Chapter 72
Chapter 72
སཾ ཊཱི,37%–
+23)
“Boss, our company website’s security system has been seriously compromised. The tech team is working around the clock to fix it,” Timmy Smith, the information security engineer at Shadow Ventures, reported.
“Alright,” Ash replied, her focus sharpening.
After hanging up, she closed her door and pulled out her hefty laptop from her locked suitcase. After entering her password, she quickly accessed the security system for Shadow Ventures‘ website, and it didn’t take long to see the obvious signs of a breach.
Frowning slightly, Ash recalled that she had maintained this system a few years ago, and it had been trouble–free since. It seemed they were really facing a serious threat this time.
As she typed furiously to stabilize the system, she carefully examined the traces left by the intruder.
What puzzled her was that, despite the aggressive nature of the attack, the intruder hadn’t tried to steal any vital company information.
‘What is their real intention?‘ she wondered.
Determined not to overlook any detail, Ash scrutinized everything closely.
Suddenly, her gaze sharpened as she spotted a piece of code hiding in the corner of the security system—the intruder was right there!
Her fingers danced over the keyboard as she prepared to catch them, but in the next instant, the hacker vanished without a
trace.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room, Calvert held a severed computer cable, his expression tense.
If he hadn’t acted quickly, he would have nearly exposed his IP address.
Yet, the fierce retaliation from the other side had completely wrecked his computer’s network system, leaving it as good as a brick.
‘When does Shadow Ventures get such talented tech personnel?‘ he wondered. He needed to make time to meet them.
Watching the code disappear, Ash couldn’t help but smirk, her lips curling into an enticing smile. If they wanted to play, they were way over their heads!
After reinforcing the company’s network system, she meticulously double–checked everything, patching the newly found vulnerabilities before finally shutting down her laptop.
*****
Brooke’s birthday was just around the corner.
Having already thrown a big party earlier, she turned down any invitations for a gathering, opting instead for a cozy day spent with her immediate family.
Early that morning, the staff was busy whipping up a delicious feast, and even Jackson, Ash’s older brother who worked at a national lab, took a day off to come home.
Ash peeked downstairs at Jackson, who had definitely inherited their parents‘ good looks. With his gold–rimmed glasses, he had a charming, scholarly vibe that made him seem gentler than her other brothers.
Just then, Jackson glanced up and spotted Ash on the upper floor. He waved her over. “Come down! I brought you
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Chapter 72
something!”
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It had been a while since they had a real conversation; the last time he was home, their parents had interrupted before they could catch up, pulling him back due to some lab emergency.
This was only the second time they’d really seen each other since Ash returned.
With a big smile, Jackson handed her a plush toy that looked like a rabbit. “Check this out! Do you like it?”
Ash studied the rabbit toy closely, her expression shifting to confusion.
The toy was incredibly lifelike but weighed nearly fifty pounds; she struggled to hold it for more than a moment before her wrists began to ache.
Not quite sure what to make of it, she decided to go with the flow, returning his kindness with a smile. “I really like it!”
“Thank you for liking me, Master! Now, please give me a name!” the rabbit toy suddenly said, its long ears flopping around like a real rabbit, which made it even cuter.
Jackson explained, “This is an animal–shaped robot, one of our lab’s latest creations. It’s designed to be entertaining when you’re feeling bored.
“Oh, and the biggest downside is its weight, so you might want to set it down on the floor.”
He seemed a bit puzzled, realizing he had forgotten how heavy the robot was. It surprised him that his seemingly delicate sister could hold it for so long.
“Master, you still haven’t named me,” the rabbit robot said, sounding a bit forlorn.
Ash focused on its fluffy white exterior and thought for a moment. “How about Whitee?”
“Thank you for the name, Master! Whitee loves you the most! Please come and play with me whenever you can!” The robot’s sweet voice filled the room.
Seeing Ash’s smile, Jackson finally felt at ease. A coworker had told him the gift was too “bro–like” to please girls, but his sister clearly loved it.
He handed her a book. “Here’s the manual. If you have any questions, just let me know.”
Back in her room with the robot, Ash admired its adorable appearance, a warm chuckle escaping her. Jackson’s personality was refreshingly sweet, so different from her more serious oldest brother and the stubborn second brother, Caspian, who often let himself get used.
As she flipped through the thick manual, she was astonished by the robot’s features. It could tackle everyday problems and even simulate emotions, offering companionship and conversation.
It also had a hidden camera to record its surroundings and respond accordingly.
This was no ordinary toy; it was a representation of cutting–edge technology. It seemed her brother was really diving into the field of artificial intelligence.
Carrying the beautifully wrapped emerald jewelry set, Ash made her way downstairs. Today was her mother Brooke’s birthday, and she was excited to give her gift first before worrying about the others later.
In the living room, Ash and her siblings took turns presenting their carefully chosen gifts.
Lachlan, her eldest brother, gave Brooke a collector’s set of quill pens and ink—perfect for her mom, who loved to practice calligraphy at home.
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Caspian, the second brother, wowed everyone with a helicopter, which they could actually use since the family had at licensed pilot.
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Jackson, the third brother, handed over a health monitoring smartwatch equipped with the latest technology, able to assess the wearer’s health and send alerts if anything seemed off.
Jade, her sister, revealed an exquisite Tang dynasty painting she had won at auction. After giving her a gift, she kept glancing upstairs, clearly lost in thought.
After spending so long in less fortunate circumstances, Jade wondered if Ash could truly give Mom something meaningful.
“This is my gift—emerald jewelry,” Ash said, placing the box on the table and looking eagerly at Brooke.
Caspian was quick to criticize. “You just bought some jewelry for Mom’s birthday? That feels pretty half–hearted!”
Jade stepped in gently, “Caspian, Ash just got back. It’s already impressive that she could bring something like this. Don’t set your expectations too high.”
While Jade appeared to defend Ash, her words hinted that Ash’s taste was limited and that she couldn’t offer anything better. “I adore whatever my sweet daughter gives me,” Brooke said, shooting Caspian a pointed look before opening the jewelry box. Her eyes widened in surprise.
