Chapter 458
“Shh.”
Dylan Wilder placed a finger to his lips, gesturing for her to be quiet as he pointed toward the stage, reminding her the ceremony had begun. A moment later, a warm smile spread across his face, his eyes filled with a familiar, doting affection as he reached out and ruffled her hair, just like he always used to.
Seeing this, Bianca’s lips tightened.
“What’s wrong?” Seth asked, noticing her change in expression.
“Dylan’s here,” Bianca said, her voice flat.
Seth followed her gaze and saw Dylan affectionately ruffling Noreen’s hair. He paused for a fraction of a second, his face betraying no emotion. He appeared cold, utterly unconcerned. After a brief glance, he looked away, his attention elsewhere.
But Bianca’s mind kept drifting back to them. She had noticed it before the way Dylan looked at Noreen was different. Combining that with his unusual level of attention and concern for her, a bold theory began to form in Bianca’s mind.
The thought made her heart race, and a cold dread crept over her, a feeling she couldn’t suppress. She had to know the truth.
So, when Dylan excused himself and left his seat midway through the ceremony, she made up an excuse and followed him out.
She found him on the phone under the shade of a tree just outside the auditorium. She walked straight up to him, making no attempt to be discreet.
“The person you’ve been in love with all this time… it’s Noreen, isn’t it?”
Dylan’s expression froze, and he looked at her with cold, hard eyes.
But Bianca was desperate for an answer. She repeated her question, her voice more urgent than before. “The woman you’ve kept hidden in your heart for seven years-it’s Noreen, right?”
“Something’s come up. I’ll call you back,” Dylan said into the phone, hanging up. He turned slightly, his gaze on Bianca sharp and dismissive. “What does that have to do with you?” ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ
His casual, cutting response was more than Bianca could bear. Her voice trembled with emotion. “Just answer me! Is it her?”
Dylan stared at her, his eyes like daggers. After a long, tense moment, he answered, his voice firm and clear. “Yes.”
There was no hesitation, no evasion. Just pure, unwavering honesty.
“It has always been her.”
In that moment, Bianca’s composure finally crumbled. The color drained from her face, leaving her deathly pale. She had given six years of her life to him. Six years.
Staring at the cold, indifferent man before her, she felt something inside her collapse. A chilling coldness spread through her veins as stark contrast to the summer heat
Dylan didn’t spare her another glance before turning and walking away.
Bianca stood frozen, her face growing paler by the second.
On the other end of the disconnected call, Jude stared at his phone in disbelief. What had he just heard? Dylan was in love with Noreen? And had been for years?
Oh, God. He probably needed to pack a bag and book the first flight out of Rivercrest City. Otherwise, Dylan might just have him assassinated.
Bianca remained outside for a long time, struggling to pull herself together before returning to the ceremony. When she got back Seth was no longer in his seat. She didn’t pay it much mind; her thoughts were a chaotic mess.
l.ne
Professor William waved her over, and Bianca forced herself to put on a brave face as she went to sit by him. A reporter approached to interview William, but he explained that his Chinese wasn’t fluent enough to express himself clearly and asked Bianca to answer on his behalf.
The reporter, intrigued, asked about their relationship.
“Moli was one of my doctoral students when I was teaching at WT Business
School,” William explained proudly.
The reporter was stunned. “Miss Lowell was Professor William’s student? That’s incredible.”