Chapter 11 - The Day Lily Took Her First Steps Toward Me, Leo Knew We Were Already a FamilyLily was seventeen months old when she took her first steps.
I was sitting on the floor.
Leo was filming.
Daniel was cheering.
My daughter was clapping.
Lily stood.
She wobbled.
Then walked.
Three tiny steps.
Straight toward me.
I cried.
Leo laughed.
“She chose you.”
I looked at him.
“Again.”
He smiled.
“She always does.”
That night, we celebrated.
A simple dinner.
No business.
No security meetings.
No lawyers.
Just family.
I realized how strange it was.
Six months earlier, I had been a grieving mother on a private jet.
Now I was sitting in a home with children laughing around me.
My life had become unrecognizable.
Leo touched my hand.
“Happy?”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
I looked at Lily.
“Because nobody is asking me to be anything.”
He squeezed my fingers.
“Good.”
Then he became serious.
“Nora.”
“Yes?”
“There is something I need to tell you.”
My heart tightened.
“The research isn't completely gone.”
I froze.
“What?”
“One server survived.”
“Where?”
“Switzerland.”
“Who has it?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why tell me?”
“Because they may come for you again.”
I closed my eyes.
The fear returned.
But it felt different.
I wasn't alone.
We located the server.
It contained one remaining file.
MATERNAL TRANSFER PROTOCOL.
The research proved that my milk had influenced Lily's immune system.
But there was one more discovery.
It could potentially help children with rare immune diseases.
Properly regulated.
Ethically tested.
With consent.
Leo looked at me.
“What do you want to do?”
I thought.
For the first time, the answer came easily.
“Use it to help people.”
May you like
He smiled.
“That's what I hoped you'd say.”
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