Cherreads

Chapter 8 - The Mask of Deception

The dawn broke over Jakarta, casting a pale, uncertain light over the city. Inside the hospital, Dito's condition was still fragile, but there was a faint glimmer of hope. The machines beeped steadily, a reassuring rhythm that masked the chaos swirling inside the minds of those waiting.

Livia sat beside her brother, clutching his tiny hand tightly. Her eyes were bloodshot from sleepless nights, her mind haunted by the relentless fear of losing him. 

Reynaldi entered silently, his face shadowed by exhaustion but filled with a fierce determination. He approached her quietly and gently reached out, brushing her hair away from her face.

"We need to talk," he whispered. "About everything. About the people who are behind all this."

Her eyes flickered with suspicion. "Who? The company? The enemies? Or someone else?"

He hesitated, then pulled out a small, encrypted drive. "I've been digging into Lina's past. I found something—something buried deep. And I think it's connected to everything happening now."

Her heart skipped a beat. "What did you find?"

He looked around cautiously before whispering, "Lina wasn't just a victim. She knew too much—about Hendra, about the family, about secrets that could destroy us all. And someone wanted to silence her."

Her breath caught. "You mean… she was killed to keep those secrets?"

He nodded grimly. "And now, someone is trying to finish what Hendra started. We're not just fighting for our lives. We're fighting for the truth."

Her eyes welled with tears. "And who do you think is behind all this?"

Reynaldi looked away, his jaw clenched. "I have my suspicions. But I need more proof. And I need to act fast."

Suddenly, her phone buzzed again. She looked at the screen—an anonymous message: **"They're closer than you think. Watch your back."**

Her stomach clenched. She looked at Reynaldi, who nodded calmly. "We're running out of time. We have to move."

---

**Meanwhile, in a dimly lit warehouse on the outskirts of Jakarta,** a figure cloaked in black watched the city through a pair of binoculars. Their eyes gleamed with dark intent.

"Target is weak," a gravelly voice whispered through the radio. "Proceed with the next phase."

The figure turned, disappearing into the shadows, as the distant sound of footsteps echoed in the night.

---

**Back at the hospital,** Dito's vital signs fluctuated dangerously. The doctors scrambled, trying to stabilize him, but the threat was looming—an unseen enemy lurked in the background.

Livia sat beside her brother, tears streaming down her face. Her mind flashed back to the promise she made—to do whatever it took to save him. 

Reynaldi approached her quietly, his voice low. "We need to find who's behind this. Someone close to us is betraying us—feeding information, leaking secrets. We can't trust anyone anymore."

Her eyes widened. "Could it be Rania? Or someone in the company?"

He hesitated. "Rania's been acting strange, yes. But I think it's someone even closer—someone we never suspected."

Her heart pounded. The betrayal cut deep. Trust was slipping away, piece by piece.

---

**Later that night,** Reynaldi sat alone in his hotel room, staring at the city lights. His mind was filled with ghosts of the past—secrets buried deep, lies he told himself to survive.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a faded photograph—him and Lina, young and smiling. A ghost from his past. 

His jaw tightened. 

*Who's really behind all this?* 

*And how much do they know?* 

Suddenly, his phone buzzed again with an encrypted message: **"They're coming closer. Prepare yourself."** 

His eyes darkened. The game was escalating, and the shadows of his past threatened to engulf him.

---

**Meanwhile, in a secret hideout,** Rania sat tense, her fingers trembling as she stared at her own phone. 

"They're onto us," she whispered to herself. "But I won't let them stop us. Not now." 

Her plan was unraveling, but her resolve was stronger than ever. She had to stay ahead—at all costs.

---

**In the shadows,** another figure moved with deadly precision—silent, calculated. Their face obscured, but their intent clear: chaos.

They had one goal: to take everything from those who dared to stand in their way.

**And the game of deception was only just beginning.

More Chapters