Noreen had no idea what Seth had decided. All her attention was fixed <b>on </b><b>the </b><b>expert </b>medical team.
As the workday drew to a close, there was still no sign of the experts.
Growing anxious, Noreen sought out Larson for information.
Larson had just stepped out of surgery and looked genuinely surprised when she asked. “You haven’t heard? Dean Grayson went straight to the airport to pick them up in person. They won’t being to the hospital today.”
Noreen caught another emotion flicker across Larson’s face and pressed further. “Did Dean Grayson go alone?”
Larson let out a sigh. “Of course not. He invited me to go as well, but I had an operation and couldn’t leave.”
Noreen knew that with such top–tier medical resources, there were always plenty of people eager to get close.
She couldn’t afford to rx for a second. Hurriedly, she asked Larson where the expert team had gone.
Larson checked with a colleague who’d apanied Dean Grayson and found out that the group was currently dining at The Grand Regent Hotel.
With that, Noreen wasted no time. She hailed a cab and hurried to The Grand Regent Hotel.
Evening rush hour had Rivercrest City locked in gridlock. Noreen checked the time again and again, growing more restless by the minute.
What should have been a half–hour ride stretched to forty minutes, then fifty, as traffic crawled along.
Unable to wait any longer, Noreen paid the fare early, hopped out, and grabbed a rental e–bike nearby, determined to make it in time.
She weaved through gaps in traffic, pedaling furiously.
After twenty minutes, she finally spotted the gleaming entrance to The Grand Regent, bustling with dinner guests.
But there was still a busy intersection ahead. She needed to go around the traffic lights to reach the entrance.
<b>22:06 </b>
<b>Chapter </b><b>45 </b>
<b>In </b>her <b>rush</b>, <b>as </b>she <b>rounded </b><b>the </b><b>corner </b><b>to </b><b>avoid </b><b>an </b><b>oing </b>car, her <b>wheel </b>clipped <b>a </b>curb. She lost control, and both she and the bike crashed <b>to </b><b>the </b><b>pavement</b>.
A sharp, burning pain shot through her elbow and knee–she must’ve scraped <b>them </b>badly.
Still, she was grateful it was only a scrape.
The ck Bentley she’d nearly collided with came to a stop, and someone stepped out, striding straight toward her.
Noreen braced herself for a scolding. After all, the ident was entirely her <b>fault</b>.
She didn’t even bother to get up. She blurted out, “I’m so sorry! It was my fault. Really, you don’t need to worry about me.”
“Are you hurt?”
A man’s voice sounded above her, tinged with concern.
Noreen looked up and saw a familiar face.
It was Dn.
Dn hadn’t expected to run into Noreen here, either.
He immediately bent down to help her up. “Where are you hurt?”
“It’s nothing, just a scrape.”
“I’ll take you to the hospital.”
But Noreen had bigger things to worry about. She politely refused Dn’s offer. “I’m fine, really. Just a scratch. No need to go to the hospital.”
Dn frowned, not in the mood to argue. He guided her toward the car anyway.
Noreen resisted. “I’ve got something urgent to take care of. I’ll go to the hospitalter if I need to.”
“What could be more important than getting your wounds treated?” Dn’s tone grew more serious.
“People’s lives are on the line!” Noreen shot back, her voice trembling as her eyes grew red with frustration.
With Dn’s support, Noreen hobbled toward the entrance of The Grand Regent.
913
22:<b>061 </b>
Right at the front door, they ran into some familiar faces.
Noreen hadn’t expected to see Seth and Bianca here.
Clearly, neither had they.
Seth stood on the steps, gazing down at her with cold, silent eyes.
Bianca’s gaze flickered between Noreen and Dn before she finally asked, “What are you two doing together?”
Dn exined, “There was a little ident. She got knocked down.”
“Secretary Gilmore, are you alright?” Bianca actually sounded concerned.
“I’m fine,” Noreen replied, her tone t.
She slipped her arm from Dn’s grasp and limped inside.
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