Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 352

Mrs. Naylor let out a laugh equal parts amused and exasperated. “Look at you, acting all high and mighty—aren’t you just a bad apple yourself? And you have the nerve to judge someone else? She only had one relationship, and it’s not like she’s got a criminal record or anything!”

“And it lasted seven years! That tells me she’s loyal and committed. Now, you—can you even count your exes on both hands?”

“Honestly, rotten apple!”

She shook her head dramatically. “How did you not inherit any of your father’s and my loyalty? Were you swapped at birth?”

Healy quickly jumped in, seeing his mother get more and more carried away. “It’s not even official yet. You guys are getting way ahead of yourselves.”

“Then you’d better get a move on,” Chase chimed in. “I like this girl—she’s smart, ambitious, and she’s got a good head on her shoulders. That’s exactly what you need, someone to balance you out.”

Healy fell silent.

Was that a roundabout way of saying he was clueless?

For Chase, competence mattered more than anything.

Family background? That was nothing. Marry some spoiled heiress with no brains, and she’d manage to ruin the family fortune in no time.

Chase had learned that lesson from watching Wade Harcourt.

“I want to meet her too,” Mrs. Naylor insisted, refusing to be left out. “Why am I the only one in this house who hasn’t?”

Healy said, “Actually, there’s an opportunity coming up.”

. . .

The opportunity Healy meant was the launch event for Naylor Automotive Group’s new car.

As a business partner, Noreen was naturally on the guest list.

The moment she arrived at the venue, Healy came over to greet her and personally led her to her seat.

Bianca walked in just a moment after Noreen, but Healy didn’t even notice her.

A faint, mocking smile flickered across Bianca’s lips.

Ever since Healy started getting involved with Noreen, he’d only grown colder towards her. She had no doubt Noreen had been stirring the pot behind the scenes.

Plotting hard, aren’t you?

Did Noreen really think she could just waltz into the Naylor family this way?

Keep dreaming.

Maybe she’d even kick Noreen out of the event right in front of everyone.

Well, probably not. The two companies were partners, after all; she’d at least keep up appearances.

But she certainly wouldn’t be friendly.

“Mom, you’re going to scare her if you charge in like that,” Healy murmured, trying to rein her in.

Mrs. Naylor tried to plaster on a warm, welcoming smile. “Like this? Do I look friendly enough?”

“...Even scarier.”

Mrs. Naylor nearly rolled her eyes. “Move aside. I’ll go introduce myself.”

Noreen was flipping through the event brochure when a well-dressed, pleasantly plump woman approached her with a bright smile. “Miss Gilmore?”

“Hello,” Noreen replied, standing up politely to shake her hand, though she had no idea who the woman was.

“Wonderful, wonderful,” Mrs. Naylor gushed, her eyes never leaving Noreen for a second. “You’re even prettier than I expected.”

Jude watched the scene, completely puzzled. “What’s with Mrs. Naylor? Why does it look like she’s sizing up a future daughter-in-law?”