I pushed Richard Carter away. “I’m doing this to save my daughter. This technology will never be used on anyone else!”
Richard froze for a moment. “But… but—”
“The Helios chip implantation must be carried out under my supervision. If anyone else uses it, the consequences could be catastrophic!”
Richard’s face darkened. “As long as it saves our daughter, that’s enough.”
Three months later, a state-of-the-art laboratory was finally completed. I monitored the instruments, watching the faint signals representing Emily’s leg nerves—like staring at a flickering candle in the wind.
Richard brought me a cup of hot cocoa and spoke gently. “Sophia, don’t worry. The board has already invested funding. The Helios Project will succeed.”
The faint signals on the screen reflected on my face. He held my hand, his palm warm, yet my heart felt cold.
“Which matters more to you—the project or our daughter?”
Richard was caught off guard, then, with a trace of irritation, said, “Sophia, with our daughter like this, I’m already heartbroken. I won’t blame you for saying such things.”
After over a decade together, I knew every micro-expression on his face. His features didn’t match his words—he wasn’t being sincere.
“What matters most is that Emily can stand again.”
With that, I lowered my head, focusing once more on the screen.
Sensing my cold tone, Richard frowned slightly. “Sophia…”
A sharp knock interrupted him.
The door opened, and the sound of high heels clicked against the floor.
“Oh, Richard, Sophia, I came to check on the experiment’s progress.”
A woman entered the lab, dressed in a fitted suit and shirt, her hair neatly pinned up, her looks striking. The strong scent of perfume hit me before she even reached us.
I frowned slightly. “This is a laboratory. You need to wear protective clothing.”
Her outstretched hand froze midair.
“Sophia, my name is Olivia Brooks. Richard, you haven’t told her yet, have you? Since the company funded this research, the board appointed me to oversee and report the progress.” She turned to Richard with a light laugh.
Richard smiled, stepped forward, and took Olivia’s hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He glanced at me. “Sophia, Olivia is extremely capable…”
Seeing him hold her hand so casually, my eyes turned cold.
“This is a lab. Irrelevant personnel need to leave.”
Richard’s expression stiffened. Olivia’s face hardened for a split second but quickly softened again, her lips curling into a smirk.
“Your daughter’s disabled. Of course, as her mother, you’re upset. I can understand the harshness in your tone.”
Disabled?!
I shot to my feet. “What did you say? Who are you calling disabled?”
Feigning shock, Olivia covered her mouth, stepping back two paces and bumping into Richard.
“Richard, she’s so fierce! But isn’t not being able to stand exactly what disability means? Did I say something wrong?”
Those words pierced my ears like knives.
“You… Get out!”
Richard’s face shifted in alarm. He rushed forward, pressing me back into the chair with force.
“Sophia, maybe her words were blunt, but if Emily can’t stand, isn’t that disability?”
My eyes went blank, my lips parted. “You… you think so too?”
Richard looked confused. “Did I say something wrong? Without the company’s funding, this project won’t continue. You owe Olivia an apology!”
A bitter laugh escaped me. “Fine. Project, funding—do what you want. But my daughter’s case is no longer for you to interfere with. You can leave too!”
Richard’s brows knit together.
Olivia chuckled softly. “Sophia really is remarkable—handling such a project alone. Well then, I’ll head back to the company and report the situation.”
