When Kian revealed his name to Arya, her eyes widened in shock. She had heard this name many times before—Kian Ranaut, the biggest mafia leader in Mumbai. He was a name that struck fear in everyone, especially his enemies. Arya remembered hearing that he was merciless and that those who betrayed him didn't just face torture but were also fed alive to his pet lion.
Arya couldn't comprehend why such a powerful mafia don had kidnapped her and ordered an attack on her. She had never seen him before, so why would he want to take her life?
Her body was exhausted and weak, but she let out a sigh of relief as Kian's bodyguard untied her hands. She rubbed her wrists and tried to compose herself, her eyes following Kian as he walked out of the room.
"Kian... Why has this mafia king kidnapped me? Why is he calling me Serena? And the biggest question—who killed his mother?" Arya questioned herself.
The room was now guarded by two bodyguards, keeping a close watch on her. Arya could sense their cold, calculated stares. She knew that trying to escape was futile for now.
"Getting out of here seems impossible, but first, I need to figure out why Kian suspects me," Arya thought.
After some time, on Kian's orders, Arya was taken to another room. It was larger and slightly more comfortable than the previous one, but surveillance cameras on the walls kept a close watch on her every move.
Arya was given a little food. Judging by her condition, it was clear she hadn't had a proper meal in days. She ate quickly, trying to regain her energy.
One question kept ringing in her mind:
"How is my name connected to Kian's mother's murder? I have to uncover this mystery."
Arya scanned every corner of the room, but there was no way out. Then she remembered Kian's warning: "Every move of yours is being watched."
This thought led her eyes to the cameras fixed in her room, watching her every action.
Meanwhile, Kian sat in his office, focused intently on his laptop. The screen displayed one live feed—the footage from Arya's room.
Arya stared into the camera, her gaze fiery, as though she could burn through the eyes watching her. But glaring at the camera served no purpose—there was nothing she could do except stare.
She eventually moved away from the camera to take a shower, where all her essentials were provided. But Arya had no interest in luxury. All she needed were two things: clothes and soap.
She had lived in poverty for so long that the extravagant lifestyle of the rich held no appeal for her. What mattered to her was becoming wealthy herself so she could bring those who had exploited her desperation to their knees.
After her shower, Arya returned to the room wearing a bathrobe, her skin glowing. Kian, watching her step out of the bathroom, felt his throat dry up unexpectedly.
It wasn't that he hadn't seen women dressed like this before. In fact, some of the world's most beautiful women had tried to seduce him, leaving no stone unturned. Yet, he had always kept them at a distance. But Arya—there was something different about her, something Kian couldn't quite place.
He abruptly closed his laptop and picked up the glass of water in front of him, finishing it in one gulp. His heartbeat had quickened as Arya approached the camera, appearing to untie her bathrobe.
Before Arya could fully untie it, Kian had already shut his laptop.
"Is this girl insane? She knows there are cameras everywhere, and yet she's undressing in front of them? What kind of psycho is she?" Kian muttered, pressing his hand against his chest, trying to calm his rapid breathing.
However, Arya hadn't actually taken off her robe. She was merely tying it properly. Smirking mischievously, she glanced at the camera before heading toward the balcony.
From the balcony, she saw the mansion's grounds, teeming with guards. There was a guard stationed every two or three feet. Frustrated, Arya stomped her foot and returned to her room.
"How am I supposed to get out of this room? Nothing makes sense," Arya muttered to herself, sitting on the bed and holding her head in her hands.
Suddenly, an idea struck her, and a sly smile spread across her lips. She silently praised herself for her cleverness.
---
Later, all the guards were stationed at the main gate. It was midday, but they stood as if bracing for a massive threat. The blazing sun caused sweat to drip down their foreheads, yet their eyes remained vigilant. Their weapons were ready, and each one seemed prepared for an imminent attack.
Inside the mansion, Arya saw an opportunity. She stayed calm in her room, pretending to rest, while secretly working on her plan. "This is it. If all the guards are focused on the main gate, this is my chance to escape through the back," she thought.
Peeking out from the balcony again, she assessed the number of guards and their positions. "Why are they so alert? Did they suspect my plan?" she wondered as she plotted her next move.
Arya decided to execute her plan. She spotted a small alarm system in the corner of the room and tampered with it to activate it. The sudden blaring of the alarm sent the mansion's guards scrambling to find its source.
She quietly opened her room's door and peeked out. The hallway was empty, as the guards had rushed toward the alarm. Keeping her steps light, she moved toward the staircase leading to the mansion's rear exit.
As she descended the stairs, she heard voices:
"Someone's tampered with the alarm system. Check it out!"
Arya stayed calm and quickened her pace toward the mansion's backyard. But just as she neared freedom, a tall, strikingly handsome young man blocked her path. His face carried a mix of anger and amusement.
"Where are you going, madam?" he asked, crossing his arms.
Arya took a deep breath, her confidence unshaken. "What do you think? I'm escaping. Stop me if you can."
The man chuckled. "Wow! You've got guts. Too bad you don't know that I'm enough to stop you. I'm Aryan, Kian's younger brother."
Arya's eyes widened. "Aryan? Did Kian send you to guard me like his other lackeys?"
Aryan shook his head. "No, I came to see for myself what kind of woman my brother is so obsessed with. But it seems your only focus is on escaping."
Fuming, Arya snapped, "Obsessed? That's ridiculous. I'm nothing to Kian. And you can't stop me."
Aryan smirked. "Let's see about that."
Arya immediately shoved Aryan aside and bolted. But Aryan, quick on his feet, caught her and twisted her wrist. "You thought you could outrun me? You underestimated me," he said smugly.
Writhing in pain, Arya hissed, "Let me go! Tell Kian I'm not part of any conspiracy. I don't even know why he brought me here!"
Aryan stared at her, his grip firm. "That's what we're going to find out. But I must say, you've got guts. Maybe that's why Kian is so bothered by you."
Dragging Arya back to her room, Aryan locked her inside and called Kian. In his office, Kian immediately answered the call. Aryan's voice carried a mix of exasperation and amusement.
"Brother, your heroine tried to escape. You should come and see for yourself."
Kian hung up, taking a deep breath. A faint smile played on his lips. "Arya, you won't make this easy for me, will you?" he muttered, stepping out of his office.
---
What happens next? What will Kian do with Arya? Did Arya really kill Kian's mother, or is this all part of a larger conspiracy?
To find out, keep reading "The Villain's Second Chance"