirmed.
His brilliant senior had to be Bianca Lowell. No doubt about it.
He wondered when-if ever-they''d meet. He found himself hoping that day woulde soon.
...
After parting ways with Padgett Novak, Noreen took a detour to a famous dessert shop. She didn''t have much choice her blind date had flopped, and she knew Mrs. Rosalind Gilmore would be waiting at home, ready to lecture her about it.
So Noreen decided to pick up some pastries to sweeten her mother''s mood. After all, good food always helped soften a scolding.
The shop was wildly popr, with a line nearly out the door. Noreen grabbed a number and found a quiet seat in the corner to wait, pulling out her phone to catch up on work. She was so focused she didn''t notice When her name came up at the next table.
Yvonne Laurent had invited Mrs. Naylor out for afternoon tea at the same dessert shop, but hadn''t thought to make a reservation. So the two of them settled for a table in the main hall.
Mrs. Naylor didn''t seem to mind. In fact, she was rather pleased, iming the spot gave her a good vantage point to observe the ce''s business.
Yvonne asked about it, and Mrs. Naylor exined she''d invested in the shop.
Yvonne offered a gentlepliment. "You really have a great eye for business, Mrs. Naylor."
"Oh, it was just a lucky break," Mrs. Naylor said, smiling. "I''ve put money into beauty salons and gyms before, and lost out every time. This dessert ce is the only thing that''s actually done well-my husband even praised me for it."
She enjoyed dabbling in small investments, more as a hobby than anything else. Fortunately, the Naylor family''s wealth meant a few failed ventures didn''t matter, and her husband Chase Naylor was happy to indulge her interests.
Yvonne didn''t have much interest in business, so after a few sips of fruit tea, she moved on to the real reason for their meeting. "By the way, Mis Naylor heard Mr. Naylor''s been spending time with a new womantely. Have you or your husband heard anything about it?"
"Oh, him?" Mrs. Naylor waved a hand dismissively. "He changes girlfriends like
most people change shirts. I don''t even bother keeping track anymore."
"Then you probably haven''t heard who she is, have you?"
"No idea."
"Well, she doesn''t have the best reputation. I really think you should let Mr. Naylor
know he can have his fun, but he shouldn''t take her too seriously."
Mrs. Naylor just shrugged. "Honestly, I wish he would. He''s getting older I had him at his age already."
"Even so, you should care about what kind of person she is, right? With your family''s standing, you could easily find someone from the right background." Yvonne pressed on, lowering her voices the main issue is, this woman''s character is questionable." ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find{n}ovel
Chapter 351
Mrs. Naylor let out a disgruntled sigh. "Look at the women he''s found so far¡ªI haven''t liked a single one."
Yvonne suppressed a smirk. ¡°Honestly, Mr. Naylor could use better taste. That woman is a real piece of work! I just thought you should know, Mrs. Naylor."
Mrs. Naylor, intrigued by Yvonne''s certainty, finally asked, "So who exactly is this woman you''re talking about?"
Just then, Noreen''s name was called at the counter. She got up to collect her pastries.
Meanwhile, Yvonne leaned in and whispered Noreen''s name.
Mrs. Naylor frowned, thinking. "Why does that name sound so familiar?"
Yvonne was about to borate, but Mrs. Naylor suddenly interrupted, "Wait a moment I need to call Naylor to confirm something."
Without another word, she dialed Chase''s number.
As soon as he picked up, Mrs. Naylor pressed urgently, "Naylor, what was the name of that girl you mentioned to mest time? Was herst name Grant?"
Chase supplied the name.
Mrs. Naylor pped her knee. "Noreen, right? That''s it, isn''t it?"
"Perfect! Call that boy right now and tell him toe home for a proper talk."
Yvonne listened, thinking Mrs. Naylor was eager to stop Healy Naylor in his tracks. She couldn''t help but smile triumphantly.
Clearly, the couple already knew who Noreen was. No wonder Mrs. Naylor had reacted so strongly as soon as she heard the name. All of Yvonne''s worrying had been for nothing.
Mrs. Naylor really was in a hurry. After hanging up, she quickly said goodbye to Yvonne, mumbling something about urgent business at home.
"No worries at all, you go ahead! Some things just can''t wait, you know how quickly rumors can spread," Yvonne replied, seeing her out with a sympathetic pat on the arm.
Once Mrs. Naylor had left, Yvonne called Bianca to fill her in.
Hearing that Mrs. Naylor didn''t care for Noreen, Bianca finally felt a little relieved. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find_Novel(.
Yvonne reassured her, "Honestly,
you shouldn''t worry so much. With Noreen''s background, there''s no way she''d ever impress the Naylor family. The only thing she''s got going for her is her looks, and that only get her so far with Healy. She''s not worth our attention."
Bianca realized she''d been overthinking things. Sheughed and agreed.
Neither of them knew that Mrs. Naylor''s real reason for rushing home was to hear the truth from Healy himself.
Healy had been summoned home by a series of urgent calls from his parents.
They hadn''t told him what was wrong, so he''d rushed back, half-expecting some kind of family crisis.
Instead, as soon as he walked
through the door, Mrs. Naylor came
hurrying over, peppering him with
questions. So I hear you''ve been
spending a lot of time with Noreentely? Are you seeing her?
Healy blinked in surprise. "How did you find out?"
Had he really been that obvious?
"Trying to keep secrets from us, are you?" Mrs. Naylor gave him a yful kick.
"So, how''s it going? How far have you gotten?"
"I''ve met her parents."
Chase nearly leapt off the sofa. "Already?"
Healy scratched his head. "It wasn''t what you think. I just dropped her off at home and happened to meet them. It wasn''t anything official."
Chase looked deted. "That''s what you call ''meeting the parents''? That''s barely even an introduction!"
Even Mrs. Naylor sounded exasperated. "Are you serious? If you want to win a girl''s heart, you have to act fast, you know!"
Healy shrugged. "I get that, but... don''t you two care about her past?"
He hesitated, then decided toe clean about Noreen''s history with Seth¡ªthat they''d dated for seven years.
Mrs. Naylor''s expression darkened.
"That Seth Harcourt is a real piece of
work, isn''t he? Seven years! How many seven years does a woman
get in her life if your father ev treated me like that, I''d make sure he never had children again!"
Chase coughed awkwardly.
Healy had always thought his mother was a force of nature.
But he still had his doubts. "Aren''t you worried she''s not right for me? I mean, our
families are nothing alike, and her romantic history isn''t exactly spotless."
Chapter 352
Mrs. Naylor let out augh equal parts amused and exasperated. "Look at you, acting all high and mighty-aren''t you just a bad apple yourself? And you have the nerve to judge someone else? She only had one rtionship, and it''s not like she''s got a criminal record or anything!"
"And itsted seven years! That tells me she''s loyal andmitted. Now, you- can you even count your exes on both hands?"
"Honestly, rotten apple!"
She shook her head dramatically. "How did you not inherit any of your father''s and my loyalty? Were you swapped at birth?"
Healy quickly jumped in, seeing his mother get more and more carried away. "It''s not even official yet. You guys are getting way ahead of yourselves."
"Then you''d better get a move on," Chase chimed in. "I like this girl-she''s smart, ambitious, and she''s got a good head on her shoulders. That''s exactly what you need, someone to bnce you out."
Healy fell silent.
Was that a roundabout way of saying he was clueless?
For Chase,petence mattered more than anything.
Family background? That was nothing. Marry some spoiled heiress with no brains, and she''d manage to ruin the family fortune in no time.
Chase had learned that lesson from watching Wade Harcourt.
"I want to meet her too," Mrs. Naylor insisted, refusing to be left out. "Why am I the only one in this house who hasn''t?"
Healy said, "Actually, there''s an opportunitying up."
...
The opportunity Healy meant was theunch event for Naylor Automotive Group''s
new car.
As a business partner, Noreen was naturally on the guest list.
The moment she arrived at the venue, Healy came over to greet her and personally led her to her seat.
Bianca walked in just a moment after Noreen, but Healy didn''t even notice her.
A faint, mocking smile flickered across Bianca''s lips.
Ever since Healy started getting involved with Noreen, he''d only grown colder towards her. She had no doubt Noreen had been stirring the pot behind the
scenes.
Plotting hard, aren''t you?
Did Noreen really think she could just waltz into the Naylor family this way? Keep dreaming.
No way Mr. and Mrs. Naylor would ever ept her. Pure wishful thinking.
Jude Wilder and Seth arrived just then.
Jude nced around. "Bianca, why''d youe in by yourself? Didn''t want to wait for us?"
Bianca replied, "Seth said it was windy today and told me to head inside first."
Jude smirked, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Let''s go say hi to Healy," Seth suggested.
So they all headed over.
Healy had already settled Noreen and came over as the group
approached. won''t fuss over ne
guys just make yourselves at home." The rightful source is FindN0vel
Jude grinned. "No need to be formal with your buddies."
They barely got out a few words when Mrs. Naylor came bustling over, practically
out of breath. "Healy, where''s Noreen?"
Bianca''s eyebrows arched.
Mrs. Naylor was in such a rush this ought to be interesting.
Maybe she''d even kick Noreen out of the event right in front of everyone.
Well, probably not. The twopanies were partners, after all; she''d at least keep up appearances.
But she certainly wouldn''t be friendly.
"Mom, you''re going to scare her if you charge in like that," Healy murmured, trying to rein her in.
Mrs. Naylor tried to ster on a warm, weing smile. ¡°Like this? Do I look friendly enough?"
"...Even scarier."
Mrs. Naylor nearly rolled her eyes. "Move aside. I''ll go introduce myself."
Noreen was flipping through the
event brochure when a well-dressed, pleasantly plump woman
approached her with a bright smile. "Miss Gilmore?"
¡°Hello,¡± Noreen replied, standing up politely to shake her hand, though she had no idea who the woman was.
"Wonderful, wonderful," Mrs. Naylor gushed, her eyes never leaving Noreen for a second. "You''re even prettier than I expected."
Jude watched the scene,pletely
puzzled. "What''s with Mrs. Naylor? Why does it look like she''s sizing up a future daughter inw? CO
Chapter 353
Seth listened with a detached air, his expression t and uninterested.
Not surprising.
He''d never really cared about Noreen to begin with.
Now that Bianca was in the picture, whatever little attention he''d once spared for Noreen had vanishedpletely-she was barely even a blip on his radar these days.
Funny thing is, even though the two of them had crossed paths plenty of times since their split, neither ever seemed the least bit ruffled. Each encounter passed with a cool, almost indifferent politeness, as if they wereplete strangers, their seven years together nothing but a footnote.
Seth''s indifference made sense to Jude. He''d always treated Noreen with a certain distance-even when they were together, it never seemed like she mattered much to him. So it stood to reason that, after they broke up, he''d feel nothing at all.
But what Jude couldn''t wrap his head around was Noreen.
How did she manage to stay so calm? Not once had she made a scene or lost herposure.
Bianca, meanwhile, had assumed Mrs. Naylor would only greet Noreen out of professional courtesy-a quick hello for the sake of politeness, since Noreen was a business partner. Bianca had even nned to mention her own mother when Mrs. Naylor came over, just to make a connection, maybe remind Mrs. Naylor that she and her mother, Yvonne, were always on good terms. Mrs. Naylor tended to look out for her, and Bianca figured a little reminder wouldn''t hurt.
She''d also meant to find a chance to warn Mrs. Naylor about Noreen just a subtle nudge, so Mrs. Naylor would keep her son, Healy, far away from her. That way, the idea of Healy and Noreen ever bing a thing would be nipped in the bud.
But things didn''t go as Bianca expected. Instead of a polite greeting and moving on, Mrs. Naylor sat right down next to Noreen, never letting go of her hand, her fondness in for all to see.
Just as Jude had joked-it really did look like a future mother-inw meeting her potential daughter-inw for the first time. And Mrs. Naylor seemed absolutely delighted.
The realization hit Bianca hard, her face darkening in an instant.
Jude leaned over and whispered to Healy, "What''s going on with your mom?"
Healy gave a helpless little shrug, but his voice was tinged with obvious affection. "She really likes Noreen. Wants to get to know her better, so things will be easierter on."
Jude frowned. "Easier for what?"
Healy chuckled quietly, clearly in high spirits. "So they''ll get along in the future, of course."
Before Jude could ask anything else, more important guests arrived and Healy moved off to greet them, leaving Jude blinking in confusion.
Bianca had overheard every word. Her expression only soured further.
Only Seth seemed to pick up on her change in mood. He gave her a concerned look. "Are you feeling alright?"
Bianca forced a smile. "I''m fine. Let''s go back to our seats." ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find(?)ovel
Thest thing she wanted was to see Noreen.
The press conference was a resounding sess, especially with InnoCore joining forces with Naylor Automotive Their new self driving car was a runaway hit, instantly vaulting Naylor Automotive Group to the front of the pack.
Thepany''s stock skyrocketed, hitting the daily limit not once but eighteen
times in a single day. It was absolutely unprecedented.
The event wasn''t even over before people started lining up to discuss future coborations with Noreen. Mrs.
even took it upon herself
to introduce her around.
Healy, caught up in the celebration, invited family and friends to avish party that evening.
Of course, Noreen was on the guest
list. Not that Healy needed to say
up
it-Mrs. Naylor had already made her mind that Noreen would be there. She was absolutely smitten With the girl: beautiful, smart sharp-eyed, and always poised. The more time she spent with Noreen, the more she liked her-so much so, she was starting to think her own son might not be good enough.
The celebration was held at the grandest hotel in Rivercrest City, every detail extravagant.
Originally, Noreen was supposed to sit with the business partners, but Mrs. Naylor insisted she be moved to her own table, right by her side.
The move didn''t go unnoticed. Soon, everyone was specting about who Noreen really was.
Chapter 354
Anyone with half a brain could see what was really going on.
Mrs. Naylor, clearly, had taken a shine to Noreen.
When Healy arrived and noticed the two empty seats beside Jude, he asked, "Where are Seth and Bianca?"
"Bianca wasn''t feeling well, so Seth took her home to rest. He asked me to let you know," Jude replied, sounding like their personal spokesperson.
Healy just nodded and let it go.
But Hugh Summers, who sat nearby, couldn''t resist chiming in. ¡°Mr. Harcourt really treats Director Lowell like she''s the apple of his eye. I swear, if he could, he''d keep her on a short leash."
Everyone around the tableughed at that. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? fin?novel
Healy joined in. "Yeah, those two have always been close. Aren''t they about to get engaged?"
He paused, then turned to Jude. "By the way, how much longer until the engagement?"
Jude said, "A month."
Healy blinked. "That''s quite a while."
"It''s actually pretty fast," Jude replied. "With Seth''s status, the engagement process is usuallyplicated. He''s already cut out a bunch of unnecessary steps just to make it official for Bianca as soon as possible."
Still, Healy grumbled, "I don''t know. Feels like it''s taking forever."
Honestly, he wished they''d just get engaged tomorrow.
Jude looked at him, puzzled. "Why are you more anxious than Seth?"
Healy just dodged the question.
Across the room, Mrs. Naylor waved him over, her tone affectionate. "Healy,e sit here."
She''d saved him a seat, right next to Noreen-clearly hoping they''d have a chance to get closer.
Hugh Summers noticed and leaned in to share some gossip with Jude. "I''m telling you, Mrs. Naylor has her sights set on Noreen. I heard from some folks at the business association that the first time Mr. Naylor met Noreen, he immediately asked if she was single-wanted to introduce her to his son, Mr. Healy. I thought it was just a rumor, but looks like it''s true!"
Jude nearly dropped his fork in shock.
Seriously? Why had he never heard about this from Healy? The guy was way more secretive than he''d realized.
This gossip was too good to keep to himself-he had to tell the rest of the guys.
Jude texted Hugh''s exact words to their group chat, tagging Healy and demanding an exnation.
But Healy was busy trying to get to know Noreen better, so he didn''t even notice the message.
The group chat stayed dead silent-no one replied.
Jude figured everyone must be busy and, feeling a little deted, put away his phone and focused on dinner.
What he didn''t know was that Bianca had seen every word.
Her expression was grim, and even when she got home, she couldn''t shake it off.
Yvonne was painting her nails and
looked up with a wicked little griet
when Bianca walked in. "Let me guess-Mrs Naylor wasn''t
friendly to Noreep tonight?
Bianca''s face was stormy. "Don''t even start."
"What happened?" Yvonne could tell something was wrong, so she set down her nail polish and frowned. "Seriously, what''s going on?
Biancaunched into the whole story.
Yvonne listened, eyes wide in
disbelief. "No way. Does Mrs. Naylor not know about Noreen''s.
dor about her vel
with Seth?"
"She probably does."
It wasn''t exactly a secret-if Mrs. Naylor cared enough to look, it wouldn''t be hard to find out.
Yvonne was even more baffled. "If she knows, why would she still approve?"
That was exactly what Bianca couldn''t wrap her head around.
She just didn''t get what Healy¡ªor the whole Naylor family-saw in Noreen.
Chapter 355
Yvonne mmed the bottle of nail polish down in frustration. "The whole Naylor family must be out of their minds!"
Bianca, her mood soured, didn''t linger. She cut the conversation short and headed back to her room. After a shower, she thought about messaging Seth, but noticed a message from Lillian Laurent instead.
Lillian was asking if she''d managed to track down those two friends after returning home.
Bianca froze. How could she have forgotten about that?
She''d actually asked someone to look into Lillian''s two friends that very night, but only managed to find one of them.
The next day, she arranged to meet with the person.
He was cagey at first, dodging questions and refusing to give her a straight answer. Only after Bianca turned up the heat-making it clear she wouldn''t leave without the truth-did he finally crack.
"Honestly, we messed up that night," he admitted.
Bianca''s expression hardened. "What do you mean?"
He exined, "We used that sedative, just like we nned, but before we got the woman back to the room, someone caught us. A man-he seemed to know her. He just took her right out of our hands."
"You know who he was?" Bianca pressed immediately.
"Didn''t at the time," he said. "But yesterday, I saw him on the news."
He fumbled for his phone and pulled up a news article, showing her the picture. "That''s him! That''s the guy who took the woman from us!" This update is avable on F¦Énd£Îovel
Bianca stared at the photo. When she realized who it was, her face drained of color.
No wonder. Suddenly, the things that had been bothering her all clicked into ce.
She left the caf¨¦ with a stormy expression and messaged Lillian: "That night, it was Healy who took Noreen away."
That answer was hard for Lillian to swallow.
"Why? Why did it have to be Healy?" she wrote back, her disbelief in.
She''d spent so much effort trying to get close to Healy, only to be kept at arm''s length every time. And Noreen¡ªshe just happened to be in the right ce at the right time, and Healy came to her rescue.
Bianca wanted to know the answer, too.
But Lillian was fixated on something else. "Cousin, do you think Healy is the one leaking all those scandals about me?"
Bianca had no real answer for her.
"But why? Why does he want to ruin me?" Lillian was at a loss.
She couldn''t think of anything she''d done to offend Healy-nothing that would make him want to destroy her.
"Maybe it''s because of Noreen?" Bianca offered, the only reason she could imagine.
But was Healy really that concerned about Noreen?
After the Naylor Automotive Group''s new carunch, Noreen''s days were a whirlwind of work. Even so, she made time for one thing every day: reaching out to Vincent.
Every route Henry could imagine, Noreen had already considered. In fact, ever since she learned Vincent had left Ascendancy Group, she''d been trying to make contact.
She''d tried messaging him directly,
but got no response. She''d gone through mutual acquaintances, people who might have a
connection but it was no use Every
possible lead was a dead end.
Finally, only one option remained: Seth.
That''s the way business
goes-sooner orter, you always need a favor from someone. There are no permanent friends or
enemies, only galliances
based on mutual benefit. Even if you can''t stand someone, sometimes you have to swallow your pride for the sake of the bottom line.
So Noreen unblocked Seth''s number on WhatsApp, where she''d banished him months ago, and sent a simple smiley face.
She fully expected him to block her in return-after all, she''d iced him out for half
a year. He''d be justified.
But the dreaded red exmation mark never appeared. The message went through without a hitch.
Chapter 356
Noreen was genuinely puzzled.
He hadn''t blocked her?
What was going on?
Before she could figure it out, Seth''s message popped up: "What do you want?"
He replied so quickly that it actually threw her off for a second.
But Noreen quickly recovered and typed back, "I need a favor, Mr. Harcourt."
Seth replied, "You know my rules. If you want something from me, you have to trade for it. I''m not running a charity."
In her mind, Noreen had already torn Seth to shreds a thousand times before she texted back, "Name your price."
If he so much as dared ask for something inappropriate, she''d screenshot the conversation and send it straight to Bianca.
"Noreen, I want cake."
That was his request?
Seriously?
It was so bizarre, she almostughed.
As if he was certain she''d agree, Seth sent another message: "It has to be homemade this time. Don''t try to fool me likest time with something store- bought."
Noreen: "..."
He could actually taste the difference?
Looks like she couldn''t get away with her old trick this time.
She asked Seth for the address, promising to bring it over when it was ready.
He sent her the location.
Noreen nced at it-it was the same hotel asst time, even the room number hadn''t changed.
Probably trying to keep Bianca from finding out and getting jealous. That''s why he insisted on meeting at a hotel.
Noreen whipped up a simple cake. He''d only asked her to make one, not to create a masterpiece. As long as it looked like a cake, it would do. Discover more novels at find{n}ovel
She went over after work. Seth, meanwhile, was already waiting at the hotel.
She''d barely knocked before the door swung open.
Seth had just showered and was only wearing a bathrobe. The cor hung loosely, giving a teasing glimpse of his chest.
Noreen looked away, expression cool, and handed him the cake.
Seth didn''t take it, his tone yful. "I need to check first. Make sure you didn''t try to cheat me."
He was really milking this.
Seeing the wary look on her face, he let out a low chuckle, "What are you so nervous about? I''m not going to
ear
With that, he ignored her and walked back into the room, grabbing a towel to dry his hair.
Noreen didn''t bother arguing. She stepped inside and set the cake on the dining table.
Seth, towel in hand, asked casually, "You''re here for Vincent''s contact info, right?" Noreen wasn''t surprised he''d guessed her motive. She admitted, "Yes."
"You think you can convince him?"
"I have to try."
Seth smirked. "Well, you''ve always been good at winning people over. I''m sure he won''t be able to resist you."
Noreen had no patience for his banter.
The deal was done. Nothing more to say.
"Then if you could give me Mr. Vincent''s contact information, M Harcourt, I''d appreciate it." Hertone was all business, making clear she had no intention of getting further involved.
Seth''s eyes-dark and unreadable in the bright room-lingered on her for a long moment.
Finally, he said, "Noreen, you''re really cold."
Noreen: "???"
How could he say that with a straight face?
Before she could retort, he murmured, "No, this is good. Keep it up."
Noreen found herself unable¡ªand unwilling to figure this man out.
Seth took a pen and notepad, scribbled down Vincent''s number, and handed it to her.
She offered a curt thank you and turned to go.
Seth opened the cake box, broke off a piece with his hand, and popped it into his mouth.
He tasted it, and his expression softened, some tension fading from his features.
Just as Noreen reached the door,
Seth called out in azy tone,
"No getting engaged Aren''t
you going to congratte me?
Chapter 357
In that moment, a thousand words crowded Noreen''s mind.
She could have wished them lifelong happiness, together until old age. Or, if she''d let her bitterness speak, she might have offered a more sarcastic blessing-may the two of you be chained together forever, so you can''t go out and ruin anyone else''s life.
But in the end, she said nothing at all.
Whether it was a heartfelt blessing or a curse, neither felt right not after everything she''d once given, all the sincerity she''d poured into them. Silence, she decided, was the only answer worthy of her past self.
After she left, Seth quietly ate his cake. He managed about half of it before murmuring, "Guess this cake will have to count as your blessing."
He couldn''t bring himself to throw away what was left. Instead, he tidied up, tucked the rest into the fridge, and only then pulled out his phone to make a call. "She should reach out to you in the next couple of days," he said, his voice low.
Her brief encounter with Seth left Noreen''s heart a little unsettled-but the feeling faded quickly. The moment she stepped out of the hotel, the cold wind swept it all away.
There''d been a time when she''d survived the long, hard years on nothing but sheer willpower. Later, she relied on the skills she''d honed during those difficult days to keep moving forward.
Life was just too long, and she had better things ahead of her.
That very evening, Noreen reached out to Vincent.
By the next morning, she was on a flight to his hometown.
Vincent hadn''t expected her to arrive so soon; her sudden appearance took him
by surprise. She''d even brought him breakfast. As she handed it over, Vincent noticed she deliberately offered it to his left side.
He shot her a quizzical look.
"I noticed you''re left-handed," Noreen exined with a smile.
"Miss Gilmore, you really don''t miss a thing," Vincent said, genuinely impressed by her attention to detail.
In today''s restless world, that sort of thoughtfulness was rare. And Noreen wasn''t just observant; she was hardworking and thoroughly professional Vincent had seen it firsthand when they''d worked together before. Even back then, he''d thought she was overqualified to be just a secretary.
Later, when he heard she''d started her own projects, he knew she''d make it-her promotion was only a matter of time.
Who could have guessed things would take such a turn? Sometimes, it was just a matter of bad luck.
But she had bounced back. Not only had she pulled off the InnoCore project-the crown jewel of her career-but she''d even managed to snatch the Port Redevelopment Project right out from under Seth and the Aurelion Group.
Her startup, Winrich, barely a year old, had be a rising star in the industry- full of promise and potential.
So when Noreen suggested they partner up, Vincent was intrigued. And she wasn''ting to him on a whim, either; she''d clearly done her homework. Her business proposal made that obvious.
Noreen was a master at capitalizing on opportunities and streamlining operations, and her skills at building corporate structures were second to none.
Vincent, already tempted, waspletely won over after reading her proposal.
He promised Noreen that as soon as he wrapped up his family matters, he''d head straight back to Rivercrest City to meet her.
With things settled, Noreen finally breathed easy.
After saying goodbye to Vincent, she rang up ire Chase. "Hey, sweetheart, I''ve got half a day free-thought I''de see you."
ire was shooting a movie in Northcrest, just a short trip away. She was thrilled at the prospect of a visit and promised, with great ceremony, to give Noreen a surprise.
Noreen pressed her for details, but ire only yed coy, keeping the whole thing a mystery.
It wasn''t until Noreen arrived that she discovered what ire''s "surprise" actually
was.
The nightclub was pulsing with deafening music; bodies writhed energetically on the dance floor. Noreen stumped into a booti rubbing her temples. "Honestly, we''d be better off back at the hotel, splitting a bottle of wine and snacking on something simple."
ire shook her head, utterly unconvinced. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on fin?novel
"You keep saying you''ve moved on, but the truth is, you spent thest seven years living for Seth. He didn''t appreciate you, and now your heart''s empty you''ve lost your spark re dered. Im helping you get your spirit back, don''t you get it?"
They didn''t see each other often, but ire always made a point to check in on Noreen''s love life. Lately, she''d heard that Noreen had turned down several outstanding men, and she was genuinely worried about her friend.
Chapter 358
He called the waiter over and asked him to bring over two of their best entertainers.
They had both types-one with a bold, wolfish charm, and another with a softer, puppy-like sweetness.
Noreen, for her part, couldn''t have been less interested. The puppyish guy sitting next to her kept trying to make conversation, but she only responded now and then, just to be polite. Content originallyes from find(?)ovel
On the other hand, ire was in her element. She worked the room like a pro, her flirtation pitch-perfect at every turn.
"Myst boyfriend broke my heart so badly, I''m honestly scared to date," she confided, her voice soft and vulnerable.
"It''s been ages since I''ve had a crush-this is the first time I''ve felt butterflies in years."
"I get so nervous talking to you. Wow, are these real muscles? Impressive!"
"Your hands are so big, and your Adam''s apple moves when you talk... can I touch it?"
"I have such a low tolerance for alcohol, I''m warning you."
"Would you mind leaning down to talk? The music''s so loud, I can barely hear you."
The guy beside her was absolutely hooked, his smile growing wider with every exchange.
ire even nudged the puppyish guy next to Noreen, whispering, "What are you waiting for? Go ahead and charm her!"
The puppy-dog type caught on quick. "Come on, have a drink with me," he said, raising his ss to Noreen.
Figuring the guy was just trying to earn his living, Noreen yed along and clinked her ss with his.
But the puppy-dog didn''t stop there-he
on doing a traditional interlocked arm toast.
his arm through hers, and insisted
Upstairs, Henry was at the club to celebrate a friend''s birthday.
The private lounge was packed, everyoneughing and chatting over drinks. At one point, a woman tried to hit on him, but Henry brushed her off without the slightest courtesy.
"Don''t bother," one of his friends joked. "He''s got someone on his mind- practically takes a vow of chastity for her."
The woman looked disappointed. With Henry''s credentials,nding him would mean financial security for life.
Finding the noise overwhelming, Henry slipped out onto the balcony for some air. He leaned against the second-floor railing, swirling his drink as the amber liquid caught the light.
Through the rim of his ss, he glimpsed a familiar figure downstairs.
He lowered his ss and focused on one of the booths below. After a moment, a sneer curled his lips.
Noreen. That woman was as shameless as ever.
He turned away, disgusted. Even another nce felt like too much.
ire, meanwhile, knew how to have her fun, but she always kept things within reason. Seeing that Noreen really wasn''t into the scene, ire shooed away both guys.
"You know, I''ve realized something. It''s not just that you''ve lost your spark-you''re practically allergic to men now."
"And that''s the real problem!"
The more ire thought about it, the
more annoyed she got. She
regretted not throwing her drink in one time. No, she
Seth''s face that one time No
should have smashed the bottle
over his head instead!
But Noreen didn''t see anything wrong with her current attitude.
How did that saying go again?
Without love, you break free from the game.
Without attachment, you master the whole board.
Now, she only cared about three things: her money, her health, and her inner peace.
She genuinely liked the person she''d be.
When the night was finally over and they stepped outside, Noreen pulled out her phone to call a cab.
Suddenly, Padgett Novak''s name shed on the screen.
Their interactions had always been strictly professional, so Noreen assumed he was calling about work.
She answered without hesitation.
Padgett''s voice came through the line. "Are you at Northcrest?"
"I am," she replied.
"Where exactly?"
From the sound of his voice, he was probably somewhere nearby. Noreen exined she''d just been out for drinks with a friend.
"When are you heading out?"
"It just ended, actually. I''m about to get a cab back to my hotel."
She was about to ask if something was wrong-why else would he call her so
"It''s not safe to get a cab thiste. I have my car here. If you don''t mind, send me your location and. I''lle pick you up."
Noreen thought he was being a little too eager and was about to turn him down, but ire grabbed her hand and spoke into the phone, "We''re at 98 Lumen Street." fo
"Got it. Wait for me," Padgett said, then hung up.
Noreen shot ire a look of exasperation.
ire waggled her eyebrows and grinned. "He''s interested in you! Don''t shut him
down every time-give the guy a chance."
Chapter 359
Padgett Novak had barely hung up when Henry''s name shed across his phone.
He answered the call while steering down the busy street.
"Where are you?" Henry asked.
"Something came upst minute. I won''t make it. You all go ahead and have fun," Padgett replied.
"Seriously? You finallye back to Northcrest, and everyone''s been waiting to see you."
Padgett just said, "Next time," and ended the call.
Henry had stuck around all evening just for Padgett. Now, with Padgett bailing, the whole gathering felt pointless. He said a quick goodbye to the others and headed out early.
The driver told him their car would be there any minute, so Henry decided to wait outside. As he stepped out of the building, a familiar car zipped past.
He froze, confusion prickling in his chest.
Wasn''t that Padgett''s car?
He said he wasn''ting-but he was obviously here.
What threw Henry even more was the glimpse of a woman in the passenger seat.
For Padgett to ditch the guys'' get-together for a woman... she must be someone special.
The car was going too fast for Henry to see her face clearly, but she looked oddly familiar. Almost like Noreen.
But that couldn''t be right. Henry shook his head. There was no way Padgett would be interested in Noreen.
The Novak family wasn''t ordinary-they had high standards for Padgett''s partner. Either someone distinguished and aplished, or someone from a prominent family, someone who could match them socially and intellectually.
Noreen didn''t fit either category. She was nice enough, but hardly impressive- definitely not the kind of person the Harcourt family would approve of.
It was impossible. Padgett''s standards couldn''t be that low.
Still, curiosity nagged at him. Henry dialed Padgett''s number again, hoping for some inside scoop.
Padgett declined the call outright.
Inside the moving car, Noreen thanked Padgett for the ride.
Meanwhile, ire kept blowing up Noreen''s phone, her texts making the device buzz non-stop.
Noreen didn''t even need to look to guess what the messages said. ire, sitting next to her, pinched her thigh, insisting she read them.
This one''s a catch! Seriously, he''s perfect!
He''s handsome, polite, and drives a nice car-obviouslyes from a good family!
What does he do for a living? Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find{n}ovel
Noreen sighed and replied, Government job.
ire texted back instantly.
That''s amazing! Guys in government jobs are stable, responsible, and mature. Totally your type!
Noreen could only reply with a resigned ellipsis.
She ignored ire''s excitement and turned to Padgett for some polite small talk.
"Mr. Novak, how did you know I was in Northcrest?"
Padgett smiled. "I heard from Mr. Holt while we were talking about work."
Not exactly true. The real story: he''d seen a friend''s post on social media-a friend from Henry''s circle-bragging at a bar about spotting Noreen and ire, both stunning, and boasting abouthis Good luck that night. That''s when Padgett called Noreen.
But Noreen didn''t suspect a thing. After all, Padgett and Carman Holt often coordinated on the hotline project, and she herself had called Carman earlier that day to tell King she''d fly out from Northcrestto Rivercrest City tomorrow morning, then head straight to meet him at Ascendancy Group.
So Padgett''s story made perfect sense.
"When are you heading back to Rivercrest City?" he asked in passing.
"First thing tomorrow morning."
"So soon?" Padgett looked genuinely surprised. "I was hoping to take you out for dinner, show you some hospitality. Guess we''ll have to save it for next time."
"You''re from Northcrest?" Noreen realized she''d never asked.
"Born and raised," he replied.
ire couldn''t help but butt in. "Northcrest is great. Everyone wants to live here
these days. The property values are through the roof."
Noreen groaned inwardly-if only she could mute her friend.
ire, oblivious as ever, started peppering Padgett with questions, practically
conducting a background check right then and there.
Padgett, ever the gentleman, didn''t seem to mind at all.
Chapter 360
She answered every question as sincerely as she could.
In the end, Noreen couldn''t take it anymore. She mped a hand over ire''s mouth, restoring some peace and quiet to the car.
Just then, they pulled up outside the hotel where Noreen was staying.
Before Noreen could get out, Padgett Novak leaned forward and asked what time her flight was the next day.
ire caught on to his intentions in a sh and blurted out Noreen''s departure time before Noreen could even stop her. Chapters first released on find?novel
Padgett justughed and said goodbye to both of them.
Only after his car had driven away did Noreen pinch ire''s waist in
exasperation. ¡°ire, what exactly are you trying to do?"
ire nted her hands on her hips. "You''ve decided to start a new life, haven''t you? That means it''s time to meet new men!"
She grinned. "Padgett Novak''s not bad. Give him a chance."
Noreen rolled her eyes heavenward and finally sighed out a line of hard-earned wisdom. "Men only ever slow me down from making money, got it?"
Early the next morning, Padgett Novak showed up at Noreen''s hotel right on time, offering to drive her to the airport.
Noreen would have loved nothing more than to run back upstairs, drag ire out of bed, and give her a piece of her mind.
But Padgett was already standing in the lobby. Refusing him now would just be rude.
So she got in the car.
To his credit, Padgett kept the conversation light, never once bringing up anything that made Noreen ufortable.
From their small talk, she learned he was home on vacation to visit his family and would be heading back to work next week.
He personally saw her all the way to the gate. As soon as she walked inside,
Padgett turned to leave-only to bump right into Henry.
"What are you doing here?" Henry asked, surprised.
"Just dropping off a friend," Padgett replied.
Henry arched an eyebrow. "You realize your house is all the way across Northcrest from the airport. What kind of friend is important enough to get you up
at four in the morning to y chauffeur?"
Padgett just smiled and left it at that. "Just a friend."
Henry wasn''t buying it. "A girl, right? The one you like?"
Padgett patted his shoulder and nodded toward security. "You''d better get going. Don''t want to miss your flight."
Henry chuckled as Padgett walked away. "Sure, keep your secrets. Let''s see how long you can keep this up."
He was in a rush, so he didn''t press further.
It wasn''t until he boarded the ne that he realized Noreen was in the seat right next to his.
Noreen saw him too, but her gaze barely lingered before she looked away.
Henry frowned and, when the flight attendant walked by, asked, "Excuse me, is it possible to switch seats?"
He had no desire to spend the flight sitting next to her.
The flight attendant offered a polite smile. "I''m sorry, Mr. Brooke, but you''re in first ss and all other seats are taken."
Scowling, Henry had no choice but to stay put. He edged as far away as possible, making it clear he wanted nothing to do with Noreen.
Not that she seemed to notice-she never nced his way again.
Fortunately, it was a short flight. Henry managed to endure.
As soon as the nended, he was up and out the door.
Noreen calmly gathered her things, and by the time she stepped into the arrivals hall, Sophia Cole was already waiting.
Sophia whisked Noreen straight to Ascendancy Group headquarters.
Today was the first joint meeting between Ascendancy Group and InnoCore after their partnership began.
Bianca chaired the meeting, but to Noreen''s surprise, Henry turned up in the conference room as well.
The vice president of Ascendancy exined that Ascendancy was about tounch a new project with the Brooke Group and Henry was there to evaluate it content
The exnation checked out.
Bianca was confident in her preparations, but less than five
minutes into her presentation, Noreen raised the first.
objection-pointing out a w in
Bianca''s data.
Bianca''s expression cooled instantly.
Henry''s eyes were cold and impassive as he nced at Noreen, his tone faintly mocking. "Ms. Gilmore are you really that much of an expert? You just listened to a snippet and already think there''s a problem with the data?"
He paused, his lips quirking. "Almost makes me wonder if the problem isn''t with
the numbers, but with the person."
Chapter 361
Carman couldn''t stand anyone badmouthing Noreen. Instinctively, she wanted to jump to her defense.
But Noreen reached out and stopped her.
Leaning back in her chair, Noreen regarded Henry with an almost amused expression. "Go on then, Mr. Brooke. What exactly do you think is wrong with me?"
Henry had never liked Noreen. In his eyes, she was an empty vessel who used her looks to get ahead. As far as he was concerned, if someone relied on shady tactics to climb thedder, they ought to keep their head down and stay out of the spotlight. But Noreen seemed determined to do the opposite, unting herself without restraint. If she wanted to make herself a target, he saw no reason to hold back.
He crossed one leg over the other, his voice dripping with mockery. "Frankly, I just find it amusing when someone pretends to know more than they do. I heard Miss Gilmore only has a regr college degree. These days, that''s worth next to nothing. Maybe I sound harsh, but I''m just stating facts."
He fixed Noreen with a pointed look. "Someone with an ordinary degree questioning a PhD in finance from a top international university? Don''t you think that''s a bit of a joke?"
Noreen''s tone was cool as she shot back, "So you''re saying a PhD in finance is incapable of making mistakes, Mr. Brooke?"
Henry opened his mouth to retort, but Bianca stepped in at just the right moment. "Ms. Gilmore, you''re being too harsh," she said gently. "No one is perfect. If there really is an error, I''m more than willing to correct it." She nodded to Henry in thanks. For original chapters go to find¡¤novel
Henry''s frown eased, his annoyance giving way to admiration for Bianca''s poise. Not everyone could rise above petty squabbles.
Carman leaned over to Noreen and whispered, "That Mr. Brooke definitely has it out for you."
It was in as day.
Noreen had sensed it long ago, though she couldn''t pinpoint when or why Henry''s grudge had started. But it didn''t matter. People were like that. Prejudice was a mountain in the mind-once it was there, nothing could move it. She had no intention of wasting time worrying about the opinions of people who meant nothing to her.
Thankfully, the rest of the meeting went smoothly. Bianca demonstrated her professionalism and didn''t make any more missteps. The only issue was that she had so much she wanted to discuss that the meeting kept dragging on.
Carman, knowing Noreen''s stomach was sensitive, worried she''d be ufortable if she didn''t eat soon. She suggested taking a break, but although Bianca agreed in word, she showed no intention of pausing the meeting right away.
By the time everything finally wrapped up, it was more than an hour past the scheduled end. Lunch hour hade and gone.
The deputy director of Ascendancy Group invited Noreen and her team to eat in thepany cafeteria, but his assistant informed them that at this hour, only cold leftovers would be avable.
Not wanting to slight their future
boss''s wife, the deputy director hastily told his assistant to order
takeout Carman, seeing that thimet
would take even longer, said they d handle it themselves and suggested to Noreen that they go out for a proper meal.
The deputy director didn''t insist.
The two of them were the first to rise and leave. They''d barely stepped into the hallway when Sophia stormed up, her voice ringing out for all to hear. "What took you so long? Don''t you people have any sense of time? Do you not realize everyor else''s schedule is important too? This ispletely unprofessional!"
She was loud enough that everyone left in the meeting room could hear her.
Bianca, who had been chatting with Henry, felt her polite smile slip at Sophia''s outburst.
Henry tried to reassure her. "Don''t pay her any mind," he said. "The truth is, you''re just too good at what you do it makes people jealous. Some people have no businesspeting with you but still insist on butting heads. It''sughable, really."
Like attracts like, he thought. Noreen was unimpressive, so naturally, her
subordinates were the same.
Bianca offered a graceful smile. "It doesn''t bother me."
Henry seized the opportunity to invite her to lunch.
Before Bianca could respond, the executive secretary of Ascendancy Group
appeared with several staff members in tow.
Chapter 362
They were all carrying takeout bags from Luna Eclipse Dining.
The executive assistant quickly exined, "Director Lowell, Mr. Harcourt knew you''d been too busy to eat, so he ordered lunch for you."
Of course this was the kind of treatment only the future Mrs. Harcourt would get. Latest content published on find?novel
Bianca sounded exasperated, though her pride was obvious. "Oh, Seth, honestly. I''m not a child¡ªdoes he really have to fuss over every little thing? Now everyone''s going to think I''m spoiled."
The deputy director grinned, not bothering to hide her envy. "We''re just jealous, that''s all. Anyone would envy the rtionship you two have."
Bianca, in a good mood, gestured at the spread. "Seth ordered way too much. There''s no way I can finish it alone. If you don''t mind, why don''t we all share?"
She even extended the invitation to Noreen and Carman.
Before Noreen could answer, Sophia jumped in for her. "No need! Our Ms. Gilmore gets homemade meals you couldn''t buy for any amount of money. Who wants mass-produced takeout anyway?"
She took Noreen''s hand. "Come on, I brought lunch for you. Let''s eat in the car."
"Sure," Noreen agreed.
As soon as Noreen left, Henry breathed a sigh of relief.
When Bianca invited him to join, he didn''t refuse.
During lunch, Henry asked, "Bianca, do you know Professor Halley?"
"Of course," Bianca replied immediately. "He''s practically a legend in academia. Anyone who''s ever set foot in the field knows his name."
Henry''s mind went straight to Noreen, and he smiled. "You''re right."
So his hunch had been correct-Bianca really was the former student his mentor never stopped talking about.
Meanwhile, in the car, Noreen stared at the array of dishes and couldn''t help but ask, eyebrows raised, "You made all this yourself?"
"Yep! Impressed?" Sophia said, clearly fishing for praise.
"Very," Noreen admitted.
Even Carman agreed, "With skills like yours, you could open a restaurant."
Sophia waved her off. "Not interested! I''d rather stick with Noreen and ride her coattails to the top!"
She nudged Noreen. "Hurry up and eat before it gets cold."
Sophia started scrolling on her phone as they ate.
Halfway through the meal, Sophia suddenly sat up in rm.
Noreen sighed, "What now?"
Sophia
ned her phone toward her "Isn''t this the game project Bianca''s leading content belongs
Noreen nced at the screen and nodded. "That''s the one."
"They work fast-it''s already in beta testing."
Carman checked her own phone. "Looks like the early feedback is pretty positive."
"The promo trailer looks amazing," Sophia added after watching it.
Noreen just smiled, rxed as ever.
Sophia, on the other hand, was getting antsy. "How are you so calm, Noreen?"
Noreen grinned. "What, should I crying instead? By the way, yo mushroom soup is really good." Gontent
Sophia was speechless.
She really wasn''t worried at all.
After finishing lunch, Noreen sent Scott Quigley a message, asking where he was.
He didn''t reply for half an hour; when
he did, said he was up in the
mon with lousy r had just seen her
>
and
He sent her a bunch of photos he''d just taken¡ªruins and old relics and the like.
He also asked if she needed anything.
Noreen replied, "No, just checking you''re safe. All good now, focus on your work." Scott sent back a thumbs-up.
Just then, the car arrived back at Winrich.
As soon as Noreen got out, she spotted a man waiting by the main gate.
Her eyes lit up, and she called out with a bright smile, "Hey, big brother."
Chapter 363
It had been too long since they''dst seen each other, so Noreen canceled a government meeting just to have dinner with Dn Wilder.
She took him to a ce that specialized in nourishing soups.
The owner recognized Noreen instantly. She hadn''t been by in ages, so he greeted her with genuine delight, telling her about a few new calming herbal broths the restaurant was offering and asking if she''d like to try one.
Noreen declined with a polite shake of her head.
Back when she was trying to help Seth with his insomnia, she''d practically scoured every corner of Rivercrest City, searching for the best nourishing soups and herbal recipes. Over time, she and the owner became quite familiar.
Now, hearing that she didn''t need the calming broths anymore, the owner actually looked pleased for her.
"I was just wondering why you haven''t stopped bytely. Looks like your boyfriend''s insomnia is finally cured, huh? That''s wonderful."
Noreen''s expression was cool and distant. "We broke up."
The owner froze, awkwardness written across his face.
Noreen, unfazed, simply took her seat and asked, "What were those herbal dishes you mentioned? Do you have anything good for the stomach and digestion?"
"Oh, absolutely!" The owner perked right up. "Our chef has worked with a top nutritionist to develop several signature recipes-especially for digestion and boosting energy. They''ve been really popr."
"Do they taste medicinal?" Noreen remembered that Dn disliked anything with a strong herbal vor.
"Not at all! That''s exactly what makes our recipes special."
With the owner singing such high praise, Noreen decided to y along and asked him to rmend one of their digestive soups.
He confidently pointed to an option on the menu-pork tripe and barley soup- and added, ¡°This one''s the restaurant owner''s girlfriend''s absolute favorite."
Noreen nodded. "This one''s not bad. My assistant makes it for me all the time. You should try it," she told Dn.
Since Noreen made the choice, Dn had no objections and agreed to try whatever she picked.
While they waited for their food, Noreen asked Dn how things were going on his end.
"Not great," he said. "We barely managed to close the deal, and had to sacrifice quite a bit for Omniva Group to make it work." He didn''t borate further.
Noreen didn''t press him. "As long as it''s settled. You can always find ways to make up for the lossester."
Dn''s gaze lingered on her, his eyes full of meaning. "That''s what I''m counting on The only project, Omniva had in the ck this quarter was InnoCore."
"Then let''s keep at it," she replied. "I''ll try to deliver even more solid projects."
A warmth flickered in Dn''s chest. "Alright."
Just as their food arrived, Dn''s phone rang. It was Jude, calling to ask when he''d be there.
"I''m noting," Dn said. "Just pay close attention to the instructions, and fill me in when you get back."
Noreendled some soup into Dn''s bowl. "You should drink this while it''s hot."
Suddenly, Jude''s voice red through the phone, shocked, "A woman? Are you with a woman right now? Who is she? Do I know her?"
Dn rolled his eyes and hung up without bothering to answer.
Jude was dying of curiosity and was about to call back when Seth and Bianca arrived.
As soon as she came in, Bianca asked Jude, "Didn''t you say Dn was back in the country? Why isn''t he here for the meeting?"
"He''s noting," Jude shrugged.
Bianca paused, frowning. "Why not?"
It was an important meeting.
Jude scratched his head. "Seems like he''s on a date. When I called, I heard a woman''s voice in the background."
Bianca''s smile faded as her mind
immediately went to Noreen, though she managed to keep her voice evens Let''s organize something tonight invite Dn and get everyone together."
Jude grinned, all for it. "Sounds good! And let''s have him bring this mystery woman, too. I need to see what kind of siren could make him, skip a meeting
Bianca''s eyes darkened, but she said nothing more.
As the meeting started, Jude leaned over to Seth and whispered, "Why isn''t
Noreen here either?"
Seth shot him a cold look and warned, "Focus on the meeting."
Jude shut his mouth immediately. Readplete version only at find[?]ovel
Chapter 364
Meetings are just so dull. Gossip is so much more entertaining!
So why wouldn''t anyone gossip with him?
Bianca couldn''t help but notice the empty seat where Noreen usually sat, her eyes dimming as she looked over. The suspicion that had flickered through her mind earlier now seemed almost certain. Disappointment shed in her gaze.
That evening, Dn did show up for drinks, but he came alone.
Jude nudged him as soon as he sat down. "Where''s that woman from earlier? Why didn''t you bring her along?"
Dn grinned, clearly in a good mood. "She''s not really into this kind of thing."
"Oh, listen to you already acting protective?" Jude teased. "Come on, who is she, anyway? She must be special to turn you into this."
Dn justughed. "What''s the rush? You''ll find out soon enough."
Jude wouldn''t let up. "How soon is ''soon''? Are we talking wedding bells or a baby shower?"
"Maybe both," Dn replied, sounding perfectly serious.
Jude nearly jumped out of his seat. "Wait, so you''re actually thinking about marriage?"
"Yeah," Dn said, without hesitation.
Bianca sat across from them, hearing every word. Her expression instantly chilled. She''d been with Dn for over six years, and he''d never once brought up marriage. Even when she''d tried hinting at it, he''d always dodged the topic. Now he was saying he wanted to get married.
She squeezed her ss so tightly her knuckles turned white, her face pale. But nobody seemed to notice her reaction.
Dn casually nced over at Seth, as if checking for a response. But Seth''s face was unreadable. His eyes were calm, giving nothing away, as if he couldn''t care less about their conversation.
Jude did his best to pry more details out of Dn, but Dn wouldn''t budge. Eventually, Jude gave up. It wasn''t until he turned to refill his own drink that he realized Seth had quietly downed more than half a bottle by himself. ?????? ???? find(?)ovel
"Seth, what''s up with you?" Jude asked, shaking the nearly empty bottle. "This isn''t some business dinner-why are you drinking so much?"
Seth replied evenly, "Building up my tolerance."
"To protect Bianca from having to drink at the engagement party?" Jude joked.
Seth nodded. "Yeah. The engagement dinner''sing up."
Judeughed. "You''re too thoughtful, Seth."
The cloud over Bianca''s mood began to lift at Seth''s words. She offered gently, "Seth, you really don''t have to drink so much."
He gave her a warm smile. "Alright."
Jude had long grown used to being the third wheel around these two. He sank back into the couch, looking bored. "No idea what Healy''s been up totely either. I''ve tried to invite him out for a drink but he never shows. Oh, Dn-since you''ve been out of the country, you probably don''t know yet, do you?"
"Know what?" Dn asked.
"Mrs. Naylor''s got her eye on Noreen. She wants her as a daughter-inw."
Dn''s eyebrows shot up. "Since when?"
"Just recently Jude said. "You wouldn''t believe how much Mrs. Naylor likes Noreen-she spent the whole press conference talking to ber. My dad says Mr. Naylor wanted to introduce Noreen to Healy the first time they met, but Noreen turned him down. Healy''s a sly one-never let any of this slip."
Dn frowned, deep in thought.
It was already past ten when Noreen finished her phone call with Vincent. The conversation had been so engrossing that neither of them noticed howte it had gotten. If Mrs. Vincent hadn''te in and reminded them, they probably would''ve kept talking all night.
Vincent had never met someone
who saw things the way he did. He''d always thought Noreen was smart capable, and beautiful, but now he realized those qualities paled inparison to her genuine char Even he, someone who''d been worn down by life until he barely had any fight left, found himself inspired by her energy.
He told Noreen he''d be back in Rivercrest City in a couple of days to meet her in person.
With that settled, Noreen put down her phone and got ready for a shower and some rest. But just as she was about to head to the bathroom, her phone buzzed again. She nced at the screen, recognizing the familiar number instantly.
It waste-what could Seth want with her at this hour?
Chapter 365
Going crazy again?
Noreen frowned at her phone, neither answering nor hanging up. She simply let it ring out, knowing Seth didn''t have much patience for being ignored. Sure enough, after one round of missed calls, her phone finally fell silent.
Seth didn''t call again.
Noreen grabbed her pajamas and was about to head back to the bathroom when, right on cue, her phone rang once more. Irritated, she picked it up, ready to decline and power it off-she had no intention of letting anyone ruin her peaceful evening.
But this time, the caller ID showed Evelyn''s name. Noreen answered immediately.
Before she could say anything, she heard Evelyn coughing violently on the other end of the line.
"Are you sick?" Noreen asked, suddenly worried.
Evelyn''s coughing fit was so intense that she couldn''t reply right away. It was a moment before she finally managed to gasp out, "Noreen, that cough-soothing soup you made before-how did you do it?"
Another bout of coughing interrupted her words.
"Don''t worry about it. I''lle over and make it for you,¡± Noreen said without hesitation.
"It''s pouring outside," Evelyn protested weakly.
"It''s fine," Noreen replied, already pulling on a coat. She drove through the storm as quickly as possible to the Harcourt family''s home.
When she arrived, Evelyn''s condition was even worse than Noreen had imagined -a nasty cough brought on by the flu. ording to Evelyn, she''d been hacking for days, and neither medication nor IV drips had helped. Remembering the soothing soup Noreen had brought her duringst year''s flu outbreak, she''d called her for help.
"I''ll put a pot on now," Noreen said gently. "Get some rest. I''ll call you when it''s ready."
Evelyn, her voice hoarse, managed, "Could you make a little extra? Mr. Harcourt''s caught it too."
"Of course."
Noreen headed straight for the kitchen, moving with the confidence of someone who''d been here a hundred times. Cooking wasn''t really her thing-she was only good at making simple,forting soups and stews. And even that, she''d learned especially after getting together with Seth. In the beginning, her attempts wereughable but Noreen was nothing if not determined. Through sheer willpower, she''d managed to perfect a handful of nourishing recipes.
As she simmered the soup, the storm outside only intensified, thunder cracking and rainshing against the windows. An alert pinged on her phone-a severe weather warning from the city, urging residents to stay safe.
When the soup was ready, Noreendled out arge bowl for Evelyn, insisting she drink it while it was hot for the best effect. Then she filled another bowl and carried it to the study for Wade.
He was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the rain, so lost in thought he didn''t even notice her knock. Noreen let herself in quietly, but Wade stuff didn''t stir until she stood right in front of him and caffed his name.
He blinked, as if snapping out of a dream. "What are you doing here?" Original content can be found at Find1Novel
"Evelyn''s got a terrible cough," Noreen exined. "I came to check on her and made some coconut and pear soup for her lungs. You should have some too." Wade nced at the bowl in her hands, his expression unreadable. "You came all the way here in this weather just to make soup?" His tone sounded reproachful, but Noreen knew better he was just worried.
"Drink it while it''s hot," she urged. "Evelyn said you''ve been coughing as well."
Wade took the bowl, and for a brief moment, his gaze lingered on her, conflicted almost as if he was wrestling with something unsaid. But when Noreen looked again his face was back to its usual calm, as if she''d imagined it.
As he sipped the soup, Wade asked about Winrich''stest updates. He already
kept himself well-informed, but he wanted to hear it in Noreen''s own words.
Noreen gave a detailed rundown of recent work, then Wade brought up the TechVenture game beta, asking for her thoughts.
"I''ve seen their promotional trailer," Noreen said thoughtfully. "It''s impressive-the industry''s been responding well. I think it''s going to be a hit."
Wade nodded his approval. He valued her objectivity-only with clear, unbiased insight could the right decisions be made.
When he finished the soup, the storm outside had only grown fiercer. Wade insisted she stay the night, not wanting her to risk driving back through the torrential rain.
Chapter 366
Noreen said she''d see how things went.
When she returned to the living room, she found Seth sitting at the dining table with a bowl of soup in front of him.
He looked up just as she entered, their eyes meeting for a brief moment.
After that fleeting exchange, Noreen coolly looked away and turned to Evelyn. "Are you feeling any better after the soup?"
"Much better," Evelyn replied.
Of course, she was still coughing a little.
She hurried to exin, almost nervously, ¡°Seth didn''t know you wereing. He just heard I was sick and came home to check on me."
Noreen wasn''t about to tter herself by thinking Seth had returned for her.
"It''s gettingte. I should head out," Noreen said, cing her empty bowl in the kitchen. "I put the rest of the soup in a thermos. If you want moreter, just help yourself."
As soon as she finished speaking, a loud p of thunder shook the house.
Rainshed against the windows-sharp and relentless.
Evelyn''s eyes widened in worry. "The building manager just called. All the nearby roads are flooded¡ªit''s not safe to drive right now. Why don''t you stay over tonight?"
If Seth hadn''te back, Noreen might have considered spending the night at the Harcourt house, just for safety''s sake.
But now, that wasn''t an option she wanted to entertain.
Before she could answer, Seth spoke up from across the room. "You should stay. I''ll be leaving soon anyway."
Evelyn nced at Seth, concern etched on her face. "But it''s pouring out there, and the roads are flooded..."
"I''ll be fine." Seth stood, already reaching for his phone. "I''ll just say goodbye to my dad and then I''m heading out."
Noreen opened her mouth to call after him, but he was already disappearing into the study before she could utter a word.
"Noreen, just stay, will you?" Evelyn pleaded softly, her tired eyes revealing more than she said aloud.
She looked at the two of them and felt a pang of sadness. How many people, she wondered, could truly part ways on good terms?
Noreen only came back to the Harcourt home out of respect for Wade and Evelyn. Soon enough, even that reason would fade.
Evelyn, still sick, tugged at Noreen''s heart. She couldn''t bear to upset her further, so she nodded.
At her agreement, Evelyn finally managed a smile and hurried off to prepare the guest room.
Noreen gently stopped her. "It''s fine, I''ll get it ready myself. You should rest." Follow current nov?ls on find~novel
"If you''re sure," Evelyn relented. "The guest linens are all fresh-there are new sheets and pillowcases in the closet. Just make yourselffortable."
Noreen had stayed here before; she knew her way around.
She tidied up the room quickly, then headed out to the living room to tell Evelyn to get some rest, too.
As she reached the hallway, she heard Seth speaking in a low voice on the phone outside the door.
"The initial feedback on Aetheria is great. Ramp up the marketing, don''t worry about the budget."
"Line up a few professional interviews for Aetheria-let''s get
some good press out before the
officialunch. Try to drown out the ative reviews."
"Make sure the data is solid. I want Aetheria to be this year''s breakout hit."
"And keep all this from Director Lowell. She needs this project to prove herself at Aurelion Group."
Aetheria that was the game Bianca had invested in.
Seth really was the silent power behind the scenes.
Don''t fall too hard, Noreen reminded herself.
She stepped out, ignoring Seth, and went straight to find Evelyn in the living room.
Seth kept his word. Once he finished his call, he came out, said a quick goodbye to Evelyn, grabbed an umbre, and left.
Noreen nced outside; the rain wasing down in sheets, so heavy it felt like the sky might cave in.
Evelyn reminded her to make sure the windows and doors were locked tight before bed so the damp wouldn''t seep in.
When Noreen went to close the
window, she thought she glimpsed a car parked under the trees outside,
¦¯¦©
but the downpour made it impossible to tell what kind it was.
She didn''t dwell on it, shut the window tight, and went to bed.
Chapter 367
Rain fell all night long.
The steady hum of it worked like a luby, letting Noreen sleep better than she
had in ages.
When she finally got up, Evelyn was already in the kitchen, ttering pans and setting out breakfast.
"Good thing you stayed overst night," Evelyn said, nodding toward her phone. "Have you seen the videos in the building''s group chat? It''s scary¡ªa whole stretch of road just copsed. Somebody''s car actually fell right in. No word yet on whether anyone was hurt."
She sighed, worry flickering across her face. "I hope Seth didn''t get caught up in any of that."
Noreen had no answer to that, so she just stayed quiet.
After breakfast, she said her goodbyes and headed out. Her phone''s GPS immediately warned her about the road closure¡ªa detour was unavoidable, thanks to the sinkhole.
She got to the officeter than usual. As soon as she walked in, the receptionist called out, "You have a visitor waiting, Ms. Gilmore."
It was Dn.
Noreen blinked in surprise.
Dn offered a sheepish smile. "I''ve been so busy with Omniva Grouptely, I never had the chance to properly see yourpany. If you''re not too busy, would you mind giving me a quick tour?"
¡°Sure, but I need about thirty minutes-I''ve got a morning meeting to run."
"No problem." He seemed perfectly rxed, as if all the time in the world belonged to him today.
While Noreen disappeared into her meeting, Dn''s phone rang again. It was Jude, calling to see if Dn was free.
"TechVenture''sunch event is today," Jude said. "You shoulde show Bianca some support."
Dn didn''t hesitate. "Can''t. Busy."
"Busy with what? You''re always busy!"
"Visiting a partnerpany."
Jude sounded even more confused. "You need to do that yourself? Juste over already!"
"You''re there, aren''t you? I''ve got things to handle here. Gotta go." Dn hung up before Jude could argue.
Jude gaped at his phone, annoyed. He considered calling back but knew Dn wouldn''t answer, so he tried Dn''s assistant instead. "Which partnerpany is Dn visiting today?"
"Winrich," the assistant replied.
Jude''s expression shifted. No wonder Dn was so cagey¡ªhe was going to Winrich.
But why would Dn rather tour Winrich than show up for Bianca?
Was Noreen really more important to him than Bianca?
As Jude puzzled over this, he overheard Bianca on the phone with Seth, asking where he was.
"My car broke down on the way," Seth exined. "I''ll be a littlete."
"How does a brand-new car just break down?" Bianca''s voice was tense with worry.
"Probably because it got floodedst night."
The rain had been intense. Bianca
had seen the news that
over town!
orningparking lots all conte
had ended up underwater >
"Fix it as fast as you can," Bianca told him. "I need you here. I can''t rx without you."
Seth promised he''d hurry.
Watching the exchange, Jude had a sudden epiphany.
Dn was deliberately skipping Bianca''sunch event. The two of them had once been in love; even though their breakup was reakup was amicable and things were friendly now, seeing Bianca so happy with Seth must still sting a little.
That''s just how guys are, Jude thought. There''s always a weird possessiveness
when ites to an ex.
But then again...
After Seth and Noreen broke up,
Seth never acted like this-not a
flicker of emotion, not a trac
their seven years together He
treated her like a stranger
Clearly, he never really loved her.
If you never let someone into your heart, there''s nothing to grieve when they''re
gone. The source of th?s content is find?novel
But what about Noreen?
Why was she so calm, so utterly unbothered?
Jude mulled it over, then reached a conclusion.
Noreen was faking it.
He''d seen what she was like before-everyone had.
Seth made it to theunch event just in time.
Chapter 368
Jude asked him, "Your ce? No way the garage could flood¡ªit''s the most upscale neighborhood in all of Rivercrest City."
Seth replied coolly, "I stayed at my family''s housest night."
"Oh, that exins why you didn''t show up with Bianca this morning."
Once Seth had taken his seat, the press conference officially began.
Bianca and Aetheria''s founder, Ethan Laurent, took the stage one after the other, showcasing the game from every angle-its unique features, the ster numbers from the closed beta, and glowing reviews.
During the Q&A, the reporters started with questions about the game. But as things went on, someone veered off topic and brought up Bianca''s personal life.
"Director Lowell, I just spotted Mr. Harcourt from Aurelion Group out in the audience. You two seem very close-rumor has it a wedding is on the horizon. Is that true?"
Bianca looked every bit the picture of a woman in love, her eyes crinkling with happiness as she replied, "Let me rify: it''s not just a rumor. It''s true."
A wave of delighted murmurs swept through the room.
The reporter pressed on, "So, Director Lowell, after you and Mr. Harcourt are engaged, do you n to step back and be a full-time wife?"
Bianca smiled and smoothly passed the question to Seth. "You''ll have to ask Mr. Harcourt himself does he want me as his partner at work, or a wife at home?¡±
All eyes, and every camera, turned to Seth-even Jude looked curious about how he''d answer.
Seth''s gaze softened as he looked at Bianca before replying, his expression tender. The source of th?s content is F¦ÉndNovel
"She''s so remarkable. How could I bear to keep her trapped at home? Even after we''re married, she''ll always have her own wings her own world to soar in."
The room erupted in a chorus of admiration, everyone moved by Seth''s sincerity.
After the interview wrapped up, Bianca headed to the dressing room to touch up her makeup. Her phone buzzed-it was Yvonne calling.
Yvonne asked, "How''d it go? Did my reporter do alright?" "Perfect. Our rtionship is out in the open now, finally."
Bianca had always hoped Seth would make a public announcement about their engagement, to make things official. But he''d nevertaken that step
She''d tried dropping hints. Seth''s exnation was always the same: Wade hadn''t given his blessing yet If Seth made big show. of things, it would only provoke his father further and make their already strained rtionship worse.
Bianca understood, but a small part of her still felt slighted. What woman doesn''t want her love to be acknowledged?
Yvonne promised she''d find a way. So she''d arranged for a reporter to ask the question, making sure everyone got the message.
"It''s obvious-Seth really loves you," Yvonne said, clearly happy with her soon-to- be son-inw.
"He does. He really cares about me."
"Once you''re engaged, try to get pregnant soon. A baby will stabilize things, and you''ll be able to move the wedding forward."
Bianca replied, "I know."
Noreen had just finished a meeting when she got a message from Scott.
He wrote, just watched the Aetheria faunch. The gamey and features are exactly what I
designed didn''t even touch N
promo video.
"That''s why the beta feedback''s so good."
"I left before it was done, so I have no idea what the final story or structure turned out like."
Noreen knew how bittersweet he must feel-he''d poured his heart into that project.
"If you''ve decided to let go, don''t look back," she replied.
A momentter, Scott answered, "Yeah. You''re right."
Chapter 369
After finishing her conversation with Scott, Noreen asked Sophia to pull together a summary of Aetheria''s press conference-she wanted to take a look herself.
Sophia hesitated, stammering, "Maybe you shouldn''t bother. There''s really nothing worth seeing."
Noreen raised an eyebrow. "What''s going on?"
Sophia pouted, her voice thick with annoyance. "It was supposed to be a gameunch, but halfway through, it turned into some kind of romance announcement." Unfazed, Noreen insisted that Sophia send her the recording anyway.
The first part of the conference actually focused on Aetheria. But once a reporter steered the questions off course, the whole event devolved into a public spectacle about someone''s love life.
Apparently, Sophia was so irritated that she just cut thetter half of the video before sending it over.
Worried she''d missed something, Noreen decided to check Aetheria''s official ount herself.
The most-liked video at the top had nothing to do with the game at all.
She was just about to scroll past it and look for actual game content when the screen suddenly cut to Seth.
Noreen''s hand froze.
A momentter, Seth''s voice filled the room-a heartfelt confession she''d never heard from him before.
"She''s brilliant. How could I bear to tie her down with marriage? Even if we get married, she''ll still be free, able to soar wherever she chooses."
Noreen lowered her gaze and let out a quiet, mockingugh. How poetic. So this is what Seth looked like when he truly loved someone.
How ironic, after more than seven years together, this was the first time she''d ever seen this side of him.
But it didn''t matter anymore.
She swiped away the video and skimmed through other clips andments about Aetheria.
From the initial teasers to the beta, right up to theunch, most of what was presented was actually Scott''s work back when he was still at TechVenture.
But there had been some tweaks to the character designs.
For example... the female characters'' outfits had gotten noticeably more revealing.
Just as she closed the app, her phone rang-ire was calling.
Noreen barely had time to say hello before ireunched into a furious tirade.
"That Bianca is Seth''s new mistress, right? She looks so innocent, but what a piece of work!"
"How much did she pay to promote that video? It''s everywhere! She must be dying for the whole world to see Seth confessing his love for her!"
"I used a burner ount to call her out for being a homewrecker, but myment
got deleted instantly, and they blocked me! Guilty conscience much?"
"There are all kinds of people in this world-the really rotten ones, the slightlydess rotten ones. Some of them have mothers who should have raised them better, and some-well, maybe they just didn''t.¡±
Noreen knew ire''s temper. If she didn''t let her vent, ire would probably burst from frustration.
So she put the call on speaker and let ire rant, focusing on her own work as her friend got it all out.
Once ire finally ran out of steam, she asked, "Wasn''t this Bianca the one who lost to you on two different projects before? And now she already starting another one? She really doesn''t know when to quit!"
Noreen chuckled. "That''s only because she''s got someone to catch her every time she falls. Seth gives her top-tier connections and endless resources. She could fair a thousand times, and he''d still help her back up.
"You can stillugh about this?" ire sounded ready to explode.
She could never stay calm about any of this. Chapters first released on
Every time she saw those two parading their rtionship all over social media,
she felt nothing but anger on Noreen''s behalf.
Noreen had been with Seth for seven years, and not once had he ever
acknowledged her publicly, let alone introduced her as his partner.
Back then, Noreen had been so humble-she''d even proposed to him herself,
and was willing to settle for a secret marriage.
Even then, Seth had never really cared for her.
Now he was unting his new love without a second thought, as if Noreen never existed.
How could she not be furious?
She wanted nothing more than to give those two a piece of her mind¡ª permanently.
Noreen gently tried to calm her. "Let me tell you some good news, just to cheer you up."
Chapter 370
"What''s the good news?"
"After Naylor Automotive Group''s self-driving carunch, thepanynded several new deals. Your worth just shot up again!"
"How much?!" ire''s focus shifted instantly.
Noreen named a figure.
ire screamed right then and there. "Noreen, I love you! I''ll be your sidekick for life!" Th?s chapter is updated by ?ovelFind
"Still mad at me?" Noreen teased with augh.
ire grinned so wide she looked a little foolish. "Mad? Why would I be mad? Only losers stay mad-money solves everything!"
The truth was, making money really was so much more fun than chasing men. Suddenly, she could totally rte to Noreen''s disinterest in guys.
...
On the eve of Aetheria''s officialunch, Bianca and the founder, Ethan, sat down for an interview with a top media outlet.
They were at the height of their sess.
Jude couldn''t be there in person but made his support known in their group chat, promising to buy twenty thousand copies when the magazine hit the stands- partly to make up for thest fiasco.
He even tagged Dn and Healy, urging them to show some support too.
No one replied.
Everyone was just so busy these days.
After Bianca finished the interview, the editor-in-chief personally thanked her and handed her thetest issue of the magazine.
The moment Bianca spotted Noreen on the cover, her expression stiffened.
But she forced a smile and thanked the editor, epting the magazine with fake enthusiasm.
As soon as she got home, she chucked it on the floor to vent.
Forrest Lowell, rarely home, was sitting in the living room watching financial news.
The news was covering-of course-Noreen''stest achievements.
"Dad!" Bianca snapped, raising her voice. "Turn the TV off!"
"What''s got you so worked up?" Forrest asked, concerned.
She couldn''t exactly admit what was bothering her, so she just scowled and muttered something about having a headache and not wanting to hear any more noise.
"Are you sick? Should I take you to the hospital?¡±
"No, I just need to sleep it off," Bianca replied. For once, she didn''t sit and drink tea with Forrest, chatting about work.
Instead, she headed straight to her room, skipping dinner entirely.
Lillian sent her some photos and videos-progress updates from the engagement
venue.
Since Bianca was swamped with work back home, she''d left Lillian on the ind to supervise everything.
A few of the photos turned out
.e
beautifully, so Bianca couldn''t resist sharing them in the group chat asking the others which setup looked best.
She was typing when suddenly the chat exploded.
Jude had posted a screenshot from the Rivercrest City Rich List, shouting, "What
the hell?! Noreen made the Rich List!"
"Rivercrest City''s richest woman?!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
Bianca''s fingers froze mid-sentence.
Her face darkened, but she still clicked on Jude''s screenshot.
It was thetest weekly list. Thanks to InnoCore, its affiliatepanies, and the Port Redevelopment Project, Noreen had just imed the title of Rivercrest City''s wealthiest woman.
Even Dn, who almost never spoke up, came out of the woodwork.
"Well deserved."
Healy chimed in, "No surprise. Her business instincts are sharp enough to build that kind of fortune so quickly."
Healy added, "Is she releasing these figures to pave the way for an IPO?"
Bianca''s already sour mood took another hit.
She wanted to call Seth-just to hear his voice, maybe get some reassurance.
She was still hesitating when Seth sent a message to the chat himself.
"It''s just an unofficial list. You guys actually believe this stuff?"
Chapter 372
When they arrived at the bistro, however, they learned that a private celebration dinner was being held. It was a small party, so there were still tables avable, just no private rooms.
Noreen asked Vincent if he minded, offering to find another ce if he did. He said it was fine.
They had just been seated when a group of people swept in through the entrance, clearly the guests for the party. Noreen paid them no mind as she perused the
menu.
Yvonne Laurent was busy greeting the other wives when she looked up and saw Noreen sitting at the most prominent table in the main dining room. Her brow furrowed instantly. She summoned a waiter, whispered a few instructions, and then led her guests into a private room.
Noreen had just finished ordering when a man who looked like the manager approached their table, his expression apologetic. "My apologies, but there seems to have been a mistake by the staff. All our tables have been reserved for the evening."
"I see. We''ll find somewhere else, then." Noreen and Vincent stood up to leave. Just as they reached the door, they ran into Mrs. Naylor herself.
"Miss Gilmore!" she eximed, her face lighting up. "Are you here for dinner?"
"Mrs. Naylor,¡± Noreen greeted her, exining, ¡°I was hoping to support your business, but it seems you''re fully booked. We''ll have to try again another time."
"That can''t be right. We should have tables on a weeknight," Mrs. Naylor said, puzzled. She immediately pulled out her phone and called the manager.
Whatever was said on the other end made Mrs. Naylor''s expression flicker, but when she faced Noreen again, her smile was as warm as ever. "The manager made a mistake. Of course, we have a table for you. In fact, I''ll open up my personal private room."
This was turning into quite the ordeal. If it weren''t for Mrs. Naylor''s kindness, Noreen would have been long gone.
Mrs. Naylor personally escorted
them back into the restaurant, settling them into her exclusive room. She then informed the staff that their meal was to be on her tab. Noreen quickly tried to refuse, but Mrs Naylor insisted taking Noreen''s hand. "Please, think of this dinner as my apology for my staff''s unprofessionalism. Let me make it up to you."
Seeing Noreen was still hesitant, she added, "If it makes you feel better, just promise you''lle back again. I''ll upgrade you to a VIP
membership! You cane whenever you like, and fit, quar
guarantee
there will always be a table waiting for you!"
"You really don''t have to go to all this trouble."
"It''s my pleasure. Now, you two enjoy your conversation. I won''t disturb you."
The moment Mrs. Naylor left the room, she dialed Healy''s number. "Get over to The Moonstone Bistro for dinner."
"I''m busy," Healy replied dismissively. Bianca had invited him to the same event in their group chat an hour ago, and he''d ignored it.
Mrs. Naylor just chuckled. "Are you sure you want to miss this?"
"I''m not in the mood for a party," he said, assuming she meant Bianca''s celebration.
"All right, then. I was hoping to create a little opportunity for you and Noreen, but I guess I was getting ahead of myself." Discover more novels at find?novel
Healy, who had been about to hang up, froze. "You''re saying Noreen is at the bistro right now?"
"Did I say that? Never mind, if you''re busy, you''re busy. Bye now."
Mrs. Naylor decisively ended the call. *That boy,* she thought with a smirk. *Always ying hard to get.*
Instead of rejoining the party, she found the manager. "You don''t need toe to work tomorrow," she said coolly. Then she turned to a waite When Mrs Lowelles to pay, make sure you charge her the full amount. No discounts. She paused, then added, "Anebrevoke her VIP status."
Chapter 373
When Mrs. Naylor entered the private room, the other women were buzzing with curiosity, wondering what good news Yvonne was about to announce that warranted such a celebration. Yvonne, for her part, was being coy.
"Is it about your daughter''s engagement to Mr. Harcourt?" someone finally guessed.
At the mention of Mr. Harcourt, Mrs. Naylor''s brow twitched slightly.
Yvonneughed. "Oh, that''s old news, isn''t it?"
The implication was clear: this was something new.
"Then what is it? Stop keeping us in suspense, we''re dying to know!"
Unable to hold it in any longer, Yvonne finally made her grand announcement. "My daughter, Bianca, is about to take over Ascendancy Group."
Amid the gasps of surprise, she borated, "My future son-inw adores my Bianca so much that he''s simply giving her thepany. So now, my daughter is the owner of Ascendancy Group, making her worth billions overnight."
"Congrattions, Yvonne!" ?????? ???? Find[?]ovel
"We''ve all heard how devoted Aurelion Group''s Mr. Harcourt is to your daughter, but this is truly something else! To gift her apany worth billions right after getting engaged... it just shows how much he values her!"
"It''s more than just value! Who else in Rivercrest City society has ever made such a grand gesture?"
"It''s unheard of!"
"I''m so envious. Miss Lowell is truly blessed!"
"Well, let''s be fair, Miss Lowell is brilliant in her own right. That''s why she captured Mr. Harcourt''s heart. Did you all know she has a PhD in Finance from WT Business School?"
"A true academic star! No wonder Mr. Harcourt is so taken with her. They''re a perfect match. Congrattions, Mrs. Lowell."
Yvonne basked in the chorus of congrattions, a triumphant smile stered on her face.
Someone couldn''t resist adding a bit
of gossip. "By that calction, the title of Rivercrest City''s richest
woman is about to change hapet
again next month. Noreen Gilmore barely had time to warm the seat, did she? Is she the shortest-reigning richest woman in history?"
At this, Yvonne let out a dismissive scoff. As if Noreen could everpare to her daughter.
Having remained silent until now, Mrs. Naylor''s voice cut through the chatter. "I don''t think they''reparable at all."
Her words cast a sudden chill over the room. Yvonne''s smile faded.
Undeterred, Mrs. Naylor continued pouring cold water on the celebration. "Miss Lowell got her position thanks to a man. Noreen earned everything herself. How can you evenpare the two? If we''re talking about actual ability, I believe Noreen is far superior."
Yvonne had deliberately chosen Mrs. Naylor''s restaurant for this party. She''d hoped to strengthen their rtionship and, in doing so, find an opportunity to gently persuade ber to distance herself from Noreen. She also wanted to make it clear to Mrs. Naylor that no matter how hard Noreen worked, she would never be in Bianca''s league.
She never expected Mrs. Naylor to be so openly biased. What kind of spell had that woman cast on her?
Most of the women in this circle were shrewd enough to read between the lines of Mrs. Naylor''sments, and their expressions grew awkward. But today was Yvonne''s event, and they had to at least pretend to be on her side.
A woman in the middle decided to y peacemaker. "They''re both exceptional, of course. The only real difference is their education. I''ve met that Noreen a few times-I hear she graduated from a state university, just a bachelor''s degree. But to achieve what she has is still very impressive. As for Miss Lowell, she''s brilliant, highly educated, and now she has Mr. Harcourt''s support. Her future is limitless."
Chapter 374
Yvonne''s expression softened at those words. "A toast, everyone," she said, raising her ss. "Thank you all foring to celebrate with me."
Meanwhile, Healy had excused himself from a business dinner. As he was leaving, Jude Wilder caught up to him. "Where are you going? Take me with you!" The endless shop talk was putting him to sleep.
"You sure?" Healy asked nonchntly.
"Definitely! This dinner is torture."
"I suppose it''s fine. You know her, after all."
"Who?" Jude pressed.
"Noreen."
Jude''s face fell. "You know what? I think I''ll go back and listen to the boring shop talk after all."
"I told you that you wouldn''t like it, but you had to ask," Healy teased. "Is this what Noreen''s reputation hase to?"
"I''m out," Jude said, turning away. He was convinced she was bad luck for him. Just as Healy arrived at The Moonstone Bistro, so did Bianca. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. "Healy, you came! I thought you said you couldn''t make it?" Healy''s mind briefly nked. He hadn''t expected to run into her. Scrambling for an excuse, he asked, "Why isn''t Seth with you?"
"He had a family matter to attend to but said he''d pick me upter," Bianca exined. "The party''s already started. Let''s go in."
"Sorry, I''m actually here to meet a friend," Healy demurred. "Please say hello to your mother for me."
Bianca''s smile faltered, but she kept herposure. "Well, you could at least stop by for a minute to show your face. You know I''ve always considered you a friend."
"I''ll see," Healy replied vaguely. He gave her a slight nod and walked into the restaurant.
Bianca watched him go, her expression cool. Instead of heading to her mother''s private room, she followed in the direction Healy had gone.
Healy had just knocked and entered a room, the door not quitetching behind him. As Bianca walked past she nced inside and saw Noreen. Her brow tightened for a second
before she smoothed her
expression, a flicker of
wno This content belongs to find[?]ovel
disappointment in her eyes.
Noreen was surprised to see Healy, though she quickly guessed Mrs. Naylor had tipped him off. He, however, imed he''d heard by chance that she was here and thought he''d stop by to say hello,, remarking on the coincidence Noreen didn''t call him out on it, simply inviting him to sit.
She and Vincent had nearly finished their meal before he arrived, so it wasn''t long
before their dinner concluded. Noreen stepped out first to settle the bill and ran
into Yvonne, who was gging down a waiter to order more dishes.
Noreen didn''t know Yvonne personally but recognized her from the bid presentation with Bianca.
Assuming they were close, shaet
ignored her and went straight to the front desk. The hostess informed her that the owner had already taken care of her bill.
"I know, but I''d feel better if I paid," Noreen insisted.
The hostess hesitated, about to call Mrs. Naylor, but Noreen stopped her. "I''ll
speak with Mrs. Naylor about itter, don''t worry."
After paying, Noreen was about to return to the room when someone else walked
in. She nced up instinctively and saw Seth.
He saw her too. Before she could look away, he was walking toward her.
"Stomach problems, and you''re still eating spicy food?"
Noreen''s brow tightened. What was he ying at? He must have had an ulterior motive.
Chapter 375
Noreen had no intention of responding. Just as she was about to turn away, Bianca''s cheerful voice rang out from behind her. "Seth, you''re here! I''ve been waiting for you! Do you want toe in and say hello to my mom and her friends?"
Noreen let out a soft scoff and turned back toward her room, her disdain for the scene radiating off her in waves.
Bianca saw Noreen but didn''t spare her a second nce. In her mind, Noreen was a non-entity. She was certain, absolutely positive, that Seth''s heart belonged only to her. Noreen posed no threat and therefore warranted no attention.
As the two women passed each other, a waiter carrying a sizzling pot of beef stew hurried toward a private room. "Excuse me, careful, this is hot!" he called out. Just as he spoke, his foot caught on something, and he stumbled, lurching forward.
The stone pot was fresh off the stove, its contents still boiling violently. A ssh from that would cause a severe burn. Directly in the waiter''s path were Noreen and Bianca-one with her back to him, the other facing him.
Bianca saw iting and had a moment to react. Noreen, however, waspletely unaware of the danger behind her.
Healy, emerging from the room to look for Noreen, saw the scene unfold. His face paled. "Noreen, look out!" he yelled.
A split second after Healy''s warning, a hand gripped Noreen''s arm, yanking her back. She spun around,nding hard against someone''s chest, her nose colliding with their corbone. The familiar, cool scent of sandalwood filled her senses. Official source is Find¡ïNovel
A muffled groan sounded from above her just as Bianca shrieked, "Seth, are you burned?"
Healy rushed over, his face etched with worry. "Noreen, are you okay?"
Noreen pushed herself out of Seth''s embrace and saw that hot soup had sshed all over his right hand. Arge patch of skin was already an angry red. Her brow furrowed, and she grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the bar. She immediately ran it under cold water to cool the burn while telling someone to call an ambnce. Her reaction was faster than anyone else''s.
Bianca''s eyes were red with tears. "Seth, does it hurt?"
Beads of cold sweat formed on Seth''s forehead, but he shook his head. "I''m fine. Are you hurt?"
¡°No,¡± Bianca said, her voice shaky. As her shock subsided, she reyed the scene in her mind. Had Seth just saved Noreen? The question hung in herthoughts, but before she could ask, Healy spoke up.
"That was close. Seth must have grabbed the wrong person in the heat of the moment," he said smoothly. "But it was a lucky mistake. Bianca, could have dodged it, but Noreen had her back turned and wouldn''t have seen iting."
Noreen kept her eyes down, focused on treating Seth''s burn. *So he saved the wrong person.* She and Bianca had been standing very close to each other in the sudden chaos, it made sense that he would have grabbed the wrong arm.
Seth didn''t deny it.
Bianca visibly rxed and took Seth''s hand. "Let me."
Noreen naturally let go. With Bianca there, she wasn''t needed. She had only helped out of a sense of gratitude for what he''d done.
Seth didn''t look at her again, his actions reinforcing the idea that it had all been an ident.
"This looks pretty serious. We should get to the hospital," Bianca said, her voiceced with concern. "Let''s just drive. No point waiting for an ambnce."
"Okay," Seth nodded, trying to reassure her. "I''m fine."
Healy arranged for a car to take Seth to the hospital, and a flustered Yvonne went with them. As he was getting in, he remembered to ask Noreen if she wanted toe along.
Chapter 376
But when he looked back, Noreen was gone from the main dining room.
She had already returned to her private room.
Later that evening, Healy sent Noreen a text with a concise update on Seth''s condition.
"His hand is burned, pretty badly, but they treated it right away. Should be okay."
Noreen simply replied, "Got it."
Healy stared at the screen for a long time, but no second message ever came. It seemed she really didn''t care about Seth anymore.
Jude, having had too much to drink at an event the night before, had gone home and passed out,pletely unaware of Seth''s injury. The next day, when he found out, he rushed to the hospital.
Only Bianca was in the room, looking as though she had been there all night.
"Bianca, you should go home and get some rest," Jude said. "I''m free today, I can stay with Seth."
Bianca was hesitant, but Seth also urged her, "Go get some sleep."
"Okay. Call me if you need anything." Before she left, Bianca fussed over Seth, reminding him of what to do and instructing Jude to take good care of him.
After she was gone, Jude flopped onto the sofa. "Man, Bianca really loves you."
Seth didn''t respond, leaning back against the pillows with his eyes closed. But Jude was too much of a gossip to stay quiet. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? fin?novel
"So, I heard you saved the wrong person yesterday? You were trying to save Bianca but ended up saving Noreen by mistake?¡±
"You''re noisy," Seth said, his tone t.
Jude,pletely missing the hint, barreled on "So what was Noreen''s reaction? Was she moved to tears? She probably thinks you still have feelings for her." He grinned. "I bet she''ll find an excuse to visit you today and wait on you hand and foot."
"You''re overthinking it," Seth replied, his voice still cool.
"Want to bet?" Jude insisted. "She''ll definitely show up! She wouldn''t miss an opportunity like this!" He was speaking from experience; that was exactly how Noreen used to be.
But Jude waited all day, and Noreen never appeared.
"Seriously? She''s noting?" he finally burst out, unable to sit still any longer. "You got hurt saving her. and she''s just going to ignore you? He paced back and forth across the room. .
Seth remained calm, working on hisptop with his uninjured hand. Finally, annoyed by the pacing, he nced up. "I told you she wouldn''te."
"But it doesn''t make any sense."
Jude went to the door and peered out into the hallway. He even suspected Noreen might have already arrived and was just hiding, waiting for him to leave.
But the only person who appeared was Bianca, who, after getting some rest, had rushed back to the hospital. Not wanting to be a third wheel, Jude said his goodbyes and left.
Outside the hospital, he looked up at the gray sky and sighed. People really do change.
Noreen had just sent her business n to Mrs Joyner when Vincent called. He told her he had scheduled a meeting with a potential investor. Developing a new semiconductor chip wasn''t something that could be done overnight; it required a massive amount of capital. Vincent''s idea was to bring in another major investor to elerate the project and ease Noreen''s financial burden.
Noreen had no objections. As far as she was concerned, anything that helped the project was a good thing.
They arranged to meet that afternoon. Noreen postponed a meeting and was just leaving her office when Sophia, sitting at her desk, let out a sharp gasp.
Chapter 377
"What is it?" Noreen paused to ask.
Sophia looked up, indignant. "The wealth rankings were updated this morning. There''s a new name at the top of the ''Richest Women'' list!"
Noreen tapped Sophia''s desk with two fingers. "cking off again? I told you, it''s an unofficial list. Don''t pay any attention to it."
"I was trying not to, but the person at number one is just so infuriating!"
"It''s Bianca, isn''t it?"
Sophia froze. "How did you know?" She hadn''t even dared to say the name.
But Noreen seemedpletely unfazed. "They must have finalized the share transfer quickly," she mused. "Guess his injury wasn''t that serious after all." Even with a burned hand, he didn''t waste any time signing over Ascendancy Group. His devotion was truly something else. Readplete version only at find?novel
Before leaving, Noreen tapped Sophia on the head. "Get back to work. I''m heading out and won''t be back today."
"Are you going drinking? If so, take me with you."
"No drinking."
"Good. By the way, your period is due in a couple of days, so be careful. No cold food or drinks. I put some pads in the side pocket of your bag."
"Got it."
Noreen always made a habit of arriving early for appointments, so when she got to the private room at the restaurant, no one else was there. She ordered some tea and waited patiently.
A few momentster, the Japanese-style sliding door opened. Expecting Vincent, Noreen looked up with a smile, only to see Henry Brooke.
When Henry saw her, a flicker of disgust crossed his handsome features. He took a step back, checking the namete on the door to confirm he was in the right ce. Seeing that he was, be looked back at Noreen, his expression colder than before.
From his reaction, Noreen had a good idea of who he was. Out of politeness, she stood and greeted him. "Mr. Vincent said he''s running a littlete. Please,e in, Mr. Brooke."
Henry gave her a brief, dismissive nce, but her polite tone seemed to cate him enough to enter and take a seat.
His first words were blunt. "Are you the partner Mr. Vincent was talking about?"
Noreen disliked his tone, but considering he was Vincent''s contact, she felt she had to give him some face. She nodded. "Yes. Mr. Vincent and I have already discussed the details and are now-"
Henry cut her off. "I had no idea the partner he wanted to introduce was you, I had known. I would not have corne today. His words were dripping with disdain, making no effort to hide his prejudice against her.
Noreen fell silent, simply watching him with a cid expression, as if he were putting on a show.
Her gaze seemed to irritate him. He was about to say something more when his phone rang. The moment he saw the caller ID, his aggressive demeanor melted away He covered the receiver with ishand his voice gentle. ¡°Bianca? Are you here?¡± C¨®ntent
"I''lle out to meet you," he said, getting up and leaving the room.
Noreen couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow. He had invited Bianca too? Did he not know that Vincent had left Ascendancy Group precisely because of a conflict with her?
This was getting interesting.
Just as Henry left, Vincent arrived. "Ms. Gilmore, my apologies for the wait," he said, exining that he had been stuck in traffic. "Have you met Mr. Brooke? He should have been here by now."
"I have."
It was clear Henry hadn''t mentioned Bianca to Vincent yet; otherwise, he wouldn''t
be so calm. Just as Noreen was about to speak, Henry returned with Bianca.
"Mr. Vincent,¡± Henry said, gesturing to Bianca. "Bianca, this is the Mr. Vincent I was telling you about."
Chapter 378
Bianca was clearly surprised, her expression awkward for a fleeting moment before she recovered, extending her hand graciously. "Mr. Vincent. It''s been a while."
Henry beamed. "Oh, you two know each other? Even better."
Out of courtesy, Vincent shook her hand, but his expression was lukewarm. Henry, however, was so focused on Bianca that he didn''t notice.
"Mr. Vincent," Henry began enthusiastically, "the person I mentioned on the phone was Bianca. She has a PhD in Finance from a top international university and led one of thergest port acquisition deals in recent years. She has the credentials and the experience. My proposal is a three-way partnership: you provide the technology, I provide the capital, and Bianca handles the business operations. I''m certain we can make this project a massive sess."
Vincent listened, a faint smile on his lips. "So this was the brilliant n you mentioned on the phone."
Henry missed the coolness in his tone and continued to sing Bianca''s praises. "She has a long list of sessful projects. The recentlyunched mobile game, *Aetheria*, was her brainchild. She has a real talent for market strategy, and as for herwork..." Henry paused. He wasn''t keen on bringing up Seth, but it was his trump card. "Well, with Mr. Harcourt of Aurelion Group backing her, her connections are second to none."
This was the source of Bianca''s confidence. Even if she and Vincent had their differences, money talked. With Henry''s glowing rmendation and Seth in her corner, she believed any smart person would know which side to choose.
Throughout the exchange, Bianca kept an eye on Noreen, who had remained silent, her expression unreadable. She was probably just putting on a brave face. Vincent nced at Bianca before finally speaking. "Mr. Brooke, I appreciate the offer, but Ms. Gilmore and I have already reached an agreement. I''m afraid we won''t be considering a partnership with Miss Lowell. My apologies." Henry''s face fell.
Bianca, however, remainedposed. "Mr. Vincent, if you''re still upset about what happened before, I am willing to apologize.¡±
Vincent waved his hand dismissively. "That''s all in the past. For me, this is a matter of integrity. Ms. Gilmore has invested a great deal into this project, and I can''t simply betray her trust."
"Mr. Vincent..." Henry started to protest.
But Vincent stood up. "I''m sorry, but I don''t think there''s anything more to discuss Goodbye." He then turned to Noreen Ms. Gilmore, my apologies for wasting your time." For more chapters visit ?ovelFind
"Don''t worry about it," Noreen said. "Shall we leave together?"
"Yes." Vincent wanted to discuss things further with her anyway.
"Mr. Vincent, I think we should talk more about this," Henry said, trying to get him to stay.
Noreen had already stepped out of
the room, deciding to wait for Vincent in the hallway. She hadn''t taken more than a few steps when she ran into Seth. Of course she thought. Bianca''s here, so it''s only natural he would be too.*
She continued walking, ignoring himpletely. But as she passed, he spoke. "Here for a meeting?"
Noreen frowned silently, not bothering to answer.
The door to the adjacent private room opened, and Yves Elwyn stepped out. "Well, look at this, Ms. Gilmore! What a coincidence. You a. coincidence. You
have to join us for a drink, it''s all''old friends in here."
Noreen nced into the room and saw it was true. It seemed only right to say hello, so she stepped inside.
"Someone pour Ms. Gilmore a drink!" Hugh Summers called out. "Our Ms. Gilmore has been on quite a rolltely."
"Mr. Harcourt and Ms. Gilmore, did you arrive together?" Yves asked when he noticed Seth had followed her in.
Chapter 379
Only then did Noreen realize Seth was in the room with her.
"Yes," Seth said.
"No," Noreen said at the same time.
Yvesughed. "Looks like you two didn''t coordinate your stories."
Noreen didn''t know what Seth was up to and couldn''t be bothered to guess.
"Ms. Gilmore, a toast!" Hugh Summers said cheerfully, raising his ss. "To celebrate you bing the richest woman in Rivercrest City!"
"Your news is a bit outdated, Mr. Summers," Yves chimed in. "The list has been updated. The new number one is Mr. Harcourt''s fianc¨¦e, Director Lowell."
Hugh hadn''t heard; the list had just changed that morning. "My apologies! I''m behind the times. But this toast is still for Ms. Gilmore."
Noreen was about to say she had driven and couldn''t drink when a hand reached out and took the ss from in front of her. She noticed it was covered by a ckpression glove.
"Ms. Gilmore likely drove," Seth said, his voice even. "I''ll take this for her."
His words made Noreen pause, and she finally looked at him properly. What was he doing? Defending her from a drink? That was absurd.
Before she could object, Seth had already downed the ss of liquor. But she felt no gratitude, only annoyance at his pointless gesture. She didn''t need anyone to run interference for her.
"Seth, what are you doing here?"
Bianca''s voice cut through the room before Noreen could speak. She must have seen Seth as she was passing by the open door. So they hadn''te together after all.
"We were just talking about Director Lowell, and here she is! So, Mr. Harcourt, you came with her," Yves said, offering Bianca a seat. For original chapters go to ?ovelFind
Bianca smiled sweetly. "No, I was here for a meeting myself. I had no idea Seth would be here too. What a coincidence." She then turned to Seth with a yful pout. "You should have told me you wereing. I would have loved to say hello to everyone."
"I didn''t want to interrupt your business," Seth replied, the cool edge in his voice softening as he looked at her.
Bianca leaned closer, catching the scent of alcohol. "Have you been drinking?"
"Mr. Harcourt just took a drink for Ms. Gilmore," Yves exined.
Bianca''s brow furrowed, and she pressed her lips together, clearly confused by his action.
Sensing her displeasure, Seth exined, "Everyone else here is a gentleman. We can''t have the onlydy in the room drinking, can we?" His tone was devoid of any warmth as he said it, his gaze indifferent, never oncending on Noreen. He was making it clear that his gesture was purely a matter of social etiquette.
Bianca decided her worry was misced. Everyone could see how devoted Seth was to her. She had no reason to doubt him. "That''s very chivalrous of you," she said, he "Bot
Voiceced with t
chivalry should be selective. You wouldn''t want to give someone the wrong impression."
The implication hung in the air, making everyone in the room a little ufortable.
"Everyone, I have another appointment, so I must be going," Noreen announced, eager to leave. She had only meant to say a quick hello anyway. She turned and walked out of the room.
Behind her, she could hear Yves starting to cheer, trying to get Seth and Bianca to make a toast to their future. Seth readily agreed.
As she walked away, the sounds from the room faded. Down the hall, she saw Henry standing at the end, his eyes fixed on the room Bianca had just entered, his face
ask of disappointm
saw Noreen, however, his expression hardened into a cold re.
he
He remembered Vincent''s refusal. It had been so swift, so absolute, as if Noreen
was the only option.
Chapter 380
Even Henry''s most generous offer hadn''t been enough to sway him. Frustrated, Henry had finally asked Vincent directly, "Is it because of Noreen that you''re unwilling to work with us?"
Vincent''s answer had been just as direct. "Yes."
"I thought you were a man who could separate business from personal matters."
"I am," Vincent had said frankly. "But it depends on the person. When Ms. Gilmore and I discuss the project, she always approaches it from a founder''s perspective. You and Director Lowell, on the other hand, only see it from an investor''s point of view. That is the difference between you. A startup needs more than just funding."
With Vincent''s mind made up, Henry knew he had to make a choice. But he couldn''t bring himself to give up on bringing Bianca into the deal.
Back at his hotel, Henry was nning his next move when his father, Sanford Brooke, called. He said he would bending in Rivercrest City the next afternoon and nned to visit Professor Halley Joyner, telling Henry to join him. Henry agreed.
...
That evening, Noreen received a call from Mrs. Joyner, who was incredibly impressed with her business n. She even asked how Noreen had managed to make such a typically dry document sopelling and interesting.
Noreen thought for a moment. "Because someone once told me that you should write a business n like a love letter." ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F¦Énd£Îovel
It was the first time Mrs. Joyner had heard such a description, and she was captivated by the idea. The purpose of a business n, after all, was to win over investors, to make them fall in love with your project. It was just like writing a love letter-you had to find a way to capture their interest and make them choose you.
Mrs. Joyner scheduled a meeting for the following week to discuss the acquisition in detail, and Noreen readily epted.
Just as she hung up, Dn Wilder called. He asked if she was free the next day to visit Professor Joyner with him. Noreen said she was; even if she weren''t, she would make time.
"I''ll pick you up tomorrow, then."
Noreen agreed.
The next day, Dn was waiting for her outside Winrich Tower, a bouquet of sunflowers in his hand. "I passed a flower shop on the way," he said with a casual smile.
"They''re beautiful." Few women could resist flowers, and Noreen was no exception.
Seeing her delight, Dn''s mood brightened. He opened the car door for her. "Let''s go."
After the car pulled away, Bianca emerged from the building''s lobby. She had been at TechVenture to check on Aetheria*''s progress and hadn''t expected to see Dn. She had noticed something before, by today it was ridenfable. The way Dn looked at Noreen was different. Very different.
Her brow furrowed deeply. She couldn''t make sense of it. What''s more, since returning to the country, Dn had been distant, almost
Pasif
he were intentionally avoiding their
old circle of friends.
Once in her car, Bianca called Jude and asked if he knew what Dn had been up totely.
"No idea. I haven''t seen him in days."
"Can you find out for me?"
Jude, never one for subtlety, did exactly that, calling Dn''s secretary directly. A few minutester, he called Bianca back. "Dn has a lunch meeting today at The Eastern Gardens."
When Dn and Noreen arrived at The Eastern Gardens, Halley and Sanford were already there, sipping tea. Sanford recognized Dn but not Noreen and asked who she was. Noreen nced at Halley, who remained silent, so she simply said she was a friend of Dn''s.
Sanford misinterpreted this, smiling as he remarked that they made a handsome couple. He then sighed that his own son, who was getting on in years, was still single.
Checking the time, he saw that Henry waste. He pulled out his phone to call him.
Chapter 381
Henry had, in fact, already arrived at The Eastern Gardens. As he was walking through the lobby, he saw a familiar figure. He stopped short, and the words he''d been about to say to his father changed. "Dad, something''se up. I''ll be a littlete. Please apologize to Professor Joyner for me."
Before Sanford could ask any questions, Henry hung up and walked over to Bianca.
"Bianca."
She looked up, surprised. "Henry? Are you here for lunch?"
"Yes. You?"
"Me too."
Henry hesitated. "Are you meeting someone?"
"Yes." Bianca seemed to be in a hurry and didn''t linger to chat.
Henry wanted to talk more, but he didn''t want to hold her up. "Okay, well, you go on ahead. We should have lunch together sometime."
"Of course," Bianca said before hurrying off.
Henry stood rooted to the spot, watching her until she disappeared from view. In ten days, she would be engaged to Seth, and he would bepletely out of her life. He had wanted to ask her so many times if she was happy with Seth, but the words always caught in his throat.
She must be happy, he reasoned. Seth''s affection for her was always on grand disy. He had even gifted her the most profitablepany under his name. Henry had to admit, he couldn''t have done the same. He had lost to Seth.
Feeling a wave of mncholy, Henry went to the smoking area to clear his head.
Back in the private room, Noreen''s simple exnation that she was Dn''s friend seemed to satisfy Sanford, who turned his attention back to Halley, discussing the previous year''s stock market performance.
"Speaking of which, I really have to thank you, Professor Joyner," Sanford said earnestly. "Back when mypany was still small, we hit a severe cash flow problem. I came to you as ast resort, and you@sed your strategic model to analyze the market trends for me. It allowed me to take a huge risk that paid off, turning everything around. That''s how thepany grew to what it is today. To you!" He raised his ss.
Halley waved his hand. "You bring that up every time we meet. It''s getting embarrassing."
"It was a life-changing favor! I will never forget it. Without you, Sanford Brooke wouldn''t be where he is today. I''d probably be delivering pizzas!"
Halley chuckled. "Actually, I''m not the one you should be thanking. I didn''t create that analysis model."
Sanford froze. "You didn''t? Then who did?"
Halley seemed reluctant to borate, but Dn nced over at Noreen, who quickly looked down at her te, not daring to make a sound.
Sanford''s curiosity was piqued. "Whoever created a model like that must be incredibly sessful by now! Their analytical skills are off the charts, and theirmand of data is almost frighteningly precise. With that kind of vision and talent, they must have achieved great things!" Read full story at find[?]ovel
To his surprise, Halley let out a cold snort. "Her? Let''s not even talk about her."
Sanford was speechless.
Noreen, who had been trying to make herself invisible, suddenly choked on her food.
Dn kindly handed her a napkin. "Slow down," he teased. "No one''s going to steal your food."
Noreen''s face flushed as she shot a nervous nce at Halley, who was now ring in her direction, his words clearly aimed at her.
"Just thinking about her makes my blood boil! Completely love-struck! She could have reached the highest echelons of her field, but she threw it all away for some worthless guy!"
¡°*Cough, cough, cough...*" Noreen choked again.
"What''s with you today?¡± Dn teased, a grin ying on his lips.
Chapter 382
Noreen shot him a pleading look, which only made Dn''s smile widen.
Sanford, hearing Halley''s ount, looked genuinely regretful. "What a shame! And to think it was a young woman! From the way you talk, she must have been quite young?"
"She was. A prodigy. She was only sixteen when she developed that model."
Sanford gasped. "A genius! What a terrible waste! If she had stayed in that field, she could have been the next investment guru."
Halley sighed heavily. "Love makes fools of us all."
"*Cough, cough, cough, cough...*"
Noreen''s repeated choking fits finally drew Sanford''s attention. "Youngdy, are you feeling unwell? I used to choke like that all the time when I had bronchitis."
"No, it''s just... the food is a bit spicy," Noreen mumbled, wishing the floor would swallow her whole.
Just then, her phone rang, saving her. She answered, and whatever the person on the other end said made her face pale.
"I''m on my way!"
Noreen stood up, apologizing to Halley and Sanford. "I''m so sorry, but I have an emergency I need to take care of."
"Go, go," Halley said, waving her off.
"You didn''t drive. Let me take you," Dn offered.
"No, you stay and eat with... Professor Joyner. I can get there myself."
"Then take my car." Dn handed her his keys.
This time, Noreen didn''t refuse. She took the keys and hurried out.
After she left, Sanford continued toment the fall of the young genius, asking
Halley how he had discovered such a talent.
Halley didn''t hide the details. "She
won the national junior Math Olympiad at fourteen. She has an incredible mind for logic and analysis, and that strong
heavel
mathematical foundation helps her understand and assess investment risks, allowing her to make rational decisions based on data."
"That''s a skill set applicable to almost any industry." In truth, Halley had wanted to push Noreen to achieve even greater things. A pity...
Sanford felt the same sense of loss. A Math Olympiad champion. Thatpetition wasn''t about training; it was about relentless selection, weeding out thousands upon thousands until only the absolute best remained.
"Well, let''s not talk about her anymore," Halley said, a shadow of disappointment crossing his face. Official source is find?novel
Sanford took the hint and changed
the subject to his son, Henry, mentioning his recent interest in investing in tech projects. He hade to Rivercrest City specifically to recruit talent that area, amove Sanford fully supported. He saw a spark of his own youthfubambition in his son.
Thinking of Henry, Sanford called him again. "Are you here yet?"
"I''ve arrived."
When Henry finally joined them, he apologized for his tardiness. As he sat down,
he noticed a used set of cutlery on the table. "Was someone else here?" he asked.
"Oh, that was a friend of Dn''s. She had to leave for an emergency," Sanford exined.
Henry didn''t press further.
After the meal, once Halley and Dn had left, Sanford brought up their earlier conversation with his son. Henry''s interest was suddenly piqued "Are you saying that the investment model that saved the Brooke family was created by the Professor''s female apprentice?"
"Yes. But she was love-struck. Threw away a brilliant future for some man."
Henry immediately thought of Bianca following Dn abroad. It all fit. So, she had done the Brooke family such a massive favor all those years ago.
Chapter 383
At the hospital, the doctor announced that Vincent was out of danger, and Noreen let out a long, shaky breath. She sent the housekeeper home, choosing to stay
until he woke up.
In the meantime, Dn texted to ask how things were. Noreen exined that a friend had copsed but was now stable. He then asked which hospital she was at, clearly intending toe by. Noreen sent him the address.
By the time Dn arrived, Vincent had just regained consciousness. Seeing Noreen''s worried expression, he was filled with guilt. "Miss Gilmore, I''m so sorry to have troubled you."
"Don''t say that. Just focus on getting better. Your health is what''s important," Noreen said gently.
Vincent sighed. "It''s my heart. It''s hereditary." He then looked at her, curious. "How did you know I copsed?"
"When I visited your hometown to find you, I noticed some heart medication on your coffee table," Noreen exined. "So I asked your housekeeper to check in on you a couple of extra times each day and to call me immediately if anything happened."
With his wife and child back in his hometown, Vincent lived alone, with only a part- time housekeepering and going. Noreen''s simple request had likely saved his life. The thought of what could have happened sent a chill down Vincent''s spine. He was only thirty-five, with a five-year-old child. If something had happened to him, his family''s world would have shattered.
He owed his life to Noreen''s thoughtfulness. "Miss Gilmore, you saved me," he said, his voice thick with gratitude.
Noreen just told him not to dwell on it and to rest. She arranged for a diligent nurse to look after him and, after giving him a few more words of encouragement, left the room with Dn.
As they waited for the elevator, Dn asked if she was hungry. She had barely eaten anything at lunch before rushing off. After the stressful afternoon, Noreen realized she was starving.
"I figured you would be," Dn said with a warm smile. "I''ve already booked a table. We can head straight over." He raised his hand and, just like he used to, affectionately ruffled her hair.
The elevator doors slid open. Inside, Bianca was talking to Seth. "I have to fly to Westbrook tomorrow for the *Aetheriaunch event, so I can''t be with you when you get your dressing changed. I''ll have Judee instead." Get full chapters from Find~Novel
"It''s fine, your work is more important. It''s just a dressing change, I can handle it myself."
Bianca was about to say more when she saw the two people waiting outside. Her words caught in her throat.
"Dn," she said, her voice tight. When she saw Noreen standing beside him, her expression turned to ice.
Dn gave a curt nod in acknowledgment.
Noreen, however, didn''t even nce into their elevator. She simply walked over to the one next to it. Seth''s eyes followed her automatically.
Feeling his gaze, Noreen looked up and met his deep, dark eyes. Her expression instantly cooled. Seth lowered his gaze, looking away.
Just then, the elevator doors closed, cutting them off.
Dn noticed that Noreen had changed. Even when faced with
Seth, she showed no flicker of
sorrow It was as if he were a
or
plete stranger
...
The next morning, Noreen brewed some ginseng chicken soup and brought it to
the hospital for Vincent. In the lobby, she ran into Jude.
The moment Jude saw her, his first
instinct was to hide. But then a thought stopped him. His eyes fell on the thermos in Noreen''s hand, and a smirk yed on his lips.
Chapter 384
Finding an outlet for his frustration, he couldn''t stop himself. "And here I thought you were so high and mighty. Turns out it was all an act. You pretended you were too good to visit Seth, but look at you now." He sneered. "You only dared toe today because you knew Bianca was out of town, didn''t you?"
Noreen''s eyes were cold. "You really should have been a screenwriter."
Her simple sentence hit a nerve. Jude practically jumped. "Why can''t you just admit it? Are you going to tell me that soup isn''t for Seth?"
She shouldn''t have bothered responding. Noreen started to walk away.
But Jude wasn''t finished. He followed her, his voice dripping with scorn. "Let me guess, you were so moved that Seth identally saved you that you think you have another chance, so you''vee crawling back?"
"You''re so full of yourself!"
"Seth and Bianca are getting engaged. You don''t stand a chance, so stop wasting your time!"
"And no matter how hard you try, Bianca will always be better than you! She develops an Al, you develop an Al. She bids on the Port Redevelopment Project, you bid on it. Sheunches a game, youunch a game. And what''s the result? Her game is having a massiveunch, and yours is nowhere to be seen." A look of sudden realization crossed his face. "You''re doing all this just to get Seth''s
attention, aren''t you?"
So, she was still the same drama queen she''d always been.
Noreen had intended to ignore him-she was busy and still had a meeting after visiting Vincent¡ªbut being snapped at like a stray dog was getting on her nerves. She stopped abruptly and fixed him with an icy re.
Jude, who had been so aggressive just a moment ago, felt a sudden pang of fear. "Wh-what?" he stammered, his bravado vanishing. "Am I wrong? Bianca *is* better than you..."
"Instead of ying bodyguard for someone else''s rtionship, you should spend your time learning how to run apany. Maybe then your father couldve a few more years!"
Seymour Group''s situation was dire, and Jude had pinned all his hopes on Aetheria expecting its profits to ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? findnovel
Seir cash flow crisis. Itwas
pure fantasy.
"And for the record," she added, her voice sharp, "I hope Seth and Bianca get married and stay locked together for life!"
They were all delusional, acting like Seth was some kind of grand prize. When she loved him, he might have been a treasure. Now that she didn''t, he was nothing.
Jude was stunned into silence, his mouth hanging slightly open.
Finally, some peace and quiet. Noreen turned to leave, but then she heard Jude call out behind her. "Seth."
Noreen''s brow twitched. Why was her luck so badtely? It was like the universe was conspiring to make them cross paths.
Seth looked at Noreen, a thoughtful expression in his deep eyes. After a moment, he spoke, "I asked for your blessing before, and you wouldn''t say a word. But now you''re willing to give it?"
Noreen was speechless. That pot of boiling stew must have scrambled his brains.
He even had the audacity to say, with a hint of politeness, "I ept your blessing. Thank you."
There are moments when you are so dumbfounded that words fail you. Not wanting to waste another second, Noreen turned and walked away without looking back.
Jude stared after her,pletely bewildered. This wasn''t how he had imagined this would go. Wasn''t the soup for Seth?
Chapter 385
Even after Noreen had disappeared from sight, Jude was still trying to process what had happened. She just left? Without a single backward nce? This was not how the script in his head was supposed to y out.
"Come on," Seth said, holding the elevator door.
Jude jogged to catch up. Inside, his curiosity got the better of him. "Seth, howe you didn''t go with Bianca to Westbrook for the *Aetheria*unch?"
"She needs to learn to stand on her own two feet," Seth replied, his expression neutral.
"Whoa, Seth, you''re seriously boyfriend goals!" Jude eximed, looking like he''d just witnessed a rom moment. He sighed dramatically. "You guys have the kind of love that leads to marriage."
Seth seemed to have a different topic on his mind. "What has Dn been busy withtely?"
"No clue. I never see him anymore. Every time I ask him to hang out, he says he''s busy. Who knows with him." Jude had beenining about this for a while. He added, "Healy''s the same way. Never around."
"Let''s get everyone together tonight," Seth said suddenly. "For drinks."
This was Jude''s favorite kind of n. "Deal," he said instantly. ¡°Actually, why wait until tonight? Let''s do it this afternoon! Bianca''s press conference is around four, right? We can have a watch party and celebrate for her from here!"
"Whatever you want," Seth said, indifferent.
Jude got right on it, sending out texts and making it clear that attendance was mandatory. If anyone bailed, he''d hunt them down.
After visiting Vincent, Noreen went straight back to the office. She had a meeting in the morning, followed by a video call with Scott Quigley in the afternoon to discuss their project''s progress.
Scott told her he was in Westbrook, having just returned from a small rural vige where he had found a lot of inspiration.
"That''s great to hear," Noreen said.
Scott hesitated, as if he wanted to say something more but was holding back.
"Is something wrong?" Noreen prompted.
"I ran into Ethan Laurent in Westbrook," Scott finally admitted.
"I know. *Aetheria* has its officialunch and offline event there today."
"Yes. It''s a massive event."
Noreen was aware. Seth had always been willing to spare no expense on Bianca''s projects.
"Are you having second thoughts?" she asked gently. Aurelion Group was a powerful backer, after all.
Scott immediately shook his head, "No, that''s not it. What I wanted to say is that there are major problems with Aetheria''ster-stage plot Serious problems." fo
"To be honest, I''ve been following its development," he continued, a note of sadness in his voice. A part of me wanted it to seed. was my baby too, you know?"
"But now... I''m afraid it''s going to run into serious trouble."
As Noreen had said, however, dragging out the inevitable wouldn''t change the
oue. He had made his choice, and he wouldn''t look back.
"Let''s just focus on our own work."
Before ending the call, Noreen told Scott that he could start putting together his own studio as soon as he returned to Rivercrest City. The news instantly lifted Scott''s spirits st was dinnertime, so he invited his assistant out for a celebratory meal.
They had just started eating when Ethan called. Scott knew exactly why he was calling and ignored it. A text from Ethan came through momentster, oozing with smugness.
**Did you see, Scott? I did it!*"
"*Are you too scared to even answer my calls now?*"
"*For old times'' sake, I''ll give you onest chance. Come back to TechVenture ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
and work for me. You know I''ve always admired your talent.*"
Chapter 386
The text bubble showed that Ethan was still typing. Scott simply blocked his number and went back to enjoying his celebratory dinner.
When Ethan''s next message failed to send, his face darkened. He let out a contemptuous scoff. "His loss. Destined to be a broke failure."
Across the room, Bianca called him over, telling him the event was about to start. Ethan practically scurried over, his posture slightly stooped. "Director Lowell, why don''t you make the official announcement to kick things off?"
Bianca smiled. "You''re the founder. It should be you."
Ethan waved his hands frantically. "No, no, *Aetheria* wouldn''t be here today without you, Director Lowell. You absolutely must be the one tounch it."
"Very well," Bianca relented.
Just before the host officially began the event, Bianca received a video call from Jude. She answered to see him with Seth, Healy, and Dn, and her mood instantly soared.
"Bianca!" Jude shouted over the noise. "We got together in Rivercrest City to celebrate with you! A little something to make up for not being there in person." Content originallyes from Find~Novel
"Please thank everyone for me."
"Don''t be so formal! This was all Seth''s idea," Jude said, pointing the camera at Seth. "Right, Seth?"
Seth raised his ss to the camera in a silent toast.
Bianca''s gaze softened. "Message received."
Jude started hamming it up. "Oh man, I bet Seth is holding back on the sweet talk because we''re here! Fine, fine, you can save the mushy stuff for when you''re alone."
Bianca just smiled. "Okay, the event is starting. I have to go."
"Good luck!" someone yelled just before she hung up. "You make us all proud, Bianca!"
Her smile never left her face. The host was already beckoning her to the stage. She paused to send Seth a quick text.
[Seth, I will make you proud.]
He had chosen her so decisively. She would not let him lose. Before putting her phone away, she saw a congrattory message from Henry. She didn''t reply.
With confident grace, she walked onto the stage and, under the watchful eyes of thousands, pressed theunch button. A massive fireworks disy erupted over Westbrook Watching the colors explode in the sky, Bianca felt a profound sense of aplishment.
Her mother called, congratting her on this new milestone but also reminding her not to get carried away and forget her ultimate goal.
"I haven''t forgotten," Bianca assured her. "As soon as I''m back, I''ll talk to Seth about it. With *Aetheria*''s sess as leverage, Mr. Harcourt won''t be able to ignore me anymore."
Yvonne agreed. They were both convinced that Wade Harcourt''s disapproval stemmed from Bianca''sck of significant achievements since returning to the country. This time, Bianca, was determined to Wine and finally earn his respect. F?r a while, she had been disheartened, telling herself that as long as Seth chose her, it was enough. Wade''s eptance didn''t matter; he would eventuallye around.
But recently, as Yvonne sent out invitations to her friends, she noticed a change. The other wives were happy for her on the surface, but behind her back, they whispered that Branca might never truly be epted by Wade. They said that without his approval, her position was no better than that of a mistress.
Chapter 387
A mistress, if you were being kind. A kept woman, if you weren''t. And they were only engaged, a status with no legal protection. Yvonne knew that until the final papers were signed, anything could happen. She repeatedly warned Bianca to be strategic.
"Also, I''ve heard rumors that Wade is meeting withwyers to draft his will," Yvonne added. "Has Seth mentioned anything?"
"No, nothing."
Yvonne frowned. ¡°Does he not know, or is he keeping it from you?"
"He must not know. Seth doesn''t hide things from me." Bianca was confident on this point.
"Still," Yvonne insisted, "when you get back from Westbrook, find an excuse to visit Wade. See what you can find out."
"I will."
Bianca had to get back to the event, so Yvonne ended the call. In their group chat, Jude was spamming celebratory emojis for Bianca and had forwarded the livestream link to his father, telling him the project was about to take off and that he could rest easy.
As the fireworks faded, Ethan and Bianca took the stage to give their speeches. The number of viewers in the livestream chat was climbing, a testament to the event''s sess.
Back at the office, Sophia was recording the stream, muttering to herself. "Thesements have to be from bots, right? Not a single negative one? Impossible."
"There are a hundred thousand people in this stream, and at least eighty thousand of them are fake ounts!"
"I can''t take it anymore. I''m out." She stood up angrily, intending to get a ss of ice water from the break room.
On the screen, Bianca was confidently proiming that *Aetheria* would be the nation''srgest mobile game within five years. In the split second of silence as she paused for apuse, someone threw a rotten egg from the crowd. It sttered directly across her face.
Her perfect makeup was ruined. The foul stench hit her, and she doubled over, vomiting.
The livestream chat erupted.
"Who gave you permission to set off
fireworks in Westbrook?!" a voice
§Ö§ä
yelled from off-camera. "Do you
have any idea what this does to the environment. This is a protected nature reserve! You greedy
capitalists are destroying it for your own profit! You''re sick!"
"Get out of Westbrook!"
"Down with corporate greed!"
The livestream was abruptly cut.
Sophia, who had been halfway out the door, scurried back to her desk and hit
rey. And again. And again. The frustration that had been building all afternoon vanished in a wave of pure satisfaction. The rightful source is F¦ÉndNovel
*Glorious.*
She grabbed her tablet and burst into Noreen''s office without
knocking. Noreen was on the phone with Mrs. Joyner, discussing the
acquisition Sophia''s sudden
entrance made her frown What is
it?" shovels
"Noreen, you have to see this!" Sophia held out the tablet, reying the clip.
Recording the livestream had been
Noreen''s idea; she liked to keep up with industry trends. Sophia had been reluctant at first, but now she
was grateful for N?reen''s foresight. The clip was short, less than a minute, but it had captured everything before the feed was cut.
Even Noreen was surprised.
"Noreen," Sophia whispered conspiratorially, "was that you...?"
"Stop right there. I don''t have time for that kind of thing."
Chapter 388
She and Bianca werepetitors, yes, but Noreen had always yed fair. She had no interest in underhanded tactics. Updates are released by find(?)ovel
Sophia had to agree. And that''s what made it so satisfying. Bianca had brought this entirely upon herself.
Noreen shooed Sophia out and returned to her call with Mrs. Joyner. By the time they finished, it was nearly the end of the workday. She checked her phone and saw a flood of messages, most of them from ire Chase.
¡°Babe, I was watching the livestream. Bitch Bianca got egged hahahahahahaha..."
The text wasn''t enough to convey her glee. It was followed by a 60-second voice message. Noreen pressed y, expecting an excited rant, but was met instead with ire''s demonic, cacklingughter, which continued for the full minute. She had no idea why she''d just wasted 60 seconds of her life listening to it.
"Is this what corporate warfare hase to? You mess with my money tree, I throw rotten eggs at you?" ire texted next.
"I didn''t do anything. She walked right into that one herself," Noreen replied.
ire sent back a knowing-look emoji. "It''s called karma!"
Noreen couldn''t help but agree.
She had just gotten into her car when Evelyn called, asking her to stop by the Harcourt residence after work to pick up some traditional medicine. When Noreen arrived, Evelyn had already prepared dinner and was just waiting for her.
Wade was in a cheerful mood. After dinner, he invited Noreen for a game of chess and asked about Winrich''s progress. When he heard she was in talks to acquire Centribo, he nodded in approval. "Centribo has a solid foundation, but itcks the tech talent to break through to the next level. With Vincent on board, that problem will be solved.¡± He paused, then added, ¡°Talent is the core of anypany. You have to know how to utilize it. That''s the key to long-term sess." Vision, strategy, and leadership-all were essential.
Evelyn brought them some herbal tea, beaming. "Mr. Harcourt hasn''t been this happy in a long time. Noreen, you should visit more often."
Noreen smiled and agreed.
While Evelyn was packing up the medicine and some homemade shrimp dumplings for Noreen, she cared Seth telling him toe by and pick up his medicine as well. Evelyn always used speakerphone, So Noreen heard Seth''s reply clearly.
"I''m in Westbrook right now, I can''t. Just leave it there. I''ll get it when I''m back in Rivercrest City."
"What are you doing in Westbrook?" Evelyn asked, confused. "Is it for work?"
"Just handling something."
He was vague, but Noreen knew exactly why he was there. He had always been meticulous about Bianca''s affairs, never allowing for the slightest misstep. The moment she ran into trouble, he was on the first flight out to smooth things over for her.
Noreen calmly ced a chess piece on the board.
Across from her, Wade seemed to lose his appetite for the game. He set his piece down. "It''s gettingte. You should head home and get some rest. Drive safely."
"I will."
Noreen had just gotten home when a video call came in from ire. She had clearly just finished filming for the day, her makeup still on, but she couldn''t wait to vent.
"Bitch Bianca has all the luck! Her livestream was a disaster, but there''s been absolutely no fallout!"
"You''re still following this?" Noreen asked with a sigh.
"I can''t stand seeing her happy! It drives me crazy," ire grumbled. "I can''t find a single news story about it. What are the media even doing these days? This should be huge scandal!"
"Because Seth stepped in."
Chapter 389
Although the livestream had arge audience, the feed was cut quickly, limiting
the initial spread. With Seth''s resources, suppressing the story wasn''t difficult. And given how much he cared for Bianca, he would spare no expense to clear the path for her.
That was exactly what infuriated ire. "That''s Jerk Seth for you! Always cleaning up other people''s messes! All those years you spent on him were aplete waste!"
Noreen couldn''t have agreed more. "You''re right. I used to think that if you were good to people, they would be good to you in return. Now I realize it''s better to just be good to yourself. No middleman to take a cut."
ire could tell that Noreen had truly moved on, and she was genuinely happy for her. Still, she had to ask, "Do you have any regrets?" After all, it had been seven years of her life.
Noreen thought for a moment. "There''s no such thing as regret, only misced hope."
"That''s my girl," ire said, her voice full of admiration. "Anyway, this is still worth celebrating! If you''re free,e pick me up at the airport! If not, I''ll just show up at your ce and y house elf!"
"If you''reing back, I''m always free."
"Best friends for life!"
Noreen assumed Seth would be able to contain the incident, but she
underestimated how quickly things could spiral. The next morning, the fireworks story exploded onto social media.
*Aetheria* was met with a massive boycott and a flood of negative reviews. Users swarmed the game''s official website, condemning thepany''s irresponsible behavior until the servers crashed. The game,
which had beer onling for less than
twenty-four hours, was reported so many times that it was taken down from app stores. Its fall was as swift and spectacr as a shooting star. Latest content published on F?nd-Novel
It all felt strangely familiar.
Thepany had attempted damage control, issuing an apology and promising to take full responsibility, but the public wasn''t buying it. Netizens dug deeper, not only exposing thepany behind the game but also dissecting the gantes content. What they found was shocking. Aetheriaster-stage plot was rife with
violence, gore, sexually suggestive themes, and even deeply offensive and unpatriotic content.
These were highly sensitive issues that crossed a line no one was willing to
forgive. That was why the game was removed so quickly, with almost zero chance
of ever making aeback. Thepany would now face massive fines and potentialwsuits.
But in the immediate aftermath, an even bigger crisis was brewing. The inte sleuths had not only gged the game''s content but had also uncovered its primary investors. Ascendancy Group held thergest stake, followed by Seymour Group. Bothpanies saw ther stock prices plummet. Ascendancy Group suffered the most, with its stock dropping four percent, wiping out nearly a billion dors in market value. Seymour Group, already on the brink of being delisted due to poor performance, was now facing total copse.
At the airport, Noreen waited for ire at the arrivals gate, but she was nowhere to be seen. Just as Noreen was about to call her, amotion erupted near the VIP exit.
Someone in the crowd was shouting, "It''s you! You greedy businessmen! You''ll do anything for a profit! Do you have any idea what those fireworks did to the local ecosystem? That''s protectednd! What were you thinking, setting off explosives there?"
Chapter 390
"Get out of Rivercrest City!"
Through the swarm of people, Noreen saw Seth and Bianca, who were being mobbed by reporters. They must have justnded, only to be ambushed by the media and environmental activists who had been tipped off. The activists hade prepared. As they chanted, they began hurling rotten eggs.
Seth shielded Bianca with his body, protecting her from both the cameras and the projectiles. As the eggs flew toward them, he stood in front of her, taking the hits himself.
Noreen watched the scene unfold, a flicker of something familiar stirring within her. She had once thrown herself in front of him just like that, to shield him from the same thing.
Her phone rang, it was ire. Noreen looked away, and the fleeting emotion vanished, leaving only the calm, still waters of indifference.
"Babe, are you out yet?" she asked.
"My ankle!" ire wailed. "I twisted my ankle!" Discover more novels at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?
Noreen picked ire up and took her straight to the hospital. As the doctor examined her, he kept frowning and ncing at the high heel on ire''s other foot.
"I understand wanting to look good," he finally said, unable to hold back, "but are these heels really necessary? You''re tall enough as it is. It''s no wonder you got hurt."
ire looked down sheepishly. "I was just cast as a secret agent. The role has a lot of action scenes in high heels. I was just trying to get used to them."
The doctor just sighed.
After the examination, Noreen helped ire out of the hospital. Near the outdoor parking lot, they saw Jude chain-smoking.
Half an hour earlier, his father,
Seymour, had copsed after his
blood pressure spiked from the
emotional distress. The doctors had managed to bring him back from the brink, but his condition was still critical. They had warned Jude that his father couldn''t handle any stress.
more
Jude''s heart was heavy. He hade outside to smoke and try to calm his nerves, but an entire pack nothing to
of cigarettes hace
ease the anxiety. He crushed the
empty box in his fist and was about to go find a store to buy more when he saw Noreen.
His first instinct was to turn and run. He felt a wave of shame so intense he couldn''t bear to face her.
Noreen walked past him without a word, as if she hadn''t seen him. Or perhaps, she had simply chosen to ignore him.
After she was gone, Jude went back to his father''s room. Seymour was awake. When he saw Jude, he turned his face to the wall, refusing to look at him.
Jude''s shoulders slumped in guilt. ¡°Dad, I''m so sorry."
After a long silence, Seymour let out a deep sigh. Forget it. It''s my fault for expecting too much from you. knew you didn''t have the head to business, but I still pinned my hopes on you to save thepany was detuding myself."
The more he spoke, the lower Jude''s head sank.
"Notify the board. We''ll hold a shareholders'' meeting on Monday. I''ll be there myself."
A cold dread filled Jude''s heart, and his eyes started to burn. ¡°Dad, what are you going to do?"
"What can I do?" Seymour said with a bitter, weary smile. "In my condition, what options do I have left? Besides dering bankruptcy, what else is there for me to do?"
Chapter 391
"Absolutely not!" Jude knew better than anyone how much Seymour cared about the Seymour Group.
If thepany really went bankrupt, Seymour... he probably wouldn''tst much longer either.
"I''ll find another way! I have to! Just give me one more chance!"
Seymour looked at him, his eyes vacant. "What other way is there? If you had a solution, we wouldn''t be in this mess."
The words stuck in Jude''s throat, sharp and suffocating.
"I told you back then to talk to Noreen about a partnership on the smart healthcare initiative. I knew even then that it was the Seymour Group''sst shot. But you... you didn''t seize that opportunity, and you cost thepany its final chance." For more chapters visit Find1Novel
"I''m sorry..."
"I always told you to maintain a good rtionship with Noreen, but you never listened. She''s capable-even Wade values her opinion. Working with her would have only helped you."
Jude''s head sank so low it nearly touched his chest, as if he''d never be able to lift it again.
He had gone to see Noreen back then, but she hadn''t given him the time of day. He''d been angry, convinced she was holding a personal grudge. Besides, he hadn''t thought she was all that capable anyway. Her academic credentials weren''t impressive, and neither was her professional experience. For the past seven years, she''d been nothing more than a secretary who ran errands.
So he''d given up on her and thrown his lot in with Bianca.
After all, Bianca had a Ph.D. from overseas and experience at a top-tier international bank. She had even led thergest port acquisition deal on record. Her resume was ster. Teaming up with her seemed like a surefire way to reverse the Seymour Group''s decline, prove his own worth, and finally earn the respect of Seymour and the Wilder family.
And what was the result?
"I''ve set up a fifty-million-dor trust fund for you in Glenhaven City," Seymour said, his voice weary and old. It was like a dull knife twisting in Jude''s heart. "If I''m not around anymore... try to make itst."
For the first time in his twenty-something years, Jude understood what it felt like to have his heart ripped out.
***
Noreen had an important meeting that afternoon, so she had no choice but to bring ire to the office.
ire was more than happy toe along. Being at home was a bore; a trip to thepany sounded much more exciting. She was a Winrich share
after all even if it was a small stake. Every little bit counts, right? And with a money-making machine like Noreen for a best friend, her future was secure.
Noreen had Sophia get ire some snacks to pass the time and then asked if she knew how to make a restorative broth that might help with a sprained ankle.
Sophia scratched her head. "You''re asking the wrong person. I can make broths for energy and digestion, but I''ve never looked into anything for sprains."
"It''s just a minor sprain. I''ll be back on my feet by tomorrow," ire said, waving a dismissive hand. "Don''t give your assistant a hard time. Just go to work and focus on making money to support me. That''s what really matters." She leaned back on the sofa, the picture of leisure.
She even posted a cheerful ode to her best friend on Twitter:
*Rule #1: Stick with your bestie, and you''ll never go hungry.*
*Rule #2: Be her number one fan, and the world is your oyster.*
*Rule #3: Basically, just mooch off your bestie forever.*
Afraid she''d get too bored, Noreen suggested she sit in on the meeting.
ire shook her head so hard it looked like it might fall off, her expression one of pure horror. "I''m not cut out for that kind of suffering. Please just let me be a beautifully*** useless freeloader in peace."
"Alright, beautiful. Have fun on your own. If you get tired, the lounge is right there.
I''m off to my meeting."
"You got it! Work hard, no cking."
ire found a popr new web series to watch. It was about a couple in an arranged business marriage. The woman was seven years younger than the man, forced into the union by her family.
She''d barely started the first episode before she was scoffing.
"This is so predictable," she muttered, ready to swipe it away. "As if an arranged marriage could lead to true love. What a load of crap. Next!"
Chapter 392
Outside the entrance to Winrich, Jude paced for a long time before finally forcing himself to take that first step inside.
The receptionist recognized him; he used toe by often. She was about to say that Ms. Gilmore wasn''t in when a teasing voice cut through the air. "Well, well, if it isn''t Mr. Jude."
ire, bored out of her mind, had decided to wander around. Her sprained ankle didn''t stop her from hopping about the lobby, which is how she ran straight into Jude. She knew exactly who he was. In fact, she''d recognize the little snake if he were nothing but a pile of ash. He''d given her precious Noreen more than enough trouble in the past.
ire was mediocre at many things, but she had perfected the art of holding a grudge. As she liked to say, "My brain can''t retain useless information because it''s already full of my enemies list."
"Let me check," she said, feigning seriousness. "Did hell freeze over today?" She actually walked over to the window to check before turning back to Jude with a suspicious look. "Are you lost? Did you take a wrong turn?"
She gestured toward the exit. "Don''t let the door hit you on the way out."
Jude''s face darkened. In the past, he would have stormed out without a second thought, too proud to endure such humiliation. But now, he had to swallow his pride and adopt the posture of someone asking for a favor. "I''m here to see Noreen."
"What was that? I couldn''t quite hear you."
Jude''s jaw tightened. He raised his voice. "I''m here to see Noreen."
"Oh. She''s busy. Goodbye," ire said with a flippant wave of her hand.
Jude clenched his fists. "I need to discuss business with her."
"Doesn''t matter what it is, she''s busy."
"What is your problem...?"
ire shot him a look. "My problem? What about it?"
Suppressing his anger, Jude forced a polite tone. "I have something very important to discuss with Noreen. Please, just let her know I''m here."
"Something important, you say? Why don''t you tell me what it is, and I''ll *consider whether it''s worth passing along."
"I only discuss business with Winrich employees."
"What a coincidence," ire chirped. "I''m a Winrich shareholder. You can talk to me."
Jude knew she was deliberately making things difficult. His expression hardened, but he exined his reason for being there anyway.
ire''s eyes widened in mock realization. "Oh, I get it. You''re here begging for a handout."
Jude hated that word. It made him feel inferior especially when it put him in a position of weakness before Noreen. He turned to leave, but the image of Seymour''s disappointed face shed in his mind, Gatting his teeth, he turned back and conceded, "You could call it that. I''m just hoping Noreen will give us a
chance."
"Right. I''ll let her know. You can go home and wait for our call," ire said, waving him away again.
Jude could see it clearly now. ire
was standing there like a bulldogat the gate. He could get on his knees and beg all day and he still wouldn''t get to see Noreen. He would have toe back another time
As he left, he had to force himself to politely ask ire one more time to pass on ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F¦Énd£Îovel
his request. He was certain he had swallowed a lifetime''s worth of humiliation in those few minutes.
The moment he was gone, the receptionist gave ire a huge thumbs-up.
ire bounced back to Noreen''s office, threw herself onto the sofa, and sighed. "So satisfying!"
That was way better than any web series.
When Noreen returned from her
meeting, ire gave her a vivid, y-by-y ount of the
encounter. You should have seen the look on that rabid dog Jude''s face when he left! I wish I''d taken a picture for you!"
"I can imagine."
"Why didn''t he just go ask that jerk Seth for help?" ire wondered aloud.
"Seth can barely manage his own affairs right now. How could he possibly help Jude?"
ire''s eyes lit up. "Oh, right! I forgot about that. Do you think Bianca will be able to make aeback from this?"
Chapter 393
Noreen thought for a moment. "Probably," she said. After all, Seth had always been willing to clean up Bianca''s messes.
The situation was escting quickly, and news traveled fast. Before Noreen had even left the office, she heard from an inside source at Aurelion Group that the fallout from the fireworks incident was causing Ascendancy Group''s stock to plummet, which in turn was dragging Aurelion Group down with it.
The shareholders were furious.
Seth was forced to call an emergency board meeting. Rumor had it the shareholders were unanimously demanding Bianca be held ountable-most likely by being forced to resign.
But Seth wouldn''t budge. He was single-handedly holding off the pressure from every single shareholder.
It was true love, no doubt. The only question was how long he could keep it up. Noreen was morbidly curious to find out.
The repercussions of the fireworks incident continued to spread. Word was, the lights at the Aurelion Group headquarters hadn''t been turned off in days. Meanwhile, Bianca, the woman at the center of it all, had been admitted to the hospital, citing exhaustion.
The next day, when Noreen took ire to the hospital for her sprained ankle, ire insisted they try to catch a glimpse of the drama. Noreen, however, put a stop to that idea.
"Why won''t you let me go?" ire grumbled. "I just want to see that bitch Bianca get what she deserves!"
"I have to get back for another meeting! Don''t make my life harder than it already is, please."
ire groaned at the mention of another meeting. "Why are you in meetings all the time? I''ve been here for two days, and you''ve been in meetings for two days straight. You have no time for me."
"I''ll hang out with you as soon as I''m done."
"..." That sounded awfully familiar. She''d said the same thing yesterday.
Just as ire was about to protest, Noreen pulled out a ck card and handed it
to her. "I''ll have my assistant take you shopping. Buy whatever you want. No limit."
ire''s attitude did aplete one-eighty. "You got it, babe! You go rock that meeting. Don''t worry about me."
The hospital lobby was bustling with people, but ire spotted him immediately. She tugged on Noreen''s sleeve. "Look, it''s jerk Seth!"
Noreen followed her gaze. There he was, holding a fruit basket and supplements in one hand and a
bouquet of flowers in the other. He was clearly on his way to visit Bianca.
Just as Noreen was about to look away, Seth''s eyes met hers. His steps faltered
for a moment, his gaze deep and unreadable. Then he gave a curt nod, a silent greeting.
Noreen turned her head away,pletely ignoring him.
Seth quickly moved on. This content belongs to fin?novel
A momentter, it seemed to dawn on ire. She huffed, "He''s here to see that bitch Bianca, isn''t he? Fruit, supplements, flowers.. tle''s really pulling out all the stops!¡± Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Where was he when you were lying in a hospital bed, half dead?" she fumed He didn''t even show up didn''t even caft And now he''s parading around here with gifts for *her*? Is he even human?"
Hearing ire bring up the past felt strangely distant to Noreen. She could even joke about it now. "No, he''s a dog. Jerk Seth."
ire''s eyes welled up with tears despite Noreen''s smile. "Oh, honey, you must have been in so much pain back then."
"It''s all in the past." She didn''t look back, just kept walking forward, each step feeling lighter than thest.
"But it still hurts me to think about what you went through."
Noreen had no time for mncholy. She nced at her watch. "If I don''t leave now, I''m going to bete for my meeting."
"Okay, you go on back to the office."
"And you?"
ire shed the ck card. "I''m going shopping, of course! My ankle''s almost healed, so as long as I don''t walk for too long, I''ll be fine. Don''t worry."
Noreen was genuinely short on time. After a few quick instructions, she rushed back to thepany.
But ire didn''t leave the hospital right away. Instead, she turned around and went back inside.
Chapter 394
After a bit of snooping, she found out which room Bianca was in.
Then, she opened Instagram, switched to her burner ount, and found a trending topic about the fireworks scandal. She typed out a quick post: "I know where the person responsible for the fireworks show is hiding."
Trying toy low? Not on her watch.
In the hospital room, Bianca''s spirits were low. She just couldn''t understand it. It was just a fireworks disy. How could it have caused such a massive public outcry? And how could the chain reaction have been so severe?
She knew about the shareholder pressure at Aurelion Group, even though Seth hadn''t mentioned it. Henry had called, but she''d let it ring until it went to voicemail. He''d followed up with a text asking how she was, but she''d ignored that too.
¡°Alright, stop feeling sorry for yourself,¡± her mother, Yvonne, advised. ¡°The most important thing right now is to find out if Seth is going to cancel the engagement. I just called him; he should be here any minute. Pull yourself together.¡±
Just as Bianca nodded, Seth walked in.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his concern immediate.
Bianca just shook her head, murmuring that she was fine.
Yvonne sighed dramatically from the sidelines. "She''s running a fever of 104 and says she''s fine. It''s a good thing I found her when I did. She didn''t want me to tell you because she was afraid of worrying you. She said you''re busy enough as it is and didn''t want to be a burden."
"Mom," Bianca said, cutting her off. She knew how overwhelmed Seth already
was.
Seth handed her the flowers. "These are from Healy. He had to go out of town for business, so he couldn''te see you himself.¡±
Bianca''s expression remained cool. She didn''t even nce at the bouquet. "Well, thank him for me."
It had been over thirty hours since the incident, and Healy hadn''t reached out once. It was clear he didn''t really consider her a friend. The flowers were nothing more than a hollow gesture to keep up appearances. He probably wouldn''t havee to see her even if he hadn''t been out of town.
At least Healy was making a token effort. Others hadn''t bothered at all.
The thought of Dn made Bianca''s gaze turn even colder.
Seth had only been sitting for a few minutes when his phone started buzzing nonstop.
"You should go, Seth. I''ll be fine," Bianca said, ying the part of the understanding partner.
"Alright. You get some rest. I''lle back to see you after I''m done with work He truly was swamped and couldn''t stay. He said a quick goodbye to Yvonne and headed for the door.
Just as he reached it, Bianca called out his name. "Seth."
He stopped and turned back. "Yes?"
Her hand, resting on the nket,
clenched so tightly her nails dug into After
her pains. a long moment
of
internal struggle, she finally asked
internal
the question weighing on hepmind. "Are we still getting engaged?"
Seth''s answer was firm. "Of course. Don''t overthink things. Just focus on getting better."
After he left, Bianca let out a long sigh of relief. Yvonne did the same. "It seems Seth truly cares about you."
For the first time, Bianca felt the true weight of her importance in Seth''s heart. A sense of calm settled over her.
"I was worried for a bit," Yvonne admitted, "but it seems my fears were unfounded. The only problem now is Wade... he might not be so easy to handle."
Her original n had been for
this Original content can be found at FindN0vel
§ï§Ý
Bianca to impress Wade by delivering outstanding results on the Aetheria project. Now, afte colossal failure, Wade would undoubtedly look down on Bianca more than ever.
"But don''t worry too much," she added quickly. "As long as you have Seth on your side, nothing else matters. And with Wade''s health, he only has a few years left anyway."
Chapter 395
Despite her reassuring words, Yvonne was anxious. The main issue was that Wade was already in the process of drafting his will, which introduced far too many uncertainties. Even though Seth had made it clear the engagement was still on, who knew what the future held? ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find[?]ovel
To be safe, while Bianca was resting, Yvonne stepped outside to make a call.
"Are you going to do something about this or not?" she demanded into the phone. "She''s your daughter, after all."
A pause.
"And another thing. There''s a woman named Noreen who''s always causing trouble for Bianca. She''s managing that Port Redevelopment Project for the government, right? I need you to find a way to throw a wrench in the works. Don''t let things go too smoothly for her."
***
Noreen had just finished a meeting when Sophia entered her office. "Mr. Jude from the Seymour Group is here again."
Noreen nced up from her work.
Sophia immediately added, "I sent him away."
Noreen''s gaze returned to herputer screen as she resumed her work.
"How long do you think he''ll keep this up?" Sophia wondered.
"I have no idea." Noreen didn''t have the time or energy to waste on such a trivial matter.
"I give him three visits, tops," Sophia wagered.
Noreen, her fingers flying across the keyboard, replied without looking up, "I wouldn''t be so sure." The Seymour Group was in dire straits. It all depended on whether Jude had a conscience.
Not five minutester, Sophia rushed back into the office. "Noreen, Mr. Brooke from the Brooke Group is here."
Noreen''s typing paused, and she frowned slightly. "What does he want?"
"He says he''s here to discuss a partnership," Sophia ryed.
The answer surprised Noreen. She and Henry had had several potential opportunities to coborate in the past, all of which he had declined, And now he was showing up at her door to talk about a partnership? Did he think Winrich was a stall at a flea market where he could just pick and choose as he pleased? That there were no standards?
Without a second thought, Noreen instructed Sophia, "Turn him away." "Yes, ma''am."
Sophia clearly conveyed Noreen''s sentiment to Henry. The rejection caused his face to cloud over instantly. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Did you tell Ms. Gilmore that I am the CEO of the Brooke Group?"
Sophia managed a polite, if slightly forced, smile. "Yes, Mr. Brooke. I made sure to mention your name and specifically emphasized your title as CEO of the Brooke Group."
Henry was already annoyed, and
now being spoken to with such veiled sarcasm by a mere assistant only fueled his irritation. He had
ered the utmost show of
sincerity. And in return, Noreen had disrespected himpletely.
*So unprofessional,* he thought. *Always mixing personal feelings with business.*
Unfortunately, Vincent had been explicit: if he wanted to move forward, he had to talk to Noreen directly. But with an attitude like this, how was he supposed to negotiate?
In the past, Henry would have turned on his heel and walked out. He had his pride. But now, if he didn''t secure a partnership with Noreen he would be forced to abandon the Centrbo acquisition. The Brooke Group would lose its chance to break into the tech industry and transform its business model.
The thought made his expression turn even grimmer.
Just after Henry left, Noreen received a call from Vincent. He was upfront with her, admitting that Henry had approached him a couple of days ago.
Noreen wasn''t surprised. Talent like Vincent was always in high demand. She had already prepared for the possibility that he might choose to go with someone else. But from the sound of it, Vincent''s decision was firm.
Noreen now knew exactly where she stood.
A momentter, her phone rang again. It was ire, calling to invite her to dinner. She said she''d already booked a table and Noreen should just head straight over.
It wasn''t until Noreen arrived that she realized ire had invited someone else.
Chapter 396
Padgett Novak stood up politely to greet Noreen, pulling out a chair for her.
Noreen shot a questioning look at ire, who suddenly found the contents of her te incredibly fascinating.
Padgett, however, offered an exnation. "Miss Chase mentioned that she wasn''t very familiar with Rivercrest City and that you''ve been busy with work, so she called to ask for rmendations for a good local restaurant. I happened to be free, so I decided to join."
Noreen sat down gracefully, giving the guilt-ridden ire a pointed look. "Not familiar with Rivercrest City? Did you sleep through the four years you spent here for college?"
Caught in her lie, ire didn''t miss a beat. She was an actress, after all, and knew how to handle a scene. "Well, I''ve been working out of town since graduation, so it''s been a while. Besides, with hardworking people like Mr. Novak at the helm, this city is developing at lightning speed. It changes every day! I can barely recognize the ce."
Noreen had to hand it to her.
The two of them had already ordered, and as soon as Noreen was seated, Padgett waved the waiter over. The dishes were all light, and most of them were Noreen''s favorites.
ire beamed like a proud matchmaker. "Mr. Novak asked what you liked to eat, so I told him. He ended up ordering all your favorites. So thoughtful! He didn''t ask about me, though."
Padgett looked slightly embarrassed and quickly handed ire the menu, inviting her to order more.
"It''s okay," ire said with a wave of her hand. "I''m happy to be the third wheel. I''m not picky."
Noreen kicked her under the table.
"Ow!" ire yelped.
For a second, Noreen worried she''d hit her injured ankle, but then ire grinned, a mischievous look on her face that clearly said, *I''m just faking it.* Noreen sighed. There was truly no controlling her.
Over dinner, Padgett initiated conversation with Noreen, though it mostly revolved around work. ire felt her eyes start to ze over. Couldn''t they just enjoy their meal? How was any romance supposed to blossom like this? No wonder he couldn''tnd a date!
Seeing as he was paying for dinner, ire decided to give him a little push. She piled some food onto Noreen''s te. "You need to eat more, honey. You''ve lost so much weight since the breakup."
Padgett paused, his fork halfway to his mouth, and nced at Noreen.
Noreen shot ire a look that screamed, *Shut up!*
But ire, acting like a sieve, just kept talking. You don''t know the half of it, Mr. Novak. My best friend here is the most loyal person I know. She was with her first love for Seven years They only broke upst year, and now she''spletely sworn off dating. People ask her out, and she turns them all down."
Padgett didn''t know much about Noreen''s past, and ire''s words gave him a clue as to why she had rejected him.
"Why did they break up?" he asked, knowing it was forward but wanting to understand the full picture.
"Someone cheated, of course!" ire said, her jaw tight with indignation.
"Here, have some beef. It''s your favorite," Noreen said, trying to stuff ire''s mouth shut.
But not even a mouthful of food could stop ire. "The other woman is actually getting what she deservestely! She''s all over the news."
"The news?" Padgett was intrigued.
"Yeah, you must have seen it. That whole scandal about setting off fireworks in the Westbrook preserve? The other woman was the one responsible!"
Padgett was sharp. He put the pieces together in an instant. Noreen''s ex was Seth Harcourt of Aurelion Group. And Bianca Lowell was the one who had broken up their seven-year rtionship.
It was certainly surprising. He also remembered something else: ire said Bianca had broken up Noreen''s rtionship st year*. So why had Bianca
agreed to go on a blind date with him around that same time?
Padgett felt a wave of rity. She must have been casting a wide, looking for the biggest fish she could catch. At the time, she must not have thought much of his status or position, which is why their blind date went nowhere. The second time they were supposed to meet, he had intended to politely end things, but Bianca beat him to it. He''d respected her for it then and they hadn''t had any contact afterward. It wasn''t until Bianca was bidding on the port project that they crossed paths again.
Looking back, he realized Bianca had only started being cordial to him again after his promotion. The world he moved in was full of people who down, he
kissed up and kickas
used to that kind of behavior and didn''t judge it.
But still, he was d things hadn''t worked out. He had never felt a spark with her ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel
anyway.
Chapter 397
ire, who had been scrolling on her phone throughout the meal despite Noreen''s reminders, suddenly shoved her phone in Noreen''s face. ¡°Quick, look at this!"
Noreen nced down. It was a breaking news alert.
A horde of reporters had managed to get into Bianca''s hospital room and were ambushing her with an interview-or rather, an interrogation. They were grilling her about why she would set off fireworks in a protected ecological zone like Westbrook and demanding to know who had pulled strings to get the event approved.
The scene was pure chaos. Bianca, cornered by the press, had nowhere to hide. The arrogance she usually wore like a shield was gone, reced by raw panic and helplessness. Just then, someone pushed through the crowd and wrapped a protective arm around her, shielding her from the shing cameras.
"Who the hell is that?" ire grumbled, annoyed that someone was ruining the show.
The man''s face was obscured, so Noreen took a guess. "Probably jerk Seth." Who else would care that much about Bianca?
Just as ire was about tounch into a tirade, the man''s face shed on screen for a second. "Nope, not jerk Seth," she confirmed.
Noreen looked closer and saw that it was Henry. She amended her answer. "It''s herpdog, then."
"She has so many," ire sighed.
The rest of the meal was light and pleasant, and Padgett got to see a side of Noreen that was more rxed and personal than her work persona. He found it utterly charming.
The next day, Jude showed up at Winrich again. And again, he failed to get a meeting with Noreen. Dejected, he decided to call for backup. This time, he reached out to Dn.
Dn, who was out of town inspecting a project, offered him a simple piece of advice: make a public apology to Noreen.
Jude balked at the idea,ining that it would be too humiliating.
Dn had said all he needed to say. "Fine," he said, his voice t. "Then use your pride to save the Seymour Group."
Just as Sophia was shooing Jude out the door, Henry arrived. It was turning into a busy week. Of course Henry didn''t get to see Noreen either He didn''t linger After leaving Wrich, he went straight to see Padgett Novak.
Padgett asked what he could do for him. Henry exined Bianca''s situation and asked if there was anything the government could do to suppress the negative press.
"First of all this didn''t happen in Rivercrest City, so it''s not under my jurisdiction," Padgett said firmly "Second, with this level of public, outrage who would dare intervene?"
Padgett didn''t know the full extent of Henry''s rtionship with Bianca, but as an
old acquaintance, he feltpelled to offer a word of caution.
"You should distance yourself from Miss Lowell from now on."
He couldn''t say more, but he hoped the hint was enough. Whether Henry would take it was up to him.
In Henry''s eyes, Padgett had always been an upstanding and honorable man who never gossiped. This was the first time he had ever heard him speak about someone in such a way. Henry was confused and instinctively defended Bianca "She''s a wonderful person. She helped me a lot when I was studying abroad." This content belongs to find?novel
Chapter 398
Before he could finish, Padgett''s phone rang. He answered it, and his expression quickly grew serious. After hanging up, he announced, "I need to go to Winrich."
"Perfect,¡± Henry said immediately. "I was heading there anyway. I''ll go with you." When he hade alone, Noreen''s assistant had said she wasn''t in. But now that he was with Padgett, the story changed. It was clear the assistant was ying favorites, a petty and unprofessional move. Henry scoffed internally.
Padgett was there on official business, so Noreen naturally had to see him. And since Henry had arrived with him, it would have been rude to turn him away. So, she had them both shown into the conference room.
"Ms. Gilmore, a safety team from the capital will being down soon to inspect all major projects. I wanted to make sure you were prepared." Read full story at FindN()vel
This was serious. Noreen was grateful that Padgett hade in person to warn her. "Thank you for the heads-up, Director Novak. We''ll be ready."
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime," Padgett added. "I have some experience in this area."
"I will."
Only after they had concluded their business did Henry get a chance to speak. "Ms. Gilmore, do you have a moment? I''d like to talk to you."
"Mr. Brooke, if you''re here to propose the same n as before, I''m afraid we have nothing to discuss," Noreen stated inly.
Henry''s expression tightened. "I''ve... revised the n. I''m proposing a joint development between the Brooke Group and Winrich."
In other words, he had cut Bianca out of the deal entirely. It was a significant concession. But was she supposed to simply ept it?
"Mr. Brooke, have you considered that Winrich is fully capable of developing this project independently?"
For the first time, Henry felt the full force of Noreen''s sharp intellect. Her smile was gentle, her demeanor calm, but her words were like de precise and almed straight for the heart. The unspoken message was clear: *I have no
intention of including you in this.*
The answer left Henrypletely stunned, his face hardening into a cold mask.
***
Four days after the fireworks
incident erupted, an official statement was finally released promising a full investigation. At the same me digital cleanup began online. Officially, it was to remove harmful rhetoric. Unofficially, everyone knew it was to kill the
story''s momentum.
By the fifth day, the topic had all but vanished from public discourse. That was the nature of the information age: stories exploded fast and spread wide, but they also disappeared just as quickly. Every day brought a new crisis, and the old ones were buried until noone
all As for the
remembered them at all As for promised investigation it would be a slow one, dragged out until the public forgot. Then, an ambiguous report would be released, and the case would be closed forever.
Noreen wasn''t surprised by the oue. Seth must have pulled some strings.
Because of the impending safety inspection, Noreen had to postpone her trip to Glenhaven City to meet with Mrs. Joyner. She spent the next two days overseeing preparations at the port project, ensuring everything was up to code.
She had just wrapped up for the day when she got a call from Evelyn. The moment Noreen answered, she was met with sobbing. "Noreen, can you pleasee to the Harcourt estate?"
Noreen calmed her down and asked what was wrong.
Through choked sobs, Evelyn exined that Wade and Seth had had another fight. Wade had used the fireworks scandal as leverage, insisting that Seth cancel the engagement with Bianca. Seth had refused, and things had escted.
Noreen sighed. She used to think she was a fool for love, but Seth was on another level entirely. He was a lost cause.
Chapter 399
Noreen called ire. "I''m going to bete tonight. If you get hungry, go ahead and eat without me."
"Is it work or a client dinner?" ire asked.
"Neither," Noreen replied, her voiceced with exhaustion. "I have to go babysit jerk Seth, the hopeless romantic."
She exined the situation, and ire was equally exasperated. "He''s really determined, isn''t he? Insisting on the engagement at a time like this... Has he even looked at hispanies'' stock prices? Any sane person would know toy low, or at least postpone the date."
Noreen was past the point of being surprised. "He''s so desperate to show the world he''s marrying the love of his life that he can''t see anything else." Thanks to Bianca, she was finally seeing a side of Seth that was anything but the cold, rational man she had once known.
When Noreen arrived at the Harcourt estate, Evelyn was cleaning up the living room, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She looked at Noreen, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.
"How is Mr. Harcourt?" Noreen asked, her main concern being Wade. As for Seth, he could self-destruct for all she cared. This update is avable on FindN0vel
"He''s locked himself in his room and won''t talk to anyone," Evelyn said, her face etched with worry. "Please, go talk to him. I''m afraid he''ll make himself sick."
Noreen frowned and headed toward Wade''s room. On the way, she passed the study, which was inplete disarray. Seth was kneeling on the floor, picking up the pieces of something that had shattered. He must have heard her footsteps because he nced up, his eyes meeting hers. His gaze was icy, devoid of any emotion. After half a second, he looked away and continued cleaning up the
mess.
Noreen didn''t break her stride, walking past the study and straight to Wade''s bedroom. She knocked softly.
After a few moments, Wade opened the door. "What are you doing here sote?"
"Are you alright?" Noreen asked, studying him with concern. Aside from his stern expression, he seemed physically unharmed.
"I''m fine," he said, his voice hoarse and weary.
"That''s good to hear."
This was their family''s conflict, and it wasn''t her ce to interfere. Now that she knew Wade was okay, Noreen decided to leave.
As she passed the study again, Seth was just stepping out. There was a gash on his hand, and blood was dripping onto the floor. When he saw Noreen, be paused and stepped back, gesturing for her to go first.
Noreen''s eyes were fixed on the blood trickling down the back of his hand and onto the carpet. Her brow furrowed. Your devotion really deserves an award," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Seth met her cold gaze but didn''t rise to the bait. Instead, he moved his lips slowly. "How''s my father?"
"A littlete to be asking, don''t you think?"
A humorless smile touched his lips. "The fact that you''re not yelling at me means he must be fine."
He brushed past her and went to the living room to find the first-aid kit. Noreen stared at the bloodstains on the carpet, momentarily lost in thought.
When she emerged, Evelyn was tending to Seth''s hand, muttering anxiously. "How did you cut it so deep? It won''t stop bleeding! We need to go to the hospital
"It''s fine. Just wrap it up," Seth said dismissively.
Evelyn''s eyes welled up with tears again. ¡°No, it''s not fine! You need stitches."
She looked at Noreen, her eyes pleading for help.
Noreen wanted to say, *Let him be. He brought this on himself.*
Chapter 400
But she couldn''t bring herself to refuse Evelyn. Finally, she nodded. "Fine. I''ll take him to the hospital."
"Quickly, go with Noreen," Evelyn urged Seth.
This time, Seth didn''t argue. He got up and followed Noreen out the door.
The drive to the hospital was silent. Seth''s gaze was fixed on the small good-luck charm hanging from her rearview mirror.
After a long while, he finally spoke. "Does that thing really work?"
"What? You want to get one for Bianca?"
Seth fell silent again.
When they arrived at the hospital, Noreen didn''t get out of the car. She simply told Seth to call Bianca. In a situation like this, Bianca should be the one to take care of him. It had nothing to do with her. Driving him here was more than enough.
Seth''s eyes were downcast. "I don''t want her to worry," he said softly.
The words hit Noreen like a physical blow. They were so familiar. She had said the exact same thing once. Right after she had been released from the emergency room, the first thing she''d done was tell ire not to call Seth. She hadn''t wanted him to worry.
What had ire called her back then? A warrior charging into battle for love? Tonight, Noreen felt like she was finally taking off that title and handing it over to Seth. "Good luck, warrior."
Seth paused, his hand on the door. "You''re noting in?"
Noreen gave him a look that said, *Don''t even think about it,* and drove away.
Seth didn''t go into the hospital. He nced at his hand, still bleeding through the makeshift bandage, and gave a quiet, humorlessugh. He found a nearby nter to sit on, rubbing his temples to fight off his exhaustion. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and took a long drag. He had never been much of a smoker, buttely, it seemed like the only way to deal with the emotions churning inside him. The smoke swirled around him, obscuring his face.
"You really just left him there?"
The moment Noreen got home, ire pounced on her, hungry for details. Noreen told her everything When she got to the part about leaving Seth at the hospital entrance ire burst quitaughing. pping her thigh. "Yes! You''ve finally evolved! You''re free!"
"This calls for a celebration! Come on, let''s go out for a fancy dinner!"
Noreen was happy to oblige. But just as they were about to leave, Dn called
and invited Noreen to dinner.
"I''m with a friend," Noreen said.
"No problem. Bring her along."
Since Dn was fine with it, Noreen agreed.
"Who is this guy, anyway?" ire asked, her curiosity piqued.
¡°He''s the senior I told you about. From my apprenticeship."
ire''s memory jogged. "Oh, the one you pretended to date?"
"That''s him."
"Is he single now?" ire''s interest sharpened.
"I think so, Noreen said, though she wasn''t entirely sure Before ire''s cut
imagination could run wild, drevet
her off. "His ex is Bianca."
ire''s face fell instantly. "Ugh, seriously?" she groaned. "Why are all these guys.connected to that bitch Bianca? It''s like they''re all contaminated. No, thank you. You know she added thoughtfully, remember hearing he came from a good family."
"He''s the current CEO of Omniva Bank." Checktest chapters at find[?]ovel
That only made ire more annoyed. "Why do all these sessful, attractive
men fall for women like Bianca? Their taste is terrible!"
She concluded, "You know what? This just proves that Director Novak is the best
of the bunch. At least he has no connection to her."
When they arrived at the restaurant, they discovered that Dn wasn''t alone either.
Chapter 401
"What are you standing there for? Pull out a chair for Ms. Gilmore and get her some coffee," Dn Wilder prompted his brother.
For once, Jude swallowed his pride. He rose and pulled out a chair for Noreen, inviting her to sit.
"Why, thank you," ire Chase said, plopping down into the seat with a cheeky grin. It wasn''t every day that Mr. Jude Wilder personally pulled out a chair for someone, and she was going to enjoy it, just to see if it felt any different.
Jude''s face darkened, and he was about tosh out when a thought stopped him cold. He had moved mountains just for Dn to arrange this meeting with Noreen. ire was her best friend, and offending her was the same as offending Noreen. He had to endure it. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out another chair.
"Thank you," Noreen said, gracefully taking her seat.
Jude then scurried to prepare the coffee. Just as he was about to hand a cup to Noreen, ire''s hand shot out to intercept it.
He clenched his jaw. *Patience.*
ire took a sip and offered a thoughtful critique. "Excellent coffee." It was impossible to tell if she wasplimenting the drink or taking a veiled jab at him. Even if it was thetter, he had to pretend he didn''t understand and dutifully poured another cup for Noreen.
Noreen let the coffee sit untouched. Dn gave Jude a pointed look, signaling him to begin.
Jude quicklyunched into his pitch, exining that Seymour Group was eager to partner with Winrich. Noreen listened without giving any clear indication of her thoughts. Growing anxious, Jude shot several pleading nces at Dn.
"You''ve probably heard about Seymour Group''s situation," Dn finally interjected. "Development has stalled over the past couple of years, and things aren''t looking good."
"Since we''re being direct," Noreen said, her voice calm and steady as she addressed Jude, "I''ll ask you one question, Mr. Wilder. Given Seymour Group''s condition, why should Winrich partner with you?"
.n
Jude''s face fett. He clearly hadn''t expected her toy the situation bare so bluntly, especially when he was the one asking for a favor. "Does this mean you''re unwilling to help, Ms. Gilmore?" This was quite possibly the first time in his twenty-odd years that Jude had ever humbled himself to beg for something-and from Noreen, a woman he had once looked down on.
Noreen slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes cool and distant. "Mr. Wilder, you seem to be confused. We''re here to talk business. I''m a businesswoman, not a
phnthropist. Her words wel
delivered with the calm, detached authority of someone inplete control.
Jude''s heart sank, a sh of humiliation crossing his face. "Then what will it take for you to partner with Seymour Group?" he asked, his hands clenching into tight fists on hisp.
Since they were cutting to the chase, Noreen didn''t hold back. "Winrich acquires a controlling stake in Seymour Group, and you, Mr. Wilder, hand over all management rights."
"Impossible!" Jude shot to his feet, his face a mask of outrage and shame.
Even Dn was taken aback by her terms. If they agreed, Seymour Group would effectively have a new owner. What was the difference between that and dering bankruptcy?
"That''s daylight robbery!" Jude used, unable to ept her proposal.
Noreen''s expression remained cid. "I''ve made my offer. The choice is yours."
Jude''s fists tightened, his nails digging into his palms as he stared at her serene face, a fire of indignation burning in his chest. Read full story at FindN()vel
The meeting ended on a sour note, with Jude storming out, his face like thunder. The cup of coffee Noreen had been served remained untouched.
"That''s just how he is," Dn said, pouring Noreen a fresh cup. "He needs time to ept reality."
Noreen wasn''t bothered. "Seymour Group has deep structural problems," she stated calmly. "Even with a new injection of capital, there''s no guarantee it can be saved."
***
Chapter 402
Dn knew she was right about thepany''s underlying issues, but he was stretched too thin himself to get involved.
That evening, Jude visited his father in the hospital and recounted the meeting with Noreen. Seymour Wilder, who had been lying listlessly in bed, bolted upright. "You''re saying Noreen agreed to invest in Seymour Group?"
"Yes, but she''s bleeding us dry. She wants controlling shares *and* all management rights."
¡°Then give them to her! What the hell are you still thinking about?" Seymour pped the side of the bed, the sudden movement sending him into a fit of coughing.
Jude rushed to give him water and pat his back until his breathing evened out. Seymour grabbed Jude''s hand. "Let''s go."
"Go where? It''ste."
"To see Noreen, of course! We have to go now, before she changes her mind! Take me with you!"
Jude nced at the dark sky outside. "It''s reallyte. She''s probably already asleep."
"Then first thing tomorrow morning! We have to see her immediately! Do you know where she lives?"
Jude shook his head. "How would I know?"
"Then find out!"
Pressured by his father, Jude had no choice but to start digging. He racked his brain, and the only person who might know Noreen''s address was Seth Harcourt.
He called, and Seth picked up after a few rings.
"Am I interrupting anything?" Jude asked tentatively.
"No. What''s up?"
"Is it... convenient for you to talk right now?" Jude asked cautiously. Since this involved Noreen, he worried Bianca might get upset if she overheard, which could strain their friendship.
"It''s fine," Seth replied.
Only then did Jude ask, "Do you know Noreen''s address?"
Seth paused for a beat. "I do."
"Can you send it to me? I need to talk to her about Seymour Group.¡±
Seth hung up and sent the address a momentter.
The next morning, Seymour and Jude were waiting outside Noreen''s apartment building. Noreen was surprised to find them there, wondering how Jude had managed to track her down.
Seymour''s demeanor was far more sincere than his son''s. Years in the business world had taught him a finesse that Jude sorelycked. Noreen invited the father son due to a nearby caf¨¦.
Noticing Seymour''s paleplexion, she ordered him a warm ss of milk.
Clutching the ss, Seymour earnestly began discussing the state of Seymour Group. "I ept your terms," he said. "I only have one condition of my own."
"Go on," Noreen said. Discover more novels at find?novel
Seymour nced at Jude, then sighed. "I''m not capable of teaching him what he needs to know. I hope you can mentor him. How far he goes will be up to him."
After finalizing the deal with Noreen, Jude drove his father back to the hospital. The atmosphere in the car was heavy.
"Don''t think of this as a loss,¡± Seymour said, sensing his son''s turmoil Bringing Winrich in is a good thing. Neither of us are skilled managers, which is why he
He continued, "With Noreen at the helm, Seymour Group will have a real leader.
Stick with her from now on, and I''ll be able to rest easy."
"Dad, why do you trust her so much?" Jude had to ask.
Seymour considered it for a
moment. A while ago, when I was having my will drawn up, I heard a
rumor from thew firm Your Uncle
Wade has already signed his will. There''s only one heir."
***
Chapter 403
Bianca was at her pre-engagement party when she heard the news that Winrich was about to take control of Seymour Group. She found Jude sitting alone in a corner, silently nursing a drink, a far cry from his usual boisterous self.
She couldn''t understand why his father trusted Noreen sopletely, and from the looks of it, Jude had already epted the decision. This update is avable on f?ndnovel
"I thought you couldn''t stand Noreen," Bianca said, frowning with concern. "With her running Seymour Group, you''ll have to see her all the time. Won''t that drive you crazy? It sounds like she''ll be making all the big decisions, leaving you with no real power."
Jude looked like he wanted to say something but held his tongue. In truth, his own situation was a minor issuepared to the muchrger secret weighing on him, but he didn''t dare speak it. He kept ncing at Seth, trying to read something, anything, in his expression.
But Seth''s face was unreadable.
"Noreen is capable," Sethmented evenly. "Mr. Wilder recognized that and entrusted Seymour Group to her. You''d do well to listen to her, Jude. It''ll only benefit you."
Seth''s praise of another woman made Bianca''s heart sink. She shot him a look, clearly unhappy, especially since the woman in question was Noreen.
Unfazed, Seth picked a clementine from the fruit bowl and began peeling it, his expression rxed. He seemed to be offering apletely objective opinion as an outsider, with no ulterior motive. After peeling the fruit, he handed a segment to Bianca. "This is sweet. Try it."
His casual demeanor reassured her, and the sweetness of the fruit melted on her tongue, chasing away her doubts. She shouldn''t have questioned him. He was giving her a publicly-tradedpany worth billions, fighting off pressure from his own board of directors for her sake. He was even willing to sh with Wade Harcourt just to make her his fianc¨¦e. All of it was proof of how much she meant to him.
So what if Noreen had snatched the Port Redevelopment Project from her? The ce she held in Seth''s heart was something Noreen could only dream of.
Jude mumbled, "Seth, how can you praise another woman in front of Bianca?"
Bianca smiled faintly. "Seth was just being objective, and I''m not that petty. I''ve always trusted himpletely."
Jude was so used to their public disys of affection that he was practically immune.
Bianca sighed dramatically. "It''s my fault, really''ve been so busy with the engagement that I haven''t paid attention to what''s happening with you. Plus, my own misjudgment with the fireworks disy has me caught in a PR nightmare. If I hadn''t been so distracted, I wouldn''t have let someone else swoop in and take advantage."
She was openly contemptuous of Noreen''s move, seeing it as opportunistic. After all they''d been through she felt Noreen could have show some decency instead of being so ruthless demanding such a massive stake in thepany. All she cared about was profit, with no regard for personal rtionships.
Jude, however, tried tofort her. "Everyone makes mistakes. Who could have predicted a fireworks show would cause such a public outcry? If it had been anywhere else, you would have been praised You hired a world ss pyrotechnics master, after all.¡±
The event had been held in Westbrook because Aetheria was based there. It was just bad luck.
"It was definitely my mistake," Bianca said earnestly. "But I''ll learn from it. You live and you learn. It will help me think moreprehensively in the future."
"You''re too modest, Bianca," Jude said, genuinely impressed by her maturity.
"I just want to be stronger," she dered. "I can''t stand behind Seth and let him protect me forever. I want to stand beside him, a true power couple, and make Aurelion Group and Harcourt Group even bigger and better together."
***
Chapter 404
Jude was about to offer anotherpliment, but the mention of Harcourt Group made his expression turn strange again.
Bianca didn''t notice. She nced at the time. "Why aren''t Healy Naylor and Dn here yet?"
Jude said he''d call them. Healy replied that he was tied up and couldn''t make it but had already sent a gift. Dn was even more direct he didn''t even answer his phone.
Bianca''s displeasure was obvious. Had they decided to drop even the pretense of courtesy? They had probably been brainwashed by Noreen, which was why they were distancing themselves from her. It seemed Noreen loved poaching people from her circle, turning them against her. Was it because she couldn''t have Seth, so she settled for stealing everyone else? What a pathetic effort.
"If they don''t want toe, it''s their loss. We can have fun without them," Bianca said, feigning indifference.
Just then, she received a message from Henry Brooke. He had justnded in Rivercrest City and was asking if she was free for dinner.
Bianca sent him her location. "Perfect timing! I''m having a pre-engagement party, but it''s a small group. Come and liven things up.¡±
Hearing that she needed him, Henry''s first instinct was to say yes. But then he remembered that Seth would undoubtedly be there. After a moment''s thought, he politely declined and wished her a good time.
Bianca simply replied, "Alright then," and the conversation ended.
A wave of mncholy washed over Henry. He hadn''te to Rivercrest City for business. He had simply wanted to see Bianca onest time before she got engaged. He knew it was pointless, but he hade anyway.
After a while, he called Padgett Novak. "Got time for a drink?"
Padgett said he did, and Henry sent him the location a few minutester.
When Padgett saw the name of the club, a sh of memory made him loosen his
tie, a sudden heat rising in his chest. "Why''d you pick this ce?" he asked.
"Just a random choice. Why?" Henry replied.
"No reason. I''ll be there soon."
In reality, it hadn''t been a random choice at all. He had deliberately picked the club where Bianca.wa having her party. If he couldn''t be there to support her, he thought, at least he could be close by
Padgett arrived quickly. "I thought you had a girl you were interested in," Henry
said. "Why didn''t you bring her?"
"Haven''t won her over yet," Padgett admitted.
The answer stunned Henry. Padgett Novak was an exceptional man by any standard-family background, charisma, you name it For someone that impressive to be turned down the woman must have impossibly high standards.
"Who is she?" Henry asked, his curiosity piqued. "Is she in our line of work? Do I know her?"
Padgett didn''t answer. Instead, he Checktest chapters at find?novel
pulled out his phone and scrolled through his social media, checking to see if Noreen had posted
anything. She
arely shared personal updates, but whenever she did, Padgett was always the first to like it. She hadn''t posted today, and a pang of disappointment hit him.
He decided to send her a message, asking how the preparations for the safety inspection were going and telling her not to hesitate to ask if she needed help. Noreen replied that everything was going smoothly.
Padgett typed back: *Are you eating properly? Your friend told me you have a sensitive stomach.*
A long time passed with no reply. Realizing one wasn''ting, Padgett put his phone away and turned his attention back to Henry.
"Ignoring you, huh?" Henry observed.
"Yeah."
"And you''re still into her? How did you even fall for her?"
"Love at first sight."
***
Chapter 405
The answer surprised Henry. Padgett Novak was known for his rationality; it was why his family had pushed him toward a career in public service. The idea of him falling in love at first sight seemedpletely out of character. Moreover, the Novak family had incredibly high standards for his future partner, as did Padgett himself.
"For you to fall for her at first sight, she must be an extraordinary woman," Henry remarked.
"She is," Padgett said with conviction. "She''s brilliant."
This only made Henry more curious. "So who is she?"
But Padgett refused to say, iming the timing wasn''t right. He didn''t know if he could ever win Noreen over, and he worried that revealing his feelings publicly might cause her unnecessary trouble. So, for now, he would keep it to himself. If the day ever came when she was his, he would proudly announce it to the world. Unable to get a straight answer, Henry dropped the subject. He took a picture of his drink and sent it to Bianca, telling her he was toasting to her happiness.
A few momentster, Bianca replied, asking if he was at The Luminous Pearl Club.
Henry paused. "How did you know?"
She sent the photo back to him with the club''s logo, barely visible in the corner, circled in red. He had given himself away.
"Since you''re already here, why don''t youe over and say hi?" Bianca invited.
"I''m with a friend," Henry replied. "It might be awkward."
Bianca asked for his room number, saying she would just pop in to say hello. Without hesitation, Henry sent it to her.
Bianca arrived momentster, a polite smile on her face. But when she saw Padgett Novak, she froze for a split second before recovering herposure.
"Mr. Novak," she said, greeting him smoothly. "It''s been a while." Henry looked surprised. "You two know each other?"
"We''ve met a few times," Bianca said, taking a seat. She turned to Henry. If you''d told me you were with Mr. Novak, we could have all hung out together. Were all acquaintances, after all." content
"It wouldn''t be appropriate," Padgett said, his tone cool.
Bianca offered a practiced smile. "Of course. With your position, it''s best not to get too close to people in the business world. I understand."
She epted the drink Henry poured for her and raised her ss to them both.
"A toast to you two. Have a great night."
Henry clinked his ss against hers, wishing her a happy engagement. Padgett, Sitting farther away, merely tapped his ss lightly on the table in response. He could have easily stood up and walked over to toast properly-the suite was spacious enough-but he chose not to.
Bianca found his behavior odd but maintained her poise. After finishing her drink,
she stood up. ¡°I''ll have to treat you both to dinner sometime."
"Sounds good," Henry said.
Padgett remained silent, not even looking at her. His cold, distant attitude made Bianca frown in
confusion. He seemed unusuallimet
chilly toward her. Was it because she had rejected him? It hadd Rejection was a blow to anyone''s pride. Shrugging it off, she said her goodbyes and left.
Back in her own suite, she sent Henry a message, telling him she had informed the staff to put his tab on her ount.
"There''s no way I''m letting you pay," Henry quickly replied. "I can handle it."
"Just let me y the host for once. Don''t be such a stranger.¡±
"Alright, thanks." ?????? ???? find?novel
Then Bianca asked another question. "By the way, how do you and Padgett Novak know each other?"
***
Chapter 406
She was curious. They weren''t in the same age group, and their professional circles didn''t ovep.
"He''s my neighbor. Grew up next door."
So they were just neighbors. Still, Bianca felt the need to probe further. "Padgett Novak is quite the rising star. It''s rare for someone his age to reach his position. His family must have helped him out a lot, right?"
"He did it all on his own," Henry replied, choosing his words carefully. The influence of Padgett''s father was a topic best avoided.
The answer confirmed Bianca''s suspicions. Padgett probably didn''t have a powerful background. Before their blind date, Yvonne Laurent had asked someone in Northcrest to look into him and found no influential figures with the surname Novak. That was why Bianca had been so dismissive during their meeting. She had no idea why the matchmaker had told Yvonne that Padgett came from a prominent family. It was the only reason Bianca had agreed to meet him behind Seth''s back. When she realized he had no significant family connections, she had politely turned him down the next time he asked her out, deciding to focus all her energy on Seth.
Noreen was scheduled to fly to Glenhaven City the next day. Everything concerning Seymour Group would have to wait until she returned, but she needed to let Jude know what documents to prepare in advance. After finishing her work, she gave him a call.
The background on his end was noisy; she could faintly hear people congratting Bianca. Jude stepped out of the room, and the noise faded. "Nor-Ms. Gilmore," Jude stammered, catching himself before using her first name. It felt awkward. His entire attitude toward her had shifted. Before, he had been dismissive and arrogant, acting as if he were superior. Now, he felt like a student taking a call from the principal, instinctively cautious.
Noreen calmly listed the documents he needed to gather.
"I''m not sure I can remember all that. Could you send it to me on WhatsApp?" Jude asked nervously.
Noreen frowned, realizing this might actually be difficult for him, and agreed lust as she was about to added Ms.
hang up, Jude waekly
Gilmore, I''m still on your block list." ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find_Novel(.
"I know." Noreen ended the call and unblocked him on WhatsApp, sending over
the list of required materials.
Jude immediately replied, "Got it."
Noreen thought for a moment and added, "If there''s anything you don''t
understand, you can ask Sophia Cole."
"Got it," he replied again, his responses impably polite.
Noreen closed the chat and, out of habit, decided to check her recent social media updates. Mrs. Joyner was someone who loved life and posted frequently. Since
vad
be friends, Noreen had made a habit of liking her posts, and she now found herself scrolling through her feed every night before bed.
She refreshed the page, and sure enough, Mrs. Joyner had posted. It was a photo of her visiting an orphanage, surrounded by a group of smiting children. Mrs. Joyner looks kind and radiant, but Noreen thought she seemed to have lost more weight.
After liking the photo, Noreen scrolled down and saw a recent post from Jude.
[Wishing Seth and Bianca a lifetime of happiness together!]
The apanying photo was of the couple. Seth had his arm around Bianca''s shoulders, his expression rxed as he looked down at her with an adoring, indulgent gaze.
***
Chapter 407
A man who never bothered with pictures had started documenting every moment after meeting his true love. Love truly was the most powerful magic in the world.
It was only then that Noreen realized just how much disrespect she had tolerated in her desperate pursuit of Seth''s affection. No photos together. No anniversaries celebrated. No public acknowledgment of their rtionship. But back then, she had wanted a future with him so badly that she had been willing to ept any unfairness.
But some things, and some people, are irreceable only until something newes along. She had cheated and bent every rule for him in the game of love, and he still failed. Yet Bianca had won it all without even trying.
The next morning, Noreen and her team arrived at the airport lounge for their flight to Glenhaven City. She had brought Sophia along for the business trip, and Vincent was with them as well. While they waited, Mrs. Joyner called to check in, informing Noreen that she had arranged for a driver to pick them up upon arrival.
Noreen reminded Sophia to get some hot water for Vincent, as he needed to take his medication. But after Sophia left, she didn''t return for a long time. Feeling something was amiss, Noreen went to check on her.
Near the hot water dispenser, Sophia was arguing with a middle-aged woman in her fifties.
"I already told you, I didn''t spill the water on the floor! It has nothing to do with me that you fell. In fact, I helped you up! Why are you turning on me?" Sophia was fuming, having never encountered someone so unreasonable. Readplete version only at F¦Énd£Îovel
"You malicious little girl! You''re the one who made me fall, and now you''re ming me? Do you want me to call the police?" the woman retorted haughtily. "I suggest you apologize right now. My niece''s fianc¨¦ is from the most powerful family in Rivercrest City!"
Noreen frowned. There weren''t many families that could im that title.
"What''s going on?" Yvonne Laurent asked, emerging from the restroom and taking in the scene.
The middle-aged woman immediately pointed at Sophia. "This woman spilled water on the floor and made me fall! Look what she did to my dress! This is designer! I just bought it yesterday! I haven''t even had a chance to show my niece''s fianc¨¦, and she''s already ruined it!"
"I told you, it wasn''t me!¡± Sophia shot back, exasperated. ¡°I even helped you up!"
"Helped me? More like you have a guilty conscience! Why else would you have rushed to help me if you hadn''t done anything wrong?"
Sophia was speechless.
"Sophia,¡± Noreen said, walking over to her.
"Noreen," Sophia mumbled, looking utterly wronged.
When Yvonne saw Noreen, her expression instantly turned icy.
Noreen''s gaze fell on the middle-aged woman, her presencemanding. "There are security cameras here. It will be very easy to find out who spilled the water it was my assistant, I will apologize andpensate you for your dress. But if she had nothing to do with it, you will apologize to her."
"Check them, who''s afraid? Let me tell you, if it was her, I''m pressing charges!" the woman doubled down. "My niece''s fiance has the best legal team in Rivercrest City!"
Noreen''s brow furrowed slightly. "Fine. But if it turns out she''s innocent, we''ll be suing you for nder."
The woman hadn''t expected two young women to be so unppable. Flustered, she turned to Yvonne. "Yvonne, call your nephew-inw. Tell him toe sort this out."
Yvonne didn''t want to bother Seth with such a trivial matter and was about to tell her to drop it when Seth and Bianca arrived.
"Mom? Aunt Lana? What are you two doing standing here?" Bianca asked.
So, the woman was Bianca''s aunt.
"Bianca, you''re finally here! You have to stand up for me! This woman made me fall and won''t even apologize. She even used me of trying to scam her! She''spletely unreasonable!" the woman, Lana, whined to Bianca.
***
Chapter 408
Bianca hadn''t expected her aunt to be in a conflict with Noreen, and a small frown creased her forehead. She turned to Seth, her eyes silently pleading for help.
Noreen''s gaze met his, her expression cool and detached. Seth''s face remained an unreadable mask as he nced back at her, his demeanor distant and impartial.
"Check the security footage," he said simply, like a neutral observer offering a solution.
His aunt, however, took it as a sign of support, and her confidence surged. "Do you know who he is? He''s the CEO of Aurelion Group! Hispany has the most formidable legal team in Rivercrest City. They''ll sue you until you won''t know what
hit you!"
A faint smile touched Noreen''s lips. "Then let''s see who won''t know what hit them."
Just as Lana was about to erupt, a maintenance worker approached them. "Excuse me,dies, please be careful. There''s water on the floor. I was cleaning earlier and identally knocked over my bucket. I was rushing to get a mop and forgot to put up a warning sign."
The air suddenly grew thick with tension. Lana''s expression was a sight to behold. Vindicated, Sophia red daggers at her. Lana turned to Bianca for support.
Bianca was at a loss, but Yvonne finally spoke up. "It seems this was all a misunderstanding. You should apologize to the youngdy."
Lana was reluctant. "But my dress... I just bought it..."
"Apologize now!" Yvonne''s tone was sharp andmanding. Even though Yvonne was technically her inw, Lana knew better than to defy her. Yvonne held a position of authority in the Laurent family.
"Sorry," Lana mumbled, the word dripping with insincerity.
"Is that all?" Noreen asked, a chill entering her voice.
Lana, already feeling defensive, snapped back, "I already apologized! What more do you want?"
Even Bianca frowned, feeling that Noreen was deliberately making things difficult. Was she targeting her?
"She helped you up, and you didn''t even say thank you. You think a half-hearted apology is enough? Or would you prefer to handle this.
through ourwyers? We''re real ne
when you are,¡± Noreen stated
efusing to back down. If her opponent was going to be
unreasonable, she had no reason to be amodating. For more chapters visit f?ndnovel
"Don''t you go too far!"
Yvonne pulled her sister-inw back. "That''s enough. Just thank the girl so we don''t miss our flight. We''re here to celebrate Bianca and Seth''s engagement. Let''s not let something so unpleasant ruin the mood She deliberately mentioned the engagement, a clear fab meant for Noreen.
This time, Lana listened, turning to Sophia and muttering a "thank you."
Noreen''s sharp edge softened. "Let''s go, Sophia. It''s time to board."
As they walked away, they heard Biancaforting her aunt. "Don''t be upset, Aunt Lana. I''ll have Seth buy you a few new designer dresses. You should be happy. You''re my guest of honor, after all."
Lana''s mood instantly brightened.
Passing a caf¨¦, Bianca mentioned she was hungry, having rushed out of the house without breakfast. She dragged Yvonne and Lana inside to grab something to eat, telling Seth to go on to the gate without them.
The moment Seth was out of earshot, Bianca''s expression soured. "What rotten luck! We run into Noreen everywhere we go!"
Yvonne felt the same way. Lana, who had heard stories from her daughter about Noreen being the other woman in Bianca and Seth''s rtionship, was incensed.
"So that''s Noreen? If I''d known, I wouldn''t have let her off so easily! And you, Yvonne, why did you stop me? If I''d known who she was, I would have scratched her eyes out!"
"Seth was there. We have to maintain some decorum," Yvonne said, ever the strategist.
"So we just let her get away with it?"
Yvonne''s eyes glinted. "For now. She won''t be smug for long."
***
Chapter 409
Once Bianca and Seth were married, she would enter Aurelion Group as the boss''s wife and eventually take over Harcourt Group. There would be plenty of opportunities to teach Noreen a lesson and make her regret her actions today.
Sipping her coffee, Lana turned to Bianca. "I heard from your mother that your fianc¨¦''s family won''t have many rtives attending. What''s the story there? I know it''s just an engagement, but it''s still a major event."
Lana''s question hit a sore spot. Bianca was bothered by it, but she maintained a calm facade. ¡°Mr. Harcourt isn''t well enough for long-distance travel, so we didn''t want to trouble him."
"Has he given you anything? An engagement is a big deal. The elders should show their support," Lana pressed, her curiosity unabated. "The Harcourt family is so wealthy, they must be incredibly generous, right?" Latest content published on Find1Novel
Bianca pressed her lips together, her expression unreadable. She didn''t know how to answer. The truth was, Wade hadn''t made any gesture at all.
Yvonne stepped in to save her. ¡°Seth has been more than generous. He gave Bianca a publicly-tradedpany worth billions. That gesture means more than any traditional gift."
Lana was genuinely impressed and envious. Bianca seemed to have won the lottery of life. Inparison, her own daughter, Lillian, was a constant disappointment.
With a scheme forming in her mind, Lana said to Bianca and Yvonne, "Once you''re settled, Bianca, don''t forget about my Lillian. Help her find a good match in a wealthy family, too."
The mention of Lillian soured Yvonne''s mood. "Bianca was trying to help her, but your daughter is hopeless! We were lucky to contain the scandal before it affected Bianca. Lillian needs to get her act together!"
Lana, knowing she was in the wrong, fell silent.
After buying breakfast, the three of them headed to the gate. On the way, Yvonne saw Noreen boarding her flight and nced at the departure board. Her eyes narrowed. She took out her phone and sent a quick message.
"I remember you have people in Glenhaven City. Find someone to teach Noreen a lesson. She''s getting far too arrogant."
When Noreen tanded in Harborview
City, the driver Mrs. Joyner had arranged was already waiting at the arrivals gate. The car took them to Mrs. Joyner''stesidence in Glenhaven City: Mindale Manor, one of the city''s most iconic luxury
residential areas.
It was Sophia''s first time in such an opulent ce, a scene straight out of a movie about the ultra-rich-all glitz and mour. As the butler led them into the estate, Noreen spotted a familiar face.
It was Henry.
He had arrived before her to visit Mrs. Joyner. He already knew that Noreen wasing to discuss the Centribo acquisition and had made sure to get there first.
Noreen wasn''t surprised to see him, but she paid him little mind, her gaze quickly moving on as she followed the butler upstairs. Henry, however, stood frozen in ce, his expression hardening as he watched her an unreadable chill in his eyes.
He had arrived early that morning, presenting what he believed was apelling business proposal for the acquisition. Mrs Joyner had reviewed it but ultimately declined. Henry couldn''t ept the oue and pressed her for an exnation.
"Mrs. Joyner, I''m truly puzzled. In terms of qualifications, I have a master''s in finance from WT Business School, while Noreen only has an undergraduate degree. There''s noparison."
***
Chapter 410
"In terms of resources, Brooke Group is exponentiallyrger than Winrich. I simply don''t understand why you would choose Noreen, who is inferior to me in every way."
Mrs. Joyner, who had been taking her medication, paused and looked up at him. "So, Mr. Brooke, you believe credentials are more important than capability?"
Henry frowned. "That''s not what I meant."
Mrs. Joyner''s expression was cool. "A degree can get you in the door, but ability is what sustains you. A project''s sess isn''t just about throwing money at it; it requires masterful execution. In that regard, Noreen is clearly more adept than you.¡± Her voice was calm but sharp, effortlessly piercing through Henry''s arrogance. "Besides, you have a tendency to judge people with prejudice." Henry wanted to deny it, but Mrs. Joyner didn''t give him the chance. "You are biased against Noreen. No matter how much I praise her, you won''t ept it. You''ll just assume my judgment is wed and try to correct me. Just likest time ¡ªeven when I presented you with evidence, you chose to believe your own assumptions over the facts right in front of your eyes."
Noreen hade fully prepared, and Mrs. Joyner was deeply impressed after reviewing her project proposal. Vincent''s talent was also undeniable, so they quickly finalized the details of their coboration.
During the meeting, Noreen noticed Mrs. Joyner frequently rubbing her chest. She paused the discussion. "Are you feeling unwell? Should we call a doctor?"
"No, it''s an old problem," Mrs. Joyner said, motioning for Vincent to continue. Noreen found a cushion and ced it behind Mrs. Joyner''s lower back, hoping to make her morefortable.
They worked until the afternoon, stopping only when the butler brought a doctor in. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? findnovel
"We''ll continue this tomorrow. You should all get some rest," Mrs. Joyner said, asking the butler to see them out.
As they were leaving, Noreen saw the doctorying out several bottles of medication on the table. She nced over and recognized a few of the names.
Back at the hotel, Noreen looked up the medications. The more she read, the graver her expression became.
The next day, when she visited Mrs. Joyner again, she noticed herplexion was even worse than before. They had barely started talking when Noreen called a halt to the meeting, iming she needed more time to prepare the remaining details.
Mrs. Joyner frowned. "That doesn''t sound like you."
Noreen exined that she was exhausted from working nonstop and that theck of rest was affecting her performance. Mrs Joyner studied her for a moment, seeming to understand her true intentions. She sent Vincent and Sophia to the dining room
refreshments, asking Noreen to stay behind.
"You''ve figured out I''m sick, haven''t you?" Mrs. Joyner asked.
At this point, Noreen didn''t try to hide it. She nodded, admitting she had seen the doctor''s medications and had researched them.
"Since you know, there''s no point in concealing it have breast cancer. It''s terminal: I don''t have much time left, which is why I want toplete this acquisition and put my mind at ease. Centribo was part of Mrs. Joyner''s dowry, a legacy she couldn''t bear to leave unresolved.
She took Noreen''s hand, her eyes pleading. "Noreen, my time is running out. I
hope you can understand."
In that moment, a profound sadness washed over Noreen.
***
Chapter 411
"You''ll help me, won''t you?" Mrs. Joyner asked, her eyes filled with hope.
Fighting back the lump in her throat, Noreen nodded firmly. "Yes."
Her answer seemed to put Mrs. Joyner at ease. "You know," she said, holding Noreen''s hand, "Castle has told me so much about you. He says you''re intelligent, with incredible foresight and ability. He admires the kind of courage you have, a maturity beyond your years."
Noreen was surprised to hear that Castle Joyner held her in such high regard.
"That''s why I always wanted to meet you, to see if you were as brilliant as he described. It seems Castle was right." Mrs. Joyner genuinely liked Noreen, seeing a reflection of her younger self in the young woman.
They talked for a long while before Mr. Joyner returned. Castle rushed upstairs to find his mother, clearly aware of her illness. He was surprised to see Noreen there and gave her a brief nod.
Noreen returned the gesture and stood up. "I''ll go find Mr. Vincent and the others."
She found Sophia wandering the estate, marveling at the sights. She was in the middle of taking a picture of a priceless orchid when she spotted Noreen and insisted on taking a photo with her, dering it would be a crime to visit such a magnificent ce without documenting it. Noreen sighed but obliged.
Meanwhile, the butler was politely turning Henry away at the gate. "I''m very sorry, Mr. Brooke, but Madam is unwell and not receiving visitors. Pleasee back another time."
Henry frowned, his gaze falling on Noreen and Sophia in the distance. Mrs. Joyner was seeing Noreen but not him. Her "illness" was clearly just an excuse. It seemed she was set on choosing Noreen. Realizing the opportunity was lost, Henry stopped pressing the butler and simply said, "I understand."
As he left, he shot a contemptuous look at Noreen, who was still posing for pictures, and scoffed. *This* was the woman Mrs. Joyner praised for her vision? What vision? The vision of someone who''d never seen the real world.
Mrs. Joyner insisted that Noreen and her team stay for dinner and invited her to a charity g the following evening. As the founder and president of the charity, she was hosting the event. Noreen epted.
Mrs. Joyner also arranged for them to get ready together, presenting Noreen with over a dozen couture gowns and sets of jewelry to choose from. Noreen instinctively gravitated toward a ck dress.
"Why do you always choose such dark colors?" Mrs. Joyner chided gently. "You''re young, you should wear something vibrant. Try this one."
She handed Noreen a
champagne colored, mermaid-style gown, intricately embroidered ck and gold crystals. The
it fit Noreen''s hourss figure perfectly. When Noreen emerged from the dressing room Mrs. Joyner''s eyes lit up Stunning," she dered with yful smile. "If I were a man, I''d be on my knees."
silhouette was demanding
Noreen blushed at thepliment.
Mrs. Joyner chose a pure white gown for herself, exining that it would help conceal her pale and wearyplexion Thement sent a pang of sadness through Noreen, but she forced a smite, only letting her eyes well up when Mrs. Joyner wasn''t looking. Checktest chapters at F?ndNovel
Castle arrived to pick up his mother; as the event''s host, she needed to be there early Noreen''s hair and makeup werent finished yet, so she would followter. Before leaving, Mrs. Joyner told Castle to arrange a car for Noreen, and he agreed. C¨®ntent
Once Noreen was ready, she was about to message Mrs. Joyner when a ck SUV pulled up in front of her. The driver got out, opened the door, and said he had been sent by Mr. Joyner to pick her up.
Without a second thought, Noreen got in.
***
Chapter 412
At first, Noreen was engrossed in work emails on her phone. But as the car began to jostle on an uneven road, she looked up. They were no longer in the bustling part of the city. Chapters first released on
"Are we almost there?" she asked the driver.
"The g is at a private mountain estate,¡± he exined. "It''s a bit of a drive."
Noreen said nothing more, but a seed of doubt had been nted. She messaged Mrs. Joyner for the location.
The reply came a momentter: *My driver can''t find you. Did you call your own car?*
The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. This was not her ride. She immediately sent her live location to Mrs. Joyner while trying to remain calm. Her other hand crept toward the door handle, her mind racing as she assessed the car''s speed. They were on a winding mountain road, and the car wasn''t moving too fast.
Without another moment of hesitation, she threw the door open and jumped.
The impact with the asphalt sent a starburst of pain through her body, and the world momentarily went white. The driver mmed on the brakes, cursing as he got out of the car, a baseball bat now in his hand. "Not so clever now, are you? Thought you could just jump out?"
Noreen struggled to her feet, a sharp, agonizing pain shooting up from her ankle. It was a bad sprain. As soon as she put weight on it, the pain buckled her knee, and she copsed back to the ground.
The driver loomed over her, his cold eyes taking her in with a lecherous grin. "I thought you were pretty from a distance, but up close... you''re a real beauty."
He had a wicked look in his eyes. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and started dragging her back toward the car.
"Let go!" Noreen fought back, but she was no match for his brute strength. He hauled her into the vehicle.
"Let me go!"
Losing his patience, he brought the bat down hard on the back of her head. A dull thud, a sh of pain, and then darkness.
She awoke to pitch ck. Her eyes were covered, her mouth was sealed with thick tape, and her body was bound so tightly she couldn''t move.
"Boss, the girl''s awake."
Someone had noticed her stirring.
"Good," a gruff voice replied. "It''s more fun when they''re awake."
Footsteps approached. A hand touched her face, its calloused texture tracing her skin, and a wave of nausea washed over her.
"So smooth," the man mused. "Skin like silk." He continued his exploration. "And that dress... damn, it looks good on her."
"Bet it looks even better off her," another voice snickered. "Check out that ass. Gotta be fun to ride."
"Let me see for myself."
Noreen tried to struggle, but the ropes held her fast. The man''s hand roamed over her backside. "You''re a smart one, aren''t you?" he speered "Figured out our little trap, jumping out of a moving car, sending your location for help."
A cold dread settled in Noreen''s stomach. They must have moved her. She had no idea how much time
had passed, but she knew. Mrs
Joyner must be looking for
her, But
finding someone took time.
The man was clearly aroused. He hoisted her from the floor. "I''m going first," he
announced to the others. "You guys keep drinking."
"Don''t take all night, boss!"
The man let out a boomingugh. "You know my stamina. I''ll need at least a couple of hours. Be patient."
The others grumbled but didn''t argue. Noreen felt herself being
carried into another room. She
was
thrown onto arge bed, and the man''s weight immediately followed.
"Time for some fun, beautiful."
***
Chapter 413
The man lunged, his face closing in on hers. Annoyed by the tape covering her mouth, he changed his target, burying his face in her neck. A shudder of revulsion wracked Noreen''s body, and she gagged, the tape sealing her mouth making her feel as if she were suffocating. She was utterly helpless, trapped in her worst nightmare. The man''s hands began to crawl up her waist, fumbling with the fabric of her dress.
Suddenly, amotion erupted outside-shouts, the sound of a struggle.
"Who the hell are you?" someone yelled.
There was no reply, only the sickening thud of fists and pained grunts, growing closer and closer to the room.
The man on top of Noreen froze, his head snapping up. "Pete! What the hell is going on out there?" he shouted.
"Boss, we''ve gotpany!"
Before Pete could say more, he let out a sharp cry of pain. The man scrambled off Noreen, instantly sobered. The release of pressure allowed Noreen to gasp for air, her lungs burning. But before she could take more than a few breaths, she felt the cold, hard press of metal against her temple.
A gun. These men had a gun.
The thought had barely registered when the man yanked her off the bed by her hair and dragged her to the doorway. The sounds of fighting outside had subsided.
"Hey!" the man yelled. "You here for the prettydy? I''d advise you to calm down. This bullet doesn''t have eyes!" He jammed the gun barrel harder against her temple, and Noreen let out a muffled groan.
The fighting stoppedpletely.
"Damn, he''s fast," Pete muttered, his voice strained. "Took down all of us."
¡°Hands in the air!" the bossmanded, using Noreen as a shield.
When the intruderplied, Pete,
seeing his chance for revenge, grabbed a baseball bat and
2?
advanced. With a grunt of effort, he swung the bat hard against
man''s leg Think you''re so tou huh?" s?novels
IMS
"You''ve got guts, kid," the boss taunted. "Coming here all alone. What are you,
her boyfriend? Willing to die for her?"
Through it all-the beating, the taunts-the man on the floor didn''t make a sound.
The gun remained pressed firmly against Noreen''s head. A cold sweat trickled down her back. Whoever had found her must have been sent by Mrs Joyner. But why was he alone? She couldn''t see, but she could hear at least half a dozen men. Her rescuer was outnumbered and outgunned. Pearing he would be killed because of her, she shook her head frantically, trying to signal him not to fight back.
Pete, satisfied afternding a few more blows, tossed the bat aside. "What now, boss?" Follow current nov?ls on FindN()vel
"Tie him up."
As Pete moved to restrain their captive, the boss rxed his grip, dragging Noreen back toward the bed, his mind returning to his previous intentions. "You still got it up, boss?" one of the men joked. "If not, let us have a go." "Are you kidding? I''m the king of Harborview City! You can all wait your turn!"
Amidst the jeers andughter, the man started pulling Noreen back into the room. But before he took two steps a roar echoed from behind him. "What are you doing-
In the next instant, Noreen was ripped away from him.
***
Chapter 414
The world spun, and then a gunshot shattered the air.
Noreen heard a pained grunt, and the metallic scent of blood filled her nostrils. Her rescuer had been shot.
"I''ll kill you, you son of a bitch!" Pete screamed, charging forward with the bat.
Once again, the world tilted as someone shielded her with their body, rolling them both out of the way. She heard several dull thuds as the bat connected with the arm wrapped around her. Her head struck something hard, and everything went ck.
Noreen awoke to a splitting headache and the sound of sobbing.
"Why isn''t Noreen waking up? What if she never wakes up? What are we going to do? Waaaah..."
"Even if Noreen is in aa forever, I''ll take care of you for the rest of my life! Waaaah..."
The crying made Noreen''s head throb even more. With all her strength, she managed to twitch the hand that Sophia was clutching. But Sophia was too lost in her grief to notice.
It was Vincent who saw Noreen''s eyes flutter open. "Quick, call the doctor! Ms. Gilmore is awake!"
Sophia''s wails choked off abruptly. She wiped at her tear-streaked face and, seeing that Noreen was indeed awake, frantically pressed the call button.
After a flurry of activity, a doctor came in to examine her. Mrs. Joyner, supported by a maid, also entered the room, her voice weak but filled with concern. "Doctor, how is she?"
"The patient has a moderate concussion. She needsplete bed rest." He turned to Noreen. "Are you experiencing a severe headache?"
Noreen managed a weak nod.
"That''s normal," the doctor
exined. "You may also experience persistent headaches, projectile vomiting, dizziness, mood swings and sleep disturbances. It is crucial that you stay in bed. Do you understand? Call a nurse if anything changes."
"Thank you, doctor," Mrs. Joyner said.
Sophia pulled up a chair for her, and Mrs. Joyner addressed Noreen. "It''s over now Noreen. Just focus, resting and getting better Castle is handling everything else. The people who hurt you... we won''t let a single one of them get away."
Noreen felt awful, the world spinning around her, but she forced herself to ask one question. "The person who saved me... is he okay?"
"He''s fine. Everyone is fine. Don''t worry. Just rest if you''re not feeling well."
Reassured, Noreen''s mind drifted off again, and she fell back into a deep sleep, not waking until noon the next day. Her head was still spinning, but it was better than before. Her thoughts were finally starting to clear.
Sophia was chattering away, filling her in on what had happened. Castle had apprehended the kidnappers and turned them over to the police, ensuring they would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of thew. Kidnapping was a major felony there; none of them would escape justice. She also mentioned that Mrs. Joyner had copsed from the shock of the news and had been admitted to the room next door. She had been checking on Noreen constantly, worried sick.
"Help me up," Noreen said. "I want to see her."
"Absolutely not!" Sophia protested. "The doctor said you have to stay in bed, or you''ll get sick and dizzy and could fall."
"Besides Mrs. Joyner, was anyone else admitted to the hospital?" Noreen asked.
The events were a blur, but she distinctly remembered someone taking a bullet for
her.
*** Checktest chapters at Find?Novel
Chapter 415
But Sophia told her no one else had been injured.
Noreen was confused. She had clearly smelled the thick scent of blood and heard the man''s pained grunt. As she reyed the sound in her mind, a flicker of familiarity made her hesitate. It was so familiar that she didn''t dare believe it. It had to have been a hallucination. The situation was so chaotic; her mind must have been ying tricks on her.
Noreen tried to push the strange thought away.
She received a message from Jude, confirming that he had prepared all the documents and asking if anything was missing. Noreen nced at the list, saw it wasplete, and replied with a simple "OK." She should have closed the chat, but she paused, a question forming in her mind.
She typed out Seth''s name, then stopped, a sudden rity washing over her. She quickly deleted the text and exited the app. Twenty-four hours earlier, Jude had posted a new update: a heartfelt congrattions to Seth and Bianca on their engagement. The photo showed Bianca beaming with happiness, Seth''s gaze on her filled with deep affection.
Noreen closed WhatsApp, thest shred of doubt vanishing from her mind. It was just as she thought-she was overthinking things. How could she possibly have imagined that the man who saved her was Seth? She really needed to stop being so sentimental.
That afternoon, Mrs. Joyner came to visit again. She looked even more frail, her face etched with exhaustion. With her was a little girl, about seven or eight years old, withrge, round eyes that held a timid gaze. The girl clung to Mrs. Joyner''s clothes, never straying from her side. When she noticed Noreen looking at her, she quickly hid behind Mrs. Joyner.
Mrs. Joyner exined that the girl was an orphan she was sponsoring, who had autism. She had been at the charity g when Mrs. Joyner copsed, and the incident had frightened her so much that she hadn''t left her side since.
The mention of the g reminded Noreen of her disappointment at having missed it. Find the newest release on find?novel
"Don''t worry about it," Mrs. Joyner said kindly. "There''s always next time, and the time after that. We hold it every year, and I n to keep it going for a long, long time." She stroked the little girl''s hair, and the child buried her face in Mrs. Joyner''s side. It was clear she trusted herpletely.
Mrs. Joyner was still weak, so Noreen urged her to go back and rest. As they were leaving, the little girl nced back at Noreen from the doorway. Noreen offered her a warm smile. The girl paused for a second before quickly turning away and following Mrs. Joyner out.
Noreen had been ordered to stay in bed, but after two days, her bones ached from lying still. She couldn''t stand it anymore. While Sophia, the little chatterbox was away, she carefully got out of bed to th walking around. The world still felt like it was spinning, and she had to brace herself against the wall to stay upright.
The hallway was quiet. Rain pattered against the windows. In a corner Noreen saw a small figure huddled on the floor. It was the title girl with autism.
Leaning on the wall, Noreen slowly made her way over and crouched down beside her. The girl nced at her but said nothing Noreent didn''t speak either, she just smiled and continued to crouch.
The two of them, one big and one small, sat there in silence.
After a while, Sophia came rushing down the hall. Seeing Noreen on the floor, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Noreen, what are you doing here?"
"Shh," Noreen whispered.
Sophia''s curiosity grew. "What are you two doing?" she whispered back, crouching down to join them.
The little girl bit her lip and said softly, "We''re about to turn into mushrooms."
Sophia was speechless.
Noreen tilted her head. "What kind of mushroom are you?"
***
Chapter 416
"A strong mushroom," the little girl said.
"What about me?" Noreen asked.
The girl blinked her wide eyes. "A pretty mushroom."
"Why are you a strong mushroom?" Noreen pressed gently.
The girl''s lower lip trembled. "So no one will dare bully me."
A pang of sympathy went through Noreen''s heart. She reached out and lightly touched the corner of the girl''s sleeve, careful not to startle her. The girl flinched but didn''t pull away.
Noreen didn''t push further. "Can I be an even stronger mushroom?" she asked. "Then I can protect you."
The little girl stared at her for a long moment before nodding. "Okay. You can be a stronger, pretty mushroom."
When Mrs. Joyner came looking for them, she found the little girl fast asleep on Noreen''s bed. She was astonished. "How did you do that?" she asked Noreen. It had taken her nearly a year to earn the girl''s trust.
After Noreen exined what had happened, Mrs. Joyner marveled, "You certainly have a way with her." Then her tone turned serious. "Didn''t the doctor tell you to rest? You need to listen."
Noreen immediately looked chastened.
Sophia teased her. "It looks like only Mrs. Joyner can get through to you. You ignore everything I say, but one word from her and you''re perfectly behaved. You shoulde visit more often!"
Noreen rolled her eyes.
After Mrs. Joyner and the little girl left, Sophia eagerly leaned in, ready to share some gossip. "Noreen, I have some major news!"
Noreen wasn''t particrly interested. "What kind of ''major news'' could you possibly have?"
"Trust me! This is huge!" Sophia began, practically bursting. "You know how Mr. Harcourt and Director Lowell went to that private ind for their engagement ceremony? Well, guess what happened?"
Noreen shot her a look that could cut ss.
Sophia cleared her throat and got to the point. "On the night of the ceremony, Director Lowell was kidnapped!"
Noreen, who had been uninterested, now felt a flicker of curiosity. "Kidnapped?" What a coincidence. "And then what? Did Seth spend his entire fortune to rescue her?" That seemed to be how the story usually went.
SWI
Sophia shook her head. "No, but..." She trailed off, suddenly reluctant to continue.
"But what?"
Sophia pouted. "I heard Mr. Harcourt went to rescue her himself, without any regard for his own safety. He was even injured... a gunshot wound."
*Fair enough,* Noreen thought. That plotline made sense. It certainly fit his deep, unwavering devotion. She let out a small, cynicalugh and didn''t ask any more questions.
...
After another three days in the hospital, Noreen had fully recovered. On the day of her discharge, Castle came to pick her up. She finally had the chance to ask him about the man who had saved her.
"Yes, one of my men was injured," Castle confirmed. "But he''s mostly recovered, and we''vepensated him generously. You don''t need to worry." N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN0vel
¡°I''d like to thank him in person,¡± she insisted. He had risked his life for her; it was a debt she couldn''t ignore.
"That might be difficult. He went back to his hometown yesterday. But don''t feel too burdened by it. It''s part of his job."
Noreen felt a pang of disappointment. But since she
would be traveling to Glenhaven City frequently, she figured she would have another change to thank him eventually, so she didn''t press the matter.
Castle personally escorted Noreen and her team to the airport. By the time their flightnded in Rivercrest City, it waste at night, and the airport was quiet. As Noreen''s group hurried toward the exit, another group emerged from the VIP
channel, moving just as quickly.
"I think that''s Mr. Harcourt," Sophia whispered.
***
Chapter 417
Noreen nced over. Seth and Bianca were rushing toward the exit with their entourage. Bianca was wearing a hat, sunsses, and a mask, her head bowed as if to hide from the world. Seth''s arm was in a sling, the injury looking quite severe, yet he used his good hand to gently guide Bianca through the terminal.
As if sensing her gaze, Seth looked over. Their eyes met for a fleeting, almost imperceptible moment, yet it was filled with a cold indifference that was almost startling. Noreen''s expression remained unchanged as she looked away, heading toward a different exit with her team.
The next morning, Noreen was at the port development site, ready to wee the safety inspection team. To her surprise, Padgett Novak was there as well. Before she could greet him, he spoke first, his voiceced with concern.
"You''re hurt. Is it serious? You look pale." He paused, his eyes scanning her face. "And you''ve lost weight."
They hadn''t seen each other in only a few weeks, yet he had noticed every subtle change.
"I had a small ident in Glenhaven City," Noreen exined briefly. Padgett''s concern deepened. "How bad is it? What did the doctor say?"
"It''s fine now. I''ve had time to recover. Thank you for asking."
Padgett seemed to rx slightly. "I''m d to hear it."
They only had a moment to talk before the inspection team arrived. Noreen hurried to greet them, but her smile faltered when she saw the man leading the group: Forrest Lowell. She quicklyposed herself and extended a hand to him and the others. The rightful source is F¦ÉndNovel
Forrest was polite enough, his gaze lingering on the fading scrapes on Noreen''s face. "Ms. Gilmore, it seems you''ve had an ident."
"I''m fine now, thank you for your concern, Director Lowell," Noreen replied with professional courtesy. Since it was a work setting, Forrest dropped the subject after his initial question.
The inspection was both smooth
and not. They found no major vitions, but the team seemed determined to nitpick every minor detail as if they were deliberately looking for faults. As the day wore on Noreents expression grew increasingly grim. During the lunch break, she instructed her project team to conduct another, even more thorough, self-assessment.
Sophia brought her a calming herbal soup, but Noreen had no appetite. She spent
the entire break on the phone, issuing one order after another.
Padgett found her still on a call.
Sophia had reced her soup with a
ve
fresh, hot bowl, urging her to eat before her stomach started acting up again. Noreen nodded in acknowledgment but continued her caffs, the soup sitting untouched. Sophia could only sigh in frustration.
In a rare breach of etiquette, Padgett interrupted. "Ms. Gilmore, the work will always be there. You need to eat."
Only then did Noreen put down her phone and take a few bites of her meal. Padgett waited until she had finished eating before speaking again.
"Have you offended someone recently?" he asked bluntly. It wasn''t entirely appropriate for someone in his position to ask such a question, but he could see how stressed Noreen was and feltpelled speak up.
His question made Noreen pause.
"I''ve overseen many inspections like this," he exined. "I''ve never seen one this meticulous. It made me wonder if someone is intentionally trying to cause trouble for you."
The business world was ruthless; making enemies was inevitable. Noreen couldn''t make usations without proof, but she had her suspicions. Forrest''s presence was no coincidence.
***
Chapter 418
She had already prepared for the worst. "It was my oversight. An unexpected incident kept me in Glenhaven City for a few extra days, so I didn''t have enough time to finalize all the preparations."
"You''ve done an excellent job," Padgett said, and he meant it. "Don''t worry too much. For minor issues, they''ll give you a chance to make corrections."
"Thank you."
"You should get some rest. You really don''t look well," he added before he left.
After he was gone, Sophia asked curiously, "Do you think Director Novak likes you? I think he does. He looks at you like you''re the only person in the room." Noreen, already buried in a stack of documents, replied dryly, "He''s not a superhero. Why would his eyes be glowing?"
"I see it now," Sophia sighed. "You''repletely clueless when ites to romance."
...
The afternoon sun emerged, beating down with the notorious ferocity of Rivercrest City. Under the blistering heat, Noreen began to feel her energy wane. Still recovering from a moderate concussion and pushing through a high-stress workday, her body was reaching its limit. A wave of intense dizziness washed over her, followed by a terrifying sensation of weightlessness. Her consciousness flickered.
When she came to, she was in Forrest Lowell''s arms.
"Ms. Gilmore, are you alright?" he asked, his face etched with worry. A small crowd had gathered around them.
"It''s a good thing Director Lowell was so quick," someone murmured. "He caught her just in time."
"Yes, a fall from this height would have been disastrous."
"As long as she''s okay," Forrest said, helping Noreen to her feet. He turned to his assistant. "Get the car ready. We need to take Ms. Gilmore to the hospital."
After the doctor finished his examination, Noreen''s head was still spinning. She tried to sit up to thank Forrest, but he gently stopped her. "You''re not well. You need to rest. Your health is what''s important." He paused for a moment before adding, "And don''t worry about the inspection. The issues are minor."
"Thank you, Director Lowell," Noreen said, a wave of relief washing over her.
Forrest didn''t stay long; it wouldn''t have been appropriate. He bid her farewell, urging her once more to rest, and then left.
Sophia looked puzzled. "You know, Director Lowell seems like a nice guy. He was really concerned about you."
"He''s Bianca''s father."
Sophia fell silent, wishing she could take her words back. This text is hosted at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
The moment Forrest left Noreen''s room, his phone rang. It was Yvonne. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Working."
"Work,
all
to work, that''s all you ever
do! Don''t you know what''s happened to Bianca? You haven''t evene to see her wonneined. s?novels
"I''lle as soon as I''m finished here," Forrest said, his tone t.
"Well, at least call and check on her."
"Fine."
Yvonne hung up and looked at Bianca, who was huddled under the covers, and sighed. "Your father is
bus with work. He can''te right now." .
Bianca didn''t respond, lying perfectly still in the unnervingly quiet room.
After a while, Yvonne asked, "When is Sething?"
"He''s been away for so many days, there''s a mountain of work waiting for him at the office. He has to workte tonight to catch up, ncas muffled voice came from under the nkets.
"Did he say anything else?" Yvonne probed.
"No."
Another long pause filled the room. When Yvonne spoke again, her voice was
much softer, almost hesitant.
"Did they... you know... do anything to you?"
***
Chapter 419
The question hung in the air, unanswered.
Seth arrived that evening. Yvonne tried to give them some space, but Bianca clung to her hand, refusing to let her leave. With a sigh, Yvonne told Seth to go home and get some rest, saying she would stay and look after Bianca.
Noreen, after finishing her IV drip, felt cooped up and decided to go for a walk. She had sent Sophia home, insisting she was fine and didn''t need a babysitter. Besides, her extended stay in Glenhaven City had caused a rift between Sophia and her boyfriend. Though Sophia hadn''t said anything, Noreen had overheard them arguing on the phone, threatening to break up.
The hospital grounds were quiet at night, and a cool breeze offered a wee respite from the stuffy room. Noreen found a bench and spent some time catching up on work, sending instructions to her project team to ensure everyst issue from the inspection was addressed.
Just as she finished, a message from Carman Holt popped up, asking if she was sick. Noreen downyed it, but Carman was persistent, demanding to know which hospital she was in so he could visit. When she hesitated, he threatened to call Sophia. Resigned, Noreen sent him the address. Carman replied that he and Mina would be over soon, exining that Mina was worried sick and wouldn''t rest until she saw Noreen for herself.
Noreen sighed and headed back to her room. As she reached the entrance of her ward, she nearly collided with Seth, who was walking out. He had been moving quickly but stopped short when he saw her.
Noreen''s gaze slid past him without a flicker of recognition, and she continued walking. Just as they were about to pass each other, he spoke.
"Are you sick?" His voice was t, devoid of emotion, like a casual inquiry to a stranger.
Noreen ignored himpletely, making it clear she wanted nothing to do with him. Her heart remained steady, her mind calm. The only thing she felt was a sense of absurdity. When they were together, he had never shown an ounce of concern. Now that she no longer cared, his sudden attention felt like a joke. Whether his concern was genuine or not, it didn''t matter. She didn''t need it.
Seth stood there for a moment, watching until she disappeared down the hall before finally turning to leave.
Not long after Noreen returned to her room, Carman and Mina arrived. Mina fussed over her, peppering her with questions untif Carman gently intervened, reminding her that Noreen needed to rest.
"You''re right," Mina said, her tone softening. "Get some sleep, Noreen. We''lle back and see you in the morning. As they were leaving, she asked if there was anything Noreen wanted to eat. Not wanting to
fi mentioned
disappoint her, Nareen mentioned the muffins from the little caf¨¦ near the hospital, an easy stop on their way. Carman made a mental note.
Shortly after they left, the on-duty doctor and a nurse knocked on her door. They asked if she was alone and, upon learning she was, told her to use the call button if she needed anything at all. qat
The next morning, Carman arrived by himself. He brought not only the muffins Noreen had requested but also a thermos of slow-cooked, nourishing chicken soup.
"I let it simmer for hours," he said, pouring her a bowl. "It''s good for you. Drink up."
*Simmer for hours.* That meant he must have woken up incredibly early to make The rightful source is f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
it. Not wanting to waste his effort, Noreen drank two full bowls.
"Are you getting another IV today?" Carman asked.
***
Chapter 420
Noreen nodded.
He hesitated for a moment. "Since you don''t have anyone with you, why don''t I stay? It''s always good to have someone around."
"Really, I''m fine. It''s just an IV drip. I can handle it. I''ve done it by myself many times before."
That was the wrong thing to say. A look of pain shed across Carman''s face. "That was before," he said softly. "You don''t have to be so strong all the time now."
An awkward silence fell between them. In the end, Noreen gently insisted that he go back to work. InnoCore was in the middle of its IPO preparations, and she knew he was busy.
Carman had just left when Healy arrived, carrying arge bouquet of sunflowers. Noreen had no idea how he had found out she was in the hospital.
"I heard the news as soon as Inded," he said, frowning with concern. "I came straight here. How did this happen?¡±
"There was an incident in Glenhaven City," Noreen said, offering no further details.
Healy could tell she didn''t want to talk about it, so he didn''t press, simply urging her to rest. Health, he reminded her, was the most important thing.
Noreen assumed he would leave after delivering his well-wishes, but instead, he settled onto the sofa and pulled out his phone. After a few moments of silence, Noreen cleared her throat. "Aren''t you busy, Mr. Healy?"
"Of course, I am," he replied without looking up.
"Then perhaps you should get back to your work?"
"It''s fine. Work will always be there. I''ll stay with you while you get your IV."
Noreen was speechless. Had she been too subtle?
In truth, Healy knew exactly what she meant. He was just pretending not to understand. The first rule of pursuing a woman was to have a thick skin. You had to stick to her like glue to even have a chance A man who was too concerned with
with
his pride would never withe girl. It was a lesson he had learned through years of experience.
"I can manage on my own," Noreen tried again. "And the nurses here are very attentive. I don''t need anyone to stay with me."
Healy just smiled. "I know. But you''re a woman, not a machine. No one wants to
be alone when they''re sick. If my being here makes you ufortable, I can wait outside."
Noreen sighed in defeat. There was no arguing with someone like him. *Fine,* she thought, closing her eyes to rest. *Let him stay.*
She had barely drifted off when
another visitor arrived. Dn Wilder rushed in, stopping short when he saw Healy. The two men locked eyes a silent understanding passing between them. Healy''s friendly demeanor vanished, reced by a cool indifference. Dn feturned the sentiment.
Ignoring Healy, Dn immediately turned his attention to Noreen, his voice filled with concern as he asked about her condition Noreen gave him the same vague answer she had given Healy.
"Next time you travel for work, bring a male colleague for security, or hire a bodyguard," Dn advised. "Safety should alwayse first."
Sophia had already suggested the same thing; she had probably posted the job listing by now.
Dn showed no signs of leaving either. He pulled out his phone and called his housekeeper, instructing her to make a nourishing chicken soup and bring it to the hospital.
Noreen silently patted her stomach, which was still full from Carman''s soup, and politely declined.
Before Dn could protest, Healy cut in. "Then how about some fish soup? My chef makes an incredible one. I''ll have him send some over right away!"
Noreen wanted to scream. She didn''t want any more soup! For original chapters go to Find[?]ovel
Dn shot Healy a look of smug superiority. "Noreen doesn''t like fish soup." Healy fell silent.
Chapter 421
Having Healy around was awkward enough for Noreen.
Now, with Dn added to the mix, it was bing unbearable. Readplete version only at Find[?]ovel
Didn''t these people have jobs? They were the heads of major corporations, yet they seemed to have nothing better to do than hover over her hospital bed.
A bizarrepetition had sprung up between them. If one of them peeled an apple for her, the other would immediately rush to pour her a ss of water. If she so much as reached for something, they would both swarm her, asking if she needed help. The slightest shift in her position had them asking if she was ufortable or if they should call a doctor. They were like hawks, watching each other''s every move, terrified of falling a step behind.
Just when Noreen''s headache was reaching its peak, another visitor arrived.
For the first time in her life, she was actually happy to see Jude Wilder.
Jude had been sent by his father to check on Noreen, and he was clearly surprised to find both Dn and Healy there.
He looked at Healy,pletely baffled. "Weren''t you supposed to be at that industry summit? I called youst night to hang out, and you said you wouldn''t be back for another two weeks."
Healy didn''t show the slightest hint of guilt at being caught. "Something came up. I had toe back early."
"What could possibly be more important than the summit?" Jude pressed, his confusion growing.
Healy simply stopped responding.
Jude''s gaze then shifted to Dn. "And you, Dn, why did you suddenly cancel the quarterly meeting? I was already at the Omniva Group headquarters when I got the notice."
"Something urgent came up, so I canceled it," Dn said with a casual shrug. "What could be more important than Omniva Group''s quarterly meeting?" Dn deflected, changing the subject. "Are you here to see Ms. Gilmore too?" Jude finally seemed to remember his purpose. "Oh, right. My dad heard Ms. Gilmore was in the hospital and sent me to pay her a visit. He hopes you have a speedy recovery, Ms. Gilmore."
"Please thank Mr. Wilder for me," Noreen replied politely.
Jude didn''t stay long. He always felt an inexplicable nervousness around Noreen and quickly made an excuse to leave, which Noreen dly epted.
As he was leaving, however, he called out to Dn, saying he needed to talk to him about something.
The moment they stepped out of the room, Jude said, "Bianca is also a patient here. Let''s go visit her together."
"I have something to do, so I can''t make it. Just get an extra gift from me when you pick something out."
Jude frowned. "What could be more important than visiting Bianca?"
Dn didn''t answer. Instead, he turned and walked back into Noreen''s room.
Left with no choice, Jude went to see Bianca by himself, but he followed Dn''s instructions and bought two gifts.
Bianca was pleased to have a visitor, and her mother, Yvonne, personally poured Jude a cup of tea.
"Please, Mrs. Lowell, don''t go to any
trouble. Bianca and I are friends,''
Jude said. "I brought some
supplements to help with her recovery. This basket is from me, and this one is from Dn
Bianca finally lifted her eyes. "He didn''te?"
"Oh, he''s a little busy and couldn''t get away. He asked me to send his regards."
The light in Bianca''s expression dimmed. She said nothing more and didn''t spare the gifts another nce.
Jude stayed for a while longer.
"Jude, why don''t you take Bianca out for a walk?" Yvonne suggested. "She''s been cooped up in this room all day, and I''m worried she''ll get cabin fever."
"Of course," Jude agreed readily. "The weather''s perfect for it."
It was indeed a beautiful day, and the hospital''s garden was dotted with people enjoying the sunshine Jude pushed Bianca''s wheelchair along the winding path, and her spirits gradually lifted as they made small talk.
She casually asked about the situation at Seymour Group.
Jude chose his words carefully. "Noreen''s team has moved into their offices and is in the process of
auditing the books and liquidating know all the details,
assets: don''t know
though."
***
Chapter 422
"As your friend," Bianca said, her voice soft but pointed, "I have to remind you that Noreen is an outsider. You need to watch your own back, Jude. Don''t let her take you for everything you''ve got."
Jude hesitated. "I don''t think... I don''t think Noreen is that kind of person."
His defense, however feeble, made Bianca''s expression harden. It was a subtle shift, but it was enough to make him ufortable.
She forced a cid tone. "I''m just giving you a friendly warning. Ultimately, you have to judge for yourself." Newest update provided by find?novel
Justst night, Lillian had sent her a message: Noreen was once again the richest woman in Rivercrest City. Bianca''s own name was now second to hers. The fallout from the fireworks incident had sent Ascendancy Group''s stock into a free fall, shrinking her worth and widening the gap between her and Noreen. TechVenture was drowning inwsuits andpensation ims, and Westbrook had even filed a public suit... It was aplete mess. The inte was buzzing with ims that she would never surpass Noreen.
A fire of resentment burned in her chest, a ceaseless, scorching me. She could only console herself with one thought: she still had Seth. She hadn''t lost yet.
Noreen might have some business acumen, but that was all she had. Her background, her education-they predetermined her ceiling. She would never reach the heights Bianca could. Beyond her raw ambition, Noreen couldn''tpare to her in any meaningful way.
After that topic died, a long silence fell between them. Finally, Jude broke it, asking if she was tired and wanted to go back to her room. Bianca readily agreed.
He turned the wheelchair around and started pushing her back.
On the other side of the path was a small, man-made pond bustling with activity. As they passed, Bianca nced over.
Her eyes immediately found Dn.
He was picking up a sunhat from the grassy bank, carefully brushing off des of grass before walking briskly toward someone else.
Bianca''s gaze followed him
unfil
never to see again.
A flicker of bitter irony crossed her face. She quickly looked away and urged Jude to hurry.
At the entrance to the building, they ran into Padgett Novak, who was also carrying a gift basket, clearly there to visit someone.
Bianca smiled and offered a polite greeting. Padgett, in turn, gave a curt nod.
She opened her mouth to say more, but just then, Padgett spotted Noreen in the distance and immediately walked toward her, leaving Bianca''s words hanging in the air.
He was still as cool to her as ever. But she understood why, so she didn''t dwell on it and let Jude wheel her back to her room.
Padgett was there not only to visit Noreen but also to deliver some good news. The safety inspection team had concluded its work, he told her and the project was cleared of any issues. She could rest easy.
The reason he hadn''te sooner was because he had been busy handling it. He''d suspected from the start that the inspection was irregr and had reluctantly called his father.
His father had been surprised. "This is the first time you''ve ever called me for help. May I ask why?"
Padgett had always been
exceptional, excelling in his studies
and career entirely on his own
merits, never relying on family
connections His father''s curiosity was understandable.
After a moment''s thought, Padgett had replied simply, "Because I like her, and I
want to do everything I can to help her."
***
Chapter 423
His father was efficient. He called back shortly after with an answer. Someone had already intervened on the project''s behalf, though he didn''t say who. With the problem solved, Padgett had rushed over to the hospital to tell Noreen the news so she could recover without worry.
It was, indeed, wonderful news. Noreen thanked him sincerely.
Padgett''s attention, however, shifted to Dn, his eyes sizing him up with a distinctly male appraisal. Dn felt the scrutiny and met his gaze. For a moment, their eyes locked, sparking a silent battle that filled the room. In Noreen''s presence, however, they both maintained their gentlemanly demeanor.
With one weight lifted from her shoulders, Noreen found another one settling in. Healy and Dn were already a handful. Now, with Padgett in the mix... she waspletely overwhelmed.
As she was fretting, her doctor knocked and entered the room. He scanned the crowded space and said sternly, "The patient needs to rest. It''s not good for her to have so many people here. Visiting hours are over."
That settled it. The three men had no choice but to say their goodbyes and leave.
Finally, Noreen had some peace and quiet.
Later that afternoon, Evelyn arrived with a container of nutritious, lovingly prepared food.
"How did you know I was in the hospital?" Noreen asked.
Evelyn was honest. "Seth told me."
Noreen didn''t bother trying to guess Seth''s motives and left it at that. After they chatted for a while, she urged Evelyn to go home; she still had to make dinner for Wade. As Evelyn left, she promised toe back the next day and asked if there was anything specific Noreen wanted to eat. Knowing Evelyn''s persistent nature, Noreen requested two simple dishes, and Evelyn departed happily.
On his way back from picking up takeout, Jude passed Evelyn hurrying out of the hospital, an empty food container in her hand. A thought crossed his mind: if Seth had already arranged for Evelyn to bring Bianca food, why didn''t he say anything? He''d gone out for nothing.
But since he''d already bought the food, he took it to Bianca''s room, only to find she hadn''t eaten. He grew even more confused. Who was Evelyn bringing food
to?
For once, he had the sense not to mention it in front of Bianca. After saying his goodbyes, he left her room and called Seth. The phone rang until thest second before Seth picked up.
"Seth, where are you?"
"At the hospital."
"I''m here too. I didn''t see you."
"I''m with the doctor," Seth exined, adding after a beat, "Getting an update on her condition."
Understanding dawned on Jude.
Seth was still so attentive to Bianca''s needs He''d worked all day and then rushed straight to the hospital to consult with her doctor. Jude felt foolish for ever doubting him and quickly ended the call.
Seth was indeed in a doctor''s office-just not Bianca''s.
The doctor pointed to a brain scan on the light box. "Everything looks normal. No hematoma, no structural damage."
"Then why did she faint?"
"It was a moderate concussion, which inevitably affects the body. My initial diagnosis is autonomic nervous system dysfunction,pounded by the patient''s generally weak constitution and low
vel
immunity with proper rest and care
she should recover fully."Content
As Seth left the office, his phone rang. It was Bianca, asking why he hadn''t arrived yet. Official source is Find1Novel
"I''m on my way," he said.
But after hanging up, he walked directly toward Noreen''s room. She hadn''t been
able to rest during the day, and the medication had finally pulled her into a deep sleep.
***
Chapter 424
The room was quiet, the curtains swaying gently in the night breeze. Outside, rain began to fall¡ªa fierce summer downpour that misted in through the open window. A nurse was making her rounds, checking to make sure all the windows were closed against the storm.
Just as she reached Noreen''s room, a loud p of thunder startled Noreen awake.
"It''s okay, just some thunder," the nurse exined quickly. "I was just checking the window."
"It''s open," Noreen said, her voice groggy. "It was stuffy this afternoon, so I opened it for some air." She nced toward the window.
And then she paused. It was closed.
The nurse saw it too. "Another nurse must have closed it for you. It''s all right, you can go back to sleep."
After the nurse left, silence returned to the room. Noreen figured she was right and thought nothing more of it. As shey back down, she noticed the air conditioner had been set to 26 degrees Celsius-her favorite temperature. She had turned it down when she opened the window and had forgotten to adjust it back. The nurse must have done it when she closed the window. The staff at this hospital really was attentive.
The next morning, Sophia arrived early to apany Noreen to a series of follow-up tests.
"Did you sleep well, Noreen?" Newest update provided by Find_Novel(.
"Well enough."
"That''s good. I was worriedst night''s thunderstorm might have kept you up."
Even at this early hour, the hospital''s diagnostic department was already crowded. "Noreen, you sit here and wait. I''ll get in line and call you when it''s our turn," Sophia said, finding her a seat.
Just as Noreen sat down, she saw Seth in the queue. He must have arrived very early, as he was near the front. She didn''t pay him much mind, quickly looking away and opening a document on her phone to get some work done.
She had only reviewed two files when Sophia called, telling her it was her turn. *That was fast,* she thought.
Without dy, she put her phone away and walked over. By the she had finished the series of
and tests, it was nearly
noon
Sophia pulled a warm container from her bag. "It''s still hot. You must be starving. Eat something."
"What don''t you have in that bag?" Noreen asked, amazed.
Sophia beamed with pride. "I learned from the best!"
As they were leaving theb to head back to the inpatient wing, they ran into Dr. Wynne.
"Miss Gilmore, are you ill?" Dr. Wynne asked with concern.
Noreen stopped. "I had a bit of an ident and injured my head. Just came for a follow-up."
Seeing it wasn''t her area of expertise, Dr. Wynne didn''t pry. Instead, she offered, ¡°Since you''re already here, why don''t you stop by my office for a check-up too happen to have some free time today."
Noreen was about to agree when she saw Seth approaching from the opposite direction, Bianca on his arm. She changed her mind.
"Thank you for the kind offer, Dr. Wynne, but perhaps another time. I''ll make an appointment specifically to see you."
"All right," Dr. Wynne said. "Take care of yourself."
Just as Noreen bid the doctor farewell, Dn arrived.
"How were the results?" he asked, immediately taking over for Sophia and offering Noreen his arm for support.
"They won''t be out until this afternoon. Why are you more anxious than I am?" Noreen teased with a smile.
They walked side by side, looking for
all the world like a couple. This warm, harmonious scene unfolded in full view of the two people behind them Noreen''s expression was gentle as always, her face tilted up toward Dyfarna smile ying other on Tips as she spoke. Dn seemed to lean in closer, as if to catch her words.
***
Chapter 425
The next morning, with all her test results cleared, Noreen was discharged. She hadn''t told anyone, hoping to avoid the fuss of having a crowde to pick her up. She packed her things and went downstairs, nning to grab a taxi straight to the office.
At the entrance, Seth was waiting for someone. An awkward encounter was unavoidable.
His gaze fell on Noreen, but she walked past him without a flicker of acknowledgment, her eyes fixed straight ahead.
"Seth, have you been waiting long?"
Bianca and Yvonne emerged from the hospital just then. At the sound of her voice, Seth looked away from Noreen and went to take the luggage from Yvonne. "Not long. The car''s over there. Can you walk that far?"
"Of course."
Bianca was in a good mood as she and her mother followed Seth to the car. While Seth loaded their bags into the trunk, Yvonne noticed Noreen standing alone by the curb. She nudged Bianca, gesturing with her chin.
Bianca nced over, her expression cool and detached. Seeing Noreen all by herself, with no one to pick her up, a barely perceptible smirk touched her lips. Yvonne chuckled softly beside her and whispered, "How pitiful."
Bianca silently agreed. After seeing how attentive Dn was yesterday, she had thought he was serious about Noreen. But he couldn''t even be bothered to pick her up from the hospital. So much for that. In the end, Dn''s heart belonged to someone else; Noreen was just a temporary diversion, nothing more. Checktest chapters at findnovel
Just as she was about to look away, a Rolls-Royce glided to a stop directly in front of Noreen. Bianca froze, confused. The rear door opened, and a cane emerged first, followed by Wade Harcourt.
The expressions on both Bianca''s and Yvonne''s faces changed dramatically.
Noreen was just as surprised. "Mr. Harcourt, what are you doing here?" "Evelyn told me you were being discharged today, so I came to get you."
The driver got out, walked over to Noreen, took her bag, and ced it in the trunk. Yesterday, while visiting, Evelyn had asked when she would be released. Noreen had said it would likely be today, but she never imagined Wade himself woulde.
"This is too much trouble," Noreen said, helping him back into the car.
"How''s your recovery?" Wade asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
"Much better. The doctor wouldn''t have let me go otherwise."
Wade nodded, satisfied. "That''s good. You must take care of your health. Nothing is more important."
Bianca and her mother watched in stony silence as Wade''s car pulled away with Noreen inside. As the vehicle disappeared from view, Bianca''s eyes grew cold.
On the way home, Yvonne tried to subtly question Seth, who was in the passenger seat. "Seth, now that you and Bianca are engaged, don''t you think it''s time for our families to meet and discuss the wedding?"
"My father hasn''t been well for thest six months and is resting. A wedding is soplicated, and I don''t want to bother him. I can make all the decisions."
Yvonne frowned, about to argue that marriage was a major life event that parents should be involved in, but Seth added, "I have no preferences. We''ll do whatever Bianca wants."
His words instantly smoothed over Yvonne''s displeasure. Bianca, who had been sulking, also brightened.
"Mom, we just got engaged and you''re already pushing for a wedding," Bianca said with a yful pout. "You''ll make me sound desperate to get married!"
Yvonne quickly caught on. "You''re right, it''s me who''s being impatient. My Bianca is so wonderful, with so many men pursuing her. The word ''desperate'' could never apply to you."
***
Chapter 426
She couldn''t resist adding a reminder for Seth. "You''d better hold on tight, Seth. Bianca is quite a catch. When she was abroad, she had several European nobles vying for her attention."
"I know," Seth replied seriously.
Yvonne then shifted the topic to Harcourt Group, trying to probe for information. "Now that you''ve started your ownpany, you haven''t been involved with Harcourt Group at all. My knowledge of thepany is probably the same as yours." Read full story at fin?novel
Seth told her, "The group is managed by a team of professional executives now. He doesn''t have to worry about much. My own business is more demanding, so I really don''t have the time to split my focus."
His response left Yvonne at a loss for words. She knew she could only push so far; after all, she was only his future mother-inw. Bianca shot her a look, signaling her to drop it, and Yvonne fell silent.
In their minds, it didn''t matter. Seth was Wade''s only son, the sole heir to Harcourt Group. It was a foregone conclusion, not something they needed to worry about.
Wade personally drove Noreen to the Winrich Capital offices. On arrival, Noreen invited him in for a tour, and he epted. He was curious to see how her newpany was faring.
His visit was impromptu, and he worried that Noreen might be unprepared or that a newpany would inevitably have some organizational ws. To his surprise, the entire office was running like a well-oiled machine. Even with their boss hospitalized for several days, order and efficiency had been perfectly maintained.
By the end of the tour, Wade''s admiration for Noreen had only grown. He sat for a while in her office, and after sipping the tea she had prepared, he got to the point.
"The Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual conference soon. I usually preside over it, but my health isn''t what it used to be, and simply don''t have the energy for it this year. I was wondering if you might have the time to attend in my ce."
Noreen was so stunned she shot to her feet.
Her shock was justified. An invitation to the Chamber''s annual conference was an opportunity most entrepreneurs could only. dream of. Even as the richest
vel
woman in Rivercrest City, she might not have met the Chamber''s stringent membership criteria. The conference was thergest, most prestigious, and most influential gathering of the city''s business elite, bringing together the best and brightest from every industry.
"Mr. Harcourt, I... I''m afraid I wouldn''t do a good job."
While she had apanied Seth to countless high-stakes meetings, it was always as his assistant. She had almost no experiencemanding such a stage herself. She didn''t have the confidence to ept such a heavy responsibility.
Wade gestured for her to calm
down. "You''re only attending on my behalf. I''ve already delegated the organizational duties to other members of the Chamber. Think of as a chance to learn and gain experience. There''s no pressure."
¡°I''m just worried I''d fail to meet your expectations."
If she were attending on her own merit, she wouldn''t have these reservations. But representing Wade meant she had to consider the weight of his reputation.
"If you don''t feel up to it," Wade said, his tone still gentle, "then we can pretend I never mentioned it."
***
Chapter 427
Bianca''s leave was over, and she gradually returned to work. But the moment she arrived at the office, Ethan Laurent blocked her path.
He had been camping out at the entrance to Aurelion Group for the better part of two weeks, showing up every single day. He had no other choice; Bianca wasn''t taking his calls. After the fireworks disaster, he had been thrown under the bus, bing the public scapegoat for the entire fiasco while Bianca conveniently disappeared. His game was pulled from the market, and he was now buried under a mountain ofwsuits andpensation ims. Even after liquidating all his family''s assets, he couldn''t fill the hole. He was at the end of his rope, anding to find Bianca was hisst resort.
"Director Lowell, you finally show up," Ethan cried, grabbing the fabric of her zer so she couldn''t escape. "You have to help me. You have to pull me out of this, or I''m finished."
"Let go of me," Bianca hissed, her face turning cold. It was the peak of morning rush hour, and the lobby was swarming with employees. This was a disaster for her image.
"No! Not until you give me a solution. I have nothing left. Just help me! For you, it''s just a matter of money!"
Ethan was no fool. He knew that if he let go, he''d likely never see her again. He held on for dear life.
As more and more people started to gather and stare, Bianca began to panic. She had never been in a situation like this and had no idea how to handle it, muttering weakly for him to let go.
"I won''t! I have nothing left to lose! If you don''t give me a solution, I''m not letting go!"
"Security! Security!" Bianca shouted, her voice trembling.
Ethan''s face twisted into a snarl. "You think you can just cut me loose? You want to wash your hands of this now that things have gone wrong? The fireworks were your idea! You came up with the proposal, you even contacted the designer! And now you want to dump all the me on me? Not a chance!"
"If you don''t help me," he roared, "I''ll call a press conference and tell every reporter the truth! Let''s see who ends up with their reputation in tatters! I''ve got nothing left to lose, so we can all go down together!"
He had truly snapped. A man pushed to the brink is capable of anything.
Bianca was no longer just panicked; she was terrified. The fear was in on her face, her carefully constructed poise shatteringpletely. People were already pulling out their phones, taking pictures. She instinctively raised a hand to cover her face, her mind racing in a helpless frenzy.
At that critical moment, a hand mped down on the back of Ethan''s neck.
Simultaneously, a suit jacket was draped over Bianca''s head.
Ethan whirled around, ready to fight, but when he saw who it was, his aggression vanished. "Mr.... Mr. Harcourt."
A wave of relief washed over Bianca. She gripped Seth''s cufflink like a lifeline.
"Upstairs,¡± Seth said, his voice low and firm. He steered Bianca away while Ethan scrambled to follow.
Security guards moved in swiftly, dispersing the onlookers and demanding they delete any photos or videos to prevent a leak.
Noreen, Sophia, and their new assistant, Colby, who had just arrived, were also stopped and asked to cooperate.
Sophia grumbled, "Who wants a picture of her anyway? We''re here for a business meeting, not to watch a soap opera!"
A security guard gave an apologetic
smile. "Mr. Harcourt''s orders. She''s practically his fianc¨¦e, you
understand. We appreciate your cooperation."
Sophia opened her mouth to argue further, but Noreen stopped her. She calmly took out her phone and handed it to the guard for inspection, signaling for sophia and Colby to do the same. She had work to do and didn''t want to waste time on this drama.
*** Read full story at find{n}ovel
Chapter 428
Once the security check wasplete, the three of them were allowed to proceed. Noreen was there on business to see Seth, who had been managing Ascendancy Group''s affairs while Bianca was on leave. That was the only reason she was at Aurelion Group.
Upstairs, a secretary named Gillian informed them that Mr. Harcourt was handling an urgent matter and asked if they could wait. Noreen nced at her watch. She had a thirty-minute buffer, so she agreed. Gillian led them to a conference room and brought them tea.
In the room next door, Ethan was tearfully recounting his recent hardships to Seth. Listening to his story, it was hard not to feel a shred of pity. His wife had left him, he could no longer afford his son''s private school, and his elderly father had fallen ill with no money for treatment, now waiting to die in a public hospital. It was no wonder Ethan had caused a scene. He truly had nowhere else to turn.
"Here''s what I''ll do," Seth finally said, his voice even. "I willpensate you a certain amount from my personal funds. For the rest, you can sell TechVenture to cover your debts."
It was happening again. Seth was paying to clean up Bianca''s mess. Noreen wasn''t surprised. In his world, Bianca was worth any price.
Ethan wasn''t satisfied. ¡°Mr. Harcourt, with your resources, you could easily bail out TechVenture. Please, just help me one more time. I''m begging you."
Seth''s tone turned sharp, devoid of any warmth. "If you hadn''te here today and publicly humiliated Director Lowell, I might have considered it."
"But now, that''s off the table."
"You can refuse my offer, in which case you''ll get nothing from me."
"You can also try to call that press conference. See who shows up. See which media outlet dares to report your story."
"Go ahead. Try me."
"Let''s see who breaks first."
Silence fell in the adjacent room. Through the ss partition, Sophia could feet the chilling intensity. Mr Harcourt was ruthless. It was a stark reminder that a man in his position didn''t get there by luck. His methods were decisive and absolute, leaving his opponents no room to maneuver, no chance to even
struggle. Making an enemy of him
was a fool''s errand.
Crushed under the weight of Seth''s authority, Ethan predictably buckled and epted the terms.
A momentter, Gillian knocked on their door. "Ms. Gilmore, Mr. Harcourt is ready for you now."
Noreen closed herptop and stood, leading Sophia and Colby to the other room. In the hallway, they passed a dejected Ethan, his face a mask of utter defeat.
"Mr. Harcourt, Ms. Gilmore is here."
Seth had alreadyposed himself, rising to shake her hand. "My apologies for the wait, Ms. Gilmore."
"It''s fine," Noreen replied coolly. She sat down andunched directly into business wasting no time on pleasantries, in this regard, Seth was his old self, matching her professional efficiency.
Halfway through their discussion, the phone on the table vibrated.
In the past, Seth would have
silenced it immediately. He despised
interruptions during work. Noreen remembered the time she had
suffered a miscarriage from alcohol
poisoning; a frantic Sophia had called him, but he was in a meg about a subsidiary''s IPO and had rejected the call without a second thought. In the end, Noreen had
signed the surgical consent form herself, telling Sophia not to bother him again.
But now, he picked up the phone.
His voice, once cold and professional, softened instantly. "I''m almost done here."
*** Newest update provided by FindN()vel
Chapter 429
"Dinner? You decide. Whatever you want is fine with me."
"Right, half an hour at most. You can call ahead to make a reservation so we don''t have to wait."
"Oh, and could you get a file for me from the safe? It''s the one with the green tab, right on top. We can drop it off at Mr. Grayson''s ce after dinner."
Noreen''s fingers paused over her keyboard for half a second. She was surprised that Bianca knew thebination to Seth''s safe. Then again, she shouldn''t be. When had Seth ever held anything back from Bianca? This was just standard procedure for them.
By the time Seth finished his call, Noreen had finalized the proposal and sent it to him for review. He read it, found no issues, and signed it.
As they concluded, Seth made a perfunctory offer. ¡°It''s dinnertime. Would you care to join us, Ms. Gilmore?"
Noreen replied with equal politeness. "No, thank you. I have no interest in being a third wheel. I hope you both have a pleasant evening."
Just as her group was leaving the conference room, Bianca arrived, clearly there
to meet Seth. She shot Noreen a cold re before sweeping past her into the room with an air of ownership.
Her coquettish voice drifted out from inside. "Seth, I''ve already picked a restaurant. Let''s go."
"Alright." Official source is F¦ÉndNovel
The moment Noreen got into the car, she called Scott Quigley.
"Where are you?"
"On my way back to Rivercrest City. I have something important to discuss with you."
"It''s about acquiring TechVenture."
Ethan had been pushed into a corner and had no choice but to sell hispany. It was the perfect time to buy, which was why she had called Scott immediately. She was already nning to set up a studio for him; acquiring an existingpany would be far more efficient than building one from scratch, saving a significant amount of money.
In a way, she had Bianca to thank. If it weren''t for the fireworks disaster, this opportunity would never havee up.
To celebrate, Noreen decided to treat the entirepany to a team-building retreat. They had gone to a hot springs manorst time, so this time she booked a mountain resort.
They were halfway through the trip when Noreen received a call from Halley Joyner, asking her toe to a golf course in Southmont. She wanted to introduce Noreen to a friend.
It wasn''t until she was on her way that Noreen learned who the "friend" was: the legendary Ron Archer, known as the Godfather of Silicon Valley. This was aworking opportunity of a lifetime.
She just hadn''t expected Seth and Bianca to be there too. Of course, news like this would be easy for Seth to get his hands on, and for him, it was a golden opportunity to elevate Bianca''s status.
Bianca''s brow furrowed instinctively upon seeing Noreen, her dislike for her palpable. Noreen, however, didn''t spare either of them a nce as she walked straight into the clubhouse. The three of them arrived one after another.
Inside, Halley and Ron were deep in a pleasant conversation. Halley smiled when she saw Noreen.
Behind them, Seth was quietly briefing Bianca. "The one in the white sportswear is Mr. Archer. The other is Academician Halley Joyner. You''ve probably heard of
her."
"Of course I have! Academician
Joyner is my idol!" Bianca eximed, thrilled. She hadn''t realized what a massive opportunity today would be. Not only would she meet the Godfather of Silicon Valley, but also the renowned Academician Joyner.
Halley''s smile faded the moment she saw the couple trailing behind Noreen. Her expression turned cold a sh of undisguised displeasure crossing her face. As Noreen approached, Halley let out a smal sharp sigh, a clear signal of her lingering resentment.
***
Chapter 430
This was the man, she fumed silently, who had cost her a brilliant prot¨¦g¨¦e. Such a remarkable mind-if Noreen had just pushed herself, she could have been a giant in the academic world by now. She wouldn''t have to be here, humbling herself towork with others. She would have *been* thework.
But instead, the man who had convinced her to abandon that promising future had not only broken her heart but had the audacity to get engaged to another woman, unting it for all to see. He had wasted her youth and her talent.
Noreen felt a pang of guilt. She epted Halley''s silent admonishment with a rare, submissive bow of her head.
This entire exchange did not go unnoticed by Bianca, who was somewhat surprised. It seemed the esteemed Academician Joyner openly disliked Noreen- in fact, ''despised'' might be a better word. It made sense, she mused. Why would someone like Halley Joyner respect a woman with no background and an empty head?
Buoyed by this thought, Bianca strode confidently toward them.
"Mr. Archer, hello. I''m Bianca Lowell, the executive director of Ascendancy Group. It''s a pleasure to meet you."
Ron paused, polishing his golf club. "Ascendancy Group?"
"That''s right," Bianca said, her voice brimming with self-assurance. Ascendancy Group was a leader in its field; there was no way Ron hadn''t heard of it.
But after her introduction, Ron''s expression grew cooler. He gave a curt "Hmm" and returned his full attention to his club. His chilly dismissal left Bianca fumbling, unsure how to continue the conversation.
Noreen used the opening to introduce herself. "Mr. Archer, hello. I''m Noreen Gilmore from Winrich Capital. It''s a pleasure to meet you."
"Winrich?" Ron''s interest was immediately piqued. He had clearly done his research on the Rivercrest City businessndscape. "The investment firm that incubated InnoCore?"
"Yes, that''s us."
Ron''s face broke into a warm,
enthusiastic smile. "Ms. Gilmore, you have a brilliant eye! InnoCore''s growth has been explosive! I''ve been traveling for conferencestely and veryone is asking ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F¦Énd£Îovel
it''s thepany
about. You have no idea how much influence it''s already having on the international stage!"
"You''re too kind, Mr. Archer."
"Nonsense, youngdy, don''t be so modest! To have achieved so much in your twenties... if I were you, I''d be shouting it from the rooftops!" Ron let out a heartyugh, his open and genuine nature on full disy.
His drastically different reactions to her and Noreen left Bianca feeling slighted. She quickly masked her displeasure and turned her attention to Halley Academician Joyner it''s an honor. I''ve admired your work for so long, and I''m so happy to finally meet you in person."
Halley offered a polite but distant nod.
Bianca assumed her coolness stemmed from not knowing her credentials. So, she borated, "When I waspleting my doctorate at WT Business School, my advisor, Professor William, often discussed your papers with me. I was particrly struck by your research on the synergistic pathways between advanced mathematics education and talent cultivation. I didn''t fully grasp it at first, but Professor William walked me through it."
"WT Business School?" Halley asked, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
Bianca''s confidence swelled. A self-satisfied smile touched her lips. "Yes, that''s my alma mater."
"That''s quite impressive," Halley remarked objectively.
After saying this, she shot a long, meaningful look at Noreen.
If she remembered correctly, Noreen had received an offer from that very same business school years ago.
Chapter 431
Halley Joyner shot another irritated nce at Noreen Gilmore, and Noreen''s head sank even lower.
Observing Professor Joyner''s reaction, Bianca Lowell allowed herself a silent, satisfied smile. Halley was notoriously particr about academic credentials, and upon learning Bianca held a doctorate from a prestigious university, he had be much more engaging. When she''d mentioned a recent research paper, Halley had seized the opportunity to test her, presenting a problem from this year''s International Mathematical Olympiad.
Bianca epted with a show of humility, studying theplex problem meticulously. It was an advanced-level question, and she hesitated, deep in thought, unable to even begin.
Seth Harcourt leaned over her shoulder. "A bit rusty after being out of practice for so long?"
Bianca offered an embarrassedugh. "You caught me. It''s been ages since I''ve tackled anything like this. It''s a little difficult for me."
"That''s understandable," Halley said, his tone more philosophical than consoling. "Excellence is born from diligence and lost to idleness. Once most people enter the workforce, their focus splinters. It''s hard to maintain that kind of concentration."
Ron Archer peered at the paper curiously. "This is a tough one, no doubt about it." "Want to give it a try?" Halley asked him.
Ron immediately waved his hands in refusal. "Oh, don''t do that to me, Professor. It''s been decades since I''ve looked at anything like this. My brain would probably short-circuit."
Seeing that no one could solve it, Halley looked rather disappointed and was about to retrieve the paper.
Just then, Bianca nced at Noreen, who had remained silent throughout the entire exchange, offering no opinion whatsoever. She certainly wasn''t participating now-after all, how could she? Smart of her to stay quiet.
*In that case,* Bianca thought, *don''t me me for whates next.*
"Would Ms. Gilmore like to give it a try?" Bianca asked, her voice deliberately casual.
Suddenly being put on the spot, Noreen frowned, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. This content belongs to find?novel
Halley turned his attention to her. "Noreen? How about it?"
Before Noreen could answer, Bianca cut in again, her voiceced with false apology. "Oh, forgive me. That was thoughtless. This might be too much to ask of Ms. Gilmore. We should just give it back to the Professor."
Her smugness could have filled the entire golf course.
Noreen had no interest in the problem, but she wasn''t about to let someone else''s theatrics go unchecked. Just as Halley reached for the paper, she intercepted it. Everyone stared, stunned.
"I''ll give it a look," she said, pulling the sheet from Bianca''s momentarily frozen grasp.
Bianca''s eyes narrowed, a sh of pure mockery in their depths. *The audacity! Does she really think an
Olympiad problementary schootathmetic Still she
she was more than happy to watch Noreen make a fool of herself.
Feigning a friendly tone, Bianca said, "Don''t push yourself too hard, Ms. Gilmore. These kinds of problems are all about pure logical thinking. You can''t just find a clever trick around them."
The insinuation was clear, practically screaming that Noreen''s
professional achievements were all the result of shortcuts and
BUT
maniption. Even Ron frowned, finding Bianca''sment unnecessarily harsh he was about to say something in Noreen''s
defense when he saw her pick up a pen and begin writing.
Her hand moved across the paper with a fluid, unbroken grace. Her expression
was calm, her focus absolute.
Ron''s mouth fell open, his words forgotten.
Bianca saw it too, and the sneer in her mind grew wider. *Putting on a good show. She had noticed that about Noreen¡ªher favorite trick was to feignposure. To put it bluntly, the woman had no shame She''s
blure everyone''s attention.
And it was working; Halley and Ron were nowpletely focused on her.
*How calcting,* Bianca thought. *I hope she''s prepared for the humiliation when she fails.*
She turned to say something to Seth, only to find that he, too, was watching Noreen. His expression was as cool as ever, but his gaze was intent.
Chapter 432
He was so focused that he didn''t even notice Bianca looking at him, a subtle, almost imperceptible lift to his brow.
A sudden chill sank into Bianca''s heart. She was about to call his name when Noreen set down her pen.
"Finished," Noreen said calmly. "Professor Joyner, would you mind taking a look? I''m not sure if it''s correct."
"So quickly?" Ron eximed, astonished. It had been less than five minutes.
Even Bianca was taken aback.
Halley took the paper, adjusted the sses on his nose, and examined her work. He followed her logic, checked her steps, and read the final answer. A look of delighted surprise spread across his face. ?????? ???? find[?]ovel
"It''s perfect!" he dered. "Absolutely correct! In fact, your method is even more elegant than the one used by this year''s gold medalist!"
Hearing this, Bianca''s world trembled. *Impossible. How could Noreen have possibly solved that problem?*
Halley was beaming, chatting excitedly with Ron. "After thepetition, the official website posted the problem and invited the public to solve it. One anonymous user submitted a solution identical to Noreen''s!"
Bianca''s shock instantly morphed into smug understanding. *Of course.* Noreen hadn''t solved it at all; she''d just copied the solution from some random person online. She had almost fooled them all.
But Bianca had no time to expose her; she was here with a purpose. She wanted to connect with Ron Archer, but he had been somewhat cool toward her earlier. She needed to find a way to break the ice.
It was Seth who spoke for her. "I hear you''re an avid golfer, Mr. Archer. Bianca fancies herself a decent yer. How about a few holes?"
Anyone who had done their research knew Ron was obsessed with golf, and Seth was ying his cards perfectly.
"Excellent idea!" Ron''s face lit up.
"Just before you arrived, I wasining to Professor Joyner that it would be a shame to waste such a beautiful day. His back has been acting uptely."
Noreen immediately turned to Halley. "Is your lumbar spine bothering you again? Have you been sitting for too long?"
"It''s nothing," Halley grumbled, waving a dismissive hand.
"I know an excellent physician who specializes in back issues. I can take you to see him."
As Bianca retrieved a set of clubs for Seth, she overheard their exchange. She rolled her eyes, a silent, contemptuous smile ying on her lips. *She''s so desperate to please.*
Halley, however, detested doctors. At Noreen''s suggestion, his expression soured. "Don''t you meddle in my affairs!"
Noreen sighed in resignation. The stubborn old coot was still as terrified of doctors
as ever.
Hearing Halley''s sharp retort, Bianca almostughed out loud. So much for Noreen being perceptive. Couldn''t she see how much
Professor Joyner disliked herzel
was she just pretending not to notice? The woman truly had no shame.
"Here you go, Seth," Bianca said cheerfully, handing him a polished club. She straightened his cor. "Good luck!"
Ron looked over at Noreen, who was sitting beside Halley. "Aren''t you ying, Ms. Gilmore?"
"My game is average at best. I wouldn''t want to embarrass myself in front of you, Mr. Archer."
"Nonsense! We''ll make it a team game, two against two."
Bianca''s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. *Noreen, y golf?* It was an expensive sport, far beyond what someone from her. background could afford. Her daim of being "average" was just a polite excuse. The truth was, she probably didn''t know how to hold a club.
Chapter 433
Bianca expected Noreen to back down, but it was Halley who pushed her. "Go on, have some fun. I could use a little peace and quiet."
"All right, then," Noreen agreed. This was a good chance to build a rapport with Ron, so she didn''t refuse.
An idea sparked in Bianca''s mind. "To keep things fair," she proposed smoothly, "let''s bnce the teams. I''ll partner with Mr. Archer, and Ms. Gilmore can team up with Seth. We can have a littlepetition."
Her motives were twofold: to quickly establish a connection with Ron, and to unt her confidence in her rtionship with Seth. She had no qualms about him being on a team with Noreen.
She added, as if an afterthought, "Seth is practically a pro, and I''d hate for Mr. Archer to be at a disadvantage. This way, we can even out the skill levels."
The implication was clear: Noreen was the weak link.
Ron didn''t object, and Seth naturally had no issue with Bianca''s arrangement.
But Noreen saw right through her. "That doesn''t seem quite fair either," she said with a faint smile.
"Then how would you like to y, Ms. Gilmore?" Bianca asked, raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
"Mr. Archer and Mr. Harcourt willpete," Noreen stated inly. "And you and I will have our own match."
Bianca froze for a second. *Is she serious?* During her time as an investment banker abroad, golf had been her primaryworking tool; her skills were exceptional. For Noreen to challenge her directly was an act of supreme overconfidence. It was time to put her back in her ce.
"Fine," Bianca''spetitive streak red. "Let''s y." She was certain she would win.
Even Ron was intrigued. "This is getting interesting! Let''s flip a coin to see which pair goes first."
"Works for me," Seth said.
The coin toss decided the men would y first. "Just to set an example for thedies," Ron joked.
Both were skilled yers. Ron was a seasoned enthusiast who yed whenever he had a spare moment But he was up against a natural talenttike Seth, whose power and technique were simply superior. The match ended with a clear victory for Seth. He sank the ball in three shots on a par five hole, an eagle, It was i an impressive feat, and Ron, though defeated, was gracious and immediately invited Seth to y again, their rtionship instantly warmer.
When it was thedies'' turn, even Halley came over to watch.
"Use my clubs," Seth said, handing them to Bianca. "For good luck."
Bianca looked up at him, her eyes shining with happiness. "Okay." She shot a quick, triumphant nce in Noreen''s direction. Against anyon¨§ else, she might have gone easy on them, allowed them to save face. But against Noreen, she would show no mercy.
"Ms. Gilmore, after you," she said with a sharine smile. Content originallyes from FindN()vel
Noreen didn''t hesitate. She stepped up and swung, her movement as clean and decisive as when she had solved the math problem.
Bianca was momentarily stunned. She hadn''t expected Noreen''s form to be so perfect, her shot so precise.
Ron was already apuding. "A beautiful drive, Ms. Gilmore!"
When Noreen''s second shotnded perfectly on the green, Bianca''s expression soured.
"Another excellent shot!" Ron cheered. Halley pped in
appreciation Seth remained silent, but his dark eyes followed Noreen''s every move.
?
On her third stroke, the ball rolled directly into the hole.
"Another eagle! Absolutely incredible!" Ron was beside himself. Today had been full of surprises.
Noreen collected her club, turned to Bianca, and said with coolposure, "Thank you for the game, Ms. Lowell."
Chapter 434
Bianca''s lips were pressed into a thin, tight line, her face a mask of disbelief. All her earlier confidence had vanished.
Seth nced down at her and murmured, "Winning isn''t what matters. Mr. Archer already agreed to y again."
He was right; that had been their goal. Bianca gave a stiff,plicated nod. She finally took her turn, using Seth''s clubs, but her focus was shattered. On a par-five hole, she took five strokes and still missed. It was a humiliating performance, nothing like her usual game. Her mind was in turmoil, and her skill had abandoned her. Had she yed first, perhaps she too could have scored an eagle.
When her disappointing round was over, no one was paying her any attention. Ron was enthusiastically chatting with Noreen, praising her technique. He even remarked that her style was simr to Seth''s and asked if they''d had the same coach.
Noreen paused for a beat before replying, "No." It was Seth who had taught her.
Standing nearby, Seth heard her answer, and the faintest trace of a smile touched his lips. Noreen, however, showed no emotion as she moved the conversation along.
The game had sessfully broken the ice. Ron was even warmer toward Bianca now, though that wasrgely due to Seth''s influence. With Seth by her side, no one would dare disrespect her.
Halley, however, remained cold. No matter how Bianca tried to engage him, he offered only terse, dismissive replies. The rejection stung, and her frustration grew.
Sensing her dejection, Seth consoled her. "Professor Joyner is a proud man and slow to warm up. It''s not personal. Just give it time."
"I know," Bianca nodded. She had been too impatient. The academic world was vast and insr; breaking in was never going to be easy. She had to be patient. Besides, her credentials spoke for themselves. Sooner orter, an opportunity
would arise like some people, N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
She at least had a ticket to the game. The brief sting of humiliation quickly faded.
That evening, when Bianca arrived home, she found her mother, Yvonne Laurent, in a rage, screaming at one of the maids.
"What''s with all the shouting?"
Yvonne, simmering with fury, finally had someone to vent to. "It''s that Mrs. Naylor! She''s deliberately targeting me! I don''t even know what I did to offend her!"
"What happened?"
Yvonne exined that today was the
monthly gathering of her social
circle, which she had hosted. She had assumed that with Seth, the new star of the tech world, as Ker soon-to-be son-inw, her status would have soared. Instead, only a handful of thedies had shown up. The core group, led by Mrs. Naylor, was conspicuously absent When she called, they all imed to have prior engagements. Butter, when Yvonne went to the spa with the few friends who did attend, she ran into Mrs. Naylor''s clique at the very same salon.
It was obvious they had boycotted her party. When confronted, Mrs Naylor didn''t even bother with an
excuse, stating bluntly that she was afraid of being implicated in their family''s troubles.
Bianca knew exactly what "troubles" she meant: the fireworks incident. All the social capital Yvonne had spent years building had been destroyed in an instant.
"Don''t worry, Mother," Bianca assured her. "I''ll make them look at us with respect again."
Chapter 435
Yvonne found a small measure offort in her daughter''s words. "I know you can win back all that prestige!"
Despite her confidence, Bianca hit a wall the very next day. She had a meeting with a potential partner for a new project, a deal they had half-negotiated a month ago. When she arrived, however, the man''s secretary informed her that he was out of town on business.
The excuse was so flimsy it was insulting. It was the first time she''d been so tantly shut down since returning to the country.
On the surface, she remained unruffled. "Please let Mr. Prescott know I stopped by, and have him call me the moment he returns," she said with a professional smile.
The secretary agreed.
The second Bianca was out of sight, the secretary picked up the phone to the inner office. "Mr. Prescott, she''s gone. I sent her away just as you asked."
The receptionist wandered over to gossip. "You have to admit, that Bianca has some nerve. After everything that''s happened, she still has the gall to show up and talk business. Doesn''t she know what people are saying about her?"
"I know, right?" the secretary replied. "Mr. Prescott is terrified of being associated with her bad luck, but he doesn''t want to offend Seth Harcourt, so he''s hiding behindme excuses. I wonder how long he can keep it up."
"It''s such a shame. She started with so much-a great education, Seth''s full support and she still managed to y a winning hand into aplete disaster. Makes you wonder if that degree of hers is even real."
"All right, that''s enough gossip. I have work to do."
Outside the office door, Bianca had heard every word. The color drained from her face.
Just as she stepped out of the building, her phone rang. It was Yvonne. "What are these rumors I''m hearing?"
"What rumors?"
"You don''t know?" Yvonne''s voice was tight with anxiety. "I was just having tea with Mrs. Chase, and she told me everyone is saying you''re... a jinx."
Bianca was already on edge from being stonewalled, and this news only worsened her mood. "Who''s spreading that?"
"If I knew, I''d do something about it! It''s ugly, Bianca. They''re saying that anyone who works with you is cursed with bad luck. That you''ve brought a cloud of misfortune with you ever since you joined Aurelion Group, and every project you''ve touched has failed Yvonne''s voice ose in panic. you know how superstitious high society is. This is not a good sign. I spent a fortune crafting your public image. We can''t let these ridiculous rumors destroy it!"
"I understand," Bianca said, a heavy weight settling in her stomach.
After ending the call, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. Don''t panic. Don''t fall apart.* She would prove them all wrong w with her results.
Just then, Seth called. "Where are you?"
Bianca told him her location.
"Stay there. I''lle pick you up. We''re going to the golf course."
Bianca''s eyes lit up. "Are we ying with Mr. Archer?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I''ll wait for you." This content belongs to Find~Novel
As soon as she hung up with Seth, she called her mother. "Ron Archer is a titan in the semiconductor industry, a true leader. I''m going to use his reputation to turn.
Ascendancy Group''s image around."
"That''s a brilliant idea," Yvonne said, her hope renewed. "And it will help squash
those nasty rumors."
"That''s the n."
"I know just what to do," Yvonne said, her mind already racing. "Send me the address. I''ll call some reporters." She was an expert at this game.
Chapter 436
Noreen set aside half a day to apany Halley to a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. The stubborn old man grumbled the entire way but ultimately couldn''t win against Noreen''s persistence. When the acupuncture began, Noreen kept her distance, but she could still hear Halley''s theatrical cries
of pain.
"Ms. Gilmore?" ?????? ???? find?novel
Jude Wilder, at the hospital to pick up medication for his father, Seymour, spotted her and looked surprised. "Are you sick?"
"No, I''m with an elderly friend."
"Oh." Jude had always been awkward around Noreen, and simply greeting her was the extent of his social courage. Noreen didn''t seem inclined to chat, either. After a brief exchange, they went their separate ways.
Jude returned to Seymour''s room with the medicine and mentioned running into Noreen.
"Why didn''t you invite her for a meal?" Seymour chided.
"She was with an elder, taking them to the doctor."
"Well, did you find out which elder? Should we pay them a visit?"
"Dad, stop worrying about these things and focus on getting better," Jude said, clearly reluctant.
Seymour shot him a disapproving re. "You''re hopeless! This is the woman who holds your future in her hands. Can''t you be a little more resourceful?"
"I know, I know," Jude mumbled dismissively, copsing onto the sofa and pulling out his phone. He saw a new social media post from Bianca and tapped on it. It was a photo of her and Seth ying golf.
He opened a group chat and tagged them. "Why didn''t you two invite me to y? I''m going stir-crazy in this hospital."
Bianca replied quickly: "It''s not toote toe now. We just started."
"On my way!"
Jude pocketed his phone. "Dad, I''m going to y some golf with Bianca and Seth. I''ll be backter."
He was already at the door when Seymour''s voice stopped him cold.
"You will do no such thing!"
"What? Why not?"
"Because said so! What have I told you about keeping your distance from that Bianca? Are you deat Seymour''s agitation brought on a violent coughing fit, leaving m breathless.
Jude rushed over to help him. "Dad, Bianca is my friend. It''s just a normal social outing."
"A normal outing? Have you forgotten how much money you lost on the projects you invested in with her? You keep ''socializing'' with her, and you''ll lose the shirt off your back!"
"Dad..."
"I forbid it! If you walk out that door today, we are done!"
Defeated, Jude sent a message to Bianca, telling her something hade up and he couldn''t make it. Bianca didn''t seem to mind, suggesting they y another time.
After Halley''s appointment, Noreen returned to the office to meet with Scott Quigley. Together, they headed to TechVenture to finalize the acquisition.
The recent disaster had broken Ethan Laurent''s spirit. He lookedpletely.defeated. When he saw Scott, he mistinctively turned away. as if too ashamed to face him. Scott, too, felt a pang of sadness seeing what had be of TechVenture.
But there was no time for sentimentality. Noreen handled the negotiations professionally, offering a fair price that Ethan epted with almos no hesitation. As he handed over the keys, his eyes reddened. Just then, his phone rang a call from his child''s school. His son had been injured during gym ss. Ethan frantically tried to hail a cab.
"I''ll drive you," Scott offered quietly. "It''ll be faster."
Ethan stared at him for a moment, then gave a silent, grateful nod.
Back in her office after closing the deal, Noreen''s phone buzzed. She nced at the caller ID and her brow furrowed instinctively.
Chapter 437
Why was Seth calling her? It couldn''t be for anything good.
Noreen let it ring until it went to voicemail. He didn''t call back.
A few minutester, however, a call came from Halley. Ron Archer had twisted his ankle ying golf. He asked if Noreen could contact a Dr. Wilder toe to the hotel and give Ron some acupuncture.
Noreen checked the time. Dr. Wilder''s clinic would be closed. He was a man of strict routine; once he was off the clock, his phone was off. But Noreen knew where he lived. She had gone to great lengths to find his address once before, to get medicine for a client''s wife.
She drove straight to Dr. Wilder''s home and persuaded him to make a house call at Ron''s hotel. When they arrived, she was surprised to find Seth there as well. His eyes met hers for a fleeting second before he looked away.
Noreen''s attention wasn''t on him. She was focused on Ron''s ankle, which was swollen to a frightening size. Dr. Wilder immediately began his examination. With his experienced hands, he could assess the severity of the injury without needing an X-ray.
"Fortunately, there are no broken bones," he concluded. "It''s a soft tissue injury. I''ll apply a coldpress to reduce the swelling and give you a couple of herbal sters. Once the acute phase passes, we''ll start acupuncture. You should be back on your feet in three to five days."
Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. Without being asked, Noreen had already requested ice and towels from room service.
Dr. Wilder had always appreciated Noreen''s quick thinking. While applying the ice pack, he asked casually, "I remember you broke up with your ex-boyfriend, didn''t you?"
The question,ing out of nowhere and in front of Seth, caught Noreenpletely off guard.
"Uh, yes," she stammered, feeling a flush of difort. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F?ndNovel
"Are you single now?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then let me introduce you to someone! The hospital just hired a brilliant medical doctor from overseas. He''s young, handsome, and I think you two would be a great match. Would you like to meet him?"
It seemed all elders enjoyed ying matchmaker.
"I''m very busy with work right now," Noreen said, trying to be polite. "I don''t have the energy for a rtionship, and I wouldn''t want to waste his time." She was preparing for Innocore''s IPQ and juggling several major projects she truly had no time for dating. Cont¨¦nt
f.n
"Managing a rtionship is the man''s job," Dr. Wilder insisted, determined to make his match. "A woman''s only job is to be loved Don''t you worry about a thing. How about this? I''ll send you his WhatsApp You two can chat online first, and if you it off you can meet in person. That''s how the young people do it these days, right?"
"Dr. Wilder," Seth interjected abruptly, "when can he start the acupuncture?"
The doctor paused, thrown off track. "Usually after about thirty hours, if the swelling hasn''t gone down. At that point, we''ll consider it."
"And will he need toe to the hospital for that?" Seth''s questions were detailed, showing a deep concern for Ron''s well-being.
"Either is fine," Dr. Wilder replied. "I don''t normally make house calls, but since you''re friends of Noreen''s, I can make an exception."
"We would very much appreciate that."
"It''s no trouble." The doctor was good-natured about it. But Seth''s interruption had made him forget all about sending Noreen the contact information.
Noreen silently breathed a sigh of relief.
After the coldpress, Dr. Wilder prepared two herbal sters.
"I''ll see you out," Noreen offered.
"No need, can grab a cab easily from here. Don''t go to the trouble, he said handing the sters to Noreen. "You''ve used these before, so you know how to apply them
Can you show him?"
"Of course," Noreen said. As she took the sters, Dr. Wilder''s hand brushed
against hers. Her skin was cool to the touch.
"How has your health been?" he asked with genuine concern.
Chapter 438
"It''s been fine."
"Well, since I''m here, let me take your pulse," Dr. Wilder said, not taking no for an answer. He gently took her wrist before she could refuse.
As he concentrated, he nodded. "It seems you''ve been taking better care of yourself. You''re looking so much better than before¡ªthere''s so much more life in you now. But diet alone isn''t enough. Thatst illness really took a toll on you. You still need proper conditioning to fully recover."
Noreen''s heart skipped a beat. She had almost forgotten-Dr. Wilder knew about her miscarriage. Her body tensed, and her eyes darted instinctively toward Seth. He was looking down at his phone, seemingly oblivious. Or perhaps he just didn''t care about her health. Either way, Noreen felt a wave of relief.
Dr. Wilder, likely realizing the sensitivity of the situation, kept his words vague. "Come by my office when you have a free moment. I''ll do a proper diagnosis and prescribe something for you." He then added gravely, "And please, don''t neglect this any longer."
"...I will," Noreen promised.
She was about to walk Dr. Wilder to the elevator when Seth stood up. "I''ll see him out. You stay here and show Ron how to use the ster."
Noreen exined the process to Ron. The ck ster needed to be softened with hot water before application. Since Ron''s injured foot made it difficult for him to move, Noreen insisted he stay seated while she prepared it.
"I''m so sorry to trouble you," he said.
"Not at all, Mr. Archer. When we''re away from home, we have to rely on our friends, don''t we?"
Ron, who already liked Noreen, found himself even more impressed. They chatted for a bit, and when he learned that she and a man named Vincent were developing a next-generationputing chip, he grew animated.
"Vincent is a brilliant talent, Ms. Gilmore. You have a good eye. It''s an excellent project. The future of our nation''s technological advancement depends on discerning investors like you and gifted minds like his."
"The credit really belongs to Mr. Vincent," Noreen demurred.
But Ron disagreed. "A prized stallion is rare, but a keen eye to recognize one is rarer still. Take InnoCore. If not for your foresight, it might never have seen the light of day, or worse, we might have fallen behindother countries. Don''t be so modest, M but
Gilmore. Talent is c
without someone to discover and nurture it, it remains a diamond in the rough."
"Since we''re on the topic," Noreen began, sensing the moment was right, "I have a proposal I hope you''l consider. Her tone became serious. "I would like to formally invite you to Serve as a technical advisor for our project, Mr. Archer."
... Original content can be found at find(?)ovel
Seth was gone for a while. By the time he returned, Noreen had already applied the ster to Ron''s ankle and was preparing to leave. Seth said his goodbyes to Ron as well, and they left the room together.
Noreen was waiting for the elevator. Since he was also going down, Seth stood beside her. The doors opened to reveal maintenance workers.
movingrge pieces of equine
They both stepped aside to let them pass. As a heavy cab was wheeled out, it tilted, losing its bnce and threatening to topple onto them.
"Look out!"
Seth''s reaction was instantaneous. He grabbed Noreen''s arm, pulling her back. As she stumbled, his other arm wrapped firmly around her waist to steady her.
She regained her footing and immediately pulled away, creating a careful distance between them.
The lingering warmth on his fingertips made Seth''s throat tighten inexplicably.
Chapter 439
"You''ve lost weight," he said, his tone t, betraying little concern. It sounded like a polite, obligatoryment.
Noreen didn''t bother to answer his strange question. She stepped into the elevator just before the doors closed, and Seth followed.
The elevator descended in silence. Seth''s phone buzzed several times, and he took it out, his attentionpletely absorbed by the screen. Noreen, feeling an uncharacteristic impatience, nced up at the floor numbers. The polished steel walls reflected their images with perfect rity-including the screen of Seth''s phone.
Even in a fleeting, peripheral nce, she recognized the profile picture.
It was Bianca.
When the elevator reached the ground floor, Noreen walked out without a backward nce. They left the hotel one after the other.
Just as they did, Henry Brooke''s car pulled up. He was there to see Ron Archer, but his eyes caught the strange sight of Noreen and Seth leaving the hotel separately. He paused, his brow furrowing in suspicion. A hotel was a delicate ce; it was hard not to draw certain conclusions.
After a moment''s hesitation, Henry dialed Bianca''s number.
"Hey, where are you?" he asked when she answered.
"I''m at home," she replied.
Henry paused, ultimately deciding to keep his suspicions to himself. "I''m in Rivercrest City," he said instead. "I was hoping we could grab dinner sometime."
"Tomorrow should work. I''ll text you?"
"Sounds good."
Henry had other business to attend to, so he kept the call brief. After hanging up, he looked in the direction Noreen had gone, a cold, mocking glint in his eyes. All the previous "coincidences" could have been misunderstandings misjudgments. But this? He had seen it with his own eyes. Noreen was actively pursuing another woman''s fianc¨¦. To put it nicely, she was coveting him. To put it bluntly, she was trying to seduce him.
The next morning, Noreen had barely settled in at her desk when Vincent called, telling her to check thetest financial news. As she booted up herputer, a pop-up appeared on the screen:
¡¾ASCENDANCY GROUP TO JOIN FORCES WITH THE GODFATHER OF
SILICON VALLEY?]
Noreen''s brow tightened. She
clicked the link, which took her to a major financial news site. Beneath the bold headline was a high-resolution photo of Bianca and Ron Archer ying golf. Sethstood nearby, his gaze fixed admiringly on Bianca as she swung her club. They all looked happy and rxed, a picture of perfect harmony. The article was pure spection, spun around the photo, suggesting that a major partnership between Ascendancy Group and Ron Archer was imminent.
"Did Mr. Archer really decide to partner with Ascendancy?" Vincent''s voice was
filled with worry. "If they team up, how can we possiblypete?"
Noreen knew what he was afraid of.
Ascendancy Group already dominated the domestic chip market. Although the fireworks.
incident had damaged their reputation and stock price, a partnership with a legend ke Rom Archer would be more than enough to reverse their fortunes.
"Nothing is set in stone yet," Noreen said calmly, trying to reassure him. "Don''t let
a spective article distract you. This could just be a smoke screen put out by a
"Okay," Vincent said, his anxiety easing slightly at her words. Get full chapters from f?ndnovel
Next, Noreen called Dr. Wilder to ask when he nned on visiting Ron for his follow-up. She wanted to go with him. Ron hadn''t given her a clear answer about her proposal, only that he would consider it. She needed to press her advantage.
But before she could make her move, her phone rang. It was Ron Archer.
Chapter 440
Noreen answered immediately.
...
Bianca was in high spirits. The news article hadpletely turned the tide. After a continuous decline, Ascendancy Group''s stock had surged and was still climbing. The shareholders who had been so critical of her were now silent. Even Mr. Prescott, the man who had dodged her meeting yesterday, called to reschedule. His tone was apologetic and deferential, iming he had just returned from his business trip and was so sorry to have missed her.
Bianca knew it was all a game, but she yed along, graciously inviting him to dinner. He epted at once. On a whim, she also invited Henry, remembering her promise from the day before. Let Mr. Prescott see that she was not someone to be trifled with, that she had connections and resources to spare.
Even Yvonne was inundated with invitations from the very society wives who had snubbed her. Mrs. Naylor was not among them, but Yvonne didn''t care. She was happily getting ready for an outing when her husband, Forrest Lowell, walked in. Updates are released by Find?Novel
"I thought you weren''ting back until tomorrow," Yvonne said, surprised.
"I finished my work early," Forrest replied, tucking two financial magazines under his arm. He looked at his wife''s attire. "Going out?"
"Yes, I''m having tea with Mrs. Chase and the others," she said, fluffing her hair.
"Have fun, then." Forrest changed his shoes and went straight upstairs.
"I''ll have the housekeeper make you dinnerter!" she called after him.
"I heard you!"
In his study, Forrest ced the magazines on his desk. The cover
subject of both was Noreen. He §à§Õ§à§ã carefully read through the interviews, focusing only on the parts about her. When he was done, he smoothed the magazines t, went to his bookshelf, and removed a row of heavy volumes. He ced the new magazines in the space behind them, where several other magazines all with with
oreen on the
Cover-were already hidden. He then carefully reced the books, making sure his collection waspletely concealed.
Bianca''s dinner was scheduled for two o''clock at The Eastern Gardens, an extravagant choice. Henry arrived early, his heart a mix of excitement and mncholy. He hadn''t seen Bianca in a while, and although he knew she was engaged to Seth, he couldn''t help the pang disappointment. He had resigned himself to being a spectator in her
life, but it still hurt.
When she walked in, he pushed his feelings aside, stood to greet her, and pulled out her chair.
"I''m so sorry I''mte," she apologized.
"Not at all. I was early." After she was seated, Henry presented her with a small, elegantly wrapped box. "A little something for your engagement."
"Thank you, Bianca said, epting it without opening it. She knew it would be something expensive also invited Mr. Press?tt from AeroLink. I hope you don''t mind."
"Of course not."
Bianca checked her watch. "He should be here any minute." She had spoken to him just before arriving, and he had imed to be just down the street.
But ten minutes and two cups of teater, there was still no sign of him. Bianca tried calling his phone, but it went straight to voicemail.
"That''s odd. I wonder if something happened," she mused. Just then, her own phone rang. It was Yvonne.
"Have you seen the press conference?" Yvonne''s voice was shrill with panic. Bianca frowned. "What press conference?"
Chapter 441
At her mother''s urging, Bianca opened the country''srgest news media tform on her phone. The live broadcast was the top story. The first thing she heard was Ron Archer''s voice, clear and unequivocal.
"The news report that circted this morning was false. I have no ns to partner with Ascendancy Group. Of course," he added, ever the diplomat, "Ascendancy is an excellentpany with mature technology and a strong market presence. They are a benchmark in the industry."
The public rification was a direct p in the face. Anyone with a modicum of business sense would see that the morning''s news had been a calcted PR stunt. Bianca had orchestrated it, confident that Ron would see Ascendancy Group as his best and only option. She had thought of it as extending an olive branch. She never imagined he would not only refuse it but publicly set it on fire. Her face, already pale, turned ashen. She could already imagine the mockery online.
Henry noticed her distress immediately. "Bianca, what''s wrong?"
She couldn''t find the words. Her expression hardened. "I''m so sorry, Henry, but we''ll have to reschedule."
"It''s fine. Go take care of what you need to," he said with gentle understanding. "I''ll get the check."
Bianca gave him a grateful nod and hurried out, leaving Henry to stare after her, his eyes filled with worry. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F?ndNovel
She and Yvonne arrived home at roughly the same time, both their social engagements having ended in disaster. Forrest was just sitting down to dinner. "I thought you two weren''t eating at home tonight?" he asked, confused. "The housekeeper only prepared enough for me."
Yvonne threw her designer handbag onto a chair. "How can you eat at a time like this? I''m too furious to be hungry! A crisis is unfolding, and you can''t even be bothered to show a little concern for your daughter!"
"What happened?" Forrest asked, his brow furrowed.
Bianca quickly exined the situation, including how Mr. Prescott was now ignoring her calls.
"You should be helping her!" Yvonne used her husband.
"I just transferred to Rivercrest City," Forrest said, his voiceced with
exasperation. "My feet aren''t even firmly on the ground yet. What can I do?"
It was true, but Yvonne was too angry to be reasonable. "When you conducted that safety inspection for Noreen''s port project, why didn''t you find some problems? Make things a little more difficult for her?
At this, Forrest looked even more weary. "I was as critical as I possibly could be. I gged every minor issue. But then the higher-ups changed their minds and called off the deep dive."
"Does she have someone protecting her from above?" Yvonne demanded.
Forrest couldn''t say.
Bianca, however, was dismissive. "It was probably just a coincidence. It has nothing to do with Noreen. doesn''t have that kind of power."
Bianca had done her r
Noreen came from a broken Single-parent home with no connections to speak of
But that wasn''t the immediate problem. "We need to find a way to reverse this situation, and quickly," Yvonne said, pacing the room. If this continued, the rumors of Bianca being a jinx would solidify into fact Then, forget about a top-tier family like the Harcourts; even lesser dynasties would shun her. Her engagement to Seth was not yet a marriage. It could fall apart at any moment.
As Yvonne fretted, Bianca received a text message.
Chapter 442
¡¾My dear, I''m flying to Rivercrest City next week. I''ve been invited to speak at your alma mater, Rivercrest University, for the graduation ceremony. We must see each other.]
Bianca''s fingers tightened around her phone. After a moment, she looked up. "Mother," she said, a new resolve in her voice, "I think I have a solution."
...
Three days before the Annual Riverside Business Assembly, Wade Harcourt''s secretary delivered the official invitation list to Noreen at Winrich for her review. Her eyes scanned the names until theynded on a familiar one. She paused for only a fraction of a second before continuing down the list.
"This is the primary list of invitees," the secretary exined. "The list of apanying partners will be sent overter."
Meanwhile, Seth informed Bianca about the uing assembly. Her interest was immediately piqued. The guest list was a who''s who of the business world, a gold mine of resources and opportunities. She was trying to figure out how to ask if she could attend when Seth spoke.
"You should go to Myriad Atelier this afternoon," he said. "Pick out a beautiful gown for yourself."
Bianca''s heart fluttered. She looked at Seth, her eyes filled with adoration. No matter what happened, no matter what the world said, he always stood firmly by her side. The stress that had been weighing on her for days evaporated in the warmth of his unwavering support. This was a devotion Noreen had never earned in seven years.
In the end, Noreen had already lost. There was no reason to even consider her a rival.
While Bianca was joyfully selecting a gown at the exclusive boutique, Noreen received the second list. She wasn''t surprised to see Bianca''s name on it as Seth''s plus-one. After confirming the details, she ced a video call to ire Chase for help choosing her own attire.
When ire heard Noreen was attending a major assembly, she thumped her chest dramatically. "Don''t you worry! I will find you a dress that will leave every single person in that room speechless!"
"That might be a bit much," Noreenughed. "I''m attending on Mr. Harcourt''s behalf. It''s probably best not to be too ostentatious."
"Fine, we''ll go for understated elegance, then."
Noreen trusted ire''s impable tastepletely. ire, however, was worried about something else.
"This kind of event... does that mean that jerk Seth will be there?"
"What do you think?" Noreen gave her a look that said it all.
ire groaned. "Why isn''t he bankrupt yet? And isn''t that bitch Bianca supposed
to be a jinx? Why hasn''t she jinxed him into ruin?"
"Maybe he''s jinx-proof," Noreen quipped.
Hearing the lightness in her friend''s voice, ire felt a genuine sense of relief. "It sounds like you''re really over him."
"The only thing that has power over me anymore is poverty," Noreen replied.
ire was in awe. After a few more minutes of chatter, they ended the call. Just as ire was about to
start a new show, her phone rang again. She scowled at the caller ID.
She wanted to ignore it, but the catter was persistent.
"What do you want?" she answered, her voice dripping with annoyance. "I''m busy! You have plenty of other women. Just ask one of them to
go Content originallyes from f?ndnovel
with you Dont worry wont say a word... I''m hanging up now."
She ended the call without another word. This was the nature of their rtionship:
a marriage of convenience, with no need for unnecessary emotional entanglement.
On the day of the summit, Bianca made a grand entrance on Seth''s arm, her attire deliberately extravagant. Then joint appearance was a clear message to the world: their rtionship was unshaken. She was still the woman he cherished.
Chapter 443
No amount of external turmoil could touch them. Seth''s devotion was a shield, forcing everyone to treat her with respect and silencing the malicious rumors.
Healy Naylor and Jude Wilder were also on the guest list. When Seth and Bianca arrived, Jude gave them a friendly wave. Healy offered a curt nod before turning his attention back to Jude. Naylor Automotive Group was flourishing, and with the sessfulunch of their self-driving car, Healy had earned a seat on the board of directors. He was riding high.
Seeing an opportunity, Bianca decided to approach him to mend their strained rtionship. As she and Seth walked over, she overheard Healy asking Jude, "Is Noreening?"
Healy had been overseeing production at a factory out of town but had rushed back specifically for the summit, hoping to catch a glimpse of Noreen. Even if they didn''t speak, just seeing her would be enough. This text is hosted at F¦Énd£Îovel
"How should I know?" Jude shrugged.
Healy frowned. "Isn''t she your boss now? Don''t you keep tabs on your own leadership?"
"She feels more like the dean of discipline," Jude muttered. "And no student is ever happy to see the dean."
Healy had to concede the point. What Jude didn''t say was that he actively avoided Noreen whenever possible. She was terrifyingly strict. Since joining the Seymour Group board, she had implemented apany-wide overhaul that made life hell for ckers like him. Every report he submitted was sent back with corrections for the tiniest errors, down to a single miscedma. The thought of going to work now gave him a headache.
Bianca had intended to make pleasant small talk, but hearing them discuss Noreen soured her mood.
"Seth showed me the guest list earlier," she interjected coolly. "Noreen''s name wasn''t on it." She paused for effect before adding, "This kind of conference has a very high bar for entry. Not just anyone can get in."
Though she didn''t mention Noreen by name, her meaning was perfectly clear.
Healy''s expression chilled, but he said nothing.
"Oh, right," Jude added, catching on. "Noreen has had a good year, but she''s not an official member of the Chamber yet. She wouldn''t be able to attend this."
The event suddenly lost all its appeal for Healy. "Any idea when Mr. Harcourt will arrive?" he asked Seth. "I''ll say hello to him and then head out. I need to catch up on sleep."
"I''m not sure," Seth replied. No one found this strange; the strained rtionship between the father and son was well known. Wade hadn''t even attended Seth''s engagement party.
"I guess I''ll wait a bit longer," Healy sighed. Leaving too early would be rude.
Hearing that Wade Harcourt was
expected to attend, a new idea began to form in Bianca''s mind. "Seth she said "I think I should go and greet your father when he arrives." She offered a usible excuse. "There are a lot of media here. It wouldn''t look good if they started specting."
"Alright," Seth agreed.
Bianca felt a surge of triumph. Coming to this summit was the right move. Not only could she dispel the damaging rumors, but she could also strengthen her ties with Wade and expand herwork. It was a perfect opportunity.
??
She tightened her grip on Seth''s arm, her smile radiant and confident, and together they began to mingle. With Seth''s current standing in the businessmunity, most people approached them, eager to make a connection.
Chapter 444
Bianca, by his side, was effortlessly introduced to a host of powerful figures. She was in the middle of a lively conversation when a stir at the entrance drew everyone''s attention.
"Is that Ron Archer?" someone in the crowd murmured.
"And look who''s with him-Noreen Gilmore from Winrich. What are they doing here together?"
The polite smile on Bianca''s face froze. The very people who had been fawning over her moments before suddenly turned and swarmed toward the neers. In an instant, she and Seth were left almost alone.
Bianca''s lips thinned as she stared at Noreen, who was now the center of attention, gracefully on Ron Archer''s arm as she greeted the crowd.
Jude wandered over, his eyes also fixed on the pair. "How did they end up together?" he muttered. "Who''s the guest, and who''s the plus-one?"
"Isn''t it obvious?" Bianca said, her voice dripping with scorn.
"Well, yeah, Mr. Archer has to be the invited guest," Jude reasoned. "I mean, he''s the Godfather of Silicon Valley." The man''s influence was undeniable.
So Noreen was here as Ron Archer''s date?
"How did she even get close to him?" Jude wondered aloud.
Bianca replied with a single, loaded question: "You''ve known her for years. Do you really need to ask?"
Jude fell silent. The reason they had all disliked Noreen in the past was because of that one incident.
Seth, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "I don''t recall Mr. Archer''s name being on the guest list."
His words reminded Bianca that she had seen the list too, and he was right. Ron''s name had not been on it.
"They probably added himter," Jude suggested. "A man like that gets an invitation wherever he goes."
Bianca agreed. It was the only logical exnation.
Across the room, Noreen was too busy to notice them. She was there with Ron as his guest, and since his ankle was still healing, she stayed by his side offering him her arme for support.
"Miss Gilmore, perhaps you should find me a ce to sit," Ron said, looking a bit self-conscious. "I feel bad making you support me like this."
"It''s no trouble at all," Noreen assured him.
Seth decided it was time to greet Ron. After all, the injury had happened during a game with him it was only right to check in Bianca had no desire to interact with Noreen, but she resolved to go with him, for Mr. Archer''s sake. Just then, she spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
"You go ahead, Seth," she said, releasing his arm. "I see a friend I need to say hello to."
"Okay." Seth made his way toward Ron.
Bianca, meanwhile, approached Henry Brooke with a warm smile. "Mr. Brooke, I''m so d you could make it."
"Bianca¡ªI mean, Ms. Lowell," Henry corrected himself. In a public setting, formality was more appropriate. "My father is a member of the Chamber, so I''m here representing him."
As they chatted, Bianca kept a watchful eye on Seth, or more urately, on Noreen, wary of any ulterior motives she might have. Henry too nced over att Newest update provided by f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
Noreen, his expression one of utter disdain.
He leaned in to tell Bianca something.
Chapter 445
"This morning, I went to the hotel to see Mr. Archer," he began. "As I was waiting, I saw Noreen go up to his room with a number of gift boxes." He paused, then added, "The two of them didn''t leave the hotel together until this afternoon."
A knowing, triumphant smile touched Bianca''s lips. It was just as she''d suspected. Noreen was constantly finding new ways to lower the bar. To secure a ticket to this summit, she had literally offered herself up.
Henry found it just as ironic. In the space of two days, he had seen Noreen leaving a hotel with two different men, one of them old enough to be her father. It was utterly shameless. His contempt for her grew, while his admiration for Bianca ¡ªa woman who built her career on her own merit-deepened.
Sensing that Seth was about to return, Henry made a polite excuse to leave, not wanting to intrude on their time together. Bianca noticed that throughout Seth''s brief conversation with Ron, he had not once interacted with Noreen. He hadn''t even looked in her direction. He had ignored herpletely.
The realization filled her with a profound sense of joy. When Seth rejoined her, she once again took his arm. "When will your father be arriving?" Chapters first released on find[?]ovel
"Let me check." True to his word, Seth immediately tried to call Wade, but the call went unanswered.
"I heard Mr. Harcourt is scheduled to give a speechter," Bianca said smoothly. "There''s no rush. We can greet him after he''s finished." The timing would be perfect. With all eyes on Wade, her appearance by his side would put to rest any rumors that he disapproved of her.
"Alright," Seth agreed, and then continued to guide her through the crowd, making introductions.
Henry watched them from a distance, an indescribable sadness in his heart. Seth was undeniably devoted to Bianca, more so than he could ever be. He had heard the rumors about her recent professional failures and had worried for her. He knew that if he were in Seth''s position, he wouldn''t be nearly as supportive. All he could do now was not interfere with her happiness.
Forcing his gaze away, Henry took a deep breath and made his way toward Ron Archer. He had to try onest time. If Ron had publicly rejected Ascendancy Group, that meant the door was open for others. He wouldn''t let the opportunity pass. He would have to tolerate the presence of Noreen, but for the sake of a potential deal, he would endure it.
When he approached, however, he pointedly ignored Noreen, addressing only Ron. "Mr. Archer, good to see you again."
"Mr. Brooke," Ron acknowledged him with a polite nod.
"Do you have a moment to talk?" Henry asked, hoping for a private conversation.
Noreen understood his intention. "Shall I help you to a seat over there so you two can speak?" she offered.
But Ron shook his head. "That won''t be necessary. Mr. Brooke, I know what you wish to discuss, so I will be frank with you have already made, my decision.
Henry''s heart sank. "May I ask who you''ve chosen?"
"I will be making a formal announcement shortly."
"If I may," Henry pressed, a note of
desperation in his voice, "I would et
Urge reconsider: Brooke Group is prepared to make you an extremely generous offer."
"I will keep that in mind," Ron said.
Henry had been in the business world long enough to recognize a polite dismissal. In Ron''s eyes, Brooke Group was already out of the running. He felt a sharp pang of disappointment, but his curiosity was piqued. Who had Ron chosen?
Chapter 446
Whatpany could possibly persuade him to turn down both the industry leader, Ascendancy Group, and the cash-rich powerhouse, Brooke Group?
"Miss Gilmore."
Padgett Novak had arrivedte, attending as a representative of the government. From the moment he entered, his eyes had been fixed on Noreen. He waited until the crowd around her thinned before making his way over. He gave a brief nod to Henry as well.
"Director Novak," Noreen greeted him.
"Is your head still bothering you?" he asked, his focus clearly different from everyone else''s.
Noreen smiled. "It''s much better, thank you for asking." Get full chapters from find?novel
"Good to hear."
Henry listened to their exchange, a sense of unease creeping over him. He had known Padgett Novak for years and had never seen him show such personal concern for anyone. The way he looked at Noreen was... different. Henry''s brow furrowed. He suddenly remembered Padgett mentioning he had met a woman in Rivercrest City who had captured his interest. A terrible premonition began to take hold.
Padgett seemed to want to continue the conversation, but someone approached Noreen to discuss a speech. After ensuring Ron wasfortable, she excused herself and left with the staff member. Padgett could only watch her go.
Henry, stewing over his suspicion, couldn''t stop himself from asking, "Are you and Noreen close?"
"We get along," Padgett answered vaguely. He couldn''t say they were close, but "not close" didn''t feel right either.
To Henry, however, the answer was a confirmation. Padgett was famously guarded in his rtionships due to the nature of his work. "We get along" was as good as a confession. It was an unbelievable, iprehensible development. What did Padgett Novak see in Noreen? What kind of spell had she cast to bewitch a man as discerning and principled as him? It had to be because Padgett had so little experience with women; he had fallen right into her trap.
As a friend, Henry felt it was his duty to intervene. "You should be careful with her, Padgett. She''s not as simple as she seems. It''s best to keep your distance."
Padgett frowned, clearly displeased. "Perhaps you''ve misunderstood her."
"There''s no misunderstanding," Henry insisted. "Just stay away from her. You don''t want to end up getting yed."
Across the hall, Healy still hadn''t found an opportunity to speak with Noreen But he wasn''t a hurry He found a quiet corner where he could watch her, feeling a surprising sense of contentment.
Jude, however, was getting restless. "Let''s get out of here," he whispered to Healy. "We could be at a club right now instead of stuck here."
"You go ahead. I''m staying," Healy replied without hesitation.
Jude eyed him suspiciously. "A minute ago you were bored out of your mind. You said you were going to leave as soon as you said hi to Mr. Harcourt."
"Did I say that?" Healy feigned ignorance. "I don''t think so. I''m finding this quite interesting."
Jude stared at him, wondering if he was losing his mind. He was about to argue when the lights in the hall brightened and a host stepped onto the stage Distinguished guests, esteemed friends, wee to the annual assembly of the Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce.
"Harcourt is about to speak," Jude nudged Healy.
ver
The entire room turned its attention to the stage. Bianca was among them her expression more eager than anyone''s. She smoothed her dress and checked her hair, determined to make a good O impression.
Chapter 447
After his opening remarks, the host called for a warm round of apuse to wee the visionary organizer of the assembly to the stage.
And then, to the astonishment of everyone present, Noreen Gilmore walked into the spotlight.
Bianca''s look of eager anticipation froze on her face, reced by sheer, unadulterated disbelief. Nearby, Jude gasped, grabbing at Healy''s arm. "Am I hallucinating?"
Healy swatted his hand away, annoyed. "Don''t wrinkle my suit." He still hadn''t had a chance to talk to Noreen; he had to look his best.
But Jude was persistent. "I must be seeing things! What is Noreen doing up there?" It was one thing for her to attend the summit, but to be introduced as its organizer was unthinkable.
A wave of confused murmurs swept through the room.
"Is there some mistake?" Henry whispered to Padgett Novak. "Her? The organizer?"
But Padgett''s attention was entirely on Noreen. He didn''t seem to hear Henry at all. When Henry turned to look at him, he saw an expression of pure, undisguised admiration on his friend''s face.
The most stunned person in the room, by far, was Bianca. She found herself pping along with the crowd, the faint sting in her palms feeling like an invisible p across her face.
Noreen stood at the podium, poised and confident,pletely unfazed by the whispers and stares. "Distinguished guests, esteemed partners,dies, and gentlemen," she began, her voice calm and clear. "Good morning. My name is Noreen Gilmore, and I am this year''s acting organizer-"
*Acting* organizer. The rification
did little to quell the shock. The implication was enormous, and everyone in the room understood it. Wade Harcourt not only trusted Noreen, but he was actively O grooming her for a position of great power. That single fact was enough to send shockwaves through the entire businessmunity.
Every person in that room was a shrewd operator. In that moment, they all realized that Naylor
Automotive and Seymour Group
hadn''t just gotten lucky; they had
been guided by a master strategist, securing their partnerships with
Winrich early and reaping the
rewards. By the end of the night Noreen would be inundated with offers and opportunities.
Bianca understood this too, and the blood drained from her face. The more Wade promoted Noreen, the more it confirmed the rumors: she, Bianca did not have his approval. Even though the entire room was focused on the stage, she felt as if every eye was on her, judging her, mocking her. Wade Harcourt would rather elevate an outsider than ept her into his family. Follow current nov?ls on F¦Énd£Îovel
To make matters worse, Healy and Jude were excitedly discussing Noreen''s triumph right beside her.
"You see?" Healy said, his voice filled with admiration. "She isn''t here as someone''s date. She''s running the whole show! That means she approved the guest list. If she didn''t want someone here, all it would take is a word!"
"That''s true," Jude conceded.
Healy''s gaze was fixed on the stage. "She is herself," he said, his voice low and intense, "not an essory to anyone."
The words struck Bianca, who was there as Seth''s essory, like a physical blow. A chill crept into her heart, and the room began to spin. She felt a suffocating pressure, as if the walls were closing in.
"Seth," she whispered, her voice trembling. She felt like she was drowning, reaching for a lifeline.
Chapter 448
Seth was her lifeline. She needed him to save her.
But in that moment, he too was watching Noreen on the stage. His handsome profile was unreadable, but his attention was absolute-so absolute that he didn''t hear her.
The sight sent a fresh wave of panic through Bianca. She grabbed his arm, her voice louder now. "Seth, I don''t feel well."
That finally broke his trance. He turned to her, his cool gaze slowly warming with concern. "What''s wrong?"
"I feel dizzy." Read full story at find{n}ovel
"I''ll take you to the hospital," he said without hesitation.
As they started to leave, Healy called out, "Leaving so soon? The summit has just begun."
"Bianca''s not well," Seth exined. "I''m taking her to the hospital. We''ll talkter." He didn''t wait for a reply, guiding Bianca quickly out of the hall.
From her vantage point on the stage, Noreen could see the entire room. She saw them leave, but her expression didn''t flicker. She finished her opening remarks and then invited Ron Archer to the stage. Given his injury, she personally went to escort him, offering her arm for support.
Padgett Novak noticed the gesture. "Is Mr. Archer injured?" he asked Henry. Henry''s thoughts were with Bianca. "Is he?" he replied distractedly.
"Didn''t you see the way he was walking?"
At Padgett''s prompting, Henry looked more closely and saw that Ron was indeed limping.
"So that''s why Noreen has been sticking so close to him," Padgett mused. "She''s been taking care of him, not just schmoozing."
Henry paused. He remembered
smelling the distinct scent of
medicinal herbs when he had visited Ron''s hotel room So their proximity Wasn''t what he had assumed A flicker of doubt crossed his mind.
On stage, Ron took the microphone. He began by thanking Noreen for the invitation and for her gracious- assistance, confirming Padgett''s theory. Henry''s expression grew more serious.
Then, Ron addressed the elephant in the room. "I know there has been a great deal of spection recently about my future ns," he said.
Indeed, it was the hottest topic in the tech world.
"I had not intended to make an announcement so soon," he continued, "but recent attempts by certain parties to use my name for their own publicity have forced my hand."
He didn''t name anyone, but everyone knew exactly who he was talking about. A wave of unease washed over Henry.
"After careful consideration," Ron dered, his voice ringing through the hall, "I have decided to partner with Winrich to develop the next generation ofputing chips!"
It was the second bombshell of the night. The first had been Noreen''s role as the summit''s organizer. Both were inextricably linked to her.
For the first time, Henry truly looked
at Noreen, a strange, unsettling
feeling stirring within him. He
feelingderstand it Why wou
couldn''t understand.
Ron choose Winrich over
uld
established giants like Ascendancy or Brooke Group?
He soon got his answer.
Chapter 449
After Ron finished, Noreen stepped back to the podium. "I am confident that with Mr. Archer joining our team, Centribo will reach unprecedented heights."
The news spread like wildfire, and soon, the full story emerged. Noreen hadn''t just hired Ron; she had offered him a full partnership in Centribo, the chip-focused subsidiary.
"A brilliant move," Padgettmented to Henry. "Hisst partnership ended over issues ofpensation and recognition. This isn''t just about money; it''s about giving him a sense of ownership and value." As a government official, Padgett was a student of human nature. "Shared profit is the foundation of any strong alliance, but true loyalty is secured by acknowledging a person''s worth. Noreen diagnosed the problem and offered the perfect cure."
He pped Henry on the shoulder. "You should take a page from her book. The most effective leaders understand that winning hearts and minds is the ultimate strategy. You never really stood a chance."
Outside a hospital room, two night-shift nurses were arguing in hushed tones.
"You go."
"No, you go. It''s your turn." Newest update provided by findnovel
"Rock, paper, scissors? Loser has to deal with her."
"Fine."
The loser sighed dramatically. "Why am I so unlucky?"
"Just get it over with," the other said sympathetically. "You know how she is. Worse than a queen. Thinks her money makes her better than everyone else. I''m a nurse, not her personal servant." She continued to mutter under her breath as she prepared a tray of medication.
"Quiet, someone''sing," her colleague hissed.
Henry, carrying a bouquet of flowers and a gift basket, approached the nurses'' station. "Excuse me, can you tell me which room Bianca Lowell is in?"
"802."
"Thank you."
As he walked away, the nurses started whispering again. "Another one? They''re
all so handsome. Such a shame they have terrible taste in women."
Bianca was thirsty and about to
press the call button when a knock
came at the dooms
immediately softened her
Henry she
expression. "What are you doing
here?"
"You''re alone?" Henry had expected to find Seth with her. The empty room made
him frown. "Isn''t Seth taking care of you?"
"His father wasn''t feeling well, so sent him home," Bianca exined smoothly "It''s nothing serious, gus some dizziness from a minochead injury I sustained a while back."
"You were injured? When did this happen?"
"It''s nothing, really," she said, waving it off.
Henry wanted to press for details but held back. "After you left, Ron Archer
announced his partnership with Winrich," he told her.
she was
She already knew. In fact, she had thrown a tantrum earlier, reducing one of the nurses to tears. But now the picture of calmposure. "That''s fine. Everyone has the right to choose theirown path. I respect his decision.
Chapter 450
Henry was deeply impressed. She was as graceful and magnanimous as ever. He couldn''t help but feel a pang of envy toward Seth.
"Bianca, about that news article... what really happened?" he asked, the suspicion still nagging at him.
Bianca sighed, a look of weary resignation on her face. "Ever since I got together with Seth, I''ve been a target for the media. Mr. Archer was just an innocent bystander. What I don''t understand is why a simple photo of us golfing ended up in the financial news instead of the usual gossip columns. It feels like someone was deliberately fanning the mes, creating a misunderstanding to drive a wedge between me and Mr. Archer." Original content can be found at find?novel
Her exnation immediately made Henry think of Noreen. She was the one who had benefited most from the situation. Had she nted the story? If so, it was a truly despicable tactic.
The summit concluded sessfully. Noreen went to the Harcourt estate to report to Wade. As she entered, she was surprised to see Seth sitting at the dining table, eating alone. She paused, confused. Jude had said Bianca was unwell and that Seth was taking her to the hospital. Why wasn''t he there with her? Had she known he would be here, she would havee another day.
But it was toote to turn back. Noreen squared her shoulders and walked in.
Evelyn, the housekeeper, poked her head out of the kitchen. Her face lit up. "Noreen! What a wonderful surprise! Have you eaten? If not, please join us."
Noreen was about to say she had already eaten when Seth answered for her. "She came straight from the summit. Of course she hasn''t eaten."
"Then I''ll get you a bowl and some soup. Go wash your hands. Everything is still hot," Evelyn said cheerfully.
After a long day, Noreen realized she was starving. Evelyn was an excellent cook, and hunger has a way of overriding all other concerns. She washed her hands and returned to the table, her focus entirely on the food, not on the man sitting across from her.
Evelyn brought out a steaming bowl of soup. Seth, being closer to the kitchen, stood and took it from her cing it in front of Noreen. As she reached for it, her damp fingertips brushed against the back of his hand. After he sat down, he subconsciously rubbed his fingers together.
"Thank you," Noreen said without looking at him, her voice cool and distant. She then devoted her full attention to her meal,pletely ignoring him.
Seth had started eating before her, but he was still at the table long after she had finished. She had never known him to eat so much. It was awkward; she wanted to clear her te but felt she couldn''t.
Finally, Evelyn came to her rescue. "You''re here to see Mr. Harcourt, aren''t you? He''s waiting for you in his study."
"Thank you," Noreen said, relieved.
The meeting with Wade was brief. His secretary had already given him a full report: Noreen stayed a little longer, chatting with him, before taking her leave. By now, the house was quiet; she assumed Setbhad gone.
But when she came out of the study, he was still there, sitting on the sofa, his shirt half-off.
They had been together for seven years; there was nothing they hadn''t seen of each other. Yet, in that moment, Noreen felt a sudden, sharp jolt of difort. She quickly averted her eyes, pretending not to notice.
Chapter 451
Evelyn returned with the first-aid kit, her reading sses perched on her nose as she prepared to tend to the wound on Seth''s arm.
Only then did Noreen remember that Seth had been injured while saving Bianca. She''d heard about it at the time but had never known the severity. It was surprising to see that after all this time, the wound still hadn''t fully healed. It must have been serious. He was willing to risk his own life for Bianca.
Evelyn''s eyesight wasn''t what it used to be, and she was afraid of hurting Seth. She wanted to ask Noreen for help, but considering the strained state of their rtionship, she decided she had to manage on her own.
"This might sting, so just bear with me," Evelyn said, her voiceced with concern as she began muttering to herself, "How on earth did you manage to tear this open again?"
Noreen didn''t pay them much mind. As she was about to leave, she called out, "Evelyn, I''m heading out."
"Oh, right. Don''t forget your things," Evelyn replied, remembering the food she''d packed for Noreen. She started to get up to fetch it for her.
"Don''t worry about it, you stay put. I can get it myself. No need to see me out."
Noreen waved her off and walked over to the dining room, grabbing the package from the table before heading toward the door. Evelyn settled back down and continued cleaning Seth''s wound.
Suddenly, a sharp, muffled grunt of pain cut through the quiet room. Evelyn must have touched a raw nerve.
The sound stopped Noreen in her tracks.
She turned to look back at Seth.
As if by chance, he looked up at the same time, his gaze meeting hers. Their eyes locked in an unscripted, jarring moment. Noreen''s expression was a mixture of confusion, hesitation, and a tremor she couldn''t quite name. It felt as if a wild vine had taken root in her heart, twisting and growing with unsettling speed.
Under her steady gaze, Seth''s focus slowly softened, his expression turning distant and cool before he nonchntly looked away.
It felt like a feather had brushed against her heart. She hadn''t looked at him that way in a very long time.
A momentter, Noreen left, and the room returned to silence.
Evelyn let out a soft sigh but said nothing. What was there to say? Words were useless now.
By the time Evelyn had finished dressing his wound, half an hour had passed. He went to the study to say goodbye to Wade before leaving the Harcourt residence.
At some point, a light rain had
started to fall, a fine mist that settled over the city, washing away some of the day''s fingering summer heat But the air was still heavy and humid, making it feel difficult to breathe. Summers in Rivercrest City always seemed to drag on forever.
Seth walked leisurely toward the parking area, but he stopped short when he saw
a figure standing under a streetlight. Original content can be found at FindN()vel
Noreen hadn''t left after all.
A question had been burning inside her, and she needed an answer with a desperate, pressing urgency. So she had waited for over thirty minutes.
The rain must have just begun, as only her hair was slightly damp. She was still wearing the same outfit from the conference earlier-a tasteful satin blouse and a pencil
skirt. The look was professional and sharp, exuding an air of
sophisticatedpetence. But the hair that ha been elegantly swept. up with a pin was now loose, cascading casually over her shoulders. Under the hazy glow of the streetlight, it gave her an addedyer of allure.
She looked beautiful in anything, as if she were born to wear clothes.
Noreen was the first to speak, her voice as soft as the rain. "You''re injured. It''s not safe for you to drive. I''ll give you a ride."
Seth didn''t refuse.
Once they were in the car, she asked him where he was staying.
"The same hotel asst time."
Noreen didn''t press further, nor did she care why he was in a hotel. There was only one thing on her mind.
After about ten minutes of driving, she stopped at a red light. The sixty-second timer ticked down. Noreen stared at it for a full ten seconds before finally breaking the Silence in the car.
"Why hasn''t your arm healed yet?" she asked.
"It was a bit more serious than it looked, so it''s taking longer to recover," he
replied. "But it''s almost there."
Chapter 452
"Where were you on Valentine''s Day?" Noreen asked next.
The answer came out instantly, as if etched into his memory. "At my engagement."
Noreen''s hands tightened on the steering wheel.
Of course. Valentine''s Day was his and Bianca''s engagement party. As the groom-to-be, he couldn''t possibly have left.
It meant she had been overthinking everything.
When the light turned green, the flicker of hope in Noreen''s heart was extinguished, and a familiar calm settled over her once more. They drove the rest of the way in silence.
After dropping Seth off at the hotel, Noreen drove away without a backward nce, her car quickly disappearing into the increasingly blurry curtain of rain.
Seth stood silently, watching the spot where her car had vanished, a flicker of loneliness crossing his usually stoic face. But just as quickly, heposed himself and walked into the hotel.
From a corner of the lobby, Henry watched the scene unfold,pletely stunned. He had juste from visiting Bianca at the hospital and was heading back to his room, his mood heavier than ever. He''d decided toe downstairs for some air, but the rain had driven him into the lobby caf¨¦, where he''d taken a seat by the window.
The timing was so perfect, so damning, that he couldn''t have missed it if he tried. Noreen had personally driven Seth back to the hotel.
Hadn''t Bianca said Seth''s father was feeling unwell, and that''s why he couldn''t stay with her at the hospital? He''d told her he was going *home*.
So this was his idea of ''going home''? What a joke.
And Noreen... she knew Seth and Bianca were engaged. Their rtionship was public knowledge, yet here she was, inserting herself between them. What did that make her, if not a homewrecker? She had no shame.
The thought that Padgett Novak still held a torch for a woman like that made his stomach churn.
He pulled out his phone and called Padgett, asking him to meet for a drink.
By the time Padgett arrived, Henry was already well into his first ss. He was in a foul mood, feeling sorry for Bianca and disgusted by Noreen''s shameless behavior, poured Padgett atrink and couldn''t stop himself from asking the question that had been bothering him.
"What do you even see in Noreen?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain.
Padgett''s brow furrowed, clearly displeased with Henry''s tone when speaking about Noreen. Still, he answered politely, "She''s worth it."
"Worth what? Her looks?" Henry sneered. "I admit, she''s beautiful on the outside, but inside, she''s absolutely rotten. She''s not worth your time."
"If you''re going to talk about her like that, then ''m not interested in this drink." The usually easygoing Padgett''s expression hardened his eyes turning cold. He looked ready to walk out at any moment,
Henry was taken aback. For a woman with such questionable morals, Padgett was willing to throw away years of friendship. Just how deep was he in?
He took a few deep breaths to calm his frustration, trying to reason with him in a softer tone. "She won''t even give you the time of day. What''s the point of liking her?"
As far as Henry was concerned, Noreen was just ying hard to get, stringing Padgett along. And Padgett was too blind to see it.
"She''s just been through a really bad heartbreak," Padgett countered. "Her heart''s still healing. She''s not ready to jump into a new rtionship or let someone new in. It takes time."
Henry scoffed at the exnation. "Or maybe that''s just hertest trick to keep men wrapped around her finger." The rightful source is F?nd-Novel
"I see this conversation is over." Padgett stood up, his gaze sharp and cold. "And you should probably cut back on the alcohol. It seems to be making you gossip like an old woman."
...
Noreen had just stepped out of the shower, the lingering thoughts in her mind finally washed away. She was about to open herptop to get some work done when the doorbell rang.
Chapter 453
Who could it be at this hour?
Noreen hesitated for a moment before walking to the door. When she looked through the peephole, her eyes lit up with joy, and she quickly unlocked it. "ire! What are you doing here?"
ire swept into the room, bringing a gust of damp air with her. Ignoring her suitcase by the door, she threw her arms around Noreen. "I''m here to recharge my batteries!"
She hugged her tightly, burying her face in Noreen''s neck as if she never wanted to let go. Noreen immediately sensed something was wrong. She hugged her back, gently swaying from side to side. "Have you eaten?"
"Nope. I''m starving!"
"How about we hit up our old kebab ce?"
"Perfect."
"And maybe grab a drink?" ire added.
"You got it." Noreen used her foot to nudge the suitcase inside. "The usual spot." "You know it."
"Okay, so... can I go get changed now?"
ire didn''t release her grip. "What part of you haven''t I seen before? Don''t be a stranger."
Half an hourter, the two of them were sitting at a kebab shop less than a block from Rivercrest University, their old haunt. The owner was the same, and the food tasted just as they remembered. The only thing that had changed was them; the youthful innocence of their college days had faded.
Neither was a lightweight when it came to drinking. Beer felt too weak for the asion, so ire ordered them both brandies.
"Brandy for me too," Noreen told the owner.
Seeing ire''s questioning look, Noreen exined, "It''s the weekend tomorrow. I don''t have to get up early."
ire knew, of course, that the concept of a ''weekend'' didn''t exist for a workaholic like Noreen. She was just saying it as an excuse to keep herpany.
They ate and chatted, reminiscing about their college adventures.
"I still remember how insanely busy you were back then," ire said with augh. "If you had ss, you were in ss. If you didn''t, you were over at Seth''s, helping him out. You were like a perpetual motion machine that never got tired, we tied in the same dorm room for two months that first semester, and I swear we barely exchanged ten sentences."
ire teased, "Then one night sophomore year, you didn''te back, and I just *knew* you''d finally ended up in his bed. You have no idea, I felt like my home had been invaded!"
"The next day, you stumbled back looking pale as a ghost and
copsed into bed, trembling in pain. I knew something was seriously wrong so rushed you to the hospital. When the doctor said you
had a ruptured ovarian cyst,
wanted to go find that bastard Seth and neuter him myself."
"Okay, okay, that''s enough. Let''s not talk about that anymore," Noreen said, a little ufortable dredging up the past.
But that''s how best friends are. Even when you don''t want to face something, they''ll be there to lovingly mock you for it.
"What did I tell you back then?" ire continued, undeterred. "I said go ahead, get your heart broken. Maybe you''ll finally learn your lesson."
She had a point. It was a hard lesson learned.
"And even though you''re finally over Seth, it still pisses me off," ire said, her tone serious now. "I saw what you went through for him. I can never forgive him for what he did to you."
"Alright, enough about me," Noreen said, pouring ire another drink. "What''s going on with you? Did something happen?"
The smile on ire''s face faltered, and she sighed. "My acting skills must be getting rusty if you saw through me that easily." She''d thought she was putting on
a convincing performance. Clearly, she still had a long way to go before winning any awards.
"It''s not a huge deal," ire said with a world-weary sigh. "You know how our industry is. It''s a mess."
Noreen frowned. "Did you run into some casting couch bullshit?"
"Yup." ire sounded utterly dejected. "You know, if the guy was handsome, I might have just rolled my eyes and walked away But he was so ugly! How does someone that hideous have the nerve to proposition people? And he acted like being rich gave him the right. I threw my drink in that fat pig''s face, and I still feel sick just thinking about it." Fresh chapters posted on find?novel
Just as she finished her rant, her phone rang. It was her agent. ire knew exactly what the call was about and was tempted to ignore it.
Chapter 454
She was about to shut her phone off, but Noreen picked it up for her.
The moment the call connected, a furious voice erupted from the speaker. "ire, where are you? You need to get over here and apologize to Mr. Zachariah right now! I worked my ass off to get you this opportunity, and this is how you treat the sponsor?"
"He took an interest in you! That''s a blessing! And you threw a drink in his face and called him a fat pig? What kind of talent are you?"
"I''m telling you, you have to go apologize to Mr. Zachariah immediately and get his forgiveness, or the agency will terminate your contract!"
Noreen''s patience wore thin. She spoke into the phone, her voice calm but firm. "Then terminate it."
"Who is this?" the agent demanded, realizing it wasn''t ire''s voice.
"You don''t need to know who I am. But I will remind you that forcing your clients into situations like that is illegal. We reserve the right to pursue legal action."
The agent burst outughing. "Legal action? Do you have any proof we forced her to do anything? Let me tell you something, ire is signed to a ten-year contract. If she doesn''t cooperate with the agency''s arrangements, it''s a breach of contract, and we will sue her for the buyout fee!"
Noreen''s expression didn''t change. "I''ll pay the buyout fee. But I will also pursue legal action against you. This phone call is all the evidence I need, isn''t it?"
The agent, suddenly worried Noreen was recording the call, hung up immediately.
ire chewed on the end of a wooden skewer. "That was a bit impulsive, Noreen. The buyout fee is astronomical."
"Is it really a problem if money can solve it?" Noreen said, gently taking the skewer from her hand.
ire''s eyes lit up. "My sugar mama! Take me, I''m yours!"
"Don''t let this nonsense ruin your mood. I''ll have mywyers contact them about terminating the contract. And then, we''ll start a newpany. You''ll be the only artist we sign."
"I''m clinging to this leg and never letting go!"
With Noreen in her corner, ire''s worries vanished into thin air. The two of them drank until they were both thoroughly content before heading home.
The next morning, Noreen told ire she was going to the office. As soon as she arrived, she had her legal department contact ire''s agency. They were a well-established firm, used to handling these kinds of situations, and they treated Noreen''s team with dismissive arrogance.
Noreen cut straight to the chase. "Let''s not waste time. How much is the buyout?"
The agency representative tried to ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?ndnovel
y games
I''m sorry, Miss Gilmore,
but ire is an artist we''ve invested
a great deal of time, money and resources
a great to developing. We are
not interested in releasing her from her contract."
"Ten million." Noreen stated the figure ire had told her.
"It''s not about the money."
"Twenty million." Noreen wasn''t going to let ire be tied to this toxicpany for a second longer. She was ready to throw money at the problem until it went away.
The representative went silent for a moment. "It''s really not about the money." "Thirty million," Noreen said, her patience gone. "I suggest you take the offer." Twenty minutester, Noreen called ire. "Hey, have you thought of a name for the newpany yet?"
"How about Scrambled Eggs and Chives?"
Noreen frowned. "Are you serious?"
"Huh? Oh, I was asking if you wanted scrambled eggs and chives for dinner. I''m
at the supermarket," ire said,pletely confused.
Noreen sighed. "...Fine. I''ll eat whatever you make."
ire grabbed a bunch of chives and headed to the checkout. As she was walking out, she saw two people that made her stop dead in her tracks. She quickly snapped a photo and called Noreen, he voice buzzing with excitement.
Noreen, assuming she had finally decided on apany name, was about to ask
when ire''s voice exploded from the phone.
"Noreen! You will not believe what I just caught on camera!"
Chapter 455
Noreen was in the middle of nning the next day''s work. Graduation season was approaching, which meant thepany''s recruitment drive was about to kick into high gear, and there was a lot to do.
Still, she yed along. "To get you this excited, it''s got to be one of two things: either you won the lottery, or that jerk Seth went bankrupt."
ire cackled. "Oh, it''s so much better than Seth going bankrupt!"
Her tone piqued Noreen''s curiosity. "Alright, spill it. Don''t keep me in suspense." "Seth got cheated on! Hahahahahahaha!"
Afterughing until she was out of breath, ire hung up. But then she thought, an event this momentous deserved to be shared. She opened WhatsApp, found Seth''s number in her contacts, and sent him a friend request. She''d gotten his number from Sophia Cole back when Noreen was in the hospital, but he never answered. She had considered deleting it after they broke up but decided to keep it, sensing it mighte in handy one day.
And now, it had.
Seth epted the request surprisingly fast, without even asking who she was. Weren''t powerful CEOs supposed to be harder to get ahold of? Whatever.
As soon as he epted, ire sent him a single, pointed sticker: a smiling clown. It felt incredibly appropriate.
A momentter, a question mark appeared from Seth.
ire didn''t reply. Instead, she went to her social media and posted a long string of twenty clown emojis. A few minutester, ament appeared from a contact saved as ''Jerk Quigley.''
"?"
Birds of a feather really do flock together. They even ask questions the same way. Pathetic. Men.
Miles away in Northcrest, Jerk Quigley let out a sudden sneeze.
Since ire was on a forced vacation, Noreen dragged her along to Rivercrest University to help with Winrich''s recruitment drive.
"You''re a co-owner of Winrich, you know," Noreen had said. "You can''t just coast forever."
ire knew Noreen was just trying to keep her busy so she wouldn''t sit around dwelling on things. Since it was their alma mater, she was happy to go.
When they arrived, arge banner was stretched across the main gate: *A Warm
Wee to Professor William for his Visit and Academic Exchange!*
"Judging by the fanfare, this guy
must be a big deal," ire
even assembled a weing
at the entrance.
Noreen''s attention was elsewhere. She called Halley to ask if he was attending the ceremony.
"Nope. I go every year, and I''m tired of it. Taking a break this year," he grumbled.
"That''s fair," Noreen said. "Get some rest. When I have some time, I''ll take you to see Dr. Wilder for another acupuncture session."
Halley hung up without another word. The source of th?s content is find~novel
Henry, who was ying chess with Halley, noticed his mentor''s foul mood. "What''s wrong?"
"Nothing. Focus on the game," Halley snapped. "How do you expect to win when your head is in the clouds?"
Henry''s mind was indeed elsewhere.
He couldn''t stop thinking about Bianca. Five minutester, a
message from her popped up. She told him Professor William was Visiting Rivercrest University and asked if he had time to swing by.
Henry immediately became restless, his next move on the chessboardpletely random.
Halley threw his piece down in frustration. "That''s it, I''m done! ying with you is no fun at all!"
"Sorry, Master. Something''se up," Henry said apologetically. "I''ll make it up to you with a proper game another day."
Halley just waved him off dismissively and retreated to his study.
Henry rushed over to Rivercrest University. He was about to call Bianca to ask where she was when he spotted her in the crowd.
Chapter 456
He put his phone away and hurried toward her.
Graduation season was also recruitment season, and the university had designated arge za forpanies to set up booths for a job fair. Wanting to secure a prime spot, Noreen and ire had arrived bright and early. They''d managed to snag an excellent location-highly visible and right on the main path to the grand hall.
At that moment, Noreen and ire were directing their staff on setting up the booth.
Bianca, walking in from the main gate, saw Noreen instantly, and her expression darkened. When she realized what Noreen was doing, a scornful smile touched her lips. She quickened her pace to catch up with Professor William, who was chatting warmly with the university''s provost.
Learning that Bianca was Professor William''s student, Provost Ferris was exceptionally courteous to her.
Bianca seized the opportunity. "Provost Ferris, mypany is also recruiting today. Would it be possible for you to help us arrange a good location?"
"Of course, that''s no problem at all," Provost Ferris agreed readily. "I''ll have someone take care of it right away."
"Thank you so much, Provost Ferris," Bianca said, then promptly called the HR department from the Ascendancy Group. They were scheduled to be at the job fair but had arrivedte and were stuck with a terrible spot. Just as they were wondering what to do, Bianca called and told them she had secured a prime location for them.
A few minutester, Bianca led the Ascendancy team directly to Noreen''s booth.
Noreen''s team had just finished setting up when Bianca arrived with her entourage. She didn''t say a word. The university official sent by the provost understood his cue and approached Noreen.
"Excuse me," he said formally. "I''m sorry, but this location was reserved in advance for anotherpany. Could you please move your booth over there? Thank you."
ire, who had just sat down to catch her breath, shot back up, her temper ring. "Reserved in advance? We''ve been here setting up for thest hour. Why didn''t you say anything then?" N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find(?)ovel
Noreen also chimed in. "If it was reserved, shouldn''t there have been some kind of sign?"
The official maintained his bureaucratic tone. "My apologies, but this is the university''s arrangement. Please cooperate."
"You can''t just..."
Noreen gently pulled ire back. "Don''t lose your cool. Let me make a call." She stepped aside to use her phone.
ire stood her ground in front of the booth. "We''re not moving until we hear it from your supervisor."
Bianca, however, ignored herpletely and instructed her own team, "Set up right here. I''ve already cleared it with Provost Ferris."
ire''s eyes narrowed. Of all people, it had to be Bianca. What were the odds? She immediately understood what was happening. Fine Bianca wanted to pick a fight, ire was more than happy to oblige
"Well, well," ire began, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look at you, ignoring
all the brand-new spots to fight over a used one."
"You must have a special thing for taking things other people have already used, don''t you?"
"It''s a fascinating little habit."
"Oh, by the way," she added with a smirk, "your slip is showing."
Bianca didn''t recognize ire but assumed she was one of Noreen''s friends. The rapid-fire, crystal-clear insults were loud enough for the gathering crowd to hear every word. Bianca''s face paled, unable to get a word in edgewise.
When ire mentioned her slip, Bianca instinctively nced down Even the HR person next to her checked "No it''s not What does that even mean?" fo
Someone in the crowd snickered. "She''s calling her trash."
Chapter 457
The surrounding murmurs andughter made Bianca''s skin crawl. She struggled
to keep herposure. "You have absolutely no ss," she hissed.
ire justughed. "And you''re so ssy, acting as the other woman?"
The crowd''s chatter grew louder.
"She looks so put-together, but she''s a homewrecker?"
"That''s disgusting. I can''t stand people like that."
"We should probably avoid herpany. I wouldn''t want to work for someone like that."
Bianca''s carefully constructedposure began to shatter under the weight of the public judgment. Just before shepletely lost her cool, a voice cut through the noise.
"The other woman? I think the real homewrecker here is someone else!"
It was Henry. He had just arrived to find Bianca being cornered and publicly shamed. Without a second thought, he had stepped in to defend her.
Noreen, having just finished her phone call, returned to this scene. She looked straight at Henry, meeting his usatory and disdainful gaze. She paused, confused.
Was Henry calling *her* a homewrecker? The audacity.
ire also heard the implication in his voice and stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. How could anyone be so clueless?
"What are you talking about? Spell it out! Who''s the homewrecker?" ire demanded.
Bianca frowned, a coldness in her eyes, but she put on a show of grace and maturity, gently tugging on Henry''s arm. "Let it go. There are too many people here. It''s not worth stooping to their level." ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? findnovel
But the more magnanimous she acted, the more Henry felt she was being wronged. He shot a piercing re at ire. "That''s a question you should be asking Miss Gilmore."
Now, Noreen was certain. He was talking about her.
"Is that what Miss Lowell told you, Mr. Brooke?" Noreen asked, her voice steady. She didn''t seem angered by the usation. Her eyes flickered to Bianca, who was hiding behind him. That one nce was razor-sharp.
Noreen had never med Bianca for her breakup with Seth. It was Seth whose heart had changed; if it hadn''t been Bianca it would have been Some other woman. But that didn''t give Bianca the right to spread lies and nder her behind her back.
Bianca, already on edge, flinched under Noreen''s gaze.
Henry immediately jumped to her defense. "This has nothing to do with her! Bianca would never stoop to gossiping!" He turned back to Noreen "You can''t hide the truth forever. You know what you did, so stop ying the victim."
She knew Seth was Bianca''s fianc¨¦, yet she kept pursuing him. What else could
you call that but the behavior of a homewrecker?
Noreen looked at him, her eyes cool and detached. "I''m genuinely confused. Perhaps Miss Lowell can rify for us. Who, exactly, is the other woman here?"
Bianca''s expression froze.
ire added fuel to the fire. "Yeah, Miss Lowell, why don''t you tell us? I''m curious too."
Their relentless questioning made Henry''s brow furrow. Noreen had no morals, and her friends were just as bad. Birds of a feather.
He was about to retort when Bianca suddenly spoke, her voice directed past them. "Seth, what are you doing here?"
In an instant, she left Henry''s side and linked her arm through Seth''s, her tone softening. "I thought you said you had a meeting today."
Noreen''s gaze shifted to Seth. No one knew how long he had been standing there, but judging from his impassive expression, he''d been there for a while. He might have even heard everything.
He had only appeared at the precise moment Bianca had been cornered, with no way out. Until then, he had been a bystander, watching as if it had nothing to do with him. Ev when Noreen was being used of being a homewrecker, he had never stepped forward to defend her.
Chapter 458
Seth first answered Bianca''s question, exining that he had been worried about her and came over after his meeting wrapped up.
Seeing them together sent a fresh wave of rage through ire. How could he treat Noreen like this? From the moment he appeared, his gaze had merely brushed past Noreen, never lingering. It was as if he didn''t even know her.
Seven years of her life, wasted on a dog.
"Mr. Harcourt, you''re just in time," ire challenged, her voice sharp. "Why don''t you settle this for us? Between these two, who is the real homewrecker?"
He wanted to stay out of it? Not a chance. ire was determined to drag him into the mess. If he dared to deny their past, she was ready to air every single sacrifice Noreen had made for him over the past seven years.
Seth''s eyes, cold and hard, locked onto ire in a silent warning.
But she didn''t back down, meeting his re head-on.
His gaze flickered past ire, swept nonchntly over Noreen, and then he spoke, his tone so detached it was devoid of any emotion. "Haven''t you heard, Miss Chase? In any rtionship, the one who isn''t loved is the third wheel."
"Noreen, you shouldn''t have stopped me! I should have ripped their lying mouths off!" ire chugged a bottle of ice water, but it did little to cool the fire raging inside her. She couldn''t believe Seth would say something so heartless. With a single sentence, he had dismissed seven years of Noreen''s devotion. The man had no soul.
"Another bottle!" she yelled, feeling like she was about to explode.
"You should drink less cold water," Noreen said, handing her a room-temperature bottle. Her own emotions were muted, distant. When Seth had spoken those words, her heart had sunk, a chilling sensation spreading through her on the hot summer day. Only now was she starting to recover, the emotional storm within her finally calming into a quiet stillness.
Provost Ferris came to find Noreen personally, apologizing profusely for the "misunderstanding" caused by his staff. He made it clear that she could have any spot she wanted. The staff member who had confronted them earlier was also brought over to offer a formal
the provost warmly
apology Finally, the
invited Noreen to attend the
graduation ceremony as a guest of
honor.
Unable to refuse his earnest invitation, Noreen epted.
When she arrived, she saw that the front rows were already filled with distinguished guests. Seth and Bianca were among them Provost Ferris escorted Noreen to a seat on his right, essentially the second most important seat in the house. The seat to his other side was upied by Professor William.
As Noreen took her seat, she nced at Professor William and did a double-take.
It was the foreign man ire had photographed with Bianca.
*He* was Professor William?
Sensing her gaze, William turned and gave her a bright, friendly smile.
Bianca, who had been speaking with Seth, saw Noreen arrive, and her expression.cooled. When she saw her seated next to the provost, her brow furrowed in annoyance. She couldn''t understand why Provost Ferris was giving Noreen so much attention.
Just then, the provost approached her. "My apologies, Miss Lowell. I''ve arranged another excellent booth for you. In the future, if yourpany needs anything, please don''t hesitate to ask. We will always amodate you."
Though annoyed, Bianca maintained a graceful fa?ade. "Thank you for your trouble, Provost Ferris."
Just before the ceremony began, the final guest of honor arrived. Noreen was looking down, texting ire to calm her down, when someone sat down beside her.
Before she could look up, a familiar voice teased, "The ceremony is starting. Put your phone away and pay attention."
Noreen''s head snapped up, her eyes instantly lighting up with pure delight. "Dn!" This text is hosted at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?
Chapter 459
"Shh."
Dn Wilder ced a finger to his lips, gesturing for her to be quiet as he pointed toward the stage, reminding her the ceremony had begun. A momentter, a warm smile spread across his face, his eyes filled with a familiar, doting affection as he reached out and ruffled her hair, just like he always used to.
Seeing this, Bianca''s lips tightened.
"What''s wrong?" Seth asked, noticing her change in expression.
"Dn''s here," Bianca said, her voice t.
Seth followed her gaze and saw Dn affectionately ruffling Noreen''s hair. He paused for a fraction of a second, his face betraying no emotion. He appeared cold, utterly unconcerned. After a brief nce, he looked away, his attention elsewhere.
But Bianca''s mind kept drifting back to them. She had noticed it before the way Dn looked at Noreen was different. Combining that with his unusual level of attention and concern for her, a bold theory began to form in Bianca''s mind.
The thought made her heart race, and a cold dread crept over her, a feeling she couldn''t suppress. She had to know the truth.
So, when Dn excused himself and left his seat midway through the ceremony, she made up an excuse and followed him out.
She found him on the phone under the shade of a tree just outside the auditorium. She walked straight up to him, making no attempt to be discreet.
"The person you''ve been in love with all this time... it''s Noreen, isn''t it?"
Dn''s expression froze, and he looked at her with cold, hard eyes.
But Bianca was desperate for an answer. She repeated her question, her voice more urgent than before. "The woman you''ve kept hidden in your heart for seven years-it''s Noreen, right?"
"Something''se up. I''ll call you back," Dn said into the phone, hanging up. He turned slightly, his gaze on Bianca sharp and dismissive. "What does that have to do with you?"
His casual, cutting response was more than Bianca could bear. Her voice trembled with emotion. "Just answer me! Is it her?"
Dn stared at her, his eyes like daggers. After a long, tense moment, he answered, his voice firm and clear. "Yes."
There was no hesitation, no evasion. Just pure, unwavering honesty.
"It has always been her."
In that moment, Bianca''sposure finally crumbled. The color drained from her face, leaving her deathly pale. She had given six years of her life to him. Six years.
Staring at the cold, indifferent man before her, she felt something inside her copse. A chilling coldness spread through her veins as stark contrast to the summer heat
Dn didn''t spare her another nce before turning and walking away.
Bianca stood frozen, her face growing paler by the second.
On the other end of the disconnected call, Jude stared at his phone in disbelief. What had he just heard? Dn was in love with Noreen? And had been for years?
Oh, God. He probably needed to pack a bag and book the first flight out of Rivercrest City. Otherwise, Dn might just have him assassinated. For original chapters go to ?ovelFind
Bianca remained outside for a long time, struggling to pull herself together before returning to the ceremony. When she got back Seth was no longer in his seat. She didn''t pay it much mind; her thoughts were a chaotic mess.
l.ne
Professor William waved her over, and Bianca forced herself to put on a brave face as she went to sit by him. A reporter approached to interview William, but he exined that his Chinese wasn''t fluent enough to express himself clearly and asked Bianca to answer on his behalf.
The reporter, intrigued, asked about their rtionship.
"Moli was one of my doctoral students when I was teaching at WT Business
School," William exined proudly.
The reporter was stunned. "Miss Lowell was Professor William''s student? That''s incredible."
Chapter 460
William sang her praises without reservation. "Moli is an exceptionally brilliant and capable woman. She is my pride and joy."
This revtion attracted a swarm of other reporters, all eager to interview Bianca. Among them were several familiar faces-reporters nted by Lillian Laurent. It was all part of their n. From the moment Bianca received William''s call, she had known exactly how she would redeem her public image.
Wealthy families typically had two criteria when choosing a daughter-inw: aparable family background or exceptional character and talent. She could never meet the first criterion; there were only a handful of families in the country on par with the Harcourts. That left her with the second option.
Yvonne had realized this years ago, which was why she had invested so heavily in Bianca''s education, cultivating a persona of a highly educated intellectual. To the elite, a top-tier education and high intelligence were signs of superior genes- ideal for producing the next generation. This was the one area where Bianca feltpletely confident.
Noreen was no match for her.
Bianca shot a self-assured nce in Noreen''s direction. She seemed to be engrossed in a conversation with Dn, paying no attention to themotion. Was she genuinely unbothered, or just pretending? It was probably just an act to maintain some semnce of dignity.
"Moli, over here!" a reporter called out, using the name Bianca had gone by abroad, the one Professor William had just introduced her with.
Bianca turned, a radiant smile on her face as she posed for the camera.
Noreen, who had been chatting with Dn, looked over at the sound of the name.
*Moli? Is that Bianca''s name? What a coincidence. She''s named Moli, too.*
Years ago, when she had applied to WT Business School, that was the name she had used. But she had given up the opportunity to study abroad and the name had been forgotten. If it weren''t for the
reporter, she wouldn''t have even remembered.
Noreen''s attention lingered for only a moment before she looked away. Just then, her phone buzzed with a message from ire. Her period had started
unexpectedly, and she didn''t have any pads. It was an emergency.
Noreen always carried some with her. After finding out where ire was, she excused herself and went to find her.
The summer breeze that swept through the long, open-air corridor was hot, carrying with it a searing heat. At the far end of the hallway, Noreen saw a familiar figure.
She wanted nothing to do with Seth, but this was the only way to the restroom where ire was waiting. With her friend in need, she had no choice but to press forward.
Seth stood there, watching her approach, his eyes dark and unreadable. Under his intense stare, Noreen quickened her pace.
But as she was about to walk past him, he reached out and grabbed her arm.
Noreen''s expression changed instantly. She tried to yank her arm away, but he held on tight, his grip almost painfully strong.
She looked at him, her eyes cold with contempt. "Having another episode, Mr. Harcourt?"
She was done with this man and his
endless back-and-forth. One Th?s chapter is updated by find¡¤novel
moment, he was telling the world that the one who isn''t loved is the third wheel. The next he was grabbing her, refusing to let go, why couldn''t he just see a doctor if he was so clearly unstable?
Seth lowered his head slightly, his cold, piercing eyes fixed on her, as if searching for something in her expression. His voice was just as frigid. Back then, he asked his tone t and empty, "did you ever dove Dn?"
Chapter 461
Noreen froze, caught off guard by the sudden question.
Seth''s grip was still firm on her forearm. His usual easygoing tone was gone, reced by a detached,manding air. "The first night we slept together," he said, his voice cold, "I remember you telling me your heart belonged to someone else. You said I shouldn''t feel obligated."
He paused, his voice growing even colder. "That man... it was Dn Wilder, wasn''t it?"
Noreen''s expression stiffened. She couldn''t believe he still remembered her words from that night.
Their first time together had been an ident.
Years ago, Noreen had made an advance on Seth out of gratitude, but he had turned her down. Back then, she''d naively believed he was different from other men¡ªthat he wasn''t swayed by a pretty face or willing to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable position. That was why she''d willingly given up a schrship to study abroad, choosing instead to stay and help him build hispany from the ground up.
They worked shoulder-to-shoulder during that first year, a time of grueling work and gratifying sess. Over the long days andte nights they spent together, Noreen found herself falling for him.
But she never confessed her feelings. She stayed strictly professional, keeping to her duties and never once crossing the line. She was prepared to keep her love a secret forever. Only in the solitude of the dead of night would she allow herself to examine her feelings, turning them over in the moonlight, tracing the impressions he had left on her heart. Then, before dawn, she would carefully lock them away again, deep inside.
But that quiet, solitary affection was shattered by the ident.
A year after its founding, Aurelion Group was on the cusp of a major breakthrough. To bolster thepany''s public image and social standing, Seth had sponsored a schrship program for a group of gifted, underprivileged university students. The university, in turn, hosted a g in his honor, a gesture of thanks from the schrship recipients.
Noreen was supposed to apany Seth to the g that evening, but an urgent call from the hospital changed her ns. There was an issue with her mother''s, Rosalind Gilmore''s,test test results, and she had to go there in person. So Seth went to the event alone.
And that was the night everything went wrong.
Someone at the g drugged him, nning to frame him in a scandal-making it look like he was using the schrship as a pretext to prey on young female students. At the time, Aurelion Group was in the critical. Po stage
JPO stage for its first major project, facing intense scrutiny over its corporate transparency. A million eyes were on them; even the smallest misstep could have scuttled the entire public offering.
Fortunately, Noreen had personally managed the schrship program, hand-picking every student. They were grateful to her, and when they saw something was wrong, one of them secretly called her. She raced to the g and managed to get Seth out of there just before the trap was sprung.
It was Noreen''s first time. Drugged and out of control, Seth was rough, almost
feral in his desperation. She trembled in the face of his relentless frenzy.
She had no idea what the drug did to most people, but that night, it had turned Seth into a man of insatiable need. He took from her endlessly,
§Ñ§Ù§ß§Ö
his kisses bruising and violent, like a caged beast finally breaking free.
Noreen lost count of how many times. All she remembered was the moment just before she passed out, when he asked her in a voice raw and unrecognizable, "Noreen, are you going to regret this?"
She was too weak to answer, her body convulsing as darkness consumed her.
When she woke again, Seth was already fully dressed, his back to her as he stood by the window. The dim light of the room cast his silhouette in sharp, cold lines, making him seem distant and unapproachable. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find[?]ovel
Hearing her stir, Seth turned. His voice was still hoarse, but now it was utterly detached. "I''ll take responsibility for this."
Noreen''s heart sank. She knew he was only saying it out of a sense of duty, and that wasn''t what she wanted at all. She had never intended to use what happened between them to get something from him.
So she quicklyposed herself, forcing a calm she didn''t feel into her voice as she prepared to answer him.
Chapter 462
"Last night was a mistake," Noreen said, her voice t. "You don''t need to dwell
on it, and you certainly don''t owe me anything."
Seth was silent for a few seconds.
Noreen stiffly turned her head away, feigning nonchnce as she brushed a stray strand of hair from her shoulder.
"Besides, there''s someone I love."
Her voice was faint, but a tiny, traitorous muscle twitched beneath her eye.
Right. She had said that once before.
A lie spun to preserve what little dignity they both had left.
She just never imagined Seth would remember it, let alone bring it up again all these yearster.
For a heartbeat, Noreen''sposure faltered.
But only for a heartbeat. Another voice in her head, cold and clear, kept her grounded.
*The one who isn''t loved is always the third wheel.*
Her expression smoothed over, bing cid as she answered the question he had just asked her.
*"Back then, did you ever love Dn?"*
"Of course," she said, her tone level and devoid of emotion.
Seth''s heart gave a vicious, unexpected lurch.
She casually tucked her hair behind her ear, just as she used to. "It was so long ago, Mr. Harcourt. Bringing it up now... anyone who didn''t know better might think you''re the one who can''t let go."
Seth''s eyes narrowed, a slow burn of frustration building in his chest. "And after? In all the years that followed, did you ever..."
"Mr. Harcourt!" Noreen cut him off sharply. "What''s the point of asking these questions now? Or are you trying to reinforce the rumor that I''m the other woman in your rtionship with Miss Lowell?"
Seth''s throat tightened.
Seizing the opportunity, Noreen wrenched her hand from his grasp, her face turning cold as she looked past him. "Mr. Brooke, did you hear that clearly this time? Now you know who the real third wheel is."
Henry Brooke must have just been passing by. When he saw them locked in yet another confrontation, he''d instinctively frozen. He probably thought he was invisible.
But Noreen had spotted him the moment he appeared.
Her calling him out by name made the color drain from Henry''s face. As he looked up, his eyes met Noreen''s, which were as calm and still as water
sharp, needle like pain
pricked his heart, aplex mix of
emotions swirling within him.
Under Noreen''s direct and unwavering gaze, Henry stiffly averted his eyes and turned to walk away. Newest update provided by Find_Novel(.
"You really said that to him?"
When Noreen nodded, ire Chase burst into a fit ofughter.
"Well yed, Noreen! That''s one point for our team!"
"I just don''t want to have anything to do with him anymore," Noreen said coolly. "Drawing a hard line is better for everyone."
ire nudged her with her shoulder, teasing, "Same old you. Too proud for your own good."
"You think that''s proud? I haven''t even gotten to the nuclear option yet." Noreen smoothed her slightly tousled hair.
ire''s curiosity was piqued. "What''s the nuclear option?"
"I never once enjoyed being with you. It was all an act."
ire was speechless for a moment, then just gave her a thumbs-up.
Dn called, asking if she wasing back to the auditorium. Noreen told him she wasn''t. She''d rather leave the stage for Bianca Lowell''s victoryp.
"Where are you? I''lle find you."
They hadn''t seen each other in a long time, so Noreen figured it was a good chance to update him on the project''s progress. She told him to meet her at the main gate.
She and ire had been waiting for about five minutes when Provost Ferris emerged with a group of people. Professor William was on his left, while Seth and Bianca were on his right.
Provost Ferris spotted Noreen first and immediately waved. "Ms. Gilmore! Mr. Wilder mentioned you had to leave early."
Noreen offered a polite smile. "Yes, something came up. I''m sorry I didn''t get a chance to say goodbye properly."
"It was so hectic earlier, I didn''t get a chance to introduce you properly This is Professor William from WT Business School. I seem to recall you received an offer from them as well, didnt you?"
At his words, a ripple of surprise went through the group.
The most stunned, by far, was Bianca.
Chapter 463
She had always seen Noreen as an uneducated, simple-minded woman from a painfully ordinary background. Someone who wasn''t even worthy of being her
rival.
That''s why she''d always looked down on her.
Even when her mother, Yvonne Laurent, had warned her that any woman who could stay by a man''s side for seven years shouldn''t be underestimated, she''d dismissed it. Bianca was convinced Noreen had only managed it through self- sacrificing devotion¡ªa cheap, pathetic tactic that men didn''t actually value.
Men, she believed, wanted women who were beautiful, cultured, and from good families. Women who could advance their careers and be an asset on their arm.
Not a decorative vase like Noreen, beautiful on the outside but empty within.
To think... Noreen had also received an offer from WT Business School.
How could Bianca not be shocked?
Equally stunned was Henry. He had been walking with the group, as he was also invited to the dinner Provost Ferris was hosting for Professor William. He was the first one to spot Noreen, but he''d instinctively looked away, as if gued by guilt.
He never expected the Provost to stop and chat with her, casually dropping this bombshell from her past.
Before this moment, Henry''s opinion of Noreen had mirrored Bianca''s. He saw her as a woman with nothing to her name, who had wed her way to sess through unsavory means.
But today, she had repeatedly shattered his perceptions.
First, from his bystander''s perspective, he had judged her as an interloper in someone else''s rtionship. Then, just an hour ago, she had called him out directly, making him a witness as she revealed she was not the third party, but rather the victim.
The moment she''d said his name, it felt like a boomerang had just hit him in the chest. It was especially sharp given that, less than an hour before, he had been sneering at her for being a homewrecker.
That came back to bite him fast.
Henry''s mind was a chaotic mess. And now, to find out she had also been epted into a top business school...
His entire understanding of her was upended in an instant. He found he didn''t even have the courage to look at her.
Noreen was oblivious to their inner turmoil, nor did she care. When the Provost mentioned it, she simply replied with a nonchnt, "Yes, that did happen."
Provost Ferris sighed with genuine regret. "What a shame! Such a Checktest chapters at ?ovelFind
fantastic offer. If you hadn''t given it up, you could be a doctor of finance by now Perhaps you would have even been Professor William''s student, and you and Miss Lowell would have been ssmates."
How... unfortunate that would have been.
Noreen just managed a faint smile.
"Thinking about the timing, Miss Gilmore and Miss Lowell must have received their offers in the same year the Provost mused aloud, then sighed again. "And yet your paths turned out so differently."
"Oh, by the way," he added suddenly, remembering the reason she had given up her studies, "have you and your boyfriend gotten married yet? You''ve been together for so many years, it must be about time, right?"
Before Noreen could answer, ire jumped in, her words sharp and quick. "Nope.
He turned out to be a heartless bastard. She gambled her future on him and wasted seven years of her youth."
The Provost''s face darkened instantly, and he cursed with indignation. "What an absolute scoundrel!"
ire nced at Seth''s icy expression, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "Tell me about it! He''s like a stray dog, goes home with whoever holds the leash."
Bianca, who had been holding Seth''s arm, inexplicably let go. Realizing what she''d done, her expression flickered with annoyance. She found Noreen''s friend incredibly crass.
Chapter 464
Provost Ferris, despite being a man, despised cheaters. He turned to Noreen with aforting smile. "Don''t worry. Breaking up before the wedding is a blessing in disguise."
Noreen remained quiet, her expression still unruffled. "It was my mistake for being too young," ," she said, her voice calm as still water, enunciating each word. "I couldn''t tell a decent man from a dog."
Bianca looked at Seth nervously and saw that he was watching Noreen, his eyes dark and unreadable. Her expression sank, a knot of displeasure tightening in her chest.
Just then, Dn arrived, slightly out of breath. "Noreen, sorry, have you been waiting long? I ran into an old acquaintance and got caught up."
"Not at all," Noreen said, smiling at him. She turned to the Provost. "Provost Ferris, I should get going. Thank you for your hospitality today. I''ll treat you to dinner sometime."
"Sounds good," the Provost agreed readily.
Dn gave the others a polite nod before falling into step beside Noreen as they walked away.
"What are you in the mood for?" he asked.
"Anything''s fine."
"I remember you used to love the chicken and wild rice soup at The Chandler House. I wonder if it''s still open?"
Noreen looked at him, surprised. "You still remember that?"
"Of course. I''ve always remembered the things you like." As he spoke, Dn reached out and yfully ruffled her hair, an act of pure, familiar affection. They looked like a couple who had been in love for years.
Provost Ferris watched them go for a moment before turning back to Professor William and the others. "Well, shall we head to dinner?"
"Seth," Bianca murmured, her voice soft.
Seth''s gaze lingered on the departing pair for another second before he coolly looked away and responded to Bianca. "Let''s go."
Bianca finally let out a breath she didn''t realize she was holding. Good. Seth hadn''t been captivated by Noreen after all.
The fact that she''d gotten into a top business school was surprising, yes, but it didn''t necessarily mean Seth would care. In fact, it seemed no matter what she did or achieved, Seth wouldn''t care.
Because he simply didn''t care about Noreen as a person.
The realization lifted Bianca''s spirits considerably. She linked her arm through Seth''s again, chattering happily about the day''s events.
To their pleasant surprise, The Chandler House, the restaurant Noreen loved, was still in business.
"I can''t believe this ce has been open for so long," Noreen marveled.
"It just goes to show the owner is a persistent person," Dn remarked thoughtfully.
Noreen agreed. To stick with something for seven years... that was true dedication.
ire propped her chin on her
hands, her eyes darting
eyes darting between the
two of them After a home ent
came to a firm conclusion
The way Dn looked at Noreen was far from innocent. It was definitely the look
of a man in love.
While he was a great catch in many respects-good character, sessful-he had one major w.
He had dated Bianca.
That was a stain that would be very difficult to wash out.
ire silently pitied him.
Over their Readplete version only at fin?novel
meat, Noreen updated
Dn on her work. InnoCore was
already preparing for its IPO. If sessful, it would be the fastestpany to go public in Rivercrest a City''s history. Dn was fully supportive, promising hisplete cooperation.
Partway through, Jude Wilder called. "Dn, where are you?"
"Having dinner."
"And you didn''t invite me? Never mind, send me your location. I''ming over."
Jude had been stewing in suspenset
all afternoon and wasrs.
talk to
Dn and get some
Dn paused before responding. "Are you sure you want toe?"
"Of course!"
"I''m with Noreen."
Jude went silent. "...On second thought, never mind. You guys enjoy your meal."
He soundedpletely deted.
Chapter 465
Noreen was a true workaholic, talking business throughout the entire meal. Afterwards, Dn personally walked them to their car. Even as the car pulled away, he remained standing on the curb, his gaze fixed on the disappearing vehicle,pletely still.
ire kept her eyes on the rearview mirror until Dn''s figure was no longer visible. "Wow," she sighed. "He''s really devoted."
"What?" Noreen asked, feigning ignorance.
ire scoffed. "Don''t tell me you can''t see that Dn is into you."
With ire, Noreen never had any secrets. She admitted that she had sensed it.
"So what are you going to do about it?" ire asked, genuinely curious.
"Nothing."
ire was getting anxious on her behalf. "Have youpletely suppressed every desire except making money? Not all men are like Seth. You can''t just swear off all of them because one hurt you."
"It''s not that extreme," Noreen replied. "I just haven''t met anyone who makes me feel... anything extra."
She wasn''t some kind of prude, and she certainly had no intention of ''saving herself'' for anyone. But after a seven-year rtionship, she was just tired and needed a break. For now, she wanted to be like a nt¡ªjust drinking water, eating, and soaking up the sun. No human emotions, just absorbing light. She had no desire to bloom or bear fruit, no fear of withering leaves. She just wanted to focus on her roots so she could grow stronger.
Besides, after that failed rtionship, she had discovered a fundamental truth: you are the only one who will truly be with yourself through thick and thin, for better or worse.
Your own umbre is better than anyone else''s roof.
Noreen was genuinely disillusioned with men. "You know what men are like."
ire couldn''t argue with that. She hadn''t met any good ones either. Her world was popted entirely by jerks. She had started out trying to persuade Noreen, but now she was the one being convinced.
"You''re right. Men are so pragmatic. As kids, they need their mothers, so they love their mothers. When they grow up, they need their fathers, so they love their fathers. After getting married, they need their wives, so they love their wives. When they get old, they need their children, so they love their children. And if his wife dies first and a caregiver looks after him in his old age, he''ll fall in love with the caregiver."
"When you put it like that," ire concluded, "it really doesn''t seem worth it. Better to be single and do whatever you want, with whoever you want content
Noreenughed. "You and my mom would get along great."
"Oh yeah? What does your mom say?"
"She says the most beautiful thing about love is when he, he, and he all love you, but you only love yourself."
ire was deeply impressed. "Your mom is a visionary!"
Just as they were nearing her apartment, ire''s phone buzzed. She unlocked it
to see a new message, and her good mood instantly soured.
Men. Such a buzzkill.
The message was from someone saved in her contacts as "Jerk Quigley." It said he was arriving in Rivercrest City tomorrow and wanted to meet.
Her immediate instinct was to reply that she was busy, but Jerk Quigley had apparently anticipated that. A second message popped up.
"My grandma ising too." Fresh chapters posted on F?nd-Novel
ire sighed. A true corporate shark, he knew exactly how to get to her.
When Dn got home, he found Jude sprawled on the living room couch, engrossed in a video game. Hearing the door, Jude nced up, from his screen What took you so long? I''ve been waiting forever."
"What''s up?"
Jude tossed his phone aside, ignoring the inevitable ming from his teammates. He needed an
answer. "That phone call at noon... was what Bianca said true?
Chapter 466
He was dying of curiosity. Unable to contain himself any longer, he had driven to Dn''s ce, desperate for an answer.
Of course, he''d spent the afternoon specting. After thinking it over and over, he had settled on one conclusion: Dn had said it just to provoke Bianca.
It all came down to his theory that men retained a sense of possession over their ex-girlfriends. They felt a sense of ''loss'' after a breakup, leading them to say hurtful things they didn''t mean just to get a reaction.
"It was fake, right?" Jude said, letting out a long breath of relief, confident in his own reasoning. "You just said it to get under Bianca''s skin. There''s no way you could actually like Noreen."
"Who told you it was fake?" Dn replied after taking a long drink of water. His voice was slow and measured, each word delivered with an unprecedented certainty.
Jude''s mind went nk for a second, then a roaring sound filled his ears. It felt like his brain was about to explode. He was utterly shocked. Hearing it over the phone was one thing, but hearing Dn say it to his face was a whole different level of stunning.
His mouth hung open, but no words came out.
"What about Bianca?" Jude finally managed to ask, his first thought still of her. "She was with you for six years! How many six years does a person get in their life?"
Dn''s voice was cold and detached, his expression equally remote. "You believe everything she says?"
"But....." Jude struggled to articte his thoughts, wanting to defend her but finding himself at a loss for words.
It was Dn who spoke first. "You were going to say she followed me abroad, spent six years there with me, and that her love runs deep, right?" He said this with a chilling, sarcastic edge to his voice. "Except I was in Xandia, and she was in Borealia. We barely saw each other once a year. Are you sure she was following *me*?"
"For six years, I didn''te back, yet rumors of our romance were constantly circting back home. Did you ever stop to wonder where those rumors came from?" The source of th?s content is F?ndNovel
"And why is it that after six years, just when Omniva Group started having problems, new rumors about our ''troubled'' rtionship started spreading?"
"I never bothered to rify because I didn''t see the point. But that doesn''t make any of it true."
Jude stammered, "You... you mean, someone was deliberately spreading those rumors? That you and Bianca were never actually together?"
"You could say that," Dn confirmed unequivocally.
Jude felt another wave of shock wash over him. Twice in one evening was enough to leave himpletely numb. Everything he thought was real tumed out to be fake, and what he thought was fake turned out to be real.
What was true anymore? Jude felt like his brain was short-circuiting.
As if on cue, Dn pped him on the shoulder, his tone almost consoling. "I know you''re not the sharpest tool in the shed, but
should still warn you: don''t just
believe everyone. You''ll get sold out
without even realizing it."
Jude wanted to say Bianca wasn''t that kind of person, but the words wouldn''t
"Also," Dn continued, "Uncle found
a good home for Omniva Group. You should try learning from Noreen instead of wasting your time on trivial matters. You don''t want to keep disappointing him, do you?"
Jude''s heart felt heavy.
Chapter 467
Bianca got home veryte, surprised to find her mother, Yvonne, still awake. As she walked in, Yvonne nced at the clock on the wall.
Three in the morning.
Yvonne''s face was stern, her voiceced with a warning. "This isn''t Europe. Can you please tone it down a bit?"
Bianca, looking like her fun had been spoiled, tossed her handbag onto the sofa and slumped down beside it. "I know," she mumbled dismissively.
Yvonne''s sharp eyes caught a faint red mark peeking out from the cor of Bianca''s dress. Her brow furrowed, but she only said, "Remember to wear a turtleneck tomorrow. Don''t let Seth see that."
Her words made Bianca subconsciously touch her neck.
"And another thing," Yvonne continued, "the rumors about you being bad luck haven''tpletely disappeared. You need to find a way to turn this situation around quickly before it gets out of hand."
This was the very issue that had been giving Yvonne sleepless nights. She was being ostracized by the socialite circle, especially by Mrs. Naylor and her clique. No matter what she did, no matter how much she tried to ingratiate herself, nothing worked. She hadn''t yet secured her footing, and the title of ''Seth''s future mother-inw'' wasn''t enough to give her a backbone.
Just today, one of the women had snidely remarked that an engagement wasn''t a marriage. Whether Bianca would actually make it into the Harcourt family was still up in the air. The elite circles were full of broken engagements. Nothing was certain until the very end.
"The news will be out tomorrow. It should overshadow the negative press," Bianca said, not sounding too concerned.
Yvonne rxed slightly but still advised her daughter in earnest, "You need to manage both fronts. How are things progressing with Seth?"
Bianca seemed reluctant to answer.
But a mother knows her child.
Yvonne immediately understood and grew anxious. "Still no progress?
What did tell you? If you have toets
find a way to move in with him You''re engaged, after all. Living together is perfectly normal."
Something in her mother''s words struck a nerve, and Bianca''s patience wore thin. "Just stop worrying about my rtionship with Seth can tell you with absolut certainty that he loves me very much." s?novels
After everything that had happened, she waspletely sure of Seth''s feelings
for her. She was confident his heart belonged to her, and that was indisputable.
"I just mean-"
"Enough. I''m tired. I''m going to bed. You should get some rest too," Bianca cut her off, rising from the sofa and walking away.
The next day, just as Bianca and her
mother had predicted, the news spread like wildfire. The title of ''Doctor of Finance from a world-renowned business school'' was enough to restore Bianca''s morous image. Ima society that revered academic achievement,
highly educated persona was always well-received.
Ascendancy Group''snguishing stock price began to rebound. The shareholders who had been grumbling about Bianca changed their tune. With Seth''s unwavering support, any remaining dissent was silenced.
The Ascendancy Group''s quarterly meeting went smoothly. Afterwards, the vice president knocked and entered. "Ms. Gilmore from Winrich is here to see you."
Seth''s eyes remained on the document in front of him. "Show her in," he said without looking up.
Bianca had been about to leave, but at the mention of Noreen''s name, she sat back down. While she was confident in Seth''s love for her, that didn''t mean she trusted other women-especially not Noreen. Newest update provided by f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
Just before Noreen entered, Seth finished his work and looked up. He saw Bianca adjusting her cor and asked with concern, "Are you hot?"
"A little."
To hide the love bite deep on her neck, she had specifically chosen a ckce turtleneck.
Chapter 468
The air conditioning in the conference room was actually sting, but her extrayer made her feel a bit warm and ufortable. At her reply, Seth asked his assistant, Gillian, to lower the temperature again.
Noreen had juste in from outside, and the wave of frigid air that hit her made her shiver. To make matters worse, the seat Gillian directed her to was directly under an air vent. A steady stream of cold air funneled straight down her neck, and she could feel her entire back starting to go numb.
After just five minutes, Noreen couldn''t stop sniffling and tried to speed through the business discussion. Fortunately, Seth was efficient, and they wrapped things up in under twenty minutes.
Seth closed the file and shifted to small talk. "I hear InnoCore is preparing for its IPO?" This content belongs to Find?Novel
"That''s right." It was inside information, but Noreen knew it would get out eventually.
"How''s the internal teaming along?" Seth asked, his tone sounding genuinely interested.
Even Bianca shot him a curious nce.
Noreen found his questions intrusive. Her brow furrowed slightly. "You don''t need to concern yourself with that, Mr. Harcourt."
"I am, though," Seth said candidly. "It''s your first IPO. As your former boss, I''d like
to see you seed. I have more experience in this area, so if there''s anything you don''t understand, you can ask me."
"I appreciate the offer, Mr. Harcourt," Noreen replied curtly. The subtext was clear: she wanted nothing to do with him and certainly wouldn''t be asking for his help.
Seth, however, seemed oblivious to her rejection and continued on the same topic. "If InnoCore goes public sessfully, you''ll break my record for the fastest IPO." He paused, his gaze fixed on her. "You did it. Congrattions. And I''m deeply sorry for ever doubting you."
Noreen looked at him, bewildered. It was as if he had lost his mind. In front of Bianca, he was offering help and apologizing. What was he ying at?
While she was still trying to figure it out, Gillian knocked and entered again, followed by Mr. Summers from NaviTech.
"Oh, are you all finished? Am Ite?" Hugh Summers apologized for his tardiness. "We''ve covered most of it," Seth said.
Hugh was surprised. "That fast?" He was only twenty minuteste, but they were already done.
Seth exined, "Ms. Gilmore is very familiar with my work habits, which makesmunication much smoother."
Hugh had to agree. "Well, Ms. Gilmore did work under you for seven years. I''m sure she understands more than just your work habits."
Bianca cleared her throat pointedly.
Hugh caught on and gave an awkwardugh. "Well, as long as you''re all on the same page. I have no issues on my end."
Seth nced at his watch. "It''s about lunchtime. Mr. Summers, would you care to join us?"
Hugh readily epted, but then
noticed Seth made no move to invite
Noreen. *Weren''t they just saying how well the meeting went? Then his eyes fell on Bianca, and he understood. Seth was holding back because he was being considerate of Bianca''s feelings.
Of course, Noreen didn''t care either way. Even if Seth had invited her she would have refused. So, she pretended not to hear them gathered her things, and gave Hugh a slight nod before leaving
The moment she stepped out of the office, she let out a sneeze. She was freezing to death.
On her way out, she stopped by the restroom. When she came out, she saw Bianca standing in front of the mirror, touching up her makeup the high cor she''d worn so primly before was now slightly unbuttoned, revealing just enough of the ambiguous red mark on her neck.
Chapter 469
Noreen was no stranger to these little feminine games. She just found Bianca''s performance a bit amateurish. Her best friend, ire, was practically an award- winning actress inparison; her subtlety was far more natural. Noreen''s gaze rested on Bianca for only a few seconds before she looked away, uninterested in anything that didn''t concern her.
By the time Noreen got back to her office, she was feeling dizzy. She asked her assistant, Sophia Cole, to make her a packet of cold and flu powder.
"You were fine this morning. How did you catch a cold after just one trip to Ascendancy Group?" Sophia asked, her face etched with worry.
"The air conditioning at Ascendancy is like they don''t have to pay the bills. It was on the lowest setting, and I was sitting right under a vent for twenty minutes. Luckily, the meeting was quick, otherwise I might have passed out right there." Noreen wasn''t exaggerating. The memory of the icy st still made her shiver.
The mere mention of Ascendancy Group soured Sophia''s mood. "Did Bitch Bianca pull some stunt again?"
Noreen couldn''t help but smile at the nickname. "You''ve been hanging out with ire too much." "Bitch Bianca" was ire''s creation, and after just a few days of contact, Sophia had adopted it with gusto. For more chapters visit
"And you''reughing!" Sophia chided her.
But Noreen was in a surprisingly good mood,pletely unaffected by the people she''d encountered. Whether it was Bianca or Seth, they couldn''t get to her anymore. So she couldugh.
Sophia, however, was still fuming. "Did you see the news this morning? Bitch Bianca is unting her academic credentials again. It even boosted Ascendancy''s stock price. She''s like a cockroach you just can''t kill!"
"You don''t really think a few news articles and a fancy degree are enough to save her, do you?" Noreen had already seen through it all.
Sophia paused. "You mean... Jerk Seth is pulling the strings behind the scenes?"
Noreen didn''t answer, just smiled as she finished her medicine. No matter what, Bianca was the apple of Seth''s eye. He would never stand by and watch her fail. As long as Seth was around, he could pull Bianca out of any abyss and put her back on her pedestal, shining as brightly as ever.
Things unfolded just as Noreen had predicted. Seth once again poured massive resources into supporting Bianca, Noreen saw the news circting in several finance group chats. Seth had hosted a dinner for a number of business tycoons and financial magnates, personally introducing them to Bianca. He had even spearheaded a new project for her, with an initial investment of ten billion-an unprecedented sum in the industry.
Although it hadn''t been officially announced, the news was already spreading like wildfire. Everyone
scrambling for inside information as
afraid to miss out on this
ve
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Even Carman Holt, who usually kept to te
herself, heard about it and called
Noreen to confirm.
"I heard it''s a project rted to high-temperature superconductivity. If that''s true, Seth''s market foresight is incredible. This is a key project that could shape the future of technology, a truly strategic high-tech enterprise."
"It''s extraordinary," Carman added.
"It is," Noreen agreed. Whether she liked him or not, Seth''s business acumen had always been top-notch. Every move he made seemed to perfectly catch the wave of the future.
For him tounch such a significant project in Bianca''s name was clearly a move to elevate her status, wash away the tarnish of recent scandals, and raise her standing in the industry. But the primary reason, Noreen suspected, was to make Bianca a worthy partner to stand by his side.
Chapter 470
And by doing so, win Wade Harcourt''s approval for their marriage.
Seth must have been nning this move for a long time. It wasn''t something that could be aplished overnight; it would have required at least six months of due diligence and preparation. This meant he''d been setting the stage for this moment ever since Bianca returned to the country.
He was truly sparing no expense to marry her.
The finance group chats were buzzing with discussion. There was envy and jealousy in equal measure.
"How is Bianca so lucky? We run ourselves ragged, drink ourselves sick just to get a project off the ground, and it''s not even a fraction of what she gets. The gap between people is just insane, isn''t it?"
"Well, you weren''t born lucky. If you had a high-ranking official for a father, a prestigious degree, and a devoted man like Mr. Harcourt, you could have it all too."
"Winning the birth lottery is a skill. The rest of us should just resign ourselves to being worker drones."
Noreen browsed the gossip for a bit before putting her phone down to focus on her work.
Before she left the office, she received a message from Evelyn, saying a shipment of fresh seafood had been flown in and inviting her over for dinner. At the end, she specifically added that Noreen was the only one invited, pointedly excluding Seth.
Noreen didn''t reply immediately. She called ire first to ask about her dinner ns. ire said she already had a date and told Noreen to fend for herself.
"You have other friends in Rivercrest City?" Noreen teased. "Are you cheating on me?"
"Rx, he''s gay. Your position is safe."
"Fine, then."
After work, Noreen drove directly to the Harcourt estate. The route from Winrich took her past Seth''s house. It was rush hour, and traffic was heavy. As she waited, Noreen nced out the window and was surprised to see a construction crew dismantling Seth''s house.
She stared for a moment. He had only bought the house less than five years ago. It had taken three yearsz to renovate, and he had lived in it for less than two. In fact, since Seth was always traveling for business hed barely spent any time there. The house was practically brand new.
And now he was tearing it down? Why? Did he have too much money and nowhere to spend it? Noreen couldn''t understand it.
The puzzle was solved just as she neared the Harcourt estate, thanks to a call from Healy Naylor. He had just flown back into town and called Noreen immediately to ask her to dinner.
"Some other time, maybe. Evelyn invited me over, and I''ve already epted," Noreen said, her cool tone a stark contrast to Healy''s enthusiasm.
Healy could sense her deliberate distance, the way she was carefully drawing a line between them. It was frustrating, but he knew he could rush things in that case, please give my regards to Mr. Harcourt," he said instead.
"Will do."
"By the way," Healy added, a thought suddenly striking him, "is Seth
staying at his parents'' ce these
days?" He was really just trying to
find out if Seth would also be at the dinner. Latest content published on find{n}ovel
"I don''t know. I doubt it."
"Then where is he staying? I heard they''re tearing down his house to build a new one for when he gets married."
Noreen''s answer was the same. "I don''t know."
Healy sensed she wasn''t in the mood for small talk and politely ended the call.
So, he was rebuilding it as a matrimonial home. Was it because the original
design was all based on her preferences, and it bothered him now?
In that case, the money was well spent.
Because it bothered her, too.
Chapter 471
The dinner was indeed peaceful and harmonious, mainly because Seth never showed up. Noreen''s appetite was good, and she had a second helping of rice.
When she got home, ire still wasn''t back, so Noreen gave her a call. The background noise was loud; ire was clearly still out.
"Babe, this dinner is dragging on. I might be reallyte, so don''t wait up for me," ire said, her hand cupped over the phone as she spoke from a quiet corner.
"You haven''t been drinking, have you?" Noreen asked.
"No, there are elders here. Don''t worry."
Reassured, Noreen was about to hang up when she heard ire exim, "Holy crap!"
"What''s wrong?" Noreen frowned.
"I just saw Bitch Bianca."
Noreen sighed. She should have just hung up.
"Tsk, getting frisky in broad daylight. Shameless."
"Your vocabry is impressive," Noreen deadpanned.
"No, seriously, I just saw Bitch Bianca walking back from the garden, straightening her clothes. Her lipstick was smeared and everything. How desperate can you be?"
Noreen couldn''t help but feel exasperated. "Are you there to eat or to watch a live show?"
"I multi-tasked. Watched a live show while I ate. Too bad it wasn''t R-rated," iremented.
"Well, enjoy the drama. I''m going to take a shower." Noreen had no interest in these people.
She hung up and went to shower. When she came out, she saw several new WhatsApp messages from ire.
"Holy crap! Bitch Bianca went inside, and not a minuteter, Jerk Sethes back from the same garden. Are they that horny?"
"Guess they''re the ''make love wherever you are'' type. The world is their bedroom."
Noreen rolled her eyes.
"Focus on your dinner," she typed back.
This time, ire didn''t reply, so Noreen assumed she was finally eating. She put her phone down and dealt with some emails.
At ten o''clock, Mrs. Joyner called to ask when the strategic partnership signing ceremony between Centribo, Ron Archer and Vincent would be scheduled. The Centribo acquistion was still in the approval and closing stages. Including integration, it would take at least another month.
Mrs. Joyner''s voice grew heavy. "Can it be any faster?"
A knot formed in Noreen''s stomach.
"I''m afraid I won''t be around to see it," Mrs. Joyner said.
...
Bianca came homete again. This time, however, Yvonne greeted her with a smile instead of a scolding. "You''re back."
"Yeah." Bianca had been drinking and was feelingnguid, her steps unsteady. Yvonne had the maid pour her a ss of honey water.
.n
"I heard about the high-temperature superconductivity project. Seth is really holding nothing back for you After Bianca''s recent string of failures Yvonne had been losing sleep with worry. Now she finally felt at ease.
Bianca leaned back into the sofazily. "I told you he cares about me. You just didn''t believe me."
"I was just concerned, that''s all." Yvonne paused, then asked, "Why did youe back here? Didn''t you talk to Seth about moving in together?"
Bianca stretchednguidly. "I was just about to tell you. Seth is having his house torn down and rebuilt, so he''s temporarily staying at the office. It''s not convenient."
"Torn down?" Yvonne was clearly confused.
"Mhm. It''s because Noreen
decorated it. Seth was afraid I''d feel
ufortable, so he decided to
demolish it and start over. He said
this time it will be designed
?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? fin?novel
Yvonne''sst remaining worries dissolved. "It''s clear Seth is very devoted to you.
He''s so considerate. I was worried for nothing."
Chapter 472
Bianca could understand her mother''s anxiety because she had felt it herself.
Just the other day, when Noreen hade to Ascendancy Group for that meeting, Seth had praised her so highly that Bianca had felt a flicker of insecurity for the first time. She had always looked down on Noreen, dismissing her for herck of education and humble origins. But after losing to her several times, she couldn''t help but feel disheartened. Then, finding out Noreen had also been epted to WT Business School had sent a jolt of panic through her.
The real rm bells went off when she learned Noreen was preparing InnoCore for its IPO. Only then did Bianca realize that Noreen''s sess might not be luck after all. She might actually be capable.
That was when the insecurity took root, the fear that Seth might be drawn to Noreen again. After all, he had looked at Noreen with undisguised admiration in front of her on several asions.
But that very afternoon, Seth had taken her to a dinner, introducing her to business tycoons and financial giants, andunching a new, even bigger project for her. That''s when she realized the depth of his feelings for her was far greater than she had imagined.
Jude had once said that Seth had loved her for seven years. She hadn''t believed it at the time. In the past, Seth had never been particrly warm towards her; his gaze had always been cool and distant. It was only about a year ago that he had started to take the initiative. Looking back, that coincided perfectly with the rumors of her and Dn''s breakup.
So, Seth had been cold to her before because she was with Dn. The moment he heard their rtionship was over, he had appeared. It all lined up with what Jude had said: he had waited for her for six years.
In Seth''s heart, she was special.
As for his feelings for Noreen, it was probably just professional admiration,
nothing more. If he had loved Noreen, he had seven years to do something about
it.
Yvonne had also heard about N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find¡ïNovel
also
InnoCore''s uing IPO from her socialite circle. It still bothered her
"Since Seth has given you such nel
great project, you can''t afford any mare mistakes," she warned Bianca. "Otherwise, you''ll be overshadowed by that Noreen girl."
Bianca smiled faintly. "Don''t worry, she won''t get the chance. Let her enjoy her moment in the sun. It won''tst."
They didn''t mention Noreen again, instead moving on to discuss renovation ns, as if Noreen was no longer worthy of their time or attention.
The next morning, Noreen woke up to find that ire hadn''te home at all. She tried calling her, but there was no answer.
At noon, she had to go to the city government building to follow up with Padgett Novak on the Centribo acquisition. When she arrived, she was told that he was in a meeting.
ording to his subordinate,
Landon, it was a meeting about the high-temperature superconductivity project. As a high-tech venture, it would naturally receive strong government support. The rumors had only started yesterday and today they were already meeting with the government. It was clear Seth had been meticulously prepared.
Since Padgett was busy, Noreen decided toe back in the
by
afternoon. Just as she was about to leave, a group of people walked in. Padgett was in the lead, nked Seth and Bianca. Several others followed, arge entourage moving through the lobby.
When Seth saw Noreen, his gaze paused on her for a fraction of a second before
moving on. Bianca, clinging to his arm, shot her a cold look.
Only Padgett stopped.
Chapter 473
"When did you get here?" Padgett asked.
"Just now. Landon said you were in a meeting, so I figured I''de back when you''re free," Noreen replied.
Standing opposite them, her eyes inevitably swept over Bianca. Her makeup was exquisite, but it couldn''t quite conceal the exhaustion etched on her face-not the weariness of hard work, but the fatigue that follows a night of indulgence.
"You should have given me a heads-up, then you wouldn''t have wasted a trip," Padgett said, his tone gently chiding. He paused, then asked with a hint of exasperation, "Did you lose my number, or do you not have my WhatsApp?"
"Next time for sure," Noreen said with a small smile. "You go ahead. Don''t mind me."
Padgett hesitated for a moment. "Why don''t you join us? It might be good to get an update on thetest policies."
These meetings were usually for disseminating directives from higher up, helping entrepreneurs stay informed about government policies and the national agenda. But Noreen had too much on her te. With InnoCore''s IPO looming and the Centribo acquisition to push forward, she simply couldn''t spare the time. She politely declined his offer.
A small smirk touched Bianca''s lips. She thought Noreen was good at making excuses, though this one was hardly convincing. Everyone here was busy running multiplepanies. Noreen was just too afraid to stay. After all, a massive project like this waspletely out of her league. She was smart enough to know when she was out of her depth and not try to force her way into a circle where she didn''t belong.
After a brief chat with Padgett, Noreen left. It wasn''t until the elevator doors closed behind her that Padgett turned and led the group to the conference room.
Bianca, who had been watching Noreen closely, noticed Padgett''s subtle lingering gaze. Her expression froze for a second in disbelief.
Padgett... was interested in Noreen?
Bianca found it iprehensible. Did Padgett Novak have such poor taste?
On the way to the conference room, Padgett ran into a senior official from the capital who was in Rivercrest City for an inspection.
He stopped to greet him. "Minister Brooks, what brings you here?"
"Just inspecting the work here. You''re doing a great job, Padgett," Minister Brooks said, his tone full of praise.
Since both had official duties, they kept it brief. But Minister Brooks took Padgett''s hand and added, "I heard your father has been ill. How is he? Any better?"
"Just the usual old ailments. Nothing serious."
"I''ll pay a visit once I''m done with my work here."
Landon had already ushered the rest
of the group into the conference room, but Bianca lingered for a moment. She recognized Minister Brooks He was a high-ranking official from Northcrest. She had seen him once when she went to pick up Forrest Lowell, surrounded by other important figures. Curious, she had asked Forrest about him and learned his identity.
She never imagined Padgett would know him. And from their
conversation, they seemed to be on very famil
Ministers
terms. A family that
would personally
"pay a visit" to was undoubtedly
anything but simple.
Bianca''s mind raced, and she cast another look at Padgett.
Padgett treated her no differently than anyone else. "Mr. Lowell''s daughter,
please, this way," he said formally.
"Of course," Bianca replied, smoothly entering the conference room.
As soon as the meeting concluded at noon, Bianca invited everyone to lunch,
including Padgett. However, he declined, saying he had other matters to attend to.
Bianca smiled graciously. "Director For more chapters visit f?ndnovel
Novak, surely you have to eat, no
matter how busy you are. You''ve
worked so hard for us all morning? Please let us treat you as a small token of our gratitude."
"You''re too kind, but this is simply my job. I''m not doing it ''for'' anyone," Padgett
replied with a slight bow before hurrying off.
Bianca watched him go, a glint in her eye.
Chapter 474
During lunch, Bianca called Forrest to ask about the rtionship between Minister Brooks and Padgett Novak.
"I''ve never heard of any connection between them," Forrest said, equally puzzled.
His answer only deepened Bianca''s suspicion. When she had been set up with Padgett, Yvonne had also looked into his background and found nothing remarkable. But the matchmaker was no ordinary person-she was the wife of a municipal party secretary, Forrest''s superior at his previous post.
Bianca had found it odd at the time. Why would the wife of a party secretary in one city know a department-level official in another?
Desperate for an answer, she sent a message to Henry.
"Are you in Rivercrest City?"
Usually, Henry replied to her messages instantly. This time, there was a long silence. Bianca didn''t think much of it, assuming he was busy.
In reality, Henry saw the message the moment it arrived. He stared at it for a long time, but the usual flutter of excitement was absent. Since his trip to Rivercrest University, where he learned Bianca hade between Noreen and Seth, his feelings for her had be a tangled,plicated mess.
"By the way," Sanford Brooke said, suddenly looking up from his work, "a friend told me the Centribo acquisition is in its final stages. Does that mean Brooke Group ispletely out of the running?"
Henry''s lips tightened. He gave a slight nod, forced to admit defeat.
Sanford sighed with regret. "The tech industry is booming. Getting a piece of that pie would be immensely beneficial for Brooke Group. Take that InnoCore project in Rivercrest, the one Winrich invested in. It''s been less than four months, and they''re already preparing for an IPO. There''s a lot you could learn from that."
His words silenced Henry.
When he didn''t get a response, Sanford looked up from his papers. "Why aren''t you saying anything?"
"I know about that project," Henry said, his voice strained. Padgett Novak and Matthew Cole had both tried to connect him with it, but he had tumed them down. He never
imagined InnoCould
So sessful wave of disappointment washed over him. Since returning to the country, he hadn''t aplished a single thing.
"The Centribo acquisition," Henry added after a pause, "is also being led by Winrich."
Now even Sanford was surprised. "What''s the name of Winrich''s boss? She must be incredibly capable." Chapters first released on F¦ÉndNovel
"Noreen."
Sanford frowned. "That name
sounds so familiar." He thought for a
of
moment. Ah, she''s that friend o your senior, Dn. He had met her once. A striking young woman, and surprisingly talented, it seemed.
"Since you''re in Rivercrest City often, you should try to learn from her," Sanford advised. "Padgett Novak is there too, isn''t he? He''s well-connected. Networking with him would be good for you."
"I know," Henry mumbled.
"And remember to visit your mentor more often, Sanford added. "He has a widework and can help you. Also try to find out from him who your little senior is. The Brooke family still owes her a massive favor."
UAS
The weight in Henry''s chest lifted slightly at his father''s words. That was right. No
matter what, the Brooke family owed his senior a huge debt.
With renewed purpose, Henry picked up his phone and replied to Bianca. "I''m in Northcrest."
Chapter 475
Bianca didn''t see Henry''s reply until after she had finished her shower. It had been a long time¡ªa full eight hours, longer than ever before. But she didn''t overthink it, assuming he was just busy. She knew how infatuated he was with her.
She didn''t reply immediately. Instead, she methodically dried her hair before picking up her phone. With a man like Henry-wealthy, aloof, and with almost no dating experience-one couldn''t be too eager, nor too cold. A delicate bnce of hot and cold was key.
"Have you been busytely?" she typed, starting with a show of concern rather than getting straight to the point.
This time, Henry''s reply was instant.
"It''s been okay. What''s up?"
"I was just thinking I should treat you to dinner. I''ve been meaning to for a while, but never found the time."
"Next time you''re in Rivercrest City, let''s have dinner then."
Bianca agreed readily, then smoothly transitioned to her real topic. "I ran into Padgett Novak at the government building today," she began. "I remember you and him are quite close, right? You''ve known each other since you were kids?"
"Yeah, we used to be neighbors."
Perfect. She had found the right person.
"Padgett''s family background must be quite impressive, right?" Bianca probed. "He''s only in his thirties and already a director. That kind of promotion seems unlikely without family connections."
Henry considered for a moment before replying. "He didn''t rely on his family. He got where he is on his own." Padgett''s family was a sensitive topic, so he only revealed what he could. Updates are released by Find?Novel
Bianca was smart. She immediately understood what he wasn''t saying and knew her suspicions were correct. pang of regret hit her She shouldn''t have cut ties with Padgett so abruptly, making things so awkward between them. Now, he was quite cold to her, and she knew that kind of slight was hard for a man to forget.
But what bothered her more right now was that Noreen also seemed to have her sights on Padgett. Noreen must have figured out he had connections, which was why she was trying so hard to get close to him. Why else would she be constantly running to the government offices?
She had underestimated Noreen.
But it didn''t matter. Padgett''s interest in Noreen was likely just a fleeting fancy. A man from his kind of family would never seriously consider a woman with Noreen''s background.
Still, as she chatted with Henry, she casually dropped a few key pieces of information.
"I saw Padgett with Noreen at the government offices today. They seemed really close. Do you think they''re dating?" She even added a shocked emoji to sell it.
Henry''s brow furrowed. He had already warned Padgett about this. Why was he still so close to Noreen? But it was Padgett''s business, so he couldn''t say much. "I don''t know," he replied.
After a pause, he added, "It''s probably impossible." Padgett had told him Noreen was still hurt from herst rtionship and was resistant to starting a new one.
Bianca, however, interpreted his words differently. She thought he meant the gap between Noreen and Padgett was too wide for a rtionship to be possible.
She scoffed lightly. "I agree. It seems very unlikely."
The mention of Noreen''s name
.n
naturally brought Henry''s mind back to what he''d witnessed at the university The issue had beer weighing on him for a while, and after much thought, he decided he needed to know the truth.
"Senior," he typed, mustering his courage, "there''s something I''ve been wanting to
ask you. Were you really the third party between Seth and Noreen?"
In his mind, Bianca had always been an unattainable goddess, far too noble to ever be a homewrecker.
Chapter 476
After Noreen had exposed the ''truth'', he had spent a long time trying to process it. But deep down, his loyalty stilly with Bianca.
A long time passed before Bianca finally replied.
"No."
"She and Seth did have an ambiguous rtionship, but that''s because she used some rather dirty tactics to get into his bed. Very few people know the truth, only those closest to Seth."
"As you know, Seth is the heir to the Harcourt Group. He''s the highest level of society Noreen could ever hope to reach. That''s why she clung to him for seven years. During that entire time, Seth never once publicly acknowledged her. It was always a one-sided obsession on her part."
So that was it.
Henry read and reread the message, a long sigh of relief escaping him. It seemed he had misunderstood his senior after all.
Noreen met with Padgett the next day to discuss the Centribo acquisition. She made her request clear: she hoped to streamline the process andplete the deal in the shortest time possible. Padgett promised he would help expedite it.
By the time they finished, it was lunchtime. Noreen took the opportunity to invite Padgett to eat with her. He epted, and after a quick word with Landon, they left together.
On their way out, they ran into Hugh Summers, the CEO of NaviTech, who was on his way to a lunch meeting. He had also been at the government building on business. Seeing Noreen, he greeted her with a warm smile. "Ms. Gilmore, long time no see. Here on business?"
"Yes."
Since they had run into each other, Noreen extended an invitation. "Director Novak and I are just heading to lunch. Would you like to join us, Mr. Summers?"
Hugh waved his hands dismissively. "Oh no, I can''t. I have a lunch engagement. Mr. Harcourt and Ms. Lowell are hosting, to discuss the high-temperature superconductivity project." He paused, a flicker of confusion on his face. "Huh, aren''t you going, Ms. Gilmore?"
They were all in the same circle, and it wasmon practice to keep each other informed about
projects like this one especially
promising ventures. Large-scale
required coboration to pool
resources, share mos
and
maximize synergy. So Hugh had
naturally assumed Noreen would be
there.
Noreen just smiled faintly. "No, I''m a bit tied up at the moment."
Hugh, aware of InnoCore''s
impending IPO, nodded in
understanding, though with a hint of regret. "I was hoping we''d get a
chance to work together agam.
guess it''ll have to be next time.
The three of them walked out together. Hugh was clearly excited about the superconductivity project, chatting animatedly about it and asking Padgett about the government''s stance.
"Mr. Harcourt is taking this project very seriously," Hugh remarked. "He''s putting almost all of Aurelion Group''s resources behind it." ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
"But I believe the project director is actually Ms. Lowell," Padgett noted. Hughughed. "Does it really make a difference which one of them is in charge?" He had a point. Everyone in their circle knew how much Seth doted on Bianca.
Even Hugh sighed in admiration. "The way Mr. Harcourt treats Ms. Lowell... it''s really something else. I suppose that''s what true devotion looks like."
After they parted ways, Hugh hurried to his lunch. He was one of thest to arrive, and the others jokingly told him he had to drink three penalty shots.
Hugh held up his hands. "My liver''s been acting uptely. I''ll take a rain check. The reason Imate is Fran. into Ms. Gilmore from Winrich at the Ms. government building and we chatted for a bit."
Someone at the table asked, "Oh, right. Why didn''t Ms. Gilmoree?"
Bianca answered coolly, "She wasn''t on the guest list."
Her words were blunt, making it crystal clear that she had no intention of including Noreen.
Chapter 477
Her statement left Hugh feeling a bit awkward, as he finally understood the subtle nuance in Noreen''s expression earlier. The other guests exchanged knowing nces. Regardless of their personal feelings, they were all here to support Bianca. Even if she had a history of negative press and failed projects, as long as Seth was willing to back her, they would turn a blind eye. Even Mr. Prescott, who had bailed on her twice before, was in attendance.
That''s why Hugh had remarked on Seth''s devotion. The level of trust and support he showed Bianca was something few of the CEOS present could im to offer anyone.
Bianca, for her part, showed no resentment towards Mr. Prescott for his previous kiness, even extending a gracious invitation. She was sending a clear message: as long as Seth was by her side, Bianca Lowell would never fall.
She raised her ss, acting as the perfect hostess, and weed her guests. Nearly every major yer in Rivercrest City''s business world was gathered in that room, and news of the event spread quickly.
A short whileter, Noreen saw a photo from the lunch on a CEO''s social media feed. They had even given the gathering a name: The Golden G. A y on Bianca and Seth''s names. It was a clever, romantic touch, the kind of thing that made people ship them instantly.
Before closing the app, Noreen noticed that Seth had ''liked'' the post. He was clearly pleased with the couple name.
It was a good thing she hadn''t deleted him after they''d added each other on WhatsApp for work. Otherwise, she would have missed out on such fresh drama.
A silent smile yed on her lips, and she seemed to be in a good mood. Padgett noticed and asked curiously, "What''s so amusing?"
"Nothing." She could hardly tell him she was shipping her ex-boyfriend with his new fianc¨¦e.
Padgett, ever the gentleman, didn''t press the issue. Instead, he began recounting a funny story from his inspection tour of the countrysidest week. He was a gifted storyteller, and his witty, vivid ount soon had Noreenughing again.
The meal was thoroughly enjoyable.
Mrs. Naylor, doing her routine inspection of the restaurant, spotted Noreen and was about to go over and say hello. But when she noticed the handsome young man sitting opposite her, she stopped. She immediately dialed Healy''s number.
Healy was in a meeting. "Mom, I''m busy. Can we talkter?" he said curtly.
"By the time you call back, you''ll be getting a wedding invitation from Noreen!" Mrs. Naylor retorted.
Healy was confused. "???" He
stepped out of the workshop into a
quieter are What are you talking about? What weddings Noreen getting married?"
"If you don''t get a move on, you''ll be drinking a toast at her wedding."
Healy let out a breath of relief. "Mom, you scared me. What''s going on?"
"I sent you a picture on WhatsApp. See for yourself." With that, Mrs. Naylor hung
up.
Healy quickly opened WhatsApp and
saw the photo. It was a
wellposed shot, with a
romantic, almost cinematic quality. He could see why his mother was rmed even he had to admit they looked like a couple in love.
He thought for a moment, then sent the photo to their private group chat, specifically tagging Seth.
"Are Noreen and Padgett Novak a thing?"
To his surprise, the first person to reply was Dn, who rarely ever posted.
"They''re probably just talking business."
Then Jude chimed in. "It doesn''t look like just business to me. But hey, it''s normal
if they are. They''re both single."
Seth was thest to respond. "Yeah, normal."
His detached attitude sent a ripple of silent understanding through the group. Seth. he really didn''t care about Noreen at all. It was as if the years they had spent together meant nothing. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel
Chapter 478
Bianca, who had been silent until then, finally posted after Seth. "We haven''t all gotten together in ages. We should have a reunion now that you''re back in Rivercrest."
Jude was the first to jump on board. "I''m in! I''m free whenever!"
Healy and Dn, feeling obligated, also agreed.
Afterwards, Bianca sent a private message to Jude, asking if he wanted to invest
in the high-temperature superconductivity project. Jude, who usually followed
Seth''s lead without question, was uncharacteristically hesitant.
"Bianca, I really want to, but you know I don''t have a say at Seymour Group. It''s not my decision to make."
Bianca''s eyes darkened. She adopted the tone of a concerned friend. "Don''t forget, Seymour Group''s name is Wilder, not Gilmore."
...
As soon as there was a slight bit of progress with the acquisition, Noreen immediately called Mrs. Joyner to report. This time, however, it was Castle Joyner who answered the phone.
He told Noreen that his mother was in the hospital.
Noreen''s heart sank.
"You know something about her condition, don''t you?" Castle asked.
"She told me it was breast cancer," Noreen replied, her voice heavy.
"That''s not the whole story. She has a severe heart condition, which means she can''t have surgery."
Noreen''s mind went nk. No wonder. No wonder Mrs. Joyner had said she didn''t have much time left. She wanted to say something-words offort, of encouragement-but they all got stuck in her throat.
"Centribo is thest thing she''s holding on for. Please, Noreen. I''m counting on you," Castle pleaded. This update is avable on Find_Novel(.
"Okay," Noreen choked out.
The call left her reeling, and she couldn''t shake the feeling of dread. She was still sitting in a daze when ire finally came home.
She had been gone for three days.
ire tiptoed in, clearly feeling
guilty. The living room was dark, as Noreen had been sitting on
Weinfe
balcony without the lights on. Thinking Noreen was asleep, ffe breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as she was about to sneak to her room, Noreen''s voice cut through the
darkness. "Spill it. Where have you been messing around?"
"God, you scared me!" ire jumped, her heart pounding. She was already on edge, and Noreen''s sudden voice nearly gave her a heart attack.
Noreen flicked on the light, her eyes
sharp and scrutinizing. The intensity of her gaze made ire shrink, but she stuck to her story. "I wasnt messing around. I was with
me
grandma, praying at the monastery
in Southmont." s?novels
"Grandma? I''ve never heard you mention a grandma before," Noreen said, skeptical.
"My neighbor grandma." It wasn''t aplete lie; she used to be her neighbor. To prove it, she pulled out a blessed charm. "See? I got one for you too."
The charm looked familiar; Noreen had one just like it in her car.
ire put on a pitiful expression. "My knees are all scraped up from praying for
this. And instead of feeling sorry for me, you''re interrogating me!"
Noreen didn''t reply, simply turned and walked away.
"Where are you going? Are you abandoning me?"
"To get the first-aid kit."
"Oh." ire''s mood brightened instantly. She flopped onto the sofa,
waiting for Noreen to tend to her
wounds As Noreen dabbed at her
scraped knees, ire hissed
"Gently! That hurts!"
"Why do you even do this? Kneeling on ny-nine steps at this time of year to
get a charm? Are you trying to ruin your knees?"
"Hey," ire said, surprised, "how did you know it was ny-nine steps?"
Noreen fell silent.
ire''s expression soured. "That jerk Seth is really something else," she muttered.
Noreen motioned for her to switch legs, but as she did, she noticed a suspicious mark high on ire''s inner thigh. "How did you get that red mark on your thigh?"
Chapter 479
ire immediately mped her legs together. "I must have bumped it! You know how steep the stairs at Southmont Abbey are."
She wasn''t wrong. The Aurelian Abbey in Southmont was ancient, and its ny- nine steps were perilously steep, almost at a forty-five-degree angle. The stones were locally sourced and unpolished, with sharp edges that easily scraped the knees of pilgrims.
Her exnation was usible enough that Noreen didn''t question it further, focusing on cleaning the scrapes on her other knee.
ire let out a silent sigh of relief. At the same time, she mentally cursed a certain pervert. Of all the ces to kiss, did he have to choose there? So weird.
A sh of a memory-of a steamy bathroom, of tangled limbs-made her cheeks burn. That man was an absolute beast in bed. Then again, it might have been the soup his grandma made them drink. Whatever the reason, her legs were still trembling.
"Wrap your knees in stic wrap when you showerter. Don''t get them wet," Noreen instructed. As she looked up, she noticed the flush on ire''s cheeks. "Why are you blushing?"
"Because I''ve got a thing for you, obviously," ire blurted out.
Thankfully, Noreen was used to her friend''s outrageous remarks and didn''t think twice about it. "Just remember to keep the wounds dry."
"So, can I sleep with you tonight?"
"Hard pass."
ire clutched her heart dramatically. "Noreen, you''re so cruel."
Noreen''s only response was to decisively shut her bedroom door. In the empty
living room, ire let out a long, shaky breath. That was close. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel
...
The next day was a weekend, but Noreen was up early. She had to take her mother, Rosalind, to the hospital for her six-month post-op checkup. ire had offered to go with them but when Noreeno knocked on her door that morning, there was no response. She was probably exhausted from the past few days.
So Noreen let her sleep, picked up Rosalind, and drove straight to the hospital.
"You know, I cane to these checkups by myself," Rosalind said. "You finally have some time off, you should be at home resting. You''ve gotten so thintely."
"I''m not tired." And even if she was, it was the happy kind of tired.
Rosalind watched her daughter''s face carefully. Seeing that Noreen was genuinely thriving in her busy life, she finally rxed. She had been worried that Noreen wouldn''t be able to move on, which was why she had tried to set her up on dates. Some people needed time to heal; others needed a new love. Of course, sheter found out how unreliable that particr man was and had given the matchmaker a piece of her mind.
Noreen knew what her mother was worried about, even if she didn''t say it. "I''m busy now, but I''m also fulfilled," she said softly. "And not every loss is a loss."
Hearing that, Rosalind finally felt at ease.
When they arrived at the hospital, Noreen found a seat for her mother and went to queue up for registration. The checkup involved many tests and required an overnight stay.
Just as Noreen got her ticket
number, a nurse approached her. "Miss Gilmore? Mr. Harcourt has
arranged a VIP room for you. You
can take Ms. Gilmore straight
upstairs to check in. There''s no need to register here."
Noreen''s heart skipped a beat. "Mr. Harcourt?"
The nurse smiled. "Yes, Mr. Wade Harcourt."
Noreen visibly rxed. "Thank you."
For just a second, a very specific face had shed in her mind, and the feeling it
brought was deeply unsettling.
Chapter 480
Fortunately, she quickly shook the strange thought from her mind and walked briskly toward Rosalind''s room.
When Rosalind learned that Wade had arranged the private room, she insisted Noreen thank him in person. It was just good manners. But before she went, Rosalind voiced her concern.
"You broke up with Seth, yet you''re still in contact with Wade. Aren''t you worried about what people will say?"
Noreen countered, "What could they say? That I don''t have my priorities straight? Or that I''m ying hard to get, trying to cling to Seth even after the breakup?" She scoffed at the idea. "If Wade has a rtionship with everyone in Seth''s life, does that mean I have to keep my distance from all of them? Why should I be the one to change my life?"
Just as she finished, Wade''s voice drifted in from the doorway. "Well said."
Mother and daughter turned to see Evelyn wheeling Wade into the room, both of them smiling.
Wade''s expression was one of genuine admiration for Noreen. "In this world, every person is an individual. You have to separate the issues. He is him, and you are you."
Noreen stood up. "Mr. Harcourt, what are you doing at the hospital? Are you not feeling well?"
"Just a routine check-up," Wade replied.
Evelyn exined, "I was downstairs getting his results when I saw you in the queue, so I mentioned it to Mr. Harcourt."
That was when Wade had stepped in, arranging a private suite for Rosalind.
"I''ve already spoken with the hospital staff," Wade added. "The service here is moreprehensive, which means you can focus on your work without worrying."
"Thank you, Mr. Harcourt," Noreen said sincerely.
Rosalind added, "We''re so sorry to have troubled you."
Later, as Noreen escorted Wade back to his room, he asked about InnoCore''s IPO, offering invaluable advice from his own experience-what pitfalls to avoid, what preparations to make. His insights were exactly what she needed.
When she returned to take Rosalind for her tests, amotion at the reception desk caught her attention. She paused, curious, and was surprised to see that the person arguing with the nurse was Bianca''s mother, Yvonne.
"What do you mean there are no rooms avable?" Yvonne demanded, her voice sharp. "When my daughter was admitted before, there was always a suite ready for her! Do you have any idea who I am?"
The nurse, clearly flustered, replied, "I''m sorry, ma''am, but we''re truly at capacity. Besides, all our suites require an advance reservation."
Yvonne let out a coldugh. "You have a seriousck of judgment. I hope you''re prepared to take
responsibility for your words." She pulled out her phone and dialed Bianca. "Brancam at the hospital, and this nurse is refusing to admit me to a VIP suite. You and Seth need to get down here now."
Seth and Bianca arrived with astonishing speed. Noreen hadn''t even had time to get Rosalind to theb for her blood work, no more than ten minutes had passed. It was clear Seth took his future mother-inw''s concerns very seriously.
The VIP wing wasn''t just about superior service; itsyout was a world apart from the standard
wards, with wide, quiet corridors
Noreen and a private nurse were escorting Rosalind to theba path that led them directly past the reception desk.
Bianca and her mother spotted Noreen instantly. Both their expressions turned to ice, their res lingering on her before they each let out a derisive snort.
As Noreen passed, Yvonne deliberately raised her voice, speaking to Seth. "Oh, Seth, I''m so sorry. I know you''re incredibly busy, and here I am dragging you all the way out here for my little problem."
"Of course," Seth replied humbly. "It''s the least I could do." Official source is Find[?]ovel
Chapter 481
Bianca chimed in from the side, "Mom, why are you being so formal with Seth? It makes you seem like a stranger."
Though Noreen wasn''t paying attention, she knew exactly what they were doing- a ssic mother-daughter double act. Their words were clearly meant for her to overhear. Now she knew where Bianca got it from.
She ignored them and led Rosalind to theb.
"What''s the situation with the room?" Seth was asking the nurse. The Harcourt family kept two private suites permanently reserved at the hospital. Bianca had used one during her previous stays, so when Yvonne needed a room for her checkup, they naturally assumed it would be avable. They were shocked to find it was already upied.
The nurse was clearly intimidated by Seth, the hospital''s primary benefactor. "It''s... it''s just upied," she stammered.
"Who would dare use this room without Seth''s permission?" Yvonne demanded, her brow furrowed. "Is someone at this hospital ying favorites?"
The nurse turned pale. "We would never dare."
"Then tell me the name of the person in that room," Yvonne pressed.
The nurse reluctantly showed her the registry.
"Rosalind? Who''s that?" Yvonne asked, looking at Seth. "Do you know her?"
"Yes, I do," Seth admitted without hesitation. Updates are released by find?novel
Bianca knew the name, too. She had looked up Noreen''s file at Aurelion Group. Rosalind was her mother. The moment she saw the name, her face tightened, and a sh of anger crossed her eyes.
"Did you approve this?" Bianca asked Seth. When he shook his head, her expression softened. "Then it must have been Noreen," she concluded. She must have used herold position as your assistant to arrange this for her mother."
Such a low-ss move.
"Have them removed," Yvonne said dismissively. "We can''t have people like that breaking the rules."
Bianca agreed, turning to Seth, putting the pressure on him.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Suddenly, a powerful male voice broke the silence. "You can just try to remove them!"
Evelyn pushed Wade''s wheelchair towards the reception desk. Wade''s face was stern, his eyes radiating a palpable fury.
Though Yvonne had never met him
in person, she had seen him in
interviews. Her arrogant demeanor vanished instantly, reced by a
humble, dignified posture Mr.
Harcourt, hello. I''m Bianca''s mother."
Wade didn''t even nce at her. His icy gazended squarely on Seth. "What, am
I not even allowed to assign a hospital room now?"
Though he was looking up from his wheelchair, his presence was overwhelming. "I''m the one who arranged it. Does anyone have a problem with that?"
His sharp gaze swept from Seth to the two women standing beside him, who were now silent and rigid. Bianca''s lips were pressed into a thin line, her face stiff.
Yvonne, with her years of social experience, recovered more quickly. "Mr. Harcourt, you''ve
misunderstood. That wasn''t our intention at all. Since you arranged it, then of course it''s your decision." She turned to Bianca. "It''s alright, a regr room is fine for me. It was the thought that counted."
Wade didn''t bother to reply. He simply instructed Evelyn, "Take me to the garden
for some fresh air. It''s suffocating in here."
Chapter 482
Bianca''s expression grew even darker. After Wade''s intervention, Seth had to arrange for Yvonne to be admitted to a standard room. Publicly put in their ce by Wade, neither mother nor daughter looked pleased.
Noreen was oblivious to all this untilter that afternoon when ire, having just woken up, came to the hospital to find her. She''d gotten all the gossip from the
nurses.
"You missed such a huge scene?" ire eximed, practically bouncing with regret. After hearing ire''s animated retelling, Noreen had to admit she was sorry she''d missed it too.
"Well, it looks like that jerk Seth is truly, madly in love with bitch Bianca," ire mused.
"How do you figure?" Noreen asked, taking a bite of watermelon.
"It''s all over the inte, isn''t it? There are two ways a man shows he loves you," ire dered. "First, he spends money on you. Second, he solves your problems for you. Everything else is just an act!"
Noreen couldn''t help but agree.
ire took another bite of watermelon and smacked her lips. "So, when do you think jerk Seth is finally going to go bankrupt?"
While the atmosphere in Rosalind''s suite was rxed andfortable, things were much more tense in Yvonne''s room. After settling his future mother-inw, Seth had rushed back to the office, leaving Bianca behind.
The mood between mother and daughter was sour. The stark contrast between Wade''s warmth toward Noreen and his coldness toward Bianca had left a bitter taste in their mouths. Since returning to the country, Bianca had only seen Wade a few times, and on each asion, he''d barely looked at her and had never once publicly acknowledged her as his son''s partner. Yvonne had fared even worse; her previous attempts to meet Wade had all been tly rejected. This time she''d finally met him, only to be dismissed.
"That Wade... he''s really losing it in his old age!" Yvonne fumed, growing angrier the more she thought about it. "He can''t even tell who his real family is."
"Now do you see what I''ve been putting up with all this time?" Bianca retorted, her own frustration boiling over.
"But no matter what, he''s still Seth''s father," Yvonne said, her pragmatism cutting through her anger. "And he controls the Harcourt Group. That''s the real prize."
The mention of the Harcourt Group reminded Yvonne of a rumor she''d heard recently in her socialite circles¡ªthat Wade had already met with hiswyers to draw up a will.
"You need to find a way to sound Seth out," she instructed Bianca. "Find out what''s in that will."
Bianca wasn''t particrly concerned about it. Seth was Wade''s only son; who else would inherit the Harcourt Group? What truly bothered her was why Wade hele Noreen in such high regard. She voiced this suspicion to her mother.
"Either Noreen is a master maniptor who knows how to y people," Yvonne spected, "or Wade genuinely admires her abilities."
Both mother and daughter leaned toward thetter exnation.
"Think about it. Every project you''ve touched since you came back has ended in disaster. Why would Wade respect you? Noreen, on the other hand, has been on a winning streak since she started InnoCore. Shended that massive port renovation project, led the Centribo Technologies acquisition, and now she''s preparing for an IPO. You''re miles behind her! How do you expect Wade to see you as anything but a failure?"
Yvonne''s sharp critique only deepened Bianca''s sense of frustration.
"Wallowing in self-pity won''t help," Yvonne said, a grim look in her eyes. "There''s only one solution now. You have to find a way to stop InnoCore from going public." Original content can be found at find[?]ovel
Chapter 483
The thought had crossed Bianca''s mind before, especially after seeing how closely Seth was following Noreen''s progress, even offering to help with InnoCore''s IPO. Now that Yvonne had said it aloud, their minds were perfectly aligned.
"When is Dading back to Rivercrest City?" Bianca asked.
"Next week." ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F¦ÉndNovel
"I remember Dad is good friends with that old family friend of his at the SEC, right? Ask him to have a word," Bianca schemed.
Yvonne nodded, having already considered it. "Don''t worry, I''ll take care of that. But you have something much more important to do. Right now, everyone is wondering if Noreen will break Seth''s record for the fastest IPO. If you can beat her to it, you''ll stun everyone-including Wade. If you pull this off, you''ll leapfrog right over her and stage the most brillianteback."
Noreen spent the weekend at the hospital with Rosalind for a series of follow-up tests, including a painless colonoscopy. Noreen had instructed Sophia to book the appointment a month in advance, but the nurse in the VIP wing informed her they could have done it without a reservation. The suite came with priority ess to all procedures. It was so convenient that Noreen briefly considered keeping a VIP suite on retainer, given Rosalind''s recurring health issues.
After the procedure, as Noreen was wheeling Rosalind back to her room, their path was blocked by a crowd of people in the corridor. A nurse went to investigate. "A patient is causing a scene," she reported back. "Something about cutting in line. Security is on their way to clear the area. We''ll just have to wait a minute."
Since the tests were done, Noreen didn''t mind waiting. The hospital staff was efficient, and within a couple of minutes, the onlookers had dispersed. Through the thinning crowd, Noreen spotted Bianca and her mother their faces flushed with anger. Their usual polished elegant appearances were gone. Their hair was a mess, and their designer clothes were torn and disheveled.
Bianca was in a particrly sorry state. Her skirt was ripped all the way up to her thigh, and she was clutching her handbag in front of her to avoid beingpletely exposed.
Yvonne was arguing with a hospital manager, insisting the other party had started the fight.
"You''re the ones who have no
manners, cutting the line!" the other
patient shot back, refusing to back
down "We''ve been waiting here Since early this morning! Then you two show up, iming your son-inw owns the hospital, and demand to go first. On what grounds?"
Others in the line chimed in, backing up the user. The manager, looking stressed, tried to cate the crowd before turning to Yvonne. "Ma''am, there is a queue. Trying to bypass it is bound to cause conflict."
Yvonne was about to argue further when Bianca caught sight of Noreen. Her expression froze, a flicker of humiliation crossing her face. She grabbed her mother''s arm and pulled her away. "Mom, let''s go back," she hissed, desperate to escape Noreen''s gaze.
1.n
Yvonne noticed Noreen then, too, her face twisting in annoyance. Without another word, she allowed Bianca to lead her back to their roomust as they arrived, kana walked in and stopped short staring at their disheveled state. "What on earth happened to you two? You look like you''ve been through a war."
Chapter 484
"We ran into some ssless people," Yvonne muttered, unwilling to borate. For original chapters go to F?ndNovel
Lana sensed the tension and dropped the subject. After a quick look around the room, she frowned. "Why are you in a standard room? Didn''t my nephew-inw arrange a VIP suite for you?"
Her question struck a nerve, and both women''s faces soured.
A nurse knocked on the door. "Has the colonoscopy been done yet?" she asked. When Bianca said no, the nurse pressed, "You need to get it done soon. The doctor is waiting for the report."
"Can''t you just schedule me for the painless procedure?" Yvonne pleaded. The thought of a standard colonoscopy made her stomach turn.
"I''m sorry," the nurse said apologetically. "The painless procedure requires an advance booking. Since you don''t have one, you''ll have to do the standard one."
Lana turned to Bianca. "You didn''t make a reservation?"
Bianca''s expression stiffened. "No," she admitted. How was she supposed to think of that? Previously, whenever she or her mother had been hospitalized, Seth had handled everything. They were always in a VIP suite with special care; appointments were never an issue.
"Well, the standard one is brutal," Lana said with a grimace. "Why don''t you call Seth? I''m sure he can arrange it. He''s an investor in this hospital; it would only take one phone call."
"Yes, call Seth," Yvonne urged. "I really don''t want to go through the standard procedure."
With a sigh, Bianca dialed Seth''s number, but it went straight to voicemail.
"He must be busy," she told them. They didn''t doubt it; Seth always answered Bianca''s calls unless he was in a meeting. Bianca assumed the same.
"So what now? Should we wait until he''s free?" Lana asked.
"Forget it. Let''s just get it over with," Yvonne said, deciding to tough it out. "They aren''t officially married yet, and things haven''t been going well for Bianca. If we keep bothering him with little things like this it''ll leave a bad impression. Besides Wade was still in the hospital f word got back to him, it would only make it harder for Bianca to win him over.
Bianca agreed with her mother''s logic. She didn''t call Seth again. Instead, she helped Yvonne change and took her back down for the colonoscopy The line was long, and by the time they were done, Noreen had already returned to pick up Rosalind''s test results.
She found Yvonne hunched over a trash can, vomiting violently, her face a deathly
pale. Bianca was rubbing her back while Lana stood by, handing her tissues.
Just then, ire arrived to meet Noreen for dinner. "Noreen, over here!" she called out, waving.
Her voice drew the attention of Bianca and Lana. Lana, who recognized Noreen and was still stewing over what Yvonne had told her about the VIP suite, decided to stick up for her family.
She raised her voice, her words
dripping with scorn. "Some people truly have no shame! Dumped by
one man, so shetches onto met
father it''s so obvious what she''s trying to do, throwing herself at the Harcourt family like that."
Noreen was focused on theb report and didn''t even register the snidement. But ire heard it loud and clear. She wouldn''t let anyone talk about Noreen like that in her presence. Anyone.
Chapter 485
"Oh, so the secret''s out?" ire''s voice boomed, louder than Lana''s. "Alright, game over. Might as well get used to calling her ''Mom''!" She smirked. "You should probably curtsy, too. After all, you''ll need the stepmom''s approval to marry into the family, right?"
When it came to verbal sparring, ire never lost.
Her retort struck home. All three women''s faces paled. Yvonne, as if physically struck, began retching again. Bianca frantically tended to her.
Only Lana, seething, fought back. "How can you say something so shameless? A young girl like that, plotting to be someone''s stepmother! Mr. Harcourt is old enough to be her father! How could she even stomach it?" ireughed. "Please. You''re only saying that because you don''t have the chance. If you did, you''d be shoving your own daughter into his bed." She rolled her eyes. "And if you really want to know how she ''stomachs'' such a big age gap, why don''t you ask Miss Lowell? I''m sure she has some experience in that department."
Bianca''s hand tightened on Yvonne''s arm.
Before Lana could reply, Yvonne snapped, "That''s enough! I don''t feel well. Take me back to my room." Though reluctant, Lana fell silent and helped escort Yvonne away. The three of them beat a hasty retreat. ire tossed her hair back with a triumphant ir. "A bunch of lightweights."
Seeing her smug look, Noreen could only shake her head and smile. "Feel better now?"
"Much better!" ire grinned.
"Good."
"I thought you might be mad at me," ire admitted.
"Mad about what?" Noreen''s smile was serene. "If I were afraid of people slinging mud at me, I wouldn''t have gotten close to Mr. Harcourt in the first ce."
"Exactly! If we don''t have a moralpass, then morality can''t hold us hostage!" ire''s philosophy had always been light-years ahead of everyone else''s, even back in college. After spending so much time with her, Noreen had picked up a thing or two.
With the battle won, ire''s attention turned to the papers in Noreen''s hand. "How are your mom''s test results?" Get full chapters from FindN()vel
"Most of the markers look good, but a few more results won''t be back until tomorrow."
"Don''t worry," ire said with infectious optimism. "I''m sure everything will be fine."
Meanwhile, back in the room, Bianca and herpanions were fuming. Lana was still indignant. "You shouldn''t have stopped me! I would''ve torn her to shreds!"
Yvonne took a sip of water, her voice hoarse from the procedure. "Don''t be ridiculous. I told you not to cause a scene. Wade is still in this hospital."
Lana looked sheepish. "I was just defending Bianca."
"Anyone who''s friends with Noreen can''t be a person of quality. Arguing with her is beneath you," Yvonne dered. Lana finally shut her mouth. "Now, I''m hungry. Go buy me something to eat." Though it wasn''t mealtime, fana, obediently left Years of being ordered around by
Yvonne had made it second nature.
As soon as Lana was gone, Yvonne''s expression darkened. "Do you think Noreen knows something?"
Bianca''s hand''s clenched. "I doubt it,"
she said, her own face tight. "If she
knew, she would have told Seth
immediately. She wouldn''t just sit on it." After all, Bianca reasoned, Noreen was still hung up on Sett she''d never pass up an opportunity like that.
Yvonne agreed, breathing a small sigh of relief. Still, she couldn''t help but warn her daughter, "I''ve told you before, this isn''t like being overseas. You need to be more careful."
"I know." For a moment back there, Bianca''s heart had been pounding in her chest. It was only after thinking it through on the way back to the room that she had finally calmed down.
Later, ire and Noreen were having dinner at a restaurant near the hospital. The memory of Bianca''s guilty, panicked expression made
ire burst outughing. "I was going to send that photo to Seth just to mess with him, but now I don''t think I need to. It''s better this way. Let him keep eating a pile of shit every day without even knowing it."
Chapter 486
"Ugh, ire, we''re eating. That''s disgusting," Noreen grimaced.
ire justughed harder. "Seth eats it every day and doesn''t seem to mind. What''s the big deal if you just hear about it?"
"Stop it!"
Seeing Noreen was about to throw down her fork, ire surrendered. "Alright, alright, I''ll stop. But honestly, it serves him right to wear those horns for a little longer."
Noreen had to agree.
After dinner, the delivery Noreen had ordered arrived: a box of delicate pastries from the bakery Wade loved. It was a small token of gratitude for his help with the hospital room. When she knocked and entered his suite, she was surprised to find Seth there as well.
He shifted slightly as she came in, his deep eyes lifting to meet hers for a brief, emotionless moment. Noreen handed the box to Evelyn, nning to make a quick exit, but Wade drew her into a conversation about underwriters for the IPO. Noreen had been in talks with a few firms, but none of their proposals felt quite right. "I have two excellent firms I can rmend," Wade said, handing her a folder he''d already prepared.
Noreen opened it to find information on the top two underwriting firms in the country. Apany of InnoCore''s size typically wouldn''t meet their threshold for consideration, as they usually worked with multi-billion-dor corporations. Noreen had never even considered approaching them. Checktest chapters at ?ovelFind
Wade saw her hesitation. "If I make the introduction, they''ll consider it."
Noreen was touched. The path of an entrepreneur was never easy, but she had been fortunate enough to meet people who had made the journey less arduous.
"I think Sylvan Core Technologies is a better fit for InnoCore," Seth interjected, joining the conversation. "They have experience in this sector. They led the Unity Holdings IPO in Stanton City, and it only took them 88 days to go from application to approval."
Noreen had privately been leaning toward Sylvan Core Technologies as well, given their extensive experience with tech listings.
"I agree," she said. "Sylvan Core is the more suitable choice."
Evelyn, who didn''t understand the technicalities, smiled warmly at their consensus. "You two are still so in sync."
Seth''s eyshes fluttered almost imperceptibly.
"We''re just discussing business," Noreen said coolly.
At her words, Seth''s brow twitched slightly.
Wade advised Noreen to start gathering the necessary documentation and to engage reliable ounting andw firms to audit her assets, operations, and equity structure. Seth even added that she could consult him anytime if she ran into questions. Not one to be shy, Noreen asked about a few specific challenges she was facing, and Seth answered each one thoroughly and patiently.
The atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious. Evelyn was just about to suggest they all have dinner together when Seth''s phone rang.
He answered it without hesitation. "What''s wrong?"
The room fell silent. Even without speakerphone, they could faintly make out Bianca''s voice on the other end. Noreen''s expression
remated neutral as if she were
used to this. Seth''s, however changed instantly.
"I''m on my way," he said, ending the call. He stood up abruptly. "Dad, Evelyn, something urgent came up. I have to go."
He didn''t say a word to Noreen. She,
in turn, saved herself the courtesy of a farewell and simply focused on the documents in her hands. >
Only Evelyn muttered under her breath, a frown creasing her forehead. "What could be so urgent?"
Chapter 487
What else could it be? When it came to Bianca, of course he would rush.
Noreen''s mind was elsewhere. She continued consulting with Wade, and by the time she left his suite, the sky had grown dark. She had an important meeting first thing in the morning, so she stopped by Rosalind''s room to let her know she was leaving. Then she checked in with the nurse on duty to confirm when the remaining test results would be ready for pickup.
As she stood at the nurses'' station, Bianca and Seth walked by.
"Seth, thank you for all the trouble you went to for my mother," Bianca was saying.
Seth''s tone was uncharacteristically gentle. "It was no trouble at all. Your problems are my problems. You should have told me sooner, then your mother wouldn''t have had to suffer."
A warmth spread through Bianca''s chest, and she instinctively looped her arm through his. "I was afraid of disturbing your work, so I didn''t want to keep calling."
"Don''t ever hesitate. If you need anything, just tell me."
The VIP wing was so quiet that their conversation carried clearly to Noreen''s ears. She felt nothing, simply noting the pickup times the nurse gave her in her phone.
"We can collect the results for you," the nurse told her kindly. "Miss Gilmore, if you''re busy with work, you can juste byter. No need to rush."
The nurse''sment drew the couple''s attention. When Bianca saw Noreen, her gaze turned frosty before she deliberately pressed closer to Seth. He nced at Noreen as well, but his expression was one of pure indifference. They walked away without a word.
Another nurse, returning from her rounds,ined to her colleague, "I thought we were full. How did *they* get a room?"
"I heard Mr. Harcourt pulled some strings." The two didn''t say more, likely because Noreen was standing there, but their displeasure was obvious.
It finally clicked for Noreen. Seth had left in such a hurry to arrange a VIP suite for Bianca''s mother. He was certainly dedicated to his future mother-inw.
The next day was a whirlwind of back-to-back meetings for Noreen. She had nned to visit Rosalind after work, but ast-minute call came in about a minor ident at the port construction site. She rushed over to handle it, and by the time she was finished, it was alreadyte evening.
She was about to head to the hospital when Rosalind called. She told Noreen not to bothering, adding that all her test results hade back clear.
Noreen breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, I''lle see you as soon as I''m done here."
"See me for what? I''m being discharged tomorrow. Just go home when you''re finished," Rosalind insisted.
"Alright."
But for Noreen at this stage, work was never truly finished. She was so busy that she didn''t even have time to see ire off at the airport when she flew to Northcrest to handle a contract termination.
It wasn''t until Friday that she was finally able to get to the hospital to pick up Wade for a dinner meeting with the head of Sylvan Core Technologies. Knowing she wasing, Wade was already waiting by the entrance A momentter Bianca and Yvonne emerged from the building.
"The doctor said everything looks good. I feel so much better," Yvonne said, a weight lifted from her shoulders. "It''s all thanks to Seth. When your father gets back we should all have a family dinner.''
"Okay, I''ll tell him."
As they were talking, they spotted Wade. Both women stopped in their tracks. After a moment''s hesitation Yvonne decided to approach him. "Mr. Harcourt, are you being discharged today as well?" She had been trying to find anopportunity to speak with him all week, and she wasn''t about to let this one pass.
Wade, still in his wheelchair, slowly lifted his gaze to her. His expression was
nk, but it was enough to make Yvonne want to retreat.
"Mr. Harcourt," Bianca said, her voice soft and deferential.
Wade didn''t even look at her, his demeanor utterly detached. Undeterred, Bianca pressed on. "Seth will be here any minute. Why don''t you let him drive you home?"
Evelyn cut her off, her tone icy. "That won''t be necessary. Mr. Harcourt has a ride."
Just as she spoke, Noreen''s car pulled up smoothly in front of them. She got out and walked toward Wade. As Evelyn helped him to his feet, the cold, distant look on his face melted into one of warmth.
"You''re here," he said to Noreen.
"Let me help," Noreen said, taking his arm and guiding him to the car. Evelyn quickly followed. Get full chapters from Find?Novel
Bianca and her mother were left standing on the curb, their smiles frozen on their faces. Bianca was trembling with rage. Yvonne, though equally furious, managed to keep herposure.
"Seth will be here soon," she reminded her daughter. "Get a hold of yourself." Her eyes followed Noreen''s car with a venomous re. "She won''t be smug for long."
Chapter 488
With Wade''s introduction, Noreen''s meeting with Mr. Galloway of Sylvan Core Technologies was a resounding sess. Mr. Galloway was highly impressed with InnoCore and full of praise for Noreen, promising he would do everything in his power to ensure a sessful IPO. His assurance was a greatfort to her.
She spent the entire weekend at the office, working tirelessly to prepare the materials Sylvan Core required. On Monday, when she arrived for her appointment to submit the documents, she was stunned to find Seth and Bianca already there.
Unaware of their shared history, Mr. Galloway greeted her with a smile. "Ms. Gilmore,e, let me make some introductions. This is Mr. Harcourt of Ascendancy Group, and this is Miss Lowell of PerseTech."
PerseTech? It took Noreen a moment to ce the name. It was the new name Seth had given the shellpany he''d acquired for Bianca''s high-temperature superconductivity project. She had been buried in worktely, but she''d still kept an eye on industry news. PerseTech had been making the biggest waves, with Seth leveraging nearly all of Aurelion Group''s resources to support it. Noreen had wondered at the time why he''d bought a shellpany instead of registering a
new one.
Now, in this room, it all became clear. He was preparing Perse Tech for a backdoor listing.
A backdoor listing would allow them to bypass the cumbersome IPO process and get public status quickly. He was truly pulling out all the stops to pave the way for Bianca.
? Newest update provided by Find_Novel(.
"We know each other," Noreen said tly, skipping the handshake. Not that the other two seemed eager to shake her hand either. It was for the best, they could all maintain a civil distance.
Mr. Galloway turned to Seth. "Mr. Harcourt, this is the Ms. Gilmore I mentioned. As I said, I''ve alreadymitted to her project. I''m afraid you''re a step toote."
Bianca spoke up, her voice calm and confident. "Mr. Galloway, there''s no need to give us an immediate answer. As long as no contract has been signed, everything is still negotiab
The fact that you agreed to meet with us proves you see the potential in our project."
Mr. Galloway didn''t deny it. "The high-temperature superconductivity project has immense potential and a promising future. It holds strategic value from multiple perspectives, and it has the full support of national policy." He paused, then turned back to Noreen. "But I have already given my word to Ms. Gilmore..."
Seth, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Ms. Gilmore," he said, his eyes locking onto hers. "Can we talk?"
Chapter 489
Noreen Gilmore didn''t hesitate for a second. "I''m sorry," she said, her voice firm, "but that''s not up for discussion."
Seth Harcourt wasn''t fazed. He simply leaned back in his chair, his posture rxed, his tone cool and even. "Perhaps you should hear my offer before you decide. What if it''s something you can''t refuse?¡±
Noreen stared at him for a long moment before her brow softened. "Fine. Let''s talk."
A faint, knowing smirk touched Seth''s lips, a silent flicker of mockery. Even Bianca Lowell, sitting beside him, curled her red lips in a dismissive smile. Noreen ignored them. All she wanted to know was whatvish sacrifice Seth was willing to make for Bianca this time.
A negotiation like this required privacy. As Seth stood, he ced a reassuring hand on Bianca''s shoulder. "I''ll be right back."
Bianca''s performance was one of magnanimous confidence in their rtionship. "Take your time," she said sweetly. But as Noreen turned to leave, Bianca shot her a look of pure contempt.
*So what if Wade Harcourt likes you?* she thought. *To Seth, you''re nothing.*
The only person Seth cared about was her. She had only mentioned in passing that she wanted to beat his record for the fastest IPO in Rivercrest City, and he had immediately started pulling strings for her. He had personally contacted Mr. Galloway of Sylvan Core Technologies, arranging this meeting to intercept the deal just before Noreen could sign.
Seth led Noreen into another private room where a waiter had already prepared tea. On the table were several tes of delicate pastries, including a tter of macarons¡ªthe same trendy dessert that had been impossible to find a few years back. Noreen remembered lining up at a bakeryte one night to buy them as a treat for the Aurelion Group employees who had been pulling all-nighters for a subsidiary''s IPO. The macarons were limited, so she hadn''t saved any for herself. It was Gillian who, seeing this, had insisted on giving her half a box. Noreen had tried one, thought it was delicious, and had messaged Seth to tell him about it. He''d been busy and never replied. She had forgotten all about it and hadn''t had a macaron since.
To see them here, after all this time... A restaurant like this wouldn''t stock them; they had to be bought from a specialty bakery. It was clear Seth had nned this day meticulously. It wasn''t the first time she''d witnessed the lengths he would go to for Bianca, but each time, it felt like a fresh revtion. He would move mountains to satisfy Bianca''s slightest whim, even when he knew it was something Noreen had worked tirelessly to achieve.
"Have some pastries," Seth invited as she sat down.
"Let''s skip the formalities," Noreen said, her expression unmoved.
Seth''s eyebrow arched, making his dark eyes seem brighter, deeper. A ghest of a smile touched his voice "You''ve already developed the capitalist mindset." fo
*Calm, rational, and willing to ept any terms as long as they''re advantageous.*
Noreen offered a cool smile. ¡°Thank you for thepliment, Mr. Harcourt."
Seth got straight to the point. "Name your price. As long as it''s within reason, I''ll consider it.¡± His tone was all business, wasting no time.
Noreen was equally direct. "Centribo gets full ess to all of Ascendancy Group''s resources."
Seth paused, the teacup halfway to his lips, then let out a softugh. "You certainly don''t hold back."
"This is a golden opportunity for you to demonstrate your love for Ms. Lowell Mr. Harcourt". Noreen replied
with a serene Smeplies
opportunity not to be missed."
"Did you get a taste of sessst time and decide toe back for
more? Seth''s smile remained, but its was impossible to if it was ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find[?]ovel
genuine. Not that Noreen cared.
She maintained her professional negotiating stance. "Love is priceless, after all.
I''d say you''re the one getting the better end of this deal."
Perhaps that was the line that did it. In the end, Seth agreed.
***
Chapter 490
Noreen was no longer surprised by his choices. Since they had reached an agreement, she stood up crisply. "Then I wish you and Ms. Lowell a long and happy future together."
Seth''s eyes crinkled at the corners. "Thank you," he said, his tone deliberately casual.
When they returned to the dining room, Bianca and Mr. Galloway were deep in conversation.
"I can''t believe we''re both alumni!" Bianca was saying. "That definitely calls for a toast."
Mr. Galloway chuckled. "It certainly does."
Seth sat down beside Bianca. "What are you two so happy about?"
"Mr. Galloway also studied at WT Business School," Bianca shared excitedly. "We''re practically ssmates. Isn''t that a coincidence, Seth?"
"It certainly is," he agreed, before adding gently, "But you shouldn''t drink. Haven''t you been feeling unwell thest couple of days?"
Mr. Galloway sighed wistfully. "I''ve always heard you two were very close, and now I see it''s true."
Bianca blushed prettily. "You''re too kind, Mr. Galloway." Fresh chapters posted on f?ndnovel
"Not at all. It''s a wonderful thing." Mr. Galloway then turned to Noreen, his expression curious about the oue of their negotiation.
Noreen cut straight to the chase. "Mr. Galloway, perhaps we can work together another time."
He understood immediately. "Of course! Let''s just consider this an opportunity to be friends." Seeing her about to leave, he added, "Since you''re here, Ms. Gilmore, why don''t you join us for dinner?"
"Thank you, but I have other matters to attend to. Please, enjoy your meal."
As Noreen walked away, Bianca''s lips curved into a triumphant smile. Seth might have had some admiration for Noreen in the past, but that''s all it ever was. The only person he truly cared for was her. Noreen was no threat at all.
Padgett Novak somehow got wind of Noreen''s decision to pause InnoCore''s IPO and rushed over to Winrich to find out what was going on. Noreen was surprised. She had just made the deal with Seth yesterday; how did he know already?
"How did you hear about this?" she asked.
Padgett frowned. "I didn''t have to ''hear'' about it. It''s the talk of the town."
"What are they saying?" Noreen had been too busy with the Centribo acquisition to pay attention to gossip.
"Everyone''s buzzing about the
High-Temperature
Superconductivity project," Padgett exined with a sigh. "Ms. Lowell has been making wavestely. Mr. Harcourt has been introducing her to his
s''entirework, taking her to one business dinner after another. I ran into themst night, and Ms. Lowell happened to mention that Sylvan Core Technologies dropped InnoCore to go with herpany, PerseTech."
The implication was clear. Anyone at that dinner would assume Sylvan Core had dropped InnoCore because something was wrong with thepany. No wonder Padgett hade running. Bianca was using InnoCore as a stepping stone to elevate PerseTech. Cunning.
"Was Mr. Harcourt there when she said that?" Noreen asked, her voice carefully neutral.
Padgett nodded. "Yes, he was."
So, Seth had been present and said nothing, tacitly allowing Bianca to spread the
rumor.
"InnoCore hasn''t paused its IPO ns," Noreen rified for Padgett. "We''ve only ended our potential partnership with Sylvan Core Technologies."
Padgett let out a breath he didn''t realize he was holding. "So, there''s nothing wrong with thepany?"
"No. InnoCore is doing just fine."
"That''s a relief," he said, this time for her sake.
The next day, Noreen flew to Glenhaven Gity to give Mrs. Joyner the news about the sessful Centribo merger. She found the old woman lying in her hospital bed, frail and gaunt. Mrs. Joyner clutched the agreement in her thin hands and finally modded, a look of satisfaction on her face. "Thank you for all your hard work."
"It was nothing," Noreen said softly. "You just focus on getting better. You still have
to be there to ring the bell when Centribo goes public."
Mrs. Joyner only smiled, offering no reply.
The following morning, just as Noreen''s ne touched down in Rivercrest City,
she got a call from Castle Joyner. His voice was hollow with grief. "Awan is gone."
Noreen''s heart plummeted.
***
Chapter 491
Following Awan''s wishes, Castle held no memorial service. Instead, he personally scattered her ashes in the open sea where they had first met. Noreen''s only
sce was that by sacrificing the Sylvan Core deal, she had secured Centribo''s future and granted Mrs. Joyner her dying wish, allowing her to pass with one less regret.
Noreen stayed in Glenhaven City for two more days. Before she left, Castle met with her. He told her that Centribo was his wife''s life''s work and implored her to manage it well. He knew, even without asking, that Noreen would never betray Awan''s trust, but Noreen promised him again that she would make Centribo a resounding sess.
As Castle looked at her, his eyes were distant, as if he were seeing someone else through her. Just before she departed, Noreen thought of the man who had risked his life to save her and asked Castle about him onest time.
"Unfortunately, he''s away on business."
Disappointed, Noreen could only hope for another chance.
She and Colby flew back to Rivercrest City overnight,nding in the early hours of Monday morning. Sophia Cole was there to pick them up, her face glum and uncharacteristically quiet.
"What''s wrong?" Noreen asked. "Fight with your boyfriend?"
"Of course not!"
"Then what is it?"
"Noreen... the ounting andw firms we were close to signing with? They all backed out. Suddenly, they''ve decided not to work with us." Sophia had been holding this back, not wanting to disturb Noreen while she was grieving.
Noreen paused for a few seconds. "Did PerseTech get to them?"
Sophia nodded silently, then burst out in indignation. "Aurelion Group has its own ounting and legal teams! That bitch Bianca has no reason to go after ours except to mess with us. She''s doing it on purpose!"
It was tant bullying. Noreen pinched the bridge of her nose. She hadn''t expected Bianca to be so brazen. She had overestimated her sense of decency. Readplete version only at find~novel
"First thing in the morning, get me a
meeting with Barrett, the CEO of
Everstill.
talk to him in person."
Noreen wanted to try onest time. They had invested too much time building rtionships with Everstill and Grandsomm to just give up now.
Sophia didn''t sound hopeful. "I''ll do my best."
Noreen turned to Colby, who was driving. "Don''t take me home. Go straight to the office."
"You''re not going to rest?" Sophia protested. "I know it''s only a few hours, but you need some sleep! Do you have any idea how red your eyes are?"
"I have to revise the proposal. I need to see if I can still win Barrett over."
"You''re just..." Sophia trailed off,
knowing it was useless to argue.
She couldn''t persuade Noreen, so all
feet a surge
she could do was fes
helpless anger on her behalf. *How
strong do you have to be to stop people from walking all over you?*
The next morning, Sophia reported that she couldn''t get through to CEO Barrett.
"Fine," Noreen said, her resolve hardening. "I''ll go to him." This couldn''t wait.
But when Noreen arrived at Everstill, the receptionist informed her that CEO Barrett wasn''t in. When Noreen asked when he might return, saying she could wait, the receptionist simply said she didn''t know. The message was clear. Still, Noreen waited. She wasn''t expe¨¦ting to see Bianca.
Bianca arrived with CEO Barrett, the two of themughing and chatting amicably. Seeing Noreen, Barrett looked momentarily guilty, but the seasoned executive quickly recovered hisposure.
"Ms. Gilmore!" he said with a practiced smile. "When did you get here? Why didn''t you let me know you wereing?"
Noreen decided to give him an out. "It was ast-minute decision. I apologize for dropping in unannounced."
"Nonsense," Barrett said. "Actually, if you hadn''te to me, I was nning to call you. About our potential coboration..."
***
Chapter 492
"I actually came to apologize, CEO Barrett," Noreen interjected smoothly, cutting him off before he had to stumble through an excuse. "It seems we''ll have to postpone our coboration for now."
Her directness caught him off guard. He could only manage an awkwardugh. "Well, then. Perhaps another time."
Noreen''s gaze shifted to Bianca, where she saw a flicker of smug satisfaction. As she walked past them, Noreen paused.
"Ms. Lowell," she said, her tone light and curious, "do you enjoy taking things that belong to others because of some deep-seated insecurity?"
Bianca''s face froze, the smile vanishing from her lips.
"What does she mean by that?" Barrett asked, confused.
Noreen simply smiled. "Nothing at all. Goodbye, CEO Barrett."
She didn''t push it further. Bianca was the person Seth cherished above all else. Disrespecting Bianca was disrespecting Seth, and he was fiercely protective of her. With the Ascendancy Group resources for Centribo still not fully in her control, Noreen couldn''t afford to burn that bridge.
As she was heading downstairs, about to call Colby, her phone rang. It was Dn Wilder.
"Are you at Everstill?" he asked the moment she answered.
"How did you know?" Noreen said, surprised.
"I''m here too. I saw your car. Let''s meet. There''s something I need to talk to you about."
Dn''s car was parked just outside the building. As Noreen stepped out, she saw him, but she also saw Seth, who was clearly waiting to pick someone up. The two men were exchanging a few words. When Dn spotted Noreen, he said to Seth, "The person I''m meeting is here."
Seth''s gaze fell on Noreen, cool and distant. She walked right past him, a warm smile spreading across her face as she approached Dn.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"Not at all." Dn habitually reached out and ruffled her hair.
Nearby, Seth pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, his expression visibly hardening.
"Let''s find somewhere quiet to sit," Dn suggested.
"Okay," Noreen agreed instantly.
Dn held the car door open for her. As she got in and fastened her seatbelt, Bianca emerged from the building.
"Seth! You came to get me! Why didn''t you say anything?" Her face, initially bright with a smile, clouded over the moment she saw Noreen with Dyfan. Her expression only softened when Seth opened the passenger door for her. She shot Noreen a contemptuous ook before getting into the car.
"Why are you smoking again?" she asked once Seth was inside.
"It''s nothing. How did it go with CEO Barrett?"
The question sessfully diverted her attention. "He''s very interested in Perse Tech," she said, her tone boastful. "He''s decided to partner with us."
"Good," Seth said, a note of approval in his voice.
"Seth," she said again.
"Yes?"
¡°If PerseTech has a sessful IPO, will you take me to meet your father?"
Seth''s answer was swift and certain. "Of course."
A surge of confidence filled Bianca As long as Seth was on her side, she was sure she could win Wade Harcourts approval on her own merit.
Readplete version only at FindN0vel
...
In a quiet caf¨¦, Dn didn''t beat around the bush. "Have you run into some trouble recently?"
Noreen sighed. "It''s true what they say: bad news travels fast."
"I told you, if you ever have a problem, you cane to me. Maybe I can help.
And even if I can''t, I can offer some advice."
"I can''t just run to someone else every time I have a problem," Noreen said, a
thought surfacing from her past.
*Solve your own problems. No one is obligated to help you.*
The words echoed in her mind, and suddenly, she was back there.
***
Chapter 493
Even though it had been so long, she could still see the cold, indifferent look on Seth''s face as he''d said it. It was the first time she had experienced workce harassment. The client was important, someone she couldn''t afford to offend. Terrified, her eyes red with unshed tears, she had gone to Seth for help. And that had been his response.
From that day on, she had learned to rely on herself to solve every problem she faced. The pain of that moment must have been so sharp that it had etched itself into her memory, clear enough that she could still recall the exact expression on his face.
If it had been Bianca in that situation, Seth''s reaction would have been entirely different. Theparison was a bitter pill to swallow.
Seeing her expression, Dn''s face filled with concern. "Noreen, you''ll burn out if you always try to handle everything on your own."
She knew she would get tired. But in this world, who could you truly depend on but yourself?
"Have you forgotten?" Dn reminded her gently. "You have an ace in the hole. He might be able to help you with this."
A thought sparked in Noreen''s mind. "You mean..."
Seeing her instant understanding, Dn''s eyes lit up. "Yes. Exactly."
The next day, Noreen showed up at the Joyner residence with Dr. Harrison in tow. But Halley Joyner, having somehow gotten word of their visit, had already made his escape. Noreen was left standing at an empty doorway. He wouldn''t even answer his phone. She sighed. How could a man his age be so afraid of the doctor?
At that moment, Halley was at a business dinner he would normally never attend. But to avoid Noreen, he had epted a random invitation, only to find it was a dinner hosted by Seth.
When CEO Barrett of Everstill saw Halley, he immediately became deferential "Academician Joyner! It''s been too long. He was unwardly marveling at Bianca''s connections. How had she managed to get *the* Haffey Joyner to attend?
Everyone else at the table had the same thought. Academician Joyner had retired from the financial world years ago to focus on his
legends he had created still vel.ne
mathematical research. But the
circted throughout the industry. He had achieved monumental sess by applying mathematical models and
toves
investment,
eventua
founding
the renowned Voyage Capital. The firm, which relied solely on
algorithms and statistical analysis, had revolutionized the field, and to this day, it remained an industry titan.
Bianca basked in the admiring nces, her heart swelling with emotion. This was proof of how much Seth cared for her. To do this for her he had even brought out Academician Joyner. He cared for her more than she could have ever imagined.
Throughout the dinner, Halley was the center of attention. CEO Barrettmented how he had tried for three years to get into Academician Joyner''s graduate program, only to fail each time.
Mr. Galloway of Sylvan Core Technologies consoled him. "Everyone knows how difficult it is to get in. I was one of the rejects myself."
Bianca saw her opening. "If I hadn''t studied abroad, I might have had the chance to be one of Academician Joyner''s students as well."
"That''s entirely possible," Mr. Galloway agreed. "Finance is so closely tied to mathematics, and Rivercrest University has an excellent interdisciplinary program." Latest content published on ?ovelFind
"It''s not toote now," CEO Barrett added. "The rest of us are too old, but you just finished your doctorate two years ago, Ms. Lowell. You still have a chance."
Halley, who had been mostly silent, finally spoke. "My students aren''t so easy toe by."
***
Chapter 494
"I''d quite like to try," Bianca said, her voice brimming with confidence. If she could be Halley''s student, she would be firmly established in the world of high finance. Once she had a foothold there, the world would be her oyster. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F?ndNovel
Halley left halfway through the meal, feigning an excuse. He was bored.
To his dismay, when he got home, Noreen was still there.
His face darkened. "Why haven''t you left?"
"I was waiting for you, of course," Noreen said, giving the housekeeper a subtle nod. The housekeeper immediately brought over a bowl of medicine.
Halley hated both injections and medicine. He turned to flee, but Noreen anticipated his move and blocked his path. "Dr. Harrison waited a long time to source some of these rare ingredients. Don''t let them go to waste."
"Do I have to drink it?" Halley asked, making a final stand.
"You have to."
In the end, he relented. He knew how stubborn she could be.
Only after he had downed the medicine did Noreen mention that she needed his help.
Halley snorted. "I was beginning to think you''d never ask."
He was well aware of the rumors circting in their circle and had been watching to see how far Noreen could get on her own. He was like a strict mentor, observing her as she stumbled forward. He wouldn''t help her up if she fell; he wanted her to learn to get up on her own. He would only intervene if she fell hard and asked for a hand. This was the first time she had asked for his help since starting her ownpany.
"So, you only brought me medicine because you wanted a favor?" the old man grumbled.
Noreen sighed. "Dr. Harrison just managed to get all the ingredients together. The timing is a coincidence. I was hoping he could check on you today, but you ran off."
Mollified, Halley relented. "Fine, I''ll help you. But on one condition."
...
The next morning, Noreen had a meeting with another ounting firm, so she asked Carman Holt to attend the government conference in her ce. Padgett Novak called her personally to ask when sh would be arriving. He sounded disappointed when she told him she couldn''t make it.
Just after he hung up, Henry Brooke arrived. "What''s wrong?" he asked, seeing Padgett''s glum face.
"Noreen has something else to attend to."
Henry frowned, a flicker of concern for Padgett crossing his features The man seemed to be falling kard Justas Henry as about to offer a
word of caution, Carman arrived.
Padgett immediately went to greet him. "Mr. Holt, long time no see."
"It has been a while."
Padgett introduced Carman to
Henry. Upon learning that he was the engineer who had developed had developed InnoCore reated him with.
courtesy. As more people arrived, Padgett moved on to greet them, leaving Henry and Carman to talk.
"You know," Henry began casually, "if Aurelion Group had managed the InnoCore project from the start, it probably would have gone public by now."
Bianca had told him that Noreen had stolen the project from her. He wasn''t trying to get it back; he just felt the need to stand up for Bianca.
Carman just smiled faintly. "Things are good now. Ms. Gilmore is incredibly dedicated to InnoCore. In fact, without her, InnoCore wouldn''t exist today."
Henry''s frown deepened. This Carman fellow didn''t seem to get it.
***
Chapter 495
Just as Henry was about to make his point more obvious, Carman''s phone rang. He gave Henry an apologetic nod and stepped aside to take the call. His expression immediately turned serious. "I''ll be right back."
Before leaving, he quickly found Padgett Novak. ¡°Something urgent came up at work."
Padgett was understanding. "Work is important. I''ll have Landon send a copy of the meeting minutes to Ms. Gilmore."
Bianca was thest to arrive. The moment she entered, the chatter in the conference hall died down as people flocked to greet her. Henry considered going over, but seeing the crowd, he decided against it. He found a seat with a good view and let his gaze drift toward her. She hade alone today; Seth wasn''t with her, which made Henry feel a bit bolder in his observation.
Sitting next to him was Healy Naylor. Healy, however, wasn''t looking at Bianca. His eyes were fixed on the entrance. He kept watching until Padgett entered the room and officially started the meeting. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n FindN0vel
Healy finally frowned and turned to Yves Elwyn beside him. "Is Ms. Gilmore noting?"
"I don''t know," Yves replied. "I was looking for her too."
On Yves''s other side, Bianca overheard the question. Her expression hardened for a moment, then rxed into a disdainful smirk. *Noreen has her own fires to put out right now,* she thought. She had poached the ounting firms, thew firms, even the underwriters. InnoCore''s IPO was likely dead in the water. To be honest, she had been looking forward to seeing Noreen, just to watch her pretend to be calm while her world was copsing.
When Padgett began his speech, Healy knew for sure that Noreen wasn''ting.
A wave of disappointment washed over him. He had onlye to this conference
for her, and once again, he had missed her. He realized it had been a long time since he''dst seen her, and he couldn''t seem to find a good reason to seek her out.
The meetingsted nearly the entire day. Afterward, Padgett, on behalf of the city government, invited all the entrepreneurs to dinner. Normally, Bianca would have declined, but ever since she''d guessed Padgett''s true identity, she had changed her mind, canceling another engagement to attend. Henry had other ns as well, but when he saw Bianca was going, he decided to stay. Only Healy seemed uninterested, politely declining Padgett''s offer and leaving early.
By the time the dinner ended, it was after ten o''clock. Henry was in a great mood: He had spent a long time talking with Bianca, the most animated conversation they''d Rad since he returned to the country. As they were leaving, he was about to offer her a ride home when she said, "Seth ising to pick me up soon. I had a wonderful time tonight. It''s been ages since we''ve had such a good chat. We should get together with Director Novak for dinner sometime."
Henry''s spirits fell for a moment, but he agreed. "Of course. Get home safe."
He waited with her, and in less than two minutes, Seth''s car pulled up. Henry stood rooted to the spot, watching Bianca get in, watching the car drive away. It was sote, and Seth hade to pick her up... they were going home together, weren''t they? They must be living together. It was perfectly normal for an engaged couple, but a sour, indescribable feeling churned in Henry''s gut.
Bianca was in high spirits and chattered on to Seth about her sesses that day. She paused when she noticed the car was heading toward her family''s home. Just as she was about to say something, her phone buzzed. It was a WhatsApp message from Jude Wilder, reminding everyone about his birthday party the next day. The group chat quickly filled with confirmations. After a bit of banter, the car pulled up in front of the Lowell estate.
***
Chapter 496
All Bianca could do was say goodnight to Seth and get out of the car.
The next day, Bianca and Seth went to the party. As they entered the club, Bianca saw a familiar pair of figures and stopped dead in her tracks. Seth, who had walked a few steps ahead, turned back. "What''s wrong?"
"Nothing," she said, her expression darkening as she tore her gaze away. She had just seen Noreen and Dn. The sight of them together brought back Dn''s words at the university, when he had told her that the person he''d loved for seven years was Noreen. The memory still stung.
When they entered the private room, Healy was already there, along with a few of Jude''s other friends. Bianca scanned the room. "Where''s Dn? Is he not here yet?"
"He said he had something to do and would bete," Jude replied.
Bianca sneered inwardly. *His ''something to do'' is being with Noreen, isn''t it?*
Dn''s definition of te" turned out to be "noting." An hour into the party, there was still no sign of him. Bianca made an excuse to step out and deliberately lingered in the VIP suite area. Sure enough, in one of the private rooms, she saw him. And sitting next to him was Noreen.
They wereughing, chatting happily with the person across from them. Dn was turned toward Noreen, his attention fully on her, asionally cing food on her te or peeling a shrimp for her. The gesture was so intimate and attentive it felt like a thorn twisting in Bianca''s heart.
Just then, a waiter pushed the door open to deliver a dish, giving Bianca a clear view of the person sitting across from them.
It was Halley Joyner.
She had just had dinner with him a few days ago, and he had been cold and distant. But now, he was all smiles. The discovery made Bianca frown. Dn had introduced Noreen to someone like Halley? With her background and abilities, Noreen would never have had the chance to meet someone of his caliber. She remembered how Halley had dismissed Noreen at the golf course, yet she just kept trying to ingratiate herself. *So maniptive,* Bianca thought, turning away with a cold expression.
Back in the room, Jude asked why she''d been gone so long.
"Just getting some air," she said, then asked casually, "Dn still isn''t here?"
"Nope. He''s not even answering his messages. Who knows what he''s up to. Forget him, let''s just have fun."
"Probably busy with his love life," Bianca said mockingly.
Jude started to retort, "Who could he be with-oh." His voice trailed off as realization dawned, and he quickly changed the subject.
Meanwhile, Dn was stunned to learn that Noreen was nning to apply for Halley''s graduate program.
"Can you handle it all?" he asked, concerned. She was already juggling several projects and preparing for Innocore''s IPO And on top of Halley''s program was notoriously difficult to get into.
Halley snorted. "If she can''t pass, it just means she''s not capable enough."
"But she hasn''t touched this material
in years This content belongs to find?novel
Dn argued on Noreen''s
behalf. You have to give her some
time to prepare."
"She has three months. Isn''t that enough?"
Dn found he couldn''t argue with that.
Just as Bianca had suspected, Dn never showed up at Jude''s party After dinner, he drove Noreen home.
Before she got out of the car he
spoke up.
***
Chapter 497
"Noreen, after InnoCore goes public, let''s go out for a proper dinner."
The timing, he thought, would be perfect.
Noreen considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."
A wave of relief and happiness washed over Dn. "It''s a date, then! Don''t you forget it."
After he left, Noreen took a shower. Two days of running around had finally paid off, and she could finally breathe a little. A message from Sophia popped up on her phone, warning her to close her windows because of a thunderstorm forecast for that night. Noreen shut herptop and went to the window. The wind was already picking up outside. From her top-floor apartment, she had a clear view of the trees below, their crowns swaying wildly. She could just make out a ck sedan parked under one of them. *Anyone who parks under a tree in this weather is a brave soul,* she thought idly. She didn''t give it another thought as she drew the curtains and went to bed.
On the same day that Everstill signed its contract with PerseTech, Noreen finalized a partnership with Auspice ounting. In their circle, news traveled fast. Bianca heard about it while she was at a spa with Yvonne Laurent. The moment she saw the message in their group chat, she sat bolt upright on the massage table, staring at her phone in disbelief.
"How is that possible?"
Her shock was understandable. Auspice was the top ounting firm in the industry, a giant that even Everstill looked up to. It was a partnership Bianca wouldn''t have even dared to dream of, yet Noreen had secured it.
When she told Yvonne, she was equally stunned. "How did Noreen even get a meeting with Auspice?"
Bianca immediately thought of Halley. One of his former students had founded Auspice. Noreen must have gotten to them through him. Which meant that, in the end, it was Dn who had helped her. Had he really be so infatuated that he''d lost all sense?
"Don''t worry," Yvonne said, her eyes narrowing. "I have a way to make all of Noreen''s efforts go to waste." Readplete version only at F?nd-Novel
...
Noreen went to Halley''s to deliver
the second course of his medication
and a new physical therapy device As she parked, she didn''t notice Henry sitting in a car across the street. He watched with cold eyes as she carried the bags into the Joyner residence. Hemy had also heard about the Auspice deal and hade to ask Halley about it, but the old man had refused to say a word. He''d been leaving empty-handed when he saw her arrive.
So this was how she did it. By fawning and ttering, she''d gotten Halley to pull
strings for her. *Still taking shortcuts,* Henry thought with disgust.
Noreen, oblivious to Henry''s presence, walked in and noticed the chessboard. "It seems your opponent''s mind was elsewhere," shemented.
"An impatient young man," Halley huffed. "How about a game?"
"Alright." She had a rare moment of free time, so she sat down to y.
After a few moves, a pleased expression spread across Halley''s face. "It seems you haven''t lost your touch."
"I''ve had some practice," Noreen
admitted. "InnoCore recently
partnered with apany that developed an Al Go program. They
used me as a test subject, so
§Ý§Ö
yed a few games against the bot.
It was good training."
"Sounds interesting. Send me the link, I''ll give it a try," Halley said, his interest piqued.
¡°I will,¡± Noreen promised, ¡°but be prepared. After its quantitative training, the Al
has reasoning and foresight beyond human capability. It''s basically impossible to
win."
Their conversation shifted from the
game to the future of Al. After listening to her insights, Halley nodded in approval. "So that''s why you saw the potential in Innocore right away. You have remarkable foresight in business."
***
Chapter 498
It was all thanks to experience, Noreen thought, umted just like training an Al. Her time at Aurelion Group had exposed her to countless projects, giving her the data she needed. It hadn''t been a waste after all.
Just as she left Halley''s house, her phone rang. It was Seth. She had no intention of answering. As if sensing this, he hung up before it could go to voicemail and sent her a text instead.
*Don''t you want Ascendancy Group''s resources?*
She immediately called him back. He answered on the first ring, his voiceced with a strange, triumphant humor. "Decided to talk to me now?"
"Where are you?" she asked, all business.
"The Eastern Gardens."
Once she had the address, she hung up without another word.
Half an hourter, Noreen arrived at the restaurant. It was a dinner Seth had organized with Ascendancy Group''s partners. When she walked in, the room was buzzing with conversation. Seth''s back was to the door, so he didn''t see her at first. It was a man sitting across from him who noticed her. His eyes lit up.
"Mr. Harcourt, your girlfriend is here," he teased.
Others turned to look. "We''ve heard Mr. Harcourt''s girlfriend is beautiful and elegant, and it''s true! She''s even more impressive in person."
Noreen had never dealt with Aurelion Group''s partners before, so they didn''t recognize her. The mistake was understandable. Just as she was about to correct them, Seth spoke up.
"Allow me to introduce you all. This is Ms. Gilmore from Winrich, the current CEO of Centribo."
He seemed just as eager to clear up the misunderstanding. After his exnation; the guests realized their mistake and offered embarrassed apologies. Noreen took it in stride, graciously shaking hands with. everyone to his credit, Seth was a man of his word and had delivered on his promise.
Naturally, a dinner like this involved drinking. Just as Noreen reached for the decanter, Seth addressed the table. "Gentlemen, I have to pick up my fianc¨¦eter, so I won''t be drinking tonight Let''s use tea instead of wine. I''ll be sure to make it up to you all another time."
CEO Royce, the man who had first mistaken Noreen for his girlfriend, chuckled. "They say love conquers all! Of course, your girlfriend is more important. We understandpletely."
Seth just smiled faintly. "You''re too kind, CEO Royce."
Once the business talk was over, the conversation inevitably drifted to Seth''s personal life. Uninterested, Noreen stipped out to get some fresh air and called her mother Rosalind to check if she was taking her medicme and eating property. After a brief chat, she decided it was time to head back inside.
As she neared the room, she heard two men talking behind a bamboo screen.
Her position was concealed, and they didn''t notice her.
"I just saw Seth," one of them said. "Let''s cancel the deal for tonight. We''ll reschedule."
The other man sounded tense. "Do you think he knows something?"
"Probably not. He''s likely just here for a business dinner." He then added reassuringly, "What are you so nervous for? Even if he finds out, it''s not a big deal. My cousin is his fianc¨¦e. He''s crazy about her. He won''t do anything." *Bianca''s cousin?* Curious, Noreen peeked around the screen to get a look.
Suddenly, a hand mped down on her wrist. She gasped, but another hand quickly covered her mouth, stifling the sound. A familiar yet distant scent of cool woodsmoke filled her senses.
*** Chapters first released on find?novel
Chapter 499
It was so familiar that Noreen didn''t even need to turn around to know who it was.
And yet, so distant it felt like a memory she had almost forgotten. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F?ndNovel
Behind the screen, the two men continued their conversation.
"That''s why I''m telling you," Spencer Reed said smugly, "partnering with me was the smartest decision you could have made."
"Yes, yes, of course. Please continue to look out for me, CEO Reed."
"I''ll look out for you, but I think it''s time we adjusted our share of the profits, don''t you?"
The other man sounded anxious. "But the kickback I''m giving you is already the maximum I can afford! Any more and there''s nothing left for me."
Spencer was unmoved. "You know I have other options. You, on the other hand, only have me."
After a tense silence, the other man finally conceded. "Fine! Fifty-fifty! But that''s my absolute limit, CEO Reed."
"Deal," Spencer said, satisfied.
The two men left. Once they were gone, Noreen wrenched her hand free from Seth''s grasp and took two steps back, putting distance between them. Her abrupt movement seemed to leave him momentarily stunned. The sharp line of his brow cast his eyes in shadow, hiding his expression. But Noreen stood in the light, the cold indifference in her eyes perfectly clear.
"This is obvious corruption," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "And you''re just going to let it happen?"
Even an outsider like Vincent had noticed issues. It was impossible that Seth didn''t know. He had to know; he was just pretending he
didn''t Noreen couldn''t underst
The Seth she knew had beema perfectionist, demanding to a fault Now he tolerated anything. For Bianca, he had truly abandoned all his principles.
it.
Seth lookedpletely at ease, as if it were no big deal. "He''s family, after all. I have to show some leniency."
It was just as Spencer had said: *My cousin is his fianc¨¦e. He''s crazy about her. He won''t do anything.*
She shouldn''t have even asked. It made her look like she was meddling. Noreen schooled her already cool features into a mask of pure indifference and turned to leave. Seth didn''t move, his dark eyes reflecting her retreating back and nothing else.
After the dinner, Noreen and Seth saw the guests off. Having learned more about her background, they were all full of praise and expressed a strong desire to coborate.
"I''ve heard so much about you, Ms. Gilmore," CEO Royce said warmly, "but this is the first time we''ve met. You''re even more impressive than the rumors say! You''re clearly destined for great things. You will seed!"
"I''ll take that as a blessing, CEO Royce," Noreen replied politely.
"I''m telling you, my words are good luck," he insisted. "When Aurelion Group was just starting, no one was optimistic. But I saw that Mr. Harcourt had vision and guts, so insisted on partnering with him. And look how sessful he is now!" He paused, then added thoughtfully, "You know, in some ways, the two of you are quite alike."
He seemed ready to say more, but Seth cut in, reminding him that his driver had arrived. With a final wave, CEO Royce left.
The smile on Noreen''s face vanished. She was about to offer Seth a polite
goodbye and leave, but he spoke first. "Can I give you a ride?"
"No, thank you. I have my own car." She hadn''t forgotten what he''d said at the table about picking up Bianca, which was why they''d had tea instead of wine. Besides, she knew he wasn''t being sincere. It was just a polite, perfunctory offer to takeut seriously would be a mistake.
***
Chapter 500
As expected, Seth didn''t press the issue. He took out his phone and nced at a WhatsApp message. As Noreen turned to leave, she heard a voice message y from his phone. It was Bianca.
"Seth, when are you going to be done?"
Seth replied with a voice message of his own, his previously cool tone nowced with warmth. "I just finished. I''m on my way to you now."
Their devotion was as intense as ever.
Just after they both left, Spencer Reed emerged from the restaurant. He immediately sent a message to Bianca. *Cousin, I just saw Mr. Harcourt with that Noreen woman. Is there something going on between them?*
Spencer had seen Noreen at Ascendancy Group before and knew from his mother, Lana, that she and Seth had a history. Seeing them together made him worry about a rekindled romance, so he sent the message as a warning.
Bianca replied a momentter. *You''re overthinking it. It was just a business dinner. Seth told me about it.*
Spencer breathed a sigh of relief. *Good, as long as you know.*
Bianca thought for a moment, then added, *PerseTech is preparing for its IPO soon. Keep a close eye on things at Ascendancy Group for me.*
*Your business is my business,* Spencer replied instantly. *Consider it done!*
When Seth arrived, Bianca was still workingte at PerseTech.
¡°Just a minute, I have a few more documents to finish," she said without looking up from herputer.
"Take your time," Seth replied, picking up a book from her desk and flipping through it. "Are you really going to apply for the master''s program?"
"Of course," Bianca said, full of confidence Academician Joyner is a huge influence in the financial world. Bing his student would be a massive boost for my career." What she really coveted wasn''t the degree, but thework of resources that came with Halley.
"So diligent."
Bianca raised an eyebrow. "I have to be. I want to be the person who can stand shoulder to shoulder with you." Unlike Noreen, who had spent seven years as Seth''s dutiful Readplete version only at find~novel
Secretary "W to you don''t support.. me?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Of course I do. I''ll support you in anything you do."
True to his word, the very next day, Seth personally escorted Bianca to Halley Joyner''s residence. She
walked in brimming with confide
only to find Noreen and Dn already there, deep in conversation. Dn was turned toward Noreen, and even as Seth and Bianca entered, he only gave them a cursory nod before turning his full attention back to her.
Noreen didn''t even bother with a greeting. It didn''t seem necessary. Bianca intentionally ignored Noreen as well, but she did offer a perfunctory, "Dn, long time no see."
"Hi," he replied coolly.
"Well, this is strange," Halley remarked. "What brings everyone to my doorstep today?"
"Academician Joyner," Bianca began, her tone a perfect blend of sincerity and respect, "we didn''t get a chance to speak properly at the dinner the other night. I came today to ask you for the opportunity to continue learning from you."
"Everyone has an opportunity, Ms. Lowell," Halley said cidly. "You can apply through the university''s official website like everyone else."
Bianca clearly had no intention of going through the lengthy application process. She shot a hopeful look at Seth.
He smoothly picked up where she left off. "She''s quite busy with work and hasn''t had time to fully prepare. We were hoping you might make an exception, Academician Joyner."
The words were diplomatic, but the intention was clear. Seth was trying to secure
a guaranteed spot for Bianca.
This time, even Noreen couldn''t remain indifferent.
***
Chapter 501
Noreen finally looked up at them. If she recalled correctly, Halley owed the Harcourt family a favor. Was Seth nning to cash in that favor to pave the way for Bianca? He was certainly pulling out all the stops.
Halley seemed to have guessed Seth''s intention as well, but he offered no quarter. "So, Mr. Harcourt, are you asking me to bend the rules?"
Bianca''s face instantly fell. She hadn''t expected Halley to be so blunt. "You''ve misunderstood, Academician Joyner," she exined hastily. "Seth just meant that since I already have a doctorate from WT Business School, perhaps some of the more redundant steps in the process could be simplified."
"That makes even less sense," Halley countered. "If you already have a doctorate, Ms. Lowell, why would you bother with my humble master''s program?"
"You''re too modest, Academician. My education has been focused on foreign financial models. I still have much to learn about the domestic economic system, which has been a disadvantage since I returned. I thought it would be best to start from the fundamentals. After all, one never stops learning. I hope you''ll give me that chance."
Her humility seemed to soften Halley''s attitude. "A desire to learn is a good thing. But admission is based on merit."
With that, Bianca had no choice but to agree. "Of course. I''m happy to prove my abilities."
Noreen raised an eyebrow but said nothing as Dn handed her a peeled chestnut. As she took it, she caught Seth watching her out of the corner of her eye. His gaze quickly shifted back to Bianca, who chose that exact moment to look back at him, their eyes meeting in a look of smoldering devotion.
"Seth was just worried I would overwork myself," Bianca exined to Halley. "He was just being overprotective. I hope you can understand."
Noreen bit into the chestnut. "So sweet," she murmured.
Herment drew the attention of everyone in the room, including Seth and Bianca. Bianca looked almost startled.
Noreen smiled innocently. "I mean the chestnut. It''s very sweet."
A sh of annoyance crossed Bianca''s face before she smoothed it over, resuming her air of detached superiority.
It was Seth who, to everyone''s surprise, picked up the thread. "Then you should have some more."
Dn immediately rolled up his sleeves. "I''ll peel them for you." Read full story at Find?Novel
"Thank you, Dn."
The easy rapport between them made Bianca''s eyes darken, her nails digging into her palms.
Seth and Halley discussed current economic trends, with Bianca interjecting periodically, trying hard to showcase her knowledge. D just kept his head down, peeling chestnuts. Noreen remained silent, knowing she was out of her depth and smartly using the snack as a cover.
When she finished the small te of chestnuts, she dusted off her hands. "Well, it''s gettingte. I shouldn''t. take up any more of your time.¡± she stood Dn stood with fer. "If walk you out."
"It''s okay, I drove," she said. "You should stay and keep the Professorpany."
Bianca scoffed silently. *Professor. How presumptuous. And how maniptive.* By following Dn''s lead, she was implying she was also one of Halley''s students. *As if she''s worthy.*
As if on cue, Halley snorted. ¡°Are you my student to be calling me that? he grumbled, seemingly forgetting their agreement that if she passed the exam, he would reinstate her as his student.
***
Chapter 502
Noreen didn''t argue. The old man had been cranky ever since he started his medication, and his words had a sharp edge.
Bianca nearlyughed out loud. Noreen didn''t even seem embarrassed. *Her skin really is thick,* she thought with contempt.
Noreen gathered her things. "You''re almost out of your medicine, right? I''ll bring more tomorrow."
"Just go!" Halley''s mood soured instantly, and he practically shooed her out the door. The conversation had been going so well, and she had to bring up that bitter medicine. *That girl really knows how to ruin the mood.*
Seeing Halley''s reaction, Bianca''s lips curled into a mocking smile. It seemed Noreen''s usual tactic of trying to win people over with favors wasn''t working this time. Academician Joyner wasn''t falling for it.
Noreen paid Bianca no mind, not even ncing at her as she left. Dn followed her out and didn''t return for quite some time.
Eventually, Seth also stood to leave. Bianca was surprised; she had wanted to talk with the Academician a little longer. But if Seth was leaving, she had no reason to stay. They said their goodbyes and headed out.
As they left, they saw Dn in the courtyard, talking on the phone. He gave them a nod as they passed and continued his conversation.
Once they were outside the gates, Bianca asked, "Do you think Dn and Noreen are dating?"
Seth''s stride faltered for a fraction of a second. "I have no idea," he said coolly.
Bianca took his indifference as a sign that he no longer paid any attention to Noreen, let alone cared about her love life. The thought was reassuring. The only thing that bothered her was Dn. Of all the people he could have fallen for, why did it have to be Noreen?
...
Once the InnoCore team was
assembled, the IPO process
officially began. Noreen finally hadza moment to breathe and went to the hospital to pick up Halley''s prescription. On the way back, a truck suddenly barreled through a red light, heading straight for her car. Updates are released by find?novel
Fortunately, Colby was driving. His reflexes were lightning-fast. He yanked the steering wheel hard, sending their car crashing into the curb, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic collision.
Noreen, who had been in the back seat reviewing emails on her tablet, was thrown violently against the interior of the car before the side airbag deployed, cushioning the final impact.
Once the car stopped, Colby immediately checked on her. "Ms. Gilmore, are you alright?"
"I''m fine."
Colby let out a sigh of relief.
They got out of the car to see that
tofth
the truck had crashed into a
concrete barrier further down the road, its chassispletely mangled. Other drivers had already stopped to check on the truck. Colby went to see as well.
When he returned, his face was grim. "The truck driver was killed on impact."
Noreen''s legs gave out, and she sank onto the curb, her mind reeling. She couldn''t imagine what would have happened if Colby hadn''t been driving. The
casualties would not have been limited to just the truck driver.
Colby called Sophia toe take Noreen to the hospital for a check-up while he stayed behind to deal with the police. By the time Sophi@arrived, the scene had been mostly cleared, but she turned pale when she heard about the driver. "Thank God Colby used to be a professional racer. This could have been so much worse."
It was Sophia who had insisted on hiring a bodyguard for Noreen after the
kidnapping in Glenhaven City. She hadbed through the recruiting agencies before finding Colby.
***
Chapter 503
Sophia had sung his praises, boasting about his boxing skills and racing experience. She''d even tested his alcohol tolerance, dering he could stand in for Noreen at any drinking-heavy business dinners. He was, in her words, an all- around talent. She had been right. Colby''s skills had just saved Noreen''s life.
The doctors gave Noreen a clean bill of health, much to Sophia''s relief. A short whileter, Colby arrived at the hospital.
"I was at the traffic police headquarters," he told Noreen, his voice low and serious. "I reviewed the surveince footage from every angle. I''m certain of one thing: that truck was intentionally targeting us."
A cold dread washed over Noreen. "You''re saying someone tried to have me killed?"
Colby nodded grimly.
Noreen took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. It took a long moment for her to recover. "What did the police say?"
"They''re investigating. They should have some answers soon."
"Be careful from now on," Noreen said, her voice barely a whisper. It was one thing to fend off an open attack, but another entirely to defend against an enemy hiding in the shadows.
Lana Reed hurried to the Lowell estate. When she saw Forrest Lowell was also there, she pretended she was just dropping by for a casual visit, but her anxious expression gave her away. Yvonne sensed something was wrong and made an excuse to pull her into her room to help pick out a dress for a g.
The moment the door was closed, Yvonne''s voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°Did it work?"
Lana shook her head, her face etched with worry. "No."
"What do you mean, no?" Yvonne''s eyes widened in disbelief.
"The bitch is too damn lucky! The person we hired ended up dead instead." That was why Lana had rushed over.
Yvonne was furious to hear that Noreen had survived, but anger wouldn''t change the facts.
"Do you think they''ll trace it back to us?" Lana fretted.
Yvonne shot her an exasperated look. "Don''t be ridiculous! These people are professionals; they don''t leave evidence. The driver who died Was terminally. His family gets a payout, so they won''t ask any questions."
Lana finally rxed. "That''s a relief."
"She may have been lucky this time," Yvonne said, her eyes narrowing into slits, "but I doubt her luck will hold out forever."
"You''re going to try again?" Lana asked, aghast. Someone had already died.
"Keep your voice down!" Yvonne hissed. Lana quickly mped a hand over her mouth. "Noreen is a stumbling block on Bianca''s path to sess," Yvonne continued calmly. "She has to be eliminated."
...
That Wednesday, Halley was giving
a lecture at Rivercrest University. Noreen cleared her schedule to
attend. With the entrance examet
looming, she needed to cram. After the ident, Colby had be her shadow, sticking by her side twenty-four hours a day.
She arrivedte,ing straight from a shareholder meeting, and all the good seats were taken. Halley had only recently been appointed an Academician, and his lectures were always packed. Noreen finally spotted a single empty seat in a corner, only to realize the person sitting next to it was Henry Brooke. She didn''t hesitate, however, and
walked over and sat down.
Henry had been focused on Bianca in the front row. When he finally noticed who
was sitting beside him, his expression immediately soured. He instinctively shifted away, creating a noticeable distance between them.
***
Chapter 504
Noreen was too preupied to notice his subtle movements. The lecture began, and she listened intently, asionally jotting down notes. If they hadn''t been in a packed hall, Henry would have been tempted to scoff. Did she even understand this advanced material? What could she possibly be writing down? She was putting on a good show, pretending to be a diligent student. It was probably just for appearances, so she couldter boast that she had attended a lecture by a world-renowned academician. Amon trick in the business world.
Noreen was so engrossed in the lecture that she hadpletely forgotten Henry was even there. Dn arrived just as the lecture was winding down and a teaching assistant was giving a summary. The seat on Noreen''s other side had emptied, but she was so focused that she didn''t even notice when someone else sat down.
Only when she had finished herst line of notes and capped her pen did Dn speak. "Looks like you learned a lot."
"What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised.
"I figured you''d be here, so I came over after I finished my work. How is it? Is the material difficult? Academician Joyner''s program isn''t easy to get into."
"I have to see it through," she said with a sigh. "I already made a promise."
"You can do it. I believe in you," Dn encouraged her.
Although Henry and Dn had the same mentor, they had been there at different times; Dn had already gone abroad by the time Henry started. They barely knew each other. Plus, given Dn''s past with Bianca, Henry had never been particrly fond of him. Usually, a simple nod was the extent of their interaction. This time, seeing Dn so friendly with Noreen, Henry skipped the greeting altogether. He stood up and went to find Bianca.
Bianca had also filled several pages with notes. "Henry!" she said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I saw your post on social media and happened to be in the city," he exined. "Are you really going to apply for the Academician''s master''s program?"
"Of course. He''s a leader in the field. It would be an honor to be his student."
As she spoke, Henry felt like she was glowing. This was the brilliant, ambitious woman he had always admired. Not like some people... He thought of Noreen and told nca that she was also nning to apply.
Bianca looked utterly exasperated. "Is she copying me again?" "What do you mean?"
with
"Last week, Seth took me to visit the Academician. Noreen was there Dn She must have heard I was applying and decided she had topete with me. It''s ridiculous."
Henry agreed. "Does she think there are no standards? That she can just apply on a whim?"
Bianca scoffed, clearly not seeing Noreen as a threat.
"She''s just setting herself up for humiliation," Henry concluded.
"Who knows," Bianca mused, "maybe it''s just a publicity stunt. She could use it to generate buzz for herselfter."
Henry paused. That was actually
met
usible. During the InnoCore roadshow, a casual mention of applying to Academician Joyner''s prestigious program would certainly attract attention, especially from his many influential former students in the industry. What a cunning move.
What Henry couldn''t understand was why Dn was helping her so much.
***
Chapter 505
This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !
Chapter 506
Confirmation of the truth filled Bianca with joy. "Oh, you. The shareholders are going to start talking."
"Let them. Who would dare say a word against you when I''m here?"
Laughing, they got into the car. Bianca was so engrossed in her conversation with Seth that she forgot to even wave goodbye to Henry. He stood there, listening to their banter, watching them drive away. Their rtionship was even stronger than he had imagined, leaving him alone on the sidewalk, a bitter taste in his mouth.
That evening, Sophia called Noreen to ask what she wanted for breakfast. Noreen''s mind was so full of study materials that she couldn''t think of a single thing.
"I guess I''ll have to make a menu for you to choose from," Sophia teased. "That way you can just point."
"Good idea. Look at you, improving your work efficiency."
They chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up. Noreen studied for a while longer, not realizing until she nced at the clock that it was past eleven. It was time to rest; she had several important meetings the next day. As she put her materials away, she noticed the balcony door was ajar. As she went to close it, she heard a faint ringing from below. It was brief and muffled, but she heard it. She paused, leaning over the railing to look down. All she could see were the streetlights and the dark crowns of the trees. Everything was silent. It was as if she had imagined it.
She hesitated, then went inside. But after tossing and turning in bed for a few minutes, she got up and went downstairs. The street was quiet, without a breath of wind. The warm yellow glow of the streetlights made the empty road seem vast. There were no cars, no people. She must have imagined it.
As she turned to go back inside, she saw Colby returning from the convenience store with a coffee and a bottle of water.
"Ms. Gilmore, you''re still awake?" he asked, surprised.
"Just heading to bed now," she said. She nced at the energy drink in his hand. "I''m perfectly safe at home. You should go. You don''t need to stand guard all night."
Colby''s expression was neutral, but his tone was firm. "I can sleep in the car. Don''t worry about me." He then added, "You should get some rest, Ms. Gilmore."
Knowing she couldn''t convince him,
Noreen gave up. After a few
words of caution she we
to bed.
upstairs
The next day, after a morning full of meetings, Noreen had to visit CEO Royce''s factory for an inspection. The factory was in the suburbs, long drive away. Noreen used the time to review her notes from the previous day''s lecture.
At one point, Colby''s phone rang, startling her. He quickly silenced it. "Sorry, did I disturb you?"
"No, it''s fine," she said. "When did you change your ringtone?"
"I changed itst night," he replied. "Why?"
Noreen shook her head. "No reason. It''s nice."
Sophia teased him from the driver''s seat. "Since when do you have such refined taste? A violin concerto?"
Colby smiled faintly. "I don''t have any taste. I just found it online."
Noreen smiled to herself and returned to her notes.
When they arrived at the factory, CEO Royce was already waiting for them To Noreen''s surprise, Seth
Wan
there too.
"Don''t tell me that bitch Bianca is here too," Sophia muttered under her breath.
Noreen cleared her throat, and Sophia immediately fell silent.
After greeting CEO Royce, Noreen turned to Seth. "Mr. Harcourt, you''re here as well?"
***
Chapter 507
"Yes. I''m here to look at the new materials," Seth replied, his voice a bit hoarse, tinged with fatigue.
CEO Royce beamed. "Mr. Harcourt is just being considerate of Ms. Lowell. The drive is long, and he didn''t want her to make the trip, so he came to inspect the materials in her ce. Such a loving couple."
Noreen managed a polite smile, uninterested in their public disys of affection.
"The drive must have been tiring, Ms. Gilmore," Royce said. "Why don''t youe to my office and rest for a bit?"
Noreen shook her head. "Thank you, but time is short. Let''s start with the factory tour."
"Of course! This way, please." Royce led the way, then turned to Seth and his assistant, Gillian. "Mr. Harcourt, please join us."
Royce''spany produced silicon wafers, the most critical and expensiveponent ofputer chips. Noreen had crammed on the subject, but her knowledge was purely theoretical. Unfortunately, Vincent had been hospitalized with an illness, so she had to conduct the initial inspection herself. Vincent had assured her it was just a preliminary visit to ensure the factory met production standards; he would bring a dedicated R&D team for the technical deep-diveter. The factory was even cleaner and more organized than Noreen had imagined, and sheplimented Royce on it.
He sighed good-naturedly. "I have Mr. Harcourt to thank for that. To secure our partnership with Ascendancy Group, we had to constantly improve. You have no idea how high his standards are. I think I developed an anxiety disorder during that time. Luckily, we passed his evaluation in the end..."
Noreen had to agree. Seth''s exacting standards applied to everyone, including himself. The only exception was Bianca. Perhaps because he knew how difficult the path was, he couldn''t bear to see her suffer the way he had.
A product manager brought over a sample of the new material for Seth to inspect.
He examined it with an expert eye while Noreen watched intently. CEO Royce was so nervous he was practically holding his breath.
After a thorough inspection, Seth finally said, "It''s eptable."
Royce let out a sigh of relief.
Noreen tilted her head, trying to get a better look at the inspection report in Seth''s hand. He nced at her, then handed it to her.
"Thank you," she said, taking it quickly.
To her surprise, Seth began exining the data on the report, pointing out which metrics were most important and which were slight tow and needed adjustment Noreen listened quietly absorbing every word. For the first time in a long time, the atmosphere between them was peaceful. Even CEO Royce didn''t dare interrupt.
Seth spoke for quite a while, pausing at one point to ask, "Are you getting all this?"
Noreen nodded. "Yes."
He continued his exnation.
Gillian and Sophia exchanged a look of utter confusion. Ever since Noreen had left Aurelion Group, her encounters with Seth had been, at best tense This harmonious scene was a rare sight. Gillian thought she even saw a hint of a smile in Seth''s eyes, but when he shot her a cold nce, she quickly looked down, not daring to look again.
CEO Royce was the most bewildered of all. He couldn''t shake the feeling that
Seth''s attitude toward Noreen was... different.
Noreen''s prior knowledge of silicon wafers had been superficial, but after Seth''s
detailed exnation, she had a much deeper understanding.
When they finally finished, Royce remarked, ¡°Mr. Harcourt, you know more about this than I do. Ms. Gilmore, there''s nothing left to add."
***
me
Chapter 508
For this, Noreen offered Seth a sincere thank you. He gave a curt nod in response. After that, the spell was broken. They had no further interaction, not even a shared nce. Noreen turned back to CEO Royce to ask a few more questions.
Just then, Seth''s phone rang. The ringtone was a generic, default sound.
Noreen paused her sentence for a fraction of a second, then continued talking to Royce.
Seth answered his phone. Bianca''s voice came through the line. "Seth, are you done yet?"
"Not yet. It might bete. Don''t wait for me for dinner."
Hearing this, CEO Royce let out a soft chuckle. He didn''t say anything, but everyone understood. He was teasing them about how close they were. Gillian breathed a sigh of relief. She had been overthinking things. The only person Mr. Harcourt cared about was Ms. Lowell.
By the time the tour was over, it was evening. CEO Royce had booked a restaurant to treat them all to dinner. Gillian had expected Mr. Harcourt to decline and rush back to Rivercrest City to be with Ms. Lowell, but to her surprise, he epted the invitation.
Royce, being a practical man, knew they had a long drive back and didn''t order any alcohol. After dinner, Noreen said her goodbyes and left. Seth departed a little while after her.
"Today''s Mr. Harcourt was almost human," Sophia mused on the way back, upgrading his nickname from "Jerk Seth" to his proper title.
"Worry about yourself," Noreen said, tapping her on the head.
"I know, I know."
Noreen spent the entire drive taking notes, meticulously recording everything Seth had exined. At a rest stop, Sophia and Colby switched ces to avoid driver fatigue. As they fe entered the city Colby told Sophia to drive to her ce first; he would take Noreen home from there to save her the trouble of getting a taxi.
They were nearing Sophia''s apartment when the car suddenly lurched violently, then surged forward, out of control. Colby, in the passenger seat, reacted instantly, grabbing the steering wheel and fighting to regain control. A secondter, there was a deafening crash from behind, and their car
shuddered to a halt.
Snapping out of her shock, Noreen whipped around. Behind them, two cars-one ck, one white-were smashed together. Colby unbuckled his seatbelt. "Get out of the car."
Once they were outside, they saw what had happened. A white sedan had rear- ended them. The other car... was Seth''s.
The realization had barely registered when Seth stumbled out of the driver''s side. His usually steady posture was shaky as he raised a hand to wipe blood from his forehead.
"Call an ambnce!" Noreen yelled at Sophia, who was frozen in shock. Noreen herself was already running toward Seth. Colby was right behind her pulling a dazed Gillian from the Ja da passenger seat. Both of them were injured, but Seth''s wound looked worse, with blood steadify flowing from a gash on his forehead.
Noreen ran back to her car, ripped the silk scarf from her handbag, folded it into a thick pad, and pressed it firmly against Seth''s wound. He winced in pain.
Gillian, still in shock, finally found her voice. "Mr. Harcourt, are... are you okay?"
Just moments before, Mr. Harcourt had seemed to lose control, suddenly mming on the elerator and ramming the white sedan that had been about to hit them again. It wasn''t a crash; it was an interception.
Noreen had seen it too, which was why she had rushed to his side. He had just saved their lives.
Chapter 509
They were back at the hospital, and it was the same doctor who had treated Seth before.
He frowned as he examined the wound. "This same spot again?" he asked, his brow furrowed. "Last time it was shallow, so the scar wasn''t noticeable once it healed. This cut is much deeper. It''s definitely going to leave a mark."
Noreen remembered thest time he''d been hurt. It was a car ident, she''d heard, on his way to a date with Bianca. Nothing serious. In fact, you wouldn''t even notice the faint scar unless you were looking for it. And as it happened, Noreen hadn''t looked closely at Seth in months. If the doctor hadn''t mentioned it, she would have forgottenpletely.
She tilted her head, studying the gash on his forehead, her own brows knitting together. Her expression was aplicated mix of concern and something deeper a simmering frustration.
Seth, sensing her thoughts, spoke in a low, steady voice. "Scar removal technology is very advanced these days. Don''t worry about it."
Noreen said nothing. She wasn''t worried, just annoyed that she owed him yet another debt.
After cleaning the wound, the doctor prepared to stitch it up. "You should have your girlfriend wait outside," he said to Seth. "Watching this can be a little brutal. We don''t want to scare the youngdy."
Before Seth could respond, Noreen rified, "I''m not his girlfriend."
Seth''s gaze flickered toward her, azy, unreadable nce.
In the end, Noreen left the room anyway. She didn''t return until long after the doctor had finished. He was left to give all the post-treatment instructions to Seth directly, along with a prescription for an anti-inmmatory IV drip.
When Seth walked out of the treatment room, his eyes instinctively scanned the waiting area. There was still no sign of her. He nced down at the medical forms in his hand and gave a faint, wry smile before heading toward the infusion room to find a nurse.
He''d only taken a few steps when he heard her voice call his name.
"Seth."
He stopped, turning back. There was a flicker of something in his eyes as he looked at her. She must have gone out to buy something; she was holding a shopping bag.
As she drew closer, Seth said coolly, "I was starting to think you''d just leave me here."
Noreen''s expression was impassive. "I''m not that heartless."
He was injured because of her, after all. She couldn''t just abandon him. It was a matter of responsibility, nothing more.
Just as Seth was about to say something, Noreen cut him off. "I''ve arranged for a caregiver toe. He should be here any minute. You can ask him for anything you need. I also bought some water and snacks in case you get hungry. Colby will stay here, and once your IV is finished, he''ll drive you home."
She had arranged everything perfectly, yet with a distinct sense of detachment. It was a clear line draw in the sand, a message that she wanted no involvement beyond
her sense of duty. ''
Seth didn''t argue. "You can send Colby home," he said. "Someone ising to pick me up."
Though he didn''t say a name, Noreen assumed he meant Bianca. Bianca had met Colby and knew he worked for Noreen. Seth was likely trying to avoid any misunderstandings.
Noreen didn''t press the issue. Just then, the caregiver she''d hired
ol
arrived. She introduced him to Seth, gave him her number, and told him to call if there were any problems.
With everything settled, she left without a backward nce.
By the time Gillian arrived from the police station, she found Seth alone with the caregiver.
"Where''s Ms. Gilmore?" she asked instinctively.
Chapter 510
This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !
Chapter 511
The words hung in the air, and Noreen herself fell silent. She remembered a time, long ago, when ire Chase had said the very same thing to her. How strange that, after everything, she was now the one on the outside, offering warnings to others.
Sophia, oblivious to Noreen''s inner turmoil, said cheerfully, "He would never let me lose."
*Yes,* Noreen thought, *that''s exactly what I said, too. Love truly did make people blind. And she was done with it. She didn''t want it, not from anyone. The magic was gone. Love was something that only existed in novels and movies. When she looked at the people around her, she couldn''t think of a single person made happy by it.
"Are you going to be here all night?" Sophia asked, eyeing the thick stack of files on Noreen''s desk.
"Looks like it." Noreen needed to clear her desk so she could focus entirely on the uing IPO roadshow.
"I''ll stay with you." Sophia began tidying the documents on Noreen''s desk while Noreen dove back into her work. After organizing everything, Sophia sat down to review Noreen''s schedule for the next few days, searching for any possible gap where she could squeeze in a break. Noreen was so exhausted it pained Sophia to watch. But after poring over the calendar, she found there wasn''t a single spare moment.
"It''s so unfair it makes me sick," Sophia grumbled. "You''re here working yourself to the bone, and some people have time to go on vacation."
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them, pping her own cheek in frustration. Her mouth was always running faster than her brain.
Noreen just sighed. "Are you talking about Bianca''s vacation? I already know."
After all, she still had Seth on WhatsApp. Three days ago, he had posted a status update: *All is well The apanying photo was a stunning ocean view, clearly from a resort. Seth was the type, who rarely posted anything, so when he did it was flooded withments. It was impossible to miss, especially since they ran in the same financial circles and had too many mutual friends.
Jude, in particr, had spammed thements section, whining about Seth going on a trip without him.
Seth''s only reply was to Jude: *You enjoy being a third wheel that much?*
It was a clear confirmation that he was there with Bianca.
But Noreen''s focus was elsewhere. The first thing she thought when she saw the post was, *It looks like he''s recovering well.*
With that, thest flicker of guilt she felt vanished. Her mind was entirely consumed by the first IPO
roadshow. It was the most critical part of an
InnoCore''sunch n, and it had to be perfect. Noreen personally oversaw every single detail, from the schedule and venue to the guest list and media invitations.
Finally, with everything in ce, she allowed herself a small sigh of relief. Carman, noticing the weariness that clung to her, looked at her with concern. "You''ve worked so hard."
"You too," Noreen replied, her tone serious. "This roadshow is crucial for InnoCore''s IPO. You need to have the presentation memorized. There can be no mistakes." She gestured around the empty conference room. "Let''s do a full run-through. Imagine this room is t the venue tomorrow packed with
stors and media.
We''re going to do a dry run of the speech,pletely off-script."
She knew Carman got nervous in front ofrge crowds, so she wanted to desensitize him. He stepped onto the makeshift stage and began his presentation. Noreen took out her phone, acting as a member of the press, snapping pictures. They rehearsed it again and again, ensuring everything was wless.
"Thatst one was perfect!" she said. "That''s the energy you need to bring tomorrow."
Chapter 512
Carman looked at Noreen, his eyes filled with gratitude and another emotion that
he struggled to contain. He took a deep breath, forcing his voice to remain steady. "Noreen, if InnoCore''s IPO is a sess... would you reconsider what I said before?"
He was referring to his confession of his feelings for her.
Noreen was still reviewing the video she''d recorded. "What was that?" she asked, distracted.
"Nothing," Carman said, his courage failing him. Maybe it wasn''t the right time. He could ask again after the IPO was official. He didn''t want her to think he was distracted. Right now, InnoCore was the only thing that mattered.
Noreen''s focus was entirely on theunch as well, leaving no room for anything else. Just as she was confirming the final details, at ten o''clock the night before the roadshow, she received an urgent call. There was a problem with the venue. Therge auditorium they had booked had been rented out to someone else. Only the smaller adjacent hall was avable.
Sophia was furious. "What do you mean it''s been rented out? We confirmed this two weeks ago! Why didn''t they say anything then? The event is tomorrow, and now you''re telling us it''s gone? How is that even possible?"
The contact person on the other end was dismissive. "There was a mimunication. These things happen."
"These things happen'' is your solution? Do you have any idea how many invitations we''ve already sent out?"
"Look, the problem is what it is. Our solution is to offer you the smaller hall for free. It''s right next door. Just let your guests know."
"You-"
Before Sophia could unleash her fury, the person hung up.
"What''s wrong?" Noreen asked, though she''d already pieced together the situation from the one-sided conversation. After Sophia ryed the details, Noreen stood up decisively. "I''m going over there. You two start working on a backup n."
"It''s almost eleven at night! Where are you going?" Sophia cried, anxiety etched on her face.
Without turning back, Noreen left Winrich and had Colby drive her straight to Rivercrest University. She had chosen the campus for the roadshow because college students were the perfect audience to promote Al. It was a prime location to attract top talent, and theirrge presence or social media would help generate buzz and targeted publicity. They were a captive audience with a strong desire to share, making them ideal for organic marketing and brand proliferation. It was the perfect venue, and she wasn''t going to give it up without a fight.
By the time she arrived, it was nearly midnight. Using her temporary pass, she hurried toward Hall A. When she got there, she saw the custom-made signs for Winrich tossed in a trash can.
In their ce were signs for PerseTech''s roadshow.
Noreen froze, her eyes fixed on the name.
"Watch it, miss."
A group of movers was hauling equipment past her. Colby gently pulled her aside
to keep her from being hit.
The movers were grumbling as they worked.
"They call us out here in the middle of the night to work overtime, then treat us like dirt. It was their
els
"Hey, it''s a tough way to make a living," another one sighed.
Colby approached one of the men and offered him a cigarette. "Hey, man. You guys weren''t originally booked for this hall?"
"Nah, we were supposed to be at a five-star hotel. Got the call tonight to move everything here. Sucks, right?"
"Yeah, that''s rough," Colby agreed sympathetically.
Noreen had heard enough. She knew exactly what had happened. Bianca was at
it again.
Chapter 513
Noreen took a deep breath, trying to quell the anger rising within her. She pulled out her phone to call Provost Ferris, but before she could dial, she heard his voice approaching.
It was Bianca who spoke first. "Provost Ferris, I''m so sorry for all the trouble."
"Not at all, Ms. Lowell," the provost said graciously. "It was just a phone call. There was no need for you and Mr. Harcourt toe all the way down here." He added, "If you need any extra hands, just say the word. I can have some of the university staff assist you."
"That would be a great help. Thank you, Provost."
Just then, a worker carrying arge crate passed by. Seth, concerned Bianca might be hit, gently pulled her by the arm toward him, shielding her protectively. The next moment, she was nestled safely in his embrace. She looked up at him and smiled sweetly.
"Well, I''ll be heading off," Provost Ferris said, seeing that everything was running smoothly. "Call me if you need anything."
"We will. Thank you again, Provost. We''ll have to take you out to dinner sometime," Seth said.
"You''re too kind, Mr. Harcourt," the provost replied with a wave.
After he left, Seth and Bianca went inside the auditorium.
Noreen took another long, steadying breath before finally dialing the provost''s number. He answered immediately, his voice apologetic. "Ms. Gilmore, I was just about to call you. I am so terribly sorry, but we''ve had an issue here at the university, and we need to make an adjustment to the venue you booked."
"But Provost Ferris..."
"Ms. Gilmore, I owe you one for this," he cut in. "Anything you need in the future, you just have to ask. I promise I won''t let you down."
He didn''t even let her finish her sentence. It was a done deal, irreversible. And of course it was. With Seth involved, the provost had no choice but toply. After all, Seth had been instrumental in helping him secure his current position, Aurelion Group provided internships and career paths for Rivercrest University graduates, helping solve the student
employment problem. They had also donated two hundred million for a new technology building.
The irony was sickening. All of it had been Noreen''s idea, a proposal she had presented to Seth during her time at Aurelion. She had personally overseen the project from start to finish. Her goal had been to build awork of connections for Seth, favors he could one day call in.
And now, he was calling them in. For Bianca.
Noreen''s hand slowly tightened into a fist, her mind going nk for a moment.
Finally, she managed to speak. "I understand."
The provost, clearly feeling guilty,
tried to make amends. "Hall B may be smaller than Hall A, but it''s still perfectly usable. As a gesture of goodwill, I''ll arrange f?r free promotion for InnoCore on the
university''s official website, student
forums, and mobile app.
"Thank you, Provost Ferris."
Before hanging up, he apologized onest time. Everyone had their own position, their own pressures. Noreen understood. It was a world built on favors and connections. Right now, she didn''t have time to dwell on it. She had to get her team over here to set up the new venue.
When she returned to the hall, she found Colby pulling their discarded signs out of the trash and wiping them clean. He looked at her, his expression questioning.
"Move them to Hall B," she said.
He understood. He didn''t ask any more questions, just quietly got back to work. By the time the team from Winrich arrived, Noreen and Colby were already cleaning the new space. With more hands, they made quick progress.
By the time they were nearly finished, it was three in the morning.
Chapter 514
Noreen felt bad for dragging her team out for an all-nighter and decided to order some food and drinks as a small thank you. She had just pulled out her phone when a delivery person arrived at the door of Hall A.
He called out to the people inside, "I have a delivery for a Ms. Bianca Lowell?"
"That''s me," Bianca said, rising from her chair and walking toward the door.
"Coffee and pastries from a Mr. Harcourt," the delivery person said. "Please sign here."
"Of course." After signing, Bianca immediately called Seth, her voice sweet with delight. "Seth, I got the coffee and pastries you sent! I thought you would have been asleep by now."
"I''m not tired. How could I be tired just sitting here and pointing?"
"It''s been so busy these past few days, I haven''t had a chance to spend any time with you. Once PerseTech''s IPO is a sess, we''ll go on a proper vacation."
Bianca continued her call,pletely oblivious to anyone else around her.
Noreen checked the delivery apps on her phone and saw that the earliest anything could arrive was in an hour. She was about to offer to drive and pick something up herself when Sophia and the rest of the team arrived, their hands
full of bags.
"Noreen!" Sophia called out with a grin. "I brought coffee, drinks, and pastries for everyone. A little something to keep us going."
Noreen breathed a sigh of relief. Her assistant was bing more and more indispensable. For a moment, she could finally rx.
***
At seven in the morning, Bianca was having her hair and makeup done at Myriad Atelier, with Lillian Laurent fussing over a selection of jewelry. There were so many options that Lillian was having trouble choosing, marveling once again at how well Seth treated Branca. It was enough to make anyone envious.
As Bianca was dozing in her chair, Yvonne called to let her know she was bringing
her circle of socialite friends to the roadshow.
"A lot of thedies areing today,
so you''d better be on your best
vel
behavior, Yvonne said. "Their husbands represent a web of connections and influence. They might invest in your future projects or buy shares in PerseTech This could be huge for your career."
Yvonne had worked tirelessly to break into that circle, all to pave the way for Bianca.
"Is Mrs. Nayloring?" Bianca asked.
"No, of course not. You know Noreen has herpletely brainwashed."
Bianca sneered. "Noreen must have been spreading lies about me to her and Healy. Otherwise, why would Mrs. Naylor be so prejudiced against me?"
Especially Healy. They had been friends for years, yet Noreen had turned him against her with just a few words. He had grown distant, cold. He used to be so active in their group chat, but now he rarely said a word. She had sent out an invitation to the roadshow in the group, and he hadn''t even bothered to respond. He was clearly pretending he hadn''t
seen it.
Yvonne had also faced her share of snubs from Mrs. Naylortely, and the mere mention of her name soured her mood. "Let''s not talk about her. The point is, most of the circle will be there. Just make sure you put on a good show and don''t embarrass me."
"I will."
"And one more thing, don''t let Lilliane," Yvonne added. "That little scandal of hers has died down, but if someone recognizes her, it could reflect badly on you."
Bianca agreed. Lillian, who had overheard the entire conversation, slumped. She had been hoping to see Healy at the event.
Knowing what she was thinking, Bianca tried to console her.
Chapter 515
"My mother is just trying to protect you. Don''t worry, once I''ve established myself in Rivercrest City''s financial world, that little mark on your record will be ancient history."
Lillian understood, but she was still disappointed. "I know," she mumbled.
Bianca handed her a ne, and Lillian''s mood instantly brightened. She admired it in the mirror, her spirits lifted. "When you were kidnapped, I was so scared," she chattered. "I was worried your fianc¨¦ would break up with you. I''m so d to see you two are still going strong."
Bianca''s expression hardened. ¡°Don''t ever bring that up again," she warned, her voice cold. "Especially not in front of Seth."
Startled by her sharp tone, Lillian nodded quickly. "I understand."
***
Rivercrest University was buzzing with activity. All of Rivercrest City''s major media outlets had gathered, some for PerseTech, others for InnoCore. As Bianca arrived, she noticed the two roadshow signs standing side-by-side at the entrance. The smile vanished from her face.
"Get a bigger sign," she instructed her assistant, who immediately rushed off to do her bidding.
Just as she reached the venue, Henry called to say he was on his way. Bianca was thrilled. With the entire Brooke Group behind him, Henry''s support was invaluable to PerseTech.
A few momentster, Yvonne arrived with her entourage. A significant number of them had shown up, a clear sign of their confidence in the high-temperature superconductivity project. Yvonne personally made the introductions. These women, wives of the city''s business elite, held the keys to a vastwork of resources that could greatly benefit Bianca''s career. Many titans of industry had gotten their start through these socialite circles; their influence was not to be underestimated.
After settling them in, Bianca went outside to wait for Seth. Just as she stepped out of Hall A, she saw Dn walking briskly toward Hall B,
carrying a bouquet of sunflower.ne
flicker of cold amusement crossed her face. One day, Dn would regret his choice. She would make sure of it.
Seth hadn''t arrived yet, but Henry had. Knowing he had flown to Rivercrest City specifically to support her, Bianca greeted him warmly and invited him inside.
"I''m waiting for someone," Henry said. "Someone very important."
Before Bianca could ask who, Seth arrived. She hurried to meet him, her tone a yful mix ofint and affection. "What took you so long?"
"Something came up," he exined.
Bianca wasn''t truly upset. The roadshow hadn''t started yet, so he wasn''tte. She just wanted to see him.
"How are the preparations?" Seth asked, his gaze sweeping over the venue.
"Everything''s ready, but I''d love for you to take a look inside. You have more experience with this than I do."
"Of course."
Bianca linked her arm through his and led him into the hall. Watching them, the light in Henry''s eyes dimmed slightly, but he quickly-posed himself and pulled out his phone to call helley. Professor where are you?"
The day before, while ying chess with Halley, he had learned that the professor was attending an IPQ roadshow at Rivercrest University. Henry had immediately assumed he wasing to support Branca
Chapter 516
Halley had even rmended a chess-ying Al, telling him to practice against it to experience its power. Curious, Henry had asked why he had suddenly taken an interest in Al.
His caregiver had answered for him. "Because it was rmended by his favorite student."
Halley had snorted. "Favorite student? I haven''t even epted her into my graduate program yet."
The caregiver had justughed, calling him stubborn. The truth was, Halley was deeply invested, constantly reading news about Noreen and herpany, and secretly calling old business contacts to ask them to look out for her.
On the phone, Halley said he was almost there, so Henry continued to wait.
Noreen and Carman emerged from Hall B to greet a guest: Jed Hollis, Carman''s former mentor and the current vice president of the Artificial Intelligence Association. Jed had brought his entire team, not just to show support, but to learn. InnoCore''s IPO was andmark event for the entire domestic Al industry.
Carman respectfully updated Jed on their progress, while Noreen hung back to give the mentor and his student some space.
Henry was standing in a prominent spot just outside the hall, impossible to miss. Noreen saw him but paid him no mind, choosing to ignore himpletely.
Henry let out a soft, derisive chuckle. "Taking the road someone else paved for you is certainly the fastest way to seed."
He hadn''t said her name, but since he didn''t know anyone else there, Noreen knew thement was for her. She was aware of his prejudice against her and usually couldn''t be bothered to engage, but that didn''t mean she would tolerate his insults indefinitely.
She stopped and met his gaze, her eyes cold.
Henry''s smirk was barely perceptible. "Aren''t you afraid that if you take too many shortcuts, you''ll eventually find yourself at a dead end?"
"Mr. Brooke," Noreen retorted, her usualposureced with ice, "if you love lecturing so much, perhaps you should have be a professor. Or are you just so bored with nothing to do that you have meddle in other people''s lives?"
Henry''s face fell. He had yet to close a single major deal since returning to the country, a fact that grated on him thepany''s shareholders were already whispering, and Noreen''s words had struck a nerve.
Seeing his pained expression, Noreen turned and walked away without another
word. She was far too busy to waste her time on him.
Henry''s dark mood lingered until he saw Halley arrive. "Professor," he said, stepping forward to greet him. "Let''s go inside."
"Lead the way," Halley nodded.
The two of them walked into Hall A. Bianca, who was speaking with several of PerseTech''s early investors, saw Halley and her eyes lit up. After a hasty farewell to the investors, she hurried over.
"Academician Joyner, I''m so d you could make it," she said, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. Those who had been at the dinner with them before were once Fagam impressed by Bianca a connections. Not only could she get Academician Joyner to a private dinner, but she could also get him to attend her roadshow. This project
must be incredibly promising.
Halley''s cool expression was a stark contrast to Bianca''s enthusiasm. He frowned
slightly. "This is Hall A, correct?"
Chapter 517
"Yes, it is."
"That''s right, Hall A."
Bianca and Henry answered almost in unison.
Halley''s brow furrowed even more. "Is there another IPO roadshow happening here today?" he asked after a moment''s thought.
Bianca''s smile faltered. Henry lookedpletely bewildered. Could it be that Halley wasn''t here for PerseTech?
Both of them fell silent, unsure how to answer.
"Never mind, I''ll just call," Halley said, his patience wearing thin. He pulled out his phone and dialed Dn, not wanting to bother Noreen while she was busy.
Dn answered and was there in a sh to collect him. The two halls were close enough that it only took him a minute to arrive, not even giving Bianca enough time topose her expression. He gave Bianca and Henry a polite nod of acknowledgment before turning to Halley.
"The venue was changed to Hall B at thest minute," Dn exined. "I forgot to let you know."
"Well, you should have put up a sign or something," Halley grumbled. "What if other guests got lost like I did?"
"We did," Dn said. "And everyone on the invitation list was notified."
"I didn''t see any sign on my way in."
"I''ll have someone check on it."
Halley was already at the door when he remembered Henry. He turned back. "Aren''t youing?"
Henry hesitated. "I''m here to support a friend."
Halley didn''t ask any more questions. The two of them left, in full view of Bianca, Henry, and everyone else in Hall A who had been watching the exchange.
Bianca''s face was a mask of humiliation Henry''s wasn''t much better. He stared after them, his expression hardening. He assumed Dn had brought Halley here to boost Noreen''s event, Didn''t Dn understand that someone like Noreen, all beauty and no
substance, would only fall harder the higher she was propped up? It was like he was under a spell. Was Noreen really that captivating?
Sensing the awkwardness, one of the socialites approached Yvonne to ask what was going on. Yvonne went over to Bianca, her voice low but her smile still firmly
in ce. "What happened? Why did Academician Joyner just leave?"
With Henry standing right there, Bianca kept her answer formal. ¡°He went to the wrong hall. I didn''t invite him, as didn''t want people to think I was trying to ride on his coattails, especially since havent even been epted into his graduate program yet."
Yvonne nodded approvingly. "That was the right thing to do. Your work should always speak for itself." She then returned to her circle, adding that it was no wonder Bianca was so exceptional with such a principled mother.
Henry was impressed. "Ipletely agree with your approach," he said,forting. Bianca. "You''re talented and visionary. You''ll earn everyone''s respect in time. As for those who rely on shortcuts, they''ll only find their paths growing narrower."
Yvonne exined the situation to her friends, casually mentioning Bianca''s n to
apply to Academician Joyner''s program. The women were in awe.
"I know all about Academician Joyner! His program is notoriously difficult to get
into! Only someone as brilliant as Ms. Lowell would even qualify! My son wouldn''t stand a chance!"
Chapter 518
The other women chimed in with their own praise, asking Yvonne for her secrets to raising such an outstanding daughter. Yvonne demurred, saying Bianca had always been a bright and well-behaved child.
Suddenly, one of the women gasped. "It''s Mr. Harcourt! Wade Harcourt is here!"
Yvonne froze, following the woman''s gaze. It was true. Wade''s presence silenced the entire room. Even Seth excused himself from his guests and hurried over.
"Dad, what are you doing here?"
Wade''s sharp eyes swept across the room before finallynding on his son. His expression was cold, devoid of warmth. They looked less like father and son and more like strangers.
Bianca approached, suppressing her excitement, and greeted him politely. "Mr. Harcourt."
The women around Yvonne whispered excitedly. "Is Mr. Harcourt here for Ms. Lowell? Does this mean he''s finally epted her?"
"What else could it be? He''s here, isn''t he?"
"He''s his only son, after all. What parent doesn''t dote on their child? In the end, they alwayse around."
Yvonne found herself thinking the same thing.
But Wade''s first words were a p in the face to everyone present.
"I''m in the wrong ce," he said tly. Then, he turned and walked out, leaning on his cane.
Bianca''s expression froze. The room fell silent once again, but this time, the silence was thick with tension. Even Yvonne, a master of social graces, was at a loss for words.
One of the women muttered under her breath, "And here I thought he''d finallye around to Ms. Lowell."
The rumors had been circting for a while, but now they had seen the truth with their own eyes. A ripple of unease went through the crowd, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Even Henry was stunned by the repeat performance First alley, and now Wade. Was it possible Wade was also here for Noreen?
As he pondered this, he heard Sethforting Bianca. "That''s just how he is. Don''t let it get to you."
Though she was seething inside, Bianca forced a brave face. "It''s okay. One day, I''ll earn his respect with my own achievements."
Henry immediately concluded that Wade''s support for Noreen wasn''t genuine appreciation, but rather a way to spite Bianca Perhaps Noreen had been poisoning Wade against her. He had seen her maniptive tactics firsthand, after all.
Just as the atmosphere became unbearable, Seth walked onto the stage and began to speak, delivering an impromptu opening address. was clear to everyone that he was doing it to defend Bianca, to make his position unequivocally clear. As long as he was by her side, no one would dare look down on her.
It was just as Noreen had said. No matter how many times Bianca fell, or how
hard, Seth would always be there to pick her up. He was her safety.
The guests who had been ready to gloat quickly wiped the smirks from their faces and resumed their polite facades. Even though she knew he cared for her, in that moment, Bianca''s heart still skipped a beat.
Chapter 519
Noreen was oblivious to the drama unfolding in Hall A. It was Dn who told her that his professor had arrived but couldn''t find the signs. When Noreen went outside to check, she discovered that PerseTech had deliberately ced a muchrger, more ostentatious sign directly in front of theirs,pletely blocking it from view. It was a petty, underhanded move.
To prevent any more guests from getting lost, Noreen moved their sign fifty meters down the path, wanting nothing to do with their toxic games. As she was heading back, a police officer approached her. "Excuse me, do you know where the PerseTech roadshow is?"
Noreen hesitated for a second before pointing him in the right direction. As she walked back to Hall B, she wondered what PerseTech was doing with the police. Had Seth''s influence now reachedw enforcement? She had no way of knowing, and as she returned to the venue, she pushed the thought from her mind. She was simply too busy. This roadshow was critical for InnoCore''s IPO, and she couldn''t afford any mistakes.
When Carman took the stage, she stood at the front, giving him a look of encouragement. The rehearsals had paid off. He was noticeably more rxed, delivering his speech and presentation fluently and entirely from memory. He recited theplex data points in his slides without missing a beat.
Noreen let out a quiet sigh of relief and turned to Sophia. "How are the numbers on the livestream?"
Sophia''s expression was strange.
"What is it?" Noreen''s stomach tightened.
"Our stream is doing well," Sophia said, "but... not as well as PerseTech''s."
Noreen was surprised. PerseTech was a newpany without arge public following, and their target audience was primarily industry investors. Holding the roadshow at a university seemed like an odd choice. InnoCore, on the other hand, had an existing user base and a client list, and had already made waves in the Almunity. It didn''t make sense that their numbers would be lower. Of course, it was always possible PerseTech was just throwing money at the problem.
She was about to tell Sophia to ignore thepetition when Sophia''s face lit up with excitement.
"They''re not just trending in the tech Category, they''re trending under crime!"
"What are you talking about?"
Sophia quickly shared a highlight clip from PerseTech''s livestream. It was a long
clip, and it started with Seth''s heartfelt speech defending Bianca.
Noreen shot Sophia an exasperated look.
"Keep watching, keep watching," Sophia urged with a grin.
Noreen fast-forwarded. After Seth''s speech, Bianca made her grand entrance to thunderous apuse. She began with some standard opening remarks and was about to dive into PerseTech''s core business philosophy when the police arrived.
Bianca froze mid-sentence, watching as one of the officers walked onto the stage and took her microphone. "Is there a Mrs. Lana in the audience? Please stand
up."
Lana hade with Yvonne, hoping towork with the other socialites and perhaps find a good match for herdaughter Lillian The women had been polite to her mostly out of respect for Yvonne, and Lana had been congratting herself on a sessful outing when the police called her name. The color drained from her face.
The officer''s voice boomed through the hall. "Where is Lana?"
Yvonne gave her a sharp nudge. Lana stumbled to her feet, stammering, "I... I''m here."
Chapter 520
Two female officers immediately walked over to her, showed their badges, and spoke in a cold, official tone. "We have reason to believe you are connected to two separate car idents. We are taking you in for questioning. Please cooperate."
Lana panicked. "Officers, you must have made a mistake! How could I be involved in a car ident? You''ve got the wrong person..."
"Lana! Cooperate now!" one of the officersmanded.
"Just go with them," Yvonne whispered, worried Lana would say something foolish
in her panic. "I''lle down as soon as this is over." She gave Lana a look, warning her to keep her mouth shut.
Lana, her face pale with terror, was escorted out by the police.
The video ended there. It really was trending under crime.
"Why wouldn''t they cut the livestream?" Noreen wondered aloud. An incident like this was a public rtions nightmare. Yet, PerseTech had let it all y out for the world to see. It would be a devastating blow to thepany. It didn''t make sense. Seth was never this reactive.
Noreen rewound the video and saw it: throughout the entire ordeal, Seth''s eyes had been fixed on Bianca.
*Wow,* she thought. *So besotted he forgot to pull the plug.* Love really was a dangerous thing.
"Even with the disaster, their viewership is through the roof," Sophiamented. "It almost makes you wonder if this was some kind of bizarre PR stunt."
Noreen was speechless. Sacrificial marketing? That would certainly be a first.
Though InnoCore''s livestream numbers weren''t as high, the roadshow itself was a massive sess. Before Carman had even finished his presentation, Healy and Mrs. Naylor found Noreen in the crowd.
"Noreen, the second InnoCore goes public, I''m buying shares!" Mrs. Naylor dered, her voice filled with excitement. "I''m putting my entire dowry into it!"
Healyughed. "All of it? You''re not going to save any for me to get married?"
"It''s your wedding, not mine. Why should pay for it?" Mrs. Naylor
dismissed him and turned back
Noreen, gushing about how moved she was by Carman''s presentation.
Healy shook Noreen''s hand. ¡°Congrattions, Noreen," he said sincerely. "You
did it. InnoCore is going to be incredible."
"Thank you," Noreen replied.
Just then, Dn approached with a bouquet of flowers and his own
words of congrattions. The smiles vanished from the faces of Mrs. Naylor and Healy. Mrs. Naylor nudged her son with her elbow, ring at him for hisck.
initiative. How could he not think to bring flowers? At this rate, he would never find a girlfriend.
Healy felt a pang of regret. He had rushed back from a business trip overnight and hadn''t had time to prepare anything. Seeing Dn''s bauquet, he knew he''d made a. mistake.
Dn was about to say something more to Noreen when her phone rang. It was Padgett Novak. After a brief nod to the others, Noreen stepped away to take the call.
¡°Congrattions, Noreen," Padgett said. "I watched the livestream. It was excellent.¡± He added, "I''m sorry I couldn''t be there in person."
"Don''t worry about it. Your good wishes are more than enough."
Knowing she was busy, Padgett kept it brief and hung up.
Just then, arge crowd of people began to gather at the entrance to the hall.
Chapter 521
Mrs. Naylor recognized several familiar faces from the socialite circle, along with representatives from various investment firms. Sophia went to see what was happening and returned to report to Noreen. "They''re guests from the PerseTech event. Theirs ended early, so they came over to see what''s happening here. They said not to worry about finding them seats."
Despite what they said, Noreen had Sophia try to amodate them. But the hall was simply too small for the sudden influx of people. Soon, it was packed to the brim, with a crowd spilling out the doors, unable to get in. The scene was chaotic.
Sophia, overwhelmed, asked Noreen what to do. Thinking quickly, Noreen contacted Provost Ferris and asked if she could use the university''s athletic field for an impromptu outdoor roadshow. The provost, still feeling indebted to her, readily agreed and even offered the university''s assistance.
As Bianca and her group were leaving Hall A, they saw a massive crowd heading toward the field. Among them were many of the guests they had invited.
"Excuse me,ing through!" someone shouted, trying to get past them.
Yvonne was jostled by the crowd, and Bianca had to grab her arm to keep her from falling. The woman who had bumped into her quickly apologized. "So sorry, so sorry..."
"Mrs. Chase?" Yvonne recognized her as one of the guests she had invited. Earlier, Mrs. Chase had imed her beloved dog had run away and she had to rush home to find him. Yvonne had actually believed her. And here she was, on her way to see InnoCore''s presentation.
Caught in the act, Mrs. Chase was mortified. Of all the people to run into. Yvonne''s face darkened. Seeing everyone else hurrying to get a good spot on the field, Mrs. Chase abandoned all pretense of decorum. "Sorry again," she muttered, then turned and ran, not caring about the furious look on Yvonne''s face.
Bianca''s expression was grim, her hand tightening on Yvonne''s arm.
"What are you standing here for? Let''s go!" Yvonne snapped, her mood foul. She had hoped today would be her moment of triumph in the socialite circle, but it had all been ruined. How could she face them now?
Bianca''s spirits were just as low. As they passed the athletic field and saw the vibrant, bustling scene of the InnoCore roadshow a bitter taste filled ffer mouth. She never should have chosen Rivercrest University as the venue. She had meant to crush Noreen, but instead, she had handed her a victory.
"Don''t look. Let''s just go home," Seth said gently, likely sensing her distress. "I''II
go to the police stationter and see what I can find out."
"Thank you for everything," Yvonne said.
"Of course."
Seeing Seth still so devoted to Bianca was a smallfort to Yvonne But she couldn''t help but
-
wonder how the police had traced the ident to Lana. All she could do now was hope Lana would keep her mouth shut.
Henry, seeing Bianca in trouble, immediately called Padgett Novak to ask if he had any contacts in the police force who could look into the situation. Padgett, who was in the middle of an inspection tour replied with a stern warning. "You need to stay out of this Henry. If she''s innocent, she''ll be released. If she''s not, she needs to face the consequences."
Chapter 522
Henry knew Padgett was a man of unwavering integrity. There was no point in pressing him further, so he hung up. After some thought, he called his father. The Brooke family had deep roots and a widerwork of connections.
At first, Sanford Brooke was reluctant to get involved. But when Henry mentioned that the person in question was likely rted to the benefactor who had once saved their family, Sanford immediately agreed to make some calls.
As Henry waited anxiously for news, he found himself drawn back to the athletic field. The InnoCore roadshow was in full swing, the atmosphere electric. He stopped, watching from a distance.
After Carman finished his technical presentation, the crowd was still buzzing with energy, eager to know more. They asked him how InnoCore began.
Carman smiled and pulled up a slide showing his very first pitch deck. "When you look at this presentation," he asked the investors in the crowd, "what do you think?"
Someone immediately called out, "It looks like something a college kid would make. It''s rough. No offense, but the interns at mypany could do better."
A murmur of agreement went through the crowd. They were all wondering why he would show them something so amateurish.
Carman didn''t answer right away. Instead, he asked, "Seeing a pitch like this, would any of you be inclined to invest?"
"Honestly? No."
"I agree," Carman said with a nod. "If someone brought me this deck today, I wouldn''t even give them the time of day. I''d think it was a joke."
As the crowd chuckled, he
continued. "When I first graduated, I had no experience, just a crazy idea. I took this crude, simple presentation and went all over the city, trying to find funding. As you can imagine, I was rejected more times than I can count. l''approached almost every firm in Rivercrest including many of yours. Of course, you wouldn''t remember me. I never even made it past the front desk."
He paused, his gaze finding Noreen in the crowd. His voice softened. "Just when I was about to give up, to find a normal job and put this dream to rest I got a call from Ms. Gilmore. At the time, she was the chief secretary at Aurelion Group From a pile of multi-million dor proposals, she picked out my little
fifty-thousand-dor project and scheduled a meeting.
"I remember how nervous I was when I first met her. My palms were sweating, knew this was myst chance was so anxious that my pitch was... terrible. I thought it was over. But then, Ms. Gilmore asked to see my academic record. She asked me about my motivation, my vision for the product. My goals were so ambitious back then, they probably sounded like pure fantasy. But after careful consideration, she told me she was going to fund my project.
"After that, she became my mentor. She provided me with case studies from all over the world, helped me define my market strategy... She gave me so much advice. Without Ms. Gilmore, there would be no InnoCore. And there would be no me."
Hearing this, Henry''s expression darkened. InnoCore... wasn''t that the project Noreen had stolen from her senior colleague?
Chapter 523
InnoCore''s roadshow was an unprecedented sess. Carman''s startup story resonated deeply with the investors. In the world of capital, apelling story is valuable, but apelling storyteller is priceless.
Noreen finally allowed herself to breathe. Before the roadshow had even officially concluded, her phone was ringing off the hook with calls from investment firms, including several that had initially backed PerseTech. By the time she had fielded all the calls, the event was winding down. Sophia was efficiently directing the cleanup crew.
Just as Noreen was about to find Carman, she saw Henry approaching him. She frowned, puzzled by the move, but was distracted when Dn came over to her. Carman greeted Henry politely. "Mr. Brooke. Can I help you with something?"
Henry hesitated, the question heavy on his tongue. But his doubt was too strong to ignore. "What you said on stage earlier... about Noreen discovering InnoCore. That was just part of the story for the roadshow, right?"
He knewpanies often crafted moving narratives to win over investors and the public.
Carman looked at him, perplexed. "Why would you think I was making it up?"
"Wasn''t it? The project was originally at Aurelion Group, under Director Lowell. Logically, it should have been her project. Noreen... she stole it from her, didn''t she?"
Carman''s polite demeanor vanished,
his expression hardening. "I don''t
know where you heard that, Mr. Brooke, but I can tell you unequivocally that Ms. Gilmore discovered InnoCore. She nurtured it from its infancy. When she left Aurelion Group, Director Lowell took over and immediately canceled my project. It was Ms. Gilmore who revived it, who brought it to where it is today so leont understand why you think she stole anything. Director Lowell was the one who abandoned it. If you don''t believe me, feel free to ask around. Ask how many people Ms. Gilmore had to beg to get InnoCore funded."
The revtion hit Henry like a physical blow. It waspletely at odds with everything he believed. He struggled to process it.
Carman, his eyes now cold with anger, had no patience for anyone who would nder Noreen. He turned and walked away without another word.
***
The disastrous roadshow left Bianca reeling. But that was only the beginning. As soon as she left the university, her phone began to blow
up with calls and messages fro
investors. Some were direct others more diplomatic but the message was the same: they were pulling their funding.
After the tenth call, she hurled her phone against the wall. "How dare they! Pulling out now willpletely sever PerseTech''s funding! It will derail the entire IPO!" she raged at her mother. "And you! Why did you have to bring Aunt tana? None of this would have happened if she hadn''t been there!"
Yvonne was equally distraught. "How was I supposed to know the police were investigating her?"
"So what do we do now? If the IPO fails, how am I supposed to establish myself in Rivercrest City?" Bianca''s frustration and suppressed anger churned within her, threatening to explode.
Chapter 524
Yvonne frantically tried to think of a solution when a call came in from Seth. She answered immediately. "Seth, what''s the situation?"
"I''ve looked into it. It''s not good. The fact that it was all broadcast live has made it go viral. It''s impossible to get her out quietly. The higher-ups are already aware of
it."
Yvonne sank onto the sofa. "What are the police saying?"
"I haven''t been able to see her yet, so I don''t have the details."
"I see."
After hanging up, Yvonne decided she had to go to the police station herself. She needed to speak with Lana and make sure she didn''t say anything foolish.
Lana was a nervous wreck. It was the first time she had ever been in a police station. Yvonne called in a favor with a contact, Forrest, who managed to arrange a brief meeting. The moment Lana saw her, she begged Yvonne to get her out.
"It''splicated," Yvonne said. "You might have to stay here for a while. Once things quiet down, I''ll find a way."
Lana''s face went pale. "Am I going to jail?"
"No. Trust me, I will get you out," Yvonne said, her eyes boring into Lana''s. "But you cannot, under any circumstances, confess to anything. If you do, my hands will be tied."
Lana,pletely lost, clung to Yvonne''s words. She trusted that Yvonne would find a way. "I understand," she promised.
After leaving the station, Yvonne called the man who had arranged the idents. "What kind of sloppy work was that? How did you get caught? You''ve dragged my sister into this mess."
"We don''t know what happened," the man snarled. "The driver just cracked and confessed. Since Lana was the contact, the police traced it back to her."
"So what do we do now?"
"At this point, you either have the
power
Bet
pull her out, or you beg for
ou try to settle it get them
the charges
Begging for mercy meant going to the victim. Under normal circumstances, it
would be an option. But begging Noreen...
Yvonne gritted her teeth.
***
The news spread quickly, reaching even Northcrest. Sanford, after making his inquiries, called Henry with the results. "It''s not looking good. The authores are watching this case closely. It will have to go by the book."
they
In other words, she couldn''t be pulled out.
Henry, already lost in his own turmoil, said nothing.
"Are you sure she''s rted to the person who helped our family?" Sanford pressed.
After a long silence, Henry replied, "I''m not sure." It had all been spection on his part.
Before he could process anything further, Bianca called, inviting him to a celebration dinner that evening. It had been nned long in advance, meant to celebrate the ses of the roadshow. Now, it was a crisis management event. The more precarious the situation, the more important it was to project an image of calm and control.
For the first time, Henry turned Bianca down.
"I''m heading back to Northcrest," he said.
Chapter 525
Bianca was surprised. "So soon?"
"Yes, something came up at home."
Bianca wasn''t sure if she believed him, but she didn''t press. "Alright. Well, when Ie to Northcrest for the roadshow there, we''ll have dinner."
This time, Henry didn''t reply. He neither epted nor declined. Bianca didn''t think much of it. She knew how infatuated he was with her.
Though the roadshow had been a disaster, the celebration dinner was already booked. Bianca, though overwhelmed with anxiety, had to put on a brave face and personally call the guests. The same people who had been fawning over her because of Seth had suddenly turned cold. They either had excuses or simply didn''t answer their phones. Some even used the opportunity to demand their investment back.
After a few calls, Bianca gave up, her patience worn thin. A bunch of fair-weather opportunists. Had they forgotten how they had begged to partner with her?
When Seth arrived to pick her up, she was visibly upset. Yvonne reminded her to control her expression. No man, especially not one from a prominent family, wanted an emotional woman. A powerful family needed a matriarch who could remain poised in a crisis.
So Bianca forced a smile and went with Seth to The Cloudspire Hotel. She had prepared herself for a poor turnout, but she hadn''t expected it to be this bleak. The grand hall was nearly empty, with only a handful of people scattered around ¡ªall of them her own team. Not a single partner or investor had shown up.
No matter how good her acting was, she couldn''t hide her disappointment. Even Seth''s influence hadn''t been enough. She had booked ten tables a grand statement of sess. In the end only three were upied. It was humiliating. She could feel the pitying nces of the hotel staff.
"This is normal," Sethforted her. "Business is about profit. Don''t take it personally."
In that moment, Bianca was grateful he was still there, still standing by her side She remembered what her mother had told her. As long as you have Seth, you''ll have endless chances to make aeback."
A flicker of confidence returned. Just then, Jude called to say he was runningte.
Bianca''s expression finally softened. See? Some people were stilling.
Jude hung up and tried to sneak out before his father, Seymour Wilder, noticed. But Seymour caught him at the door.
"Are you deaf?" Seymour said, his face stern.
"Dad,e on," Jude pleaded. "Bianca is my friend. I should be there for her. You already banned, me from the roadshow. If I don''t even go to the dinner, how can I face anyone?"
"Then don''t. Be a dog instead," Seymour retorted.
Chapter 526
Jude was at a loss. His father was as stubborn as a rock. "I already promised Seth I''d be there! You''re the one who always told me to stay close to him. Why the sudden change?"
"Bianca wasn''t by his side back then."
Jude was convinced his father was losing his mind. "You told me not to invest in her project, and I listened. But you can''t control who my friends are!"
Seymour ignored him. A staff member knocked and entered. "Mr. Wilder, the flower arrangement you ordered has arrived."
It was arge celebratory basket. Seymour pointed at Jude. "Give it to him."
Jude''s mood instantly lifted. "Dad, you old softie. You tell me not to go, but you already ordered a congrattory gift!" He happily took the basket, a wide grin on his face. But the smile froze when he saw the card.
*Congrattions, Ms. Gilmore.*
It was for Noreen.
"I just spoke with Ms. Gilmore," Seymour said. "If you leave now, you''ll get there just in time. Make sure you pass on my congrattions."
"Dad..."
"And you will stay until the party is over. If you leave one minute early, don''t bother calling me your father ever again!"
***
With no other choice, Jude dutifully went to Innocore''s celebration. The entrance was overflowing with congrattory flower arrangements, some from the very investors who had backed PerseTech. Inside, the venue was packed with familiar faces from their shared social and business circles.
Jude braced himself and went to greet Noreen. She was indifferent to him, but he
was a guest, so she exchanged a few pleasantries and had him seated.
The restaurant manager
approached Noreen to confirm that
the five additional tables she''d
requested were ready. Arge partition in the middle of the room could be removed to create one massive hall. Noreen approved the pl¨¢n.
Jude watched in silent amazement. Noreen had truly made it. Just a
year ago, she was a meg
trailing after Seth, handling mundane, assistant-like tasks had kept her position through unsavory means, and he had looked down on her for it. He saw her as no different from the countless gold diggers who schemed their way into wealthy families. He had seen too many of them in his life, women who used deceit and maniption to get what they wanted. He had never treated her with respect, had said many cruel things to her. And she had never defended herself, always maintaining a cool, detached demeanor, which he had mistaken for arrogance. How could a woman who willingly climbed into a man''s bed be so high and mighty?
Chapter 527
PerseTech''s celebration ended as disastrously as their roadshow. Bianca had forced a smile all night. As thest of her team left, she remembered Jude and gave him a call.
He answered after a moment, his voice hesitant. "Hey, Bianca. Sorry, something came upst minute. I can''t make it."
Bianca was deeply disappointed. She needed her friends'' support now more than ever, yet none of them had shown up. After a two-second pause, she said quietly, "It''s fine. Don''t worry about it."
Before Jude could say anything else, she hung up. She took a deep breath, struggling topose herself. As she was putting her phone away, she saw someone post photos and videos from InnoCore''s party in their investment group chat.
Noreen was the center of attention, surrounded by admirers. She wasughing and clinking sses with the heavyweights of the financial world, her smile radiant. In the photos, Bianca saw so many familiar faces. Wade Harcourt, whose approval she had chased for years, was looking at Noreen with genuine affection. Academician Halley, whom she had tried so hard to connect with, was patting Noreen''s shoulder encouragingly and giving her a thumbs-up. Dn, whom she had pursued for six years, was protectively by Noreen''s side, shielding her from unwanted attention, his gaze soft and warm. CEOs and industry leaders openly showed their admiration for her.
She saw Healy and Mrs. Naylor. Healy''s eyes followed Noreen, a mix of admiration and longing in his gaze.
And then she saw Jude. The same Jude who had just told her he couldn''t make it.
Noreen was the star of the show. It was the life Bianca had always dreamed of, had worked so hard for. Yet, after all this time, she was still on the sidelines, watching someone else live it.
***
45
After dropping Noreen home, Sophia double-checked that she was okay before leaving. Noreen was slightly tipsyt had been a while since she had drunk and her tolerance had waned. But tonight was a night for celebration, and after a few extra sses, she felt light and giddy.
She sat on a lounge chair on her balcony, gazing at the rare clear night sky and felt an overwhelming urge to share her joy. The only personshe could think of was ire. She wanted to call, but didn''twant to interrupt her work, so she sent a
WhatsApp message instead.
*What are you up to?*
ire didn''t reply right away, but another message came through from an unexpected source.
*Congrattions.*
Noreen stared at the single word for a long time before deleting the conversation. His congrattions hade toote. She no longer needed them.
ire called as soon as she wrapped for the night. Noreen was already half- asleep, curled up in the chair, her voice soft and drowsy when she answered. "Hey, babe. Just finished work?"
"Yeah, it was a long night shoot." But
even on set, she hadn''t missed the day''s drama. "If I had known it was going to be this epic, I would have throwna tantrum to get the day off! Seriously is Bitch Bianca cursed or something? How does this keep happening to her?"
Chapter 528
This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !
Chapter 529
Bianca felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach. Seth had been out of Rivercrest City for days, hunting for new investors, and she was left to fend for herself.
He must have been swamped, because he never picked up his phone. He''d reply to her messages, but usually while she was asleep. By the time she woke up and texted back, he''d be gone again, leaving her in Rivercrest City to deal with the vultures threatening to pull their funding.
That night, just before bed, Bianca tried calling him again. The phone rang for so long she was about to give up when he finally answered.
"Seth," she said, a wave of relief washing over her. "Are you done for the day?"
His voice was heavy with exhaustion, but still maic. "Just about. I''ll be back in Rivercrest City tomorrow. I know it''s been tough on you thesest few days."
"Does that mean you found new investors?" Bianca clutched her phone tighter.
"I did. I''ll introduce you during the Northcrest roadshow."
His words were a balm, instantly dissolving the panic that had gued her for days. Her confidence surged back.
"I''ll pick you up tomorrow," she said, her voice bright with excitement.
"Sounds good," Seth replied.
She wanted to talk longer, to offer some words offort and affection. Men, after all, needed a little soothing and encouragement when they were tired. It made them more willing to go to bat for you. But before she could say another word, Seth had already hung up.
Bianca froze for a second, a strange sense of disappointment creeping in. It was the first time he''d ever ended their call so abruptly. But she quickly chided herself for being petty. Seth was out there fighting for her, for PerseTech. Thest thing she should be doing was getting hung up on trivial details. It was beneath her.
***
The next day, Bianca applied her makeup with meticulous care before driving to the airport to meet Seth. She arrived a little early, before his flight hadnded. A woman who was also waiting for someone recognized her.
"You''re Mr. Harcourt''s fianc¨¦e, aren''t you?" she asked.
Bianca''s chest tightened. It was a frustrating reminder that after alkher hard work, she was still primarily known by his name. S¨¹ll, she managed a polite smile and a brief greeting.
The woman seemed to get the hint that she wasn''t in the mood to chat and, after
a few more pleasantries, met her own party and left.
A few minutester, Seth emerged from the arrivals gate.
"Seth, over here!" Bianca waved, and he immediately started walking toward her.
Not ten feet away, ire Chase looked up from her phone. Well, what do you know. Jerk Seth and Bitch Bianca.
Her phone rang. It was Sophia Cole.
"Are you out yet? I''m waiting by the curb. If you''re already outside, I won''t pull into the parking garage. It''ll save us from getting stuck in traffic."
ire broke into a light jog and hopped into Sophia''s car. "Noreen has an
important meeting and couldn''t get away, so she sent me to pick you up," Sophia exined.
"I know, she told me on WhatsApp."
"I''ll take you to meet up with her, and then we''ll all grab dinner. The reservation''s already made."
"Works for me," ire said.
Noreen Gilmore was indeed busy. By the time ire arrived, she had to wait for nearly an hour before the meeting finally wrapped up.
ire couldn''t help but sigh. "This confirms it. I definitely don''t have what it takes to be a boss. From now on, I''m sticking to being a shareholder who just collecte dividends."
Noreen had barely exchanged two words with ire when a man approached
her.
"I was in Northcrest on business a couple of days ago," he said. "I saw Mr. Harcourt having dinner with Mr. Quigley from Serenity Capitab I''d bet they''re going to invest in PerseTech."
The man was Yves Elwyn.
Chapter 530
Noreen''s reaction was remarkably calm. Even Yves was surprised. "You''re not shocked?" he asked. "We''re talking about Serenity Capital, from Northcrest!"
"Why would I be?" Noreen replied with a faint smile. "He''s not going to let his fianc¨¦e''spany go under, is he?"
Her logic was undeniable, leaving Yves with nothing to say.
"The High-Temperature Superconductivity project is solid," Yves mused. "The business operations are just a bit messy. If Serenity Capital gets involved, they could definitely turn PerseTech around. I heard Mr. Prescott from Forestria Group was about to pull his funding, but now that he''s caught wind of this, he''s having second thoughts."
Noreenughed. "Mr. Prescott is certainly living up to his reputation for being skittish."
After a few more pleasantries, they said their goodbyes. Only then did Noreen turn to ire. "Come on, let''s go eat."
ire, who had been staring at her phone, looked up and nodded, quickly typing a message.
*Don''t you dare partner with PerseTech!* she sent.
The reply from "Jerk Quigley" came a momentter: *?*
Noreen had her driver, Colby, make a detour to the hospital to pick up Halley Joyner before heading to a restaurant known for its elegant desserts. Halley brought a stack of materials for Noreen, telling her they would be helpful for her grad school exams.
When they arrived, the manager informed them that the table Noreen had reserved had been given away. As an apology, he had moved their reservation to a private room, The North Lodge, and offered them a twenty percent discount on their meal.
Noreen didn''t mind. They were there for the food, not the view. One room was as good as another.
Meanwhile, in The West Lodge, Seth and Bianca were hosting their own dinner. Jude Wilder had made sure to arrive early, still feeling guilty about missing theirst get-together. He''d even snuck out without telling his father.
"Did you invite Professor Joyner too?" he asked as he sat down.
Bianca paused. "No, why?"
"I just saw her outside," Jude exined. "I thought maybe she wasing to this dinner."
An idea sparked in Bianca''s mind. "Where did you see her?" she asked.
"Over by The East Lodge."
Bianca turned to Seth. "Seth, I''d like to go say hello to Professor Joyner." "Alright," Seth said, understanding her intent. "I''ll go with you."
Bianca beamed. Jude, seeing them so in sync, felt a genuine happiness for his friends.
After asking the manager for directions, Seth led Bianca to The East Lodge. When they arrived, Noreen was outside on the phone, leaving only ire and Professor Joyner in the room.
Bianca recognized ire as Noreen''s best friend, and her expression instantly cooled. So, Noreen had invited the professor She must have used Dn Wilder as a stepping stone to get to hen What a social climber. Bianca recalled
seeing Professor Jo
Professor Joyner took
annoyed with Noreen on several
asions. Had something
changed?
Ignoring irepletely, Bianca addressed the professor. "Professor Joyner what a coincidence! We''re hosting a dinner for some friends mind, we be
nearby youds
II
honored if you would join us.
ire leaned back in her chair, a knowing smirk ying on her lips as she watched Bianca. Her gaze was so direct that Bianca couldn''t avoid it. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second before nca looked away, a flicker of disdain in her expression.
ire let out a quiet scoff just as Noreen returned. The moment Bianca saw her, her face tightened.
Chapter 531
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Chapter 532
Jude''s reaction was exactly what Bianca had hoped for.
"Noreen? Applying to grad school? To *Professor Joyner''s* program? Are you serious?" he eximed, his face a mask of disbelief. "Has shepletely lost her mind?"
He had to admit, Noreen had proven herself to be surprisingly capable since leaving Aurelion Group, constantly defying his expectations. But ability and academic pedigree were two entirely different things. And Professor Joyner''s program was notoriously, brutallypetitive.
Noreen was getting way ahead of herself.
Jude shot a bewildered look at Seth, expecting some sort of reaction. But Seth remained impassive,pletely uninterested in Noreen''s endeavors. He didn''t seem to have an opinion one way or another. Of course, Jude reasoned, with his fianc¨¦e right there, he had to be considerate of her feelings. Besides, he''d always been cold to Noreen. Now that he had Bianca, Noreen was ancient history.
Jude pursed his lips. This whole thing was going to end in a train wreck for Noreen. He''d have to mention it to his father, who had recently developed an annoying habit of praising her.
Bianca watched Jude''s reaction, a silent, triumphant smile touching her lips as she took a sip of tea. It wasn''t just her-everyone thought Noreen was delusional. Some things couldn''t be achieved with sheer audacity and a few lucky breaks.
***
When the performance ended, both dinner parties began to wind down. Jude, who hadn''t been out in a while, was still eager for more. "Anyone up for another round somewhere else?" he asked.
Bianca was about to agree for herself and Seth when Dn stood up. "I''ve got something to take care of, so I''m going to head out. You guys have fun."
At his words, Bianca''s expression soured. Though she hadn''t spoken to him all night, she had been watching him. He''d been distracted and distant,pletely ignoring her. And now he was leaving early. No doubt to find Noreen. Was he so impatient that he couldn''t even pretend anymore?
The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth But then she looked up and met Seth''s gaze and the sting annoyance faded.
Seth also turned down Jude''s offer. "We have other ns. You guys go ahead." "Hey,e on..." Jude grumbled. "Fine, go be romantic. Healy, you''re with me!"
"Sorry, buddy," Healy said, patting his shoulder. "You may not have a date, but I do."
Jude was left speechless.
As they were leaving, they ran into Noreen''s party, who were also on their way out.
Dn walked right up to them. "Professor. Noreen."
Noreen looked surprised. "You were having dinner here too?"
"Yeah, I saw y
earlier," Dn admitted. "I was going toe say but you were so absorbed in your book, I didn''t want to interrupt."
ire raised an eyebrow. "Paying that close attention, are we?" Dn didn''t deny it.
Bianca and Seth walked straight past them without a word. Jude, however, felt obligated to offer an awkward greeting to Noreen, who gave him a slight nod in return. As he passed, he couldn''t help but
notice the stack of study materials she was carr Good grief, she
was serious. The woman was
unbelievably stubborn. Wasn''t she afraid of the spectacr humiliation she was setting herself up for when she inevitably failed?
Chapter 533
Noreen apanied Carman Holt to three roadshows, and seeing his
performance improve with each one, she decided to let him handle the rest on his own. It was time for him to learn to stand on his own two feet. Besides, she needed to devote every remaining moment to her grad school preparations. With only about a month left, time was running out.
Still, keeping an eye on the industry was a habit she''d cultivated for years. Lately, there had been a lot of chatter about PerseTech. Serenity Capital had ultimately backed out, for reasons unknown, but it hadn''t seemed to slow PerseTech down. Seth had managed to secure new funding from overseas. It was clear he was doing everything in his power to protect Bianca.
The rumor mill churned with spection that Seth''s relentless support was a strategy to win his father, Wade Harcourt''s, approval so he could finally marry Bianca. Noreen had to admit, it made sense. His desperation to marry Bianca was the only logical exnation for the extraordinary lengths he''d gone to prop her up since her return.
The puzzle pieces clicked into ce. After a brief moment of reflection, Noreen pushed the thoughts aside and returned to her books.
That evening, Sophia arrived with a container of soup, and Noreen realized with a start that it was already dark outside.
"I knew you''d forget to eat," Sophia chided,dling the soup into a bowl. "So I brought a few extra dishes."
Noreen took a few sips to warm her stomach. "Have your cooking skills taken a nosedivetely?"
Sophia froze. "Is it bad?"
"Not bad, exactly. It just doesn''t have that rich vor it usually does."
"Maybe I didn''t let it simmer long enough," Sophia muttered.
"It''s still delicious," Noreen said, meaning it. She wasn''t trying to be critical.
While she ate, Sophia gave her a quick update on thepany. "Yvonne Laurent came by twicest week while you were away, and again this week. I sent her away each time."
"She probably wants to talk about Lana. Just ignore her. Let thewyers handle everything." Noreen''s position was unwavering. It didn''t matter how many times Yvonne showed up; the answer woul always be the same There was
point in meeting.
***
Bianca returned from her roadshow in Creston City in high spirits, bearing gifts for Yvonne and Lillian Laurent Normally, Lillian would have torn mo the presents immediately, but this time she listlessly set the box aside. Her eyes were red and swollen.
"Bianca," she pleaded, "can you please, please ask Seth to do something? To get Mom out of there?"
Bianca frowned at Yvonne. "Noreen still won''t see you?"
"No."
At the confirmation, Bianca''s face hardened. "What the hell does she want to drop the charges?"
"If I knew that, this would be a lot easier," Yvonne sighed. Without understanding Noreen''s endgame, she waspletely stuck.
"Bianca, please, just ask Seth," Lillian sobbed. "Mom''s been in custody for almost three weeks. She isn''t eating, she can''t sleep... she''s wasting away. If you ask him, I know he''ll help you."
Bianca knew she had to. Lana had gotten into this mess trying to help her. She couldn''t refuse.
"I''ll call him right now," she promised.
***
Sophia had just left when Noreen''s
phone rang was Seth. She didn''t have to answer to know exactly what he wanted to talk about. Without a second thought, she declined the call. Not wanting any further distractions, she turned her phone offpletely.
Chapter 534
The next morning, when Noreen turned her phone back on, she saw a series of messages from Seth on WhatsApp.
[Noreen, we need to talk.]
[I won''t take up much of your time.]
[Phone call or in person, whatever works for you.]
He must have given up when she didn''t reply. Noreen deleted the chat thread without hesitation.
As she was getting ready, her phone rang again. It was Seth. Noreen nced at the clock: 6:30 AM. He really was desperate. In all the years she''d known him, she had never seen him so frantic over anyone.
Even so, she had no intention of answering. In the matter of Lana, she was the victim. No one was going to guilt-trip her into submission. She ignored his call, and the next two that followed.
What she didn''t expect was for him to show up at her office, waiting for her.
"Turn the car around," Noreen told Colby tly. "Take me to Rivercrest University."
She quickly sent a message to Sophia, instructing her to cancel the morning''s in- person meeting and reschedule it as a video conference. In the end, Noreen conducted her meeting from a bench on the university quad.
She finished early and made her way to the lecture hall. Halley was giving another guest lecture today. This time, she got a good seat.
After settling in, she buried her nose in her study materials. Students began to file in, and soon the seat next to her was upied. Noreen assumed it was just another student and paid no mind.
It wasn''t until the lecture was about to begin that she looked up, stretching her stiff neck. As she turned her head, she saw a familiar face.
"Director Novak? When did you get here?"
Noreen was stunned. She couldn''t fathom what would bring Padgett Novak to a lecture by Professor Joyner. Their worlds seemedpletely separate.
Padgett''s eyes crinkled with a warm smile. "I''ve been here for a little while. You were so deep in your studies, I didn''t want to disturb you."
"Are you here for work?"
"I have the day off. Just thought I''d look around campus," he replied smoothly, omitting the part about why he had chosen this particr campus.
A few days ago, Henry Brooke had called him. In the middle of their chat, he''d casually mentioned that Noreen was applying to Professor Joyner''s graduate program. Thement stuck with Padgett He looked up the professor''s lecture schedule at Rivercrest University, guessed Noreen might attend, and decided to try his luck. The moment he walked in and saw her, he knew he''d been right.
Noreen, however, was oblivious, believing it to be a pure coincidence. "You''re going to listen to the lecture without a pen or paper?" she asked.
"I was hoping you''d share," Padgett said, not missing a beat.
"Of course," Noreen replied, generously offering him a spare notebook and pen.
Bianca arrivedte, forced to take a seat in a far corner. As the lecture began, her gaze drifted toward the front, and the first people she saw were Noreen and Padgett Novak.
Even with Noreen''s back to her, Bianca recognized her immediately. But it was the man sitting beside her who truly shocked her.
Normally, Bianca wouldn''t waste a moment''s thought on Noreen. But she couldn''t help but notice that while Noreen''s attention was fixed, on the stage, Padgett''s was often fixed on Noreen.
She couldn''t understand it. Why would a man like Padgett Novak associate with a woman like Noreen? He had no reason to be at this lecture he wasn''t applying to grad school. Had Noreen invited him?
Chapter 535
Noreen was truly plumbing new depths, Bianca thought with disgust. First, she was stringing Dn along, then she was getting cozy with Healy, and now she was moving on to Padgett Novak.
The hypocrisy was astounding. Bianca pulled out her phone and sent a message to her group chat.
*Guess who I just saw at Rivercrest University?*
Predictably, the first person to respond was Jude. He was so idle these days that
he was always online. Since Noreen had be a major shareholder in Seymour Group, his influence had dwindled to almost nothing. He was just another person collecting dividends, with far too much time on his hands.
*Who?* Jude typed back.
*It looks like Noreen and Padgett Novak are really a thing,*
Bianca wrote.
She remembered Healy showing them a photo of Noreen and Padgett having dinner together once, but she''d dismissed it at the time. She hadn''t believed for a second that a man of Padgett''s caliber would be interested in a woman like Noreen. But now, having seen the way he looked at her, Bianca realized she had severely underestimated Noreen''s talent for wrapping men around her finger.
She had sent the message deliberately, wanting everyone-especially Dn-to see Noreen''s true colors. Some people put on such a virtuous act in public, but in private, they were utterly shameless. Dn imed he''d been in love with Noreen for years. Well, let him see exactly what kind of person he was pinning his hopes
on.
Throughout the lecture, Bianca waspletely distracted, her eyes glued to her phone, waiting. But Dn never responded. Was he refusing to face the truth? A contemptuous smirk crossed her face.
When the lecture ended, Noreen got a call from Halley, inviting her to his house for dinner. Padgett, who had been about to ask her out himself, was disappointed but gracefully told her they could reschedule. Besides, just ''bumping into'' her today was a win in his book.
When Noreen arrived at Halley''s, she discovered he had another guest: Sanford Brooke.
Sanford vaguely remembered Noreen from a previous dinner. She hade with Dn, and he had mistaken her for his girlfriend. She had been quiet and reserved that evening, barely saying a word, so he hadn''t paid her much attention.
But this time, Halley had invited her alone, which piqued Sanford''s interest.
"Are you one of Professor Joyner''s students?" he asked, making polite conversation while Halley was in the kitchen preparing his specialty dish.
"Not yet," Noreen replied after a moment''s thought. "I''m preparing for his graduate entrance exam. If I pass, then I will be."
After all, she had been cast out of his inner circle once before.
Halley''s students fell into two categories. There were the official graduate students he supervised for the university-a high bar that only one of two people cleared each year. Then there was the second, far more exclusive group: his direct prot¨¦g¨¦s. To be considered one had to possess an extraordinary, almost prodigious, talent for mathematics. Over the decades, Halley had only taken on five such students.
His most promising one, a young woman, had been expelled midway through her training. As for Henry, Sanford''s son, he had some talent but felt short of Halley''s exacting standards. It was only after Sanford had pleaded repeatedly that Halley had reluctantly agreed to take him. on.
Whenever Sanford visited, Halley would inevitably bring up the disciple he had cast out, his voice always tinged with regret. He never revealed her name or any identifying details, only that she was a girl with a brilliant mind who had thrown away a dazzling future for a man. It was a
betrayal that left him both
heartbroken and furious.
Sanford was desperate to find this woman. The Brooke family owed her a debt of
gratitude they could never fully repay.
Chapter 536
This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !
Chapter 537
Noreen was officially fed up. Anyone would be annoyed by this relentless stalking. She had even moved, so how did Seth know her new address? Then again, if he really wanted to find her, it wouldn''t be difficult for him. She just hadn''t realized he would go to such lengths for Bianca.
She stepped out of the car. The crisp night air hit her face, clearing some of the alcoholic fog from her head.
Seth walked toward her, stopping a few feet away. His brow furrowed. "Why were you drinking? A business dinner?"
His tone was soced with concern that anyone who didn''t know better might have thought he actually cared.
Noreen had no time for his act. She cut straight to the point. "I acknowledge that I owe you a favor for what happened with the car ident. But that''s a separate issue. When ites to Lana, I will not back down. I intend to press charges and see this through to the end."
As if on cue, a gust of wind swept past, lifting the loose strands of her hair from her shoulders. Seth''s gaze shifted, and for a long moment, he was captivated by the sight, seemingly forgetting to respond.
Noreen''s patience wore thin. She impatiently smoothed her hair back into ce. "Did you hear what I said?" she asked, her voice sharp.
Seth''s eyes refocused. He looked down for a second before meeting her gaze again, his tone casual. "So there''s absolutely no room for discussion?"
"None."
Seeing the resolve in her eyes, he didn''t press further. "Got it," he said softly.
With nothing more to say, Noreen turned and walked away without so much as a goodbye. Seth stood motionless, watching her until she disappeared from sight. Then he slowly lowered his gaze, his dark eyes deeper and more imprable than ever.
He returned to his car but didn''t start the engine. Instead, he lit a cigarette, the single point of crimson light glowing and fading in the darkness.
***
On the day of PerseTech''s roadshow
in Northcrest, Bianca personally called Henry to invite him. He imed to be out of town on a business trip Bianca was disappointed, but it never urred to her that he might be lying. She was, after all,pletely secure in her importance to him.
In reality, Henry had been in a slump for weeks, barely even going into the office. Not that it mattered-when he did, althe got was an earful from the other shareholders. Sanford was starting to get worried.
"Have you thought any more about what I said?" Sanford asked, not ready to give
up on the idea of Noreen mentoring his son.
Henry, absorbed in building a Lego set, answered without looking up. "She probably wouldn''t have me anyway."
When his father pressed him for a reason, he was evasive, finally admitting that he and Noreen had "a little history."
Sanford exploded. "Then apologize! Is that so hard? I''ll talk to your professor, have him set up a meeting. You go, you apologize, and you be sincere about it!"
"No."
"Are you really that proud?"
Sanford was about to continue his
tirade when Henry changed the
subject "When you saw the
professor, did you find out anything about his other disciple? The one who came before me?"
"He said he''ll reveal her identity in a little while. He told me to be patient."
*In a little while...* Henry wondered. *Does that mean after the grad school results are announced?*
"Why the dy?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"Professor Joyner has always been an entric," Sanford said with a sigh. "That''s how geniuses are. If he doesn''t want to say something, no one on earth can force him to."
Chapter 538
Sanford had known Professor Joyner long enough to understand his
temperament. The man was a ssic entric genius-brilliant, arrogant, and utterly indifferent to convention. He fit every stereotype.
After the final roadshow, Carman had a conference call with Noreen to report on their sess. All that was left was the final review from the securitiesmission, which, given their current momentum, seemed like a mere formality.
"You''ve worked hard," Noreen told him. "I''ve already had Sophia inform the staff that everyone is getting a week of paid vacation. It''s apany-sponsored team- building trip, all expenses covered."
"What about you?" Carman asked. "Aren''t you going to take a break and rx?"
"I''m buried in grad school prep. I can''t go anywhere."
"Then I''ll stay behind too¡ª"
"You absolutely have to go," Noreen interrupted, not letting him finish. "One of us needs to be there to represent management. Otherwise, it''ll be chaos."
Carman reluctantly agreed.
Noreen had just hung up when ire called. She answered on speakerphone, continuing to type her thesis without missing a beat.
"Babe, you will not believe who I ran into today!" ire''s attempts at building suspense were always a failure. If Noreen didn''t take the bait, ire would just spill everything like a leaky faucet anyway.
"I ran into Jerk Seth and Bitch Bianca!" she announced. "Seriously, those two are so obnoxious. Rivercrest City isn''t big enough for their PDA, so they had to bring their lovey-dovey act all the way to Northcrest. You have no idea how nauseating they were at this g. And people were actually asking them about their love story! I''m sitting there thinking, who on earth wants to hear the romantic details of their affair?"
"And Bitch Bianca, going on and on with ''my Seth this'' and ''my Seth that.'' You''d think they were already married! Which, by the way, someone actually asked. ''You two seem so in love, why aren''t you married yet?""
"And guess what Jerk Seth said?"
Noreen''s typing paused for a fraction of a second. "What did he say?"
"He said that Bitch Bianca is focused on her career right now and wants to achieve something significant before thinking about marriage. And that he, of course, respects her decision. He was ying the part of the perfect, supportive partner to a T!"
ire finished her tirade and was met with the tter of keyboard keys.
"Babe, are you even listening?"
Noreen finally stopped typing. "Why were you at a business g?"
ire fell silent. Was that really the point? Why was her focus so off?
"I was there with an investor," she mumbled.
Noreen frowned. "Didn''t I specifically tell your agent that you don''t have to attend any of thoseworking events?"
"He''s... sort of a rtive."
"You have rich rtives?"
"...The nouveau riche kind. His family''snd was bought out by the city, so now they have a little money."
When the sound of typing resumed, ire let out a quiet sigh of relief. She had managed to deflect.
The call didn''t faze Noreen in the
wowelet
slightest. As soon as it ended, she was once againpletely
immersed in her work.
The next morning, herwyer called with an update. The case had taken an unexpected turn.
The driver of the white sedan had recanted his testimony. He was now insisting that he had acted entirely on his own and that Lana had nothing to do with it.
There was a very real possibility that Lana would be released without charges.
In the space of a few short
sentences, Noreen''s expression turned to ice. So that''s why Seth had
stopped bothering her. He had found
another way.
Chapter 539
After some thought, Noreen informed herwyer to stick with the original n. They would pursue every lead, no matter how small.
Lana had better bepletely innocent in this.
That Saturday, Noreen flew to Glenhaven City for Mrs. Joyner''s memorial service. She hadn''t seen Castle Joyner in just over a month, but he had lost a significant amount of weight, and the lines on his face seemed to have deepened. There were even a few nearly imperceptible streaks of silver in his hair.
The service was quiet, attended mostly by close family and friends.
Just as Noreen finished paying her respects, amotion broke out behind her. "Katy, you can''t go up there!"
Before anyone could react, a small figure in white rushed forward and clung to Mrs. Joyner''s portrait. It was their daughter, little Katy, the girl with mild autism.
Katy hugged the portrait tightly, refusing to let go, murmuring over and over, "Mommy, don''t be scared. Don''t be scared. Little Katy will protect you."
Her caretaker, Josie, tried to gently take the portrait from her, but the little girl resisted fiercely. Finally, Castle spoke up. "It''s alright. Let her hold it."
Once they stopped trying to pull her away, Katy found a corner and crouched down, still holding the portrait close. Noticing she was only lightly dressed, Noreen took off her own coat and draped it over the girl''s shoulders.
At first, Katy recoiled, but when she looked up with red-rimmed eyes and saw it was Noreen, the defensiveness in her gaze softened. Her lower lip trembled as she whispered, "Prettydy, can you take me to find my mommy?"
A wave of sorrow washed over Noreen.
The final part of the ceremony involved burning the deceased''s personal belongings. Castle stoode before the ceremonial furnace, his hand hovering, unable to bring himself to toss in their wedding rings. It wasn''t until the officiant reminded him that the time was growing short that he reluctantly dropped the rings into the mes. They were thest mementos he had of his wife. But Mrs. Joyner had specifically requested that on this day, he burn everything rted to her, fearing that leaving keepsakes behind would prevent the living from moving on. She wanted nothing left, not even their wedding rings.
Noreen had a flight back to Rivercrest City that evening, but little Katy clung to her
and wouldn''t let go. No amount of coaxing from Josie could convince her. So,
Noreen changed her flight and stayed with the little girl for the night.
Josie told her that ever since Mrs. Joyner''s passing, Katy had barely been eating or sleeping. Already thin, she had wasted away to skin and bones With Noreen there to gently coax
katy finally at? a proper
meal and slept soundly through the night. t?
The next day, as Noreen prepared to leave, Katy was clearly reluctant to see her go, her small hand gripping the hem of Noreen''s shirt. It was only when Castle came over that she finally, and with great hesitation, released her grip.
Noreen gently stroked Katy''s head. "How about Ie visit you whenever I have time?"
Katy nodded, her eyes welling with tears. Noreen took a pen and paper from her bag and wrote down her number. "This is my phone number. You can call me anytime."
"Okay," Katy finally managed to say, a faint smile gracing her lips.
driver take Noreen to
Castle had his dr
the airport. Given his fragile state, she didn''t feel it was the right time to ask about the person who had saved her, but she did ask the driver a few questions on the way. He exined the Castle had arge, dedicated security team, and without more information, he couldn''t be sure who she was referring to.
Noreen had justnded in Rivercrest City when Healy called. Assuming it was about work, she answered. But Healy was calling to invite her to his birthday
party.
"I''m sorry, I''m too busy with work to make it. Happy birthday," Noreen said, declining without a second thought. To her, Healy was just a business partner, and their interactions should remain professional.
Chapter 540
Healy had expected her rejection, but it still left him feeling a bit down. Ending the call, he looked dejectedly at his mother, Mrs. Naylor, who was watching him with anticipation. "She said no."
Mrs. Naylor rolled her eyes at him. "Useless! All you have is a reputation as a yboy, and for what?"
"That''s probably why she wants nothing to do with me," Healy sighed.
"Well, you brought that on yourself! A man who doesn''t respect himself is like stale bread. Who would want that?"
Healy said nothing. He was used to his mother''s unfiltered criticisms.
In the end, Mrs. Naylor took matters into her own hands. She called Noreen, iming she had some business questions and needed to consult her in person. Since Mrs. Naylor had not only attended InnoCore''s presentation at Rivercrest University but had also introduced her to many influential people, Noreen couldn''t refuse, even though she suspected her true motives.
She made a quick stop at a department store to buy a nice pen as a birthday gift before heading to the location Mrs. Naylor had given her. When she saw the name of the club, she frowned instinctively. Why here of all ces?
But she was already here, and she couldn''t just stand them up. Steeling herself, Noreen went inside and found the private room. There were already people there, but she ignored them and addressed Healy directly. "Where''s Mrs. Naylor?"
"My mom had to leave for an urgent matter," Healy recited the line his mother had prepared for him. "Since you''re here, why not stay for a drink?"
"I drove, so I won''t be drinking. This is for you. Happy birthday." Noreen handed him the gift and turned to leave.
"You could have some juice," he said, a hint of desperation in his voice.
"No, thank you. You all have fun." With that, Noreen left, giving him no chance to say another word.
Honestly, Healy feltpletely defeated. He''d dated plenty of women and considered himself experienced in the art of pursuit, but his usual, foolproof methods were, utterly useless on Noreen. It felt like he didn''t stand a chance.
Healy chased after her, insisting on walking her out. It was still early, so the club''s hallway was quiet. The doo to one of the private rooms was ajar and voices drifted out.
"Mom, you need to remember that the only reason you got out of that mess was because my brother-inw pulled some strings. We have to thank him properly."
It was Lillian''s voice. She had booked the room to celebrate Lana''s release.
Lana chimed in, "Of course, of course. I''ve caused Seth so much trouble again. Bianca, please thank him for me."
"We''re family. Don''t be so formal," Bianca replied.
"Exactly," Lillian said smugly. "You don''t need to be so polite with him. Your situation was tricky, but oncez my cousin and brother-inw spoke up, he handled it, no matter how difficult. It just shows how much h? cares about you, Bianca. Your rtionship is enviable!"
Bianca''s face glowed with happiness.
Spencer Reed took the opportunity to chime in. "Cousin, could you ask my brother-inw to promote me? Maybe to a director or something, so I have a bit of status?"
"Sure, I''ll mention it to Seth," Bianca agreed easily.
Seeing her chance, Lana added, "Bianca, now that Lillian is back, could you find a respectable job for her too?"
"That''s easy enough, but we should wait until after PerseTech goes public," Bianca replied.
Lillian''s curiosity was piqued. "Is your brother-inw nning to marry you after the IPO?"
Chapter 541
Lana and Spencer thought the same. After all, the couple was already engaged and deeply in love; marriage was the logical next step.
"Yes," Bianca confirmed with a confident smile. "That''s the n."
Lillian sighed with envy. "He loves you so much! He got engaged to you first to make sure no one else could snatch you away. And now he''s pouring everything into building your career so the Harcourt family will ept you when he marries you. If I were you, I''d want to marry him immediately!"
Yvonne, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "That''s the difference between you and Bianca. A woman needs her own career and can''tpletely rely on a man. That''s one of the reasons Seth loves Bianca."
Noreen didn''t hear the rest of their conversation as she had already walked away.
Just as she suspected. Seth was the one who got Lana out.
She was about to call Colby when Healy caught up to her. "Noreen."
She turned, her expression cool. "Thank you for the birthday gift," he said, still holding the box.
"You''re wee." Noreen''s tone remained distant, maintaining a clear boundary between them.
Healy, however, was determined to break it down. "You don''t seem to like ces like this. If you want, I can take you somewhere else for dinner." He quickly added, afraid she would misunderstand, "Just the two of us." His friends, clearly, were now a secondary priority.
His words made Noreen pause, and she instantly understood. "Mr. Healy, you don''t have to go out of your way for me. Besides, a birthday is best spent with friends."
She trusted he was smart enough to catch the hint in her words. They weren''t even really friends.
Her use of "Mr. Healy" was like a bucket of ice water on his enthusiasm. Was she really not going to give him even the slightest chance?
With anyone else, Healy would have pressed the issue. But based on his understanding of Noreen, pushing her now would mean she''d avoid him entirely, except for purely professional asions. The words he had wanted to say for so long died on his lips, reced by a polite, formal farewell. "Drive safe on your way home, then."
"I will." Noreen gave a slight nod and walked away.
Healy stood there for a long time, so lost in thought that he didn''t notice Seth and Bianca standing nearby.
Bianca hade to pick Seth up, and they had witnessed the entire exchange. Her expression darkened, while Seth remainedpletely impassive, like a stranger watching a scene that had nothing to do with him.
Seth had only made a brief appearance at Lana''s celebration before heading over
to Healy''s party. It was only then that Bianca and Lillian realized it was his birthday.
"Cousin, didn''t Healy invite you to his birthday?" Lillian asked, confused.
Bianca''s face tightened slightly. "He probably knew I''ve been busytely, so he didn''t mention it."
Lillian epted the exnation. In her mind, Healy, just like Jude, was one of Bianca''s devoted admirers. "Well, let''s go over and say hello now. Her mind was already racing with other ideas.
Bianca eventually took her over. Lillian hadn''t seen Healy in a while, and her heart
began to flutter. "Healy, happy birthday."
But Healy seemedpletely lifeless, showing no interest in anyone.
Chapter 542
Lillian tried to talk to him, but he ignored her, focusing only on downing one drink after another.
"What''s wrong with him?" Bianca asked.
Healy just kept drinking sullenly. One of his friends nearby offered an exnation. "Seems like he just got his heart broken. He''s been drinking like this for a while."
Bianca fell silent. Lillian wanted to offer some words offort, but Healy gave her no opening.
Even his friend couldn''t watch anymore. "What''s with you, man? I''ve never seen you act so ungentlemanly. Thedy is trying to toast you."
Healy shot him a re, and the friend backed off. He turned to Lillian instead. "Sorry about that, beautiful. Healy''s in a bad mood today. I''ll drink with you."
"It''s alright," Lillian replied, putting on a polite front.
But just as their sses touched, the friend remarked, "You know, you look really familiar. I feel like I''ve seen you somewhere before."
Lillian assumed he was trying to hit on her. Though her heart was set on Healy, his friends were all wealthy and influential, so making new connections couldn''t hurt. She was about to tease him about his clich¨¦ pickup line when he snapped his fingers.
"I remember now! It was from that scandalous video..." Realizing what he''d just blurted out, the man quickly covered his mouth.
Lillian''s face turned a ghastly shade of pale, then red. The atmosphere became intensely awkward, and Bianca had no choice but to lead her away.
"Cousin, I''ll never be able to show my face in public again," Lillian sobbed as soon as they got in the car. She thought enough time had passed for people to forget, but someone had recognized her and in front of Healy, of all people How could she ever face him again?
Bianca''s expression was grave. "Keep a lower profile from now on. And give up on Healy. It''s impossible."
Lillian cried even harder. She now understood that a video like that could truly ruin a person. She had once plotted to destroy Noreen the same way, never imagining she would be the first to taste such bitter consequences.
...
Over the weekend, Rosalind Gilmore asked Noreen to deliver a basket of local specialties to Wade as a thank-you for his care while she was in the hospital.
As Noreen drove, she passed the property where Seth''s old house used to be. The foundation, which had beenpletely cleared, now supported the frame of a new house. They were working quickly. It was clear Seth was in a hurry.
When she arrived at the Harcourt
estate, Wade had just finished
Hein
dinner. He invited her to join him for tea, and as usual, he inquired about her business, offering insightfu advice. Noreen found it rxing that Seth was never around during her recent visits. She always teamed so much from Wade-about vision, perspective, and even market forecasting.
He was a man who had built amercial empire. Even after nearly a decade of quiet retirement, with the Harcourt Group operating at only a third of its peak size, it still remained the top conglomerate in Rivercrest City.
But today, after they finished discussing business, Wade asked Noreen a more
personal question. "Have you given any thought to your love life?"
"I''m not really thinking about that right now," Noreen answered honestly. Between her demanding job and studying for her grad school entrance exams, she felt like she needed to split herself in two just to get everything done. There was no time for romance ire called her a heartless work machine, and she couldn''t really deny it.
Wade paused. "Is it because you haven''t moved on?"
Chapter 543
Noreen had always beenpletely honest with Wade. "No," she said firmly. "That chapter of my life ispletely closed."
Wade believed her. He opened a drawer in the coffee table and pulled out a stack of photographs, cing them in front of her. "I had someone help me select these promising young men. Their character, education, and family backgrounds are all excellent. Take a look and see if anyone catches your eye. Pick one."
Noreen was caughtpletely off guard. She never expected this from Wade. It seemed all elders were the same, always wanting to find a stable match for the younger generation.
"Mr. Harcourt, I really don''t have the energy to date right now," she said with a helpless smile.
"That''s why I''m just asking you to look. See if there''s someone you find appealing, and then you can give it a try. Just because you''re not interested now doesn''t mean you won''t beter."
"Then maybe I can think about it after this busy period is over."
Wade knew she was preparing for Professor Joyner''s highlypetitive graduate program at Halley University and that it required intense focus. He nodded in agreement. "Alright. That gives me more time to vet them for you."
Noreen agreed. As it was gettingte, Wade didn''t keep her long, just reminded her to drive carefully.
No sooner had Noreen left than Seth returned to the estate. Wade knew without asking that Evelyn must have called him secretly.
Sure enough, as Seth walked in, Evelyn emerged from the kitchen with a bowl of hot soup. "Seth, have some chicken broth."
Seth took the bowl and sat on the sofa across from Wade, his gaze falling on the photos spread across the table. Wade ignored him, arranging the pictures one by
one.
Seth crossed his legs, sipping his soup as he scanned the photos. Once Wade was done, he began his critique. "This one''s features are too soft. He might have issues in... other departments."
"This one isn''t her type."
"This one looks like he has a temper."
"And this one," he drawled, "looks like he''s ying for the other team. You don''t want to push her into a disaster."
Wade shot him an icy re. He then pulled out the final photo, cing it on the table with a thud. This ope we know well he said coolly He''s already familiar with Noreen, they have a good rtionship, and his qualifications are impable."
Seth fell silent. He put down his spoon and called out, "Evelyn, I''m full." He''d lost
his appetite. And why was Dn''s picture in that pile?
Wade didn''t bother with him and went straight to his room. Evelyn took the soup bowl from Seth, letting out a long sigh, her expression a mixture of disappointment and unspoken reproach.
Seth got the message. He wasn''t exactly wee here. "Goodnight, Evelyn. I''m leaving," he said tactfully, getting up to leave.
Outside, a fight rain had begun to fall, a cold, drizzling mist. After Seth got into the car, just as the driver started the engine, the man in the back seat spoke. "Don''t go back to the apartment."
The driver understood immediately, changing course and driving away from the Harcourt estate.
...
In the final two weeks before the entrance exams, Bianca cut off nearly all social activities to focus entirely on studying, Jude tried to get hento hang out twice and failed, prompting him toin in their group chat.
"Bianca, give us failures a break! You''re already gorgeous, a genius, and you work so hard. You have a Ph.D. in finance and you''re still taking this exam? Thepetition is insane!"
"Compared to you, I feel like my existence is a waste of oxygen!"
Bianca sent a cute smiling emoji and replied, "It''s because I want to be someone Seth can be proud of."
Jude felt like he''d been pped in the face with their public disy of affection, which only worsened his mood. He didn''t know why, but everyone seemed to be incredibly busytely.
Chapter 544
He could understand Seth and Bianca needing time for themselves, but what was the deal with Dn and Healy? He couldn''t get ahold of them either.
"Busy is good, busy is good," he muttered to himself.
He went out for dinner alone, choosing a rather upscale restaurant. Just as he sat down, he saw Noreen. Jude reflexively ducked under the table, terrified of being seen. Only after he was sure she had left did he straighten up and peer through the floor-to-ceiling window.
Noreen was helping Professor Halley Joyner into a car, her movements full of care. Jude had always known Noreen was a skilledworker, but he never imagined she could win over someone like Professor Joyner, who was notoriously entric. Countless wealthy and powerful people had tried to curry favor with him and failed. Noreen was certainly impressive.
Just as Jude was marveling at this, Dn''s car pulled up smoothly in front of Noreen. Jude''s brow furrowed. Dn got out, walked over to Professor Joyner''s car, and leaned down to exchange a few words with him. Then, he and Noreen stood side-by-side, watching as the car drove away.
In that moment, Jude revised his earlier conclusion. Noreen hadn''t won over the old professor on her own; she had done it through Dn. As Dn''s cousin, Jude knew perfectly well that Dn was Halley''s prot¨¦g¨¦. Dn was obviously so smitten with Noreen that he was willing to act as her bridge.
But wasn''t that incredibly unfair to Bianca? She was studying so hard. If she lost to someone like Noreen who took shortcuts...
Jude''s expression grew serious. He immediately pulled out his phone and sent a message to Bianca.
"Bianca, I just saw Noreen having dinner with Professor Joyner. I think Dn set it up. You know Noreen, she''s clever and full of tricks. Who knows if she managed to get some inside information out of him."
"Maybe you should ask Seth to see if he can pull some strings, get you a meeting with Professor Joyner too, just to get your face out there."
Bianca must have been studying, as she didn''t reply right away. By the time her message came, Jude had already finished his meal.
Bianca wrote, "There''s no need. I''ll prove myself with my own abilities."
Her simple words filled Jude with respect. Bianca was truly no ordinary woman!
Her talent was her confidence. She didn''t need to resort to underhanded methods like Noreen.
Jude felt a surge of contempt for Noreen''s tactics, especially when he remembered he was still at her
mercy. His father was getting old
his judgment clouded, and hon
foolishly handed the familypany over to her.
Jude made a snap decision and sent another message to Bianca.
"Bianca, I''ve thought it over. I''m investing in PerseTech!"
This time, Bianca''s reply came quickly. "It''s about time you woke up."
After exchanging a few more grateful words with Bianca, Jude was in a much better mood.
Meanwhile, Bianca received a video
call from William. She answered immediately, her voice sweet and intimate. Professor what took yoth so long to call? I''ve been waiting for you!"
"So eager, are we, my dear?" William''s cloudy eyes narrowed, his gaze crawling
over Bianca''s body like a sticky spiderweb.
Bianca slowly traced a line from her chin downward with a slender finger, guiding his view. William''s eyes darkened, and his breathing grew Tagged. Lower, my dear, a little lower..."
Just as she was about toply, a knock sounded at her door.
Chapter 545
It was Yvonne, bringing her a te of fruit. Luckily, Bianca had locked the door.
She quickly muted her phone and called out, "Mom, I''m already in bed."
"Oh, alright. Rest well, then."
After Yvonne''s footsteps faded, Bianca unmuted her phone. A flicker of disgust crossed her face as she looked at the repulsive image on the screen, but her voice was dripping with seduction when she spoke. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
William''s face wasn''t visible, but Bianca could imagine his contorted, predatory expression. "Quickly, quickly, baby. I need you. I need you desperately."
"I''m right here," she cooed. "Right under you. Look at me..."
Sometimeter, a fragile peace returned to Bianca''s room. They were both breathing heavily on opposite ends of the line. William was now in a state of post- coital satisfaction, the perfect time to make a request. Bianca hadn''t forgotten the purpose of tonight''s... sacrifice.
"Professor, my entrance exam is just around the corner. Could you give me some advice...?"
The next morning, Jude showed up at Noreen''s office just as she arrived. He got straight to the point. "I want an advance on this quarter''s dividend."
Noreen paused, her hand hovering over a document. "An advance on your dividend?"
"That''s right! I believe I have the right to ask for it, don''t I?"
Noreen finally looked up at him, her gaze cool. "You can receive an advance, provided you get approval from a shareholder vote. If all the shareholders agree, it''s possible."
She closed the file in front of her, tapping her fingers lightly on the cover. "But you seem to have forgotten that the Seymour Group has been operating at a loss for the past two years. Since took over, we''ve been focused on debt restructuring. There are virtually no after-tax profits on the books. Where do you expect me to find the funds for your dividend?"
"Don''t give me all that corporate jargon. Just give me a straight answer. Can I get my dividend or not?"
"You cannot," Noreen told him inly.
Jude stormed out, mming the door behind him.
Sophia came in with a stack of documents, nearly colliding with the furious Jude on his way out. She frowned. "All the entitlement of a rich kid with none of the ss is he going to pay for the door the breaks it?
Noreen signed the papers Sophia brought and handed them back, adding an instruction. "Keep an eye on Jude''s activities. If he tries to sell his shares, buy them back immediately at the lowest market price."
"You got it!" Sophia said.
The very next day, Sophia reported back. "That blockhead is actually selling his shares! I bet his father has no idea. If he knew, he''d probably have a heart attack on the spot!"
When Seymour Wilder had handed thepany to Noreen, he had been cautious, leaving thirty percent of the shares in Jude''s name while ensuring Noreen held a check on him. He knew exactly what his son was like.
If Noreen wasn''t mistaken, Jude
was nning to use that money to invest in PerseTech. That was his choice, and she wouldn''t interfere
But for the future of mour
Group, she had to buy back those shares.
"Did you acquire all of them?" Noreen asked, cutting to the chase.
"Of course! And at the lowest market price, just like you said!"
"Good. Keep at it. Whatever he sells, we buy."
As it turned out, Sophia''s nickname for Jude was spot on. Anyone with a shred of sense knows not to put all their eggs in one basket. But Jude, in his infinite wisdom, sold off his entire stake.
Chapter 546
With that, the Seymour Group and the Wilder family were officially disconnected. All Noreen could do was wish him luck. She had no time to worry about Jude anyway; her exam was just days away.
On the morning of the exam, Noreen woke up early and headed to Rivercrest University. Returning to campus after four years felt different, nostalgic. She snapped a picture at the gate and sent it to ire, who was off filming in some remote wilderness, asking for good luck.
"What a coincidence! The character I''m ying is a literal angel. I guarantee you''ll ace it!"
"I''ll take you up on that," Noreen replied.
"Noreen! Have some faith in yourself! You''re the genius who ved away at Aurelion Group while still effortlessly acing all your sses and winning a full schrship!"
"Didn''t I also getst ce once?"
ire sent a string of eye-rolling emojis. "That''s because you skipped the exam!"
It was a funny story. Noreen consistently ranked first, to the point where no one was surprised anymore. But one time she came inst, and the news blew up on the school''s online forum. In the end, that''s what people remembered most about her¡ª that one viral post and the st ce''bel. Even Noreen herself joked about it.
ire reminded her sternly, "Noreen, this is no time for false modesty!"
After a bit more idle chatter, Noreen put her phone away and prepared to enter the campus.
"Noreen."
A voice called her name from behind. She turned, surprised to see Dn. "Aren''t you supposed to be on a business trip abroad? Is your work done?"
She''d learned at a meeting at Omniva Group a few days prior that Dn would be overseas all week for a syndicated loan project with a foreign bank.
"Not yet. I flew back for a bit," he admitted freely. "How could I miss such an important day?" He was holding a single sunflower which he offered to her hope you soar today."
"With a wish like that, I have to ept." Noreen took the flower and brought it to her
nose, inhaling its fresh, dewy scent.
"Are you nervous?" Dn asked.
"A little."
"Then I''ll walk in with you." He had already registered for campus ess, just in case she needed him.
"That''s not necessary." Noreen shook her head with a smile. "I can handle it."
"Alright. Let''s have lunch after your exam is done." Dn deferred to her wishes.
Noreen was about to agree when several cars, all luxury models, pulled up to the entrance. Leading the procession was the Rolls-Royce Cullinan that Seth had bought for Bianca. Themotion drew a lot of attention with onlookers whispering about who could be arriving in such style.
When Bianca stepped out of the car, her eyes immediately fell on Dn and Noreen standing a short distance away. Her gaze lingered for a moment before she gave a dismissive smirk.
Jude, getting out of the car behind her, was surprised to see Dn. "Huh? Isn''t Dn overseas?"
He had been to Omniva Group
several timesst week but hadn''t
been able to see Dn, whose assistant said he was swamped with international projects and couldn''t possibly return And yet here he was, in the flesh. To go to such lengths for Noreen
Bianca heard him and immediately understood, her expression turning cold.
Lillian, trailing behind, saw Noreen and scoffed. "She actually dared to show up!"
Chapter 547
"Putting on a brave face like this is just pathetic."
Lillian''s voice wasn''t quiet; everyone nearby, including Seth, heard her. He remained impassive, his expression unreadable, as if Noreen''s presence meant nothing to
him. His focus was entirely on Bianca.
While others were gossiping about Noreen, he was asking Bianca, "Are you nervous?"
Before Bianca could answer, Lillian jumped in. "My cousin has a Ph.D. in finance. A simple master''s exam is nothing for her. Of course she''s not nervous."
Bianca, ever the picture of humility, corrected her. "Don''t say that. Professor Joyner''s program is notoriously difficult to get into."
Lillian pouted. "You''re just being too modest, cousin. You''ve been exceptional since you were a child, always getting top marks. Your talent speaks for itself. Not everyone gets an offer from WT Business School, you know."
Even Jude chimed in, "Bianca, stop being so humble! Give the rest of us mortals a break!"
It just went to show that the most aplished people were often the most modest. He deeply admired Bianca''s quiet confidence. As for Noreen...
Jude nced in her direction again, his expression hard to read. He hoped she wouldn''t cry when she came crashing down.
"Alright, everyone, you can see me off here," Bianca said, checking her watch. "It''s almost time. I''m going in. You should all get back to what you were doing. Especially you, Seth. Don''t you have a lot to handle at the office? Don''t wait for me. I''lle find you when I''m done."
"It''s no trouble. We''ll wait," Seth stated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Lillian felt a pang of jealousy. "Cousin, of course he''s going to wait for you! You''re always his top priority!"
"You talk too much," Bianca teased, but she was secretly thrilled. Before heading in, she gave Seth a lingering, reluctant hug.
At the entrance, Noreen had just passed through security and turned to wave goodbye to Dn. Her gaze inevitably swept over the couple locked in a tight embrace less than twenty feet away from him. She paid them no mind, but as she turned away, her eyes met Seth''s. She didn''t pause, simply turned and walked into the university, not bothering to register the expression on his face.
Since Noreen and Bianca were applying for the same program, they were in the same examination hall. The test was divided into two parts: a standardized section and a specialized exam set by Professor Joyner himself.
The morning session was the specialized exam. It was difficult, and the room was filled with the
sound of frantic scribbling. Even
with three hours, time felt tightYet, someone finished and turned in their paper a full forty minutes early.
Such an act meant one of two things: either the person was a genius who found the questions trivial, or they had given uppletely.
Bianca nced up. Seeing it was Noreen, she wasn''t surprised at all. Clearly, Noreen belonged to thetter category. With a mocking smile, Bianca lowered her head and continued writing.
Noreen had just stepped out of the hall when she ran into Professor Joyner, who was making his rounds with Henry by his side. Noreen''s first instinct was to turn and flee but in was toote. "Stop right there," Haffey called out.
Seeing no escape, Noreen turned back with a sheepish smile. "Professor Joyner."
Halley''s face was stern as he checked his watch. "Forty minutes early. What''s the matter? Couldn''t answer the questions, so you just gave up?"
Chapter 548
Noreen scratched her head, feeling a bit awkward in the role of a student again. "I checked it three times."
Halley snorted. "And I suppose I should praise you for that?"
Noreen fell silent, not daring to respond. She''d said that because, in the past, she used to turn in her exams after checking them only once, and she always finished early. After Halley had caught her several times, he''d given her a strict rule: she had to check her work three times from beginning to end and was not allowed to submit it more than forty minutes early. Today, she had pushed it right to the limit.
If it weren''t for her afternoon exam, Halley would have given her a proper lecture. He let her off with a warning this time. "You are not to finish early this afternoon!"
"Understood."
With that, Halley continued on his rounds, his hands sped behind his back. As Henry followed, he passed by Noreen and shot her a disdainful look, a cold, mocking smile ying on his lips.
In terms of academic credentials and knowledge, Biancapletely outssed Noreen. He had read Bianca''s papers during her time at the business school. Her work was of an exceptionally high professional standard, often used by his own professors as case studies. This time, Noreen was bound to fail spectacrly.
Noreen hadn''t even left the university grounds when she saw Dn. He hade inside after all and hadn''t left. He had even anticipated she would finish early and was waiting for her outside the exam hall.
"I''ve booked a restaurant. Let''s go get some lunch."
"Okay," Noreen agreed readily. They walked out together, chatting andughing.
As they crossed the small quad outside the examination building, they ran into Seth''s group, who were presumably there to wait for Bianca. It was quite arge, imposing entourage. Noreen and Dn paid them no attention; Dn didn''t even bother to greet them as they walked past.
Only Lillian red at Noreen as she passed, but Noreen didn''t even look her way. Lillian could have stared until her eyes popped out, and no one would have noticed. Jude, remembering a piece of gossip he''d just heard, decided to share it with the group. "I just ran into a friend who''s a teaching assistant here at Rivercrest. He''s a couple of years older than Noreen. He told me something interesting. Want to hear it?"
Lillian was the most enthusiastic. "Is it about Noreen? Spill it!"
"My friend said that back in college, Noreen once ranked deadst in her year."
"Deadst?!" Lillian was shocked. "Then where does she get the nerve to apply for Professor Joyner''s graduate program?"
Jude let out a short, mockingugh.
Just then, Bianca emerged from the
exam hall
and walked over to them.
"What are you all talking about? You look so happy." Content Belongs
Lillian couldn''t wait to share the
bombshell gossip. "Jude''s frien
said Noreen used to always rank in her year at university.
Bianca froze.
"First from the bottom! Hahaha!"
Bianca managed a smile. "Deadst? Then how did she get into Aurelion Group?" Even though Aurelion was a smallpany back then, Seth had always valued talent. Everyone who had helped him build thepany was a top performerin their field.
"She used underhanded methods, of course!"
Jude was the expert on this topic. He was the primary source!
Lillian, who didn''t know the whole story, pressed him eagerly. "What kind of
methods? Tell us everything!"
She was desperate to know every sordid detail of Noreen''s past, ready to broadcast
it to the world.
Chapter 549
Jude, who could never keep a secret, was just about to spill all of Noreen''s dirtyundry when Seth cut in, his voice cool and detached. "It''s time for lunch. We don''t have much time, and we can''t bete for the afternoon exam."
That snapped the others out of their gossipy mood.
"Oh, right. My cousin has an exam this afternoon. We shouldn''t let irrelevant people distract her."
Though her words sounded considerate, her expression was pure scorn; she clearly looked down on Noreen from the bottom of her heart.
"Besides, even if my cousin didn''t try, she''d still wipe the floor with certain people, right?"
Last ce?
The nerve!
Bianca didn''tment, only adding offhandedly, "Noreen just turned in her paper forty minutes early."
Her tone was t, yet it carried an unmistakable hint of contempt.
Lillian teased, "If the rules didn''t require you to wait, she probably would have walked out even sooner, right?"
"I mean, it''s not like she could aplish anything by just sitting there!"
Bianca offered a faint, silent smile.
The afternoon exam was on a general subject, which was rtively simplepared to their specialized fields. Both Noreen and Bianca could handle it with
ease.
This time, however, Noreen didn''t dare to turn in her paper early, afraid she''d get caught by Halley again.
Later, during the interview portion, Noreen handled the questions with effortlessposure.
When she came out, she saw Henry pacing by the door.
He seemed to be waiting for someone.
Probably Bianca.
Noreen paid him no mind and dialed Dn''s number.
As she passed Henry, his fingers tightened, and he looked like he wanted to say something.
But it felt as if something was caught in his throat, and he couldn''t get a single sound out.
He still hadn''t called out to her by the time she was far down the hall.
Forget it.
The worst that could happen was getting an earful from the old man when he got home.
Henry thought to himself.
Truthfully, he didn''t want anything to do with Noreen. But his father kept calling, nagging him to spend more time with her, to learn from her business philosophy...
He really didn''t get it.
He was a student at a top-tier business school. Why should he have to learn from a mere undergrad like Noreen, who hadn''t even gone to grad school?
Just then, Bianca emerged.
Lillian, who was waiting for her, spotted Henry nearby as she walked over.
Seeing Henry staring outside, she followed his gaze.
When she realized he was looking in Noreen''s direction, she frowned instinctively.
Why was Henry looking at Noreen?
Just as the question formed in her
minerted his eyes a
Henry
upon seeing
Bianca, heme
walked toward her.
Lillian breathed a sigh of relief.
She was overthinking it.
There was
lookin way Henry was
looking at Noreen. He was probably just ncing in that direction
randomly.
After all, Lillian knew perfectly well how smitten Henry was with Bianca.
Before he knew Bianca had a boyfriend, the guy had staged a grand, public confession.
Candles, flowers, serenading her with a guitar...
A ssic, clich¨¦ college romance scene.
Unfortunately, Bianca had turned him down.
At the time, Lillian had asked her why.
Bianca had said it was too childish.
Who would have guessed that this
unassuming, broke international
student was actually the heir
V
Brooke Group?
If he had revealed his background sooner, things might be very different today.
Still, the guy was quite devoted.
Bianca was also surprised to see Henry. "When did you get here?"
"This morning," Henry replied, before asking about her exam. "How did it go?"
"Pretty well."
Henry knew how capable she was, so he wasn''t worried.
Bianca then invited Henry to join them for dinner.
He thought about it for a moment but declined.
He knew Bianca would definitely be celebrating with Seth.
"I have ns tonight, so I can''t make it."
Bianca didn''t press him. "Alright, then we''ll catch up when you''re free."
Chapter 550
As soon as she finished speaking, Seth''s call came through.
Bianca''s voice was warm and cheerful as she answered. "Seth, I''m done with my exam."
"Yes, it went pretty well."
"Okay, I''ll be right out."
She gave Henry a quick wave and left.
Henry then turned and went to find Halley.
Once Bianca hung up, Lillian brought up Henry again. "My dear cousin, that Henry
is as smitten with you as ever. He''s always keeping an eye on you."
Bianca just gave a faint smile, unconcerned.
Just as Henry reached Halley''s office, he heard people inside discussing the papers from that day''s exam.
"This thesis is of exceptionally high quality! The ck box investing technique it mentions is particrly brilliant! It has incredible research potential!"
"I agree, Professor Joyner. I''m very optimistic about this student."
Halley asked casually, "What''s her name?"
"Bianca."
Outside the door, Henry froze.
Bianca.
ck box investing.
The painting.
The girl who gave up a future in mathematics for love.
In that instant, everything connected, forming a clear, undeniable line.
He was now absolutely, positively certain.
Bianca was the Brooke family''s benefactor!
She was the person Sanford had been searching for all this time!
Because the very thing that had saved the Brooke family from the brink of copse
was the ck box investing technique.
Henry spun around and jogged back downstairs, hoping to catch Bianca.
But by the time he got there, she was long gone.
And in his haste, he missed what Halley said next.
"ck box investing? Let me see." Halley took Bianca''s paper.
The more he read, the tighter his brow furrowed, his expression growing colder by the second.
The other two professors fell silent.
"I''m taking this with me to study more closely."
Halley tucked the paper away.
The two professors exchanged a look, both assuming Halley was also impressed by the paper''s caliber.
It seemed the student named Bianca was as good as selected.
...
Dn had thought Noreen was only treating him to dinner and was quite pleased about it.
It wasn''t until he arrived that he realized she had invited several other people.
Carman and the others were back from their vacation and had brought Noreen plenty of gifts.
Most of them had been picked out by Mina Holt, mainly because Carman was clueless in that department, leaving his sister steer him right.
"It''s such a shame you didn''te, Noreen! The ind was gorgeous! The water was as clear as blue crystal. So many people hold their weddings there!"
"I''m just d you all had a good time."
After all, her goal had been for everyone to rx.
"One of the locals told me that earlier this year, some big-shot tycoon held his engagement ceremony there. The entire ind was covered in flowers-it was incredibly extravagant! He even had helicopters circling the ind dropping flower petals! It was an incredible spectacle!"
Mina, at an age where she dreamed of such things, couldn''t stop gushing.
Sophia poured cold water on her excitement. "You conveniently forgot to mention that the tycoon''s fianc¨¦e got kidnapped. You only talk about the good parts."
"Ahem, well, it was because the
tycoon was so shy that he
attracted the attention of pirates
That''s why they kidnapped his
fiancee for ransom! I heard they paid
eight hundred million!"
Noreen hadn''t paid much attention to the news before, but the mention of a
kidnapping piqued her interest.
"Was this back in May?"
Mina nodded. "Yeah!"
Noreen nced at Sophia.
Sophia nodded in confirmation.
So, the ce they went for their team-building trip was the same ind where Seth
and Bianca had gotten engaged?
What a coincidence.
Mina''s gossip-loving soul was
burning bright. Cupping a hand to
her mouth, she lowered her voice.
her voice
"The inder also said that they tycoon''s fianc¨¦e... the kidnappers... you know..."
Chapter 551
In the private dining room next door, Lillian shot up from her seat, her face burning with indignation. She looked ready to march over and tear into them. "How crude! Gossiping about people behind their backs!"
Bianca Lowell grabbed her arm just in time. "Lillian! They''re talking about you!" Lillian seethed, unable to contain her anger.
Bianca''s expression turned icy. "They haven''t mentioned any names. If you storm over there now, you''ll just be admitting it''s you they''re talking about."
The reminder finally sank in, and Lillian''s face grew even darker. "So we''re just supposed to let them run their mouths?" she demanded, still fuming.
Of course, Bianca was just as angry, but she was far more rational. Besides, Seth Harcourt was due to arrive any minute, and she didn''t want to cause a scene that might dredge up a past she''d rather forget-especially not in public. So, for now, she had to endure it.
"What''s the rush?" Bianca said coolly. "How much longer can she enjoy this little moment of triumph?"
Lillian paused. "You''re right."
Once PerseTech went public, Bianca''s status would skyrocket, leaving Noreen Gilmore so far behind she wouldn''t even be able to catch up. By then, Bianca would have earned Wade Harcourt''s approval and secured her ce in the Harcourt family. Noreen would be left in the dust. There would be plenty of time to settle old scorester.
"What are you two talking about?" Seth asked as he walked in.
Bianca offered a faint smile. "Just some girl talk."
Seth didn''t press the issue. Lillian took a sip of tea and said, "Seth, what do you think the odds are of running into someone by chance in the same city?"
"Very low."
Lillian''s tone wasden with insinuation That''s what I thought. So isn''t it strange that we seem to run into Noreen everywhere we go? It really makes you wonder." She was deliberately trying to nt a seed in Seth''s mind-that these fr¨¦quent "chance" encounters were orchestrated by Noreen it was just so pathetic. Noreen knew perfectly well that Seth was engaged to her cousin, yet she still harbored these petty ambitions. She had no sense of propriety.
At the mention of Noreen''s name, Seth''s expression remained impassive. "The innocent have no need to defend themselves. Just ignore it."
With that one simple sentence, hepletely shut Noreen out of his world. Bianca was pleased with his response, and a genuine smile returned to her face. It was clear he didn''t even want to waste his breath talking about Noreen.
Lillian, sensing the shift, tactfully changed the subject. "Bianca, do you think Healy will show up today?"
"I''m not sure," Bianca replied.
"Well, it''s his mother''s restaurant, and it''s their anniversary celebration. He should be here, right?" Lillian said hopefully. She had specifically chosen Mrs. Naylor''s restaurant for their get together precisely for the chance to run into Healy Naylor. She never expected Noreen to be there too.
Noreen, for her part, had no idea Bianca and her group were dining in the next room. She was there at Mrs. Naylor''s personal invitation to celebrate the restaurant''s anniversary-both as a guest and to show her support.
Not wanting Mina Holt to dwell on gossip, Noreen cut her off, handing her a ss of
soy milk to change the subject. "I noticed you have a real eye for photography. You should consider taking a ss."
Mina, with her youthful enthusiasm,
was easily distracted. "See? Noreen
gets me! I''ve been wanting to, but
tel
my brother thinks it''s not a serious
pursuit and won''t support me."She then looped her arm through Noreen''s and turned to challenge "Carman, even Noreen
Carman Hof
supports me learning photography. What do you have to say now?"
"Then do it," Carman relented.
Mina scoffed. "Why are you so two-faced? I begged you for ages and you ignored
me, but the second Noreen says something, you agree. You''re going to be
Carman''s face flushed. "Just eat your dinner!"
Chapter 552
"You''ll never get a girl if you''re this shy, you know!" Mina was genuinely worried for her brother. It had been so long, and he''d made absolutely no progress. When would she finally get to call Noreen her sister-inw? She decided she had to step in and help. At his current pace, it could take another five years.
"Noreen, besides being a bit reserved, my brother is a really great guy. You should give him a chance!" Mina pleaded. "Plus, you two co-own InnoCore! He provides the technical expertise, you handle the business side-it''s like a perfect partnership. You''d be unstoppable!"
"Mina," Carman cut in, his voice tinged with panic.
Noreen, sensing Carman was about to scold his sister, stepped in to smooth things over. "Grown-up matters are for grown-ups. Your focus right now should be on your studies." She added gently, "And rtionships between adults are a lot moreplicated than you think."
Mina always listened to Noreen, so she nodded obediently. "Okay, I get it."
The lively chatter from Noreen''srger party carried over into Bianca''s private room, including Mina''s attempt to y matchmaker. Hearing Noreen''s gentle refusal, Bianca curled her lip in a disdainful smirk and exchanged a knowing nce with Lillian. It was obvious Noreen was just ying hard to get, stringing the man along.
They were unaware that Mina had suffered from depression and was still in a sensitive adolescent phase. Her therapist had advised that she needed to be handled with care and asionally cated, which was why Noreen''s response had been so diplomatic. Unfortunately, her kindness was being misinterpreted by others as a coy tactic.
Jude Wilder was thest to arrive, having been held up at the hospital. Seeing it was only Jude, Lillian''s face fell with disappointment. "Oh, it''s just you."
"Who were you expecting? Healy?" Jude said, taking a seat. "He''s not even in Rivercrest City. He''s out of town at one of the factories."
Lillian''s shoulders slumped. It seemed she wouldn''t be seeing Healy today after all.
After downing two sses of water, Jude turned to Bianca. "So, how''s the PerseTech IPOing along?"
"We''re just waiting for the final review from the securitiesmission."
"Wow, that was fast!" Jude eximed. "If it passes, PerseTech will be the fastestpany to go public in Rivercrest City history! Looks like I backed the right horse!"
Seth paused, then asked Jude, "Does your father know you invested in PerseTech?"
Jude shook his head. "Are you
kidding? fd never tell him! You know how conservative my dad is. I''m nning on surprising him. When h¨¨ sees how sessful this is, he''ll finally have to take me seriously!"
Seth said nothing more, but Jude was already caught up in his grand ambitions, determined to make a name for himself alongside Bianca. He was going to prove to everyone that he, Jude Wilder, was nota lost cause. Bianca had painted a rosy picture of PerseTech''s future, and Jude''s confidence was soaring.
But halfway through dinner, his phone rang. It was Seymour Wilder. Jude had barely managed to say "Dad" when Seymour''s roar echoed from the other end. "Get your ass to the hospital right now!"
"But I''m having dinner with friends."
"I don''t care where you are! Get over here! Now!" Seymour''s voice was choked with
rage, and he broke into a fit of violent coughing.
Jude didn''t dare dy. He hastily
excused himself and rushed to the
hospital. Seymour had just calmed
down when he saw his son, and his
anger instantly red up again
Go
and pull every penny you invested in PerseTech out right now!"
Chapter 553
This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !
Chapter 554
Finally, he let out a long sigh. "So be it. We''ll leave it to fate."
"What if the project turns out to be a good one?" Noreen tried tofort him. "Don''t be so pessimistic." In her mind, even if the project had its ws, with Seth managing it, the oue might still be positive.
"Let''s hope so," Seymour replied, his voice heavy with resignation.
No sooner had she hung up with Seymour than Sanford Brooke called. They had exchanged contact information when they met at Halley Joyner''s house. He, too, was calling to ask about the high-temperature superconductivity project.
Noreen gave a more diplomatic answer. "I''ve looked into it. It has potential."
Sanford, unlike his son, was a seasoned veteran of the business world and far more perceptive. Hearing Noreen''s carefully worded response, his heart sank. "Well," he said with a hint of mncholy, "I suppose we can consider it a learning experience for him." It was the kind of sentiment only the truly wealthy could afford, using a multi-billion dor investment as a training exercise for their child.
As an outsider, Noreen refrained from offering any personal opinions. Sanford then asked her to look out for Henry, a request Noreen didn''t ept. Besides, she doubted Henry would appreciate it. Sanford''s sigh on the other end of the line was even heavier this time.
Sophia Cole came in with a snack for Noreen and noticed her pensive expression. "What''s wrong?"
"Nothing," Noreen said. "I was just thinking about how difficult it is to be a parent." Two fathers, both worrying about their children''s futures. It was a league of worried fathers.
Of course, it was their business, and Noreen''s reflection was fleeting. Her attention was quickly captured by the soup Sophia had brought. "This soup is excellent today."
Sophia beamed. "See? My cooking skills are improving!"
"Or maybe they''re just getting back to normal after a recent decline?"
"Noreen, you can be so harsh," Sophia pouted.
A weekter, Henry arrived in Rivercrest City. He went to Halley''s house first, only to be told that Halley was out of town for an academic conference. So, Henry changed course and headed to Rivercrest University. He f
figured t
results for the graduate pro?ram admissions should be out soon. While the official online
announcement was still a ways off, he knew he could get an early update from the department.
Having apanied Halley to the university several times before, he was acquainted with some of the professors. They knew him as Halley''s prodigy and spoke to him candidly. "Didn''t Professor Joyner tell you? It''s already been decided! It''s going to be Bianca." The professorexined that her
research proposal was exceptionally strong and perfectly aligned with Professor Joyner''s interests, which was why Halley had personally taken charge of her application.
Henry was overjoyed for Bianca. He knew she could do it! She had always been the most brilliant person he knew.
After thanking the professor, Henry
rushed off to find Bianca, eager to be the first to share the good news Bianca had arranged to meet him at a fine dining restaurant. On the table, she had ced a vase of lilies of the valley.¡ªhis favorite and had asked the waiter to light a candle. When Henry arrived and saw the scene, his heart pounded in his chest. He thought she had forgotten, but she remembered everything.
Back in business school, he had worked up the courage to confess his feelings to her, presenting her with a bouquet of lilies of the valley. "You remembered," Henry murmured, his voice soft.
"Of course, I do," Bianca replied. "It was a sincere gesture, and every genuine feeling deserves to be remembered."
In that moment, Henry knew he had given his heart to the right person.
Chapter 555
Bianca returned to the Lowell family estate in high spirits, arriving to find her father, Forrest Lowell, was also home. She greeted him cheerfully before asking about the status of PerseTech''s review.
"I had dinner with themissioner just yesterday," Forrest said, his tone casual but reassuring. "He mentioned that the project has garnered significant attention from the higher-ups."
Given his sensitive position, Forrest couldn''t borate, but Bianca understood the implication. If the project was being watched from above, it meant its prospects were bright, and its chances of a sessful IPO were extremely high. It was truly a day of double blessings.
That weekend, Noreen flew to Glenhaven City to visit little Joe. Castle Joyner must have known she wasing, as he had instructed his housekeeper to prepare a room and dinner for her. He himself was out of the country on business. The room was in the Joyner Mansion itself, and being there stirred memories of Mrs. Joyner. But it was a bittersweet feeling; every trace of Mrs. Joyner had been erased from the mansion, as if she had never existed. Yet, she lived on, ever-present in the hearts of those who loved her.
Noreen returned to Rivercrest City on Sunday morning for a charity auction that evening hosted by Mrs. Naylor. It turned out Healy hadn''te back for his mother''s restaurant anniversary because he was waiting for this g¡ªthe true highlight of the Naylor family''s social calendar.
Before heading out, Jude sent a message to his group chat, tagging Bianca. "What time are you getting there?"
A whileter, Bianca replied, "I have an important engagement. I can''t make it."
Jude was audibly disappointed. "Aw, I thought we could all hang out."
"Let''s get together in a couple of days," Bianca wrote back. "I have some good news to announce."
"What good news?" Jude immediately pressed.
"You''ll find out then," she replied, leaving him in suspense. No matter how much he prodded, she said nothing more.
Bianca was currently at a high-end jewelry boutique with Lillian. As her phone buzzed incessantly, Lillian asked, "Aren''t you going to check that?"
"It''s nothing," Bianca said, admiring her reflection in the mirror. "What do you think of this diamond ne?"
"It''s beautiful," Lillian gushed. "But you''re so gorgeous, you make everything look good."
Bianca decided to take the ne on the spot then instructed the sales associate to bring out all thetest and most fashionable pieces for her to browse. Lillian watched, her heart filled with envy. In less than two hours, Bianca had
amassed seven or eight shopping bags rifled with designer clothes, luxury handbags, and countless pieces of jewelry. Lillian roughly estimated she had already spent well over a million dors-more than her entire yearly allowance. And Bianca showed no signs of stopping.
"Bianca, won''t Seth say anything about you spending so much?"
Bianca let out a lightugh. "This? This is nothing. Seth has always been incredibly generous with me."
Lillian was consumed by a mix of
jealousy and admiration. Why couldn''t she find a perfect man like
Seth? "By the way," she said, "I heard
Healy is back in town for his mother''s charity g. Why aren''t you going?"
Bianca''s gaze lowered, her expression unreadable. "I have to prepare for my celebration party. I''m just too busy."
Lillian epted the excuse at face value, though she was personally disappointed. She had hoped to see Healy there. Only Bianca knew the real reason she wasn''t attending the g she hadn''t received an invitation.
an
Chapter 556
iming she was too busy was merely an excuse to save face. To soothe her bruised ego, Bianca continued her shopping spree with a vengeance, buying a staggering amount of luxury goods. Her final purchase was the boutique''s crown jewel: a legacy diamond ne worth nearly ten million dors.
Lillian''s jaw dropped. The sheer extravagance was breathtaking.
They spent the entire day shopping, returning with an impressive haul. Lillian had even managed to get a few items for herself, including a designer handbag for her mother, Yvonne Laurent.
As they were celebrating their sessful trip, Jude''s messages exploded in the group chat.
"HOLY CRAP! Has Noreen lost her mind?"
Dn Wilder, who was on a business trip abroad where it was the middle of the night, suddenly popped up with a single question mark. He was usually a silent observer in the chat, which made his sudden appearance all the more significant. Seeing his message, Bianca smirked. He wasn''t even trying to hide it anymore.
With an audience, Jude went on. "Just now! Noreen dropped fifty million on a ne! The woman is loaded!"
"What kind?" Dn asked.
Jude sent a picture to the group: a stunning ne made of top-grade imperial jadeite beads.
"It''s a fine piece," Dnmented after a moment. "A very good investment."
He had barely finished typing when Jude started freaking out again.
"WHOA! She''s at it again! Bidding on an antique sapphire ne! The starting price is one hundred and fifty million!" he typed frantically. "That''s 150 MILLION! Not fifteen! How can she just throw that kind of money around?"
"It must also have significant collector''s value," was Dn''s calm assessment. He knew Noreen; if she was making a move, she knew exactly what the item was worth.
Reading the messages, Bianca felt a bitter pang of jealousy. She had spent the entire day shopping and had only managed to spend a little over ten million. Meanwhile, Noreen was dropping hundreds of millions without a second thought. Biancaposed herself, sent apprivate message to Jude asking for the auction catalog and quickly found a tunning ruby jewelry set the most expensive item of the night. She took a screenshot and sent it to Seth. "Seth, this set is beautiful."
She knew that if she expressed her desire for it, Seth would buy it for her without
hesitation. Then, she would be the one in the spotlight, not Noreen.
After sending the text, Bianca put
her phone down and went to take a bath. Two hourster, after her skincare routine she picked up f phone again: As expected, de had updated the group chat: Seth had just purchased a ruby jewelry set. The most expensive lot of the night. For nine hundred million dors.
Bianca smiled in triumph. She knew it. All she had to do was ask, and Seth would give her the world. How could Noreen possiblypete with that? She was nothing but a clown.
Bianca immediately shared the news with Lillian, who was stunned. "Is he going to propose to you?"
Bianca paused. "What makes you say that?"
"I just looked it up online! That ruby set has an incredible history! An American tycoonmissioned it in memory of histe wife, searching the entire world for the perfect gents. He named it Aeterna Amoris It''s the perfect ring for a proposal!"
Bianca''s heart fluttered. She hadn''t known about the touching story behind the jewelry. "Bianca, this is it! A triple blessing ising your way!" Lillian eximed, her voice filled with envy.
Chapter 557
A triple blessing. It felt like a good omen.
From that moment on, Bianca waited in eager anticipation. She expected Seth to call or text after the auction, but hours passed in silence. Finally, she sent a private message to Jude. "Is the charity g still going on?"
"No, it ended hours ago!" Jude replied. "Seth was the biggest buyer of the night, hands down. Noreen was second; she bought a ton of stuff. She''s getting more and more extravagant!"
Bianca wasn''t interested in hearing about Noreen, so she ended the conversation. She assumed Seth was just busy and that''s why he hadn''t replied. She put her phone away and worked on herptop for a while before the creeping drowsiness sent her to bed. Just as she was about to fall asleep, her phone chimed with a new message.
*He finally messaged me,* she thought, her heart leaping. She snatched the phone from her nightstand and eagerly opened her messages, only to find it was from Lillian, not Seth. Her excitement deted.
Lillian had sent a photo from the g. Noreen was seated at the head table, looking radiant between Mrs. Naylor and Healy. Seth was sitting directly across from her. But Lillian quickly added, "I saw pictures and videos my friend sent. Seth didn''t look at Noreen once the entire night. He was a perfect gentleman!"
Bianca smiled, reassured. Even Lillian was certain. "He only has eyes for you. Noreen doesn''t stand a chance."
"But my friend said Noreen bought a lot of things tonight and was the center of attention," Lillian continued, her tone shifting. "I wish you hadn''t turned down the invitation. You could have gone with Seth and put her in her ce. Someone needs to teach her to know her rank!"
Bianca paused before typing back, "She''ll be irrelevant soon enough. Why should I care about her?"
"True! But I''m still so annoyed! Healy was talking to her the whole time!" The mention of Healy sent Lillian into a jealous rage. "That bitch! She does nothing but unt herself to seduce men! She could have gone after anyone, but she had to choose Healy!"
Lillian ranted for a while longer. Seeing no further replies from Bianca, she eventually quieted down. By the time Bianca fell asleep, there was still no message from Seth.
The next day,
y Seth left for an
international business trip. Bianca
timed her call perfectly, reaching him just as hended. He answered,
and they exchanged a few brief
words. He had to rush off to a
meeting, so Bianca kept it short, only reminding him not to forget her
uing celebration party.
"I have it marked in my calendar. I won''t forget," he promised.
Bianca hung up, her heart content. Seth hadn''t mentioned the ruby set, which only confirmed her suspicion that he was nning to use it for a surprise proposal. So, she wouldn''t mention it either pretending to bepletely in the dark She could hardly wait for the big surprise he had in store.
Two dayster, just as Noreen arrived at Winrich, she received a call from Carman. After hearing only a few sentences, her expression hardened. She didn''t even make it to her office, immediately turning around and heading straight for InnoCore.
As soon as she arrived, Carman briefed her on the situation. "The problem seems to be with the chips supplied by Ascendancy Group."
Noreen''s brow furrowed as a possibility instantly clicked into ce. She immediately dialed Seth''s number. He answered, his voice tinged with fatigue. "What''s wrong?"
Noreen exined the situation and voiced her suspicion. "Could it be an issue with the raw materials? We both know Ascendancy Group''s procurement department has a history of taking kickbacks, which forces their suppliers to cut costs on materials."
Chapter 558
It was a vicious cycle. Seth was silent for a couple of seconds before replying, "I''m overseas right now. I''ll have someone from my team connect with you to handle it."
"Okay," Noreen said. As long as he was willing to solve the problem, that was all that mattered.
Seth was remarkably efficient. Less than half an hour after their call, a team from Ascendancy Group arrived at InnoCore. They presented a solution: they would recall all the faulty chips and provide new, quality-assured ones free of charge. In addition, they offered triple the amount in damages.
The offer was far beyond what Noreen had expected. ording to their contract, they were only liable for 1.3 times the amount as a penalty. Seth''s generosity could only mean one thing: he was cleaning up Bianca''s mess. With the PerseTech IPO just around the corner, any scandal involving Ascendancy Group would inevitably tarnish Bianca''s reputation and, by extension, jeopardize his ns to marry her. He really had thought of everything to protect her.
This was the third time Seth had thrown money at a problem to make it go away. Noreen was reminded of when she had helped ire Chase resolve her contract issue. Seth''s mindset was identical to hers at the time. She cared about ire, so she was willing to spend whatever it took to eliminate her troubles. By the same logic, Seth felt the same way about Bianca.
Noreen epted the offer without argument. She was a businesswoman, and there was no sense in turning down a favorable deal.
A few dayster, Noreen saw Bianca at the City Business Council meeting. As usual, Bianca was making her rounds, greeting other entrepreneurs with an air of superiority. But the moment she saw Noreen, her expression froze, and her eyes turned cold.
Noreen couldn''t care less about Bianca''s attitude. She walked right past her, found her assigned seat, and sat down. Bianca then turned to find her own ce, her eyes instinctively scanning the front row. After sweeping her gaze back and forth twice and not seeing her namete, she finally located it in the second row. Her heart sank, but she maintained aposed and elegant facade as she took her seat. She nced over at Noreen, who was now just a silhouette from her vantage point. An unsettling sense of a widening gap between them settled over her.
The meeting was presided over by Padgett Novak, who publiclymended ten entrepreneurs, Noreen among them. He made a special point of highlighting Winrich
as the top tax contributor in Rivercrest City for the year.
It was then that Bianca understood: the seating had been arranged ording to eachpany''s tax contribution. This clear, hierarchical arrangement made her realize just how far ahead of her Noreen had be Just six months ago Bianca had been in the front row, with Noreen seated behind her.
As she was processing this, Padgett Novak mentioned Winrich again, praising their
new gaming project for filling a significant gap in Rivercrest City''s industry portfolio.
A younger entrepreneur sitting next
to Bianca leaned over to hispanion: "I saw the trailer for that game. It looks incredible! It''s a
masterful blend of cultural heritage and modern gaming technology t going to be a huge hit."
"I don''t know much about the gaming industry," his friend replied, "but I do remember another game, something called Aetheria, that caused a huge scandal. The person in charge almost faced public prosecution, right?"
"Oh, I remember that! The person in charge was a Lowell, what was her name again?" The man was about to say the name when he nced down and saw Bianca''s namete. He froze, cutting himself off awkwardly.
A sh of humiliation crossed Bianca''s face. She subtly moved her handbag to cover her name.
Chapter 559
In the past, she had always enjoyed these meetings, using them as opportunities towork and showcase her sess. This time, however, she wished for nothing more than for it to end quickly. But to her dismay, the city had prepared an awards ceremony for the top ten tax contributors, with Padgett Novak himself presenting the honorary sashes.
Bianca noticed that when Padgett ced the sash on Noreen, he lingered for a moment longer than he had with the others, his smile less official and more genuine. Her eyes darkened, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on her pen.
After the sashes were all presented, the audience erupted in apuse. Bianca wanted to sit motionless, but a camera panned in their direction, forcing her to p along, her face a mask of polite enthusiasm.
The moment the meeting concluded, Bianca was the first one out the door, forgoing her usual post-meeting schmoozing. She had intended to invite Padgett Novak to her celebration party, but now she couldn''t bring herself to ask.
She returned home feeling utterly humiliated, her mood foul. Her mother, Yvonne, had juste back from a gathering with her social circle and was in exceptionally high spirits, a stark contrast to Bianca''s gloom.
"What''s wrong, dear?" Yvonne asked, noticing her daughter''s sour expression.
"It''s that bitch Noreen again! Shepletely stole the show at the roundtable meeting!"
"And that''s worth getting so upset about?" Yvonne asked dismissively.
"Of course it is! First, she was the star of Mrs. Naylor''s charity g, and now this! Everyone was fawning over her!" Bianca was growing more and more agitated as she spoke.
Normally, Yvonne would have tried to soothe her, but this time she simply poured herself a cup of tea, held it with a delicate grace, and took a sip. Seeing her mother''s calm demeanor, Bianca''s tirade faltered.
"Why did you stop? Please, continue," Yvonne saidnguidly. "When you''re done, I have some good news for you."
Bianca''s attention was instantly diverted. "What good news?"
"I had afternoon tea with Mrs. Chase today, and she told me something interesting," Yvonne said with a slight smile, leaning back against the sofa with an air of refined elegance. "You know she was abroad with her husbandst week? Well, they attended one of the most exclusive auctions in the world, and she saw Seth there."
Bianca froze. "What was Seth doing at an auction? He told me he was on a business trip."
"Don''t be so hasty, let me finish," Yvonne said, her smile widening. "Mrs. Chase also said Seth bought quite a few items, worth overfive billion."
The staggering sum left Bianca speechless.
"And the most important part," Yvonne added, "is that this wasn''t the only auction he attended."
Bianca''s mind raced. Mother and daughter exchanged a look, both arriving at the same conclusion.
"He went to these auctions behind my back... to buy gifts for our engagement?" Bianca ventured, her voice filled with hope.
Yvonne, however, was certain. "What else could it be? Don''t you remember all the things he bought when you first got engaged?"
Although those items had yet to be formally delivered to Bianca, they had been purchased under the prefense of being betrothal gifts, fact both mother and daughter had epted. It was clear: Seth was secretly nning a grand proposal. C¨®ntent
The realization washed over Bianca, and
inner dark mood vanished
A smile bloomed on her
face and her entire posture rxed.
"Feeling better now?" Yvonne asked.
Bianca nodded. How could she not be happy with such a wonderful surprise in her future?
"Not angry anymore?"
"She''s not worth being angry about," Bianca dered with newfound confidence.
Chapter 560
Compared to this, Noreen''s small victories were utterly insignificant.
A week before the graduate school admission results were to be officially released, Halley returned from his academic conference. Noreen canceled her evening ns to workte and instead went to Dr. Wilder''s clinic to pick up Halley''s fourth round of medication. The stubborn old man would never remember to take it unless it was delivered directly into his hands.
As she got out of the car, she told Colby, "I''ll just be a minute. I''m dropping this off anding right back."
Noreen walked up to the house and was greeted by the housekeeper. "Oh, Miss Gilmore," she said warmly. "Professor Joyner is out for a walk. He should be back in a little while. Please,e in and have a seat."
"That''s alright, I just came to drop this off," Noreen said, handing over the package. "Please make sure he takes it on time."
"Of course."
Noreen left without even stepping inside. The housekeeper took the package back into the living room, where Henry was sitting and sipping tea. He nced at the package in her hand, a flicker of contempt in his eyes. *So this is how she wins people over,* he thought, his disdain for Noreen growing.
A short whileter, Halley returned. "Professor," Henry said, standing to greet him.
"Ah, Henry. How long have you been here?" Halley asked, his hands sped behind his back.
"Not long."
"Your father called mest night," Halley said with a nod. "He wanted me to introduce you to Miss Gilmore from Winrich. I had to decline. I''ve been too busytely."
"It''s fine," Henry replied. He had no desire to meet her anyway. He was here for another reason.
"I was at Rivercrest Universityst week and spoke with Professor Selwyn. He mentioned you''ve already selected your preferred candidate for this year''s Ph.D. program?"
"Yes," Halley confirmed, his tone indicating he was very pleased with his choice.
Just then, Professor Selwyn happened to call, and Halley gave him an instruction. "On Monday, have Biancae to the university."
*He''s meeting his new student early?* Henry thought, his heart swelling with happiness for Bianca. After teaving Halley''s house, he'' immediately sent a series of texts to her
"Just left Professor Joyner''s house. He wants to see you on Monday."
"Congrattions, Bianca!"
"Once you''re officially his student, I have something very important to tell you!"
Intrigued, Bianca replied, "Why do you have to wait until then?"
"Because the timing will be perfect," he wrote back.
Bianca politely let the matter drop and brought up something else. "I forgot to invite Padgett Novak when was at the city council meeting th other day remember you now him quite well. Do you think you could
invite him to my party?"
Henry readily agreed and immediately called Padgett Novak to extend the invitation.
"Is it an official event?" Padgett asked.
"No, it''s a small, private party, mostly for friends."
"Then I''m afraid it wouldn''t be appropriate for me to attend."
Henry knew Padgett was a man of principle and wouldn''t be swayed, so he didn''t press the issue.
Seth returned to Rivercrest City the night before Bianca''s party. She went to the airport to pick him up personally.
"What are you doing here sote?" Seth asked, looking surprised to see her.
"I wanted to see you as soon as possible. Aren''t you happy to see me?"
"No, it''s not that," he said, shaking his head. As he handed his suitcase to his assistant, his expression hardened for a split second.
On the drive back, their car passed an ice cream shop. Bianca suddenly called out to the driver to stop, then turned to Seth with a smile. "Seth, I''m craving ice cream. I don''t know why, but for the past two days, I''ve hau this intense craving for something cold."
Chapter 561
Seth had the driver buy them some food, but Bianca barely touched hers. Her eyes kept drifting over to Seth, but his expression was so calm it was as if he waspletely oblivious to her hints.
She deliberately leaned closer, filling the space between them with the scent of her alluring perfume. She was also wearing a low-cut dress, having taken off her coat when she got in the car, iming it was too warm. It was a series of moves that made her intentions perfectly clear.
Suddenly, Seth raised a hand to his lips and coughed softly. He then gently eased her away. "I have the flu," he said. "You shouldn''t get too close. I don''t want you to catch it."
Bianca instantly deted.
At least Seth was thoughtful enough to give her a gift box before dropping her off. It was an exquisite little box, the kind you could tell held jewelry.
Bianca''s mood instantly lifted. She beamed as she said goodbye to Seth, and the moment his car pulled away, she eagerly tore open the gift.
Inside was a designer diamond ne.
She quickly looked up the price online.
Over a hundred thousand dors.
While certainly expensive, Bianca felt a pang of disappointment. A ne at this price point was something she could easily buy herself anytime using his credit card; it didn''t feel like a special, thoughtful gift.
Andpared to the extravagant gifts he''d given her in the past, this ne felt almost dismissive.
By the time she got home, her mood was somber. Yvonne was surprised to see her. "What are you doing back? Didn''t Seth ask you to stay the night?"
"He has the flu, so it wasn''t a good idea." Bianca tossed the ne onto the table.
Lillian picked it up. "A gift from Seth?"
"Yeah."
"It''s lovely," Yvonne said, counseling her patiently as she fastened the ne around Bianca''s neck. "Don''t be so impatient. Good thingse to those who wait."
"As long as the love is there, nothing else matters. What''s meant for you will be yours in the end. It won''t get away!"
Yvonne tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It looks beautiful on you," she said approvingly.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Bianca felt her anxiety begin to subside.
She was right. She had been too hasty.
After all, Seth was getting ready to propose!
On Friday, Noreen ran into Jude while she was at Seymour Group for a meeting. It looked like he was there to clear out his office.
After selling off all his shares, Jude had officially left Seymour Group, and his office at thepany was closed.
As they passed each other, Noreen instinctively nced at the cardboard box in his
arms.
With a stony expression, Jude brushed past Noreen and strode arrogantly out of Seymour Group.
Once outside the main entrance, he turned back to look at the namete bearing the Seymour Group logo.
One day, he would return. And when he did, he would regain control of thepany and drive Noreen out for good.
After her meeting, Noreen got a call from Jennifer Shaw. She was in Rivercrest City and wanted to have dinner together.
Noreen, wanting to be a good host, was about to ask Sophia to book a restaurant, but Jennifer told her she had already made a reservation and that Noreen should juste straight over.
Just as Noreen got out of her car, she saw Henry getting out of another He was holding arge eye-catching bouquet of lilies of the valley.
Professor Selwyn had arrived in the same car and got out right after him.
They must have been talking the whole way, because Professor Selwyn was still in
an animated discussion with Henry as they walked.
"Everyone at the university has been
talking about Bianca''s thesis," Professor Selwyn was saying. "That ck box investment strategy she mentioned is absolutely brilliant! You''ll see just how remarkable it is when it''s finally published!"
Chapter 562
As Noreen walked into the building, a familiar name caught her ear, and she
paused.
She turned to look at Professor Selwyn, but her eyes met Henry''s first.
His gaze was sharp and unmistakably cold.
Noreen''s expression turned just as frigid. She ignored Henry and focused on
Professor Selwyn.
"When I see Biancater, I simply must discuss this ck box investment technique with her in more detail."
Noreen remained thoughtful for a long moment.
It had been a while since Noreen hadst seen Jennifer, and she noticed the man by her side was, once again, a new one.
She wasn''t surprised.
Since they had business to discuss, Jennifer sent her youngpanion away.
Once they were alone in the private room, she asked Noreen, "So, what do you think of this one?"
"They all seem pretty simr to me."
Jennifer''s taste in men had always been consistent.
She liked them well-built, but with faces that had a touch of refined elegance. The kind of man who could be both dominant and sweet.
"What about you? Still single?"
"I am."
"Tsk," Jennifer clicked her tongue. "Are you living like a nun? Come on, tell me. How long has it been since you''ve been with a man?"
Noreen was speechless.
Her friend had always been this bold and direct.
Sometimes, even she couldn''t handle it.
"Don''t tell me you haven''t had any fun with a man this whole time!"
"Jen, can we please change the subject?"
Jennifer scoffed. "Look at you, so hopeless. What have I always told you? Men are meant to be used. Don''t define
your rtionships set
rigidly. The men of the world ma not belong to me, but they''re all mine to use! Stop being so narrow-minded. Every man has his purpose. Drop the possessiveness, enjoy the perks, and broaden your horizons, okay?"
Just to get her to stop, Noreen nodded. "Okay! Lesson learned!"
The next second, the door to the room opened. Seth walked in, asking, "Learned what?"
Noreen froze. But then she wondered, "What do I have to feel guilty about?"
Jennifer, however, greeted Seth with a yful smile. "Mr. Harcourt, your timing is a little inconvenient."
"How so?"
Seth unbuttoned his suit jacket with one hand and sat down across from Noreen.
Jennifer didn''t hold back. "We were just talking about men. I was telling Ms. Gilmore here how good they are for her, and that she should try more of them."
"Oh?" Seth slowly lifted his gaze, his dark eyes veiled with an unreadable emotion, but his voice was cool and detached. "And has Ms. Gilmore learned the lesson well?"
Noreen looked right back at him, her gaze direct and unflinching. "Of course." Her expression was so detached, her entire demeanor radiating a cold distance.
This time, it was Seth who broke eye contact first. His tone grew even colder than before. "Ms. Shaw, have you had time to consider the matter we discussedst time?"
Jennifer leaned back in her chair and answered slowly, "I''ve invested in several projects this year and spread myself a bit t
a bit too thin My funds are a fight right now, so I''ll have to
pass."
"That''s fine. Business is business. Perhaps we can cooperate on something else in the future."
Just as Seth finished speaking, his phone rang.
When he answered, his voice instantly softened. "I''m almost done here. You guys
can go ahead and start without me. Don''t wait up, I''ll be there in a minute."
After a few words to soothe the
person on the other end, Seth hung up and extended an invitation to Jennifer Mr. Lowell is hosting a small gathering for some friends and partners upstairs. If you''re not busy, Ms. Shaw, you''re wee to join us."
"I have a meeting with Ms. Gilmore, so I''ll have to decline. But you all have a good
time."
Seth didn''t press the issue. He stood up and bid Jennifer farewell.
As he was leaving, he suddenly paused in front of Noreen.
His gaze lowered, and his voice was a low rasp. "Ms. Gilmore, stay safe."
Chapter 563
How charitable of him, Noreen thought sarcastically.
She yed along. "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Harcourt. I will."
As soon as Seth left, Jennifer couldn''t help but apud.
"See? The moment you stop treating men like they''re a big deal, life gets a whole lot easier."
Her words were crude, but they held a certain truth.
Jennifer lit a menthol cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Here''s some life advice: you absolutely have to date a younger man. You need to experience the pure joy of having a vibrant young manpletely devoted to you."
Meanwhile, in the private room upstairs.
Seth had said he had to step out for a moment.
The instant he was gone, Lillian nudged Bianca with her elbow. "Do you think he went to get you a surprise?"
Bianca sipped her juice, its sweetness lifting her spirits. "How would I know?"
"It has to be!" Lillian dered. "I''m so excited! I have to record this!"
Bianca immediately asked, "How''s my makeup? Is my hair a mess?"
"Don''t worry, you look absolutely perfect!"
When Henry entered the room, both of them looked up expectantly.
His face was obscured by therge bouquet of lilies of the valley in his hands.
Thrilled, Lillian quickly pulled out her phone and opened the camera app, ready to start filming.
But then she realized it was only Henry.
Even the smile on Bianca''s face froze for a second.
"For you, Bianca," Henry said, not noticing the shift in her expression as he earnestly offered her the flowers.
By now, Bianca hadposed herself. She took the bouquet and thanked him.
Henry had expected her to be thrilled. After all, he had chosen these flowers with great care, as they held a special meaning for them both.
But Bianca merely set them aside casually.
"Professor Selwyn, it''s a pleasure," Bianca said her attention clearly behind
fixed on them Henry Sh
Wa
extended her hand for a handshake.
Ever since reading Bianca''s thesis, Professor Selwyn had be of her
biggest admirers, praiset
to anyone who would listen
her
Seeing her in person, he couldn''t hide his delight. "It''s wonderful to finally meet you! Lately, we''ve all been discussing the ck box investment technique you proposed. It''s absolutely brilliant!"
"Thank you for thepliment, Professor Selwyn."
While Bianca remained modest, Lillian was not nearly as subtle.
She eagerly asked the professor, "Does this mean my cousin has been epted into Academician Joyner''s graduate program?"
Professor Selwyn smiled. "Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I would say so."
"Bianca! You''re really getting a triple blessing!" Lillian eximed.
Bianca shot her a look, signaling her to be more discreet. "It''s not official yet. Let''s wait for the formal announcement."
Henry, however, was curious. "A triple blessing? What are the three?"
Lillian opened her mouth to answer.
But Bianca stopped her again.
Henry wasn''t slow. A moment''s thought was all it took for him to guess, and a wave
of sadness washed over him.
They were already engaged. Marriage was the natural next step.
He just hadn''t expected it to happen so soon.
In that moment, Henry felt as dim and overlooked as the bouquet of lilies he''d brought, now cast aside in a corner.
A few minutester, the door opened again. Jude entered, pushing a serving cart with two bottles of red wine-his gift for Bianca.
"Jude, you shouldn''t have. Seth already ordered everything," Bianca said politely.
"What Seth gives is from his heart, and what I give is from mine. They''re not the same."
Only then did Jude realize Seth wasn''t there. "Where is he?" he asked Bianca. "How could he be absent on such an important day?"
Chapter 564
Bianca exined, "He had to step out for a bit. He''ll be back soon."
Lillian grinned beside her. "My brother-inw went to prepare a surprise for my sister."
"What kind of surprise?" Jude was just as curious as Lillian.
"It wouldn''t be a surprise if I told you, would it? You''ll find out soon enough."
Jude''s curiosity was genuinely piqued.
Just then, Seth returned, and all eyes turned to him.
Noticing their expressions, Seth asked, puzzled, "What''s wrong? Why is everyone staring at me?"
Jude was about to speak but Lillian tugged on his arm, silently telling him not to ruin the surprise.
Bianca deftly changed the subject. "Hasn''t Healy arrived yet?"
As soon as she spoke, Healy and Dn walked through the door.
Healy joked, "We''re notte, are we?"
"Not at all, not at all." Lillian graciously moved her bag from the chair next to her. "Healy, please, sit here."
Healy ignored her and sat next to Professor Selwyn, putting a significant distance between himself and Lillian.
Dn''s reaction was even cooler. He didn''t even greet Bianca upon entering.
As for a gift...
There was none.
The same went for Healy. It seemed they were just there to attend a gathering, not to congratte her.
Although Bianca was bothered, she didn''t let it show, maintaining herposure.
That''s how rtionships worked. Sess has many fathers, while failure is an orphan.
Once PerseTech went public, once she was epted into Academician Joyner''s program, once she married Seth...
All these little problems would solve themselves.
She had plenty of patience to wait for that day.
More people arrived, and Bianca greeted each of them.
Throughout the meal, Professor Selwyn and Bianca were engrossed in a discussion about the ck box investment technique.
Jude didn''t understand a word, but he was thoroughly impressed.
and
Not long after the dinner started, Dn stepped out several times. On one of those asions, "The left never came back.
Bianca noticed but said nothing.
It was Jude who finally realized and called Dn.
He said something hade up and he had to leave early.
"What''s with Dn?" Jude was annoyed. "He didn''t even say goodbye!"
A scornful smile touched Bianca''s lips as she said nonchntly, "It''s fine. It''s not a
formal banquet anyway. Let him go."
Besides, her focus wasn''t on Dn tonight.
Seth was actingpletely normal.
The more ordinary he behaved, the more Bianca suspected he was nning something big.
But as the dinner drew to a close, Seth still hadn''t made a move.
Lillian started to get anxious,
whispering in Bianca''s ear, "What''s going on with your fianc¨¦? Why hast he done anything? I''m dying of suspense!"
Bianca gave her a look, signaling her to keep quiet.
The dinner wasn''t over yet. Anything could still happen.
But by the time the meal ended, Seth remained as cid as ever.
Bianca was so distracted that she didn''t even hear Professor Selwyn saying his goodbyes.
It was Henry who had to prompt her, and she personally walked the professor out.
Before he left, Professor Selwyn told
Bianca, "You can check your scores
at 9 AM on Monday. Be at the
iel:
university early Academiciandoyner wants to see you
"Okay."
Jude finally understood. "Academician Joyner wants to see you? Bianca, you''re
amazing! I''m going too! To witness a genius!"
"Healy, are you going?"
Bianca expected him to refuse.
But to her surprise, he agreed. "I''ll be there."
Chapter 565
Bianca gave him a long look.
Healy''s expression was gentle, his eyes slightly lowered, making it impossible to read his thoughts.
Seth returned after paying the bill and announced that the cars were waiting at the entrance.
Bianca paused, wanting to say something, but she held back each time.
Perhaps he had arranged the proposal somewhere else. A restaurant wasn''t the most romantic setting, after all.
As they walked out together, they saw Dn, who should have left long ago.
"Hey, isn''t that Dn? I thought he left?"
Jude was about to call out to him when he saw Noreen emerge from a private room.
The sound died in his throat.
Seeing this, Bianca''s face instantly turned cold.
Lillian was even more furious. "That bitch! All she does is throw herself at men!"
The moment the words left her mouth, she felt a chill run down her spine.
Looking up, she saw that Healy, who hadn''t given her a second nce all evening, was now staring at her with exceptionally cold eyes.
He was clearly unhappy that she was badmouthing Noreen.
Lillian felt a surge of indignation.
Being ignored by the man she liked all night was bad enough, but now she was being disliked because of a woman like Noreen.
She couldn''t ept it.
"I''m not wrong!" she dered defiantly. "She''s always surrounded by men!"
Healy raised an eyebrow. His expression remained mild, but his lowered eyes were sharp. "So what? A single woman is allowed to be pursued by any single man in the world. It doesn''t bother me, so why does it bother you?"
Lillian was stunned into silence.
Beside them, Seth shot a slow, unreadable nce at Healy, his own emotions well hidden.
"The car is here," Bianca said, trying to diffuse the tension. It was both a prompt and a warning to Lillian not to argue further.
Lillian reluctantly got into the car.
After shutting Lillian down, Healy walked directly over to Noreen.
Jude watched, dumbfounded.
Wait...
Had he missed something?
Lillian lived on the west side, which was a
Biano ferent direction from
so Seth had arranged for two Cars
This arrangement made Bianca''s mind race.
Was he nning to propose when they were alone?
That made sense. It was a private moment between the two of them,
more
which would make it feel t
special. Content Belongs
Her foul mood, brought on by Dn and Healy''s ''betrayal,'' vanished.
Seeing Seth''s arrangement, her spirits lifted instantly, and she got into the car with a joyful heart.
Before the door closed, she shot a dismissive nce at Noreen.
Noreen, oblivious to all this, was talking to Healy, who hade over to greet her.
Healy asked if the grad school exam results wereing out on Monday.
Noreen confirmed they were.
"So, will you be at Rivercrest University?"
Noreen found his questions a bit excessive but answered anyway. "Yes, I will be."
Academician Joyner had just called and asked her toe to the university on Monday.
Satisfied with her answer, Healy didn''t press further.
When they reached the entrance, Dn and Healy spoke in unison.
"I''ll take you home."
"I''ll take you home."
Just then, Colby''s car pulled up perfectly in front of Noreen.
She turned to the two men. "That''s okay, I have my own car."
Dn quickly changed his tune. "Well, be safe. Text me when you get home." "Okay."
Healy had wanted to say the same thing.
But then he remembered that his chat history with Noreen was strictly business rted and he wisely kept his mouth shut.
His lips pressed into a thin line as he realized he was already a step behind Dn.
He had to find a way to catch up.
In the end, Noreen didn''t text Dn when she got home.
She was busy andpletely forgot.
Halley had called, asking her to find the research paper she had written eight years
ago.
Chapter 566
Because so much time had passed, finding it was a bit of a challenge.
Fortunately, her time as Seth''s secretary at the Aurelion Group had ingrained in her the strict habit of keeping meticulous records.
So, after some effort, she actually found the paper.
She had a good idea why Halley wanted it.
She carefully organized all the timelines and evidence.
By the time she finished, it was already past eleven.
As she went to close the window before bed, she noticed a ck sedan parked under a tree outside again.
It wasn''t a designated parking spot, and in a high-endplex like this where everyone had their own assigned space, it was unusual for someone to park randomly.
After a moment''s thought, Noreen made a call.
Ten minutester, the shing lights of a police car swept across the street below.
Noreen rolled over and went to sleep, feeling secure.
Meanwhile, Bianca arrived home, her face a mask of disappointment.
It waste, but Yvonne was still up, clearly waiting for her.
Seeing her daughter return, she immediately asked, "Well? Did Seth propose?"
Bianca''s voice was heavy with dejection. "No."
"What happened?" Yvonne frowned.
"I don''t know. He just didn''t do anything," Bianca said listlessly.
She had expected Seth to propose when they were alone.
But he had simply dropped her off at home, said goodbye, and left, just like any other day.
From the moment she learned he had bought the ruby, she had been eagerly anticipating his proposal.
She waited and waited, but he never mentioned the ruby jewelry, and he never proposed.
As for all those expensive auction items Mrs. Chase had mentioned, she didn''t even
know if it was true anymore.
Lillian chose that moment to call.
Bianca didn''t need to guess why she was calling.
Annoyed, she declined the call.
Less than a minuteter, a text from Lillian came through.
"Am I interrupting you guys?!"
"Is he proposing to you right now?!"
The questions only made Bianca''s mood sink further. She turned her phone offpletely.
"I think we may have been a little too hasty," Yvonne said after a moment of thought.
"Those expensive auction pieces
have to go through a lot of red tape
to be shipped into the country. It takes time. And besides, the timing Isn''t quite right yet."
Bianca paused. She hadn''t considered that.
Yvonne continued to soothe her, "We just need to be a little more patient. Seth only has eyes for you. You''re his first love, and that has a powerful hold on a man. No one can rece you in his heart, so don''t you worry."
That was right. She was Seth''s first love.
The one he had been thinking about for seven years.
What was there to be anxious about?
If Seth could wait seven years, she could certainly wait a little longer for him.
Monday, Rivercrest University.
Noreen arrived as scheduled.
Her good mood soured the moment she saw Bianca and her entourage.
She ignored thempletely and walked straight inside.
Bianca, with equal disdain, looked away from Noreen, treating her like thin air.
Jude nced at Noreen, then
deliberately asked Bianca, "So,
Vel
we celebratingter?
already ordered the
ordered the champagne!"
He spoke louder than usual, clearly intending for a certain someone to hear.
That certain someone did nce over at the group, but her eyes quickly moved away as she left.
Still, Henry noticed Noreen''s reaction.
Her expression... it looked like... scorn?
But what right did she have to look down on anyone?
Chapter 567
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Seth spoke up, reminding everyone it was time to go in.
Lillian kept looking outside. "Healy said he wasing, didn''t he? Why isn''t he here yet?"
Jude said, "I''ll give him a call."
Before he could even dial, Healy arrived.
Lillian''s face lit up as she rushed to meet him. "Healy, what took you so long? We''ve been waiting for ages."
Healy''s gaze didn''t linger on Lillian. It swept past her, scanning the campus entrance.
Lillian thought he was looking for Bianca.
But then he asked, "Where''s Noreen? Hasn''t she arrived yet?"
He had specifically asked her yesterday, and she had said she would be here today.
Healy''s words were like a bucket of cold water, and Lillian''s mood instantly plummeted.
Nearby, Bianca''s face hardened for a moment when she heard Healy''s question.
She then turned to Lillian. "We should go inside."
But just then, Henry said to Bianca, "You guys go on ahead. I''m waiting for someone."
Although Bianca was curious who he was waiting for, she politely refrained from asking, just telling him to get in touch once he was inside.
Henry agreed.
After the group went in, Henry dialed Sanford''s number. "Dad, where are you?"
"Stuck in traffic," Sanford replied. "I''m going to be a littlete."
"Howte?"
"About forty minutes." Sanford sensed his son''s urgency. "Why? Is it going to cause a problem?"
Henry was vague. "No, not at all. The timing should be just right, actually."
"Just right for what?"
"A surprise."
With that, Henry hung up before Sanford could ask any more questions.
He was afraid he wouldn''t be able to resist revealing it early, which would ruin the surprise.
Inside, Bianca and her friends saw Noreen standing alone in front of the main building.
Bianca smirked, raising an eyebrow as she shot a look at Noreen.
Lillian scoffed. "All alone? Does she even have any friends?"
Even Jude chimed in, "I thought Dn would be here. Guess I was wrong."
"Then again, under the circumstances, it''s probably wise for him to stay away."
He didn''t say it outright, but everyone understood his insinuation.
After all, Noreen was the one who used toe inst ce in school. The oue was obvious.
What was she even trying to prove? When the results came out, she would be utterly humiliated.
Lillian snickered. "If I were her, I''d be keeping a low profile right now, not showing my face in public."
"Seth, what do you think about all this?"
who
Jude was really trying to say, *Isn''t it embarrassing to have dated a
man
like Noreen? No talent, yet so full of ambition.
Did she really think getting into Academician Joyner''s program was like a business deal, where you
could just kiss up and pull some strings to get in?
Seth''s face was cool, his eyes distant. "Why bring her up?" he said, his voice t.
The coldness in his gaze was enough to make Jude back down. "You''re right. My apologies."
Seth''s clear-cut attitude made Bianca''s lips curve into a smile.
Lillian discreetly nudged her, giving her a knowing wink.
It was as if to say, *See? Your fianc¨¦ has such strong boundaries. He won''t even mention her name.*
Noreen couldn''t hear their discussion from several meters away.
She paid them no mind, her expression unchanging as she calmly scrolled through her phone.
Lillian whispered to Bianca, "She''s putting on a pretty good act, pretending to be so calm."
It was a shame Healy had gone to another building and wasn''t there to see it.
He really should see what a fool Noreen was making of herself.
What did Healy even see in her? Her blind ambition?
Chapter 568
"Miss Lowell."
Just then, Professor Selwyn emerged from the building. Seeing Bianca, he walked over to greet her.
"Professor Selwyn," Bianca replied with a bright smile.
"Have you checked your score yet?" he asked.
"Not yet." Bianca remained perfectlyposed.
She had estimated her own performance; the general subjects shouldn''t be a problem, and Professor Selwyn had already assured her that her specialized thesis was excellent.
She felt confident and wasn''t in any hurry.
Jude nced at the time. It was past nine. "Bianca, hurry up and check! Let me see what a genius looks like!"
Professor Selwyn agreed. "Go on, have a look."
Only then did Bianca take out her phone to check her score.
A momentter, she announced, "255."
Professor Selwyn was amazed. "255! That''s even higher than I expected. It''s the highest score in thest five years."
Academician Joyner''s program was an MBA in International Finance. Including the specialized subjects, the maximum score was 300.
A score of 255 was indeed remarkably high.
Jude, who had always struggled academically, looked at her with awe. "Bianca! You''re a true schr! You''re my idol! How long did you even study for this? If I had a tenth of your ability, my dad would throw a ten-day feast to celebrate our ancestors smiling down on us!"
Bianca told him he was exaggerating.
"He''s not exaggerating at all," Professor Selwyn insisted. "Academician Joyner''s exam is notoriously difficult, and you were managing your business while preparing for it. You didn''t have much time. To get this score, you''re practically a genius!"
Lillian asked eagerly, "So does this mean my cousin is in?"
"There''s a 99.9 percent chance of sess!" Professor Selwyn dered.
"Why not 100 percent?" Lillian wondered.
"Because there''s always that 0.1 percent chance of an unforeseen event."
Lillian was about to ask more, but Bianca stopped her.
"Professor Selwyn is just being precise. Why do you have to question everything?"
Lillian finally dropped the subject.
Jude was even more excited than Bianca. "Is it time to celebrate?"
Henry, who had just walked up, heard this and his heart leaped with joy.
It seemed the results were out.
And they must have been good, good enough to meet Halley''s standards.
Bianca truly was, as always, exceptional.
Yvonne also called right on time to ask about the results.
Bianca told her confidently, "The score is out. 255. Professor Selwyn said it''s the highest in thest five years."
"Excellent Yvonne praised her, then immediately shared the news with her social circle Bianca''s results are in Her score is fantastic Getting into Academician Joyner''s program won''t be a problem."
A chorus of congrattions erupted from the other women.
Yvonne took the opportunity to invite them to Bianca''s eptance party.
They all epted without hesitation.
After all, this was a student of Academician Joyner.
That meant Bianca would have ess to Joyner''swork and resources.
Soon, it wouldn''t be Yvonne trying to curry favor with them.
It would be them trying to curry favor with Yvonne.
The tables were turning.
"You go on, dear." Yvonne had to chat with her friends, so she hung up.
But a momentter, she sent Bianca a text.
"I''ve arranged for a reporter from the financial news channel toe to Rivercrest University. Make sure you
perform well."
Bianca immediately understood.
She would use this momentum to generate some hype for her PerseTech project.
As Bianca was contemting the
interview, she heard Jude mockingly say, "I wonder what score Noreen gat Hope it''s notst ce again
Chapter 569
"She doesn''t even have the guts to check. What do you think?" Lillian added with augh.
Noreen was no longer looking at her phone. She had taken out a file and was reading through it.
It was hard to tell if she was handling business or just trying to lookposed.
"Pay less attention to others," Bianca reminded Lillian before checking the time.
It was almost time for her meeting with Academician Joyner.
Lillian noticed this too. "Cousin, do you think Academician Joyner called you here today to officially ept you as his student?"
"I doubt it would happen like that," Bianca said cautiously.
"Why not? Don''t sell yourself short!" Jude chimed in, even more dramatically than Lillian. "A genius like you is in high demand. Academician Joyner is probably worried another professor will snatch you up, so he wants to lock you in early!"
Biancaughed at their antics. "You two are being ridiculous!"
As they were chatting, Henry, who had been quiet, suddenly called out, "Dad, over here."
It was Sanford.
Although Bianca had never met Sanford, she knew who he was: the current chairman of the Brooke Group.
She immediately straightened her posture.
Henry led Sanford directly toward Bianca, about to make introductions.
But Sanford spotted Noreen first, and a broad smile spread across his face. "Well, look at you, son! You''ve finally seen the light and decided to learn from Ms. Gilmore?"
Henry''s expression froze for a second.
Before he could speak, Sanford called out to Noreen, "Ms. Gilmore, it''s been too long!"
Noreen looked up from her file at Sanford. A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she regained herposure. "Mr. Brooke."
Sanford had already walked over and started a conversation with her.
Henry was left standing next to Bianca in an indescribably awkward position.
"I was going to introduce you to my dad," he mumbled.
Bianca''s expression faltered for a moment, her fingers tightening.
around her purse Shema
weak smile. "It''s okay." >
"I''ll introduce youter," Henry said, seeing no other option.
Sanford and Noreen were now deep in conversation.
Bianca was frustrated, though she maintained a calm exterior. For some reason Noreen always managed to charm the older generation. Seymour, Wade, and now Sanford. She had no idea how she did it.
?
But she wasn''t as anxious as she used to be. Once she officially became Academician Joyner''s student, she was confident she.
could win over Wade. An intel
highly educated woman was always the ideal choice for a
daughter-inw in a wealthy family. That was one of the main reasons she was so determined to get into this program.
It was just a shame Wade wasn''t here today.
As if on cue, Halley arrived. And to Bianca''s surprise, Wade was with him.
Lillian noticed too, excitedly gripping Bianca''s arm. "Sis, it''s Mr. Harcourt! Do you think your fianc¨¦ invited him?"
Bianca wasn''t sure, but her heart leaped with joy.
"Your fianc¨¦ really treasures you!" At least, that''s what Lillian believed. Who else could have persuaded Wade toe?
But why was Dn with Halley too? Bianca had thought he wouldn''t show up today.
Wade was talking with Halley, who had intentionally slowed his pace to match Wade''s.
Bianca watched them approach, took a deep breath, and said, "Academician Joyner. Mr. Harcourt."
Halley paused his conversation and nced at her.
Wade was even more direct. He didn''t look at her at all.
Halley didn''t respond or even nod. He just gave her a brief look before walking past.
Chapter 570
Bianca''s expression was frozen.
She watched, stunned, as the three of them walked right past her.
Then, they walked over to Noreen.
And then, they stopped in front of Noreen, speaking to her with warm, friendly expressions.
Halley even smiled and patted Noreen''s shoulder, nodding as if pleased with something.
Then, Wade patted Noreen''s other shoulder. His usually stoic face softened with a hint of warmth.
From a distance, Bianca watched as Noreen became the center of attention for these influential men.
She unconsciously clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, but she didn''t even feel the pain.
This was a level of recognition she had never received.
Even Jude was bewildered. "What the hell? How does Noreen always win over the older generation? Aren''t they supposed to be wise and experienced? What''s wrong with their judgment?"
Bianca''s mind was in chaos.
Fortunately, Seth''s voice cut through her turmoil, steadying her.
"Let''s go to Academician Joyner''s office."
Right.
Bianca quickly came to her senses.
Academician Joyner was seeing her today to ept her as his student.
Since Wade was here, he could witness this moment firsthand. It would change his
biased opinion of her and, hopefully, his favorable view of Noreen.
Just then, Halley finished his chat with Noreen. She handed him a folder, and he started walking toward his office.
Noreen supported Wade as they followed.
Bianca and her group fell in line behind Noreen.
Normally, she would have pushed past Noreen to walk in front.
But this time, she had to show deference to Wade.
Even Jude, usually the loudest of the group, was silent, walking quietly at the back.
Sanford, after a few steps, turned back to see Henrygging behind. "Henry, why are you walking so slowly? Come on up to the front."
Henry remained sullen and didn''t answer.
Halley''s office was a spacious, standalone room. Even with so many people, it didn''t feel crowded.
He offered a simple greeting. "Make yourselvesfortable. I just need to review a document."
Wade, Sanford, Dn, and Noreen sat on one side.
Bianca and her group sat on the other.
An unspoken line had been drawn.
While they waited, Wade asked Noreen, "Have you checked your score?"
Noreen answered honestly, "I haven''t had the chance yet."
Lillian suppressed a smirk.
Was it that she hadn''t had the chance, or that she didn''t dare to?
Sanford said, "You should check now. I''m quite curious myself. It would be a good example for Henry and you could give him some pointers. He''ll have to take this exam eventually."
Henry''s expression soured even more.
But he couldn''t very well contradict his father in front of everyone.
Just as Noreen took out her phone, there was a knock on the door.
Someone said to Halley,
"Academician Joyner, there''s
reporte
from the financial news
channel here to interview you."
Halley frowned. "I didn''t agree to an interview."
"But they''re already here..."
Halley thought for a moment. "Let them in."
It was only then that Bianca
understood Yvonne''s strategy in arranging for reporters from a major firfancial channel. Any other
lesser-known media outlet would
have been turned away at the door.
As the two reporters entered, Noreen finally opened the score-checking website.
When she saw the number, she frowned slightly.
Wade noticed. "What is it? Did you not do well?"
Noreen''s expression was serious. "It''s five points lower than I estimated."
Jude couldn''t help but let out a smallugh.
She acted like such an expert,ining about being five points off her estimate.
Did someone who came inst ce even need to estimate?
Chapter 571
Jude Wilder was about to say something when his eyes met Seth Harcourt''s.
Seth''s expression was cold, his dark eyes bottomless.
An inexplicable chill ran down Jude''s spine, and he forgot what he was going to say.
He had a point. It was an important asion, and his joking around was probably out of line.
Besides, he was here to support Bianca, and his behavior could give her a bad name.
Seth''s stern look was likely meant to convey just that.
Jude wisely shut his mouth.
But he was still secretly hoping to see Noreen Gilmore make a fool of herself.
"Taking this long to check a score? You''d think she got a perfect score," Lillian Laurent muttered under her breath, her tone dripping with disdain.
Henry Brooke exined earnestly, "No one''s ever gotten a perfect score in this subject."
Lillian shot back, "Didn''t you realize I was mocking her?"
Henry pressed his lips together, but a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his eyes.
He clearly agreed with Lillian''s sentiment.
Across from them, Sanford Brooke nced at Noreen''s phone and then announced, "255? That''s really high!"
The office was quiet enough for everyone present to hear Noreen''s score.
255?
Wasn''t that the same score as Bianca''s?
How could that be?
The smile in Henry''s eyes was instantly reced by shock.
Lillian, who had just been making snide remarks, fell silent.
Even Bianca, who was usually calm and collected, was stunned for a moment.
How was this possible?
She knew better than anyone how difficult the exam was.
She simply couldn''t believe Noreen could score that high!
Something was definitely wrong here.
Jude, sitting next to her, clearly thought the same thing.
"Looks like Noreen''s recent closeness with Dn had a purpose after all."
"I knew it. She was just riding on Dn Wilder''s coattails," Lillian said, her disdain returning.
Henry also recalled seeing Noreen delivering something to Halley Joyner''s house and couldn''t help but frown.
In the middle of the room, a reporter from the financial news channel finished setting up his equipment and asked Since they both scored 255, does that mean they''re tied for first ce?"
When the reporters had first entered, they had overheard Lillian saying Bianca scored 255.
It was surprising enough that they had nned to focus their interview on her.
They never expected another 255 to show up.
The reporter asked curiously, "I remember that Academician Joyner only epts one student each year. How will that work this time, since their scores are identical?"
Henry raised an eyebrow and said nonchntly, "The spot will, of course, go to the more capable person, not someone who used underhanded methods."
He didn''t name anyone, but the reporter understood the implication.
Henry was sitting with Bianca''s group, so his jab was obviously aimed at Noreen.
Was he suggesting there was something wrong with Noreen''s score?
The quick-witted reporter immediately turned his camera toward Noreen. Just as Henry finished speaking.
Noreen nced up at him, having clearly understood his insinuation.
She set down her phone and spoke in a calm but firm voice, "Mr. Brooke, are you questioning the validity of this score? If you have sufficient evidence, you should report t through official channels instead of making baseless usations here."
Her voice was gentle, but herposure was unshakable.
Next to her, Sanford frowned deeply and scolded, "Henry, watch your words!"
Facing his father''s reprimand, Henry
exined tactfully, "I don''t have concrete proof, but Bianca is a PhD in Finance from W Business School She''s my senior from the same department. I frequently read her papers when I was studying abroad, and there''s no question about her abilities."
Chapter 572
He paused for a moment before his tone shifted.
When he looked at Noreen again, his gaze was noticeably colder, and his words were sharper.
"As far as I know, Ms. Gilmore only has a bachelor''s degree, has never published any papers, and even rankedst in her ss at one point. After graduating, she''s been navigating the corporate world. To achieve such a high score by just cramming for a little over two months before the exam is highly suspicious."
Beside him, Bianca nced at Henry''s cold expression and smiled faintly, saying nothing.
She felt a wave of relief.
The reporter seized the opportunity. "So, are you saying Ms. Gilmore''s score is fraudulent?"
The camera and microphone were pointed squarely at Noreen, ready to capture every second of the drama.
However, despite the camera and Henry''s aggressive questioning, Noreen remained perfectlyposed, showing no sign of panic.
Even Henry had to admire her.
She could maintain herposure under such circumstances.
Anyone who didn''t know better would think she actually had the skills to back it up.
"Ms. Gilmore, please answer the question," the reporter pressed.
Over on the other side.
After reviewing all the evidence, Halley took off his sses and looked up at the reporter. "Who told you her score is fraudulent? Are you questioning me, or are you questioning the fairness of the entire education system?"
Given Halley''s influence in both academia and the financial world, no one dared to make such an usation.
The reporter''s attitude immediately changed. He exined respectfully, "We were just raising a question based on this gentleman''s statement. Since Academician Joyner says it''s not fraudulent, then it''s not."
Henry pursed his lips, still unable to understand.
Why was Halley so protective of Noreen?
Professor Selyyn spoke up, offering a rare exnation. "Ah, about Noreen rankingst, I know about that. I was an associate professor back then. Although I never taught Noreen directly, I knew of her reputation. She was first in her ss every year and often represented the university inpetitions, winning many honors. The one time she rankedst was because she was sick and missed the exams. I even went to the hospital to visit her on behalf of the university."
"At the time, everyone joked that the academic prodigy had fallen. Some student yfully wrote a post about it on the school forum, and it
unexpectedly got a lot
of aton
The story got twisted as it spread,
and it became a rumor that she had
actually rankedst."
"And I remember, when she
graduated, all the professors tried to persuade her to continue her
studies. But she insisted on turning down a full schrship for the PhD program go saying he wanted to help her boyfriend fun hispany."
"We all thought it was such a waste. We felt she shouldn''t have given up her future for a man! It just wasn''t worth it!"
Noreen leaned back, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at Seth, a low, huskyugh escaping her throat. "It really wasn''t worth it."
Bianca''s face instantly darkened.
Seth''s pale eyes were hidden in the shadow of hisshes, exuding an almost inhuman calm.
Only Sanford was visibly upset, ordering Henry, "Henry, apologize to Ms. Gilmore right now!"
Henry was genuinely surprised to learn that the story about Noreen rankingst was just a rumor.
But even so, could she really outperform Bianca?
Bianca''s degree and the papers he had read were all real!
The reporters weren''t interested in that debate. They just wanted to know who Academician Joyner would ept as his student.
"Academician Joyner, if their scores are the same, who will you ept as your student? Could you please tell us?"
Chapter 573
Everyone waited with bated breath.
They were all waiting for Halley''s answer.
Halley spoke slowly, "Who told you their scores were the same?"
The reporter was taken aback. He nced at Bianca, then at Noreen. "They both scored 255. Aren''t their scores the same?"
Halley chuckled and denied it. "Of course not!"
Lillian grew anxious. "What do you mean, not the same? My sister just checked. It was 255!"
Halley raised a hand. "Then I suggest you check again."
Bianca''s heart began to race. She quickly took out her phone to check her score again.
Her hands were trembling as she entered her password.
Several people leaned in to look at her phone, and the atmosphere grew tense.
The page loaded, and the score finally appeared on the screen.
The moment she saw it, Bianca''s mind went nk.
Lillian gasped, "How can it be zero?!"
Jude cried out, "How is a zero even possible?!"
Henry''s face froze.
Zero?
"That''s impossible! I just checked at 9:05, and it was 255," Bianca said, herposure shattering.
Only Seth remained calm, reminding her, "Check it again."
"Right, right, it could be a system error. Sis, check it again," Lillian urged.
Bianca quickly exited the page and logged back in.
However, no miracle urred.
There was no system glitch.
Her score was, clear as day, a zero.
"This can''t be!" Lillian shot up from her seat. "The system must have malfunctioned!"
She even started ordering Professor Selwyn around. "Aren''t you going to call someone and report this? Tell them to fix the bug!"
Before Professor Selwyn could speak.
Halley answered for him. "It''s not a bug. That is her real score!"
Lillian fell silent, and the entire office was plunged into a stunned quiet.
After a long moment, Henry finally asked, "Why is it zero?"
Halley told him inly, "Because her score was nullified."
Nullified?
Why?
"Why was it nullified?" Jude voiced the question on everyone''s mind.
"Yeah, on what grounds did you nullify my sister''s score? What did
Noreen give you?" Lillian, in het
anger blunted out without thinking s?novels
Bianca quickly tried to stop her, but her own mind was in disarray, a terrible
premonition washing over her.
Halley had always been highly respected and had never been questioned so rudely
by someone so young.
His cold, sharp gaze swept over Lillian.
Lillian immediately froze, terrified.
He turned his imposing gaze to Bianca. "Miss Lowell, I believe you know exactly why your score was nullified."
Bianca stood frozen, feeling as if she''d been plunged into the dead of winter. Impossible!
There was no way Halley could know!
William had given her that thesis topic and had explicitly told her it had never been published. It was untraceable online and she could use it without worry.
So, it was impossible for Halley to know!
She struggled topose herself and was about to feign ignorance and question Halley.
But Halley''s next words drained the blood from her face.
"Your paper on the ''ck Box Investment Technique'' was giarized, so your exam score has been voided!"
After a split second of silence, the
reporter who had been
Noreen swiftly changed targets, turning on Bianca.
"Miss Lowell, was your graduate entrance exam paper giarized? Why would you
do that?"
"What are your thoughts on your score being nullified?"
"Will this affect Perse Tech''s public offering?"
Chapter 574
"Miss Lowell..."
Bianca''sposure was crumbling. She could only instinctively deny it, her voice trembling. "I didn''t giarize. I didn''t."
Henry, feeling a surge of pity, stepped forward to shield her from the reporters. "Stop filming! She''ll grant you an interview once this is all cleared up!"
The reporters, of course, ignored him and continued to snap photos of Bianca.
In that moment, Seth seemed to be the only rational one in the room.
He asked in a calm, measured tone, "How can you prove her paper was giarized?"
"That''s right, show us the proof! Otherwise, this is nder!" Lillian, emboldened by Seth''s support for Bianca, found her voice again.
Henry added urgently, "Professor, could there be some misunderstanding? Bianca published several papers during her time at WT Business School. She would never make a mistake like this!"
"Then let her provide evidence to prove she didn''t giarize," Halley replied, not in a hurry to argue.
Henry quickly turned to Bianca. "Bianca, you must have the original manuscript, right?"
"I do, but I''ll need to contact my doctoral advisor. He supervised me on this paper, and he has clear evidence that will prove my innocence."
In that moment, Bianca was grateful to Henry.
As long as she could contact William, the whole problem would be solved.
William had provided the thesis idea and the manuscript.
If she asked, he would certainly vouch for her.
Hearing this, Henry quickly pleaded her case to Halley. "Professor, she says she can prove it. Please give her a chance."
"Very well."
Halley also wanted to find out how this paper had been leaked.
With permission granted, Bianca felt a wave of relief.
She stood up and said to the room, "I''m going to step outside to make a call."
Lillian immediately chimed in, "I''ll go with you!"
After Bianca left, Noreen, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke to Halley. "Why did you deduct five points from my score?"
She had calcted it herself; it should have been 260.
Halley replied without batting an eye, "For turning in your exam early."
Noreen was speechless.
Wade Harcourt spoke up in her
defense. Isn''t that a bit too strict? If
you hadn''t deducted those five
points we wouldn''t have
had this
whole controversy, would we
He was referring to the dispute over their identical scores.
Halley didn''t see any issue with his decision. "If I don''t deduct points, she won''t learn her lesson."
Only Sanford was marveling at the situation. "So, without that deduction, Ms. Gilmore would have been the undisputed top scorer this year? That''s incredible!"
Henry was also stunned.
Noreen''s score of 255 was already impressive enough.
He never imagined her actual score was 260.
Even Professor Selwyn was clicking
his tongue in amazement. "A
of 2604sn''t just the highest ear,
it''s the highest score in our department''s history
He then asked curiously, "So, what was Noreen''s thesis topic?"
"The theoretical application of mathematics in financial markets, and how to apply these theories to highly practical, profitable strategies by calcting predictable patterns in market behavior."
Professor Selwyn''s interest was immediately piqued. "I''d like to see it."
Halley generously shared it.
Dn also leaned in for a look.
"You scored her too low! This score is far too low!" Professor Selwyn eximed as
he read.
Henry felt a tremor in his chest.
He wanted to see it too.
But his legs felt rooted to the spot, refusing to move.
Besides, he felt that looking at Noreen''s paper now would be a betrayal to Bianca.
Chapter 575
The quietest person in the room was, by far, Jude.
When he first heard that Noreen had also scored 255, his immediate reaction was disbelief. He assumed she had used some underhanded means to get that score.
After all, she had a history ofing inst.
Stories of underdogs making triumphantebacks only happened in novels.
The chances of it happening in real life were minuscule.
But Professor Selwyn''s exnation made him realize the whole st ce'' story was just a misunderstanding.
Noreen had always been exceptional.
And her real score was 260, five points higher than the score Bianca had first seen.
Just a moment ago, he had secretly messaged his friend who was a TA and asked him what a score of 260 signified.
His friend''s reply was unequivocal: "A genius."
"No, wait! A genius among geniuses!"
"Academician Joyner''s exam is hellishly difficult. Even if I took it, I''d probably only get around 180 or 190. 260 is absolutely god-tier!"
"And at this level, every single point is a huge leap that''s incredibly hard to cross!"
After reading the messages, Jude fell even more silent.
To top it off, Professor Selwyn, after reading Noreen''s paper, kept insisting that Academician Joyner had scored her too low.
That meant Noreen was capable of scoring even higher!
After a long silence, Jude turned to Seth, who was sitting beside him.
"Is Noreen really that brilliant?"
Seth didn''t look at him. His gaze was fixed on Noreen, his eyes deep but his expression calm.
"You''re only just realizing that now?" he replied lightly.
Jude was taken aback. "You knew all along?"
Perhaps his stare was too intense, as Noreen seemed to sense it and nced in their direction.
Seth calmly averted his gaze, hiding the emotion in his eyes.
It was Dn whose eyes met Noreen''s.
He felt a jolt of rm, and a chill ran down his back.
Henry was growing anxious when, Bianca finally returned to the office. She announced to Halley in a firm voice have sufficient evidence to prove that I wrote this paper."
Halley gestured with his hand. "Then present it publicly."
To ensure everyone could see clearly, Halley offered her the office projector.
Bianca calmly connected her device to the projector, showing no signs of stage fright.
Seeing this, Henry secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Once Bianca proved her innocence, he would do everything in his power to convince Halley.
If Noreen could benefit from her connection to Dn, why couldn''t Bianca benefit from her connection to him?
Once Halley epted Bianca, he would see for himself just how vast the gap was between Noreen and his star student!
Over by the screen, Bianca, having connected to the projector, presented her evidence piece by piece, exining as she went.
"Actually, wrote this paper eight years ago, but I never published it Here is a screenshot of the original email, and here is the content. Academician goyner canpare them."
To emphasize its authenticity, Bianca added, "The main reason is that my preparation time for this exam was a bit tight, and I was busy with PerseTech''s IPO. I didn''t have time to prepare new material so rewrote my thesis from eight years ago."
She paused and asked Professor Selwyn, "That should be within the rules, right?"
Professor Selwyn nodded in agreement. "Yes, that is within the rules."
Bianca smiled confidently. "Then I have nothing further to add."
Henry stared at the screen. Eight years ago!
Even the timeline matched up!
Halley stared at the screen, his eyes cold and his expression grim.
Chapter 576
He remained silent, which Bianca took as a sign that her evidence was irond, so airtight that even Halley couldn''t find a w.
Just as she thought victory was within her grasp, Noreen spoke up from the side.
"Could you please show the third screenshot again?"
Bianca frowned, a coldness in her eyes.
Noreen was deliberately nitpicking, knowing full well that with so many people watching, Bianca couldn''t refuse.
And she was right. She couldn''t refuse, so she clicked on the third image again.
"Zoom in," Noreen added.
It sounded like amand.
Bianca''s brow furrowed in displeasure.
Lillian, unable to contain her anger, shouted at Noreen, "Who are you to tell her to zoom in? Do you even have a say in this?"
Noreen was an expert at handling people like Lillian, who spoke without thinking.
She replied with a light, airy question, "Is it because you don''t dare?"
That instantly shut Lillian up.
Bianca didn''t want to get into a drawn-out argument with Noreen. She just wanted to end this self-vindication session as quickly as possible, so she did as Noreen asked and zoomed in on the image.
She stopped when Noreen said so.
"This appears to be an inbox, not a sent folder," Noreen observed after careful inspection.
Bianca was clever in her own way; she hadn''t screenshotted the full page.
And in the older versions of that webmail client, the inbox and sent folder looked very simr.
Someone not paying close attention would never notice the difference.
The only reason Noreen had spotted this detail was because she had handled all of Aurelion Group''s overseas email correspondence in the early years.
Over time, it had be muscle memory.
Her challenge did make Bianca''s heart skip a beat.
Herposed expression faltered for a fraction of a second.
"Ms. Gilmore, you''re quite observant!" she retorted coolly.
She was implying that Noreen was nitpicking to advance her own interests.
But since Noreen had brought it up, she had no choice but to exin. "This is indeed a screenshot of an inbox. It''s an email I sent to my doctoral advisor, Professor William, eight years ago. He sent me the
screenshot. The reason didn''t use a I screenshot from my sent folder is because that ount was hacked. After I went abroad, I registered a new email address and stopped using the old one."
Bianca dared to offer this exnation because William I told her that the owner of the email ount had long since abandoned it.
???
When William''s own professor received the paper back then, he was incredibly impressed and had Witam try to contact the author immediately.
But the emails they sent went unanswered.
William tried againter, but still got no response.
He concluded that the person who wrote the paper had likely changed careers.
After all, he had never seen that name in the industry again.
Bianca even showed her current email address, which was nearly identical to the so-called hacked ount.
It just had the number 3 added to it.
She exined with a touch of humor, "Three is my lucky number, so when I registered a new email, I just added it to the username."
She went on with her lengthy exnation.
When she was finished, Noreen simply offered a nomittal smile.
Henry was deeply displeased by Noreen''s flippant attitude and frowned.
But in the next second, Noreen spoke casually, "What if I told you I can log into that email ount?"
Bianca''s face froze.
Bianca''s face turned pale.
Bianca could barely maintain herposure.
Chapter 577
Henry could no longer sit still. He shot up, asking in shock, "What do you mean? What do you mean you can log in?"
Bianca''s lips turned white, and her hand tightened around her phone unconsciously.
Her heart was pounding, and a ringing filled her ears.
How could it be such a coincidence?
William had told her the odds of running into the original author were one in thirty million.
That''s why, out of the dozen or so papers he had provided, she had carefully selected this one as her weapon for the graduate exam.
She needed to ensure she could beat Noreen, secure this position, and connect with Halley to leverage the resources behind him.
Besides, she had been operating this way for years without a single mistake.
How did it all go so wrong?
Bianca couldn''t wrap her head around it.
But at that moment, no one in the room cared about Bianca''s inner turmoil.
All eyes were on Noreen.
She borrowed aptop from Halley, logged into the email ount she hadn''t used in ages, and found the email she had sent back then.
It was identical to the screenshot Bianca had provided.
Only hers was more detailed, more direct.
It wasn''t a meaningless screenshot like Bianca''s.
Not only that, but Noreen also opened several unread emails in the inbox from WT Business School.
Some were asking why she hadn''t enrolled.
Some were asking why they couldn''t reach her.
Others asked if she could provide more detailed information on the ''ck Box Investment Technique.''
Later emails even offered her generous terms: if she agreed to enroll, they would create a special honors program for her and provide full financial support.
The final email stated clearly that WT Business School would hold her admission spot indefinitely.
She could enroll whenever she wished.
Noreen had never seen these emails before.
The day she decided to give up on studying abroad, she had never logged into that email ount again.
In ire Chase''s words, she was stubborn, always seeing things through to the bitter end.
She never thought she would have a reason to open it again yearster.
She did all of this while connected to the projector, leaving no room for doubt or deception.
The reporter filmed the entire thing, not missing a single frame.
When they were first assigned to cover this story at the university, they had been unenthusiastic thinking it wouldn''t be a major news event.
Now, they were ecstatic, practically shoving the camera in Bianca''s face.
The moment Bianca saw Noreen sessfully log in, a chill shot straight to the top of her head.
Jude, who had been a bit slow on the uptake, finally put the pieces together.
He stammered, "So... does this count as academic fraud?"
Bianca wanted to deny it, but her throat felt constricted, and she couldn''t make a sound.
Despite the cold day, ayer of sweat broke out on her forehead.
It took all her strength for Bianca to remain standing.
She instinctively turned, habitually looking to Seth for help.
Every time before, he had alwayse to her rescue.
This time, too, she pinned her hopes on him.
Though they were only a couple of meters apart, she found she couldn''t see his face clearly.
Seth''s eyes were a silent, indifferent void, with faint ripples stirring beneath the calm surface.
"So, you''re saying this paper was
originally written by Noreen eighthet
years ago and was giarized by Bianca eight yearster?"
"We heard Bianca is a PhD in Finance from WT Business School. Was that PhD
earned legitimately?"
1.n
"Your actions don''t just concern you personally; they damage the reputation of our nation''s schrszin the international academicmunity. Did you ever consider that your shortcuts would disgrace your peers who work hard and- maintain their integrity?"
Chapter 578
The reporter''s questions grew sharper and more incisive, catching Biancapletely off guard.
Never in her life had she faced such a humiliating situation.
Henry, who had been her staunch supporter just moments before, now stood frozen in ce, feeling as if he''d been pped a thousand times. He was utterly mortified.
Years of admiration and affection crumbled in an instant, the weight of it all leaving him breathless.
He couldn''t describe the feeling.
However, Noreen wasn''t finished with Bianca yet.
She looked directly at Bianca, her voice so calm it was unnerving. "If this isn''t enough to prove you giarized my paper, I have more substantial evidence."
Halley followed up, "I have already confirmed the entire chain of evidence and have had it notarized. That is why Bianca''s score was nullified!"
"Furthermore, we will be pursuing legal action against you!"
This announcement made everyone in the room gasp.
Pursuing legal action meant Bianca could face consequences such as having her degree revoked, her academic credentials rescinded, and her credit record damaged.
If this was registered as a breach of trust, it would be recorded in the national credit information sharing tform, affecting her entire professional career.
A chill crept over Bianca from all directions, rushing to the top of her head.
She stumbled backward, unsteady on her feet, as a wave of overwhelming panic washed over her.
The blow was devastating and wouldpletely upend her life.
She couldn''t ept it.
Her vision went ck, and her body went limp.
Henry was the closest to her.
Ordinarily, he would have reached out to catch her.
But at that moment, his mind was aplete nk.
His limbs felt disconnected from his will, and he could only watch as she copsed in front of him.
"Bianca!" Lillian''s shriek broke the
silence in the office. "Bianca, whatet
wrong? Someone call an
ambnce Seth! Help her rent"
After a flurry of chaotic movement, Bianca was carried out by Seth.
Lillian followed them.
On the opposing side, only Henry, standing stiffly, and Jude, slumped in his chair, remained.
The tense atmosphere lingered for a moment before it was broken by Healy Naylor, who had finally found his way.
"Huh, am I a littlete?" Healy asked, knocking as he entered. His eyes lit up when he saw Noreen.
He had no idea who had designed theyout of this university; it was like a maze.
It had taken him forever to find the room!
"Are the results out?" Healy asked, getting straight to the point.
It was Halley who answered.
He announced decisively, "The graduate student admitted this year is Noreen Additionally, I will be hosting an apprenticeship.ceremony in one week at the top floor banquet hall of The Gilded Sands Hotel. You are all wee to attend!"
An apprenticeship ceremony!
That meant Noreen wasn''t just Halley''s graduate student; she was also his apprentice!
Only an apprentice would receive a formal apprenticeship ceremony!
Henry''s head snapped toward Noreen, his gaze suddenly intense and profound.
Healy was stunned by the news as soon as he walked in.
Was Noreen really that impressive?
Noreen, on the other hand, remained perfectlyposed, calmly closing the email client on theptop.
Healy was
the proding right in front of
the projector and noticed one of
"Hey, isn''t that Dn t
content belongs to
Hisment caught Noreen''s attention. She noticed an unread email from Dn, sent eight years ago.
Chapter 579
Since it was a personal email, Noreen didn''t open it in front of everyone.
Instead, she exited the main page and then casually clicked it open.
The content was brief, just a few words.
Noreen''s elegant brow furrowed for a moment, but her expression quickly returned to its usual calm as she closed theptop.
Seeing this, Healy knew not to press the matter.
Besides, the news of Bianca''s academic fraud was so explosive that itmanded everyone''s attention.
Halley dered, "This matter must be thoroughly investigated! I have already contacted WT Business School, and I believe we will receive a definitive response soon."
At this point, Professor Selwyn looked rather ashamed. "When I first saw the paper on ''ck Box Investment Technique,'' I was incredibly impressed and praised Bianca highly. I even attended a dinner she hosted. Looking back now, I was far too careless. I need to reflect on my judgment."
He also expressed his apologies to Noreen.
Noreen didn''t hold it against him; after all, he wasn''t at fault since he didn''t know the truth.
Wade spoke up at the right moment. "So, Bianca managed to score 255 because she giarized Noreen''s paper? She has no real ability of her own?"
Professor Selwyn looked embarrassed. "That is correct. Our exam is different from other subjects. The only standardized testponent is German. The real challenge is the specialized subject matter. Bianca studied abroad for seven years, so German wouldn''t have been difficult for her. And since she giarized Noreen''s work for the specialized portion, well..."
He didn''t say it out loud, but everyone present knew what he meant: on her own merit, Bianca wouldn''t have evene close.
An extremelyplicated expression crossed Henry''s face.
As if on cue, Dn spoke up, asking Halley, "Professor, are you happy to have your lost apprentice back?"
Halleyughed heartily. "Of course! I''m d this little rascal didn''t disappoint me! Her thesis this time was excellent!"
"Just excellent?" Noreen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Exceptionally excellent, happy now?" Halley''s stern demeanor vanished, reced by a face full of smiles.
"In that case, can you make it to your follow-up appointment with Dr. 0 Harrison this afternoon?" Noreen pressed her advantage. "He said you''re already over half a mo
Halley''s smile instantly disappeared. After a moment, he grumbled, "You''re so annoying!"
That familiar look of impatience struck Henry with another wave of shock.
So... Halley was annoyed with Noreen because she kept pestering him to see a doctor?
Not, as he had assumed, because he looked down on her?
And the phrase "lost apprentice back" sent shockwaves through him.
He was wrong.
He had beenpletely wrong about everything.
Beyond the shock, he felt an overwhelming sense of shame.
All this time, he had belittled and disparaged Noreen.
In the end, he was the real buffoon.
Once Sanford understood the full picture, he asked Halley in
surprise, "So, Noreen is the
delicet
vel?
benefactor who helped the Brooke
family so much?
This time, Halley answered frankly, "Yes."
Sanford excitedly went over to shake Noreen''s hand. "Ms. Gilmore, I''ve finally found you!"
He then turned to Henry. "What are
you standing there for? Come and thank Ms. Gilmore! Without her the
Brooke family wouldn''t be where it is today
y fo
Henry walked over with great difficulty. He tried to speak several times, but the words felt caught in his throat.
"You really gave me a huge surprise, kid!" Sanford was too excited to notice how stiff Henry''s expression was.
Noreen didn''t spare Henry a single nce. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Sanford, she said her goodbyes and left.
Chapter 580
It was only after she was gone that Sanford realized Henry hadn''t said a word to Noreen.
"What was wrong with you just now? You didn''t say anything. We found the Brooke family''s benefactor, and you showed no gratitude at all?" Sanford scolded Henry.
Henry had no idea how to exin himself to his father.
If Sanford knew how he had treated Noreen before, he''d probably be kicked out of the family by tomorrow.
"We have to thank Noreen properly," Sanford mused, his mind set on this matter he had been dwelling on for eight years.
After a long pause, Henry finally spoke. "Yes, we should thank her properly."
Healy had chased after Noreen.
He had missed too much today, and now that he finally had a chance to see Noreen, he wanted to spend more time with her. He asked where she was going and offered her a ride.
Noreen politely declined. "No, thank you, Mr. Naylor. My driver is already here. I appreciate the offer."
She was incredibly busy; she didn''t have time for this.
In the end, Healy could only watch as she got into her car and drove away.
A momentter, Mrs. Naylor called to ask about his progress.
Healy recounted the day''s events to her.
Mrs. Naylor flew into a rage, berating him. "How did I end up with such a useless son? You let such a golden opportunity slip through your fingers? At this rate, you''d bete to your own funeral!"
"Mom..." Healy sighed, a headacheing on.
"What? Am I wrong?"
Healy was silent.
This was her brand of tough love...
Meanwhile, Jude left Rivercrest University with Dn.
Jude was uncharacteristically quiet during the drive, which made Dn feel a bit uneasy.
"What''s wrong? Feeling crushed?" Dn knew what was on his mind.
Jude mumbled, "I feel like aplete idiot!"
Dn chuckled. "You''re pretty harsh on yourself, aren''t you?"
"Dn, did you know all along?" Jude was finally starting to see the bigger picture.
Dn yed dumb. "Know what?"
"That Noreen is brilliant."
Dn admitted it freely. "She''s always been exceptional. It''s not like it just happened today."
His words made Jude feel even more like an idiot.
"Then why didn''t she show it at all
when she
was at Aurelion Group?
Was she deliberately hiding her talent? bude just couldn''t figure it out.
Dn''s grip on the steering wheel
tightened. "She wasn''t hiding her et
talent. She was just so focused on Seth that she forgot to shine.
Jude wanted to argue with that exnation.
But when he thought about how
n had worked tirelessly formet
Noreint all th
Seth
year without
I those years, the words wouldn''te o
After a moment of gloomy silence, he asked Dn, "What about you, then? Why didn''t you make a move first back then?"
He remembered that Dn had met Noreen first.
The traffic light ahead turned red, and Dn stopped the car at the crosswalk. He let
out a soft sigh. "You think I didn''t try?"
"What do you mean?"
"That email... she only just saw it today."
At the mention of the email, Jude remembered and pressed, "What did it say?"
"[I''ll be waiting for you in Meritania.]"
It wasn''t a confession of love, but it was something more.
The time wasn''t right to talk about love, so Dn had been more subtle.
But he knew Noreen would understand.
He just never imagined that she would never even open that email.
Chapter 581
Dn had gone to WT Business School for the start of the semester.
But not only did he not see Noreen, he heard she had given up her chance to study abroad for love.
At the time, he figured if that was what she wanted, he would wish her well.
And so, for seven years, he never once disturbed her.
It was only when Jude told him that Seth and Bianca had reunited in Glenhaven City that he rushed back.
"Since you''re back, why not make a move?"
"You don''t know Noreen. Pushing too hard would only backfire. It''s better to take things slow."
Besides, he was starting to think that taking it slow wasn''t such a bad idea.
He liked her, but she was free.
...
Today was Yvonne Laurent''s moment to shine.
Usually relegated to the fringes, she had suddenly be the center of attention at the luncheon.
The same society wives who had once been cool toward her were now fawning over her.
They all hoped Yvonne would bring them into her inner circle.
Mrs. Chase was by far the most enthusiastic.
She returned from a phone call, her voice trembling with excitement as she told Yvonne, "Mrs. Lowell, my husband just called! He said Academician Joyner is hosting a mentorship ceremony at the top of The Gilded Sands Hotel in one week!"
"A mentorship ceremony?!" someone eximed. "Are you serious?"
"Of course! My husband is a partner with The Gilded Sands Hotel. He just got the news."
Yvonne was still out of the loop. "Is this ceremony significant?"
"You don''t know? A graduate student doesn''t get a ceremony like this. They''re just a student, not a prot¨¦g¨¦. Only a personally chosen prot¨¦g¨¦ gets a formal mentorship ceremony!"
"Mrs. Lowell, your daughter is about to hit the big time!"
"Mrs. Lowell, you have to include us in the future. We can all share resources."
"Yes, yes! I''ve always said Miss
Lowell is a genius. A Ph.D. in finance from abroad, a fianc¨¦ who''s a tech magnate in Rivercrest City, and now she''s Academician Joyners prot¨¦g¨¦. Her career is going to skyrocket!"
"I say it''s all thanks to Mrs. Lowell. You raised a daughter who is not only beautiful but also brilliant. You must share your parenting secrets with us sometimer fo
Yvonne lost herself in the endless stream of ttery.
She even promised everyone that she would look out for them in the future.
Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, Yvonne''s phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, she beamed at the other wives. "It''s my daughter, calling with the good news."
"Answer it, answer it!" Mrs. Chase urged.
Yvonne picked up the phone, basking in the glory.
But after only a few words from the other end, her expression changed. "I''ll be right there."
"What''s wrong?" the others asked, confused.
Yvonne said anxiously, "My daughter fainted."
"Oh my, which hospital? We''ll go with you to visit. We didn''t have time to prepare any get-well gifts, though."
"Don''t be silly," Yvonne said. "The thought is what counts."
The group hurried to the hospital, afraid of missing such a prime opportunity to strengthen their connection.
When they arrived, they ran into a group of reporters being blocked at the door.
"Haven''t you gone too far? My cousin has copsed, and you''re still hounding her!" Lillian stood in the doorway, frantic.
"We''re not hounding her. We''re just seeking the truth," a reporter said calmly.
Just as Lillian was at a loss for what to do, Yvonne arrived.
"What''s going on?" Yvonne''s face was cold and stern.
Mrs. Chase cleared a path for her. "Make
way, this is Bianca''s mother She needs to see her daughter on''t
block the way."
Chapter 582
Hearing this, the reporters immediately turned, shoving their microphones in
Yvonne''s face. "Mrs. Lowell, hello, we''re from the financial news channel. We''d like to ask you a few questions."
Yvonne heard "financial news channel" and remembered she had arranged for them herself.
She immediately stopped and nodded gracefully. "Of course."
"Aunt Yvonne!" Lillian tried to stop her.
But it was toote.
The reporters'' questions were as sharp as ever. "Are you aware of your daughter''s academic fraud?"
"What are your thoughts on your daughtermitting academic fraud?"
"We''ve learned that your daughter has dozens of high-impact papers to her name. Does simr giarism exist in those works?"
The barrage of questions left Yvonne reeling.
Her smiling face instantly turned grim. "I don''t know what you''re talking about!"
She shoved the microphones aside and pushed her way into the hospital room.
The women who had been following her all stopped in their tracks.
They exchanged nces, stunned by the sudden turn of events.
So... Bianca''s prestigious degree was fake?
My God!
Mrs. Chase was the first to react. "I just remembered, I have to pick up my youngest son from school. I have to go."
The others quickly made their own excuses and scattered.
Within five minutes, the news of Bianca''s academic fraud had spread throughout their social circle.
Yvonne was trembling with rage. "What in the world is going on?"
Bianca''s face was pale.
She had genuinely fainted; she wasn''t faking it to escape the situation.
Even now, her hands were still shaking.
Faced with Yvonne''s questioning, she remained silent.
She never imagined she would be brought down by Noreen!
She couldn''t even bear to think about how people would look at her now.
How would Seth see her?
Would he call off the wedding?
Her mind was a chaotic mess, and she couldn''t form a single coherent answer.
After a long moment, Yvonne finally asked, "Then what''s this about Halley''s mentorship ceremony?"
When she first heard about it, Yvonne had been overjoyed.
She thought they were truly about to make it to the top.
"Halley... is taking Noreen as his protege,
Bianca''s voice was somet
we
"How is that possible?" Yvonne was utterly dumbfounded.
A dead silence fell over the hospital room and stretched on for a long time.
Finally, Yvonne asked, "What about Seth? Where is he?"
The news about Bianca''s academic fraud was broadcast that afternoon.
Front-page news.
The story sent shockwaves through their circles.
It was the topic of conversation in
nearly
every industry group chat,
it impossible f
ignore. "
People were focused on two main questions.
"Can PerseTech still have a sessful IPO?"
"Will Seth break up with Bianca?"
Even ire came to her to gossip about it.
"I''ll bet you ten bucks that jerk Seth will definitely break up with Bitch Bianca!"
ire''s reasoning was simple: "Men
are practical. Now that Bianca is no
longer useful to him, why would the ore resources on her?''
waste any
They''re definitely breaking up!"
Noreen paused, the pen in her hand hovering over a document. "Not necessarily."
After all, she knew firsthand just how powerful a first love could be.
Noreen worked a littlete that evening before heading home.
As they pulled into her neighborhood, Colby said, "It''s Mr. Harcourt."
Noreen looked up from her documents, her eyes narrowing as she peered ahead.
Seth was standing under a streetlight.
The dim light cast shadows across his strong brow, making his expression unreadable.
It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Chapter 583
Colby asked Noreen, "Should we turn around?"
"No, it''s fine." Noreen frowned slightly, her gaze cool.
She had tried avoiding Seth before when he sought her out, only to be cornered by him at every turn.
It was better to face him directly. If he had something to say, he could say it. If there was a problem, they would solve it.
That way, there would be no lingering entanglements.
And no room for others to specte.
Colby parked the car on the side of the road and waited inside.
When Seth saw Noreen get out of the car, his gaze shifted to her. The dim yellow
light of the streemp gave his silhouette an unreal quality.
Noreen nced at her watch.
It was nine-thirty at night.
Why wasn''t he at the hospital with Bianca? What was he doing here?
Was he here to plead Bianca''s case?
Did he really think she was that kind?
Or was he preparing to offer her another deal she couldn''t refuse in exchange for Bianca''s peace of mind?
If that was the case... it wasn''t entirely out of the question.
After all, she was a pragmatic businesswoman.
She used to care only about genuine affection, and she had lost everything.
Now, all she cared about was money, resources, and connections!
Anything that could benefit her!
But she would never again pursue genuine affection.
So, as Noreen approached Seth, she cut straight to the chase. "Are you here to plead for Bianca?"
Seth''s eyes met hers, a faint smile on his lips. "Why would you think that?"
Noreen raised an eyebrow.
Was she wrong?
That didn''t seem right.
But she had no interest in ying games with him. Her voice was tinged with coldness. "Then what are you doing here?"
Surely he wasn''t here to reminisce.
Seth met her cool gaze, his tone a little heavier than usual. "That time you missed
the exam¡ªwhat were you sick with?"
Noreen''s brows furrowed instantly.
She felt there was something seriously wrong with his train of thought.
His fianc¨¦e, was in deep trouble, but instead of dealing with it, he was standing outside her apartment asking about something that happened six years ago.
What was wrong with him?
Had he lost his mind?
"You really want to know?" Noreen''s tone wasced with obvious mockery.
"Yes," Seth replied.
"It was because of you," Noreen said, her words sharp and direct. "Our first time. You weren''t gentle, and it
caused a ruptured ovarian cyst met.
was hospitalized, satmissed the exam and gotst ce for the only time in my life."
Seth''s expression froze. His pupils trembled slightly, his gaze wavering.
Shock and aplex mix of emotions flickered in his eyes before being swallowed by silence.
"Feeling guilty?" Noreen asked coolly.
Seth''s throat moved, but he didn''t answer. It was a silent admission.
"If you feel guilty, then nevere to me to plead for Bianca. Everything she stole
from me, I will take back, piece by piece."
A chilling aura surrounded Noreen. "Except for you."
The news of the overseas finance Ph.D.''s giarism had spread like wildfire. Jude
had been on edge, terrified that Seymour Wilder would hear about it.
He had even specifically told the caregivers not to let Seymour watch the financial news.
But some fires can''t be contained.
The scandal was too big, and Seymour inevitably found out.
That same day, Jude received a call from the doctor, informing him that the shock had worsened Seymour''s condition.
Jude''s worries deepened.
He turned down invitations from his usual group of friends to go out.
After much deliberation, he bought some nutritional supplements and went to the hospital to see Bianca.
To avoid reporters, Bianca had been transferred to a private clinic.
When Jude arrived, he ran into Forrest Lowell, who was just leaving the room.
"She''s been very down these past
two days, i not saying a word for hours on end. It''s rare for her to have a friend visit. If you can, please spend some time with her
So, no one hade to see Bianca these past few days.
It made sense. In her current situation, who would want to associate with her?
If he didn''t feel like he had no other choice, he probably wouldn''t havee either.
So, faced with Forrest''s request, Jude felt a pang of guilt.
Chapter 584
Bianca''s condition was even worse than Forrest had described.
When Jude came in, she merely nced at him before closing her eyes again.
He sat awkwardly for a while, unable to bring himself to talk about withdrawing his shares.
"Is Seth...ing today?" After a long silence, that was all Jude could manage to ask.
He figured if it was too difficult to ask Bianca, he would just talk to Seth.
Yvonne replied, "Bianca is sick, so the burden of PerseTech has fallen on Seth. He''s been busy over there thest two days, so we told him not to worry about running back and forth."
"Oh, I see."
The atmosphere fell silent again for a long time before Jude found an excuse to leave.
As soon as he was out of the room, he called Seth.
When the call connected, he asked, "Seth, are you at PerseTech or Aurelion Group? I''lle find you."
"I''m out of the country."
Jude froze.
Didn''t Yvonne say he was handling things at PerseTech?
Why was he abroad?
Just as he was about to ask more, he heard the sound of an auctioneer''s gavel in the background.
The auctioneer announced, "Congrattions to Mr. Harcourt for winning the lot with a bid of eighty million."
The next second, the call was disconnected.
Jude was confused.
Seth was at another auction?
At a time like this, he was still in the mood to go shopping?
Back in the room.
After Jude left, Bianca sat up in bed.
Yvonne asked, "Did Seth message you?"
"No."
"No call either?"
"No."
Yvonne frowned. "What is he thinking?"
Bianca couldn''t answer, because she didn''t know what Seth was thinking either.
Every day, she worried that Seth would call off the wedding.
But Seth hadn''t mentioned it.
The more he remained silent, the more tormented Bianca felt.
She felt like a sword was hanging over her head, ready to fall at any moment.
And just then, another crisis erupted.
Lana rushed to the hospital, crying to Yvonne that something had happened to Spencer Reed.
Bianca was aware that Spencer had been taking kickbacks at Ascendancy Group.
Vincent had even argued with her about it before, eventually leaving Ascendancy Group in a fit of anger.
Bianca had warned Spencer not to be too greedy and to know when to stop.
But not only had he not stopped, he had be even more insatiable, emboldened
by the fact that his cousin was the boss''s wife.
His high kickbacks forced material
suppliers to cut costs by using inferior materials, leading to a sharp decline in product quality and a flood ofints and ims from long-term clients content belongs to''
Yvonne''s face was grim. "How much is thepensation?"
"Three hundred million."
"What?!" Bianca shot up in bed.
Lana cried even harder. "The amount is sorge, we just can''t handle it. That''s why we came to you."
"Yvonne, you have to save Spencer
He''s the only male heir of the
Laurent family, Lana sobb
and
tears,
snot running down her face.
Yvonne''s face was ashen. "Where am I supposed to get three hundred million?"
Bianca was also furious. "How much money did he even take from Ascendancy Group?"
Lana stammered, "It wasn''t that much, really. And most of it, he gave to you, Yvonne."
Bianca looked at Yvonne in disbelief.
Yvonne''s face stiffened as she exined. "My dealings with the other wives in my social circle are expensive. Gifts, treating them to meals, buying new outfits... Pall costs money..."
Bianca fell back onto the bed in despair. "Where am I supposed to find three hundred million?"
"Why don''t you ask Seth? Otherwise, your cousin is really done for. If they press charges, he''s looking at a minimum of ten years..."
Before Lana could finish, two voices cut her off at the same time.
"No!"
"No!"
Chapter 585
Before, even if Lana hadn''t asked, Bianca would have gone to Seth for help.
But at this critical juncture, she absolutely could not ask him.
"Then what do we do? We can''t just let your cousin go to jail, can we?" Lana started crying again.
Yvonne gritted her teeth. "We''ll find a way to raise the money first. If worstes to worst, we''ll get a private loan!"
"Mom, three hundred million is not a small amount. Who would be willing to lend that to us?" Bianca''s head was throbbing. "And the interest on private loans is incredibly high!"
"As long as Seth hasn''t called off the wedding, you are still in charge of Ascendancy Group and Perse Tech. You still have a chance to make aeback!" Yvonne reminded her.
...
Noreen had also been dealing with her own set of annoyances these past few days.
"That Mr. Brooke is here again," Sophia Cole said as she brought in a coffee.
"I''m not seeing him," Noreen said, a sh of impatience in her eyes.
"I told him that, but he insists on waiting."
"Let him."
Henry returned home that day empty-handed once again.
Seeing his dejected expression, Sanford already knew the oue.
"Miss Gilmore still refused to see you?"
"Yeah." Henry waspletely disheartened.
Sanford cursed angrily, "Serves you right! You were blind as a bat!"
Henry had no rebuttal.
He had brought this upon himself. He had no one to me but himself.
It was only natural that Noreen wanted nothing to do with him.
Sanford, annoyed at the sight of him, mmed the door to his room.
Henry went downstairs to smoke. He stood alone on the curb, watching the ember
at the tip of his cigarette burn, watching it glow and fade.
In the dim light, his face was a mask of dark,plex emotions.
After an unknown number of cigarettes, he shook the pack and found it was empty.
The turmoil in his heart, however, remained unresolved.
Just as he was about to go buy more, his phone rang.
He nced at the screen. It was a call from Bianca.
Henry initially had no intention of answering, but then a thought struck him, and he picked up.
"You finally answered." Bianca sounded audibly relieved. "Henry, are you still in Rivercrest City?"
"I am," Henry said.
"Would you be free to meet?"
"Sure."
After hanging up, Bianca let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness Henry was still willing to talk to her.
Lillian remarked, "Henry is truly devoted to you!"
Bianca thought so, too.
These past few days, she had
experienced the full spectrum of et
human indifference, but
least still treated her the same
at
as
So the next day, Bianca dressed meticulously and, on her way to meet him, stopped
at a flower shop to buy a bouquet of lilies of the valley.
In the past, whenever they met, Henry would always be the one to arrive early and wait for her.
Today, however, she was the one who waited a long time for Henry.
But at least he came.
Bianca immediately put on her standard smile and spoke to him in a soft, gentle voice, just like she always had.
Henry was actually quite impressed with her. Despite the massive scandal, she could still maintain suchposure.
"Every time I pass a flower shop and see lilies of the valley think of our time at the business school" Bianco said, intentionally dropping a hint.
In the past, he would have been incredibly moved.
But now, he just found itughable.
"Did I ever tell you why I turned you down back then?" Bianca continued, guiding the conversation.
"No," Henry said.
"Sigh, I guess you could just say it
wasn''t meant to be. Back then, my rtionship with Dn was quite strained, but he never initiated a breakup, and I''m a loyat person sol just kept waiting for him. Andyou, ?t that time, should have been focusing on your studies so I turned you down."
Chapter 586
Henry listened quietly, offering no opinion.
As Bianca continued her performance, she began to feel a bit awkward and took a sip of tea to cover her difort.
"Did you need something from me today?" Henry didn''t want to linger and got straight to the point.
"There is something," Bianca hesitated, but finally spoke up.
She had no choice. The situation was dire, and her pride was a luxury she couldn''t afford.
She exined that she needed to borrow money.
This was Bianca''s reasoning: high-interest loans were too risky, and she didn''t dare take that chance. It was Lillian who reminded her, "Don''t you still have thatpdog, Henry? Isn''t his family loaded?" Three hundred million would be pocket change for someone like him.
So, Bianca hade to Henry.
Henry was genuinely surprised. "Is Seth out of money?"
"This is a private matter for my family. I don''t want to bother him with it," Bianca said tactfully.
Henry''s lips curled into a nomittal smirk. "Sorry, but I can''t help you."
At that moment of rejection, the perfect mask on Bianca''s face began to crack.
This was the first time Henry had ever refused her.
"I know it''s a lot..." Bianca tried to exin herself.
Henry cut her off. "Three hundred million isn''t a lot for me. I''m just not willing to lend it to you."
She could even see a look of indifference on his face.
Bianca instantly understood, and her expression turned one of utter humiliation.
Even though their food was about to arrive, she didn''t stay. She got up and left.
After she was gone, Henry also rose to leave.
The waiter called after him, "Sir, your flowers."
Henry nced back at the pristine white lilies of the valley on the table, a chill rising
in his eyes.
Pure and innocent?
As if she deserved them.
"Throw them out!"
There was one thing his father had said that was absolutely right.
He, Henry, had truly been blind.
Sophia brought Noreen a sweet soup. "Strange, that Mr. Brooke didn''te today. He came three days in a row, and now that he''s suddenly stopped, almost feel like something''s missing."
Noreen had no time to worry about such unimportant people and things.
"Drink your soup before it gets cold," Sophia said, cing a bowl in front of her and waiting until she finished it. "Iheard you a little made this
Soghing fruit
soup today. It''s good for the throat."
"Wow, you know how to make this too?" Noreen praised her. Sophia beamed with an even greater sense of aplishment.
Just as Noreen was finishing her soup, she received a call.
The caller informed her that the collector''s item she had wanted to bid on had been sold to someone else for a high price.
"Can you tell me who the buyer was?" Noreen asked.
That item had been carefully selected as a mentorship gift for Halley.
"A gentleman by the name of Seth."
Noreen''s gaze turned cold.
Seth again?
What was he doing buying so many collectibles?
With the mentorship ceremony just four
that her
''away, it was infuriating et
carefully chosen gift b snatched away.
Without hesitation, Noreen dialed Seth''s number.
The phone was answered on the first ring.
Chapter 587
"What''s wrong?"
Seth''s voice came through the line, light and casual. He sounded like he was in a good mood.
Noreen was direct. "Mr. Harcourt, did you happen to buy a painting at the Sotheby''s auction?"
Seth paused for a moment, then asked, "Which one?"
From his tone, it seemed he had bought quite a few.
"The Veridian Panorama," Noreen supplied the name.
"One moment," Seth said.
After about thirty seconds, Seth came back on the line. "Yes, I have that one. What about it? Were you interested in it too?"
"I was. Would you be willing to part with it, Mr. Harcourt? I''ll pay you what you paid for it."
Instead of answering directly, Seth asked her, "Are you nning to give it to Academician Joyner as a mentorship gift?"
"Yes."
"Then I''ll find a way to get it to you," Seth said.
Noreen was about to ask how much it cost so she could transfer him the money.
But Seth hung up.
Left with no choice, she sent him a message on WhatsApp, asking for the price of the painting.
But after sending the message, she received no reply.
Throughout the day, Noreen checked her phone every hour.
But there was still no response from Seth.
It wasn''t until the following afternoon, just as Noreen wasing out of a meeting, that Seth called.
"Are you at the office?"
Noreen said she was.
"Come downstairs."
With that, he hung up abruptly.
Noreen had to hurry downstairs, where she saw Seth''s car parked on the side of the road.
Its hazard lights were shing.
Seeing Noreen emerge, Seth rolled down the window and handed her the scroll.
"The painting you wanted."
"Thanks. How much was it? I''ll transfer you "
Before Noreen could finish her sentence, a taxi pulled up behind them andid on the horn.
Seth had no choice but to tell his driver, "Let''s go."
Frustrated, Noreen had to send Seth another WhatsApp message. "How much? I''ll transfer it to you."
But by the time she went to bed that night, she still hadn''t received a reply from Seth.
She decided to call him directly.
This time, however, the call went unanswered until it automatically disconnected. No answer to her calls, no reply to her messages. It was clear he was avoiding her. Was he trying to make her owe him a favor so that she would go easy on Bianca?
Noreen called a friend who was
auctioneer and asked her to lo price of the painting
the
Gontent
Ny million.
Noreen immediately found Seth''s ount number and transferred ny million from her own ount.
She had just breathed a sigh of relief when she received a text message a few momentster.
The ny million had been returned. The reason given was that the ount did not exist.
Noreen was baffled.
Seth had used that ount to transferpensation money to her before. There couldn''t be a mistake.
The only exnation was that Seth had closed the ount.
What was wrong with him?
Noreen had apulsive need to resolve things. If she couldn''t sort this out she wouldn''t be able to focus on anything else, let alone sleep.
She called Seth again.
Still no answer.
The second and third calls were the same.
On the fourth try, Seth finally picked up.
His voice held a hint of weary resignation. "What is it?"
"The money," Noreen reminded him. "My transfer to your ount was returned."
Seth sighed softly. "Consider the painting a gift from me."
Noreen was about to say that she couldn''t ept something for nothing.
But he exined further, "There are no strings attached. Think of it aspensation. Because besides
I have nothing else togive" you."
"Get some sleep. Don''t dwell on this anymore. Good night."
Chapter 588
With that, he hung up the phone again.
"What does that jerk Seth even mean by that?" ire asked, equally confused after Noreen recounted the conversation.
"What''s this ''besides money, I have nothing else to give you'' nonsense?"
"Did you ask him for anything else?"
"When you did need something else from him, did he give it to you?"
"He''s insane!"
Noreen agreed. "I have no idea what''s gotten into him."
ire asked suspiciously, "You don''t think he''s nning to call off the wedding with Bitch Bianca and try to get back together with you, do you? Because I would lose all respect for him!"
Noreen scoffed. "You''re overthinking it. In that respect, we''re quite simr. Neither of us is the type to go back to our exes."
"Good!"
ire knew Noreen''s personality well. She would definitely find a way to pay Seth back that money.
So, she offered a sincere suggestion. "If he really won''t take it, then when jerk Seth and Bitch Bianca get married, you can give it to them as a wedding gift!"
"It''s satisfying and insulting at the same time. The perfect two-for-one deal!"
ire felt like an absolute genius.
How could she havee up with such a perfect n?
"I like it!" Noreen said.
...
Meanwhile.
When Bianca returned from her meeting with Henry, her expression was quite neutral.
As soon as she entered the house, everyone sitting there looked up at her.
Lillian couldn''t wait to ask, "Well? Did Henry agree to the loan?"
Bianca''s eyes flickered. "The amount is a bitrge, beyond his current means."
Lillian was confused. "Isn''t he the
sole heir to the Brooke family? And isn''t the Brooke Group thepany with thergest cash flow in the country? It''s only three hundred million. That should be pocket change for people like them."
Bianca lowered her gaze, her tone casual. "He just returned to the country not long ago and hasn''t
established a firm position in het
group yet. It''s not convenient for him. Everything has to go through official procedures."
"So how long will that take?" Lillian pressed.
"About two months."
"That long! The deadline for the payment is one week. In two months... my brother
will already be in jail!" Lillian paced around anxiously.
Lana, hearing the news, started to cry again.
Yvonne''s voice rose sharply. "Alright, does crying solve anything?"
Lana fell silent, though tears continued to stream down her face.
"We''ll get a private loan. I''ve just been looking into it. The PerseTech IPO should be a done deal. Once the approvales through, the money problem will be solved," Yvonne said seriously.
This time, Bianca didn''t object. She just said, "Okay."
"By the way, cousin, has my brother-inwe back yet?" Lillian suddenly remembered she hadn''t seen Seth in days and asked Bianca.
"Not yet," Bianca replied.
"Has he called you?"
"He sent me a message. He said he still has some things to take care of overseas and will be back in a couple of days."
Lillian breathed a sigh of relief. "That''s good. As long as he hasn''t said anything else and is still keeping you updated on his whereabouts like before, then everything should be fine."
The other two also rxed.
After all, they had all seen with their own eyes how much Seth cared about Bianca.
So they didn''t doubt her words.
Bianca took a sip of water, her eyes downcast.
No one noticed that the hand holding the ss had suddenly tightened.
Seth had not sent her any messages. She had gotten that information from his assistant.
Chapter 589
Bianca wasn''t sure what Seth was thinking now.
But with PerseTech''s IPO still pending, she believed Seth would have to consider the implications and wouldn''t rashly cancel the engagement.
After all, their futures were deeply intertwined.
All she hoped for now was for the academic fraud scandal to blow over soon.
People were forgetful; time could wash away anything.
Once PerseTech went public, she would sessfully enter the world of high finance.
People would only remember her at her most morous and offer nothing but ttery.
So, she just needed to wait a little longer, and the problem would solve itself.
As long as she didn''t lose her nerve.
The next day, she went to a lendingpany, but her personal credit alone wasn''t enough to secure such arge loan.
She tried two or three different ces, but the answer was the same.
With the payment deadline looming, Bianca tried contacting some of her friends.
The first person she called was Jude.
After all, he was the first person to visit her in the hospital after the incident.
He answered the phone, but his voice was colder than usual.
"Bianca, you''re out of the hospital?"
"Yes, thanks for asking. Jude, what have you been up totely?"
Jude replied, "Not much. Hey, Bianca, I wanted to ask... is it possible for me to withdraw my shares from PerseTech?"
Bianca''s mouth fell open, and for a moment, she couldn''t speak.
Before she could even bring up her own request, Jude was asking to pull out.
"Here''s the thing, my dad has always been against me investing in PerseTech. He''s been angry with me about it for a long time, and it''s even affected his health. I''m worried he can''t take much more, so I want to withdraw my investment, just to give him some peace of mind."
"That... might not be a good idea right now. Besides, PerseTech is about to go public. If you pull out now, you''ll take a loss," Bianca said, trying to persuade him gently.
"Don''t worry, once PerseTech goes public, it''s guaranteed to be profitable. Just tell your dad to wait a little longer."
She didn''t get a response from him. Instead, she heard Seymour''s angry roar.
It seemed he had snatched the
phone from Jude and was now yelling at her. "You troublemaker! Give us our money back! Stop dragging the Wilder family into your mess!"
"Dad..."
Jude and his father started arguing on the other end.
Bianca had no choice but to hang up, her face grim.
Not only had she failed to borrow money, but she had also been berated. Her mood was foul.
When she got home, Lillian eagerly asked for an update.
Bianca didn''t speak, just shook her head, which was answer enough.
Lillian panicked. "Shouldn''t we just ask my brother-inw..."
"Let''s try to solve it ourselves. This whole thing is embarrassing enough as it is," Bianca refused.
"But if Seth found out, he would probably step in."
Yvonne supported her decision. "I''ve sold off a number of things these past few days. All told, I''ve managed to scrape together a little over thirty well
million. We''ll figure out the rest."
Just as Bianca was at her wit''s end, she received a phone call.
The man on the other end introduced himself as the head of Aethelred Capital and
said he was willing to offer her a loan.
Bianca asked about the terms.
The interest rate was higher than the market average, at thirty percent.
That was too high!
The pressure would be immense.
The head of Aethelred Capital exined, "The rate is high because the risk is high. After all, this is not a small sum, Miss Lowell. You should consider it carefully. There aren''t many lendingpanies on the market right now that can meet this kind of demand." Content
That was true.
She did the math. If PerseTech sessfully went public by the end of the year, she would be able to afford the loan.
So, after a night of consideration, Bianca decided to take the loan from Aethelred Capital.
Chapter 590
The money arrived that same day, and they paid the fine just before the deadline.
When Spencer was released, he was covered in bruises.
He was also terrified.
"Why did they beat him up?" Lana was heartbroken, fetching a first-aid kit to treat his wounds.
Everyone''s attention was on Spencer. No one noticed that Bianca was in lower spirits than usual that evening.
It had been a week.
A full week.
Seth hadn''t sent her a single text or made a single phone call.
"I''m a little tired. I''m going to my room to rest," Bianca said, retiring early. She had just finished her shower and was about to get into bed.
Seth called.
The next day, Bianca was up bright and early. She came downstairs, looking morous and radiant, and cheerfully wished everyone a good morning.
Lillian hadn''t seen her this happy in a long time.
A thought struck her, and she asked, "Is my brother-inw back from his trip?"
"He is! How did you know?"
"It''s written all over your face," Lillian teased.
A sweet smile spread across Bianca''s face. "I''ll skip breakfast. Seth ising to pick me up, and we''ll eat together."
Yvonne nodded. "Go ahead."
As soon as she left, Lana said to Yvonne, "It seems like there''s nothing wrong with their rtionship. Seth really does care about Bianca."
"Mm," Yvonne agreed, the heavy weight in her heart finally lifting.
"These past few days, when we couldn''t borrow the money, my heart was in my throat. I was about to beg you to go ask him," Lana said, rxing and speaking without thinking.
She immediately realized her mistake and looked at Yvonne cautiously.
Yvonne''s expression had indeed changed.
Terrified, Lana quickly apologized. "I misspoke."
Luckily, Lillian had gone to the kitchen and hadn''t heard.
After picking up Bianca, Seth took her to their usual breakfast spot.
As soon as she sat down, Seth handed her a gift.
Judging by the size of the box, it was likely jewelry.
Bianca''s heart leaped.
Could it be that ruby set?
Out of courtesy, however, she didn''t open it right away.
During their meal, they ran into an acquaintance, Yves Selwyn from Monarch Capital.
He came over specifically to ask Seth,
Do you Harcourt, we go way back.
Do you think you could pull some strings and get me an invitation to Academician Joyner''s banquet?"
Bianca''s mind was on the gift Seth had just given her, so she wasn''t paying close attention. She asked absently, "What banquet is it that¡± even Mr. Selwyn can''t get an invitation to?"
"You don''t know? It''s Academician
Joyner''s banquet! A me
ceremony. I hear he''s taken
new prot¨¦ger Yves said excitedly.
Bianca''s face fell instantly. She looked extremely ufortable.
The news of Academician Joyner taking on a new prot¨¦g¨¦ was a huge deal in the financial world.
But the guest list was extremely exclusive, and most people couldn''t get an invitation.
That''s why Yves was hoping Seth could help him out.
The public only knew that Academician Joyner was epting a prot¨¦g¨¦; they didn''t know who it was.
If Yves had known it was Noreen, he would never have asked Seth for help in front of Bianca.
"I''m sorry, I didn''t receive an invitation either," Seth replied politely.
Yves was stunned. "Even you didn''t get an invitation? That can''t be right!"
Seth was simply stating a fact and offered no exnation.
In the end, Yves had to give up and said his goodbyes.
The encounter ruined Bianca''s appetite.
After the mentorship ceremony, Noreen''s rise would be... unstoppable.
Chapter 591
After Yves left, Bianca carefully watched Seth''s reaction.
He was the same as ever, showing no change.
Noticing she had stopped eating, he even looked up at her. "Is something wrong with the food?"
"No," Bianca said, feeling a wave of relief.
After they finished their meal, Seth had a meeting to get to at Aurelion Group, so he dropped Bianca off at the Lowell residence on his way.
The moment she walked in, Lillian spotted her. "You''re back already?" she asked, surprised. "I thought you and Seth would be out all day!"
"He just got back, and he has a mountain of work waiting for him at the office. He probably had to squeeze in time just to have breakfast with me," Bianca said, carrying the gift from Seth over to the sofa and sitting down.
Lillian immediately scooted closer. "Is that a gift from Seth?"
"Mhm."
"It''s jewelry!"
"I think so."
"Wow! Do you think it''s that ruby set?" Lillian was more excited than Bianca.
Just then, Yvonne and Lana came downstairs, and hearing Lillian''s words, they gathered around as well.
Bianca had wondered the same thing when Seth gave her the gift, but she''d quickly dismissed the idea.
Didn''t Lillian say that ruby ne had a special meaning?
Seth was probably saving it for a proposal, and since he hadn''t proposed today, he wouldn''t be giving it to her now.
She voiced her thoughts aloud.
Though slightly disappointed, Lillian was still full of anticipation. "Maybe it''s some other expensive jewelry. Didn''t Mrs. Chase say Seth bought a lot of things at auctions overseas? I heard that at those kinds of auctions, the starting bid for a single item can be as high as fifty million!"
Even Yvonne chimed in, "Don''t keep us in suspense. Open it and let''s see."
Seeing the three of them staring expectantly at the gift box in her hands, Bianca finally opened it.
The four of them stared at the gift inside the box, stunned for a moment.
Then, their expressions shifted.
Lillian, who could never hide her feelings, blurted out, "No way. Is that it? It''s just... a in ne. The inest thing I''ve ever seen Did Seth really give you this?"
Seeing Bianca''s expression, Lana quickly tugged on Lillian''s arm to shut her up.
Bianca was mortified.
She never would have expected Seth to give her such an ordinary gift.
It couldn''t even begin topare to the presents he''d given her in the past.
"Did Seth say what it was for?" Yvonne asked.
"Just a gift from his trip, I guess. He seems to have a habit of buying me something when he gets back from a business trip."
Yvonne''s expression softened. "We were getting ahead of ourselves.df it''s just a gift from his trip, then this is perfectly lovely. It shows he has you on his mind, thinking of yours even when he''s away on business
Lana quickly agreed, "Exactly! It''s very thoughtful."
Their reassurances made Bianca feel a little better.
But her good mood didn''tst long.
An hourter, Bianca rushed to Ascendancy Group.
By the time she got there, Seth had already arrived and was in the middle of an emergency meeting.
The boardroom was filled with Ascendancy Group''s shareholders and senior executives, and every one of them looked grim.
Seth stood at the head of the table in his shirtsleeves, hands on his hips, his handsome face dark with fury.
He had built Ascendancy Group from the ground up, and the shareholders and executives were all intimidated by him. They kep
their heads down, not daring to make a sound.
Chapter 592
"Speak up! Have you all gone mute?"
The boardroom was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"Lloyd!" Seth barked.
The man he called on flinched, stuttering, "Mr... Mr. Harcourt, this... this is something you should probably ask Ms. Lowell about."
In that moment, Bianca felt a surge of humiliation.
Seth''s gaze fell on her. His voice was still cold, but noticeably less harsh than when he''d addressed Lloyd.
"Then perhaps Ms. Lowell can exin why Ascendancy Group''sputing chips have had a sixty percent defect rate for the past two quarters."
The number shocked Bianca.
She hadn''t been to Ascendancy Group for a while, busy with PerseTech and her graduate school applications.
Especially during her intense study period, she had left everything in Spencer''s hands.
But she never imagined the situation could have deteriorated this badly.
"Excuse me, I need to review the documents first," Bianca said, her lips pressed into a thin line.
Even without looking around, she could feel the eyes of everyone in the boardroom on her.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, oppressive and hard to breathe, like a vacuum.
Bianca felt as if a massive stone was crushing her chest, making it impossible to draw a full breath.
The data in the report said it all. Ascendancy Group''s products had a major problem.
A sixty percent defect rate was a fatal blow for anypany.
Many long-term clients had lodged formalints, and some had terminated their contracts outright.
The further she read, the more her heart sank.
She thought quietly covering the three-hundred-million-dorpensation would be the end of it.
She never expected... that was just the beginning.
Thepensation Ascendancy Group was now facing would be more than a hundred times that amount.
Bianca''s face went pale. She had never anticipated a disaster of this scale.
"Mr. Harcourt, the stock market situation... it''s beyond saving," a shareholder said gravely.
Ascendancy Group''s stock had already taken a massive hit during the Westbrook fireworks incident.
It had limped along for a while, with hopes of a slow recovery.
But then... the news of Bianca''s academic fraud broke, and investor confidencepletely copsed.
A massive sell-off drove the stock
price to all-time low, and the
was now far the
possibility of a forced delisting.
Seth turned his back to the room and stood there for a long moment.
Bianca clutched the documents in her hands, feeling like she was suffocating.
After a while, Seth turned back around.
His gaze swept over to her, his eyes dark and unreadable, yet carrying an immense pressure.
"File for bankruptcy with the court."
His terse words plunged the boardroom into a deathly silence.
Bianca spent a long time in the restroom, steeling herself before she had the courage to face Seth.
As she approached his office door, she heard voices from inside.
"Mr. Harcourt, Ascendancy Group went bankrupt barely half a year after it was handed to Ms Lowell
think... she might actually be bad luck."
Bianca''s hand tightened on the doorknob.
The speaker was Gerry, one of thepany''s old-timers.
"Maybe you two shouldn''t get married after all!"
Seth said, "Gerry, since when did you be so superstitious?"
Gerry replied, "It''s not superstition, Mr. Harcourt. You can''t believe in this stuffpletely, but you can''t Lignoret either! I always thought your former secretary, Ms. Gilmore, brought you good luck."
"I even had your astrological chartspared once. You two were a perfect match!"
The conversation inside sent a chill through Bianca.
She took a deep breath and pushed the door open, interrupting them.
Chapter 593
This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !
Chapter 594
Bianca clutched the strap of her handbag, suppressing her temper. "Then when will Ms. Gilmore be free? I have a business proposal I''d like to discuss with her in
person."
"Sorry, Ms. Gilmore is extremely busy. She has no avability in the near future," Sophia replied, her tone still dismissive and condescending.
Finally, Bianca left, her face etched with humiliation.
Back in the car, Lillian immediately asked, "How did it go?"
Bianca''s expression was even darker than before. "Noreen refused to see me."
Lillian was furious. "How pretentious! Who does she think she is!"
But cursing wouldn''t solve the problem, and Bianca truly had no other options.
"So what now? Are you giving up?" Lillian asked.
Bianca''s jaw was tight, her eyes zing. "I can''t give up!" she bit out.
Giving up was a dead end!
No matter how much Noreen tried to humiliate her, she had to swallow her pride.
"The problem is, she won''t even give you a chance to meet. How are you supposed to talk to her?"
Bianca''s thoughts turned to the mentorship dinner that weekend. She paused, then said, "I know where to find her."
ire had just finished a scene when she saw Noreen''s message about Bianca showing up to beg for help.
But she''d turned her away.
ire sent back another sixty-second voice note.
This time, Noreen was wiser and used the voice-to-text feature instead of ying it.
As expected, it was sixty seconds of "Hahahahaha..."
Then came a second voice note from ire.
This one was short, only a second long.
Noreen yed it and heard her say, "So satisfying!"
After getting that out of her system, ire remembered to ask Noreen, "Why was Bianca begging you for help?"
"It must have been about Ascendancy Group. The bankruptcy filing will hit her hard. She probably wants Centribo to acquire thepany."
"No wonder she''s so desperate."
This situation was certainly enough to drive Bianca to her wit''s end.
Otherwise, she would never havee begging her for help.
But Noreen had no intention of giving Bianca that opportunity.
Centribo had already secured its resources and made new technological breakthroughs. would it acquire a failingpany on the verge of delisting
"Has that jerk Seth contacted you?" ire asked, curious.
"Not yet."
Whether he wouldter, she couldn''t be sure.
...
In the penthouse of The Gilded Sands Hotel.
No one was happier today than Halley.
After all, he was finally weing the prot¨¦g¨¦ he had hoped for for years.
As a result, this mentorship dinner was grander than any he had hosted before.
It was a rare asion for all five of Halley''s prot¨¦g¨¦s to be gathered in one ce. With the exception of Henry, the other four had all achieved great sess in their respective fields.
The eldest, Marcus Selwyn, and the second, Eason yton, both worked at Voyage Capital, the firm Halley had founded.
The third, Wilbur, managed the affairs of Voyage Group, a subsidiary of Voyage Capital.
Together, the three of them had built the entire Voyage business empire and held considerable sway in the business world.
Dn hadn''t joined Voyage Capital because he had a family business to inherit.
As for Henry, he had just returned from his studies abroad and, at his father Sanford''s request, had joined Brooke Group.
Marcus wasposed.
Eason was witty.
Wilbur was yfully arrogant.
Of the three, only Marcus was married, and he was the only one who had brought his spouse.
"Norwood, you''re looking even more beautiful thanst time!" Wilbur joked with Marcus''s wife, Norwood Selwyn.
Norwood, used to Wilbur''s teasing, quipped back, "That''s because my husband takes very good care of me."
"Tsk." Wilbur winced theatrically.
Easonughed at him. "You always do this to yourself. How have you not died from third-wheeling yet?"
Wilbur turned away. "Where''s the
leadingdy of the evening? She''s
our mentor''s only female prot¨¦ge wonder if she''s pretty."
Marcus
fered a piece of friendly advice. If you don''t want to get
* out by our mentor, donel
funny ideas."
Chapter 595
"I was just asking! What kind of person do you take me for?" Wilbur protested.
Eason was merciless. "Not a good one, that''s for sure."
Wilbur was speechless.
Was his reputation really that bad?
Eason said, "Well, I heard our new junior is beautiful, single, and avable. But apparently, she just got out of a bad rtionship. A broken bone takes months to heal, but a broken heart can take years. Now''s not a good time to make a move."
As Eason spoke, Marcus nced at Norwood.
She shot him a re. "Don''t you get any ideas."
"As for how she looks, we can just ask our junior here. He''s met her," Wilbur said, his curiosity piqued. He turned his head to the quiet and reserved Henry.
"Come on, tell your seniors. Is our new junior pretty or not?"
Henry''s gaze drifted into the distance, unfocused.
His already deep-set eyes now seemed like pools of the darkest, thickest ink, bottomless and profound.
"She''s beautiful."
He paused before adding.
"Very beautiful."
Wilbur''s curiosity grew, and he was getting impatient. "Why isn''t she here yet?"
The words had barely left his mouth when there was a stir at the entrance.
Wilbur''s eyes followed the movement, and after a moment of stunned silence, he blurted out, "Guys, I think I just saw an angel!"
Someone next to him said, "That''s Noreen, the guest of honor tonight."
He had seen all kinds of beautiful women, but none had ever struck him with such breathtaking awe.
Many beautiful women had attended the banquet, each dressed to the nines, vying for attention.
But Noreen''s makeup was light and understated, her beauty effortless.
This led Wilbur to ask a question he truly couldn''tprehend: "Who on earth would be foolish enough to break an angel''s heart?"
This banquet was different from others; many prominent figures from academia were invited.
And the business connections weren''t limited to Rivercrest City, but came from all over the country.
This was what a top-tierwork looked like.
It was no wonder Yves had pulled so many strings just to get an invitation.
The event was brimming with limitless business opportunities.
Halley kept Noreen by his side the entire evening, his favoritism blindingly obvious.
Wilbur clicked his tongue. "I never got this kind of treatment."
Eason shot back, "Did any of us?"
Marcus confirmed, "Certainly not."
Norwood offered a fair assessment, "Are you three really going to get jealous of a girl?"
In unison, the three men replied, "Of course not!"
"Come on, let''s go say hello to our new junior," Wilbur said, unable to wait any longer.
The others went, but Henry hesitated.
Wilbur looked back and called to him, "What are you waiting for? Let''s go."
Only then did Henry follow, though he deliberately hung back behind the others.
Even when they reached the group, he just stood at the edge, not daring to approach and speak to Noreen.
Halley introduced Noreen to her new seniors, but when it came to Wilbur, he skipped right over him.
Wilbur was incensed and protested, "Mentor, why did you skip me?"
Halley snorted. "You really have to ask?"
Wilbur was speechless.
After putting him down, Halley didn''t forget
Det
fr in the future, understand?
warn Noreen, "Stay away
He''s bad news
Wilbur was speechless again.
He felt like strangling himself on the spot just so Halley would have to suffer the loss
of his third prot¨¦g¨¦.
Of course, he didn''t give Henry much
of an introduction either, simply saying You two have already met so won''t bother. In terms of seniority, you''re his senior, and he''s your junior."
Henry murmured quietly, "Senior."
Noreen acknowledged him politely but her gaze didn''t linger.
Norwood warmly pulled Noreen into a conversation. "Finally, an ally! You have no idea, my dear, how despairing it is to deal with these clueless men all the time. I have no one to vent to! Now that you''re here, we canin about them together."
Chapter 596
Noreen and Norwood hit it off immediately, chatting warmly.
Seeing this, Wilbur teased Marcus, "Finally, someone to steal your wife''s attention. Maybe we''ll have to endure less of your public disys of affection now. It gets a little sickening after a while."
Marcus simply watched Norwood with a doting expression, offering noment.
Dn arrived a bitte, but just in time.
To wee their new junior, everyone had prepared a gift.
Marcus and Eason presented two nk contracts from Voyage Capital.
It meant that whenever Noreen needed funding in the future, she could turn to Voyage Capital at any time.
Wilbur gave her shares in Voyage Group.
Dn''s gift was a small, translucent jade pendant, clearly of immense value.
He said he hoped she would always be safe and sound.
When it was Henry''s turn, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "My gift isn''t ready yet."
"You''re the junior, you don''t have to give anything," Wilbur said bluntly.
"I want to," Henry insisted.
It would just take a few more days.
Noreen, in turn, presented her gift to Halley.
It was a masterful replica of The Veridian Panorama.
Wilbur remarked, "I saw that painting. It was just at auctionst week. Sold for
ny million. I was going to bid on it myself, but someone else drove the price up. I can''t believe that person was our new junior."
The gift went straight to Halley''s heart; he absolutely adored it.
...
Downstairs at The Gilded Sands Hotel.
Bianca had been waiting for two hours.
The winter night wind chilled her to the bone, sending a shiver through her.
She had wanted to wait inside the hotel, but the staff informed her that The Gilded
Sands was hosting a private event tonight; no one without an invitation was allowed in.
So, she was forced to wait outside.
The lobby was a dazzling disy of gold and light, buzzing with activity.
Everyoneing and going was a member of the city''s elite.
Even though she couldn''t see the
festiviting
the top floor, she
easilymagine how mor fould
the
scene must be.
It was the life she had always dreamed of.
And now, she could only stand below, looking up at the penthouse.
It was like looking up at Noreen.
The brilliant lights inside stood in stark contrast to her own dim, lonely state.
She didn''t know how long she waited, but eventually, people started to emerge from the hotel.
It seemed the party was ending.
Guests began to trickle out to retrieve their cars.
"I just got Miss Gilmore''s contact information. I''m going to try to set up a partnership with Winrich!"
"If you want to work with her now, you''ll probably have to get in line."
"I heard Voyage Capital gave her two nk contracts, and Mr. Prescott from Voyage Group even gave her
shares. Winrich is aboff!"
take
"You''re right. She was already
capable but now with top
esources backing her, who
would seed if not her?"
>
The cold wind kicked up by passersby snaked up Bianca''s spine, and she felt as if
her blood had frozen solid.
A piercing chill spread through her.
She fought the urge to flee, forcing herself to stand there as the cold wind whipped around her.
A short whileter, Noreen finally emerged from the hotel''s main entrance.
Bianca wanted to call out to her, but when she opened her mouth, no sound came out.
Someone else took the opportunity to approach Noreen, greeting her with utmost respect.
Bianca recognized the man. He was the CEO of Venturefarer.
He was in a league she couldn''t even hope to reach, yet he was bowing and scraping to Noreen.
And she, Bianca, could only stand at the bottom of the stairs, gazing up at Noreen.
Gazing up at her as she was surrounded by admirers, radiating brilliance.
Chapter 597
No matter how bitter she felt, Bianca hadn''t forgotten why she was here tonight.
Suppressing her jealousy, she walked directly toward Noreen.
As she drew near, she was about to call out.
Suddenly, a crowd of people rushed out from the side.
They were carrying cameras and equipment, swarming toward Noreen.
Caught off guard, Bianca was knocked to the ground.
In the momentary chaos, something hard struck her across the face, making her
eyes water with pain.
Someone was apologizing to her.
"I''m so sorry, I didn''t mean to."
It was a cameraman, and he was carrying a tripod.
It was the tripod that had hit her.
The cameraman apologized sincerely and offered a hand to help her up.
He then said, "You look really familiar."
Bianca immediately turned her face away. "I''m fine."
Seeing that she wasn''t seriously hurt, the cameraman''s attention shifted back to his
job. He was in a hurry to get a good spot to interview Noreen.
After he left, Bianca breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness he hadn''t recognized her.
She had seen the press pass hanging around his neck; he was from a major financial news channel.
If he had recognized her, she would have been in trouble.
The scandal over her academic fraud hadn''t died down yet, and Bianca had been avoiding the media, hoping the story would eventually fade from public memory.
The side of her face where the tripod had hit her throbbed with pain, but she had no time to check the injury. Her eyes were fixed on Noreen.
The group of reporters had quickly surrounded Noreen, firing questions at her one after another.
She was handling them with poise.
A momentter, Professor Joyner and his colleagues came out. Seeing Noreen
being interviewed, they all came over to show their support.
Halley rarely spoke to the media, but this time, he was willing to make an appearance for Noreen''s sake.
It was clear how highly he regarded her.
Moreover, all the reporters were from major mainstream media outlets. A quick nce revealed dozens of them.
There were even some from Northcrest!
The day she went to Rivercrest
Universit
to check her scores,
vel
Yvonne had also arranged for
reporter from a financial channel to be there content belongs
But it had taken pulling a lot of strings just to get one.
And yet, Noreen had all of this so easily.
Bianca could only watch as Noreen was showered with praise, surrounded by industry titans and a circle of admirers.
How utterly glorious.
It only made her own situation seem all the more pathetic.
Halley, feeling for Noreen after a long night of socializing, kept hisments brief and ended the interview.
Once the reporters had dispersed, Noreen was finally free to leave.
Bianca seized her chance and called out, "Noreen, we need to talk."
Noreen turned her head. Seeing it was Bianca, the smile in her eyes faded slightly.
"I don''t think we have anything to talk about."
To her, the current Ascendancy Group held very little value.
When Bianca had poached her lead underwriter, Seth had already made a
concession by giving her Ascendancy Group''s resources.
Being rejected again and again, Bianca''s resentment toward Noreen reached its breaking point.
She was so used to being on top that she forgot she was the one asking for a favor. Her words came out sharp and confrontational.
"Noreen, I expect you to be
professional and keep your personal and business life separate. Don''t let personal grudges interfere with your work. I unfair
Even now, Bianca was convinced that Noreen was deliberately shunning her out of jealousy for having won Seth''s heart.
Noreen, who had been about to
leave,
as shaped. Her gaze turned looked at Bianca, a frosold
chill creeping into her beautiful e
Chapter 598
"Personal grudges?"
She let out a contemptuousugh. "What personal grudges could I possibly have with Ms. Lowell?"
"You know perfectly well what I''m talking about!"
Noreen looked at her face, then suddenly smiled. Her voice was light, but held a chilling edge. "I''m afraid I really don''t."
"Why are you pretending? Aren''t you just jealous that Seth chose me and abandoned you?" Bianca tried to belittle Noreen with her own interpretation of events.
Noreen''s smile widened, as if she''d just heard the most ridiculous joke. "Ms. Lowell, your perception is asughable as your academic credentials."
The mention of her credentials was a raw nerve for Bianca. Noreen''s casual jab snapped the string ofposure she had been holding onto for days.
Her face twisted with humiliation and anger. "Am I wrong? You''ve stayed single all this time, refusing to meet anyone new or start a new rtionship, because you''re still not over Seth, aren''t you?"
She looked at Noreen with an expression that said, *I see right through you*.
Noreen''s smile never wavered. Her tone was unhurried, yet it carried an undeniable weight. "That''s even more ridiculous. Why would I need to be in a rtionship with a man to prove I''m over Seth?"
"Does he think he''s that important?"
Bianca''s angry expression faltered, reced by a look of surprise.
Noreen''s gaze shifted past her, fixing on a point somewhere behind her.
It was Seth.
He was looking at her, his thoughts unreadable.
Noreen was certain he had heard what she just said. What he thought about it, she didn''t care.
She just wanted both of them to know that neither Seth nor Bianca meant anything to her.
She wished they would stop dragging her into their drama. It was ruining her mood. On such a wonderful day, they just had to show up and be disgusting.
Following Noreen''s gaze, Bianca sensed something and whipped her head around to see Seth.
Lillian was beside him; it looked like they hade to pick her up together.
Her expression softened. "Seth, are you here to pick me up?"
Lillian added, "I was worried you might have trouble, so I called him."
Then she said, "I''m so d he came."
Seth walked over, his eyesnding on Bianca''s face. "How did you get hurt?"
"I just got scraped by ident. It''s nothing serious."
Seth''s concern seemed to restore some of Bianca''s confidence, and she became more rational.
"I just came here to talk business with Ms. Gilmore. Lillian overreacted."
Her tone took on an intimate,
exclusive quality. "And you, why were you so worried about me? You''re so busy yourself, yet yo rushed all the way over here.
With that, she turned to look back at Noreen, hoping to reim some of the dignity she had lost.
But Noreen was already gone, clearly uninterested in their romantic disy.
Noreen got into Dn''s car.
Dn had witnessed the whole scene.
Congrattion
As Noreen buckled her seatbelt, he quipped, "d to see you''ve finally stopped pining are in order."
"You''re making fun of me too," Noreen said with a sigh.
If she had known her rtionship with Seth would be such an embarrassing part of her past, she never would have let herself be so blinded by love content
"I wouldn''t dare make fun of you. You''re our mentor''s most prized prot¨¦g¨¦ now."
Dn had been drinking, so a chauffeur was driving.
He and Noreen were sitting in the back, able to talkfortably.
And today, he had something he wanted to say to her.
Chapter 599
She had likely seen that revealing email, yet her reaction, like before, was minimal. Dn couldn''t quite figure out what she was thinking.
Perhaps it was the impending topic of conversation that made him nervous. Dn unconsciously loosened his tie, his prominent Adam''s apple bobbing.
"To be honest, I also used to think you weren''t over him, and that''s why you hadn''t started a new rtionship."
His words didn''t surprise Noreen.
She figured many people probably thought the same thing.
After all, everyone had seen how devoted she had been to Seth.
And it was a full seven years of heartfelt dedication. How many people could truly let
go of something like that so easily?
If it were the old Noreen, she would have thought it impossible too.
In the period right after they broke up, she had experienced strong withdrawal symptoms.
After all, over the past seven years, his presence had seeped into every crevice of her life.
The sudden removal of that presence caused her body and emotions to instinctively resist.
The push and pull, the reluctance, the indecision...
These feelings were like a tide, receding only to surge back again.
She had once berated herself for herck of resolve, but after sorting through her thoughts, she realized it wasn''t ack of resolve, but simply her brain''s ''habitual focus''.
For seven years, she had made Seth the center of her universe.
After leaving him, she needed time to rebuild a new axis centered on herself.
Some people choose to meet someone new, using a new rtionship to overwrite the past.
Others throw themselves wholeheartedly into their work, finding their sense of self- worth there.
Noreen was thetter.
In those seven years, she had already proven how deeply she could love.
Now, it was time to prove how strong she could be.
"You know, when a person has given their absolute all, they can be quite ruthless
when it''s over," Noreen said after a moment of thought.
Because she had no regrets about the rtionship, she could let it go.
"That''s good to hear," Dn said, clearly pleased.
"Besides, love isn''t exactly a necessity," Noreen added, making her stance clear.
Dn was at a loss for words.
He shouldn''t have praised her so soon.
"You don''t have to be so absolute
about it. You should look around you
more you never know the right
person might be right under you
nose, Dn said, boldly dropping a hint.
In fact, it was more of a direct statement than a hint.
What was bound to happen had finally happened.
Even before seeing that email, Noreen had guessed Dn''s feelings.
After the email, she knew this day woulde sooner orter.
"Are you talking about yourself, Senior?" Noreen asked, meeting him head-on.
Dn cleared his throat. "Since
you''ve figured it out, I''ll just be direct.
When sent you that email eight
years ago, I was waiting for your answer."
"It might be eight yearste, but I don''t think it''s toote."
"So, can you tell me, what is your answer?"
Time seemed to stand still in that moment, stretching out into an eternity.
A wave of emotion washed over him, and Dn was so nervous his fingertips were tingling.
Noreen considered it seriously.
Putting everything else aside, Dn was indeed a very suitable partner.
Perhaps, she could give it a try.
So she opened her mouth to speak.
But just as the words were about toe out, Dn''s phone rang, shattering the tense atmosphere.
He
ay didn''t want to answer, but
saw the caller ID, he
apologetically. "I''m so ple
to take this content belongs
Noreen felt a strange sense of relief. "Of course."
Dn answered the phone, and after listening for a few moments, his face changed drastically.
The conversation could not be continued, and Noreen never had the chance to give her answer.
Chapter 600
Because Dn had to rush to the airport; apparently, a major issue hade up with his overseas business.
Noreen, understanding the urgency, told him to just drop her off on the side of the road, afraid that taking her home would dy him further.
In business, every second counted.
She understood that.
However, it seemed particrly difficult to get a cab in this area.
Noreen decided to call Colby and have him pick her up.
Colby arrived quickly.
As he was dropping Noreen off downstairs, he saw a familiar figure up ahead and spoke up.
"It''s Mr. Harcourt."
Noreen was speechless.
She was seriously considering moving.
But then again, with Seth''s resources, it probably wouldn''t matter where she moved.
"I remember you used to be a race car driver," Noreen recalled something Sophia had told her from Colby''s file.
"Yes," Colby answered truthfully.
"Do you dare to scare him?"
Colby was a man of few words and decisive action. He immediately started the car and drove straight toward Seth.
The roar of the engine shattered the quiet of the night.
Colby floored the gas pedal, the car elerating rapidly.
Noreen squinted at the man standing not far away.
He just stood there watching the car approach, unmoving.
Even as the vehicle hurtled toward him, he didn''t flinch.
Noreen''s head was starting to ache. She wasn''t sure if it was from the alcohol or from Seth''s constant harassment.
She wanted to tell Colby to stop.
Colby mmed on the brakes, and the car came to a smooth halt right in front of Seth.
The distance between them was less than an inch.
Even Colby was a little surprised. "Mr. Harcourt has steady nerves."
"I know."
She had seen it for herself.
Seth hadn''t gotten to where he was today by luck alone.
His methods in the business world were ruthless; he never left himself a way out.
He feared nothing and cared about nothing.
Years ago to conquer the Monte
head-to-head with Sage Jayneel
he had gone
the
socalled King of Monte Carlo
And who was Sage Joyner?
A maniacal gambler who had built his empire on betting.
Yet Seth hadn''t backed down for a second. Even when Sage Joyner''s men held a gun to his head, he didn''t even blink.
This kind of man was not someone you wanted as an enemy.
He was too difficult to deal with.
While Noreen was lost in thought, Seth approached her side of the car and tapped
on the window twice with his knuckle.
She had no intention of getting out so she just rolled down the window, her expression distant Shouldn''t Mr. Harcourt beforting his fianc¨¦e? What are you doing here?"
A gust of wind blew in, carrying the faint scent of alcohol.
Seth had been drinking.
He was allergic to alcohol and never drank unless it was for a business dinner.
He must have been at one.
He probably found out Bianca had
to find her, rushed out of the
and hurned to The Gilded. Sands Hotel to protect her >
As if she would actually hurt his precious darling!
Seth broke the silence, his voice deeper and colder than usual.
"Dn isn''t right for you."
Noreenughed, exasperated. "Then who is? You?"
Thest two words were dripping with sarcasm.
But Seth answered seriously, "I''m not right for you either."
"And?" she looked at him, her expression t.
Seth''s eyes grew darker, the night''s shadows pooling in their depths.
He thought for a long time before speaking again.
"No one is right for you."
Noreen was so angry she had tough.
Were these two crazy people determined to ruin her perfectly good day?
One imed she couldn''t let go.
The other was saying she was destined to be alone forever?
Chapter 601
Are you alright?
"You might not be a great person, but you were right about one thing."
Noreen Gilmore looked up, her gaze meeting his with a cool detachment.
"You''re definitely not right for me."
With that, she quickly averted her eyes, showing no interest in letting her gaze linger on him for even a moment.
She turned and walked away.
Seth Harcourt didn''t say another word, simply standing where he was, watching her leave.
It was only after a long while that he finally lit a cigarette.
As the smoke swirled around him, he seemed to grow grimmer and colder, slowly melting into the encroaching darkness.
After her shower, Noreen noticed a missed video call from ire Chase.
She casually towel-dried her hair before picking up her phone to call her back.
ire answered instantly. "All done?"
"Yeah, I was just in the shower."
"Did you have a good time today?" ire asked, referring to the celebratory dinner for her mentorship.
She had wanted to take the day off to congratte Noreen, but the film crew wouldn''t let her go.
"Some parts were good, some weren''t."
When ire pressed for details, Noreen told her about Seth and Bianca Lowell.
"Those two psychos, seriously!" ire didn''t waste a second beforeying into them. "And what gives that jerk Seth the right to talk to you like that?"
"I can''t be bothered with him," Noreen said.
"Exactly! Don''t even give him the time of day!"
"There''s something else... Dn Wilder confessed his feelings to me."
ire immediately perked up. "Really? He finally said it? I was worried he''d hold it in forever! The man has patience!"
Noreen had told ire about the email before, so ire knew Dn had been in love with Noreen for eight years.
"I was also a little surprised he decided to cross that line."
Actually, Dn had told herst time that he had something to say after InnoCore went public.
She had guessed it was a confession.
But she hadn''t expected him to do it so soon.
She had no idea what prompted it.
"So, what are you thinking?" ire was more interested in Noreen''s feelings.
Noreen didn''t hide anything. "Honestly, I''m not ready."
ire disagreed. "When ites to feelings, is anyone ever really ''ready''? You know how the song goes, ''love hits you like a hurricane...''."
"Stop right there." Noreen quickly cut off the aspiring singer, afraid that if she got started, she could go on all night without ever hitting a single right note
Listening to her sing was pure torture.
"For me, a rtionship is optional."
Right now she felt that love wasn''t a necessity. Work already filled her lifepletely, and she simply didn''t have the energy to spend getting to know someone, going on dates, and deepening a connection.
Besides, even the best rtionships had their conflicts.
She had even less energy for arguing, exining, and making up...
It all just seemed like too much trouble.
"Just give it a try," ire urged, understanding her friend''s hesitation but still wanting to persuade her "What if you two are a perfect match? What if this is your destiny? What if you actually fall for him?"
"Just because you don''t feel anything now doesn''t mean you won''tter, right? Can''t feelings be cultivated over time?"
"The idea that feelings can be cultivated is a facy. If time and love were all it took
to make someone fall for you, then any two people could fall in love."
ire looked to the heavens, exasperated. "Honey, you have a ssic case of post- traumatic rtionship disorder."
At the mention of this, ire couldn''t help but mentally drag the culprit, Seth, out for another round of condemnation.
"Alright, alright, I''ll give it a try," Noreen finally decided.
She would think of it as giving herself a chance.
"Wait a second, I thought there were a few guys lined up for you," ire suddenly remembered Noreen''s other admirers.
Chapter 602
"If there''s a line, Dn should be at the front. After all, he''s been waiting for eight
years."
ire conceded, "...Fair point."
After talking about her own life, Noreen asked about ire''s.
"Has work been going welltely?"
"It''s been okay," ire said, her eyes flickering for a moment.
Noreen didn''t miss the detail. She stopped toweling her hair. "What''s wrong? Is there a problem?"
"Oh, it''s nothing major. It''s just that the third female lead, an actress shoehorned in by an investor, keeps adding scenes for herself. She even took my best scenes and adapted them for her character. I tried talking to the screenwriter, but he just shut me down."
Noreen''s eyes grew cold. "I''ll talk to the head of production about it."
So they wanted to y the connections game, did they?
Did they really think ire had no one in her corner?
She had worked this hard to get where she was. What was the point if not to back up her best friend?
ire quickly stopped her. "It''s overkill. I can handle this myself. I haven''t been in this industry for years for nothing!"
"Well, if you can''t handle it, you''d better tell me."
"You got it!"
...
Yvonne Laurent finished treating the swelling on Bianca''s face and then asked about what had happened that night.
"I went to talk to Noreen behind Seth''s back, but I didn''t expect Lillian to blow my cover."
"What did Seth say?"
Bianca adjusted the ice pack on her cheek. "Seth told me not to go see her again."
Yvonne frowned. "He didn''t say anything else?"
"No."
"He didn''t mention calling off the wedding?"
"No, not that either."
Yvonne felt a mixture of relief and unease.
They couldn''t figure out what Seth was thinking, and their hearts were in constant suspense, a persistent feeling of anxiety hanging over them.
Lillian Laurent whispered, "I actually think he was worried about you. He was afraid you''d be mistreated at Noreen''s, so he didn''t want you to be the one to face her."
Bianca paused.
She hadn''t considered that angle.
Lillian continued, "And when I told him you went to find Noreen, he immediately left his dinner meeting toe find you. He must have been worried you''d get bullied over there!"
"Now that you mention it, that does seem possible," Yvonne agreed.
Bianca''s heart felt a little more settled.
But the immediate problem she faced was still unresolved, so she couldn''tpletely rx.
However, problems kepting one after another.
The head of Aethelred Capital contacted Bianca, demanding early payment of the monthly installments and interest.
"Mr. te, isn''t this a bit inappropriate?" Bianca hadn''t expected Aethelred Capital call her about this.
Besides, where was she supposed to find that much money right now?
Mr. te offered a smile that didn''t reach his eyes. "Ms. Lowell, I''m the one who tent you the money, so naturally, I''m the one who makes the rules it''s stated clearly in the loan, agreement that if the borrower presents a financial risk, we have the right to collect the funds early."
"But I''m not a financial risk..."
"Ms. Lowell, do you really think people in our line of work don''t keep their ears to the ground?" Mr. te rudely cut off Bianca''s defense hear Ascendancy Group is about to go bankrupt."
Bianca''s face tightened.
She hadn''t expected the news to spread so quickly.
And Ascendancy Group''s bankruptcy was indeed an unforeseen event.
When she took out the loan, she hadn''t factored in this possibility.
So now, she had no way to argue with Mr. te.
let
"This Friday is the final repayment deadline. I hope, Ms. Lowell, you can transfer the money to Aethelred Capital''s ount as soon as possible. Otherwise... we''ll have to resort to our standard collection procedures, publicly."
Mr. te didn''t specify what his collection methods were, but a terrible premonition
washed over Bianca, a chill creeping up her spine.
Chapter 603
Just as she was at her wits'' end, she received a call from Henry Brooke.
A flicker of hope ignited within Bianca, and she answered eagerly.
"Are you free? Let''s meet," Henry said over the phone.
Normally, Bianca would have made him wait, a tactic she often used to keep men on their toes. Especially men like Henry, who loved her but couldn''t have her the more she ignored him, the more obsessed he became.
But this time, she agreed immediately. She was truly running out of options.
Bianca deliberately chose a restaurant with live music and arranged with the manager for a guitarist to perform at her table. She even specified the song: "Endless Love."
It was the same song Henry had yed for her when he confessed his feelings years ago.
Henry arrived right on time.
Bianca was just about tounch into a wave of nostalgia, setting the perfect mood. Her n was to ask him for the loan at the peak of his emotional vulnerability. It was a strategy that usually worked.
But this time, just as she called out his name, Henry spoke first. "I''m here to talk about pulling my investment."
The smile on Bianca''s face froze instantly.
"Of course, this is just a verbal notification for now. Mywyer will contact you tomorrow. Everything will be handled ording to the contract."
In just a few short sentences, Henry made his purpose clear. He then stood up. "Goodbye."
"Henry." Bianca shot to her feet, calling after him. "Can I at least ask why?"
He had adored her, worshipped her... How could he change so suddenly?
"I paid a visit to WT Business School a few days ago and learned a few things," Henry said, his back still to her. His voice was colder than she had ever heard it.
Bianca''s expression faltered.
"Your so-called sponsorship back then... it was all just to build a charitable persona for yourself, wasn''t it?"
Bianca''s face went rigid, her carefully constructed world copsing in that single moment. "No, that''s not it, let me exin..."
But he wasn''t giving her another chance.
This time, he left without even saying goodbye.
Just as Henry walked out, the guitarist arrived and began to y the song she had requested.
"Endless Love."
The gentle melody felt like a series of sharp ps across her face.
Bianca''s expression twisted in rage. "Stop ying! Stop it!"
Her hysterical screams drew the attention of the other diners.
Her face flushed with humiliation, Bianca grabbed her bag and fled the scene.
"Maybe... you should ask Seth," Lillian suggested hesitantly.
They had considered every possible solution, but every path seemed to be blocked.
Bianca''s head throbbed. "Take me to Aurelion Group."
She arrived at Aurelion Group and went straight to Seth''s office, walking in without knocking, just as she always had.
There were people inside, all of them wearing grim expressions.
"Sorry, I didn''t know you had a meeting," Bianca apologized quickly.
Seth waved a hand, indicating it was fine, and motioned for the others to continue their report.
"The current funds in Aurelion
Group''s ounts are barely enough
to cover thepensation payments for Ascendancy Group This means we''ll probably have to dy the shareholder dividends for the next quarter.
"I''ll speak with the shareholders. Transfer the funds first. We can''t det the situation escte and affect PerseTech''s IPO Seth dered decisively.
The CFO nodded. "Understood."
"You can all go now," Seth said, dismissing them with a wave of his hand.
Once they were alone, he turned to Bianca. "What brings you here today?"
Bianca hadn''t expected to walk into a situation like this. Aurelion Group was out of cash!
That shouldn''t be possible.
"Seth, how did Aurelion Group suddenly run out of money?" she couldn''t help but
ask.
Thepensation for Ascendancy
Group was over ten billion, but that
amour shouldnt have been enough, to drain Aurelion Group''s entire reserves.
Chapter 604
"We spent quite a bit recently, so our cash flow is tight. The main issue was that we never anticipated Ascendancy Group would copse. Otherwise, we would have had sufficient funds on hand."
That was true.
Who could have predicted that Ascendancy Group would go bankrupt in the blink of an eye? A publicly tradedpany once valued at nearly two hundred billion had seen its market cap shrink to thirty billion in just six months, leading to its delisting. After liquidation, it was still left with over ten billion in debt...
Seth had nned to use funds from Aurelion Group to plug the hole, but he hadn''t realized it would empty their ounts.
The money he mentioned spending recently was likely at the overseas auctions. Mrs. Chase had said Seth had been spendingvishly there.
"Don''t worry. Once PerseTech goes public, our current difficulties will be resolved," Seth said, trying tofort her.
His reassurance made it impossible for Bianca to bring up the subject of money.
But Aethelred Capital was relentless. The very next day, they contacted Bianca again to demand payment.
"There are still two days until Friday, Mr. te. Can''t you wait a little longer?" Bianca forced a smile, lowering herself for a rare moment.
"It''s not impossible, but..." Mr. te''s eyes roamed up and down Bianca''s body, a lecherous smile on his face. "You''ve got to show me something, right? Otherwise, how can I trust you?"
Having been around enough men, she knew exactly what Mr. te was implying. "How about I drink three shots as an apology?"
Mr. te scoffed. "What good is drinking? We''re all adults here, Miss Lowell. Stop ying innocent."
He pulled a hotel key card from his pocket and slid it across the table to her. "Come on your own."
Bianca, ustomed to her pride, had never suffered such humiliation. Even in her wild days with William, she had always been the one in control, never coerced.
Besides, this was Rivercrest City. She couldn''t possibly do something that would so thoroughly degrade her status.
"What do you mean by this, Mr. te? I''m not that kind of person," she replied coldly, her haughty demeanor returning.
Mr. te''s face instantly hardened.
"So you have principles, do you? Fine, Flike people with principles You want to drink? Let''s drink Drink your
fill! You do that, and we can
forget this whole thing."
He had the waiter bring in arge quantity of liquor and sses. The first round was
thirty shots of the strongest vodka.
He was clearly trying to make an example of her.
"Drink up, Ms. Lowell."
When a man''s ego is bruised, he often resorts to tormenting others to feel powerful again.
Seeing Bianca hesitate, he offered a
pointed reminder. "You don''t have to
drink, of course. But then I can''t guarantee that news of PerseTech''s founder having a financial crisis wont leak out. I hear you''re waiting for the SEC''s final review. Are you sure you''ll pass?"
Bianca clenched her jaw, picked up a ss, and started drinking.
The harsh liquor burned her throat like fire, choking her and making her eyes water.
But she kept drinking, one ss after another.
In the private room next door, the waiter waste with the drinks.
Wilbur was annoyed. "The service here is terrible. What took so long?"
"My apologies, Mr. Wilbur. I was just delivering three rounds of drinks to the room next door, which caused a bit of a dy the waitress exined meekly t
"Really?"
"Yes, really. One of our regr customers is giving a woman a hard time, making
her drink all that liquor. She''s actually quite beautiful."
Wilbur loved gossip. "How beautiful?"
"Very beautiful!"
"Hey, Mr. Wilbur, where are you going?"
"To y the hero and save the damsel, of course," Wilbur called back without
turning around.
Chapter 605
When Wilbur pushed open the door, Mr. te was gripping Bianca''s chin, forcing alcohol down her throat.
She had managed five shots before she couldn''t take any more. But Mr. te, still fuming, wasn''t about to let her off the hook and had resorted to force-feeding her.
Bianca couldn''t swallow fast enough. Her face and clothes were soaked with spilled liquor, leaving her in a pathetic state.
"I gave you a chance. You''re the one who refused to take it," Mr. te cursed, about to pour another ss into her mouth.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed his wrist.
"Hey, don''t you have any respect for a beautiful woman?"
"Who the hell are you?" Mr. te spun around, ring.
Upon recognizing the man''s face, he stumbled back in shock. "Mr... Mr. Wilbur..."
"Tsk, Leon te, still as crude as ever. Look at the mess you''ve made of this lovelydy..."
As he spoke, Wilbur casually pulled a few napkins from the table and reached out to wipe the liquor from Bianca''s face.
"I can do it myself," Bianca said, taking the napkins and lowering her head to clean herself up.
Leon, who had been so arrogant just moments before, now stood before Wilbur like an obedient dog, all his bravado gone.
"What''s going on here?" Wilbur asked nonchntly.
"Just collecting a debt. You know what I do for a living, Mr. Wilbur," Leon said, bowing with a fawning smile.
"That''s still too rough. Was it really necessary? How much money are we talking about that you''d corner her like this?"
"Three hundred million."
"Well, that''s not nothing."
Leon licked his lips. "You''re joking, Mr. Wilbur. Three hundred million is pocket change for you."
"Don''t tter me. If I see you being rough with a beautiful woman again, don''t me me for getting physical. You know I can''t stand seeing women get bullied, especially pretty ones."
"Yes, yes, of course."
"What are you still standing here for? Get out."
And with that, Leon scurried away.
Bianca had managed topose herself, though she still looked disheveled. In fact, her tormented state gave her the fragile appearance of a delicate white flower, beaten but not broken.
"Thank you, Mr. Wilbur," she said, her expression shy and timid. Her skin
was so pale it was almost
translucent, and tiny droplets of liquor lung to her eyshes, as if
looking might fall at the
slightest touch.
Wilbur asked her, "What''s your name?"
"Bianca."
Bianca couldn''t believe her luck. Not only had this handsome stranger solved her problem with Leon, but he was also willing to invest in PerseTech. With Henry pulling his funding, Wilbur''s arrival was the answer to her prayers.
She could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
More good news followed. Yvonne had managed to get information from someone at the SEC. Twopanies had been approved for their IPOs, with the official announcement scheduled for the following week.
Bianca''s first reaction to the news was a frown. "Two? Did InnoCore get approved as well?"
"It seems so."
Bianca''s expression soured. "So Noreen actually pulled it off!"
"She has a lot of momentum right now. No one can stop her."
Yvonne was stating a fact, and Bianca knew it, but she still couldn''t stomach it.
Even though PerseTech and InnoCore were going public at the same time, she had ultimately lost PerseTech was using a backdoor. sting through a shell corporation, which involved far fewer hurdles than a traditional IPO. In terms of
sheer achievement, Noreen had
"This isn''t the time to worry about that," Yvonne said, always the more rational one. "Focus on getting PerseTech listed and finalizing the wedding with Seth. Otherwise, everything is still up in the air."
"I know."
Meanwhile, Noreen also received the news from Castle Joyner.
She had brought The Chronos Gallery to the Game Developers Conference in Glenhaven City and had run into him there.
Chapter 606
Castle mentioned the IPO approval and praised The Chronos Gallery for its incredible work, noting how well-received it was in the industry.
By the end of the conference, The Chronos Gallery had skyrocketed to be the most anticipated fantasy game among enthusiasts.
As she and Scott Quigley''s team were leaving the convention center, Castle''s secretary was waiting for them at the entrance.
Noreen saw him, gave Scott a few instructions, and walked over. "Is Mr. Joyner looking for me?"
"Yes, Ms. Gilmore. Mr. Joyner has booked a restaurant and would like to invite you for dinner."
Noreen got into the secretary''s car.
As soon as she arrived at the restaurant, Katy spotted her and waved excitedly from their table.
"I was nning to visit Katy at your family''s home soon. When your secretary was waiting, I guessed she was with you," Noreen said as she sat down, gently stroking Katy''s head before turning to Castle.
"I told her you were in town, and she insisted on seeing you," Castle said with a mix of helplessness and affection.
Katy pulled a trophy and a certificate from her bag, proudly showing them to Noreen.
"Wow, Katy, you''re amazing! First ce in the individual software category at The National Youth Coding Invitational!"
Noreen was genuinely impressed. While not aputer science major herself, she had researched the industry extensively for InnoCore and had learned about the country''s toppetitions from Carman Holt. The National Youth Coding Invitational was one of the most prestigious.
And Katy was only eight years old!
"She really has a talent for it, so I''ve hired a professional tutor for her. She''s progressing quickly, and her psychological issues have improved as well," Castle told Noreen, updating her on Katy''s progress.
"No wonder she looks so vibrant now."
She waspletely different from the first time they met. There was a light in her eyes now.
The dinner atmosphere was light and pleasant until a finely dressed young woman walked up to their table.
As Noreen looked up in confusion, Katy shrank behind her, gripping her arm tightly.
"Brother-inw, you rejected my invitation just to have dinner with this woman?" the woman demanded, her voice sharp and shrill.
Katy flinched, cowering even more.
Castle didn''t even look at the
neer. His face hardened as he elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin.Only then did he speak his tone t. "Why haven''t you gone back yet?"
"I don''t want to go back! I''m staying in Glenhaven City!"
Castle simply picked up his phone and made a call.
The woman''s expression changed instantly. Finally, she stormed off in a huff.
Only then did Noreen soothe Katy. "It''s okay, she''s gone."
But Katy''s eyes were still filled with fear. It was clear she was terrified of that
woman.
?
iet
"I apologize for the scene," Castle said, looking slightly ufortable. She is myte wifes younger sister She was spoiled growing up and has a very entitled, rude personality."
"It''s fine." Noreen wasn''t bothered by the woman''s rudeness towards ker; she was more concerned about Katy She had a feeling there was reason k?ty was so afraid of her aunt.
But it was Castle''s family business, so Noreen didn''t pry.
After dinner, she said her goodbyes to Castle and left. He arranged for a driver to take her to the airport, where she met up with Scott and the others.
By the time theynded in Rivercrest City, it was already past ten at night.
Noreen was on the phone with Sophia Cole, asking which level she had parked the
car on, when she saw a familiar figure hurrying toward the arrivals gate.
It was Dn.
Noreen was puzzled. She was about to call out to him when a woman ran out from the gate and threw herself into his arms.
Chapter 607
Noreen didn''t interrupt.
The best way for adults to interact was to maintain a healthy sense of boundaries.
For the next two days, Noreen was swamped with work.
The next she heard of Dn was at a business dinner.
"I heard Mr. Wilder of Omniva Group is getting engaged. It''s a strategic alliance. The woman is the granddaughter of the head of thergest overseas bank-a beautiful mixed-race woman, I''m told."
The speaker was Hugh Summers of NaviTech, who always enjoyed this kind of gossip and was therefore one of the first to hear the news.
He then turned to Noreen for confirmation. "Ms. Gilmore, you and Mr. Wilder go way back. Can you confirm if this is true?"
"I honestly don''t know," Noreen said truthfully.
Hugh Summers continued, "I heard Omniva Group''s overseas credit operations are in serious trouble. Dn is using this marriage as a resource exchange with Terra Hignd Bank to save Omniva''s international crisis."
The others at the table sighed in sympathy. "Mr. Wilder has had it tough. Omniva Group was aplete mess when it was handed to him. To save the strugglingpany, he''s been trying to expand overseas for the past year to find a path to survival. If that path is blocked, Omniva Group is truly done for."
Hugh Summers nodded. "That''s why he''s betting the rest of his life to save Omniva Group."
"A difficult position for Mr. Wilder to be in."
After the dinner, Sophia came to pick Noreen up. Seeing her slightly drunk, she frowned. "Wasn''t this a business dinner? Why did you drink so much?"
It was because she knew it was a business dinner with familiar faces that Sophia hadn''t stayed by her side to fend off drinks for her. She assumed someone had been deliberately toasting her.
"I wanted to," Noreen exined.
Sophia paused, ncing at Noreen in the rearview mirror. The streetlights flickered across her face as they drove, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow. In the dimness, her expression was somber.
Sophia could tell that Noreen was feeling down, but she didn''t know why. She wanted to ask, but she didn''t dare.
The next day, Noreen went to Omniva Group in person, but it was for work.
It was the first time they had seen each other in a week.
Noreen was all business, reporting to Dn on Winrich''s operational status and outlining any significant issues or risks.
After they finished with work, Dn
walked her out. From start to finish, neither of them mentioned what had happened before. It was a ran
unspoken agreement.
As soon as she returned to Winrich, Wilbur sent a message to their group chat, directed at Dn.
"Is the marriage alliance thing for real?"
Dn replied in the group, "It''s real."
"When''s the engagement?"
"Next week."
Noreen hadn''t expected it to happen so quickly. The engagement was next week!
Wilbur, however, seemed unfazed. "It''s a strategic alliance anyway. Better to get it done sooner so you can start the resource exchange."
Noreen turned off her phone and continued to stay silent in the chat.
The news of Dn''s impending marriage soon reached Bianca.
Lillian was with her at the time and practically jumped for joy. "Does this mean it''s over for Noreen?"
Bianca also felt a sense of
satisfaction. She admired her freshly
manicured nails, her tone dripping With mockery I''ve said it before Noreen''s background is not presentable. No prominent family would ever consider her."
"That''s great!" Lillian pped her hands. "I''ve disliked her for a long time."
"So what if Dn had a crush on her for eight years? Men are rational. They always know how to separate feelings from benefits. Noreen can''t give him the value he needs so no matter how much he likes her, he never marry her. That''s just reality." C¨®ntent
Chapter 608
Ever since she found out that the person Dn had been secretly in love with was Noreen, Bianca had been holding a grudge. Now, at this moment, she finally felt a sense of release.
Feeling pleased, she admired herself in the mirror.
Lillian asked, "You''re so beautifully dressed today. Do you have a date with Seth?"
"No," Bianca said, adjusting her hair with perfect poise. "I''m meeting with an investor."
Before Lillian could ask, she had her help pick out a set of jewelry. Lillian''s taste was average; she only knew to choose the most expensive pieces.
In the end, Bianca selected a pair of white floral earrings herself.
"Is that it?" Lillian asked, thinking it looked a bit too in.
But Bianca was very satisfied. "This is perfect."
Then, she took a makeup remover wipe and dabbed off the lipstick she had just applied.
Lillian was even more confused. "You just put that on. Why are you taking it off?" "It''s too bright. It''s not suitable."
With her experience in reading men, she could urately judge Wilbur''s preferences. He likely leaned toward the soft, innocent type. A bright, bold makeup look would be a disadvantage with him and wouldn''t help her in tonight''s business negotiations.
Bianca readjusted her makeup, opting for the trendy ''no-makeup'' look, and was finally satisfied enough to get ready to leave.
Lillian quickly grabbed her bag, preparing to go with her.
Just as they reached the door, Bianca stopped her. "I''ll go by myself today. You don''t need toe."
"Okay..." Lillian replied, looking disappointed.
Lana had told her to stick close to Bianca to get more opportunities to meet high- level men, to n for her own future, and to seize any chances that came her way. The goal was to follow in Bianca''s footsteps and marry into wealth.
Bianca met Wilbur in the same private room where Leon had forced her to drink.
Wilbur noticed this as soon as he arrived, finding the woman''s choice rather interesting.
"I thought you wouldn''t like this ce," Wilburmented as he sat down.
"Why would you think that?"
"Because you had a bad experience here."
Bianca lowered her eyes, hiding the faint thoughts within. "But something wonderful happened here, too."
Wilbur''s usualzy expression softened a little.
"Mr. Wilbur, I''d like to toast you to thank
Bian foring to my rescue," nca said, proactively sat
ss to him. It was liquor again.
"It was nothing, really."
With a casual air, he reached out and took the ss from her hand "I appreciate the sentiment, but you shouldn''t drink this it''s not good for you."
"Then I''ll use tea instead of wine."
This time, Wilbur didn''t object. But as she raised her teacup, he leaned in slightly
and took a light sip directly from her cup.
"Good tea," he praised.
Bianca''s cheeks flushed a rosy pink. "If you wanted tea, Mr. Wilbur, I could have poured you a cup. Why did you drink from mine?"
"I just happen to like what''s in your cup. Is that a problem?"
It was veryte by the time Bianca got home.
She assumed everyone was asleep, but Yvonne was still up.
"Weren''t you meeting with an investor? Why are you back sote?"
Bianca slowly walked to the sofa and sat down, a yful glint in her eyes. "We had
a great conversation and I lost track of time."
"So how did it go?"
"He''s decided to invest in PerseTech,
l.nex
but on one condition. I have to secure another round of financing before the IPQ and then he''llinvest. five times that amount."
"Isn''t that too risky?" Yvonne asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Bianca saw it differently. "That''s how the financial market works. The higher the leverage, the greater the profit."
"Besides, PerseTech''s listing is a sure thing. What is there to worry about?"
Chapter 609
"The risk is high, but so is the reward. Isn''t that how Seth built Aurelion Group into what it is today? If he can do it, so can I!"
It was the age-old principle of business. Fortune favors the bold, a truth that has stood the test of time.
Yvonne was convinced.
Friday was the annual Rivercrest City Financial Summit, a major event in the financial world.
Noreen had received her invitation early and had specifically asked Sophia to clear her schedule for the day.
This year''s summit was hosted by Padgett Novak.
It was the first time they had seen each other in a month. In truth, Padgett had often wanted to find an excuse to see Noreen, but they were both incredibly busy.
Over the past month, Padgett had been traveling across the country, studying economic development models for Rivercrest City, while also juggling preparations for the summit. He was stretched thin.
Noreen''s schedule was no better. With several key projects in motion and new ones to evaluate, she spent a third of the month on business trips.
Their paths rarely crossed, and since they moved in different circles, opportunities to meet were even rarer.
Still, Padgett kept a close eye on Noreen''s endeavors.
When they met, he immediately asked about The Chronos Gallery.
"I was in Northcrest for a meetingst week, and the higher-ups specifically mentioned The Chronos Gallery as a major contributor to the preservation and promotion of our national culture!"
"I''ve seen the trailer¡ªit already has two hundred million views! An outstanding achievement!"
Like InnoCore, The Chronos Gallery was a source of great pride for Noreen. "Thank you for the encouragement, Director Novak. We''ll continue to do our best!"
Padgett had hoped to chat a little longer, but someone came looking for him, and their conversation was cut short.
Noreen then made her way into the summit hall.
The seating was pre-arranged by the organizers. Noreen''s seat was in the front row, right in the center-the undeniable prime position. >
What she was less pleased about was that Seth''s seat was right next to hers.
In such a situation, however, one couldn''t show their dissatisfaction. So, Noreen walked over gracefully and took her seat.
Bianca had arrived before Seth today. At the entrance, she ran into Henry.
She opened her mouth, about to call his name, but Henry walked straight past her without so much. nce in her direction.
Bianca''s smile faded, and her eyes grew cold.
"Miss Lowell."
Wilbur''s appearance lifted Bianca''s spirits.
"Mr. Wilbur, you''re attending the summit too?"
"I happened to be in Rivercrest City, so I thought I''d drop by. I didn''t expect to run
into you, Miss Lowell."
"It seems we''re destined to meet."
A suggestive smile yed on Wilbur''s lips.
Bianca, an expert at handling men like him, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and asked, "I''ve already met the condition you set. When will your investment funds arrive, Mr. Wilbur?"
"You''re remarkably efficient, Miss Lowell," Wilbur said, his admiration unconcealed.
In just two days, Bianca had fulfilled his condition, raising one and a half billion in funds from other sources.
As promised, Wilbur would invest five times that amount before PerseTech''s IPO.
A staggering seven and a half billion!
It was more than enough to solve all her current problems.
"I''ll take that as apliment, Mr. Wilbur."
They chatted for a while before Wilbur checked the time and reminded her that it
was time to enter the hall.
Chapter 610
Bianca said she was waiting for someone.
"I''ll head in first then," Wilbur said.
"Alright."
He had barely left when Seth arrived. Pressed for time, they hurried inside without exchanging many words.
Bianca habitually fell into step beside Seth, heading directly for the front row once they were inside. However, when she found his seat, she realized that only his name was on it, not hers.
What infuriated her even more was that Noreen''s seat was right next to Seth''s!
Seeing Noreen, Bianca''s gaze turned icy.
Seth, however, didn''t notice the subtle shift in her expression. He scanned the room and found her seat in the second-tost row.
"I''ll talk to the organizers and have them move you to the front," Seth told Bianca.
"There''s no need to go to all that trouble," Bianca quickly stopped him. "I''m fine sitting back here. I can''t always have you worrying about me."
"Are you sure?" Seth asked, still looking concerned.
Bianca smiled serenely. "I''m not a child."
"Alright, you should sit down. I''m going to my seat as well."
Bianca projected an image of a sensible and understanding partner, exuding the grace of a matriarch. Her eyes swept coldly over Noreen before she turned and walked calmly to her assigned seat.
Noreen, wearing headphones and listening to a work report, waspletely oblivious to the tender scene that had just unfolded. It was probably for the best; she would have found it nauseating.
After taking her seat, Bianca''s gaze remained fixed on Noreen, afraid she would use the opportunity to get closer to Seth. After watching for a while and seeing that Noreen never once looked at Seth, she sheered inwardly, convinced it was all an act. C¨®ntent
Henry''s seat was in the second row, diagonally behind Noreen. When he looked toward the stage, he had a perfect view of her, making him feel that his seat was excellently ced.
Wilbur was also in the front row, but on the other side.
At one point, Bianca noticed Wilbur looking at her with a faint smile on his face. She sat up straighter, lightly tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, openly disying her charm.
Shortly after the conference began, Padgett Novak mentioned Winrich several times in his speech, making thepany the star of the summit.
Even the people sitting near Bianca were discussing it, their voices filled with envy.
"That Ms. Gilmore has an incredibly sharp eye! Every project she invests in seeds! InnoCore''s valuation is already over a hundred billion, and that new game she''s backing, The Chronos Gallery, has caused a storm in the industry and even globally with just a tramer I cant imagine how popr it will be once it''s officially released!"
"And on top of that, she''s young and beautiful. Isn''t it infuriating?"
"You can say that again."
"Hey, don''t
talka about it. I''m kicking myself! Back when Ms. Gilmore was raising funds for InnoCore, she approached a lot of people, but no one was willing to invest, including me! I had known InnoCore would be this sessful, I would have sold my house to invest!"
"I guess it just wasn''t in the cards for you!"
That was what stung the most.
Listening to their chatter, Bianca''s face grew colder and harder. When she looked at Noreen again, she was struck by a sudden premonition¡ªa feeling that she would never be able to catch up to her in this lifetime.
Chapter 611
Bianca quicklyposed herself, repeating a mantra in her mind: she had important things to do today and couldn''t let Noreen get to her.
She wasn''t going to let anyone else''s presence shake her confidence. So, she swiftly regained herposure, shifting her focus away from Noreen and onto the task at hand.
The summit included a segment for corporate representative speeches, which was Bianca''s main reason for attending. And she considered herself lucky.
Not only was she scheduled in the middle of the lineup, but the speakers before her were all from rtively unknownpanies.
As a result, the moment she stepped onto the stage, shemanded the full attention of the audience.
PerseTech had been a subject of industry buzz since its inception.
With its IPO just around the corner, thepany''s valuation had hit an all-time high: three hundred billion dors - a full three times that of InnoCore.
So, as Bianca stood on the stage, she was brimming with confidence.
Her speech was prepared in advance. She delivered it with passion, listing all of PerseTech''s strengths.
She touted PerseTech as the dark horse of the future financial market, poised to be the next trillion-dor IPO.
She dered that superconductors weren''t a future technology but a revolution happening right now, her words ringing with infectious enthusiasm.
It was clear Bianca was pulling out all the stops to promote PerseTech, hoping to use the summit to attract more capital and drive up thepany''s valuation.
Even Noreen had to admit it was a clever move.
And the tone of the speech... it was clearly Seth''s style: sharp, incisive, and direct. Its goal was clear: to spark heated debate around PerseTech, drive up the buzz, and create a major impact on the stock market.
When Bianca finished her speech, the room erupted in thunderous apuse.
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and she instinctively scanned the crowd, looking for Seth.
However, Seth wasn''t in his seat.
He must have stepped out for a moment.
Her eyes then found Noreen, and she shot her a look of smug superiority, a hint of disdain in her gaze.
Noreen was pping, but her expression was calm.
Bianca thought she was impressivelyposed.
In that respect, she had to admit, Noreen had the upper hand.
With her objective achieved, Bianca was about to make a triumphant exit to allow the next representative to take the stage when a voice from the crowd suddenly posed a challenge
"Ms. Lowell, have you reached out to apologize to Ms. Gilmore at Winrich for that paper you giarized from her before?"
Bianca''s face fell.
She tried to pretend she hadn''t heard, but the questioner was persistent, giving her no room to retreat.
"How can investors trust someone whomits academic fraud?"
Bianca was forced to confront the issue.
But when she saw who was asking the question, her mind went nk for a second.
It was someone she never would have expected.
Henry!
Henry had stood up to ask his question, a microphone in hand, his eyes fixed on Bianca like a spotlight.
She felt pinned, with nowhere to hide.
The entrepreneurs who had just been apuding her now wore expressions of doubt and scrutiny.
"Ms. Lowell, please answer my question directly," Henry pressed, giving her no chance to catch her breath.
Bianca''s ears were ringing, the blood
freezing in her veins. Her
burned with humiliationnel
hands trembled uncontrobly,
"It... it was all a misunderstanding," she said, her mind racing for an excuse. "I was in a rush to prepare for my exams, so asked my doctoral advisor at WT Business School for help. The topic was mine, but he guided the content.
Chapter 612
The implication was clear: it wasn''t her fault. Her doctoral advisor had been the one who giarized Noreen''s paper.
It was, admittedly, a clever way to shift the me.
After the giarism incident came to light, Noreen and Halley Joyner had agreed to let theirwyers handle the ountability process.
It was the only effective way to protect their rights.
But it also meant navigating aplex legal battle.
Bianca had been counting on that, which was why she hadn''t issued any apology or made any public statement.
She was likely hoping time would dilute the issue until it was forgotten.
Even if Noreen won the case, the most she would get was a perfunctory, meaningless apology from Bianca.
That was the reality. Intellectual property protectionws were stillcking. What Noreen hadn''t expected was for Henry to confront Bianca so publicly. Bianca was just as shocked.
She couldn''t understand why Henry had suddenly changed his attitude toward her.
"Are you saying your doctoral advisor giarized the paper, and you had nothing to do with it?"
"I''m not saying I had nothing to do with it, just that it wasn''t all on me," Bianca said carefully, avoiding a full denial.
Henry pressed further. "So you''re saying the content was Professor William''s, and you just put your name on it?"
"Does that mean all those papers you published in the WT Business School journal and the SSCI were produced the same way?"
Bianca clenched her jaw, her expression stiff as she denied it. "Of course not! Those were all my own work!"
"Are you sure?" Henry''s questioning was relentless.
Bianca hardened her resolve. "Of course!"
"But your own advisor, Professor William, stated clearly that every single award- winning paper of yours was stolen work. How do you exin that?"
Bianca''sposure finally shattered, her mind short-circuiting.
She reacted instinctively, denying it. "That''s not true! You''re framing me!"
Murmurs spread through the audience, their gazes now filled with judgment and contempt.
The pride she had always held so high was being systematically torn to shreds.
"William has already admitted it. What good will your denials do?" Henry reminded her. "He also said that you got into WT Business
School by impersonating someone else."
With that, Henry turned to look at Noreen, his expression grave and profound.
"And the spot you stole belonged to Ms. Gilmore. What a coincidence, wouldn''t you say?"
The news hit the room like a bomb, causing a significant stir.
Even Noreen was taken aback.
"To solidify your stolen identity, you even registered an email address identical to Ms. Gilmore''s, just §Õ§Ñ§Ý
adding the number ''3'' at the en
And you imed you''d forgotten the password to the old one have to say, your methods are quite something."
"That''s not how it was! It''s not!"
Even at this point, Bianca desperately denied everything.
Her lips trembled as she argued, "I got into WT Business School on my own merits not by impersonation You can check! All the procedures were legal and above board!"
Bianca dared to say this because Yvonne had assured her that everything back
home had been taken care of.
No one would ever find any discrepancies.
That was the source of her confidence in this confrontation.
Henry had indeed checked.
And just as Bianca imed, all the procedures appeared to be perfectly legitimate.
Chapter 613
But Henry hadn''t given up.
He couldn''t find the proof because his ess wasn''t high enough. So he went to Padgett Novak.
And through Padgett, he met Padgett''s father.
After several twists and turns, he finally found a lead.
Henry had originally nned to present this long-overdue truth to Noreen as a gift, but it had taken some time, so he couldn''t make it for her mentorship ceremony.
That''s why he had said at the ceremony that his gift was ready, but she''d have to wait a bit longer.
He hoped it wasn''t toote.
"The so-called legal and legitimate procedures you''re referring to were only possible because someone used their authority to smooth the way for you. I have already reported this to the relevant departments, and I believe the truth wille to light very soon! I hope you can still be so stubborn then!"
It was a public execution.
Henry was tearing Bianca''s pride to pieces, throwing it on the ground, and stomping on it.
She had never imagined a day like this would evere.
Her world was copsing, disintegrating.
She felt as if she''d been pushed to the edge of a cliff, about to fall into an abyss.
Padgett Novak, as the summit''s organizer, stepped in to control the situation, moving things along to the next speaker.
He couldn''t let one rotten apple spoil the whole barrel.
As it happened, the next person to take the stage was Noreen.
After the preceding drama, Noreen''s appearance felt perfectly timed, almost fated.
The audience already admired her outstanding business acumen, and now, learning of her academic achievements, their respect for her grew even stronger.
No wonder she got taken on as Academician Joyner''s student. She''s clearly something else.
Noreen was also here to promote InnoCore.
With the IPO announcement just around the corner, she wanted to give InnoCore some more exposure.
InnoCore had already proven itself in the market, just as Dn had predictedst year.
It was poised to be this year''s breakout sess.
And so it was.
Unlike the others, Noreen hadn''t prepared a generic, self-promoting speech. Instead, she let the results speak for themselves.
§ï§è
She announced that InnoCore had just developed the IPQ HawkEye Early-Warning System, which could predict IPO-rted risks with high uracy.
She even offered to do a live demonstration, letting the audience nominate anypany.
"How about we test PerseTech?"
It was clearly someone who enjoyed stirring the pot.
Noreen didn''t mind. She treated it as a business matter, keeping personal feelings out of it.
She personally clicked the test button. After about four minutes, the data was ready.
The Hawkeye warning results
showed that PerseTech had
triggered twenty five risk aler
including issues rted to finance, technology, and market positioning.
Seeing the results, some in the audience believed it, while others were skeptical.
Of
everyone,
also reminded
"The model''s pret
are for reference only You should still use your own judgment
Bianca hadn''t left the venue. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to, but she couldn''t.
The sudden turn of events had tanked her credibility, which would severely impact PerseTech''s IPO ns.
She wanted to talk to Wilbur again, so she forced herself to stay.
But she never expected Noreen to pull a stunt like this.
Others might have just been amazed by InnoCore''s power.
But Bianca''s heart was pounding with fear.
As one of the heads of PerseTech, she knew exactly what its problems were.
And InnoCore''s HawkEye had exposed every single w she had deliberately tried to hide.
This made Bianca''s hatred for Noreen burn with a new intensity.
She was convinced that Noreen had acted deliberately to target her, intending to humiliate her at such a prominent summit.
And so, her hatred for Noreen deepened.
In reality, the test was just a coincidence.
Noreen knew that, given Bianca''s personality, she would definitely think it was a deliberate attack.
Chapter 614
But Noreen didn''t care. If Bianca had nothing to hide, she''d have nothing to fear.
With these two bombshells, the subsequent speeches seemed dull andckluster inparison.
Wilbur was now messaging in a group chat, specifically tagging Henry. "So, this was your gift to your senior?"
Henry replied, "Yes."
Wilburmented, "Interesting. Much more thoughtful than ours."
All they knew how to do was throw money around.
Henry stared at his screen, feeling a knot of tension in his stomach. He noticed Noreen was also looking at her phone, likely having seen the conversation. She nced in his direction but said nothing in the group chat.
Her silence made Henry feel a bit uneasy.
Wilbur, probably bored, tagged Noreen. "Noreen, want to grab dinnerter?"
"I have a meeting tonight. I only have an hour, so it would have to be something quick."
Wilbur wrote back, "You have a real knack for turning people down."
Henry chimed in, "I heard you invested in PerseTech. What were you thinking?"
Wilbur shot back, "What were you thinking when you invested?"
Henry was speechless.
Wilbur was a master at touching a sore spot.
He even med Henry, "Why''d you have to bring up PerseTech? See, now your senior''s gone quiet. She''s ignoring you!"
Henry remained silent.
As the conference was wrapping up, Noreen noticed that Seth''s seat had been empty for a while.
When had he left?
After it ended, Bianca immediately went to find Wilbur, hoping to talk to him. Her main concern was that he might pull his investment after what had happened today.
That would be the final nail in the coffin.
"Sorry, Ms. Lowell, I have dinner ns with Noreen. No business talk for now," Wilbur said, his smile and gentlemanly demeanor unchanged.
Bianca was about to ask if he was free tomorrow.
But Wilbur called out loudly to Noreen, "Noreen, wait up! I''ll walk with you."
He gave Bianca a polite nod before hurrying to catch up with Noreen.
Watching them leave, Bianca''s expression turned cold.
Wilbur caught up to Noreen.
"Are you really nning on getting fast food with me?" she asked.
"On second thought, I''ll pass."
He wasn''t interested in fast food.
"We can all get together when Marcus and the others are back," Noreen suggested. Wilbur agreed.
"By the way, why are you still in Rivercrest City?" Noreen suddenly remembered to ask.
Voyage Group''s main operations were in Northcrest, so she found it strange that Wilbur, as the person in charge, was lingering in Rivercrest.
"I''m busy," Wilbur said with a roguish grin.
"What could you possibly be busy with in Rivercrest City?"
"Walking the dog."
Noreen was at a loss for words.
She was finally beginning to understand why her mentor had told her to keep her
distance from Wilbur. The man was truly unreliable.
The next day, Bianca called Wilbur again.
The situation was urgent; she had to cling to him as herst lifeline.
She was facing a mountain of problems.
The story about her impersonating Noreen to study abroad had been exposed. Yvonne told her a special investigation team had been formed and would likely uncover the truth soon.
WT Business School had also suspended Professor William
pending an investigation If he
talked, the prestigious academic halo she had spent seven years building would be shattered.
Worst of all, to meet Wilbur''s
conditions, she had taken out a
high-interest loan of one and a half
billion dors from Aethelred Capital And through Leon, she had brought in many other investors; signing high-stakes agreements with them.
Everything was piling up at once.
Every single issue was a raging fire.
Chapter 615
And just like that, a new problem hit the Aurelion Group''s overseas business.
That was why Seth had to leave the financial summit in a hurry, flying abroad to handle the crisis.
The entire burden in the country now rested solely on Bianca''s shoulders.
She was more anxious than anyone.
Ever since returning, every single thing she did had been met with one unexpected problem after another.
The only thing that had gone smoothly was her rtionship with Seth.
Everything else had been a disaster.
And now, PerseTech had be herst and only lifeline.
She had to hold onto it, no matter what.
The phone rang for a long time. With each passing second, Bianca''s heart grew colder.
Just as it was about to go to voicemail, Wilbur answered.
Bianca''s previously dim eyes lit up. "Mr. Wilbur, you finally answered," she said, her words rushing out.
"Just woke up. What''s up?" Wilbur''s voice waszy, as if he had indeed just woken up.
"Is it a good time to meet? I''d like to talk about the investment."
Wilbur paused for a moment. "Alright."
He then gave Bianca an address.
It was the hotel where he was staying.
Bianca''s gaze hardened slightly.
She went to her closet and pulled out a piece of provocative lingerie from a bottom drawer, something Yvonne had prepared for her earlier.
It was originally meant for Seth.
But she had been kidnapped on their engagement day.
After that... she had intentionally kept her distance from Seth, not entertaining any other thoughts.
An hourter, Bianca drove to Wilbur''s hotel.
After a word with the front desk, a staff member immediately escorted her upstairs.
Inside the presidential suite.
Wilbur was dressed in a dark, silk
robe, the belt loosely tied, revealing a glimpse of his well-defined chest. One hand was on his hip, the other held a ss of red wine. His eyes mischievous, a faint smile
were
ying on his lips.
When Bianca entered, Wilbur turned from the floor-to-ceiling window to look at her,
his voicenguid. "You''re here. Have a seat."
Wilbur sat down across from Bianca and asked in a gentlemanly tone, "Wine?"
"Yes, please." Bianca had no intention of leaving tonight.
Wilbur poured her a ss of red wine.
As Bianca took it, her eyes fell on the magnolia flowers arranged on the coffee table. "These magnolias are beautiful."
As she spoke, she casually brushed a hand past the magnolia-shaped earring she was wearing.
Wilbur took in all her small gestures, his long fingers gently tracing the Mm of his wine ss. The
his mouth lifted into a sof
Wi
Bianca knew she couldn''t rush things, so she made small talk, discussing other topics.
Only when she felt the time was right did she finally bring up the investment money.
To her surprise, Wilbur suddenly changed his tune. "We might have to put that on hold for now."
Bianca''s anxiety red. "Mr. Wilbur, you promised! You said that if I met your conditions, you would invest five times the amount in PerseTech. How can you just put it on hold?"
"It was just a verbal promise, Miss Lowell. Why take it so seriously?" Wilbur said before taking another leisurely sip of his wine.
Bianca shot to her feet, her voice trembling with emotion. "A verbal promise?"
"Surely you know, Miss Lowell, that a man''s verbal promises don''t count for much."
He paused, then asked with feigned surprise as he watched Bianca''s mortified expression, "Don''t tell me you''ve never been lied to by a man before?"
His question was like a p in the face. It was only then that Bianca btedly realized she had been yed by Wilbur.
Chapter 616
As proud as she was, she had never been humiliated by a man like this.
She was mortified, but she couldn''t bring herself to turn and walk away.
In that moment, her self-respect and pride were worthless.
Bianca even brought herself to beg him in a deeply humble voice, "Then what do you want me to do? What will it take for you to invest in PerseTech?"
Wilbur just watched her with a yful look, not answering.
Her insides were churning with turmoil, but she could only lower herself further, pleading, "As long as you''re willing to invest in PerseTech, I''ll do anything."
After saying this, she stood up, walked over, and knelt before Wilbur.
Her hand gently pushed aside her cashmere coat, revealing a bare shoulder and the alluring, peach-colored lingerie underneath.
It was the same color as the magnolia flowers on the table.
She had chosen it carefully.
Just as Bianca''s eyes were turning a pitiable shade of red, Noreen knocked and walked in.
Noreen froze, asking with some confusion, "Am I interrupting?"
Bianca had never imagined that Noreen would witness such a humiliating moment.
She was ovee with shame, mortification, and a profound sense of disgrace.
To make matters worse, Wilbur was now looking at her with nothing but ridicule and mockery in his eyes.
In that instant, something clicked.
Wilbur had never intended to invest in PerseTech.
All this back-and-forth was just him toying with her.
And most despicably, he had deliberately called Noreen over to watch her be humiliated...
As the truth dawned on her, Bianca''s expression crumbled.
The feeling of degradationpletely overwhelmed her, and she could only flee in disgrace.
As she passed Noreen, Bianca shot her a venomous re.
Noreen was utterly baffled.
Was Bianca angry because she had interrupted her ''business''?
But it was Wilbur who had asked her toe.
Whatever. Bianca had hated her for a long time now; she couldn''t be bothered to
care.
Instead, she turned to the smirking Wilbur and asked, "You said you had something important to discuss with me. What is it?"
"I invited you to watch the show," Wilbur replied.
Noreen was speechless.
She frowned, feeling the need to remind him of something.
She was extremely busy.
Swamped.
Running on fumes.
She really didn''t have time to indulge his games.
But Wilbur just called for a staff member, ordering with clear disgust "Please get rid of these magnolias. They''re filthy!"
The staff member, though confused, did as he was told.
That wasn''t enough for Wilbur. He added, "And get me a new suite!"
"Right away, sir."
He was the guest; his word wasw.
"You can go about your business now, Noreen. I''m going to take a shower."
He felt like he was dirty, too.
Noreen almost called him a lunatic.
But her good upbringing held her back.
Wilbur then had the nerve to tease
her, What? Want to watch a
handsome man ba
you."
That cost
Noreen had no words.
What a narcissist.
She left,pletely exasperated.
As she drove away, her anger stewed, and she finally vented in a call to Halley.
"Master, why did you have to take on such a disgraceful disciple?"
Halley sighed. "It''s a long and tearful story..."
PerseTech was taking a major hit from the multiple scandals surrounding its head, Bianca.
Over the past two days, many investors had been trying to contact Bianca to pull their funding.
But she was avoiding everyone, refusing to meet.
Themotion was significant enough that even Noreen had heard about it.
ire, queen of gossip, asked
you think that Bitch
¨¤ can make aeback
time? SwMovels
Chapter 617
Noreen thought for a moment. "It might be difficult, but it''s not impossible."
"You mean because that jerk Seth is still in the picture, right?"
That was exactly what Noreen meant.
ire cursed in frustration.
"That jerk Seth is so hard to ''kill''!"
Just as they finished theirints, Noreen received some insider news:
PerseTech''s financial crisis had been resolved.
Noreen was astonished.
Had Seth intervened again?
If so, he was being incredibly stubborn.
Was the power of a first love really that strong?
She respected it, but she couldn''t quite understand it.
Perhaps this was true love.
Compared to Seth''s devotion, her own seven years of effort seemed to pale inparison.
Of course, this was all just Noreen''s spection. Only those involved knew the real truth.
She was just a casual observer of the drama; she didn''t have much time to dwell on
it.
This week, she had been closely monitoring the beta test data for The Chronos Gallery.
Seeing that the results far exceeded expectations, Noreen''s worries finally subsided.
She allowed herself a rare, good night''s sleep before catching an early morning flight to Glenhaven City for a business trip.
Sophia had booked her the earliest flight. She had just settled into the VIP lounge when she ran into Bianca and her entourage.
Sophia muttered under her breath, full of indignation, "What bad luck. I forgot to check my horoscope this morning!"
Noreen, however, was unfazed. "It can''t be helped. It''s not like I own the airline."
Sophia added, "Even if you did, I don''t think you could just kick people out."
Noreen chuckled. "Then just ignore them. You have to allow people you dislike to exist in the world."
Despite her words, Sophia couldn''t just turn a blind eye. She kept whispering to Noreen, "What are they doing in Glenhaven City?"
Noreen spected, "Probably heading to the Glenhaven City Stock Exchange?"
After all, PerseTech was also pushing for its IPO, and she had heard the results wereing out tomorrow.
Noreen''s trip was also to the stock exchange.
That exined their ''fateful'' encounter.
Sophia mumbled again, "You don''t think PerseTech will actually get listed, do you?"
"We''ll find out tomorrow, won''t we?"
On the other side of the lounge.
When Bianca''s group arrived, Lillian was the first to spot Noreen.
She shot Noreen a sideways nce, curled her lip, and let out a disdainful ''tch'', her contempt unconcealed.
She then hurried to catch up with Bianca, and they sat down in chairs on the other side of the room.
Bianca was looking down, replying to a message.
Lillian assumed it was Seth and craned her neck to see, only to find it was a message to Jude Wilder.
Jude had sent the messagest night. Bianca had seen it then but had deliberately not replied.
In fact, she had been ignoring all of Jude''s recent messages.
She was still somewhat resentful that he had wanted to pull his investment.
Under her cold shoulder treatment,
Jude hadn''t tried to contact her
directly again but he had been
asking about PerseTechron
at
WhatsApp and subtly hinting withdrawing his funds, all of which Bianca had ignored.
Now that her confidence was restored, she was calmly typing out a reply.
Jude, knowing he had no chance of getting his money back, could only ce his hopes in Bianca, praying that PerseTech would sessfully go public so he would have something to show Seymour Wilder.
Bianca wrote to him, "Don''t worry. I consider you a friend, so of course I wouldn''t hurt you. I didn''t let you withdraw your investment before because I wanted to help you out
been
one more time. After all ur
of Seymour
Group, and a lot of people are waiting to see you fail."
"Once PerseTeeh is sessfully listed, you''ll be a shareholder with original stock. Your returns will far exceed anything from Seymour Group No one will dare look down on you again, and you''ll have the resources to buy back Seymour Group and answer to your father!"
Chapter 618
Jude saw her message immediately.
He wanted to say something, but he didn''t know what.
Even though Bianca''s words were full of confidence, Jude still felt a deep sense of
unease.
It was a kind of psychological scar, worn down by repeated failures.
From SkyMind to the Port Redevelopment Project, and then to Aetheria.
Every time, he had followed Bianca and taken a major fall.
He had no confidence left.
A violent coughing fit from the hospital room pulled Jude back from his wandering thoughts.
In the end, he didn''t reply. He silently put his phone away and pushed the door open to the room.
"Dad, have some warm water," Jude said, pouring a ss for Seymour.
But Seymour refused to drink. After another bout of coughing, he gasped for air and asked, "How did it go? Did she agree to let us pull out?"
Jude remained silent.
Seymour mmed his hand against the bed rail in frustration. "It''s over! It''s all over!"
He was too agitated. After yelling twice, he began to cough violently again, struggling for breath.
His face turned pale.
Terrified, Jude quickly pressed the call button for a nurse.
When Noreennded in Glenhaven City, a driver arranged by Castle was already waiting for her at the arrivals gate.
She had specifically told Castle not to go to the trouble of arranging a car for her, but he had done it anyway.
It felt like such an imposition.
As Noreen, Colby, and Sophia were driven away from the airport, their car passed in front of Bianca.
Bianca maintained aposed expression, but her eyes were cold.
Lillian saw that Noreen not only had a private car waiting but that it was a luxury vehicle, and she was consumed with jealousy. "How does Noreen know people even in Glenhaven City?"
Bianca narrowed her eyes slightly, not answering right away.
She was also feeling frustrated.
She couldn''t understand why Mr. Joyner, a man of such high standing in Glenhaven City, held Noreen in such high regard.
When it came to winning over men, she had always been sessful.
If she wanted a man, she got him.
Her past involvement with Dn
might have seemed like a failure, but he had never explicitly rejected her. She had been the one to fet
go
moving on to Seth after realizing
Group was failing.
But now, she was finding that more and more high-caliber men were drawn to Noreen.
Healy Naylor was one, and so was Padgett Novak.
Now, even Castle treated Noreen differently.
At least, at least she still had Seth.
"The car is here. Let''s go," Bianca said, avoiding Lillian''s question.
After getting in the car, Lillian remembered to ask, "Do you think Seth will make it back in time?"
"He should. It''s such an important day, he wouldn''t miss it," Bianca replied.
Lillian thought so too.
She had seen firsthand how much Seth cared about Bianca and had been envious of it countless times.
So she teased herself, "What a stupid question! Seth cares about you so much, of course he''ll make it back!"
This time, Bianca didn''t respond.
Her feelings wereplicated.
Lillian, however, chattered on.
"Do you think he might have a big surprise nned for you? Like, right after you get the notification that PerseTech''s listing is sessful helf get down on one knee and propose!"
"Wow, just imagining it is so romantic!"
For once, Bianca contradicted her. "You''re thinking too much. Aurelion Group has a problem. He''s been overseas dealing with the crisis. How would he have time to prepare a surprise"
"But what if? Sis, have a little more faith in him!"
He wouldn''t be absent, but after this, his position would change.
Chapter 619
Castle must have given the driver instructions, because after picking Noreen up from the airport, he drove her directly to Katy''s special school.
When she saw Katy, she found her eyes were empty.
Noreen distinctly remembered that thest two times she had visited, there had been a clear light in Katy''s eyes. Her mental state had been improving steadily.
But after just half a month, she had regressed to how she was right after Mrs. Joyner passed away.
The teacher also said that Katy''s condition had been poortely. She hadn''t spoken to anyone in days. She no longer responded when called, often just staring into space for the entire day. In severe cases, she would even forget to go to the bathroom.
Castle had told Noreen about Katy''s situation on WhatsApp a few days ago, which was why Noreen had decided to arrive in Glenhaven City a day early.
Noreen stayed with Katy for the entire day.
When school was over, Castle came to pick Katy up.
Noreen gently told Katy it was time to go home. The previously calm girl suddenly became agitated, gripping Noreen''s hand tightly, her vacant eyes filled with terror.
"What''s wrong? You don''t want to go home?"
Katy didn''t answer, but her grip on Noreen''s arm tightened.
"Katy, let go first. You''ll scratch her," Castle said, trying to coax her.
But she only held on tighter, her nails digging deep into Noreen''s skin.
Noreen could clearly feel the sharp pain, but she didn''t pull away. She hugged Katy close, soothing her softly. "It''s okay, don''t be afraid. If you don''t want to go home, we won''t go home for now."
Katy trembled in her arms. After a long moment, she let out a loud wail and burst into tears.
In the end, Noreen took Katy back to her hotel. Castle drove them there himself.
"She can stay with me for these three days. I''ll take good care of her," Noreen told Castle.
"I''m sorry to trouble you," Castle said apologetically.
"It''s no trouble. Katy is a very good girl."
Noreen had never considered Katy a burden.
Castle''s gaze fell to her arm, hidden by her long sleeve. He paused and said, "Remember to treat the wound."
"It''s just a scratch, it''s fine."
She had already forgotten about it until he mentioned it.
"Call me anytime if you need anything," Castle reminded Noreen before he left. "Okay."
After seeing Castle off, Noreen had dinner with Katy and then watched some cartoons with her.
Eventually, Katy fell asleep with her head on Noreen''sp.
Noreen covered her with a nkete then took out herptop. She worked while letting Katy rest in her arms shovels
By the time she finished, Katy was fast asleep. Noreen tried to carefully slide out from under her to go to the bathroom. But her leg had gone nuno and cramped up, causing her to fall to the floor
Thankfully, the carpet cushioned her fall.
She had just stepped into the bathroom when Katy, who had been sound asleep, suddenly let out a scream.
Noreen rushed back to hold andfort Katy. After a while, she finally fell back asleep.
Looking at the sleeping child, Noreen felt a surge of worry. Something was not right with her condition.
The next morning, Noreen met up with Carman and Scott in front of
the stock exchange. Sophia had
arrived first and was waving them over. .
Across the way, Bianca and Lillian saw this, and their faces turned cold.
Lillian was particrly annoyed. "Why did she bring so many people? Is that really necessary? So dramatic!"
Bianca coolly averted her gaze and checked her watch.
She had heard the results would be out at eleven, and it was now ten.
Seeing her check the time, Lillian also asked, "Still no word from your fianc¨¦?"
Chapter 620
"Mmm," Bianca murmured after looking at her watch. "Let''s go inside."
Lillian was still hopeful. "Maybe we should wait a little longer. I''m sure he''lle."
Bianca didn''t say anything more.
Over on the other side, Noreen and her group had already entered the building.
Lillian watched them go. "Finally, some peace and quiet."
Although she was scornful of Noreen''srge entourage, seeing that it was just the two of them looking so sparse and isted left her feeling a bit sour.
They waited for about ten minutes before a car pulled up.
Lillian''s eyes lit up with excitement. "It must be him!"
However, when she saw the face of the person getting out of the car, her smile froze.
Bianca''s lips tightened into a thin line.
After Dn got out, he walked straight into the exchange.
But both Bianca and Lillian noticed that he had seen them as he was getting out of the car. He had chosen to ignore them.
With that, thest trace of a smile on Bianca''s face vanishedpletely.
Another ten minutes passed, and another car arrived in front of the exchange.
Bianca looked over at the sound and saw that it was Yvonne and Forrest Lowell getting out. She forced a smile and called out, "Dad, Mom, you''re here."
"Our flight was dyed, so we''re a bitte," Yvonne said.
"It''s not time yet, anyway," Bianca replied, though as she spoke, her gaze drifted back toward the street.
Yvonne noticed her reaction and asked after a moment, "Hasn''t Seth arrived yet?"
"No."
"He shouldn''t be absent on such an important day," Yvonne said with a frown.
Bianca made an excuse for Seth. "He''s handlingpany business. If he can''t make it, I won''t me him."
Since her own daughter had said as much, Yvonne didn''t press the issue.
She asked, "Aren''t we going inside?"
Bianca thought for a moment. "Let''s wait a little longer."
She still hadn''t given up hope.
The time for the announcement was drawing near, but there was still no sign of Seth.
Yvonne had to urge her, "Stop waiting. We need to go in. The results will be out soon."
Bianca''s gaze seemed to lose focus for a second before she finally nodded, her lips pressed together.
Just as the four of them reached the entrance, someone else arrived behind them.
Lillian was the first to notice, eximing with delight, "It''s him! He''s here!"
"I knew he woulde! He cares so much about my cousin, how could he possibly not show up!"
Seth was walking quickly, looking like he had just rushed over from the airport.
The frown that had been etched on
Bianca''s brow finally rxed when he saw him and a smile returned to her face.
"Seth, you''re here," she called out to him.
"My flight was dyed, took a little longer,
Jut I''m d I made it," S he approached themelet
said as
Content
belongs t
"Okay," she replied readily this time.
As they walked, Yvonne asked Seth, "Have you heard any inside news?"
She was asking about the approval notice for thepany''s listing.
Seth replied, "I asked a friend. He said there are two announcements today."
Yvonne said, "That matches the information I heard."
Lillian was a little annoyed. "No wonder Noreen was so high and mighty bringing a whole crowd with her You''d think both listing approvals were for herpanies."
Yvonne scoffed. "She wishes."
Chapter 621
Even Bianca let out a smallugh, agreeing that Lillian''s idea waspletely unrealistic.
When they walked into the stock exchange, Noreen was on the phone.
It was the underwriter.
"Are you sure?" Noreen asked.
After getting a firm confirmation, a smile spread across her face. "Okay, I understand. Thank you for all your hard work during this time. I appreciate it."
Bianca saw the tant smile on Noreen''s face and frowned subtly.
She then forced a smile of her own, looping her arm through Seth''s. "Seth, let''s go over there. It''s too noisy here."
Seth agreed.
At 10:58, Jude called Seth to ask about the status of PerseTech.
"Still waiting for the results," Seth told him.
"I hope it goes through. My dad''s been glued to hisputer, he must have refreshed the page a hundred times."
At this point, Jude''s hope for PerseTech''s sessful IPO wasn''t about making money. He just wanted Seymour to hear the good news and get better soon.
At 10:59, Bianca received a call from her underwriter.
Lillian urged her, "Answer it, answer it! It must be good news, I can''t wait any longer!"
Biancaughed at her. "Why are you so impatient?"
Nearby, Yvonne was perfectly calm. "Don''t we already know the oue?"
She paused, then nced at an empty seat and frowned. "Why is your father taking
so long in the restroom? He''s going to miss the announcement."
Bianca answered the underwriter''s call, her joy palpable. "Mr. Galloway, are the results out?"
Whatever was said on the other end, Bianca''s smile froze instantly.
The exchange''s clock tower chimed the hour.
On the prominent announcement board in the center of the hall, two IPO approval notices appeared.
The first one read:
*Approval Notice: The initial public offering ofmon stock for InnoCore has been approved.*
Cheers erupted from Noreen and her team.
Carman was so excited he gave Noreen a tight hug.
"Noreen, we did it!"
Others embraced each other, their faces beaming with the joy of sess.
Lillian wished she could cover her ears. "So loud!"
At the same time, she grumbled about the announcement board not switching to the second notice yet.
Bianca, still on the phone, let her hand drop to her side.
Her face was ashen.
As if all her strength had been drained, she copsed back into her chair.
The surrounding noise seemed toe from behind a thick pane of frosted ss, muffled and indistinct.
All the color drained from her vision, leaving only a bleak, gray world.
Yvonne frowned, about to ask what was wrong.
The announcement screen scrolled.
Lillian shouted eagerly, "It''s our turn, it''s our turn!"
As the words left her mouth, her expression froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she
stared at the board, asking in
stared at th
confusion Aether Entertainment
Group? Whatpany is that? I''ve
never heard of them."
Before she could get an answer, a second, even louder cheer erupted from Noreen''s group.
Scott raised his clenched fists above his head and shouted with emotion, "Thank you, Ms Gilmore! Without
Ms. Gilmore, The Chronos Gallery wouldn''t be where it is today! Thank you!"
Ovee with emotion, the man who had remained stoic even at his lowest point now had tears in his eyes.
He ended up holding Noreen''s hand, thanking her incoherently over and over.
Lillian, a beat toote, finally processed it and cried out in
disbelief Aether Entertainme
Group is Noreen''spany too?"
"How is that possible?!"
Chapter 622
"Noreen took twopanies public on the same day?!"
She desperately wanted someone to deny it, but everyone around her was silent.
No one could give her an answer.
She turned to Bianca, her voice urgent. "Bianca, what''s going on? What did the underwriter say?"
But Bianca could only offer silence.
No one could imagine the suffocating weight in her heart.
This failure was like a huge, cold, wet wrapping tightly around her, suffocating
her, blocking out every sliver of light.
She was utterly devastated.
Only one thought echoed in her mind.
*I''m finished.*
Forrest arrivedte, making his way through the celebrating crowd to Bianca''s side. Unaware of the situation, he asked, "Are the results out?"
Yvonne shot him a cial look. "Couldn''t you have waited until tonight to show up?" From her tone, Forrest could guess the answer.
He tried to console Bianca. "It''s okay. We''ll try again. Most people don''t seed on the first try."
Lillian, her face a mask of misery, whined, "Then how could Noreen do it? Not only did she seed on her first try, she seeded with twopanies!"
"She must be some kind of demon!"
Forrest was stunned.
He instinctively looked over at Noreen.
After celebrating with her team, she had found a quieter corner to call Rosalind Gilmore.
"Mom, I did it!"
In a more secluded corner not far away, Dn had witnessed the entire thing.
Seeing InnoCore sessfully go public, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was so happy for her.
But all he could do was stand in the distance, watching her shine, unable to share in her joy.
His phone rang, and the name shing on the screen pulled him back to reality.
He didn''t answer and started to leave.
But before he left, he nced back onest time in Noreen''s direction.
A second wave of cheers had just erupted from her group.
A small smile yed on Dn''s lips as he silently said the words he should have been able to say to her.
*Congrattions, Noreen.*
Unfortunately, all he could do now was watch her from afar and wish her well in his heart.
He had once promised he would never miss any of her important moments.
But from now on, he no longer had the right.
His phone rang again. He lowered his gaze and turned to leave.
Noreen seemed to sense something and looked toward the main entrance.
For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a familiar figure.
But when she looked again, there was nothing there.
Only after leaving the exchange did Dn finally answer the call, just before it disconnected.
A sweet, feminine voice came
through the line. "Darling, where did
you go
go
woke up and you werent
here."
"I went out to get you breakfast. Didn''t you say you wanted
py? t
s from that little
The woman cooed, "I was just saying
that. I can''t believe you toovet
to heart and went all that way 1.9
it
get
them for me fant
At that same moment in Rivercrest City.
Seymour refreshed the page. When he saw the approval notice, his vision went ck.
"Dad!" Jude panicked, shouting for a doctor.
A team of medical staff rushed in to resuscitate Seymour.
Jude was pushed out of the room.
He sank to the floor, helpless, and gripped his hair tightly in his hands.
Despair. Helplessness.
As the resuscitation efforts dragged on, Jude knelt on the floor, praying desperately.
After a long while, the emergency doctor emerged from the room.
Jude scrambled to his feet, too afraid to speak, his red-rimmed eyes pleading for an
answer.
Finally, the doctor simply shook his head.
Jude copsed back onto the floor.
Gone.
Everything was gone.
He had be the Wilder family''s disgrace.
Chapter 623
ording to Bianca''s original n, they were supposed to return to Rivercrest City on the third day. After all, if PerseTech''s IPO had been sessful, they would have had to go to the exchange the next day to pay the relevant fees.
But no one had anticipated that the IPO would fail sopletely.
What was most unbearable for Bianca was that Noreen had managed to take twopanies public at once.
The thought made her want to explode. She simply couldn''t ept this oue.
On the way from the exchange back to the hotel, everyone was silent.
Their expressions were grim.
Only Bianca''s phone rang incessantly.
She didn''t dare to answer.
She knew exactly who was calling and why.
Finally, in frustration, she turned it off.
At the hotel, Seth announced he had made dinner reservations and that they would leave for the restaurant at six.
Bianca responded with a listless nod and went to her room.
Once inside, she turned her phone back on. Calls and messages flooded in instantly.
She ignored the calls but nced at the messages.
They were all demanding money.
She had signed more than ten leveraged betting agreements, pulling nearly fifty-to- one leverage.
She had nned to make a fortune, but instead, it had all backfired.
Now she was facing a mountain of debt...
An amount evenrger than what Ascendancy Group had owed when it copsed.
Thenguage in the messages was harsh, with some outright cursing her. It made Bianca want to smash her phone.
In the end, she switched it to airne mode and was about to toss it aside for some peace and quiet when a notification popped up.
Healy was messaging in their private group chat of five.
One message after another, his excitement was obvious.
"Damn! Noreen is incredible!"
"Taking twopanies public at the same time!"
"She didn''t just break Rivercrest City''s record for the fastest IPO,
e?.
impossible to beat She hit the jackpot twice in one day!"
set a new one that''ll be get
"And the crazy part is, Aether Entertainment Group went public with just one viral
trailer! Noreen is just on another level!"
"Seriously, what a legend!"
He then specifically tagged Seth.
"Seth, how did you let talent like that slip through your fingers? What a waste! You
must be kicking yourself right now, aren''t you?"
Before Seth could reply, Healy continued.
"Then again, you had this incredible
person and you kept her as your
assistant. If I were her, I would''ve
been gone long a
There''s no way
Twould''ve stayed at Aurelion Group for seven years!"
"In the end, it just shows how devoted Noreen was. You never promised her anything, yet she worked tirelessly for you for seven
years Even when she left, she did it
with ss. She built her owno
Be you
Sess without using any of
connections or resources. It was all her."
"A woman like that is hard to find these days."
"So, Seth, if I were to pursue her, you wouldn''t have a problem with that, would
you?"
Bianca saw right through him. All that buildup was just for thatst sentence.
Furious and frustrated, she finally hurled her phone to the floor, the impact granting her a fleeting moment of silence.
Chapter 624
Seth had booked a table at a scenic restaurant, a trendy spot in Glenhaven City perfect for photos.
Normally, Lillian would have been snapping pictures for her social media to show off.
But today, the mood was heavy, and no one was in the mood to appreciate the beautiful view.
The waiter approached their table apologetically. "Mr. Harcourt, I''m very sorry, but there''s been a change to your reservation. We''ve moved you to another window table on the other side. The view is actually better there, it''s the best spot to watch the fireworks. Aspensation, we''d like to offer you twoplimentary dishes. Is that eptable?"
Before Seth could reply, Lillian grumbled, "Isn''t two dishes a little cheap? What if there''s no fireworks g tonight?"
The waiter maintained a professional smile. "That''s why I said you''re all very lucky today. You''vee on the night of the fireworks g. It''s being put on by Mr. Castle, a very prominent figure in Glenhaven City, for his friend, Miss Gilmore. I hear it''s going to be a massive disy, really worth seeing! That''s why our restaurant is so busy tonight. We appreciate your understanding."
Bianca''s eyes grew cold, and she pressed her lips into a thin line.
Yvonne shot a harsh re at the talkative Lillian.
Lillian pped her own mouth lightly, regretting her big mouth.
Seth turned to Bianca. "Do you want to go to a different restaurant?" "No, this is fine."
She tried her best to appear calm, but only she knew the turmoil raging inside her.
The restaurant kept its promise and sent over two extra dishes, but no one had an appetite.
The somber mood at their table was a stark contrast to the lively, elegant atmosphere of the restaurant.
Lillian picked at the gourmet food, which she rarely had the chance to eat, but it tasted like ash in her mouth.
Just as she was about to excuse herself to the restroom for a breather, arge group of people entered the restaurant, theirughter and excited chatter filling the air. Every one of them was beaming with joy.
Sophia, leading the way, announced to the group, "Tonight''s on Noreen! Order whatever you want, don''t hold back!"
The group erupted in apuse.
"Hooray for Noreen!"
Sophia held up a hand to quiet them down. "That''s not all! Noreen has also booked
a week-long cruise for everyone! So keep the party going!"
"Woohoo! All hail Noreen!"
If the restaurant wasn''t so packed, they would have lifted Noreen onto their
shoulders and paraded her around the room.
"Alright, alright, let''s find our seats. All the tables in this section are for us!" Sophia directed.
The group began to settle down at various tables.
Lillian''s sharp eyes noticed that the
table Seth had originally book
been given to Noreen''s group!
That just made her angrier.
bad
Shepletely lost her appetite. Not even the finest food could tempt her now.
"I''m going to the restroom," she announced, standing up.
Themotion from Noreen''s party was hard to ignore. Bianca and Yvonne couldn''t help but notice.
Bianca''s gaze turned icy, and her mood sank to the depths of despair.
The rest of the meal was tasteless.
Noreen, on the other hand, was experiencing the exact opposite.
Ever since the approval notice was posted, her phone hadn''t stopped ringing.
Calls of congrattions, proposals for partnerships¡ªit was endless.
She had barely sat down for two minutes and had already taken two calls.
The food Sophia had put on her te had gone cold.
"Noreen, please, just eat something!"
Just as Noreen agreed, her phone rang again.
"If you have to, just turn your phone off."
Noreen sighed helplessly, ncing at the caller ID. "I have to take this one."
Sophia looked even more exasperated.
"You guys eat first, don''t wait for me."
Noreen took her phone and headed to the restroom.
The call was from Mrs. Naylor.
As soon as Noreen answered, Mrs. Naylorunched into a stream of congrattions, saying she knew from the moment she met her that them Noreen was a smart talented businesswoman destined for sess.
Noreen was almost embarrassed by the praise.
"Noreen,
arou should mentor our
Healy more in the future. You''re both
around the same age, you mu
elbet
have a lot inmon content
Mrs. Naylor was even more anxious than Healy.
That''s why she had called so eagerly, wanting to test the waters with Noreen.
Chapter 625
As she always said, a good woman doesn''t stay single for long.
An opportunity like this won''te again.
So Mrs. Naylor was in a hurry.
Fearing her hints weren''t obvious enough, she decided to be direct with Noreen.
"Noreen, you''ve been single for a while now. If you''re open to it, would you consider our Healy?"
"I''m so fond of you. I''ve always dreamed of having a daughter as brilliant as you, which is why I''d love for you to be part of our family. I hope you''ll think about it."
Noreen truly had no romantic feelings for Healy.
So she politely declined. "I''m sorry, Mrs. Naylor, but I don''t see Healy that way." "Don''t be so quick to refuse! You can just keep him on your radar for now. It''s normal for a woman to have a few options, to choose the best one."
"Of course, Healy used to be a bit of a yer, I know he didn''t leave the best impression. But he never cheated. He always ended one rtionship before starting another."
"And don''t you worry, if you just give the word, leave the rest to me! I''ll make sure he never does anything to wrong you! The moment you two get married, I''ll transfer all my assets to your name. That''ll keep him from having any funny ideas!"
Seeing Mrs. Naylor getting carried away, Noreen had to interrupt. "I''m so sorry, Mrs. Naylor, but I''m still at a dinner with my employees. Could we talk about this another time?"
"Yes, of course, of course," Mrs. Naylor agreed cheerfully.
As long as Noreen hadn''t given her a hard no, she felt there was still a chance.
After hanging up, Noreen breathed a sigh of relief.
Mrs. Naylor''s enthusiasm was often a bit overwhelming.
No sooner had she dealt with Mrs. Naylor than a message from Healy came through on WhatsApp.
He asked when she would be back in Rivercrest City, wanting to discuss further coboration.
It was the only excuse Healy could use.
Whenever he tried to bring up anything else, Noreen would never reply.
But if it was about work, she would always respond.
Noreen frowned, staring at her phone for a few seconds before typing back, "Back
in Rivercrest City in a week. We can schedule something then."
Healy replied instantly, "I''m free anytime!"
With the conversation over, Noreen put her phone away and headed back to the restaurant.
Just as she left, Lillian emerged from a stall in the restroom, her expression sour. She had overheard the entire conversation between Noreen and Mrs. Naylor.
She couldn''t believe Mrs. Naylor liked Noreen that much, even trying to set her up with Healy.
She liked Healy too, but he had never given her the time of day.
So all she could do was stand there, seething with impotent rage. Why was Noreen so popr?
Just as Noreen returned to her table, the fireworks g began.
She didn''t know yet that Castle arranged the fireworks show specific
to celebrate her sess
It wasn''t until the show started that he called her.
"Congrattions, Miss Gilmore."
"Thank you," Noreen replied politely.
"I didn''t have a grand gift to offer, so
I thought I''d give you a fireworks
show over The Esnade. You should have a perfect view from. your restaurant."
"Tonight, Miss Gilmore, The Esnade shines for you."
As Castle finished speaking, the sky outside exploded with color.
It was a magnificent sight.
Watching the stunning fireworks, she offered Castle her sincere thanks.
The disy was so beautiful that diners all over the restaurant got up to take pictures by the
-ceiling windows.
>
All except for the group at Bianca''s table.
They were the only ones in the entire restaurant who remained seated.
Even so, the brilliant bursts of light from outside enveloped them.
Yvonne yanked the curtains shut, trying to block it all out.
Chapter 626
But she couldn''t block out the gasps of awe from the rest of the restaurant. Even the waiters had gathered to watch the fireworks.
The chatter was incessant.
"This has to be the biggest fireworks g in years! What an incredible gesture!"
Yvonne turned to Bianca, her face dark. "Which Mr. Joyner is it?"
Bianca didn''t want to answer.
In the end, it was Seth who rified. "It''s Mr. Castle, from the Joyner family, one of Glenhaven City''s oldest and most respected families."
Yvonne felt a jolt of shock, her face a picture of disbelief.
It was *that* Joyner family!
Noreen''s connections... how could they be this powerful?
Lillian wondered absently if this Mr. Joyner was also interested in Noreen. Why else would he put on a celebratory fireworks show for her?
Noreen didn''t know what others were thinking, nor did she care.
The fireworks were truly beautiful, so she took a picture and posted it on Twitter.
Likes andments started pouring in almost immediately.
Noreen didn''t reply, but she scrolled through them.
Most were from people she knew, except for one unfamiliar like andment.
Frost.
He had left a simple one-wordment: "Congrattions."
Noreen hesitated, remembering this ount had liked her posts before.
She clicked on the profile picture.
It was stillpletely nk.
She couldn''t for the life of her remember when she had added this person.
As she debated whether to delete him, Sophia called her over for a group photo.
Noreen put her phone away and went to join them, smiling for the camera.
On one side of the restaurant, there wasughter and sess.
On the other, only gloom and despair.
"I''m tired," Bianca said, no longer able to bear watching Noreen''s triumph. It was suffocating.
Yvonne was just as restless. "Let''s go back to the hotel and rest. Don''t we have a flight back to Rivercrest City tomorrow?"
"I thought our flight was the day after tomorrow," Seth said.
"I changed it. Let''s just go back early."
The word "just" hung in the air,den with unspoken meaning. Everyone understood.
Seth thought for a moment. "I suggest changing it to a night flight, or even a red- eye."
"Why?" Lillian asked, confused.
"To avoid the media."
He paused, then added, "And to
avoid the investors. They''re emotional right now which could easily escte the confer It''s better to lie low until everyone has cooled down, then we can discuss a solution."
Bianca''s eyes turned sharp and cold.
She had never imagined a day like this woulde for her.
Having to go home in the dead of night, like she couldn''t be seen in the light of day. How was she any different from a rat?
But she also knew that what Seth said was the truth, the cruel, undeniable truth.
A truth she had no choice but to ept.
So she could only nod in humiliation.
The group left the restaurant early.
As they were leaving, Bianca finally mustered the courage to nce in Noreen''s direction.
It was the first time she had looked at her all night.
Even surrounded by a crowd, Noreen''s radiance was impossible to hide.
And that radiance burned Bianca''s eyes.
Once they were outside, Seth called a car. After seeing them all inside, he leaned down and spoke to them
through the window. "I have
something to take care of You guys go back to the hotel first."
Bianca bit her lip and looked at Seth, a jolt running through her heart.
He remained as impassive as ever, his dark eyes revealing nothing.
She desperately wanted him to stay with her, she needed him right now.
But Bianca didn''t say a word. Her hands, resting on herp, clenched unconsciously Finally she gave slight nod in response. >
After the car pulled away, Lillian asked, her voice full of suspicion, "Seth isn''t going
to find Noreen, is he?"
Chapter 627
The moment Lillian spoke, Yvonne shot her a withering re.
Realizing her mistake, Lillian quickly tried to take it back.
"No, that''s impossible! Seth cares about Bianca so much, he would never cheat on her!"
"Even if every other man in the world was unfaithful, Seth wouldn''t be!"
"The world could end, and Seth would still be faithful!"
"That''s enough," Yvonne cut her off.
Lillian fell silent. Seeing Bianca still looked downcast, she asked, "Bianca, you
clearly wanted Seth to stay with you. Why didn''t you say anything?"
Bianca kept her eyes lowered, her voice soft. "With a man like Seth, you can''t be too clingy. You have to give him his space, know your boundaries."
"Oh, I see."
Lillian wholeheartedly believed Bianca''s exnation.
She had witnessed Bianca''s captivating effect on men since they were children.
In high school, a boy had even tried to kill himself over her a testament to her powerful allure.
Even Lana often told her to learn from Bianca about how to handle men.
But to this day, she had only mastered the basics.
By the time Noreen''s party ended, it was past midnight.
Sophia arranged for cars to take everyone back to the hotel. The next evening, they would head to the port to begin their seven-day cruise.
After the main group had boarded their cars, Sophia turned around and noticed Carman hadn''t gotten in a car yet.
She called out to him, "Mr. Holt, why aren''t you on your way yet?"
Carman was a lightweight when it came to drinking. He''d had a few too many sses during dinner, and his face was now flushed.
Even after Sophia prompted him, he remained where he was, his gaze fixed on Noreen.
Noreen had just finished a call with Castle.
He had told her that Katy was refusing to sleep, and as ast resort, he was calling her for help.
Noreen told Castle to bring Katy to her hotel, and she would put her to bed.
After ending the call, she was about
to ask Sophia when thest car was Ving when Carman called her
"Noreen."
He didn''t use her professional title, but her first name.
Noreen''s heart skipped a beat. She instantly knew what he was about to say. Honestly, her head was starting to ache.
Maybe it was the alcohol, or the endless phone calls and schmoozing all night...
Or perhaps it was the string of confessions that was making her feel overwhelmed.
Whatever the reason, her head throbbed.
Turns out, being too popr was its own kind of trouble.
"Mr. Holt, get in the car! It''s thest one!" Sophia came over to hurry him along.
Carman mumbled, "I have something I want to say to Ms. Gilmore. Why don''t you all go ahead?"
"It''ll be hard to get a cab at this hour," Sophia said,pletely missing the mood.
Her only focus was onpleting the task Noreen had given her, oblivious to Carman''s intentions.
Noreen was about to use that as an
excuse telling him to get in the car and that they could talkter.
t belongs to t
But Carman seemed unusually determined.
It was probably the alcohol.
He summoned his courage and spoke. "Noreen, do you remember what I said to
you that day?"
"Are you ready to start a new rtionship now?"
For a year, he had been waiting for an answer.
He had watched as one impressive man after another appeared in Noree life,
Not showing theirel
admiration for her content
It was impossible not to feel a sense of urgency.
Mina Holt had also urged him to make his move before someone else did.
But matters of the heart couldn''t be rushed; they had to develop naturally.
Chapter 628
Carman was waiting for her answer.
But before Noreen could speak, another, deeper male voice cut in.
"Noreen, we need to talk."
The voice made Carman''s face fall instantly.
Sophia stammered, "M-Mr. Harcourt?"
Noreen turned to see Seth standing under a European-style archway. The overhead light cast a long shadow that fell over her.
When his deep eyes met hers, he looked as if he had merely stumbled upon a scene that had nothing to do with him.
She frowned instinctively, her voice colder than the night air. "What is there for us to talk about?"
Carman instinctively stepped in front of Noreen, confronting Seth.
Seth didn''t move.
His dark eyes looked past Carman,nding squarely on Noreen''s face, as if trying to bore a hole through her.
"It won''t take much of your time."
Noreen still had no desire to get entangled with him and was about to refuse.
Seth exined, "It''s about my father."
Only then did Noreen pause. She turned to Carman. "You guys go on ahead. Give me five minutes."
She would only give Seth five minutes. No more.
As Carman left, he told Noreen, "Call me if you need anything."
He only turned to leave after she nodded.
Once Carman was gone, Seth walked up to Noreen. His expression was calm and detached, showing no hint of intimacy.
He stood in the path of the wind, blocking some of the chill.
Noreen tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a hint of impatience in her expression. "Alright, what''s wrong with Mr. Harcourt?"
Seth didn''t answer immediately. He just looked into her eyes, which were so beautiful, yet so cold and emotionally distant.
Just as she was about to turn away, he spoke. "He hasn''t been feeling well these past few days. If you can, please visit him more often from now on."
Mr. Harcourt was sick?
Noreen hadn''t known.
She had been so busy with the IPOS
for InnoCore and Aether
l.ne
been a
Entertainment that it had be
long time since she had seen Wade Harcourt.
She waspletely out of the loop regarding his health.
"I will," Noreen replied. Assuming he had nothing else to say, she started to leave.
"And congrattions," he added.
Whether his congrattions were sincere or just for show, Noreen still offered a polite, "Thank you."
"One more thing." He pulled a
business card from his pocket and held it out to her. "If you ever run into any difficult problems in the future you can contact this person. He might be able to help you."
The previous topics hadn''t fazed Noreen.
But offering her a business card was something she couldn''t understand.
She nced at the card in his hand her brows knitting together slightly. What is this supposed to mean, Mr. t?"
"Consider it...pensation."
Noreen let out a soft, humorlessugh.
Compensation?
Compensation for what? For the seven years of devotion she had given him?
There was no need!
And she certainly didn''t want it.
Noreen pushed the card away. "I don''t need it. You should save such valuable things for your beloved."
"She needs them far more than I do right now."
With that, Noreen turned and walked away without a second thought.
Carman hadn''t gotten into the car; he was waiting outside.
When he saw Noreen returning, he immediately opened the car door for her.
After Noreen got in, Carman followed.
The car quickly pulled away from the restaurant, melting into the night.
Until it disappeared from view.
The business card in Seth''s hand finally fluttered to the ground in the cold wind.
After a brief tremor, it settled into silence.
Chapter 630
"What kind of reaction did you want from him? Jealousy? Envy? Aplete meltdown?" Noreenughed.
"He had no reaction at all. He was perfectly calm."
ire made a disappointed sound. "How boring."
She had been hoping to see that jerk Seth full of regret for losing a treasure like Noreen, maybe even going crazy over her...
But this was it?
Heartless, faithless bastard! He could go to hell!
ire didn''t want to talk about the jerk anymore and switched the topic to Healy.
Of course, Sophia had been the source of that information as well.
"Let me be clear, I am not on Team Healy!" ire stated firmly. "What''s that saying?"
""''Someone who is with you through thick and thin, not just when you''re sessful.""
"He used to be so snide about you. Now that you''re sessful, he''s crawling back? What''s that about?"
"Having a nice mom doesn''t count for anything! When things are good, everything is good, and they''ll promise you the world. But what if one day you fall? Will they still choose you?"
"Obviously not! That''s how high society works. Everything is transactional. The moment you lose your value, they won''t give you a second nce!"
"It''spletely rotten!"
Noreen listened to her long rant and asked with a smile, "You seem to know a lot about it."
ire faltered for a second. "Well, I''ve just watched a lot of cheesy soap operas." "I haven''t thought about it that deeply, but I''m really not interested in Healy."
On the other end of the line, ire rolled her eyes dramatically. "You''re so detached from romance right now you could join a convent. Who could you possibly be interested in?"
Speaking of which, ire couldn''t help but curse again. "That son of a bitch Dn! You were finally starting to waver, and then he just retreated into his shell. Is he a turtle or something?"
So disappointing! And after all the times she had tried to persuade Noreen to give him a chance.
"I guess it just means I haven''t met the right person yet," Noreen said, taking it in stride.
As she always said, a rtionship wasn''t a necessity.
If fate brought someone along, she would seize the opportunity. If not, she would let things happen naturally.
"I''m rooting for Director Novak now! I hope he steps up his game!"
Seeing her getting carried away,
Noreen cut her off. "It''s gettingte,
You should get some rest
go
eck on the little one. She''s
been having nightmares."
ire agreed.
Just as Noreen was about to hang up, she heard a man''s voice from ire''s end.
"Could you pass me a towel?"
Noreen''s hand froze over the end-call button.
"A man? Did I just hear a man''s voice?"
ire cursed under her breath. "Oh, that''s just the... uh... people next door. The walls in this hotel are thin. I''m hanging up now before their filth corrupts you."
Without waiting for a reply, she abruptly ended the call.
Noreen narrowed her eyes.
Hanging up that quickly was a clear sign of guilt.
Knowing ire, if it really had been the neighbors putting on a show, she would have given Noreen alive mmentary. She would never have hung up content
Noreen suddenly felt like her best friend had been stolen from her.
Once she was done with her work, she would have to go y detective and find out who the mystery man was.
When Noreen returned to the room, Katy was still asleep. Shey down beside her.
Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, but a few things stood out with sharp rity.
*"He hasn''t been feeling well these past few days. If you can, please visit him more often from now on."*
"My father... I''m leaving him in your care."
In the dead of night, Noreen shot up in bed.
*
This was the second time Seth had entrusted Wade to her.
The first time was on the eve of his engagement to Bianca.
The second time was tonight.
What on earth did he mean by all this?
Chapter 631
Noreen didn''t sleep well that night.
It was also the first time she''d lost sleep over Seth since she had truly let him go.
As soon as the sun came up, she called Wade.
She knew Wade had a habit of feeding his fish early in the morning, so she timed her call perfectly.
Wade''s voice sounded a bit hoarse, not as strong as it used to be.
Noreen asked about his health first.
"I had a bad flu a while back, but I''m mostly recovered. The family doctor is looking after me, so it''s nothing serious."
"And everything else is okay?"
"Everything''s fine."
Noreen let out a small sigh of relief, thinking she might have been worrying for nothing.
Before the call ended, Sophia pushed the door open. "Noreen, the car to the marina leaves at ten, so we need to be downstairs by nine-thirty. I''ll help you pack now. Oh, and I already bought everything you''ll need for the vacation-swimsuits, sun hats, sunsses, sunscreen, all that stuff. It''s in my suitcase. I''ll bring it to your room once we''re on the cruise ship."
Noreen agreed.
Wade must have overheard Sophia. He paused for a moment before asking, "Going on vacation?"
"Yeah. Everyone''s been working so hardtely, so this is a little reward for them." "As you should. It''s a good chance for you to take a break and get some rest, too," Wade said supportively.
But he didn''t forget to add a word of caution. "Rx, but be careful."
A warmth spread through Noreen''s chest. "Okay. I''lle visit you when I get back to Rivercrest City."
"Alright."
Reassured that Wade was fine, Noreen felt her own unease settle.
On the way to the marina, the tour guide informed everyone that there was no cell service on the cruise §ã§Ö§ß
ship and that they would have t
purchase a Wi-Fi package. The guide warned that it was expensive and not a great
alue so they
rmended everyone take care of anyst-minutemunications
now and just enjoy being
disconnected.
Everyone pulled out their phones to contact friends and family.
Noreen had already spoken with Rosalind, so she had nothing left to arrange. She used the time to browse the day''s financial news.
She''d intended to check on the stock market, but the first thing she saw was a story about Seth.
The media was always bold with their stories, especially when it came to clickbait headlines.
Even Noreen was shocked when she read the title.
"Billion-Dor Deal Copses! As Power Woman Faces Ruin, Her Lover Steps in to Save the Day: Unlucky in Business, Lucky in Love."
The article reported that after Bianca
left the stock exchange in defeat, she went straight back to her hote
with Seth by her side. The two of them didn''t emerge until the evening The
of the next day. Story, e
hinted at a passionate
reconciliation"...
*So, I really was worrying for nothing,* she thought. *Seth and Bianca are clearly doing just fine.*
She really shouldn''t overthink things. Besides, this was Seth''s business; she had no reason to get worked up about it. It was just needless anxiety.
Noreen switched off her phone and boarded the ship, ready to enjoy her vacation in peace.
Less than half an hour after the cruise ship left the marina, there was a knock on Noreen''s cabin door.
She assumed it was Sophia bringing her things. But when she opened the door, she was surprised to see Castle, with Katy standing beside him.
Castle looked a bit helpless. "She wouldn''t stop fussing about finding you. I had no choice but to bring her here."
"It''s no problem at all." Noreen
smiled and took Katy''s hand.
"Actually, when the driver came this
morning, I was debating whether to
bring her along to get her mind off things. I was
Twas just worried would interfere with her studies, so I had her sent home."
"She''s a smart kid. You don''t have to worry about her studies."
"In that case, I''ll make sure she has a good time for a few days." "Sorry to trouble you."
Chapter 632
Noreen repeated what she''d said before: she never considered Katy a bother.
To make it easier for Noreen to look after Katy, Castle upgraded her cabin. Noreen insisted it wasn''t necessary, but Castle was firm.
He exined that the upgrade wasn''t just to thank her; he also wanted Katy to have a quieter environment, to avoid anything that might upset her.
Only then did Noreen agree.
The luxury suite on the top deck was indeedfortable, with a first-ss view.
The purity and endlessness of the ocean helped Noreen forget her troubles on shore, allowing her topletely rx.
After a year of non-stop work, the tireless machine that she was had finally earned a brief respite.
For the first two days, she and Katy barely left the room. They ate when they were hungry and slept when they were tired.
Katy''s spirits were also much improved. She was chatty and talkative, and a long- absent smile had returned to her face.
On the third day, there was apany dinner, and Noreen brought Katy along. Everyone ate, drank, and had a great time.
After dinner, Noreen took Katy for a stroll on the deck. The sea breeze was wonderfully pleasant.
"Dolphins!" Katy, with her sharp eyes, spotted them guiding the cruise ship and excitedly pulled Noreen over to see.
Other passengers on the deck saw them and crowded around as well.
Katy slipped through the crowd like a little eel.
In the process, Noreen bumped into someone. By the time she finished apologizing, Katy had vanished into the throng.
Noreen frantically searched for her until a crew member told her they''d seen the little girl run off to the right.
She hurried in that direction, asking people along the way, and finally spotted Katy standing in front of a railing.
Noreen breathed a sigh of relief and called out to her as she walked over. But Katy didn''t respond.
She passed through an archway and was just about to reach for Katy''s hand when the girl suddenly burst into tears.
In the next instant, someone
mped a ck cloth with a
pungent smell over Noreen''s face. She struggled for only a fe seconds before losing
consciousness.
When she woke up, the first thing
Noreen saw was Katy''s
tear-streaked face. Her mouth
covered with thick tape, and she was
tred securely to a chair
Lounging on a nearby chaise lounge was a woman with a stunning figure. It was Mrs. Joyner''s sister!
Noreen had seen her at the restaurant.
"Awake, are we?" Sue Joyner took a slow sip of red wine, raising an eyebrow at Noreen.
"What are you doing?" The drugs made Noreen''s voice weak and powerless. She didn''t even have the strength to struggle; her body felt limp.
Sue set down her ss, stood up, and walked over. She grabbed Noreen''s chin, forcing her to look up. She studied Noreen''s face carefully.
Her already cold expression suddenly darkened, and then she raised her hand and pped Noreen across the face. It was a hard p.
The force of it snapped Noreen''s head to the side, leaving a fiery sting on her cheek and the taste of blood in her mouth.
"Bitch! Who told you to seduce my brother-inw!"
Startled, Katy began to struggle violently. Sue nced back at her, annoyed. "You move again, and I''ll kill her!"
Katy instantly froze, her eyes wide with terror.
"I think you''re mistaken. There''s nothing going on between Mr. Joyner and me. It''s not the kind of rtionship you''re thinking of."
Sue''s behavior was erratic; she didn''t seem stable. Worried she might hurt Katy, Noreen knew she had to de-escte and try to reason with her.
"Are you kidding me? In all these years, my brother-inw has only ever set off fireworks for one woman my sister, when he proposed. But now he''s done it for. you. Her voice rose. And you have the nerve to say there''s nothing between you?"
Chapter 633
"Do I look like a three-year-old? That easy to fool?" Sue''s smile suddenly turned
venomous.
She lookedpletely gone, so far down the rabbit hole of her own paranoia that nothing could reach her.
"Then what do I have to do to make you believe me?"
Sue''s smile was chilling. "I''ll believe you when you''re dead."
"Because only the dead tell the truth!"
"You''re insane!" Noreen Gilmore saw the madness in her eyes, and a cold dread crept up her spine.
At this hour, a party was in full swing on the cruise ship, and most of the guests were there. The rooms were soundproofed, so even if she screamed at the top of her lungs, it was unlikely anyone would hear.
Otherwise, Sue wouldn''t have dared to kidnap her so openly.
Plus, Noreen had spent thest two days working and resting in her room. No one would notice if she disappeared for a few hours.
Panic began to set in.
Sue seemed to read her mind,ughing manically. "Give up the struggle! This entire cruise ship belongs to the Caldwell family. We''re in international waters now, beyond thew. I can do whatever I want, and no one can save you."
Noreen''s heart went cold.
No wonder Sue had been so brazen. The ship belonged to the Caldwell Group. If they were truly in international waters...
A thick, cold sweat broke out on Noreen''s back.
If Sue weren''t aplete lunatic, she might have been able to stall for time.
But she was a lunatic.
Sue didn''t even give Noreen a moment to think. She simply gestured to the bodyguards waiting nearby, who lifted Noreen by her arms and dragged her onto the balcony.
In a moment of sheer terror, Noreen instinctively screamed for help.
Sue followed her out, her red dress whipping in the sea breeze, a vision of eerie madness.
She mocked Noreen''s naivete. "The other women who tried totch onto my brother-inw screamed for help just like you before they were thrown into the sea. But what good did it do? They all ended up as shark food."
Asposed as Noreen tried to be, herposure finally shattered.
She quickly tried to exin, "I really have nothing to do with Mr. Castle Joyner!"
"I don''t care," Sue replied with a
smile. "Tob be honest, any woman my brother-inw looks at for more than
a second, I get rid of I dont give them any chance at all
A madwoman!
She was aplete and utter madwoman!
As Noreen trembled in shock, Sue''s expression hardened. She gave
ea
dyguards
sharpmand to the body
"Throw her in!"
Noreen felt her entire body being lifted into the air.
Two towering men, both easily six-foot-three, hoisted her up effortlessly.
Before she could even let out a scream, she was ovee by the sickening sensation of falling...
The roar of the wind was deafening, and the waves crashed violently against the ship''s hull. The endless, all-consuming darkness of the sea at night swallowed her desperate cries for help in an instant content
Sue curled her red lips into a smirk and poured the remaining half-ss of red wine into the sea.
As if making a tribute.
Inside the room, Katy, who had been trembling with fear, witnessed the entire scene and waspletely traumatized.
She began screaming and biting uncontrobly.
The bodyguard holding her yelped in pain as she bit his hand, drawing blood, and
let her go.
Katy bolted out of the room, screaming, "Help! Help me!"
Sue''s face darkened. "Quick! Get her back here!"
The bodyguards had just rushed out the door when they stumbled backward.
"What are you doing?" Sue shrieked, on the verge of hysteria. "Get that little brat back here now!"
Just as the words left her mouth, she saw Castle storm into the room, his face a mask of cold fury.
"C-Castle," Sue stammered, all her previous arrogance and madness gone in an instant.
Chapter 634
"Save my sister! They threw her into the sea!" Katy had never spoken so clearly in her life.
Castle''s expression changed drastically.
The next second, Sue''s body went flying as he kicked her with brutal force.
If a bodyguard hadn''t been there to break her fall, she might have gone overboard herself.
Before she could even get to her feet, she saw a dark figure vault over the railing and dive into the ocean without a moment''s hesitation.
Noreen couldn''t swim.
She''d never thought it was a big deal.
But at this moment, she realized just how important it was.
The winter sea was brutally cold. So cold that after just a few frantic sshes, a wave crashed over her head and dragged her under.
It felt like thousands of ice-covered needles piercing her thin dress, burrowing into every pore, chilling her to the bone.
She couldn''t even manage a full scream.
The bottomless sea was like a giant, greedy mouth, instantly swallowing all sound.
Salty water flooded her mouth and nose...
The strong, briny taste was overpowering, scraping at her throat like sandpaper. Suffocation followed, like a shadow.
Her lungs felt as if they were being squeezed by an invisible hand.
Air was running out, and her brain screamed in protest. She thrashed her arms and
legs wildly, trying to grab onto something, anything.
Even a piece of straw would do.
But her fingers only met the cold, thick, endless water.
Her body sank uncontrobly.
Slowly, the lights from the cruise ship blurred and faded.
Just before darkness consumed her, the surface of the water broke again.
...
Noreen woke up with a violent feeling of suffocation.
She gasped for air, taking in huge, desperate breaths as if to prove to herself that she was still alive.
Castle was on the balcony, on the phone. His usual gentle tone was gone, reced by a sharp,manding voice.
"Pleading with me is useless. She hurt someone, and she will face the consequences! I''ve already called the psychiatric hospital. Someone will be here to pick her up shortly."
"Don''t you dare bring Harriet into this! If it weren''t for Harriet, she wouldn''t have survivedst night."
"If the Caldwell family insists on interfering, then don''t me me for pulling my support for the Caldwell Group."
"You should know that without the Joyner Group''s backing, the Caldwell Group won''tst three months!"
"I have done more than enough for the Caldwell family!"
With that, Castle hung up, ignoring the desperate pleas from the Caldwells on the other end.
He turned and saw that Noreen was awake. He immediately walked over to her, his voice filled with concern. "Youge awake. Are you feeling ufortable anywhere?
Noreen''s voice was hoarse. "I''m having a little trouble breathing."
"It''s an after-effect of drowning. The doctor said there''s some swelling in your lungs."
He poured her a ss of warm water to soothe her dry throat.
Noreen took it and asked, "How''s Katy?"
"She''s shaken up. She''s with a therapist right now."
"And Sue?" Noreen asked.
"In the room next door."
Sensing her fear, he quickly added, "She''s being watched. The boat to pick her up will be here soon, and she''ll be taken directly to the psychiatric hospital in Glenhaven City."
Despite his assurances, Noreen still felt a lingering fear.
She felt a little dizzy, and Castle told her to get some rest. Her recovery was the most important thing.
Noreen had just closed her eyes when another thought struck her. She opened them again and asked Castle, "Who saved me?"
Chapter 635
"Castle saved you?" Sophia Cole was surprised. "That''s a huge favor to owe someone!"
Sophia handed Noreen a bowl of soup. "Wait a minute. You were kidnapped by that crazy woman because of him. He *should* have saved you! No favor owed!"
"It''s not that ck and white," Noreen said, not having thought of it that way.
"It''s my fault. I should have stayed with you," Sophia said, ming herself.
"It was impossible to predict. How could you me yourself?"
No one could have anticipated what Sue would do. The thing was, she and Sue had only met once before.
No one ever knows whether tomorrow will bring fortune or disaster.
Seeing Sophia still downcast, Noreen had to console her. "We came on this trip to rx. If we don''t have fun now, when will we?"
Sophia felt a little better and mused, "I guess we need to hire a female bodyguard. A male one isn''t always convenient."
Since it was a cruise, Noreen might have wanted to go swimming. It would have been inappropriate for Colby, a man, to follow her, which is how the incident happened in the first ce.
Seeing that she couldn''t talk Sophia out of it, Noreen let it go.
"But I heard that madwoman was seriously injured. Four broken ribs," Sophia said, rying a rumor she''d heard.
Noreen was puzzled. "How did that happen?"
Sue had been perfectly fine before she was thrown into the sea.
Sophia shook her head. "I don''t know. I heard someone kicked her."
"Castle?" Noreen was taken aback. "That doesn''t seem like him."
"I know, right? Mr. Joyner seems so gentle and refined. And that woman is his sister-inw. Would he really be that ruthless?"
They were just specting based on their own impressions; the truth remained a mystery.
Noreen rested for another two days.
During that time, Katy woulde and sit with her for a few hours every day at a set
time. She wouldn''t speak, just sit there quietly.
After the incident, Katy had be even more withdrawn.
Noreen couldn''t help but worry.
While checking her emails online, she caught up on recent industry news. The biggest story was PerseTech''s failed reverse merger.
It seemed Bianca Lowell''s downfall was as spectacr as her rise had been arrogant. During the roadshow, she had hyped up PerseTech to an absurd degree At a financial summit, she ever made grandiose ims, bolstered by the backing of the Aurelion Group.
It really was true: pridees before a fall.
Friends in the industry said that after returning to Rivercrest City, Bianca had gone into hiding, avoiding the media and lovestors.Debt collectors were practically lining up all the way to Brenton City.
Two investors had taken out loans to invest based on her hype and were now saddled with massive debt. One of them, unable to handle the pressure, had jumped from a building.
The next day, reporters cornered
Yvonne Laurent. They asked her why
her daughter had duped people into ruining families white stie
investingway and refused fo
herself hid
solve the problem. ''
Yvonne''s response was chilling. "Investing always carries risks. It''s his own fault for
not being able to handle the pressure. How can he me my daughter?"
"He only lost his life, but my daughter has to face these usations. It''s not fair."
Noreen was stunned when she read that. How could a person be so utterly selfish?
The worst part was that the day after Yvonne''sments, the wife of the investor who hadmitted suicide also jumped to her death.
This time, reporters found Bianca''s cousin, Lillian Laurent.
Her words were even more shocking.
"When you''re dead, your debts are gone. It''s much easier than being alive."
They really were cut from the same cloth.
Chapter 636
Naturally, such responses sparked public outrage. Other investors were preparing a ss-actionwsuit, using Bianca of financial fraud and demanding an official investigation into PerseTech.
ire Chase sent Noreen a message: "That jerk Seth is going bankrupt this time, right?"
If Seth Harcourt continued to use Aurelion Group to cover this shortfall, he would indeed be facing bankruptcy. 51x leverage how had Bianca dared?
But so far, Seth hadn''t made any public statements. No one knew if he would ultimately step in to save her. Not even Noreen.
Meanwhile, in Rivercrest City, Bianca had been hiding in her house for five days. She hadn''t even dared to step outside. The curtains in her room were always drawn, and she kept the lights off. Her world had be as dark and hopeless as the room she was in.
Yvonne brought a bowl of fish soup to her room. Bianca had no appetite.
Yvonne tried to coax her for a while, but it was no use.
"Still no word from Seth?" Yvonne finally asked, putting the soup down. She asked this question almost every day, but the answer was always the same.
"What on earth is he so busy with?" Yvonne asked, unable toprehend. "Things are on fire here in Rivercrest City, and he''s still running around overseas!"
"He said he''s trying to raise capital," Bianca''s voice was dry and raspy. "The hole is just too big."
Hearing this, Yvonne''s expression softened slightly. "He''s certainly taking the long way around! The Harcourt Group is right here in Rivercrest City, yet he has to go abroad to raise funds."
"Seth and the Harcourt Group are separate entities. There''s no financial entanglement, so he has no right to touch the Harcourt Group''s funds."
"Is this really the time to worry about that? The Harcourt Group is his, isn''t it? What difference does it make if he takes the money now orter?"
Yvonne just didn''t get it.
"He signed an agreement with Wade Harcourt when he first started his own business."
Yvonne''s eyes narrowed. "So what? He''s Wade''s only son. Who else would the Harcourt Group''s money go to?"
Bianca''s mind was a mess; she hadn''t thought about any of this.
Yvonne knew she was under a lot of pressure, so she stopped pushing and just urged her to eat a little.
She tried to soothe her, "Don''t worry, we''re not at a dead end yet. We still have a way out."
"What way?"
"You''ll see," Yvonne said vaguely.
After leaving Bianca''s room, she called Lana and gave her an assignment.
The next morning, the driver was taking Wade to the hospital for a check-up. As the car neared the hospital, a ck sedan suddenly fost control and barreled straight toward them.
The driver barely had time to react, yanking the steering wheel and
swerving toward the curb. He
Couldn''t avoid the Collision entirely and the side of the car was heavily dented.
The driver was injured but managed to stumble out of the car. Passersby and other drivers rushed over to help.
The driver waved them off. "There''s no one else in the car. I''m fine."
Byparison, the other car was much more severely damaged. The driver had to be carried out.
When Lana learned that Wade wasn''t in the car, she frantically called Yvonne. The n had failed!
Wade wasn''t in the car! Even his caregiver wasn''t there! Only the driver had sustained minor injuries.
"He''s got a lucky star!" Yvonne seethed, grinding her teeth in frustration.
Her n had been to have Wade die in an "ident," which would allow Seth to inherit the Harcourt Group without anyplications. Bianca''s currem problems would be solved in an instant, And without Wade in the way, Seth could finally marry Bianca.
The root of all their problems was Wade. So, getting rid of him would solve everything.
Chapter 637
On thest night of the cruise, Noreen was soaking in the tub on her balcony, enjoying the sea breeze.
The sea was unusually calm. Under the high moon, the night sky was not an endless ck but a soft, deep blue. The stars over the ocean were truly beautiful.
The atmosphere was just right... until the sound of a couple arguing from the deck below shattered the peace.
The woman seemed to be begging the man not to gamble away all their money. But the man insisted he had no choice. If they couldn''t raise the money for the surgery, the director of their orphanage wouldn''t live to see next week.
From their conversation, Noreen pieced together the situation. They weren''t a couple, but two young adults who had grown up together in an orphanage. They were desperate for money to pay for the medical bills of the woman who had raised
them, and the man had decided to risk it all at the ship''s casino.
Noreen never found out what happened next, as their voices faded into the distance.
She soaked for a little longer before heading back into her room.
Sophia knocked and came in, asking if she wanted to go downstairs for a bit. She pointed out that Noreen hadn''t really had a chance to enjoy the trip.
For once, Noreen had some free time. Katy was with her therapist for a hypnosis session and wouldn''t being over, so she agreed to go downstairs with Sophia.
When Noreen arrived at the open-air party, everyone else was already there. And they all had a strange, excited look on their faces. The way they looked at her was full of anticipation. But when she tried to meet their gazes, they all looked away.
"Ms. Gilmore, have a seat here. This spot is perfect."
Someone specially cleared a seat for her.
Noreen smiled. "Perfect for what?"
"Oh, nothing," the person mumbled, bing vague.
Noreen grew more puzzled. She scanned the crowd and noticed someone was missing: Carman Holt.
Just as she was about to ask, she saw a small stage directly in front of her. It was borately decorated. It looked like ** a marriage proposal Or a publie confession of love?
Noreen''s heart skipped a beat. She had a sinking feeling she knew what was going on. Taking a sip of her water, she began plotting her escape from the awkward situation.
Before Carman could appear, she stood up and said she needed to use the restroom Sophia offered to go with her, but Noreen waved her off. "I''ll be right back. You don''t need toe."
She knew Sophia was worried about her safety. But after the incident with Sue, Castle had quintupled the security on board. No one would dare try anything now.
Sophia knew this too, so she didn''t insist.
Noreen made her escape. She had intended to go back to her room, but she figured since she was already out, she might as well explore a little and not let the trip go to waste.
The cruise ship''s nightlife was vibrant, with bars, lounges, an arcade, and a casino.
As she wandered towards the casino, the conversation she''d overheard earlier came back to her.
She decided to go inside.
Here, gambling was legal. For many people, the chance to strike it rich overnight was the whole point of being on this cruise. It was also the ship''s most profitable enterprise.
The interior was a dizzying mix of shing lights and opulence. Thevish decor was designed to make people lose themselves There no windows, no clocks-only bright, day-like lighting that made you forget the passage of time.
Noreen wasn''t interested in gambling; she was just looking around. As she passed a roulette table, she heard a familiar voice.
"It''snded on red ten times in a row. The eleventh time has to be ck! I''m betting everything!"
Chapter 638
Noreen nced over and saw a young man, probably in his early twenties. He was still wearing a steward''s uniform, suggesting he was only on the cruise because he worked there.
The pile of chips in front of him was pitifully small. His expression was strained; it was clear he hadn''t had much luck that night.
The girl beside him, her eyes red, was clutching his hand. "Brother, let''s stop! If we lose again, we''ll have nothing left!"
"I''m sure I''ll win this time. Trust me."
"Brother..." the girl pleaded, her voice breaking into a sob.
The man shoved her away and was about to ce his bet when Noreen walked
over.
She spoke softly, "From a mathematical perspective, each spin of the roulette wheel
is an independent event. The probability of the 11th spin being red or ck is always the same. It''s not affected by past results."
The girl seized the opportunity and snatched all the chips back.
The next moment, the wheel spun. The man stared at it intently as it slowed to a stop.
Red.
It was red again.
The man copsed to the floor as if all the strength had been drained from his body. The girl tearfully thanked Noreen. If it hadn''t been for her, they would have lost everything on that one bet. Not that their current situation was much better.
This was a casino, after all. Noreen knew she couldn''t overstep, or she''d be messing with their business. She gave the girl a small nod and turned to leave.
Suddenly, the man scrambled to his feet and called out to her, his voice urgent. "Then what should I bet on to win?"
Noreen turned back and told him inly, "Don''t bet at all."
"But I really need the money!"
Noreen knew that. But she still advised, "There are no sure winners in gambling. You have to understand that in the long run, the house always wins."
"Please, help me! I''m begging you."
Noreen frowned, regretting that she had gotten involved.
Even the girl came over and grabbed Noreen''s hand. "Miss, please help us."
In the end, Noreen led them to the Texas Hold''em area. It was a yer-versus-yer game, where you could use math to calcte odds, pot equity, and bluffing frequency.
Seth had taught her this method. It was how he had beaten the gambling king, Sage Joyner, all those years ago.
As Seth used to say, true masters
don''t
calcyon luck; they rely on
calcting pot odds and
vel
Probabilities to make the optimal decision.
With Noreen''s help, the young man finally won a hand.
The girl counted the chips and told him, "Brother, this is enough."
But the man was already gearing up for another round.
"Quit while you''re ahead," Noreen warned him.
The man was clearly conflicted. "But my luck is so good right now. It''d be a waste to
stop."
It seemed her earlier words hadn''t sunk in at all.
Well, you can lead a horse to water, but you can''t make it drink.
Noreen said nothing more and turned to leave.
The man hurried after her. "Wait, I didn''t even ask your name."
Noreen didn''t answer and continued on her way. Suddenly, two men in ck suits stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
One of them spoke. "Miss Gilmore, Mr. Joyner would like to see you."
Though he was also a Mr. Joyner, it was clear this wasn''t Castle.
When Noreen entered the private room, she found herself face to face with Sage Joyner. Though Sage was nearly fifty, he looked much younger, with a vibrant energy and a stylish way of dressing.
What surprised Noreen even more was that Castle was there too.
"Brother, inviting Miss Gilmore so abruptly might have frightened her," Castle said calmly from his seat on the sofa.
Sage Joyner let out a heartyugh. "I was just curious to meet the famous Miss Gilmore for myself."
Chapter 639
Noreen was stunned. She never would have guessed that Sage Joyner was Castle''s older brother. None of the publicly avable information mentioned this. It seemed Sage was a hidden branch of the Joyner family, one they kept out of the
public eye.
Every powerful family needed its ownwork to stay on top, whether it operated in the light or in the shadows.
Castle personally poured Noreen a cup of tea, asking with concern, "You weren''t frightened, were you?"
"No," Noreen shook her head. As she took the cup, she noticed another teacup on the table, half-full and still steaming. Someone had clearly just left.
"Well, she was trained by Seth. She''s not that easily rattled," Sagemented.
Noreen didn''t respond to his mention of Seth.
Sage didn''t press the issue, instead changing the subject to Sue. "About what happened... the Joyner family is deeply sorry. We owe you a favor. If there''s anything I can help you with in the future, Miss Gilmore, don''t hesitate to ask."
He handed Noreen his business card. She guessed that this was the main reason
he had wanted to see her. She epted it graciously.
After a short while, she stood up to leave. Sage personally arranged for his bodyguards to escort her out.
When Noreen came out, the young man and his sister were still waiting for her. The
man let out a long sigh of relief when he saw she was safe.
Noreen simply gave them a slight nod and started to walk away.
"You still haven''t told me your name," the man said, catching up to her.
Noreen still had no intention of telling him. They were just strangers who had crossed paths.
Just as she exited the casino, she saw Sophia and Colby looking for her. She immediately called out to them and hurried over.
The man who had been following her finally stopped. After seeing Noreen reunite with her friends, he shouted after her, "My name is Ss!"
He wasn''t sure if she heard, but he hoped she would remember his name.
"A new admirer?" Sophia teased Noreen.
Noreen rolled her eyes. "Not every interaction is a budding romance. Get your head out of the clouds!"
"And besides, you shouldn''t pick up strange men."
"Okay, okay," Sophia relented.
As they walked Noreen back to her room, they told her about Carman. He had indeed nned a whole confession but it fell t when the guest of honor never showed up Carman, likely sensing that Noreen was intentionally avoiding him, had gotten very drunk and had to be helped back to his room by his secretary.
ire was right¡ªNoreen was frighteningly rational these days. For the sake of
Winrich and InnoCore, she had to be.
The next morning, Noreen had
Sophia take a ss of honey lemon
water to Carman to help with his
hangover. He was a lightweight and was probably nursing a killer
headache
Sophia returned a short whileter with a strange look on her face. Noreen asked
her what was wrong.
She stammered that she had seen Carman''s secretary sneaking out of his room. The woman was still wearingst night''s clothes, and her hair was a mess... When Sophia knocked, it took a long time for Carman to answer, and he looked very ufortable. There was even
a noticeable hickey on his neck...
Noreen heard the gossip without any particr reaction, simply instructing Sophia, "Run a background check on his secretary."
As long as she wasn''t a corporate spy, anything else was his business.
Sophia was indignant. "How could Mr. Holt do that? He said he liked you! How can he be with another woman if he likes you?"
"People areplicated. He and I never had an official rtionship, so he''s free to do as he pleases."
"Even if we were official, there''s no guarantee of faithfulness. Am I not living proof of that? It''s better to just ept it."
Sophia was left speechless.
Chapter 640
She realized that Noreen could now talk about her past seven-year rtionship with a sense of calm detachment. She wasn''t sure if that was a good thing or a bad
thing.
After that incident, Carman seemed to be consciously avoiding Noreen. For the trip back, he made sure to take a different car.
To save money, Sophia had booked a red-eye flight. Fortunately, no oneined.
By the time theynded in Rivercrest City, it was already one in the morning. The group had just exited the airport when they were ambushed by a crowd of reporters, all demanding to interview Noreen.
Sophia and Colby formed a protective barrier in front of Noreen, exining to the reporters that it was toote for an interview but that they would hold a press conference soon.
Just as the reporters thought their night would be a bust, someone shouted, "I think that''s Bianca!"
"She''s trying to flee the country!"
In an instant, the entire pack of reporters swarmed towards Bianca. The arrivals hall descended into chaos. The same reporters who had been surrounding Noreen moments ago were now gone.
Noreen, who wasn''t one for gossip, couldn''t help but look over with curiosity when she heard the reporters im Bianca was trying to flee.
Bianca waspletely disguised, with only her nostrils showing. Noreen had no idea how the reporters had recognized her. She certainly couldn''t tell it was her.
Bianca hadn''t expected to be discovered. She was indeed heading overseas, but not to flee-she was going to find Seth. The pressure in Rivercrest City was too much for her to handle, so she had deliberately chosen ate-night flight to avoid the press. She had even taken the elevator from the arrivals level to the departures level to be extra discreet. She never thought the reporters would still find her.
As they swarmed around her, she froze in shock. She couldn''t fathom how they had anticipated her every move.
Then, through the crowd, she saw Noreen standing not far away. Her eyes turned ice-cold, and she gritted her teeth in hatred.
It was Noreen again!
Always her!
Every single time, she was the one who ruined everything!
Noreen only watched for a moment before leaving the airport, unaware of how the reporters ended up grilling Bianca.
The next morning, the news was out. But the headline wasn''t about her fleeing the country; it was about Bianca picking up her fianc¨¦ at the airportte at night.
It turned out she was there to meet Seth. Seth stood firmly by Bianca''s side, publicly stating that he would give the public an exnation.
Noreen was quite curious to see how he nned to calm this storm.
...
Noreen left work an hour early to visit Wade at the Harcourt family home, just as she had promised.
She hadn''t expected Seth to be there. Logically, he should have been busy cleaning up Bianca''s mess For him to have time to visit the
Harcourt estate, hell must have frozen over.
However, the atmosphere between father and son seemed tense. Noreen had no intention of getting involved and nned to drop off her things and leave. But Wade called out to her, "Noreen, do you remember when you said you''d consider your personal life once thepany was on the right track? Does that still stand?"
Noreen was at a loss for words. Why bring this up now?
She had indeed agreed at the time, and it would be awkward to back out now. She
forced herself to say, "Of course it does."
"Good. I''ve selected a few more candidates. Come take a look." Wade pulled a stack of photos from
a drawer and just likest time, for Nose
spread them out for Noreen to see.
Seth sat nearby, like an outsider, not participating in their conversation.
Noreen absentmindedly flipped through the photos. Wade turned to Seth. "Don''t just sit there. Help Noreen choose."
Chapter 641
Finally addressed, Seth''s gaze shifted, slowly sweeping over the photosid out on
the table. A faint, self-mocking smile touched his lips. "Haven''t you always disapproved of my taste?"
"I have," Wade replied, as blunt as ever.
"Then you two can choose. I''m leaving."
With that, Seth stood up, grabbed his coat from the sofa, and left. Wade angrily swept the remaining photos back onto the table.
Evelyn followed him to the door, murmuring, "You''re leaving before dinner?"
"You all eat. My being here would only ruin everyone''s appetite."
As he spoke, Noreen looked over. Seth opened the front door, and the fading sunlight streamed in, casting his face in deep shadow.
Noreen had an important dinner the next day, so she didn''t stay either.
Just after she left, Evelyn came out of the kitchen. She saw Wade silently gathering the photos, his expression dark.
Evelyn couldn''t hold back any longer. "Is there really no room for reconciliation?" she asked.
Her question was met with Wade''s silence, and the light in his eyes dimming, inch by inch.
The dinner was hosted by Hugh Summers, and the guests were all influential figures in Rivercrest City. But he had arranged for Noreen to sit at the head of the table, the seat of honor.
No one objected to this arrangement. They all felt Noreen had earned it. After all, who among them had managed to pull off two sessful IPOs at once? Not even Seth, in his prime as a business prodigy, had aplished that.
Faced with their praise, Noreen was appropriately humble when necessary and confident when called for. She handled the situation with practiced ease.
Even Hugh Summers couldn''t help but reminisce about when he had first met Noreen a year ago, marveling at how she had managed to skyrocket past everyone in just one year.
Noreen didn''t entirely agree with his
asses. She exined, "I feel
like I''ve been climbing a staircase, not taking a shortcut. Every step Ive taken has been solid and visible."
Hugh Summers was greatly impressed by her answer and raised his ss to toast her.
Just as the atmosphere was getting lively, Hugh''s secretary approached and whispered something to him. Noreen was sitting right next to and couldn''t help but overhear.
him
The secretary said, "Mr. Summers, Ms. Lowell from Perse Tech is outside. She says she wants to see you."
Hugh''s face immediately darkened with displeasure. "Tell her I''m busy. Tell her to leave."
"I did, but she refuses to go. She insists on seeing you," the secretary said, looking troubled.
Hugh mmed his ss down on the table, his voiceced with impatience. "Can''t you just call security and have her removed? Why can''t you handle something so simple?"
The secretary quickly scurried out, terrified of being fired over the incident.
"Mr. Summers, what has you so upset?" someone who hadn''t heard asked.
Hugh waved his hand dismissively. "Just someone who ruins the mood. Not worth mentioning. Let''s continue drinking."
Such were the rules of survival. Cruel, but realistic.
Just as everyone raised their sses again, the private room door opened once more. Bianca was standing there.
Hugh''s face turned cold, and he was about to scold his secretary for her ipetence when Seth appeared behind Bianca.
He was backlit, the shadows deep
e''
around his sharp nose and eyes, making him look even more inscrutable. His voice was yful but held a chilling edge. "Mr Summers did you perhaps not know I was back in Rivercrest City? Is that why you didn''t invite me to your dinner?"
Chapter 642
Hugh Summers could afford to disrespect Bianca, but he had to show Seth face. So, in the blink of an eye, his expression changed to one of fawning apology. "Oh, my apologies, Mr. Harcourt! I honestly had no idea you were back. A terrible oversight on my part."
He then bustled around, arranging a seat for him while profusely apologizing.
Seth didn''t make a big deal of it, taking a seat next to Hugh with Bianca by his side.
Everyone at the table was sharp enough to understand Seth''s intentions in bringing Bianca to this dinner. Perhaps buoyed by Seth''s support, Bianca''s arrogant demeanor returned. She didn''t even spare Noreen a single nce, treating her as if she were invisible.
Of course, Noreen had no time to look at her either.
While Hugh was busy schmoozing with Seth, others were whispering amongst themselves.
"Mr. Harcourt must really be in love with this Miss Lowell. To still be backing her up in a situation like this... it''s almost like seeing true love in times of trouble."
The person next to him scoffed. "True love? More like he''s been blinded by her looks!"
Perhaps their whispers were too loud, because Bianca shot them a cold re. They quickly shut up.
Noreen wasn''t interested in their rtionship drama. She was trying to figure out Seth''s real purpose for being here. If she wasn''t mistaken, he was nning to salvage PerseTech and prepare for another attempt at going public. After all, he had already invested so much money. If he gave up now, it would all be for nothing. Given Bianca''s current reputation, attracting new investors would be next to impossible. That''s why Seth had to step in himself.
Yes, she could see it now. It really was true love. Seth would truly do anything for Bianca.
Just as Noreen was silently scoffing, another person arrived at the dinner: Henry Brooke.
Henry had the Brooke Group behind him, so of course, Hugh Summers had to wee him. After some rearranging, Henry was seated next to Noreen.
Noreen didn''t look at him.
Before sitting down, Henry formally greeted her. "Senior."
Then he took his seat beside her, a picture of propriety.
When Henry appeared, Bianca''s heart skipped a beat. She rxed slightly when she saw that he wasn''t looking at her After Henry
relentless grilling at the financial summit, Bianca now felt a subconscious fear whenever she saw him.
Henry ignored her, his attention focused entirely on Noreen. This made Bianca feel
a pang of bitterness. There was a time when he only looked at her that way.
As she was lost in thought, Henry''s gaze shifted and met hers.
Bianca tensed up. She forced a faint smile, just like she used to. But this time, when Henry saw her smile, his eyes narrowed, and a chilling,
dangerous grin spread
face.
Bianca had a bad feeling.
ross his
The next moment, Henry spoke, his words shattering the harmony of the dinner
party.
"Miss Lowell, why haven''t you apologized to Ms. Gilmore yet?"
"Did you forget?"
"Or did you just never n on apologizing?"
Bianca''s face went white. She never imagined Henry would call her out so publicly.
The moment Henry spoke, the entire room fell silent. Seth, who had been talking to Hugh Summers, stopped mid sentence. His gaze shot acto?S the table,nding on Henry''s face. His expression was unreadable, like the calm before a violent storm. C¨®ntent
Chapter 643
Henry, however,pletely ignored his cold re and continued his relentless attack on Bianca.
"And you never publicly apologized for stealing Ms. Gilmore''s university spot. With a character like yours, Miss Lowell, who would dare to invest in your project?"
"I certainly wouldn''t!"
"I''d be afraid Miss Lowell would take the money and run, driving investor after investor to suicide, only to be mocked with, ''Once they''re dead, the debt''s gone. They have it easier than the living."
Bianca''s expression was beyond ugly.
Everyone at this dinner was a major yer in the business world.
By airing her dirtyundry in front of them, Henry was clearly trying to block every possible path for her.
Bianca didn''t dare look at the investors'' faces anymore.
Even with Seth by her side, she had lost all her confidence. She shot up from her seat, her voice trembling. "I... I need to step out for a moment."
But even in her desperation, Henry didn''t let up.
"Running away to hide again, Miss Lowell?"
Bianca didn''t dare utter a word and fled the room.
With the scene he''d caused, the dinner''s host, Hugh Summers, could only manage
an awkwardugh. "Mr. Brooke is certainly... fiery for a young man."
Seth''s eyes darkened. He also rose from his seat. "Please excuse me as well."
It was clear he was worried about Bianca and rushing tofort her.
Hugh Summers was more than happy to see him go and didn''t even bother with a polite protest. "Of course, Mr. Harcourt. We''ll catch up another time."
Once the two of them left, the atmosphere in the private room became harmonious again.
Someone with a strong sense of curiosity asked Henry what that was all about. Henry didn''t hold back, telling them everything from start to finish.
He exined how Bianca had giarized Noreen''s thesis, how she had stolen Noreen''s ce at a top international business school, and how she had used underhanded methods to obtain her degree.
With every detail he revealed, the crowd grew more shocked.
Henry concluded with a resonant warning, "Everyone, keep your eyes wide open when you invest. You don''t want to get burned."
That evening, Noreen recounted the story to ire.
ire burst outughing.
"That kid''s pback is brutal!"
"Let me tell you, celebrities aren''t most afraid of haters; they''re afraid of the hardcore fans who turn on them. When they flip, they show no mercy!"
"I can see that," Noreen said.
"I wish I could just finish my scenes right now and fly to Rivercrest City to watch the drama unfold online! Getting your daily summaries just isn''t satisfying enough," iremented, her mind already far from the film set.
But her main concern was whether Bianca could actually recover from this.
"If jerk Seth can still pull her out of this mess, I''ll stop calling him jerk Seth," ire dered.
Noreen was curious. "Then what will you call him?"
"With a talent for salvaging like that? I''ll call him Saint Seth, the Miracle Worker."
Noreen was speechless.
Humiliated at Hugh Summers''s dinner, Bianca returned home in a foul mood.
But that wasn''t the worst of it.
Something even worse was waiting for her.
Yvonne wasn''t in her bedroom getting her beauty sleep as usual. Instead, she was
sitting in the living room, her face a thunderous mask.
When she saw Bianca walk in, she spoke. "We have a problem."
Bianca''s heart plummeted. Her nerves were already stretched to their breaking point, and hearing Yvonne say those words made her mind gopletely nk with a deafening buzz.
Chapter 644
The situation was so dire that Yvonne had to tell Bianca everything.
"The identity theft for your degree has been exposed. The person who handled it for us was taken in by the investigation team."
Bianca copsed onto the sofa, a bone-deep chill spreading through her body.
"What do we do now?" she asked, trembling with fear.
"I''m trying to contact people who can help, but we need a backup n."
Yvonne had made her decision after much agonizing deliberation.
She told Bianca, "Go beg Noreen. Ask her to drop the matter. I''ll pull some strings on my end and try to minimize the damage."
"That''s impossible!" Bianca cried, rejecting the suggestion. "Noreen will never agree!"
"We have to try," Yvonne insisted. Of course, she knew how difficult it would be.
But if they didn''t go to Noreen, the truth about Bianca stealing the degree would definitelye out.
When that happened... her reputation would be in tatters.
Her career would hit rock bottom. Once her carefully crafted image as a highly- educated elite crumbled, there would be noing back.
Moreover, the investigation would inevitably lead to Yvonne. She could face fines, or even prison.
Yvonne took Bianca''s hand, her voice firm. "Bianca, our backs are against the wall. We have no other choice."
Bianca''s face hardened, inch by inch, until it was a sheet of deathly white.
The next day at noon, Noreen received a call from Halley Joyner, asking her toe to Rivercrest University. There was a new development regarding the academic fraud case.
However, just as she reached the university gates, Bianca blocked her path. Today''s Bianca was different.
Her makeup wasn''t meticulously applied, and she wasn''t wearing designer clothes. The arrogance and pride that once defined her were gone.
All that remained was a pale, defeated woman.
Her eyes were red-rimmed and glistening with unshed tears, a pitiful sight that could easily evoke sympathy.
Unfortunately for her, Noreen wasn''t buying it.
Without giving Bianca so much as a second nce, she tried to walk around her and enter the campus.
"Noreen!" Bianca''s voice was a choked sob. Swallowing her humiliation, she pleaded, "I''m sorry for giarizing your thesis. Andim Sorry for stealing your spot at the university. Can you please... not press charges?"
As she spoke those words, Bianca''s body trembled slightly ler price her self-respect, were being subjected to a slow, agonizing death. >
But she had no way out. She had to bow her head to Noreen.
Only if Noreen, the victim, relented could she hope for a sliver of salvation.
She knew the chances were slim.
But if she didn''t surrender her pride, she would be utterly cornered.
Her mother might go to jail.
Her father''s career would be destroyed...
And she would never, ever have a chance to recover.
She had no choice.
Noreen was genuinely surprised that Bianca woulde to her begging.
She hadn''t bowed her head when
she was first exposed. She hadn''t bowed her head when Henry
relentlessly cornered her.
For her to finally lower that proud head now meant she must truly be at the end of
her rope.
But still, where was Seth? Her protector?
Why hadn''t he stepped in this time? Wasn''t this supposed to be true love?
Had he finally been defeated by reality?
Chapter 645
Bianca swallowing her pride and bowing her head did not move Noreen in the slightest.
Her eyes remained cold, her expression distant as she fired back questions, each word a sharp jab.
"Your apology isn''t sincere. You''re only here because your back is against the wall. From the moment this started until now, you''ve had plenty of opportunities toe clean, but you did nothing. Even when Henry cornered you time and again, you just ran and hid like a coward."
"Now that you have nowhere left to turn, you finally remember to apologize? Don''t you think it''s a little toote?"
"Do you think I''ll ept such a low-cost apology? Or do you think I''m some kind of saint?"
Bianca''s willingness to apologize was indeed a surprise to Noreen, but that''s all it was a surprise.
Even with her posture of utter submission, it was nothing more than crocodile tears.
Since returning to the country, she had reaped countless benefits from her stolen academic persona. Did she feel any guilt then? Even for a second?
No. Her eyes were filled with nothing but her own glory. She had probably forgotten that all her honors were stolen from someone else.
Kindness should not be wasted on people like her.
Noreen''s merciless words were a profound humiliation for Bianca. Her eyes burned, and she clenched her fists, her lips trembling. "As long as you don''t press charges for the identity theft, I''ll do anything you ask."
Hearing this, Noreen let out a soft, chillingugh.
"But to me, you are worthless."
Noreen''s cruel sentence drained the color from Bianca''s face in an instant. Her body swayed, so fragile she looked like she could faint at any moment.
Noreen ignored her disy of weakness. Unwilling to waste any more time, she turned to leave.
Panic seized Bianca. On instinct, she reached out to grab Noreen''s arm, but Noreen violently shook her off. The next second, Bianca stumbled and fell to the ground. "Are you okay?"
A familiar voice rang out. A flicker of hope ignited in Bianca, and she was about to say she was fine but hel expression froze when she saw the person was looking at Noreen with concern.
Henry was anxiously checking on Noreen,pletely ignoring Bianca, who was still
on the ground. "Did she hurt you?" he asked urgently.
Before Noreen could answer, he added with a cold face, "I''m calling the police!"
Bianca''s face
ce turned pale and ugly.
She never imagined Henry could be so heartless, turning on her without a second thought,pletely disregarding their past. He was even defending Noreen right in front of
but
her looking at her with nothing contempt and disdain, as if she were
something filthy.
Henry had arrived with Halley and a few others. He had seen Bianca reach for Noreen from a distance and had rushed over to protect her.
By now, Halley and the rest of the group had caught up. Among them were some familiar faces to Bianca, including Professor Cole, whom she had once hosted at a banquet.
Apanying Halley were also several official media outlets, including the business channel reporter who had first broken the story of Bianca''s giarism.
They had all been invited by Halley to cover the follow-up to the giarism case. Bianca had truly stumbled right into the line of fire.
The reporters, with their professional instincts, immediately raised their cameras, pointing their lenses straight at Bianca and Noreen.
Terrified, Bianca threw her hands up to cover her face. "Stop filming! You can''t film this!"
Henry ignored her chaotic panic and asked Noreen, "What did she want from you?" Noreen didn''t mince words. "She came to apologize and ask for forgiveness." Henry snorted. "If apologies worked, what would be the point ofws?"
Chapter 646
Halley chimed in, "Miss Lowell, people must take responsibility for their actions."
Even Professor Cole, who had once held Bianca in high regard, shook his head. "Unbelievable. You really can''t judge a book by its cover! She''s a disgrace to academia!"
The chorus of usations made Bianca''s head spin. Everyone looked at her with contempt and disgust, as if she were a rat scurrying through the streets.
Used to a life of pride and arrogance, Bianca couldn''t handle such a dramatic fall from grace. She scrambled to her feet, shielding her face as she tried to escape, once again resorting to being the coward Noreen had called her.
But this time, Henry gave her no chance.
He blocked her path, his voice merciless as he confronted her. "An hour ago, WT Business School issued a statement revoking your degree. They will also be pursuing legal action against you for giarizing another''s thesis and research!"
"Furthermore, your illicit affair with William has been publicly exposed by Mrs. William. The evidence includes numerous intimate photos and videos of you and William, as well as your private chat logs."
Bianca''s eyes turned bloodshot, while her lips went unnaturally pale.
"You''re disgusting," Henry said, his eyes like shards of ice.
Those simple words stabbed Bianca straight through the heart. The blood drained from her face.
For her, this moment was a blow more painful than death.
Henry took a half-step back, and the reporters instantly swarmed forward, surrounding Bianca. She had no escape.
Countless questions exploded in her mind, and the scene descended into chaos. She struggled, enraged and desperate...
Her hair and clothes were a mess. Her once polished and morous image waspletely gone.
Someone in the crowd shoved, and Bianca fell to the ground again. This time, the fall hurt badly, so much so that she no longer had the strength to getup. The glory she had stolen through dishonest means had now transformed into the sharpest of des, and before everyone''s eyesi the seeds she had sown were now being reaped upon her own flesh.
She sat there in a disheveled heap, her nails digging deep into her palms, trying to use physical pain to jolther numb mind back to reality. But she discovered with bitter despair that it was all irreversible.
Less than ten feet away, Noreen stood, poised and graceful, taking questions from the media.
A reporter asked, "Miss Gilmore, we heard that WT Business School has re-
extended their admission offer to you?"
Noreen nodded. "Yes, that''s right."
"Will you be epting it?"
"I will. I''m quite interested in WT Business School''s full-time MBA program."
"But aren''t you also pursuing a master''s degree with Academician Joyner? Can you handle both?"
Before Noreen could answer, Halley chimed in happily from the side, "That won''t be a problem for her. She can enroll at WT Business School by next spring at thetest."
The reporters gasped, their admiration for Noreen growing.
"Miss Gilmore is truly winning at life! Bncing a career and her studies so perfectly! We hear you''ll be ringing the opening bell for your IPO in Glenhaven City next week. Congrattions."
A slight smile touched Noreen''s lips. "Thank you."
"And what about your personal life? Have you met someone special, Miss Gilmore? When can we expect to hear about true love?"
It was a question every sessful
businesswoman faced. It was rather
unfair, really.
Why did no one ever
ask male entrepreneurs questions like that? As if a woman''s world
should be confined to the small
realm of romance.
Noreen smiled calmly at the camera. "Compared to true love, I much prefer cold,
hard cash."
Chapter 647
Bianca didn''t even know how she made it back to the Lowell residence. It felt as if she had been through a near-death experience, but without any of the relief thates with survival. The feeling of suffocation remained.
Forrest Lowell was back, sitting on the sofa watching the news. The broadcast was showing the interview Noreen had just given at the gates of Rivercrest University. She said she had epted WT Business School''s offer and nned to start their full-time MBA program next spring. She mentioned herpany would be ringing the opening bell for its IPO in Glenhaven City next week. And she had quipped that she preferred cold, hard cash to true love.
Forrest was so engrossed he didn''t even notice Bianca had returned.
After Noreen''s interview, the news shifted to a report on Bianca bribing a renowned business school professor to fraudulently obtain her doctorate. The report included intimate photos of the two. Although the media had pixted their faces, anyone who knew them could easily recognize Bianca.
Forrest''s brow furrowed slightly.
The next second, Bianca grabbed a vase and hurled it at the television. The widescreen went half-ck instantly, but the audio continued.
The screen then showed a chat interface between Bianca and William. The messages they aired were the more restrained ones, yet they were still explicit.
Bianca to William: "Make sure you give your wife sleeping pills tonight. I want to do it with you in your marital bed, with her sleeping right next to us. It''ll be more thrilling that way."
William had replied, "Baby, you''re so wild."
The second chat log showed William telling her his wife was pregnant. Bianca flew into a jealous rage, using William of sleeping with his wife behind her back. She then forced him to make his wife miscarry. It was utterly vicious.
This was all evidence Mrs. William had privately collected. She had also provided the court with medical proof of the physical harm she had suffered and confirmation that the miscarriage had left her unable to conceive again.
Bianca and William''s appalling actions constituted a serious criminal offense in that country, and the police would act ordingly.. The news also reported that William had been arrested, and the case was ongoing. As for Bianca, who had returned to the country, they would coordinate with local judicial authorities for a joint investigation.
Bianca copsed onto the floor. Her face was no longer just pale; it was a sickly,
sallow gray. It was over. Everything was over.
Forrest went to help her up, calling her name several times, but she didn''t respond.
Just as he was growing worried,
Lillian burst into the Lowell
residence in a panic. "Cousin, Uncle something''s happened! My brother and my mom have been taken away by the police!"
Lillian was clearly terrified. She was crying and shouting, her voice trembling. She stumbled around, even tripping on the t ground, aplete and utter mess.
Seeing that Yvonne wasn''t there, Lillian begged Forrest. "Uncle, please, you have to save my mom and my brother."
Forrest frowned. "What happened?"
Lillian was so panicked she was incoherent, her words jumbled. After a long
moment, Forrest finally pieced together the gist of it.
Spencer Reed was being prosecuted
for embezzlement and bribery, which had caused massive losses for hispany. The amount was said to be enormous and the
crcumstances partic
severe
he was facing at least ten years, possibly even life in prison.
As for Lana, her crimes were even worse. Attempted murder. Multiple counts of attempted murder. She was likely facing life imprisonment, or even the death penalty.
Forrest was stunned. "What on earth have you all done?"
He had only been away on a business trip. How had every single one of them ended
up in trouble?
Chapter 648
Forrest was at his wit''s end, with no idea where to even begin. Amidst the chaos, the doorbell rang. The housekeeper hurried to answer it. A momentter, she returned, her face as white as a sheet. Behind her were four uniformedw enforcement officers.
"We''re looking for Yvonne. Is she here?"
It wasn''t until the next day, while she was at a government office, that Noreen learned what had happened to the Lowell family. Padgett Novak told her that Forrest had been suspended and was currently writing a formal report for his superiors and the disciplinarymittee.
That things had escted to this point was rather sobering. The entire financial circle was buzzing about it. Everyone was wondering how Seth would cut ties with the Lowells this time.
ire, far away on her film set, was also following the drama, constantly refreshing the Aurelion Group''s official website. But by noon, neither Aurelion Group nor Seth had released any statement. They hadn''t cut ties, nor had they canceled the engagement.
The only thing that had happened was that Aurelion Group''s stock had taken a severe hit, plummeting to an all-time low.
ire, while deriding the Lowells as a family of criminals, asked Noreen, "Is jerk Seth really that pig-headed? Did Bianca''s family save his life or something? Is he really going to go down with this ship?"
Noreen couldn''t figure it out either.
Just as she was pondering this, Sophia announced a visitor. It was Jude Wilder.
Out of respect for Seymour Wilder, Noreen agreed to see Jude. It had only been half
a month, but Jude had lost a significant amount of weight. His eyes were dull, and when he saw Noreen, he was timid and withdrawn, with none of his former arrogance.
Noreen got straight to the point and asked him why he was here.
Jude stammered as he ryed Seymour''sst wishes. Even on his deathbed, Seymour couldn''t let go of his good-for-nothing son. He had decided to cancel the
fifty-million-dor trust fund
originally meant for Jude
ove''
and
instead invest it back into the
Seymour Group, paving a path for Jude''s survival. Of course, he had stipted that Jude would only receive dividends and would have no say in thepany''s decisions, nor could he sell his shares.
After hearing him out, Noreen thought for a long time before replying. "I''m sorry, but
I have to refuse this investment."
Jude''s shoulders slumped. In truth,
he had known Noreen would refuse.
He had onlye because his father had insisted. So when he heard her rejection, he wasn''t. surprised, just dejected. He didn''t press the issue and simply said, "If
you can please take good care of the Seymour Group. If there''s ever anything I can do to help, just let me know."
After all, it was his father''s life''s work. He wanted to see it prosper, even if he was no longer a part of it.
After Jude left, Sophia asked Noreen why she had refused the investment. Fifty million dors was no small sum, even if Winrich wasn''t short on cash.
"Until the day he died, Seymour never understood that it was because he protected Jude too well, meticulously paving the way for him, that Jude is still a failure today."
"He''s like a de of grass that has always lived under the shade of a big tree. He can''t withstand the wind and rain. He needs to experience the harsh realities of life before he can grow."
Sophia nodded. "I see. So, Bitch Bianca''s downfall is also because Mr. Harcourt protected her too much. Without him, she''s nothing."
The statement was a bit extreme, but it was a fair assessment. Ever since Bianca returned, Seth had shielded her through one crisis after another And in the end, Bianca had aplished nothing on her own.
Sophia even felt a sense of gratitude. "It''s a good thing Mr. Harcourt was always so strict with you. It forged you into the invincible and capable person you are today!"
Noreen paused. "Is that so?"
Chapter 649
"Bullshit!" ire shouted through the phone, herdylike imagepletely
forgotten. "Don''t you dare start gaslighting yourself!"
Noreenughed. "Do I seem like the type to do that?"
"He might have been apetent boss, I won''t deny that. I did learn a lot from him. But when ites to personal matters, even if he got on his knees and bashed his head on the ground, he''d still be the one who wronged me."
"Good, just as long as you''re clear on that," ire said, patting her chest dramatically. She then grumbled about Sophia, "That little fool is still starry-eyed about men. I''ll have to give her a good talking-toter."
Noreen reminded her, "Take it easy. The girl''s in the honeymoon phase of her rtionship. You don''t want to lecture her so hard she breaks up with her boyfriend."
Noreen had just finished her chat with ire when she received a call from the police, informing her of a new development in the car ident case. She canceled her meeting and rushed to the police station, where she ran right into Bianca.
It was an awkward encounter.
Bianca looked even more haggard than before. Her once-polished appearance waspletely gone, reced by messy hair and dark circles under her eyes from exhaustion.
Bianca hadn''t expected to see Noreen here either. Her gaze instinctively flinched, and she turned her head away, avoiding eye contact. Both her expression and her posture were timid. She unconsciously quickened her pace and hurried into the station.
Noreen followed her in. The officer in charge of the case told Noreen that the driver who had initially taken the fall had flipped. He had confessed everything about Lana hiring him for the hit. Even though Lana was still denying everything, the chain of evidence was solid. Thew would deliver its verdict.
The officer also told her that Lana, far from stopping after her initial crimes had even attempted a third one Because her actions were so egregious, she would likely face the maximum penalty.
Noreen was shocked. "A third time? When?"
"Justst week. The victim this time was Mr. Wade Harcourt."
Noreen''s hand, holding the case file, tightened abruptly. Her eyes grew cold. How dare Lana go after Mr. Harcourt? And Mr. Harcourt hadn''t mentioned a word of it.
"Fortunately, Mr. Harcourt wasn''t in the car at the time, so he escaped unharmed. It was Lana who slipped up, which gave us the concrete evidence we needed We brought the driver who flipped back infor questioning, and that''s how wepleted the chain of evidence. Otherwise, she might have actually
gotten away with it."
Noreen had only one request: punish the perpetrator to the fullest extent of thew.
Meanwhile, Bianca first went to see
Lana and ryed Yvonne''s
message. The gist was that Yvonne e
wouldn''t abandon Lana, but Lana needed to keep her mouth shut Otherwise, Spencer would be beyond saving. Lana cared most about her two children sofor Spencer''s sake, she would surely agree. As long as Yvonne was safe, she would eventually find a way to get them out.
After seeing Lana, Bianca went to see Yvonne and told her that Lana was on board and wouldn''t say anything reckless.
Yvonne''s heart, which had been lodged in her throat, finally settled a bit, though she was still far from relieved.
Bianca analyzed the situation for her. "As long as Aunt Lana doesn''t implicate you, the only charge you''re facing is bribery. Even if they prosecute, the sentence won''t be too severe."
"What about your father? How is he?" Yvonne asked.
Chapter 650
"He''s been suspended and is under investigation, writing reports."
Yvonne''s expression hardened. "What did Seth say?"
"He''s pulling strings and calling in favors everywhere."
Upon hearing this, Yvonne''s expression softened. "As long as he hasn''t abandoned you, that''s good. It seems Seth really does care about you."
Bianca was also surprised by this. After everything had happened, she had expected Seth to do what everyone else predicted: cancel the engagement and cut all ties with her. But he hadn''t. He was even trying to find ways to help her family.
This was a true disy of character in a time of crisis.
Yvonne continued, "When you couldn''t reach him about the loan sharks, I was furious. I thought he was going to break up with you and leave you high and dry, which forced me to go beg an old acquaintance for the money. It''s good that he paid it back once he found out."
"Actually... on our engagement night, I was... assaulted," Bianca confessed, her fists clenching and her face pale. "Seth found out, but he never said a word. He never brought it up again. He just told me to forget about it and look forward."
Yvonne was stunned. She had asked Bianca about it back then, but Bianca had denied it, so she had assumed nothing had happened. She couldn''t believe this was the truth. What shocked her even more was that Seth knew and had never treated Bianca differently. He was just as good to her as before. It would be hard to do that if he didn''t genuinely love her.
"And what about this time? With the William situation, what did he say?" Yvonne was still worried.
Bianca bit her tip, her eyes filled with shame. "Seth said that everyone has a past, and he has no right to judge The moment he decided to get engaged to me, he told himself he had to ept all of me-thegood and the bad, the past and the present."
If her past self had known she would one day meet a man who loved her so deeply, she would have lived a clean life, done nothing untoward, and waited purely for his arrival.
"Seth... he truly is a man worth entrusting your life to!" Yvonne was genuinely moved. She even instructed Bianca, "Don''t you ever betray Seth''s heart again. Stay with him and be good to him."
Bianca nodded solemnly. "I will."
"With Seth helping you, I can rest a little easier," Yvonne said, feeling a bit more secure.
But Bianca was still worried. "But Aurelion Group has been dragged down by me. The stock has plummeted. I''m afraid it will go bankrupt like Ascendancy Group... and then he''ll truly have nothing left."
Yvonne saw things differently. "If Aurelion Group is gone, there''s still Harcourt Group. That''s the real prize. Don''t forget Seths Wade''s only son. As long as Harcourt Group stands, Seth can''t possibly lose everything!"
"As for Wade, it doesn''t matter whether he epts you or not. He''s going to die sooner orter anyway."
Of course, Yvonne was also filled with regret. She regretted that Lana had failed, that she hadn''t actually managed to kill Wade. Otherwise, Harcourt Group, would have already fallen into Seth''s hands, and getting her and Lana''s children out of this mess wouldn''t have beeso difficult.
When Noreen finished up with the police and walked out of the station, Seth was
just arriving. Standing on the steps, her eyes met his dark, profound gaze.
Chapter 651
The man paused, looking at her cold, impassive face.
The air seemed to congeal into a stagnant pool of silence.
After their eyes met for a few seconds, Noreen looked away and walked straight down the steps, brushing past Seth.
A few restless gusts of wind swept by.
Noreen got into her car and left.
Seth stood there a moment longer before rigidly turning his eyes away.
Once in the car, Noreen called Wade Harcourt to ask about his car ident.
Wade exined that he had something to take care of that day and had postponed his hospital check-up. He''d only sent his driver to pick up his medication, which was how he had unexpectedly avoided the crash.
Noreen let out a sigh of relief.
It was truly a blessing in disguise.
The two chatted for a bit longer.
Wade was mainly asking if she had set a date for the IPO bell-ringing ceremony.
Noreen said she had. "Next Wednesday."
Wade did the math. "Isn''t that your birthday?"
Noreen was surprised that Wade remembered her birthday.
"I chose that day on purpose," Noreen admitted.
Wade thought it was a meaningful choice and asked, "So, what are your birthday wishes this year?"
The question actually stumped Noreen.
Birthday wishes...
For the past seven years, she had made the same two wishes every year.
She wished for her mother to live a long, healthy life.
And she wished for Seth to get everything he ever wanted.
It was the same, year after year.
This year, it was finally time for a change.
This year, she would wish for her own desires to be fulfilled.
Noreen thought to herself.
...
Noreen left for Harborview City the day before the IPO ceremony.
On the morning of her departure, she gave an exclusive interview to a business news channel.
The reporter specifically mentioned
how InnoCore had used its Eagle
Eye model to identify over twenty risk factors for PerseTech before its
§°§ß
IPO.
At the time, everyone had dismissed it as an unreliable prediction, possibly even motivated by a personal grudge.
After all, Winrich had always been at odds with PerseTech.
But no one expected InnoCore''s prediction toe true.
As the calcted risks materialized one by one, InnoCore gained unprecedented hype and attention.
Its market valuation skyrocketed, heading straight for the 500 billion mark.
It became the most promising stock
in the industry, with countless investors eagerly waiting for Noreen to ring the bell so they could buy InnoCore shares at the first O
opportunity.
Of course, the release of The Chronos Gallery''s second concept game had also
ignited another cultural phenomenon in the industry.
Its influence even spilled out of the gaming world, affecting sectors like culture,
tourism, technology, and even international rtions.
Its market value had also soared, surpassing 100 billion.
The business channel had put a lot of effort into securing this exclusive interview.
Lately, their ratings had been climbing thanks to two major news stories.
One was reporting on Noreen''s path to sess.
The other was closely following Bianca Lowell''s case, urging the
relevant authorities to release
investigation findings as soon possible.
as
Lillian Laurent had waited outside Winrich Tower for nearly two hours, witnessing Noreen''s sess firsthand.
In that moment, she was both envious and jealous.
But she could only swallow those emotions and humblye to Noreen for help.
The harsh reality, however, was that she couldn''t even get into the Winrich building, so she could only wait downstairs.
At the main entrance, a reporter was filming shots of Winrich Tower.
The massive screen on the building was ying promotional videos for InnoCore and The Chronos Gallery on a loop.
That had once been the golden path Bianca dreamed of walking.
But now, all they could do was look up at Noreen.
After finishing her interview, Noreen came downstairs with her secretary and bodyguards, ready to head to the airport.
Just as she stepped out of the main entrance, Lillian shot out from a corner like a madwoman.
Chapter 652
She threw herself to her knees in front of Noreen with a thud, her bloodshot eyes looking up pleadingly. "Noreen, I''m begging you, please spare my mom. I''m begging you!"
"Please, let her go."
Lillian repeatedly banged her forehead on the ground.
Colby instinctively stepped in front of Noreen, afraid Lillian might do something drastic and harm her.
Sophia Cole was furious. "Don''t you dare try to guilt-trip Ms. Gilmore! Your mother broke thew, and she should face the consequences!"
If she hadn''t been desperate, Lillian wouldn''t have resorted to this.
"Noreen, I''m begging you, don''t press charges against my mother. She''ll be sentenced to death! Please? I can''t live without my mother. Please, go to the police station and sign a letter of forgiveness."
Lillian ignored Sophia''s usations, continuing to beg Noreen humbly.
Her forehead was bleeding, but she didn''t feel the pain, still thumping it against the pavement.
Noreen nced at her coolly before instructing Sophia, "Call the police."
As Noreen''s words fell, terror washed over Lillian''s face. "No, don''t call the police."
She was the only one left in her family. If she got arrested too, it would all be over. Colby warned her sternly, "Get out of here now, or I''m calling the police." Terrified, Lillian scrambled away from the scene.
Sophia frowned in disgust. "Don''t pay any attention to a mad dog like that. Not worth our time. Let''s go. We can''t let someone like her ruin our good mood."
She muttered under her breath, "Why didn''t that bitch Bianca keep her dog on a leash? Letting her run wild like this!"
Just as Noreen got into the car, she received a call from the police officer handling her case, informing her of a new development.
Lana, who had been silent all this time, had suddenly provided a new lead that morning. She imed she wasn''t the mastermind, just an aplice.
The mastermind, she said, was Yvonne Laurent.
Noreen had suspected Yvonne was the mastermind right after the incident.
After all, she and Lana had no deep-seated grudge that would warrant multiple murder attempts.
But Lana had insisted from the beginning that she had acted alone.
Noreen was puzzled to hear that Lana had finally talked.
What had suddenly made her turn on Yvonne?
In the airport lounge, Sophia was ying the business channel interview on her tablet.
She marveled at how efficient the news media was these days.
The interview had just ended an hour ago, and it was already edited and broadcast.
But halfway through, the anchor cut in with a breaking news alert.
"We interrupt this program with a major news update. The SEC has issued a notice of administrative penalties. PerseTech''s director, Bianca Lowell is facing the
maximum penalty for sected
severe financial fraud and is
expected to be banned from the securities market for ten years."
"During PerseTech''s backdoor listing, Bianca provided false financial reports and concealed significant information that should have been disclosed. Given the particrly serious nature of these offenses, she could face a prison sentence of five to ten years."
"Bianca has now been arrested by federal agents. This station will continue to follow
this story."
The news report continued.
It also listed her previous
transgressions: academic
giarism, sexually bribing a
professor, and forging her lover''s Wife to have an abortion
The list scrolled on for several pages.
Finally, the screen cut to a precise shot of Bianca being arrested.
Her hair was a mess, and she kept her head down the entire time.
She was no longer the impably made-up, arrogantly proud golden girl.
Now, she looked like a cheap, rain-streaked oil painting.
Filthy and pathetic.
Chapter 653
The day Winrich and Aether Entertainment went public, the weather was exceptionally beautiful.
The air was clear, the sun was bright, and there wasn''t a cloud in the sky.
Noreen ascended to the stock exchange''s podium under the watchful eyes of everyone present. The spotlights converged on her, seemingly bathing her in a halo
of light.
Below the stage was a dense crowd of media reporters, a forest of cameras and lenses all aimed at her.
The shes went off incessantly, like a sea of stars crowning her.
"Ms. Gilmore, with Winrich''s valuation exceeding 500 billion on its first day of trading, how are you feeling right now?" a reporter shouted.
Noreen remainedposed, her voice clear and powerful as she answered, "This is just the beginning."
Those simple words, amplified by the microphone, echoed through the hall, carrying an undeniable air of authority.
A moment of dead silence fell over the room, followed by a thunderous burst of apuse.
That was Noreen.
She picked up the golden gavel, a symbol of power, with a smooth, decisive motion.
*CLANG!*
The crisp sound of the bell rang out, echoing to the heavens and heralding the start of a new era.
Congrattory messages poured in like a flood.
Unable to reply to them all, Noreen posted a message on Twitter to express her gratitude.
She also announced that in ten days, she would be hosting an IPO appreciation reception and dinner in Rivercrest City, extending a warm invitation to all her friends and colleagues.
After posting, Noreen silenced her phone.
She had other things to do today.
Colby drove the car to the hotel, where Rosalind Gilmore was already waiting by the entrance.
Noreen got out and walked up the steps. "Didn''t I tell you to wait in the room?"
Rosalind smiled. "I just came down. I haven''t been waiting long. Besides, Sophia was with me, wasn''t she?"
Sophia shrugged helplessly. "Mrs. Gilmore was getting restless in the room, so I brought her out for some fresh air."
Noreen knew her mother''s personality well enough and could only thank Sophia for her trouble.
Sophia didn''t mind. She nced at her watch and reminded them it was time to go. After picking up Rosalind, Noreen headed straight for Joyner Mansion.
They were there to pick up Katy.
Like Rosalind, Katy had been eagerly waiting at the door for some time.
Surprisingly, Castle Joyner was waiting with her.
Normally, he would have been at his office at this hour.
Seeing Noreen, Katy ran towards her happily.
Noreen got out of the car, took her hand, and greeted Castle. "I''ll take good care of Katy for the next three days."
Castle naturally trusted Noreen, but
for safety''s sake, he assigned four bodyguards and a driver
apany them at all times.
He anticipated she might refuse, so he exined that it was to ensure Katy''s safety.
As expected, Noreen had no reason to decline and allowed Castle''s arrangements.
In truth, she had no special ns other than to spend three days showing Rosalind and Katy around Glenhaven City.
Although it was Rosalind''s first time meeting Katy, they hit it off immediately, and she adored the little girl.
She even started telling stories about Noreen''s childhood, saying how smart she had been and how she never had to worry abouther schoolwork.
Katy, who was usually quiet, gradually began to smile and talk more in Rosalind''spany.
While she still spoke less than most, it was a significant improvement from before.
Listening to Rosalind talk about
schildhood, sheet
Noreen''s
help but ask curiously, "What the prettydy''s daddy
Katy had always assumed Noreen came from aplete family with a loving mother and father, hence her innocent question.
Rosalind paused for a moment, then smiled. "Her daddy went to a ce far, far away."
Katy''s faint smile froze on her face. She asked quietly, "Did he pass away?"
Neither Rosalind nor Noreen expected Katy to guess the truth.
Chapter 654
Katy exined sadly, "I know what death means. It''s like my mother. They all told me she went to a ce far, far away, but I know she passed away. She''s nevering back. She''s never going to see me again."
Rosalind''s heart ached. She pulled Katy into aforting hug.
Noreen gently stroked Katy''s hair.
They visited all the famous spots in Glenhaven City.
Rosalind was overjoyed, taking countless photos and constantly pulling Noreen in
for pictures.
"You go ahead and take them. I don''t like having my picture taken."
"Didn''t you say you''d listen to everything I said today?" Rosalind countered, using Noreen''s own words against her.
Noreen was instantly defeated.
She was right.
Today was her birthday.
But it was also the day her mother had suffered to bring her into the world.
Although Rosalind had never once mentioned to her, as long as she could remember, that she had nearly died giving birth to her.
Every year on her birthday, her mother would do everything in her power to give her the best gifts and the bestpany.
Now that she was grown and capable, she wanted to repay that unconditional motherly love in any way she could.
So, Noreen had no choice but to cooperate with Rosalind''s photoshoot.
Colby''s photography skills were not the best, so in the end, Katy volunteered, taking
on the responsibility of photographing the two of them.
They had a wonderful day.
For dinner, Sophia had booked a table in advance at Glenhaven City''s finest scenic restaurant.
It offered a panoramic view of the entire city''s skyline and The Esnade.
Their table was at the restaurant''s prime viewing spot.
After being seated, Rosalind continued to pull Noreen in for more photos. Noreen obliged.
By the time she finished, the food and cake had arrived.
Katy finally asked curiously, "Is it your birthday today, miss?"
"Yes, it is," Rosalind said, stroking Katy''s head. "Remember to wish her a happy birthdayter."
Katy nodded emphatically.
Rosalind lit the candles herself,
murmuring as she did, "In the blink of an eye, you''re twenty-six. In a couple of years, you''ll be thirty Time flies sof
fast my mind, you''re sti little girl with pigtails."
After her nostalgic reflection, she urged Noreen, "Make a wish."
Katy stared at the cake, her eyes turning a little red.
Noreen asked her what was wrong.
She bit her lip and said, "I don''t know when my birthday is. At the orphanage, we never celebrated birthdays."
Noreen''s heart skipped a beat. She stroked her head and said, "From now on, we''ll celebrate our birthdays together My birthday is your birthday.
"Can we?"
"Of course, you can!" Rosalind answered for Noreen.
Katy''s tears turned into a smile. "Does that mean I can make a wish too?"
"Of course Noreen replied this time. "You can make three wishes now But don''t say them out
they won''te true." Con e
Katy earnestly made her wishes in her heart, right in front of the cake.
"I wish Noreen could be my mommy."
She made three wishes.
All three were the same.
Then Noreen made her wish.
This year, her wishes were very simple.
She wished for her mother''s health and long life.
And she wished for her own desires to be fulfilled.
The moment she and Katy blew out the candles, fireworks erupted outside.
The light was so brilliant that it instantly illuminated the entire Esnade, making it as bright as day.
Noreen was quite surprised. How did she always manage to run into The Esnade''s fireworks disy?
This time, however, the scale was much grander than any she had seen before.
She wondered what the celebration was for.
Or perhaps it was some tycoon proposing to his beloved with avish disy of wealth and affection.
In any case, it was quite romantic.
Chapter 655
But she was a bit allergic to romance these days, so she quickly looked away after a brief nce.
Since it was her birthday, she had tomemorate it somehow.
Noreen asked a waiter to take a photo of the three of them and posted it to Twitter with a simple caption.
[Happy birthday to me.]
Just after she posted, she saw a tweet from the user named Frost right below her
own.
He had also included a picture.
It was a photo of fireworks exploding in the night sky.
But what surprised Noreen was his caption.
Happy birthday.
Someone actually shared her birthday.
Then again, it wasn''t that unusual.
So Noreen just nced at it before turning off her phone to focus on having dinner with Rosalind and Katy.
She had promised Rosalind she would spend the day with her, with no work interruptions.
Rivercrest City.
Bianca was counting the days in the detention center.
Life inside was unbearable.
Though only four days had passed, each day felt like a year.
She couldn''t imagine, let alone ept, the possibility that she might have to go to prison.
Every time a guard walked by or delivered a meal, she would ask if she had any visitors today.
But every time, the answer was no.
This couldn''t be right.
Seth wouldn''t just abandon her!
The situation must be tricky, and he needed some time to pull some strings.
Yes, that had to be it.
Bianca kept telling herself to stay calm, to be patient.
She had to have faith in Seth.
He loved her so much. He would definitely, absolutelye to save her!
Finally, on the fifth day, a guard came to her cell door. "Bianca, you have a visitor."
Bianca''s heart leaped with joy.
She knew Seth woulde.
She even tried to fix her hair, not wanting Seth to see her in such a disheveled state.
But with the limited resources in the detention center, no amount of primping made a difference.
Bianca felt a pang of frustration.
Impatiently, the guard urged her to hurry up and not waste time. She quickly rushed out of the cell.
Before entering the visitation room, Bianca''s heart was fluttering with anxiety.
She wanted to act calm, to not worry Seth.
She took a deep breath before pushing the door open.
As she did, she called out, "Seth, you must have been so busy these past few days, haven''t you?"
Only after her words had left her lips did she see the person sitting across from her. "What are you doing here?"
Henry Brooke leaned back in his chair, his eyes filled with scrutiny and contempt.
He must have heard what she just said, because his tone was mocking. "Were you expecting Seth?"
Bianca''s eyes darkened, and she turned to leave.
She didn''t want to see Henry.
And she certainly didn''t want Henry to see her like this.
She knew he wasn''t here to see her; he was here to kick her while she was down.
"Don''t you want to know why Seth hasn''te to see you?"
Henry spoke casually, just as she was about to step out the door.
Bianca froze.
After a long moment of internal struggle, she returned to the room and sat down across from Henry.
Only a barred window separated them.
Henry''s lips curled into a cold smile.
His gaze made Bianca deeply ufortable.
But she had to endure the humiliation of his scorn. Her hands, resting on herp,
clenched into tight fists. "What do you want to say?"
"Three days ago, Winrich and Aether Entertainment went public on the Glenhaven City Stock Exchange. was there in person to watch the ceremony. She''s truly brilliant."
Bianca''s face fell instantly. Her clenching fingers went numb, and her body trembled with restraint. "I don''t want to hear about that!"
"Isn''t that what you once desperately wanted?" Henry mocked her, his expression
grim.
"Just tell me, why hasn''t Sethe?" Bianca knew she was losing herposure, but she no longer cared about her image.
Every second in this ce was torture. She was being driven mad.
She just wanted to get out of here! Immediately!
"Do you know why William suddenly confessed to your affair?" Henry still didn''t
answer her question directly.
Bianca stared at him, her eyes bloodshot. "Why?"
She had been involved with William for five years; she knew what kind of man he
was.
Otherwise, she wouldn''t have so freely engaged in those depraved games with him.
"I beat him up." Henry leaned back slightly, a half-smile on his face that radiated a fierce intimidation.
"After I confirmed that you
giarized your senior''s thesis, the
first thing thought of were all those papers you''d published. So I flew to the university to confront William. The man is quite devoted to you. He wouldn''t talk no matter what S? 1, So beat him to a pulp until he was on the floor begging for mercy. That''s when he finally confessed everything about your affair."
Henry paused, then sneered, "That old man feally cared for you. Even in that state, he refused to provide any solid evidence. So Thad to go after the people around him. That''s how I got the evidence from his wife."
"You''re really... not picky. You could even bring yourself to sleep with an old man like
that."
He had seen the videos beforehand.
Even now, the memory of them made him sick to his stomach.
And to think he had been in love with such a filthy woman for four years.
The feeling was like swallowing a rat dropping. It made him physically repulsed.
Bianca''s eyes burned, and even her insides were trembling.
"Stealing a degree, giarizing a thesis, sleeping with an old man in his fifties for fame and fortune, stringing along every man who could be useful to you..."
"Is there any dirty deed you wouldn''t do?"
Henry''s gaze was sharp, as if he could see right through her.
In that moment, Bianca''s eyes flickered, unable to meet his.
Just as she was on the verge of breaking down.
Henry''s lips curled into a sneer as he told her with absolute certainty, "You''re not
even fit to tie Noreen''s shoes."
Chapter 656
"Tell me why Seth hasn''te," Bianca repeated. She knew she was losing herposure, but she was beyond caring.
Every second in this ce was an agony, and she was on the verge of a breakdown.
She just wanted to get out. Not one more second!
"Do you know why William suddenly confessed to his affair with you?" Henry continued to evade her question.
Bianca''s eyes, red with fury, red at him. "Why?"
She had been involved with William for five years; she knew exactly what kind of man he was.
Otherwise, she wouldn''t have been so reckless in ying those twisted games with him.
"I beat him up," Henry said, leaning back slightly, his face a mixture of a smile and a grimace, exuding a fierce, intimidating aura.
"After I confirmed you giarized your senior''s thesis, I immediately thought of all those papers you''d published. I flew to the university to confront William. That man is surprisingly devoted to you; he refused to say a word. So I beat the hell out of him until he was on the floor, begging for mercy. Only then did he spill everything about your affair."
Henry paused, sneering, "That old man really had a soft spot for you. Even in that state, he wouldn''t provide any hard evidence. So I had to start with the people around him. That''s how I got the evidence from his wife."
"You really aren''t picky, are you? To think you could stomach a man that old."
He had seen the videos beforehand.
Even now, the memory of them made him nauseous.
To think he had been in love with such a vile woman for four years.
The feeling was like having eaten rat droppings; it filled him with physical disgust.
Bianca''s eyes burned, and she trembled from the inside out.
"Faking your degree, giarizing theses, sleeping with a man old enough to be your grandfather for fame, and manipting every man who could benefit you..."
"Is there anything sordid you wouldn''t do?"
Henry''s sharp gaze pierced through her, as if he could see everything.
At that moment, Bianca''s eyes darted away, unable to meet his stare.
Just as she was about to crumble.
Henry''s lips curled into a sneer, and he delivered his final verdict with chilling
certainty. "You are not even worthy of carrying Noreen''s shoes!"
...
Bianca endured another three days, a walking ghost, before a guard informed her of another visitor.
A flicker of light returned to her dull eyes.
But this time, too, she was disappointed.
It still wasn''t Seth.
It was Forrest Lowell.
Seeing Forrest, Bianca''sposure finally broke. She choked out, "Dad, you have to find a way to get me out of here. Or at least get me the bestwyer I can''t stay in here anymore. You have no idea how horrible it is! So many people sleeping in one room, they smell, they''re so loud, and I can''t say anything to them without getting bullied. They won''t let me sleep at night; they make me stand in a corner and they pull down my pants... I''m going crazy! Dad, please, get me out of here..."
By the end, she was sobbing uncontrobly, aplete mess.
Forrest, however, just watched her cry with a calm expression, offering no response.
Bianca cried until she was gasping
for air It took her a long moment to realize Forrest''s reaction was off She Sniffled and asked, "Dadcare you listening to me?"
Forrest''s expression was grave. "I''m not your father."
Chapter 657
For a moment, Bianca froze.
She even forgot to cry, just staring nkly at Forrest, trying to read some sign on his face.
But Forrest''s face was a mask of indifference. Nothing but coldness.
The way he looked at her held not a shred of warmth.
Bianca''s expression shifted from stunned silence to shock, then to utter disbelief.
Finally, she desperately sought reassurance from Forrest. "Dad, you''re lying, right?"
Without waiting for his reply, she began to answer herself.
"You must be lying."
"You''re just saying that to protect yourself, aren''t you?"
"I understand! Once you''ve cleared your name from this mess and are back on your feet, you can figure out a way to get me and Mom out. I get it."
She desperately tried to make excuses for him.
But no matter how many excuses she made, Forrest remained cold and distant.
He even personally extinguished thest flicker of hope in her eyes.
He showed Bianca the paternity test he had brought with him. The results clearly stated that they were not rted.
What was even more devastating was the date on the report: twenty-seven years ago.
Which meant that Forrest had done a paternity test right after she was born.
Biancapletely lost control, unable to ept this cruel reality.
She shot up from her seat, reaching out to snatch the report from his hands and tear it to shreds.
But the iron bars were between them. As she reached for it, Forrest simply lifted his hand, and she missed.
The cold iron bars thwarted her frantic attempt.
Her sudden outburst was so loud that a guard banged on the iron door with a baton, warning Bianca.
"Sit down!"
Bianca copsed back into her chair, her face ashen.
She kept muttering, "It''s fake. The report must be fake!"
In her memory, her parents had always had a loving rtionship.
She had even used this to look down on Noreen, mocking her for growing up in a single-parent household; iming her psychology must be twisted.
But the harsh reality hade back like a boomerang, pping her so hard she was left reeling.
So, it was all a lie!
Her parents'' love was a lie.
The man she had called Dad for over twenty years was a lie.
As Bianca''s world crumbled, Forrest watched her with a calm, detached gaze.
He didn''t offer a word offort, nor did he show a hint of pity.
Instead, as she fell apart, he revealed another cruel truth.
"Your origins are not exactly honorable. Back then, your mother, in her quest to marry into wealth and power, used her position to steal a certainman''s sperm and had you through IVF She intended to use her pregnancy to secure her position, but he refused to acknowledge you."
Forrest let out a soft, mockingugh.
"So, you see, you''re not even as good as an illegitimate child."
That sentence shattered the pride Bianca had built over two decades, leaving no room for recovery.
She had mocked Noreen''s
background countless times
believing that high society wo
never ept someone like her.
But in the end... she was still inferior to Noreen.
She wasn''t as smart.
She wasn''t as capable.
Even the one thing she had left, her family background, was worse than hers.
The words Henry had said to her a few days ago echoed in her mind.
*You''re not even fit to tie Noreen''s shoes!*
The sessive blowspletely broke Bianca. She suddenly burst intoughter.
Sheughed loudly, so hard that tears streamed down her face.
Chapter 658
A guard once again knocked on the door, reminding her to be quiet.
But she ignored him, continuing her hystericalughter.
Herugh was like a string on a musical instrument, pulled taut to its limit and then suddenly snapping.
It was hoarse and grating.
The guards came in and forcibly removed her.
Forrest left amidst the sound of her wretchedughter.
But he didn''t leave the facility just yet. He went to visit Yvonne.
During this time, Yvonne had also been counting the days.
By her calctions, Seth should have already met with that person.
So, she should be getting out soon.
Yvonne was lost in thought when a guard opened her cell door, called her name, and told her she had a visitor.
Yvonne''s eyes lit up, and she immediately followed the guard to the visitation room.
But when she saw that her visitor was Forrest, her brow furrowed instantly.
Even though they were legally married, Yvonne had no desire to see Forrest.
So, the first thing she said after sitting down wasced with disdain. "What are you doing here?"
Forrest gave Yvonne a cool look and sneered, "To kick you while you''re down, of course."
Yvonne''s frown deepened in disgust. She reminded him with a coldugh, "If I go down, it won''t do you any good. Besides, it''s a bit too early for you to be gloating."
She still had an escape route.
So she didn''t take Forrest''s taunts to heart.
However, Forrest told her, "Your escape route has been cut off."
Yvonne froze, her eyes fixed on Forrest, as if she could burn a hole through him with her stare.
Faced with her intense gaze, Forrest remainedposed, calmly informing her,
"Justst night, I received inside information. That person has been secretly detained for investigation."
Yvonne''s face instantly turned pale.
She clutched her chest, the world went dark, and she almost fainted.
"That''s impossible."
She was sure Forrest was lying!
Given that person''s current status and position, he couldn''t be touched, let alone secretly detained!
Forrest must be lying to her, trying to make her panic.
Yvonne slowly regained herposure and even let out a contemptuous sneer. "I know you''ve been living a repressed life all these years After all, everything you have now, you owe to me. So it''s normal for you to hate me."
"I know you''ve always resented me for using your father to force you to marry me even making you break up with your first love. That''s why you''ve hated me all these years, to the point where you''ve never even touched me." s?novels
Yvonneughed mockingly. "But I don''t care. It doesn''t matter if the prize is worth
having; what matters is that it''s mine!"
Yvonne and Forrest had been high school ssmates.
She had always had a secret crush on Forrest, but due to their different academic abilities, they ended up at different universities and went their Separate ways.
Her secret crush came to nothing.
After graduation, Yvonne became a nurse at a private hospital.
She was resourceful and good at reading people, which caught the eye of the hospital director, who brought her into his inner circle.
Through this connection, she met that important figure.
Eventually, she got some twisted ideas and sessfully became pregnant.
Of course, she failed to secure a higher position and was nearly dealt with.
If it weren''t for her quick thinking and secretly holding on to some leverage against him, she probably wouldn''t be alive today.
She had initially nned on not keeping the child, but at a critical moment, she ran into Forrest.
So, an idea formed in her mind.
She used the fact that Forrest''s father was in trouble to force Forrest to break up with his girlfriend at the time and marry her.
Chapter 659
She even took advantage of a night when Forrest was drunk to sleep with him.
Then she imed to be pregnant with his child...
What she hadn''t expected was that Forrest had secretly done a paternity test on the child after she was born, confirming that the child was not his.
However, Yvonne had always held his father''s situation over his head, so Forrest had endured it.
And that endurance hadsted for over twenty years.
So Yvonne had always been keenly aware that Forrest hated her.
During her time in custody, she had never expected Forrest toe and bail her out.
After all, she had her own way out.
Forrest watched as she went from panic to a state of calm self-assurance, and he wasn''t surprised.
He had long been familiar with this woman''s cunning.
He didn''t say much more, only calmly informing her, "Since you''re so certain, then we''ll just have to wait and see."
"Also, I''ve had mywyer draft the divorce papers. He will contact you directly."
Yvonne, who had been rtively calm, instantly changed her expression. "I won''t agree to it! Forrest! Don''t even think about it!"
"Save it for mywyer."
"Don''t you care about your future anymore?" Yvonne hissed, her teeth clenched, using his career to threaten him.
But Forrest just chuckled. "Not anymore. At this age, I''ve realized that all of that is just smoke and mirrors, an empty pursuit. So you can''t hold that over me anymore."
"No!" Yvonne saw the seriousness in his eyes and cried out emotionally, "We can''t get a divorce! Bianca hasn''t married Seth yet. We can''t get a divorce!"
"That''s your daughter, what does she have to do with me? Why should I be the one to secure her future?"
Seeing Yvonne lose herposure brought Forrest a sense of satisfaction. "Besides, Seth won''t marry Bianca."
"He will!" Yvonne replied with absolute certainty. "He will marry her."
Because she knew that Seth truly cared about Bianca.
That''s why she had trusted Seth so much, telling him the secret she had held for so many years.
Forrest didn''t argue with her; there was no point.
As he stood up, he felt a sense of lightness he hadn''t experienced in a very long time.
Before leaving, he told Yvonne one more thing, his face rxed.
"You probably don''t know this, do you? Noreen''s mother was my first love."
Yvonne stopped her shouting and frozepletely.
Forrest walked away with a sense of freedom.
Just as he stepped out the door, Yvonne''s shrill screams echoed from the visitation room. "Forrest! You get back here What did you mean by that?
But all she could do was rage at the empty air, because Forrest would never turn back.
The parting words he had thrown at her were more devastating to Yvonne than a fatal blow.
As she was forcibly taken back to her cell, her mind was in aplete mess.
Noreen''s mother was Forrest''s first love.
And Noreen was a child from a single-parent home.
Considering her age...
Yvonne''s mind descended into chaos.
The once calmke of her heart was now whipped into a storm.
Forrest was true to his word. The next day, awyer came to see her about the divorce.
Yvonne, of course, refused.
Thewyer informed her that if she
did not agree to the divorce, they could proceed with litigation which would only dy the inevitable.
In other words, she was just making a desperate final struggle.
It was meaningless.
"Go back and tell Forrest I won''t let hing dat his way! He can forget about Forget it!
rekindling his old me! about
Chapter 660
Yvonne''s furious, hysterical voice echoed through the detention center.
Thewyer, long ustomed to such scenes, calmly packed his documents and left.
After this encounter, Yvonne became so enraged that she fell seriously ill.
To facilitate her recovery, the detention center moved her to a private cell.
But it was even smaller, darker, and more oppressive.
Every day, when the medical staff came to check on her, she would ask, "Do I have any visitors today?"
The medical staff would usually say they didn''t know.
But Yvonne still held on to a sliver of hope, hoping for Seth''s arrival.
Forrest had said Seth wouldn''te and that the important figure was in trouble.
He had said she had no way out.
Even now, Yvonne still believed he was just trying to scare her.
To make her give up the fight, agree to the divorce, so he could get back together with his first love!
In his dreams!
She would rather die than agree to a divorce!
Besides, she wasn''t going to die!
Yvonne endured for a few more days until finally, a guard told her she had a visitor.
She immediately asked the guard if the visitor''sst name was Harcourt.
The guard checked the records and nodded. "Yes, it is."
Hope red in Yvonne''s eyes.
She knew it! Seth wouldn''t betray her trust!
Yvonne, who had been sick for several days, finally felt a surge of energy and eagerly went to the visitation room.
When she confirmed that the visitor was indeed Seth, she let out a long sigh of relief, and a smile finally appeared on her face.
"Seth, you''re finally here."
That was the first thing she said after sitting down.
It was also the most rxed she had sounded in days.
Seth looked up at her, his eyes as dark and deep as a bottomless pit, devoid of any warmth.
But Yvonne was too absorbed in the joy of her impending rescue to notice his expression.
"Have you seen Bianca? She must be terrified," Yvonne said, her primary concern still being Bianca.
Seth lowered his gaze, his eyes hiding a sharp, cold glint. "Not yet."
Yvonne paused and said, "You''re right. With something this big happening, it''s better to talk to me first."
"Did you meet him?" she asked.
"I did."
"That''s good," Yvonne sighed, confirming her suspicion that Forrest had just been trying to scare her.
She then asked Seth, "Were you surprised?"
After all, the person''s current status and position were beyond what most people could imagine.
Even though Seth was worldly, he must have been surprised.
Seth nodded sincerely. "I was indeed very surprised."
Yvonne didn''t borate, as the other person''s identity was not something to be discussed freely.
Instead, she instructed Seth, "I
haven''t said anything on my end et
When you see Biancater,
remember to remind her not to say anything either. Just wait quietly."
In a situation like this, they needed time to let things cool down and be handled discreetly.
She knew the process well, which was why she was so confident.
"Once the storm passes and the time is right, she and I will be able to get out of here safe and sound."
She didn''t forget to thank Seth.
"You''ve worked so hard running
around for us during this time. Once
we''re out of here, we can start
nning your and Bianca''s wedding.
She''s been looking forward to
marrying you for a long time."
Seth''s brow furrowed slightly. As
Yvonne looked at him with hopeft
eyes, he
poke in a low, heavy
"That day will nevere.
Chapter 661
For a moment, Yvonne thought she''d misheard him, or that her ears were ying tricks on her.
So she asked, uncertain, "What did you just say?"
Seth''s gaze was calm, his voice cool and detached as he repeated, "I said, that day will nevere."
"What do you mean?" rm bells went off in Yvonne''s head, and the color drained from her face.
"I''m not going to marry Bianca."
"And I''m not getting any of you out of here."
Yvonne''s mind went nk as she struggled to process his words, to understand his sudden, clear-cut change in attitude.
But no matter how she tried, she couldn''t make sense of it. She could only stare at him, her voice trembling. "What are you talking about? Don''t you love Bianca?"
She had seen it with her own eyes. How could it be fake?
She had confirmed it over and over again! It had to be real!
Seth met her gaze without flinching. "I have never loved her."
"Impossible!" Yvonne denied it instantly.
But as her eyes met Seth''s icy stare, a powerful sense of unease washed over her.
Bianca had told her that she was assaulted by her kidnappers, and that Seth knew about it. Yet he had said nothing, hadn''t even called off the engagement. And when Seth found out about Bianca''s past with William, he didn''t cut her off. He had even epted her sordid history.
Then there were all of Bianca''s professional blunders, one after another, that had cost Seth a fortune. He had never onceined.
Yvonne herself had been moved by his sincerity, which was why she had trusted himpletely. She believed only a man deeply in love could overlook so much.
But thinking back on it now, something felt terribly wrong.
Love might be forgiving. But love was also fiercely possessive.
If he truly cared about Bianca, he would have been bothered by her chaotic past, not epted it all with such calm.
That wasn''t the reaction of a normal person.
At that realization, a chill shot up Yvonne''s spine. She looked at Seth, her eyes now filled with terror. Her body began to tremble
uncontrobly, her face pale with incredulous anger. "Then what was all of this for?"
Seth leaned back slightly, and the wooden chair creaked under his weight. The small sound was enough to snap Yvonne''s frayed nerves.
His eyes were dark as he spoke. "It was for the man behind you, of course."
"To be precise, it was for Bianca''s biological father."
"You... you even know about that?" Yvonne''s voice was an uncontrolled shriek.
"I don''t just know about that. I also know you were originally pregnant with twins, but your body couldn''t
handle it. One of them didn''t make it, and only one survived.
ed
With every word Seth spoke, Yvonne''s terror grew. These were secrets she had
intended to take to her grave. No one else knew.
His revtion left her utterly horrified.
"Of course, that''s not all I know. I also know why he let you live," Seth said, his expression unreadable in the dim light.
"Did you really think the leverage you
had on him was enough to control him? A man at his level would never allow an unknown threat to exist. The only reason he didn''t get rid of you is because Bianca''s genes are a perfect match for his."
"In other words, your daughter is nothing more than a storage unit for his organs."
Chapter 662
The revtions came one after another, hitting Yvonne with such force that she lost the ability to think. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. She could only stare nkly at Seth. He was like a stranger, hiding a deep and unfathomable poison.
As she stood there, stunned and pale, Seth rose from his chair, his narrow eyes half-closed. The game was over, the winner decided. There was no reason for him to stay.
He turned to leave, his silhouette dark and menacing.
Regaining a shred of sanity in the chilling atmosphere, Yvonne shouted at his back, her voice filled with desperation. "If you know who he is, then you should know how powerful he is, how ruthless his methods are! Do you really think you can take him on by yourself?"
She was hysterical, almost manic, as sheughed at him. "You''re naive! Utterly naive! Hahahaha!"
After leaving the visitation room, Seth saw Coley. He was Northcrest''s most famouswyer, an ace attorney who had never lost a case in his entire career.
He was clearly waiting for Seth.
As Seth approached, Coley spoke calmly. "I met with Bianca, just as you arranged. She was quiteposed. Didn''t say a word."
Coley paused, then chuckled. "She seems absolutely certain you''re going to save her, so she''s refusing to confess to anything. If you''re in a hurry, you might want to go see her. Rattle her cage a bit."
He said "rattle her cage," but what he really meant was to shatter her resolve. Coley knew Seth was running out of time.
Seth had nned on leaving directly, with no intention of seeing Bianca. But after hearing what Coley said, he changed his mind.
Over the past few days, Bianca had slowly calmed down. She had
epted the fact that she was less capable than Noreen. She had epted that Forrest wasn''t her biological father. In fact, shena started to not care about any of it, because she had Seth, and that was enough.
So what if Noreen was capable and sessful? Could she win even a shred of Seth''s pity or love? No! Even after spending seven years by his side, she had gotten nothing.
In Bianca''s mind, Noreen was still the loser, the failure!
Through this self-delusion, Bianca''s mood had be surprisingly serene. Even when her cellmates bullied and humiliated her, she didn''t get angry like before. She would simply warn them not to go too far, that she would get her revenge on each of them once she was out.
Coley had informed her of several new charges: fundraising fraud, contract fraud, and credit fraud, among others. The contract fraud had even led to the suicide of a mamed
couple. Each charge was a felony, carrying a potential sentence of five to ten years, or even life in prison.
Faced with these usations, Bianca simply denied everything. No exnations, no arguments. The evidence was irrefutable, so it didn''t really matter whether she confessed or not. Coley had more than enough to put her away.
But certain people were short on time, which was why her resolve needed a little push.
When Bianca was told she had another visitor, she assumed it was the samewyer and was about to refuse the meeting. But the guard told her the visitor''sst name was Harcourt.
Hope red in Bianca''s eyes, and she rushed to the visitation room.
"Seth, you''re finally here."
The moment she saw him, her nose tingled, and a thin film of mist veiled her eyes, making her look the picture of vulnerability. "What took you so long? You have no idea how hard it''s been in here. I''ve been thinking about you every single day."
Chapter 663
She poured out her heart to Seth, telling him how much she missed him. But the
man sitting across from her didn''t respond. His gaze was dark and inscrutable, even cold. Even then, Bianca didn''t think much of it, assuming it was just the
inappropriate setting.
So she reined in her emotions, though her eyes remained red-rimmed. "You must have had a hard time too, right?"
She knew the situation wasplicated, but she believed that as long as Seth was here, any problem could be solved. It was only a matter of time before she got out.
"Oh, right. Awyer named Coley just told me they''ve added several new felony financial charges, but he didn''t say who filed them. Seth, you should look into itter, find out who''s suing me."
Bianca chattered on. There was so much she wanted to tell him, but the setting forced her to be brief and stick to the important points.
"I filed them."
The silent man suddenly spoke. His voice was neither loud nor soft, but it was clear enough for her to hear.
Bianca froze, her face a mask of disbelief.
"Your arrest, that was my n too."
"Your mother, your aunt, and your cousin getting caught¡ªI orchestrated that as well."
"Of course, if they hadn''t broken thew, I wouldn''t have had the opportunity to put them in here. So, in the end, they only have themselves to me for their downfall."
"And so do you."
Seth''s voice waspletely calm as he said these words, as if he were speaking to a perfect stranger-emotionless and detached.
But each sentence was a fatal blow to Bianca. The hope in her heart was crushed, ground into dust, and trampled under his feet.
Her eyes were bloodshot as she stared at him, as if seeing a stranger for the first time. The man she believed loved her so deeply... it was all a lie.
All of it!
Was there anything real in this world?
"I suggest you stop struggling. Plead guilty and don''t waste your time with any more pointless resistance."
Seth''s tone was cid, but his words were the cruelest she had ever heard.
Bianca stared at him, stunned,
seeing on his face the most
indifferent expression she had ever
witnessed in that moment, alther
hopes shattered against the
boundless coldness in his eyes.
With herst ounce of strength, she asked the question that burned in her heart. "Why?"
Hadn''t he loved her for years? Hadn''t he always treated her as the one he could never forget? Didn''t that mean something special to a man?
So why? Why would he do this to her?
Seth merely nced at her. "Do you think you''re innocent?"
"That boy who had a bright future ahead of him, whom you falsely used of attempted rape, who was driven to suicide out of despaif, whose entire family was destroyed-he was the innocent one."
§Ù§Ú§Þ
"Noreen, whose academic credentials you stole and whose bright future you ruined -she was the innocent one."
"The unborn child you aborted¡ªthat was the innocent one."
"The couple who jumped to their deaths after you defrauded them with high-interest loans they were the innocent ones."
"Compared to them, you have no right to use the word innocent!"
Bianca stared at him in horror. In that instant, her entire world turned to dust.
"So, you never loved me at all?" The question was a desperate whisper.
"Not even for a moment?"
He sneered, his voice chilling. "Never."
The simple reply was enough to make her heart turn to ash. Her eyes
stung, and a profound, Deep
sense of powerlessness washed over her. Her thoughts were a chaotic meso, unable to pinpoint when Seth had started nning all of this.
Chapter 664
For the past year, she had been lost in the beautiful dream he had woven for her, unable to wake up. She had even found herself falling irrevocably in love with him.
She had met many men, but Seth was the only one who had ever captured her heart. That was why his confession that he had never loved her was so utterly devastating.
Her love curdled into hate. She gripped the bars of the partition, her voice hysterical as she demanded, "What about Noreen? Do you love her?"
The mention of Noreen''s name seemed to quell the storm in his eyes. Even his voice softened, almost imperceptibly.
"Yes."
His answer was firm. It was the final, soul-crushing blow.
Bianca''s hands, which had been clutching the bars, suddenly went limp. She copsed back into her chair, her eyes losing focus.
"So..."
So, from the very beginning, Seth had just been using her.
Seth was far more ruthless than she had ever imagined.
He finished her unspoken thought for her. "I used you to put her on the right path, to make you a stepping stone for her sess."
"You''re despicable, Seth!" Bianca used him, her voice filled with despair. But Seth was indifferent to her condemnation.
His indifference only made her more frantic. "Do you really think doing all this will make Noreene back to you?"
"I never expected her toe back."
Seth''s dark eyes were like an endless vortex, pulling Bianca into darkness. His objective achieved, he didn''t want to stay a second longer. He stood up to leave.
"You''ll die a horrible death!" Bianca cursed him with the most venomous words she could muster.
Seth let out a cold, mockingugh. His chilling eyes were devoid of emotion. "I know."
When Coley found Seth, he was standing in the smoking area, head bowed as he took a drag from a cigarette. The ashtray beside him was already overflowing with butts, and the air was thick with smoke.
Coley walked over and informed him calmly, "Just as you predicted, his people have made a move."
He added with a hint of disgust, "Hiswork is truly vast. We''ve cleared out so many, but there are still more."
"That''s to be expected," Seth said, stubbing out his cigarette. "Which is why we can''t give him a chance to recover. We have to finish him while he''s down."
Coley looked at him. "Are you still going ahead with the high-stakes gamble?"
Seth''s only reply was to turn and walk away.
"Where are you going?" Coley called after him.
Seth didn''t answer, his figure receding into the distance.
"Be careful," Coley added.
Seth finally raised a hand in a brief gesture of acknowledgment.
The silver-topped Maybach sped away, heading directly for The Gilded Sands Hotel.
Tonight, Noreen was hosting a celebratory g on the top floor of The Gilded Sands. The elite of Rivercrest City were all gathered there.
Words of congrattions filled the air, and Noreen navigated the crowd with effortless grace.
Healy Naylor arrived with Jude Wilder. Jude had lost his former swagger, reced by a quiet maturity. He had be much more reserved When he saw Noreen, he simply offered a brief greeting.
Healy had hoped to chat with Noreen, as they hadn''t seen each other in a while But as the host of the evening, she was constantly surrounded by well-wishers, and he couldn''t get a word in.
He and Jude found a quiet corner where they could observe the festivities. All around them, guests were Javishing praise on Noteen. The awals were a constant stream of influential figures, each more prominent than thest.
Healy couldn''t help but sigh. "It looks like we''ll all be looking up to Noreen from now
on."
Jude didn''t say anything, but his expression said it all.
Suddenly, there was a stir at the entrance. Someone in the crowd murmured, "Why
is Seth here?"
Chapter 665
Everyone loves gossip, even the rich and powerful. Noreen and Seth''s past was hardly a secret in their circle, and everyone present was wondering what his appearance here meant.
Healy and Jude were no exception.
Mrs. Naylor, especially anxious, hurried over to Healy and asked in a hushed voice, "Why is Seth here? Don''t tell me he''s nning to get back together with Noreen."
Healy''s expression darkened, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on his ss. "I doubt it."
But his tonecked conviction.
It wasn''t surprising that Mrs. Naylor-and many others thought that way. Seth and Bianca''s rtionship had been very public. Now that Bianca was in jail with no way out, it was only logical for Seth to cut his losses and end the engagement. And with Noreen being so sessful now, the possibility of Seth wanting her back wasn''t out of the question.
In the world of adults, every decision is a calction of pros and cons. As a businessman, Seth understood those rules better than anyone.
Mrs. Naylor frowned, her eyes fixed on Seth. Even Healy held his breath, a knot of tension forming in his stomach.
Seth had arrived with Hugh Summers, and his eyes found Noreen the moment he entered. He walked directly toward her without hesitation. The buzz of conversation in the ballroom died down as all eyes turned to them.
Noreen stood her ground, her smile warm but maintaining a distinct professional boundary. Even upon seeing Seth, her expression didn''t change.
Although she hadn''t invited him, a guest was a guest. Noreen greeted him politely.
"Thank you for gracing Winrich''s g with your presence, Mr. Harcourt."
Her tone was polite but far from warm.
Seth shook her hand, but their touch was brief, formal, and courteous. "Congrattions, Ms. Gilmore. You''ve achieved your goal."
"Thank you," Noreen replied with a faint smile.
Their interaction was fleeting. After thanking him, Noreen shifted her attention to Hugh Summers, who hade over with Seth.
"Thank you foring, Mr. Summers."
"The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Gilmore. It''s an honor to attend Winrich''s celebration."
Even Hugh Summers chatted with Noreen for longer than Seth had. Seth didn''t linger; he walked away while the other two were still talking.
Mrs. Naylor let out a sigh of relief. It seemed she had been overthinking things At the same time, she didn''t forget to nudge Healy. "You need to hurry up."
Healy looked helpless. "How am I supposed to hurry this kind of thing up?"
Mrs. Naylor stamped her foot in frustration. Just keep procrastinating! Let me tell you, half the mothers in my circle have ther eyes on Noreen. They''d marry her to their sons in a heartbeat. If you wait too long, you''ll be the one crying!"
It wasn''t that Healy wasn''t anxious. But Noreen never gave him an opening. He was frustrated, too.
Spurred on by his mother''s warning, Healy once again looked for an opportunity to approach Noreen, even if it was just to make his presence known.
But he had barely managed to say two words to her before Padgette Novak arrived. Seeing the way Padgett looked at Noreen as they spoke the smile on Healy''s faces slowly faded.
Padgett made no effort to hide his admiration and interest in Noreen. Anyone could see what he was thinking.
Healy unconsciously pressed his lips together.
From a distance, Carman Holt watched the scene unfold, an indescribable sense of loss filling his heart.
Chapter 666
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 fianc¨¦e. 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 fianc¨¦e. "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.
Chapter 667
But when Jude looked back at Seth, the expression was gone. He was once again shrouded in a faint, detached coldness, as if the previous moment had been a drunken hallucination.
After a moment''s thought, Jude walked over to speak with Seth. He asked him what he nned to do about Bianca''s situation. It was a question on almost everyone''s mind. Anyone else would have cut ties immediately, given the massive scandal. But with Seth, Bianca still had a chance. So, no one, including Jude, was ready to make a final judgment.
He assumed Seth would handle it as he had before: lie low, wait for the media frenzy to die down, and then pull some strings to get Bianca and her mother out.
Seth didn''t answer Jude''s question directly. Instead, he slowly finished the drink in his ss and then asked, "If it were you, what would you do?"
Jude hesitated for a few seconds before replying, "I''d have to cut ties."
Men were often more rational when considering such things. Besides, Jude had Dn''s example to follow. When Omniva Group faced a major crisis, Dn had been forced to weigh his options and sacrifice his own happiness in a strategic marriage to secure thepany''s future. Even after loving Noreen for so many years, he had had to let go.
After hearing his answer, Seth just smiled faintly. "Good. You''ve grown up."
With that, he set down his ss, patted Jude''s shoulder, and turned to leave.
Jude stood there, stunned. So, Seth hade to this g just to have one drink? And he still hadn''t answered his question. Was he going to bail Bianca out or not?
While Noreen was touching up her makeup, Sophia brought her a yogurt, reminding her to drink it before going back out to protect her stomach from the alcohol. Noreen was on a video call with ire Chase at the time and didn''t hesitate to praise Sophia for her thoughtfulness.
ire, who tended to say whatever came to mind, suddenly asked Noreen, "Did that jerk Seth show up today?"
Noreen confirmed that he had.
"What''s he doing there?" ire grumbled. "So disgusting."
"I don''t really feel that way," Noreen said, her tone light and breezy. She hadn''t been paying any attention to Seth, so she hadn''t felt bothered at all.
Before ire could say anything else, Sophia chimed in, "I think Mr. Harcourt has already left."
Noreen paused. "Left?" So soon?
"Good riddance," ire said.
The two chatted for a few more minutes before Noreen went back out to give her speech and officially start the dinner.
With so many guests, Sophia stayed by Noreen''s side the entire time, asionally helping her deflect a few drinks.
Jennifer Shaw was also one of the invited guests, and this time, she had a new malepanion. He wasn''t a cute boy toy or a fierce, young wolf, but a rather schrly-looking man. He was still younger than Jennifer and wore a professional suit.
Jennifer introduced him as her secretary, but Noreen suspected there was more to it than that.
The secretary drank on Jennifer''s behalf. His tolerance for alcohol wasn''t very high;
he had clearly been drinking before, as his face and ears were flushed, and his speech was slightly slurred.
Noreen was about to let him off the hook.
But Jennifer insisted, "He has to drink this. It''s good to soak up some of the good fortune. He just has a low tolerance; he needs to build it up he then turned to the young man. "You''ll have to represent me at events like this in the future. If you can''t hold your liquor, you''ll miss out on a lot of opportunities."
The man nodded repeatedly, saying he understood.
Seeing his nervousness, so characteristic of someone new to the professional world, brought a wave of nostalgia over Noreen. When she first started her career she had been just like him: a lightweight drinker, nervous in social situations, stammering when she spoke...
Chapter 668
In the end, she had built up her tolerance one drink at a time, gradually learning to remain poised and handle any situation withposure. Jennifer had a point. A low alcohol tolerance could indeed cause you to lose many opportunities.
Back at Aurelion Group, she had certainly secured many projects by out-drinkingpetitors. But it had also taken a toll on her body.
At that time, Aurelion Group''s subsidiary was in the critical period leading up to its IPO. Noreen hadn''t wanted to distract Seth, so she had shouldered the burden alone. That included the time she was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning and had a miscarriage. She hadn''t even let Sophia notify Seth.
Looking back now, she didn''t know how she had managed to get through it. But she was d she had.
Noreen offered some friendly advice to Jennifer''s secretary. "Building up your tolerance takes time. You can''t rush it, or you''ll damage your stomach."
The man nodded gratefully.
Jennifer smiled beside them. "You''re lucky to run into someone as kind as Ms. Gilmore, who actually looks out for you. Others won''t be so considerate. In our line of work, whose stomach hasn''t been ruined by drinking?"
Noreen could see that Jennifer was serious about grooming her new secretary. She gave Jennifer a knowing look, and Jennifer smiled back. Nothing more needed to be said.
After the g ended and Noreen had seen off thest of her guests, Halley Joyner called her into a private room to discuss business. When Noreen entered, the others already there had solemn expressions. Even Wilbur had shed his usual carefree demeanor, looking serious and grim.
"What''s wrong?" Noreen asked, puzzled. "What happened?"
Halley''s voice was heavy. "There''s been a major development in Northcrest. A very important figure has been secretly detained for investigation."
Marcus Selwyn added, "The wholendscape is about to change."
Eason yton chuckled. "What''s there to be afraid of? When the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up." He then nced at Wilbur. "You''re tall enough. You can handle it."
Wilbur was speechless. He protested, "Why me?"
"Who told you to get so close to that Bianca Lowell?" Eason huffed. "She was our junior sister''s enemy. The fact that Master didn''t expel you is a testament to his kindness."
"But I got my revenge in the end, didn''t I? I even invited our junior sister to watch the show," Wilbur argued.
"That''s only because I told you the woman was her rival," Eason retorted. "Otherwise, would you have passed up such a prime opportunity?"
Wilbur cleared his throat. "Don''t hit below the belt. I''m just a bit of a flirt. All I want is to spread a little warmth to every beautiful woman in world. What''s so wrong with that?"
Hisment earned him scornful looks from everyone in the room.
Wilbur scratched his head. "It''s not what you think. I was just repaying a favor. I was young and dumb and owed someone big time. I''m not that desperate."
Despite his exnation, the disdainful looks remained.
Halley steered the conversation back on track, reminding them all to pay close attention to the developments up north. If the news was true, a major ''earthquake'' wasing.
...
Sophia and the rest of the event team stayed behind to handle the cleanup. She made sure to tell Colby to get Noreen home safely.
It was already eleven at night when Noreen and Colby went downstairs. A light rain had started falling at some point, not heavy, but it carried a biting chill that seeped into your bones.
Noreen was only wearing a thin jacket, which offered little protection from the cold. Colby took off his own coat and draped it over her shoulders, telling her to wait by the entrance for a couple of minutes while he got the car.
Just as Colby left, Noreen''s phone rang. She nced at the screen. To her surprise,
it was Seth.
Chapter 669
Noreen''s brow furrowed slightly. She couldn''t think of any reason he would be calling her. After a few seconds of deliberation, she rejected the call.
Some connections were best left severed. She wasn''t going to let a single phone call ruin her perfectly good mood.
A gust of cold wind whipped at her dress, and Noreen felt the biting chill of theing winter. She hoped Colby would be back with the car soon. All she wanted was to go home and get a good night''s sleep.
Meanwhile, Coley was holding an umbre for Seth, shielding him from the winter rain.
Seth had hesitated for a long time before finally dialing the number. But the moment the call connected, he faltered. He shouldn''t have called. Noreen was at the peak of her sess, celebrating a joyous moment. She didn''t need him interfering.
So he ended the call.
One rejected, one hung up, both at the same instant. Neither of them realized.
Coley looked at him, puzzled. "What''s wrong?"
"It''s nothing," Seth said, putting his phone away. He turned to thew enforcement officers waiting for him. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
An officer immediately stepped forward and ced handcuffs on his wrists. Sethplied without any resistance.
Coley''s brow was tightly knit. "I''ll keep a close eye on your father''s side to guard against any retaliation."
Seth''s gaze fell to the cold steel shackles on his wrists. He paused for two seconds before speaking. "Keep an eye on Noreen, too."
Coley was clearly confused. "She has absolutely nothing to do with you anymore. It''s unlikely she''ll be dragged into this."
"Just in case."
He couldn''t take that risk. He wouldn''t.
"Alright," Coley conceded.
With that, Seth followed the officers into the car The wail of the siren cut through the silent night as the
vehicle drove past the man-ma
of the hotel.
Directly
across theke was The Gilded
Sands, where Winrich was holding its g.
Colby''s car still hadn''t arrived. Noreen stared aimlessly into the rainy night, her mind rxed and empty.
As the siren grew louder, her gaze slowly focused on the speeding police car. But just as quickly, she looked away. The car disappeared at the end of the street.
Seth was seated in the middle of the back seat, but as they passed The Gilded Sands, he instinctively looked toward the hotel. Even through the tinted ss, he clearly saw a familiar silhouette.
But the car was moving too fast for him to get a good look. The figure, along with the rapidly receding scenery, vanished from his sight.
He didn''t look away for a long time. Even as the world outside returned to silence,
he couldn''t shake the turbulent undercurrent in his heart.
After a long while, he finally pulled his gaze from the neon-lit streetscape outside the window and murmured softly, "It''s a shame there''s no moon tonight."
The heavens weren''t on his side. The night was too hazy, and he couldn''t see her face.
Three dayster, Wilbur sent a message from Northcrest to their group chat. There''s been an earthquake in Northcrest he wrote,
asking his dear ''senior brothers and ''junior sister'' if they had been
affected. s?novels
Marcus was the first to reply. "Feeling it, bro. But the impact isn''t too severe. We can handle it."
Eason wrote, "The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish."
Henry was more direct, sending a screenshot of Brooke Group''s stock chart. It was bleeding red.
Wilbur felt a bit better. "Our junior sister is the lucky one, all the way in Rivercrest City,pletely unaffected."
Chapter 670
Noreen replied, "Not entirely. A few of Winrich''s partners have been affected, especially Eastvale Corporation, so we''re feeling some of the ripple effects."
Wilbur wrote, "Good, good. I was worried you were all enjoying yourselves without me."
Noreen sent a single question mark.
She was truly blessed to have a ''senior brother'' like him.
Wilbur defended himself, "This is what it means to share both fortune and hardship!" He then tried to console everyone. "Don''t worry, it''s just a small hup. We still have Master as our ultimate safety. What''s there to be afraid of?"
Halley has left the group chat.
Wilbur typed, "The old man can''t take a joke."
While bantering with them, Noreen kept an eye on industry news. Rivercrest City was still quiet, with no whispers online. In fact, the morning news was still broadcasting the recent achievements of the very same ''big shot'' who had been detained.
She had just been watching for a few minutes when ire called. This time, it wasn''t a video call, but a regr phone call. It must be urgent.
Noreen answered immediately. As soon as she said hello, ire hit her with a shocking question.
"Noreen, did Aurelion Group go bankrupt?"
Noreen paused. "I haven''t heard anything."
ire was clearly agitated, her words tumbling out faster than usual. "I heard it from a friend. They''re drafting an acquisition n for Aurelion Group and getting people to assess its current market value."
"Who did you hear this from?" Noreen was puzzled. It was strange that there was no news at all in Rivercrest City, yet ire, who was filming in the mountains, was the first to know.
ire exined, "I heard it from my distant cousin''s boyfriend. Her boyfriend works for thepany that''s nning to acquire Aurelion. And he said that Aurelion Group has already filed for bankruptcy."
"That jerk Seth is really bankrupt!"
"This is poetic justice!"
ire eximed on the other end of the line.
Noreen''s feelings at that moment wereplicated. It wasn''t exactly poetic justice,
but it wasn''t tragic either. It was just...plicated.
But she was certain herplex emotions weren''t for Seth''s sake. She had spent seven years of her life helping build Aurelion Group, it held her sweat and effort. Seeing it fall she couldn''t help but feel a sense of mncholy.
Eight years of her past shed before her eyes like a sped-up film. She was an observer, watching it all unfold.
She had watched him build his empire, watched him feast with kings, and now, she was watching it alle crashing down.
"Noreen, are you listening to me?"
ire''s voice pulled her back from her thoughts. Noreen came back to herself. "What''s the name of your distant cousin''s boyfriend''s
powerful to be able to acquire Aurelion Group." s?novels
This time, there was silence on ire''s end. A few secondster, the call dropped. A WhatsApp message from ire came through.
"The signal is terrible in the mountains, the call cut out. Noreen, what were you asking me?"
Noreen sighed. ire was as subtle as ever.
She gave her friend an out and didn''t ask again.
Her thoughts drifted for a moment, then suddenlynded on the phone call she had rejected. When Seth called her that night, what had he wanted to say? Could it have been about Aurelion Group?
Noreen opened her call history and stared at the missed call, lost in thought.
Chapter 671
A plea for help?
Or was there some other reason?
And why hadn''t he called back after she rejected his call?
Noreen Gilmore had no idea what the truth was.
Nor did she n on calling Seth Harcourt back.
That afternoon, just after Noreen finished a meeting, she passed by the admin office and overheard a few people gossiping.
"That fire was terrible. The entire viplex was burned beyond recognition. What a waste."
"I heard that wealthy families like that have a lot of valuable collectibles. I wonder if any of them were destroyed. That would be the real tragedy."
"Look at us, making pennies and worrying about the richest man in Rivercrest City. A bit ridiculous, isn''t it?"
"The Harcourt family is truly impressive, though. They''ve held the top spot in Rivercrest City for so many years. Their power is immense!"
Noreen''s hand froze on the door.
The Harcourt family?
Which Harcourt family?
She walked over to the office, lightly tapping on a desk to get the gossiping secretaries'' attention. "Where was the fire?"
Noreen was on good terms with them, so they weren''t too nervous about getting caught gossiping by the boss.
One of the secretaries told her, "There was a fire at the Harcourt family''s ce on Meadow Lane. It was really bad; the whole vi was destroyed!"
The Harcourt family on Meadow Lane!
Wasn''t that Wade Harcourt''s home?
A sense of dread washed over Noreen, and she quickly pulled out her phone to call Wade.
The phone rang and rang, but no one answered.
Her heart was pounding in her throat. She hurriedly dialed Evelyn''s number.
This time, the call connected, but the background was noisy. It sounded like a hospital.
Noreen called out Evelyn''s name several times, but Evelyn couldn''t hear her clearly, saying it was too crowded.
Without a second thought, Noreen asked Colby to drive her to the hospital.
Only when she saw Wade did the heart that had been lodged in her throat finally drop back into ce.
"Noreen, what are you doing here?" Evelyn asked, surprised to see her.
Noreen had run all the way and was still catching her breath. "I heard about the fire at the Harcourt estate and couldn''t reach either of you, so got worried. Are you two okay? Mr. Harcourt, are you all right?
Wade waved a hand dismissively. "I had a doctor''s appointment for a routine check-
up today. I wasn''t home, so I was lucky to have escaped."
Evelyn shivered at the thought. "It was sheer luck. Dr. Cole has a business trip next
week, so he asked us toe in a day early. Otherwise..."
She didn''t finish the sentence, but the unspoken words sent a chill down Noreen''s spine.
A cold sweat broke out on her back.
The investigators in charge of the
fire arrived just then. After asking the couple a few questions, they told them in a somber t?ne, This fire may not have been an ident."
The expressions on their faces instantly darkened.
Noreen stayed at the hospital a while longer. Once she confirmed that Wade had another ce to stay and that his security was in order. she got up to leave.
Wade told her not to worry and that he would be careful.
Noreen frowned, ncing at the time on her phone.
It had been five hours since the incident. Not only had Seth not shown up, but he
hadn''t even made a single phone call.
Annoyed, she called Seth as soon as she left the hospital room.
But the automated message telling her the phone was off made her stop dead in her tracks.
Was his battery dead?
Or was he on a flight?
She didn''t know the truth. In the end, she could only send Seth a WhatsApp message, concisely exining what had happened with the fire.
As soon as Seth turned his phone on, he would see the message.
But she waited untilte that night, and still, there was no reply from Seth.
After her shower, Noreen didn''t even bother to dry her hair before anxiously checking her phone.
Still nothing.
No messages, no missed calls.
Noreen had no choice but to dial Seth''s number again.
Switched off!
Still switched off!
Chapter 672
What on earth was he so busy with?
Could he be busy trying to bail out Bianca Lowell and her mother?
Noreen was frustrated, frustrated on Wade''s behalf.
But as an outsider, there was nothing she could do besides feel angry for Wade.
The next morning, Noreen had just arrived at the office when she received a call from Halley Joyner.
He had some shocking news for her.
Seth had been arrested.
Noreen was drinking water at that moment. When she heard the news, her hand slipped.
The cup crashed to the floor, shattering into countless pieces.
She scrambled to clean up the mess but ended up cutting her finger on a shard of ss.
Dark red blood welled up instantly.
Halley, on the other end of the line, was unaware of themotion and continued speaking.
"He''s been in custody for several days, under investigation. It''s rted to that high- ranking official in the secret corruption probe. They''re saying it''s a very serious bribery charge with major implications. He could be facing the death penalty or a suspended death sentence!"
Noreen stared nkly at her fingertip, a lump of cotton stuck in her throat.
It was a dull, heavy feeling she couldn''t quite describe.
"While such a sentence is extremely rare in practice, it''s not unheard of. The main issue is that Seth has given up his right to appeal and hasn''t even hired awyer. His attitude is extremely passive, and he''s refusing all visitors. If I didn''t have a friend working on this case, the news would probably still be under wraps."
Halley was calling to see if Winrich or Aether Entertainment had any connections to
the businesses Seth controlled, worried she might be affected.
Winrich and Aether Entertainment had just gone public. They were gaining momentum and attracting a lot of attention.
If they were dragged into this now, it could be fatal for thepanies.
Noreen paused for a moment before replying, "No."
"No connection whatsoever."
Halley breathed a sigh of relief. "That''s good."
Yes, Noreen should have felt the same way.
After she and Seth had gone their separate ways, she had been driven by a fierce determination.
She had
used any investment
from the Harcourt family or Sethet resource exchange/dine!?! avoided any cross-shareh et
They had even beenpetitors on projects, with no ovep whatsoever.
The only time their paths crossed was the coboration between InnoCore and Ascendancy Group.
But when
terme Cendancy Group ran into trouble, Noreen had swiftly
terminated all further cooperation shovels
As a result, she and Seth had be two parallel lines.
This oue was what she had always wanted.
So she should have been grateful.
Not long after the call, Noreen had Sophia Cole cancel her afternoon appointments.
Even though they were important.
She went to the hospital to see Wade again.
On the way, she made a special detour to buy Wade''s favorite pastries.
Wade was surprised to see her again today.
After all, he was just there for his bimonthly routine check-up.
And those pastries required queuing up well in advance to buy.
Noreen didn''t mention Seth.
Wade and Evelyn didn''t mention him either.
But they rarely brought him up in front of her anyway, likely worried it would make her ufortable. Gontent
Noreen didn''t dare stay too long, afraid Wade might be suspicious.
But her heart grew heavier and heavier, like the sky outside, shrouded in oppressive dark clouds.
She stood at the hospital entrance for a while, trying to clear her thoughts.
And for some reason, she remembered what Seth had said to her before.
Chapter 673
"He hasn''t been feeling well these past few days. If you can, go see him more often."
"My dad... I''m counting on you."
Before, she hadn''t understood why Seth kept asking her to take care of Wade.
The first time Seth had entrusted Wade to her was on the eve of his engagement to Bianca.
At the time, Noreen had mistakenly thought he was worried Wade wouldn''t ept his engagement to Bianca, so he asked her to keep an eye on him.
She had felt it was unfair to Wade then, his own son choosing love over family.
The second time he asked, she had grown suspicious.
She had even called Wade specifically to check on him.
Wade had exined that he had the flu and it was nothing serious, so she hadn''t thought much more of it.
Who would have ever suspected this?
She had been with Seth for seven years and thought she knew him well.
Even she hadn''t imagined he would end up in this situation.
It was only now that Noreen realized something was wrong.
Could it be that Seth knew something was going to happen even before he decided to get engaged to Bianca, which was why he repeatedly entrusted Wade to her? But if he had anticipated his own downfall, why did he insist on walking right into it? Noreen had no way of knowing the truth.
After all, she couldn''t see Seth in person to ask him.
Noreen consulted herpany''s legal department about the situation.
They all clearly informed her that if a detained person explicitly refuses visitation, it''s generally impossible to see them.
Without much hope, Noreen applied for a visit anyway, making sure to have the police ry that it was she, Noreen, who wanted to see him.
But the police''s response was the same: he refused to see anyone.
Noreen felt a headacheing on.
The next day, she again made time to visit Wade.
She was mainly afraid that if news of Seth''s arrest reached Wade''s ears, he wouldn''t be able to handle it.
Fortunately, things were still calm on Wade''s end.
It seemed he didn''t know yet.
But it was a ticking time bomb. The truth would eventuallye out, and Wade would find out one day.
She wanted to see Seth to ask him what his n was.
Just as she was at her wit''s end, Jude Wilder came to the hospital to visit Wade.
Jude and Seth had always been close; perhaps he knew something.
Even if he didn''t, maybe he could see Seth and ask on her behalf.
While Wade was in physical therapy, Noreen seized the opportunity to ask Jude about Seth.
To her surprise, Jude knew nothing either.
She then asked him to try visiting Seth.
Jude looked even more frustrated. "I''ve
at
tall, and
of tried. Seth won''t Once Content belongmore than I''ve been there bet
"He won''t even see you?" Noreen was also surprised.
Jude rubbed his nose, his mood
sinking it''s only recently that
I Sethat
realized don''t think I kvels
alt."
Noreen didn''t respond to that.
Because she was discovering that she couldn''t figure Seth out either.
Noreen stood in the cold wind for a long time, her mind clearing slightly. She suddenly remembered that Seth had once tried to hand hera business card.
He had said that if she ever ran into any difficult problems, she could contact this person.
She had refused at the time.
But as he held out the card, she had nced at the name and phone number on it.
Luckily, she was blessed with a good memory. That single nce was enough to remember the number.
Noreen quickly dialed the number. The person on the other end answered promptly.
It sounded like a middle-aged man''s voice, and he must have had Noreen''s number saved.
When he answered, he addressed her naturally, "Miss Gilmore, have you encountered a difficult problem?"
Chapter 674
Noreen got straight to the point. "I want to know what happened to Seth."
The man on the other end paused before replying, "I''m sorry, Miss Gilmore. Mr. Harcourt''s instructions were only for us to assist you if you encountered any difficulties or tough problems. He did not tell us how to assist if he was the one in trouble."
His words were a bit convoluted, but Noreen understood.
In other words, Seth had only instructed them to solve problems for her.
Regarding himself, he had left no useful information.
As she mulled this over, the man respectfully asked again, "Miss Gilmore, are you facing any difficult problems? If it''s a financial issue, please don''t hesitate to ask."
"No, thank you," Noreen said.
Noreen hung up, still feeling lost.
The only silver lining was that because Seth''s case involved a high-ranking official,
all investigations and interrogations were being conducted in secret, so very few people knew about it.
And Wade had been retired for years, with almost no contact with the outside world.
He probably wouldn''t hear about any minor rumors.
She''d have to keep it from him for as long as possible.
Just as Noreen was thinking this over, Evelyn returned with the reports, her expression full of worry.
"What''s wrong? Is there a problem with the medical report?" Noreen''s heart skipped a beat.
Evelyn quickly shook her head. "No, no, Mr. Harcourt''s report is the same as before. Not much change, everything''s under control."
"Then why do you look so worried?"
Evelyn pulled Noreen aside. "How has your mother beentely?"
Evelyn wouldn''t ask about Rosalind Gilmore for no reason. Noreen''s stomach tightened. "Why do you ask?"
"I think I saw your mother when I went to pick up the medical reports just now. She looked like she was in
a lot of pain, crouching in a corner all by herself.
Before Evelyn could finish, Noreen asked urgently, "Where did you see her?"
"Theb on the lower level."
Noreen immediately rushed to the basementb. Following Evelyn''s directions, she found Rosalind crouched in a corner, drenched in sweat from the pain.
"Mom!" Noreen rushed over to help her up.
At that moment, Rosalind''s face was deathly pale,pletely drained of color.
Her forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain, matting the loose strands of hair at her temples.
Her expression was one of extreme agony, but upon seeing Noreen, she tried
her best to force a smile.
else
"Noreen.. What are you doing here? Are you not feeling well?"
Even though she was in so much pain that her voice was a mere whisper, her only thought was of Noreen.
Noreen fought back the stinging in her nose and helped her mother from the floor to
a nearby chair. "What''s wrong? Where does it hurt? Why didn''t you tell me?"
"I''m fine, don''t worry."
But her words,bined with her current pallor and reaction, carried no conviction. "I''m calling the doctor."
"Don''t..." Rosalind tried to stop her.
But as she raised her hand, a wave of intense pain washed over her, and she fainted.
"Actually, I wanted to inform you much earlier, but your mother wouldn''t let me."
In the hospital room, the attending physician''s tone was incredibly grave.
"We found the problem during herst major check-up. Her chronic kidney disease has reached its final stage, and her kidney function is far below normal levels. On top of that, her overall health is quite poor. Our medical rmendation is a direct kidney transnt."
Chapter 675
Noreen had apanied Rosalind to that major check-up.
But Rosalind had gone to get the results by herself.
At the time, Noreen had asked her about it, and she had said everything was fine.
How could she have believed her?
When Rosalind woke up and saw Noreen''s red-rimmed eyes, she knew her secret was out.
She sighed and tried tofort Noreen. "You''ve suffered so much because of me over the years. Now that you finally have your own pursuits, I don''t want to be a burden to you again."
"I''ve never thought of you as a burden," Noreen said, holding Rosalind''s cold hand, her heart filled with regret for her own carelessness.
"But I still feel like I''m holding you back."
If it weren''t for her, Noreen and Seth would never have crossed paths.
She would never have wasted seven years of her heart on him.
Her daughter deserved so much better.
Noreen spoke with the attending physician and agreed to the hospital''s n for Rosalind''s kidney transnt.
But the immediate problem was finding a suitable donor on such short notice.
And there was a long waiting list at the hospital.
There were only two legal channels for finding a kidney in the country: voluntary live donation and posthumous organ donation from citizens.
Noreen was the first to be tested for a match, but unfortunately, she wasn''tpatible.
She contacted more than ten other hospitals across the country, but heard nothing back.
Seeing Rosalind''s condition deteriorating day by day, Noreen proposed taking her abroad for treatment, hoping to find a suitable andpatible kidney there.
But the doctor told her that Rosalind''s current condition made her unfit for long- distance travel.
In other words, all they could do was wait.
Noreen couldn''t, and wouldn''t, take that risk.
She steeled herself and decided to negotiate with the Gilmore family.
Eight years ago, when Rosalind needed a bone marrow transnt, Noreen had pleaded with the Gilmores.
But back then, she had nothing, and in the end, she couldn''t even get through their front door.
She had knelt before the Gilmore estate, begging them on her knees.
She had bowed until her forehead was bleeding, but that door had never opened.
This time, the Gilmores weed Noreen with open arms.
After all, she was now worth hundreds of billions, and they had been desperate to curry favor with her.
But what they had done eight years
ago was too cruel. It had angered
Rosali
so much that she had cut
off all ties with them, leavin
them
with no opportunity to get close:
Noreen had no desire to get entangled with them. She got straight to the point.
Ten million for anyone who volunteered to be tested for a match.
One hundred million for anyone who was a match and willing to donate.
As the saying goes, money talks.
The amount Noreen offered was too much for them to resist.
All seven eligible members of the Gilmore family went to get tested, but the results were disappointing.
Not a single one was a match.
Noreen''s heart sank, feeling like she had hit a dead end.
At that critical moment, Rosalind''s attending physician called. He told her they had found a suitable kidney, and they could schedule the surgery as soon as possible
The hospital was incredibly efficient. Three dayster, they scheduled Rosalind''s kidney transnt surgery.
The surgery was a sess. The heavy stone that had been weighing on Noreen''s heart finally lifted.
The body that had been running on fumes for days finally gave way at that moment.
She slumped into a chair, covering her face with her hands, letting the tears flow freely into her palms.
After some time, Evelyn and Wade arrived.
Evelyn had made a nourishing chicken soup for Noreen, telling her to replenish her strength.
Noreen had lost a lot of weight during this ordeal, and Evelyn''s heart ached for her.
Wade spoke with the doctor and felt relieved.
Rosalind had very little rejection after the surgery, no other
faster than other patients.
The doctor clearly told Noreen she could be discharged in about ten days.
Chapter 676
It was the best news she''d had in a while.
A smile finally touched Noreen''s face. "Dr. Cole, thank you for all your hard work."
"It''s what we''re here for," Dr. Cole replied humbly.
"By the way, Dr. Cole, could you possibly share the donor''s information? I''d like to thank him or her properly."
But Dr. Cole waved his hand. "Hospital regtions prohibit us from disclosing any information about the donor. I''m sorry."
"I just want to thank them, that''s all."
Dr. Cole shook his head again. "I''m sorry, my hands are tied."
Noreen couldn''t force the issue, so she could only thank Dr. Cole again.
After leaving Dr. Cole''s office, Noreen called Sophia and asked her to arrange for a
car to pick up Rosalind on Wednesday for her discharge.
She gave instructions as she walked back towards Rosalind''s room.
As she passed a corridor, she faintly heard a familiar voice.
"It''s fine. Let''s go."
Noreen stopped in her tracks, instinctively looking in the direction of the voice.
But all she saw were the closing elevator doors.
On the other end of the line, Sophia asked her about the caregiver, but when she received no response, she had to call out to her.
"Noreen, are you still there?"
Noreen snapped back to reality. "You handle the arrangements. Try to find someone with plenty of nursing experience."
"Got it."
Noreen hung up the phone and nced back at the elevator again.
It must have been her imagination.
Seth... was still in the detention center. How could he possibly be here?
Thirty days after Seth''s arrest, the news broke.
But everything remained quiet on Northcrest''s end.
They had charged Seth with serious bribery.
Rumors online imed the amount was massive and the circumstances particrly severe, suggesting he could face the maximum penalty.
Many people sighed at the news.
It was indeed a tragic turn of events for a once-bright star of the financial world to be a prisoner in just a year.
The Harcourt Group was also affected to some extent.
Noreen immediately rushed to Wade''s current residence, worried that the news would be a devastating blow to him.
When she arrived, Wade was sitting by the fish pond, staring into space.
He didn''t seem to notice that the
bowl of fish food in his hand had et
tipped over, its.contents scattered in the pond where a school of fish thrashed at his feet.
Water sshed onto his shoes, but he remained oblivious.
"Mr. Harcourt," Noreen called out.
Wade didn''t seem to react. He sat there motionlessly, his gaze empty, all traces of
his former sharpness gone.
His temples were now streaked with the frost of age, as if he had grown old overnight.
"Mr. Harcourt," Noreen called again as she drew closer.
Wade finally stirred, as if waking from a dream. Seeing Noreen, he managed a weak smile. "What brings you here? I''m fine. You don''t need to keeping over to check on me."
Noreen felt a strange stinging in her nose.
He was the one suffering the most, yet he was trying tofort her.
"I haven''t been too busytely, so I just came to see you," Noreen said, crouching
down to help him clean up the spilled fish food.
"You''re here because of Seth, aren''t
you?" Wade said with a faint smile. "It''s all right was mentally prepared. can handle it. You don''t have to worry about me."
Noreen said nothing.
With something like this, no amount of mental preparation could truly help.
She knew Wade was just putting on a brave face, but she didn''t know how tofort him.
The only thing she could do was sit with him.
Even if it was just to stare into space.
After leaving the Harcourt residence, Noreen received a call from the detention
center. Seth was willing to see her.
Chapter 677
Noreen had never imagined they would meet again under such circumstances.
Seth was thinner.
Perhaps it was the lighting in the room, but his face looked pale.
His hair was cut short, revealing a faint scar on his forehead-the one he got in the
car ident when he went to pick up Bianca from the club.
It wasn''t very noticeable and could easily be removed with medical treatment.
For some reason, he had left it there.
Noreen remained silent.
It was Seth who spoke first, breaking the stillness. "I heard you kept applying for a visit?"
Noreen gave a soft "mm-hmm."
Seth''s voice was low, a barely perceptible smile on his lips. "Why visit me? You should hate me. We should never see each other again. After all, I''m the one who let you down."
If she hadn''t moved on, she might have thought so.
But now...
Noreen just looked at him calmly. When he met her gaze, she said quietly, "Who wants to be stuck in some grand tragedy with you? I just want my career to soar." The past was over for her.
So she didn''t hate him, because she no longer loved him.
They looked at each other for a minute.
A smile rippled in Seth''s eyes, a smile as deep and unreadable as the sea. "That''s good."
Noreen''s brow furrowed slightly.
Seth looked away, his voice faint, tinged with a weary sense of age. "As for my dad, if you''re willing, you can check on him from time to time. If you find it a hassle, it''s fine not to go. You don''t owe me, and you don''t owe the Harcourt family anything. Don''t feel any pressure, and don''t treat it as your responsibility. Just live your own life."
Seth said a lot.
But Noreen didn''t speak again.
She hade to see Seth hoping to persuade him to get a goodwyer and fight for his case.
Now, it seemed there was no point.
So she remained silent.
Seth probably sensed she had nothing more to say and ended the visit early.
Noreen stood up silently, wanting to say goodbye. She felt she should.
But the words were stuck in her throat.
Seth turned to leave with the guards, but just as he reached the doorway, he paused.
"Noreen, live a good life. We won''t meet again."
As his voice faded, his figure disappeared through the door.
Noreen stood there, stunned, for a long time.
When she left the detention center, a light snow had begun to fall.
It rarely snowed in Rivercrest City.
She walked down the steps, tilting her head back to watch the flurries drift down.
She instinctively reached out a hand to catch one.
The snowke was too small. Before it couldnd in her palmit melted from the warmth of her hand, turning into a tiny drop of water.
Impossible to hold on to.
As the new year approached, Noreen was swamped with work.
But she moved most of her work home to spend more time with Rosalind.
And also to keep an eye on her.
"I want to go home."
"This is your home," Noreen tly refused Rosalind''s request.
"I feel like I''m in prison here," Rosalind
every
protested. "You watch me
oke I''m some kind
criminal."
"Then tell me, why am I watching you?"
Rosalind instantly lost the confidence to argue.
In the end, she resigned herself to staying with Noreen.
elbet
of
After signing thest document,
Noreenfanced at the time. "Let''s et
go. We have a follow-up
appointment at the hospital today.
The results of the check-up showed everything was fine, which put Noreen''s mind at
ease.
She then apanied Rosalind back to her old apartment to pick up some things.
Downstairs, they ran into their neighbor, Mrs. Laurent.
Mrs. Laurent''s face was smudged with soot, as if from smoke.
Chapter 678
When Rosalind asked with concern, she exined that an outlet in her house had caught fire, burning the kitchen.
The fire hadn''t beenrge. Mrs. Laurent''s son and daughter-inw were home and quickly put it out.
Rosalind reminded her to be careful with electricity and to rece any aging outlets.
Mrs. Laurent was now full of regret. "I should have reced themst year when your ce caught fire. I was just hoping for the best, and that''s what led to this!"
Rosalind and Noreen both froze.
"My ce caught fire? When? Why don''t I know anything about this?" Rosalind waspletely bewildered.
"It was around this timest year," Mrs. Laurent said. "Your kitchen caught fire. You weren''t home at the time. It was Noreen''s boyfriend who saw the smoke and climbed from my ce to yours to put it out. It was so dangerous. I was sweating bullets for that young man. I mean, it''s the twelfth floor. If he had slipped, it would have been a disaster."
Last year... boyfriend...
Noreen''s heart lurched.
The only one Mrs. Laurent knew was Seth.
Mrs. Laurent then realized her mistake and quickly rified, "Well, ex-boyfriend now. Noreen told mest year they broke up. I thought it was such a shame at the time. He was such a nice young man. A real pity they broke up."
Even Rosalind hadn''t known about this.
But she did remember that during that period, Seth had oftene to see her and had even reced all the outlets in her kitchen.
At the time, she had been angry on Noreen''s behalf and had been quite unfriendly to Seth, saying many harsh things.
Fearing that Noreen would dwell on it, Rosalind quickly changed the subject. "I guess it just wasn''t meant to be. They''ve broken up, so it''s best they go their separate ways. But you should really be careful with fire and electricity in your home from now on."
Mrs. Laurent nodded vigorously in agreement.
Back at the apartment, Rosalind carefully observed Noreen''s reaction.
Seeing that she was calm, she let out a small sigh of relief.
After they finished packing, Noreen went to the supermarket to buy
some fresh shrimp and
to make shrimp wontons with Rosalind.
home
Rosalind packed three boxes and asked Noreen to take them to Wade.
Noreen didn''t refuse. She took the wontons and left.
Wade''s new residence wasn''t far from his old one, and the route took her past Seth''s former home.
The frame of the house had been rebuilt, and the basic structure seemed much the same as before.
But because Seth was in prison, construction had stopped, leaving just the bare frame standing there, a stark contrast to the luxurious vis surrounding it content
When Noreen arrived at the Harcourt residence, Wade was in the living room carefully wiping the
photograph of histe wife wy
soft cloth.
This was the first time Noreen had seen Mrs. Harcourt''s face.
She was beautiful.
Seth resembled his mother about seventy or eighty percent, with the remaining part being his own unique charm.
"Seth looks a lot like his mother," Wade said to Noreen, his gaze on the photograph gentle. "His personality is just like hers, too."
"Both stubborn."
Wade and Mrs. Harcourt had always had a wonderful rtionship; they were a legendary couple in the business world.
That''s why Mrs. Harcourt''s sudden death had been a devastating blow to Wade.
He had almostpletely fallen apart.
And that was why Noreen felt Seth was so cruel.
How could he bear to make an elderly man suffer the pain of losing a loved one again?
"Mr. Harcourt, haven''t you tried to persuade Seth to get awyer? What if there''s still
a chance?"
Wade sighed. "Of course I have. I tried a long time ago. He won''t listen. He''s incredibly stubborn."
Chapter 679
If even Wade couldn''t persuade him, then she certainly had no standing or credibility to do so.
When Noreen left the Harcourt residence, it was snowing again, heavier thanst time.
She only stood for a moment, but a thinyer of snow had already umted on her head and shoulders, and the tip of her nose was slowly turning red from the cold.
The weather forecast had predicted a harsh winter this year.
It seemed to be true.
A week before the New Year, Noreen was back at the office, working overtime.
In their group chat, Wilbur tagged everyone and asked if they wanted to go skiing in Switzend for the holidays.
Noreen said she couldn''t, as she had to stay with her mother and alsoplete the coursework Halley had assigned her.
Eason yton said he had to go home for arranged dates.
Marcus Selwyn, the devoted husband, was naturally spending the time with his wife.
Henry Brooke was thest to reply, saying he was busy and couldn''t make it.
Wilbur shot back, "What could you possibly be busy with?"
Thement wasn''t particrly malicious, but it was certainly insulting.
Whether from anger or something else, Henry didn''t reply.
Finally, Wilbur announced dejectedly, "If none of you are going, then I won''t either. I''ll just go to Rivercrest City and hang out with Noreen."
"I don''t have time to hang out with you," Noreen said.
It wasn''t that she was being rude; she was genuinely drowning in work.
Juggling family, career, and studies, she was working around the clock, with sleep measured in seconds. Where would she find the time to entertain him?
But Wilbur replied, "It''s fine. I''m alsoing for the wedding of the Omniva Bank president."
Noreen paused.
Dn Wilder was getting married?
So soon?
He had just gotten engaged a month ago.
Just as Noreen finished her morning meeting, Sophia knocked on the door to announce a visitor.
It was Crystal Chelsea.
Noreen told Sophia to let her in.
Crystal looked every bit the pampered heiress, with a taste for expensive fashion.
She was also incredibly warm, greeting Noreen with an enthusiastic hug the moment she walked in.
Noreen was still a bit taken aback by her forwardness.
"Aren''t you surprised?" Crystal asked with a beaming smile.
Out of politeness, Noreen nodded. "I am."
"Dn was supposed toe with me today, but he had ast-minute meeting he couldn''t get out of, so I came by myself."
She took Noreen''s hand and chatted
nonstop. "Actually, I''ve wanted to see you again ever since that party butve been so busy with wedding preparations that I just couldnt find the time. You''re not mad at you?"
"Why would I be?"
me, are
Noreen didn''t quite understand the girl''s logic.
They had only met once; their rtionship hadn''t reached that level of familiarity.
But Crystal said, "I''m d you''re not mad."
Then she showed off her wedding ring to Noreen. "Isn''t my ring beautiful? Dn bought it for me. I think his taste is pretty good, so he picked out my wedding dress and - everything else."
"Even though it''s all very rushed, Dn is still trying to give me the best wedding possible."
At this, she seemed to feign
annoyanceining, "Actually, I
wanted to have fun for another
couple of years. I''m still young, after
all. But Dn is thirty and needs to
settle down sou guess I''l reluctantly marry him!"
Although her expression was one of bother, her tone was filled with undeniable happiness.
"Oh my," Crystal suddenly pped her forehead. "Look at me, I got so caught up in chatting that I forgot the real reason I''m here."
She took an invitation from her purse and handed it to Noreen with great solemnity.
"I came to give you our wedding invitation! I hope you''ll be able toe to my and Dn''s wedding."
Noreen epted it and said she would.
Crystal stayed for a little while longer before a call from Dn prompted her to say goodbye and leave.
Noreen looked at the invitation in her hand and smiled silently.
"That''s just too much! How dare shee and rub her happiness in your face!"
When ire Chase heard about it, she ranted on WhatsApp.
Chapter 680
When she mentioned Dn, she was even more indignant. "Hasn''t Dn given you any exnation?"
Noreen smiled faintly. "An exnation for what? For adults, some
misunderstandings are best left unresolved. If you miss out on something, it just wasn''t meant to be."
ire found that very reasonable. "Missing out is a blessing! In any case, you''re not the one who should have regrets."
"Dn, don''t you have any regrets?"
When Jude learned that Dn was about to marry Crystal, he couldn''t help but ask.
Dn''s eyes were dark and deep. After a long moment, he replied, "Every choicees with regrets."
If he had chosen love, the Wilder family would have been lost.
If he had chosen the Wilder family, love would have been lost.
Besides, what right did he have to ask Noreen to choose him, a man burdened with enormous debt?
Life was full of regrets.
He wasn''t the only one in the world who loved someone he couldn''t be with.
"But it was eight years," Jude murmured.
Letting go of eight years of affection must be incredibly painful.
At this, Jude suddenly paused.
He thought of the seven years Noreen had spent by Seth''s side.
Compared to Dn''s eight years of long-distance affection, Noreen''s seven years of wholehearted devotion were even more heartbreaking.
And during those seven years, he had treated Noreen with nothing but scorn.
Wasn''t everyone''s love just as real?
Jude suddenly pped himself across the face.
It was a loud p.
Dn looked at him quizzically.
He could only rub his face andugh awkwardly.
...
For the New Year, Noreen granted Rosalind''s wish and they celebrated at the old apartment.
Rosalind had lived there for twenty years and had a good rtionship with her neighbors. She wanted to visit them and exchange New Year''s greetings.
So, after their New Year''s Eve dinner, Rosalind went out to visit the neighbors.
Noreen dealt with some documents, revised her thesis, and sent it to Halley''s email.
She checked the time. It was only nine in the evening.
Noreen took a cup of hot milk and went out to the balcony for a while.
After the recent cold spell, the weather had warmed up a bit in thest couple of days, so it wasn''t too cold.
Across the river, fireworks were sporadically lighting up the sky.
In the courtyard, children were ying withnterns.
It was quite lively.
But Noreen''s attention was on the height of the building.
The twelfth floor was really high.
ording to Mrs. Laurent, when her kitchen started smoking, Seth had knocked on her door, but there was no answer.
He was worried that Rosalind was napping and didn''t know about the fire, so he had frantically found Mrs. Laurent and climbed from her balcony to the twelfth floor to put out the fire.
At that time, she and Seth had already broken up.
And Seth was supposedly in the thick of his rtionship with Bianca.
There was no need, no reason, for him to do something like that.
So Noreen couldn''t understand it.
Rosalind returned from her visits, bringing back a lot of food for Noreen.
She pulled herself out of her thoughts and went back inside.
Just as she sat down, there was a knock on the door.
Rosalind thought it was a neighbor dropping by and went to open the door with a smile.
But standing outside was Mina Holt.
Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had just been crying.
"Oh my, Mina, what''s wrong?"
Rosaled Mina inside, asking
with
"Why are your hands
so cold? And you''re
you''re barely wearing
anything. You''ll catch a cold!"
Mina''s lip trembled. She looked at Rosalind, then at Noreen.
The tears she had been holding back finally broke through, and she started sobbing loudly.
Rosalind quicklyforted her,
while Noreen went to get her some
hot water and took off her own
to wrap around her for
Mina held the warm cup, and though she calmed down a little, the tears kept falling.
Rosalind was worried sick. "Mina, what on earth is the matter?"
Chapter 681
Mina was sobbing. "A woman came to my house just now. She said she''s pregnant with my brother''s baby and wants him to marry her."
Noreen understood immediately.
Sheforted Mina, "Your brother is a grown man. He can make his own choices and judgments. You shouldn''t get involved. The most important thing for you is to focus on your studies."
"But I want you to be my sister-inw." Hearing Noreen''s words only made Mina more upset.
She also noticed how calm Noreen was, as if she already knew about it.
This realization sent a chill through Mina''s heart.
For a woman to remain soposed after learning something like this could only mean one thing.
She didn''t care about the man, so it didn''t affect her.
Rosalind soothed Mina for a long time before she finally calmed down.
Just then, Carman Holt called Noreen''s phone. When he learned Mina was with her,
he immediately drove over to pick her up.
Noreen walked Mina downstairs, and they waited for a few minutes.
During that time, she tried to reason with Mina.
She exined that the adult world wasplicated.
Mina seemed to only half-understand, finally saying miserably, "But I really want you to be my sister-inw."
Even though she knew it was impossible now.
When Carman saw Noreen, he couldn''t even meet her eyes. He just muttered a quiet apology for the trouble she''d caused.
"Drive safe," Noreen said, not adding anything else or asking any questions.
Carman paused, then managed a "Happy New Year."
Noreen replied in kind.
As the car pulled away, Carman watched Noreen''s figure shrink in the rearview mirror.
It felt like something in his world was slowly fading away.
Mina slumped against the car window, listlessly drawing patterns on the fogged-up ss with her finger.
"You''re going to regret this, Carman."
After a long silence, Carman said, "I know."
At the stroke of midnight, Henry was the first to send Noreen a New Year''s message.
It was timed perfectly.
There was nothingplicated about it, just a simple, concise sentence.
[Noreen, Happy New Year.]
It was clearly not a group message.
Noreen thought for a moment and replied with a Happy New Year of her own.
Across the river, fireworks lit up the sky in a dazzling disy.
Noreen draped a shawl over her shoulders and went out onto the balcony to watch.
This year''s fireworks weren''t as
grandast year''s, but they were
still beautiful, adding a festive atmosphere to the holiday
On the other side of the river.
Jude shouted over the noise, "Is that enough, Dn?"
Only after Dn nodded did Jude climb up onto the riverbank.
Rubbing his frozen hands together, he looked up at the fireworks still bursting in the sky and asked, "Why the sudden idea to set off fireworks" here? It''s so far out, and it''s freezing."
"Isn''t this the designated area for fireworks set by the city?" Dn said casually.
"Oh," Jude replied. "Then don''t you need to be with your fianc¨¦e?"
He didn''t get along well with her.
She was too delicate.
She got upset at the drop of a hat, always making a scene.
He couldn''t imagine what Dn''s daily life was like.
Before Dn could answer, his phone rang.
Jude nced over. Speak of the devil.
Dn took the call and then drove off to be with Crystal.
Jude stayed by the river a while longer.
They say better
the new year is always
thest, but he felt
each y
year was getting worve
Justst year at this time, everyone was together, and things were lively and fun.
In just one short year, so much had changed.
Chapter 682
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.
Chapter 683
Noreen didn''t go over to investigate; she just went straight home.
Ten minutes after she got home, Rosalind returned as well.
"Out for ate walk?" Noreen asked, acting as if she hadn''t seen anything.
Rosalind''s eyes flickered nervously. "I ate too much at dinner, so I went for a little walk."
Noreen gave her a long look.
Rosalind avoided her gaze, saying it was gettingte and Noreen should get some sleep.
Then she went into her own room.
On the day of the trial, both Noreen and Rosalind attended.
Just as they arrived at the courthouse, they ran into Forresting out.
Noreen didn''t pay him much mind, but Rosalind, beside her, suddenly froze.
"What''s wrong?" Noreen asked, turning back.
Rosalind quickly lowered her eyes and shook her head. "Nothing."
They walked inside together, brushing past Forrest.
The trial went exactly as Noreen expected, with no surprises.
When Lana heard the verdict, she copsed into tears, crying out that she was innocent and had only been an aplice, so her sentence was too harsh.
The judge told her to be quiet, informing her that she could file an appeal if she disagreed with the ruling.
Crying and making a scene in court was not the way.
With no one to turn to, Lana began screaming at the main defendant, Yvonne, ming her for ruining their lives and bringing misery upon her and her son.
Her words were vile.
But Yvonne just sat there, motionless.
Her eyes were fixed on Rosalind in the gallery.
They were like daggers dipped in poison, filled with intense hatred.
Even as she was being led out of the courtroom, she didn''t forget to turn back and re viciously at Rosalind.
At the end of the month, Padgett Novak returned from Northcrest.
Noreen heard from her business contacts that Padgett was being transferred to Northcrest.
A huge promotion!
Someone like him, getting promoted twice in two years, was a rare sight.
His future was incredibly bright.
Shortly after hearing the news, Padgett called to ask Noreen to dinner.
Noreen postponed a conference call to meet him.
"Happy New Year."
"Congrattions on the promotion."
They spoke at almost the exact same time upon seeing each other.
After they spoke, they both froze for a moment, then looked at each other and smiled.
"Are you back to handle the transition?" Noreen asked.
Padgett nodded. "Yes, I only have two days. It''s very rushed."
He had to squeeze in time just to see Noreen.
Ordinarily, Padgett should have been ecstatic.
But he didn''t seem particrly happy.
Noreen voiced her thoughts. "Northcrest is a great opportunity. You should be happy."
It was the center of power.
Being promoted to Northcrest meant he had earned a ce at the table.
It was an opportunity countless people dreamed of.
Padgett''s gaze drifted to the swaying branches outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Northcrest is great."
It just didn''t have Noreen.
When he was in Rivercrest City, they were both so busy they barely had
me to see each other Conte ad
Once he moved to Northcrest, even just meeting up would be a luxury.
"Anyway, let''s not talk about me. How have you beentely?" Padgett changed the subject turning his attention to Noreen.
In truth, Padgett had kept up with her life.
Her academic and professional careers were both flourishing.
But her personal life...
Padgett knew Noreen had no shortage of excellent suitors.
He worried that once they were in different cities, he wouldpletely lose his chance.
Noreen told him everything was fine.
then ask me
Padgett thought for a moment and Do you mind.
tong-distance rtionships verne
Noreen knew Padgett was a straightforward person.
After all, he had asked her out the very first time they met.
So, his directness this time didn''t surprise her.
Chapter 684
Noreen thought about it. "I''ve never been in one, so I don''t know if I''d mind."
"Would you mind trying one with me?" Padgett asked, seizing the opportunity.
It was a difficult question for Noreen to answer.
Her entire understanding of rtionships came from Seth.
They had gotten together because Seth had offered her a helping hand when she was at her lowest.
In that moment, Seth had been like a ray of light entering her world.
Her feelings grew naturally from gratitude to affection.
But with Padgett, she felt like something was missing.
It felt forced.
Try it, and then what?
If there was no connection, meeting again would just be awkward.
With that in mind, a direct refusal seemed cleaner.
"Thank you, but... I''m sorry."
Her answer didn''t seem to surprise Padgett. He asked sincerely, "Can I ask why?"
"I don''t want to hold you back."
Noreen remembered what people had said at that first dinner.
They mentioned that Padgett''s family was pressuring him to settle down.
And given his age, if they started a rtionship, he would immediately be pushed toward marriage and children.
The mere thought of it gave Noreen a headache.
"I don''t mind," Padgett stated clearly. "I know what you mean. I was too hasty."
After dinner, Padgett stood and watched as Noreen got into her car and drove away, a sense of mncholy settling over him.
His father called, asking about the progress of his work transition.
Padgett thought for a moment, then asked, "What if I don''t go to Northcrest?"
The line went silent.
Then, an eruption of fury. "Padgett Novak, have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea what you''re saying?"
Padgett had anticipated this reaction.
In truth, he had been struggling with the decision ever since he learned of the transfer to Northcrest.
But he hadn''t dared to voice his doubts, knowing he would be met with opposition.
He was the one who chose this path, and his family had done everything in their power to help him.
If he gave it all up for a rtionship, not only would he be disgraced within the Novak family, but the woman he loved would also face endless criticism and scrutiny.
On the other end of the line, his father was still raging.
"Is this because of that woman, Noreen? I''ve been meaning to talk to you about her. She may be
impressive, but you need to understand the kind of
daughter-inw the Novak family nceds If youswo viere to dielt
together, she would have to give certain things up."
"Mixing politics and business often leads toplicated social ties and potential risks. It would be detrimental to you and directly affect your career What''s more storm is brewing in Northcrest. You need to get back here immediately and stabilize the situation."
"Do you want to see generations of our family''s hard work go up in mes?"
His father was truly enraged. After the tirade, he hung up.
Padgett listened to the dial tone and sighed softly.
He had no choice.
On the day Padgett returned to Northcrest, Noreen received news that Seth had
also been transferred to Northcrest for investigation.
This meant there was a new development in the case of the high-ranking official who was under disciplinary review.
Coincidentally, Wilbur was in Rivercrest City for Dn''s wedding and filled Noreen in on the situation there.
"It''s tooplicated over there to exin in a few words. It''s not just a major corruption case; there''s also factional infighting involved."
"In short, anyone caught up in this storm is not going to have a good oue."
Chapter 685
So, what her mentor had said was true. The situation was far more serious than anyone had imagined.
No wonder Seth had said what he did.
We won''t meet again.
The words echoed in Noreen''s mind.
A strange sense of mncholy washed over her.
To think that in the end, they would truly never cross paths again.
Dn''s wedding was set for thest day of the month. Noreen went with Wilbur.
As soon as they entered, they saw Dn and Crystal greeting guests at the door.
They had been standing side by side, but when Crystal saw Noreen, she suddenly linked her arm through Dn''s, an intimate gesture.
Noreen didn''t notice the detail. She and Wilbur walked over to offer their gifts and congrattions.
Crystal spoke to Noreen warmly. "I was worried you''d be too busy with work toe."
"I promised I''d be here, so of course I wouldn''t break my word. Congrattions on your marriage." Noreen gave her a polite, brief hug.
Crystal seemed pleased. "Thank you. Dn told me you''ve been single for over a year. Why don''t you consider dating? You might meet your soulmate, maybe even have a whirlwind romance and get married like Seth and I did."
Before Noreen could reply, Wilbur cut in. "I have to disagree with that. Is love really that useful? A man would only slow down her money-making speed!"
Crystal''s smile froze for a second.
She probably hadn''t expected Wilbur to be so blunt.
But given his status, she didn''t dare say much and could only manage an awkwardugh.
After a brief exchange, Noreen and Wilbur went into the banquet hall.
Dn didn''t make eye contact with Noreen the entire time.
Healy Naylor and Jude were the best men for the wedding.
They had been helping greet guests together, but when Healy saw Noreen, he dumped all his duties on Jude.
He made a beeline straight for Noreen.
Jude could only curse him under his breath for prioritizing a girl over his friend.
"Noreen, Happy New Year."
Healy was clearly just trying to make conversation.
The New Year''s holiday period was almost over, and he was still saying "Happy New Year."
"You too."
Although Noreen''s tone wasn''t as enthusiastic as his, just a polite response, Healy was still happy.
He even found another topic
himself. "I should be wrapping up my work at the factory around July and heading back to Rivercrest City. I''ll be directly responsible for the partnership between Innocore and Naylor Automotive Group then."
This was an opportunity Healy had fought hard for at the Naylor Automotive Group''s board meeting. Even though it was still five months away, he couldn''t wait to share the news with Noreen.
But Noreen replied, "That''s fine. You can coordinate directly with Mr.
in charge
Summers then. He''s in charge of the between
entire coboration between
InnoCore and Naylor Automotive
Group."
Healy''s expression faltered. "Weren''t you in charge of it before?"
"I''ve been busy with a new projecttely. I was worried I might neglect the
coboration, so I assigned it to someone else."
Healy was speechless.
How was he a step toote again?
Well, once he was back in Rivercrest City, there would be other opportunities.
Healyforted himself with that thought.
After all, his two biggest rivals were out of the picture now. He had plenty of chances.
Thinking this, Healy''s mood lifted. He enthusiastically brought Noreen some desserts, pointing out which ones were good and which to avoid.
He was incredibly attentive.
Finally, he was called back to his duties as a best man, and Noreen''s ears were quiet atst.
She went to the restroom. On her way out, she saw four women in bridesmaid dresses chatting in the hallway.
When one of them saw her, she let out a disdainful scoff.
Chapter 686
Noreen didn''t know the woman, so she thought nothing of it and continued walking toward the main hall.
But just as she passed them, the woman who had scoffed spoke up in a snide tone.
"You really can''t judge a book by its cover. Who would have thought she''d turn out to be this kind of person?"
Another chimed in, "Of course you couldn''t tell. Who would wear a sign that says ''shameless''?"
"For all we know, she built her career through underhanded means. So pathetic."
Noreen didn''t know who they were talking about, so she ignored them and kept walking.
The women''s voices grew louder.
"Exactly! I heard that back in the day, she drugged Seth and crawled into his bed just to get her ws into him. We could never stoop to such shameless tactics, which is why we''re not as sessful as she is."
"That''s how people from the bottom are. They''re willing to do anything, and they have no shame."
Noreen had heard this kind of gossip before.
But back then, for the sake of the bigger picture, she had tried her best to ignore it.
She told herself that the innocent have nothing to fear from rumors, that the truth would speak for itself.
But thinking about it now, she realized everyone only gets one life. Why should she have to put up with it?
So she turned around, walked right up to the women, and stared at them silently. "Are you talking about me?"
The women, who had been so smug just a moment ago, were now intimidated by Noreen''s presence, their faces betraying their guilt.
No matter what, with Noreen''s current status, they couldn''t afford to offend her.
One of them suddenly changed her tune, putting on a warm and friendly act. "Ms. Gilmore, you''ve misunderstood. We weren''t talking about you. How could we dare?" The smile vanished from Noreen''s face, reced by a cold indifference. "Oh? Then who were you talking about? Tell me all about it."
"We were just... casually gossiping..."
The others started to stammer as well.
"Perfect. I love gossip. Go on," Noreen said, making it clear she wasn''t going to let them off the hook.
These women were all rich girls who had been coddled their whole lives, flowers raised in a greenhouse.
In front of someone like Noreen,
who had fought her way up through storms and hardships, they seemed incredibly fragile.
The most timid one panicked, stammering an apology to Noreen.
"I''m sorry, we spoke out of turn. We''ll never say anything bad about you again."
The one who started it was a bit defiant. "We weren''t wrong. That''s what everyone says..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Noreen stepped forward and pped her hard across the face.
The crisp sound echoed in the quiet hall.
The woman was stunned, her hand flying to her cheek, her eyes welling up with tears.
Noreen''s eyes were cold. "Watch your mouth. Otherwise, it won''t be just a p next time."
After she spoke, she swept her gaze over the other women. They all turned pale with fear, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Having delivered her warning, Noreen turned to walk away.
But she had only taken a few steps when she saw Healy.
From the looks of it, he had witnessed the whole thing.
His expression wasplicated.
Noreen didn''t care about his reaction and was about to walk past him.
Just as they were about to pass each other, Healy called out to her. "Noreen, are you okay?"
Noreen didn''t appreciate his concern.
Perhaps her defenses were still up,
because her words came out sharp. "Isn''t this concern a littlete, Mr. Naylor?"
"After all, you and your friends were the ones who started these rumors back then."
Chapter 687
Healy couldn''t refute Noreen''s usation.
Years ago, after Seth had donated bone marrow for Rosalind, Noreen had sought Seth out to thank him.
Healy and Jude had been there, so they knew Noreen had offered herself to Seth.
They also knew that Seth had rejected her.
Growing up, their circle had seen countless women use any means necessary to climb the socialdder, so they automatically categorized Noreen as another social climber.
They had mocked her endlessly behind her back.
Later, Seth was drugged by someone else.
When Noreen heard, she rushed over immediately, intending to take him to the hospital. But the perpetrator had called the press.
Forced, Noreen had to stay at the hotel. She called both Jude and Healy for help, hoping they could find a way to discreetly get Seth out of there.
They dide.
But by the time they arrived, it was the next morning.
Noreen and Seth had already crossed a line.
Seth was still groggy from the drug''s effects.
Noreen asked Jude and Healy to take Seth to the hospital for a check-up, telling them he had been drugged.
She herself, enduring the pain, rushed back to school.
Because of this, they both assumed Noreen was the one who had drugged him, and they looked down on her for it.
Healy wanted to apologize, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, tight and heavy.
It was toote.
Noreen didn''t need it anymore.
He recognized this reality, and all that was left was regret.
Watching her walk away coldly, Healy''s face burned.
It felt as if Noreen''s p hadnded on his own cheek.
The incident hadpletely ruined Noreen''s mood for the wedding.
She returned to the banquet hall and told Wilbur she was leaving.
When Wilbur heard she was going, he didn''t want to stay either, so he took Noreen to say a quick goodbye to Dn.
When they approached, Crystal wasforting the bridesmaid Noreen had pped.
Seeing them, she quickly walked over.
Just as she arrived, she heard Noreen say she had to leave early.
Crystal immediately put on a reluctant expression, trying to persuade her to stay. "Why are you leaving already? The wedding hasn''t officially started yet. was hoping you could witness the happiest moment for Dn and me.
"There are so many people here. I''m sure I won''t be missed."
After what had just happened, whatever little goodwill Noreen had for Crystal hadpletely vanished.
To be Crystal''s bridesmaid meant they were close.
It was likely they had privately shared those same malicious words many times.
Crystal''s smile stiffened. "It''s not the same I dont have many friends i
Oercrest City ve always thought
as a friend, like family."
"Is that so? Then why didn''t you ask my friend here to be a bridesmaid?" Wilbur always knew how to find the weak spot.
Crystal''s smile was on the verge of cracking. "I saw how busy she is. I was afraid she wouldn''t have the time."
"That''s right. She does have things to do, which is why she''s leaving early. Is there a problem?" Wilbur said with a look of utter confusion.
Crystal was speechless.
Finally, Dn stepped in to save her. "Work is important."
Crystal''s expression rxed. "Alright
then. We can get together some other time. I''ll be living in Rivercrest City with Dn from now on, so we''ll have plenty of opportunities to meet."
After saying their goodbyes, Noreen and Wilbur left.
Crystal watched them go, then turned to Dn with an innocent look. "Did I do something wrong? Is that why Noreen left early?"
Dn''s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. After a pause, he advised her, "You should spend less time with those friends of yours in the future."
Crystal''s expression froze for a moment before she smiled again. "Okay, I''ll listen to you."
Noreen went home early, her mood soured. But her spirits lifted the moment she saw ire.
Chapter 688
"What are you doing here?"
"Surprise!" ire said, opening her arms for a hug.
"Of course it''s a surprise."
Rosalind brought out a fruit tter and asked Noreen, "Is the wedding reception over already?"
"No, I left early." Noreen opened her mouth, waiting to be fed.
Rosalind fed her a strawberry, her favorite.
ire opened her mouth too.
Rosalind fed her one as well.
With her cheeks stuffed, ire''s words were muffled. "Why''d you leave early? Did someone piss you off?"
Noreen was about to deny it, but then decided there was no need.
She never kept secrets from ire.
She told her about the unpleasant incident at the wedding reception.
ire immediately started cursing. "Another scheming snake? Does Dn have
some kind of trash ma? First that bitch Bianca, and now this two-faced girl. How does he put up with it?"
Noreen had no answer for that.
Right now, she was more curious about why ire had suddenly shown up in Rivercrest City.
Justst night, she had messaged saying she was filming ate-night scene.
"I rushed through myte-night scenes so I could get a few days off to see you. I actually wanted toe a while ago, but the production team wouldn''t let me go."
"Wait, were you worried I''d be upset going to the wedding today, so you came all this way just for me?"
ire was silent.
Noreen had figured it out.
"I think you''re overthinking it," Noreen said. "Why would I be upset?"
She and Dn had never even started anything. Even if they had, she could let it go.
He was just a passerby in her life.
That night, ire and Noreen shared a bed. In the first hour, they bad-mouthed about eight hundred people.
ire also found out about Padgett Novak.
She thought it was a shame, as she had always been rooting for Director Novak.
But Noreen didn''t see it that way. "What''s there to be sorry about? I don''t have feelings for him right now epting him would be unfair to his kindness. If bike him in the future, I can just win him back, right?" s?novels
These days, she wasn''t afraid of missing out.
Time has a way of filtering out the people who aren''t right for you.
Perhaps the ones who stand the test of time are the ones who are truly meant to be.
ire listened and tutted. "Noreen,
you''re bing a saint! You''re too moral to fall in love. You need to fall for every guy you see, y the yer and leave men with no game left to y!"
"I''ve just seen through men as a species."
There''s no rule that a woman must have a man or a rtionship to be considered sessful.
"That''s Men are boring," ire
agregaling closer to Noreen Women are much restin
They''re soft and smell niceNOS
hug.
"Hold on. Have you been sleeping with a man?" Noreen asked.
How else would she be able to make aparison like that?
II
ire immediately pretended to be asleep. "So sleepy. I''m going to bed, honey. Goodnight."
Noreen was speechless.
But ire really was exhausted.
A week ofte-night shoots had given her dark circles under her eyes.
And on her rare day off, she had flown to Rivercrest City to be with her.
"Go to sleep," Noreen said, tucking her in.
Soon, ire''s breathing became soft and regr, and the world fell silent.
Noreen closed her eyes, just about to drift off, when the phone next to her buzzed.
Thinking it was hers, she picked it up.
A man''s voice came through the line. "ire, where are you?"
Noreen was suddenly wide awake.
"Who is this?"
The person on the other end paused, realizing it wasn''t ire''s voice.
After a moment, he said, "I''m ire''s husband."
Chapter 689
Husband?
What a foreign concept. She had never heard anything about it!
So she replied curtly, "You have the wrong number!"
Without waiting for a response, she hung up.
The next morning, ire had barely opened her eyes when she was startled by Noreen.
She was standing by the bed, arms crossed, staring down at her like a detective interrogating a suspect.
Noreen''s intense gaze made ire''s skin crawl. She scratched her head and asked, "Honey, what''s wrong? Don''t look at me like that, you''re scaring me."
Noreen didn''t waste any time. She tossed the phone in front of her. "Last night, some guy called and said he was your husband. Care to exin?"
"No way!" ire''s reaction was even stronger than Noreen''s, as if she''d been gravely wronged. "If I have a husband, I''ll take yourst name!"
"Then you''d better start thinking of a new name."
ire was speechless.
She picked up the phone, checked the call history, and when she saw the call, she seethed with anger.
"Honey, you''ve really got it wrong. He''s just an actor. We yed a married couple in a show, and he''s just too deep in character."
"He''d better be."
Noreen didn''t press the matter further. She just told her to get up, get ready, and have breakfast, then left the room.
ire let out a long sigh of relief.
But at the same time, she was furious.
She opened WhatsApp and furiously typed a message to the contact saved as "Jerk Quigley."
[Are you insane?]
[What are you talking about?]
[Did you forget our agreement?]
[Don''t cause trouble!]
Jerk Quigley was probably still asleep or busy, as he didn''t reply.
Even if he did, ire couldn''t be bothered to read it. She tossed the phone aside and went to get ready.
During breakfast, ire kept sneaking nces at Noreen''s expression.
Had she bought her excuse?
At least she wasn''t asking any more questions.
That took some of the pressure off ire.
It wasn''t the right time to reveal everything yet.
When the time was right, she would tell Noreen the truth.
And judging by the timeline, that would be soon.
Noreen didn''t ask more because she could see how ufortable ire was.
She didn''t want to put her on the spot, so she dropped it.
Of course, she didn''t believe her flimsy excuse for a second.
ire only had one day off, so after breakfast, Noreen drove her to the airport.
On the way, she asked ire when she would be done ying around.
She told her that once she was, she shoulde back and learn to manage thepany.
ire''s face fell. "Making me learn to manage thepany is like a death sentence! Let the people who are good at it, do their thing. You''re charge of making money, and I''ll be in charge of being the pretty face!"
Noreen could only shake her head.
Fine. If she wanted to be an actress, let her be an actress.
What else could she do with her best friend but spoil her?
Noreen went straight from the airport to the hospital, where she met up with Rosalind.
She had alreadypleted three minor tests. Noreen apanied her for the two major ones.
The results for the major tests took longer, so they found a bench in the hallway to wait.
During that time, Halley called to say her thesis was well-written. He had sent his feedback in an.
told her to make a few revision d.
He would then rmend it for publication in a top academic journal.
This meant that Noreen hadpleted her credits with Halley and could prepare to graduate.
She was in a good mood. Just then,
a group of medical staff r
rushed
down the corridor, pushing a gurney
toward the other end of the hall.
It looked like an emergency.
Chapter 690
The doctor at the front was shouting at people in the hallway, "Make way, please!
This patient has lost consciousness and needs immediate medical attention. Please don''t block the way! Thank you!"
Another doctor was on the phone with the emergency department, jogging alongside the gurney while loudly describing the patient''s condition.
"The patient is suffering from infection and blood clotplications following a kidney removal. She has lost consciousness and needs urgent care. Please have the emergency team on standby in the ER!"
It was only because Noreen overheard the medical details that she nced over.
What she saw made her heart stop.
Lying on the gurney was Bianca, whom she hadn''t seen in a long time.
Wasn''t she supposed to be in a detention center?
And what was this about a kidney removal?
After getting Rosalind''s test results, Noreen felt a wave of relief.
All the tests showed that Rosalind''s recovery was going very well. She just needed
to follow the doctor''s orders ande in for regr check-ups.
As they were about to leave the doctor''s office, the attending physician was called away by a colleague for an emergency consultation in the ER.
Noreen heard it clearly.
The other doctor said the patient''s condition was critical, the infection was severe, and she was in imminent danger.
As they left the hospital, Noreen told Rosalind to wait at the entrance while she went to get the car from the nearby parking lot.
But when she pulled up, she saw Rosalind talking to a man.
His back was to her, but it was the same figure she had seen in the pavilion that night.
Noreen couldn''t hear what they were saying, but she could see that Rosalind was very emotional.
When the man reached out to grab her, she forcefully shook him off.
Noreen drove the car a little closer, and now she could finally see the man''s face.
It was Forrest!
She could also faintly hear their conversation, though it was fragmented.
"Enough!" Rosalind''s voice was suddenly sharp. It wasn''t loud, but it carried an undeniable finality. "The past is the past. It''s just memories, dead ashes that can''t be rekindled. You standing here now, saying these things what''s the point other than to disrupt my life and
keme"
uneasy?"
"No! That''s not what I meant at all!" Forrest frantically tried to exin. "I just... I just wanted to see you, to tell you..."
"Tell me what? That you still love
me?" Rosalind''s tone grew colder "Forrest, you need to wake up. That isn''t love It''s resentment it''s nostalgia, its the self pity of
middle-aged man!"
"Your so-called ''regret'' is a ticking time bomb for me, a desecration of everything I have now!"
Forrest''s face turned pale. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Rosalind looked at him without a
hint of warmth, her voice a warning. "Let the past rot where it''s buried.
Don''t
n''t try to dig it up again. All you''ll
find is the stench of decay. We''re done."
Without another nce, she turned and walked straight toward Noreen''s car.
Her departing footsteps sounded like a final farewell, each onending like a blow on Forrest''s heart.
After Rosalind got in the car, she was still visibly shaken.
Noreen watched her in the rearview mirror.
Rosalind sighed. "You can ask whatever you want."
There was no point in hiding it anymore.
Chapter 691
As if a thought suddenly struck her, Rosalind spoke again just before Noreen could. "He''s not your father!"
Noreen was speechless.
She hadn''t even asked.
When the idea had first crossed her mind, Noreen had felt quite conflicted. She had no feelings for Forrest whatsoever. Even before she knew he was Bianca''s father, she''d had a poor impression of him.
Hearing Rosalind''s deration was, strangely, a relief.
"That''s good to hear."
Noreen felt a weight lift off her shoulders.
"But I did date him once," Rosalind added.
Seeing Noreen shoot her a sidelong nce, Rosalind huffed, "What? You''re allowed to have an ex with a record, but I''m not? Everyone makes mistakes in judgment."
Noreen remained silent.
Rosalind continued, "We were in the same ss in college. We started dating in our junior year. After graduation, he passed the civil service exam andnded a government job in a remote rural area. I stayed in Rivercrest City and found a decent job, and we started a long-distance rtionship."
"Back then, we were full of dreams for the future. I waspletely devoted, just waiting for him to get a promotion and transfer to Rivercrest City so we could get married."
"I had even picked out where we would buy our house, but then he started ghosting me. He wouldn''t answer my calls or reply to my letters."
"Finally, I had no choice but to go all the way to his workce to find him, but he avoided me, refused to see me. No reason, not even ame excuse. He just cut me offpletely, just like that."
"On the way back, I got into a car ident. I was in the hospital for nearly half a month, and he never once called. After that near-death experience, I saw him for who he truly was. I epted the abrupt breakup, erased him from my world, and we never spoke again."
So many years had passed, and Rosalind recounted the story with an air of detachment.
But Noreen''s heart ached for her.
People who betray someone''s trust deserved the worst.
"After he betrayed me like that, why on earth would I have his child? I''m not an idiot!
It was only recently, when I ran into him, that I found out he was Bianca''s father. I
was disgusted. And then he told me something¡ªhe can''t have children. Hahahaha!"
Noreen was stunned. "???"
What a bombshell.
Rosalind was genuinely relishing it. "So, he''s been raising another man''s kid for over twenty years! Hahahaha!"
That was certainly no better than swallowing a thousand needles.
It seemed karma really did exist.
What goes around,es around.
No exceptions.
In mid-February, Winrichnded another major project.
To celebrate, Noreen treated the entirepany to a team-building party at a private club.
The venue was chosen by Sophia.
When Noreen arrived after finishing up some work she realized it was Half-Light Club.
The
>
She made a mental note to tell Sophia that this ce was on her personal cklist.
But everyone was already there, and as the boss, she couldn''t be a killjoy.
Sp,
e went with the flow are e
headed inside.
The Half-Light Club was one of the most exclusive clubs in Rivercrest City, which was precisely why Sophia had chosen it. >
Everyone seemed to be having a great time.
As the party started to wind down, Noreen stood up, said her goodbyes, and prepared to head home.
She still had to prepare for her thesis defense.
Colby left with her, while Sophia stayed behind to make sure everyone had fun and got home safely.
As the two of them walked out of the private room and toward the exit, Noreen thought she heard a faint cry for help.
The voice sounded vaguely familiar.
She instinctively nced back in the direction of the sound.
The lighting was too dim; she couldn''t see a thing.
Noreen asked Colby, "Did you hear something?"
"No, I didn''t hear anything," Colby replied.
Could she have imagined it?
She had had a few drinks with her team that evening. Perhaps it was just the
alcohol ying tricks on her mind.
Chapter 692
So, she didn''t investigate further and left with Colby.
Inside the private room at the far end of the hall, a man''s hand was mped tightly over Lillian Laurent''s mouth, suffocating her.
His strength was overwhelming, pinning her down so she couldn''t move.
"What''s with the act? You dressed like such a slut to seduce me, didn''t you? And now you''re ying innocent?"
"I''ve wanted to have you for a long time. I''ve watched your little videos over and over. You''re going to do all those things for me tonight, you hear? I promise I''ll make you scream."
Lillian''s strength was gone. She slowly stopped struggling.
Her face turned red fromck of oxygen, and her eyes began to twitch.
Only then did the man slightly loosen his grip on her mouth and nose.
A rush of air filled her lungs, and she choked, coughing violently.
The man''s hand slid from her chin downward, heading straight for her chest.
She was too weak to fight back, too exhausted to even push him away.
All she could do was gasp for air and use him, "I thought you were my friend, and you do this to me? You bastard!"
A strange sensation was spreading through her body. Something was wrong. She demanded, "What did you give me to drink? Why am I so weak? My body is getting so hot."
"Only the good stuff. It''s that drug you asked me to slip that Noreen girl, remember? But this is an enhanced version. I hear it can send you into ecstasy."
He ripped her dress and whispered in her ear, "Now, enjoy the ride."
That night, Lillian was not only repeatedly assaulted by the man but also filmed.
As he was leaving, he threatened her, "From now on, you''lle whenever I call. If you don''t, I''ll post your videos online."
"You monster! You animal!" Lillian cursed.
The man was unfazed, smiling as he squeezed her breast. "You really are
something else. I only became friends with you because I wanted to get my hands
on this amazing rack. And now, I finally have."
"Get out!"
He justughed and walked out of the room.
By the time Lillian managed to struggle out of the room, it was the dead of night.
The entire club was silent.
She staggered forward on unsteady feet. Just then, someone emerged
farby room and bumped
SWOO
into her.
When she saw who it was, Lillian instinctively turned her face away, terrified he would recognize her.
But Healy knew it was her.
One look at Lillian''s state, and it was obvious what had happened.
In a rare disy ofpassion, Healy asked, "Do you need me to call the police?"
"N-no."
She would never dare to call the police.
Healy had only asked out of courtesy. If she said no, that was the end of it.
He averted his gaze, ready to leave.
Lillian bit her lip, her mind racing. After a long, internal struggle, she called out to him. "Healy, do you only
like Noreen because you with
her?" Content Belongs
Healy stopped and turned back to look at her.
Lillian was instantly filled with regret.
She had always believed that her plot against Noreen was what had sparked Healy''s interest in her.
"What do you know?" Healy''s voice turned icy. His sharp eyes were the color of deep, dark ink.
"It was that night... when Noreen was drugged here. My friend said you were the one who took her away."
Healy stared at her, a cold glint in his profound eyes. "You will take that secret to your grave. If you d
you
won''t like the consequence 19
The menacing look in his eyes sent a chill down her spine.
She nodded, stammering, "I-I understand. I promise I won''t say a word!"
Chapter 693
In mid-March, Noreen Gilmorepleted her MBA at Rivercrest University and officially graduated.
She then formally epted an invitation from WT Business School, preparing to study abroad at the end of July.
In the meantime, she needed to finalize Winrich''s strategic ns, promoting and recruiting talented individuals with management skills.
Amid her busy schedule, she caught wind of news from Northcrest.
A major upheaval was taking ce, implicating numerous people.
Wilbur had sent her the internal announcement.
It stated that the most powerful figure involved was used not only of gross dereliction of duty but also of epting an extraordinarilyrge sum in bribes.
Wilbur made sure to emphasize the words "extraordinarilyrge."
"Based on my estimates, ''extraordinarilyrge'' has to mean over a trillion. Just a little while ago, they prosecuted an official for taking five hundred billion in bribes, and that number was made public. This has to be far beyond that."
Noreen was stunned.
A trillion...
Ordinary people scraped by, earning every single dor, while these parasites stole hundreds of millions at a time.
It was inhuman.
Wilbur added, "He''s definitely getting the death penalty. Everyone else involved will get heavy sentences too!"
Noreen''s thoughts immediately went to Seth Harcourt.
But in the end, all she could do was sigh silently.
If even Wade Harcourt couldn''t find a solution, there was nothing she could do.
At the same time, Healy Naylor and Jude Wilder also heard the news.
The two nned to visit Seth in Northcrest.
Jude asked Healy, "Should we call Noreen? Maybe Seth would want to see her."
"They left things on such bad terms. I don''t think it would be appropriate to ask her," Healy said hesitantly.
Hearing this, Jude sighed. "You''re right. They''repletely over. It wouldn''t be right, and she''s under no obligation to visit him."
The two fell silent for a moment.
Jude let out a long sigh. "Still, it feels like such a shame."
Healy nced at him. "Weren''t you the one who never approved of them? Why the sudden change of heart?"
"You know how bad my judgment used to be, don''t you?" Jude said with self- deprecation.
Every time he remembered how he used to admire Bianca Lowell, he wanted to p himself. Experience really was the best teacher.
This time, it was Healy who fell silent.
Because his own judgment... hadn''t been much better.
He lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. Through the swirling smoke, his eyes were dark and profound. "A while back, I looked into something. It cleared up a question that had been bothering me for years."
He paused.
Only when Jude looked at him did he continue. "That time... Noreen wasn''t the one who drugged Seth."
When Healy first learned the truth, his blood had run cold. He suddenly understood why Noreen had always been so distant with him. If he were in her shoes, he probably wouldn''t have even been able to maintain a civil rtionship; he would have cut them offpletely. Noreen had been incredibly magnanimous.
Upon hearing the news, a sharp pang of guilt shot through Jude.
Healy''s expression was grim, his lips pressed into a thin line, his jaw tight. "Seth was drugged by a university student he was sponsoring. She was the one trying to use him to cab the social adder Noreen was the one who went there to save him."
"At the time, that student had called a bunch of reporters to wait outside the hotel, hoping to blow the situation up and force him to acknowledge her. That was right when Ascendancy Group was about to go public. If a scandal broke, it would have been devastating for thepany. Noreen considered the bigger picture, left him at the hotel, and called us to go get him."
Chapter 694
That day, they had been out drinking and hadn''t bothered to open the message Noreen sent. They rarely paid her any mind back then and just assumed it wasn''t anything important.
And so...
After that, theypletely misunderstood her. They even looked down on her for it.
The moment he learned the truth, Healy had pped himself across the face. His mother had drylymented that one p was too light; ten wouldn''t be enough to atone for what he''d done.
Now, it was Jude who wanted to p himself.
"We all owe Noreen an apology," Healy said.
In mid-June, the verdict came down from Yvonne Laurent and Lana''s second trial for premeditated murder.
As an aplice, Lana was sentenced to seven years.
Yvonne, the primary culprit, received a life sentence. The crime was deemed
extremely severe, the social impact deplorable, and her attitude toward her guilt was uncooperative. Combined with other charges, the court opted for a harsher punishment.
Noreen''swyer had already prepared her for this, so the oue was expected.
But thewyer told her something else.
Bianca had gone insane.
Apparently, she was suffering from both physical and mental breakdowns. It was a rather tragic turn of events.
Her case hadn''t been as serious as Yvonne''s, but she was still facing more than five years in prison. Who would have thought she''d actually lose her mind?
Noreen recalled seeing her at the hospital and asked thewyer, "Wasn''t she in a detention center? Why was her kidney removed?"
"The official story is that after multiple suicide attempts, she was transferred to a hospital for observation. There, she somehow managed to obtain and ingest arge quantity of illicit drugs, which led to acute kidney damage, followed by renal failure and a severe abscess. Ultimately, one of her kidneys had to be removed."
Thewyer added, "Of course, we''ll never know the real truth. That''s just what we''ve been able to gather."
Some things were known only to God and those directly involved. Everyone else could only rely on hearsay.
In early July, Noreen took a trip to Northcrest for a coborative project.
Wilbur and Eason yton gave her a warm wee, and of course, they invited Henry Brooke to join them.
It had been a while since they had all gotten together, and Wilbur was even more talkative than usual.
Eason was glued to his phone, seemingly texting someone. When Wilbur tried to sneak a peek, Eason shoved him away.
"So secretive. Afraid I''ll steal her from you?" Wilbur teased.
Eason replied with surprising seriousness, "Yes."
Wilbur was taken aback. "Is my reputation really that bad?"
Eason, Henry, and Noreen answered in unison, "You bet, buddy."
Wilbur was speechless. "..."
So much for friendship.
Wilbur then turned to Henry. "What have you been up to for thest six months? You nevere out when we call. Don''t tell me you''ve been uyste
secretly dating too? You guys
made a pact to Stay single, and here you all are, sneaking off behind my back!"
Noreen was the first to protest. "Not me."
Henry added, "Me neither."
"Then what have you been so busy with?"
Henry replied evasively, "You know, just busy."
Wilbur rolled his eyes. "That''s a whole lot of nothing. You''ve really mastered the art
of the non-answer."
When they were leaving, it turned
out Hep
and Noreen were heading in the same direction. Wilbur tasked him with driving Noreen back to her hotel, a job Henry happily epted
On the way to the hotel, Henry asked Noreen when she was heading back to Rivercrest City.
"Tomorrow," she replied.
Henry paused for a moment before asking, "Are you going to visit Seth?"
Chapter 695
Noreen considered the question for a while before answering, "I don''t think so."
First, they had nothing to do with each other anymore. She had no reason to go, nor was there any need. Second, even if she did go, it wouldn''t change anything. If he was truly guilty, he had to face the consequences. If he was innocent, thew would clear his name.
Henry seemed to let out a breath of relief. "You''re right not to go. This case has enormous implications and is incredibly wide-reaching. Anyone visiting, aside from immediate family, will be monitored. It''s a huge hassle."
Noreen knew things were serious, but she hadn''t realized to what extent.
Henry continued, "You were also lucky you left Aurelion Group and cut ties with Seth when you did. If you had waited another six months, you''d probably be facing a long and rigorous investigation yourself. I heard the entire finance department at Aurelion is still cooperating with the authorities."
After he finished, a long silence filled the car. Noreen stared out the window at the passing scenery, her thoughts a mystery.
Healy and Jude had to submit an application a month in advance to visit Seth. Only after passing through multipleyers of review were they granted the opportunity.
This was the first time they had seen him in eight months. He was thinner, and his hair had been shaved into a buzz cut.
He should have been dejected and depressed, but he appeared remarkably calm. Even the sharp intensity that once defined his gaze was gone. There was only tranquility.
Jude''s heart sank. He wondered if Seth had been broken by the ordeal, if that was why he was reacting this way. A look of pain crossed his face, and he tried to think of somethingforting to say.
Before he could speak, Seth spoke first. "What are you two doing all the way out here? I''m doing fine. You don''t need to worry about me."
Jude was on the verge of tears. Who could possibly be "fine" locked up in a ce like this? Seth had definitely developed some psychological. issues He had been a golden boy life how could he cope
his entire life
with such a devastating blow?
Seeing Jude''s eyes welling up, Healy shot him a warning nce and started a rtively calm conversation with Seth.
Healy was more perceptive than
Jude and knew what Seth really Wanted hear about, so he steered the conversation in that direction, starting with Wade. fo
Jude immediately chimed in, talking about visiting Wade on New Year''s Day and mentioning that he''d run into Noreen there.
After saying it, Jude fell silent for a moment. Seth lowered his gaze, his eyes fixed on a point just in front of him, his expression unreadable.
Jude realized his mistake and, after a moment of silent regret, awkwardly changed the subject.
"A while ago, a friend told me something, Jude began hesitantly. He had been debating whether to bring this up with Seth, but in the end he decided he should. After all, everyone had seen how much Seth used to dote on Bianca.
So Jude told Seth the news about Bianca going insane.
He added, "I wanted to go see her, but my visitor application keeps getting denied,
so I don''t know what her current condition is."
Jude had expected Seth to show some interest, some concern, some anxiety. However... Seth remained perfectly calm, almost cold.
Chapter 696
It was as if he were hearing about aplete stranger. Jude thought he must be mistaken and studied Seth''s face more closely. But he saw nothing just apleteck of reaction. It was as if Bianca was nobody to him, and thus her fate was of no
concern.
Jude began to question his own perceptions.
It was Healy who seemed to grasp a piece of the puzzle. He changed the subject, remarking that it was a good thing Seth had started his ownpany instead of relying on Harcourt Group. Otherwise, the family business would have been dragged into the mess as well.
Of course, Harcourt Group''s stock had taken a hit, but Wade had stepped in quickly to stabilize the situation and minimize the damage.
Healy paused, his thoughts instinctively turning to Noreen. He felt a wave of relief that she and Seth had broken up over a year ago. Otherwise... she might have been implicated too.
It truly was a blessing in disguise.
At the end of July, Aether Entertainment Group officiallyunched its new game, The Chronos Gallery.
As a domestic AAA title, its international buzz had been fairly moderate beforeunch. Many foreign media outlets had dismissed it as a game that would only appeal to a domestic audience, predicting it would be a sh in the pan like so many other games from their country. They pointed to Aetheria, a game that had been universally mocked a year prior and had nearly mmed the door on the domestic gaming industry''s ambitions.
After all, for years, the Western market had dominated gaming.
But no one expected The Chronos Gallery to be a massive dark horse.
Upon its official release, it shot to the top of the sales charts on multiple tforms. Rted hashtags trended on all major social media. ording to tform data, The Chronos Gallery wasn''t just a bestseller at home-it was dominating the global charts as well.
In just one week, 54 global media outlets gave it an average score of 82. The prestigious rating agency IGN gave it a perfect score.
Sales soared past five billion, creating a cultural export phenomenon. It became a benchmark for the fusion of culture and technology, sparking a global sensation Rted stocks surged, proving the appeal of their nation''s culture on the world stage.
Because of The Chronos Gallery''s overwhelming sess, Noreen was forced to postpone her studies to travel to Northcrest and ept the National Gold Copyright Award.
This was one of the nation''s most prestigious honors, the highest award in the field of copyright.
The chairman of the awardsmittee presented her with the prize personally, calling The Chronos Gallery "the hope for our domestic AAA game industry."
The ceremony was broadcast live on major media outlets, and many of her friends and family witnessed Noreen''s moment of glory.
At the same time, in the Northcrest Detention Center, Seth was also watching the live broadcast.
He didn''t miss a single frame, a single second. Even after Noreen epted her award and returned to her seat, he didn''t close the feed. The camera would asionally pan to her, and so he watched the entire event.
Long after it ended, he remained lost in thought.
The old gentleman sitting across from him finally spoke. "Do you really not regret it?"
"This isn''t the first time you''ve asked me that," Seth replied, his tone t and even.
"So? What''s your answer this time?" the old man pressed, curious to hear what he would say.
Chapter 697
In the past, Seth''s answer had always been swift and decisive. But this time, he hesitated.
The old gentleman slowly leaned back in his chair. "It''s not toote to change your mind," he reminded him gently.
Seth''s deep-set eyes were reflected in the bulletproof ss.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"No. She has a better future ahead of her. It shouldn''t be wasted on someone like me."
The old man simply shook his head. "You''re as stubborn as ever."
"This is the path I chose," Seth said. "There''s no turning back for me."
...
In early August, Noreen set off for WT Business School.
Rosalind Gilmore was fussing the entire way to the airport.
"What if I can''t get used to the food there? Maybe I shouldn''t go after all."
"This is non-negotiable," Noreen said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I can only focus on my work if I can keep an eye on you."
Rosalind hadn''t expected that one deception topletely obliterate her credibility with her daughter. Now Noreen insisted on taking her along even to study abroad.
After a few more failed attempts to protest, she gave up and resignedly followed Noreen''s lead.
"Don''t worry about the food. I''ve already hired a chef from our hometown. You''ll adjust."
When Noreen had decided to bring her, she had anticipated these issues and made arrangements well in advance, wanting to ensure Rosalind would befortable.
"Alright, alright. It''s only for two years, not a big deal. I promise I won''t hold you back!" Rosalind assured her.
As their car stopped at a red light, Noreen opened herptop to deal with some work emails. Suddenly, Rosalind, seated beside her, murmured, "Oh, that poor thing. Doesn''t she have any family to look after her?"
"What poor thing?" Noreen asked without looking up.
"That homeless woman over there. She was just picking through the trash for something to eat," Rosalind said, her voice filled with pity and sadness.
Noreen nced up. By a public trash can at the intersection, a filthy woman with matted, tangled hair was bent over, rummaging inside After digging for a moment, shee pulled out a half-empty cup of bubble tea and began drinking it, a look of pure satisfaction spreading across her face.
Noreen froze. Was... was that Bianca? She couldn''t be sure. The appearance and demeanor of this homeless woman were a world away from the morous, polished Bianca she once knew.
Just then, several people in whiteb coats approached, shouting at her, "Don''t eat things from the trash!"
The more they yelled, the more frantically the woman drank, choking on the liquid As the orderlies rushed
toward her, she plunged hornakid
back into the bin, grabbed a handful of something, and shoved it into her mouth. s?novels
"Oh my god... that''s dog poop!" the lead female orderly shrieked, lunging forward to restrain the woman. The others quickly joined in, subduing her.
This time, the woman didn''t struggle. She justy on the ground, vomiting violently.
"She''s really lost her mind! Eating dog poop."
"Looks like it."
"Let''s get her back to the institution."
The light turned green, and Colby drove the car through the
intersection: In the rearview mirror Noreen watched as the woman was forced into a van parked nearby, the words "...Psychiatric Hospital printed on its side.
"How tragic," Rosalind sighed.
Noreen closed her eyes and said nothing.
Moments after the two of them settled into the airport''s VIP lounge, Wilbur tagged her in their group chat.
"The verdict is in. The corrupt official got the death penalty! Seth... life in prison."
Chapter 698
"Over ten others connected to the case were also sentenced. Half got the death penalty, and the other half got mostly suspended death sentences or twenty-year terms. The entire political sphere has been shaken."
To say it was shaken was an understatement. The key official had even been
released on bail a while back for medical reasons. Who knew what the appeal would
bring.
Noreen''s focus was stuck on two words: life in prison.
Her hand, holding her phone, tightened into a fist.
After a moment, she ced a call to Wade, keeping her voice as steady as she could.
"Aren''t you leaving for school today?" Wade asked as soon as he picked up, his first concern being for her.
"I''m at the airport now," Noreen said, trying to suppress her emotions. "I just wanted to call and let you know before I take off."
"Go and focus on your studies. Don''t you worry about me, I''m doing just fine."
A lump formed in Noreen''s throat. It took her a moment to regain herposure. "Okay. You take care of yourself. I''ll be back in Rivercrest City during the holidays. I''lle see you then."
"Alright."
Noreen didn''t dare say more. She quickly said her goodbyes and hung up. Any longer, and she knew she would have broken down. She had no idea how tofort Wade.
"Noreen."
Just as she wasposing herself, she heard someone call her name. She looked up to see Henry standing right in front of her. Dressed in a ck windbreaker and carrying arge messenger bag, he was smiling at her with his head tilted.
"What are you...?" Noreen waspletely bewildered.
Henry pulled a piece of paper from his bag and showed it to her. It was an eptance letter for a master''s program at WT Business School.
Noreen''s eyes widened in surprise. "So this is what you''ve been so busy with?"
"Yep," Henry confirmed with a firm nod. The moment he found out Noreen was going to WT Business School for her graduate studies, he had immediately applied for their master''s program. To get that offer, he''d practically studied himself into the ground. But now, he had achieved his goal and would be following Noreen to business school. Sanford Brooke had been incredibly supportive of his decision, even encouraging him to learn as much as he could from Noreen.
"So, does that make you my junior now?"
Henry''s smile was radiant. "Yes, it does, senior!"
Wilbur only found out about it after Henry and Noreen had both arrived at WT Business School. He flew into a rage in their group chat.
"You snake, Henry! When I asked you what you were doing, you wouldn''t say a word! So secretive, pulling moves like this behind our backs!"
Henry replied, "You could have applied too."
Wilbur typed back, "..."
Yeah, no thanks. He hated studying more than anything. He''d rather suffer
bitterness of love a
thousand times than endurea single moment of academic misery.
In the end all he could do was issue a threat to Henry. "You''d better take good care of Noreen. If even a single
harron her read is out of ce, I''m holding you responsible!"
Henry''s reply was firm. "Mission epted!"
Wilbur then added another warning. "And keep an eye on her! Don''t let any of those foreign guys steal her away!"
"Got it."
Noreen, reading the messages, thought, "???"
What was wrong with foreign guys? She might even have a beautiful mixed-race baby!
Of course, she would never dare say that out loud. She had a feeling if she did Wilbur would be on a ne and at her doorstep by morning. It was better to just keep that thought to herself.
At almost the exact same moment, a message from ire Chase popped up.
"Babe! I heard foreign men are amazing! You have to date a few!"
Noreen sighed. "..."
With a friend like that, she was truly blessed.
Chapter 699
Three yearster.
Late one night at Northcrest Capital, Sophia Cole picked up Noreen Gilmore.
In the car on the way to the hotel, Sophia handed Noreen a prepared itinerary and briefed her on the key points of the uing Northcrest Venture Capital Conference, along with thetest instructions from her superiors.
Noreen noted several promising projects.
She circled them with a red pen and asked Sophia to run background checks.
Sophia nced at the list and saw they were in pharmaceuticals,mercial aerospace, and new materials.
She was once again deeply impressed by Noreen''s sharp business acumen. After arriving at the hotel, Noreen took a shower.
She was still jetgged and couldn''t sleep.
A message came in from Henry Brooke, asking if she had arrived safely. Noreen replied that she had.
Relieved, Henry gave her a quick update on Rosalind Gilmore''s day.
Truthfully, Noreen already knew, even without him saying anything.
After all, she had hired four professional caregivers to look after Rosalind''s every need.
Just as Noreen was about to thank Henry, there was a knock on her door.
She assumed it was Sophia.
But when she opened it, she was met by a group of unfamiliar men.
"Ms. Gilmore, hello. I''m the head of Cypress Analytics. This is our project proposal. I hope you''ll take a look."
"Ms. Gilmore, please look at my proposal, too. I''m the founder of Lumen Creative Group."
"And mine, Ms. Gilmore."
"Mine, too..."
Seven or eight men showing up at her hotel door in the middle of the night was, frankly, terrifying.
Fortunately, hotel security heard themotion and hurried over, blocking the men from getting any closer.
"Please leave immediately! You are severely disturbing our guest!"
"If you don''t leave now, we''re calling the police!"
Under the security staff''s warnings, the men reluctantly dispersed.
The hotel manager repeatedly apologized to Noreen, admitting it was their securitypse that allowed the men to reach her door at such ate hour.
Given the time, Noreen wasn''t inclined to press the issue. She simply reminded
them to be more careful in the future before closing her door.
She then called Sophia and asked her to arrange for a different hotel.
When Sophia heard what had happened, she was furious. "Who on earth leaked your location?"
Noreen''s trip back to the country for the Venture Capital Conference had been kept strictly confidential precisely to avoid situations like this.
But Winrich Capital''s reputation was so immense that countless
entrepreneurs were desperate for its investment, and they would go to great lengths to track Noreen''s movements.
That was why her itinerary was always kept secret whenever she returned.
Butpses could happen, as tonight proved.
Sophia arranged for a new hotel for Noreen that very night.
While checking into the new hotel, she ran into Healy Naylor, who was also attending the conference.
The moment Healy saw Noreen, his face was a mask of disbelief.
"Noreen?"
His voice, filled with delighted surprise, cut through the silence of thete-night hotel lobby.
Before she could react, he had already hurried to her side. "It really is you! I thought my eyes were ying tricks on me!"
"When did you get back?"
"Are you done with your studies abroad?"
Healy fired off a series of questions. Noreen selectively answered one, "I''m just
back for the Venture Capital Conference."
The implication was clear: her studies weren''t finished, and she would be leaving again.
Though a little disappointed, Healy was still thrilled to see her.
He hadn''t seen Noreen once in the past three years.
He knew where she was, but he had no standing to go and find her.
That made this chance encounter all the more precious and surprising.
"I''m here for the conference too. I can''t believe we ran into each other. What a coincidence," Healy, said, the words tumbling out of him. Are you staying at this hotel? Me too?What are the odds?"
words outief him.
Chapter 700
Noreen didn''t respond much, merely ncing at her watch.
It was already one in the morning, hardly the time for a reunion.
Healy caught on and quickly said, "It''s gettingte. You should get some rest. See you tomorrow!"
Noreen gave a polite nod in response.
As she turned to leave, her room key slipped from her hand.
She bent to pick it up, but Healy was a step ahead of her, retrieving the key and handing it back.
"Thank you," Noreen said courteously as she took it.
"Of course."
Only after Noreen had walked away did Healy slowly lower his hand.
His gaze fell to his fingers, where a faint warmth lingered.
He instinctively clenched his fist, as if trying to hold onto that fleeting sensation.
The Northcrest Venture Capital Conference was thergest of its kind in the country, boasting the highest amount of capital raised.
The participating projects were all carefully vetted, and with strong government support, their prospects for growth were exceptional.
This was why Noreen had returned to attend.
Noreen arrived at the conference on time, assuming that after three years out of the public eye, few would recognize her.
She couldn''t have been more wrong. The moment she arrived, she was identified.
A crowd quickly formed around her, with people eagerly greeting her and trying to start conversations.
It took Noreen a long time to manage the crowd, and it was only as the conference was about to begin that people started to disperse.
Sophia handed Noreen a ss of water.
After a few sips, Noreen sighed. "I really thought no one would know who I was."
Sophia reminded her, "You have no idea how famous you are."
She wasn''t exaggerating.
Winrich Capital had long been at the pinnacle of the industry, an absolute benchmark for everyone else.
Its every move sent ripples through the entire sector.
Even after a three-year absence from the public stage, Noreen''s unshakable
position in the industry had not diminished in the slightest.
To put it dramatically, it seemed there was no one in their world who didn''t know Ms. Gilmore.
Just as Noreen took her seat, the conference officially began.
The person presiding over the meeting was another familiar face.
It was Padgett Novak, whom she hadn''t seen in a long time.
The past three years had given him an even moreposed and mature air.
A brief silence fell over the hall as Padgett Novak entered.
His eyes scanned the room and immediately found Noreen. A slight
disturbed the calm do liet
"ckerd
bis gaze.
When Noreen looked his way, he gave her a subtle nod.
Noreen nodded back in acknowledgment.
of
Only then did Padgett Novak walk to the main podium to deliver his
fevel.ne
opening address releasing Suneo
key
policies and an industry white paper:
Padgett should have been incredibly busy, given the importance of the conference.
Yet, he still managed to find a moment to meet with Noreen.
They didn''t get to say much, but Padgett had been the one to initiate the conversation.
He was simply too in-demand.
Too many people were vying for his attention.
Before they could exchange more than a few words, Padgett was called away again.
After that, another opportunity never presented itself.
Healy, on the other hand, seized every chance he could to get close to Noreen.
Unfortunately, Noreen was just as busy, surrounded by people wanting to speak with her.
So he didn''t get to talk to her much either.
Toward thetter half of the conference, Castle Joyner arrived.
After a brief chat with Padgett Novak, he walked straight over to Noreen.
"Katy came with me. How about we all have dinner together after the conference ends?"
"Okay," Noreen agreed.
She hadn''t seen Katy in a while and wouldn''t pass up such a rare opportunity.
Standing nearby, Healy heard the exchange and cursed himself for ot
asking herto dinner fisket
Son
had beaten him to it.
As his mother would say, he was always a dayte and a dor short.
Chapter 701
Katy was overjoyed to see Noreen, clinging to her and chattering away excitedly.
For once, Castle was relegated to the background, silently peeling shrimp.
He had a touch of OCD, and he arranged the peeled shrimp neatly on two separate tes.
He then ced a te of perfectly peeled shrimp in front of both Katy and Noreen.
Noreen hesitated for a moment.
Sensing her reluctance, Castle exined, "It was nothing, really. Don''t read too much into it."
His exnation only made her feel like she''d been overthinking it.
Near the end of dinner, Castle''s phone rang.
He nced at the caller ID and immediately rejected the call.
But a momentter, it rang again.
His brow furrowed, a sh of annoyance in his eyes.
Katy, perceptive as ever, guessed what was happening. "Is it them?" she asked cautiously.
Castle confirmed it was.
"Let me take it," Katy said.
Castle seemed hesitant.
But Katy insisted, and he finally handed her the phone.
She answered, her tone icy. "You are my biological parents, nothing more. From the moment you abandoned me, our rtionship ended. Please stop disturbing my life. Thank you."
With that, she hung up before they could say a word.
Although Noreen hadn''t heard the details, Katy''s words told her everything she needed to know.
After dinner, Castle drove Noreen back to her hotel.
On the way, Castle''swyer called, informing him that Katy''s biological parents had already retained counsel and were preparing to sue for custody.
Although they had abandoned Katy, there was no concrete proof from back then.
They had always deceitfully imed she had just gone missing.
Most critically, Mrs. Joyner had been deceased for four years, and Castle had remained single during that time.
Thew in Glenhaven City stipted that a single man could not adopt a female child unless there was at least a forty-year age difference.
This meant the other party had a real chance of winning the case.
Katy overheard the conversation and shrank back, leaning against Noreen forfort.
Her expression was one of profound sadness.
As Noreen held her, she whispered,
"I don''t want to go back to them. The
only reason they''re fighting Dad
Joyner for me now is because I''m
_valuable to the
AFT stop being
useful, they''ll just throw me away again!"
Her body trembled with a mixture of fear and anger as she spoke.
Noreen could only squeeze her hand tightly, trying to offer what little security she could.
Mrs. Joyner had given Noreen her first major opportunity, a kindness she had never forgotten.
And Mrs. Joyner had raised Katy as her own.
Because of that, Noreen''s feelings for Katy were special.
The car fell silent, the atmosphere heavy, until they reached the hotel.
Just before Noreen got out, Castle asked her, "Are you flying to
Meritania tomto astle
If so.. wee to use my private jet. I happen to be flying there as well."
"I have to make a stop in Rivercrest City first. I''ll fly from there."
"Alright."
Castle didn''t press further.
Noreen said her goodbyes and got out of the car.
elget
The next day, after attending the morning session of the conference, Noreen headed straight to the airport for her flight to Rivera est City.
BUMS
By the time Healy realized Noreen was gone, he learned she had already left.
He groaned in frustration. He''d missed his chance again.
He always missed his chance.
Noreen''s trip to Rivercrest City wasn''t for anything particrly urgent; she just wanted to visit Wade Harcourt.
As the car passed through Horizon Drive, Noreen once again saw the half-finished house that was meant to be her and Seth Harcourt''s home.
It stood just as it had three years ago, a solitary frame against the sky.
This was an upscale neighborhood, with the other mansionsvishly decorated.
It only made the solitary structure look all the more deste and decayed.
Chapter 702
The sight only amplified the destion and decay of the solitary building.
Wade was the same as ever, sitting in the courtyard feeding his fish.
After the fire at the Harcourt estate, Wade had hired a construction crew to rebuild it in a one-to-one replica of its formeryout, and he had moved back in.
So, as Noreen pushed open the courtyard gate, she felt a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, as if time had reversed.
It was only when she saw the streaks of white in Wade''s hair that she was reminded that time travel didn''t exist.
Wade was very happy to see her.
Evelyn even made a special trip to the market, returning to cook a number of Noreen''s favorite dishes.
Wade asked about Noreen''s studies.
"Originally, I nned toe back after my master''s, but my advisor insisted I stay on for abined master''s and PhD program, so it took a couple more years."
"If you had gone abroad to study from the start, you would have had your doctorate long ago. The Harcourt family held you back," Wade said, his voiceced with guilt.
"No, please don''t think that, Mr. Harcourt," Noreen quickly exined. "It was my own choice. It had nothing to do with anyone else."
It was as if by some unspoken agreement, no one mentioned Seth.
His name was a forbidden word.
Perhaps, many years from now, he would finally be forgotten.
Another year passed.
On the day Noreen sessfully earned her doctorate, Wilbur and the others all flew
to Meritania to throw her a celebratory party.
This time, even ire Chase came.
Noreen was in high spirits. She poured ire a ss of wine, ready for an all-night chat.
But ire announced she had quit drinking.
Noreen couldn''t believe her ears.
A lush like ire, quitting drinking?
Who would ever believe that?
"I really quit," ire insisted, raising her ss of orange juice. "I''ll join you with this."
Noreen was speechless.
Fine, whatever she wanted.
Noreen, however, drank quite a bit, though ire noticed her tolerance wasn''t what it used to be.
It seemed a high tolerance was something that had to be maintained.
ire asked her why she hadn''t found herself a handsome foreign man.
Noreen just looked up at the ceiling.
"I crammed seven years of study
into four was so maxed out I had. i
to fight for every second of sleep. Where would I find time for
romance?"
ire had noeback for that. Noreen had a point.
"Forget it. Men are a nice essory,
but they''re not worth wasting your time on ire said with the aft of
II
Some who had seen i
all,
Noreen reached out and patted her on the head, thinking she must have lost her mind.
After all, the old ire had proimed she wanted to date every handsome man in the world.
As the wine took effect, Noreen started to feel drowsy. She vaguely heard ire talking to her.
"Noreen, you''re going to be a godmother."
Noreen was too sleepy to hear clearly. She mumbled something and drifted off.
The next morning, she was woken up by ire.
"What is it?"
Noreen''s head was throbbing. She shouldn''t have drunk so much.
"There''s a dashing gentleman downstairs asking for you!" ire said.
As she spoke, she gave Noreen a scrutinizing look, as if waiting for a confession.
Noreen had no idea who could be looking for her. She quickly washed up and went downstairs, where she saw the "dashing gentleman ire had described.
It was Castle.
Even Rosalind was curious about Castle''s identity.
But Noreen had no time to exin.
If Castle hade all this way to find her, it had to be important.
She and Castle went outside to talk privately.
"I''m here about Katy''s custody," Castle said, getting straight to the point.
"Noreen, will you marry me?" he asked.
Chapter 703
"Help me get custody of Katy, and I''ll let you use every connection I have to climb thedder."
"After that, whether you stay or go is entirely up to you."
As Castle Joyner spoke, the only person on Noreen Gilmore''s mind was Katy.
If a fake marriage could secure Katy''s future, she was willing to do it.
Since it was a sham marriage, there were naturally conditions of secrecy.
Castle''swyer informed Noreen that until they had secured custody of Katy, she could not reveal the true nature of their marriage to anyone, including her closest friends and family.
Noreen understood the reasoning. Everything depended on the bigger picture.
So, without hesitation, she signed the confidentiality agreement thewyer handed her.
Castle was efficient, setting the engagement party for a monthter.
Noreen hadn''t even figured out how to break the news to Rosalind Gilmore and ire Chase.
ire had been staying with her for a week now, with no mention of returning to her acting career. It was highly unusual. When Noreen asked, ire just said that after years of hard work, she was nning to take a long vacation.
That sounded even more suspicious to Noreen.
She called ire''s agent, Sandra, behind her back to get the real story.
"You don''t know?" Sandra said. "ire was bullied on set. I thought she went to you to vent!"
Noreen''s heart sank. "Bullied? What happened?"
Sandra exined everything.
A while back, ire hadnded the lead role in a major director''s film through her own hard work. She had signed the contract and started filming, only to be reced midway through production.
Apparently, a financial backer had pushed a new actress onto the project, who snatched the role ire had fought so hard for.
To prepare
the part, ire had
started high-intensity training three months early, covering physical conditioning, wirework, and fight choreography. During that time, she was covered in bruises. Sandra had to have a masseuse waiting at the hotel every day to help her recover after filming.
But the studio just reced her without a second thought.
What was
worse, the new actress
had zero experience with action scenes. So the studio took the dangerous stunt sequences that ire had risked her life to film and. spliced them into the movie, passing them off as the neer''s work.
Furious, ire went to confront the producers that night. But by the time Sandra arrived, she only saw ire walking back to the hotel alone, drenched in rain.
After that, she fell seriously ill. Once she recovered, she announced she was taking
a long vacation and flew overseas to see Noreen.
Sandra still had no idea what had happened that night. ire refused to talk about
it.
"What''s the name of the actress who took her role?" Noreen asked, her voice cold and heavy.
"Madeline Lynwood, aplete unknown with no acting experience," Sandra replied, having clearly done her own research. "But her backer is a big deal. His name is Felix Quigley, from the Quigley family of Northcrest."
The Quigley family of Northcrest was indeed a powerful name.
But Noreen was no pushover either.
Noreen instructed Sandra to email her all the information on the entire production team; she would have
vel
someone look into it. So, this Madeline liked to y the connections gamle did she? As if
she were the only one with connections.
Of course, Noreen didn''t tell ire any of this. If ire wanted a peaceful vacation,
she deserved one, without being bothered by these troubles.
But there was another matter she had to bring up, however difficult.
ire was sunbathing and eating fruit at the time. Noreen walked over, took the fruit bowl from her hands, and told her to finish what was in her mouth.
ire looked baffled but did as she was told. Once Noreen was sure her mouth was empty and she was settled securely in the lounge chair, she spoke, her tone so direct it was devoid of emotion.
Chapter 704
"I''m getting engaged."
"What? Ahem-"
Of all the possible reactions Noreen had braced herself for, she never imagined ire would choke on her own saliva.
It took several moments of Noreen patting her back before ire could catch her
breath.
"Engaged to who?" ire demanded urgently.
"Castle. The man who came to see mest time."
ire tilted her head, thinking. "He''s handsome. Very gentlemanly, has that old- money vibe."
"He''s a bit older, sure, but older men know how to take care of you!" ire analyzed the situation like a doting mother.
After listing a series of pros, however, she asked Noreen, "Are you getting engaged to him because you love him?"
"Is that important?" Noreen replied, as if the question was utterly abstract.
ire thought for a moment. "No, it''s not. People who chase after true love never have a happy ending! It''s better to go for fame and fortune!"
This time, it was Noreen''s turn to tilt her head and study her.
After a long pause, she asked, "Honey, have you been hurt by a man?"
ire''s eyes darted away, avoiding Noreen''s gaze as sheughed nervously. "No way! My heart is made of stone. No man can hurt me! I''m the one who breaks their hearts!"
"I hope that''s true."
Noreen reached out and stroked her hair. "I''ve been so busy these past few years, I haven''t been there for you. I''m sorry, sweetie."
"I''ve been eating and drinking just fine. You worry too much."
She was her usual carefree self. And maybe being carefree was for the best.
...
In Northcrest, the September air cut like a knife as day turned to night.
Down a long corridor, one iron gate after another nged open. As the final gate swung wide, he smelled it for the first time in years the scent of the wind.
The elderly man behind him stopped, watching as the man ahead tilted his head back to feel the sun on his face.
A momentter, he spoke. "Seth, you''re free."
Seth Harcourt knew how hard the old man had worked for this moment.
"Thank you for everything."
The old man smiled. "It was necessary. We couldn''t let you sacrifice yourself for real, could we?"
He said it lightly, but back when Seth
had decided to use himself as bait,
the old man had been terrified for
him Any misstep, any mistake, could have exposed them or alerted the mastermind hiding in the shadows, casting Seth into
irreversible ruin.
Thankfully, they had seeded. Thankfully, he had saved Seth.
"Go on. Return to your old life. Be the
real Seth again," the e
pping him on the shoulder t
Was
both an instruction and a farewell.
Seth stepped through thest iron gate, finally standing fully in the sunlight He could taste the freedom.
stood there for a long
time before picking up his meager bag and walking away, neverlooking back.
Outside, Jude Wilder had been waiting for a long time. The moment he saw Seth,
he ran toward him.
"Seth!"
Jude''s voice was filled with unrestrained joy and excitement as he threw his arms around him. "Seth! You''re finally free!"
"Let''s go straight back to Rivercrest City! The private jet is already waiting at the airport!"
"Evelyn has cooked a whole spread of your favorite dishes!"
"Oh, and Mr. Harcourt is waiting for you too! Everyone''s been waiting for this day!" Jude chattered on and on.
Seth''s expression remained unchanged. Only after Jude had finished his excited rambling did he finally speak.
"What about her? Is she okay?"
Jude''s mind stalled for a moment before he finally realized who "her" was.
After a brief silence, he finally answered.
"She''s getting engaged today."
Chapter 705
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 fianc¨¦e.
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. C¨®ntent
Chapter 706
As the doctor was conducting the check-up, Katy sheepishly admitted that she hadn''t taken her sleeping pill the night before.
The doctor paused, then asked, "And you slept through the night?"
Katy nodded. "I did! And I slept really well!"
This astonished the physician. "This is the first time in five years that you''ve been able to fall asleep naturally, without the help of sedatives." The excitement in his voice was palpable.
Noreen knew Katy had a special medical condition that required long-term medication, but she hadn''t realized it was so severe that she couldn''t sleep on her own and had to rely on custom-made sedatives.
After Katy left to wash up, Noreen spoke with the doctor to get more details about her condition.
He exined that Katy''s brainwave activity was different from a normal person''s-it was too active, which interfered with her daily life. It was something akin to what you might see in savants.
This news made Noreen''s heart ache for Katy even more.
"Miss Gilmore, if you don''t mind, could you cooperate with us on a test? We want to see if Katy''s ability to sleep without medication is directly rted to her being near you."
"Of course," Noreen agreed.
When Noreen and Katy went downstairs for breakfast, she noticed a few subtle changes in the living room. Several antique vases that were there before were now missing.
She didn''t think much of it and led Katy to the dining room. A maid mentioned that Castle hadn''te homest night, but Noreen didn''t inquire further.
As she was focusing on her breakfast, two maids were whispering to each other in the local Glenhaven City dialect, likely assuming Noreen wouldn''t understand.
Noreen could actually pick up some of it, and between what she heard and some guesswork, she pieced together the story.
"Lily, who was on the night shift, said that crazy woman showed up again, smashing everything. Those priceless antique vases in the living room are gone. They were cleaning up the mess all night."
"Sigh, Mrs. Joyner is such a good person. Why does she have a psycho for a sister? They have the same father-how can they be so different?"
"Same father but not the same mother. Miss. Caldwell''s mother was the other woman who broke up the marriage. How can shepare t to Mrs. Joyner, whose mother was a celebrated socialite from Portside City, married properly into the family?"
"Like mother, like daughter, I guess! Absolutely shameless! How could she go after her own brother-inw?"
Perhaps Noreen''s nce in their direction made them stop. The two gossiping maids quickly fell silent and moved to another area with their cleaning supplies.
Now Noreen knew. The person who
had caused a scene at Joyner Mansionst night was Sue. No wonder it was so loud; that was certainly Sue''s style. Noreen had no desire to deal with her and was d she hadn''t gone downstairs.
Just as they finished breakfast, Castle returned, looking exhausted. As he took off
his jacket, Noreen noticed several fresh scratch marks on the back of his hand, near his wrist.
"I''ve already filed a flight n for you. You can take my private jet directly to Rivercrest City in a little while," Castle said as he sat down. He knew she had to fly there today.
"And if it''s convenient, please take Katy with you."
If Katy wasing along, a private jet was indeed the better option. Noreen didn''t refuse.
After saying their goodbyes to Castle, she, Katy, and Katy''s private doctor flew directly to Rivercrest City.
Uponnding, Noreen found their car
based on the information Sophia Cole had sent. Once inside, she told the driver to take the doctor to his hotel first. The driver didn''t respong, merely typing the hotel address into the GPS. After the car started moving, he kept ncing at Noreen in the rearview mirror.
Chapter 707
After the car dropped off the medical team at the hotel, Noreen, who had a meeting
to get to, entrusted Katy to the doctor''s care, promising to pick her up in the
afternoon.
For the rest of the journey, it was just Noreen and the driver in the car.
The vehicle moved smoothly along the highway. Noreen was engrossed in reviewing project proposals for herpany, her head bowed over herptop. She was so focused that she didn''t notice the persistent nces from the rearview mirror. The driver''s gaze was filled with an unconcealed longing, as if he were memorizing her features, from the elegant curve of her neck to the strands of hair stirred by the gentle breeze...
His eyes finally came to rest on the ring she wore on the middle finger of her right hand.
The car came to a steady stop in front of Winrich Tower. Noreen closed herptop and was about to open the door when the driver got out and opened it for her.
"Thank you," she said politely, her gaze not lingering.
Sophia was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing Noreen arrive, she hurried over to greet her.
"Could you get the luggage?" Noreen said to Sophia, handing her theptop bag.
As Sophia took the suitcase from the driver, she shot a quick nce at Noreen, who was already walking up the steps. Once she was sure Noreen was out of earshot, she hissed at the driver in a low voice, "This is the one and only time I''m breaking the rules for you! If Noreen finds out, I''m dead!"
"I know."
Sophia didn''t dare to stay any longer and quickly wheeled the suitcase to catch up with Noreen.
Seth stood where he was, his eyes secretly following her until she disappeared from view. After a moment, his phone rang. He answered it calmly.
Jordan''s anxious voice came through the line. "Where are you? I''ve been waiting forever!"
"On my way," Seth replied, his voice casual.
Jordan grumbled on the other end, "What''s wrong with you? You''re the one who needs to see a doctor, but you''re not even in a hurry!"
Seth didn''t bother to reply, simply hanging up and driving slowly to Jordan''s clinic.
When Seth arrived, Jude was
already there. He had also received from Jordan, informing him that Seth had bailed on his appointment.
"Seth, where have you been?" Jude asked, even more worried than Jordan.
"Just driving around," Seth answered, his expression still nonchnt, showing none of the concern expected of a patient.
"Come on, Jordan''s been waiting a long time for you." Jude, helpless, could only urge him into the consultation room.
Jordan was a highly respected psychologist in his field and had been Seth''s therapist for years. Seth had seen him for treatment a long time ago and had shown some improvement But recently Jude had told Jordan that something seemed off about Seth again, prompting the appointment.
After a series of systematic tests and questions, Jordan''s expression grew increasingly grave.
Jude''s heart was in his throat. "How is he?" he asked anxiously.
"It''s even worse than before," Jordan said, his eyes dark. "We need to start systematic treatment immediately."
Jude was about to agree when Seth spoke up, his tone bored.
"No, thanks. There''s nothing to treat. Every day I''m alive now is a bonus. I don''t want to go through the trouble."
"No!"
Both Jude and Jordan rejected his words in unison.
"Seth, you have to keep living, if only for Mr. Harcourt''s sake," Jude pleaded, desperation in his voice.
Seth''s eyes shifted slightly. "My mother and I both ''died'' the year she passed away. Living this many extra years is more than enough."
Jude wanted to say more, but Seth had already stood up and grabbed his jacket I''m going home to have dinner with the old man. You guys do
whatever."
Chapter 710
"You think I didn''t try?" Seth''s voice was even more wistful. He had spent several days searching theke back then. He ended up sick for over half a month afterward. The weather then wasn''t as mild as it was now, and the water had been bone-chillingly cold. In the end, he had found nothing.
It took a great deal of persuasion from Jude to finally get Seth to leave thekeside.
"Seth, if you''re not staying at the Harcourt estate, where are you living? If you don''t have a ce, you can stay with me." That way, he could keep an eye on him.
But Seth refused without a second thought. "I have a ce."
"Huh? Where could you possibly live?" After all, all of his known assets had been seized, including his former marital home.
Seth''s only answer was the sight of his car speeding away.
Jude muttered to himself, "So where exactly are you living?"
Noreen had just returned to thepany and was swamped with work, spending a solid week in back-to-back meetings.
Sophia knocked and came in to ask about the arrangements for thepany''s relocation. Winrich Tower had beenpleted in the first half of the year, and some departments had already moved in. However, Noreen''s office had remained at the old location, so the official move-in celebration had been postponed. Everything revolved around her.
"Just follow the original n." Over the years, Sophia had be more than capable of handling things on her own, and Noreen had given her full authority over many matters.
"In that case, we should probably keep this office for you. This location will still be a Winrich branch, so it''ll be convenient for you when you''re here on business," Sophia suggested.
Noreen had no objection. She was quite fond of the ce. It was, after all, where her new life had begun, and it held a special significance. Besides she loved the decor, which was why she had chosen it in the first ce. More importantly, she felt it brought her good luck.
"By the way, you were the one who signed the original lease with thendlord. It should be expiring soon, so we need to contact them about a renewal," Sophia reminded her.
Noreen pulled the old lease agreement from a file cab and called thendlord to discuss renewing the contract.
To her surprise, thendlord soundedpletely baffled. "Didn''t you sign a 20-year lease from the start?"
"That''s impossible!" Noreen denied it immediately. The price had been a good deal, but back then, she didn''t have much capital and was
uncertain if thepany won
even survive. So she had only signed for five years, not daring tomit to a long-term contract. She
remembered it very clearly.
But thendlord was adamant. "I''m positive it was for 20 years! The rent was quite high-thirty percent more. than other properties in the area. S when you offered to pay for all 20 years upfront, my whole family agreed. We used that money to buy several other office spaces. Are you sure you''re not mistaken?"
"Could you please send me a copy of the lease agreement?" Noreen realized there was a major discrepancy.
Thendlord agreed. A few minutester, Noreen received a digital copy of the lease. She scrolled through it, page by page, confirming that the terms were exactly as thendlord had described.
It was a 20-year lease. The rent was not only much higher than she remembered, but it had been paid in full, upfront.
But the real shock came at the very end, with the signature.
It wasn''t her name.
It was the name Evelyn Fowler.
And as it happened, Noreen knew exactly who that was.
Chapter 711
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¡ªcouldn''t¡ª 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.
Chapter 712
ire hade straight from the airport. She wasn''t wearing an evening gown, but she still radiated a natural star power.
"Sweetie! I made it! Pretty impressive, right?" ire greeted Noreen with an enthusiastic hug.
"You didn''t have to rush all the way here. Weren''t you on vacation?"
"Vacations can wait. Besides, I''m a part-owner of Winrich. I can''t just sit on the sidelines forever, can I?"
Noreen listened with a smile, not taking her words too seriously.
"Have you, uh, gained a little weight recently?" Noreen asked casually.
ire clutched her chest dramatically. "Wow, way to hurt a girl''s feelings!"
"It''s just that you were too thin before, so even a little extra weight is noticeable," Noreen said matter-of-factly.
"Hey, it''s a vacation. You''re supposed to indulge. And let me tell you, the hot guys abroad are something else. You missed out."
Noreen was speechless.
Not long after they went inside, Halley Joyner arrived. Noreen took him to the VIP lounge to talk for a bit, leaving ire to wander the party on her own, sampling desserts and sipping juice.
She was having a good time until a grating voice cut through the air. "What are you doing here?"
The sound of that voice was enough to make ire want to vomit. And given that she was already suffering from morning sickness, the disgusting sound was a trigger, and she retched on the spot.
Madeline watched her with growing disgust. "Have you no ss? You''re so embarrassing. No wonder Felix won''t go public with you. You really don''t deserve him."
ire dry-heaved for a moment, feeling awful. Madeline''s taunts only made it worse. "Right, right, you''re the only one in the world who deserves him! You two are a perfect match! Happy now?" she retorted, rolling her eyes before heading straight for the restroom.
Just as she wasposing herself, she came out and stumbled upon the cheating couple hiding in a quiet corner.
Madeline was draped all over Felix, whining in a sickly sweet voice, "Felix don''t know why my cousin
to her
hates me so much just ran into and tried to talk to her, but she was so rude and said I was disgusting. I don''t even know what I did to offend her."
"That''s just how she is," Felixforted her. "Ignore her."
"I keep trying to fix things with her, but she won''t give me a chance. A don''t know what to do Madeline continued, her voice full of feigned distress.
Felix was dismissive. "It doesn''t matter. You don''t need to care what she thinks."
It doesn''t matter...
That''s right. She didn''t matter.
Even though she, ire, was Felix''s legal wife, to him, she would always be insignificant.
ire bit her lip hard and turned to walk away. She bit so hard that she tasted the metallic tang of blood in her mouth.
She stood alone on a small terrace for a long time, letting the wind cool her face, until Noreen found her.
Seeing her safe, Noreen let out a sigh of relief. "What are you doing hiding out here?"
ire''s eyes were empty. She gave a bitter smile. "If I disappeared, you''d be the only one who would look for me."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Noreen sensed something was wrong with her mood and grew worried.
ire didn''t want to spoil Noreen''s big day, so she forced a smile. "Nothing, just a random thought. By the way, I heard Seth got out. Did you know?"
Noreen froze. She hadn''t known. In truth, she hadn''t made any effort to find out anything about Seth these pastlewars." So naturally she had no idea he had been released.
Chapter 713
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.
Chapter 714
Noreen was genuinely drunk. She fell asleep as soon as she got into the car,pletely oblivious to what was happening outside.
Sophia lowered her voice. "Mr. Harcourt, how could you go back on your word!"
He had clearly said this would be the only time!
"I won''t disturb her."
"You already are."
After a two-second silence, Seth promised her, "This is thest time."
Sophia bit her lip and finally relented.
The car drove smoothly through the streets as the city lights began to glow, the scenery on both sides receding in the rearview mirror.
Everything was quiet.
The moment Jude''s call came in, Seth immediately rejected it.
At the same time, he cautiously nced at the person in the rearview mirror.
Perhaps because he ended the call so quickly, Noreen wasn''t woken by the ringing and continued to sleep lightly.
After dropping her off downstairs, he turned off the engine.
Without the white noise of the moving car, Noreen woke from her light slumber.
Her head was still spinning.
It had been too long since she''d had a drink; her tolerance hadpletely vanished. She looked out the window and saw she was home but didn''t get out right away. After rubbing her temples, she instructed the driver, "Take me to Soutke for a bit. I need some fresh air to sober up."
The person in the driver''s seat suddenly tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
In the end, he said nothing, simply starting the car and heading toward Soutke.
When they arrived, Noreen didn''t get out of the car.
She just rolled down the window, letting the evening breeze drift in.
The wind at this hour was still gentle, carrying a hint of early autumn chill that was sobering.
Noreen leaned against the window, enjoying the breeze for a few minutes before telling the driver to take her back.
When they returned to her apartment building, ire and Katy were waiting for her outside.
The moment Noreen got out of the car, the two of them nked her, supporting her.
ire said, "Sophia called and told me you drank too much, so she
asked me toe get you. Wel.ne
been waiting for a while. Was there traffic?"
"I went to Soutke to get some air. I came back after I sobered up a bit," Noreen exined.
"Let''s go, let''s go. Let''s get you inside. Your hands are so cold."
Their voices faded as their figures disappeared into the building''s entrance.
Only then did he look away and open his phone.
There were several missed calls and messages, all from Jude.
He called him back.
Jude answered almost instantly, his voice filled with worry. "Seth! You finally answered! What were you doing? Do you have any idea how worried I was when i couldn''t reach you?"
"What''s there to worry about? I''m not going to die."
Seth''s voice was as casual and nonchnt as ever.
But it was also lifeless, utterly devoid of energy.
"Where are you now?" Jude asked anxiously. "Over by Summit Avenue."
Jude paused. Wasn''t that where Noreen lived?
"You went to see Noreen again?"
Seth didn''t deny it.
He adjusted his seat to the right angle. When he looked up, he could
see how of Noreen''s
bedroom.
The light was on.
eet
Though the light was far away, it seemed to illuminate something within him.
He knew he shouldn''t be disturbing Noreen.
But he couldn''t help himself.
Every time, he told himself.
This is thest time.
Just onest time to see her.
As long as he could see her once, he could hold on for a while longer.
Chapter 715
When Jude found Seth, he was sitting by Soutke again.
Same old spot.
"If you''re that curious about what Noreen threw in there, I''ll hire someone to drain theke so you can look for it."
Even Jude felt helpless after saying that.
Not only did they not know what Noreen had thrown in, but even if they did, trying to
find it after five years was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
"Seth, where are you living now?" Jude had always been curious about this.
Jordan had said they needed to persuade Seth to undergo systematic psychological treatment as soon as possible.
But before that, they had to know his whereabouts to prevent him from doing anything extreme again.
"Why all the questions?"
Seth still refused to say.
Jude couldn''t force him, so he tried another approach. "Why don''t youe work at NoMore Corporation? It''s yourpany anyway. Since you''re back, I can finally give myself a break."
"Not interested. Besides, thepany is in your name. It has nothing to do with me."
Seth remained listless, showing no interest in anything.
No matter how much Jude pleaded, he couldn''t persuade Seth.
In the end, he still had no idea where Seth was living.
On Monday, someone from InnoCore came to Winrich to deliver a progress report.
But it wasn''t Carman; it was Mrs. Holt.
Also known as Jasmine, the current vice president of InnoCore.
Noreen''s memory of Jasmine was from when she was Carman''s secretary.
Back then, she had been a very proper person.
It was impossible to reconcile that image with the arrogant woman before her now.
"What is this horrible coffee? Is it instant? I only drink freshly ground coffee."
Before Noreen even entered the conference room, she could hear Jasmine making things difficult for the secretary.
Sophia whispered to Noreen, "Soon after Jasmine married Mr. Holt, she gave him a son. Her position was solidified, and she was promoted to Vice President of Innocore. Since then, she''s be arrogant and incredibly difficult to deal with."
"But it was always Mr. Holt who came for the reports, so we never had much contact with her. I don''t know what''s different this time. It''s strange that she''s the one handling the first progress report since your return to Winrich."
When Noreen entered the conference room, Jasmine reined in her arrogance and greeted her politely, "Ms. Gilmore, long time no see."
Noreen motioned for her to sit and opened herptop, getting straight to business.
It was clear that Jasmine hade prepared. Her performance in professional matters wasmendable.
There were asional minor slip-ups, but they were within an eptable range.
However, as the report was nearing its end, Jasmine suddenly mentioned, "Ms. Gilmore, you did provide InnoCore with a great deal of help back then, but innocore has also made a lot of money foryou over the years. You could say that InnoCore contributes more than half of Winrich''s revenue."
Noreen leaned back in her chair, waiting for what Jasmine would say next.
Jasmine leaned forward, her
intentions clear and utilitarian. "I heard from my Carman that the original share ratio was decided privately between the two of you. You provided the capital, he provided the technology. That arrangement was reasonable back then, but now, it''s somewhat unfair."
"So, you want control of InnoCore?" Noreen didn''t beat around the bush, cutting straight to her true motive.
Jasmine probably hadn''t expected Noreen to be so direct. She faltered for a moment, her expression a little unnatural.
Chapter 716
But then she admitted it frankly. "That''s exactly what I mean. I hope Winrich will
reduce its shareholding in InnoCore and hand over management rights. You can just be a silent investor and wait for your quarterly dividends."
What nerve!
Noreenughed. "You said yourself that the contract was signed between me and Carman. Then let Carmane and talk to me!"
"I am Carman''s wife. I can represent him," Jasmine insisted stubbornly.
"But as far as I''m concerned, you can''t," Noreen stated just as firmly.
In the end, Jasmine left with a cold expression on her face.
Sophia was indignant, denouncing Jasmine''s brazen ambition. "How is this any different from biting the hand that feeds you? Who does she think she is? To have the nerve to challenge you to your face!"
"Do you remember how many people you had to beg, how much you had to drink just to get funding for InnoCore back then? How can people be so ungrateful!"
"That''s just human nature." Noreen was calm about it.
In the past, she wouldn''t have been able to remain soposed.
But after everything she had been through, she no longer held any expectations for human nature.
Sophia was a little worried. "Do you think Mr. Holt feels the same way?"
"Find out who Jasmine has been meeting with recently."
Sophia was very efficient. Noreen gave the order in the morning, and by the afternoon, she had an answer.
"NoMore Corporation?" Noreen looked at the name, finding it unfamiliar.
Sophia exined, "It''s a techpany that has grown incredibly fast in thest two years. Their corepetitive industry is High-Temperature Superconductivity. Their technology is very mature, not only dominating the domestic market but also breaking into overseas markets, securing coborations with several tech giants."
"However, the owner of NoMore Corporation is quite mysterious and has never appeared in public."
The corporate structure of NoMore Corporation listed the legal representative as a man in his fifties named Will Lewis.
There were no other business affiliations under his name.
If Jasmine had really teamed up with NoMore Corporation, it would certainly not be good news for Winrich.
At almost the same time, Jude told Seth about the situation.
He had his own selfish motives.
Empty words might not be enough to persuade Seth.
But what if it had to do with Noreen?
Sure enough, as soon as he heard it involved Noreen, he became interested. "Reject it."
Seth''s reply was concise.
Jude said, "Of course we have to reject it. After all, half of Winrich''s revenue depends on InnoCore. If it got out that Innocore was stabbing, Winch in the back, it would be a huge blow to Winrich!"
"Who told you half of Winrich''s revenue depends on InnoCore?" Seth said dismissively.
Jude was momentarily stunned. "Isn''t that what everyone says?"
"Don''t put all your eggs in one basket. She understands that principle better than you do."
Seth''s tone became nonchnt again.
Jude asked, "Are you that certain?"
"Yes, I''m certain."
Five years ago, when he learned that she had dared to sign a high-stakes gambling agreement all by herself He knew
longer the workce novice who his
on that she was no ''careful protecti
Gontent belongs to swos
His feelings at that moment wereplicated¡ªa mix of pride and helplessness.
She had matured, even learning a few tricks from him.
But it also meant she had grown.
She could stand on her own two feet, even without him.
It was time for him to learn to let go.
Chapter 717
Jude discovered that Seth would only respond when the conversation was about Noreen.
If he talked about anything else, Seth would mostly remain silent.
Or simply couldn''t be bothered to reply.
For instance, when Jude asked, "Seth, why did you name thepany NoMore Corporation? Is there some special meaning behind it?"
"No."
"Just picked it at random."
Somehow, Jude didn''t believe him.
He clearly remembered when he had visited him in prison and asked about thepany name.
He remembered the flicker of light in Seth''s eyes.
And the tone in his voice when he said the words ''NoMore Corporation.''
It was more resolute than he had ever heard him.
That meant he had thought of the name long before, which was why it came out so spontaneously at that moment.
Jude just had never figured out what it meant.
He tried a few other topics, but as expected, received no response.
The problem was, he didn''t dare to leave either.
"By the way, there''s a business dinner tomorrow. Seth, why don''t you go? I really can''t handle it."
Jude grumbled about the client.
She was an important overseas client for NoMore Corporation, a woman in herte forties named Nina.
Every time Jude met with Nina, she would make unwee advances.
It had gotten to the point where the mere thought of seeing Nina made his skin crawl.
Seth''s advice was, "If you run away from problems instead of solving them, you''ll never ovee that hurdle."
"But you have to give me time to learn how to handle it," Jude said, feeling wronged.
"Where do you think you''ll get all the time to slowly learn how to deal with people? People only learn to grow in harsh environments."
With that, Seth stood up and brushed the dust off his jacket. "I''m heading back. You should go home early too."
Jude was dumbfounded.
Seriously? He had spent the whole evening freezing in the cold wind with him, and he was just going to up and leave?
He wasn''t going to help him deal with Nina?
Was he really that heartless?
Was he this heartless to Noreen back then?
Jude paused, scratching his head.
Actually, yeah, he was pretty heartless!
Even harsher to her than he was to him!
A real taskmaster!
But he wasn''t Noreen; he wasn''t that strong.
He was just a delicate little flower.
Oh, wait!
He forgot to ask where Seth lived again!
...
Halley called Noreen, inviting her to be a guest lecturer at Rivercrest University next week.
It was an order from her mentor, one Noreen couldn''t refuse.
She carved out time from her busy schedule to prepare the lecture topic.
The topic was one she had used
during her doctoral studies at
business school, but she had left the relevant materials with Henry Brooke, who was still studying there.
So she called Henry and asked him
to sender the files so she c
Henry was very efficient, quickly emailing Noreen the materials she needed.
Noreen then casually asked, "You''ll be able to graduate this year, right?"
Henry fell silent.
That hit a nerve.
Same timeframe, same program.
Noreen hadpleted her master''s and doctorate in just four years.
And him... he still needed another two years just to get his master''s degree!
That was the difference between people!
It was also his own fault for being too ambitious, trying to keep pace with Noreen.
But he forgot that Noreen was a genius.
Shepleted a six-to-eight-year curriculum in just four years.
So even though Noreen had returned to the country, he was still
stuck at business school trying to earn his credits.
Even his father had called to ask him, "Noreen is already back. Why aren''t you?"
Chapter 718
Henry mumbled, "I want toe back too..."
But the credits at the business school weren''t that easy to earn.
Sanford Brooke was anxious for him. "Look at you, you spent four years there and didn''t learn a thing about seizing an opportunity! I gave you the chance, and it was useless!"
On that front, Henry was quite clear-headed.
"I know for a fact that she has no interest in me."
"For me, it''s more a feeling of admiration."
Sanford sounded wistful after hearing that. "So you''re just going to keep on like this? Following in her footsteps?"
"Yeah." That was exactly what Henry nned to do.
Sanford was speechless.
What could he possibly say to that?
Sophia brought Noreen some tangerines, saying they were from Linda in the secretarial department''s boyfriend and tasted great.
Noreen tried one and agreed.
"Since you ate her tangerines, you have to go to her pre-wedding partyter."
Noreen looked at the half-eaten tangerine in her hand and could only agree.
Linda and her boyfriend had been together since high school. They were true high school sweethearts.
Everyone else was incredibly envious.
Sophia said self-deprecatingly, "While you guys were already dating in high school, I was still watching Sesame Street! I''m curious, who pursued whom?"
Linda blushed. "I pursued him."
The private room erupted in teasing.
Linda''s boyfriend quickly denied it. "Not really. I was the one who dropped the hints first."
"So how did you hint?" the men started to get curious.
"I made my username with the first letters of her name. She figured it out and then broke the ice."
Now even Sophia was intrigued. "What kind of new confession method is this?" Using initials for a username?
Others in the room were already eager to try.
"The person I like is named Kali Foster. KF... Key? KFC?"
Sophia was disdainful. "KFC? Can''t you be a little more elegant?"
She then started thinking about what kind of username to make from her own boyfriend''s name.
Linda tilted her head and looked at Noreen. "Ms. Gilmore, I think your name would be easy to use."
Suddenly being called upon, Noreen pulled her thoughts back from her presentation slides. "What?"
"Noreen Gilmore. NG. North? cier?"
Sophia chimed in quickly, "They both
sound
pretty cold. cier is nic
And it''s very evocative wnovels
A thought stirred in Noreen''s mind.
Cold?
She did have an online acquaintance named Frost.
But it was probably just a coincidence. After all, she didn''t even know who it was.
Noreen only participated briefly in this topic before returning to her presentation preparation.
When it was gettingte, she found an excuse to leave.
With the boss around, everyone else couldn''t really rx.
Before she left, Noreen messaged Sophia, telling her to settle the bill.
Sophia replied that she understood.
After leaving the private room,
him to
bring the car to the entrance, as she wasing out immediately.
Noreen called Colby and to t
Ending the call, Noreen walked quickly toward the exit.
As she passed through the corridor of private rooms, a voice that was all too familiar drifted from
them. Content belon ofall
no
"I''m done drinking. You guys carry on. I''m going home to sleep."
Jude looked at the time. "It''s still early, Seth. Stay a bit longer."
"No."
As he spoke, he had already picked up his jacket and walked to the door.
Seeing this, Jude quickly put down his ss. "Alright, you guys drink up. I''ll see Seth out."
Seth opened the door and walked out.
Chapter 719
The corridor outside the private room was quiet. No one was around.
Seth walked quickly.
Jude hurried after him, having to jog to keep up. "Seth, are you not feeling well from the drinks? Should we see a doctor?"
"No need."
He stopped abruptly, and Jude nearly crashed into him.
Seth turned to look at him. "Don''t follow me."
"But..." Jude was clearly worried.
"I know what you''re worried about. I don''t have any of those ideas right now," Seth told him inly.
Before Jude could ask why, he continued on his own.
"Noreen is giving seven lectures at Rivercrest University. I''ll be attending them for the next few weeks."
"Don''t bother me."
Jude was speechless.
Got it.
He nodded immediately. "Okay! But you just drank, so don''t drive. I''ll have a driver take you."
It was a perfect chance to find out where he lived.
But Seth bluntly refused.
"I''ll call a ride myself."
With that, Seth turned and left, leaving Jude with only his somewhat cold back.
But this time, Jude wasn''t as tense.
He wasn''t worried that Seth would do anything extreme.
He could have some peace for a while!
...
Noreen''s lectures were scheduled for Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
A prime time slot.
And when the most students were avable.
Combined with Noreen''s own qualifications, credentials, and fame, every seat was taken long before ss started.
Luckily, Seth arrived early.
When he got there, the lecture hall was almost empty.
But he still chose a seat in the rearmost corner, still wearing a mask and hat, and had even added a pair of sses.
Others who came inter were baffled to see that the first person to arrive had taken the most remote corner seat.
Noreen arrived at the lecture hall
right on time. She hadn''t expectedet So many people toe to heel
ss and felt a bit nervous,
Fortunately, she quicklyposed herself.
Having experienced big stages before, she soon found her rhythm.
It was a good thing she had prepared her lesson n in advance. Coupled with her rxed teaching style even a dry finance course became lively and engaging, keeping the students entertained.
The ss was filled withughter.
Noreen even reserved ten minutes at the end for students to ask questions.
At first, everyone was serious, asking questions rted to the material.
Noreen answered them earnestly.
But then, things suddenly went off track.
A tall, handsome college student suddenly asked Noreen, "Professor Gilmore, do
you have a boyfriend? Can I pursue you?"
As soon as he finished, the entire hall erupted in cheers and teasing.
But the student maintained a direct, fervent gaze on Noreen, waiting for her answer.
Noreen raised a hand to quiet the crowd, then held up her right hand, openly disying her engagement ring.
Finally, she smiled warmly at the young
an who had confessed t
her. a chance Intakeady
m afraid you don''t have 1.0
I''m already engaged
A collective sigh of disappointment echoed through the hall, and at that moment, the
bell rang.
Noreen gathered her lesson n and bid everyone farewell with a smile.
Only after her figure disappeared from the doorway did Seth finally tear his eyes away from her.
Only in a setting like this could he gaze at her so freely.
He had always known Noreen was popr.
But he never expected her to be confessed to by one of her own students in ss.
"Hey, you''re not here for the lecture, are you?"
The student sitting next to Seth asked him curiously. "You didn''t take a single note the entire ss. It''s a bit strange."
Seth''s Adam''s apple bobbed. It took him a moment toe up with a dry exnation. "I lost my backpack."
Chapter 720
He had been so focused on seeing Noreen that he''d forgotten to make his act convincing.
Luckily, he was in the far corner, so he hadn''t been noticed.
But people are greedy.
At first, he thought just seeing her from a distance would be enough.
Then he wanted to hear her voice.
And after that... he was no longer satisfied with that distance.
He wanted to get closer, just a little closer.
So, for the second lecture, Seth moved forward five rows.
Of course, he still sat on the side, at least not in a ce that would draw Noreen''s attention.
This time he was better prepared. Not only was he ''fully disguised,'' but he also brought a notebook.
However, by the end of the ss, his notebook was filled with Noreen''s name.
He hadn''t written down a single thing rted to the course material.
Fortunately, the student next to him wasn''t nosy and didn''t notice his little secret.
Perhaps because he hadn''t been caught the first two times, Seth moved forward another five rows for the third lecture.
Therge lecture hall only had twenty rows, so he was now in the middle.
Although the seat wasn''t prominent, his attire was somewhat conspicuous.
During the ss, Noreen nced in his direction several times.
Seth had never been so nervous.
It really felt like a student getting caught by the teacher.
He was on edge for the entire ss, and just as he thought he was about to make it to the end, Noreen suddenly started asking questions, randomly calling on students to answer.
At first, she called on students by name. But when she got to the seventh question, Noreen paused, then said, "The student in the tenth row, on the end, the one wearing a hat. Please stand up and answer my question."
Seth seemed unable to react, remaining seated for a long moment.
The student next to him had to pat him on the arm, reminding him to stand up and answer Professor Gilmore''s question.
Seth stood up, but his mind waspletely nk regarding the question Noreen had asked.
He had been too busy looking at her.
"What''s the matter? Can''t you answer? It''s a simple question. Weren''t you paying attention?" Noreen''s fingers tapped a rhythm on the lectern. Her voice was unhurried but filled with authority.
A student nearby kindly whispered the key part of the answer to him.
But Seth didn''t dare to speak.
The moment he opened his mouth, Noreen would surely recognize him, and everything would be exposed.
At that critical moment, the bell rang.
Noreen looked away, her tone bing light again. "That''s all for today''s ss. You''re dismissed."
And just like that, Seth had narrowly escaped.
But he knew he couldn''te to the remaining lectures.
When Seth had dinner with Judeter, his mood was clearly off.
Only after Jude pressed him did he exin what had happened.
Jude felt disheartened after hearing the story.
He had just rxed for a week. Was he going to have to go back to living on edge again?
"Seth, why don''t you just be upfront
about
Even if you can''t be lovers,
you can be friends, right? It''s normal for friends to see each other
From Jude''s perspective, he couldn''t quite understand.
It took a long time for Seth to finally speak. "We can''t be friends."
"She said it herself. She hates me."
"She even said that if she had two bullets and was locked in a room with me and her most hated enemys she''d shoot me twice."
Jude fell silent. "...That''s some serious hatred."
Back when he heard Noreen say that, he had felt disappointed too.
But at the same time, he was d she hated him.
Because that way, she would finally give up on him.
And draw a clear line between them.
Hate was always easier to let go of than love.
Chapter 721
He couldn''t go to any more of Noreen''s lectures.
So Jude took the opportunity to persuade him to see Jordan.
At first, Seth refused.
But Jude managed to sway him with a single sentence.
He said, "What if one day you get to meet Noreen in a formal setting? You really
want her to see you looking like a total mess?"
He certainly did not, so he gave in.
The moment Seth agreed, Jude let out a long sigh of relief.
As expected, mentioning Noreen worked better than anything else.
...
On Saturday, Noreen took Katy to see a renowned psychiatrist named Jordan,
whom Castle had arranged for her.
On the way there, Noreen was listening to work reports.
Katy sat quietly beside her.
After finishing her report, Sophia brought up the matter with InnoCore.
"Mr. Chase from the project department said that thest two times he went to InnoCore to coordinate, they were uncooperative, always finding excuses to dy things. And with Mr. Holt out of town on business, it''s making his job very difficult."
Noreen said she understood.
She then called Carman.
However, Carman''s phone was off.
Noreen had no choice but to send him a message, asking him to call her back when he saw it.
Just then, the car arrived at Jordan''s clinic. Noreen put away herptop and helped Katy out of the car.
At the clinic, they were greeted by Jordan''s assistant.
Although they had an appointment, they had arrived half an hour early.
So the assistant informed her that Jordan was still with his previous patient and they would have to wait a little while.
She then led them to a specially designed indoor garden to wait.
There was a plump ginger cat there, very friendly.
Katy loved it and spent her time in the garden ying with the cat.
After just a few minutes, Carman called her back.
Not wanting to disturb the tranquility of the ce, Noreen stood up and told Katy, "Stay right here and don''t go anywhere. I''m just going to take this call and I be right back
Katy nodded obediently.
Noreen went to a nearby stairwell to take the call. She left the door slightly ajar, needing to keep an eye on Katy in case she wandered off.
On the phone, Carman apologized profusely, exining that he had been busy with technical matterstely and that Jasmine had been managing thepany. He imed he didn''t know she would do such things.
"Right now, I just want to know what you think," Noreen said, needing a clear
answer.
Carman was silent for a few seconds.
And in that silence, Noreen knew the answer.
"Let''s talk in person when you get back from your trip."
Noreen didn''t say anything more and hung up.
Years ago, when Bianca Lowell had tried to poach Carman multiple times, he had sworn that InnoCore would only ever have one partner: Noreen Gilmore.
But times change, and people''s hearts are unpredictable.
Noreen wasn''t surprised at all. After all, people change.
And she had long since learned to calmly ept change in anyone.
When Noreen returned to the garden, the assistant came to invite them to Jordan''s office.
Noreen took Katy''s hand and they walked toward the office.
Katy looked up at her and said, "I just saw a very handsome man."
Noreen couldn''t help but smile. "And what do you know about handsome?"
"Of course do! That man just now was very handsome! He had a scar on his forehead, but it didn''t make kim any less handsome, Katy said with conviction.
Chapter 722
A scar on his forehead?
A face shed through Noreen''s mind.
But it was quickly reced by other thoughts.
In the end, she just smiled and patted Katy''s head. "You need to cooperate with the doctor''s questions, okay?"
While Jordan was conducting his session with Katy, Noreen waited outside.
When Katy came out, she was holding an origami frog.
She happily presented it to Noreen, telling her that Dr. Jordan had given it to her. You could press it and it would jump really far. It was very cute.
"Since the doctor gave it to you, you should keep it."
Katy carefully tucked it into her pocket and exined, "Dr. Jordan said he gives every patient whoes for a consultation an origami frog. Theye in all different colors."
As expected of someone who studied psychology, such small details were indeed thoughtful.
After just one session, Katy''s state was noticeably better than before.
Colby''s car was already waiting downstairs. As soon as Noreen and Katy came down, he drove them away.
Just as their car left, Jude pulled his car out from behind a flowerbed.
"See, Seth? It was a good thing we came today! You even got to see Noreen here!"
Seth didn''t speak. He just opened the car window and lit a cigarette.
He didn''t smoke it, just let it burn down on its own until the heat singed his fingertips. Only then did he stub it out in the ashtray.
Jude didn''t dare to speak during this time.
He could sense that Seth was in a very bad mood-subdued and deeply sorrowful.
He didn''t even dare to ask Seth where he lived.
He just followed his instructions and parked the car in the designated spot.
Jude looked around, feeling that the ce was somewhat familiar.
But he couldn''t remember why.
After returning to his apartment, Seth turned on the lights.
The light wasn''t bright, but it was enough to illuminate the one-bedroom apartment.
He took the origami frog that Jordan
had given him from his jacket
d tossed it in
the
pocket the coffee t
basket
Inside, the basket was already more than half full of origami frogs.
On Sunday, Noreen had to apany Rosalind to the hospital for her regr check-up.
She had booked a specialist appointment online in advance, so all they had to do was arrive on time and wait.
When they reached the Nephrology Department, Noreen had Rosalind sit down while she went to check how many people were ahead of them.
The disy screen showed there were three people ahead of Rosalind.
The first name on the list was Seth.
Noreen''s brow twitched.
It... it was probably just a simr name.
But the next moment, the automated system called out Seth''s name.
From the other side of the room, someone stood up and walked toward the specialist''s office.
Noreen deliberately avoided looking in that direction, but her peripheral vision still caught a glimpse of a tall, slender figure.
When she returned to Rosalind''s side, she was noticeably distracted.
A mother knows her daughter best, and Rosalind immediately sensed something was wrong. "Are you not getting enough rest because of work?told you you don''t need toe with me for my check up. The housekeeper can apany me."
"It''s finally the weekend, and you''re
busy taking Katy to the psychiatrist
and me to the doctor. You''re not a
™C
robot! Even robots need to
recharge!"
As Rosalind fussed over her, Noreen''s heart gradually calmed down.
She didn''t know what she was so flustered about.
He was just someone from the past. It wasn''t necessary.
Chapter 723
It wasn''t until Noreen was leaving the nephrology department with Rosalind Gilmore after her check-up that the thought finally struck her.
Why was Seth Harcourt at the nephrology department for an exam?
As she recalled, routine physicals didn''t typically include specialized kidney function tests.
"He probably just wanted a moreprehensive check-up," she reasoned, not dwelling on it any further.
It was as if a voice in her head kept whispering, "Noreen, don''t look back."
Even so, she felt a lingering unease on the drive back.
So much so that when she got out of the car to grab the medical reports from the front seat, she identally snapped the lucky charm hanging from the rearview mirror.
Sophia Cole had gotten it for her when she bought her first car.
She had changed cars several times since then, but each time, Sophia would carefully remove the charm and hang it in the new vehicle.
Noreen didn''t think much of it, but Rosalind, who was with her, grew instantly anxious, seeing it as a bad omen.
Noreen understood. The older generation tended to be superstitious about such things.
Rosalind said, "Give that to me. I''ll go to the Sanctuary of Tranquil Light in Southmont tomorrow to make a thank offering and get you a new one."
"I''ll go myself when I have time," Noreen replied, not wanting to put her through the
trouble. Rosalind''s health was too frail for that kind of exertion.
"Then you must promise you''ll go make an offering," Rosalind insisted, still repeating her warning as she got out of the car.
She only seemed to rx after Noreen gave her a firm promise.
After dropping Rosalind off at her ce, Noreen went back to the office to workte.
When Sophia brought her a coffee, she noticed the broken charm lying on the desk and asked about it.
Noreen exined that she had identally broken it. She was busy and didn''t borate.
Not wanting to disturb her, Sophia quietly left the office.
Noreen was swamped for the next few days, with two projects in the IPO preparation phase.
By the time she remembered the lucky charm, another week had passed.
She happened to have some free time that day, but the weather wasn''t cooperating -the first cold, damp rain of autumn had arrived.
Noreen met with Carman Holt to discuss the future of InnoCore.
After listening to her analysis, Carman finally seemed swayed, saying he would go back and try to persuade Jasmine.
But Noreen didn''t hold out much
hope. She knew Carman all too well.
He was easily influenced and
couldn''t stand up to Jasmine''s
pillow talk. Otherwise, Jasmine
wouldn''t have managed to seize the majority of control at innoCore
within just two years.
Noreen could ept this kind of temporary partnership, but she couldn''t help feeling a little wistful about it.
"Let''s go to Southmont," Noreen said to Colby after sitting in the car for a long while.
By the time they reached Southmont, the rain wasing down even harder.
Since it wasn''t a weekend, and with the downpour, the sanctuary was nearly deserted.
Noreen stepped out under an umbre and walked toward the entrance. A monk responsible for greeting visitors bowed to her and asked the purpose of her visit.
Noreen told him she was there to make a thank offering.
The monk led her inside, their path taking them through a grove of trees.
In the middle of the woodsy a flight of 99 stone steps, worn smooth by countless devout pilgrims.
Today, the entire forest was silent.
As they approached the steps, Noreen instinctively nced over. This ce held memories for her, too.
Rain and mist shrouded the woods, blurring everything in sight. But even through the haze, she could clearly. see someone kneeling in pious prayer on the steps above.
Even the monk leading her paused, his gaze fixed on the figure bowing with every
single step. "Coming to pray for a charm in this cold?" he murmured.
Then he added, "But I suppose this shows greater sincerity. The charm will be all the more potent."
Noreen''s legs suddenly felt like they were filled with lead, and she found she couldn''t move.
Chapter 724
It was because she recognized him from behind.
That silhouette had once upied a significant seven years of her thirty-year life. For all those seven years, she had followed that very back. She remembered every inch of it, every line.
So, even with the view obscured by the mist, Noreen recognized the man''s figure instantly.
"Ma''am? Ma''am?"
The monk had to call out to her when he noticed she had stopped walking.
Noreen snapped back to reality. "I''m sorry."
"This way," the monk said, continuing to lead her forward.
The offerings were managed by one of the sanctuary''s priests. A prayer had to be recited before the offering could be made.
"May I ask who sought this charm?" the priest asked Noreen. It was a routine question, as the name of the original petitioner was included in the prayer.
"Sophia," Noreen answered truthfully.
The priest checked hisputer, then shook his head. "I don''t see anyone by that name in our records."
"How can that be? She gave it to me herself," Noreen said, confused.
"Do you remember the approximate date?" the priest asked.
Noreen gave him a time frame.
The priest searched the records for that period but still found no mention of Sophia''s name. The charm, however, was undeniably from their sanctuary.
With no other choice, Noreen had to call Sophia.
At first, Sophia tried to brush it off, but when Noreen exined that the sanctuary kept records and her name wasn''t in them, she finally stammered, "Noreen... I''m sorry. I... I wasn''t the one who got that lucky charm for you."
"Then who was?"
Sophia was too scared to say.
Only after Noreen pressed her repeatedly did she finally whisper the name, her voice trembling. "It was Mr. Harcourt."
"Mr. Harcourt gave it to me."
"He told me not to tell you. He said you''d never ept it if you knew it was from him."
"Noreen, I know I was wrong."
Sophia''s apologies faded into a buzzing in Noreen''s ears. It was as if she couldn''t hear anything else.
She couldn''t understand.
Why? Why would Seth do something like that?
Didn''t he love Bianca Lowell?
Why would he do these meaningless things behind her back?
In that moment, she realized she had never truly understood Seth at all.
As Noreen left the sanctuary, she
passed by the grove of trees again. And once more, she saw the figure, still kneeling and bowing devotedly in the rain
The downpour was even heavier now. He waspletely soaked.
ret
Even under her umbre, Noreen shivered as a gust of wind carried the rain''s chill She could only imagine how cold the man drenched to the bone must be.
After returning from the sanctuary Noreen went to Glenhaven City for a
business trip where she also apanied Castle Joyner to a public g.
Meanwhile, Seth was lying in a hospital bed, burning up with a relentless fever.
Jude Wilder stayed by his side, not daring to rx even through the night.
It wasn''t until the third day that Seth''s fever finally broke.
Exhausted, Jude heard the doctor''s news and copsed into a chair. "I was worried
you were going to fry your brain!"
Seth''s gaze drifted to the television in the room. It was broadcasting a news
segment about the g in Glenhaven City.
Jude cursed inwardly. He''d forgotten to turn the TV off!
It was a littlete now, but he shut it off anyway.
The room plunged into a dead silence. Jude racked his brain for something to say
but came uppletely empty.
It was Seth who finally broke the stillness.
"Frying my brain might not be a bad thing," he said softly.
Then he wouldn''t have to think so much.
Chapter 725
Jude''s eyes widened in rm at his words.
Seeing the look on his face, Seth knew what he was thinking. He closed his eyes. "I''m tired. Don''t bother me."
Jude was speechless. He hadn''t even said anything.
He rubbed his nose sheepishly and settled back into his chair, not daring to disturb Seth further. After all, the man was a fragile patient right now.
Noreen returned to Rivercrest City on Friday, and this time, Sophia came to pick her up from the airport personally. Likely feeling guilty, Sophia was exceedingly cautious around her.
Her behavior made Noreen feel a bit sorry for her.
"We''ll put that incident behind us, but don''t let it happen again," Noreen told her inly.
Sophia''s eyes instantly reddened. "Noreen, I''m so sorry. I promise it won''t ever happen again. Mr. Harcourt came by the other day to give me another lucky charm, and I refused it!"
Noreen froze.
So... the charm he had been praying for in the rain that day... had been for her?
A wave of irritation washed over Noreen, and she instinctively pinched the bridge of her nose.
Sophia bit her lip, hesitating for a long moment before deciding to confess everything.
"Noreen, there are two more things I have to tell you."
Sophia figured she might as well go all in. Working with Noreen all these years had expanded her horizons and given her valuable experience. It had also given her a deep understanding of Noreen and where her boundariesy. She had agonized over this decision, but she was ready to face the consequences, whether Noreen forgave her or not.
"First, when you left Aurelion Group to start your ownpany, I resigned not long after and joined you at Winrich. I told you at the time that I couldn''t stand working at Aurelion anymore. That was a lie."
Aurelion Group was an industry leader back then, apany people were desperate to get into. Sophia had fought tooth and nail for her position and would never have resigned so recklessly to join a tiny, unproven startup.
Sophia lowered her gaze in shame. "It was Mr. Harcourt. He approached me and asked me to go to Winrich to help you. He said that since I''d been working with you for a while, I understood your habits, and it would be easier for you to have someone familiar around."
"Why you?" Noreen asked,pletely baffled. She didn''t understand Seth, nor any of his actions.
"I think Mr. Harcourt approached me because he saw that I was always on your side," Sophia said.
"What''s the other thing? Just get it all out," Noreen said, struggling to process the bombshells Sophia was dropping.
Sophia stammered, "After I became your assistant, I was always bringing you those nourishing soups, right? Well... I wasn''t the one who made them. Mr. Harcourt did." Noreen was at aplete loss for words.
"There was a time when my hand was injured remember? You asked me what happened, and I said I''d cut it with a knife. That wasn''t true The truth is Mr. Harcourt told me he couldn''t make the meals for you anymore, and he said it was time for me to start learning."
Thinking back, Sophia felt a wave of
misery. During that period, she was ving away at Winrich all day, and then she had to go to Seth''s ce to ve away learning how to cook those special meals. For someone who had never stepped into a kitchen in her life, it was an unimaginable challenge. She''d nearly chopped her fingers off!
To make matters worse, Seth was an incredibly strict teacher. Every single dish had to taste exactly like his before he would approve. She nearly went insane learning to Cook The only saving grace was that Mr. Harcourt paid very well. Otherwise, she never would have made it through.
After Sophia finished, a heavy silence filled the car. Her heart leaped into her throat.
Noreen didn''t speak. Instead, she turned to look out the window. She didn''t know what to say. Her mind was aplete mess.
From beginning to end, she couldn''t fathom why Seth had done any of it.
Chapter 726
Love?
Honestly, she didn''t think so.
Maybe it was more guilt, a desire to do something to make it up to her.
But he didn''t know she didn''t need any of it.
It was all a pointless effort.
Just like her seven years of devotion had been. Meaningless.
...
Noreen hadn''t even made it home yet when she got a call from ire Chase.
The background was loud; it sounded like she was partying at some club.
ire was shouting over the noise, "Noreen, are you back in Rivercrest City? If you are,e meet me! I''m at The Half-Light Club!"
Noreen was speechless.
She had an aversion to the name of that club.
Just as she was about to say something, she heard a man''s voice hitting on ire.
"Hey, beautiful. All alone? Let me buy you a drink."
ire giggled. "There''s another one in my belly."
The man let out a low "Oh." "Even more interesting."
Whether it was the man''s overwhelming charm or something else, Noreen didn''t even get a word in before ire hung up.
Left with no choice, she told Colby to drive to The Half-Light Club.
She had just walked in when someone called her name.
"Noreen."
Noreen turned, a little surprised. "Jennifer? When did you get to Rivercrest City?" "This morning," Jennifer Shaw replied. "I knew you were away on business, so I didn''t bother you. I didn''t expect you to be back already."
Noreen exined, "I just came from the airport. I''m here to pick up a friend."
Jennifer smiled. "Well, since you''re already here, why don''t you join me for a drink?"
Jennifer was a business partner of Winrich''s and had also helped Noreen immensely when she was starting her ownpany.
Even if Jennifer hadn''t asked, Noreen would have offered to y host.
"Of course, of course." Noreen called over a waiter and asked him to show Jennifer
to a private room first, exining that she''d join them as soon as she found ire. ire was over by the dance floor.
When Noreen found her, she was dancing her heart out on the stage.
A crowd of men below were whistling and cheering. It was quite a scene.
"For heaven''s sake, aren''t you afraid someone will take a picture?" Noreen went and pulled her off the stage.
The men in the crowd were still shouting, "Don''t go! Keep dancing! That tiny waist, those long legs-so hot when you move!"
ire was in high spirits, but she hadn''tpletely lost her senses. "I''m wearing a mask, aren''t 12 Besides, I''m not so famous that everyone would recognize me."
And ire had indeed disguised herself.
Mask, sses, a hat, and even a wig.
The average person would have a hard time recognizing her.
Noreen took her to the private room and introduced her to Jennifer.
Despite an age gap of nearly twenty years, the two women hit it off immediately.
It wasn''t long before they were chatting away enthusiastically.
It was just that the content of their conversation... was a bit much.
Just two women with their minds in the gutter.
"Jennifer, let me tell you, you''ve got to find a man who''s built."
Jennifer replied, "Forever young, forever making love."
Just then, Rosalind called, likely wondering why she wasn''t home yet.
Afraid that Rosalind would overhear the duo''s scandalous conversation, Noreen stepped out of the room to a quieter spot to take the call.
"I''m picking up ire and ran into business associate. I''m having a drink with her so I might be back
"Alright, just be safe." Rosalind knew Noreen was responsible, so she didn''t ask too
many questions. After a few brief words, she hung up.
Noreen then headed back to the room from the stairwell.
The moment she left, two figures tangled together tumbled out of a cramped utility closet on the floor below.
The man''s hands were still roaming all over the woman''s body, his mouth nibbling at her chest.
But the woman''s mind was elsewhere.
She narrowed her eyes, tilting her head back to look at the spot where Noreen had just been standing her gaze as sharp and venomous as a poisoned de
"Noreen!"
"We meet again!"
Chapter 727
The man behind her, apparently unsatisfied with her wandering attention, roughly pulled her back into the utility closet.
A long whileter, the man, finally satisfied, zipped up his pants and leisurely lit a cigarette.
After straightening her own clothes, Lillian Laurent reminded him to send the money.
As if his mood had been soured, the man kicked her, his face a mask of annoyance. "Damn it, did I say I wasn''t going to pay you?"
"Then pay up!"
Muttering under his breath, the man sent the payment and turned to leave.
Lillian grabbed his arm. "We agreed on three hundred! You only sent two hundred!"
"That''s because you''re only worth two hundred, bitch!" he snarled, violently shaking her hand off.
The force sent Lillian stumbling back against the wall, the impact making her head spin.
Even so, the man showed no mercy. "I''d take what you can get if I were you. Otherwise, I''ll go tell the manager of The Half-Light Club you''re turning tricks in the back. Let''s see who gets fired then!"
Faced with his threat, Lillian had no choice but to let go.
She could only watch helplessly as he swaggered off, unable to do a thing.
After he was gone, she muttered a few curses under her breath just as her phone started to ring.
Her expression darkened when she saw it was Jay. She didn''t want to answer, but she knew she had to.
"What?"
"Where''s the money?" Jay demanded.
"Are you a fucking vulture? He just sent it, and you''re already swooping in for your cut!" Lillian seethed.
But there was nothing she could do about Jay. Reluctantly, she sent him a hundred. Jay immediately shot back, asking why it was only a hundred.
Lillian exined that the guy had only given her two hundred, and she hadn''t dared to push it for fear he''d make a scene and report her to the club manager.
Her exnation only earned her a tirade from Jay. "You''re useless! Can''t even do your one job right!"
Taking heat from all sides, Lillian could only vent her frustration by kicking a nearby trash can.
Back in the main area of The
Half-Light Club, she saw the floor manager scrambling to find staff to deliver drinks to a VIP suite. The tart wasden with the club''s finest liquors, with bottles easily starting at ten thousand dors apiece.
Sensing a ''big fish''-a wealthy client-she immediately volunteered to help.
Short-staffed, the manager quickly agreed.
A few momentster, she was part of a group of five, personally led by the manager, carrying trays of drinks and appetizers into the VIP suite in an orderly procession.
Just before entering, Lillian deliberately tugged down the neckline of her uniform, hoping to entuate her cleavage.
But the moment she stepped inside, she froze. Sitting right in the center of the suite was Noreen.
Lillian''s head snapped down, and she nearly stumbled.
The sudden movement didn''t go unnoticed. The manager shot her a sharp, warning re over his shoulder.
He then turned back to the guests, his professional smile instantly back in ce as he addressed them.
Seeing the array of expensive bottles Noreen had ordered, Jennifer remarked, "You''re really spoiling us."
ire waved a dismissive hand. "Don''t be so formal, Jennifer! We''re practically bing sisters tonight!"
Noreen could tell something was off with ire''s mood tonight, though she couldn''t guess what had set her off With Jennifer present, however she couldn''t very well ask.
Jennifer was a straightforward person herself, so seeing ire''s generosity, she didn''t stand on
ceremony. She waved the manager Over Bring us
"Bring us some of your house.
Specialties.
The manager''s eyes lit up. "Right away," he said, bowing slightly.
Once the staff had departed, ire asked Jennifer curiously, "What are these ''specialties''?"
Jennifer just grinned. "You''ll see."
Noreen couldn''t help but press her fingers to her temple. Tonight... how was she going to get them out of this?
Meanwhile...
The manager ryed what was happening in the VIP suite to Jude.
Jude was so excited he shot to his feet, his voice climbing an octave. "They want male escorts?"
Only after the words were out did he notice the temperature in the room drop as Seth''s expression grew several degrees colder.
Chapter 728
"Couldn''t you have just said we don''t offer that service?" Jude snapped at the manager.
The manager looked helpless. "But Mr. Shaw has been here before. He knows we do."
Jude turned to Seth, his expression pained. "Seth..."
Seth''s voice was devoid of emotion. "Do what you have to do."
As he spoke, however, his grip on his ss tightened unconsciously.
The manager left.
Jude was exasperated. "What kind of mess is this?"
"Are these women trying to take over the world?"
Butining was one thing; Jude still had to scout out the situation, so he kept ducking in and out.
Over in the other room, when the manager led eight male models in, she finally understood what Jennifer had meant by the "house specialty."
"This one''s good! This one, too!" ire critiqued, nudging Noreen with her elbow. "Noreen, you want one?"
Noreen pleaded for mercy. "Please, spare me!¡±
Jennifer chimed in from the side. "Give it up, ire. I''ve known Noreen for years, and I''ve never seen her show the slightest interest in men. Sometimes I wonder if she''s into women."
ire narrowed her eyes. "Don''t tell me you''re still not over that bastard."
Noreen was speechless.
Where was this evening from?
"I''m telling you, a woman needs a hormonal boost. It helps regte your system."
Jennifer wholeheartedly agreed with ire.
Noreen could see it now. These two were determined to let loose tonight.
If she didn''t pick someone, they would pester her to death.
To redirect their energy, she pointed randomly. ¡°That one, I guess.¡±
ire followed her finger and gasped. ¡°Noreen, after all these years, your taste hasn''t changed a bit!¡±
Noreen was confused. What did she mean?
"Even the model you picked looks just like Seth!"
Noreen was speechless again.
She swore she had just pointed without even looking at the guy''s face.
The model knew how to y his part. As soon as Noreen selected
cozied up to her calling her
himart andvishing her with
attention.
He poured her wine and offered her fruit.
He even winked at her. "Sweetheart, we met a
WS
few years ago vene ne
forgotten you."
Noreen was at a loss.
Sorry, she didn''t remember him at all.
But with the model there, she finally got some peace and quiet.
ire was even more extravagant, picking three men for herself.
One fed her fruit, another gave her juice, and a third gave her a massage. She was in heaven.
In the middle of it all, her phone rang.
ire nced at the caller ID and tossed the phone aside without answering.
But the caller was persistent. After the call disconnected, it rang again.
After several attempts, she snatched it up, annoyed. "What?"
"Where are you?" Felix Quigley asked from the other end, his tone cold and stern.
That jerk. He only saved his gentle voice for Madeline Lynwood.
"Why are you asking so many questions?" ire had no intention of telling him.
"Tell me! Where are you!"
ire thought Felix was acting crazy tonight, asking again and again.
"I''m sleeping! Happy now?" she snapped before hanging up.
Noreen nced at her.
ire tossed her phone down. ¡°Spam call.¡±
She turned to resume flirting with herpanions, but the door was suddenly
kicked open.
The loud bang startled everyone inside.
ire squinted, and when she
recognized the person who had kicked the door, her eyes widened in shock. "What are you doing here?"
Shouldn''t he be with that bitch Madeline right now?
"Is this what you call sleeping?¡± Felix''s eyes were frighteningly cold.
Chapter 729
One of the young models ire had picked asked cluelessly, "Hey, who is this guy?"
Another tried to push Felix away. "Hey, man, firste, first served. She only ordered the three of us."
Felix looked absolutely furious.
Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Noreen rushed over to protect ire, trying to pull Felix''s hand away. "Mr. Quigley, what is the meaning of this? Please let go of my friend!"
"Ms. Gilmore, this is between her and me. Stay out of it," Felix said, shoving Noreen aside.
"I''m afraid I can''t do that," Noreen refused firmly. "Until I understand your rtionship, I have to ensure my friend''s safety."
"I don''t know him!" ire shouted.
"We''re married!" Felix dered.
Noreen was stunned.
Wait, what did she just hear?
ire''s eyes widened at Felix. "You said it! I didn''t say a thing!"
"I''ll transfer you the moneyter!" Felix ground out through clenched teeth.
He managed to regain hisposure and said to Noreen, "We have some private matters to discuss as husband and wife. Don''t worry, Ms. Gilmore, I don''t have a history of domestic violence."
Without waiting for Noreen''s response, he hoisted ire over his shoulder and started walking out.
Noreen followed for a few steps.
ire managed to lift her head and call out, "Babe, you guys have fun! I''ll be right back, don''t worry about me."
Jennifer added, "If they''re married, it''s best for outsiders not to interfere. Let them sort it out themselves."
Noreen had no choice but to stop.
Felix forcibly carried ire out of the private room, walking quickly and jostling her with every step.
"Put me down, I''m going to puke!" ire protested. The motion was making her sick, especially with his shoulder digging into her stomach and her upper body hanging upside down, all the blood rushing to her head.
Before Felix could respond, she threw up...
...all over his jacket.
When Felix finally put her down, his face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
He was a neat freak.
But so what?
It was his own fault for carrying her so barbarically.
Felix took off his jacket and threw it directly into a nearby trash can.
When he turned back, his eyesnded on the tight minidress ire was wearing, and his expression turned cold Who gave you in. permission to wear something so slutty? Change it!" ''
Slutty?
ire looked down at her chest, which was as t as a board, and thought his description was a bit off.
Or maybe he was confusing her with his well-endowed Madeline.
ire was indignant. "What business is it of yours if I dress slutty or not!"
They were just contract husband and wife, and the contract was about to expire. Wasn''t he overstepping?
Before Felix could speak, ire asked impatiently, "Shouldn''t you be with Madeline right now? What are you doing here?"
What a buzzkill.
"Since when is my business any of your concern?" Felix was never one to mince words.
ire scoffed. "Then why are you
concerned with mine? Our contract
is
ending soon anyway. We can both do our own thing. Let''s be fat and stay out of each other''s business."
He had his childhood sweetheart.
She could have her models.
It was a perfectly fair arrangement. Whyplicate things?
Unfortunately.
Felix Quigley was a jerk precisely because he was a walking double standard.
He could be lovey-dovey with his childhood sweetheart in public, but he couldn''t stand the thought of ire being with another man.
It was just toxic male possessiveness.
Even if he didn''t love her.
"It seems you haven''t read our contract carefully. Let me kindly remind you that during the contract period, you are not allowed to cheat on me Otherwise, you''ll have pay ten times the amount stipted in the contract aspensation!"
Felix reminded her with a cold smile.
Money, money, money!
It was always about the damn money!
And it was precisely because she was broke and desperate that Felix always had
her cornered.
Seeing ire fall silent, Felix knew his threat had worked. His tone softened slightly. "Grandma is in Rivercrest City. You''reing back with me."
It all clicked for ire.
No wonder he had abandoned Madeline toe find her here.
Chapter 730
So that was it. His grandmother was in town, and he couldn''t face her without his wife. That''s why he''de looking for her.
"The doctor said Grandma''s blood pressure has been high thest couple of days, so you''d better not make a scene,¡± Felix added as a helpful reminder. "Keep up."
With that, he walked off.
ire fumed for a moment but ultimately followed him.
For no other reason.
She was only going with him for Grandma''s sake.
Noreen waited in the private room for a short while before receiving a text from ire.
¡°Babe, I''m noting back to your ce tonight. Don''t worry about me. I''lle groveling tomorrow."
Noreen thought for a moment and replied, "Stay safe."
She couldn''t figure out how ire had gotten involved with the Quigley family of Northcrest, let alone how she was married to Felix, the head of the family.
It was all too surreal.
With ire gone, Noreen had to keep Jenniferpany and continue drinking.
She hadn''t been to many parties in recent years, and her tolerance for alcohol was shot.
Even Jennifer noticed and teased her, "You used to im you could drink anyone under the table. I was so envious of your tolerance back then. You know, for people in our line of work, being able to hold your liquor is a really useful skill."
Noreen had to agree.
A high tolerance for alcohol was definitely an asset during business engagements.
In some circles, there was even an unspoken rule that a deal could be sealed over a few drinks.
"I''ve been so focused on my studies these past few years and haven''t been managing projects myself. With fewer client dinners, my tolerance has naturally gone down."
At the same time, Noreen advised Jennifer, "While being able to drink is a soft skill
in business, you have to take care of your health. I ruined my stomach lining back in the day."
Jennifer sighed. "I know you''re right, but when you''re in the business world, can anyone truly stay unscathed?"
Then she asked curiously, "So you''re saying you trained yourself to have a high tolerance? Can you share your methods? I could teach my team."
Methods...
Noreen thought back. "First, know your limit. That way, you can pace yourself during events and torto stay within that range. Your body''s resistance to alcohol will gradually increase, and so will your tolerance."
Jennifer looked troubled. "But during those
businents, you''re so busy talking
Who has the presence of
mind to keep track of how much or what they ve had to drink
Her words made Noreen pause.
It was true that it was easy to lose track.
Back then, it was Seth who had always reminded her when she was reaching her limit.
So, you needed someone to keep an eye on you.
During the period she was building her tolerance, Seth had always been with her at those functions.
It was only after she could truly hold her own that she started going to events by herself.
She hadn''t paid it much attention at the time, but the memory surfaced now.
For years, Noreen had deliberately blocked out everything rted to Seth.
But tonight, for some reason, people kept bringing him up, forcing her to remember things from the past.
An inexplicable wave of irritation washed over her, and she found herself drinking more.
"Jennifer, I''m going to the restroom," Noreen said, getting up unsteadily.
The model beside her immediately offered, "Sweetheart, I''ll go with you."
There was a restroom in the VIP room, but Noreen wanted to get some fresh air to clear her head, so she went to the one outside.
When she came out of the restroom,
she saw the model was still waiting for her she leaned against the wall and told himzily, you can go back. You don''t need to stay with me I''m just going to get some air.¡±
She started walking toward a nearby balcony, but the man followed her.
Noreen swayed. "You don''t have to follow me. I''m not drunk."
Just as the words left her mouth, she stumbled and almost fell.
Then, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her.
"Thanks," Noreen said, her vision blurry. She turned and squinted at the person.
He was backlit, and she couldn''t see him clearly, only a general outline.
She smiled. ¡°You know, you look a lot like my ex-boyfriend."
Chapter 731
Seth''s throat went dry.
Logic told him to let go of her immediately. But his body had other ideas, refusing to release the warmth he''d been missing.
Noreen was truly drunk, her body feeling weak, but she was grateful someone was holding her up.
So she politely thanked the person supporting her.
"If you don''t mind, could you help me to the balcony? I need some fresh air,¡± Noreen said, rubbing her temples.
She hadn''t rested well the past few days in Glenhaven City, entertaining Castle.
Now, with the alcohol, her head was spinning ufortably.
¡°The cold air will only make your headache worse," Seth said, deliberately lowering his voice.
Luckily, Noreen was distracted and, with her pounding head, didn''t recognize his voice.
"I''ll get you some honey water."
With that, he guided Noreen toward an adjacent private room.
When Jude saw him bring her in, his jaw dropped.
He was about to say something, but Seth shot him a look.
Jude understood.
It was a signal for him to disappear.
So he tactfully excused himself, not wanting to be a third wheel.
The room was dimly lit. Noreen leaned against the sofa, closing her eyes to let the dizziness subside.
Suddenly, she felt a warmth on her eyelids.
It was a hot towel.
The towel''s heat significantly eased her dizziness, and she let out an unconscious sigh of relief.
No wonder Jennifer was so smitten with these malepanions.
They really were quite considerate.
Just as Noreen started to feel a bit better, the man brought her a ss of honey lemon water and held it to her lips.
She sipped it through a straw, the small sips soothing the difort in her stomach. Once she felt better, she let go.
"Feeling better?"
She heard the man ask.
Even his voice was so much like Seth''s.
I must be really drunk, Noreen thought with a self-deprecating smile.
"How long have you been working here?" Noreen initiated a conversation.
She figured talking about something else would distract her and stop her mind from wandering.
As for the topic... after knowing Jennifer for so long, she had picked up a thing or two.
But the question felt like a punch to the gut for Seth.
She sounded so practiced.
"...Not long," Seth replied, his voice heavy.
Noreen realized she didn''t seem to have a talent for this, as she had no idea what to say next.
After taking a few more sips of the
honey water, she said, "It''s not just your looks and voice that are like my ex boyfriend''s. Even this honey water tastes just like the kind he used to make."
As soon as she said it, Noreen chided herself.
Why did she bring up her ex-boyfriend again?
Was it impossible to avoid the topic tonight?
It must be the alcohol.
And Sophia telling her about what Seth had done in the past.
And... this model looking so much like Seth.
In any case, it wasn''t her fault.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Noreen felt like a conversation killer
and debating whether to
Chwas
change the topic when
the topic when the man
spoke again.
He asked her, ¡°Are you still not over your ex-boyfriend?"
Seth had wrestled with himself before finally asking the question.
He both longed for and feared her answer.
He even regretted asking the moment the words left his mouth, wanting to find an
excuse to escape.
But Noreen''s answer came too quickly.
She seemed to have given it no thought at all.
"I got over him a long time ago."
Noreen''s tone was light. "He and I are like two parallel lines now. We''ll never cross paths again."
She held up her right hand, showing him the ring. ¡°See? I''m engaged."
In the morning, when Sophia
brought Noreen a hangover cure et
she found her in surprisingly good spirits, without the usual dizziness, and difort of a hangover,
Chapter 732
"Someone gave me a hangover cure and a hotpressst night, so I''m not feeling too bad," Noreen exined.
Sophia blurted out, "Who? They''re even more thoughtful than I am!"
Noreen was at a loss.
She couldn''t very well tell Sophia that a male model had taken care of her.
That would be a bad influence on the young girl.
After all, she still believed in love.
Just as Noreen finished her breakfast, ire returned.
She lookedpletely drained.
"Have you had breakfast?" Noreen asked her.
ire said she had, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "Alright, let''s get
this over with. Confession time."
Noreen hadn''t gone to the office today, waiting for exactly these words.
But where to begin?
ire herself seemed to have no idea.
But today, Noreen had all the patience in the world to listen to her story.
¡°It''s actually a pretty clich¨¦ story. My dad and Felix''s dad were sworn brothers. They started a business together and became very sessful. Later, my dad got married and had me. One night, while they were celebrating, they arranged a childhood betrothal between me and Felix."
"Later on, their business grew bigger and went international. They were on a business trip abroad when they were kidnapped. The kidnappers found out the Quigley family was wealthy and nned to score big. But they were face blind and couldn''t tell who was the real Quigley. So my dad posed as Mr. Quigley to allow him to escape and get help from the embassy."
¡°My dad did it partly out of brotherhood, and partly because he didn''t speak English," ire said, rubbing her reddening eyes.
"By the time Mr. Quigley returned with help, the kidnappers had already killed their hostage."
"When my mom heard the devastating news, she fell into a deep depression for two years. On her wedding anniversary with my dad, she jumped to her death."
Noreen had never known ire''s past was so tragic.
In all the time she''d known her, she had always been carefree and had never once mentioned her family.
Noreen had suspected she might not have any family, so she never asked, not wanting to upset her.
She never imagined...
Her heart ached for her, but besides hugging her, she didn''t know what to say tofort her.
ire shook her head with a smile. ¡°It''s been twenty years. I''ve epted it, so it''s not that painful anymore."
But Noreen held her tighter.
"After my mom died, Mr. Quigley
took me in for a while. He wanted to
adopt me, but my maternal
grandfather and uncle wouldn''t. allow
They said I still had rtives
and there was no reason for an outsider to adopt me. They even used the Quigley family in the media of trying to take over my father''s assets by adopting me. In the end, Mr. Quigley had to give up, and my uncle''s family adopted me."
¡°But the truth is, my uncle was the one after my father''s assets. After he got legal
custody of me, he started taking over my dad''s business. Mr. Quigley saw his intentions and warned him at thepany not to cross the line. Furious, my uncle sold off all the assets rted to Mr. Quigley."
"Unfortunately for him, he had no
head for business. My dad''spany was ruined in just a few years under his management, and he even ended up deep in debt To pay off his debts, he decided to use me. He went to the Quigley family, citing the childhood betrothal to basically extort them for the favor my dad did."
"By then, Mr. Quigley''s health was failing, and Felix was in charge of the family business. He tly rejected my uncle''s demands and made it clear the betrothal was off. My uncle was furious and tried to force me to marry a rich widower..."
Chapter 733
"You can probably guess the rest. Before Mr. Quigley passed away, he used the family fortune to threaten Felix into marrying me. So, Felix found me and we signed a private agreement. The contract stipted that our marriage would onlyst for
three years."
"During those three years, neither of us could tell anyone we were married. A single vition would result in a fifty-million-dor penalty. As you know, I don''t have that kind of money, so I didn''t dare tell a soul, not even you. And if either of us broke the contract early, the penalty was three hundred million."
"Then, just as the three years were almost up, Felix''s grandmother fell ill. Besides you and Ms. Gilmore, his grandmother is the only person in the world who has ever been truly kind to me. For the sake of her health, we extended the contract for another three years, and the penalty fee jumped to five hundred million.¡±
ire let out a long sigh. "But it''s almost over. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel."
She was counting down the days on her fingers. It gave her something to look forward to.
"If you don''t want to continue, I can have awyer talk to Felix," Noreen said, worried ire was sacrificing too much.
But ire shook her head. "I''ve put up with it for five years; what''s another month or so? Considering he saved my life back then, I can endure it."
When her uncle had tried to force her into bed with an old man, it was Felix who had rushed in and saved her.
She never forgot that debt.
So, no matter how terribly Felix treated her, she never said a word. She considered it repayment.
Noreen respected ire''s decision.
But then, ire told her something else.
She took Noreen''s hand and ced it on her still-t stomach, a wide grin on her face. "You''re going to be a godmother."
Noreen''s eyes widened in shock, and for a long moment, she was speechless.
Just as she was about to say something, ire put a finger to her lips. "Jerk Quigley doesn''t know yet, and I have no intention of telling him.¡±
This baby had certainlye at an inconvenient time, but ire was determined to keep it.
Not for Felix, of course, but for herself. She hadn''t had a family in years.
"You have a little over a month left on your contract with Felix, right?" Noreen asked. ire nodded.
Noreen did some quick calctions. "Then you should avoid him as
much as possible during this time so he doesn''t suspect anything 19 have Henry Brooke fin
suitable house in Meritania where you can rest during your pregnancy. As soon as the divorce is finalized, you''ll head straight there. That way, you''ll be out of Felix''s sight and can prepare for the baby in peace."
"Okay, I''ll do whatever you say!"
With that settled, ire made herself at home at Noreen''s ce.
They both kept the pregnancy a closely guarded secret, not wanting anyplications to arise before the divorce was final.
Jennifer stayed in Rivercrest City for a week. On herst night, Noreen treated her
to dinner at Willow Brook.
Jennifer seemed unustomed to such a formal restaurant, and a little embarrassed. After all, whenever she was in town, she was either at a club opon her way to one. Being in such an elegant ce for the first time made her feel surprisingly refreshed.
"Howe ire isn''t here today?" Jennifer had hit it off with ire immediately and was fond of her.
"She was supposed toe, but she had a doctor''s appointment and couldn''t make it,¡± Noreen exined. It wasn''t just any appointment, of course, but a prenatal check-up.
"Well, we can always get together next time,¡± Jennifer said, her easygoing nature shining through. She didn''t press the issue.
After they finished their meal, Jennifer hesitated before bringing something up.
"I ran into Mr. Harcourt at a dinner party a couple of days ago."
Noreen''s hand paused as she poured tea, then she replied nonchntly, "Oh? What a coincidence."
Chapter 734
"So, you two..."
Noreen knew what Jennifer was about to ask and cut her off. "I haven''t seen him in years."
The implication was clear: they were ancient history.
Jennifer gave a slight, awkward smile and sighed. "You know, life really is like a y sometimes. Mr. Harcourt helped you so much back then, I really thought you two would end up together."
Noreen let out a self-deprecatingugh. "Jennifer, you might have it wrong. It would''ve been nice if he''d just stayed out of my way. How could he have possibly helped me?"
Back then, he had stolen countless resources and connections from her just to protect Bianca. She remembered clearly who had offered her a hand and who had dealt her a blow.
¡°I don''t know about the other stuff,¡± Jennifer said quickly, ¡°but I know I probably wouldn''t have invested in your project if Mr. Harcourt hadn''t personally guaranteed it."
This time, it was Noreen''s turn to be stunned.
Seth..... guaranteed it?
How did she not know?
Jennifer looked a little sheepish. "Don''t think I''m just a ruthless businesswoman, but given your situation at the time, very few people would have dared to invest that much money in you. That''s why I turned you down when you came to see me in Silvershore City."
Noreen remembered that day. She knew she hadn''t been fully prepared, but she''d been so desperate for funding that she had rushed to Silvershore City to meet with Jennifer, only to be rejected.
She had been devastated, thinking The Docks project was dead in the water.
But then, the next morning, as she was preparing to return to Rivercrest City, Jennifer had shown up at her hotel. She''d said she''d thought about it all night and had decided to invest in the project after all.
That money had been a lifeline for Noreen. It ultimately helped her secure the Port Redevelopment Project. She had been deeply grateful to Jennifer ever since.
But now, Jennifer was telling her that the investment had only happened because Seth had guaranteed it.
"Seth came to me and offered to be your guarantor," Jennifer exined. "He promised that if the project failed or the investment was a loss, he wouldpensate me for double my losses. He even signed a contract with me to put my mind at ease."
As if sensing Noreen''s disbelief, Jennifer had her secretary send over a copy of the agreement she had signed with Seth.
Seeing the document, Noreen felt
the world shift beneath her feet. It was hard to describe the feeling. So many of her perceptions were being shattered, one after another. Her v understanding of Seth felt even more iplete. Or perhaps, she had never understood him at all.
"As someone who''s been around the block, I can tell you," Jennifer said, "Mr. Harcourt definitely cared about you back then."
"Did he?" Noreen scoffed, the soundced with irony. "But he was about to get engaged to Bianca at the time."
Jennifer fell silent. The truth, it seemed, was something only Seth himself knew.
After seeing Jennifer off, Noreen didn''t go back to the office. She had Colby drive her to Soutke to feel the breeze.
She needed some time and space to sort through the chaos in her mind.
When Jude drove Seth to Soutke, he found that Seth''s usual spot was already upied.
Recognizing the person, Jude nced back at his boss. "Seth..."
"Let''s go back."
"But you''ve already run into her. Aren''t you going to say hello?" Jude was surprised. He thought Seth
would be pleased by this chanc
encounter. After all, he''d gone fo
great lengths to create opportunities before. Why was he avoiding her now, after that night?
Jude couldn''t figure it out.
Seth shook his head, his voice thin. "No. She''s doing well now. I shouldn''t disturb
her."
Chapter 735
Noreen sat by theke for a long time, the wind helping to clear some of her
thoughts. Just as she was about to get up and head home, her phone rang. It was Evelyn, who told her a fresh shipment of seafood had just been flown in and invited her over for dinner.
Noreen considered it for a moment, then agreed toe right over.
Evelyn was overjoyed. Before Noreen hung up, she could hear her excitedly telling Wade Harcourt, "Noreen said she''s on her way! I''ll go steam the king crab right now. It''s her favorite!"
She had Colby drive her directly to the Harcourt estate. It was a long drive, over an hour.
By the time she arrived, Evelyn had already steamed the king crab.
"You''re just in time! I just finished making the dipping sauce. This seafood is really top-notch, Noreen, you have to try some," Evelyn said, bustling around.
Noreen greeted Wade, who urged her to go and eat.
"The crab meat has just been shelled. Eat up," Evelyn said, cing tworge containers on the table. "These are for your mother. Take them with you when you leave."
"Thank you." As Noreen sat down, she noticed that the te in front of her was piled high with neatly shelled crab meat. She paused.
She had always known that Evelyn wasn''t good at shelling crab. And she also knew who was.
Evelyn and Wade remained tight-lipped, saying nothing. Of course, Noreen didn''t ask. They all maintained a delicate bnce.
After dinner, Noreen didn''t stay long. As she was leaving, Evelyn insisted she take the packed seafood with her. Noreen couldn''t refuse and finally epted it.
After leaving the Harcourt estate, Noreen got into the car.
"Straight home?" Colby asked.
Noreen hesitated for a few seconds. "You can take a taxi back. I''ll drive myself hometer."
Colby didn''t ask why. He handed her the keys and quietly got out of the car.
Noreen called Sophia. ¡°Send me Seth''s phone number."
Sophia, who had been about to go to sleep, was instantly wide awake.
A moment after she hung up, Sophia sent the number. Noreen dialed it immediately.
Back in the Harcourt family living room, Seth came downstairs five Noreen had left.
minutes after the table
Evelyn was clearing
muttering to herself, "Didn''t Noreen used to love king crab? Why didn''t she even touch it today?"
Seth stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling on the table. The te of crab meat was still there, perfectly arranged seemed she had
ed he was the one who shelled
it, and that''s why she hadn''t touched it. She was determined to draw a
line between them.
The thought was a bitter one. As the bitterness spread through his chest, his phone rang. He was too dejected to even look at it. Instead he sat down at the table, picked up the fork Noreen had used, and began to eat the crab meat she had left, tasting nothing.
It was Evelyn who finally reminded him about his phone. He slowly pulled it out. When he saw the number on the screen, the fork ttered from his hand onto the table.
Evelyn jumped. "What''s wrong?"
"Nothing... nothing," Seth stammered, his voice trembling.
Though suspicious, Evelyn didn''t press him. Seth stood up and walked out into the
courtyard, his fingers shaking as he pressed the answer button.
But as if fate were ying a cruel joke, he was a second toote. The call disconnected.
Noreen, who had lived her life in the fastne for years, had for the first time found enough patience to make a phone call. But it hadn''t connected. She didn''t know if Seth hadn''t seen it, or if he simply didn''t want to answer.
Chapter 736
Perhaps this was fate. Just like that phone call on the night of the thank-you banquet all those years ago. A missed connection meant it wasn''t meant to be.
Noreen sighed softly and was about to put her phone away when it rang again. It was Seth, calling her back.
This time, Noreen was caught off guard. She hadn''t expected him to call back so quickly; he must have hit redial the second the call dropped.
She answered but didn''t know what to say. The man on the other end was silent too. His heavy breathing, uneven and rushed, traveled through the receiver.
"Let''s meet," Noreen finally said, breaking the silence.
A couple of seconds passed before Seth replied, "Okay." Then he asked, "Where?"
"I''m outside your house. Juste out."
Seth''s grip on his phone tightened. The line was already dead.
He came out wearing only a dress shirt. He didn''t even think to go back for a jacket as he pushed open the courtyard gate and walked out.
Noreen was standing about fifty yards from the gate, under a streetlight. The warm, yellow glow stretched her shadow long across the pavement.
Seth stopped five yards away from her. The entire scene felt as unreal as a dream. He had never imagined a day like this woulde, a day he could stand before her in the open. After their parting five years ago, he had thought there would be no future for them.
Their eyes met. Neither of them spoke.
In her eyes, Seth saw only one thing: peace. The kind of profound tranquility thates after enduring too much.
It was Noreen who finally broke the silence.
Her voice was cold in the wind.
"Stop doing these meaningless things." She was referring to the shelled crab meat, and to the time he had prostrated himself in the rain, step by step to pray for for a blessing, for her.
She had made low-cost gestures of devotion before, too. In the end, they had only moved her, and no one else.
Seth''s throat was dry; he couldn''t make a sound.
"You should know that I''m engaged," Noreen continued. "You know him, it''s Castle."
"I have my own life now, my own circle of friends. My days are full, and I''m content."
In short, she hadpletely erased Seth from her world.
Every word, every syble, was like a fine needle piercing the most vulnerable parts
of his heart. They were only a few yards apart, but she felt a world away.
"Since you''re out and unharmed, you should live your own life,¡± Noreen said, ncing toward the Harcourt estate. Mr. Harcourt is getting older. You should take the weight off his shoulders and let him enjoy his fater years."
"And... I won''t being here anymore. Please apologize to Evelyn and Mr. Harcourt for me."
Noreen had said everything she needed to say. This was a final, clean break.
?
Seth felt as if someone had just stabbed him in the chest, repeatedly, until his heart was torn to shreds. He was in too much pain to speak, unable to move for a long moment.
A cold gust of wind blew past, and Noreen looked away. It was time for her to go.
Just as she turned, Seth called out urgently, "Noreen.¡±
He said her name.
Noreen paused and looked at him again. Her gaze drifted from his eyes to the faint
scar above his brow. For a moment, her expression was nk.
"Did you... ever love me?" Seth asked, the words tearing from his throat.
Chapter 737
Noreen was honest.
She looked right at Seth and told him clearly, "I did."
A flicker of hope ignited in Seth''s lifeless eyes. "And now..."
Before he could finish, Noreen cut him off. "But that''s all in the past. I''ve moved on."
Her words plunged him back into the abyss. She was too calm. From beginning to end, herposure hadn''t wavered. In that moment, Seth had no idea what to do. It seemed he had realized things a little toote. No, far toote.
Years ago, when he had seen Dn Wilder give Noreen flowers, he hadn''t been able to stop himself from rushing to her apartment. The congrattions he''d meant to offer had turned to sarcasm, fueled by jealousy. But Noreen had simply told him that she had repaid everything she owed him.
Seeing the tears welling in her eyes that day, Seth had nearly broken down. He had almost said it. Noreen, I regret it. I''ll give up on my revenge. Can we go back to how things were?
But it was all toote. When she said she''d moved on, she meant she no longer loved him.
Noreen prepared to leave again. At that moment, Seth had the overwhelming feeling that if he let her go this time, they would be two parallel lines, never to intersect again.
"Noreen."
He called out to her again, urgently.
A hint of irritation crossed Noreen''s brow as she turned back to him.
"Do you... do you love him?" he asked, referring to Castle.
Noreen pressed her lips together, her gaze shifting away. "I do.¡±
¡°No. Look me in the eye and answer that question again.¡±
Seth was like a drowning man clinging to hisst piece of driftwood. He was desperate.
"Is the answer really that important?" Noreen asked, frowning.
Seth''s jaw tightened. "It''s very important!"
"I don''t think so," Noreen said, her eyes meeting his again. "Besides, I have no obligation to tell you about my rtionship with my fianc¨¦. You have no right to know."
"I hope you can maintain a sense of decorum and boundaries, Mr. Harcourt. Don''t pry into our private lives."
"And anyway, if I didn''t love him, why would I be engaged to him?¡±
Long after Noreen had gone, Seth remained standing in the same spot, motionless.
The night grew deeper, the wind colder. His thin shirt offered no protection against the chill. But still he stood there, frozen. Noreen had just snapped hisst lifeline.
"Hon, do you think it''ll be a boy or a girl?" ire was already daydreaming.
"If it''s a boy, I''ll have to teach him to be faithful from a young age, so he doesn''t grow up to be a jerk! His father''s genes aren''t great, after all. I can only hope mine will bnce things out."
"If it''s a girl, I''ll spoil her rotten. I''ll give her so much love and so much money that she''ll never be fooled by some scumbag."
"Hon, are you even listening to me?" ire realized she''d been talking to herself for
a while without getting a response. She turned and saw Noreen waspletely lost in thought.
"What?" Noreen asked, finally snapping back to the present.
ire narrowed her eyes. ¡°Something''s not right with you."
"Is there?" Noreen wouldn''t admit it.
"It''spletely obvious," ire said, leaning closer and staring at her intent
This is weird Who in the
world besides that bastard could possibly make you this distracted?"
After she cursed, her eyes widened in realization. "Wait... you didn''t run into Seth, did you?"
Noreen''s expression becameplicated.
ire pped her forehead. ¡°I knew it. Why won''t that ghost just stay buried?¡±
"Let''s change the subject,¡± Noreen said, clearly wanting to avoid talking about Seth. The topic made her skin crawl.
ire didn''t want to talk about him
either. Instead, she leaned in and
said, "I have a job in Northcrest tomorrow, one I signed on for a
time go. Why don''t youe Yong
to clean your
me it''ll be a good way head."
Chapter 738
"Of course," Noreen agreed instantly. After all, ire''s well-being was her top priority. The two of them flew to Northcrest the next day. The job ire had mentioned was an endorsement photoshoot booked almost six months ago. "Listen, this brand was my very first endorsement in my acting career," ire exined. "That''s why this coboration is so important to me. I''ve turned down everything else, but I couldn''t cancel this one." "Is there a script?¡± Noreen, acting as ire''s temporary manager, wanted to check if there were any risks involved in the shoot. ire''s agent sent the script to Noreen. She quickly scanned through it. When she saw a scene that needed to be filmed in a swimming pool, her brow furrowed. "No, this has to be changed." The weather in Northcrest was much colder than in Rivercrest City; even in the fall, it was already getting chilly. Besides, ire was pregnant. It was clearly unsuitable. Sandra looked troubled. "But this script was locked in a long time ago, and the set is already prepared. It might not be a good idea to back out now." Noreen was about to say more, but ire grabbed her hand. "It''s okay. I''ll try to get it done in one or two takes. It won''t be a big deal." She knew Noreen was just worried about her. Still, Noreen wasn''t convinced. She instructed Sandra to talk to the brand representative in advance and insist that the pool be filled with warm water. She would cover the extra cost herself; the brand wouldn''t have to pay for it. With an offer like that, the brand naturally had no objections. When they arrived at the studio, the crew was already heating the pool. The makeup artist was waiting, so ire went to get her makeup done as soon as she arrived. Whether it was the scent of the cosmetics or something else, ire suddenly felt a wave of morning sickness. In less than half an hour, she had to run to the restroom three times. Seeing how pale she was after getting sick, Noreen rubbed her back and said, "Maybe we should just postpone this job." "No, the owner is a really good person. She helped me out back then. You know I''m all about loyalty." ire was almost weak from vomiting, but she was still talking about principles. Noreen sighed, unable to argue with her. "Honey, could you go to the west gate and get me a lemonade? I''m craving one from The Chandler House." That''s how it is with pregnancy¡ªstrange cravings pop up out of nowhere, wanting one thing one minute and something else the next. Noreen, of course, didn''t refuse. "Alright, I''ll go get it. Sandra will stay here with you." "Okay." The west gate was quite a distance from the studio, and the round trip took Noreen over an hour. By the time she got back, ire was already in the pool. "Cut! Madeline, the angle on thatst take was off. Let''s do one more," the director said politely to Madeline, who was standing on the pool deck. Madeline, looking as sweet and innocent as ever, replied, ¡°I''m so sorry, Director. I hope I''m not causing too much trouble." "Not at all, not at all." After he spoke, the director had the crew reset the scene. During all this, ire was left soaking in the water. No one told her to get out and wait. Sandra brought a towel to the edge of the pool. ¡°ire,e on out for a bit. It''s cold in there." ire, who was already shivering, started to make her way to the side. But the director called out, ¡°ire, we''ll be ready in just a moment. Why don''t you wait in the water? It''ll be better for continuity." "...Alright." ire retreated to her spot. Madeline leisurely touched up her makeup,pletely ignoring ire, who was still waiting in the pool. Noreen''s heart sank. She walked over to the edge of the pool and dipped her hand in to test the water''s temperature. It was freezing cold. As if on cue, Madeline decided she wasn''t satisfied with her makeup touch-up and asked the artist to do it all over again. She was obviously stalling. A cold glint appeared in Noreen''s eyes. She walked around the pool and headed straight for Madeline.
Chapter 739
She moved so quickly that the crew on set didn''t even have time to react.
It was the director, seeing someone wander into the shot, who finally yelled, "Who is that? Don''t walk into the frame, get out of here!"
Noreen Gilmore ignored the director''s shouting and walked straight up to Madeline Lynwood.
Madeline was in the middle of a makeup touch-up, leaning backfortably in her chair with her eyes closed. "Use a darker shade of lipstick," she instructed the makeup artist. "It''ll look better on camera."
The makeup artist hesitated, wanting to suggest otherwise. It was a shampoomercial, after all. If the makeup was too heavy, it would distract from the product they were supposed to be highlighting.
But she didn''t dare say a word.
Madeline was far too intimidating, and a humble makeup artist like herself couldn''t afford to cross her.
As she reached into her kit to select a lipstick, a hand beat her to it, grabbing one of the tubes.
"Hey..." the makeup artist started, but the next second, she was speechless.
Noreen took the lipstick and drew arge ''X'' across Madeline''s face.
By the time Madeline realized what was happening, Noreen was finished.
She opened her eyes, ready to unleash a torrent of abuse, but when she saw it was Noreen, she stammered, "Ms... Ms. Gilmore, what are you doing here?"
Noreen didn''t deign to speak to her. Instead, she kicked the chair, sending Madeline tumbling, chair and all, into the swimming pool.
Everyone on set was stunned.
Madeline''s agent stormed over, furious. "Who the hell are you? Do you have any idea what you''ve just done? Let me tell you, you''re finished!"
Finished? Noreen highly doubted that.
"Get her out of there!" the agent yelled, ordering the crew around.
Noreen promptly kicked over a nearby disy tableden with shampoo bottles. The crash was so loud it froze everyone in ce. "I dare any of you to help her." Meanwhile, Sandra was helping ire Chase out of the other side of the pool. ire was shivering uncontrobly, her face deathly pale.
"I''ll take her to get changed," Sandra said.
Madeline''s agent, finally piecing things together, sneered. "So you''re with ire. Well, let me tell you something. Both you and ire have crossed the wrong people! Her career is over!"
"Is that so?" Noreen said, a smile ying on her lips instead of anger.
The agent thought she was bluffing. "I''m making a call right now. ire Chase can get ready to be cklisted by the entire industry!"
She immediately dialed Felix Quigley''s number. "Mr. Quigley, Madeline is being bullied! You have to get over here!"
As if on cue, Madeline began to scream for help from the pool. "Help me! Felix, save me!"
The set descended into chaos.
The director and the representative from the brand finally made their way over, looking ready to settle the score.
"I don''t care who you are," the director snarled at Noreen, "but you''ve caused us a
significant loss today, and you will be paying for it!"
Noreen ignored him and ced a call to Wilbur.
Wilbur happened to be on the golf
course, enjoying a leisurely day. Seeing Noreen''s name on his
screen, he answered instantly, his tone light and teasing. "Well, well. has the sun risen in the west? To what do I owe the pleasure of a call from my favorite little
?
troublemaker?"
"I need a favor," Noreen said.
Wilbur''s demeanor instantly shifted to one of keen interest. "Name it."
Noreen''s gaze fell on a bottle of shampoo floating in the pool. After reading the name, she said to
Wilbur, "I need you to acquire a
personal care brand for me it''s
called Zylo. The sooner, the better
Wilbur chuckled. "Funny you should mention them. Mypany is one of their
biggest investors. Easy enough. Give me five minutes."
Overhearing Noreen''s n to buy the brand, the brand manager burst outughing. You''ve got some nerve, kid. Acquire our brand? What do you think this is, buying a handbag or a tube of lipstick?"
Chapter 740
The director chimed in with a sneer. "ire found out we added another brand ambassador and immediately started acting like a diva during the shoot, refusing to cooperate. Now she''s brought someone here to trash the set. She has absolutely no sense of professional responsibility! It''s outrageous! An actress with no professional ethics like her should be cklisted by the entire industry!"
The manager arrogantly added, "I''m calling my boss right now to have thepany terminate ire''s contract! And we will never work with her again!"
Seeing this, Madeline''s agent felt a surge of satisfaction and moved to help her client out of the pool.
Noreen grabbed a heavy shampoo bottle and hurled it in her direction.
It struck the agent, who let out a sharp cry of pain.
"I said, no one helps her!" Noreen''s voice was like ice. "However long ire was in that water, Madeline will be in for double!" She stood guard, blocking anyone from getting near the pool.
Unfortunately, Felix arrived too quickly for Madeline to serve her full time.
Seeing her thrashing in the water, he didn''t hesitate for a second. He threw off his jacket and dived in.
ire, having just changed into dry clothes and warmed up with some hot water in the dressing room, had started to feel better. Worried that Noreen might be in trouble, she hade back to check on her.
She arrived on set just in time to see Felix dive resolutely into the pool to save Madeline.
In that instant, it felt as if she had been plunged back into the icy water herself. A chill swept over her from all directions, making her shudder violently.
She stood frozen to the spot, watching as Felix rescued Madeline. She watched as he pulled her to the side of the pool, wrapping her tightly in his arms.
ire stared at the scene, unable to utter a single word for a long time. All she felt was cold. Nothing else.
Madeline nestled into Felix''s embrace, her voice a pathetic whimper. "Felix, I''m so cold."
"I''ll take you to get changed," he said, lifting her into his arms.
As he turned, he saw ire standing at the entrance to the set. His eyes darkened, and the look he gave her was frigid. It was a look of pure me, using her of causing Madeline''s distress.
As he approached, his voice was a sharp, coldmand. "Get out of the way."
ire moved.
She didn''t argue. She didn''t fight.
She just felt tired. A profound
weariness spread from the depths of her soul, leaving her with no strength to debate anything. There is no greater sorrow than a heart that has died. This was it.
As they passed, Madeline, cradled in Felix''s arms, shot her a provocative nce.
Her eyes were filled with the thick, undisguised gloating of a victor.
Noreen walked over and called her name.
ire responded absently. "Noreen, I''m fine."
Noreen said nothing, but her eyes fell to ire''s hands. ire probably hadn''t even noticed that her fists were clenched so tightly hero knuckles had turned white content
"What? No, sir, please let me exin, I..."
The brand manager''s panicked voice echoed across the set. The person on the other end hung up, giving him no chance to exin himself.
The director, looking bewildered, saw the manager''s ashen face. "What did your boss say?" he asked urgently. "Did he terminate ire''s contract immediately?"
The manager''s lips trembled for a long moment before he managed to choke out the words. "He said... I''m fired."
The director thought he''d misheard. "What do you mean? Shouldn''t it be ire who''s fired? She''s the one who was unprofessional!"
"You''re fired, too," the manager added bleakly.
"Impossible!" was the director''s first reaction. But before he could say more, his phone rang. When he saw it was his boss calling, his face went
white as well be answered with trembling hand, only to hear four words.
You are fired.
Chapter 741
The turn of events was so sudden that neither man could quite process it.
The manager was the most bewildered. Just that morning, his boss had specifically told him to take good care of Miss Lockwood. He''d said her backer was Felix Quigley, and that getting on her good side was tantamount to getting on the good side of the entire Quigley family. It would be a ticket to a soaring career. He had even hinted that this Miss Lockwood might be the future Mrs. Quigley.
That was why they had been so protective of her. But now, the tables had turned so drastically he couldn''t figure out who he had offended. And who was that woman who had kicked Madeline into the pool? With a single phone call, she had cost two people their jobs.
There was no time to think. They scrambled over to Noreen and ire to plead for their jobs. It was aplete one-eighty.
"Miss Chase, I''m so sorry. There must have been a misunderstanding. Please, could you put in a good word with my boss? If I lose my job at my age, I''ll be finished," the manager begged, all his previous arrogance gone.
The director wasn''t faring any better. "Miss Chase, we''ve worked together so many times. Please, just give me another chance," he pleaded, sping his hands together.
ire only asked the brand manager one question. "Was signing Madeline your idea, or was she pushed on you?"
The manager stammered for a moment before admitting, "Mr. Quigley''s assistant discussed it with our boss."
So it had been Felix''s doing. She had told him how much this brand meant to her, that it held a special significance. And what had he done? He''d turned around and shoehorned Madeline in as another ambassador, with a title even higher than hers, despite her four years with the brand. Madeline had been parachuted in as the global ambassador.
The originalmercial script had beenpletely rewritten to give all the highlights to Madeline, while she was made to look like a clown, a mere backdrop.
"We discussed this with you beforehand. The pool water was supposed to be heated," Noreen confronted them.
The director immediately shifted the me. "That had nothing to do with me! It was Miss Lockwood. She said she was having an allergic reaction to the water temperaturetely and demanded we not heat it."
Madeline again. So she had deliberately tormented ire, deliberately dragged out the shoot so ire would have to stay in the cold water.
Noreen was furious. "I''m going to settle this with her right now!" She couldn''t let this go.
She had just turned when Felix appeared, his face a dark storm cloud. "We need to talk."
"I have nothing to say to you, and besides, we don''t know each other that well," ire said coolly, reminding him of their contract''s use about maintaining distance in public.
Felix grabbed her by the wrist and started pulling her away. Noreen blocked his path. "Let her go."
"This is a private matter between the two of us," Felix said coldly.
Just as Noreen was about to protest, ire gently pulled on her arm. "Noreen, it''s okay. I''ll be right backIt was true. There were some things an outsider couldn''t interfere in. Maybe letting them talk alone was the only way to resolve it.
Noreen reluctantly let go, watching as Felix led ire away.
He pulled her into a stairwell. ire yanked her arm free, her voiceced with disgust. "If you have something to say, say it!"
Felix''s first words were an usation. "ire, if you have a problem, take it up with me. You don''t have to take it out on Madeline."
His words shattered what littleposure ire had left. She could no longer
remain indifferent. "I took it out on her? Is that what she told you?"
"She didn''t say anything," Felix retorted, his tone still aggressive. "I figured it out myself!"
ire stared at him for a long moment, gathering the strength to speak. "Fine. Since she''s ying the innocent victim, I''ll tell you what happened. She''s the one who stole my role and my endorsement She''s the one who had them turn off the pool heater. And she''s the one who deliberately messed up the takes over and over so I''d have to stay in that freezing water."
Chapter 742
"You felt how cold that pool was when you jumped in to save her. I was in there for a full fifty minutes!" ire recounted each detail, her voice not usatory, but simply defending herself. She couldn''t describe the pain. It was as if her heart had been punctured a thousand times, and life was just bleeding out of it.
"That''s enough!" Felix cut her off impatiently. "Madeline has lost a lot of work because of you. She fought hard to get this shampoo endorsement!"
ire opened her mouth, a thousand grievances welling up inside her, but all that came out was a soft, bitterugh. She suddenly understood what Noreen had once told her: that the moment you choose to stay silent is thest way to protect yourself. Silence isn''t ack of emotion; it''s the deep understanding that saying more is pointless. The one who makes a long speech is always the loser.
"Fine. Believe what you want."
"I hope this is thest time," Felix warned, his tone still threatening. "If it happens again, don''t me me for disregarding our marriage!"
Their marriage? Did such a thing even exist between them?
"Whatever," ire said, turning and opening the door, unwilling to waste another breath on him.
Her dismissive word echoed in Felix''s ears, stirring a strange vexation within him. Something felt deeply wrong. He lit a cigarette, hoping to smoke away the feeling of unease. Madeline called, but he ignored it.
Just as the cigarette was about to burn down to his fingers, he heard a scream from outside. It sounded like... Noreen. He couldn''t be sure; he didn''t interact with her that often. Then themotion grew louder. This time, he clearly recognized her voice. Noreen was shouting, "Help! Somebody, help!"
Realizing something was wrong, Felix dropped the cigarette and bolted out the door, running toward the sound.
When he found them, he saw ire copsed on the floor, blood pooling between her legs. Noreen was desperately trying to lift her, but she wasn''t strong enough. All she could do was sob for help, tears streaming down her face.
"ire!" Felix rushed forward to pick her up.
When Noreen saw him, she shoved him with all her might, her entire body shaking with rage as she screamed, "Don''t you touch her!"
Caught off guard, Felix stumbled backward and fell, his head hitting the wall behind him with a dull thud. His mind went nk for a second. Sandra and the others bearing the screams, came running.
"Call an ambnce! Call an ambnce now!"
Felix struggled to his feet and moved to lift ire again. When Noreen tried to push
him away a second time, he yelled, "We have to save her!"
In the ensuing chaos, Felix carried ire out of the building.
At the hospital, Noreen paced anxiously outside the operating room. Sandra brought her some
water and food, telling her to earn et
It was a fight n
something, but she couldn''t stomach it.
her chest, making it hard to breathe. She shouldn''t have let ire talk to Felix alone. If she had insisted on going with them, this wouldn''t have happened. It was all her fault. Feeling helpless and afraid, Noreen chewed on her fingernails.
When a doctor emerged from the operating room, both Noreen and Felix rushed forward.
"How is she?"
The doctor looked down, his expression somber. "I''m very sorry. We couldn''t save the baby."
Felix was stunned. "The baby? What baby?"
Noreen''s heart shattered. Just yesterday, ire had been excitedly telling her about her dreams for the child''s future. Her face had been so bright as she said "Noreen Im finally going to have a family."
It was too cruel.
"Are you sure you''re not mistaken?" Felix couldn''t ept it.
Ovee with fury, Noreen raised her hand and pped him hard across the face.
Chapter 743
Noreen''s p was so forceful that her own palm stung, but it did nothing to quell the grief and rage consuming her.
Felix turned his head to the side, silent.
Shortly after, a nurse wheeled ire out of the operating room. Noreen, her eyes red, followed close behind, asking the nurse about ire''s condition.
"The patient hasn''t woken up yet. A family member should stay with her and call a doctor immediately if anything changes."
Noreen was so choked up she couldn''t speak. She could only grip ire''s cold hand tightly, trying to warm it with her own.
Nurses moved in and out of the room. Noreen never left her bedside, not for a single moment. Felix was there, too, but he remained silent. Noreen''s focus was entirely on ire; she had no energy to spare for anyone else.
ire woke up two hourster. Noreen, who had been holding her hand the whole time, felt the slight movement instantly. "Honey, you''re awake," she whispered urgently. "Do you feel ufortable anywhere?"
ire''s voice was barely a whisper, more breath than sound. "Pain."
"Cold."
Those were the only two sensations she had.
Noreen frantically rubbed her hands, blowing warm air onto them, trying to bring some warmth back. She called for a nurse, asking if they had any heating pads or anything that could warm a person up quickly. The nurse brought several hot water bottles, but ire still felt cold. Even under a thick nket, with five hot water bottles tucked inside and the room''s thermostat turned to its highest setting, she still felt like she was in an icehouse.
Noreen anxiously called the doctor back. After an examination, the doctor exined that it was a normal post-operative reaction. The anesthesia had suppressed her body''s thermoregtion center, causing her temperature to drop. Reassured, Noreen carefully tucked the nkets around ire, trying to keep any warmth from escaping.
ire shivered for a while longer before she slowly started to feel
OA
better. But her face remained deathly pale,pletely devoid color. She kept her eyes closed saying nothing, lying perfectly still. Yet tears continuously streamed from the corners of her eyes. Even though Noreen hadn''t told her anything, she knew what she had lost.
Seeing this, Noreen turned her head away, fighting to suppress her own wave of
sorrow.
"My dear girl, my dear girl!"
Old Mrs. Quigley''s voice echoed down the hall as she hurried toward the hospital room. ire, who had kept her eyes shut, finally opened them at the sound.
Old Mrs. Quigley pushed the door open, and her eyes reddened the moment she saw ire''s state. "My dear, how did you get hurt? Tell Grandma who did this to you. Grandma will make them pay!"
"Grandma," ire''s voice was hoarse. She managed only one word before she was
choked with sobs, unable to speak. The tears fell even faster.
Old Mrs. Quigley embraced her,forting her over and over. "It''s okay, it''s okay. Grandma''s here. I''ll get you the best doctors!"
ire, who had been holding
everything in finally allowed the pain and sorrow in her heart to pour out in the safety of the old woman''s arms. She cried with gut-wrenching sobs that shook her whole body, terrifying the eighty-year-old woman.
"Sweetheart, tell Grandma, who wronged you so badly? And what kind of injury is it? Why are you in the hospital?"
Noreen shot a cold re at the ever-silent Felix. Unable to contain her anger any
longer, she told Old Mrs. Quigley, "She had a miscarriage."
Old Mrs. Quigley froze. "What? A miscarriage? How did this happen?"
"Why don''t you ask your grandson?" Noreen retorted.
Chapter 744
Old Mrs. Quigley had seen enough of the world to understand the undertones in Noreen''s voice.
She whipped her head around to face Felix. "You! Tell me what happened!"
"...We''re still investigating," Felix exined.
"Are you investigating, or are you covering up the truth? She was perfectly fine when you called her over to talk. How is it that in the blink of an eye, she''s on the ground and the baby is gone?" Noreen couldn''t hold back any longer, her voice sharp with usation.
That was his child, too!
How could he be so... so cold?
Why?
Why could he act as if it had nothing to do with him?
Felix tried to exin, "She left after we spoke. I don''t know what happened after that."
"I also didn''t know... that she was pregnant."
"You..." Old Mrs. Quigley was livid. "You are an absolute scoundrel!"
"Sweetheart, can you tell Grandma what happened?" Old Mrs. Quigley turned to ire. "Grandma will make it right for you!"
ire was still sobbing. "I was on my way back to find Noreen when someone shoved me hard from behind. I fell down the steps, and then..... I don''t remember anything else."
"It was Madeline!" Noreen''s immediate reaction was to name her.
Old Mrs. Quigley paused. "Madeline?"
Noreen then recounted the day''s events to Old Mrs. Quigley, including how Madeline had been making things difficult for ire.
Barely suppressing her fury, Old Mrs. Quigley snapped at Felix, "You,e with me!"
Then, she softened her voice tofort ire. "My dear girl, you just rest. Grandma will be back to sit with you in a little while."
After the two left, ire''s crying slowly subsided.
Her eyes looked hollow.
Noreen brought a warm, damp cloth and gently wiped her friend''s tear-swollen eyes.
ire reached up and grabbed
Noreen''s hand, her voice hoarse
Noreen, want a divorce
waiting for the contract to
She wanted to cut ties with Felix immediately, right now, forever.
She needed to carve him out of her worldpletely.
Noreen squeezed her hand firmly. "Okay. You just focus on getting better. I''ll handle everything else."
...
In a quiet corner of the hospital, Old Mrs. Quigley stared at Felix, her expression icy.
"Are you satisfied now that it''se to this?"
Felix''s jaw was tight, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Old Mrs. Quigley pointed a finger at
his
own
So furious she was
speechless. Finally, she pounded t a few times in fretation.
"How did I end up with such a worthless grandson!"
"ire is such a wonderful girl, and you had to torture her like this! Don''t you have a conscience?"
"Do you have any idea how many years I''ve been waiting for this child?"
"All for that Madeline! You''d let ire suffer this much for that conniving little minx?"
"Let me tell you, I will not let anyone who hurts ire get away with it! I don''t care who she is!"
Felix, who had been silent, finally
spoke his tone sounding like an
exnation. "We don''t know
facts yet. We can''t jump to conclu-"
Before he could finish, Old Mrs. Quigley pped him across the face.
It was a hard p.
It left a clear handprint on his other cheek.
Even so, her anger wasn''t spent. "Even now, you''re still defending that little tramp? I think you''re a lost cause!"
"Get a divorce!" Old Mrs. Quigleymanded, her body trembling with rage. "ire deserves better! You don''t deserve her!"
Chapter 745
Felix''s eyes turned cold, and his tone hardened. "This is between me and ire. Grandma, stay out of it."
"And I''m not divorcing her."
Old Mrs. Quigley was heartbroken and furious. "You''re ruining her life! If you don''t love her, why are you holding her back?"
"Give me some time. I will get to the bottom of this," Felix insisted, his demeanor still cool. "That was my child, too. I won''t let it die for nothing."
Old Mrs. Quigley just shook her head.
She was utterly disappointed in him.
She left him with two words. "Toote."
After she was gone, Felix irritably fumbled in his pockets for a cigarette.
But he wasn''t in a smoking area. He walked downstairs alone until he found the designated spot.
He smoked one cigarette after another, an endless chain until the pack was empty. But the nicotine did nothing to calm his nerves.
His mind was still in turmoil.
He couldn''t get the image of ire out of his head-lying on the hospital bed, her eyes closed, silent tears streaming down her face.
A sense of panic tightened its grip on him.
Madeline called again.
Normally, he would have answered immediately. This time, he ignored it.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to console himself.
*ire can''t afford the penalty for breaking the contract. She would never file for divorce herself.*
*And she cares deeply about Grandma, treats her like her own family.*
*She wouldn''t have the heart to go through with a divorce, if only for Grandma''s sake.*
*Stop panicking.*
When Old Mrs. Quigley returned to the room, ire hadpletely calmed down.
"My dear girl, don''t be sad. Getting too upset during this recovery period can cause long-term health problems. It''s not worth damaging your body over someone who isn''t worth it," Old Mrs. Quigley said, holding ire''s hand, her heart aching for her. ire looked down, a bitter smile on her lips. "You''re right. He''s not worth it."
And so, she decided to tell her grandmother the truth.
When Old Mrs. Quigley learned about the contract Felix and ire had signed, she was so incensed. that she clutched her chest, struggling to breathe.
onave
ire quickly retrieved her grandmother''s medication from her pocket and helped her take it.
After a few moments, Old Mrs. Quigley''s breathing evened out.
"My dear, you''ve suffered so much," she said, wiping away tears. "Don''t you ever let yourself be wronged like this again."
"Whatever you decide, Grandma will support you. Don''t worry about my feelings. At my age, I''ve seen it all."
"Nothing is more important than my granddaughter''s life!"
"Thank you, Grandma."
Her words were all the reassurance ire needed.
ire stayed in the hospital for three days.
Noreen stayed with her for all three.
Wilbur also came to visit every day.
While he was mainly there for Noreen, he treated her best friend with the same
care.
He even hired the best nutritionist for ire to help with her recovery.
Noreen also asked him to find the bestwyer in Northcrest, a man named Coley.
ire consulted with Coley about the divorce, naturally bringing up the agreement they had signed.
Coley told her, "An agreement like that has no legal standing. It''s an unequal contract by its very nature, and thew does not support it."
His answer left ire in stunned silence.
So... the contract was meaningless.
Just like her marriage to Felix. Meaningless.
And she had held up her end of the bargain for six years. How utterly ridiculous.
ire asked Coley, "In that case, Mr. get
ad the fastest way to
a divorce? All I want is for this to be over as quickly as possible, content, >
Coley gave her two options.
"The fastest way is an uncontested. divorce. Once the mandatory thirty-day cooling off period is over it''s finalized, the alternative litigation, but that can take much longer."
So, she would have to talk to Felix one more time.
Chapter 746
Coley had just left when Felix arrived.
He hade every day for the past three days.
But he never came into the room. He probably knew ire didn''t want to see him.
Each time, he would bring nutritional supplements and check with the doctor about her condition.
Then he would sit outside for a while before leaving.
As for the things he brought, they all ended up in the trash.
Felix knew that, too.
But he still brought them every day, like clockwork, regardless of what ire did with them.
The nurse looked troubled. "Miss Chase won''t ept them. Everything you brought before was thrown out. Maybe you should just take them back. It''s a shame to throw them away, they''re quite expensive."
"No, it''s fine. She can do whatever she wants with them," Felix said, handing the items to her anyway.
He then headed toward the doctor''s office.
The doctor was used to his daily inquiries. "She''s recovering well, but she''s still very weak. She''ll need to continue building her strength back up at home. Even though it was an early-term miscarriage, her recovery shouldn''t be taken lightly."
"When can she be discharged?"
"She can go home tomorrow," the doctor replied.
Felix felt a weight lift from his chest that had been there for days.
After thanking the doctor, he walked out, nning to sit outside ire''s room for a
bit before leaving, just as he had before.
But as he approached the door, he heard Noreen call out to him. "She has something to discuss with you. You can go in."
Felix''s expression flickered. He gave Noreen a slight nod and walked into the room.
After three days of rest, ire looked much better.
When she first came out of surgery, her face was as white as a sheet, so fragile it seemed she might break at the slightest touch.
"...You wanted to see me?" Felix spoke first, his voice and words as stiff as ever.
That was just how he was with her.
ire was used to it.
At first, she had thought it was just his personality-cool and distant with everyone.
She would have kept believing that if she hadn''t seen how he was with Madeline.
Madeline was special to him. Different.
Perhaps that was what love was.
Either way, she didn''t understand it, and she no longer wanted to.
"Let''s talk about our divorce," ire said, getting straight to the point, her tone t and devoid of emotion.
She was terrifyingly calm.
"Here''s the divorce agreement. Take a look." ire ced the papers she had prepared on the overbed table and looked up at him.
"About the baby... I''m very sorry. It
was my mistake. I''m already
investigating, but you were in a surveince blind spot, so there''s no footage. We haven''t found the
culprit yet," Felix said, as if trying to exin.
But none of that mattered anymore.
The only thing she needed to resolve now was her divorce from him.
As for who hurt her, she would find that out herself.
She didn''t need his help.
"I''m talking about the divorce. Let''s not discuss other things right now," ire reminded him. "I''ve consulted awyer. The contract we signed isn''t legally binding, so will be returning the two payments you transferred to me."
"I''ll also pay you back for the money you fronted for Kyson before we were married."
"That''s the only financial
entanglement between us. I don''t
want anything else. I''ll walk away
with nothing. If you have no objections, please sign the agreement."
Chapter 747
Felix stared at the papers ire had prepared and listened to her terms.
He was momentarily stunned.
There was that unsettling feeling again...
Didn''t ire love money?
How could she give it all up so easily?
And from the way she spoke, it seemed she had... no feelings left for him at all.
He was silent for a long moment before finally giving his answer. "I won''t sign it." ire frowned. "Is there a condition that doesn''t meet your requirements? Feel free to name it."
No matter what, she was determined to get this divorce.
Felix''s lips thinned into a hard line. "Quigley Group is preparing tounch a very important project. We can''t have any missteps during this period."
That was his reason for not signing?
A true businessman, always putting profit first.
ire let out a derisiveugh. "I would have thought you''d be eager to make things official with Madeline. It seems to me that you''re the one who needs freedom more than I do."
Felix''s tone turned cold again. "That''s my business. It''s not your ce toment." So he did n on marrying Madeline.
She was stepping aside to make it happen, and he still wasn''t satisfied!
"Don''t be ridiculous, Felix. I''m not trying to manage your affairs. I just think you''re dying my chance to move on to a better life."
Felix''s face darkened. "Once the project is sessfullyunched, I can give you three percent of thepany''s shares."
ire hesitated.
She couldn''t help it; she had too much respect for money.
Three percent of Quigley Group... that was an enormous sum.
But the thought of staying married, of continuing to endure that pair of cheaters, made her stomach turn.
The money was tempting, but the cost was too high.
Besides, with Noreen in her corner, she had enough to livefortably for the rest of her life.
"No, thank you. Our marriage was a secret anyway, almost no one knows about it. A divorce wont have any impact. I don''t want the shares. I just want to escape this nightmare as soon as possible."
It was clear how desperate she was.
vel
"I''m afraid that''s not possible. The partner for this project is an old friend of my grandfather''s le knows were married. With that, Felix blocked every path she had.
ire, who had been rtively calm, was now incensed, her voice rising with agitation. "This isn''t eptable, that isn''t eptable! What exactly do you want?"
"You should focus on your recovery,"
Felix said, his tone turning
dismissive. "You need to keep your emotions stable. I can see you don''t Want to see me, so I won''t disturb you any longer. Get some rest."
Without waiting for her to respond, he opened the door and left.
Furious, ire grabbed the nearest object, ready to hurl it at the door.
But she stopped herself when Noreen walked in.
"It didn''t go well?" Noreen guessed, seeing her friend''s state.
ire sighed in frustration. "He won''t sign! He ims thepany has an important projectunching and a divorce would affect it."
Noreen suggested, "Then let Coley handle it. But you need to be prepared for the
fact that a litigated divorce can take a very long time."
ire knew that, which was why she was so frustrated.
Awsuit would also be a waste of time. Compared to that, waiting for the project to
"I just never thought this would be the holdup."
She had assumed Felix would be thrilled to divorce her.
After all, she was the one standing in the way of his true love.
"Men are all trash!"
ire had barely spit out the words when Wilbur pushed the door open and walked
in.
Chapter 748
"My timing is impable, I see."
ire looked embarrassed. "You''re the exception."
Wilbur shook his head. "Don''t exempt me. I''m no saint either."
He knew exactly what he was.
Wilbur hade to bring them dinner.
Although it was takeout, it was from one of the best restaurants in Northcrest.
The kind of ce you usually had to book weeks in advance.
Of course, Wilbur didn''t have to, since he was one of the owners.
He had already eaten, so while Noreen and ire ate, he scrolled through his phone.
"You''re getting out tomorrow. Any ns? Want to go somewhere?" Wilbur asked them.
"Sure," Noreen answered first.
ire gave her a skeptical look. "Aren''t you busy? You''ve already put off so much work these past few days for me. You have time to travel?"
Noreen hadn''t said anything, but ire could tell.
To avoid disturbing her, Noreen had kept her phone on silent and never took calls in her presence.
She only answered the most critical ones.
ire could still sense the pressure, which was why she tried to sleep as much as possible. Only when she was sleeping could Noreen focus on her work instead of chatting, taking walks, and managing her moods.
But Noreen insisted, "I have time. I don''t have much experience with vacations, though. Any suggestions, Wilbur?"
Wilbur grinned. "You''vee to the right person."
He was an expert at leisure.
"You n it, then," Noreen said. "Preferably somewhere with a nice climate."
"Leave it to me. I guarantee the two princesses will have a wonderful time!"
Later, after ire had fallen asleep, Noreen walked Wilbur downstairs, using it as an excuse to talk.
"Any news on what happened at the club?"
Wilbur said, "It was a surveince blind spot, so nothing was caught on camera."
She had found ire in the changing room, and there were indeed no cameras there.
But it was a fact that ire had been pushed.
Seeing Noreen''s frown, Wilbur reassured her. "Even if we can''t
prove it, we know who did it. We just don''t have the evidence to press charges, But that doesn''t mean we Tet her off the hook."
"Trust me," he added, his voice low. "Sending her to prison would be letting her off easy."
Revenge was far more interesting than justice.
At the Quigley estate.
After leaving the hospital, Felix drove straight back to the family home.
But he didn''t go inside right away. He stood outside, smoking for a while.
During that time, Madeline called him again.
He ignored it again.
He had been wrestling with a question for days.
If he hadn''t confronted ire that day, would this have happened?
If the baby had been fine, would things be different between them?
But then he''d wonder why he was even having these thoughts.
Hadn''t he been nning to divorce her all along?
He should be happy.
So why did his heart ache with an uncontroble pain?
Only when the cigarette pack was empty did Felix finally go inside.
Old Mrs. Quigley had just finished dinner. When she saw him, her expression turned
to stone.
The butler
Mastached. "Young
have you had dinner? I If not,
I''ll have the kitchen prepare
swoovel?oft
something."
Before Felix could answer, Old Mrs. Quigley snapped, "What right does a murderer have to eat?"
Felix''s face went pale.
"Go to the ancestral hall and kneel," shemanded, not even bothering to look at
him.
Felix silently went to the hall and,
just as he the past
had for the past three
days knelt before the port of hi
ancestors for four hours.
>
Chapter 749
After Felix left, the butler sighed and tried to calm Old Mrs. Quigley down, saying that this punishment couldn''t go on forever.
"He deserves it! That was the Quigley family''s eldest grandson! He threw him away just like that. How can you expect me to calm down?"
Every time she thought of the great-grandson she was fated never to meet, Old Mrs. Quigley''s chest ached fiercely.
But for all her scolding, he was still her grandson, and a part of her heart ached for him too.
"Have someone prepare some food and send it over to himter."
When the butler brought the food, Felix told him to take it back, saying he wasn''t hungry.
The butler sighed, worried. "Sir, Mrs. Quigley is a wonderful person. Whenever she''s home, the old mistress is always so cheerful. She''s kind to all of us, too. When my leg was acting up, she went out of her way to find an acupuncturist for me."
"Why can''t you two just live a happy life together?"
Felix answered with only silence.
No one knew what he was thinking.
The butler could only sigh and leave.
As he returned to the main hall, he heard Old Mrs. Quigley fuming, "Tell her to get lost!"
The butler, worried about her health, hurried over to see what was happening.
He learned from a maid that Madeline hade to the house.
"You go and tell her that unless I''m dead, she will never set foot in the Quigley family home!" the old woman clutched her chest, her voice filled with grief and anger.
"Yes, yes, I''ll go right now. Please don''t be angry," the butler soothed her immediately.
He was afraid she would make herself sick.
Madeline hade to the Quigley estate because she hadn''t been able to reach Felix.
After the butler ryed the old mistress''s words, she didn''t dare argue, only saying pitifully, "As long as Felix is all right, that''s all that matters."
Her words even managed to disgust the butler.
By the time he returned to the hall, Felix had finished his punishment ande back inside.
He had probably heard that Madeline had been there, as his expression was grim.
Old Mrs. Quigley had just taken her medicine and caught her breath. She pointed a finger at Felix''s nose and shapped, "If you ever let that piece of trash dirty my home again, don''t
me me for being ruthless!"
Felix simply said, "I understand. It''s gettingte. You should get some rest."
It was clear he was about to head out.
"Stop right there!" the old woman shouted. You''re not going anywhere tonight Tomorrow morning, you''reing with me to the hospital to bring ire home!" fo
Felix paused. "Understood."
After he went upstairs, the old woman muttered angrily, "Thinking he can run off to
that little tramp right under my nose! Not a chance!"
At six the next morning, the old
woman was banging on Felix''s door.
"Get up You''re taking me to the,
hospital to bring my dear
granddaughter home for breakfast!"
Normally, Felix would have stalled. He had a terrible morning temper and wouldsh
out even at his grandmother for waking him.
Old Mrs. Quigley knew this and had deliberately gotten up early to torment him.
Her precious granddaughter was still in the hospital; what right did the culprit have to sleep in?
Just as she was about to bang on the door again, it suddenly opened.
Felix was fully dressed, his face a mask of indifference. "Let''s go."
For a moment, his grandmother was stunned.
He was up this early?
They arrived at the hospital at seven-thirty, quite early.
But when Old Mrs. Quigley pushed open the door to ire''s room, her heart full of
joy, she found it empty. Only a cleaner was tidying up.
Felix asked anxiously, "Where''s the patient from this room? Where did she go?"
The cleaner replied, "She was dischargedst night."
"What?"
Both of them eximed in shock at the same time.
Felix immediately pulled out his phone to call ire.
Chapter 750
The only response was a cold, automated voice informing him that the phone was turned off.
Unwilling to give up, he had his grandmother try calling.
The result was the same. The phone was off.
ire had blocked him.
Old Mrs. Quigley pounded on his arm in frustration. "See? See what you''ve done? Now my dear granddaughter won''t even talk to me! Give her back to me!"
Felix didn''t flinch, letting his grandmother''s fistsnd on him.
He hadn''t slept well the night before, a strange sense of unease settling in his heart,
a feeling that something was about to happen.
After finally getting his grandmother home, Felix immediately began searching for ire''s whereabouts.
He even checked back in Rivercrest City.
In the end, he was told that ire had gone on a trip abroad with Noreen.
Learning that she was safe, Felix finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But at the same time, a growing sense of loss filled his heart.
She probably just needed to get away and clear her head. That was fine. It was better than her being angry with him. Besides, she shouldn''t get upset while she was recovering.
Once she had her fun, maybe she''d stop talking about divorce.
As soon as he got to the office, Felix had his secretary transfer fifty million dors from his personal ount to ire''s.
Then he took out his phone to send ire a message on WhatsApp.
There was so much he wanted to say, but he found himself typing and deleting, over and over again.
After much deliberation, he sent just a few words.
"Have fun."
The moment he hit send, a ring red exmation mark appeared in the chat window.
A system notification confirmed it: ire had blocked him.
Wilbur, who truly knew how to live, had picked an incredible spot.
The moment ire and Noreen arrived at the resort, its beauty made them forget all their worldly troubles.
In ire''s words:
To hell with that jerk Quigley!
To hell with men!
The world was too big and beautiful to waste time worrying about some guy.
Noreen asked Wilbur curiously how he had discovered such a stunning ce.
"I''m actually an investor in this resort," Wilbur exined. "I came here while scouting the project and was deeply impressed."
"You have good taste."
Seeing them about to drift into a business discussion, ire quickly intervened. "We''re on vacation, no work falk! It looks like his is an archipgo. Are those other nds part of the resort too?"
"Some are private inds, some are still under development, and some are uninhabited."
"Private inds?" ire''s eyes widened. She was getting a glimpse into a world she never knew.
The world of the rich was truly beyond imagination.
She didn''t even own her own house, yet some people had their own private inds. Damn it!
Would it kill the universe to let one more person be rich?
ire had a wonderful time on the resort''s ind, spending her days soaking up the sun, enjoying the warm sea breeze, and watching the sunrises and sunsets.
It was pure bliss.
In the evenings, she would drag Noreen to the beach to collect seashells.
"This one is beautiful. We should bring it back for Katy," ire said, excitedly showing Noreen a pretty shell she''d found.
§Ö§ä
The hotel concierge who had apanied them remarked, "The shells here aren''t the most beautiful, actually. The most beautiful ones are on Nightingale Isle over there."
"Nightingale Isle? There''s a ce with a name like that?"
"It wasn''t always called that," the concierge exined. "The owner bought it a few years ago and renamed it. It was originally two inds shaped a bit like a rightingale After belying age, heves connected the two closest points, so now it''s one ind collectively known as Nightingale Isle. The scenery there is the most beautiful of all the inds."
Chapter 751
"Is it open to the public?" ire asked, eager to see it.
The concierge shook his head. "It''s a private ind."
"That''s a shame."
"If you like it that much," Noreenforted her, "I''ll have someone look into it and see if it''s for sale."
ire was speechless.
She just wanted to see it, not own it!
But then again, having a badass CEO for a best friend was pretty amazing.
While ire was busy collecting shells, Noreen nced around and noticed that from their current angle, she had a perfect view of the bridge connecting the two parts of the ind.
She found a good angle, snapped a couple of pictures, and, feeling pleased, posted one on Twitter.
After they''d had their fun, they returned to the hotel.
Wilbur was back from deep-sea fishing with arge catch, and he''d had the chef prepare a magnificent seafood feast.
ire patted her stomach. "I''ve had a great time, but losing this weightter is going to be painful."
Wilbur looked confused. "You''re not fat. What''s there to lose?"
"I''m a model," ire reminded him. "Do you have any idea how ruthless the modeling world is?"
"How ruthless? Tell me about it." That was Wilbur for you; he never let a conversation drop.
With him around, ire had no time to get emo, which was a relief for Noreen.
Just then, Katy messaged Noreen, asking if she coulde to herpetition the day after tomorrow.
Noreen agreed.
She''d been so busy with iretely that she hadn''t been able to spend much time with Katy and felt a little guilty.
But if thepetition was the day after tomorrow, that meant she had to leave today.
Noreen exined the situation to the others.
"Then you should go!" ire said. "Don''t worry about me. I''ll stay a bit longer, and when I''m done, I''lle find you."
Wilbur also told her not to worry, saying he could use the opportunity to inspect the resort''s operations and look after ire.
"Alright, I''ll head back first then." Noreen didn''t dy. She packed her things and boarded a yacht headed for the nearest airport.
An hour earlier.
Jude Wilder was keeping a close eye on Seth Harcourt, who was sitting on the rocks, while messaging Jordan.
kim
"He''s just sitting on the rocks right now. I''m worried he might jump into the sea, so I''ve been watching constantly. No joke, I''ve been wearing a life vest 2477."
Jordan replied, "You need to keep a close watch on him. His condition has been very unstabletely."
"That''s why I dragged him to Nightingale Isle for a vacation. I thought a change of scenery might help."
"But... it didn''t do a damn thing..."
Jude had been on edge for a while now.
Seriously, he was sleeping with one eye open.
He had no idea what had hit Seth recently, but he''d fallen into such a deep despair that he''d spent a solid week drinking.
He wasn''t exaggerating. Seth had practically moved into the wine cer.
The moment he was even slightly sober, he''d start drinking again to numb himself until he waspletely wasted.
No one could stop him.
He''d pretty much gone through all the fine wines Jude had collected in his cer.
If he hadn''t passed out from an allergic reaction to the alcohol, giving Jude a chance to get him to the hospital he''d probably still be rotting in that cer.
The doctors had to give him an adrenaline shot to bring him around.
Jude had told the doctor about Seth''s alcohol allergy. He hadn''t been allergic as a child; the
started t
v
symptoms only
a major
family tragedy.
He''d undergone desensitization therapy a few years ago, and his condition had
improved, but this time it had red up again.
Jordan said it was a sign that his psychological disorder was worsening.
It was a bad sign. He needed someone with him 24 hours a day.
Jude felt a pang of sadness as Jordan exined.
Chapter 752
He had also asked Jordan what could have caused Seth to develop such a severe mental illness.
After some thought, Jordan told him, "All I can say is, in my entire career, and perhaps in any case I''ve ever heard of, his is the most tragic."
"I used to be able to use revenge as a focus for his therapy, which helped him hold on for a few more years. But now... I honestly don''t know what kind of therapy can help him."
The root of the problemy with Seth''s mother.
Outsiders, including his friends, only knew that Seth''s mother had once been kidnapped by terrorists abroad.
Seth had just turned eighteen at the time, a young man in his prime.
Mrs. Harcourt had taken him with her to a negotiation for an international project, wanting to give him a chance to test his skills.
No one could have foreseen the tragedy that followed.
In the end, Mrs. Harcourt died, and Seth stayed abroad for a year.
When he returned, his personality hadpletely changed. He was like a different person.
It was then that Jude truly understood what it meant when people said a young man''s spirit, once broken, could never be restored.
Later, Noreen came into his life.
And he started to get better.
He even made a name for himself in the business world, bing the person Jude admired most.
But in the end... it was all just a mirage.
"If you have to, just increase his dosage," was the only advice Jordan could offer. Jude sighed silently.
If only Noreen were here, he thought helplessly.
As if his wishful thinking had conjured something, Healy Naylor suddenly sent him a message, asking if he and Noreen were vacationing together on an ind.
Jude was baffled by the question.
How could Noreen be with them?
If only she were!
After Jude denied it, Healy sent him a screenshot of Noreen''s Twitter post. "Isn''t this the ce you''re vacationing at?"
Jude let out a sharp cry, startling Seth, who had been lost in thought.
Seth turned to look at him, his eyes cold and chilling.
Jude stumbled off the rock. "Seth, Seth, I have to show you something!"
"Not interested," Seth said, a flicker of annoyance in his brow.
"No, no, you''ll definitely be interested in this!"
Jude held the phone up in front of him. "Look, Noreen just posted this on Twitter. Hey, what a coincidence, she''s also vacationing on a nearby ind!
"This has to be fate!"
Seth''s unfocused gaze sharpened, zeroing in on the phone screen.
He snatched the phone and erged the picture.
It was undeniably a photo of Nightingale Isle.
And when magnified, he could just make out a tiny figure sitting on the rocks¡ª himself.
Seth shot to his feet, holding the phone and trying to determine the direction.
"It''s that ind over there. There''s a resort on it," Jude pointed.
Seth leaped off the rocks and ran a few steps beforeing to an abrupt halt.
Jude had been following close behind.
Seth''s sudden stop nearly made him crash into him.
"What''s wrong?"
Seth''s spirits sank again. "She told me not to interfere in her life."
Jude was frantic. "So what? You''re just going to listen? If you''re too proud, how are
you ever going to win a girl back?"
"But she''s engaged," he said, his voice still hollow.
"Engaged, so what? She''s not
married! Besides, people can get et
divorced! A messy connection is still a connection A spark is still a kind
oflover
"Didn''t you say it yourself? The craziest thing you ever did was be
the othermian for love?"
stopping you from doing
Chapter 753
Five minutester, Seth was on a speedboat heading for Palm Breeze Ind.
The sun dipped below the horizon, thest ray of light vanishing into the sea.
But the sky didn''t immediately plunge into darkness; instead, it was painted with a breathtaking afterglow.
It was a moment of supreme beauty.
As the yacht Noreen was on passed Nightingale Isle, she happened to be on deck and casually snapped a photo to send to ire.
ire replied, "It really does look like a bird. But I doubt anyone would guess Nightingale from the letters NG."
Noreen looked again and realized it was true.
On the bridge connecting the two parts of the ind, there was a sculpture made of pure white sand.
NG.
Nightingale?
For some reason, Noreen''s heart skipped a beat.
NG. Also... Noreen Gilmore.
She then shook her head and chuckled at the ridiculous thought that had just crossed her mind.
ire messaged her, "Are you going back to Rivercrest City or straight to Glenhaven City?"
"Straight to Glenhaven. Katy should already be there by now. I''ll meet her there."
"Okay, be safe. Message me when yound."
Meanwhile, the speedboat carrying Seth was rapidly approaching Palm Breeze Ind, his face etched with an unprecedented urgency.
Only Jude nced back at Nightingale Isle and finally voiced the question that had been nagging at him for a long time. "Seth, why did you name the ind Nightingale Isle?"
It seemed a bit strange.
Seth, as usual, didn''t answer.
It was possible his mind was so focused on Noreen that he hadn''t even heard the question.
It was Jude himself who saw the sculpture and had a sudden realization.
So, Nightingale Isle was actually... Noreen''s Ind?
By the same logic, every project he named was a reference to Noreen?
Which meant that whenever he had to name something, his mind waspletely filled with her.
Having uncovered this truth, Jude was suddenly at a loss for words.
How had he never realized before what a romantic Seth was?
Seth reached Palm Breeze Ind as quickly as possible.
He found out from the resort staff which hotel Noreen was staying at. When he went to find her, he ran into ire.
Wilbur had taken Noreen to the airport, so ire was the only one left on the ind.
She was lounging in the hotel''s seaside garden, enjoying the
breeze and sipping a fruit C
feeling perfectly content.
But this rare moment of peace was shattered by the unexpected arrival of Seth.
The moment she saw him, ire almost thought she was hallucinating.
"Where''s Noreen?" Seth''s tone and expression were desperate.
ire raised an eyebrow.
It seemed he''d found out Noreen was here and hade looking for her.
But he was a step toote.
"She left," ire said honestly.
"Where did she go?" Seth pressed urgently.
"Back to Rivercrest City, of course," ire replied nonchntly.
She added with a teasing smile, "You just missed her. She left a little while ago."
Seth immediately turned around. "To the nearest airport!"
Jude, who had just caught up, panting didn''t even have a chance to catch his breath before seth was dragging him away again.
He swore to himself he would never befriend a hopeless romantic again.
As soon as Seth was gone, ire messaged Noreen. "Hey, sweetie, have you boarded yet?"
"Boarding in half an hour," Noreen replied, then asked, "What''s up?"
ire did some quick mental math and figured Seth wouldn''t make it in time.
She smiled and typed, "Nothing, just have a safe flight."
That jerk wanted to see Noreen?
Not a chance. She''d m the door and lock the windows on him.
The moment Seth arrived, he made a beeline for the gate.
¨¦t
But no matter how hard he hurried, he was toote an airport staffer told him the ne had taken off five minutes earlier.
Chapter 754
Jude immediately started searching for flights, trying to reassure Seth at the same time. "It''s okay, it''s okay. There''s another one in two hours. Once we''re back in Rivercrest City, we''ll be in the same city. We''ll have plenty of chancester."
"I can''t wait another second."
Jude fell silent.
So much for that.
As they bought their tickets and headed for security, an announcement for the
departing Glenhaven City flight echoed through the terminal.
Seth paused.
"What''s wrong?" Jude asked.
Seth shook his head. "Nothing. Let''s go."
***
Harborview City.
Noreen was surprised to find Castle Joyner himself waiting to pick her up from the airport.
Castle exined that he had just returned to Harborview City and, knowing she was arriving, decided to pick her up on his way.
On the drive back to the estate, Castle asked about InnoCore.
He mentioned that a middleman had recently tried to set up a meeting between him and the head of InnoCore.
"It was nothing. Just a partnership that ran its course."
If even personal rtionships were temporary, what did that say about business coborations?
Seeing that Noreen was handling it well, Castle didn''t press the issue.
Of course, he had already made some calls. InnoCore would find no open doors in Harborview City.
If InnoCore''s leadership was smart and knew how to read the room, they wouldn''t try anything funny.
But, as always, some things were beyond his control.
It was best for Noreen to be prepared.
The car had just pulled up to the Joyner estate when Castle''s phone rang.
He answered, and his expression changed. Finally, he said, "I''ll be right there."
"I was hoping to have dinner with you, but it looks like I''ll have to take a rain check," Castle said apologetically to Noreen.
"It''s fine, you go do what you need to do." Noreen wasn''t bothered by such details. After saying goodbye to Castle, she went to find Katy.
Katy, knowing she wasing, had stayed up waiting for her. She even had ate dinner with her.
Later that night, Katy came to Noreen''s room, pillow in tow.
Noreen generously patted the empty side of the bed. "Come on, you can sleep here."
Katy happily climbed in next to her, wrapping her arms around Noreen''s
w.the familiar,ent
of perfume put Katy at ease
They chatted for a while, and just before midnight, Katy finally started to feel sleepy.
As she was drifting off, a faint noise came from downstairs.
Castle was back.
"Do you want to go say hi to your dad?" Noreen asked.
Katy shook her head. "It''s toote. If I go down, Dad will just worry that I''m having trouble sleeping again."
She was a thoughtful child.
Once it was quiet again, Katy
snuggled closer to Noreen. "Dad bas
never forgotten Mom," she said
softly "I''ve seen him staring at her
photo for hours sometimes for as Whole day."
Noreen remembered that before Mrs. Joyner passed away, she had specifically requested that all her belongings photos, her wedding ring, everything-be burned. She was afraid Castle would be tormented by the reminders.
"It''s a picture of Mom from a charity g," Katy exined. "Dad has a whole bunch
of her photos hidden in his safe."
Hearing this, Noreen could only sigh.
Forgetting someone was never that easy.
You could burn all their possessions, but memories were forever.
Katy soon fell asleep, but Noreen found herself wide awake.
Maybe it was the jetg, or maybe it was something else, but sleep wouldn''te.
She ended up messaging ire, telling her about Castle.
ire sighed. *I don''t think I could ever get over it either. I''d rather have someone fall out of love with me than die.*
Because the pain of death was the pain of permanence.
Chapter 755
"Exactly," Noreen typed back. "As long as you''re alive, there''s still meaning."
When she had first heard that Seth might face the death penalty, her mind had been aplete mess.
She could ept never seeing him again for the rest of their lives, but she had never imagined losing him to death.
No matter how much she hated him, she had never wished for that.
***
It waste at night when Seth''s flightnded in Rivercrest City.
Jude retrieved the car and asked him if they were going straight to find Noreen.
Seth paused, then decided to call Sophia Cole first.
Sophia was bewildered when she answered the phone. "Ms. Gilmore isn''t back in Rivercrest City. She went to Harborview City."
After a long silence, Seth finally mumbled, "I see."
Jude was still waiting for instructions when Seth got out of the car, his face grim.
"What''s wrong? Aren''t we going to see Noreen?"
"She flew to Harborview City."
Seth hadn''t expected ire to mislead him like that.
But ultimately, he had brought this on himself. He couldn''t me anyone else.
Having just left the airport, Seth turned around and went right back in to buy a ticket for the next flight to Harborview City.
***
The weather was beautiful on the day of Katy''spetition. Noreen drove her to the venue herself.
She promised she would wait outside the entire time, guaranteeing she''d be the first person Katy saw when she came out.
Katy was ecstatic. It felt like a dreame true.
For years, she had traveled topetitions with only her nanny and bodyguard,
unlike the other contestants who always had their families with them.
But now, things were different. She had family waiting for her too!
"When I win the prize money, I''ll buy you something delicious!"
Noreen smiled and agreed.
Just as their car pulled up to the venue, the driver mmed on the brakes.
Caught off guard, both passengers in the back were thrown forward.
Katy reacted quickly, throwing out a hand to shield Noreen and preventing her from hitting her head.
But her own head smacked against the back of the front seat with a dull thud.
"What happened?" Noreen asked, steadying herself and immediately checking on Katy.
Katy shook her head, insisting she was fine.
"Someone''s blocking the car," the driver exined.
As soon as he spoke, a middle-aged man and woman started pounding on the rear window, screaming for their child back.
Recognizing the people outside, Katy cried out and buried her face in Noreen''s
arms.
The bodyguard in the back immediately got out to drive the two away.
Noreen didn''t need to ask who they were.
She held Katy close, covering her ears to shield her from the outside world.
But their vile words still reached Noreen''s ears.
They used them of kidnapping their child, of Castle using his power to bully them.
All the while, they kept calling out to Katy, iming they were her real parents and pleading for her toe back to them.
They promised to love and cherish her from now on.
If they cared so much, why had they abandoned her in the first ce?
Noreen had heard from the staff at¡¢ the estat that Katy was already four years old when she was abandoned, old enough to understand things.
Her biological parents had left her because she couldn''t speak. They suspected she was mentally disabled and worried about the cost
of Content her medical care.
When Katy was brought to the orphanage, her back was covered in
bruises from abuse, and she wol?
thmshe was nothing but skin and bones.
They had left her in a cruel ce, too¡ªa remote, wooded area where almost no one
ever went.
If a hiker hadn''t stumbled upon her, Katy might have starved to death in those woods.
Once the bodyguard had driven the couple away, she helped a shaken Katy out of the car.
Thankfully, they hadn''t missed the start of thepetition.
While waiting for Katy, Noreen learned just how difficult thepetition was.
Chapter 756
Impressively, Katy was the youngest contestant by far. The others were mostly master''s and doctoral students from top universities.
Noreen also ran into Jed Hollis there.
Jed was surprised to see her and, after learning she was there to support a family member, he chatted with her for a moment.
When he heard her family member''s name was Katy, Jed''s eyes lit up.
"You said your family member is named Katy?"
Noreen had rarely seen Jed so animated.
After confirming that she was indeed with Katy, Jed grew even more excited. "I''ve been trying to meet Katy for ages, but I could never get an introduction. This is fantastic! Ms. Gilmore, I hope you can introduce us."
Noreen knew Jed through Carman Holt, so she was well aware of his high standing in theputer science field.
For even him to be this impressed...
She hadn''t realized just how brilliant Katy was.
Jed even went so far as to say the winner of thepetition was already decided.
The result was just as he had predicted: Katy won, taking home the championship trophy.
True to her word, Katy treated Noreen to dinner.
However, they had an extra guest.
Jed.
Throughout the meal, the two of them discussed topics Noreen couldn''t quite follow, something to do withwork technology.
As they were finishing up, Castle arrived, saying he was there to take them home.
He sat down beside Noreen and whispered, "I''m going to need you to y along with me in a minute."
Noreen understood immediately.
She nced around the restaurant and, sure enough, spotted Sue sitting in a corner booth.
Even from a distance, Noreen could feel the searing jealousy in her eyes.
Castle''s sister-inw was truly unhinged.
Their one encounter years ago had been more than enough to leave asting impression on Noreen.
Worse, she had mental health
person you just didn''t want wet
issues, which made her the l
Gontent
No wonder Castle was at his wit''s end.
Sometimes, she couldn''t understand how Mrs: Joyner, such a wonderful person could have such an extreme younger sister. w
It seemed true what they said: the good die young, while the wicked live long.
After dinner, Noreen naturally took Castle''s arm.
Before they had even left the restaurant, they heard the sound of a te shattering behind them.
Momentster, Sue chased after them. "Castle, stay away from that woman!"
Castle''s expression darkened. "She is my fianc¨¦e," he reminded her coolly.
"Call it off! Call it off right now! I forbid you to marry her!"
She lunged forward, trying to tear Noreen away, but Castle''s bodyguards restrained
her.
Castle''s dark eyes held a chilling
glint. "The Caldwells worked hard to out. You''d best behave
get you
yourself or I''ll have you sent right back."
Sue''s face paled, and she stopped shouting. The bodyguards forcibly escorted her
to a car.
As Sue red at them from the car, Noreen reached up and smoothly adjusted Castle''s tie.
Castle looked down at her.
Her eyes sparkled with a smile as she murmured something to him.
It was a picture of pure devotion.
Inside the car, Sue was practically mad with jealousy, pounding helplessly on the window.
And Seth saw it all.
He had rushed all the way from Rivercrest City to Harborview City, a long and weary journey.
And this was the scene that greeted him.
She was so beautiful when she smiled.
But she wasn''t smiling at him.
Chapter 757
At that moment, Jude''s heart was in his throat.
He wanted to reach out and cover Seth''s eyes, but he didn''t have the nerve.
Finally, he managed to ask, "Seth, are you okay?"
The moment the words were out, he realized how stupid the question was.
How could he possibly be okay?
Though Seth didn''t speak, the answer was clear. He was far from okay.
That scene had been like a physical blow, instantly chilling him to the bone.
It had hammered all the strength out of him.
He just stood there, watching.
Unable to do anything.
Incapable of doing anything.
A dull ache spread through his chest, tightening around his lungs until he could barely breathe.
It wasn''t until Noreen and Castle''s car drove away that he seemed toe back to himself.
Seeing him so utterly defeated, Jude started to regret persuading him toe after Noreen.
Before, he''d had no hope, living like a zombie.
But now, he was being torn apart, caught between hope and despair, his heart ripped to shreds. It was too cruel.
"Seth, maybe we should just go back to the ind," Jude suggested, his voice heavy.
Seth closed his eyes, a feeling of helplessness spreading through him until even the nerves in his arm went numb.
He remained motionless for a long time before finally speaking. "No. We''re not going back."
***
On the way back to the Joyner Mansion, Castle mentioned a dinner with the Caldwell family.
It was for Old Mr. Caldwell''s birthday.
Since it wasn''t a major milestone, they were just nning a small gathering with friends and family at a hotel.
Even though Mrs. Joyner had passed away, Castle was still considered the Caldwells'' son-inw, so he couldn''t avoid the dinner.
Castle''s intention was to ask Noreen to apany him.
He wanted them to put on another performance to make Sue finally give up hope.
"At the end of the day, she''s Harriet''s sister. I can''t be too ruthless."
That was why he hadn''t stopped the Caldwells from getting Sue out of the psychiatric hospital.
He was doing it out of respect for histe wife.
Even though he knew the Caldwell family using that to their
, making all sorts ofel
demands on him Content
Noreen could understand.
Since it was a small favor, she agreed to help him.
Katy, tired after dinner, had fallen asleep in Noreen''sp during the drive back.
Castle looked over, surprised.
"Katy really trusts you."
Noreen gently stroked Katy''s hair. "She says she feels safe with me."
A flicker of emotion crossed Castle''s eyes. "That''s good," he murmured.
Noreen''s attention was on Katy, so she missed the deep meaning in Castle''s gaze.
Castle turned to look out the window.
The only person Harriet couldn''t bear to leave behind was Katy.
For years, he had dedicated
to caring for katy holding on
Single purpose Conter
belongs to
If Katy now had someone she could be entrusted to...
Did that mean... he could finally go be with Harriet?
***
Jude had his ways.
He somehow managed to find out
that Noreen would be
o
Castle to Old. Mi
Caldwell''s birthday dinner, >
Since it wasn''t a formal celebration, there were no invitations.
Jude was stumped. How were they supposed to get in?
"We''ll just walk in," Seth said.
"Do you know the Caldwells?" Jude asked.
"Does kicking his favorite youngest daughter and breaking four of her ribs count?"
Jude fell into a deafening silence.
He wondered if they would be thrown out of the hotel tomorrow.
"Wait, why would you kick his daughter? And so hard! She''s a woman!"
Jude couldn''t understand it.
He didn''t remember Seth ever having a habit of hitting women.
Chapter 758
A chilling light entered Seth''s eyes. "Because she touched Noreen."
Jude understood immediately.
Four broken ribs... she deserved it.
***
The next day, when Noreen arrived with Castle at the Caldwells'' birthday dinner, Sue was already there, standing beside Jaxon Caldwell.
She had abandoned her usual style for a simple, long dress of white velvet.
Embroidered on it were a few sparse white roses, their color so pale they looked as if they''d been washed in morning mist.
It was an elegant look.
And a familiar one.
Noreen saw through Sue''s ploy at once. She was deliberately mimicking Mrs. Joyner''s style of dress.
Even Castle froze in his tracks. Noreen heard him whisper, "Harriet."
Jaxon saw Castle and immediately greeted him with a smile. "Castle, you''re here."
Sue turned, her eyes lighting up with joy when she saw Castle. "Brother-inw." But when her gaze fell on Noreen, it turned sharp.
It was a pathetic attempt at mimicry.
Even if she looked like Mrs. Joyner, even if she deliberately copied her style, the difference between them was still night and day.
Castle seemed to realize it too, and his eyes grew as sharp and cold as a honed de.
He ignored Sue, simply nodding to Jaxon before leading Noreen to their seats.
He didn''t spare Sue another nce.
Sue felt both wronged and filled with a burning hatred for Noreen.
She believed Castle was only ignoring her because of Noreen''s presence.
Noreen didn''t forget her purpose for being there. Throughout the evening, she maintained a close, affectionate demeanor with Castle.
In return, she received countless daggers from Sue''s eyes.
Though it was just a simple birthday dinner, the Caldwells had invited quite a few people.
There were ten full tables.
Noreen and Castle were seated at the main table.
As for Jude and Seth, a server had seated them at a table in the very back.
They were too far away for Noreen to notice them.
Seth had just sat down when he overheard the other guests at his table talking about Castle and Noreen.
"See that? That''s Castle''s fianc¨¦e. She''s gorgeous, so elegant. I heard she runs several bigpanies, she''s loaded!"
"They look good together."
"Yeah, they seem really close. When I went over to wish Old Mr. Caldwell a happy birthday, I saw her peeling. shrimp for Castle. Theyre obviously head over heels."
"Sigh. Castle and the eldest Miss Caldwell were so in love. Now she''s gone, and
he''s already found someone new. It''s a bit sad, isn''t it?"
"That''s such an old-fashioned way of thinking! Mrs. Joyner has been gone for five years. He waited long enough. Look at other guys-some
Tem bring a new woman home before their wife is even cold in the ground. Now that''s* heartless."
As their chatter grew more animated, Jude suddenly reached across the table in front of them.
When they looked at him in surprise, he smiled innocently. "Just grabbing the wine."
He brought the bottle of red wine back and nudged Seth. "Seth, give me the ss. You''re going to break it."
Only then did Seth loosen his grip on the wine ss.
"Maybe you should stick to water-"
Before Jude could finish, Seth took the bottle and filled his ss to the brim.
And just as Jude was about to tell him to slow down, Seth downed it in one go.
Jude sighed.
Drinking like that, he was going to get drunk.
"Seth..."
"She doesn''t like peeling shrimp," Seth said, his voice dangerously low. "She hates peeling any kind of shellfish. She can''t stand the smell leaves on her hands."
And yet, she was peeling them for Castle.
Chapter 759
It took Jude a moment to connect the dots.
It must have been about ten years ago. A long time, anyway.
It was Seth''s second year back in the country, and Jude used to hang out with him all the time.
Back then, Seth was just starting his business, and things were tough.
His first office was on the top floor of some old, run-down building. It was freezing in the winter and sweltering in the summer.
For a while, Seth was constantly having Jude orderrge quantities of seafood to be delivered.
But when it arrived, Seth never ate it. He''d just sit there, peeling shrimp and cracking crab legs.
He would give all the meat to Jude and Healy, which led to a long period where the mere sight of seafood made Jude feel sick.
That''s why the memory was so vivid, even a decadeter.
Jude and Healy had asked him about it, of course.
Seth had exined that the stress of starting a business was getting to him, and that peeling seafood was his way of de-stressing.
And at the time, they had actually believed him.
Only now did Jude realize the truth. Seth wasn''t learning to handle seafood to blow off steam.
He was obviously doing it because he knew Noreen didn''t like to.
"Seth, don''t tell me you were already in love with Noreen back then?" Jude asked, voicing the question that had been bugging him for years.
Seth finished the ss of wine in his hand before answering.
"Even earlier."
Jude''s heart skipped a beat.
Even earlier?
When exactly was that?
Seth had hidden it too well.
It wasn''t just Noreen who hadn''t noticed; even his closest friends, the ones who''d grown up with him, had beenpletely in the dark.
"You did all that, but you never told Noreen?" Jude was puzzled.
"Tell her what? They were just small, insignificant things."
He poured himself another drink, his eyes half-lidded and dark. "Besides, what right
did I have to drag her down with me?"
"If that''s the case, then why did you ever get involved with her?"
Seth''s grip on the ss tightened, his voice raw as if filled with wind. "I''m only
human. Sometimes, I lose control."
The drug that night had been the catalyst, unleashing all the feelings he had forcibly suppressed deep within his heart.
Once unleashed, they were impossible to contain.
When he sobered up, he was immediately filled with regret for what he''d done.
But it was Noreen who had told him.
not to worry about it, that she had
someone she loved deeply but couldn''t be with, and that he didn''t have to take responsibility Contents
While he was bitterly disappointed, he also felt a secret sense of relief.
He kept telling himself it was better this way, that she didn''t love him.
If she didn''t love him, it wouldn''t be so painful when they eventually went their separate ways.
At the same time, he warned himself that it was a mistake he could only afford to make once.
But he had overestimated his own self-control.
Once the bnce was broken, Seth tried everything to regain hisposure.
He threw himself into work, went on business trips, avoided her...
But emotions, when suppressed to the extreme, have a way of rebounding with a vengeance.
After the first time, there was a second, and a third...
Once you get a taste for it, you can''t stop.
Noreen would never know that after every single time, he was consumed by regret, which made him grow colder toward her.
He had even be so addicted to their rtionship that he postponed his ns for revenge by two years.
In the end at was Sage Joyner who had to remind him that if he dyed any longer, his target would retire with full honors and quietly
disappear abroad to live a life
Teisure.
He would have both the des and the money.
...
Jaxon stood up to make the rounds, toasting the guests at each table with Sue by his side.
When they reached Noreen and Castle''s table, her smile was painfully fake, her jaw clenched tight.
Jaxon, on the other hand, was perfectlyposed, greeting Castle cheerfully and even exchanging a few words with Noreen.
As they clinked sses, Sue''s hand "trembled," and she spilled half a ss of red wine all over Noreen''s dress.
Jaxon''s expression darkened.
Sue put on an innocent face. "Oh, I''m so sorry, Miss Gilmore. It was an ident."
"It''s fine." Noreen had no patience for such petty tricks.
Even Jaxon seemed embarrassed by the disy. He snapped at Sue, "Miss Gilmore is my guest of honor! Take me to get that cleaned.op now!"
Chapter 760
Sue was about to refuse.
But Castle spoke up first. "That won''t be necessary. I''ll take her. You two carry on."
With that, he led Noreen away from the table.
Sue was so furious she could only stomp her foot in frustration.
If she had known that spilling wine on Noreen would just give the two of them a chance to be alone, she would have never done it!
"I''ll go..." Sue started to follow, but Jaxon grabbed her arm.
"You''re staying with me to greet the guests."
"Dad!"
"You''d best behave yourself."
In front of all the guests, Jaxon couldn''t lose his temper, so he could only warn her in a low voice.
Sue reluctantly fell back in line, following Jaxon from table to table.
Noreen was wearing a light-colored evening gown, and the red wine stain was impossible to remove.
Castle had someone bring a new gown in Noreen''s size.
While they waited, Castle, ever the gentleman, found an excuse to step outside, not wanting to make Noreen ufortable by being in the same room alone with her.
He told her to call him if she needed anything.
About twenty minutester, the new gown arrived.
After changing, she started to head back to the banquet hall.
The path from the dressing room to the hall led through a small garden.
In the center of the garden was arge koi pond.
Castle called to ask if she was ready, offering toe and get her.
Noreen told him it wasn''t necessary, that she could make her way back on her own.
She had just entered the garden when Sue appeared.
Flushed with anger, she yelled for Noreen to stop.
Noreen turned and looked at her coldly.
"Noreen, I warned you to stay away from my brother-inw!"
Noreen smiled faintly. "How have you been these past five years, Miss Caldwell?"
Sue''s expression changed instantly.
Noreen had hit her right where it hurt.
"You..." Sue sputtered, raising her hands as if to w at her. "You''re really asking for
it!"
She lunged forward, trying to shove Noreen into the koi pond.
Noreen easily sidestepped her.
Sue stumbled, nearly falling into the pond herself.
She had just regained her footing and turned to curse Noreen again when she was suddenly kicked from behind. The blow was hard sending
her flying straight into the pond with a huge ssh.
Noreen instinctively raised a hand to shield her face from the water.
Suddenly, a figure blurred in front of her, blocking the sshpletely.
Not a single drop touched her.
Before she could process what had happened,
Sue started scream ad
from the pond, crying for help.
A hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her in the opposite direction.
Noreen gasped.
It all happened so fast, so suddenly, that she couldn''t even see who was pulling her.
She tried to yank her hand away.
"It''s me."
The familiar voice made Noreen freeze.
In the chaos, people were rushing to
help Sue out of the water. Noreen could hear her yelling that someone had kicked her in, telling thero to catch the attacker. fo
Noreen''s heart tightened. She was about to tell him to run.
But Seth just squeezed her hand and pulled her into a nearby room.
The door clicked shut behind them.
The room was dark, the lights off, and she couldn''t see a thing.
She could hear a very distinct heartbeat-it was Seth''s.
Assuming he was worried about being caught, Noreen didn''t dare make a sound.
His hand was still on her waist, and they were standing very close.
So close she could smell the alcohol on his breath.
So close she could feel the intense heat radiating from his body.
She tried to create some distance between them, only to find her back was already against a wall.
"Let go of me."
Being this close was making it hard for her to think.
"No," Seth''s reply was so blunt it startled her.
Not only did he not let go, but he pressed closer, pinning her against the wall.
Chapter 761
Noreen was about to struggle.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the door.
"He ran this way! Find him!"
"How dare he kick Miss Caldwell into the pond! When we catch him, we''re taking
him straight to the police!"
Noreen immediately froze.
This gave Seth the opening he needed.
He lowered his head, burying his face in the soft skin of her exposed neck.
It was a sensitive spot for her.
His hot breath on her skin sent a shiver down her spine.
"Let go of me!"
Afraid of alerting the security guards outside, Noreen could only hiss the warning through gritted teeth.
Seth only grew bolder.
Not only did he not let go, but his tongue darted out, tracing a line across her trembling skin.
Noreen''s mind went nk, as if something had just exploded.
"You''re drunk! Stop this madness!"
"It''s because I''m drunk that I miss you this much."
The alcohol made his voice sound husky.
His hand tightened on her waist, and without any hesitation, he crushed his lips against hers.
The kiss was anything but gentle.
He was like a powerful invader, intent only on conquering her territory.
Noreen instinctively tried to speak, to stop his insane behavior.
But the moment she parted her lips, he seized the opportunity, his tongue tangling with hers.
She was dizzy from the kiss, the feeling of oxygen deprivation both strange and familiar.
She could feel the base of her tongue going numb, her entire body tense with anxiety.
Outside the door, the guards were still searching.
Inside, a fiery battle was raging.
A fineyer of sweat broke out on Noreen''s back.
The cold of the wall against her bare skin shocked her back to her senses.
Noreen opened her mouth, and just as Seth pressed forward, she bit down hard.
A muffled groan escaped him, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
He pulled back slightly, but still kept her trapped in his arms.
His breathing was even more ragged now, hotter than before.
They were so close that in her struggle, she could feel the change in his body.
When she realized what it was, her face flushed a deep red, burning with a heat that felt like it would consume her.
She didn''t dare move anymore, afraid of provoking him into doing something reckless.
In the darkness, they could only hear the sound of each other''s unsteady breathing.
"Do you have any idea what you''re
doing?" Noreen''s voice trembled
with anger. "This is assault! Lean call the police and have you arrested!
"Then do it. I don''t care."
He tilted his head down, his lips finding the tender skin of her shoulder.
After their struggle, a thin sheen of sweat had formed in the hollow of her neck.
Noreen kept her lower body still, but her hands were free.
She wanted to p him, but she was afraid of attracting the guards in the she
end, out of sheer frustrationes
scratched him.
She used a lot of force.
She had definitely broken the skin.
But he only hissed in pain before biting down on her shoulder, retaliating with even
more intensity.
"Or you could just bite my tongue off. Get your revenge that way."
He was truly unhinged.
Being bitten and scratched did nothing to stop him.
He pressed down on her again, his lips capturing hers in another heavy kiss.
The force was so strong it hurt.
Noreen fought back, hitting him.
But the more she fought, the crazier Seth became.
The deeper and more savage his kisses grew.
He finally broke the kiss just before she felt like she would suffocate.
Noreen gasped for air.
Seth began to gently suckle on her lips, his voice softening as if he were trying to soothe her. "Noreen, can we go back to how things were?
Please?
Noreen turned her head away, her tone icy. "Impossible."
"Why is it impossible? You said you loved me once, we..." Seth sounded desperate.
Noreen cut him off impatiently. "I loved you then, but I don''t anymore. That''s why it''s impossible."
It was the first time Seth had directly experienced Noreen''s indifference, herplete detachment.
In that instant, he lost all his strength, all his fight.
He was ovee by a crushing sense of powerlessness.
Chapter 762
Noreen seized the opportunity to break free from his grasp.
She calmly straightened her disheveled dress.
Outside, she heard footsteps again, and someone calling her name.
It was Castle.
The sound of his voice snapped Seth back to reality.
Noreen opened the door and left without a second nce at him.
The stinging pain from his bitten tongue and scratched skin finally registered, but it was nothingpared to the agony in his chest.
So this is what it felt like to be told you weren''t loved anymore.
When Castle found Noreen, he noticed something was off.
And... the red mark on her shoulder.
He didn''t ask any questions, simply took off his jacket and draped it over her. "Let''s go home."
"What about the party?" Noreen was worried it would be rude to leave so abruptly. "It''s not important," Castle said.
He didn''t even say goodbye to Jaxon, just escorted Noreen out.
Sue''s fall into the pond brought the birthday banquet to an early close.
Jaxon''s face was grim. Back in their room, he dismissed the servants.
Once they were alone, he finally let his anger show. "What was that little stunt you pulled? Have you forgotten what I told you?"
Sue''s eyes were red and she looked utterly wronged. "I was just jealous! I can''t stand to see another woman near him!"
Jaxon pointed a finger at her. "Look at yourself! What man would want you, acting like this?"
Sue''s mother, Jaxon''s current wife Brianna, knocked and entered. "Oh, stop scolding her. She''s had a rough night."
"Here, drink this warm soup. We don''t want you catching a cold," Brianna coaxed gently.
Sue sniffled. "Dad, did you find the person who pushed me into the pond?"
"I did," Jaxon said.
"Then have him arrested! Beat him to a pulp first, then hand him over to the police! I want him to rot in jail!" Sue seethed.
"No," Jaxon stated tly.
"Why not?" Sue couldn''t believe it.
"This man could be useful."
After Sue''s persistent questioning, Jaxon showed her the security footage.
When she saw who it was, she
erupted in fury. "It''s him again! He''s the one who broke four of my fits
"Don''t be ridiculous. This is Harborview City, not the wild west," Jaxon reminded her. "If you still
want to marry Castle, you will d
exactly as I say from now on. Do not make a single move without my permission."
Sue immediately nodded. "Fine. If it means I can marry him, I''ll do anything."
"You will continue to imitate Harriet''s style of dress, and most importantly, her tone
of voice and expressions! As long as Castle isn''t over Harriet, you still have a chance."
"And one more thing: do nothing! This is Harborview City, Castle''s territory. You can''t do anything without him finding out. Didn''t you see how many bodyguards he has around Noreen? You won''t even be able to get near her, let alone harm her! Don''t give Gastle anymore ammunition against you. I might not be able to get you out of a mental hospital a second time."
Sue''s face went pale with fright, and she shook her head frantically. "I understand."
A mental hospital was no ce for a human being. The thought terrified her.
"As for the man who kicked you into the pond, he has his uses. I''ve looked into him. He''s the heir to the Harcourt Group from Rivercrest City."
"And he''s Noreen''s ex-boyfriend."
Sue gritted her teeth. "No wonder! Last time, he broke my ribs because of Noreen,
and this time he kicks me into a pond because of her!"
"If he and Noreen get back together, then her engagement to Castle is off."
"So, we can''t touch him."
Chapter 763
When Jude found Seth, he was sitting by the fountain in front of the hotel.
Because Jaxon was hosting his birthday banquet there, the fountain had been left
on.
Seth was soaked to the bone.
Jude let out a long sigh of relief seeing he was okay.
Then, seeing how drenched he was, he rushed over to him. "For God''s sake, you''re going to get sick sitting in the water like this!"
Seth seemed to have no energy left. He let Jude pull him up and move him without resistance, though he needed support to stand.
Jude quickly got him into the car and headed straight for their hotel so Seth could change into dry clothes.
He felt like a mother hen at that moment.
Not only was he running around after Seth, but he was also nagging him nonstop.
"I thought you were just going to the restroom. What happened? You just disappeared! I was looking for you everywhere! You have no idea, shortly after you left, that Caldwell family girl got kicked into the koi pond. It caused a huge scene....."
"I kicked her."
Before Jude could finish, Seth''s t statement cut him off.
Jude was speechless.
"Wait, why would you kick her?"
"She pushed Noreen."
Jude sighed. "..."
He shouldn''t have even asked. What other reason could there be for Seth to lose hisposure and physically attack a woman?
"So that means you saw Noreen? Did you get a chance to talk to her?" Jude was more curious about that.
Logically, if he had seen and spoken to Noreen, he should be happy.
So why did he look so miserable?
Seth was silent for a long time before he finally mumbled, "She said she doesn''t love me anymore."
...Of course. He''d been rejected again.
Seeing Seth so dejected, Jude couldn''t help but feel sorry for him.
He tried to reason with him. "Seth, maybe it''s time to just let it go."
After all, it had been five years. Noreen had clearly moved on.
Continuing like this, the only one suffering was Seth.
What if the emotional toll became too much and he had aplete breakdown?
Seth just shook his head. "No."
"I''m only now beginning to
understand how she felt. But t
pain I''m feeling... it''s nothingpared to what she went throughs
How much pain must she have been in back then?
Verhe
The thought of everything she had endured felt like a hand reaching
into his chest and brutally tearing at
his heart.
Jude was growing even more worried. "But you''re going to be in agony if you keep
this up."
"It''s what I deserve," Seth said simply.
It was just karma.
"What if Noreen never forgives you? What if she never takes you back?"
Seth''s heavy eyes, already dark, now grew red at the corners.
That was a question he couldn''t answer.
In the car, Castle asked Noreen, "Are you hurt?"
"No." She pulled his jacket tighter around herself, feeling a little self-conscious. Fortunately, Castle didn''t press the issue, always maintaining a respectful distance. After dropping her off, he said he had some business to attend to and left.
Whenever Noreen stayed at the
Joyner Mansion in Harborview City, Castle would always find a reason to leave, never staying at his own.
home, just to make sure she felt
As soon as Noreen entered the main hall, Katy ran up and threw her arms around
her.
"Why are you still awake?" Noreen asked.
"I couldn''t sleep without you here."
Noreen was d she hade back early; otherwise, the little girl would have waited up for her all night.
"Come on, let''s go to bed."
As Noreen went to her room to take off her makeup, Katy kept going over to the window to look outside.
Chapter 764
Noreen asked her what she was looking at, and she said someone was following Noreen.
And that she had noticed for a while now.
That was something Noreen hadn''t realized at all.
Unsure if the person was after her or Katy, Noreen mentioned it to Castle.
"They''re bodyguards I arranged," Castle said.
"Oh, I see. Then everything''s fine." Noreen breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn''t a threat, she was okay.
Castle continued, "I didn''t tell you because I was afraid it would make you nervous, so I had them follow you discreetly. Since you know now, I''ll have Dariel contact you directly. You can call him anytime you need anything."
"Alright," Noreen agreed.
After herst ordeal in Harborview City, she knew it was better to be cautious.
The next morning, Dariel reported to her directly, stating that he would be fully responsible for her security while she was in Harborview City.
One of the Joyner family''s servants mentioned that Dariel had been with Castle for ten years and was very capable.
With him around, she wouldn''t have to worry about her safety.
Ten years. Did that mean Dariel knew about what happened to her back then?
As it happened, Noreen had to go out on an errand, and Dariel apanied her. She took the opportunity to ask him a few questions.
"I hear you''ve worked for Mr. Joyner for many years. Do you know about the time I was kidnapped in Harborview City five years ago?"
Dariel nodded. "I do. I was with Mr. Joyner when we went to find you. We were also the ones who apprehended those men and handed them over to the police."
"Then do you know the person who saved me?" Noreen pressed immediately.
Castle had told her that the person who rescued her was one of his bodyguards.
Unfortunately, in all these years, she had never once met him.
She had even asked Castle about him a couple of years ago.
Castle''s exnation was that the man had already resigned and didn''t want to be disturbed.
As a result, Noreen never had the chance to thank him in person for saving her life. Now, asking Dariel, she just wanted to know his name.
If he still didn''t want to be disturbed, she hoped Dariel could convey her gratitude on her behalf.
She could also have Dariel send a gift.
But to her surprise, after hearing her question, Dariel frowned in confusion. "The one who saved you... wasn''t it your friend?"
Noreen was stunned. "My friend?"
"Yes. It was your friend who notified Mr. Joyner. By the time we arrived, your friend had already taken down all those men. He was very seriously injured himself."
The incident had been a big deal at the time, and Dariel had been involved every step of the way, so his memory was sharp.
"He was covered in blood. One of his arms had a gunshot wound. When he carried you down the mountain,
his arm was too weak, so he used
his shirt to strap you to his chest. We met him halfway down."
"After he handed you over to Mr. Joyner, he just copsed right on the ground. I was
the one who caught him."
Noreen''s heartbeat became erratic.
A theory formed in her mind.
The thought sent a rush of blood through her entire body, exploding in her head and swallowing her whole.
Her hands, resting on her knees, began to tremble uncontrobly.
When Dariet mentioned how badly
he was injured, how he had
copsed right after handing her to Castle, a sharp pain shot through
her heart without warning.
She pressed her palm firmly against her chest, trying to suppress the intense ache.
In a voice that was nearly a tremor, she asked Dariel, "It was... Seth, wasn''t it?"
Chapter 765
Today, Noreen was at the Harborview Chamber of Commerce meeting, representing Centribo. Thanks to Castle''s connections, everyone at the Chamber was quite courteous to her.
She was even given a seat right at the front, a prime spot.
As soon as she sat down, several people came over to greet her.
Centribo had developed well over the past few years, but in a ce like Harborview City, strength was only part of the equation.
The rest depended on connections.
The businesses in Harborview City were different; they preferred to stick together, which naturally made them a bit exclusive.
Moreover, Noreen was a very young businesswoman.
So, Centribo''s growth had been somewhat constrained in the early years.
That difficulty eased after she got engaged to Castle.
Even the Harborview City Chamber of Commerce had started to include her.
But today, Noreen was clearly distracted.
Ss arrivedte, and the meeting started just as he took his seat.
By the time he noticed Noreen was there, it was toote to go over and say hello.
During the mid-session coffee break, he was about to look for her when Jaxon approached him to discuss a partnership between their twopanies.
Ss dismissed Jaxon with a few brief words, but when he turned back to find Noreen, she was gone.
After searching around for a bit, he learned from a business acquaintance that Noreen had left early due to an urgent matter.
Missing her this time left Ss feeling incredibly disappointed.
As soon as Noreen left the meeting, she called Seth.
She needed to talk to him.
She wanted to clear the air once and for all.
To avoid things getting even more tangled.
The call was answered by Jude, who sounded hesitant.
Noreen asked him directly, "Where''s Seth?"
"He''s... busy."
"Is he afraid to answer the phone?"
Jude was at a loss for words.
When did Noreen be so sharp?
Even over the phone, her tone made him feel a little intimidated.
"No, Seth''s sick. He''s in the hospital," Jude finally told her the truth.
When Noreen arrived at the hospital, Seth was still running a high fever.
He wasn''t conscious.
He had been perfectly fine just yesterday.
Noreen frowned and asked Jude how Seth had gotten himself into this state.
"...He was distraught. Stood under a fountain for several hours and made himself sick."
As Jude said this, he secretly watched Noreen for a reaction.
However, he saw nothing.
Noreen appeared calm, almost indifferent.
Jude felt a pang of sadness for Seth and wanted to say something in his defense. "Noreen, Seth hasn''t had it easy these past few years. He actually never forgot you."
"So?" Noreen''s tone was t as she retorted, "So I should be the one to pay for his indecisiveness?"
"Was my heart so cheap? Something he could just throw away and then decide he wanted back?"
When she hadid her heart on the
proposed to him, he was the
line and proposed without a
one who had let her
second thought.
She was the one he had cast aside after weighing his options.
Who had felt sorry for her back then?
She had no reason to forget the pain she had endured just because
someone offered her afte
?
sweetness now. Content belope
Jude was instantly speechless.
He couldn''t answer Noreen''s questions.
Because he had also witnessed Noreen''s struggle and her fight to save herself.
In matters of love, there were no winners.
Seth''s fever was severe. Even after a fever-reducing shot, it didn''t break.
In his delirium, he mumbled Noreen''s name.
Noreen showed little reaction, her attitude excessively cold.
Two hourster, Seth''s fever finally broke, and he gradually regained consciousness.
Chapter 766
When he saw Noreen, he instinctively tried to sit up.
"Stay down," Noreen said.
From the fever, Seth''s voice was hoarse.
He asked Noreen, "What did you want to see me about?"
"A few years ago, I was kidnapped in Harborview City. Was it you who saved me?" Noreen didn''t beat around the bush; she asked him directly.
Seth pressed his lips together before nodding. "Yes."
"Then why didn''t you say so before?"
She had tried to probe him more than once after that.
Her question was met with Seth''s silence.
Noreen could see he didn''t want to answer, so she decided not to press the issue.
The answer no longer mattered.
She just needed confirmation.
"I owe you for that. If you ever need anything in the future, just ask. I won''t refuse," Noreen stated her position clearly. "Also, this check is for you. It''s to repay you for the help you gave me and Winrich before."
She was referring to the office rent and Jennifer Shaw''s hundred-million investment.
"I know it''s a bit crass to talk about money, but right now, money is all I can give you."
The subtext was obvious.
A deste look filled Seth''s eyes, and a faint, bleak smile touched his lips.
"Are you trying to draw a line between us?"
He looked into her eyes.
They were so beautiful, yet so cold.
A stark contrast to his own drowning emotions.
"I just don''t want you to disturb my peaceful life," Noreen said frankly.
The moment she said it, a sharp pain tore through Seth''s heart.
"It was my fault," Seth''s voice dropped, utterly humbled.
He reached out, trying to take Noreen''s hand.
But she pulled away, looking at him with a detached gaze.
Whether it was because of the fever or something else, his eyes were red. "I was wrong back then. I shouldn''t have left you. Noreen, please give me a chance to make it up to you okay?
Noreen looked at him, meeting his gaze.
Her eyes were still as water.
"Seth, not everything can be fixed."
"Then let''s start over!"
This time he grabbed her hand, his tone urgent.
As if he knew instinctively that if he missed this chance, he would never get another.
"That''s impossible." Noreen had to use some force to push his hand away.
the past. Rtionships
are a gets to
start way street. No one
not unless you Content belong.
back time."
"But you can''t, can you?"
Noreen stood up, her voice as t as
if she were reading an unimportana
line of narration "Let yourself go?
After saying this, Noreen left without a backward nce.
Her departure was swift and decisive.
For a long time after she left, the hospital room was silent.
Seth remained in the same position.
His gaze fell on his own palm, where her warmth seemed to linger.
It was only in this moment that he truly understood how painful rejection could be.
It felt like a sharp de had been plunged into him and twisted in his flesh.
Overnight, his heart felt like it had turned to ash.
He couldn''t think of any way to break the deadlock.
Her kindness had nevere with an agenda, so her indifference now offered no
room for negotiation.
"Seth... are you okay?"
"I won''t die." Seth clenched his fist, as if holding onto something precious.
He asked Jude, "Do you have any alcohol?"
Jude''s eyes widened. "Are you crazy? You''re going to drink now? Do you have a death wish?"
"I''ll die if I don''t!"
Chapter 767
When Noreen came out of the hospital, the car was waiting at the entrance.
Dariel opened the door for her.
Just as Noreen was about to get in, a timid female voice came from behind her.
"H-hello, please wait a moment."
There was no one else at the entrance, so Noreen paused and looked back.
Her eyes met the girl''s, confirming the girl was talking to her.
But she didn''t recognize her, so she asked with a puzzled expression, "Are you talking to me?"
"Yes," Ynde nodded.
Whether from nervousness or something else, Ynde''s face was a little red, and she stuttered slightly. "Miss Gilmore, hello. My name is Ynde. We met a few years ago. I don''t know if you remember me?"
A few years ago...
Noreen tried hard to recall, but nothing came to mind.
Ynde prompted her, "The cruise ship, the casino."
With the scope narrowed, Noreen did have a faint impression. "You''re that... sister?"
Seeing that Noreen remembered her, Ynde was overjoyed. "Yes! You helped my brother win a lot of money at the casino back then. I never had the chance to thank you properly."
"I''m just d I could help. How is your matron doing?" Noreen asked.
Ynde gave a bitter smile. "She passed away."
Realizing her faux pas, Noreen quickly apologized. "I''m sorry, I didn''t know..."
Ynde shook her head quickly. "It''s in the past. But I still want to thank you, miss. Because of your help, our matron lived for another year, and my brother and I have no regrets."
A car pulled up behind them, so Noreen gave Ynde a nod and prepared to get in her own car and leave.
Ynde hurried after her. "Miss, could I possibly get your contact information?"
"Sure." Noreen pulled out a business card and handed it to her.
Ynde took it with both hands and stood there, watching Noreen''s car drive away. Only then did she look at
the card in her hand as if it were de
treasure.
Then, filled with joy, she called Ss. "Brother, fran into Miss Gilmore!
talked to her and even got her contact information!"
Ss had been on his way to apany meeting, but hearing this, he immediately changed his ns, "Where are you? I''ming right" now." .
"The hospital. I was here to pick up medicine for that crazy woman."
"Wait for me," Ss said.
Ss picked up Ynde shortly after.
He held Noreen''s business card in his hand, looking it over and over.
Ynde repeated the name.
Just as they walked through the door, a wooden carving crashed down in front of them.
Ss threw an arm out to shield Ynde. The carving hit his arm with a dull thud before rolling to the ground.
It was made of a hard material, so it didn''t break, lying intact on the floor.
The room was in a state of chaos.
The maid in charge came over toin to Ss. "She''s gone crazy again today, smashing everything! We can''t stop her!"
Ss''s expression darkened. "Give her a sedative."
Half an hourter, Ss went to a room on the third floor.
The doctor had just administered a sedative to the woman on the bed.
Whether because of the drug''s effect or because she had no strength left, the
person on the bed had stopped struggling.
Shey there, lifeless, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes.
She didn''t even blink.
"You may leave," Ss instructed the doctor.
Chapter 768
After the doctor left, Ss walked to the bedside, looking down at the woman. "Have you had enough, Bianca Lowell?"
However, the person on the bed showed no reaction, remaining perfectly still.
After a moment of silence in the room, Ss spoke again. "Bianca."
This time, the person on the bed finally reacted.
She responded loudly, "Present!"
Then her eyes slowly focused, eventuallynding on Ss''s face.
Perhaps because Ss wasn''t wearing a white coat, her guard wasn''t as high.
She even pleaded with him for help. "You have to get me out of here! I''m not crazy! I was forcibly brought here! Please, help me get out! My fianc¨¦ is very rich. If you can get me out, I''ll reward you handsomely!"
Ss continued to look down at her, his voice cold as he informed her, "You''re not in the mental hospital anymore."
"But a doctor just injected me with something!" Bianca flinched.
Her expression and eyes were filled with fear.
"That was a sedative to calm you down, not a hallucinogen."
"Then where am I now?"
"Harborview City."
Bianca''s mind worked hard to process this, then she begged Ss, "Can you call my fianc¨¦ and ask him toe get me? I want to go home!"
"I want to go home. My fianc¨¦ is waiting to propose to me."
"He bought a beautiful, expensive sapphire to propose with."
"Oh, his name is Seth."
Under the effect of the sedative, Bianca finally drifted off into a heavy sleep.
When Ss came out of the room, Ynde was waiting with a bowl of fish chowder. "Brother, time for your soup."
She followed Ss into his room and watched him finish the chowder before she could feel at ease. "Is that crazy woman asleep?"
"Yeah." Ss rubbed the bridge of his nose.
He had been dealing with too muchtely and felt exhausted.
"So, is she actually crazy or not?" Ynde was curious.
Ss''s tone was t. "She wasn''t at first. But after being locked up in a ce like that for so many years, even if you''re not crazy you''d be crazy."
Ynde felt a rare twinge of sympathy. "I guess I should be nicer to her from now on. She really is pitiful."
Having a kidney taken and then being locked up in that kind of ce it was no wonder she went mad.
Ynde
he had
about to ask Ss why
here when she saw him rub
at the womane
lower back is expression pained."
She instantly forgot her question and asked with concern, "Is it hurting again? Should I call the doctor?"
"It''s fine. Just get me my medicine."
"Okay."
The next morning, Noreen spent the entire day in meetings at Centribo.
By the time she finished, it was already dark outside.
She called Dariel, asking him to bring the car around to the entrance.
Before she could even hang up, another person entered the elevator. When she saw his face, her brows furrowed involuntarily.
She thought she had made things perfectly clear at the hospital yesterday. And in her experience, Seth wasn''t the type to be a persistent pest. So... was this just a coincidence?
"It''s raining outside," Seth said, as if he hadn''t read the doubt in her eyes.
He spoke matter-of-factly. "flet
you a ride home."
"That won''t be necessary. I have my own car." Noreen''s fine brows knitted even tighter.
She couldn''t understand his behavior.
Even if she didn''t have a car, she could call a cab.
Or wait for the rain to stop.
She could handle everything herself; she had no need for these meaningless, time- wasting gestures of bted concern.
Chapter 769
After being rejected, Seth didn''t say anything else.
The elevator arrived at the ground floor just then.
Noreen looked away and walked out without a second nce. She didn''t know if Seth had followed her, but by the time she got into her car, he was nowhere in sight.
Sitting in the car, Noreen thought that while he didn''t look great, he was at least doing much better than the day before, when he was lying in a hospital bed, delirious with fever. He clearly had enough energy toe and make his presence known to her.
When Noreen returned to the Joyner estate, Castle was there. He had just finished dinner with Katy and was talking to a doctor about her condition.
Katy had always struggled with her mental health, and after Mrs. Joyner''s death, her hard-won progress had begun to unravel. It was Castle who had found a therapist for her, and she had slowly started to improve. He had also found specialized tutors to create a personalized academic n for her based on her talents.
Castle had done so much for Katy, and in return, Katy depended on him deeply. She was getting better day by day.
If Mrs. Joyner were still alive, she would have been so happy to see Katy bing more and more like her old self.
Seeing Noreen, Castle asked if she had eaten and offered to have the kitchen make something for her. Noreen told him she had already eaten.
Castle checked the time, said goodnight to Katy, and stood up to get his coat, ready to leave. Noreen stopped him. "Mr. Joyner, there''s something I need to ask you."
"Why don''t you go get washed up for bed?" Castle said, stroking Katy''s head and motioning for her to go upstairs. Katy was very obedient. She gave Castle a kiss on the cheek and went upstairs without another word.
Once Katy was gone, Castle spoke first. "You want to ask about your kidnapping, don''t you?"
Noreen wasn''t surprised that he knew. After all, Dariel worked for him.
"I asked Dariel about it yesterday. He told me Seth was the one who saved me. I don''t understand why you never told me the truth."
"It was Seth''s request," Castle admitted frankly. "He didn''t want you to know."
"But why?" Noreen couldn''t understand Seth''s reasoning.
"I''m not sure about that. I''m sorry for keeping it from you," Castle said, offering a sincere apology.
What could she be angry about? It was Seth''s request, after all.
Perhaps because she had mentioned Seth, Castle decided to add something else. "The person who kicked Sue at the Caldwell family''s birthday banquet the other day... that was him, wasn''t it?"
Noreen''s silence was her answer.
"Sue is a vindictive and cruel person. She''ll likely cause trouble for Seth."
Castle paused, ncing at Noreen before continuing. "A few years ago, I wouldn''t have been worried. But
with Seth''s current situation, wouldn''t be hard for the Caldwell family to go after him."
Harcourt Group had no real
UT
influence in Harborview City. And aside from being Wade Harcourt''s only son, Seth had no official connection to thepany. It wasmon knowledge that the father and son didn''t get along.
Qu
Furthermore, after the incident a few years ago, Seth had practically vanished, Rumors even circted that Wade had disowned him. Otherwise, why would the Harcourt family have remained silent when, be was in trouble? And after his release, he wasn''t given a position at Harcourt Group.
There were countless versions of the story, but no one knew the real truth.
"Dariel has men avable. They''re at your disposal anytime," Castle said, not pressing the matter further.
Chapter 770
He knew Noreen could make her own judgments, so he didn''t interfere, maintaining a respectful boundary.
As he was heading out, Castle remembered something else and turned back. "I heard the head of InnoCore is in Harborview City. Most of the local business leaders will probably steer clear out of respect for me, but there will always be some who are tempted."
After all, business was business, and profit was a powerful motivator.
"I''ve heard Nexus Dynamics has been getting close to InnoCoretely," Castle added, giving her a heads-up.
"Understood."
That night, after Noreen showered and got into bed, Katy snuggled up against her.
"I have to workte tonight. If you''re worried about the noise, you can wear these," Noreen said, offering Katy a pair of earplugs from her nightstand.
Katy shook her head. "It''s okay. Even if there''s noise, it won''t bother me." All she needed was Noreen''s scent to fall asleep. Noise was no distraction.
Noreen bnced herptop on her legs and got to work, while Katy nestled contentedly in her arms.
After finishing her work, Noreen took a moment to look up Nexus Dynamics. Thepany''s owner was named Ss. It was a tech firm, only three years old, with a corporate structure so simple it was like a nk te-no affiliations whatsoever. Yet, Nexus Dynamics had grown with astonishing speed, carving out a ce for itself in Harborview City in just three years. It had even managed to steal a small slice of market share from Centribo. It was a tiny slice, but for a three-year-oldpany, it was remarkable.
Noreen decided she would visit Centribo tomorrow and talk to Vincent about Nexus Dynamics.
With her work done, Noreen closed herptop, turned off the light, and tried to sleep. But the night was too quiet, and even after a long while, she was still awake.
Half an hourter, she picked up her phone and sent a text to Seth. It was brief, without any unnecessary punctuation.
[Watch out for the Caldwell family.]
At the hotel, Jude emptied thest drop of liquor from the bottle. In a weary, almost pleading tone, he begged, "Seth, you really can''t drink anymore! Let''s just call it a night. Please, just finish what''s in your ss and go to sleep, okay?"
"Can''t sleep," Seth mumbled, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion He hadn''t even fully recovered from his illness and how he was drinking. How was he supposed to get better? He wasn''t.
And yet, earlier that day, he had dressed immactely and gone to Centrio to wait for Noreen He was willing to wait all day just to
enge a single word with her.
The moment he closed his eyes, his mind was filled with images of
Noreen The same was true wh they were open. It was as if
world had been reduced to nothing but her.
"So, are you going to see her again tomorrow?" Jude asked.
"Yes."
"What''s your excuse?"
"Haven''t thought of one."
Today, he had used the pretext of returning an umbre. But the weather forecast for tomorrow showed no rain.
Seth drained his ss andy back. After a few moments, he shot up abruptly, startling Jude.
"Come on. We''re going somewhere."
Jude nced at the clock. It was already eleven. Where could he possibly be going?
Only after they were out the door did Seth tell him their destination: the seafood market.
Jude finally lost it. "What in the world are you going to a seafood market for at this hour?"
"To buy seafood. I''m going to make Noreen her favorite seafood soup."
Jude wanted to scream for help. Was there anyone, anyone at all, who could rein Seth in?
Chapter 771
Other people spent money chasing after someone. Seth, on the other hand, was costing him his friends.
Jude had a reasonable suspicion that if Seth ever decided to get on his knees and beg Noreen for forgiveness, he''d be expected to kneel right alongside him.
The seafood market was already closed, so Seth found a seafood restaurant and bought the ingredients there. He selected them with a practiced eye, looking like he''d done this countless times before. Jude just couldn''t quite wrap his head around
it.
In his mind, Seth was the pampered young master of the Harcourt family, ustomed to having every aspect of his life¡ªfrom his meals to his clothes¡ªtaken care of by servants. He was the golden child every parent dreamed of, brilliant and destined for greatness. People like that were supposed to be above the mundane realities of life, let alone trivial household chores like cooking.
And that had been Seth''s image before. But as Jude watched him expertly clean and prepare the seafood, even urately predicting the simmering time and the ratio of seasonings, he was stunned. He stood frozen for a long moment before pointing at the fragrant, delicious-looking seafood soup in the pot. "Seth, are you for real? You actually know how to cook?"
The aroma alone was enough to make his mouth water. Even Jude, who was used to the finest cuisine, felt his appetite stir.
Seth shot a cool nce at the dumbfounded Jude and replied nonchntly, "What''s the big deal?"
He knew how to make more than just seafood soup. He could prepare a variety of dishes and broths that were easy on the stomach, all of which he''d learned from a specific restaurant-the one Noreen used to frequent.
After the terrible incident, he had developed severe insomnia and relied on sleeping pills to get even a few hours of rest. Things had improved somewhat after he got together with Noreen. But he was terrified of bing dependent on her.
So after every moment of indulgence, he would force himself to pull away, deliberately creating distance between them. Still, there were times he couldn''t help himself, which was how Noreen discovered his reliance on sleeping pills.
She had gone to a doctor to learn about insomnia. The doctor rmended abination of medication and calming foods. For a while she searched all over Rivercrest City for restaurants that made healthy, soothing soups, and she finally found one.
To see if it worked, Noreen stayed with Seth continuously during that period. When she saw a noticeable improvement in his sleep, she would happily dere that the calming soup was working wonders, excitedly telling him that the restaurant had many other healthy options for digestion for energy, for soothing coughs... a whole menu of them. The restaurant even introduced new soups regrly, she''d said, so customers wouldn''t get bored.
What she never knew was that the soup was only a secondary factor. The real cure was her.
Once, he couldn''t stop himself from asking a question that crossed a line. He asked her why she was so invested in his well-being, why she would scour the entire city for a remedy just because he couldn''t sleep.
At the time, she was cooking for him. With her head bowed, revealing the soft, pale nape of her neck, she had answered in a low voice, "Because you''re my boss. Isn''t it normal to please the boss? That''s how I''ll get a promotion and a raise."
The answer had left Seth
disappointed for a long time. But eventually, heforted himself, thinking it was for the best.
Whenever he felt himself falling too deep, he would remind himself that she loved someone else. Her
kindness was just part of her job. He shouldn''t dare to dream of a happiness that wasn''t his to have.
So he cherished every act of kindness from her, measuring its value and storing it in
his heart.
Chapter 772
His promise to share his glory with her wasn''t a lie. It had always been part of his n.
Later on, as he began to set his revenge n in motion, he orchestrated a meeting with Bianca. At the wee party he threw for her, Sophia hadined on Bianca''s behalf, mentioning that she had developed a severe stomach condition from all the business dinners.
That very night, Seth went to the restaurant and learned how to make a soup that was easy on the stomach. He gradually learned other restorative soups as well, finding all sorts of ways to cook for Noreen. It took a long time, but he eventually nursed her stomach back to health.
After that, he counted the days, knowing his time before prison was short. He demanded that Sophia learn every single one of Noreen''s favorite dishes, worried that her now-spoiled pte wouldn''t be able to handle anyone else''s cooking.
Jude was tempted to try the soup, but Seth stopped him. "Order your own food."
"You made so much! What''s the harm in letting me have one bowl?" Jude whined, his craving unbearable. "Besides, Noreen can''t possibly eat all of this. Just a small bowl, for my trouble of going out to buy seafood with you thiste."
Seth ignored Jude''s theatrics and turned the heat down to a low simmer. He calcted the time; he could leave at five to deliver the soup to Noreen.
In the end, Jude didn''t get a single drop. He resigned himself to eating takeout, shooting resentful nces at Seth.
"Why can''t I have any?"
"You''re not Noreen."
"So, only Noreen gets to eat your cooking?" Jude pressed.
Seth''s silence was the only answer he needed.
Still not satisfied, Jude asked, "Has Mr. Harcourt ever tasted your cooking?"
"No."
"Okay, I feel better now," Jude said.
After a long night of work, Seth finally
Phot down. He pulled out his
to set an rm and only then''s noticed a message from Noreen on the long-forgotten device.
When he saw her name, he thought he was hallucinating. Why would Noreen text him?
He had to brace himself for a long moment before he dared to open it. The message was concise, just like here could almost picture the cold,
different expression on her face as she typed the words.
*Watch out for the Caldwell family.*
He stared at the phone, motionless, for so long that Jude leaned over to see what was so captivating.
Watch out for the Caldwell family? The Harborview City Caldwells? Sue''s family?
Jude''s expression immediately
turned serious. "I was going to mention this yesterday. The
Caldwells may have declined on et
the years, but they still have deep
roots. And this is their turf. You need to be careful. You kicked their most pampered daughter, and not for the first time if they decide to settle old and new scores at once, things could get ugly. Should I arrange for some security for you?"
Jude rattled on, but Seth didn''t seem to hear him. Jude grew anxious. "Seth, are you listening to me?"
This time, Seth responded, but his answer waspletely off-topic. "Noreen is worried about me, isn''t she?"
Jude was at a loss for words. He''d nearly talked himself hoarse, and Seth hadn''t heard a single word.
"She is worried about me," Seth said to himself, his voice filled with certainty. "She must be worried about me!"
His expression transformed, shifting from shock to excitement to pure joy.
Jude buried his face in his hands. "Seth, maybe you need an intervention. The moment Noreen is involved, it''s like you lose your mind."
Chapter 773
"Our focus should be on the Caldwell family right now!" Jude reminded him sternly. "They might retaliate!"
Safety should alwayse first, right?
But Seth just said, "Don''t worry about the Caldwells. They won''t dare do anything to me. And if they did... wouldn''t Noreen pay a little more attention to me then?"
Jude was speechless. No wonder they said being love-drunk was a sickness that needed a cure.
The few short words in that text had reignited all of Seth''s hope. He didn''t sleep a wink and left to find Noreen at five in the morning. By the time he arrived, it wasn''t even six.
The sun rose early in Harborview City. Noreen was already awake and having breakfast with Katy when she received a call from Ynde.
Ynde said she wanted to treat her to a meal to thank her for her help years ago. Noreen was about to decline, but Ynde added, "My brother will be there too. He said he saw you at the banquet but never got a chance to talk to you properly."
Noreen didn''t recall seeing him at the banquet, so she asked casually, "What''s your brother''s name?"
"Ss."
Noreen''s eyebrows shot up. What a coincidence.
She epted the invitation.
Just then, the Joyner family''s butler came over. "Miss Gilmore, there''s a Mr. Harcourt outside asking for you."
Noreen immediately thought of Seth. She didn''t know many people in Harborview City, after all.
"Tell him I''m not here," she said coolly.
"I believe he already knows you''re here, miss. That''s why he came," the butler replied.
Noreen thought for a moment. "Then tell him I won''t see him." She wanted nothing more to do with Seth.
The butler left, and Noreen went
upstairs. She came back down with herptop, ready to work. A momentter the butler returned, carrying a
container "Miss Gilmore,
???
Harcourt asked me to give this to you. He said you must have it while it''s still hot."
Noreen opened herptop without looking up. "Get rid of it."
"But..." the butler hesitated, wanting to say more, but Noreen was already focused on her work.
In the end, he had no choice but to follow her instructions and dispose of the container. Noreen never even nced at it.
She worked until noon. Realizing it was time to get ready, she went upstairs to change. After saying a quick goodbye to Katy, she headed out.
Castle had arranged a driver and bodyguard for her. As the car pulled out of the main gate, Noreen spotted a figure standing not far away. It was Seth. He hadn''t left.
She was surprised. By her count, it had been over five hours since he''d arrived. He had been waiting here the whole time.
The car''s windows were tinted, making it impossible to see inside. Yet, as if sensing her presence, Seth suddenly turned and looked directly in her direction.
Noreen instinctively flinched away. Realizing what she''d done, she frowned. What did she have to feel guilty about?
The car quickly drove past him.
Noreen didn''t look at him again, ker gaze fixed firmly on the road ahead. Just like every other time they had passed each other by. Just as she had resolved in her heart.
Look forward. Don''t look back.
Ss had arranged avish meal. Noreen had epted the invitation mainly to find out if he had an
ulterior motive. But throughout the dinne he only spoke of their time on the cruise ship, never once mentioning Nexus Dynamics or InnoCore. As a result, the meal was quite pleasant.
After saying goodbye to the siblings, Noreen had just gotten into her car when ire
called. She asked when Noreen would be returning to Rivercrest City.
"Next week," Noreen replied. This Friday, she had to attend the Starlight Charity G.
Chapter 774
The event was a charity g hosted by the foundation Mrs. Joyner had established when she was alive.
This year, it was sponsored by Centribo.
Whether as Mrs. Joyner''s most trusted confidante or as the current head of Centribo, Noreen had to attend.
"Workaholic," ire teased over the phone.
"I bring home the bacon, you just have to look good. What''s not to like?"
ireughed. "I definitely like that."
"And you? How are you doing?" Noreen asked.
"I''m great!"
To prove it, she let out a happy shriek. "You have no idea how healing Palm Breeze Ind is! I even learned how to sea fish! It''s so much fun! I caught a bluefin tuna the other day! Impressive, right?"
Noreen could feel her good mood through the phone. "That''s my girl! I''ll have to see it for myself sometime!"
"Definitely!" ire promised, patting her chest.
Then she added with a sigh, "Noreen, I''m so d I have you."
"You saved me, and Palm Breeze Ind saved me. I feel like the world is a wonderful ce now. Anyone or anything that makes me unhappy can just get lost!"
"Palm Breeze Ind didn''t save you. You just finally gave yourself a break there."
It was the same advice Noreen had once given herself.
Sometimes, you don''t have to win. You just have to walk away.
"You''re right. There are consequences to loving someone more than you love yourself."
ire had finally found her peace. "I''ve already contacted Coley," she told Noreen. "I''ve hired him to handle the divorce with Felix."
A rtionship was like a game of cards.
Felix held the jokers, thinking he controlled the whole game.
But he seemed to have forgotten one thing.
She could just flip the table and refuse to y.
To hell with love.
To hell with men.
Noreen wasn''t close with Coley, but she had heard of him. Entrusting the divorce to him would likely lead to a good oue.
"I''m d you''ve thought it through," Noreen said, happy for ire''s new beginning. "If you get tired of Palm Breeze Ind, you can ask Wilburto rmend some other fun ces. He''s got a reputation for knowing all the best spots."
He was a connoisseur of the good life, after all.
"Maybe next time," ire said. "I''lle to Harborview City to see you. I can be your plus one for the charity g on Friday. I cant just bea freeloader forever, right?"
She wasn''t good at business, but she could definitely handle a social event.
"Deal."
Noreen''s mood lifted considerably after her call with ire.
It had started to rain outside, a light, steady drizzle.
In the twilight, it gave the city a sense of cleansing purity.
Noreen leaned against the window, watching for a little while longer.
The car quietly pulled up to the Joyner estate.
The driver muttered in the local Harborview City dialect, "Why is this guy still here?"
Having
Noreen in the city for a while,
Noreen''s ear for the local ept had
Improved and she understoo
him:
Her brow twitched, and she quickly looked ahead.
Through the misty rain, Seth was still standing by his car.
Jude was next to him, holding an umbre.
Though the rain was light, both of their shoulders were soaked.
It was clear they had been standing there for a long time.
Four hours had passed since she''d left him at noon.
What on earth was this man trying to do?
She had said everything that needed to be said and had deliberately ignored him.
But he just stood there. What was the point?
Even the driver nced at her curiously a few times.
"Stop the car," Noreen finally said.
The driver pulled to a stop right in front of Seth.
Noreen lowered the window, her gaze meeting Seth''s through the fine mist.
Seth looked back at her, his eyes unwavering.
Chapter 775
For a moment, the world seemed to fall silent.
Even the sound of the rain softened into a gentle whisper.
With a knowing nce, Jude thrust the umbre into Seth''s hand and scurried back to his own car to get out of the rain.
Seth gripped the umbre and walked toward Noreen''s car, his calm, handsome face rippling with emotion.
Noreen''s hand had just touched the door handle.
"Don''t get out," Seth said before she could open it.
His voice was strained, as if he hadn''t spoken in a long time. "It''s raining. You''ll get wet."
Noreen''s fingers curled into her palm. She looked up at the man who was now standing right beside her.
Dusk was settling, and a streetlight cast its glow from an angle, leaving Seth standing at the intersection of light and shadow.
One side of his face was bathed in a soft light, the other shrouded in deep darkness.
"Seth, what is all this?" Noreen finally asked.
Her voice wasced with helplessness, but mostly, with annoyance.
"This is the Joyner Mansion."
"My identity here is Castle''s fianc¨¦e."
His behavior was not just an inconvenience; it was a disturbance.
It could cause problems for her, and she had to make him understand that.
"Have you eaten dinner?" Seth asked, his questionpletely off-topic, though his tone was gentle.
Noreen''s brow furrowed. "I made myself perfectly clear at the hospital. Is there any point to this?"
Seth sighed, his voice raspy. "Then tell me, what should I do?"
He waspletely out of ideas.
That one short text message had made him think he saw a glimmer of hope.
But she had refused to see him and thrown away the seafood soup he had simmered all night.
She hadn''t even hesitated for a second as she drove past him.
He truly had no other cards to y.
"I told you, stop doing these meaningless things. With your credentials, you could find a better, younger, more aplished woman. If not Miss Lowell, then Miss Wilder, or any other woman..."
"The point is, you don''t need to waste your time on me."
Seth''s breathing grew heavy, his chest rising and falling in a long, slow rhythm. "Maybe it''s because I''ve fallen too hard for you," he said, his voice thick with self-deprecation.
Jude had said simr things to him.
He''d said that if Seth were willing to let go, women would be lining up for him.
But what could he do?
He only wanted Noreen.
It had to be Noreen.
Noreen stared into the misty distance. In the past, you had countless opportunities to prove what you just said, but you did nothing. That just means we were never meant to be." ''
Perfect.
The day before yesterday, she wanted to draw a line between them.
Today, she was telling him they were never meant to be.
She was throwing every single hurtful word he had ever deliberately said to her right back in his face.
This was karma.
This was exactly what he deserved.
As soon as Noreen''s car drove away, Jude quickly got out of his own car and went to Seth.
He hadn''t heard their conversation, but one look at Seth''s face told him everything. She''d probably stuck a few more knives in his heart.
Seth seemed to have lost all his strength. He couldn''t even hold the umbre steady.
Finally, his arm dropped to his side, and he let the rain drench himpletely.
His heart felt gray and suffocatingly cold.
It was as if the rain was falling directly into his soul.
Jude was frantic.
Seth''s cold hadn''t even fully healed, and here he was, pulling another one of his self-destructive stunts.
"I told you you''d regret this! I told you
to leave this morning, but no, your
had to
wait all day just so she could
stab you in the heart a few more times?"
Such a masochist.
"I don''t regret it," he murmured.
Chapter 776
"Just seeing her, hearing her say a few words... I''ve already won."
After all, he no longer had any right to even see her.
He even asked Jude, "Once she''s said all the most hurtful things she can, do you think she''ll be willing to talk to me then?"
Jude was speechless.
What was he supposed to say to that?
...
For the next two days, Noreen was busy, leaving early in the morning anding
homete at night.
But to her relief, Seth didn''t show up at the Joyner estate or at her office.
It seemed he had finally given up.
Noreen breathed a sigh of relief.
ire arrived on Thursday, and Noreen went to the airport to pick her up personally.
It was clear she had been well taken care of. Aside from a bit of a tan, she finally had some color back in her cheeks.
Wilbur hade with her.
Even without Noreen''s instructions, he knew she would be worried about ire and had volunteered to escort her.
"Your Highnesses, what would you like for dinner tonight? My treat."
ire raised her hand. "I want a feast! But no seafood, please. I''ve had so much of ittely that I''m a bit tired of it!"
Noreenughed. "Don''t hold back with him. Just pick the most expensive restaurant. The project he invested in recently just doubled in value. He''s loaded."
ire rubbed her hands together. "In that case, I won''t be polite!"
Seeing them both so happy, Wilbur smiled. "Alright."
ire had looked up rmendations online and found the most popr restaurant in town.
It was indeed excellent.
Noreen especially loved the restaurant''s signature dish, Golden Scallops with Pear Essence.
ire, meanwhile, was busy taking stylish photos, editing a few, and posting them to Twitter.
[Reunited with my ''Sugar Mommy''!] she captioned it.
She had even changed Noreen''s contact name to Sugar Mommy, since she was, quite literally, living off Noreen now.
Noreen thought the photos were nice, so she saved one and posted it to her own Twitter as well.
Meanwhile, at the hospital.
Jude was at his wit''s end.
He knew this would happen!
Seth had gotten sick after standing in the rain at and
at the Joyner
had been hospitalized ever
since,
Gontent
He''d had a fever for two days... which had at least kept him quiet.
After all, he didn''t have the energy to stir up any trouble.
But even with him being quiet, Jude
was worried. Seth hadn''t eaten
Fan V
swnowe
two days and was surviving drip.
His condition was so poor that Jude, fearing the worst, had even called Jordan to Harborview City.
Though, it hadn''t helped much.
"Seth, you have to eat something. What do you want? I''ll go buy it for you right now."
Seth acted as if he hadn''t heard, his eyes fixed on his phone.
The screen was open to Noreen''s Twitter profile.
He had been staring at it like that for two days!
Noreen rarely posted on Twitter.
So, for two whole days, Seth had been staring at the system message: "No new posts."
"Seth," Jude tried again.
Seth''s thumb slid down the screen, refreshing the feed.
Still nk.
He asked Jude, "Why hasn''t the Caldwell family made a move yet?"
Jude scratched his head. "How would I know?"
"Was it because I didn''t kick hard enough that day?"
Listen to him. Was that something a sane person would say?
"Let''s just talk about food. You have
today, no marine
to eatening.
what, Jude said, feeling helpless.
W
Seth went silent again.
His thumb swiped down, refreshing the page one more time.
The next second, Seth shot upright.
The expression on his face finally changed.
Jude nced over.
Noreen had finally posted on Twitter!
At this point, he felt like he could bow down and thank her.
Chapter 777
Since Noreen was staying with the Joyner family, and ire wanted to spill all the
tea with her, she decided to tag along and stay there too.
"Where are you off to?" they both asked Wilbur.
Wilbur grinned. "Me? I''m off to find some fun, of course."
ire immediately shot him a disgusted look.
Men. They were all the same. Their brains were in their pants.
By the time the two of them got back to the Joyner estate, Jordan had just finished a therapy session with Katy.
Noreen was quite surprised to see him.
Jordan exined that he was in Harborview City to see a patient and decided to
stop by for a session with Katy while he was in the area.
Noreen took the opportunity to ask more about Katy''s condition.
Jordan told her that Katy''s situation was rtively stable, so he was gradually reducing her medication dosage and making slow adjustments.
However, he also emphasized that a condition like Katy''s could never be fully cured and would be a lifelong battle.
Noreen also mentioned that whenever Katy was away from her, she had to rely on sleeping pills to get any rest.
Jordan offered a professional exnation.
"Sleep is one of the most fundamental human needs, which is why insomnia is so agonizing. I have a patient with severe sleep disorders due to PTSD. For the first year, he had to be physically restrained in his bed for treatment. The moment he was released, he would try every possible method to kill himself."
Even though Jordan''s tone was calm as he spoke, Noreen and ire couldn''t help but gasp.
"People with PTSD are constantly tormented by shbacks and hallucinations. Anything rted to their trauma can trigger intense fear and anxiety. Fortunately, Katy was very young when she experienced her trauma, so she doesn''t remember much. Her symptoms are milder and can be managed with therapy and medication. Of course, the love and care of her family y a crucial role in her recovery."
"For a time, my other patient''s symptoms improved significantly thanks to the care of his loved one. That''s why I rmend you spend as much time with Katy as you can."
That night, Katy slept between Noreen and ire.
ire had stayed at Noreen''s ce in Rivercrest City for a while before, and Katy had been there at the same time, so they were already familiar with each other.
Plus, ire''s naturally cheerful and infectious personality made it easy for Katy to warm up to her.
After more than an hour of storytelling, Katy finally drifted off to sleep.
ire let out a long sigh of relief.
She had
talk with Noreen,
she gave up the idea, afraid of
waking Katy t
but
Since Noreen was busy with work, ire decided to browse Tik Tok on her alt ount.
She had secretly registered this ount without her agent knowing, choosing a very obscure username:
Venom.
It was mainly to prevent fans from tracking her down.
Because the name was so generic, no one had paid her any attention.
After three months, she still had zero followers.
She hadn''t logged in for two weeks, but when she did, she found she''d gained a follower.
This guy''s username was just as abstract: [Iron Fist].
And his profile picture was a shot of his chiseled eight-pack abs.
Of course, it''s an unwritten rule of
the inte your profile picturet
is
always what you''recking
w
So ire concluded the guy was probably some terminally online slob.
She clicked on his profile to check it out.
Well, well. He only had one video.
It was a clip of him snowboarding, his face hidden, but he had
deliberately shown off the tiahol
white thermal shirt under hiso snowsuit.
His chest was surprisingly well-defined.
Although it was probably a stolen video, ire couldn''t resist leaving ament.
After all, a flower was in full bloom; it would be rude not to appreciate it.
[Damn, nice pecs.]
He was online and replied almost instantly.
[Cheeky girl.]
ire decided to tease him a little more.
She said, [ChatGPT, photoshop his shirt off.]
Chapter 778
He replied again, [It''s ChatGPT, not Booty Call.]
Ugh, if you don''t have it, just say so.
She was about to try goading him.
Suddenly, a text from an unknown number popped up on her phone.
[Are you in Harborview City?]
She didn''t recognize the number and was wondering who it could be when another message arrived.
[It''s Felix Quigley.]
All of ire''s interest vanished. She immediately gave him the full block-and-delete treatment.
Why was he suddenly rising from the dead?
So creepy.
ire shut off her phone and went to sleep.
The charity g was arge-scale event, with many entrepreneurs and famous celebrities invited.
ire''s decision to attend had beenst-minute, so Noreen arranged for her to walk the red carpet with her and Wilbur.
The event was being managed by Centribo''s public rtions manager, a woman named Raina.
She had extensive experience, having previously organized simr events under Mrs. Joyner.
As Noreen and ire were selecting their jewelry, Raina knocked and entered. "An actress is refusing to ept her assigned spot on the red carpet and is demanding a change, but her status doesn''t quite justify it."
ire asked curiously, "What''s her name?"
"Madeline Lynwood."
Tsk.
It really was a small world.
Raina''s original intention was to continue negotiating with Madeline''s team to maintain the original order.
She hade to Noreen because the person backing Madeline was from the Quigley family of Northcrest.
Therefore, she didn''t dare make a final decision without consulting Noreen first. To her surprise, Noreen listened and then said calmly, "Revoke her invitation." Raina thought she had misheard.
Noreen continued, "Add her to the cklist. We will never work with her again." Raina didn''t ask why.
After all, Noreen must have her reasons for such a decisive move.
And knowing Noreen''s character, it was certain that this Madeline had done something to deserve it.
When Madeline''s team received the organizer''s response, she exploded with rage.
She threw a massive tantrum in her hotel room.
"How can they just cancel it like that? I worked so hard to get this opportunity! It''s all your fault, you''re ipetent!" she shrieked, pointing a finger at her agent''s nose.
Her agent, Genesis, felt wronged. "Do you think they found out you''ve been soft- banned from the maind entertainment industry?"
Madeline''s face twisted in denial. "Impossible! This is Harborview City. Noreen doesn''t have that kind of reach here!"
"Maybe you should call Mr. Quigley," Genesis suggested. "The press
release about you attending the g
has already gone out. If you don''t showtip on the red carpet, you''ll be aughingstock content
Madeline had no choice but to call Felix. Her furious demeanor instantly melted away, her voice bing soft and gentle. "Felix, I''ve run into a little problem. When you head g, could you possibly take me with you?"
to the
After getting Felix''s affirmative answer, Madeline''s eyes curved into a smile. "I''ll wait for you at the hotel, then."
After hanging up, Madeline urgently
called to Genesis, "Contact that paparazzo we work with. Have him wait outside the hotel. When Felixes to pick me up, tell him to take a lot of pictures. Make sure you let me know where he''s positioned so I can give him a good angle of my face."
Genesis immediately rushed to do as she was told.
When Felix arrived, Madeline was already waiting by the entrance.
He didn''t get out of the car, expecting her to get in herself.
Madeline walked over with a smile, but just as she neared the car, she suddenly "twisted" her ankle.
Only then did Felix get out to help her. "Are you alright?"
"My heels are too high," Madeline pouted.
She grabbed Felix''s arm to try and stand, but cried out in pain and stumbled again.
Felix simply scooped her up and carried her to the car.
During this time, Madeline deliberately nced in the direction of the hidden photographer, giving him ample time to take his shots.
Chapter 779
In the car, Madeline recounted how her red carpet invitation had been canceled, her eyes welling up with tears as she spoke to Felix. She looked pitiful and wronged.
"I worked so hard to get this opportunity. I can''t believe Noreen would be so
ruthless, leaving me with no way out."
"I don''t even know what I did wrong."
"I''m just trying my best to save my career."
After a long silence, Felix finally said, "You can walk the red carpet with me."
This was the answer Madeline wanted, but she feigned hesitation. "But didn''t Old Mrs. Quigley forbid you from getting involved in my affairs? I don''t want you to ruin your rtionship with her because of me. She''s getting old, and we need to consider her feelings. We can''t let her get upset."
Felix had known all along that she had been soft-banned.
But Old Mrs. Quigley had given a strict order, forbidding him from intervening.
Madeline had been patient about it, never once begging Felix for help. Instead, she had carefully cultivated the image of a stoic, self-reliant victim.
And now, it was clearly paying off.
At least Felix hadn''tpletely abandoned her.
Suppressing her excitement, she asked with a worried expression, "What about Old Mrs. Quigley?"
"I''ll have my assistant contact the mediater and suppress any news from here."
A flicker of something passed through Madeline''s eyes.
The old woman had sworn that as long as she was alive, Madeline would never set foot in the Quigley family home.
But what if she died?
Would that mean she finally had a chance?
Just as Madeline was pondering this, Felix''s phone rang.
It was hiswyer.
Felix answered, and thewyer began updating him on the divorce case.
He exined that ire had fully entrusted the case to Coley, making no demands
and even willing to walk away with nothing, her only condition being a sessful divorce from Felix.
Under these circumstances, the probability of the divorce being granted was extremely high.
"Stall it for as long as you can."
That was Felix''s answer.
Madeline''s hands, resting on herp, clenched unconsciously.
So ire had already filed for divorce.
But why wouldn''t Felix agree? He didn''t even love ire.
Cleverly, Madeline didn''t ask about it. Inste
askin
bet
she changed the subject,
Felix why he had suddenly
She added that if she had known he wasing, they could have traveled together.
Felix simply said he was invited to attend the charity g.
Madeline believed him.
Until Genesis informed her that ire was also attending the event tonight.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Could Felix be here for ire?
Impossible!
She must be overthinking things.
She knew better than anyone why Felix had married ire¡ªit was all for business.
He couldn''t possibly be here for her.
With that thought, she felt a sense of relief.
Just before the red carpet was
about to begin, Raina found Noreen again, reporting that Mr. Quigley from Northerest''s Quigley Group wanted to walk the red carpet with a femalepanion.
ire''s brow twitched.
Felix was here too?
"Hispanion wouldn''t happen to be Madeline, would it?" ire asked.
"Yes, it is," Raina confirmed.
She had guessed right.
ire wasn''t surprised by this oue.
Without batting an eye, Noreen said, "Cancel his red carpet ess as well."
Raina hesitated. "Is... is that appropriate?"
After all, he was from the Quigley family of Northcrest. They should at least show him some courtesy.
"It''s no trouble at all," Noreen said airily.
"Noreen, you don''t have to offend
anyone on my ount," ire
advised. "Who he walks the red
carpet with is his business and
frankly don''t care at all."
Noreen calmly took her hand. "I know you don''t care. I''m just standing up for my
goddaughter, whom I haven''t even met yet."
Chapter 780
ire smiled. "Alright, then."
Madeline''s team, led by Genesis, had already sent out the press releases and was just waiting for the red carpet photos to drop.
Then Felix informed her that they couldn''t walk the red carpet anymore.
"Why not?"
Felix''s tone was t. "Noreen canceled our ess."
"She canceled you, too?" Madeline was stunned.
Felix didn''t seem to mind in the slightest, showing no sign of anger. "You should
head back to the hotel on your own. I have something to take care of."
"Ah... but I..."
Felix left without even waiting for her to finish her sentence.
Madeline stomped her foot in frustration.
The press releases were already out, and now he was telling her the red carpet was off? Was she destined to be humiliated today?
"Genesis! Get those gossip blogs to delete the articles right now!"
Genesis frantically contacted the media outlets, but they told her it was toote.
The press releases had been published and the posts had been boosted as nned; they couldn''t be retracted.
"What do we do now?" Genesis panicked. Her reputation in the industry was already fragile. Another public embarrassment could mean the end of her career, with no chance of aeback.
Madeline took a few deep breaths. "Then we''ll cover it up with bigger news."
Genesis asked, "What news?"
"Let''s say ire is being kept by a sugar daddy." She sent Genesis the screenshot of the post ire had made yesterday about her ''sponsor'' and told her to hire writers to create some articles full of thinly veiled usations.
A story about a famous actress having a sugar daddy was always eye-catching. It would definitely overshadow her own embarrassing news. And it would ruin ire''s reputation in the process. Two birds, one stone.
...
The g was magnificent. With the Joyner family''s extensivework, nearly every notable figure in Harborview City was in attendance.
Of course, the Caldwell family was there too.
After all, thete Mrs. Joyner had been a Caldwell herself.
Sue arrived with Jaxon Caldwell, and just like before, she was deliberately dressed
to mimic thete Mrs. Joyner''s style.
This time, even her voice and tone were eerily simr.
Noreen couldn''t help but frown upon hearing it.
Fortunately, Castle showed little
reaction.
He was the same as everet
Sue had apparently learned her lesson and was surprisinglyposed this time,
not causing any trouble.
But Noreen still caught a fleeting glimpse of schadenfreude in her eyes.
Noreen''s guard went up, and she remained cautious throughout the evening.
Yet, as the g progressed into itster stages, nothing happened.
Had she been overthinking it?
The most important part of the
evening was when the children et
the
Orphanage presented gifts to all as a sign of gratitude.
thon &
The gifts were all handmade by the children themselves, a charming variety of creations.
Noreen received a homemade drink.
The little girl''s eyes were filled with such pure innocence that it melted Noreen''s heart.
Noreen asked her how old she was.
"I''m turning five soon," she said.
Five years old...
If she hadn''t lost her child, he would be about the same age.
Sadly, she might never be able to be a mother.
The softest part of Noreen''s heart was touched. She reached out and gently stroked the girl''s head.
Then she drank the entire ss.
The little girl asked, "Is it good?"
"It''s delicious," Noreen praised generously.
The girl''s face broke into a wide smile, her eyes crinkling. She waved at Noreen.
As Noreen leaned down, the girl stood on her tiptoes and nted a kiss on her cheek.
After witnessing the whole
exchange, Sue couldn''t stop a
trium smirk from spreading...
across her face.
Noreen had finally taken the bait.
Chapter 781
After the children finished giving their gifts, more people came over to offer toasts to Noreen.
Noreen spotted a familiar face.
The man''s expression was visibly ufortable as he spoke to her.
"Ms. Gilmore, it''s been a long time."
"Indeed it has, Mr. Chase," Noreen replied, maintaining a polite front.
She remembered Perry Chase because she had once suffered at his hands.
Back then, she was still Seth Harcourt''s secretary.
Perry, a prominent Hong Kong businessman, hade to Rivercrest City for a government-led investment project, bringing massive resources with him.
Noreen had repeatedly lobbied Perry to secure some of those resources for Aurelion Group.
Noticing Noreen''s beauty, Perry got some crooked ideas and decided he wanted to force himself on her.
He had dropped hints, but Noreen either didn''t understand or was too naive to respond.
So he decided to take matters into his own hands. During a business dinner, he nned to assault her.
She was just a lowly secretary; she wouldn''t dare make a fuss after being taken advantage of. At worst, he could just throw some money at her to shut her up. If he liked her, he could keep her around for a while and then discard her when he got bored.
Perry was an old hand at this.
He had done it many times before and had never faced any consequences.
In fact, some bosses would willingly send women to his bed in exchange for an investment.
But he never expected Noreen to be so fierce. She refused to submit and, disregarding the danger, jumped out of a third-story window to escape.
Worried she would go to the police, Perry immediately contacted her boss. Seth.
It became the biggest regret of his life.
He thought Seth would side with him for the sake of the investment deal, persuading Noreen to let the matter go.
He had used this tactic before on unwilling women. It never failed.
After all, no one says no to money.
And Aurelion Group was a tiny, insignificantpany back then. A small crumb from
his table would have been enough to sustain them for half a year.
Seth would surely be delighted. He might even be eternally grateful.
However...
When Seth learned that Perry had tried to assault Noreen, he beat him to a bloody pulp.
He was genuinely trying to kill him.
Even now, more than a decadeter, the memory filled Perry with dread.
He was so traumatized that the mere sight of Noreen made his balls ache. Literally, not figuratively.
Because..... Seth had kicked him so hard he''d ruptured his testicles.
After that, he could never be with a woman again.
If this social obligation hadn''t been absolutely necessary, Perry would never have willingly approached Noreen.
Noreen had only said a single sentence to him, but his back was already slick with nervous sweat.
"It has been a long time," Perry repeated, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.
Noreen, for her part, had questions about what had happened with Perry.
That night, she had been forced to jump from the third floor. Fortunately, there was an artificialke below. Fortunately it was summer. And fortunately, someone had been enjoying the cool evening air by theke and saved her, as she couldn''t swim.
At the time, Noreen had been furious enough to call the police. But as she dialed 911, she hesitated.
Aurelion Group was just starting out. If it became entangled in a scandal like this, it would inevitably attract negative spection. Besides the resources Perry controlled were genuinely valuable.
It was better not to make an enemy of him if she could avoid it.
For Aurelion Group, for Seth, Noreen swallowed her anger.
She never even told Seth what had happened.
What surprised her was that Perry suddenly vanished from Rivercrest City. The government abruptly canceled his investment eligibility As for the reason, no one knew, and no official exnation was ever given.
The whole affair simply fizzled out.
If she hadn''t run into him here tonight, she might never have remembered Perry Chase at all.
Chapter 782
But Noreen had learned her lesson from that particr disaster. She was more careful now at theseworking events, always keeping her guard up. For instance, if she was drinking with someone like Yves Selwyn, she''d make sure to touch base with Mrs. Selwyn beforehand. Perhaps she was just lucky, but she hadn''t run into another predator like Perry since. The men who had lecherous thoughts didn''t have the guts to act on them. So Perry''s current reaction struck Noreen as odd. She couldn''t figure out what he was so afraid of. Was it Castle? That seemed possible. As the party wound down, Noreen started to feel a little drunk. It had been too long since she''d had to schmooze like this; her tolerance had clearly taken a nosedive. Castle noticed her difort and had someone escort her to a room upstairs to rest, telling her he''d handle the rest. Noreen didn''t object. She was truly drunk. Once in the room, she tried calling ire to let her know, but the call went to voicemail. She must be busy. So, Noreen sent her a text and then climbed onto the bed. She felt a tightness in her chest, maybe from the form-fitting dress, maybe something else. Her breathing grew shallow and rapid, her heart pounding in her ears. She touched the back of her hand to her cheek and found it frighteningly hot. She''d been drunk before, but never like this. As time passed, her temperature climbed, her mouth and throat bing painfully dry. Her body felt boneless, as if all her strength had evaporated, leaving her unable to even sit up. Thest shred of rationality in her mind screamed that something was wrong. This didn''t feel like being drunk... it felt like she''d been drugged. It had happened once before, years ago, at The Half-Light Club. The symptoms were identical. While fumbling ufortably with her dress, she reached for her phone to call for help. But before she could find it, the door clicked open. Someone hade in. The lights were off, so she couldn''t see clearly, but she assumed it was one of Castle''s men. "Mr. Joyner," she slurred, her voice trembling, "I think I might have eaten something bad." Her rational mind was disintegrating. A moment of silence filled the room, followed by a familiar, questioning voice. "Noreen?" She was too far gone to ce it. Her breaths came in ragged, desperate gasps, each one louder than thest. Her body writhed in difort on the bed. Seth flicked on the lights, and the scene that greeted him was a gut punch. His mind went nk, a buzzing sound filling his ears. All reason exploded. Were the Caldwells trying to get revenge on him, or were they rewarding him? No. This was pure torture. Noreen avoided him like the gue now. If he did anything, anything at all, she would never forgive him once she was sober. But just then, Noreen tore at her gown. The dress fell half-open, the softmplight spilling over her skin, revealing tantalizing glimpses. Seth''s throat went dry, and he swallowed hard. He rushed over and grabbed her hands, his voice tight with restraint. "Don''t move." "So hot..." Noreen''s consciousness was a chaotic haze. Her face was flushed with a red that screamed temptation, and soft moans escaped her parted lips. Her warm, sweet breath washed over his face. His already fragile control nearly shattered. Jaw clenched, he forced the words out. "Hang on. I''m taking you to the hospital." He grabbed the bedsheet and wrapped her up tightly. She struggled ufortably, protesting, "Let me go." "No." Seth scooped her into his arms and went to the door. But it was locked. It wouldn''t budge. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Noreen took the opportunity to fight her way out of the sheet, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as she pressed herself against him. The moment her lips brushed against his skin, they both shuddered.
Chapter 783
Seth had always considered himself a man of strong will. But his much-vaunted self- control was utterly worthless in front of Noreen. No matter how many times this happened, he would always be lost in her. Right now, he hated the Caldwells with a bone-deep fury. If he had known this was their scheme, he never would have yed along. And now, he was well and truly trapped. Noreen''s reason was gone,pletely dominated by the drug. Her watery eyes, which could tempt a saint to sin, were hazy as she desperately pressed herself against him, as if his proximity was the only thing that could soothe her suffering. Just the look in her eyes was unbearable. A fine sheen of sweat coated Seth''s forehead, and his Adam''s apple bobbed uncontrobly. A raspy voice, sounding as if it were being scraped from the depths of his throat, emerged as he clenched his jaw. "Noreen, you''re tempting me to do something we''ll both regret." Noreen just burrowed her face into the crook of his neck,pletely oblivious to the tormented expression on his face. A fire raged within her, threatening to consume her entirely. "So hot..." Her entire body was flushed a delicate shade of pink. Seth''s heart pounded as he looked at her, his muscles tensing in a desperate battle for control as beads of sweat traced paths down his cheeks. The air was thick with a primal, intoxicating scent. Noreen''s hot breath ghosted over his sensitive ear. "Help me," she begged helplessly, her eyes misty and the corners tinged red, creating a beautifully broken look under themplight. "I can''t," Seth rasped, not daring to look at her. "You''ll be angry when you''re sober. You''ll hate me, and you''ll avoid me." Forcing himself to stay rational, heid her back on the bed. He quickly grabbed theforter, trying to wrap her up again. But Noreen was already burning up and refused to cooperate. She thrashed wildly. Seth fumbled, struggling to keep her covered. He''d get the top half secured, and she''d kick the bottom free. He''d fix the bottom, and she''d pull the top away. In the midst of the chaos, Seth caught a glimpse of the pure agony on her face, a result of the drug, and his hands froze. He finally gave up the fight. The moment theforter was gone, the heat was briefly released, and Noreen let out a sigh of relief. The flimsy dress, which had been pulled and tugged during their struggle, was now hanging precariously. A drop of sweat fell from his chin,nding on her chest. She trembled at the hot touch. She looked so delicate and fragile, making him want to ravage her. The sight sent a wave of heat through him. It was true. Only Noreen could so easily ignite him. He was defeated. He leaned down and, without another moment''s hesitation, captured her lips with his. Noreen had always been the passive one in these matters. That was true in the past, and it was true now. As Seth kissed her, she just tilted her head back, letting him taste her. When his long fingersnded on her waist, she squirmed restlessly, but it felt more like an invitation, driving him further over the edge. Seth lifted her slightly, his rough palm tracing the curve of her body, feeling her every shiver and tremor. So fragile he felt she might break, so soft she melted at his touch. His electric grip on her slender waist sent a jolt of pleasure through her entire body. His voice was impossibly hoarse. "You little torment." Even the warm, yellow light in the room seemed to take on a seductive hue. The air grew heavy, thick with the sound of their ragged breaths. Seth was in control, and his kiss was fierce and domineering. His hand held her tightly, pulling her against him, wanting to consume every part of her. Noreen was lost. But she wasn''t the only one. She let out a small whimper, like a cry, so faint and weak it sounded as if she were being utterly overwhelmed. Sweat streamed down Seth''s face. He pressed his forehead firmly against hers. "Noreen, look at me. I held back."
Chapter 784
Noreen tilted her chin up and bit his lip. His gasp of pleasure turned into a low groan. His muscles contracted violently, pulling her along as they crested a wave together. Even if he died in this moment, he would have no regrets. The wildfire passed, leaving only embers behind. Noreen fell into an exhausted sleep, though her brow remained furrowed, a sign of her unease. Seth gently traced the lines of her face with his thumb, as if to smooth away the faint worry lines. She murmured in protest. Seth leaned down and softly kissed her forehead and the tip of her nose, teasing quietly, "Looks like you had your way with me again for free." Before the warmth of the moment could fade, a new sound came from outside the door. Sue''s sharp voice cut through the hallway. "It''s about time. Are the reporters here?" "In the elevator now," Jaxon replied. A triumphant smirk spread across Sue''s face. She ordered a nearby bodyguard, "In a minute, you kick the door down and let the reporters rush in. Make sure they get plenty of clear shots." The bodyguard nodded. "Understood." Seeing that the time was right, Jaxon told the bodyguard, "It''s about time. We''ll leave this to you. We''re getting out of here." "Yes, sir." Jaxon and Sue quickly left the scene, leaving their people to handle the fallout. Just then, the reporters arrived in a swarm. As instructed, the bodyguard immediately kicked the door in. The reporters surged into the room. A barrage of camera shes lit up the space, a hundred lenses capturing every angle. Nothing could hide. A minuteter, someone spoke up. "Why is it just one person?" The shes died down, and the group looked at each other in confusion. Hadn''t their source promised them a scoop on Mr. Joyner''s fianc¨¦e cheating? Noreen was sleeping soundly,pletely oblivious to what was happening. Her dress was even perfectly in ce. The bodyguard realized something was wrong and immediately called Jaxon. "We have a problem. Noreen is the only one in the room." Themotion from the reporters was loud enough that Castle''s team got word and rushed over. The bodyguard was still on the phone when Castle himself arrived, nked by several of his own security team. "Detain every single one of them," Castlemanded, his voice low and dangerous. Dariel and the others moved quickly, securing the reporters and the rogue bodyguard. Castle''s cold gaze swept across the room. "If I see a single word of this reported tonight, you will all regret it." Everyone was too terrified to speak. Only a rookie reporter dared to whisper, "But... we didn''t get any pictures." Only then did Castle enter the room to check. Noreen was still fast asleep, unaware of the chaotic scene just outside her door. When Castle emerged, he shut the door quietly behind him, but his expression was still terrifying. He ordered Dariel, "Check all of their cameras and equipment. Delete everything. Then hand it all over to the police. I want every media outlet involved in this ambush cklisted. Every single one.". In Harborview City, the press enjoyed considerable freedom and would report on almost anything. But that didn''t mean Castle would tolerate their vile tactics. The reporters'' faces had already turned ashen. Being cklisted by Castle meant their careers in Harborview City were over. The other bodyguard was also terrified. He kept his lips pressed together, hoping Castle would overlook him. But Castle''s gaze swung to him. "Take these men back for questioning. I want to know who they''re working for.". The bodyguard''s heart sank. He had a very bad feeling about this.
Chapter 785
When Jaxon found out the n had failed, he panicked. But Sue wasn''t a normal person. Her first reaction wasn''t fear, but pure, unadulterated rage. "How could this happen? I saw the bodyguard get Seth in there myself! I saw Noreen drink that spiked beverage with my own eyes! Why was no one in the room?!" "Where did Seth Harcourt go?!" Jaxon was just as confused. "Do you think he climbed out the window?" Sue immediately dismissed the idea. "Impossible! It''s the seventh floor! The only way out the window is down!" That was true. But the bodyguard had confirmed it: the reporters hadn''t seen anyone else, and he had searched the room himself. Seth was gone. "Is Seth even a man?" Sue fumed. "I served her up to him on a silver tter, and instead of taking what was his, he runs away! He ruined everything!" The drug she had used was a special blend, popr among the high- stakes yers on the cruise ship circuit. It was rumored to be incredibly potent, capable of turning the most virtuous woman into a nymphomaniac. And with Seth still carrying a torch for Noreen, he shouldn''t have been able to resist. Jaxon''s thoughts were more long-term. "Are you sure the bodyguard you hired is reliable?" "Don''t worry, he''spletely loyal. He won''t sell us out," Sue guaranteed. "Good," Jaxon said. Then, as if nothing had happened, the two of them returned to the party, mingling and making small talk with the remaining guests. Sue, still fuming over the failed n, threw back several sses of wine, cursing under her breath. "It''s all that useless man''s fault! Ruining my perfect n!" "Ah-choo!" Seth let out a series of sneezes. Jude Wilder looked over with concern. "Did you catch a cold from being out in the wind earlier?" "I''m fine." Seth rubbed his temples, a deep weariness etched on his face. Jude was dying of curiosity. Why had Seth been clinging to the outside of a seventh-floor window, sending him a desperate text to get a crane over there immediately? But Seth was clearly in a foul mood. He looked like a man who was deeply, profoundly frustrated. Jude knew better than to ask. You don''t poke a sleeping bear. The atmosphere in the car was heavy. After a moment, Seth''s phone rang. He nced at the caller ID before answering. His eyes, which had been closed, snapped open, a cold, sharp light glinting within them. Even without speaking, the pressure he exuded was immense. As the person on the other end ryed the situation with Noreen, his expression finally softened, just slightly. He spoke in a chillingly dark tone, "It seems Miss Caldwell is quite fond of that particr drug. In that case, give her some more. Let her enjoy it to her heart''s content." *** ire finally let out a long sigh of relief after confirming that Noreen was okay. She was in the middle of ming herself when there was a knock at the door, followed by a voice she despised. It was Felix. "ire," he said, "we need to talk." Talk about what? If he loved talking so much, he should have be a professional negotiator. Wilbur noticed the look of disgust on her face and stood up. "I''ll handle this." ire nodded. When Felix didn''t get a response, he was about to open the door himself. But suddenly, the door swung open, only to be shut again just as quickly. He caught only a fleeting glimpse of ire''s back. She hadn''t even bothered to turn and look at him. Wilbur stepped out, forcing Felix to take a step back. Felix frowned. "Mr. Prescott, what is the meaning of this?" "Mr. Quigley, it''s quitete," Wilbur said, his dark eyeszily sizing him up. "Can''t this wait until tomorrow?" Though the two men were of simr height, Wilbur somehow seemed to have the upper hand.
Chapter 786
Felix''s eyes shed with displeasure. "I''m here to see my wife. It''s never toote for that." Wilbur''s lips curled into azy smile. "As I recall, she''s nning to divorce you." "Mr. Prescott is mistaken," Felix said, though his tone was noticeably tight. "She''s just throwing a tantrum." Wilbur let out a small, dismissiveugh, clearly unconvinced. Felix hated that smile. What''s more, he had just found out that ire had spent the entire past month she was ''missing'' with Wilbur, and a bitter feeling churned in his stomach. He suppressed the strange surge of anger and asked Wilbur in an interrogating tone, "What is your rtionship with my wife?" Wilbur raised an eyebrow. "Purely tonic, of course." Felix gritted his teeth. "You think I''d believe that? There''s no such thing as a ''tonic friendship'' between a man and a woman." Especially not when they had gone on an overseas vacation together. Wilbur just shrugged, his nonchnt expression saying, ''believe what you want.'' Felix''s jaw tightened. He warned Wilbur, "As long as we are not divorced, ire is still my wife. I hope Mr. Prescott will respect that boundary." Wilbur shot him a look, then gave another nomittal smile. "You should know, I''m not one to be lectured on morality. Mr. Quigley, instead of wasting your time preaching public virtues to me, you might want to go home and take a good look in the mirror. See if you''ve been practicing what you preach." With that, he turned and spoke to Dariel. "Noreen is resting. She doesn''t want to be disturbed by anyone." Dariel understood immediately and stepped forward to address Felix. "Mr. Quigley, please leave." This was Castle''s territory, after all, and Felix couldn''t afford to make a scene. He left, his face dark with anger. The moment the elevator doors closed, he yanked at his tie, his chest heaving with a fury that had nowhere to go, a suffocating rage trapped in his throat. *** Inside the room, ire had heard the entire exchange. When she reyed Felix''s words in her head-*she''s just throwing a tantrum*¡ªshe could onlyugh bitterly at herself. Noreen woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. Seeing her awake, ire immediately handed her the ss of lemon honey water from the bedside table. "Here, drink some of this. It''ll help." Noreen sat up, still feeling weak and exhausted. Her throat was dry and sore, but after half a ss of the water, she felt much better. "The doctor just checked on you. He said there''s nothing seriously wrong, and the drug won''t cause any permanent harm. Do you feel ufortable anywhere else? Should I call him back?" ire fussed over her. Noreen rubbed her temples. "Just a little dizzy and weak. Otherwise, I''m fine." "What on earth happenedst night? I heard Mr. Joyner was furious," ire asked. Noreen''s hand paused at her temple. Her eyes were half-lidded as she stared into space, lost in thought. She hadn''t been drunkst night. But she had foolishly ingested something she shouldn''t have. Her mind had been hazy, but that didn''t mean she couldn''t remember what had happened. Especially since the lights had been on. She could see everything with perfect rity. *"Noreen, look at me. I held back."* Noreen''s head throbbed even more. He had held back, yes, but notpletely. You didn''t have to go all the way for ''something'' to have happened. The worst part was, she couldn''t even me him. Because... from start to finish, she had been the one making all the moves. "Noreen, why are you blushing?" ire had been waiting for an answer, but instead, she noticed a faint pink flush spreading across Noreen''s face, and her curiosity piqued. "I''m... I''m not..." Noreen, who was usually so calm andposed, stammered.
Chapter 787
Noreen reached up and touched her face.
It was burning hot.
ire immediately saw that something was wrong.
After years of being best friends, if she couldn''t spot something like this, their friendship would be pretty superficial.
She crossed her arms. "Fess up. What happenedst night?"
Noreen didn''t know how to begin.
It was too humiliating.
She couldn''t even face herself.
The crucial part was that just a couple of days ago, she had drawn a firm line in the sand with him, and then...
Fate had a twisted sense of humor.
"Was it Mr. Joyner...?" ire asked.
"No," Noreen denied instantly.
Now ire was confused.
If it had been any other man, Noreen would never have reacted this way.
Only one possibility shed through her mind.
Her expression changed drastically. "Was it that jerk Seth?"
Noreen covered her face.
The answer was obvious.
ire felt her blood boil. "Damn it! Raiding my pantry again!"
She wanted to curse a few more times, but seeing Noreen''s tightly knitted brow, she
knew what her friend was worried about. She offered a breezy reassurance. "It''s
fine. Just think of it as a free one-night stand with a gigolo. Not a big deal."
"The key is, I didn''t have to pay."
ire''s lips twitched. "Then think of it as a free night with a hot guy."
ire''s words made something in Noreen''s mind click unexpectedly.
Seth had said something simrst night.
He had said, "Looks like you got me for free again."
Again... what did he mean by that?
Was he holding a grudge?
She had once boasted in front of Jude and Bianca Lowell that she had slept with him for free.
She never thought he''d remember it until now.
Before Noreen could dwell on it, Sandra called.
ire answered, and after listening for just a moment, she exploded. "What the hell? I''m a kept woman? Are they insane? Who''s spreading this crap? Do they have any evidence, or are they just making things up?"
Sandra said, "It''s a top trending topic. It''s obvious someone paid to get it there. A ton
of gossip blogs are all pushing it at the same time, so the impact is huge."
ire had been in the industry for years and had always been kind and professional. Her reputation was impable.
There was only one person who would be willing to spend so much money to smear
her.
Sandra continued, "The articles were publishedtest night and started trending in the early morning, which is why we didn''t catch it right away. Based on our analysis, Madeline posted this smear campaign against you to cover up the fact that she was cut from the charity g''s red carpet. Yesterday, she celebrated too early and sent out press releases about walking the red carpet. She''s afraid of the humiliation of being found out, so she''s using you as a scapegoat."
"That bitch!" ire swore, her usualposure gone.
While ire was on the phone with Sandra, Noreen opened up the trending topic and quickly found the crux of the issue.
Someone had deliberately screenshotted a post of ire''s, then hired people to spin a story around the image and spread it online.
She immediately notified Winrich''s legal and public rtions departments to handle the matter.
Take down the trending topic, issue a statement. First things first.
ire hung up with Sandra, fuming. She unblocked Felix''s number and dialed it directly.
The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.
Just as ire was about to speak, an intensely annoying voice came through the
line.
It was Madeline who had answered the phone.
"Cousin, did you need Felix for something? It''s not a convenient time for him to take your call."
Her sickeningly sweet tone was nauseating.
But this wasn''t the time to be nauseated.
She''d been worried about how to find the culprit, and now the culprit had walked right into the line of fire.
No need to pass along a message.
ire let loose. "You''re the one who posted that smear campaign, aren''t you? Madeline, how much of a bitch can you be?"
Being cursed at, Madeline didn''t seem the least bit angry. She even feigned innocence. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. We''re very busy. Way dont you call backter?"
Chapter 788
"You motherf-"
Before ire could finish her curse, Madeline hung up.
"Damn it!" ire swore crudely.
"What happened? What did she say?" Noreen only knew she was on the phone with Madeline, but she didn''t know what was said to make ire this furious.
ire fumed, "She said they were busy, and I was interrupting her."
"Busy with what this early in the morning?" Noreen couldn''t understand.
ire shot back, "What else could they be busy with this early in the morning?"
Noreen was speechless.
It was like a twisted riddle.
ire vaulted out of bed in a single, fluid motion, leaving Noreen dumbfounded.
Her moves... were impressive.
Noreen, a beat behind, asked, "Where are you going?"
"To tear that scumbag and his bitch apart!"
ire had a short fuse. Like a firecracker, she ignited instantly.
Noreen knew she couldn''t be talked down, so she swung her legs out of bed, nning to go with her.
Mainly to keep an eye on her, back her up, and make sure she didn''t get the short end of the stick.
But as soon as her feet hit the floor, a sharp soreness shot through the tops of her thighs, and she nearly copsed.
Her cheeks flushed, and she couldn''t help but curse Seth in her mind.
That damn dog!
Just as the two were about to leave, Wilbur arrived.
He was carrying two containers of takeout breakfast he had waited in line for.
"Where are you two off to?"
ire gritted her teeth. "Tomit a murder."
Wilbur''s eyes lit up. "Sounds fun. Count me in. I''ve never killed anyone before."
Noreen was silent.
Those two were so on the same wavelength they could connect even on differents.
At the hotel.
When Felix came out of the bathroom and saw Madeline, he was a little surprised. "When did you get here?"
Madeline exined, "I just arrived. Your secretary let me in."
Then she added, "Oh, and he went to the restaurant to get your breakfast."
Felix didn''t ask any more questions. He picked up his phone from the nightstand and checked it.
Still silent.
No messages, no calls.
He wanted to call ire, but his number was still in her block list.
She had even blocked his assistant and secretary''s numbers.
She''d been angry for this long and still hadn''t cooled down.
He hade all this way to find her, and she was still ying hard to get.
She was even using Wilbur to provoke him.
Was it because his offer wasn''t generous enough?
When had ire be so greedy?
Felix was feeling increasingly irritated.
Madeline, beside him, called his name. "Felix, I came to ask you for a favor."
"What is it?" Felix asked, rubbing his temples.
"My work..." Madeline said
tentatively, her voiceced with grievance. "I''ve been hitting
roadblocks everywhere. Projects that were already confirmed have fallen through.
he is av
me like the gue. I don''t ever know what I did wrong. I just want to work hard. Why is it so difficult?"
As she spoke, her eyes reddened.
Felix''s headache intensified. "I''ll talk to them when I get back. Don''t worry."
Madeline pouted. "But what about Old Mrs. Quigley?"
set
"She''s going on a spiritual retreat next week. She''ll be cut off from the outside world and won''t know a thing
"Then I''ll be discreet."
Madeline was always so obedient and sensible, which made things easy for Felix.
If only ire could be this easy to deal with.
As he was thinking this, his
secretary called. "Mr. Quigley, I just saw Mr''s Quigley. She''s getting in ** the elevator toe up. I think she''sing to find you."
Felix felt a sudden sense of relief.
So she was finally done with her tantrum?
Chapter 789
Madeline had also heard the call. She quickly stood up and said, "Felix, I should go, so my cousin doesn''t get the wrong idea."
But after just a few steps, she hissed in pain.
Felix rushed over to support her, frowning. "Is your foot still not better?"
Madeline''s eyes welled with tears. "There were paparazzi squatting outside the hotelst night. I was afraid they''d write something scandalous, so I didn''t go to the hospital. I just iced it myself in my room. It felt fine, but I thinking to see you aggravated the sprain, so it hurts a bit now."
"Then just stay here. I''ll take you to the hospitalter," Felix said immediately.
"But my cousin..."
"Don''t worry about her," Felix interrupted, pressing her back down onto the bed. "Your injury is more important."
Madeline obediently sat back down on the bed.
At that moment, ire and Noreen arrived outside the room, and ire began pounding on the door.
Felix''s brow furrowed again. He truly disliked this boisterous side of ire. This was a hotel, a public ce. It was terrible if she disturbed the other guests.
He hurried to open the door.
ire was raising her hand to knock a second time when the door swung open.
Felix confronted her with a cold expression. "You''re going to disturb the other guests."
ireughed, a bitter, angry sound. "Am I disturbing others, or am I disturbing you?"
"What''s that supposed to mean?"
"Move." ire shoved him aside and stormed into the room.
The first thing she saw was Madeline sitting on the bed.
It was a suite. There were sofas, chairs, even the floor to sit on.
But Madeline was sitting on the bed.
The implication was blindingly obvious.
Felix wasn''t even pretending anymore.
Even though Madeline was fully dressed, in ire''s eyes, it was just a flimsy attempt to cover up the truth.
To make matters worse, Madeline adopted an innocent expression. "Cousin, what are you doing here?"
Her tone and expression were aplete one-eighty from the smugness she''d disyed on the phone just moments ago.
ire didn''t humor her. She strode over and pped Madeline across the face.
The sound was crisp and loud.
Madeline''s head snapped to the side.
Felix''s face darkened, and he immediately snapped at ire. "ire, what the hell do you think you''re doing? First the shouting, now the hitting!"
He tried to move past to stop ire.
Noreen and Wilbur, like two sentinels, stepped up on either side of him, blocking his path.
Madeline clutched her face, her eyes red, and looked at ire with a wounded expression. "Cousin, did you misunderstand something? I can exin."
"Exin my ass," ire spat.
She raised her hand and pped Madeline''s other cheek.
Perfectly symmetrical.
Felix, in a panic, shoved Wilbur''s arm aside and grabbed ire. "How long are you going to keep this up? When did you be like this? Look at yourself right now, you have no ss at all! If a reporter catches this they''ll have a field day, and the
Quigley family''s name will be dragged through the mud because of you!"
When a person is truly speechless, they be truly speechless.
Yet, Felix looked at her with utter disappointment. "I thought you were a reasonable person who knew her limits but now you''re makinga scere over such a small matt
"A small matter? Felix, did a dog eat your brain? I''m being framed as a kept woman, and you call it a small manem. Or do you just enjoy being cuckolded?" ire''s whole body was trembling with rage.
The person who should be disappointed wasn''t him, was it?
Felix clearly froze for a second. "What framing? Who framed you?"
"Her!" ire roared, pointing a finger at Madeline''s nose.
Chapter 790
Felix instinctively defended Madeline. "Are you sure you''re not mistaken?"
Madeline started sobbing. "Cousin, I really didn''t do it. You''ve misunderstood me. How could I ever frame you?"
"Stop acting! Everyone in the industry knows you have a stable of smear campaign ounts! Just open any of the blogs ndering me and look at their history. All their previous posts were praising you! You''re pathetic!"
"I really didn''t," Madeline insisted, her tears falling even faster.
If she could channel this acting into her career, she wouldn''t still be without a single breakout role.
Seeing Felix''s gaze on her, Madeline cried even harder. "Felix, I truly didn''t frame my cousin. And I don''t have any smear ounts. The inte is a toxic ce. Many celebrities have their own crazy fans who will make things up to defend their idols. Besides, everyone knows my cousin and I arepetitors. It''smon for our fanbases to be at odds with each other."
"Are you sure you didn''t do it?" Felix asked again, seeking confirmation.
Madeline shook her head, choking back sobs. "I really didn''t."
ire''s two ps had been delivered with full force. She had trained in martial arts
for her action roles and had considerable strength.
Both of Madeline''s cheeks were swollen, making her look quite pitiful.
Felix''s heart softened. He stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body, and barked at ire, "Did you hear that? It wasn''t her!"
"You''d believe her if she farted!" ire was incandescent with rage.
These two idiots didn''t have a single good brain cell between them.
Wilbur, afraid ire would make herself sick with anger, spoke up. "Don''t waste your breath on pointless arguments. People who believe you don''t need an exnation. People who don''t believe you won''t listen to anything you do."
"Then show me the evidence! Without evidence, you''re the one making baseless usations. You need to apologize to her!" An inexplicable fire ignited in Felix. He couldn''t stand seeing Wilbur defend ire. What right did he have to protect her?
Noreen''s phone rang. She answered it and asked, "Are you here?"
After getting a clear answer, Noreen''s expression rxed. She turned back to Felix. "You want evidence? You''ll get it in a moment."
Her gaze
urned icy. "And if we can
retire
prove that Madeline framed ire, then shouldn''t Madeline be the on taissue t to issue a public apology and r from the industry for good, keeping her head down like a proper human being?" s?novels
Felix''s brow furrowed, clearly disliking Noreen''s terms.
He shifted his gaze back to ire and said coldly, "Let''s talk about this alone."
"What is there for us to talk about?" ire refused.
Felix, making a concession to their
marital ties, softened his tone. "This is a family matter between!
There''s no need to involve
outsiders."
At his words, ire let out a soft, hollowugh.
How utterly ridiculous.
"Then what about Madeline? Isn''t she an outsider?"
Felix''s jaw twitched. "She''s your cousin. If her parents hadn''t adopted you, would
you even be alive today? You should be grateful!"
That sentence was the final straw. It
shattered ire''sst line of
defense. She raised her hand and,
with a swift, sharp, and clean
motion, pped Felix across the face.
"Felix, the one who should be grateful is you! It''s the Quigley family that owes me!"
Madeline hadn''t expected ire to hit Felix too. She rushed forward, full of concern. "Felix, are you alright?"
Felix''s face burned, but his heart had sunk to the bottom of a freezing abyss.
Chapter 791
Seeing the clear red handprint on Felix''s face, Madeline charged at ire angrily. "What right do you have to hit Felix? If you have a problem with me,e at me! Felix is innocent!"
Her tone was that of a wife fiercely defending her husband.
But before she could get close to ire, Noreen shoved her away.
Madeline was intimidated by Noreen. After all, with Noreen''s current status, crushing
her would be as easy as squashing an ant.
In the end, all she could do was turn back to Felix with tear-filled eyes and
apologize. "Felix, I''m so sorry. I''ve dragged you into this."
Felix once again shielded her behind him. "This has nothing to do with you. You did nothing wrong. She''s the one with no manners."
As he said this, he shot ire a look of utter coldness, as if he was profoundly disappointed in her.
The heat in the room was cranked up high, but ire felt a chill seep into her bones.
She stared at Felix, unable to speak for a long time.
Looking at ire in that moment, Noreen felt as if she were seeing a ghost of her former self.
She stepped forward and squeezed ire''s icy hand.
ire knew what she meant and managed a faint smile.
But it was a deste, heartbreaking smile.
More people arrived at the door. It was Castle and Katy, nked by the two bodyguards who were always with Castle.
Castle had an imposing aura. As he entered the room, his sharp gaze swept over Madeline.
Madeline flinched and shrank further behind Felix.
"You said you needed Katy''s help with something. What is it?" Castle''s gaze softened as he turned to Noreen.
Noreen quickly exined the situation and what she needed from Katy.
Katy understood immediately. "This is easy. I just need to check a few IP addresses."
She always carried a small, custom-designedptop from Castle. It looked tiny, but it was incredibly powerful.
She opened theputer, her fingers flying across the keyboard. A page full of data appeared, and after running a custom script she wrote, she generated the required information.
Then she pointed it out to Noreen. "All the gossip blogs that posted the smear articles have the same IP address. It''s also the same address as the posts that were praising Madeline before."
Faced with hard evidence, Madeline was still trying to argue. "How would I know anything about gossip blogs? You''re just trying to frame me!
Besides, who would be stupi enough to use the same ounts that praised them tounch an attack? That''s practically admitting guilt!"
It had to be said, Madeline wasn''t entirely brainless. She had dared to use her paid ounts to attack
ire precisely because she''d
guessed ire would suspect her, So she had prepared her excuse Th advance.
Noreen was genuinely shocked that someone could be so shamelessly brazen.
Just as she was about to say
something, Katy spoke up in her clear, young voice, "But why does your studio use this same IP
address? And even your pers
Twitter uses this IP for promotional posts. Also, I just checked. These hundred-plus gossip ounts belong to a single marketing
representative of thatpany is
your agent. How do you exin that?"
Initially, Madeline hadn''t paid Katy any mind. She was just a kid in her early teens; what could she possibly know? So when Noreen brought her in, Madeline hadn''t been worried.
But she never could have imagined that Katy could untangle thisplex web of connections so clearly and quickly...
Even a professional investigator would have needed time to dig all this up. But she had found it all just by tapping a few keys on herputer...
Chapter 792
Madeline instantly panicked.
Her first reaction wasn''t to apologize to ire, the victim, but to exin herself to Felix. "Felix, I honestly didn''t know anything about this. My agent must have acted on her own. It has nothing to do with me."
As she spoke, tears streamed down her face as if they were free, making her look pitifully wronged.
Felix stared at her for a few seconds before half-closing his eyes. "I understand. You go inside first. I''ll handle things out here."
Hearing this, Madeline felt a sense of security and obediently went into the
restroom.
ire watched the entire scene with cold detachment.
Felix''s gaze swept over her beforending on Noreen and Castle. "If Madeline really did this, I will bear the consequences on her behalf."
ire''s hands slowly clenched into fists. "In what capacity will you bear them for her? As her lover?"
Felix disliked the tone ire was using. "You don''t need to be so sarcastic. Instead of wasting your energy on that, you might as well state your terms. I''ll do my best to meet them."
"Then sign the divorce papers!"
"Anything but divorce," Felix stressed.
"Then there''s nothing to talk about. She needs to make a public apology and quit the entertainment industry!" The chill in ire''s eyes sharpened into a de.
"You know how much Madeline loves her job. Why are you targeting her like this?" Felix''s face was filled with disappointment. "When did you be so aggressive?"
ire was genuinely speechless.
Could he really be this protective of Madeline?
Even with the evidence right in front of him, he still shielded her.
ire was stunned for a long moment, then suddenlyughed, fighting back the searing pain in her chest. "I''ve always been the type to get even for the smallest slight. She must pay the price for this! She must!"
With that, she turned and left the room, unable to stand being in the same space as Felix any longer.
Not now, and not ever again.
Noreen hurried after her, worried something might happen to ire.
She was in a terrible state of mind and needed someone with her.
Wilbur sent her a message: "Go with ire. I''ll take care of the rest."
Noreen finally caught up to ire at the hotel entrance.
ire stood there, staring nkly at the traffic flowing past.
The winter cold seeped into her bones, filling her with a profound chill.
She turned to Noreen. "It turns out no one can ept that they loved the wrong person."
Noreen had been that way.
And now, so was she.
She once thought Felix was just naturally cold, indifferent to everyone.
But after what had just happened,
she finally understood: The of
tee she slept next to was the fire that warmed someone else.
Wilbur forcefully informed Felix that they would see the investigation through to the end.
The final consequences, he warned, would be far more severe than what Noreen had suggested.
Felix remained silent, a cold glint in his eyes as he looked at Wilbur.
After everyone had left, Madeline emerged from the restroom and asked Felix worriedly, "Felix, I''m so sorry for dragging your into this How about D?o apologize to my cousin. personally? Maybe if she lets out her anger, things will be okay."
"No need. She won''t ept it."
"But..."
"Don''t you have a flight today? I''ll take you to the airportter," Felix said, picking up
his coat with a nk expression.
ire had certainly made a big scene this time.
But they had been married for five years. A bond that deep doesn''t just snap. It was only a matter of tim
before they reconciled. He just needed to let her cool down on her own for a while.
Chapter 793
Before getting into the car, Felix sent a text to ire.
He wasn''t sure if she had blocked his number again.
ire was currently at a dessert shop with Noreen.
It was a habit of hers. Whenever she was in a bad mood, she craved something sweet.
So, Noreen had specifically brought her here.
As she was on her third dessert, her phone buzzed.
It was a text from Felix.
Seeing the number, ire realized she had forgotten to block him again.
Before opening it, she said to Noreen, "A message from that jerk Quigley. I wonder what kind of nonsense he''s spouting now?"
She nced at it after opening it. "Yep, total nonsense!"
"What did he say?" Noreen asked.
ire read it aloud, "Madeline has never been the problem between us. If you''re willing, I can immediately transfer five percent of Quigley Group''s shares to your name. Let''s drop the topic of divorce for good, and neither of us will mention it again.""
Noreen snorted. "Definitely nonsense."
Five percent of thepany was a huge amount, enough to buy off many people.
But he really didn''t understand ire at all.
He understood her even less than Noreen did.
ire''s ideal life had always been to live carefree, with just enough money to get by.
What he thought was a tempting offer was worthless in her eyes.
ire put down her dessert spoon, quickly typed out a reply, and sent it to Felix.
Then, in one smooth motion, she blocked his number again.
Finally, she locked her phone and went back to peacefully eating her dessert. Meanwhile, the car had just started moving when Felix received ire''s reply.
Seeing how quickly she responded, he actually felt a sense of relief.
He figured ire had seen his offer and decided to give in and stop causing trouble.
But when he opened the message, his expression quickly darkened.
During this time, Madeline had been carefully observing Felix''s expressions.
She knew the message was from ire. When she saw Felix''s brow rx upon receiving it, her heart sank a little.
She didn''t like Felix''s attention being on ire.
Just as she was trying to figure out how to regain his focus, she saw his face darken again.
She immediately asked, "Felix, what''s wrong? Is that a message from my cousin? What did she say?"
Felix didn''t answer right away. With a grim face, he started typing a reply to ire. "Where are your manners?" he wrote.
By now, Madeline had also seen the message ire sent.
It was just a short, sharp sentence.
[If you''re sick, get help. If you''re not, drop dead. Stop bothering me!]
Madeline felt a wave of relief and a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched her
lips.
Her cousin was still as clueless about men as ever.
What man would like a temper like that?
By acting this way, she was only pushing Felix further away.
Of course, that was exactly what Madeline wanted to see. It would make it easier for her to move in.
"Felix, please don''t be angry with my cousin. She''s always been tactless, it gave my dad a lot of headaches She was constantly getting her. parents called into school. Later, when my dad tried to be a bit stricter with her, she started to hate him and told everyone he was mean to her. She''s always been a handful."
"Ultimately, it''s my dad''s fault for not raising her well enough."
Felix frowned. "It''s her personality. You all did your best."
.n
"It seems my cousin is really angry this time. Why don''t you stay in Glenhaven City to console her? can
gok by myself," Madeline said
feigning thoughtfulness.
Just as she finished speaking,
Genesis, who was in the front seat,
spoke up anxiously, "But in
Northcrest there are a lot of
reporters waiting at the airport. If Mr.
Quigley isn''t there, they''ll definitely give you a hard time."
Chapter 794
Felix''s brow furrowed. "I should take you back first. She still has friends, but you only have me."
"But my cousin..."
"She''s still furious. Nothing I say right now will get through to her." Felix rubbed his temples wearily.
Madeline sighed as well. "I''m just worried that Mr. Prescott will take advantage of the situation. The way he was looking at my cousin earlier was clearly not ordinary."
This made Felix''s hand pause at his temple.
Then he said with renewed irritation, "You''re overthinking it. She''s obviously just trying to make me jealous by getting close to Wilbur on purpose."
She had pulled this stunt before.
He''d seen it all.
Naturally, he wasn''t going to y along.
Her tantrums had to have a limit.
He decided to give her the cold shoulder for now. It would give her a chance to cool down and think things over.
...
After finishing her dessert, ire went back to the hotel and slept soundly for two days.
Once Noreen was sure she was okay, she finally had the mind to deal with her own
mess.
As for what that mess was...
She was too embarrassed to even mention it.
It had been almost three days since the incident, and there had been no word from Seth at all.
He wasn''t trying recently.
Had he given up?
pop up in front of her to get her attention like he had been
If so, that would be great.
But what happened that night remained an unresolved issue weighing on Noreen''s mind.
She worried that if they didn''t clear the air, it would cause her trouble down the line. Noreen finally picked up her phone and called Seth.
She wanted to talk to him face-to-face.
The call went through.
But no one answered.
Noreen frowned, looking at her phone as it automatically disconnected after ringing
for too long. A sense of irritation washed over her.
Finally, she sent him a message.
It was a simple, direct sentence.
*We need to talk.*
Unfortunately, the message was like a stone sinking into the sea. There was no reply.
Even by the next day, she hadn''t received a clear response.
Noreen considered herself a patient person, but Seth''s current behavior-not answering calls, not replying to texts was starting to get Fon her nerves.
She decided to call Jude instead.
Jude actually answered, calling her name timidly. "Ms. Gilmore."
Noreen got straight to the point. "Where''s Seth?"
Jude, as if he had expected the question, answered quickly, "I''m not with Seth. I don''t know where he is."
Noreen''s eyes narrowed. She understood what Jude was implying.
"Then have him call me back as soon as possible."
"I can''t guarantee I can get that message to him," Jude said.
Noreen didn''t say any more and just hung up.
On the other end, Jude heard the disconnect tone and let out a long sigh, clutching his chest.
It was so strange.
Even though they were on the phone and he had rehearsed it countless times in his
head, he was still a nervous wreck when Noreen called.
He was more nervous than he ever was meeting the dean of students back in school.
He nced back at the man lying on the sofa, bis expression nk, and said, his voice still shaky, "Bro, barely managed to handle her this. time. Next time, I''m definitely going toblow it."
Seth didn''t even move his eyes, staring nkly at the ceiling. "We''ll see when she calls next time."
Jude scratched his head. "But you can''t just keep avoiding Noreen like this."
Besides, he didn''t get it.
Shouldn''t that night have brought them closer?
Why was Seth suddenly avoiding her afterward?
Seth covered his eyes with the back of his hand, plunging himself into darkness before speaking in a lowe voice, "You don''t understand. She''s already sentenced me to death in her mind. After what happened, she''ll only despise me more. She'' only looking for me to clear things up and draw the line between us again."
Chapter 795
Although Seth had already prepared himself to be pushed away by Noreen time and again, he still needed some time to process and ept it.
Jude held back for a long moment before asking, "So how long are you nning to hide?"
Seth didn''t answer immediately.
After a long while, Jude heard him whisper almost inaudibly, "I don''t know."
Because he was facing a dead end.
...
As Noreen expected, even after calling Jude, she still didn''t hear back from Seth.
He was clearly avoiding her.
Noreen was already busy with work, and with him acting like this, she couldn''t be bothered to chase him down.
He could hide for a while, but not forever.
Besides, his absence brought her a sense of peace.
When Sophia Cole sent over Winrich''s public announcement for Noreen''s final
review, she also updated her on Madeline''s situation.
A crowd of reporters had been waiting for Madeline at the airport in Northcrest, but Felix had used the Quigley family''s connections.
He pressured the media on one hand while protecting Madeline on the other, ensuring not a single photo was taken.
All the negative news about Madeline online had also been scrubbed clean.
Meanwhile, the rumors about ire having a ''sugar daddy'' continued to circte wildly.
Even though Noreen had Winrich''s legal department issue a statement rifying that she was the ''sugar daddy'' mentioned in the post, the rumors persisted.
Gossip mongers were like that; they always preferred to believe the most sensational news. It seemed to give them some strange kind of psychological bnce.
That''s why Noreen had Sophia prepare a new announcement, waiting for the right moment to release it.
Sophia added, "That Madeline hasn''t been idle either. Since returning to Northcrest, she''s been trying every possible way to make aeback, and Felix is pulling strings for her everywhere. Although Winrich has warned many people in the industry, Madeline''s circle is ultimately in Northcrest. If Felix is determined to protect her, hereback is only a matter of time. After all, ourwork is in Rivercrest City, not Northcrest. Our reach doesn''t extend that far."
After hearing Sophia''s report, Noreen gently tapped her fingers on the desk.
So what if it was Northcrest?
Did Madeline think she was the only one with connections there?
Noreen ended the call with Sophia
and was just about to pull up Wilbur''s number in her conta when his call came through.
Noreen answered almost instantly. "I was just about to call you. You beat me to it."
"Looks like we''re on the same wavelength," Wilbur said in his usual devil-may-care tone.
"Did you need something?" Noreen asked first.
"I have something good to share with you. Sent it to your email. Check it out."
Noreen casually opened her email.
A momentter, she asked Wilbur, surprised, "How did you get this?"
"I have my ways," Wilbur said,
again. "By the
whats, Wilbur said,
I want to calf way
me about?"
Looking at the contents of the email,
Noreen''s tone became cheerful, it''s
nothing now''s al
dinnertime
want to grab a bite together?"
Wilbur was about to say yes.
But then Noreen added, "ire said she''s craving tarts from Portside City."
Wilbur paused. "You two go ahead. I have other ns."
"Alright, we''ll eat together some other time then."
Noreen didn''t press further, just assuming Wilbur genuinely had ns.
After hanging up, Noreen forwarded the contents of the email to Sophia and ire.
ire replied instantly.
A long string of exmation points.
Chapter 796
Then she started sending sixty-second voice messages.
Noreen didn''t even need to listen to know what she was saying.
She replied, "Wilbur dug this up. The decision is yours to make. Whether we release it or not is up to you."
ire was decisive. "Release it! We have to!"
She had been wanting to rip off Madeline''s mask for years but never had any proof,
which allowed her to act so arrogantly for so long.
She was actually curious to see Felix''s reaction when he saw all this.
Would he still protect Madeline as he always had?
If he did, well, that could only mean it was true love.
Right now, however, ire''s attention wasn''t on Felix.
Noreen had said that Wilbur had gathered all this information.
He must have put in a lot of effort.
ire knew all too well how scheming and cautious Madeline was.
Otherwise, she wouldn''t have known her for so many years without ever finding any leverage against her.
Out of both courtesy and obligation, she really should thank Wilbur, or at least treat him to a meal.
But...
ire was torn, filled with regret.
Alcohol was really a bad thing! It ruined everything!
In the end, she couldn''t bring herself to send the words of thanks.
Noreen told ire to get ready, saying she''de pick her up at the hotel soon to go to Portside City for tarts.
She also mentioned that she had originally nned to invite Wilbur, but he had other ns.
When ire heard Wilbur couldn''t make it, she actually felt a sense of relief.
After all, she still hadn''t figured out how to face him.
As her thoughts were in a jumble, she unexpectedly came across a post Wilbur had just made.
Judging by the background, it looked like he was at some nightclub.
The lights were shy and decadent.
The main picture was a close-up of two hands sped together.
The man''s hand was clearly Wilbur''s; he was wearing the Patek Philippe watch he always wore.
The hand he was holding naturally belonged to a girl.
It was slender and fair.
The caption was even more interesting.
[So many cute girls in the world, of course I have to spoil them all.]
ire fell silent for a couple of seconds before turning off her phone screen.
Then she let out a long sigh of relief.
It seemed she had been overthinking things.
A yer is a yer because his heart never settles on any one woman.
He certainly wouldn''t be affected by any one woman.
He had probably forgotten all about it already.
There was no reason for her to be feeling so anxious.
After Noreen picked up ire, they headed straight for Portside City.
During the drive, Noreen received a call from Sophia, who told her that Madeline and her agent, Genesis, had gone to LAU Beauty to try and secure the role of the brand''s new beauty ambassador.
Noreenughed when she heard. "She''s really got some nerve."
ire let out a contemptuous scoff. "Looks like she''s trying to poach my spot again."
LAU was currently one of the top beautypanies in the country, and a brand that female celebrities were all vying to endorse.
After LAU was acquired by a domestic corporation three years ago, it kept only one beauty ambassador.
That ambassador was ire.
This fact alone had caused ire''s status in the industry to skyrocket over the past three years. The projects and endorsements shended were all high-end brands of exceptional quality, making her the envy of many of her peers.
Madeline was one of them.
She was probably trying to use this opportunity to salvage her image and elevate
her own status.
Unfortunately for her, she had miscalcted badly.
ire leaned back in her seat, lookingpletely rxed. "Doesn''t she do her due diligence on brands? Does she not know that I the owner of LAU
"Then again, I guess I''m usually too low-key," ire teased, then flipped her hair.
Noreen raised an eyebrow. "So, ready to be high-profile for once?"
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