You're right to call that out — the lab s
CHAPTER 28
ALEXIA P. O. V
The doorbell rang.
I wasn't in the mood to host anyone, so I ignored it, hoping whoever it was would eventually go away. But the ringing persisted—loud, impatient, and completely unbearable.
With an annoyed sigh, I dragged myself to the door and yanked it open.
"Yes?" I snapped.
"Hey—"
I slammed the door in his face.
How dare he.
But before I could even take two steps away, the door clicked open again.
I froze.
"Oh… right," I muttered. "I gave him a key."
"Come on, Alexia, I'm sorry," Tyler said as he stepped in like he owned the place.
"What now?" I folded my arms. "They kicked you out of your club? Or your house is being watched again?"
"Well… maybe my house is being watched," he scratched his head, "but I actually came to apologize."
I raised a brow. "Go on then. Explain why you abandoned me at the race track. Or why you disappeared after my accident. Or why you didn't even bother checking on me."
"That last part isn't true," he said quickly. "I did check. That bastard just wouldn't let me see you."
"Seriously, Tyler? That's your excuse?"
"I had things to handle," he muttered. "Things that weren't safe. That's why I left you with him."
I scoffed. "And what could possibly be more important than—"
"I can't tell you."
Silence.
"You… can't tell me?" My voice dropped.
He avoided my eyes.
That hurt more than anything.
Tyler had never kept things from me before.
And now… he was.
"Fine," I said quietly, stepping back. "Make yourself comfortable. Same room as usual."
I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist.
"Alexia… I promise I'll tell you. Just… not yet."
I studied him.
Something was wrong.
Something serious.
Slowly, I nodded.
"You hungry?" I asked.
"Very."
30 minutes later…
"I'm going back to work," I said. "You handle the dishes."
"I don't know how to do dishes," he whined.
"Too bad."
My phone rang.
"Hi, what's up?"
"I'm doomed!" Clara cried.
"What happened?"
"I've been forced to work or my credit cards get cancelled!"
"That actually doesn't sound so bad. You're kind of jobless."
"Alexia!"
"Okay, okay—"
"Hey Alexia, is this normal?" Tyler interrupted.
I turned—
—and saw him about to start the dishwasher filled with an insane amount of soap.
"WAIT—TYLER—DON'T—"
Too late.
Foam exploded everywhere.
The kitchen turned into a literal snowstorm of bubbles.
Snowy bolted out like its life depended on it.
"What the hell, Tyler?!"
"How was I supposed to know?!" he defended.
"You've NEVER used a dishwasher before?!"
"No?? Should I have?!"
"I'm going to—"
"Shhh," he pressed a finger to my lips.
"What?"
"You look cute when you're angry, sweet cheeks."
That was it.
I grabbed the nearest plate and hurled it at him.
He dodged.
"Alexia, calm down—"
"Don't you dare—"
"Ohhh Alexia, are you busy?" Clara's voice came through the phone.
That one second of distraction was all Tyler needed.
He tackled me.
"GET OFF ME!"
"Not until you calm down!"
"Alexia?!"
"I'll call you back!" I hung up and twisted his arm.
"Okay! Okay! I'll clean it!"
"You better."
Later, I went to bed.
But something felt… off.
Dizzy.
Heavy.
"Must be the medicine," I murmured.
"Hey Tyl, I'm going to sleep."
"Yeah, whatever," he muttered, still cleaning.
I don't know how long I slept before—
BANG. BANG. BANG.
I groaned and staggered to the door.
And froze.
"Asher?!"
"And you've finally woken her," Tyler snapped.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"What is he doing here?" Asher countered coldly.
"Who, Tyler?" I frowned.
Why did he care?
"Why do you want to know?" I shot back.
His jaw clenched.
He grabbed my arm.
"Not so fast," Tyler grabbed the other.
Tension snapped between them.
I yanked free.
"Tyl, it's fine. I'll be back."
"I don't trust him."
"It's just a talk."
"…Fine."
Outside.
"Who is he?" Asher demanded.
"A friend."
He laughed—dark, disbelieving.
"Do you think I'm a child? Friends don't behave like that."
"Like what?"
"Like they belong to each other."
My chest tightened.
"You're overreacting."
"He's dangerous."
"So are you," I snapped.
Silence.
Then—
"I shouldn't have come here," he said coldly. "Goodnight, Miss Williams."
And he left.
I watched him go.
And for some reason…
it hurt.
As I turned—
That sound.
That same horrific, piercing frequency.
I dropped to my knees, clutching my ears.
"MAKE IT STOP—!"
"Alexia!!"
Darkness.
Morning came too quickly.
"Rise and shine, baby girl."
I blinked.
"Tyler…?"
"I made breakfast."
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
"…Since when do you cook?"
"Since you passed out and I had no choice."
I sniffed it.
Tasted it.
"…7/10."
"ONLY 7?!"
"I'm being generous."
He scoffed.
After he left, I walked into the kitchen—
—and froze.
Chaos.
Absolute destruction.
"…I knew it."
At work.
"Good morning, Miss."
"Morning, Nadia. Fill me in."
"Your presence is needed in the laboratory."
LABORATORY
"Good morning, Miss."
I nodded and took my seat.
"Begin."
The head researcher stepped forward.
"Before you is a machine encrypted with over 100 frequency layers. With the correct data input, it can control devices—vehicles, electronics, automated systems…"
I leaned forward slightly.
"But that's not the breakthrough," he continued.
"This machine can synchronize with human brain frequencies."
Silence.
"…Explain."
"It reads neural signals," he said. "Thought-based execution. You think it—the machine does it."
My eyes sharpened.
"Everything?"
"Yes."
That was the problem.
"What happens if it falls into the wrong hands?" I asked calmly.
They hesitated.
"This isn't just convenience technology," I continued. "This is control. This can override systems, bypass security, weaponize automation."
The room went still.
"I… didn't consider that," he admitted.
"That's why I'm here," I said coldly.
I stood.
"This project has potential. But it is also a threat."
They listened carefully now.
"I want layered restrictions. Biometric locks. Neural signature pairing. No external override access."
"Yes, Miss."
"And until those are complete," I added, voice firm—
"This project does not leave this room."
"…Understood."
"No leaks. No demonstrations. No external records."
"Yes, Miss."
I turned to leave, then paused.
"And one more thing."
They stiffened.
"If I find out this technology is used recklessly—"
My gaze hardened.
"I will personally shut it down."
Silence.
Then—
"Yes, Miss."
Back in my office, I sat down.
Snowy curled beside me.
My head still throbbed slightly.
Too many questions.
Too many secrets.
And somehow…
everything was starting to feel connected.