Chapter 3

3

"She will never admit it! She's rotten with jealousy toward Gemma!"

"Doctor, don't bother giving her anesthesia for the memory extraction. I heard the neural readouts are clearer without it!"

"Whatever Gemma suffered, this vile bitch needs to feel it tenfold!"

The pain of forced memory extraction without sedation was known to shatter a person's mind.

Milo's words showed just how deeply he despised me.

After all, Gemma was the sister who grew up beside him, while I was an awkward intruder forced back into their lives.

With all the friction orchestrated over the past few years, he only recognized Gemma as his sister.

"Gemma was top of her class, elegant, and kind. Unlike this clumsy, uneducated hick! Of course she was jealous!"

"Think of all the trouble Cora caused since coming home. Gemma had to clean up every single one of her messes!"

The lead surgeon cleared his throat, looking grim.

"Skipping anesthesia does sharpen the signal, but the agony can literally cause fatal shock."

"Besides, if you want to find out the truth, we have to start from the very first moment she met Gemma. That's a massive neural load. She might not survive it."

"I don't care if she survives! Gemma's body is still rotting out there somewhere, and this is our only way to find her!"

"Even if she dies from the pain, it's nothing less than what she deserves!" Milo snapped.

Mom and Dad remained silent, giving their tacit approval.

"Stop wasting time! Finding Gemma's remains is all that matters. Start the procedure!" Dad barked.

"Think carefully. This neuro-recall tech is experimental. The brain damage is severe and irreversible."

"If you keep pushing the machine to dig through years of memories, the neural feedback will kill her."

The surgeon gave one last warning.

"And what about my Gemma's life? Even if it kills Cora, we are bringing Gemma home!"

"Start the damn machine!" Dad roared.