Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Girl They Betrayed : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

In the aftermath of the emergency landing, the airline arranged overnight accommodation for every stranded passenger while engineers investigated the aircraft’s mechanical failure and replacement flights were scheduled for the following morning.Barely an hour later, Aanya stood outside her assigned hotel room, key card still in her hand, trying to steady the storm of emotions churning inside her. The terror of the afternoon hadn’t faded. Every time she replayed the flight in her mind, she could still hear the metallic groan from the aircraft, still feel the violent shudder that had rippled through the cabin, still remember the terrifying certainty that she might never make it home.She was so lost in thought that she almost didn’t notice Zayn approaching until he stopped beside her.He held a room key of his own.“The room next to yours,” he said simply, lifting it slightly before slipping it back into his pocket.She looked at him with raised eyebrows, unable to hide the faint smile

Viraj Singhania received news of the failed board infiltration with the chilling composure of a man who had spent his entire life refusing to accept failure. He paced the length of his private study in measured strides while his most trusted aide stood nearby, detailing Suresh Nair’s exposure and abrupt resignation.For several moments, Viraj said nothing.Then he spoke, his voice calm enough to be far more dangerous than anger.“Three months,” he said quietly. “Three months of careful planning. Three months spent placing a man on that board, crafting him into someone beyond suspicion… and the Oberoi family’s legal counsel dismantled everything in under an hour.”“The Raizada connection has complicated matters considerably, sir,” the aide replied cautiously. “Our sources confirm that Zayn Raizada has personally intervened to protect Ms. Oberoi on at least two occasions—the attempted hit on the street and, more recently, during the mechanical emergency on her Bangalore flight. We still

The call came from someone Aanya had never expected to hear from.Her name was Ananya Sharma—no relation—and she had spent nearly three years investigating Mumbai’s underworld before abruptly abandoning the project. According to her, it hadn’t been a lack of evidence that forced her to stop.It had been fear.When Aanya answered the call, the journalist spoke in calm, measured sentences, every word chosen with deliberate care.“I’m not calling to warn you away from him,” she said. “I’m calling because I think you deserve to know what I discovered before I stopped looking. You strike me as someone who values facts over reputation. And the facts about Zayn Raizada are far darker than the carefully managed image most people get to see.”A chill settled over Aanya.She gripped the phone tighter, instinctively bracing herself for something she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear.“Tell me.”What followed over the next forty minutes left her frozen.This wasn’t gossip whispered through corporate

Distance, Aanya discovered, wasn’t created by miles.Sometimes, it was built through silence.She buried herself in work with the same relentless determination that had carried her through the devastation of Kabir and Rhea’s betrayal. Long hours, endless meetings, and impossible deadlines became convenient distractions—anything to keep her from confronting the storm Zayn’s confession had stirred inside her.Work demanded everything.That suited her perfectly.It left little room to think.For nearly a week, she ignored every message he sent.There weren’t many.He never pleaded.Never questioned her silence.Never asked where he stood.Instead, he sent short, matter-of-fact updates that carried no expectation of a reply.“Meeting ran late near your office tonight. I checked your building’s security before leaving.”“Your driver changed routes today. I had it verified.”“Heavy traffic outside your apartment. My men will keep an eye on the area until it clears.”Each message ended there

The weeks that followed settled into a quiet, careful rhythm.Aanya no longer shut Zayn out completely, but neither did she allow herself to fall back into the effortless closeness they had once shared.Instead, she drew a line.A clear one.He could remain in her life.He could continue protecting her.But only on terms they both understood.There would be no more silent interventions.No more decisions made on her behalf without her knowledge.One evening, during one of their now less frequent but far more honest meetings, she looked at him steadily and said,“I need to know before you act, not after.”He waited for her to continue.“If you’re going to step into my business, I need to be part of that decision.”“I can’t keep finding out afterward that you’ve already solved the problem.”“I need the choice to be mine.”For a moment, he simply watched her.Then he nodded.“That’s fair.”There was no argument.No attempt to convince her otherwise.And to her surprise, he kept his word.