Chapter 2
The rhythmic hum of the city below filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Rathod penthouse. Avyaan Rathod stood still, one hand tucked in the pocket of his charcoal suit trousers, the other holding a crystal glass of scotch. His gaze lingered on the horizon, where skyscrapers clawed at the dusk-drenched sky. The golden-orange hue seemed to mock him—beauty painted over a battlefield.
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
** stepped into the room, arms crossed and eyes laced with concern**
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
They finalized it
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
The Grovers agreed. The wedding is in two days.
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** didn’t turn around **
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
Of course they did ❄️
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
You don't seem pleased
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** took a slow sip of his drink **
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
Because I'm not ❄️
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
But this was your idea, wasn’t it?
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
** walked beside him, glancing out the window **
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
To offer them a deal in exchange for marriage? To take control of the Grovers' mess and their crumbling empire?
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
And I did it to end what began a long time ago ❄️
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
** brows furrowed ** Revenge?
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** bitter smile curled **
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
Redemption. Vengeance. Call it what you want.❄️
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
But Arunika—
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
I know who she is ❄️
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
You think she’s like them?
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
She is them ❄️
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
same blood same legacy ❄️
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
Still, marrying her like this... forcing her into a life she didn’t choose—doesn’t that make us the same as them?
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** jaw tightened **
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** turned towards her **
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** eyes—icy, unreadable—cutting through the dim light of the penthouse **
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
I don’t expect love or affection. This is business. Strategic. A marriage of power, not emotion ❄️
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
And yet you watched her
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
When you met her at that charity gala last year. You didn’t know who she was then, but you looked at her like she was... different
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** looked away **
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
I saw something in her, yes. Fire. Grace. Defiance. But that was before I knew her name. Before I knew the blood she carried ❄️
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
So now what?
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
Now she becomes my wife ❄️
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
** folded her arms **
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
And if she hates you?
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** scoffs **
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
Let her. Hate is easy to manage. It’s emotions I don’t need to deal with ❄️
At that moment, the door opened, and Raghav Sen, Avyaan’s most trusted friend and right-hand, stepped inside.
Raghav Sen/ ML bestfriend
Everything’s in place ** handing Avyaan a folder **
Raghav Sen/ ML bestfriend
The legal papers, property transfers, and the NDA. Once she signs, the Grovers lose all claim over you. But there’s something else...
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** raised an eyebrow**
Raghav Sen/ ML bestfriend
There’s chatter that someone inside the Grover estate is planning to leak details to the media. Possibly Kiaan
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** gave a cold smile **
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
Then remind him what’s at stake. Quietly❄️
Raghav Sen/ ML bestfriend
** nodded and left the room **
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
** looked at her brother again **
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
This isn’t just revenge, is it? You’re afraid of what she might make you feel
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
I’m not afraid of anyone ❄️ ** said sharply **
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
You are ** whispered **
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
Not of her. But of what she'll uncover—about you. About what really happened to our family
Anaya Rathod / ML elder sister
Do you think she’ll ever accept this?
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
She doesn’t have to ❄️
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
She just has to stay ❄️
And as night swallowed the city skyline, Avyaan Rathod turned back to the glass, staring at his reflection in the blackened window—alone, powerful, and more haunted than he’d ever admit.
Arunika Grover paced the marble-floored corridor of the Grover estate like a trapped tigress. The silence of the house, once a comforting blanket of luxury, now suffocated her. Her heels clicked sharply against the floor, her nerves thrumming with outrage and disbelief.
She could no longer stay silent
Arunika Grover/ FL
** storms into Anurag's study room **
Anurag Grover/ FL grandfather
** sipping tea with his usual calm arrogance **
Arunika Grover/ FL
I want to meet him ** said sharply **
Anurag Grover/ FL grandfather
** didn't look up ** You will. On the wedding day ❄️
Arunika Grover/ FL
No. Now
Anjali Grover/ FL grandmother
** seated beside him, set her teacup down **
Anjali Grover/ FL grandmother
Arunika—
Arunika Grover/ FL
I am not some pawn in your power games! If you expect me to marry a stranger, I have the right to know who he is. To see him face to face
Anurag Grover/ FL grandfather
** looked up, his eyes glinting with unspoken power **
Anurag Grover/ FL grandfather
You’ll meet him tomorrow evening. You can call it... a formal engagement meeting. ❄️
Arunika Grover/ FL
And what if I say no after meeting him?
Anurag Grover/ FL grandfather
Then Kiaan’s future ends here ❄️
Anurag Grover/ FL grandfather
** said flatly **
Arunika Grover/ FL
** froze **
Arunika Grover/ FL
You wouldn’t—
Anurag Grover/ FL grandfather
We already have one foot in the grave, child. Don’t tempt me to push us the rest of the way ❄️
The next evening arrived like a gathering storm. Arunika, dressed in a sleek emerald green kurta set, stood in the private lounge of a five-star hotel where the meeting was arranged. Every nerve in her body was taut as she waited.
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** walked in like he owned the air itself—charcoal-black three-piece suit, steel-cold eyes, and an aura that made the room feel smaller **
Arunika Grover/ FL
** stood up keeping her spine straight **
Arunika Grover/ FL
You must be the man I’m being auctioned off to ❄️
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
** didn’t smile **
Avyaan Rathod/ ML
And you must be the woman playing martyr in a palace built of lies ❄️
Their eyes locked like two swords
Arunika Grover/ FL
I didn’t agree to this ❄️
Comments
lucecita_UwU
Totally addicted!
2025-05-18
1