"It's nothing," Niall said with a gentle smile, checking her watch with practiced nonchalance. "We should get going now."

"Right," Cullen nodded, his expression unreadable.

He offered brief farewells to everyone in the meeting room before departing alongside Niall, their footsteps perfectly synchronized as they exited.

Meanwhile, Veronica remained behind, deeply engaged with the engineering team as they worked through complex details of their current project.

Concern for Mary's fragile health had been weighing heavily on Veronica's mind. This worry had prompted her to temporarily relocate to the Murray residence following Rose's troubling medical examination, wanting to provide whatever support she could during this difficult time.

That evening, after completing her responsibilities at Dennis Group, Veronica made her way back to the Murray home for dinner. The meal passed quietly, everyone lost in their own thoughts about Rose's condition. As Veronica finished the last bite on her plate, her phone illuminated with a new message.

Edric's name appeared on the screen: "Heading back to base tomorrow."

Veronica stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard before deciding against responding. Understanding her hesitation, another message from him appeared moments later: "See you in a month."

The implication was unmistakable—once her divorce was finalized, he intended to pursue her properly. Though she understood his meaning perfectly, Veronica still couldn't bring herself to reply. She set her phone aside and reached for a book on the nearby table when her phone rang, Cook's name flashing across the screen.

"Ver," Cook's voice sounded the moment Veronica answered, filled with concern and a touch of reproach. "I just heard about Rose's condition. This is incredibly serious! How could you and Mary keep something this important from me?"

Veronica hesitated, searching for the right words.

"Evelyn told me Mary's health took a turn for the worse after learning about Rose," Cook continued urgently. "How is she doing now?"

"She's been improving these past couple of days," Veronica replied carefully. "Her spirits seem better."

Cook's relief was audible through the phone. "That's good to hear." After a brief pause, she added with determination, "Don't worry, Ver. I'll help with Rose's case—I'll find the absolute best doctors available for her."

"Thank you, Grandma," Veronica said gratefully. "But I've already reached out to a leading specialist in this field. They'll be arriving tomorrow to personally evaluate my mother's condition."

"Is that so? Excellent. Let's see what they recommend."

"Yes, let's."

Cook fell silent momentarily, her voice dropping when she spoke again. "Your mother really is..." she trailed off, unable to complete the thought.

Veronica understood the unspoken sentiment—Rose's life had been marked by one misfortune after another.

Before Veronica could respond, Cook rushed to offer comfort. "Evelyn mentioned that if Rose's condition is properly managed, there's still hope. Try not to worry too much, alright?"

"I'm trying," Veronica assured her.

They chatted for several more minutes before ending the call, but Cook remained troubled by Rose's situation and her concern for Veronica. Unable to settle her thoughts, she dialed Cullen's number.

He answered promptly. "Grandma?"

"You! You really are..." Cook began, her tone sharp.

Detecting her anger but confused by its cause, Cullen asked cautiously, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she backtracked. "I was just in a foul mood and thought yelling at you might make me feel better."

Cullen raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Despite her initial intention to scold him, Cook found herself at a loss for words. She merely huffed disapprovingly before abruptly ending the call.

Setting down his phone, Cullen noticed Sabrina watching him curiously as she ate.

"Was that Nana?" she asked. "Is everything okay?"

"Your Nana was just feeling grumpy and decided I'd make a convenient target," Cullen explained with a slight shrug.

Niall, seated nearby, laughed softly. "She probably misses you."

"Doubtful," Cullen countered. "She usually gets irritated just looking at me."

The following morning, when Veronica and Mary arrived at the hospital, they found Cook already waiting. The specialist team had arrived punctually as well.

At the head of this team stood an elderly woman who appeared even older than Cook and Mary combined—her face mapped with wisdom earned through decades of groundbreaking work.

"Is that... Dr. Carson?" someone whispered in awe.

Kelsey Carson was internationally renowned as one of the world's foremost experts in organ failure treatment. She had retired years ago, and her consultations had become virtually impossible to secure, regardless of one's wealth or influence. The majority of the country's top specialists in the field had once been her students, carrying forward her pioneering approaches.

When Veronica had mentioned arranging for experts to consult on Rose's case, Cook never imagined she meant someone of Dr. Carson's caliber. Her presence was nothing short of extraordinary, and Cook couldn't hide her astonishment as she stared at the legendary physician now standing before them.