Chapter 3

The fabric rubbed against the scar on my right hand, sending a jolt of nerve pain through my entire body like an electric current.

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I finally managed to speak: "You..."

My right hand lifted stiffly, like a piece of immovable rotting wood.

Alec abruptly stopped moving, his eyes filled with shock:

"Your hand..."

I forcefully shook off his hand and rebuttoned my uniform, my chest heaving violently with anger.

Just as Alec was about to say something more, the lab door suddenly swung open.

"Professor Frost, there's an anomaly in the data, I just..."

The tablet in Jade's hand fell to the floor as she stared at us in shock.

"What's..."

Alec irritably ran a hand over his face, pushing me towards the door:

"Get out!"

As we passed by Jade, she suddenly snapped out of it, grabbing my right hand and about to do something.

Alec immediately held her back, coaxing softly: "Baby, don't misunderstand, it's not what you think."

I strode away with a cold expression, hearing the lab door slam shut behind me.

By the time I rejoined Captain Stone at the security checkpoint, my entire body was shaking with pain, my face deathly pale. He was startled by what he saw and quickly took out some painkillers for me, asking with reddened eyes:

"What did that bastard do now?"

I shook my head, not even having the strength to lift my hand.

Back at the hospital, Captain Stone saw the wounds on my right hand and completely lost it:

"He dared to lay hands on you?! Fuck! Is he even human?!"

"You nearly died trying to save him, and this is how he repays you?"

I gently tapped his shoulder, signaling him not to get worked up.

Captain Stone angrily changed my bandages, and just before leaving, his phone suddenly rang.

He read the message, and his expression instantly brightened.

"Dashiell! The Starborn Project got approved. They want us to sign the contract next week!"

I was resting in bed and paused for a moment before nodding to him, telling him to go make arrangements.

He left excitedly.

But I couldn't bring myself to smile.

I had wanted to win this project based on my professional abilities.

Now it felt like I owed someone a huge favor.

The feeling made me sick to my stomach.

I hadn't done anything wrong, so why did I have to endure this humiliation?

......

The Starborn Project was progressing very smoothly.

The project team was very satisfied with my security plan, only hoping to make adjustments to some technical details. Four years later, looking at this plan again, I realize I invested too much personal emotion into it at the time.

On the surface, it was a protection system designed for the project, but in reality, it was completely tailored to protect Alec.

Every defense point, every strategic placement, was infused with our shared moments.

It's like opening a dusty photo album, with memories flooding back like a tidal wave.

The year we first met, Alec was just an ordinary lecturer, while I was already a top soldier in the special forces.

That day after the military exercise, he stood outside the field for a long time. I found it interesting and took the initiative to ask if he was lost.

He nervously clutched his textbook and asked, "Could I ask you some questions about counter-terrorism?"

Later, he always found various excuses to come to the base for "research."

Sometimes we would video chat late into the night, discussing his research until we fell asleep without realizing it.

Gradually, we began to hold hands, becoming lovers.

He would rush over with sports drinks in the middle of the night when I mentioned training was too tiring.

I also started teaching myself physics, just so I could understand his research.

Back then, I firmly believed that Alec was the person I would protect with my life.

But now we've fallen into this situation, hurting each other.

The memories take me back to that hopeful night, my last beautiful memory. Alec leaned on my shoulder and said, "When I become an academician, I'll definitely make you my full-time bodyguard."

Now, as fate would have it, I'm actually in charge of security for his important project.

Is this how both our dreams have come true?

Although the pain in my right hand often flares up, sometimes nearly causing me to faint,

Being back in security work has indeed improved my condition significantly.

I seize every minute to do rehabilitation exercises and regularly go to the hospital for hand therapy.

Gradually, I've become able to perform some simple daily tasks.

My once-restricted life is finally seeing a glimmer of hope.

I think it's time for the shadow of that accident to dissipate, time to start anew.

But the nightmare descends once again.

The day after submitting the revised proposal, Captain Stone accompanied me for a follow-up appointment.

Just as we left the hospital, his phone suddenly rang.

Captain Stone's face changed dramatically after answering, as he repeatedly tried to explain to the caller.

"This must be a misunderstanding. There's no way our security system could have a leak."

A leak?

My brows furrowed tightly. Captain Stone hung up the phone, his expression grave:

"Alec says your proposal is highly similar to a report Jade wrote before, potentially involving theft of confidential information."

My hand trembled, causing my cane to fall to the ground with a sharp clatter.

This was clearly the fruit of my labor from four years ago. How could it possibly be plagiarized from someone else?

Without time to think further, Captain Stone immediately arranged for a car to take me to the lab.