<b>Chapter </b><b>226 </b>


    All those careful days, hiding her feelings, pretending nothing was wrong–just 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–pity.


    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?<b>” </b>


    “It was just that once–and you happened to run into him.” Rosalind threw up her hands in exasperation.


    “What about your follow–up 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–l 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–her special dumplings, braised pork, and more.


    “Just freeze them when you get home<i>,</i>” 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.


    13:01


    As Noreen was heading downstairs, she ran into their neighbor, Mrs. Laurent. <fn4fc5> Updates are released by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn4fc5>


    “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–sponsored 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–known 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–restaurants 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.