As the night wore on, the guests mingled, alliances were whispered into existence, and silent wars continued beneath the veneer of polished etiquette. Anaya stepped away from the crowd, seeking a moment of solitude. The weight of the evening pressed down on her, but before she could compose herself, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"I didn't think you'd come back."
She turned sharply, her gaze colliding with Sanjays. There was something unreadable in his eyes—resentment, concern, or perhaps something more complex.
"I had to," she said simply.
Sanjay scoffed, stepping closer. "And what exactly are you planning, Anaya? Because from where I stand, it looks like you're walking straight into a battlefield without knowing who your real enemies are."
She turned sharply, her gaze colliding with Sanjay's. There was something unreadable in his eyes—resentment, concern, or perhaps something more complex.
She narrowed her eyes. "And what do you think you know?"
He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "Just be careful. Not everyone in this room wants you to win."
Anaya held his gaze for a second longer before he turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving her with more questions than answers.
Unbeknownst to her, in the dimly lit corridor of the palace, a pair of eyes had been watching the entire exchange. Someone who had much more to lose if Anaya uncovered the truth.
The night was far from over.
Anaya could feel Avni's glare searing into her back. Good. Let her burn.
Just as she started walking away, Avni's saccharine voice cut through the air.
"Anaya, you know how to steal a moment, don't you?"
Anaya paused, forcing a serene smile as she turned. "Oh, Avni, if you were worried about being overshadowed, you should have chosen a more memorable performance."
The insult landed with precision. Avni's fingers curled around her champagne flute, her nails pressing white into her skin.
Abhay cleared his throat, stepping in between them. "Anaya, can we talk?"
A flicker of something unfamiliar crossed Aryan's face. Jealousy? No. It was sharper—possession.
Anaya tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Now? But isn't this your special night?"
Abhay sighed. "Please."
She exhaled, nodding once before following him toward the balcony. The crisp night air did little to cool the storm raging inside her.
As soon as they were alone, Abhay turned to her, his expression torn. "You're angry."
She let out a hollow laugh. "Angry? No, Abhay. I'm betrayed."
He flinched. "I didn't mean—"
"You were my best friend," she cut in, voice laced with quiet fury. "When everyone left, you stayed. And I—" She swallowed. "I thought you were different."
He ran a hand through his hair. "It's not like that, Anaya. Avni—she—"
"She stole my life," Anaya finished for him. "And you let her."
Abhay's shoulders tensed. "You left, Anaya. You disappeared. What was I supposed to do?"
Her heart clenched. "You were supposed to believe in me."
Silence hung heavy between them.
Abhay sighed, softer this time. "I never stopped caring about you."
Her eyes burned, but she refused to show weakness. "Then why are you standing here, engaged to her?"
He hesitated. "Because some choices can't be undone."
A bitter smile touched her lips. "Then neither can mine."
With that, she turned on her heel, walking back into the ballroom where Aryan stood watching her—waiting.
If Abhay thought this was the end, he was wrong.
Because Anaya Kapoor never lost. She only planned her next move.
In a secluded balcony overlooking the ballroom, Raghav Kapoor leaned against the railing, his expression contemplative. A shadow moved beside him—Avni, her face a mask of barely restrained anger.
"She's getting too close, Abhay," Avni hissed, her fingers digging into the fabric of her dress. "I don't like it. She shouldn't be here."
Raghav smirked, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "She has every right to be here. After all, she's a Kapoor."
Avni stiffened. "You promised me, she wouldn't—"
"I promised you power, Avni. And power isn't handed out—it's taken." His gaze drifted back to Anaya, who stood alone in the distance. "Let her play her little game. She won't win."
Avni exhaled sharply. "And Aryan? He's protecting her. You saw them. If he stands by her side, things will get complicated."
Raghav's smirk didn't waver. "Aryan is a wildcard. But even wildcards can be controlled. We just have to find the right leverage."
Avni's lips curled into a slow, cruel smile. "I might have an idea."
Meanwhile, Aryan Rathore stood near the bar, watching Anaya from a distance. His mind replayed every second of their dance, every flicker of hesitation in her eyes.
"You're thinking too much," a voice interrupted his thoughts.
He turned to find his elder sibling standing beside him, their expression unreadable.
"She's not the same girl you knew, Aryan. Whatever you're planning… be careful."
Aryan took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze never leaving Anaya. "Oh, I know she's changed. But so have I."
He set his glass down, his jaw tightening with resolve. Whatever secrets Anaya was hiding, he intended to uncover them. And if she thought she could keep him at a distance, she was gravely mistaken.
The real battle had only just begun.
As the evening deepened, Anaya found herself stepping away from the grand ballroom, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors as she sought refuge in the quiet corridors of the Imperial Palace. The weight of the night's revelations pressed heavily on her shoulders, but she couldn't afford to let it show.
She barely had a moment to breathe before a voice shattered the silence.
"Leaving so soon? I thought you enjoyed a challenge."
Anaya turned swiftly, her eyes narrowing as she met Aryan's gaze. He leaned casually against a pillar, the faintest trace of amusement playing on his lips, but his eyes those dark, intense eyesheld something far more dangerous.
"What do you want, Aryan?" she asked, keeping her voice steady.
He stepped closer, closing the distance between them with a measured pace. "Answers."
She scoffed, folding her arms. "And what makes you think I have any to give?"
His smirk deepened. "Because I know you, Anaya. And I can see it in your eyes—there's something more going on here than just reclaiming Kapoor Industries. You have another reason for coming back, don't you?"
Her breath hitched, but she masked it quickly. "Believe what you want. It doesn't change anything."
Aryan studied her as if weighing her words. Then, with a slow exhale, he leaned in just enough for his next words to brush against her skin. "You're playing a dangerous game. Be careful who you trust."
Before she could respond, he stepped back, his expression unreadable. "Goodnight, Anaya."
She watched as he walked away, her heart pounding in her chest.
She had expected resistance from Avni and Raghav. But Aryan? He was a complication she wasn't prepared for.
Meanwhile, deep within the corridors of the palace, Raghav Kapoor stood in his private study, his fingers drumming against the mahogany desk. Across from him, Avni paced impatiently, her frustration barely contained.
"She's more resilient than we expected," Raghav mused, taking a slow sip of his whiskey. "She won't back down easily."
Avni stopped, turning to him with a scowl.
"Then we make her back down. She's alone, Raghav. No allies, no real power. If we move quickly—"
"No." Raghav's voice was calm but firm.
"Anaya is many things, but she's not a fool. If she's here, she has a plan."
Avni clenched her fists. "Then what do we do? Sit back and watch her take everything?"
Raghav smirked, his gaze is dark with intent.
"No. We let her believe she's winning. And when the time is right... we strike."
Avni's expression shifted, her anger morphing into something far more calculating. "And Aryan? He's clearly on her side. He won't be easy to manipulate."
Raghav chuckled, setting his glass down.
"Everyone has a weakness, Avni. We just have to find his."
As the night wore on, shadows stretched longer, and the pieces of the game began to move.
Anaya had declared war. But she wasn't the only one ready to fight.