Chapter 194
“It’s worse than we thought.”
The tech director dabbed his forehead as he faced Adam in Haven Enterprise’s nerve center. Around them, screens flashed with warnings, each red alert another crack in the company’s digital fortress.
“This level of skill…” He shook his head. “Sir, we’re dealing with top er talent. No ordinary team could slice through our security like this.”
Adam’s expression remained glacial, though his fingers tapped a suble rhythm against his wheelchair. He’d spent hours personally fighting back, drawing on programming skills that had once made him feared in certain online circles. Even his efforts had barely slowed the assault.
“Timeline?” Adam’s voice cut through the tension.
“Two hours until core breach.” The director’s voice wavered. “Customer data, algorithms, acquisition plans–all exposed.”
Adam dismissed him with a nod. As the door closed, he turned toward the window, city lights blinking below like scattered gems.
Meanwhile, at Irene’s house, three small figures had taken over the living room. Lucas sprawled across the couch flipping through a finance magazine. Lily sat cross–legged on the carpet, doodling and softly humming to herself. And Alex hunched over his laptop, navigating websites hidden in the internet’s shadowy corners.
Joseph sat nearby, newspaper in hand, occasionally glancing up. His weathered face revealed nothing as he turned another page, but his eyes lingered on Alex longer than the others.
Alex scrolled absently until something caught his eye. His back snapped straight, focus suddenly laser–sharp.
“No way,” he whispered, leaning closer.
“What’s up?” Lucas called without looking up.
Alex didn’t answer, his fingers flying across the keyboard, breaking through security layers.
“Oh crap!” He bolted upright, face deadly serious. “Someone’s attacking Haven!”
Lucas dropped his magazine and scrambled over. “What? Who’s messing with Uncle Adam?”
Lily abandoned her doodling, crossing the room with worried eyes. Is he in trouble?” Her voice caught slightly.
Joseph lowered his newspaper, watching silently.
“There’s a bounty,” Alex pointed at his screen. “One hundred million to break Haven’s security and crash everything.”
“A hundred million?” Lucas whistled. “That’s insane.”
“And someone’s already taken the job.” Alex grimaced as he kept typing. “The bounty’s claimed.”
Lily chewed her lip can we warn him?”
“Too late,” Alex muttered, face bathed in blue light. “It’s already happening.”
Joseph finally spoke. “What exactly are you looking at?”
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Alex hesitated briefly before firning the screen. “Secure hacker fort. Only the best get in. And look- he pointed to a username in purple. It’s Violet!*
“Who’s Violet?” Lily peered clos r.
“Top ten global hacker,” Alex explained, voice mixing awe and worry. She once shut down an entire country’s networks. Nobody
could catch her.”
Lucas gripped Alex’s chair. “How bad? Can they stop her?”
Alex’s fingers blurred across keys, brow furrowed. “Let me check… o no.”
“What?” the twins asked together.
“She’s already through three security layers. The virus is spreading. His voice dropped, “Haven’s in real trouble.”
In Haven’s secured conference room, Adam stared at the same information Alex had found. Only the slight tightening around his eyes betrayed his concern.
“Everyone out,” he ordered. “Except Thomas.”
The room emptied quickly, nervous glances trailing behind.
When the door closed, Thomas approached. “Latest report.” He handed over a tablet, sweat beading his brow. “Three firewalls down. Core database compromised in two hours, max.”
Adam scanned the data quickly. “Any link to Stephenson?”
Thomas shook his head. “Nothing solid, but the attack matches their style.”
Adam’s jaw tightened. Stephenson Group had become Haven’s bitterest rival after Adam’s expansion into their territory cost them billions. Their leader was known for spite, though nothing this bold until now.
“Cancel all executive leave. Everyone back, now.”
Thomas retreated to a corner to make calls while Adam turned to his laptop. Opening a specialized browser, he navigated to the forum Alex was watching. Under the username ‘H‘ with a simple black icon, he posted: five hundred million to neutralize Violet’s
virus.
The offer appeared instantly on Alex’s screen.
“Uncle Adam just offered five hundred million to stop Violet!” he exclaimed.
“Five HUNDRED million?” Lucas gasped. “That’s crazy money!”
Lily leaned in. “Will someone help him?”
Alex stared at the screen, jaw set with determination. “I will.”
His siblings gaped.
“YOU? Lucas blurted.
Alex nodded, already clicking. “I can do it. But not alone–Violet’s too good. I’ll need his help from inside.”
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Without hesitation, he accepted under his allas Ace, marked by a simple ‘A‘ avatar.
Seconds later, a chat window opened.
H: You’ve accepted. Credentials?
Ace: I’ve seen your files. Violet’s virus is nasty. Working alone would take three hours minimum–too risky. She’ll have traps. Need someone working from inside your system for best results.
H: Whatever support you need.
Ace: I’ll write a program. Follow my instructions exactly.
“Man!” Lucas groaned, punching a cushion. “Wish I could help too!”
Alex glanced up briefly. “You can help by shutting up while I work.”
Lily approached quietly. “Does he know it’s you?”
Alex shook his head, already deep in code. “He only knows I’m ‘Ace. No clue his little neighbor just took his five hundred million dollar job.”
Hours later, the phone rang. Joseph answered, switching to speaker when he heard Irene.
“I’ll be late tonight,” she said, hospital noise humming behind her words. “Patient took a turn. Everything okay?”
“We’re fine, Mom,” Alex called, fingers still dancing across his keyboard as code filled the screen.
Joseph watched Alex’s intensity before deciding. “Irene,” he said, moving closer to the phone, “there’s something you should know.”
“What’s wrong?” Worry sharpened her tone.
“Haven’s under attack by someone called Violet. Alex found the bounty, saw Adam’s counter–offer, and took the job to stop her.”
There was a pause. “Is Adam okay?” Irene asked softly, her tone shifting slightly. Then quickly adding, “I mean, how serious is this attack for his company?”
“Bad enough that he’s offering five hundred million to fix it,” Joseph replied, a knowing look crossing his face.
“Violet?” Her voice dropped, though they heard her moving somewhere quieter. “That’s not just any hacker. Her systems are notorious for counter–measures.”
“He seems confident,” Joseph replied, watching Alex type with practiced expertise. “You know better than anyone what he’s capable
of.”
A long exhale came through. “Put him on.”
Alex reluctantly paused. “Hi Mom.”
“Honey, are you sure about this?” The worry in her voice was raw.
Alex sat straighter, suddenly sounding older than his years. “Mom, this virus is basic for me. I’ve handled worse.”
But-
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“Uncle Adam needs help,” he said firmly. “I can do this.”
Another pause from Irene’s end. Finally: “Alright. Help him, but promise me–if it gets dangerous, you’ll stop immediately. Got it?”
“Promise, Alex agreed, already turning back to his screen.
After hanging up, Irene leaned against the hospital wall, her face angle of worry, pride, and disbelief.
I’m letting my five–year–old save a business empire, she thought, closing her eyes briefly. What could possibly go wrong?
She found herself wondering how Adam was handling this crisis. The memory of his face, so controlled even in disaster, flashed unbidden through her mind. Despite everything, a small part of her wished she could be there, not just for Alex, but for him too.
Irene quickly shook the thought away. Focus on the patient, she reminded herself. Adam Haven can take care of himself.
Yet her mind kept drifting back to the man whose business hung in the balance, worried in a way that went beyond professional
