Chapter 5
Hugh and trene widened their eyes in great disbelief
Meanwhile, Brad and Clive were furious. “What did you just say!!
On the contrary, Scarlett smiled. “Alright. As you wish”
Regina’s eyes instantly hit up. “Really!”
Immediately. Irene stepped forward. “Scarlett, what do you mean! Regina is my daughter. I’m taking her home!”
Raising an eyebrow. Scarlett said disapprovingly, “Really? Did you do a paternity test?”
Choked on her words, Irene pointed at Regina. “Look at her face. Do you really think a paternity test is necessary?”
“So that’s a no.” Scarlet’s smile stayed, but her eyes were ice. “Irene. I don’t have an heir–you know I’m on the hunt for one. She’s throwing her hat in the ring, so how about you don’t block her shot, huh?”
Irene snapped. furious. “You’ve got kids lining up to be your heir, and you turn them all down! Now you’re stealing my girl? I carried her, not you!
You don’t know what it’s like!”
Scarlett was at a loss for words for a second. Then she looked at Regina. “Let Regina choose then.”
She turned to Regina, voice steady. “Being my daughter ain’t easy. I’ve got enemies–lots of them. If you’re my heir, you’re a target. Kidnappings, ambushes–that’s your new normal. You’ll hum, you’ll stress, you’ll live on edge. You ready for that?”
Irene. tears streaming, begged, “Regina. I know you’ve been through hell, and you hate me for it. Take it out on me -I deserve it.
screwed up, didn’t p
Hugh looked serious
protect you. I’m sorry. Come home. I swear I’ll make you happy from now on–no m
now on–no more pain
Meanwhile, Clive and Brad glared at Regina, trying their best to suppress their anger.
Everyone was looking at her.
Without hesitation, i
- she walked toward Scarlett.
Irene’s expression changed drastically as she grabbed Regina’s hand.
Yet she shook Irene’s hand away hard and came to Scarlett “Thanks for taking me in, Mom”
The Mitchells gaped, floored.
Irene lost in, wailing. “Why?”
She was so confused. Why did Regina choose Scarlett over her?
Scarlett’s eyes flickered with something like respect. “Good choice. One catch–to be my girl, you’ve gotta pas a physical. Your combat cyberware capacity’s gue to hit tive. That’s the bar for me to adopt you.”
Regina nodded. “You call the shots, Mom”
In the year 4024, humanity has perfected blending technology with flesh. They attach advanced machines and electronics to–or inside–their bodies, calling them cyberwares
These upgrades can boost your abilities, replace damaged organ, or make y
About ninety percent of
you a serious lighter.
percent of prople stick to the basics–simple cyberwares for everyday life that aren’t built for combat
Combat cyberware, though That’s another level Only a rare few can handle it—those with exceptional physiques and rock–solid willpower.
They’re walking treasures, highly valued by any nation. But there’s a limit. Push too much combat cyberwares into your body, and you’re done your mind breaks, and you turn into a cyborg nits, unstoppable until you’re stopped.
Once someone crosses that line, there’s no going back. They either lock you up in a mental ward or end it right there. How many combat cyberwares one could take, so so called the “capacity level, determined their lighting potential.
11:40 AM
Chapter 3
Far Regina to step into Scarlett’s role as heir, she had to get combat cyberwares installed Without them, she never hold up under the weight of
Twenty minutes later. Regina was stretched out on a couch in the cyber–clinic’s waiting room, flipping through a pop science magazine.
Trense plopped down beside her, pleading. Regina, I get it–you blame me for not shielding you as a kid. But Scarlett’s life is brutal. She’s fighting nonstop, dealing with chaos. What if you die?”
Regina didn’t look up from the page: “At least I’d go out swinging against an enemy. Beats getting screwed over by a bunch of people who picked
sides”
Irene was shocked, “What?”
Locking into her eyes. Regina said, “You went back in time, didn’t you?”
Irene widened her eyes in disbelief.
ny how‘
that works
Regina smirked. “Yeah, me too Funny
Irene was totally dumbfounded.
A nurse
walked out of another room. “Miss Mitchell? The instrument is ready for your test,”
Regina entered the room without looking back.
Glasily pale, Irene sat on the couch, trembling all over.
She thought. What’s she meant She remembers it all–why she died, how we treated her, every time we left her alone? Everything?”
She stood and walked to the observation room, feeling unreal
She saw Scarlen, Steve, Hugh, and Melinda
Clive and Brad rolied in with a pack of sharp looking teens. Test started yet?”
Melinda’s face lit up when s
( she saw
one of them. “Ray!”
Roy Morion glanced at her and nodded nonchalantly in response
Melanda smiled, thrilled
utterly pleasant to the eyes.
Those were the potential heirs of those rich families in Astrye, and they were stunningly handsome, ut Blushing, she asked, “Why are you all here?”
Brad shrugged. “Ran into ‘em. They’re here for their regular combat cyberware checkups. Told them about Regina, and they got curious–tagged along to watch”
Mehoda nodded sneaking a shy peek at Roy. “Poor Regina. Wonder what capacity level she’s on Hope she doesn’t make it–then she can come home, and we’ll all be together”
Searle, off to the side, fidgeted.
If Regina’s capacity mumber, tanked, no combat cyberware, no adoption–didn’t matter the cyberwares inside her.
The doctor in charge of the test spoke, “If you’re done changing, come out.”
The curtains of the dressing roon were slowly drawn back.
Regina came out in a tight suIL
The eyes of the teenagers lit up
Meanwhile, Glive and Brad’s faces twitched.
how much she l
liked her, and be a death sentence to force
Regina’s figure was well–proportioned. She had nice shoulders, a narrow waist, and long, straight legs.
Even if she stood among a crowd, she stood out.
Chapter 3
Melinda’s heart sank as she didn’t know Regina would look this good in the tight suit. She glanced at Regina’s height on the screen…
li tuesed jau Regina was 52 feet tall
Melinda gritted her teeth and instinctively looked at Roy, only to see he was staring at Regina intently.
His eyes showed his interest in Regina, and he didn’t even notice that.
Taking a microphone, the doctor said, “No need to be nervous. Walk to the instrument and put your hand in it.”
A blond teen lounging against the wall grinned at Brad and Clive. “You two hit level–eights on your capacity. She’s your sister–wonder what she’ll
Brad scoffed. “Four, tops”
Clive said with disdain. “No way she’s a five”
Melinda looked at them. I remember that Brad and Clive cach got an eight, and you each got a nine, right? That’s so impressive!”
It was extremely rare to get a nine out of ten.
Wines and drop–dead gorgeous like these boys! Unicorn territory.
None of them wanted to talk to her. Ignoring her, they stared at the test room
The sound of the instrument grew louder and faster; it seemed it was scanning some inexplicable body.
The doctor stared at the number on the screen in astonishment. “Seven? Seriously!”
The expressions of the Mitchell brothers changed,
Scarlett shoved past the crowd, zeroing in on the number.
Regina got a seven.
The number kept jumping up.
The doctor’s eyes widened. “Hold on–she’s an eigluf
Head bolted to the screen. “No way!
Hitting an eight put Regina on the same level as limi
Irene stared, stunned. “Regina’s got so much potential!”
Everyone turned to Regina, mouths hanging open
She didn’t even notice–she was too bus
busy yawning.
And the number was still clumbing!
1046AM ₫
