**“Adrian."**
He looked up from his desk, startled by the voice.
Ivy stood in the doorway—no longer Eva Chen.
Hair pulled back. No makeup. Eyes blazing.
“You remember," he said softly.
“I do."
He rose slowly. “I—"
“No," she cut in. “No apologies yet. No defenses. Just truth."
He swallowed. “Ask."
---
She stepped closer. “You married me because of the chip."
“Yes."
“You tracked me after the fire."
“Yes."
“You erased everything when I nearly died trying to escape."
His voice cracked. “I couldn't watch you die again."
“You chose mind-wipe over honesty."
“I thought you'd be safer forgetting."
“You thought *you'd* be safer."
He said nothing.
---
She circled the desk. “Tell me everything. No lies."
He nodded. “When I was sixteen, my parents signed me into a neural chip prot
