Chapter 3 · Three Nightmares, One Death, My Return

Chapter 3

When I stepped out of the shower, my parents were back to normal, acting as if nothing had happened, watching TV as usual.

The computer was still on, and the USB drive's indicator light kept blinking, like a little eye secretly spying.

That night, I had "another" dream.

In the dream, Brian was more frantic than last time.

He said, "Beth, why won't you listen? StarSea Tech is our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

"All the data you need is on the USB my brother gave you. Check it now!

"There's no time left. If you don't act soon, it'll be too late!"

I jolted awake, sitting up in bed and gasping for air.

I rushed out of my room and found my parents standing by the door, "concern" written on their faces.

"What's wrong, Beth? Another nightmare?" my mom asked.

I grabbed her hand, my voice trembling. "Mom, I dreamed about Brian again. He said there's something really important on the USB drive."

My parents exchanged a glance, their eyes betraying a glimmer of excitement they couldn't hide.

"What USB drive?" my dad asked, pretending to be clueless.

"The one I brought home today," I replied, hurrying to the computer and pulling out the USB drive. "He said this is my only chance to turn everything around."

Pretending to believe it, I plugged the USB into my laptop.

My parents came closer to me, their faces tense.

The drive contained only one encrypted file.

I "tried" a few passwords, but the system kept rejecting them.

"What's the password?" I asked, sweat beading on my forehead.

"Don't stress. Think about it. Did Brian ever mention any numbers that meant something to you?" my mom coaxed, gently "guiding" me.

I "racked" my brain for a while, and then suddenly it "hit" me.

"Our anniversary!" I blurted out.

I typed the numbers, and just like that, the file unlocked.

Inside were confidential documents about StarSea Tech, including financial statements, project plans, and a few major contracts that were about to be signed.

Everything was seamless, so perfect that it felt almost fake.

"Oh, my!" Dad exclaimed in exaggerated awe. "If this is for real, we'll be swimming in cash."

I jumped up, feigning excitement. "Mom, Dad, let's go all in. Let's put everything on the line, our savings, and even the house. Let's mortgage it all. Brian's looking out for us in heaven."

That was how it went in my previous life. Lured in by them and those so-called confidential files, step by step, I walked straight into their trap.

My parents' faces were clouded with "hesitation" and "concern."

"Beth, isn't it too risky?" my mom asked.

"Yeah, what if—"my dad said.

I cut him off, my voice firm. "No 'what ifs.' I trust Brian. He wouldn't let anything bad happen to me."

I locked eyes with them, my gaze filled with "vengeance" and "greed."

"Mom, Dad, you've always said I'm a failure at work and that I'll never make real money. Well, this is our chance. Don't you want to live a rich life?"

That struck their nerve.

They exchanged a glance, and in that instant, greed crushed whatever fake rationality they had left.

My dad slapped his thigh. "Alright, let's do it. I'll go to the bank tomorrow and get the house mortgaged."

I had them right where I wanted them.

But I knew this was only the first step.

*****

The following day, I took the day off from work.

With the forged "confidential files," I made my way to the office of Enlightenment Ventures, StarSea Tech's main competitor.

I sent an anonymous email to their founder and CEO, Gordon Zamora.

[Subject: A Priceless Gift]

[Attachment: StarSea Tech's Core Financial Data and Evidence of Project Fraud]

[Body: Mr. Zamora, I know you've been in a fierce battle with StarSea Tech over a major project recently. The truth is that StarSea Tech is nothing but a hollow shell. The files I've attached should give you the upper hand. There's only one condition. I want the complete records of every insider deal when StarSea Tech collapses.]

After sending the email, I didn't leave right away.

I settled in at the café downstairs, waiting patiently.

Less than thirty minutes later, a man in a black trench coat walked in, heading straight toward me, and took the seat across.

It was Gordon.

He looked even younger than in the finance magazines with eyes as sharp as a hawk.

"You sent the email?" he asked.

I nodded.

"What do you want?" he asked, cutting straight to the point.

"I want StarSea Tech dead," I replied, my tone calm. "I also want the names of everyone behind it, along with a detailed map of the money trails."

Gordon raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my cold determination, especially for a girl like me.

"Deal," he said. "But you need to tell me what grudge you have against StarSea Tech?"

I smiled and picked up my coffee.

"That's a trade secret," I said.

Chapter 3

When I stepped out of the shower, my parents were back to normal, acting as if nothing had happened, watching TV as usual.

The computer was still on, and the USB drive's indicator light kept blinking, like a little eye secretly spying.

That night, I had "another" dream.

In the dream, Brian was more frantic than last time.

He said, "Beth, why won't you listen? StarSea Tech is our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

"All the data you need is on the USB my brother gave you. Check it now!

"There's no time left. If you don't act soon, it'll be too late!"

I jolted awake, sitting up in bed and gasping for air.

I rushed out of my room and found my parents standing by the door, "concern" written on their faces.

"What's wrong, Beth? Another nightmare?" my mom asked.

I grabbed her hand, my voice trembling. "Mom, I dreamed about Brian again. He said there's something really important on the USB drive."

My parents exchanged a glance, their eyes betraying a glimmer of excitement they couldn't hide.

"What USB drive?" my dad asked, pretending to be clueless.

"The one I brought home today," I replied, hurrying to the computer and pulling out the USB drive. "He said this is my only chance to turn everything around."

Pretending to believe it, I plugged the USB into my laptop.

My parents came closer to me, their faces tense.

The drive contained only one encrypted file.

I "tried" a few passwords, but the system kept rejecting them.

"What's the password?" I asked, sweat beading on my forehead.

"Don't stress. Think about it. Did Brian ever mention any numbers that meant something to you?" my mom coaxed, gently "guiding" me.

I "racked" my brain for a while, and then suddenly it "hit" me.

"Our anniversary!" I blurted out.

I typed the numbers, and just like that, the file unlocked.

Inside were confidential documents about StarSea Tech, including financial statements, project plans, and a few major contracts that were about to be signed.

Everything was seamless, so perfect that it felt almost fake.

"Oh, my!" Dad exclaimed in exaggerated awe. "If this is for real, we'll be swimming in cash."

I jumped up, feigning excitement. "Mom, Dad, let's go all in. Let's put everything on the line, our savings, and even the house. Let's mortgage it all. Brian's looking out for us in heaven."

That was how it went in my previous life. Lured in by them and those so-called confidential files, step by step, I walked straight into their trap.

My parents' faces were clouded with "hesitation" and "concern."

"Beth, isn't it too risky?" my mom asked.

"Yeah, what if—"my dad said.

I cut him off, my voice firm. "No 'what ifs.' I trust Brian. He wouldn't let anything bad happen to me."

I locked eyes with them, my gaze filled with "vengeance" and "greed."

"Mom, Dad, you've always said I'm a failure at work and that I'll never make real money. Well, this is our chance. Don't you want to live a rich life?"

That struck their nerve.

They exchanged a glance, and in that instant, greed crushed whatever fake rationality they had left.

My dad slapped his thigh. "Alright, let's do it. I'll go to the bank tomorrow and get the house mortgaged."

I had them right where I wanted them.

But I knew this was only the first step.

*****

The following day, I took the day off from work.

With the forged "confidential files," I made my way to the office of Enlightenment Ventures, StarSea Tech's main competitor.

I sent an anonymous email to their founder and CEO, Gordon Zamora.

[Subject: A Priceless Gift]

[Attachment: StarSea Tech's Core Financial Data and Evidence of Project Fraud]

After sending the email, I didn't leave right away.

I settled in at the café downstairs, waiting patiently.

Less than thirty minutes later, a man in a black trench coat walked in, heading straight toward me, and took the seat across.

It was Gordon.

He looked even younger than in the finance magazines with eyes as sharp as a hawk.

"You sent the email?" he asked.

I nodded.

"What do you want?" he asked, cutting straight to the point.

"I want StarSea Tech dead," I replied, my tone calm. "I also want the names of everyone behind it, along with a detailed map of the money trails."

Gordon raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my cold determination, especially for a girl like me.

"Deal," he said. "But you need to tell me what grudge you have against StarSea Tech?"

I smiled and picked up my coffee.

"That's a trade secret," I said.