Chapter 2

Lucas made a massive public spectacle out of my trial.

The plaza in front of his Silicon Valley headquarters was packed to the brim with media and angry crowds.

Reporters set up their cameras, broadcasting the live feed to every major social media platform.

My organs were failing. Kept alive only by IV drips and heavy medication, I was dragged onto the platform like a convicted criminal.

Chloe’s grandfather, Arthur, lunged forward, grabbing my collar and screaming in my face:

"Elena! Why did you protect him?!"

"You piece of trash! Why aren't you the one who's dead?!"

He choked me so hard I could barely breathe. My vision started to go black.

The crowd instantly erupted into a frenzy:

"Look at this heartless bitch! Her best friend gets assaulted, she knows who did it, and she stays silent!"

"When Chloe drowned herself in the ocean, her poor mother collapsed at Elena's door. She begged, she screamed, she banged her fists until her knuckles bled, and this monster never opened the door!"

"She even let her cat scratch an old man who came to ask for justice! She is pure evil!"

The overwhelming tide of insults washed over me.

Lucas stood to the side, his brow furrowed, his face masked with deep, icy resentment.

In this world, Chloe’s family hated me to my very bones.

But out of everyone, the person who hated me most was him.

Ten years ago, Chloe, Lucas, and I were inseparable. We were best friends, and Lucas was the love of my life.

But after Chloe was assaulted at the Cole family estate and subsequently took her own life, my relationship with Lucas shattered into pieces.

All because Chloe’s suicide note mentioned that I had seen the attacker.

Overnight, I became the accomplice.

And the truth was... I did protect the killer.

Lucas walked up to me. His face was cold, his voice devoid of any warmth:

"Elena, I'm giving you one last chance."

"Confess now. Tell the police who it was. It’s not too late..."

"Once this memory extractor starts, the high-frequency neural pulses will make you feel like every bone in your body is being crushed inch by inch. You won't have a chance to beg for mercy then!"

My face turned pale. I struggled against my restraints and screamed:

"Lucas, stop! You can't do this!"

"You cannot extract my memories!"

Lucas grabbed my wrists, his eyes flashing with hatred.

"Scared now?"

"You don't get a choice!"

"I am getting justice for Chloe!"

I wept, begging him through my tears:

"Lucas, listen to me! My memories cannot be made public! You will regret this!"

Lucas let out a harsh, mocking laugh, leaning in close, his eyes bloodshot.

"Regret?"

"The only thing I regret is ever loving you!"

Two beefy security guards immediately pinned me down onto the steel chair. Cold metal cuffs locked around my wrists and ankles.

Ignoring my violent struggles, they forced my head back and clamped the heavy, freezing helmet onto my skull.

In an instant, thousands of micro-needles pierced my scalp, drilling directly into my nervous system.

I screamed as my body went into violent spasms. It felt like my very soul was being ripped apart.