《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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.¡±
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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
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
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.
Yes-man 265
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.
Yes-man 266
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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19:47
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.
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¡°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.
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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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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.
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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.
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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?¡±
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