Chapter 449 Hope, Despair
The movie ended. Caroline's hand was sweaty, soaking Nicholas' hand.
Josie jumped off the couch and turned on the light.
With the light on, Caroline felt like she was pulled back to reality. She realized she was still holding Nicholas' hand.
"Still scared of horror movies, huh?" Nicholas teased with a smile.
Josie laughed.
Caroline, feeling embarrassed, lightly tapped Josie's nose. "No nightmares tonight, okay?"
Josie grinned. "I won't have them. If you have nightmares, I'll stay with you."
Caroline was touched by Josie's warmth.
She pulled her hand back and wiped the sweat off with a tissue. Then, feeling awkward, she handed two tissues to Nicholas. She wanted to respond to his comment but stayed silent.
She glanced at the clock.
"It's late, Josie. Time for bed." She was hinting for Nicholas to leave too.
Nicholas got the hint. He didn't want to leave but knew that staying would make her uncomfortable.
He sent a message to Sharpe.
Five minutes later, Sharpe arrived to pick up Nicholas.
"Dad, goodnight," Josie said at the door.
Nicholas kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry I wasn't around much before. I'll try to be a better dad. Will you give me a chance?"
Josie blinked. "I'll always love you, Dad. You used to be stern, but now you're gentler, and Mom is gentle too." She touched his face. "I never blamed you. You'll always be my dad."
Nicholas used to be stern and perpetually busy, but he always brought her gifts and came back when she was sick. She understood him and felt sorry he couldn't play with her because of his broken leg.
Nicholas hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Josie. I'll be a good dad from now on."
"The teacher said there's a parent-teacher conference the day after tomorrow. Can you come, Dad?" Josie asked hopefully.
"Of course, I will," Nicholas replied.
Josie jumped into his arms, happy.
"Josie," Caroline called.
Josie waved. "Goodbye, Dad."
"Goodbye."
Before bed, Josie told Caroline about the parent-teacher conference, and Caroline agreed.
The next morning, Nicholas got a reply from the team in Country M. He video-called Blake with Daniel.
Blake's expression was neutral but complex.
"I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"
Nicholas stayed silent.
Daniel said, "Give us the good news first."
Blake said, "The good news is one of our projects shows promising results for this illness. Even severe cases have a glimmer of hope."
Daniel's face lit up. "And the bad news?"
Blake continued, "The bad news is we haven't done clinical trials yet, so it can't be marketed soon."
New drugs need rigorous trials to ensure safety, which takes at least six months. But Diana couldn't wait that long. She had fallen into a coma again yesterday.
Blake suggested, "We could sign a trial agreement and give her the drug. If it controls the illness, we can find a bone marrow match for a transplant. I have to warn you, we still don't know the side effects; it could also speed up her death."
Daniel's joy vanished, and his heart sank.
After hanging up, Daniel took a while to process the news. At the hospital, he told Linda about it.
Both were silent, torn between a risky hope and a slow despair.
They informed Diana's adoptive parents, who were also silent. They had given up hope and were preparing to spend Diana's last days with her at home.
But then, Diana's biological parents arrived. They didn't want to give up.
Declan Scott, about Daniel's age but looking ten years older due to stress, leaned against the wall. He and his wife couldn't have children, so they adopted Diana. She was always grateful and well-behaved, never seeking her biological parents.
She had a stable job and a great boyfriend, but her illness took everything away. Declan and his wife spent all their savings but couldn't cure her. They were in despair until the Wolf family offered a glimmer of hope.
When Daisy and Mia arrived, they saw everyone outside the hospital room.
"Uncle Daniel, Aunt Linda, why are you all standing here?" Daisy asked.
Everyone looked somber.
Mia, worried, asked, "Is Diana...?"
Linda shook her head and explained Blake's proposal.
"We've finally found Diana. We can't give up hope. Aunt Linda, I think we should let Diana try," Daisy said, holding Linda's hand.
Mia agreed, "Yes, trying gives us hope. Not trying means we've lost it all."
After some time, Declan and his wife made a decision. "Let's try. Diana is so young. We don't want to lose her. Mr. Wolf, if you don't want to, we'll pay for it."
Daniel's face changed. He respected Diana's adoptive parents, which is why he told them. But did they think he, her biological father, didn't want to save her?
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