Chapter 4

Right at that moment, Abby's phone vibrated furiously inside her purse.

It was Rosa calling, her voice choked with tears. "Ms. Wright, the market just opened! Investors are panic-selling because the core tech was pulled! We've lost 100 million dollars in market value!"

Abby dropped her purse. An expensive lipstick rolled straight into the pile of black soot.

Her breath hitched, and her chest heaved heavily.

She forced down the rising panic in her heart.

She would never allow such a massive crater in her investment portfolio.

Pouring in millions, she hired an army of internet trolls and media accounts.

Smear campaigns exploded across trending lists, pinning the entire breach of contract on me. She was aiming to blacklist me from the industry.

Edward seized the moment to lean in. "Abby, Johann's tech was never that special to begin with. I just founded an alternative R&D firm. As long as funding is in place, we can easily replace him."

Abby clung to him like a lifeline. Overconfident in her own judgment, she transferred the company's entire remaining 30 million dollars in cash reserves directly into Edward's account.

"This investment must double my money."

Three days after her blacklisting order went out, the entire industry remained dead silent. Not a single research institution or enterprise stepped forward to respond.

It was completely unnatural.

Abby finally sensed that something was wrong. She dialed my number, planning to humiliate me once more.

This time, instead of the automated message saying the phone was switched off, a cold automated voice answered, "This number is classified as a top-secret national security asset. You are not authorized to call it."

Abby's hand trembled, almost dropping the phone onto her desk.

Panic set in.

She sped through red lights, driving straight to the research institute where I used to work.

Sitting behind his desk, the director stared at her like she was an absolute fool. "Johann? His file was transferred out long ago. There's no record of anyone by that name now. Ms. Wright, you're in serious trouble."

Abby refused to believe it. She pulled every political and business string she had, trying to track my travel history and bank statements.

However, every search interface went black, displaying a classified status.

Moments later, cyber police remotely locked down her laptop.

The overwhelming uncertainty coiled around her neck like a venomous snake.

For the very first time, she realized the situation had completely slipped beyond the reach of her calculations.

At 8:00 pm, during the national broadcast, the international news report abruptly cut out.

The screen flashed a glaring red. A breaking, world-shaking announcement cut through the air.

The news anchor's voice echoed with intense excitement, "Our nation's multi-billion-dollar Solaris Aerospace Engine successfully completed its ignition test today!

"This marks a complete breakthrough in our aerospace propulsion technology, ending our country's dependence on foreign technology!"

The footage cut to the command room. Complex data flashed across massive monitors.

Surrounded by high-ranking officials, the man with a badge identifying him as the chief engineer turned toward the camera.

His profile was identical to mine.

As the camera zoomed in, I casually pulled off an anti-static glove.

An old scar across my ring finger was exposed clearly to viewers nationwide. That was a permanent mark left behind when Abby cut my hand with broken glass to save Edward's cat years ago.

Abby sat on the couch in her villa, staring fixedly at the TV screen.

The wine glass in her hand shattered against the floor. Dark red liquid splattered across the carpet, resembling a pool of fresh blood.

Her eyes twitched violently as her fingernails dug deep into her palms.

"No way… This is completely impossible!"

She snapped to her feet, a streak of wild obsession flashing in her eyes.

"Johann, how dare you steal my tech to claim credit? I'm going to the research institute to expose you! I'll use my status as your spouse to make you spit out every single thing you've taken from me!"

With that, she grabbed her phone and dialed the number.