The car sped through the thickening night. Rayyan held Rinthara in the back seat, embracing her tightly as if trying to transfer his warmth to her body. Her breathing was weakening, her body burning with fever, yet she shivered as though gripped by a bone-chilling cold.
"Dao, hurry! She can't wait much longer!" Rayyan shouted from the back, his voice filled with panic and barely concealed fear.
Dao, who was driving, pressed the gas pedal to the floor. "I know! There's a place outside the city—my friend can treat her!"
Rayyan gripped Rinthara's hand tightly, his lips dry. "Listen to me, Rinthara. You can't die now. You promised me, remember? You said you wouldn’t leave me like everyone else did."
There was no response from Rinthara. Her eyes remained closed, her face growing paler.
"Damn it!" Rayyan punched the seat in frustration. "Rinthara! Open your eyes!"
Still, no reaction.
Dao glanced at the rearview mirror, seeing Rayyan on the verge of losing control. "We're almost there. Rayyan, hold on. Don't let your emotions take over."
"My emotions?" Rayyan looked up, his eyes red. "If you ever loved someone, you'd understand! I can't let her die!"
As soon as they arrived at a secluded house on the edge of the forest, several armed men stood waiting outside—clearly, they weren’t ordinary doctors. A man in his late forties with a serious expression stepped forward.
"Where is she?"
Without saying a word, Rayyan lifted Rinthara into his arms and carried her inside. "Save her."
The man—a former doctor now working in the underworld—examined Rinthara closely before ordering his men to prepare the medical equipment.
"She's in critical condition. The infection has spread severely."
Rayyan ran a hand through his hair, breathing heavily. "But she can be saved, right?"
The doctor didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pulled out a syringe and injected antibiotics into Rinthara’s body.
"I’ll do my best. But you need to be prepared for anything."
Rayyan stood frozen, his heart pounding.
Prepared? No.
He only had one option—Rinthara had to live.
---
A Few Hours Later
Rayyan hadn’t moved from Rinthara’s side since they arrived. She lay on the bed, her breathing still slow but more stable. He rubbed his face, trying to calm himself, but his heart was still in turmoil.
Dao approached him. "She's stable now. But she needs rest. You should rest too, Rayyan."
"I can't leave her."
Dao sighed. "Rayyan—"
"Don't tell me to go, Dao," Rayyan interrupted, his voice hoarse. "I won’t leave her again."
For a moment, they stared at each other. Eventually, Dao relented and walked away, leaving Rayyan alone.
Rayyan sat at the edge of the bed, gazing at Rinthara’s now peaceful face. He reached out, gently running his thumb over her still-warm skin.
"I've never been this scared before, Rinthara," he whispered. "Never."
He tightened his grip on her fingers.
"So please, if you can hear me… don’t leave me."
And for the first time, Rayyan finally admitted it…
He couldn't lose Rinthara.
The room was silent, save for the soft hum of medical equipment and the steady rhythm of Rinthara’s breathing. Rayyan remained beside her, his eyes never leaving her face for even a second.
Just hours ago, he had almost lost her. But now, she was still here—alive, still breathing.
The doctor stepped in, checking her pulse and condition before turning to Rayyan. "She's stable. The infection has been contained. But she needs plenty of rest."
Rayyan nodded slowly, saying nothing. His gaze remained locked on Rinthara.
"She might wake up in a few hours," the doctor continued. "Give her time."
Once the doctor left, Rayyan leaned back in his chair, exhaling heavily as exhaustion seeped into his bones.
Still, he refused to sleep.
He wanted to be here when Rinthara opened her eyes.
Rayyan sat in silence, his fingers still clutching Rinthara’s hand. He wasn't sure when he had finally dozed off, but a soft movement against his hand jolted him awake.
His eyes snapped open.
Rinthara’s fingers twitched slightly, and then her eyelids fluttered.
"Rinthara?" Rayyan's voice was a whisper, laced with hope.
Her eyes slowly opened, slightly unfocused and weak. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim light.
"Ray...yan?" Her voice was hoarse and faint.
For a moment, Rayyan felt his chest tighten. He gripped her hand even tighter.
"I'm here."
Rinthara tried to move, but her body was too weak. Rayyan immediately supported her, helping her settle comfortably.
"You scared the hell out of me, you know that?" Rayyan tried to sound casual, but his voice trembled.
Rinthara glanced at him, weak but meaningful. "I'm still alive, aren’t I?"
Rayyan nodded, a small smile appearing despite his glassy eyes. "Yeah. You're still alive."
Rinthara took a deep breath. "I… I thought I wouldn't wake up again."
Rayyan held her hand firmly. "Don’t say that. I won’t let you go."
They stared at each other. Amidst the exhaustion and pain, there was something warm in that moment—something that didn’t need words.
"I'm tired," Rinthara whispered.
Rayyan nodded. "Sleep. I'll stay here."
She closed her eyes again, this time with more ease. Her fingers remained intertwined with Rayyan’s, as if she refused to let go.
Rayyan didn’t move.
That night, he realized one undeniable truth—he wouldn’t let anyone touch Rinthara again.
Not Rinrada. Not anyone.
---
After several days of treatment, Rinthara’s condition improved. Though her body was still weak, she insisted on returning to the headquarters. Rayyan had no choice but to comply, as long as he could ensure she wouldn’t put herself in danger again.
The ride back was silent. Rinthara leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes as if resting, but Rayyan knew her mind never stopped working.
He glanced at her. "Are you sure you want to go back now? You still need to rest, Rinthara."
She slowly opened her eyes, turning to him with a sharp gaze. "I can't rest too long. We have work to do."
Rayyan sighed. "You're stubborn."
A smirk played on her lips. "You’re just realizing that now?"
Rayyan only shook his head and focused on the road ahead.
As soon as they arrived at the headquarters, several subordinates greeted them. Han was already waiting at the entrance, alongside Thanos, who looked satisfied.
"Boss," Thanos spoke. "We caught Rafael."
Rinthara's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Good. Where is he?"
"Underground," Thanos replied. "We've secured him. You can interrogate him anytime."
Rinthara nodded before turning to Rayyan. "I want to see him now."
Rayyan frowned. "You just recovered, Rinthara."
She shot him a sharp look. "And I won’t rest until I finish what I started."
Rayyan exhaled heavily. There was no use arguing. "Fine. I’m coming with you."
Rafael sat on a chair, his hands tied behind his back. His face was bruised, his lips cracked—evidence of the torture he had endured.
Yet, even in his battered state, he managed a smug smile as Rinthara entered the room.
"So, the big boss comes in person," Rafael rasped. "I’m honored to see what you have to ask."
Rinthara showed no emotion. She simply pulled out a chair and sat in front of him, her gaze like a dagger piercing through him.
"I won’t ask twice," she said, her voice low but menacing. "Who ordered you to attack my territory?"
Rafael chuckled, though the movement clearly pained him. "You think I’ll give you an answer that easily?"
Rinthara didn’t waste any time. She grabbed a small knife from her waist and slowly pressed it against Rafael’s arm.
“I can make you talk,” she whispered.
Rayyan stood at the side, just watching. He already knew how cruel this world was, but there was something about Rinthara that made her different—she wasn’t just ruthless, she was filled with vengeance.
Rafael bit his lip, enduring the pain. But he still smirked. “Even if I talk, you won’t like the answer.”
Rinthara pressed the knife deeper. “Let me hear it first.”
Rafael held his breath before finally speaking.
“The one who wants to take you down… isn’t just Rinrada.”
Rinthara clenched her teeth. “What do you mean?”
“There’s someone bigger in this game,” Rafael whispered. “And they’re waiting for the right time to destroy you from within.”
Rinthara and Rayyan exchanged looks.
Who was their real enemy?
—
As soon as she left the interrogation room, Rinthara entered her office with a face void of emotion. However, deep inside, her rage was boiling. Rafael’s words echoed in her mind.
A traitor within her own organization?
She pressed the intercom button. “Thanos, come to my office now.”
Within a minute, Thanos stepped in. “What happened?”
Rinthara exhaled. “We have a bigger problem. I need you to check every transaction from the last two months. If anyone made suspicious moves, I want to know.”
Thanos nodded. “You think Rafael was telling the truth?”
Rinthara leaned back in her chair. “I can’t take the risk of ignoring this. If there’s a traitor in my own organization, I want them dead before they have the chance to stab me.”
Thanos was silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll investigate. But you need to be careful, Rinthara. If there really is a traitor among us, you don’t know who you can trust.”
“I know.”
Rayyan stood at the side, merely observing. He could see the tension in Rinthara, even though she tried to mask it behind her cold expression.
After Thanos left, Rinthara stood and looked at Rayyan. “I want you to come with me.”
“Where to?”
“A safer place to talk.”
—
They stood on a balcony overlooking the city, neon lights flickering in the distance. The night breeze blew softly, causing strands of Rinthara’s hair to drift slightly.
Rayyan glanced at her from the side. No matter how much he tried to deny it, he couldn’t ignore the fact that Rinthara had an aura that was both dangerous and mesmerizing.
“Who do you think betrayed you?” Rayyan finally asked.
Rinthara closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. “I don’t know. But Rafael wouldn’t lie about this. I know him. He’d rather die than give false information.”
Rayyan leaned against the balcony railing. “What will you do if you find out who it is?”
Rinthara’s gaze was sharp. “What else? I’ll kill them with my own hands.”
Rayyan let out a small smile, though his heart felt heavy. “You really don’t give second chances, huh?”
Rinthara raised an eyebrow. “In this world, second chances can lead to death. I won’t make that mistake.”
Rayyan swallowed. Those words felt like a warning directed at him.
He shifted his gaze to the star-filled sky. “Do you still make wishes on the stars?”
Rinthara stiffened slightly at the question. She was silent for a moment before answering softly, “Not anymore. I’ve learned that stars don’t answer our prayers.”
“But you still like looking at them.”
Rinthara turned to him, her smile faint. “Because they’re the only thing that never changes in my life. Everything else can be destroyed, but the stars will always be there.”
Rayyan stared at her for a long moment. And in that second, he felt something heavy settle in his chest.
He had to betray this woman.
But the more he got to know Rinthara, the harder it became to do it.
Rinthara suddenly turned her gaze toward him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Rayyan snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
Rinthara tilted her head slightly, as if studying his face. “Are you hiding something from me?”
Rayyan’s chest tightened. But he maintained a calm expression. “If I were hiding something, do you think I’d tell you?”
Rinthara let out a small smirk. “You’re getting better at playing with words, Rayyan.”
Rayyan only gave a faint smile. But inside, his heart was in turmoil.
He was falling deeper into feelings he wasn’t supposed to have.
And he knew… sooner or later, he had to make a choice.
—
They made small talk for a bit before Rayyan excused himself and went to his room.
There was a message from his captain in Malaysia. He had to be careful.
Lying on his bed, Rayyan stared at the ceiling fan spinning slowly. His phone vibrated beside him. He picked it up and saw a message from his captain.
“Your time is running out, Rayyan. The higher-ups are putting pressure. I can’t hold them back any longer.”
Rayyan clenched his jaw. He knew this was coming. But his heart felt heavy.
He turned to the side. Through the slightly open door, he could see Rinthara sitting on the balcony of the headquarters, staring at the sky. The wounds on her body hadn’t fully healed, yet she remained strong, still standing.
Shit.
He should have taken Rinthara down a long time ago. But the longer he stayed with her, the harder it became.
His phone vibrated again.
“Your mission is clear, Rayyan. Bring her to the location we set. If you fail, don’t expect to return to Malaysia.”
Rayyan let out a slow breath. He pressed his phone to his forehead for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts.
Suddenly, Rinthara’s voice broke the silence.
“You’re still awake?”
Rayyan flinched and turned his head. Rinthara was already standing at the door, leaning against it with her arms crossed. Her sharp eyes studied his face.
“I’m not sleepy.”
Rinthara was silent for a moment before walking closer. She pulled a chair and sat in front of Rayyan.
“Something’s bothering you?”
Rayyan swallowed. Rinthara was too perceptive.
“It’s nothing.”
“You sure?”
Rayyan gave a faint smile, masking his unease. “Just tired.”
Rinthara nodded slowly. “Me too.”
Silence fell between them. But in that quiet moment, something unspoken lingered.
Rinthara leaned back. “I never asked before… but if one day you decide to leave, will you tell me first?”
Rayyan’s chest tightened.
“Why ask that?”
Rinthara gave a small, unreadable smile.
“Because I don’t like being left without a reason.”
Rayyan felt as if his heart was being squeezed. Those words carried more weight than they should have.
He swallowed and tried to keep his face neutral.
“I won’t leave without a reason.”
Rinthara nodded. But she still looked at him with an unreadable expression.
“I hope you’re not lying to me, Rayyan.”
Rayyan felt like those words pierced straight through his heart.
Because he knew… in just a few days, he would have to betray Rinthara.