CHASING THE TRUTH

Chapter 8: The Truth Begins to Surface

The room remained silent long after the call ended.

Ted stared at his phone.

His grip tightened.

Nobody knew what to say.

Finally, Minho broke the silence.

"Okay."

Everyone looked at him.

"This has officially become scary."

For once, nobody laughed.

Because he was right.

A stranger had called Ted.

A stranger who knew Aria.

A stranger who knew they were investigating.

And most importantly

A stranger who wanted them to stop.

Bobie leaned back in his chair.

"We're missing something."

Jun-yu nodded.

"A big piece."

Ted stood up.

"I'm talking to Aria."

"Right now?" Zuan asked.

Ted nodded.

"I need answers."

That evening, Ted arrived at Aria's apartment building.

The city lights glowed against the dark sky.

Cars moved through the streets below.

But Ted barely noticed any of it.

His thoughts were focused on one thing.

The truth.

After a few moments, Aria appeared.

She seemed surprised to see him.

"Ted?"

"We need to talk."

Immediately, her expression changed.

Not angry.

Not annoyed.

Worried.

As if she already knew what the conversation would be about.

They walked together to a nearby park.

Neither spoke at first.

The silence felt heavy.

Finally, Ted stopped walking.

Aria stopped too.

"Ted..."

"Who are they?"

The question hung between them.

Aria lowered her eyes.

"Ted"

"Please."

His voice was calm.

But she could hear the hurt underneath it.

"The phone calls."

"The messages."

"The threats."

Ted looked directly at her.

"Who are they?"

Aria remained silent.

The silence lasted several seconds.

Then several more.

Finally

Tears formed in her eyes.

And Ted's heart sank.

Because he had never seen her cry before.

"I'm sorry."

Ted felt a chill run through his body.

Sorry.

Not denial.

Not confusion.

Sorry.

Which meant there really was something.

Something she had been hiding.

Aria wiped away a tear.

"I never wanted this to happen."

Ted swallowed hard.

"Then tell me."

Aria looked at him.

And for the first time since they met

She told him part of the truth.

"My real name isn't Aria."

Ted froze.

"What?"

"My name is Aria."

She paused.

"But it's not the name most people know me by."

Ted stared at her.

Trying to understand.

Trying to process what she was saying.

Aria continued.

"My family is very wealthy."

Ted blinked.

Okay.

That wasn't exactly shocking.

She always seemed elegant.

Confident.

Sophisticated.

But that couldn't be the whole secret.

Could it?

"No," Ted said quietly.

"There's more."

Aria nodded slowly.

"There is."

She took a deep breath.

"My father owns one of the largest companies in the country."

Ted remained silent.

"And because of that..."

Her voice trembled.

"...people have spent years trying to use me."

The pieces slowly began connecting.

The security.

The fear.

The mysterious calls.

The threats.

Ted finally understood part of the picture.

But not all of it.

"Who called me?" he asked.

Aria looked away.

"I don't know."

Ted immediately noticed something.

It was subtle.

But it was there.

The hesitation.

The pause.

The uncertainty.

A lie.

A small one.

But still a lie.

And for the first time since meeting her

Ted realized she was still hiding something.

Even now.

Even after everything.

Before he could ask another question, footsteps approached.

Both of them turned.

A man wearing a dark jacket stood several meters away.

Watching.

Neither Ted nor Aria recognized him.

But the man clearly recognized them.

Slowly, he smiled.

A cold smile.

The same kind of smile that appeared in nightmares.

Then he spoke.

"Looks like the truth is finally coming out."

Aria's face turned pale.

Completely pale.

Ted immediately stepped in front of her.

Protectively.

The stranger laughed softly.

"You're already too late."

Then he turned around and walked away into the darkness.

Leaving Ted and Aria standing there.

Frozen.

Terrified.

And with more questions than answers.

Because whatever secret Aria was hiding

It was much bigger than either of them had imagined.