Seth paused, the realization finally dawning on him. Today wasn't a holiday visit; it was a blind date.His eyes, deep and cold, settled on Athena. "Where do you live, Ms. Monroe? I can have someone drive you home."Athena was taken aback by his directness. She looked down, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "I... I'm not in a hurry to go back just yet. We could take a walk."Seth's gaze held no warmth, as frigid as a winter lake. "I'm sorry, I don't have time."Athena's head snapped up, her face burning with embarrassment. She stammered, “I... well... I thought you knew that we were... being set up today.""I didn't," he stated, his tone glacial."Well, now you do, so perhaps we could..."Seth cut her off, his voice low and dismissive. "Not interested."Athena froze, speechless.Without another word, Seth walked past her and got into his car. The black Cullinan sped away, leaving Athena standing alone in the biting wind, her face a mask of humiliation.Just as she was about to pull out her phone, a black Maybach glided to a stop in front of her. The driver got out and approached her respectfully. "Ms. Monroe? Mr. Thorne asked me to drive you back to your hotel."..."I am so terribly sorry. What Seth did was completely out of line.""No, no, that's not what he meant. He's just been so busy, something urgent came up at the company that he had to handle personally. It's not that he doesn't like Athena, not at all. My apologies..."Jolie was on the phone with Mrs. Monroe, her voice a stream of apologies. "It's my fault, too. I should have told Seth about it beforehand."Hayden added his own regrets. "Seth was indeed rude. We are very sorry."Jolie had hoped that by arranging the blind date as a surprise, she could force the issue. She never imagined it would end in such a disaster. She ad invited the Monroes, she had arranged the meeting, and her good intentions had blown up in her face, leaving everyone upset. She repeatedly offered to arrange another meeting to apologize in person, but theMonroes, feeling their daughter had been insulted, refused. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ fιɴdnοvel.netJolie sent a lavish gift as a gesture of apology, but the damage was done. The Monroes, who had planned to spend a few more days in Riverdale Booked flight back, Mexico for the very next day.noveldramaIn the Thorne family study, Hayden was ready to confront his son, but Seth beat him to it."Don't waste time arranging pointless events like that in the future," Seth said, his eyes as cold as ice.Hayden's face hardened. "What do you mean, 'pointless'? Jolie went to a lot of trouble for you. How could you be so disrespectful? She's your mother.""My personal life is none of her business.""Then it's my business!" Hayden roared. "I'm your father!"Seth's expression remained unchanged. "If you're that bored," he said, his tone biting, can put you in charge of a few overseas mergers and acquisitions." "You-!" Hayden sputtered, speechless with rage. The audacity of his son, assigning him work!Seth turned to leave, but paused at the door. He glanced back at his father. "I'm already in love with someone. Don't waste your energy."Hayden, still fuming, froze.What? Did he hear that right?