Noah’s “From now on, you don’t go anywhere alone.” Adrian’s words echoed in my head long after he took the phone from my hand.
I stared at him, unable to understand why those words had affected me so deeply.
“I can take care of myself,” I finally said.
“I know.” His answer came without hesitation.
“Then why?” “Because whoever sent that message knows you’re involved in the project.” He handed my phone back.
“And until we know who they are, you’re a potential target.” The word made my stomach tighten.
Target.
I glanced around the laboratory.
The other employees were speaking quietly while security officers inspected the computers.
Nobody seemed to know what had happened.
Marcus walked over.
“The system is back online, but we’ve lost access to several files.” Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Which files?” “The E-17 research data.” Silence fell between us.
Adrian looked toward the security team.
“Lock the project server.” “Already done, sir.” “No one accesses it until I authorize it.” The security officer nodded and walked away.
I looked at Adrian.
“Could the person who sent the message have accessed the server?” “Possibly.” “Then why threaten me?” His gaze settled on me.
“Because they noticed you.” I frowned.
“I’ve only been working on the project for two days.” “Exactly.”His voice lowered.
“They’re afraid of what you might discover.” I looked at the computer screen.
The altered data suddenly seemed much more important than it had before.
“There’s something wrong with the research.” Adrian’s eyes narrowed.”You noticed?” “Some of the genetic sequences were changed.
I thought it might have been an error, but after receiving that message…” I paused.
“I don’t think it was an error.” Adrian exchanged a glance with Marcus.
“Show me.” I returned to my workstation and opened the file.
I pointed toward the sequence.”This section doesn’t match the original pattern.
Whoever edited it wasn’t trying to correct anything.
They were hiding something.” Adrian leaned closer to the screen.
For several minutes, he said nothing.
Then he straightened.”You’re right.” Marcus looked surprised.”How serious is it?” “Serious enough that someone is willing to threaten an employee over it.” Adrian looked at me.”How much did you see?” “Only this section.” “Good.” I frowned.
“Good?” “Yes.
Because it means whoever did this doesn’t know how much you understand yet.” He closed the file.”Don’t access the project from your personal devices.
Don’t copy anything.
And if anyone asks you about E-17, you tell me immediately.” I nodded.”Understood.” He started walking away.
Then he stopped.”Your son.” My heart immediately tightened.”What about him?” “Does anyone else pick him up from daycare?” “No.” “Good.” I stared at him.”Why?” “Because if someone is watching you, they may eventually look for something you care about.” My blood ran cold.
Ethan.
The thought of anyone getting near my son made fear rush through me.
Adrian noticed my expression.”I’ll have security increase their presence around the daycare.” “No.” He looked at me.”I don’t want Ethan involved in this.” “Neither do I.” “Then don’t put security around him.
It might attract attention.” Adrian considered my words.
“You’re right.” That surprised me.
He didn’t argue.
Instead, he said, “I’ll arrange discreet protection.” “I don’t need—” “This isn’t about whether you need it.” His voice softened.
“It’s about making sure you’re both safe.” Both.
The word stayed with me.
For some reason, it felt different coming from him.
I looked away.
“Thank you.” He nodded and walked toward the exit.
Just before he reached the door, he turned back.
“Mr.
Everhart.” “Yes?” “Don’t ignore threats.” “I won’t.” His eyes remained on me for a moment.
Then he left.
I watched the door close behind him.
I should have felt relieved.
Instead, an uncomfortable thought entered my mind.
Adrian was becoming involved in my life again.
And the more he learned about me…
The harder it would become to keep my biggest secret hidden.
My son was the one thing I had protected for two years.
I couldn’t afford to lose him.
Not to the conspiracy.
Not to the Ashford family.
And certainly not because Adrian Ashford finally started asking the right questions.
By the time I returned to my workstation, the laboratory had almost returned to normal.
Almost.
Everyone was pretending to work, but I could feel the tension hanging over the room.
Conversations were quieter, and every few minutes, someone glanced toward the locked server room.
I tried to concentrate on my screen.
It didn’t work.
My thoughts kept returning to Adrian’s warning.
They may eventually look for something you care about.
Ethan.
I couldn’t let anything happen to him.
I checked the time.
Four thirty.
My shift would end in an hour, but suddenly that felt too long.
I picked up my phone and sent a message to the daycare teacher.
Is Ethan okay?
The reply came almost immediately.
He’s doing well.
He ate his snack and is playing with the other children.
I breathed out slowly.
At least he was safe.
For now.
“You’re worried.” I looked up.
Marcus stood beside my desk.
“I’m fine.” “You’ve checked your phone six times in ten minutes.” I gave him a tired smile.
“My son.” “Ah.” His expression softened.
“How old did you say he was?” “Two.” “That’s a difficult age.” “It can be.” Marcus smiled.
“I have a daughter who’s five.
Trust me, it gets worse.” I laughed quietly.
For a few minutes, the conversation helped me forget everything.
Then the laboratory door opened.
Adrian walked in.
He wasn’t alone.
Two men in dark suits followed him.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
“Everyone,” Adrian said, “the security department will be conducting a routine review of all laboratory access records.” A few employees exchanged nervous glances.
“No one is under suspicion,” he continued.
“But until we identify the source of the breach, all access will be monitored.” I lowered my eyes.
I didn’t want anyone noticing how uncomfortable I was.
Adrian’s gaze found me anyway.”Mr.
Everhart, come with me.” My heart skipped.
I stood.”Where?” “My office.” Marcus looked at me curiously.
I followed Adrian out.
The elevator doors closed.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Adrian said, “You don’t have to be afraid.” “I’m not afraid.” “You are.” I looked at him.
“How can you tell?” “Because you keep touching your scarf whenever you’re nervous.” My hand immediately dropped from my neck.
Adrian noticed.
A faint smile appeared on his face.”I was right.” I sighed.
“You notice too much.” “It’s part of my job.” The elevator stopped.
We stepped into his office.
Instead of going behind his desk, Adrian walked toward a small sitting area near the window.”There is something I need to tell you.” I remained standing.
“What?” “The security breach wasn’t random.” My expression changed.
“We traced the access attempt.” “Did you find the person?” “No.” “Then how do you know?” “Because the person didn’t try to steal the research.” I frowned.”What did they do?” “They searched for one specific file.” He placed a tablet on the table.
I looked at the screen.
My eyes widened.
It was an old research archive.
A university document.
The title made my stomach twist.
Genetic Compatibility Research — Preliminary Study.
I stared at it.”Why would someone search for this?” Adrian’s eyes remained on me.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.” I forced myself to look away.
There was something about that file.
Something I couldn’t explain.”Was this your research?” “Partly.” “When?” “Several years ago.” I swallowed.”Before Ashford Biotech?” “Yes.” He paused.”Some of the original data came from a university research project.” My heartbeat became louder.
I didn’t want to ask.
But I did.
“Which university?” Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
He simply looked at me.
“Ashford University.” My fingers curled tightly against my palm.
The past was no longer staying buried.
It was reaching for me from every direction.
Adrian noticed my reaction.”You recognize it.” I quickly shook my head.”I studied there.
That’s all.” “That’s not what I meant.” I looked at him.”What do you mean?” He stepped closer, but stopped before he reached me.
“When I saw you again, I had the strange feeling that we’d met somewhere important.” I couldn’t breathe.
“And after looking through the archives, I realized your name appeared in one of the research records.” My heart pounded.”What records?” “Your final-year research project.” I stared at him.
He continued.”You were working on genetic compatibility.” I swallowed hard.”That was just a university project.” “Perhaps.”His gaze didn’t leave mine.
“But someone recently searched for that same research.” The room became unbearably quiet.
I suddenly understood why Adrian had been asking questions.
Why he had investigated my past.
Why someone had threatened me.
And why our paths had crossed again.
This wasn’t simply a coincidence.
Someone was digging into the past.
And if they uncovered everything…
They might eventually uncover Ethan too.
I took a slow breath.”What are you going to do?” Adrian’s expression hardened.”Find out who is behind it.” “And if they come after me?” His eyes met mine.”Then they’ll have to get through me first.” I didn’t know what to say.
For two years, I had believed I had to protect myself alone.
Now the one person I had tried hardest to avoid was standing in front of me, offering protection without even knowing the whole truth.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
I pulled it out.
A message from the daycare.
My blood ran cold when I read it.
Mr.
Everhart, someone came asking about Ethan today.
Thank you so much for being patient with me and continuing to read.
And now…
WHO WAS ASKING ABOUT ETHAN?!
Things are getting serious for Noah, and Adrian is slowly getting closer to the truth.
But Noah still has no idea how much danger is coming.
See you in Chapter 7!
— Ari1