Chapter 369 I Found My Real Family

December 31, 2030.

It was New Year’s Eve.

Orica University had already started its winter break.

Tilda had spent the 30th hanging out with Una all day and told her she’d be making a trip to Hetsa.

Since Tilda was going alone, Una initially wanted to invite her over to her place to celebrate New Year’s together.

But seeing that Tilda already had plans, Una was just happy for her. “Tilda, did you find a family that matters more to you than the Jensons?”

She vaguely remembered Tilda mentioning something about finding her seniors.

But Tilda never shared much, and Una never pried.

That was just the kind of unspoken trust they had as best friends.

Tilda’s eyes softened. “Yeah… I found my true family, ones that matter a thousand times more than the Jensons ever did.”

Tilda had cut ties with the Jensons.

But that didn’t mean she was alone.

She knew her mentor, Harvey, was still alive somewhere in the world.

And little by little, Tilda managed to reconnect with the seniors she cared about most.

From now on, when holidays like Christmas or New Year’s Eve rolled around…

She no longer had to worry about how to spend them.

She just wanted to spend them with her real family.

Soon, she arrived in Hetsa.

Tilda had just stepped off the plane when she spotted Manfred waving at her.

She waved back with a smile on her lips. “Mr. Parker, what brings you here to pick me up? And what’s with the casual look–short sleeves, sweatpants, army boots? Aren’t you cold?”

“Why shouldn’t I be here? It’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow, and the whole base is off for the holiday. Guess it’s just this old guy still on the clock.”

After spending so much time with Tilda, Manfred had gotten used to the way young people did things. He was a lot less rigid than when they first met.

By now, he really saw Tilda as part of his own family.

“Where’s River?”

Tilda was genuinely surprised by his absence. Someone that dedicated wouldn’t just vanish for the holiday.

“His sister’s in the hospital. I told him to take some time off and go see her. He wanted to stay and protect Professor Kerrigan to finish the lithography machine–said it was his duty to the country. I finally convinced him to go today. People need to remember, you can’t just give your family money and think it’s enough. If you lose the chance to spend time with family, you’ll regret it for life. Alright, enough of that. Let’s get going.”

Manfred threw on his sunglasses.

With his slicked–back hair, skull–print T–shirt, and thick gold chain, he looked more like a trendy forty-something than a retired general in his sixties.

Nobody seeing him would ever believe how many medals he’d earned.

Soon, they arrived at Lab Seven.

“Dane!”

Tilda rushed over and gave Dane a big hug.

Dane was in his lab coat and glasses, gazing down at Tilda with warmth in his eyes. He hugged her back and patted her head.

“Alright, Professor Kerrigan, she’s all yours. I’m off for my own break.”

Manfred knew better than to stick around as the third wheel. Plus, he was ready to get home and enjoy time with his own family.

After all, New Year’s Eve was about reunion and new beginnings.

“Thanks, Mr. Parker.”

Manfred waved as he left.

Tilda looked around. “This place used to be so lively. Now it feels empty.”

“A few researchers stayed, but they went to the city for the holiday.”

Looking at Tilda, Dane’s usually cold eyes softened.

Ever since Dane got separated from Harvey, Dane had spent every New Year’s Eve alone.

Holidays never meant anything to him. All he cared about was his research.

Not that he loved research for its own sake. It was just the only thing that gave his life meaning.

He’d lived like a machine, all emotion stripped away, with only his work skills left.

But now, after reconnecting with Tilda, he felt something stirring in him again.

Those old emotions, dormant for so long, were flowing through his veins once more.

“Yeah, the city must be really lively now, with New Year’s Eve coming up. Dane, how’s the lithography machine coming?”

“It’s almost done … I think we’re about to break through. It could finally solve Cetherland’s chip shortage. Tilda, you’ve helped a lot. Thank you.”

Dane said indulgently while reaching out to ruffle her hair.

“Come on, Dane, you’re the one doing all the real work here. You’re amazing for getting that machine this far. Oh, right–Dane, I managed to hack into the cameras and spotted Liam. Here, look.”

Tilda pulled out her phone and showed Dane the footage she’d recorded when she broke into the surveillance system.

Even though it wasn’t the real thing, seeing Liam alive on screen meant everything.

Out of curiosity, Dane studied the man in the video closely.

Just one look was enough for him to know–the man in the video really was Harvey’s student.