The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 266

Deep within the bowels of Endurance Station, inside a classified laboratory.

Manager Vivienne Hayes studied Garrison's profile, speaking with absolute gravity.

“I know full well that what I'm proposing violates every ethical statute in the United States. Conducting human cryopreservation without explicit consent from the subject or next of kin is grounds for immediate termination at any legitimate research facility. If the ethics board catches wind of this, they'll shut down every trial at Endurance Station. I'll lose my license, and everyone involved will face criminal prosecution.”

Garrison stood before the massive glass chamber, slowly turning to meet Vivienne's gaze.

She didn't flinch.

“Which is why I need you to make a choice, Dr. Foster. Do we move forward with the project? Do we incinerate the body, or do we keep her suspended? The decision is yours to make.”

Garrison didn't speak.

He turned back to the transparent chamber. The vapor rolled softly over Sloane's frozen lashes. For a fraction of a second, he could have sworn they fluttered.

Vivienne's words echoed in his mind. *There may come a day when she can be resuscitated.*

“How many years will it take?”

Garrison's heart hammered against his ribs, but he ruthlessly suppressed the surge of emotion, keeping his voice quiet.

Vivienne immediately understood what he was asking. She lowered her head in thought before replying.

“I'm sorry, but I can't offer any guarantees.”

“It could be three years. It could be thirty. Or... that day may never come at all.”

A heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the low thrum of the machinery.

After a long pause, Garrison turned to fully face Vivienne.

The past few days had taken a severe toll on him. He had lost weight, and his torso was still heavily bandaged. His complexion was dreadful, his lips utterly bloodless. Yet his amber eyes were terrifyingly composed, resembling a pool of dark, fathomless water.

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