Chapter 370
“What’s the good news?”
“After Naylor Automotive Group’s self-driving car launch, the company landed several new deals. Your net worth just shot up again!”
“How much?!” Claire’s focus shifted instantly.
Noreen named a figure.
Claire screamed right then and there. “Noreen, I love you! I’ll be your sidekick for life!”
“Still mad at me?” Noreen teased with a laugh.
Claire grinned so wide she looked a little foolish. “Mad? Why would I be mad? Only losers stay mad-money solves everything!”
The truth was, making money really was so much more fun than chasing men. Suddenly, she could totally relate to Noreen’s disinterest in guys.
…
On the eve of Aetheria’s official launch, Bianca and the founder, Ethan, sat down for an interview with a top media outlet.
They were at the height of their success.
Jude couldn’t be there in person but made his support known in their group chat, promising to buy twenty thousand copies when the magazine hit the stands- partly to make up for the last fiasco.
He even tagged Dylan and Healy, urging them to show some support too.
No one replied.
Everyone was just so busy these days.
After Bianca finished the interview, the editor-in-chief personally thanked her and handed her the latest issue of the magazine.
The moment Bianca spotted Noreen on the cover, her expression stiffened.
But she forced a smile and thanked the editor, accepting the magazine with fake enthusiasm.
As soon as she got home, she chucked it on the floor to vent.
Forrest Lowell, rarely home, was sitting in the living room watching financial news.
The news was covering-of course-Noreen’s latest achievements.
“Dad!” Bianca snapped, raising her voice. “Turn the TV off!”
“What’s got you so worked up?” Forrest asked, concerned.
She couldn’t exactly admit what was bothering her, so she just scowled and muttered something about having a headache and not wanting to hear any more noise.
“Are you sick? Should I take you to the hospital?”
“No, I just need to sleep it off,” Bianca replied. For once, she didn’t sit and drink tea with Forrest, chatting about work.
Instead, she headed straight to her room, skipping dinner entirely.
Lillian sent her some photos and videos-progress updates from the engagement Official source ıs
venue.
Since Bianca was swamped with work back home, she’d left Lillian on the island to supervise everything.
A few of the photos turned out
.e
beautifully, so Bianca couldn’t resist sharing them in the group chat asking the others which setup looked best.
She was typing when suddenly the chat exploded.
Jude had posted a screenshot from the Rivercrest City Rich List, shouting, “What
the hell?! Noreen made the Rich List!”
“Rivercrest City’s richest woman?!”
“Are you kidding me?!”
Bianca’s fingers froze mid-sentence.
Her face darkened, but she still clicked on Jude’s screenshot.
It was the latest weekly list. Thanks to InnoCore, its affiliate companies, and the Port Redevelopment Project, Noreen had just claimed the title of Rivercrest City’s wealthiest woman.
Even Dylan, who almost never spoke up, came out of the woodwork.
“Well deserved.”
Healy chimed in, “No surprise. Her business instincts are sharp enough to build that kind of fortune so quickly.”
Healy added, “Is she releasing these figures to pave the way for an IPO?”
Bianca’s already sour mood took another hit.
She wanted to call Seth-just to hear his voice, maybe get some reassurance.
She was still hesitating when Seth sent a message to the chat himself.
“It’s just an unofficial list. You guys actually believe this stuff?”