She never imagined that the small V&S Group would not only snatch the military contract from the three biggest conglomerates in Starfall City, but had actually bought the rights to that gameunched it, even.


    Violet couldn''t help but wonder how on earth they''d managed to recover the game''s data. Victoria Turner was the first person who sprang to mind, but Violet quickly dismissed the thought.


    There were plenty of prodigies out there who could write game code. If someone like Mr. Campbell had set his sights on V&S—a tinypany by all ounts- then they must have real talent on board.


    Victoria? Not a chance. From all Violet knew, Victoria was thest person who''d make any waves in the tech world.


    She''d only happened to write a game, nothing more. Violet saw no reason to obsess over it.


    "Long live Violet! Violet, I have a secret to tell you."


    Gwh pressed her phone to her chest, then leaned in close to whisper in Violet''s ear, "I really, really like you. Even more than I like Mommy."


    Mommy had promised her for ages-she''d said the game would go live. But in the end, it was Violet who made it happen. Gwh used to adore her mother, but Mommy had lied to her again and again. Justst time, she''d promised to pick her up, and never showed.


    For this game, Gwh had waited and hoped, but it was always Violet who remembered her wishes-who took every word to heart.


    "I really like you too," Violet replied, smiling. "Let me help you register an ount. Then you''ll be able to y."


    She took the phone, entered Gwh''s ID number and a nickname, typing in "Violet''s Little Star" as her in-game name. She showed Gwh the screen, and Gwh nted a quick kiss on Violet''s cheek in approval.


    Next, Violet tried to register an ount for herself, following the steps on the screen. But just as she reached the final step, a line of text popped up: Unauthorized user detected. Please log in as a guest or contact the developer.


    Violet stared at the message, stunned. Her ID wouldn''t work for ount registration, and Gwh was still watching her with hopeful eyes.


    She tried again, and again-every time, the same error: Unauthorized user detected. She was at a loss.


    "Miss Violet, is it working yet?" Gwh asked, her voice small.


    Violet was out of ideas. Just then, McNeil Langford came into the room. As Violet tried to sit up, McNeil gently pushed her back onto the hospital bed.


    "You just had surgery. Do you have a death wish?"


    She was always like this duringpetitions, too-pushing herself to the edge, almost losing her life on the track.


    "Gwyn wants to y her game. I''ve been trying to register an ount for her, but it keeps saying unauthorized user. Could you try using your ID to register for her?" Violet had no idea what the problem was. McNeil frowned slightly. "Kids ying games all the time isn''t healthy. If you can''t register, maybe that''s for the best." Gwh''s face fell. Her lips quivered, and she was on the verge of tears.


    Violet hated seeing her so sad. She looked at McNeil and spoke softly, "You know how much Gwyn''s been looking forward to this game. She''s a good kid-if we set limits on her ytime, she won''t get addicted. Please, McNeil?"


    After a moment''s hesitation, McNeil relented.


    He tried registering with his own ID, but the result was exactly the same.


    Unauthorized user detected. Please log in as a guest or contact the developer.


    "What''s going on? You can''t register either? Is there something wrong with the game itself?"