My voice grew colder.
At the mere mention of funding, Richard Carter snapped,
“Sophia, you’ve lost your mind in your research! I just joined the board, and the Helios Project is my very first case. If it fails because I couldn’t secure funding, I’ll be thrown out of the board immediately!”
Before I could respond, another cold voice came through the phone.
“You have one month to show progress in the experiment.”
The call cut off.
I stared at the phone in my hand, fury surging through me, before hurling it to the floor.
Over the next two months, I performed countless trials on lab mice.
Finally, the experiments reached a breakthrough—I managed to control their movements through the brain-machine interface.
But since this implant was destined for my daughter, every step had to be taken with utmost caution. I couldn’t afford a single mistake.
During this period, I even tested the neural interface on myself. It could provide some auxiliary control, though it still required refinements.
Still, the progress was a glimmer of victory.
It was time to prepare Emily for implantation.
Richard visited a few times during those weeks, always with Olivia Brooks at his side. Each time, his focus was on the experiment’s progress, not our daughter. He would barely glance at Emily before leaving in haste.
Other than discussions about the project, he and I shared no further words.
Meanwhile, Emily’s condition steadily improved. Aside from her legs, which remained numb, the rest of her injuries had healed.
I entered her room one day to find her staring off in a daze.
The moment she saw me, she instinctively tried to get up—only for her unresponsive lower body to collapse her back onto the bed.
I rushed forward and lifted her.
“Mom, I’m fine. I’m used to this now. Even if I can never stand again, it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to exhaust yourself for me every day.”
Her small hand brushed against my cheek, forcing a smile onto her face.
“I’m not tired, sweetheart. Mommy has found a way. It’s a little risky, but if you agree, all you’ll have to do is take a nap—and when you wake up, you’ll be standing again.”
Emily’s eyes lit up. Since waking from her coma, I hadn’t seen her so excited.
“Mom, really? I can stand again? That means I can dance again! I promise I’ll be good. I’ll sleep right now!”
She lay down quickly, shutting her eyes and pretending to sleep.
Watching her adorable act, I smiled softly, caressing her face.
“Sleep, darling. When you wake, everything will be fine.”
The Helios neural implant surgery began.
Richard and Olivia rushed to the lab as soon as they heard.
The surgery itself wasn’t overly complex, but I performed each step with meticulous care, terrified that the slightest mistake would damage Emily’s nerves. The electrical currents were kept at the lowest possible setting; her fragile body couldn’t withstand any shock.
At last, the device was implanted successfully. Emily lay peacefully on the bed, a faint smile on her lips, as if she were dreaming a beautiful dream.
I stepped out of the ward. Richard rushed forward, ignoring my gloved hands as he seized them tightly.
“Sophia, was it successful?”
My gaze was cold, my voice even colder.
“Are you asking whether the project succeeded—or the surgery?”
Richard froze and quickly let go.
Olivia smiled as she stepped closer.
“If the project succeeded, doesn’t that mean the surgery succeeded too? The only question is—will your daughter really be able to stand?”
I shook my head slightly.
