Chapter 250
Kira’s POV
I limped through the sliding glass doors of Rebecca’s high–tech laboratory, my body screaming for rest. Every muscle ached from our narrow escape from the collapsing facility, but I couldn’t stop now. The encrypted drive we’d recovered might be our only chance to save Kim and stop Ethan.
“You should be resting,” Andy said, materializing beside me with a steaming cup of coffee.
“No time, I muttered, accepting the cup gratefully. The bitter liquid burned my throat, but I welcomed the jolt of caffeine. My injured arm throbbed beneath its bandage, but I ignored it, scanning the transformed space around me.
The lab had been converted into a command center, with teams working at different stations. On one side, medical personnel monitored Kim’s condition through observation windows. On the other, tech specialists huddled around multiple screens displaying code fragments. Rebecca and Rocco stood at the main computer terminal, their faces illuminated by the blue glow of the monitor.
I approached them, wincing as my bruised ribs protested. “Any progress with the decryption?”
Rebecca sighed, rubbing her reddened eyes. “This encryption system is incredibly complex. It’s using multiple algorithms layered over each
other.”
“That’s Lyra’s style,” Rocco added, his voice tight. “She always created multiple layers of protection, even for her childhood diaries.”
I stared at the scrolling code on the screen. “How long until we crack it?”
Rebecca shook her head. “Impossible to say. Could be hours, could be days.”
“Maybe we could try getting more information from Kim?” Andy suggested, coming to stand beside me. “If Lyra’s consciousness is in her brain, some of her memories might be accessible.”
Rocco’s jaw tightened. “Too risky. We don’t know how that might affect Kim.”
I glanced toward the medical bay, where Kim lay surrounded by equipment. “I’ll see how she’s doing. Maybe there’s something we can
learn.”
My legs felt heavy as I walked across the lab. Through the observation window, I could see Kim lying motionless on a hospital bed, connected to various monitoring devices. Her face was unnaturally pale, but peaceful for the moment. Vanessa sat beside her, looking exhausted.

I hesitated at the door, unsure if I should enter. Vanessa looked up, noticing me, and gestured for me to come in.
VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Alpha's Regret After the Divorce by Christina