As soon as she finished speaking, Seth’s call came through.
Bianca’s voice was warm and cheerful as she answered. "Seth, I’m done with my exam."
"Yes, it went pretty well."
"Okay, I’ll be right out."
She gave Henry a quick wave and left.
Henry then turned and went to find Halley.
Once Bianca hung up, Lillian brought up Henry again. "My dear cousin, that Henry is as smitten with you as ever. He’s always keeping an eye on you."
Bianca just gave a faint smile, unconcerned.
Just as Henry reached Halley’s office, he heard people inside discussing the papers from that day's exam.
"This thesis is of exceptionally high quality! The black box investing technique it mentions is particularly brilliant! It has incredible research potential!"
"I agree, Professor Joyner. I’m very optimistic about this student."
Halley asked casually, "What's her name?"
"Bianca."
Outside the door, Henry froze.
Bianca.
Black box investing.
The painting.
The girl who gave up a future in mathematics for love.
In that instant, everything connected, forming a clear, undeniable line.
He was now absolutely, positively certain.
Bianca was the Brooke family’s benefactor!
She was the person Sanford had been searching for all this time!
Because the very thing that had saved the Brooke family from the brink of collapse was the black box investing technique.
Henry spun around and jogged back downstairs, hoping to catch Bianca.
But by the time he got there, she was long gone.
And in his haste, he missed what Halley said next.
After all, her goal had been for everyone to relax.
"One of the locals told me that earlier this year, some big-shot tycoon held his engagement ceremony there. The entire island was covered in flowers—it was incredibly extravagant! He even had helicopters circling the island, dropping flower petals! It was an incredible spectacle!"
Mina, at an age where she dreamed of such things, couldn't stop gushing.
Sophia poured cold water on her excitement. "You conveniently forgot to mention that the tycoon's fiancée got kidnapped. You only talk about the good parts."
"Ahem, well, it was because the tycoon was so flashy that he attracted the attention of pirates. That's why they kidnapped his fiancée for ransom! I heard they paid eight hundred million!"
Noreen hadn't paid much attention to the news before, but the mention of a kidnapping piqued her interest.
"Was this back in May?"
Mina nodded. "Yeah!"
Noreen glanced at Sophia.
Sophia nodded in confirmation.
So, the place they went for their team-building trip was the same island where Seth and Bianca had gotten engaged?
What a coincidence.
Mina’s gossip-loving soul was burning bright. Cupping a hand to her mouth, she lowered her voice. "The islander also said… that the tycoon's fiancée… the kidnappers… you know…"

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