to shatter Ava' s reputation completely. Liam watched with a cruel smirk, clearly enjoying

last life rekindled in her chest. It wasn't just about her reputation anymore. It was about Noah Hayes, the man wh

aze, her own eyes

r voice steady. "But the terms are a bit one-sided. You'

ing on not being publicly d

aid simply.

or a moment before continuing. "I'll

anding quietly in the back, watching the scene un

e ringing with newfound confidence. "As I said, his system

s, while less severe than Liam's, were notoriously complex. The damage to his neur

is a mess of corrupted sub-routines. F

. "Thorne's is a hardware issue.

ond. She knew the rumors about Noah' s conditio

osing horse if you want. It makes no difference. When Liam

ere again. If Liam is walking, and Noah is not, I will do as you sa

tting the anti

dangerous fraud. And you, Liam Thorne," she said, turning her cold gaze on him,

al. It wasn't just about pride

face a thundercloud. "

and his hatred for Noah that he couldn't see the trap. "Prepare to be ruined, Ava. And y

our system can handle the stress of you losin

rectly toward Noah Hayes. His expr

and designed to overwrite, not heal. It was like using a sledgehammer for brain surgery. Chloe was a decent coder, but she lacked finesse and, more impo

alled it. Liam, ever the showman, publicly announced he was placing a massive personal wager on Chloe' s success, f

t a world away from the oppressive opulence of the Thorne mansion. Noah's lab was

seated in a chair, his posture rigid. He could walk

" Noah said, his voice direct, "but I apprec

ing holographic screen. The code was a tangled mess, just as the rumors said. But beneath the corruption, she saw

id as she brought them coffee. She had her brother's sharp intellect but a w

om the screen, h

she said, her eyes fixed on the corru

c keyboard, the unique, healing code of her al