Chapter 2

A wave of shock went through the boardroom.

Infecting the CEO of OmniCorp with a virus wasn't just a crime, it was a declaration of war.

And everyone knew who specialized in that kind of warfare.

Every eye in the room turned to me and my sister. Their gazes were a mix of suspicion and fear.

Ethan' s eyes, however, held nothing but accusation. He pointed a trembling finger at me.

"Chairman, it must be because I didn't choose Ava," he declared, his voice ringing with false certainty. "She's consumed by unrequited obsession and infected me with a virus. How malicious!"

I stared at him, a cold feeling spreading through my chest. He knew. He had to know that Serena was the only one who had ever infected him. In the last timeline, I had burned out my own connection to the digital world, the very core of my being, just to purge her virus from his system and save his life.

And yet, here he was again, choosing to protect her, choosing to condemn me.

My eyes started to sting.

Of course. This was the man who had deleted my AI children for Serena. Why did I expect anything different? Why did I think this time would be anything other than a repeat of the last?

The chairman turned his fury on me. "Ava, I believe I've treated you fairly. Why would you infect my CEO?"

I found my voice, trying to keep it steady. "I've never had unauthorized access to Mr. Thorne's systems. How could I possibly infect him? Besides, it's my sister who has been working closely with Mr. Thorne these past few days..."

Ethan cut me off, his voice rough. "I remember now! Yesterday, you deliberately sent me a data packet. I thought the data felt strange at the time. Now I realize you infected me then! Why would you do this to me?"

I looked straight at him, my voice turning to ice. "Mr. Thorne, this virus was clearly deployed by my sister. Aren't you afraid of losing your digital life?"

His face went stiff, and then he shouted, "You dare to slander Serena! Besides, I love Serena to my core. It would be worth losing my digital life for her!"

A low murmur went through the crowd of executives.

"I can't believe it. Rejected, so she infects the CEO. She's not a prodigy, she's a digital demon!"

"If she does this every time she doesn't get her way, the entire network will be at her mercy!"

On the executive console, I could see the chairman' s expression growing colder and harder with every word.

Just then, Serena began to sob. Her tears welled up perfectly, making her look fragile and innocent.

"Sister," she whispered, her voice breaking. "If you truly desire Mr. Thorne, I'll step aside. But you shouldn't have infected him with a virus. I am your elder sister, of course I would yield to you. Mr. Thorne, please, break off your engagement with me. Choose my sister as your lead developer!"

Her tears finally fell, rolling down her cheeks at the perfect moment.

She had painted herself as the noble, self-sacrificing sister, a martyr for my supposed obsession.

It worked. Ethan was deeply moved.

"Serena, don't speak such nonsense," he said softly, pulling her close. "My heart has always been, and always will be, yours!"

He turned back to the chairman, his face grim. He spoke each word with heavy finality.

"Chairman, although Ava is a tech prodigy, she has committed a grave digital crime. You must not let her go unpunished!"