Chapter 6 - Unmasking the EmpireInside the quiet safety of the back seat of Liam’s armored sedan, Arya sat trembling, holding a sleeping Maya in her arms. Liam sat across from her, his expression unreadable as he watched her carefully.
“You’re Arya Thorne,” Liam stated softly, his voice devoid of anger, carrying only a quiet realization.
Tears spilled over Arya’s lashes as she looked down at her hands. “My real name is Arya. I didn't mean to lie to you, Liam. But if you knew... if you searched the internet, you would hate me. Everyone hates me.”
Liam reached out, taking both of her cold hands into his warm grip. “I don't judge people by internet rumors, Arya. I judge people by what I see with my own eyes. I saw a woman give my mute daughter her voice back. I saw a woman with a heart far too tender to ever harm a child.”
He pulled her close, resting his chin against her hair as she finally let out the heavy sobs she had held back for months.
“Why didn't you defend yourself against the deepfake?” Liam asked gently.
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“The studio dropped me instantly,” Arya wept. “The video was created so seamlessly that no basic audio test could prove it was fake. The company behind the new voice-AI software, Vance Technologies, guaranteed the footage was real.”
Liam’s jaw tightened. Vance Technologies was a subsidiary currently attempting a hostile takeover of Sterling Media’s broadcast network.
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