'If I had known what you would go through, I would've kept you by my side, never letting you stray even a step away from me. But Noelle, as hard as those years were for you, they weren't any easier for me. "You once nearly became a mother yourself. Surely, you can understand the love a mother has for her child, can't you?"

Tears streamed down Matilda's face.noveldrama

Noelle stared at her for a long moment. "Just say it. What is it that you want from me?"

Her voice was unnervingly calm. It was clear she refused to pay along with Matilda's charade.

Matilda looked up at her in disbelief. "H-How could you speak to your own mother like that?"

"Did I guess wrong?" Noelle smiled faintly. "If this isn't about anything, that's even better. I'll be on my way,

"then."

Seeing Noelle actually stand to leave, Matilda couldn't hold back any longer. "Wait!"

It was exactly as Noelle had expected. She didn't respond right away. Instead, she turned and looked at Matilda with mockery in her eyes.

Matilda hesitated, seemingly well aware of how difficult het request was to voice. After a brief pause, she finally asked, "Do you know what illness I have?"

"No."

"I have acute kidney failure," Matilda said softly. "The doctor told me it's serious, and the only hope for a cure is a kidney transplant."

The moment Noelle heard those words, her expression instantly went blank. She had never truly believed that a person's mindset could completely change in just a matter of days. Even so, it would be a lie to say she wasn't stirred by Matilda's words.

For a brief moment, she actually believed that she might finally receive the understanding she had longed for from her biological mother. But now, it was clear-she had been completely wrong.

That whole heart-to-heart conversation? It had all been a setup, a ploy to get her to help with the

matching

process.

Noelle tightened her fists even more as she stared at Matilda. Then, unexpectedly, a cold laugh escaped her lips. She really did find it all absurd,

"Noelle, I know you must feel wronged. But don't worry. If the match is successful, your father and I will do everything we can to compensate you."

"Compensate me? How exactly do you plan to compensate me? Are you going to hand over the company?"

Matilda had prepared her response, but she hadn't anticipated Noelle starting the negotiation with such a demand. She immediately frowned, and her voice was tinged with displeasure when she replied, "Your father is still around, so how can we possibly hand the company over to you?"

"Oh? So, you're unwilling?" Noelle smiled. "Then, there's no need for further conversation. I only came here to see you. Now that that's done, I'll take my leave."

With that, Noelle turned around, but before she could take step, Matilda's frantic voice rang out, "Noelle, I am your mother! Are you really going to just stand there and watch me die like this?"