Chapter 221

Patrick Alpinus had encountered someone even he couldn't trace for the first time.

He'd always been intrigued by Queen, but the elusive figure left no digital footprints to follow.

Recruiting such talent to the police force would skyrocket their case clearance rate.

"Why the sudden interest in her?" Patrick asked curiously.

Not even gender was identifiable, though the moniker "Queen" suggested female.

"She just hacked into our corporate system."

Patrick raised an eyebrow. "Bad blood between you? Why the fixation?"

Ethan Roscente's brow furrowed.

It was peculiar. Queen's repeated targeting defied explanation.

Someone that skilled and mysterious...

An image flashed through his mind.

Vivian Laurent.

He'd never considered it before, but witnessing her multifaceted brilliance made him wonder.

Could Vivian be Queen?

The thought tugged at his lips.

When had she become omnipotent in his eyes?

Before realizing it, he'd dialed her number.

The vibrating phone startled Vivian. Ethan's name on the screen sent her pulse racing.

Why would he call now? Did he discover the breach?

Her fingers fumbled, accidentally disconnecting.

The phone rang again.

She declined.

It persisted.

Finally, she answered. "Yes?"

"What are you doing?" Ethan's baritone voice resonated through the receiver.

His breath seemed to ghost across her ear, warming her skin.

"Sleeping. It's the middle of the night."

"Then why hang up?"

"Do I need a reason?"

"Guilty conscience?" Amusement colored his tone.

"About what?" Her voice wavered slightly.

She was nervous. His firewall had been too tempting to resist.

But why call now? Had he actually figured it out?

Impossible. Her Queen identity was airtight.

A low chuckle traveled through the line.

Ethan didn't press. It was just a hunch—perhaps wishful thinking. No one could excel at everything.

That laugh sent shivers down her spine, like fingertips tracing her neck.

"I'm hanging up." She rushed to end the call.

"Wait. Talk to me."

"About what?"

Ethan hesitated.

Truthfully, he just wanted to hear her voice. The topic didn't matter.