"The nation's first Neural Bridge memory manipulation case begins trial today."

On the television screen, a solemn news anchor stared directly into the camera, with images of the courthouse in the background. Alex stood in the center of the MindLink Corporation conference room, surrounded by her executive team, all eyes fixed on the screen.


"Defendant Richard Hall is accused of using modified Neural Bridge Technology to systematically alter his wife Carol Hall's memories of his extramarital affair during her sleep. Prosecutors claim this action constitutes an 'unprecedented psychological invasion' that may require establishing an entirely new legal framework to address."

The scene switched to a reporter outside the courthouse: "Experts call this 'the first thought crime of the digital age,' sparking widespread discussions about technological ethics and personal sovereignty of thought. MindLink Corporation founder Alex Chen is expected to appear as an expert witness."

Alex gestured for her assistant to turn off the television. The conference room fell into silence as everyone absorbed the implications of this news.


"What does our legal team say?" Alex finally asked, her voice calm but tense.

Chief Legal Counsel Maria cleared her throat. "It doesn't look good. Although Mr. Hall was acting alone, using an unauthorized modified Neural Bridge, the plaintiff's attorneys are building a broader argument—that MindLink Corporation created an 'inherently dangerous' product without adequate safeguards to prevent such abuse."


"That's absurd," Marketing Director Jamie protested, "we have multiple layers of security protocols. Hall was a software engineer who deliberately hacked the system."

"The issue isn't how he did it," Maria explained, "but that it was possible at all. The jury won't care about technical details; they'll see the fact that a woman's memories were manipulated by her husband and ask why we allowed that to happen."

Alex took a deep breath, feeling a strange resonance. She understood Carol Hall's situation better than anyone—the fear and sense of betrayal upon discovering that one's memories had been tampered with by those closest to them.

"What is our position?" she asked.

"Full cooperation with the investigation," Maria replied, "emphasizing that this was unauthorized use, violating our terms of service. Meanwhile, announce strengthened security measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

Alex nodded, but deep down, she knew this wasn't just a PR or legal issue. It was a fundamental ethical question concerning the nature of the technology she had created.

"I want to meet with Carol Hall privately," she suddenly said, "before I testify."

The legal team immediately objected, but Alex stood her ground. "This isn't just about the company, it's about my personal responsibility. I need to understand her experience, directly from the victim."

After the meeting, Alex returned to her office, closed the door, and felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over her body. The past three weeks had been like a nightmare since discovering Marcus's manipulation of her memories. She had submitted a formal report to the Ethics Committee, and Marcus had admitted his actions. Currently, he was undergoing psychological evaluation, awaiting potential legal consequences.

Meanwhile, MindLink Corporation had fallen into an unprecedented crisis. The government investigation was ongoing, stock prices had plummeted by 60%, and several major investors were threatening to withdraw their funding. More importantly, public trust in the Neural Bridge had been severely damaged.

Alex's phone vibrated with a text message. It was the reply she had been waiting for:

"Dr. Chen, I agree to meet. Tomorrow at 3 PM, at my lawyer's office. —Carol Hall"

Alex felt a wave of tension. This meeting could determine how she would testify in court, and might also influence the future of the Neural Bridge.

---

Carol Hall's law office was located on the top floor of a high-rise building in downtown. When Alex walked into the conference room, she saw a woman about forty years old sitting at one end of the long table, with her lawyer beside her. Carol looked tired but determined, her eyes revealing the wariness of someone who had experienced profound betrayal.

"Ms. Hall, thank you for agreeing to meet," Alex said, sitting down across from her.

Carol nodded, her expression cautious. "I must admit, I was surprised by this meeting. Your lawyers must have advised you to avoid direct contact with me."

"They did indeed advise that," Alex admitted, "but this is more than just a legal matter. I need to understand what happened, from your perspective."

Carol's lawyer interjected: "I must emphasize that this conversation is not on the official record, nor can it be used in court."

Alex nodded in understanding, then turned to Carol. "Can you tell me how you discovered your memories had been modified?"

Carol took a deep breath, as if organizing her thoughts. "It started with small things. Inconsistencies in conversations with friends—they mentioned rumors about Richard and his assistant's inappropriate behavior, but in my memory, I had already asked him about it, and he explained it was just a misunderstanding between colleagues."

She paused, her fingers lightly tapping the table. "Then there were photos. My friend sent me a picture from a company gathering, with Richard and that woman standing very close, behaving intimately. But in my memory, he was by my side the entire evening."

Alex nodded, feeling empathetic. "The inconsistencies became more frequent?"

"Yes. Eventually, I began documenting everything, comparing evidence. When I discovered numerous discrepancies, I hired a private investigator. He not only confirmed the affair but also discovered that Richard was using the Neural Bridge Controller late at night."

Carol's voice grew more angry: "He not only betrayed my trust, but invaded my thoughts and rewrote my reality. Can you imagine what that feels like? To doubt every memory you have, not knowing what's real?"

Alex felt a painful resonance. "Actually, I can."

Carol looked at her in surprise.

"My husband did something similar," Alex admitted quietly, "using the Neural Bridge to modify my memories. I only discovered it after the Neural Bridge was removed."

The conference room fell silent. Carol's expression shifted from shock to a strange understanding.

"You didn't make it public," she finally said, not a question but a statement.

Alex shook her head. "Not yet. But I reported it to the Ethics Committee, and Marcus—my husband—is under investigation."

Carol's lawyer looked both surprised and interested by this unexpected information, but maintained a professional demeanor.

"Why are you telling me this?" Carol asked.

"Because I want you to know that I understand. Not just as the creator of the Neural Bridge, but as someone who has experienced the same betrayal." Alex paused, "Also because I believe you should know the truth: the Neural Bridge does indeed have inherent risks, risks that may be greater than what we initially acknowledged."

Carol's lawyer immediately became alert. "Dr. Chen, are you admitting product liability?"

"I'm acknowledging reality," Alex replied calmly, "Any technology that allows one person to access another person's thoughts has the potential for misuse. We implemented safety measures, but clearly they weren't enough. This isn't about evading responsibility, but about honestly facing the problem."

She turned to Carol. "I won't defend Richard in court, nor will I try to downplay the trauma you've experienced. Instead, I want to help ensure this never happens again."

Carol studied Alex's expression, as if looking for any signs of dishonesty. "What do you plan to do?"

"First, explain the workings and potential risks of the Neural Bridge with complete transparency. Second, propose stricter safety protocols and regulatory frameworks. Third," Alex took a deep breath, "provide resources to help affected users, including you, undergo memory assessment and possible recovery."

Carol's lawyer interjected: "This sounds like a settlement proposal."

"No," Alex shook her head, "this is the right thing to do, regardless of legal proceedings."

As the meeting ended, Carol stood up and looked directly into Alex's eyes. "Do you know what the scariest part is? It's not discovering the betrayal, but realizing that the person I loved never existed. He was an illusion, a carefully edited character. Now I have to relearn what is real."

Alex nodded, feeling a sense of resonance. "I understand. But at least now you know the truth, no matter how painful it is."

"The truth," Carol repeated softly, "yes, at least now I have that."

---

The next day, the Holl case opened. Outside the courthouse, reporters and protesters packed together, some holding signs against the Neural Bridge, others defending technological progress. Alex pushed through the crowd, ignoring flashing cameras and shouted questions, feeling a strange sense of calm.

On the witness stand, after being sworn in, she began answering the prosecution's questions.

"Dr. Chen, as the creator of Neural Bridge Technology, please explain how it works."

Alex explained the technical principles clearly and professionally, without using excessive terminology, ensuring the jury could understand.

"Was this technology designed with safety measures to prevent memory modification?"

"Yes," Alex answered, "we implemented multiple layers of security protocols, including requirements agreed upon by both parties, activity logs, and anomaly detection systems."

"Then, how did Mr. Hall bypass these security measures?"

Alex took a deep breath. "Any system can be compromised by someone with sufficient skill and determination. Mr. Hall was a software engineer who used his expertise to modify the device's firmware. But this doesn't mean we don't have responsibility. In fact, this incident revealed inadequacies in our security systems, and we are working to strengthen them."

The prosecutor looked somewhat surprised, clearly not expecting such a frank response. "Do you believe that Neural Bridge Technology itself has inherent risks?"

"Yes," Alex replied directly, "any technology that allows one person to access another person's thoughts carries inherent risks. We can mitigate these risks, but we cannot eliminate them completely. This is why informed user consent and continuous monitoring are so important."

Next came the cross-examination by the defense attorney, attempting to shift responsibility from Richard Hall to the technology itself or the company.

"Dr. Chen, did MindLink Corporation warn users about the possibility of memory modification?"

"Our user agreement includes information about potential risks," Alex answered, "but I admit we may not have emphasized this particular risk enough. This is an area we're working to improve."

"Would you consider Mr. Hall's actions to be an expected or foreseeable use of the Neural Bridge Technology?"

Alex looked directly at the jury. "No, this was clearly an abuse. But as creators of the technology, we have a responsibility to anticipate potential misuse and prevent it where possible. In this respect, we could have done better."

After testifying, Alex walked out of the courtroom feeling exhausted but also relieved. She hadn't tried to defend the company or downplay the issues, but instead chose honesty and transparency. It might not have been the best legal strategy, but it was the only way she could face herself.

Outside, reporters swarmed around her, questions coming like raindrops:

"Dr. Chen, does MindLink Corporation plan to recall all Neural Bridge devices?"
"Do you have any comments on Mr. Hall's actions?"
"There are reports that you yourself are a victim of memory modification, can you confirm this?"

The last question made Alex stop in her tracks. The news had leaked, possibly through the Ethics Committee or Marcus's lawyer. She should have felt angry or betrayed, but strangely, she only felt relief.

She turned to the group of reporters, her voice calm but firm: "Yes, my husband used the Neural Bridge to modify some of my memories. It's a personal tragedy, but it also highlights the importance of the issues we're discussing today. The Neural Bridge is a powerful technology, but any power can be misused. As its creator, I have a responsibility to ensure that such abuse is minimized, and to help those who have been affected."

The reporters burst out with more questions, but Alex had already said what she wanted to say. She walked toward the waiting vehicle, feeling a strange sense of relief. The truth was now out in the open, for better or worse. Now she could focus on the path forward, not just for the company, but for herself as well.

Back at the office, she found an email from Carol Hall:

「Dr. Chen,
Thank you for your honest testimony today. Your choice of truth over company interests convinces me that you are sincere. I accept your offer of help. Perhaps we can all learn something from this nightmare.
——Carol」

Alex finished reading the email, feeling a glimmer of hope. In all the chaos and betrayal, perhaps there was still a possibility for repair—not just for Carol and the other victims, but for Neural Bridge Technology itself, and even for herself.