Chapter Sixteen: The Shattered Bond

Lisa sat on the edge of her cot, her body tense, her mind a storm of confusion. Kane’s words echoed in her head, each syllable weaving a web of doubt. The images he had shown her were damning, but she clung to the hope that they were fabricated, part of some cruel manipulation.

The door slid open once more, and Kane entered. This time, he carried no tablet or files, only a calm and disarming demeanor. His footsteps were slow, calculated, as if he were approaching a wounded animal.

“Lisa,” he said softly, his voice devoid of its usual smugness. “I know you’re struggling with what I’ve told you. I didn’t come here to gloat or pressure you. I just want to talk.”

Lisa didn’t respond. Her eyes flicked to him briefly before settling back on the floor.

Kane pulled the chair closer, sitting across from her. He let the silence stretch between them, waiting for her to speak first. When she didn’t, he sighed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“I didn’t want you to find out this way,” he said, his tone almost regretful. “But you needed to know the truth about Taehyung. He’s not who you think he is.”

Lisa’s jaw tightened, her voice sharp. “You’ve shown me nothing but half-truths and manipulated images. How am I supposed to believe you?”

Kane nodded, as if expecting her response. “I understand your skepticism. But let me ask you this—has Taehyung ever told you about his time before he met you? About the things he’s done?”

Lisa hesitated. She wanted to defend Taehyung, to deny Kane’s insinuations, but the truth was, Taehyung had always been guarded about his past.

“People like Taehyung don’t just walk away from organizations like Aegis,” Kane continued. “He didn’t leave because of some moral awakening or love for you. He left because he failed. Aegis gave him everything—power, purpose, loyalty. And when he betrayed us, he didn’t just betray the organization. He betrayed himself.”

“That’s a lie,” Lisa snapped, her voice trembling. “He left because he knew what you were doing was wrong.”

Kane leaned back, studying her with an almost fatherly expression. “Did he tell you that? Or is that what you told yourself to justify his actions?”

Lisa clenched her fists, anger and confusion warring within her.

“You think he’s fighting to save you out of love,” Kane said, his voice softening. “But the truth is, he’s fighting out of guilt. Guilt for dragging you into this mess. Guilt for knowing that, deep down, he’s the reason you’re here.”

Tears pricked at Lisa’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “You don’t know him.”

Kane smiled faintly, a hint of sadness in his expression. “I know him better than you think. Taehyung is a man torn between who he was and who he wants to be. But people don’t change, Lisa. Not really. You’ll see that soon enough.”

Lisa shook her head, her voice cracking. “Why are you doing this? Why do you care what I think of him?”

Kane’s gaze hardened, the pity in his eyes replaced by something sharper. “Because the truth matters, Lisa. And if you want to survive this, you need to understand the kind of man Taehyung really is. You need to know that trusting him will only get you hurt.”

He stood, his imposing figure casting a shadow over her. “I’ll leave you to think about it. But remember, Lisa—lies can only protect you for so long. The truth always comes out.”

As the door closed behind him, Lisa buried her face in her hands. She wanted to believe in Taehyung, to trust the man she loved. But Kane’s words had sown seeds of doubt, and the weight of those doubts threatened to crush her.

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