Chapter 43: The Cost of Betrayal

The following morning, the weight of Serena's betrayal hung heavy over Ethan as he paced his apartment, the system's notification still buzzing in the back of his mind. Confront her? How was he supposed to confront someone who had been so close, someone who had helped build his career in this new world?

He stopped in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection. There was a weariness in his eyes that he hadn't seen before, the weight of everything finally starting to show. But there was also something else—determination. The system had led him this far, and he wasn't about to back down now.

The reward for this task was crucial: *Deception Mastery.* He'd need that skill to navigate the increasingly treacherous world of fame and power. But it wasn't just about the points anymore. This was personal.

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Serena was waiting for him at their usual meeting spot, a chic, secluded café tucked away from the public eye. She sat at a corner table, her eyes focused on her phone as if nothing had changed. But to Ethan, everything had changed.

As he approached, her face lit up with a smile—a smile he now questioned. "Ethan! You're early today."

He sat down across from her, his heart pounding in his chest. Every word she spoke, every movement she made seemed calculated, fake. He had to play it cool.

"Yeah," he said casually. "Felt like getting an early start."

Serena raised an eyebrow. "That's new for you. What's on your mind?"

Ethan stared at her for a moment, his mind racing. The system had told him to confront her, but he had to be careful. One wrong move, and she might shut down completely. He couldn't afford that.

"You know," he began slowly, "I've been thinking about everything that's happened. How far we've come."

Serena smiled again, but this time, Ethan could see the cracks forming in her expression. "We've worked hard for it, Ethan. You've worked hard."

"Yeah," he said, his voice growing colder. "But I couldn't have done it without your... help."

Her eyes flickered, just for a second, but it was enough for him to catch it. There was something there—guilt? Fear? He couldn't be sure, but he was getting close.

"I've been thinking," Ethan continued, leaning forward slightly. "About how some things just... don't add up."

Serena's smile faltered. "What do you mean?"

"You've been by my side through everything. Every victory, every setback. But lately, I've been wondering—how much do you really know about what's going on behind the scenes? About The Council?"

Her face paled, just for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "Ethan, I've been with you this whole time. You know I'd never—"

"Wouldn't you?" he cut her off, his voice sharper than he intended. "Because I've been hearing some interesting things lately. Things about someone feeding information to The Council."

Serena's eyes widened, and for the first time since they'd met, Ethan saw genuine fear cross her face. "Ethan, you can't seriously believe—"

"I do," he said, his voice firm. "I have proof, Serena. It's over."

There was a long, tense silence between them. Serena stared at him, her expression shifting from shock to something darker. Her hand twitched slightly, like she wanted to reach out, to defend herself, but instead, she leaned back in her chair, her face hardening.

"So you know," she said quietly, her voice hollow. "I guess there's no point in hiding it anymore."

Ethan's stomach dropped. Hearing her admit it out loud hit him harder than he expected. She had betrayed him, and for what? He needed to know why.

"Why, Serena?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "After everything we've been through, why would you do this?"

Serena's eyes narrowed. "Why? You really want to know why? It's because you became too dangerous, Ethan. Too powerful. The Council wasn't just going to sit back and let you take everything from them. They saw your potential—your threat—and I had to make a choice."

"A choice?" Ethan's voice cracked with disbelief. "You chose to sell me out?"

"I chose to survive," she snapped, her calm demeanor cracking. "You don't understand what it's like, Ethan. The Council—these people—are bigger than anything you can imagine. If I hadn't done what I did, they would have destroyed both of us."

Ethan shook his head, anger boiling in his chest. "So you betrayed me to save yourself. That's all I am to you? A bargaining chip?"

Serena's eyes softened, just for a moment. "It wasn't supposed to go this far. I thought I could protect you from the inside. But then you started pushing too hard, making too much noise. I couldn't stop them."

Ethan stood up, his heart racing. "I trusted you, Serena. And now, I have to stop you."

Serena's eyes filled with regret, but it was too late for apologies. She knew it, and so did he.

---

**[Ding!]** 

*Task Completed: Confront Serena* 

- **Status: Completed** 

- **Reward Unlocked: Deception Mastery + 100,000 System Points.**

---

Ethan barely registered the system's notification as he walked out of the café, his mind spinning. He had exposed the mole, but the cost was high. Serena, the person who had been by his side through everything, had betrayed him. And now, there was no going back.

As he walked down the street, the system chimed again.

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**[Ding!]** 

*New Task: Survive The Council's Retaliation* 

- **Objective:** Defend yourself against The Council's next move. They will not let this betrayal go unpunished. 

- **Reward:** 150,000 System Points + Special Skill: *Survival Instinct* (Increases your ability to anticipate and evade danger). 

- **Consequence:** Failure to complete this task will result in permanent career destruction.

---

Ethan's heart pounded as the weight of the new task settled on his shoulders. The Council was coming for him, and this time, they weren't going to hold back. He had survived their attacks before, but now, with Serena out of the picture, he was more vulnerable than ever.

But he wasn't going to back down. Not now. Not after everything he had fought for. He had the system, and with each task, he was growing stronger. He would survive this—he had to.

As he made his way back to his apartment, Ethan couldn't help but wonder: who else could he trust?

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