Truth or Denial
Doris sat at her desk in the studio, eyes glued to her laptop screen.
The search results for Lila Voss were endless.
Old interviews.
Tabloid headlines.
Fan theories.
And one thing kept repeating:
"Was Lila Voss's death really a suicide?"
She clicked on a forum thread titled:
"What Really Happened in Dante Dangerwaker's Studio?"
A user named @MidnightMelody had posted a long theory.
"I've followed Dante's career since he first started producing. He was known for working with only the most promising artists. But none like Lila. She wasn't just another muse. She was his obsession."
Doris swallowed hard.
Obsession?
That word sent a chill down her spine.
She scrolled further.
"After Lila died, Dante vanished. No statements. No interviews. Just silence. But before that, there were rumors. Fights. Breakups. A final night where someone saw them arguing outside his studio."
Doris leaned back in her chair.
Had Dante loved Lila?
Had they been more than friends?
And if so… what did that mean for her?
Footsteps approached.
She slammed the laptop shut.
Dante stood in the doorway, watching her carefully.
"You've been digging," he said quietly.
She met his gaze.
"I deserve answers."
He walked over slowly, placing a hand on the edge of her desk.
"There are things you don't know."
"I'm starting to figure them out."
He exhaled sharply.
"Then stop."
She shook her head. "No."
His jaw tightened.
"Please, Doris."
"No."
He stared at her for a long moment.
Then turned away.
"I'll tell you everything. But not here."
---
Flashback: Dante and Lila
It started like any other collaboration.
Lila Voss was a rising star—soulful voice, poetic lyrics, and a magnetic presence.
Dante had heard her demo tape and insisted she be signed to his label.
They worked together.
Night after night.
Song after song.
Until the music became something else.
Something dangerous.
Something real.
They kissed during a late-night session.
It should have stopped there.
But it didn't.
They fell into each other like two broken melodies trying to find harmony.
But Lila was fragile.
Haunted by addiction.
Haunted by pressure.
Haunted by love.
Dante tried to save her.
Tried to pull her back.
But she slipped through his fingers.
And when he found her body in his apartment…
He blamed himself.
Not the drugs.
Not the industry.
Himself.
Because he couldn't let go.
Even when she begged him to.
---
Secrets in the Rain
Doris followed Dante through the streets of London, the city lit by neon and misted rain.
They walked in silence until they reached an old bookstore tucked between a café and a shuttered jazz club.
Inside, the air smelled of paper and dust.
Dante led her upstairs to a small room filled with books, records, and a single window overlooking the street.
"This is where I used to come when I needed to disappear," he said.
She stepped inside cautiously.
He turned to face her.
"You want the truth?"
She nodded.
He took a deep breath.
"I loved her."
Her heart clenched.
"But it wasn't healthy," he continued. "We weren't. We were both drowning, and we pulled each other under."
Doris swallowed. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because I need you to understand why I ran."
She looked at him, searching his face.
"And why are you back?"
His expression darkened. "Because someone wants me to pay for what happened."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
"There's more to Lila's death than anyone knows."
Her pulse quickened.
"What aren't you telling me?"
He hesitated.
Then whispered, "I think she was murdered."
---
The Hidden Threat
Doris's breath caught.
"Murdered?"
Dante nodded. "I've never told anyone that before."
She sank onto the edge of the couch.
"Who would want to hurt her?"
He looked away. "There were people who wanted her gone. People who benefited from her death."
"Like who?"
He hesitated again.
Finally, he said, "Her manager. Victor Hale."
Doris's eyes widened. "You think he killed her?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "But I know he was angry when she cut ties with him. He threatened me once. Said I was ruining her career."
She felt a cold dread settle in her stomach.
"Did you tell the police?"
"They didn't care. They ruled it a suicide. Closed the case."
Doris stood. "So you're saying no one ever investigated it properly?"
"No."
She paced.
"If that's true…" She looked at him. "Then why come back now? Why risk everything?"
He studied her.
"Because I think he's still out there."
She froze.
"What?"
"He's been watching me. Leaving messages. Trying to scare me off."
She remembered the note she'd found in the studio.
"Stop digging. Before you get hurt."
Her voice was barely above a whisper. "You think he's after me too?"
Dante's expression hardened.
"I don't know. But I won't let anything happen to you."
---
Reflections
They left the bookstore together, the rain falling heavier now.
Doris felt like the world had shifted beneath her feet.
Everything she thought she knew about Dante…
About herself…
About the man standing beside her…
It was all unraveling.
As they walked, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She pulled it out.
An unknown number.
One message.
"You shouldn't have opened that drawer."
She gasped.
Dante grabbed her phone.
Read the message.
Cursed under his breath.
Then pulled her closer.
"We need to be careful."
She nodded.
For the first time, she realized…
This wasn't just about fashion.
Or music.
Or even love.
This was about survival.