GoodReadJeffrey had always been a free spirit, a daredevil with little regard for the rules that seemed to bind everyone else. His parents had long given up on trying to rein him in.
But there was one person who could keep him in line—Karen. And for everyone's sake, it was crucial that she stuck around.
When Everett came to, Dorothy was sitting by his bedside, her grip on his hand just as tight as it had been when he'd drifted off.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHis body had finally returned to a normal temperature.
"You're awake," Dorothy breathed out, the weight of her worry lifting as she saw his eyes open.
If he hadn't come around soon, she was ready to call for Dr. Quincy to take a look at him.
"Mmhmm." Everett's gaze fell as he gently withdrew his hand, then propped himself up and swung his legs off the bed.
His cold demeanor left Dorothy feeling out of sorts.
"Everett! Abigail and Langston are waiting for you, are you up for it?" "I'l go." He paused, his silhouette framed by the doorway, then added, "I've got a confidential meeting for my company.” Dorothy's face flickered with confusion before understanding dawned, and she rose from her seat, "I see. I'll go to see them for now. Just catch up with me when you're done.” "Will do." Everett didn't dare look at her again.
Waking up meant the dream was over. It was time to get back to business.
After Dorothy left, Everett stood motionless for a long time before finally reaching for his phone and dialing a number.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe call connected quickly.
"Mr. Lopez calling me. That's a first." Byte 7's voice was unusually sharp, devoid of its typical laziness but laced with sarcasm that grated on the nerves.
"The USB that Dorothy asked you to recover, is it done?" "Client confidentiality, Everett,” Byte 7 teased.
"Send it to me." Byte 7 was taken aback by Everett's abrupt and direct demand.
"How could | possibly hand that over to you?" "Name your price." "It's not about the money." Byte 7 shot back. "Everett, you know what's on that video, don't you? Have you figured out the content? That's impossible.” Everett pursed his lips, his brows furrowing as he repeated firmly, "Give it to me. I'd rather not get my hands dirty." "You want to destroy the video?" "If you don't want your precious core system, years in the making, to go up in smoke, you'll comply." Byte 7 laughed mockingly, "Do you even know where my server is? Good luck trying to destroy—" "Azure Bay. Need me to send you the coordinates?" "Dang it!" Byte 7 exploded, his usual nonchalance evaporating as his voice pitched higher, "Everett, you play dirty! Have you been watching me all this time?" He thought his server was hidden well enough, but Everett had found it.
"One hour. Send me the recovered video. I'll have someone pick up the USB." This wasn't a negotiation—it was an order.
"No way. That's Dorothy's property. | can't give it to you. If you want it, tell Dorothy to come and get it herself. I'll hand it over to her." But then Byte 7 screamed in panic.
"Don't you dare touch my server!" Everett's voice was emotionless, "You have 59 minutes before your system disappears from this world." "Everett! You claim to love Dorothy, right? Seems like a facade now. In the end, you're just trying to destroy evidence Dorothy worked so hard to find, all to protect your mother from her crimes. She's only seeking justice, an eye for an eye. What's wrong with that?" Everett didn't respond to Byte 7's accusation. Instead, he simply said, "58 minutes left."
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