Eugene looked at Hector with a smile in his eyes. “I heard that you conducted many experiments, but in the end, only three of them were born. Don’t you think it’s because of the genes? It’s because of my genes and Olivia’s genes that we were able to conceive such intelligent children.”
Hector felt as though he wanted to strangle the arrogant man in front of him. After a while, he said, “What’s wrong with your genes? They are here because of me. If I refuse you, can you even take them away from me?”
Eugene looked at him and said earnestly, “It’s not that we can’t. It’s just that we can’t bear to. I’ve said before that Olivia and I have no intention of competing with you for the children. We are looking for a win-win solution. A solution that wouldn’t trample all over your emotions and provide the children with a family and a safe space to return to.”
Hector sneered. “Is there really a win-win solution? Well, I suppose there is. You could stay here in the clinic and never return to the country.”
Eugene said, “Not returning to the country is unlikely. Once Blake recovers, we would have to return. Although they were conceived through high-tech means, I believe they also want to live with their biological parents, just like North. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have traveled such a long distance to find us in Criecia.”
When Eugene saw that Hector was about to puff up and say something, he suddenly changed the subject and asked, “Mr. Gedding. you’re 55 years old this year, and you should be thinking about retirement. Have you ever thought about enjoying your life after retirement?” Hector stared at Eugene for a while and struggled with the words that were stuck in his throat.
After a while, he sighed. “I’ve been here ever since I was a strapping young man. I’ve spent over ten years in that place and researched this project for over twenty years. Those three little ones are proof of my efforts over these twenty years. When I look at them, I can’t even find the words to express the joy in my heart. What you said is true. I repeated the experiment over two hundred times, and in the end, they were the only successful ones. This is a genetic issue, not the success of my research project. I’m still not completely satisfied by the results.”
Eugene didn’t understand his rationale, so he inquired, “Was there a problem somewhere?” Hector replied, “We’re still investigating.”
Eugene asked, “How long will it take?”
Hector answered, ‘It’s hard to say. It may take a few months, a few years, or even decades. It’s unpredictable. If it’s not successful, we can only restart the investigation and look through them one by one.”
Eugene said, “In fact, I admire you, Mr. Gedding. Few people devote their whole lives to one thing like you have. You’ve even given up your own life and personal happiness just to see this through. If this research is successful, it should be recorded in the annals of human history.”
Hector huffed, “I’m not as great as you think. You can say that I’m persistent, but in reality, I’m stubborn. Since I’ve been researching it, I want to ensure that I understand it completely.”
Eugene had initially wanted to bring up the topic of Hector and Ellen, but now it seemed impossible. This man had spent a lifetime of dedication to his career, so how could he give it up for his mother?
So, Eugene decided to say something else, “If the children hadn’t found us, perhaps they might have willingly stayed with you, but the reality is that they have found us. If you insist on keeping them by your side, it won’t benefit them in the long run. However, we are not leaving immediately. We still need to treat Blake’s illness. Your research project may succeed during this time. Then, you can return to Criecia and live together with us.”
Hector looked at Eugene in astonishment. Eugene had been speaking non-stop, but he only heard the last sentence. Eugene mentioned that he could live together with them.
What did he mean? He stared blankly at Eugene as the expression on his face shifted, appearing eager to confirm yet hesitant at the same time. Regardless, he knew clearly that there was a blooming hope in his heart.
Eugene, being perceptive, had long understood human nature. So, he simply smiled and said, “You are Olivia’s master, and Olivia has always treated you like a father. Plus, you have no children of your own. Isn’t it only natural for us to live together? At that time, you will be able to see the children, and the second half of your life will be worry-free. Isn’t that a win-win situation?”
Hector remained silent, but he couldn’t deny that this offer was tempting.
