Four years later , the International Al Technology Summit was held in San Francisco . As CEO of KS Technologies , 1 stood under the spotlight presenting our latest quantum Al system . Camera flashes popped constantly as reporters documented what could be an industry game changer . " Ms. Sullivan , how did you grow KS Tech from a startup to industry leader in just seven years ? " a foreign journalist asked . I smiled and adjusted the microphone . " Persistence and focus . We do one thing - push artificial intelligence to its absolute limits . " " There are rumors you took core technology when you left Turner Tech , leading to today's success . How do you respond ? " The room went dead quiet . I looked straight at the reporter , my voice steady : " All of KS Tech's technology is independently developed by me and my team , with complete intellectual property rights. As for Turner Tech- " I paused . " A company that's been bankrupt for six years isn't worth discussing anymore . " After the press conference , my assistant hurried over . " Ms. Sullivan , your car's ready . Sophie's birthday party starts at seven - you have an hour . " I checked my watch . " Hotel first to change . " We drove into San Francisco's glittering night . Seven years had passed , and the city skyline had gained several new skyscrapers . One of them displayed KS Technologies ' giant logo . I tapped lightly on the car window , thinking about Sophie , who was turning seven tomorrow - that brilliant little girl had mysteriously told me this morning she had a " super surprise " for me . The hotel suite door barely opened before a tiny figure launched herself into my arms like a cannonball . " Mommy ! What took you so long ! " I knelt down and kissed Sophie's soft cheek . " Sorry baby , work ran a little late . Is this my surprise ? " I noticed the elegant gift box clutched in her hands . Sophie shook her head mysteriously . " No ! It's something else ! But you have to wait until the party starts ! " I laughed and ruffled her hair . " Then let Mommy get changed first , okay ? " When I came out in my evening gown , Sophie was gone . The nanny explained , " Miss Sophie said she had to prepare the surprise . She went to the ballroom with her ' bodyguard . " " I frowned . " Bodyguard ? What bodyguard ? " " That AI robot that follows her everywhere , " the nanny chuckled . " Miss Sophie calls him ' Uncle Tin Man . " " I shook my head helplessly . That was last year's birthday gift - a companion robot with basic security features that Sophie treated like her favorite toy . The birthday party was in the hotel's rooftop sky garden ." When the elevator doors opened , I was stunned by the scene - the entire garden had been transformed into a space theme , countless LED lights twinkling like stars , with a scale model spaceship in the center . Sophie stood at the ship's entrance in a silver party dress , waving at me . " Mommy ! This is my space station ! " she shouted excitedly . " I designed it ! " 66.7 % Chapter 7 Walking over , I was amazed to discover this wasn't just decoration - it was an interactive tech installation . Sophie pressed a controller on her wrist and the ship's interior glowed with soft blue light , projecting a 3D model of our solar system . " Uncle Tin Man and I made this together ! " she announced proudly , " Teacher says I can skip ahead and learn programming ! " I knelt down and hugged her tight . " Baby , you're incredible ! " In that moment , all my exhaustion melted away . Guests started filtering in - mostly Sophie's classmates and teachers , plus a few family friends . Ethan showed up too , carrying this ridiculously huge gift box with a miniature supercomputer inside . " For our future tech genius , " he winked , handing it to Sophie . Sophie said thanks like the polite little angel she is , then whispered , " Mommy , does that guy have a crush on you ? " I nearly spit out my champagne . " Sophie ! " " He's totally staring at you weird , " she said , analyzing like some tiny relationship expert , " like how Tommy stares at Emma in my class . " I cracked up and booped her nose . " You're way too observant , kiddo ! " When they wheeled out the birthday cake , Sophie insisted on doing the candles herself . Right as she went up on her tiptoes , chaos erupted at the entrance . " Sir , you cannot go in there ! This is invite - only ! " Security sounded stressed . Everyone whipped around . Some homeless - looking dude shoved past security and basically face - planted into our party . Gray hair , nasty beard , bloodshot eyes - but I knew exactly who this trainwreck was . Blake Turner . " Khloe ! " he screamed my name like a dying animal . " Found you ! " Sophie ducked behind me , grabbing onto my dress for dear life . Security rushed him , but this lunatic somehow broke free and dropped to his knees right in front of me . " Khloe , please ... " he was ugly - crying now . " I screwed up so bad ... four years living like garbage , thinking about you constantly ... just give me one shot ... " Guests were whispering and gawking . Some actually recognized this hot mess as the Blake Turner who used to run Silicon Valley . I pulled Sophie closer , ice - cold staring down at him . " Blake , you're freaking out my kid . " His crazy eyes locked onto Sophie , face going all twisted . " My baby girl ... that's my daughter ... " He tried reaching for Sophie's face . " Say daddy ... I'm your daddy ... " Sophie completely lost it . " NO HE'S NOT ! I DON'T HAVE A DADDY ! " Blake just froze there like someone had tasered him . I grabbed Sophie and motioned for security to drag his ass out . Right as security was hauling Blake up , he went totally feral and grabbed Sophie's arm . " She's mine ! You can't take her from me ! " Sophie screamed in pain while I fought to pry his hands off . " LET GO ! You're hurting her ! " In all the chaos , this little silver figure came zooming over - Uncle Tin Man slammed his mechanical arm straight into Blake's kneecap . Donore or Death Code ? My Choice , His Regret 70.4 % Chapter 7 Blake yelped and let go , then security dog piled him . " Call the cops , " 1 told my assistant , then turned to our terrified guests . " I'm so sorry everyone had to see this . Party's over , I'll make it up to you all later . " After getting Sophie calmed down , I went to the hotel conference room where security was babysitting Blake . Four years had turned him into this sixty year old looking mess . Zero resemblance to the hotshot he used to be . " Why ? " I asked straight up . " Why do this ? " Blake looked up with these dead , unfocused eyes . " Khloe ... I've got nothing left ... Sophie's my blood ... all I need is for her to call me daddy ... " " You're insane , " I shook my head . " Sophie will never acknowledge you . You've been a stranger since day one . " Blake went off the rails again . " NO ! She's got my DNA ! She's my daughter ! You can't do this to me ! " Police showed up fast and cuffed him . Right before they dragged him out , he turned back with this creepy - ass smile . " Khloe , you think this is over ? I'll keep coming for you both until I'm dead ... " Watching the cop car disappear , I exhaled but felt this weird chill . That last look Blake gave me was like a snake - cold and nasty , made my skin crawl . Back in the suite , Sophie was passed out with dried tears on her cheeks . I kissed her forehead and swore to myself - Blake would never get another chance to hurt my daughter , even if it meant I had to do something seriously drastic . Chapter 8