Chapter 44 – The Truth Behind the Shadow
Author's POV
The quiet alley remained silent.
Jay and Yuri stood facing each other.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
For a long moment...
They simply stared.
Finally...
Jay broke the silence.
"...You're alive."
Yuri smiled faintly.
"Barely."
Jay's expression remained calm.
"Everyone thought you disappeared."
"I let them."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Why?"
Yuri looked around the empty alley before answering.
"Because someone has been hunting me."
Jay's eyes sharpened.
"...Kaizer?"
Yuri slowly shook his head.
"No."
"The person behind him."
The air suddenly felt heavier.
Jay's voice became serious.
"You know who it is?"
Yuri sighed.
"I know enough to tell you this..."
"Kaizer isn't the one pulling the strings anymore."
"He's just a pawn."
Jay's heartbeat quickened.
For weeks...
Shadow League had reached nothing but dead ends.
Now...
The first real lead had finally appeared.
"Talk."
Yuri looked directly into her eyes.
"I can't."
"Not here."
"They're watching."
Jay remained silent.
She slowly activated the tiny tracker hidden inside her watch.
A silent signal was sent to Shadow League Headquarters.
No sound.
No light.
Only Commander Scott would recognise it.
Yuri noticed the movement but said nothing.
"I need somewhere safe."
"Somewhere no one can hear us."
Jay studied him carefully.
His clothes were worn.
There was a fresh cut on his arm.
Dark circles rested beneath his eyes.
He looked like someone who hadn't slept properly in days.
"...You've been running."
"For weeks."
Yuri gave a tired nod.
"They've tried to kill me three times."
Jay believed him.
Not because of his words...
But because of the fear hidden behind his exhausted eyes.
She picked up the grocery bag from the ground.
"Walk."
Yuri looked surprised.
"You trust me?"
Jay glanced at him.
"I trust my instincts."
"And if you're lying..."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"You won't make it out of the mansion."
Yuri laughed quietly.
"...You really haven't changed."
---
Meanwhile...
Shadow League Headquarters
Scott's phone vibrated once.
He looked at the coded notification.
His expression immediately changed.
"Boss has found something."
Nathan looked up.
"What is it?"
Scott grabbed his jacket.
"I don't know yet."
"But she just activated Priority Black."
The commanders exchanged serious looks.
Without wasting another second...
They prepared for whatever was coming next.
---
Fernandez Mansion
The gates slowly opened.
Jay entered first.
Yuri followed a few steps behind.
Tita Gama looked up from the living room.
"Oh, Jay, you're back—"
She stopped.
Her eyes landed on Yuri.
"...Yuri?"
Before she could ask another question...
Jay calmly spoke.
"He's my guest."
Tita Gama simply nodded.
"I'll prepare some food."
"Thank you, Tita."
A few minutes later...
Jay led Yuri into a private study.
She quietly locked the door.
Then she turned to face him.
"No one's listening."
"You can talk."
Yuri took a deep breath.
His hands trembled slightly.
"I didn't disappear because I wanted to."
"I disappeared because I found something I was never supposed to see."
Jay remained silent.
Yuri slowly reached into his jacket.
He carefully removed a small black flash drive.
He placed it on the table between them.
"I risked everything to keep this safe."
Jay looked at the flash drive.
Then back at Yuri.
"...What's on it?"
Yuri met her eyes.
"The name..."
"...of the person who's been helping Kaizer from the very beginning."
Jay's expression hardened.
Weeks of searching.
Months of unanswered questions.
Everything...
Had led to this.
Before she could reach for the flash drive—
A loud crash echoed from outside the mansion.
BOOM!
The windows shook violently.
The lights flickered.
Jay's eyes widened.
Yuri's face instantly turned pale.
"...They found me."
To Be Continued...
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Author's Note
The mystery is finally starting to unfold... 👀
Yuri has returned with the biggest secret yet.
But will Jay learn the truth before it's too late?
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