The room was completely silent except for the faint clicking of keys beneath Ava Carter's trembling fingers.
The soft glow of her laptop illuminated her face in the dark apartment, casting shadows across the walls like silent witnesses to what she was about to do.
Ava swallowed nervously.
Her heart pounded so loudly in her chest that she was certain the neighbors could hear it through the walls.
On the screen before her was something that could change her entire life.
A secure financial server.
Walton Technologies.
One of the biggest technology companies in New York.
Ava stared at the encrypted firewall on the screen. Lines of complex code moved across the monitor as her fingers continued to type rapidly.
She had spent the last four days trying to break through the system.
Four sleepless nights.
Four days of guilt eating away at her conscience.
And now…
She was finally inside.
A warning notification flashed across the screen.
ACCESS GRANTED
Ava froze.
Her breath caught in her throat.
She had done it.
Her eyes widened as the financial dashboard of Walton Technologies appeared before her.
Millions.
Billions.
Numbers so large they almost didn't feel real.
Her fingers hovered above the keyboard.
"Just do it," she whispered softly to herself.
But her hands refused to move.
A wave of hesitation washed over her.
This was illegal.
Very illegal.
If she got caught, she wouldn't just lose her future.
She could lose everything.
Her career.
Her freedom.
Her family's pride.
Everything.
Ava closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm the storm raging inside her chest.
And then…
His face appeared in her mind.
Ethan.
Tears in his eyes.
His desperate voice.
"Ava… please. My mother is dying. She needs a kidney transplant. I don't know who else to ask. You're the only one who can help me."
Her fingers slowly curled into fists.
Ethan would never lie to her.
Not after everything they had been through.
Not after the night he saved her.
The memory appeared in her mind as clearly as if it had happened yesterday.
One year ago.
A dark street near campus.
Ava had been walking home alone after a late evening study session.
Her backpack heavy with textbooks.
Her mind focused only on the upcoming exams.
She hadn't noticed the men until it was too late.
Three of them.
Stepping out from the shadows.
Blocking her path.
Their laughter had made her blood run cold.
"Where do you think you're going, pretty girl?"
Ava's heart had nearly stopped.
Fear had frozen her legs in place.
But before anything terrible could happen—
Someone appeared.
Ethan.
He had stepped between her and the men without hesitation.
His voice calm but dangerous.
"Leave her alone."
A fight had broken out.
Ava could still remember the sound of fists and angry shouting.
Within minutes the men had run away.
Ethan had turned to her, breathing heavily but smiling gently.
"Are you okay?"
That was the night everything began.
Since then, Ethan had always walked her home.
He had always checked on her.
He had always protected her.
Slowly, naturally, they had fallen in love.
And now…
He needed her.
Ava opened her eyes.
Her hesitation disappeared.
If this money could save Ethan's mother's life…
Then it was worth the risk.
She quickly typed the transfer command.
A bitcoin wallet address appeared on the screen.
Ethan had sent it to her earlier that day.
Her pulse raced.
Thirty million dollars.
The number glowed brightly on the screen.
Her finger hovered over the ENTER key.
"Just one press," she whispered.
"One press and it's done."
Ava took a deep breath.
Then she pressed the key.
The system processed the command.
For a few seconds nothing happened.
Those seconds felt like hours.
Then the confirmation message appeared.
TRANSFER SUCCESSFUL
$30,000,000 SENT.
Ava stared at the screen in shock.
Her entire body went still.
She had done it.
She had just stolen thirty million dollars.
Her hands began shaking violently.
Half from fear.
Half from disbelief.
But slowly…
A small smile appeared on her lips.
She had actually done it.
She had saved Ethan's mother.
Excitement bubbled in her chest.
Ethan would be so happy.
She quickly grabbed her phone and dialed his number.
The call connected after a few rings.
"Ava?" Ethan's voice came through the phone.
Her smile widened.
"It worked," she said breathlessly.
There was a moment of silence.
Then Ethan laughed.
A deep, excited laugh she had never heard before.
"You're incredible, Ava."
Her heart fluttered at his praise.
"I told you I'd help you," she said softly.
"You always do," Ethan replied.
Ava leaned back in her chair, finally allowing herself to relax.
Her nightmare was over.
Or so she believed.
What Ava Carter didn't know…
Was that the money she had just stolen belonged to a man who never forgave betrayal.
A man who ruled the business world with an iron hand.
A man whose name alone made powerful executives nervous.
Chris Walton.
The ruthless CEO of Walton Technologies.
And very soon…
He would discover exactly who dared to steal from him.