Chapter 185 The Promise of Hope

“It’s Rebecca, isn’t it?”

Ryan’s face turned stormy as he snatched the phone from Daphine’s hand. “Rebecca, you troublemaker! I let you do what you want out there, but don’t forget what I warned you! If you ever do anything to embarrass this family, I’d never forgive you!”

Rebecca couldn’t hear the rest of his rant.

Just then, Howard managed to hail a cab. He was about to help Rebecca inside when she suddenly fainted on the spot.

“Rebecca?!”

Tilda had just returned to her hotel room when Kaleb sent her a message.

“River will pick you up tomorrow at 1 p.m., Queen. This time, you have 30 minutes with Professor Kerrigan.”

Tilda smiled. “Thanks, Kaleb.”

Thirty minutes – enough time to really talk to Dane.

Of course, she wished she could spend the whole night talking with him, but she couldn’t push Manfred any further.

He’d already gone out of his way to make this meeting happen. The most important thing was that she’d finally found Dane. It wasn’t all for nothing!

The next day, right on time, River arrived at the hotel and drove Tilda to the base.

Tilda moved through the security checks easily and met Dane again.

“Dane!” she called out, her smile bright and genuine.

She looked like the same girl who had just returned home. Tilda was longing for family, her eyes full of excitement and hope.

Tilda’s eyes practically glowed with happiness.

Dane reached out and gently tapped her nose.

After meeting Queen for the first time and seeing her character for themselves, Manfred and River decided not to attend this time.

They just watched on camera to ensure Dane was safe and even extended the meeting to 30 minutes.

For Tilda, that was a huge sign of trust.

Finally, she could ask Dane the most important question.

“Dane, what’s your blood type?”

Dane typed on his tablet. “Type O.”

“Type O?”

Tilda raised her eyebrows in surprise. So it wasn’t the same rare type she had.

Dane wrote, “My condition can’t be cured. The mentor said it’s a genetic issue. Unless science makes a huge breakthrough someday. Because of this, I can only speak with Mentor.”

Dane looked down, hiding the hint of sadness in his eyes.

Actually, when Dane was little, things were different. He was six years old, with a three–year–old sister and a baby brother. His family was whole and happy. But one day, a man disguised as a civilian rushed into their home; he was a suicide bomber. In an instant, Dane’s whole family was gone.

Dane was the only one who survived, barely making it out alive, and was sent to an orphanage.

After that, Dane never spoke again.

Everyone thought he was mute.

That was until he met his mentor–his ray of hope.

Thanks to that old man, Dane became the person he is today.

No one could explain why Dane couldn’t talk with the current scientific progress.

Most people guessed that the trauma of losing his family had shocked him so deeply. He lost the ability to speak.

But with time and love, some said he might recover.

Tilda pressed her lips together; after a while, she finally made up her mind.

“Dane, do you trust me?”

“I trust you,” Dane replied without a second’s hesitation.

To be chosen by a mentor–to be one of his mentees–meant family. It meant trust.

“I don’t know if my medical skills can help you,” Tilda said softly, “but Mentor always taught me holistic medicine. I remember hearing your name from him while I was studying.

“I think his real hope was that one of his mentees might someday find a way to cure you.”

Mentor….

Hearing this, Dane’s heart was moved.

He nodded at Tilda and wrote, “Then I’m counting on you, Tilda.”

Time was up.

Manfred and River came back in.

“Mr. Parker, you’re just in time–I have a favor to ask,” Tilda said.

She took out a piece of paper. Tilda quickly wrote down the names of several pressure points, the method to apply the needle treatment, and how long the session was.

Then she finished with a prescription.

“You can have any medical expert check these. There are no side effects,” Tilda assured them.

“If you can find a skilled doctor to treat him, maybe Dane will be able to speak again.”

“What?!”

Manfred and River looked at each other, stunned.

“Please, trust me,” Tilda said.

She knew her time was short. Even though Dane trusted her, it would be harder to convince Manfred and River.

Tilda couldn’t promise her treatment would work, but she had to try.