Chapter 4

June Mitchell

In the PR department's recording studio, the lights were blinding.

I sat in front of the camera, my back ramrod straight. My face was pale, but my eyes were unusually clear.

Behind the camera, Ethan sat on the sofa, legs crossed, his gaze fixed intently on me. Sadie sat beside him, holding a cup of hot milk, a victor's smile on her lips.

"Let's begin." The PR director wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said cautiously.

I looked at the camera without preparing any script, my voice cold and emotionless. "I am June Mitchell, algorithm engineer at Sinclair Group. I hereby formally apologize to Miss Sadie White. I should not have maliciously destroyed Miss White's digital exhibition data out of personal emotions, causing irreparable damage to Miss White. I acknowledge my mistake and am willing to bear all consequences."

Just a few short sentences, without any emotional fluctuation, as if a soulless AI were reading program-set text.

"Cut."

Recording ended.

Sadie immediately set down her milk and walked up to me. "June, it's good that you recognize your mistake. Ethan said as long as you apologize, he won't pursue legal action. We'll still be good colleagues from now on."

I didn't even give her a glance. I stood up directly and looked at Ethan. "The apology video is done. Now, restore my lab access. I need to go in and collect my personal belongings."

"Just collecting personal belongings?" Ethan stood up, advancing step by step, his tall frame casting me in shadow. "June Mitchell, don't try anything."

"What could I possibly do?" I looked directly into his eyes, my tone mocking. "My reputation is ruined, the core system was stolen and renamed after someone else. I could be kicked out by you at any moment. What else can I do?"

My words may have struck a nerve with Ethan.

He suddenly grabbed my wrist and said angrily, "Who said I'm kicking you out? As long as you stop provoking Sadie, the position of Mrs. Sinclair will always be yours! Sadie is just a young girl. I'm indulging her for fun. You're the lady of the Sinclair family. Why do you need to compete with her?"

I found it utterly ridiculous.

Break my spine, strip my dignity, steal my achievements, then tell me I can continue being his caged bird.

"Grant me access, Mr. Sinclair." I forcefully pulled my hand back. "I'll only be inside for an hour. After one hour, I'll immediately get out of your sight."

Ethan stared at me for a long moment before finally taking out his phone and unlocking my door access.

"One hour. One minute over, and I'll have security throw you out."

I turned and left without a trace of attachment.

Top floor S-level laboratory.

The heavy metal door closed slowly behind me, isolating all the noise from the outside world.

I rushed to the main console, my ten fingers flying across the keyboard.

Lines of complex code appeared on the screen, the digital world I had built with my own hands.

I inserted a specially encrypted USB drive and began downloading the original core code of "Genesis."

The progress bar moved forward slowly.

10%... 30%... 50%...

My heartbeat accelerated with each jump of the progress bar. As long as I obtained the code, I could disappear from this world completely with Atlas.

However, when the progress bar reached 99%, the screen suddenly flashed with harsh red light.

"Warning: Core protocol accessed. Dual biometric authentication required."

"Awaiting authorization from Administrator: Ethan Sinclair."

My fingers froze in mid-air.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. As expected, Ethan had reinforced the defenses on the core underlying logic. Without his fingerprint and iris, I couldn't take the complete "Genesis."

Time ticked away second by second.

Only ten minutes remained until the one-hour deadline.

I looked at the warning flashing on the screen, my eyes growing increasingly resolute.

I couldn't fail. The Deep Space Program was my only way out and the only way to provide absolute safe shelter for Atlas. Once I entered a national-level classified base, no matter how powerful Ethan was, he would never be able to harm us again.

I had to get Ethan's authorization.

I unplugged the USB drive and left the laboratory.

Twenty-eighth floor, CEO's office.

When I pushed open the door, a rich scent of roses hit me in the face.

The spacious office was filled with red roses. Ethan stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, holding a glass of red wine.

Sadie embraced him from behind, her cheek pressed against his back, saying something that drew a low chuckle from Ethan.

Hearing the door open, Ethan turned around, the smile on his face vanishing instantly.

"Time's up. What are you doing here?"

I forced down my aversion to the rose pollen and walked up to him step by step.

"The lab handover procedures aren't complete." I looked at him, my tone calm.

"The core database needs your final authorization before my permissions can be completely stripped. Since Mr. Sinclair wants to give the system to Miss White, you surely don't want my traces left in the system, do you?"