Chapter : Bitten by Trust
The hallway was quiet. Too quiet.
Dee stood outside Hotel Room 104, her hand hovering near the door. Her heart beat like it was racing for her.
She took a breath… then knocked.
The door creaked open from the inside.
There he was.
Kavin Maroni.
Leaning against the wall in a black jacket, his hair slightly messy, charm stitched into his smirk.
"Well," he said, arms crossed. "You made it."
Dee stepped in, cautious. "Hi... uh. I still can't believe you work with Stape."
"I don't work for her," he corrected, shutting the door behind her. "We just… exist in the same dangerous circle."
Dee folded her arms. "So? Where is she?"
Kavin's smile faded. "Gone."
"What do you mean gone?"
"The night she saved you... she disappeared. No signals. No backup plan. Just—gone."
Dee's throat dried. "That can't be. She's too smart. Too strong."
Kavin nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Which is why I know... it wasn't random. Someone planned it."
She stepped back. "Who?"
"I can't tell you."
"What do you mean you can't?"
"Because I don't have proof. Just suspicion. And if I name him without proof… you'll get hurt."
Dee's voice turned cold. "Is he close to me?"
A pause.
Then, Kavin nodded.
Dee's face changed. Eyes narrowing. Jaw tightening.
Her voice, now shaking, said, "It's Rayyan, isn't it?"
Kavin blinked. "No—Dee, wait—"
"Of course. It makes sense. The lies. The secrets. The timing. He was always there!"
Kavin quickly raised his hands. "Dee! Calm down! It's not what you think."
"Then tell me the truth!"
"I can't tell you everything, but—yes. I'm an enigma."
Dee's mouth parted.
"I guess you could say…" Kavin continued with a soft laugh, "If you're King's daughter… then I'm his son. Not by blood. But heart."
Dee blinked. "But King never told me about you."
"Because he wanted me hidden. Just like you. Because the truth? Is dangerous."
Dee swallowed, her voice shaking. "So who's behind this?"
"I told you—I don't have names. But be careful. Someone close to you will strike soon. Snake venom, Dee. And when it hits... it won't give you time to scream."
Kavin stepped past her, heading toward the door.
She grabbed his wrist. "Wait—what if you're wrong?"
"I hope I am."
He left without another word.
Dee stood alone in the empty hotel room. Her hands curled into fists.
Then she ran.
---
Scene: The Confrontation
The house was dark when Dee entered.
Silent.
Too silent.
She didn't bother turning on the lights. She walked straight into the living room and waited.
Two lamps glowed dimly, like quiet witnesses.
Then she called him.
"Rayyan, come home."
Her voice trembled. But she didn't let herself cry.
Fifteen minutes later—
The front door slammed open.
"DEE?!" Rayyan's voice cracked through the air. "What happened?! Are you hurt?! Where are you?!"
He rushed in, panic written across his face.
She sat there, waiting in the dim light. Calm. Too calm.
His feet slowed as he reached the living room.
Her eyes were red. Her hand held a gun.
Rayyan stopped cold.
"Dee…"
"Don't move."
His voice dropped. "What are you doing?"
Tears slipped down her cheek, but her hand didn't shake.
"You're behind this. King's disappearance. Stape. Me."
"Who's stape and what is all this" Rayyan says .
Rayyan's mouth open again —but nothing came out.
"You planned it all," she said, voice rising. "Everything! You used me! Played me!"
"No—no, Dee, what are you saying? What's going on?"
"Stop lying!" she screamed. "You think I'm stupid?! I trusted you, Rayyan! You said you loved me!"
"I DO!" he yelled. "I love you, Dee! I never lied about that!"
"Then where's King?" she shouted. "Where's Stape?!"
"I don't know—!"
"YOU DO!"
"I swear on my life, Dee—I don't! Please put the gun down—we can talk—"
"There's nothing to talk about!" she snapped. "I'm tired of pretending."
He froze.
She looked at him, eyes hollow. "I don't love you. I was just acting. I only stayed to find out what you were hiding."
His chest caved in.
"You... you don't mean that," he whispered.
"I do. Everything between us was a lie."
Rayyan's voice cracked. "Please don't say that."
Tears welled in his eyes, but he didn't move.
"You were the only real thing in my life," he said brokenly. "I would've burned the world for you."
"Then prove it," she hissed. "Tell me what you know."
"I can't tell you what I don't know!" Rayyan shouted. "I don't know where King is! I didn't take Stape! I've done many dark things in life... but I swear to you, this isn't one of them!"
Silence fell.
Heavy. Sharp.
Her gun lowered… just slightly.
Rayyan's shoulders shook. "Please... don't leave me like this."
Her voice cracked. "Then help me find them. Or get out of my way."
Rayyan took a step forward.
"I'll help you. Even if it kills me."
Dee with a cold tone says *it it were your life that I want you would have been dead for a long time".
Rayyan says "Dee I hope _"
Dee his sentence "I'm Daphne . You . Never call me Dee again . I will cut your tongue if I ever hear you say Dee again"
These words hit Rayyan straight like an arrow in heart but he nodded .
"Get out" Dee says .
"What" Rayyan ask .
"I don't wanna see your face. If I need you I will text you bye for now hope I won't need your help in future" Dee says and walk upstairs to her room .
He walk outside straight to his car . He can't drive in this state his heart is breaking so hard. He knows that keeping secret would have harm her but she knows it all along and she misunderstood him . It would be better if he tell her all form the start .
With a broken heart he went back to his own house.
---.