?Chapter 286:


    The cyber battle was intense. Even after the intrusion was detected, Elena pressed forward, her gaze unwavering. She broke through the first firewall. Soon after, the second fell, and swiftly the third followed. Nothing could stop her advance.


    Twenty minutester, Elena hit the confirm key. She leaned back, her fingers leaving the keyboard, a faint smile on her lips. It was finished.


    The client had requested the destruction of the enemy’s firewall, but Elena had dismantled the entirework. Previously, Earle’s hackers had tried to track her, only to be outsmarted and left infected with a notorious virus as her parting gift.


    Chaos erupted at Earle’s undergroundwork base in Avaloria. His hackers scrambled in frustration, unable to find any weakness in Elena’s methods, powerless as she took control of the dark web.


    A deep sense of fear settled in their minds. The legendary hacker, El, had returned.


    Elena stretched, easing the tension in her neck.


    After spending hours at work, she felt the need for a drink and headed downstairs for some water. She moved quietly to the kitchen, filled a ss, and drank half of it.


    As she set the ss down, the lights in the living room flicked on. Elena looked up to see Ailie frowning at her.


    “Miss Harper, why are you up at thiste hour? Your parents are already in bed. You might wake them. If you can’t sleep, try to keep quiet. You might not have to work tomorrow, but others do.”


    Ailie’s voice carried a clear note of displeasure toward Elena. Earlier that day, Elyse had approached Ailie in tears, iming she only wanted to make Bertha happy by buying some grapefruits, but Elena had twisted her actions into usations of poisoning.


    Ailie had watched Elyse grow up and cared for her as if she were her own daughter. She was already deeply troubled when Elyse was forced to leave the vi after Elena’s return.


    Ailie was dissatisfied with Alexander and Jolie. Elyse had been part of the household for over two decades, yet they had abruptly sent her away to Vince’s ce. Despite her resentment, Ailie knew her position as a servant left her powerless to intervene.


    The image of Elyse, her eyes brimming with tears and vulnerability, haunted Ailie and kept her awake at night. Just as she was starting to drift off, a sound snapped her back to full awareness. Her drowsiness vanished instantly, and curiosity about the noise prompted her to get up, only to find Elena standing there.


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    Ailie frowned, watching Elena with clear disapproval. Elena met her gaze, her expression unreadable.


    As Elena remained silent, Ailie muttered quietly, “What terrible manners.”


    Elena’s eyes turned even colder. She had been trained in martial arts and could move without a sound. She hadn’t caused any disturbance earlier. Besides, this was her own home. She didn’t need a servant’s approval to have a ss of water, nor did she require anyone’s judgment.


    With an icy tone, Elena said, “If you continue to raise your voice, you’ll disturb everyone’s sleep. If you truly don’t want to bother others, I suggest you keep quiet.”


    Ailie had spoken at her usual volume, and in the expansive vi, her voice was the only sound piercing the silence.


    Her face tensed. Even though Elena’s point was valid, Ailie’s disdain for her made it impossible to admit she was right.


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