The Analyst's Revenge

My name is Victoria Lawrence and I am the top data analyst in the Post-apocalyptic world. Today, I received a package. The sender was Zayn Lucas, my husband. There was no letter in the package, only a box of star-shaped cookies, with a star pattern printed on it. I recognized this logo—it was from Starlight Bakery. In the Post-apocalyptic world, supplies were scarce; bakeries were already rare, and Starlight Bakery was even more special. It was located in the central area of the Protective Layer, serving only a select group of people. My fingers turned pale as I gripped the cookie box. Zayn said last week he was going to inspect the western disaster zone; how could he have had the spare energy to buy such a non-essential item? I dialed Christina's number. Christina Gere was my close friend and the most senior defense attorney in the Post-apocalyptic world. I told her I wanted to initiate a trial. There was a long silence on the other end of the phone, then Christina's urgent voice came through, "Victoria, are you out of your mind? Filing for a trial over domestic disputes in the Post-apocalyptic world?" "At best, you'll lose everything; at worst, you'll be exiled beyond the Protected Area!" I knew she wasn't exaggerating. The area outside the Protected Zone was full of mutated alien creatures; no one who went out ever returned alive. But as I looked at that box of cookies, a corner of my heart collapsed. "I must go through with the trial." I told Christina, my tone so resolute it hardly sounded like me. When Christina arrived at my place, I was already researching information on the Starlight Bakery. A photo of the shop owner appeared on the screen—a woman named Tiffany Meyer, her smile gentle. She manages three Charitable Foundations and is a renowned philanthropist in the Post-apocalyptic world. Christina leaned closer to the screen, her expression changing instantly. "Do you know who she is?" I shook my head, but I knew that Zayn was familiar with her. There was a two-hour gap in his itinerary last week. Looking back, he was probably at that bakery during that time. I pushed the cookie box toward Christina. "Look at this—Zayn never buys me things like this. Unless..." I didn't say anything further, but Christina understood. She sighed, "Are you really going to take this risk?" I nodded, my finger sliding over Tiffany's name on the screen. "I need to know the truth, even if it means exile. Living a lie is worse."