Chapter 6

She heard Lucien's voice, soft and reassuring, "Don't be scared. The best way to deal with fear is to face it head-on."

Memories came flooding back to Eliana.

After losing the use of her legs, Eliana had grown volatile, lashing out at everyone around her.

When Lucien came to see her, she kicked, bit, and smashed everything within reach.

His eyes were rimmed red as he silently took every blow she dealt, then, once her rage ebbed, he spoke with careful gentleness, "Eliana, the best way to deal with fear is to face it head-on. I'll stay with you-as long as you need me."

A stabbing pain shot through her fingertips.

Lucien's voice blurred with the memory, "Don't be scared, Vivian. Face her."

The blade drove under Eliana's nail, the pain so sharp she nearly blacked out.

She shook and whimpered as her former lover smiled, coaxing her on, "That's it, Vivian-you're doing great."

Blood streamed between her fingers, her knuckles blanching from the strain.

Eliana clung on with sheer stubbornness, until Lucien took Vivian's hand and forced open her fingers one by one, peeling away her last grip on survival.

Before blacking out, Eliana heard Lucien's voice, flat and cold, "Keep an eye on her. Don't let her die."

He left without a backward glance, never seeing Vivian turn back to give Eliana a mocking smile.

Eliana closed her eyes, her tears vanishing soundlessly into the stagnant pool, as lifeless as her hope.

.....

"Mr. Lane, you're finally back!"

The company's highly paid network experts crowded anxiously around Lucien, shoving one another forward but none daring to speak.

Lucien frowned, his impatience plain, "Out with it!"

One of the experts gritted his teeth and blurted out, "The hacker has breached every one of Lane Enterprises' firewalls. This job is beyond us!"

With a loud bang, Lucien slammed the report down on the table, "That's impossible! Didn't we fight off round after round of attacks last time?!"

Vivian burst in, flustered, "Lucien, something's gone wrong!

"A huge batch of Lane Enterprises' secrets has gone viral online, and the stock price is crashing hard!"

All the company servers had been hijacked, their screens flashing over and over with giant words: "Trash." "That's all you've got?"

Someone shoved Vivian forward, "Relax-we've still got Vivian!"

Lucien clutched Vivian's arm like a drowning man grabbing his last straw, "Hurry, stop it! Or else you, me-hell, all of us-we're done for!"

Vivian's hands shook as she hammered the shutdown key a few times-no surprise, nothing happened.

She clutched her head and broke down, sobbing, "Stop pushing me! I don't know how, I really don't!"

Lucien let go of her and slumped to the floor in defeat.

His phone was flooded with calls and messages from the board and suppliers, all demanding answers.

One of the experts hesitated, then spoke up, "The last crisis was handled thanks to someone named Regno... She held the line alone for three days and nights-that's the only reason the company survived..."

A flicker of hope flashed in Lucien's eyes, "Then get her here. Whatever she asks, Lane Enterprises can afford it!"

But the experts didn't move an inch.

"We... we don't even know who she is."

"You don't know her?!"

Lucien was about ready to lose his mind with rage.

"How could she fight for Lane Enterprises like that if you don't know her? What is she, some kind of saint, or-"

His words broke off abruptly.

Three days. One snowy night. One lone figure.

In Lucien's mind rose the image of a girl's luminous smile.

She threw herself into his arms, teasing for attention, the corners of her lips still smeared with blood she couldn't wipe clean.

"I just did you a huge favor. So, how are you going to thank me?"

"What favor? Let's hear it," he teased, taking it as a joke.

Lucien trembled violently, muttering under his breath, "Impossible... it could never be her..."

Eliana-she had only ever been the pampered woman he indulged!

A commotion erupted outside.

At some point, Eliana appeared, drenched in blood, like a demon clawing its way out of hell.

She sat before the computer, one hand limp at her side, the other flying across the keyboard with lightning speed.

The employees at Lane Enterprises were already celebrating as if victory was guaranteed.

"That's our Mr. Lane for you-his charm's so great even the cripple dragged herself back to help."

Vivian pouted in annoyance, "What a phony."

Lucien's voice came out hoarse, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Eliana... thank you for still wanna help me. When this is over, I swear I'll make it up to you..."

A message flashed on his phone, "Mr. Lane, we found out-Regno is-"

The text was buried beneath a flood of incoming alerts.

The stock had collapsed completely. Lane Enterprises was finished.

Lucien lifted his head, trembling, just in time to catch Eliana's faint smile.

"Don't thank me. After all... I never really helped."

The door burst open with a crash, and an assistant rushed in, face alight with excitement, "It's Miss Walker-Regno is Miss Walker! We're saved!"