When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my mother's belongings were returned to me.

"Agent Hayes dedicated her entire life to national security. The country will remember her contributions, but due to the sensitive nature of her work, we cannot publicly honor her achievements…"

"...Miss Hayes, are you listening to us?"

I snapped back to reality, my eyes reflecting the concerned faces of two federal agents in dark suits.

"Agent Hayes's cover was blown during an undercover operation. We were unable to retrieve her remains. This is all that was left of her…"

With solemn gravity, the two agents handed me an encrypted hard drive case.

Looking at that box, my body began to tremble uncontrollably.

My mother, who the neighbors whispered had run off with another man after my father's death, had finally returned to me in this way.

As the agents left, they gave me three thousand dollars and a letter of recommendation.

The three thousand dollars was the compensation for my mother's life.

The letter was another path she had paved for me.

In my past life, I never understood why my mother would leave me, bearing such shame and changing her identity to go to a place she knew was hell.

But in this life…

I caressed the cold hard drive case, a new resolve hardening within me. "Sirs, I want to finish my mother's work. I want to join you!"

When my university mentor, Professor Albrecht, heard the news, his former anger at me for giving up my future turned into pained sympathy.

"Vivian, your mother's last wish was for you to live as a normal person. To get married, have children, and live a peaceful, happy life."

Married, with children? A peaceful, happy life?

Last time, I followed my mother's wish and lived as a normal person. And what was the result?

I shook my head and smiled. "Professor, I just want to one day be able to openly carve the words 'A Nation's Hero' on my mother's gravestone."

As long as her mission remained unfinished, my mother would forever carry that stain on her name. Her sacrifice would be known by no one.

The professor fell silent.

Finally, he relented.

"What about Lorenzo Moretti?"

I thought of that man with his sharp features and piercing eyes.

"Him…" A mocking smile tugged at my lips.

"I'm going to divorce him."

As for the daughter who would now never have the chance to be born…

She had always resented me for giving birth to her, for preventing her from receiving a father's love like Lina's, for standing in the way of Lorenzo and her beloved Aunt Isabella.

Since that's how she felt, perhaps never being born would be what she wanted most.

Professor Albrecht looked at me with a complex expression. He knew how much I had loved that man, enough to give up MIT for him. He couldn't believe I would be willing to let go completely.

"Alright. The assessment is in one month. If you pass, I will recommend you for the program."

I knew he was trying to preserve the Hayes family line.

One month. It was also my chance to change my mind.