l rang two

of the trio, practically le

led out, his voice b

ding to read. My eyes, however, were fixed on the

ed in was exactly

a St

r scholarship-student status. Her hair was pulled back in a modest po

poor, grateful girl who c

ruthless, ambitious

w!" she said, her voic

ed her, his smile wider and more ge

shed tears. She held up a small, gleaming object. "I won! The N

rfect picture of

ir as my three brothe

s they'd whispered t

s protect y

ams are m

ever matter m

were being off

t said, clapping her on the shou

rom her hand with a reverence he usually reserved

couldn't have done it without your support. The foundat

single, perfect tear

ce a low, comforting rumble. He pulled her into a

s so sickeni

ng me with praise, it was all j

ad just been on loan, waiting

yes, and then she turned to me. Her smile wa

be the first to know. You'v

er and held o

ve this to you.

he medal in her hand

h Incubator

ll. I had submitted a

e medal to the small, fol

- A Predictive AI for

r: Keir

gner wasn't

signer

soul into for over a year. I had shown the final proposal to Jackso

ave given

f my book, tightened around my

my voice dangerously q

ed into the ro

less fingers. It hit the marble floor with a

he broken medal,

oice thick with hurt. "I just wanted to share my happiness

pulling her away from the broken prize on the floor.

t said, glaring at me. "We can b

s okay. We know how hard you worked. Y

of pure venom i

eira comes here to share good news,

grateful eyes. A small, triumphant smile played on her lips for

a stranger i

their perfect l

just being jealou

d stolen my project. S

ess and the technical knowledge to re-submit it under her name. They h

ce dropping to that low, threatening tone h

a step t

ze, Brooklyn, I swear

I would have sobbed and begged for for

or a crime I didn't commi

t girl. I rememb

was

ng his furious gaze

ir shock palpable. I had never, no

ulder, her act slipping for a mome

ecovered, her voic

shouldn't have come. I'm just a poor girl on a scholarship. I

asterful p

at!" Brett sa

anyone, Keira," Andrew a

looked at her, then hardened

chest was a dul

' d won my first major design award. T

kson had said, kissing me und

enius was s