This feels like a very straightforward hand, but I failed to extract max value and am wondering if there are more creative lines that can work in common spots like these.

Live $365 satellite to a $2700 live tournament. 54 entries, paying 5 seats plus $2450 to 6th. 8 players remaining. Blinds 300/1200/2400.

Stacks are clumped together with the exception of one huge stack who is very passive and appears content to fold into a seat. Hero is a short stack with 42k and has been card-dead, bubble-conscious and very tight.

TAG villain in cutoff (with about 80k) raises to 6k. Folds to Hero in BB who defends with Qd10d.

Flop 10/10/8 rainbow. Hero checks, villain checks back.

Turn A, brings a flush draw. (Can't remember what suit but not diamonds.) Hero checks again. Villain bets just 4k. Hero thinks 30 seconds and check-raises to 12.5k. Villain calls quickly.

River is an offsuit K. Hero shoves 23k into 43k pot. Villain immediately says he doesn't think he can fold, then tanks 3 minutes before Hero calls clock. At end of the floor's countdown Villain folds, saying his hand is actually better than Hero realizes. He told me on a later break he folded AK.

Obviously don't know if this is true but we should get paid off here: no doubt Villain had an ace. Is Hero's line so value-heavy that Villain can make an exploitable fold? Is there a more creative line we can take here to avoid turning our hand face-up?

thanks.

Eh idk what you could've done. Given the bubble dynamics, villain has to call a very tight range here.

There's an argument for x/calling turn with the intention of x/calling river to induce bluffs and to protect your checking range, but your hand isn't strong enough to x/call and then x/raise river IMO. And in this particular case I think you make about the same amount of money.

After he bets super small, I think the raise is fine. And the shove looks good to me.

Why did you call the clock?

I called the clock because his body language and behavior (frowning, re-checking his cards) began to suggest he was leaning toward a fold. I wanted a call so tried to shake up the dynamic.

Doubt you could ve done anything different besides not calling the clock on him (might ve triggered some reversed sht)
Given the bubble and stack sizes dynamics, not even sure V is supposed to call otr w/ AK