41.

Mira's POV

"Abhi, leave me" I say, trying to focus on making coffee for us. We're in the kitchen and he has already sent all the helpers away. His arms are wrapped tightly around my waist from behind and he’s been begging for a kiss.

Since the moment he woke up, he’s already kissed me five times no, not just kissed he’s devoured my lips.

"Just one kiss and I promise I won’t ask for more" he says in a baby voice, his lips brushing against my ear.

I sigh and turn around, still trapped in his arms. His eyes are sparkling with excitement and his lips are curved into a soft smile. How can I say no to this giant cutie?

I smile back, sliding my hands around his neck. His arms tighten around my waist, pulling me even closer. His eyes darken as I lean in, our breaths mingling. Slowly I close the small gap between us, my lips brushing against his.

The moment our lips touch, his reaction is immediate. His lips move against mine with a hunger that makes my entire body heat up. His grip on me tightens as he deepens the kiss, his lips moving with a rhythm that leaves me breathless.

Suddenly he lifts me effortlessly with one hand and places me on the cold kitchen counter. A small gasp escapes me but his other hand holds the back of my neck, steadying me. His thumb caresses my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

I wrap my legs around his torso pulling him closer until there’s no space left between us. His body heat seeps into me, making my heart race.

When I bite his lower lip teasingly, a deep groan escapes him. That sound—low and rough makes my stomach flutter. I love it when he loses control because of me.

My lungs start to burn from the lack of air, so I pull away, gasping for breath. My chest rises and falls rapidly but he looks completely unaffected, his breathing steady. His dark eyes stay locked on mine, intense and full of heat.

He lifts his hand and gently wipes the smudged lipstick from the corner of my mouth with his thumb. His touch is soft but possessive.

Then, he leans in, his lips brushing the side of my neck as he whispers "Now I want more than just a kiss"

My eyes widen and heat rushes to my cheeks. "Abhi!" I push him back lightly, glaring at him.

"You said just a kiss! And anyway you’ll get late for work" I say, trying to make him understand. But I forgot who he is.

He pulls me closer, his arms locking around my waist. My body presses against his hard chest and he buries his face into the curve of my neck, inhaling deeply. His warm breath fans over my skin, making goosebumps rise.

"Tell me you don’t want it" he whispers, his voice low and rough. "And babe I own the company, so it’s okay if I’m a little late. Because now my first priority is you—not work"

My heart flutters at his words. How does he always know exactly what to say to make me melt?

I lift my hand and slide my fingers into his soft, well-set hair, playing with it gently. He doesn’t stop me—instead he tilts his head and starts placing soft, lingering kisses on my neck. His lips trail over the same spot where he left marks last night. Each kiss sends a shiver through my body.

"Abhi…" I whisper softly, feeling my body relax under his touch.

"Hmm?" he hums against my neck, his lips still moving.

The question that’s been eating my mind for the past two days slips out before I can stop it. "What’s going on between you and Dev?"

He stops kissing me and lifts his head, his dark eyes meeting mine. His expression softens. "Nothing, love" he says gently brushing a loose strand of hair away from my face.

I scoff. He says the same thing every time I ask him. Why do I feel like he’s hiding something?

"Miruuu!" I hear Jiya’s excited voice from outside the kitchen.

I quickly push Abhi away and step out of his arms. I walk out of the kitchen, and as expected my man follows closely behind me.

Jiya, Dev and Zar are sitting at the dining table. Jiya’s face lights up when she sees me.

"Look what Dev and I got for you and Bhai!" Jiya says holding up a packet of food with a proud smile.

Curious, I walk over to her and take the bag from her hand. I open it and gasp when I see what’s inside.

"Oh my God!" I squeal. "Ramlal’s samose!" Not just any samose—my favorite ones!

"Thank you! Both of you!" I say excitedly, sitting down beside Jiya. I take the samose out and place them neatly on a plate. The smell alone makes my mouth water.

"Sit, Abhi" I say, looking at him. He’s still standing, watching me with a soft smile.

He shakes his head. "No, I’m going" he says, his tone light but firm.

My smile fades a little. "But you haven’t had breakfast" I say, my brows knitting together in confusion.

"Bhai, at least eat a little bit" Jiya says her tone almost pleading.

"No, I'm not in the mood to eat. You guys enjoy" Abhi says, his voice low and distant.

He walks toward me, his eyes soft as he leans down and places a gentle kiss on my forehead. His lips linger for a second before he pulls away. Then, without another word, he turns and starts walking toward the door.

I watch him leave with a sinking feeling in my chest. He’s been acting like this for the past few days—quiet distant. He never eats when Dev is around and Dev never eats when Abhi is here. It’s like they’re avoiding each other and it’s starting to worry me.

"I'm also going" Dev suddenly says, standing up from his chair. His tone is flat, almost cold.

"Eat something, Dev" Jiya says, her voice soft with concern.

But just like Abhi, Dev shakes his head. His jaw tightens and without looking at any of us, he walks out of the mansion.

I, Jiya and Zar sit there, staring at the door. The tension in the air is so thick that it’s hard to breathe.

"What’s happening to them?" Jiya and I say at the same time, looking at each other with wide eyes.

I turn toward Zar, who’s sitting beside me, his big eyes watching us. "Do you know what’s going on?" I ask him softly.

My baby just shakes his head, his tail swaying slowly behind him. Even Zar seems confused.

"We have to find out what’s cooking between them" Jiya says her brows furrowing.

I nod in agreement. "They’re barely talking to each other anymore" I say, my chest tightening at the thought. "That’s not normal. They’re practically brothers they never fight like this"

Jiya’s eyes narrow with determination. "Something’s definitely wrong" she says.

I exchange a serious look with her. Whatever is going on between Abhi and Dev it’s not small. And we’re going to figure it out.

Abhiraj's POV

I sit inside my office, my fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of my chair. My phone buzzes and I glance at the screen. It's a message from Dev.

"Both of them were looking tense"

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck before typing a reply.

"I know but just a few more days"

Dev sends back an eye roll emoji. I shake my head, a small smile tugging at my lips despite the heaviness in my chest.

I'm sitting alone in my office the silence around me thick. Dev’s message about Jiya and Mira being worried sits heavily on my mind.

I wish I could tell them everything, but I can't not after what happened the last time Dev told Mira about Karan. The reckless stunt she pulled still haunts me. It scared the hell out of me.

Dev and I haven’t even been talking on the phone lately. It’s too risky. Who knows if there's a hidden microphone somewhere or some other device listening to us?

No one literally no one knows about this apart from me and Dev. We used to share everything with Zar but now he’s completely attached to his Mumma. We can’t risk involving him.

Everyone thinks that Dev and I are on bad terms right now. Even the person who’s trying to separate us believes that we’ve grown apart. That’s exactly what we want them to think.

We’ve already gathered 50% of the information about this person. He’s smart—dangerously smart. The way he’s playing with us it’s clear he’s not new to this game. He’s an old player, experienced and calculating.

He’s been contacting Dev directly, feeding him false information and trying to turn him against me. Dev is playing along gaining his trust bit by bit.

We’ve staged everything perfectly—the cold stares, the distant behavior, even the tension in our conversations. It looks so real that even the closest people to us believe it.

I remember the hesitation in Dev’s eyes when I asked him to hand over some information about my company to that man.

Dev wasn’t ready for it. His jaw had tightened and his eyes had darkened with concern. But I convinced him. We have no choice. We have to find this man soon before he makes his next move.

I had planned so many things after our marriage. I thought that once we got married, my baby and I would go on a honeymoon and enjoy our time together. But then this problem came up and ruined everything.

She’s a little upset with me because I’m not telling her the whole truth about Dev’s matter. But just a few more days just a few more days and I’ll tell her everything.

My phone rings. I glance at the screen and see that it’s Dev’s other number. My jaw tightens.

So, the man is calling him again.

Whenever that man calls Dev, Dev always makes me listen to their conversation. I pick up the call connect it to my Bluetooth and lean back in my chair, listening carefully. My heart starts beating faster.

"Hey buddy. How are you?"

I hear the man's voice, smooth but laced with bitterness.

"I won’t be fine until I take everything from Abhiraj" Dev says through gritted teeth. His voice is sharp, angry. I smile faintly.

Every time Dev says something like this to that man, I know he’s acting. But still it’s hard to hear those words coming from his mouth. And after every call, Dev always says sorry to me at least ten times.

"Then why are you waiting?" the man says his tone dark and amused. "Just take it. You live with him what else do you need? Kill him. He’s not someone who deserves to live on this earth. He’s just a criminal and nothing else"

My jaw clenches. My hands curl into fists on the desk. The hatred in the man’s voice is sharp it cuts through the air like a knife.

"I can’t kill him alone. I need someone’s help. You know how powerful he is" Dev says, his voice low and calculating.

I hear the man chuckle on the other side.

"But you have a force that can help you"

Dev sighs, his tone perfectly controlled. "But I don’t know who will support me and who will side with him. That’s why I’m not telling anyone except you. You made me realize how dumb I was to be with him all this time"

His acting is flawless. His every word sounds real, so convincing that even I would have believed him if I didn’t know the truth.

"If that’s the case, then I’ll help you kill him" the person says, his voice calm but deadly.

A slow smirk forms on my lips. Finally our plan is working. But then the man pauses.

"But" he adds, dragging the word out.

My smirk fades slightly. "But what?" Dev asks, his voice sharp. The person on the other end chuckles darkly.

"You have to half kill him first. Then I’ll help you finish him off" the man says.

My brows crease. My smirk disappears completely. This guy isn’t a fool he’s sharp and calculating. He’s testing Dev.

"Why?" Dev asks, his tone perfectly controlled.

The man’s voice drops lower. "Because he’s your prey. That’s why I want to give you justice"

I smirk again. He’s playing smart—but so are we.

"Okay, I’ll do whatever you say. Just help me with this" Dev says, his tone sounding desperate but determined.

"Good" the man replies. "Then bring him to the forest outside the city tomorrow. We’ll kill him together and then you’ll get everything you truly deserve"

Dev agrees and the call ends with a soft click. I also disconnect the call, my smirk widening. My phone buzzes almost instantly. A message from Dev pops up on the screen.

"I'm going to kill you tomorrow and everything you have will be mine. Hahaha 😈"

I chuckle, shaking my head before typing a reply.

"Please, please don’t kill me. I have a wife and son at home. Have mercy"

I hit send and start laughing.

My smile fades as I lean back in my chair, my fingers drumming against the armrest. My eyes darken. Tomorrow is going to be dangerous. I need to plan every move carefully.

I’m not taking any guards with me. I don’t know who’s on that man’s side or how deep his network runs. Dev and I will handle this alone. That’s the only way to keep things under control.

I need to talk to Zar. He has to understand that he needs to protect Mira and Jiya while I’m gone. In my absence, that man might try to strike at them and I can’t let that happen.

My jaw tightens and I feel the familiar burn of rage settling in my chest. Tomorrow, the man will see hell on earth.

At night

I step inside the mansion, the cool night breeze brushing against my face. My eyes immediately spot Jiya and Mira sitting in the garden with Zar. They’re sitting close together, talking about something serious. The dim glow of the garden lights casts soft shadows on their faces.

I walk toward them, my footsteps light against the grass. My baby notices me first. Her eyes soften when they meet mine.

"You came" she says softly, getting up and walking toward me.

I nod my head and lean down to kiss her forehead. Her scent calms me instantly, easing some of the tension in my chest.

"Bhai, you didn’t eat anything in the morning. Are you angry with me because I was the one who brought samosas?" Jiya asks, her tone hesitant.

I chuckle at her words, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. I walk toward her and sit down beside her on the bench.

"No my princess. There’s nothing like that. I just wasn’t in the mood to eat anything" I say softly, reaching out to crease her head with my fingers. Her hair is soft beneath my touch. She nods her head slowly, her eyes showing understanding.

I feel movement in front of me and look up. Zar walks toward me and sits down right in front of me. His big, sharp eyes lock onto mine. He’s staring at me with a serious expression. His blue eyes are narrowed and I can see the hint of anger in them.

I sigh inwardly. I know he’s angry with me. He can sense that I’m hiding something from him. Zar has always been sharp he understands things without needing an explanation. But I can’t tell him the truth. Not yet.

He tilts his head slightly, his ears twitching as if waiting for me to explain myself. But I stay silent. I reach out and rub the top of his head gently. He doesn’t move, still watching me closely.

"What happened, my boy?" I say softly reaching out to crease Zar’s head.

But he steps back, his eyes narrowing. Without another glance at me, he turns and walks toward his Mumma. His tail flicks slightly as he settles beside her.

I watch him go and scoff under my breath. Stubborn boy.

Just then, I hear the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. I turn my head and see Dev stepping out of his car. His face is calm but his eyes meet mine briefly, sharing an unspoken understanding.

"Dev is also here. Let’s have our dinner" Jiya says, getting up and walking toward him with a bright smile.

"No I’m not feeling like eating" I say, my voice low.

Mira’s head snaps toward me, her eyes narrowing. In a second she’s standing in front of me. Without warning, she grabs my collar with her small fists and pulls me down to her level.

"If you don’t want to eat dinner with us, then fine. But don’t come inside the room afterward or you’ll see my anger" she says, her voice sharp and deadly calm.

Her eyes are blazing, her cheeks slightly flushed. She looks angry and honestly, hot.

A sharp gasp echoes from the side. My eyes shift and I see my guards standing with their mouths hanging open in shock. Mira holding my collar like this it’s not something they expected to see.

But the moment they notice my gaze on them, they immediately straighten up, returning to their usual stiff and professional stance.

Mira’s grip on my collar tightens for a second before she releases me and steps back. She turns around and starts walking toward the mansion without looking back. Zar walks beside her, his tail swaying smugly. He even glances back at me as if mocking me.

I sigh heavily. I have no other option now. I rub the back of my neck and start walking toward the mansion.

Inside, I see that mira, zar, Jiya and Dev are already sitting at the dining table. I go to my room, freshen up quickly and then join them at the table. I eat quietly not saying much. Mira shoots me a few looks but I keep my head down. Just for today, I need to stay quiet.

After dinner, Dev and I head to my study. We sit down and the air shifts into something heavier. My jaw tightens as Dev pulls out his phone.

"We need to figure out exactly how to handle tomorrow" I say, my voice low and serious.

Dev’s eyes darken. "Let’s make a plan"

And so, we begin preparing for tomorrow.... the day everything will change.