Elise frowned. "Give me a little more time. We're just starting to see some results."

Felix felt helpless. "Okay. I'll have to accept their demands if I don't hear anything by sunset tomorrow. I can't gamble with Katie's safety."

Elise understood his feelings. Though Felix had created the ointment, every scar was different, so there was no way to predict exactly how well it would work.

The remaining hours felt like torture for her. Early the next morning, she waited anxiously outside her parents' bedroom door.

When the door finally opened, she heard Clyde's hearty laugh—a sound she hadn't heard in years. Could the results be even more visible now?

"Ah, Elise! Perfect timing. Take a look."

Clyde eagerly thrust his face forward. Elise's eyes immediately lit up. The scar wasn't just lighter than yesterday—the edges had completely healed.

"Dad, it's really working! Isn't the scar smaller than yesterday?"

Clyde nodded, smiling. "Exactly. I took a photo yesterday, and after c