Chapter 20

With the reputation and prize money from solving that "impossible" problem, Isobel quickly pulled together a small research team of her own. She threw herself into work at the intersection of neuroscience and computer science. When it came to intelligent intervention tools for kids on the spectrum, she brought not just deep expertise, but also the instinct and protectiveness of a mother. The progress was faster than she'd expected. In less than six months, her team published a breakthrough paper. Once it appeared in a leading international journal, it drew the attention of researchers worldwide. The prototype Dominic had once called "trash" and the one Zara had smashed was rebuilt in her hands into a more refined, more powerful version. It showed remarkable early results. Isobel was no longer the housewife who once relied on Dominic, nor the woman everyone used to pity. She became a rising star in the scientific community, someone no one could ignore. At the same time, her cust