Aria's POV

The silence that followed Aldrin's revelation was broken by something I didn't expect.

Laughter.

My laughter.

Not from the duplicate standing across from me, but from me. Genuine, slightly hysterical laughter that bubbled up from somewhere deep in my chest.

"You know what?" I said, wiping tears from my eyes as I stood up. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

Aldrin blinked, clearly not expecting this reaction. "I beg your pardon?"

"Memory implantation. Artificial ...