Chapter 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–how deeply entwined–do 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–year 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 the last 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, comfort spreading through her
body.
Sometimes, you really do have to take care of yourself. Being good to others doesn’t always come with a reward, but being good to yourself does–every time. And it’s the most direct reward there is.
That afternoon, there was an investment committee 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
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she’d parachuted straight into Aurelion Group!
So that’s what a high–achieving 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–she 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–they were no exception. Thɪs chapter is updated by.net
Noreen, after all, had only graduated from a domestic university with a bachelor’s. She didn’t even have a master’s–how could she compete 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 years later, 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 place to anyone. It was as if the project had always been Bianca’s accomplishment.
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 kept coming, rapid–fire, full of indignation.
That was the project you landed after drinking yourself sick! How is this fair?
How can Mr. Harcourt be so blatantly biased?
I don’t get it. I really don’t get it!
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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–the man she’d loved for seven years–then what was a project in comparison?
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?