Published on:- 18/2/25 [Tuesday]
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Sunaina sat in the car with her brother, Avyaan. Neither of them spoke. The silence between them was heavy and was filled with unspoken thoughts.

Avyaan wanted to talk to Nilay and explained to him but he failed in front of Sunaina's stubbornness. He silently sat beside her as his head was thumping violently.

Sunaina's eyes were looking outside on the street as her mind was blank and couldn't think about anything.

Both siblings sat quietly and the long journey passed without a single word. The car drove straight from the capital city to Shimla and stopped at the entrance of Khadka Mansion.

The stormy night ended, and a new, fresh and bright morning arrived.

But for Sunaina, it brought no peace.

Her love had lost its warmth, and the longing for her husband had turned into deep emptiness.

Jaikesh and Tarana stood at the entrance, watching as Sunaina and Avyaan stepped out of the car.

Avyaan's usual stern expression softened the moment his eyes met Tarana's. There was something unspoken between them, a quiet understanding that needed no words.

Sunaina smiled and stepped forward as she wrapped her arms around Tarana in a warm hug. She gently patted her back and asked, "How are you, sister-in-law?"

Before Tarana could respond, Sunaina continued, "Take care of my brother. He is exhausted from back to back travel and handling everything."

Avyaan glanced at Sunaina and his gaze was full of questions but he didn't interrupt.

The weight of the past night still hung heavily in the air and settled over them like an unshakable shadow.

Sunaina walked past them without another word, heading straight to her bedroom. She didn't look back, leaving Jaikesh and Tarana standing in silence.

Tarana looked at Avyaan while her eyes were searching for answers, but he said nothing. Instead, he gently took her hand and led her to their bedroom.

She followed without resistance, sensing the exhaustion in his touch. He wasn't just physically tired but something deeper weighed on him.

As the door closed behind them, the silence between them spoke louder than words.

Inside the bedroom, Avyaan sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples. Tarana stood in front of him, watching him closely.

"Avyaan, what's going on?", Tarana finally asked in a soft voice.

He let out a deep sigh and looked up at her and said, "Last night changed everything. Brother-in-law left Naina... He thinks she betrayed him."

Tarana's heart clenched. She had seen the pain in Sunaina's eyes and the weight she carried.

"And you? How do you feel about all this?" she asked, kneeling in front of him, holding his hands.

Avyaan hesitated for a moment before squeezing her fingers gently. "I just want to protect my sister, but in some battles... she has to fight alone."

Tarana held Avyaan's hands tightly and she said softly, "She is strong, Avyaan. But even the strongest need someone to stand by them"

Avyaan sighed while running a hand through his hair. "I know. That's why I'm here. But Naina... she won't let anyone see her pain. Not even me."

Tarana nodded. "Then don't force her. Just be there. She will come to you when she is ready."

Avyaan looked into her eyes, finding comfort in her presence. He pulled her into a hug, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Thank you".

These two words barely whispered and escaped from his mouth that hit her heart, sending warmth, causing her to smile while rubbing his back gently, she replied, "Always."

On the other hand, Jaikesh's eyes shifted to the group standing nearby - the Scorpion Satan members, Dino, Nora and Trex. His gaze was sharp and was filled with unspoken questions.

Why were they here? What had really happened last night?

But none of them spoke, standing firm like shadows, waiting for orders.

On the other hand, Sunaina slumped onto her bed and her body sunk into the soft mattress. Her eyes wandered across the room, moving from one corner to another, as if searching for something unseen.

The silence around her felt heavy, but inside her mind had a storm raged.

Then, slowly, a chilly smirk deepened on her lips.

"So, this is how it feels... heartbreak" she whispered to herself, her fingers tracing the sheets absentmindedly.

Her heart ached, but her pride wouldn't let the pain consume her. If Nilay had walked away, then so be it.

But he would regret it.

Sunaina stood up from the bed while her eyes were narrowing as she moved deliberately across the room. Every step was precise, each one bringing her closer to the exact points where her gaze had previously wandered.

She wasn't moving aimlessly, she was tracing the path to the hidden camera that Nilay had planted. The knowledge of its existence had come to her before the mafia ball, and now, as she walked over the exact spots, she was aware of every subtle detail.

Her lips curled into a knowing smirk, a wicked glint in her eyes.

'Watch me as much as you want, but there is no turning back now', she thought to herself with a cold smile.

She then went to the washroom, took a warm shower, and changed into comfortable clothes. After she was done, she headed straight to the study room for an important meeting.

Despite everything happening in her personal life, she kept her focus on what needed to be done. She was determined to handle it all.

***

In the study room, Sunaina sat at the desk, scanning the report in her hands. Her gaze shifted to her team members as she looked up and asked, her voice sharp with authority, "Who called the police? Any updates on this?"

The room fell silent, everyone waiting for someone to speak. Sunaina's eyes remained focused, a slight tension hanging in the air as she waited for an answer.

"No answer? Find that person asap", Sunaina said as she stood at the head of the room, her eyes cold and unwavering as she addressed her team.

"The Empire Group is the father's heritage and the Scorpion Satan is the legacy that we need to follow." she said and her gaze swept across the room, meeting the eyes of each person present.

There was no room for doubt in her voice and no hesitation. Her father's legacy, the Empire, was Avyaan and hers to protect, and the Scorpion Satan was the path she was determined to walk.

The tension in the room thickened as her team absorbed her words. They knew what it meant, her determination, her power, and the future she was ready to carve.

Suddenly, there was a sharp knock at the door and a familiar voice came, "Princess".

"Enter", Sunaina commanded in steady but cold tone.

The door opened, and Kian, Avyaan's right-hand man, stepped inside while holding a report.

He handed it over to Sunaina, who took it without a word. She quickly scanned the contents, and her eyes narrowed dangerously. Her fist clenched around the paper as the anger simmered beneath the surface.

"Someone is targeting Tara. Her phone was hacked", she murmured, the words laced with a dark promise.

The room grew tense as the weight of her statement settled. Sunaina's mind raced, calculating her next move with precision.

Whoever was behind this wouldn't go unpunished.

"What is my brother planning to do now?" she asked Kian in an unwavering tone.

Kian straightened and answered carefully, "King wants to take action immediately, but he's concerned about the risks. He believes we should gather more intel before moving forward".

Sunaina's gaze grew colder, her grip tightening on the report in her hand, "Those who dare threaten Tara will pay the price."

"Okay! Tighten the security of the mansion. I will talk to Buba (Jaikesh) and tell him not to leave Tara alone. If she goes out of the mansion then two three members must follow her without her knowledge because I know she will be uncomfortable under your presence", Sunaina told Kian and the other members of Scorpion Satan nodded.

The meeting ended, and everyone filed out of the room, leaving only Dino, Nora and Trex behind.

"Keep an eye on the capital city's police," Sunaina said in a cool and authoritative tone as she looked at Dino.

Dino gave a curt nod. She didn't need to elaborate and her command was clear.

"What about Sir Nilay?", Dino asked in an anxious tone.

"There's no turning point now and no return as well. Everything ended last night", Sunaina's straight, cold words startled them.

Dino glanced at Nora and then at Trex and bowed his head and left the study room quietly.

Sunaina remained seated at the head of the table and her eyes were briefly scanning the two of them before she spoke.

"What's the matter?"

....

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