Betrayed by Love, Forged by Billions

ability of success: 37%. Warning: Failure to complete mission will r

AURORA echoed in my mind, an

se. "Abort mission. I want nothi

penalty: permanent system unbinding from current

path down my cheek. I didn' t care

was only a few months since I' d fir

greeted me with a hesitant smile a

tepfather, was bluff,

s I couldn' t imagine affording, and

the sun they orbited. I was a ne

u, Ava," Victoria had said, but h

, had everything. And she s

a game; it was a systematic dis

smile, "Just a way for us to bond

red their approval. "A bit of fun," Robert ha

for their approval, for

, if I was good enough, the

es came,

a prestigious art program. Chloe "accidentally" mis

re in that cold house that seemed to genuinely like me.

arranged for a "charity art auction" the same night, ensuring no

mall cut, bleedin

ael Hayes, based on old photos AURORA had found for me

s, misunderstandings, or Chloe' s well-int

ert saw nothing,

ria would say, patting my hand.

Ava," Robert would add.

blatant favoritism, was

grand house, my presence t

ething – guilt? Pity? – but he always sided with Chloe. He was weake

hael Hayes had apparently left for his then-unborn daughter, a locket A

ell Chloe she' d won, ready to walk away from

t the inheritance anymo

hen I fou

en AURORA fou

in a rougher part of the c

distress detected. Proximity: 30 meters. M

ay, bleeding, his legs twisted a

arely co

Requires user consent and energy transfer. Successful regeneration will bind subject tempor

fully understanding, just kn

d from my hand as I touched his forehead, a warmth that f

y ninth strike

saved his life. He was charming, atten

struggling musician,

her cruel game, his public declaration

Ava," he

thought I' d finally won

dy – to permanently heal his legs, a

overheard conversatio

lict with my father, Michael Hayes. AURORA's

a lie. His re

al standing and to undermine the Ashworth legacy. Then, force me into

me, control me, and g

s absolute. It

Industries CEO. Motives: Revenge against Michael Hayes's legacy, power,

d across my visio

s, had created AURORA t

ave the man who now sought to destroy everyth

A. "I'm done with Ethan.

ical. Medical intervention required. Probability of successful intervention with AURORA assistance: 68%. Va

A new missio

rded groom. A

?" I ask

ficant control over, via Chloe's intended marriage. His survival and recovery could secure

chance to do

betrayal, but a tiny seed

ered. "New mission. Let

'd do it for my own reasons. And I'd make