Chapter 393
Chapter 393:
A sense of dread lingered as he thought of Alden’s condition. Unable to hold it in, he picked up the phone and dialed Leonino.
At that moment, Leonino was abroad, already preparing in a surgical facility for the procedure ahead. When he heard the concern in Dorian’s voice, he replied with calm assurance, “Don’t worry. I give you my word, Alden’s coming back in one piece p>
“But Alden told me there’s only a sixty percent chance he’ll pull through p>
Despite the promise, Dorian’s anxiety hadn’t eased.
Leonino let out a tired breath, his voice rough around the edges. “The odds aren’t great, I’ll admit. But I’ve secured state-of-the-art equipment, and I’ve even brought in my old PhD advisor, one of the most respected surgeons in the field. Alden’s mindset is strong. That alone improves his chances p>
Only then did Dorian’s chest loosen slightly, the tension melting—just a little.
By the next morning, with the countdown to his departure ticking, Alden took Helena to her parents’ place.
It was his first time stepping into this villa, and Alden found himself unexpectedly tense.
“You weren’t the least bit flustered when you met them last time. What’s got you rattled now?” Helena leaned in with a smirk, her voice low and laced with mischief.
Sitting stiffly beside her on the sofa, Alden responded in a hushed tone, “Whatever happened back then is a blank to me. But I’m guessing you weren’t exactly on p>
“Speaking terms with them yet. That probably made it easier for me to interact with them. Now that you’ve accepted them as your parents… it feels different p>
Helena’s lips parted slightly in surprise before the realization dawned. What unsettled Alden wasn’t the prestige of her parents—but the emotional weight of who they were to her.
While they spoke quietly, footsteps approached from the backyard, where Kareem and Natalie had just finished their chess game and were now walking in with Albert. Their faces instantly lit up at the sight of Helena, warmth blooming in their expressions.
That glow dimmed the moment their attention turned to Alden. Natalie’s and Kareem’s smiles slipped into cool neutrality.
“Helena, darling, come join us,” Natalie said.
Then, as she turned her gaze to Alden, her voice took on a chill. “Mr. Wilson, what a rare honor. You managed to carve a few moments out of your busy schedule to grace our modest home p>
The edge in her words wasn’t subtle—she was reproaching his delayed visit as disrespectful and implying he didn’t value Helena enough.
“Mom, you know he lost his memory. And besides p>
Anyway, it wasn’t like her parents ever approved of Alden to begin with!
Helena was ready to defend Alden, but he gently placed a hand on her arm, silently asking her to let him speak.
Without waiting another second, he rose from the sofa, nodded respectfully toward the three elders, and addressed them with calm sincerity. “I realize I’ve been neglectful, and for that, I apologize. If you’re willing to have me, I’d be honored to visit more often—with Helena, of course p>