She rushed back downstairs and picked up the phone. "Sir, I've looked through everything carefully. The medical report you're looking for isn't here. Could you have left it somewhere else?"

The line went silent.

After a moment, the housekeeper asked softly, "Sir, are you still there?"

"Don't worry about it," lan's voice came back, raspy and low. "Just take good care of my grandmother and my sister."

"Of course," she replied, and the line went dead.

It was early morning in Drexford. Ian stood outside a room in the Smith Lab, gazing at his mother, who was sleeping peacefully after taking her medication. He closed his eyes and let out a soft breath. The morning sun cast a pale light on his weary face, his eyes swirling with complex emotions.

Someone came up behind him with a cup of coffee. "Mr. Goodwin. This should help."

It was Dr. Smith.

lan took the coffee and sighed. "I left a copy of my mother's medical report back home. Eleanor found it."

Smith looked at him, surprised. The secret had been kept for so long. Yet, in lan's complex, dark eyes, Smith read an unexpected emotion.

Relief.

He patted lan on the shoulder. "Mr. Goodwin, I believe that in this entire world, you and Eleanor are the two people most capable and most likely to secure a future for your daughter and your family."

"But we're divorced," lan murmured.

"I may not know Miss Sutton well, but I'm confident that when faced with matters of life, responsibility, and family she will stand with you Smith said before turning to leave.

lan held the coffee cup, his gaze fixed on the horizon. It felt like a storm was brewing, but he watched it with a calm resolve. He was ready for whatever came next.

Just then, an assistant approached. "Mr. Goodwin, your mother's latest test

results are in. Dr. Smith would like to see you."

lan nodded and walked toward

Smith's office. He found the doctor frowning, his expression grim as he

studied the data. Ian sat down beside him How is my mother Condition this time?"

Dr. Smith looked up. "Mr. Goodwin, I think we need to move forward with the proposal I mentioned before. Your mother's condition is more serious than we anticipated."

"Has the previous treatment plan stopped working?" lan asked, his brow furrowing.

"It hasn't failed, but its efficacy has greatly diminished. Coupled with your mother's age, her regenerative capabilities and hematopoietic functions are weakening."

lan's jaw tightened.

"You also need to consider the future for your sister and your daughter," Smith added gravely. "While I hope it never comes to this, you know that some things are unpredictable."

Smith saw lan's hand, resting on the desk, clench into a fist. He knew this proposal was a difficult one for him.

"Are there any other options?"

"We discussed two alternatives with

Miss Sutton previously. The other

one is still in its experimental stages. lab attempted,

As far as know on

it, but the test subject ultimately died. Our technology simply isn't

safe enough yet."

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lan closed his eyes, a muscle twitching in his cheek as he wrestled with his emotions.