Chapter -1
The dim glow of multiple screens flickered across the dark room, reflecting off the sharp gaze of Tanisha Agnihotri—or rather, Phantom, the world's most feared hacker.
Her slender fingers danced over the keyboard, bypassing firewalls that would take top intelligence agencies weeks to crack. Lines of code blurred before her eyes, but she remained focused.
Inside her, an unfamiliar emotion stirred. A strange pull. A longing.
For fifteen years, she had lived in the shadows, an orphan with no past, no family—only survival. But today, everything changed.
Her fingers stilled. Her breath caught in her throat. The classified file was finally decrypted.
[GOVERNMENT CLASSIFIED FILE – IDENTITY RESTRICTION LIFTED]
NAME: Tanisha Agnihotri
STATUS: MISSING HEIRESS OF THE AGNIHOTRI FAMILY
Tanisha's heart pounded violently.
Agnihotri.
The name wasn't unfamiliar. It belonged to one of the richest and most powerful families in the world.
And they were her family?
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
"Why now? Why after fifteen years?"
Her fingers clenched into fists.
For years, she had searched for a connection—a name, a face, a memory—but there had been nothing. Only the cold, ruthless streets and the skills she had sharpened to survive in a world that never wanted her.
And now? Now, these people, this perfect, glamorous family, had suddenly found her?
She should feel grateful. Maybe even happy.
But she felt angry.
She clicked on a hidden tab, pulling up footage from a secret surveillance feed.
The Agnihotri Mansion
On the screen, a grand, luxurious mansion loomed like a palace, bathed in golden lights. Inside, a tall, powerful man paced restlessly in his office, his hands clenched. Lucas Agnihotri, her father.
His features were sharp, regal—yet his eyes carried torment.
In another room, a graceful woman sat, clutching a framed photograph. Her delicate shoulders trembled as silent tears slid down her cheeks. Meera Agnihotri, her mother.
Tanisha swallowed hard.
"Why are you crying now?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Where were these tears fifteen years ago?
She exhaled, shutting her laptop with a decisive snap.
Three hours.
That was all she had before meeting them in person.
She didn't know what to expect. Love? Guilt? Lies?
But one thing was certain—she would never let herself be weak again.
Just as she turned away, her instincts screamed.
A shadow moved behind her.
Her reflexes were instant—she spun, grabbed a concealed knife, and slashed.
A dark-clad figure dodged, a blade flashing in their hand.
An assassin.
Eyes cold as death met hers.
And for the first time in years, Tanisha realized—someone wanted her dead.
Tanisha sat inside the private jet that had been sent for her.
The silence was deafening.
She stared at the world outside—towering city lights, shrinking beneath her as the jet ascended.
Her fists clenched.
Why was she nervous? She wasn't weak. She wasn't afraid.
And yet, deep inside, something fragile stirred.
Was it hope? Or was it just the ghost of the little girl she once was—waiting for a family who never came?
The Agnihotri Mansion was even more intimidating in person.
Guards flanked the entrance, their gazes sharp and assessing. Tanisha met them with an unreadable expression, her confidence unshaken.
A butler stepped forward. "Miss Agnihotri, welcome home."
Home.
The word felt foreign.
She stepped inside.
The air was thick with anticipation.
Then, she saw them.
At the foot of a grand staircase, Lucas and Meera Agnihotri stood frozen.
Her father, the mighty business tycoon, looked utterly shaken.
Her mother, a woman of grace and elegance, clutched her hands to her chest—tears brimming in her eyes.
And for a brief moment, the world felt unbearably still.
The First Words – Shattered Voices
Lucas took a step forward, his voice trembling in a way Tanisha had never expected.
"Tanisha…?"
A sharp pang lanced through her chest.
Her mother gasped, taking a desperate step toward her.
"Baby…" Her voice broke.
Tanisha's heart stuttered.
Baby.
When was the last time someone had called her that?
She should have felt angry. She should have felt cold.
But instead—she felt vulnerable.
Before she could react, Meera rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Tanisha.
A choked sob escaped her.
"My baby… my baby… I'm so sorry. I missed you so much—"
Tanisha froze.
Her body instinctively wanted to pull away.
She didn't need affection. She didn't need love.
But Meera held on tighter—like she was afraid Tanisha would disappear.
"Fifteen years…" Meera whispered, shaking. "Fifteen years, I searched for you. Every night, I prayed—I begged for a miracle. And now… you're here."
Something in Tanisha cracked.
For the first time, she saw not just a mother—but a woman drowning in guilt and grief.
Her fingers twitched.
Hesitantly, she lifted her hand… and placed it on her mother's back.
Meera broke down completely.
Lucas had not moved.
His eyes burned with an emotion too heavy, too intense.
And when Tanisha finally met his gaze—her breath caught.
Because in those sharp, powerful eyes, she saw it.
The unbearable guilt. The sorrow. The self-hatred.
Lucas Agnihotri, the unshakable business tycoon, looked at her like he was seeing his greatest failure.
"I should have protected you," he said hoarsely.
His hands clenched.
"I failed you, Tanisha."
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then, slowly, Lucas fell to his knees.
Tanisha's heart stopped.
A man who bowed to no one—was kneeling before her.
His voice was raw. "I don't deserve to ask for your forgiveness. But even if it takes my whole life, I will make it up to you."
Tanisha's chest ached.
She had prepared for coldness, for deception, for manipulation.
She had not prepared for this.
For love. For grief. For regret so powerful it shook her soul.
She had not prepared… for a father who was breaking in front of her.
As Tanisha stood there, torn between her emotions—a hidden camera blinked red from the corner of the mansion.
Miles away, a shadowed figure watched the footage.
A cruel smirk curled on their lips.
"So… the lost princess has returned."
"Let the game begin."