Unraveling Secrets

Thea sat in the dimly lit library, her fingers tapping anxiously on the desk as she scrolled through the student database on her laptop. The name she had searched for stared back at her—Harrison Brown.

Her heart pounded as she read the details. Harrison was none other than Professor Steven Brown's younger brother. And after Ariana's suicide, he had left the country abruptly, withdrawing from the university. Thea's mind raced. Could he have been involved? Or was he running from something more sinister?

Determined to dig deeper, she knew she needed to get more information out of Steven. The professor was well-respected, intelligent, and cautious—but she had learned long ago that even the most guarded individuals had their weaknesses.

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Later that day, Thea found herself standing outside Professor Brown's office, taking a deep breath before knocking lightly.

"Come in," his voice called out.

She stepped inside, her face carefully composed. Steven looked up from his papers, his sharp gaze studying her.

"Thea, what brings you here?" he asked, setting his pen down.

She offered a polite smile. "I've been doing some research on past students and came across Harrison Brown. I noticed he left the university suddenly. I was just curious if you knew why."

Steven's expression hardened slightly, but he masked it well. "Harrison… He had personal reasons for leaving."

Thea tilted her head, playing the part of an innocent student. "That must have been tough for him, especially after… what happened with Ariana."

Steven's eyes darkened, and she could tell she had struck a nerve. "It was a difficult time," he admitted. "For all of us."

Sensing she needed to tread carefully, Thea leaned against his desk, feigning casual curiosity. "I can't imagine how hard it must have been for him. Did he ever talk to you about it?"

Steven exhaled slowly. "Look, Thea, I appreciate your concern, but some things are better left in the past."

Before she could push further, the office door suddenly creaked open.

Aiden.

His sharp gaze darted between her and Steven, his jaw tightening. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked coolly.

Thea straightened, brushing off the tension. "No, I was just having a conversation with Professor Brown."

Aiden stepped inside, his presence filling the room. "About what?"

Steven shot Thea a knowing look, as if warning her to tread carefully. "Just an academic discussion," he answered before Thea could respond.

Aiden didn't seem convinced. His eyes lingered on Thea, unreadable and intense. She held his gaze, daring him to question her further.

But instead of pressing, he simply smirked, as if realizing something. "Well, I hope it was an enlightening conversation."

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving Thea with a sinking feeling in her chest.

She had gotten closer to the truth—but at what cost?