Mariana stood in front of the university's innovation board, her presentation model glowing softly beside her. The air was thick with tension, curiosity, and subtle disbelief. Her green-tech project—coded in sleek lines and powered by a mineral combination only she could identify—was beyond what anyone had expected from a mere economics student.
As she spoke, confident and steady, her system quietly fed her insights, optimizing her words for maximum impact. Professors leaned forward. Investors exchanged glances. One of the judges, a skeptical woman known for her brutal critiques, murmured, "Who is this girl?"
Outside, George sat beside Clara on a bench near the campus garden. He clutched a small notebook where he and Mariana had begun scribbling down dreams and silly inventions. "She's not just smart," he said. "She's kind. But sometimes... she looks sad when no one's watching."
Clara smiled gently. "Maybe she misses someone. You're lucky she chose to be part of your life."
George nodded, not realizing just how deep the truth ran.
Later that evening, Mariana returned home drained, but victorious. Her project was selected for a live demo at the city-wide tech expo, and she had been offered a meeting with a venture capitalist from Hammer.
But the real shock came when she opened her inbox. An anonymous message blinked at her:
"We know who you are. The heart you carry belongs to someone you stole from. The past always finds a way back."
Mariana's blood ran cold. Was it a bluff? A threat? Or someone beginning to connect the dots?
She stood in silence, the city lights twinkling behind her.
"I didn't steal anything," she whispered. "It was taken from me."
And this time, she wouldn't let it be taken again.