KISS OF HIS BETRAYAL

CHAPTER 7

“Hello… I know I look hot. Now stop gawking and let me in,” Davina smirked, her tone sharp and commanding.

Jenny crossed her arms, brow furrowed.

“You disappear for years, shun me from your life and force me to take on the responsibility of managing your business in Europe, and now you show up like you never left?”

Davina’s smirk faltered for just a second.

“I didn’t come for a reunion, Jenny. I came because I need you.”

Jenny narrowed her eyes.

“That’s the problem, Shifu. You always come when you need something, but never there when I need you. You are definitely not the best friend whom I once loved more than myself. ”

Davina eyed Jenny stepping inside, uninvited.

“Spare me the guilt trip. I’ve got enough ghosts clawing at my throat as it is.”

Jenny slammed the door.

“So what is it this time? A man to destroy? Another kingdom to burn?”

Davina turned, deadly calm.

“No. This time I need you for a different reason. I’m going back to New York. To set fire to my past. To end everything. It's time, baby for us to face the ghost of our past, and I need you by my side.”

Jenny scoffed.

“I burned that bridge already. Even you should have. You have a life now, Davi. A family. A man who would die for you. Kids. A business Empire. Everything that you dreamed of once. Then why go back and ruin all that? Just forgive them and forget everything, you will find peace, it will help you move on. Else, all these revenge schemes will ruin you Davi. Will destroy everuthing that you built. Please don’t ruin your life for some pety revenge. I beg you atleast for the sake of your parents and kids.”

A mocking smile lingered on Davina’s face, her eyes hardened.

“Parents. Kids." She laughed a laughter full of mockery.

"You think I want to ruin my life? You think I had a choice in any of this? You think I don’t know about the consequences? I am well aware, Jenna, but I can’t just forgive and forget. They took everything from me, Jenny. He took everything and now I’m just taking it back. ”

Jenny’s voice softened, but the edge remained.

“And what will it cost this time? Your sanity? Your freedom from all the baggage that you have been carrying all these years? Your kids? Your this beautiful life with Michael?”

Davina looked away.

“It was never mine to begin with, and you know that— none of those matters anyways.

Call me selfish, but I have to do this for my peace of mind. It's been years. I haven’t had a single day where fear hasn’t consumed me, a day without having conflict or an inner turmoil. I can only move on in my life if I know my justice is served.”

Jenny shook her head, but Davina didn’t let her speak.

“You know I’ve always wanted to expand my business—take over and rebuild my mom’s company. Once it’s up and running, he’ll notice. Knowing him, I’m certain he’ll figure it out… he’ll uncover the truth. And then he’ll come for me. He’ll tear everything I care about away from me… again.

I don’t know how to stop that. I don’t know how I’ll survive it.

But this time, I have a plan. I can catch him off guard. I can protect my family.

Because I won’t back down. That company was my parents’ blood and sweat. Their legacy. The only thing left of them.

He destroyed everything else.”

Silence fell between them, heavy with the weight of unspoken truths.

Then she broke it.

“Pack up. You’re coming with me. No excuses. I need you. Mike can’t come. He doesn’t know anything about my past. I don’t care if you hate me for it— I need you, Jenny. Just until the event at least. After that, you can leave, YOU SHOULD LEAVE….. Else it might ruin you as well.”

Jenny sighed, stared at her. “Even I don't know anything."

She sighed "You never did know how to ask, did you?”

Davina’s voice cracked.

“I’m asking now. Please. I have just six months. Mike gave me six months to make up my mind and inform him about my decision. So, I need this before we…..”

Jenny muttered under her breath, “Now, who is emotionally manipulating? (Davina smirked, wiping her tears) Bitch.”

Davina grinned. That infuriating smirk again. “Still, I know you love me.”

Jenny huffed. She knew there was no point resisting.

She packed.

Meanwhile, Davina called Naina.

“Did you prepone the event? I want you to arrange everything within ten days. I don’t want to hear any excuses, Naina. And don’t use my name. Make up something. Trust me— no one will dare miss our event. They’re all dying to know who Davina Parker is, especially since I won that title and have also informed I won't be attending the Award ceremony. Anyways, did you get all the details I asked you to get? You have time until I reach there for that. I am in London now, will leave from here within 2 to 3 hours.”

She ended the call and laughed like a true devil, cold and unhinged, when she noticed Jenny’s stunned face.

Jenny shook her head. “How can someone be so selfish and bossy? Poor Naina.”

“I heard that,” Davina smirked again.

Jenny rolled her eyes, but her voice was quieter. “I miss the old you… The kind, loving yet fiery rebel. The girl who didn’t hide behind diamonds and sarcasm but took care and kept her loved one’s above herself and cherished them.”

Davina’s voice dropped, raw and low.

“That girl died screaming and asking for help from those same loved ones, Jenny. And no one listened….. NO ONE”

Jenny flinched.

“I’m not a rebel without a cause. I was the cause. And they buried it alive.”

Jenny wanted to ask more. But she knew better. Davina would only speak when she wanted to. So she stayed quiet.

They rode to the airport in silence, both watching the city pass by through opposite windows. The car felt colder than the London wind outside.

At the airport, Davina ignored Jenny completely. She walked ahead like she was alone. And Jenny, hurt but used to it— didn’t protest. Her tears said everything she couldn’t.

Onboard, Davina sat away from her, staring blankly.

Her heart ached to reach out — but she was afraid. Afraid that the moment she let herself feel, she would fall apart. She wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

When the pilot announced they could unbuckle, Davina finally turned and saw the tears in Jenny’s eyes. Her own walls crumbled.

She rushed over and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

She hugged her tightly, hiding her face in her best friend’s shoulder.

Jenny, stunned at first, finally understood. This was the real Davina, the broken one hiding behind armor. She held her, stroked her hair, and let her fall apart.

“I know what’s coming, Jenna,” Davina whispered, broken and raw.

“At the end of all this… I’ll lose everything. He’ll take it all away— again. And I’m terrified. But I need this. Just once. I need to see him crumble. Suffer. I need to feel something again… even if it’s just for a day. I can’t just keep on hiding forever…. That’s not how I want to live my life… I need to face my demons…. I have to… and I will even if it destroys me at the end.”

Her voice cracked with each word.

“I don’t even know if I’m doing the right thing anymore. But backing out now? That’s not an option. Too many people are involved. Too many lives would be affected. I need this closure… even if it destroys me. Honestly, I have prepared myself for that destruction.”

Jenny held her tighter, “I will be there for you, Shifu, to support and hold you when you feel low, when you need a hand to lift your spirit. If you fall, I will fall with you. Its my promise.”

Neither of them spoke again.

Because sometimes, silence says more than any words ever could.