Chapter 423

Emily shook her head firmly and said, "No! Did Mr. Tripp tell you if the blood tests covered all the students from Perthter City?"

Quintis answered, "Most of them."

George had done his best to gather samples, but there was no guarantee every student had participated. The tests weren't mandatory, after all. Some students might have been absent that day. It wasn't impossible.

Still, the vast majority of Perthter City's students had been tested. What were the chances that their child was among the few who hadn't been?

Quintis sometimes allowed himself to hope for a miracle, but he knew the odds were very low. It was almost delusional to think otherwise.

Emily, however, wasn't ready to give up. She gripped her husband's hand, her eyes pleading.

"I'm begging you. Can you confirm with Mr. Tripp? If any students were missed, please ask him to provide their blood samples. Or, if he can't get the samples right now, at least tell us who wasn't tested. Please?"

She couldn't let go of any possible chances of hope.

Quintis hated seeing her like this desperate, pleading, especially when it came to finding their lost child. Even though he knew it might be futile, he nodded firmly. "Alright. I'll make the arrangements."

After all, how many times had they chased what seemed like a lost cause?

With Emily watching, Quintis dialed George's number.

They had previously counted 96 students from Perthter City, but only 85 blood samples had been collected. That meant 11 students were unaccounted for.

George confirmed it. "Yes. There are 11 students whose samples we couldn't collect. They were off-campus for various reasons-internships, trips, or visiting home. They weren't here on the day of the tests."

Quintis said earnestly, "I need your help. Can you send me the information for those 11 students? And, if possible, arrange for them to be tested as soon as you can?"

George couldn't refuse a father's heartfelt plea. Even if the chances were slim, as long as there was a glimmer of hope, they couldn't give up. After all, giving up meant resigning to despair. And that tiny chance of hope? It was still hope.

That very afternoon, George delivered the information for the remaining Perthter students to the Sandalwood Group. He also urgently notified those students who hadn't yet undergone the physical exam but had returned to school to report to the school clinic immediately.

Under George's urging, the school's relevant departments sprang into action. This time, the blood draw carried a slightly more mandatory tone.

Once the physical exams were completed, the collected blood samples were swiftly sent to the testing center.

When the samples arrived, George said, "All but one student-who's currently on leave-have had their blood samples and information sent over. I truly hope you get the result you're looking for."

With George's blessing, Emily and Quintis once again clung to what felt like their last shred of hope, bracing themselves for another agonizing wait.

As for that one remaining student? They hardly dared to hope anymore. Disappointment. Crushing disappointment. After another unbearable stretch of waiting, the result was the same as always.

"After repeated and meticulous comparisons by the testing center, none of the 10 students' blood samples matched."