Going crazy again?


    Noreen frowned at her phone, neither answering nor hanging up. She simply let it ring out, knowing Seth didn''t have much patience for being ignored. Sure enough, after one round of missed calls, her phone finally fell silent.


    Seth didn''t call again.


    Noreen grabbed her pajamas and was about to head back to the bathroom when, right on cue, her phone rang once more. Irritated, she picked it up, ready to decline and power it off-she had no intention of letting anyone ruin her peaceful evening.


    But this time, the caller ID showed Evelyn''s name. Noreen answered immediately.


    Before she could say anything, she heard Evelyn coughing violently on the other end of the line.


    "Are you sick?" Noreen asked, suddenly worried.


    Evelyn''s coughing fit was so intense that she couldn''t reply right away. It was a moment before she finally managed to gasp out, "Noreen, that cough-soothing soup you made before-how did you do it?"


    Another bout of coughing interrupted her words.


    "Don''t worry about it. I''lle over and make it for you,” Noreen said without hesitation.


    "It''s pouring outside," Evelyn protested weakly.


    "It''s fine," Noreen replied, already pulling on a coat. She drove through the storm as quickly as possible to the Harcourt family''s home.


    When she arrived, Evelyn''s condition was even worse than Noreen had imagined -a nasty cough brought on by the flu. ording to Evelyn, she''d been hacking for days, and neither medication nor IV drips had helped. Remembering the soothing soup Noreen had brought her duringst year''s flu outbreak, she''d called her for help.


    "I''ll put a pot on now," Noreen said gently. "Get some rest. I''ll call you when it''s ready."


    Evelyn, her voice hoarse, managed, "Could you make a little extra? Mr. Harcourt''s caught it too."


    "Of course."


    Noreen headed straight for the kitchen, moving with the confidence of someone who''d been here a hundred times. Cooking wasn''t really her thing-she was only good at making simple,forting soups and stews. And even that, she''d learned especially after getting together with Seth. In the beginning, her attempts wereughable but Noreen was nothing if not determined. Through sheer willpower, she''d managed to perfect a handful of nourishing recipes.


    As she simmered the soup, the storm outside only intensified, thunder cracking and rainshing against the windows. An alert pinged on her phone-a severe weather warning from the city, urging residents to stay safe.


    When the soup was ready, Noreendled out arge bowl for Evelyn, insisting she drink it while it was hot for the best effect. Then she filled another bowl and carried it to the study for Wade.


    He was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the rain, so lost in thought he didn''t even notice her knock. Noreen let herself in quietly, but Wade stuff didn''t stir until she stood right in front of him and caffed his name.


    He blinked, as if snapping out of a dream. "What are you doing here?"<fnf336> Original content can be found at Find1Novel</fnf336>


    "Evelyn''s got a terrible cough," Noreen exined. "I came to check on her and made some coconut and pear soup for her lungs. You should have some too." Wade nced at the bowl in her hands, his expression unreadable. "You came all the way here in this weather just to make soup?" His tone sounded reproachful, but Noreen knew better he was just worried.


    "Drink it while it''s hot," she urged. "Evelyn said you''ve been coughing as well."


    Wade took the bowl, and for a brief moment, his gaze lingered on her, conflicted almost as if he was wrestling with something unsaid. But when Noreen looked again his face was back to its usual calm, as if she''d imagined it.


    As he sipped the soup, Wade asked about Winrich''stest updates. He already


    kept himself well-informed, but he wanted to hear it in Noreen''s own words.


    Noreen gave a detailed rundown of recent work, then Wade brought up the TechVenture game beta, asking for her thoughts.


    "I''ve seen their promotional trailer," Noreen said thoughtfully. "It''s impressive-the industry''s been responding well. I think it''s going to be a hit."


    Wade nodded his approval. He valued her objectivity-only with clear, unbiased insight could the right decisions be made.


    When he finished the soup, the storm outside had only grown fiercer. Wade insisted she stay the night, not wanting her to risk driving back through the torrential rain.