My life returned to a semblance of normalcy.

I gave Brandon the recording of Dominic Zane's kidnapping attempt, which he leveraged to begin dismantling the Zane empire.


Inspired by my breach of the Shaw database, I began developing a security system specifically designed to protect against hackers like myself.

But Brandon still refused to finalize our divorce.

Every day, packages with his signature arrived at my door.


Sometimes premium eye drops for my computer strain, sometimes pastries from a bakery I'd once mentioned in passing.

No notes, no messages—just silent, stubborn reminders of his presence.


I filed for divorce through the courts.

Brandon appeared, requesting to meet at our old favorite coffee shop.

But Brian remained conspicuously absent.

I sensed something was wrong.

Knowing Brian's personality, he should have been celebrating my divorce with metaphorical fireworks.

"Where's Brian?" I asked Brandon directly.

Brandon looked haggard.

"You ignore your husband but ask about my brother first?"

"I'll ask again: where is Brian?"

Brandon sighed heavily.

"The family doesn't tolerate those who step out of line. The elders at the main house have decided to... confine him for a while."

"He'll be released when he learns to follow the rules."

"Confine him?" A chill ran down my spine. "What exactly does that mean?"

Brandon pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Brian and I are half-brothers. His mother wasn't... socially acceptable, so he was registered under my mother's name."

"He only came to live with us after his mother died when he was ten. He was wild, and my mother couldn't control him. Eventually, she locked him away for a year in the suburban villa his mother left him. When he came out, he was... compliant."

"Since then, whenever he steps out of line, that's the family's solution. With this latest incident reaching the family elders, who knows how long they'll keep him this time."

"Your Shaw family is truly..."

My head throbbed as something painful gnawed at my heart.

I finally understood the source of Brian's inappropriate obsession.

If Brian was disturbed, the Shaw family's child-rearing methods were the crucible that forged such disturbance.

Brandon caught my expression, paused, then continued.

"Anna, that unstable boy can't offer you anything. He can barely protect himself within the family."

"That secretary was just a drunken mistake—there were no feelings involved. I've already taken care of the child."

"Let's start over."