Chapter 9 - Healing Old WoundsWith Gregory removed and the fraudulent merger canceled, the board voted unanimously to retain Caroline as CEO and dissolve the restrictive trust clause permanently.
That evening, Caroline made her first official decree as full controlling owner: she reactivated Project Genesis with unlimited funding, appointing a team of ethical researchers to bring the affordable cardiac treatment to the public market in honor of Sarah Pendleton.
A few weeks later, Lily’s bilateral cochlear implant activation took place at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
In the quiet examination room, the audiologist adjusted the settings on the small device. Elias sat beside his daughter, holding her hand, while Caroline stood softly near the doorway.
"Lily, can you hear me?" Elias asked gently.
May you like
Lily blinked, her wide hazel eyes lighting up as a slow, beautiful smile spread across her face. "Daddy," she whispered softly—hearing his clear voice for the very first time.
Tears welled in Elias’s eyes. He looked up at Caroline, holding out his hand to pull her into the embrace.
