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The evening sun cast long golden streaks across the penthouseās living room, giving everything a warm glow. Aradhya was alone, her delicate hands smoothing the cushions on the sofa with quiet focus. She had been restless since Avyaan left for the party earlier, and though he had returned not too long ago, his brooding silence filled the space like an unspoken storm.
She glanced around the expansive room ā its clean, modern lines felt intimidating, almost too pristine for her presence. Adjusting one of the cushions, she bent slightly to pick up another that had slipped to the floor. The fabric brushed softly against her fingers, but before she could straighten up, she sensed him.
Avyaan.
His presence filled the room without a sound. Dressed still in his black Armani suit, the faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air ā sh
š©· š MADRAGE, however, wasnāt convinced. She stalked forward, her eyes burning with impatience. āWant me to make him remember something else? Maybe a little persuasion will loosen his tongue.ā Rakesh whimpered at the threat, his body jerking against the ropes. āNo, no! Iāve told you everything I know! Please, I donāt know anything else!ā Avyaan raised a hand, stopping MADRAGE in her tracks. His expression was calm again, but his eyes burned with something darker ā a determination that could crush steel. āYouāre useless now,ā Avyaan said quietly, though his tone was laced with finality. āBut youāve given me something. A start.ā Rakeshās breath hitched, his eyes widening with fear. āPlease⦠I swear Iāā āHY,ā Avyaan said, not looking at the man, ākeep him alive. For now. If I need him again, Iāll call. If I donātā¦ā He let the words hang in the air, the unspoken threat sinking into Rakeshās soul. HY gave a single nod, his usual smirk returning as he grabbed Rakeshās chair an
š©· š.Avyaan’s gaze shifted back to the sleeping figure on the bed. Aradhya’s breathing was soft, her features unguarded in sleep. For a moment, his hardened expression softened slightly, but his voice remained steel when he spoke again. “Keep him alive. No one touches him until I’m there. I want to hear every word come out of his mouth myself.”“Understood,” SM said. “We’ll keep the place secure. But Viper, if he refuses—”“Then you already know what to do,” Avyaan cut in, his tone final, leaving no room for argument.There was a brief silence, then SM’s voice returned, cool and sharp. “As you say.” The line disconnec
š©·š.The night grew darker, and silence wrapped the penthouse like a soft, invisible blanket. It was past midnight when Avyaan stepped out of his study. The whiskey glass on his desk was still half full, untouched for the last hour. His mind wasn’t on business, nor on the looming conflicts of his underworld empire. It was on her.The soft glow of the hallway lights guided him toward the living room, and the sight waiting for him made him stop.Aradhya.She had fallen asleep on the sofa, her small frame curled slightly as if trying to find comfort on the wide cushions. Her hand rested on the pillow she had hugged earlier, and the faint rise and fall of her chest was the only movement in the room. Her hair had fallen across her face, soft strands brushing over her cheeks.Avyaan stoo
š©· šThe evening sun cast long golden streaks across the penthouseās living room, giving everything a warm glow. Aradhya was alone, her delicate hands smoothing the cushions on the sofa with quiet focus. She had been restless since Avyaan left for the party earlier, and though he had returned not too long ago, his brooding silence filled the space like an unspoken storm.She glanced around the expansive room ā its clean, modern lines felt intimidating, almost too pristine for her presence. Adjusting one of the cushions, she bent slightly to pick up another that had slipped to the floor. The fabric brushed softly against her fingers, but before she could straighten up, she sensed him.Avyaan.His presence filled the room without a sound. Dressed still in his black Armani suit, the faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air ā sh
š©· š.The city’s underworld was a battlefield, but Avyaan Singh Rathore ruled it like a silent storm. When Sinclair tried to cross him, Avyaan didn’t need a reason to respond. Yet, Sinclair gave him one—a betrayal that sealed his fate.It was midnight when Avyaan’s SUV screeched to a halt in front of an abandoned dockyard. The rain was relentless, drumming against the metal containers stacked high like walls of a labyrinth. Hardik Yadav—MADWOLF—stepped out first, adjusting the grip on his gun, his eyes scanning the shadows.“He’s here,” Hardik said, his tone grim. “Our guy inside the docks saw Sinclair’s men moving crates without clearance. He thinks we’re blind.”Avyaan’s jaw tightened, his voice sharp. “He not only ignored my warning but tried
š©· š.The morning slipped by quietly, wrapped in the stillness of the penthouse. Aradhya spent most of it resting, her body still recovering. Avyaan, though present, was buried in work calls and documents, his sharp gaze often straying toward her as though silently checking if she was alright.By the time the clock struck 4 PM, the air had shifted. Avyaan’s phone buzzed sharply on the glass table, its screen flashing with a single name — Nikhil.Avyaan answered with his usual calm, though his tone carried a weight that only those close to him understood.“There’s a party tonight,” Nikhil’s voice came from the other end, clipped but firm. “It’s not one of those high-society gatherings. This one… matters. We need to be there.”Avyaan&r