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–just 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–except 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–choosing 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–who 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–profile event? That nobody could get in without an invitation? How did Noreen get in?”
<b>14:22 </b>
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–and 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.” <fn51e8> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find_Novel(.</fn51e8>
Lillian fell silent, chastened. After a moment, she grumbled, “Didn’t your fiancé 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–she 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–straight 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.
<b>44.22 </b>