Chapter -2
A Lavish Homecoming
Tanisha sat in the grand living room of the Agnihotri estate, her gaze indifferent as designer boxes, diamond-studded watches, silk dresses, and luxury handbags piled up before her.
She had seen wealth.
She had owned wealth.
But never had anyone given it to her like this—with warmth, with emotion, with an almost desperate need to make up for lost time.
Her father, Lucas Agnihotri, sat beside her, watching her reaction carefully.
Her mother, Meera, kept holding her hand, as if afraid she would disappear.
Meera: "My baby… I can't believe you're finally home."
Tanisha simply looked at her, her cold amber eyes flickering with something unreadable.
She had run multi-million-dollar deals, crushed enemies with a single keystroke, and built an underground empire from scratch.
Yet here was a woman who—despite not knowing her for fifteen years—held her like she was her entire world.
Tanisha wasn't weak. She wasn't sentimental.
But for the first time, she felt… curious.
Curious about what it meant to be loved.
---
The warm atmosphere was shattered by the soft click of heels against marble.
A girl around Tanisha's age walked in, her silk designer dress flowing effortlessly, her hair styled to perfection.
Sinnea Agnihotri.
Her cousin.
The one who had enjoyed the Agnihotri name and status in her absence.
She walked in with an air of arrogance disguised as grace.
Her eyes scanned the room, stopping at the mountain of gifts.
Then, she turned to Tanisha.
Sinnea (smiling, voice honeyed): "You must be Tanisha. My, what an entrance you've made. Mother and father are already spoiling you."
Tanisha leaned back in her seat, crossing one leg over the other, exuding effortless dominance.
Her lips curled into an icy smirk.
Tanisha (calmly): "Isn't that what family is for?"
Sinnea's fingers tightened around her purse.
Lucas and Meera, oblivious to the silent power play, beamed with joy.
Meera: "Of course, my love! Whatever you want, just ask! Everything here is yours!"
Lucas (proudly): "Not just material things, Tanisha. The entire family fortune—your rightful place—is yours when you're ready."
Tanisha caught the momentary flicker of rage in Sinnea's eyes.
Ah. So that was it.
Sinnea had been enjoying a throne that wasn't hers.
And now that the true heiress had returned… she was scrambling to hold on.
---
Sinnea reached for one of the silk dresses among the gifts and ran her fingers over the fabric.
Sinnea (chuckling softly): "I just hope you know how to carry yourself properly, cousin. These things require a certain… refinement."
The insult was veiled, but Tanisha saw right through it.
Sinnea thought she was some lost, unpolished street girl.
How amusing.
Tanisha tilted her head, amusement flickering in her cold eyes.
She stood up slowly, walking toward Sinnea with the confidence of a queen addressing a mere subject.
She stopped just inches away, invading Sinnea's space, forcing the girl to meet her unwavering gaze.
Tanisha (softly, but dangerous): "I don't need refinement."
She plucked the diamond bracelet from the pile of gifts, slipping it onto her wrist with practiced ease.
Tanisha (smirking): "I was born for this."
Sinnea stiffened.
Meera giggled happily, unaware of the tension.
Meera: "See? I told you, she's a natural!"
Lucas chuckled in approval.
Sinnea, however, gritted her teeth behind a fake smile.
She wasn't dealing with some naive, lost girl.
She was dealing with a predator.
And Sinnea had just become her first target.
---
Tanisha took her seat again, watching as Sinnea forced herself to sit gracefully, pretending nothing had happened.
But Tanisha knew.
She had just declared war.
And she never lost.
.The dining hall was a masterpiece of opulence—crystal chandeliers, a long mahogany table set with gold-rimmed china, and a feast fit for royalty.
Tanisha sat at the head of the table beside her father, Lucas Agnihotri, while her mother, Meera, made sure her plate was always full.
"Tanisha, try this," Meera said, placing a delicate serving of saffron-infused risotto on her plate. "It's from the best Michelin-starred chef in the city. We had it prepared just for you."
"Mother, you don't need to do all this," Tanisha said, her voice calm yet distant.
Lucas chuckled, swirling his glass of wine. "She absolutely does. Your mother has been planning your homecoming for weeks."
Tanisha glanced at her plate, a strange warmth spreading through her chest. Family. A concept she had never fully experienced.
However, as the family indulged in cheerful conversation, Sinnea, seated a few places away, subtly gestured to a maid standing near the doorway.
A note slipped discreetly into the maid's hand.
Tanisha caught the movement from the corner of her eye, though she pretended not to notice.
Sinnea smiled sweetly, raising her glass. "To our dear cousin, who has finally returned home."
Tanisha raised an eyebrow but clinked her glass against Sinnea's nonetheless.
The battle had begun.
After dinner, Meera excitedly led Tanisha to a private dressing room, where rows of couture dresses, custom-made heels, and jewelry sets worth millions awaited her.
"All of this is for you, my love," Meera gushed, cupping Tanisha's face. "We missed so many years. Let us make up for it."
Tanisha gave a small nod, running her fingers over a luxurious lavender gown embroidered with golden accents. It was exquisite.
Sinnea, who had followed them inside, picked up the same dress. "Oh, this one? I actually chose it. You should wear it tomorrow for the press event."
Tanisha turned slightly, her icy eyes locking onto Sinnea's. "Did you?"
Sinnea's smile remained unwavering. "Of course. I only want you to look your best."
Tanisha didn't reply, but she mentally took note of Sinnea's overly generous behavior.
The next morning, just as Tanisha was about to try on the dress, a maid rushed in, panicked.
"Miss Tanisha, please don't wear that dress!" she whispered urgently.
Tanisha narrowed her eyes. "Why?"
The maid hesitated before revealing a small stain on the hem—an almost invisible liquid.
It was laced with an irritant.
Not deadly, but enough to cause a visible skin reaction—one that would humiliate her in front of the press.
Tanisha's smirk was cold. "How interesting."
---
Tanisha didn't confront Sinnea directly. That would be too easy.
Instead, at the press event, she walked out in an entirely different dress—one of the most breathtaking outfits from the collection.
Sinnea's smile froze for a second before she quickly covered it up.
Lucas, standing beside his daughter, beamed with pride. "My daughter, Tanisha Agnihotri."
Tanisha noticed the irritation flicker in Sinnea's eyes.
The first attempt had failed.
Sinnea was playing a game of small manipulations.
But Tanisha?
She was playing to win.
---
Later that night, Tanisha sat at her desk, hacking into the security footage of the household.
Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she replayed the moment the dress was tampered with.
And then—
Sinnea's reflection appeared in the mirror.
Caught.
Tanisha's smirk deepened.
Let the game begin.