Chapter 3

"This thing... looks like some sketchy glow-in-the-dark junk with radium from decades ago," Waldo said, putting the bracelet into a lead-shielded detector.

The numbers on the computer screen started going crazy, red warning lights flashing non-stop.

My heart was in my throat.

A few minutes later, Waldo took off his glasses and looked at me with a dead-serious expression. "Ma'am, I strongly suggest you seal this thing up and never touch it again.

"The gamma radiation dose rate is nearly a hundred times over the national safety limit.

"If someone wears it against their skin for more than eight hours a day, for over three months, it could cause serious, irreversible damage to their bone marrow and immune system. The risk of developing skin cancer, leukemia, and other life-threatening diseases would skyrocket."

I'd kind of seen this coming, but hearing it out loud sent a chill down my spine and made my limbs go numb.

Ronald didn't care if it cost me my life. He just wanted a clean break, to save face.

And he chose the slowest, most agonizing way possible, all while keeping his hands clean and pretending it had nothing to do with him.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms, using the sting to anchor myself to reality.

"Waldo, I need a detailed, official report. Something that can stand up in court," I said, my voice steady but my hands trembling.

Waldo glanced at my pale face, and it was like he could read my mind.

He nodded. "No problem. We'll format the report according to forensic standards. Come back in three days to pick it up."

As I stepped out of the testing center, the midday sun was so harsh it made my eyes water.

Standing on the busy street, with cars and people rushing by, I realized for the first time just how bottomless the depths of human malice could be.

Ronald, you went to all that trouble to give me cancer. Well, I had to return the favor with a gift of my own.

With the most critical evidence locked down, a cold calm washed over me.

Revenge was a meticulous hunt. There was no room for haste.

Now, it was time to hunt down that snake lurking behind the keyboard—maverick.

There was no way to trace an anonymous online ID using standard methods.

I had no choice but to call in the pros. After some searching, I got in touch with a cybersecurity studio that had a bit of a reputation in the field.

They specialized in tracking down info in the gray areas, the kind of cases that skirt the edge of legality.

I used a brand-new SIM card to reach out to them.

They were all business, getting straight to the point. "Tell me what you need."

"I need the real identity behind a forum ID," I said, sending over the maverick ID and a screenshot of his reply in an encrypted email. "I want his real name, age, job, contact info, home address. The more details, the better. And I need to know what made him say that."

"Also, I need you to recover all posts and all login IPs for the Rona Land account, even the stuff that's been wiped."

They shot back a quote almost instantly.

It was a massive sum, enough to wipe out every penny I'd saved over the past three years.

But I didn't even blink before putting down the deposit. This was the burial for all the years and trust I'd lost. No price was too high.

"One week," they replied, and then went radio silent.

For the next few days, I was living a double life, playing two roles, one for Ronald, one for myself.

Whenever I was with Ronald, I was the picture-perfect girlfriend. I was sweet, caring, always putting his needs first.

I'd smile and ask about his thesis, asking if his defense was going well. I'd keep the house spotless and cook every meal for him.

I'd even grab his hand and show off my wrist with the fake bracelet right in his face. "See? The 'family heirloom' you gave me. I wear it every day, haven't taken it off once."

Every time, a complicated glint of guilt, pity, and smug satisfaction flashed in Ronald's eyes. He thought he had everything under control.