Chapter 1671

Elise looked at Hesper with a quiet warmth in her eyes. "Maybe standing at this crossroads made me suddenly realize this would be my choice if it happened to me." Hesper nodded, understanding Elise's perspective. "Alright, let's move on from this," she said, her voice soft. "There is no way this chemical plant could return to normal within 20 years." This revelation wasn't entirely surprising, as it had been a suspicion from the beginning. Hesper and Elise exchanged a knowing look, affirming their shared conclusion. "I guessed as much," Hesper said, "but since they were guarding it so tightly, we couldn't run tests." Hesper shifted the topic, her tone becoming more serious. "One more thing," she continued, "I called you because I want to know if you've ever met Rickard's mom." Curiosity flashed across Elise's eyes. Rickard's mother had never been mentioned before, so why this sudden interest? "Because we just had news that his mother visited the plant before her passing," Hesper