The Breaking Point

The Eve of the Launch

Su Yan sat alone in her office at LimTech Tower, staring at her screen. The soft hum of the building's high-tech security systems buzzed in the background, but her mind was elsewhere.

She couldn't stop thinking about what had happened earlier.

Joshua's overwhelming display of power, intelligence, and absolute confidence had captivated her. Watching him effortlessly crush Titan Dynamics' deception should have been a moment of pure victory.

Instead, it left her feeling restless.

Why am I still thinking about him?

She clenched her fists. Damn it.

No, this isn't about me.

The launch is tomorrow. Focus on Alpha.

But even as she repeated the words in her head, her heart betrayed her.

It wasn't just admiration anymore.

She wanted him.

And that terrified her.

The Final Preparations

Despite her inner turmoil, Su Yan was a professional. She forced herself to concentrate on finalizing the last security checks for Alpha AI's official launch the next morning.

Everything was progressing smoothly. Alpha's adaptive learning algorithm had exceeded expectations. LimTech's engineers were confident they were about to dominate the AI industry.

Yet, something felt off.

A nagging feeling—like the calm before a storm.

Then came the message.

A direct email to Joshua's private account, sent through an encrypted server.

Sender: UNKNOWN

Subject: You're Making a Mistake

Chairman Lim,

If you proceed with the launch tomorrow, you will regret it.

You don't know the full extent of what Titan Dynamics is capable of.

Turn back while you still can.

Su Yan stared at the screen, chills running down her spine.

"Joshua needs to see this."

She rushed to his office, her pulse quickening.

The Call That Broke Her

As she approached Joshua's office, she hesitated.

Through the glass panel, she could see him standing by his desk, phone pressed to his ear. His expression was softer than usual—almost warm.

Then, she saw the caller ID on his screen.

Jia Yi ❤️

Her heart dropped.

Her grip on the tablet tightened.

Before she could process it, she heard his voice.

"…Of course, Jia Yi. I'll be there soon."

Su Yan took a step back, suddenly feeling like she was intruding.

Her hands shook.

This is ridiculous.

But then… why does it hurt so much?

She had never thought of herself as the kind of woman who got jealous.

But here she was.

Realizing she had already lost the battle before it even began.

[System Notification: Su Yan Favorability -2 → (Total: 78)]

She bit her lip hard enough to almost draw blood.

No. It doesn't matter. He's not mine to begin with.

Trying to hold herself together, she knocked on the door.

Joshua turned toward her. "Su Yan? What's wrong?"

She didn't answer immediately. She just stared at him—this man who had unknowingly turned her world upside down.

Finally, she took a deep breath and pushed everything aside. "You need to read this."

She handed him the tablet.

Joshua's expression darkened as he read the email.

"So, it begins."

A Plan to Crush Titan Dynamics

Joshua's fingers drummed against the desk as he analyzed the message. "They're trying to scare us. That means they're desperate."

Su Yan crossed her arms. "But what if they're planning something? We can't underestimate them."

Joshua smirked. "Oh, I'm counting on them to try something. In fact… I've already set a trap."

Su Yan blinked. "What?"

Joshua leaned in slightly, his confidence intoxicating. "You really think I'd let them get away with stealing from me? I knew Titan would try to sabotage us, so I made sure they'd be the ones falling into our trap instead."

Su Yan's heart pounded.

He always thought ten steps ahead.

He's incredible.

[System Notification: Su Yan Favorability +5 → (Total: 83)]

But then she remembered Jia Yi's name on his phone screen.

And just like that, her mood soured again.

"Fine," she muttered, turning away. "Just don't get too cocky."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "You're acting strange. What's wrong?"

Su Yan stiffened. "Nothing. Let's just focus on the launch."

Before he could press her further, she stormed out.

Leaving behind a storm of emotions she didn't know how to handle.

The Night Before the War

As the night stretched on, the air in LimTech Tower grew heavier.

Security was tightened. Engineers worked overtime. And at the heart of it all, Joshua stood unwavering, preparing to face Titan's final attempt to destroy him.

In her office, Su Yan tried to bury her feelings in work.

But no matter how much she tried to ignore it…

She knew.

Tomorrow's launch wasn't just about Alpha AI anymore.

It was about facing her own emotions.

And finally deciding what to do about Joshua Lim.

To Be Continued…