CHASING THE TRUTH

Chapter 9: Betrayal

Chapter 9: Betrayal

Ted couldn't stop thinking about the stranger.

Even after returning home.

Even after midnight.

The man's words echoed in his mind.

"You're already too late."

Too late for what?

What was Aria still hiding?

And why did it feel like every answer only created more questions?

The following morning, Ted gathered everyone at Bobie's apartment.

The atmosphere was different.

Gone were the jokes.

Gone was the laughter.

This time, everyone understood the situation was serious.

Ted explained everything.

The meeting with Aria.

Her confession about her family.

The stranger in the park.

And the warning.

When he finished speaking, nobody said a word.

Finally, Jun-yu broke the silence.

"We're running out of time."

Bobie nodded.

"Agreed."

Minho looked unusually serious.

"So what's our next move?"

Before anyone could answer, Jun-yu placed a folder on the table.

Everyone looked at him.

"I did some digging."

Ted frowned.

"About the car?"

Jun-yu nodded.

"And more."

Slowly, he opened the folder.

Inside were photographs.

Documents.

Business records.

And one particular image.

The moment Ted saw it, his heart nearly stopped.

Because the photograph showed someone he knew.

Very well.

Someone he trusted.

Someone sitting in the very room.

Ted looked up.

Disbelief filled his eyes.

"No."

Jun-yu didn't answer.

The room became silent.

Painfully silent.

Because the photograph clearly showed the person meeting with the same stranger from the park.

The same stranger who had threatened them.

The same stranger connected to Aria.

Ted slowly turned.

His eyes locked onto one of his closest friends.

"Tell me this isn't real."

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

Finally

The friend lowered his head.

And everything changed.

Several minutes earlier...

The truth had already begun unraveling.

Jun-yu had discovered that the black car belonged to a private security company.

A company secretly hired by someone connected to Aria's father's business empire.

At first, the investigation led nowhere.

Until one security payment revealed something unexpected.

A name.

A familiar name.

Jun-yu hadn't wanted to believe it.

He checked again.

And again.

And again.

But the result never changed.

Someone inside their group had been feeding information to the people watching Ted.

Back in the apartment, the tension was unbearable.

Ted stared at his friend.

Waiting.

Hoping.

Praying there was an explanation.

Finally, the friend spoke.

"I didn't have a choice."

The words hit like a punch.

"What?" Ted whispered.

"I never wanted things to go this far."

Ted's hands clenched.

"Then explain."

The friend looked up.

Eyes filled with regret.

"They threatened my family."

The room froze.

Nobody had expected that.

"They knew everything about us."

His voice shook.

"My parents. My sister. My address."

Nobody spoke.

Because they could hear the fear.

Real fear.

The kind that doesn't disappear.

"They told me to report everything Ted was doing."

Ted felt sick.

Every conversation.

Every plan.

Every discovery.

Someone had been reporting it all.

From the beginning.

The friend lowered his head.

"I'm sorry."

The apology sounded genuine.

But the damage was already done.

Trust had been broken.

And some things couldn't be repaired overnight.

Suddenly, Ted's phone rang.

Everyone looked at it.

Unknown Number.

Again.

The room went silent.

Slowly, Ted answered.

"Hello?"

The familiar cold voice returned.

"I see you've discovered the traitor."

Ted's blood ran cold.

The stranger laughed.

"But that's only the beginning."

Ted remained silent.

The stranger continued.

"If you want the whole truth..."

A brief pause.

"...come to the old warehouse at the harbor tonight."

The call ended.

Just like that.

No explanation.

No details.

Only an invitation.

Or perhaps a trap.

Everyone stared at Ted.

Bobie spoke first.

"You're not seriously thinking about going."

Ted looked at the phone.

Then at his friends.

Then out the window.

His answer came immediately.

"Yes."

Because after everything that had happened...

After every lie...

Every secret...

Every betrayal...

There was only one thing left to do.

Find the truth.

No matter the cost.