第47章 "Shadow of Deceit"

**The 47th Chapter: The Divide**

Nova's wrath finally boiled over, his hand snapping out to grab Lemuel's arm. "You're not going to play dumb with me, Lemuel," he snarled, his voice low and menacing. "I know you're hiding something. What is it?"

Lemuel's eyes flickered, but he didn't struggle against Nova's grip. Instead, he looked up at him with a hint of resignation. "I told you, Nova, I don't know what you're talking about."

Nova's grip tightened. "Don't lie to me again," he warned, his voice dripping with menace. "I've seen the data, Lemuel. I know you've been in contact with someone. Who is it?"

Lemuel's expression turned cold, his eyes flashing with anger. "You have no right to question me," he spat, his voice venomous. "I'm your partner, not your pawn."

The tension between them was palpable, the air thick with hostility. Nova's grip on Lemuel's arm remained firm, but he could feel his own anger beginning to dissipate. He knew Lemuel was hiding something, but he also knew that forcing the truth out of him wouldn't get them anywhere.

"Let's take a break," Nova suggested, his voice calm and measured. "We can talk about this later."

Lemuel's eyes narrowed, but he didn't resist as Nova released his arm. The two of them stood there for a moment, the only sound the soft hum of the ship's engines.

"Nova?" Lemuel said finally, his voice low and hesitant.

"Yeah?" Nova replied, turning to face him.

"What if I told you everything?" Lemuel asked, his eyes searching Nova's face. "Would you still trust me?"

Nova's expression remained neutral, but he felt a twinge of unease. What could Lemuel be hiding? And what did he mean by "everything"?

"Depends on what you're hiding," Nova said finally, his voice noncommittal.

Lemuel's eyes flashed with anger, but he seemed to know better than to push the issue further. For now, the two of them stood there in silence, the tension between them hanging like a cloud.

But as they stood there, Nova couldn't shake the feeling that their partnership was about to take a drastic turn. And he had a sinking feeling that he wasn't going to like where it led.