Chapter 2

The next day, I went to the memory chip laboratory.

Ironically, the lab's director, River, was the poor student Adrian had initially refused to sponsor.

Back when our company was just getting on its feet with limited funds.

Adrian said he saw his past self in Mira and insisted on sponsoring her, refusing to sponsor River instead.

But I privately funded a lab for River.

After Adrian's incident, River worked non-stop for a month to develop that memory chip for me.

Meanwhile, Mira chose to climb into Adrian's bed.

"Laura, the chip implanted in Mr. Adrian's brain will fail in less than 48 hours, but the data isn't ideal."

River pushed his glasses up, his eyes showing concern.

"When we first implanted the chip, I told you that forcibly extending its lifespan would cause irreversible neurological damage to Mr. Adrian."

He thought I was still the person who would do anything to save Adrian's life.

He didn't realize I'd changed.

"Let nature take its course." I closed the report without asking another question.

River froze.

"Laura, actually I have a backup plan..."

"No need."

I stood up and grabbed my bag. "Just keep the data safe."

Downstairs, Adrian called, asking me to accompany him to our alma mater Riverside University for a ceremony that afternoon.

"We've attended together every year. I don't want gossip before we're officially divorced."

I knew he was protecting Mira's reputation.

After graduating from Riverside University, she'd become a teacher there with Adrian's help.

Rumors about them had been circulating for a while.

But I didn't expose it.

After all, I didn't want complications at this point.

At the school, when Mira saw me, she showed none of yesterday's malice.

Instead, she clutched her stomach nervously.

"Laura, you came."

In front of Adrian, she always acted cautious and careful.

And he fell for it every time.

Even when Mira pushed me down and caused my miscarriage, he thought I was the one making things difficult for her.

Just like now, he immediately stepped in front of her.

"Laura, you're a rational person. Don't disappoint me."

He was warning me.

I smirked.

"Excuse me."

I pushed past him and took my seat.

Adrian froze, clearly not expecting me to be so calm.

"Laura, you..."

Before he could finish, Mira interrupted.

"Laura, what happened last time was my fault."

She spoke meaningfully.

"To apologize, I've prepared a special surprise for you today."

It wasn't until she went on stage to give graduation guidance to students that I understood what her "surprise" was.

She played a video.

Claiming it was AI-generated, adapted from a kidnapping case in Seattle years ago.

A girl blinded by vanity was lured overseas, tortured, and ultimately became a plaything for men.

Every frame focused on that terrified, agonized face.

The ragged gasps, the raw screams...

Though no explicit skin was shown, the entire venue erupted.

Because the face on the screen was mine.