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Chapter 38: Project Reinstatement
Deep beneath the ruins of Kane's former Berlin facility, Eliot and Rina walked in silence.
A hidden door opened by Rina's biometrics led them into a chamber untouched by time.
On the wall:
> PROJECT: REINSTATEMENT ALPHA
Lead Subjects: Rina Kane. Eliot Vale.
"What the hell is this?" Eliot whispered.
Rina approached a display console. It flickered to life.
> Welcome, Subject Alpha-R.
Memory core status: PARTIALLY SEALED.
Override code required.
She looked at Eliot.
"I think we were created here."
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Back in Zurich, Savannah cross-referenced old Kane Corp files.
She found a video.
Grainy. Date-stamped 9 years ago.
Inside the lab, a younger Eliot and Rina—hooked to machines.
A voice behind the camera: "Subjects Alpha-R and Alpha-E show emotional compatibility. Begin memory grafting."
Savannah froze.
"Memory… grafting?"
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In Berlin, Eliot placed his palm on a panel. It accepted him.
More files unlocked.
> "Alpha-R designed to stabilize human trauma through emotional rebonding."
"Alpha-E designed as the emotional countermeasure—her anchor."
Eliot stepped back.
"We weren't just in love. We were programmed to be."
Rina stared at him.
"No. What we became… that was real."
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But the final file chilled them both.
> Subjects showed signs of deviation. Developed autonomous thought.
Project was deemed too unstable. Terminated.
Escape was unauthorized.
They had fled. Together.
But the question remained:
If they were built to feel…
Was their love ever real?
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Author's Note:
They were engineered to save each other—but chose to be each other's salvation. If you felt that heartbreak, keep supporting Billionaire in Disguise by adding it to your collection. Every chapter you save helps bring this mystery to light. Thank you, always.
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