Chapter: 30 Flashback Three The van lurched to a stop, and Nina barely had time to register it before the doors swung open. Her captors began piling out—three first—before rough hands grabbed her, dragging her to her feet. Her legs felt like jelly, but that didn’t matter to them. She was shoved forward, forced to stumble out into the night. By now, her willpower was gone. She wasn’t just scared—she was terrified. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t afraid of some superficial injury, a scar that could mar her skin. No, this was worse. These men weren’t here to make threats—they had come to act. And the fact that it had taken a dozen of them to bring her in made one thing painfully clear: she wasn’t getting out of this alive. At least, not in one piece. Her thoughts raced. Her parents. They had already lost their son, and now, because of her own reckless choices, they were about to lose her too. The men led her into an unfinished building, its skeletal walls twisting into an endless maze of rooms and
最終更新日: 2026-05-07
Chapter: 29 The Standard She Set By the time the introductory session ended, two whole hours had passed. Yet, judging by the schedule displayed in the waiting room, this was far from over. Before there was even a moment to catch a breath, instructions were given to move to another room—this one designed like a conference space. White walls. Minimalist designs. Plush seating. A massive screen stretching across the front. A seat was indicated. It was taken. Barely a second later, Rita’s voice filled the room. “What you are about to watch is a compilation of the Whitlock business’ ventures, growth, and expansion over the years,” she announced, her tone smooth and matter-of-fact. “This will help you fully grasp the weight of the responsibility on your shoulders.” Oh, great. No pressure. The screen flickered to life, leaving no time to brace for the history lesson that began instantly. Dramatic music swelled as images of towering skyscrapers, high-stakes business meetings, and lavish galas filled the sc
最終更新日: 2026-04-30
Chapter: 28. Digital ChainsNina hesitated, but Rita didn’t have to tell her twice. With a reluctant sigh, she stepped forward. “As you can see from the notice board,” the AI began, her voice smooth and clinical, “this is where you will find a display of all your daily activities, important announcements, calendar updates, and more…” As Rita droned on, her eyes flicked over the neatly pinned papers. Her stomach dropped. Her entire week was packed. Each note detailed a rigid schedule—what she’d be doing, what she was expected to accomplish, and probably what she’d be scolded for not doing well enough. A lot of virtual lectures, a ton of personal study time. So that’s what all those books were for. Great. Just great. Then, she noticed something else. Presentations. What kind? Was she supposed to stand in front of some panel and convince them she was Adelaide? But none of that—none of it—horrified her as much as the next thing her eyes fell upon. Daily morning workouts. She blinked. Excuse me? “Yo
最終更新日: 2026-04-20
Chapter: 27. Artificial Hostility The sound hit her like an alarm—one of those obnoxious, blaring ones that made people want to throw their clock out the window. But this? This was worse. Wait. What? Was she in danger? Her sluggish mind scrambled to piece together reality as she shot up from bed, instincts screaming at her to prepare for battle. Heart pounding, she tried to figure out where the sound had come from. No immediate threats. No flashing red lights. So what the hell— A voice cut through the haze. “Miss Adelaide. Welcome back from sleep. You slept like you were struggling. Did I make things difficult for you?” Rita. Damn it. She had forgotten about her. Narrowing her eyes at the camera tucked in the corner of the room, Nina fixed it with a glare sharp enough to cut glass. “What are you now? A creep? Can’t I even get a moment of sleep in peace? And what the hell was that noise just now?” “Oh, that?” Rita’s voice carried an unmistakable note of smug satisfaction. “That was your alarm.” She bli
最終更新日: 2026-04-14
Chapter: 26. Flashback: Scarface's WarningNina screamed, thrashing against their grip as two burly men dragged her toward a black van parked across the street. She kicked, twisted, did everything she could to shake them off, but it was like trying to break free from a steel trap. Just moments ago, she had been running for her life. The second she realized her so-called coworkers had thrown her under the bus—turning their backs as if she had never existed—she bolted. She had slipped out through the café’s back door, sprinting down alleyways, ducking behind dumpsters, weaving through the streets like a hunted animal. She had even managed to shake off the men tailing her by leading them down the wrong route. By the time she made it home, she was breathless, her legs aching with exhaustion. But there was no relief. Right there, parked in front of her building, was that van. She stopped dead in her tracks, heart hammering. They were waiting for her. Two men sat in the front, their eyes scanning the street like hawks,
最終更新日: 2026-04-09
Chapter: 25. The First CommandAfter what felt like hours of sitting on the floor, drowning in the eerie silence of her newfound prison, the AI’s voice rang out again—still cold, still emotionless, but at least this time, it wasn’t telling her to rest. "Now is the time for your lunch. You will be having a steamed salmon fillet with quinoa and a side of sautéed greens. Please make your way to the dining room, Miss Adelaide." She didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Didn’t even acknowledge it. She just sat there, arms wrapped around her knees, staring at nothing. Maybe if she ignored it, it would go away. Maybe if she stayed there long enough, the system would glitch and let her starve just out of sheer inconvenience. But, of course, she wasn’t that lucky. "You have thirty minutes to have your lunch, after which your next meal will be dinner at eight." A pause. Then, with unnerving patience, the voice added, "Please indicate if you would like your lunch turned into dinner. Otherwise, move to the dining room now."
最終更新日: 2026-04-05
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