Raindrops pattered against the window, creating an atmosphere of isolation from the outside world. Alex sat on the living room sofa with her laptop on her knees, but her attention wasn't on her work. Her thoughts drifted to Marcus, who had once again activated the blocking function of his Neural Bridge today.

Since upgrading her own Neural Bridge three days ago, Alex had been struggling. She had used this "backdoor" fewer times than expected, feeling intense guilt each time. But today was different. Today, Marcus claimed he was working overtime at the studio, but fragments transmitted through the Neural Bridge suggested he was elsewhere—a café or restaurant, with voices and the clinking of tableware in the background.


Alex closed her eyes and attempted to connect again. This time, she concentrated all her attention, trying to capture clearer information.

First came the sensory impressions: the aroma of coffee, the soft melody of background music, the person sitting across. Then the emotions: nervousness, nostalgia, and a complex feeling, like a mixture of regret and hope. Finally, fragmented thoughts began to form:

"...It shouldn't be like this..."

"...If Alex knew..."
"...But I must..."

Alex's eyes snapped open, her heart racing. These fragments weren't enough to determine who Marcus was meeting with, but he was clearly hiding something, and it involved her.


She stood up and paced back and forth in the room, considering her next move. Confront Marcus directly? Continue surveillance? Or pretend everything was normal, hoping he would eventually come clean on his own?

Finally, Alex made an impulsive decision. She grabbed her coat and keys, deciding to see for herself what Marcus was doing. Through the fragments from the Neural Bridge, she recognized that coffee shop—a small place on the other side of the city where they used to frequent during their early dating days.

Driving through the rainy city, Alex felt a sense of unreality. She, a rational scientist, was now tracking her husband like a paranoid stalker. But she couldn't stop herself. She needed to know the truth, no matter how painful.

Twenty minutes later, Alex parked her car across the street from the coffee shop. Through the rain-blurred windows, she could see the warm lights inside and indistinct figures. She put on her hat, walked across the street, and chose a position where she could see inside the coffee shop but wouldn't be easily noticed.

Through the glass window, she saw Marcus. He sat at a table in the corner, with his back to the door, but she immediately recognized his silhouette. Across from him sat a woman with black hair and elegant posture—Chloe Ward.

Alex felt a stinging sense of betrayal. Although she had suspected it, seeing it with her own eyes still shocked her. She stood in the rain, water streaming down her cheeks, unable to distinguish between raindrops and tears.

Marcus and Chloe appeared to be engaged in a serious conversation. Chloe occasionally took notes while Marcus emphasized certain points with hand gestures. This didn't look like a romantic meeting, but more like... a work discussion? Alex frowned, trying to understand what she was seeing.

She closed her eyes and tried again to connect through the Neural Bridge, hoping to capture more information. This time, the thought fragments were clearer:

"...the data shows risks..."
"...must tell her the truth..."
"...but how to not hurt her..."

Alex opened her eyes, confused. What data were they discussing? What truth?

Just then, the café door opened, and a couple walked out, providing Alex with a better view. She saw files and charts spread out on the table, looking like research data. Chloe was pointing at one of the charts with a serious expression.

Alex moved forward a few steps, trying to see more clearly. But at that moment, Marcus suddenly turned his head, as if sensing her presence. Their eyes met in the rain, and Marcus's expression changed from surprise to panic.

Alex turned and ran, rushing back to her car and starting the engine. Her hands were shaking, her heart pounding. She had been caught red-handed, like a pathetic stalker. But more importantly, Marcus was indeed lying to her, meeting secretly with Chloe.

She had just pulled out of the parking space when her phone rang. Marcus's name appeared on the screen. Alex hesitated for a moment, then answered the call.

"Alex?" Marcus's voice was filled with concern, "Was that you? Outside the café?"

Alex took a deep breath. "Yes, it was me."

"Were you following me?" Marcus sounded both shocked and hurt.

"You were lying to me," Alex shot back, "You said you were at the studio, but you were actually meeting Chloe in secret."

There was silence on the other end for a moment. "Alex, it's not what you think. We need to talk, but not over the phone. Will you come home? I'm heading back now."

Alex hung up the phone, feeling dizzy. She wasn't sure if she was ready to face the confrontation that was coming. She not only needed to explain why she had been tracking Marcus, but might also have to admit that she had modified the Neural Bridge. But she had no choice. It was time to face the truth, no matter how painful.

---

When Alex arrived home, Marcus's car was already in the driveway. She took a deep breath, walked inside, and found Marcus sitting in the living room with a USB drive in front of him.

"You came back quickly," Alex said, her voice calmer than expected.

Marcus nodded, his expression serious. "We need to talk, Alex. About a lot of things."

Alex sat across from him, keeping her distance. "Start with why you lied to me."

"I didn't lie... not exactly," Marcus said, "I did need to work, but I also did meet with Chloe."

"Why hide it?"

Marcus sighed. "Because I knew you would misunderstand. Chloe and I don't have the kind of relationship you're imagining, Alex. We're collaborating on a research project."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "What research project?"

Marcus picked up the USB drive. "About the long-term effects of the Neural Bridge. Chloe collected some data in Europe showing that users who have been using it for more than six months are displaying some... concerning patterns."

Alex felt a wave of unease. "What kind of patterns?"

"Memory contamination, blurred identity boundaries, even a new type of dependency," Marcus explained, "Chloe calls it 'Neural Symbiosis'—when two people's brains begin to depend on each other's thought patterns to the point where they feel incomplete when disconnected."

Alex frowned. "These are all theoretical risks that we've been monitoring."

"No, Alex, these are actual cases," Marcus insisted, "and their numbers are increasing. Chloe is worried that we might be at risk too, especially as the earliest users."

Alex felt a wave of defensiveness rising. "So you've been secretly meeting with my company's main critic, discussing how to prove my technology is flawed?"

"It's not like that," Marcus shook his head, "I just wanted to understand all the facts, to protect both of us. Chloe may be critical of the Neural Bridge, but she's an expert in this field, and her concerns deserve to be taken seriously."

Alex stood up, feeling angry and betrayed. "You should have discussed these concerns directly with me, instead of conspiring with Chloe behind my back!"

"I tried," Marcus countered, "Every time I raised doubts about the Neural Bridge, you'd immediately become defensive, treating it as an attack on your work."

Alex knew there was some truth to what he said, but she couldn't accept it. "What's on the USB drive?"

"Chloe's research data, and some... information about safely removing the Neural Bridge."

Alex felt dizzy. "You want to remove the Neural Bridge?"

Marcus stood up and walked toward her. "Ali, I'm worried about its effect on us. Haven't you noticed? Since installing the Neural Bridge, our relationship hasn't gotten better; instead, it's filled with suspicion and distrust."

"That's because you've been blocking the connection!" Alex shot back, "If you were willing to truly open up, share your thoughts and feelings, maybe we wouldn't have these problems!"

Marcus shook his head, his expression pained. "That's exactly the problem, Alex. You think complete transparency is the solution, but human relationships don't work that way. We need boundaries, we need private space, we need the right to process certain thoughts and feelings on our own."

Alex felt tears welling up in her eyes. "What are you hiding, Marcus? Is it about Chloe? Do you still love her?"

"No, of course not," Marcus said firmly, "I love you, Alex. But I also need to maintain my integrity. The Neural Bridge blurs these boundaries, making me feel... lost."

Alex turned to face the window, not wanting him to see her tears. She felt so conflicted—understanding Marcus's concerns on one hand, yet feeling rejected and betrayed on the other.

"There's something else," Marcus said softly, "I know you modified your Neural Bridge."

Alex froze, slowly turning to face him. "What?"

"Jason told me," Marcus explained, "He noticed the lab access records and unusual activity in your Neural Bridge. He's worried about you, Alex. We all are."

Alex felt a wave of shame and fear. "I... I just wanted to know what you were hiding."

"By invading my thoughts?" Marcus's voice was filled with hurt, "Is this what the Neural Bridge ultimately leads to? We no longer talk, no longer trust, but monitor and invade instead?"

Alex couldn't answer. She knew she had crossed a line, violating her own principles and her respect for Marcus. But she also felt trapped in an impossible situation—desiring understanding yet being denied, creating a technology that was supposed to enhance intimacy, only to find it might be destroying her marriage.

"How did we end up like this?" she asked softly, more to herself than to Marcus.

Marcus moved closer to her, but maintained a certain distance. "Maybe this is what Chloe has been warning about all along. Maybe some boundaries shouldn't be broken, some thoughts should remain private. Maybe true intimacy doesn't come from complete transparency, but from selective sharing and respecting each other's independence."

Alex looked at Marcus, suddenly realizing how deep the gulf between them was. Not just because of the Neural Bridge, but because of their fundamental disagreement about the nature of relationships. She created the Neural Bridge to eliminate barriers, while Marcus believed some barriers were necessary, even beneficial.

"So what do we do now?" Alex asked, her voice trembling.

Marcus looked at the USB drive, then up at her. "We need to make a decision, Alex. About the Neural Bridge, about our future. But first, we need honesty—not honesty forced by technology, but voluntary, human honesty."

Alex nodded, feeling a strange sense of relief. Whatever happened next, at least the secrets were out. But she also knew that the most difficult conversations were just beginning.

She gazed at the rain outside the window, contemplating the gap between the Neural Bridge's promises and reality. It was supposed to bring people closer together, but in some ways, it had created new distances and misunderstandings. Perhaps Chloe was right. Perhaps some thoughts were meant to be private, and some boundaries shouldn't be crossed.

But if that were true, her entire career, her dreams, her vision—the promise to end human loneliness—was built on a fundamental misunderstanding. This thought was more terrifying than any betrayal.