His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.

Chapter 809: Chapter 809 Krystal (1)

Meanwhile, across the city, Krystal was having a hard time.

Her life had changed so drastically that sometimes she didn’t recognize it anymore. She had been expelled from college. The official letter had arrived on a gray Tuesday morning, cold and formal, stamped with the university seal. No appeals, no second chances offered. Just a single sentence: Your enrollment has been terminated effective immediately.

She had read it three times before the words sank in.

Now she stood in the tiny kitchen of her new apartment, staring at a pile of bills she couldn’t pay. The place was small, one room with a cramped bathroom and a kitchenette that barely fit a stove and a sink. The walls were thin, the paint peeling, the windows drafty. The rent was cheap, but even that was a struggle.

Her mother was still being treated by Dr. Raymond, the same doctor who had exposed her at the annual day. But Krystal had been banned from the hospital. The staff had recognized her, whispered about her, and eventually told her she was no longer welcome. She couldn’t visit her mother. She couldn’t call. She could only send messages through the nurses, who looked at her with cold, judgmental eyes. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

She had tried to find a job. She had applied everywhere, cafes, stores, offices, cleaning services. But her reputation had followed her. The news of her expulsion, her lies, her manipulation had spread through the city like wildfire. Employers took one look at her resume and found excuses to say no.

She had finally found work at a small cafe on the edge of town. The pay was low, the hours were long, and the manager treated her like dirt. But it was something.

Today, she had a shift at 1 PM. She had been looking forward to sleeping in, to resting her aching body, to having a few hours of peace. But that hope was shattered when her phone rang at 5:30 AM.

She picked it up, her voice groggy. "Hello?"

A voice on the other end said, "Quickly come! You have a shift at 7 AM." It was one of her coworkers, a smug, haughty woman named Clara who flaunted her relationship with the cafe owner’s son like a trophy. She was the kind of person who had never worked a day in her life, who had everything handed to her, who looked down on everyone else.

Krystal blinked, confusion clouding her mind. "But my shift is at 1 PM."

Clara’s voice was dismissive. "I’m not coming. You’re going to cover mine."

Krystal’s eyes widened. "But—"

"Whatever. I don’t care. If you don’t help, I’ll make sure you lose your job."

The line went dead.

Krystal stared at her phone, her hands trembling.

This was unfair. She had already been working double shifts, exhausted and underpaid. She didn’t have the energy to cover someone else’s shift. Her body ached from standing all day, her feet were swollen and her mind was foggy from lack of sleep.

But she knew she had no choice.

Clara had connections. She had the owner’s son in her pocket. If she complained, Krystal would be fired. And if she was fired, she would have nothing.

She thought about the woman who had called her. The smugness, the arrogance, the way she looked down on others. It reminded her of her past self.

Krystal closed her eyes.

It doesn’t take reality one day to straighten your spine and correct your attitude.

She had learned that lesson the hard way.

She thought about Mira. About the kindness she had shown her, the trust she had betrayed. She remembered Mira’s gentle smile, her patient eyes, the way she had given her money without question. Krystal had used her, manipulated her, thrown her away when she was no longer useful.

And now, when she needed someone, she had no one.

She had tried to call Mira. The phone had rung and rung and gone to voicemail. She had sent messages, apologies, explanations, desperate pleas. But Mira had never replied.

Krystal didn’t blame her.

She grabbed her bag and walked out the door. The morning air was cold and gray. The streets were empty, the shops closed, the city still sleeping.

She walked to the cafe, her feet aching with every step.

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The shift was brutal. The cafe was busier than usual, filled with early morning customers who were rude and demanding. Clara had left a mess, dirty dishes, unstocked shelves, a pile of orders that hadn’t been filled. Krystal worked nonstop, her hands aching, her feet burning, her eyes stinging with exhaustion.

Her manager yelled at her for being slow.

Her coworkers ignored her.

Her customers complained about the service.

By the time her shift ended, she was barely standing.

She found the cheapest place for lunch, a small, grimy diner on a side street. The tables were sticky, the chairs were wobbly, and the food was cheap but edible. She sat in the corner, her head bowed, her hands wrapped around a cup of lukewarm water.

She had ordered the cheapest thing on the menu, a bowl of soup and a slice of bread. It wasn’t much, but it was all she could afford.

She was so lost in her exhaustion that she didn’t notice the figure approaching her table.

"Krystal?"

She looked up.

Noah stood there.

He was wearing expensive clothes, a tailored jacket, designer shoes, a watch that probably cost more than her rent. His hair was perfectly styled, his face clean-shaven, his smile fake and friendly.

Krystal’s stomach turned.

Noah had been a part of her past. A dark, ugly part. They had hooked up a few times, back when she had been at the top, back when she had been the queen of the campus. He had been one of many.

But he had also been cruel after she had fallen. He had moved on without a second thought.

Krystal said flatly, her voice empty. "What do you want?"

Noah slid into the seat across from her. His eyes swept over her, her tired face, her worn clothes, her hollow eyes.

"Wow," he said, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "You look... rough."

Krystal’s jaw tightened. "I’m having lunch. Alone. Please leave."

Noah leaned back in his chair, his smile widening. "I know you have been in a tough situation after the annual day."

Krystal stared at him, her eyes cold. "Is this why you came here? To mock me?"

"No, no," he said, raising his hands in mock innocence. "I came to help you. I know your condition isn’t good. You used to be so beautiful, so confident. Now look at you."

Krystal’s eyes burned with anger. "Get to the point, Noah."

He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial tone. "Well... you know my friends have always been interested in you. They used to talk about you all the time. How beautiful you were. How confident. How... fun." freewebnσvel.cøm

Krystal’s stomach churned. She didn’t like where this was going.