"Walden definitely wouldn't be able to handle forgetting everything."
Dane frowned, his expression tight with concern.
For a proud man, losing his memories and needing constant care would be a fate far worse than death.
It would likely be even harder to stomach than General Harrison Darwin's physical decline.
These old war heroes could endure excruciating physical pain, but the thought of forgetting their hard-fought pasts was unbearable.
They dreaded regressing into a childlike state, entirely dependent on others for survival.
"That's why we shouldn't tell Walden directly. I'll prescribe him some medication and do acupuncture whenever I have the time," Claire decided.
"It might delay the onset for another three to five years."
"Maybe once Van and Tilda get married, having a great-grandchild around will give him a new lease on life."
That was Claire's hope, at least, but she still needed to consult the Hawk family.
Walden and his grandson had only each other to rely on.
Van's parents had passed away long ago.
Walden had a son who was constantly traveling for work, and a daughter who had cut ties with him years ago to settle down overseas.
The old man completely avoided the topic of his estranged daughter.
Rumor had it that Gillian Hawk had fallen deeply in love with a man of Sundaran descent.
For a veteran like Walden, that revelation was an absolute betrayal.
He had disowned her on the spot, and her perceived betrayal had left him devastated for a long time.
"Wow..." Claire murmured, completely surprised to learn that Walden had a daughter with such a scandalous past.
It truly must have felt like a knife to the back.
His own flesh and blood had fallen for the descendant of the very enemies he had spent half his life fighting—a profound humiliation for a decorated hero.
"So, our only option is to inform Van, but he's currently out on a mission," Dane noted.
He knew how tricky this situation was.
Yet, if they kept the Hawk family in the dark and Walden's condition worsened, the fallout would be disastrous.
"We can tell Tilda," Claire suggested, her eyes lighting up. "She's marrying Van soon, which makes her family."
"Van's extended family isn't in Cabinda right now, making Tilda his closest relative by proxy."
Dane nodded in agreement.
They immediately reached out and scheduled a dinner with Tilda that evening.
As soon as Tilda heard it concerned Walden's health, she dropped everything and rushed over.
She had been scheduled to work late but left the office half an hour early just to make it.
By the time she arrived at the restaurant, Claire and Dane were already waiting at their table.
They had been there for a while.
Dane had spent the time managing emails on his phone, while Claire read a medical journal.
Claire was never one to coast on her natural talent.
She paired her brilliant mind with an unrelenting work ethic.
Every skill she possessed was the direct result of her relentless dedication.
"Tilda!"
Catching sight of her, Claire immediately waved her over.
Tilda hurried to the table, out of breath. "Claire, Dane, what's wrong with Walden?"
"Don't panic. Sit down and have some water first," Claire urged gently.
She slid a glass of iced lemon water across the table.
Tilda downed it in one gulp.
She had practically sprinted all the way from the parking garage.
Her anxiety was palpable.
"Alright, tell me. What's going on?"
Setting the empty glass down, Tilda fixed her intense gaze on the couple.
"Walden's current prognosis looks like this..." As a professional Claire the
took the lead in breaking downet
medical details.
Tilda's face paled as she listened. "Van and I are always so caught up in our careers."
"We haven't been paying enough attention to him."
If they had visited more often, or if
Van had
spent more time at home
they might have noticed the early
warning signs.
Catching the symptoms sooner would have meant starting treatment earlier.
They wouldn't be in this precarious situation now.
If Claire hadn't diagnosed him, they
probably wouldn't have noticed until his mind had completely
deteriorated into full-blown
dementia.
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