Chapter Seventeen: The Illusion of Betrayal

The air in the room felt suffocating, heavy with unspoken words and raw emotion. Lisa sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of the blanket. She had spent the last few days battling the storm in her mind, torn between the love she felt for Taehyung and the doubts that had been planted by Kane.

Her heart ached. It was almost unbearable, this constant tug-of-war between what she wanted to believe and what Kane had been telling her.

The door creaked open, and Kane stepped inside. His expression was unreadable, but there was a certain calmness to his demeanor that unsettled her.

“Lisa,” he said softly, his voice a little too smooth. “I see you’ve been thinking about things. That’s good. You’re starting to understand.”

Lisa looked up at him, her jaw clenched. “What are you going to tell me now, Kane?”

Kane’s lips curled into a faint smile as he walked over to the chair and sat down. “I think it’s time I share something else with you—something you might not know about Taehyung.”

Lisa’s stomach turned at the mention of his name, but she forced herself to stay calm. “What is it?”

Kane took a slow breath, his eyes never leaving her face. “Taehyung isn’t the man you think he is. You see, before you, there was someone else. A woman he loved.”

Lisa’s heart skipped a beat. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at Kane, her pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”

Kane leaned forward, his voice soft and almost sympathetic. “Before he came into your life, Taehyung had a serious relationship. She was everything to him. She was the one he wanted, the one he’d planned a future with.” He paused, watching Lisa’s reaction closely. “But she died, Lisa. And Taehyung never truly got over it.”

Lisa’s mind reeled. A past lover? She tried to push the image away, but it clung to her like a shadow. “That’s not true. Taehyung never mentioned her. He never talked about anyone like that.”

Kane’s gaze softened, but there was a coldness beneath it. “Of course he wouldn’t tell you. It’s part of the act he’s been putting on. He wanted you to think you were the only one, the one who healed him. But it’s all a lie. His past still haunts him, Lisa. He’s never truly let go of her.”

Lisa’s mind whirled. She wanted to scream, to deny everything Kane was saying, but the words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Why hadn’t Taehyung ever mentioned this? Why didn’t she know?

Kane continued, his voice almost hypnotic. “The truth is, Lisa, you were just a distraction. Taehyung didn’t come for you out of love. He came because he couldn’t move on from the pain of his past. He needed someone to fill the void, and you… you were convenient.”

“No,” Lisa whispered, shaking her head. “This can’t be true. I know Taehyung. He would never use me like that.”

Kane’s face softened, and for a moment, there was a flash of something almost kind in his eyes. “I understand how you feel. You want to believe in him, to hold onto that hope. But listen to me, Lisa. If you continue to put your trust in him, you will only get hurt. His past will destroy any future you think you can have together.”

Lisa stood up, her legs shaking as she fought to keep her composure. “You’re lying.”

Kane didn’t flinch. “I wish I were. But Taehyung’s past isn’t something he can escape. And you’re just another chapter in that story. Once he’s done with you, he’ll move on, just like he did with her.”

Lisa felt the cold rush of panic claw at her chest, but she forced herself to breathe, to think. “You’re wrong. You’re trying to manipulate me.”

Kane stood, his eyes never leaving hers. “Believe what you will. But eventually, the truth will come out. You’ll see who Taehyung really is. And when that happens, I’ll be here to help you pick up the pieces.”

With those words, Kane turned and walked toward the door. “Take your time to think, Lisa. I’m sure it’s a lot to process. But remember, the truth always finds its way to the surface.”

As the door closed behind him, Lisa was left alone in the silence of her thoughts. Kane’s words echoed in her head, poisoning her sense of reality. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, torn between the love she believed in and the devastating possibility of betrayal.

But one thing was certain: she couldn’t let Kane win. No matter what lies he told, no matter how many seeds of doubt he planted, Lisa had to find the truth for herself. She couldn’t let anyone—especially Kane—tear apart what she had with Taehyung.

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