Noreen got straight to the point. "I want to know what happened to Seth."


    The man on the other end paused before replying, "I''m sorry, Miss Gilmore. Mr. Harcourt''s instructions were only for us to assist you if you encountered any difficulties or tough problems. He did not tell us how to assist if he was the one in trouble."


    His words were a bit convoluted, but Noreen understood.


    In other words, Seth had only instructed them to solve problems for her.


    Regarding himself, he had left no useful information.


    As she mulled this over, the man respectfully asked again, "Miss Gilmore, are you facing any difficult problems? If it''s a financial issue, please don''t hesitate to ask."


    "No, thank you," Noreen said.


    Noreen hung up, still feeling lost.


    The only silver lining was that because Seth''s case involved a high-ranking official,


    all investigations and interrogations were being conducted in secret, so very few people knew about it.


    And Wade had been retired for years, with almost no contact with the outside world.


    He probably wouldn''t hear about any minor rumors.


    She''d have to keep it from him for as long as possible.


    Just as Noreen was thinking this over, Evelyn returned with the reports, her expression full of worry.


    "What''s wrong? Is there a problem with the medical report?" Noreen''s heart skipped a beat.


    Evelyn quickly shook her head. "No, no, Mr. Harcourt''s report is the same as before. Not much change, everything''s under control."


    "Then why do you look so worried?"


    Evelyn pulled Noreen aside. "How has your mother beentely?"


    Evelyn wouldn''t ask about Rosalind Gilmore for no reason. Noreen''s stomach tightened. "Why do you ask?"


    "I think I saw your mother when I went to pick up the medical reports just now. She looked like she was in


    a lot of pain, crouching in a corner all by herself.


    Before Evelyn could finish, Noreen asked urgently, "Where did you see her?"


    "Theb on the lower level."


    Noreen immediately rushed to the basementb. Following Evelyn''s directions, she found Rosalind crouched in a corner, drenched in sweat from the pain.


    "Mom!" Noreen rushed over to help her up.


    At that moment, Rosalind''s face was deathly pale,pletely drained of color.


    Her forehead was covered in cold sweat from the pain, matting the loose strands of hair at her temples.


    Her expression was one of extreme agony, but upon seeing Noreen, she tried


    her best to force a smile.


    else


    "Noreen.. What are you doing here? Are you not feeling well?"


    Even though she was in so much pain that her voice was a mere whisper, her only thought was of Noreen.


    Noreen fought back the stinging in her nose and helped her mother from the floor to


    a nearby chair. "What''s wrong? Where does it hurt? Why didn''t you tell me?"


    "I''m fine, don''t worry."


    But her words,bined with her current pallor and reaction, carried no conviction. "I''m calling the doctor."


    "Don''t..." Rosalind tried to stop her.


    But as she raised her hand, a wave of intense pain washed over her, and she fainted.


    "Actually, I wanted to inform you much earlier, but your mother wouldn''t let me."


    In the hospital room, the attending physician''s tone was incredibly grave.


    "We found the problem during herst major check-up. Her chronic kidney disease has reached its final stage, and her kidney function is far below normal levels. On top of that, her overall health is quite poor. Our medical rmendation is a direct kidney transnt."