I woke up with a heavy head realising it was just evening and the doctor as well as the nurse were checking on me.

"Oh! Good evening Amaya...how's the pain?" Her sweet voice acted as a melody to my brain.

"Better," I replied as I sensed my pain had faded away maybe because of the pain killer.

"That's good. We just dressed your wound Amaya and there's one thing I wanted to know," she said as she guided the nurse to give me a particular medicine.

I nodded and gestured her to continue.

"Did you have any surgery or something as such before, I mean anywhere near your wound?" She asked.

"Yeah. I had an operation when I was quite young and then..." the memories of that night when Zara was raped flashed into my mind. They had almost crushed me over there that night.

"And?"

"And another accident when I was twenty," I replied.

"Hmm," she pondered over something. "Now I get it why the target was set there," 

She left the room leaving me with a number of questions.

Who wanted to kill me and why? Or did anyone actually want to kill me or not!

Why am I the potential target first?

Are Jindals really into this or Mahira was telling the truth the other day? 

I sighed in frustration. I wonder why my life is so messed up. Isn't this something I wonder like almost everyday?

Ofcourse!

I had this sudden urge to talk to someone and at the same time meet my children. I was about to get up when I message on my phone startled me.

Where did this come from!

I wondered as I gazed over my phone which displayed '2 messages' on the lock screen.

I unlocked my phone by swiping the screen towards the right and checked on the first message which was from Aahil.

Hey Amaya,
I know you won't like to see me and it's because I revealed about their father to them in an already messed up situation but trust me Amaya, no one could protect your kids the way Arjun could. It was after Kabir, Meera, Zara, Sarah and I had collectively decided to explain the kids about why their father couldn't be there with them for the first six years. Trust me Amaya, the more we would have prolonged the wait to reveal it to them the more it would have become difficult for them to take it. I was scared I wouldn't be able to take care of the kids the way I couldn't take care of you. Please try and understand...they need a father.
                                           -Aahil

I read the message twice and still couldn't believe it was the same Aahil who had sworn he wouldn't ever let the kids know about their father. I tightly shut my eyes sensing the seriousness of the situation. Four lives were in danger. I was already attacked and the predator was yet not traced.

I had no clue what to say or how to react. Aahana and Aryan will always choose their dad which meant Disha will always be around them and that's the least I could want. If for a moment I decide to not be selfish and think of Aahana and Aryan's feelings, still Disha is something I won't ever choose for my children.

I let a lone tear escape from my eyes. If they choose Arjun then?
Who knows what would happen next. 

I read the next message which was from an unknown number.

I know you were attacked and you won't trust me but I know they were the hit men, the paid killers you know! Well I don't know who's behind you to kill you but I certainly know who's behind your divorce.

Do you want to know who's behind your divorce??

My heart skipped a beat after reading this message. Who could it be? Someone I know or someone I don't know!

Who's this?

I replied to this text message and within half a minute, I had my reply.

Does that even matter? I want to lead you towards the man who's behind all this!

I just had no idea who this could be.

Okay, tell me. Who's the "man" behind all this?

I asked in my reply. Any lead could have helped me find the real culprits. Even the person who's behind our divorce could help me find who wanted to destroy our family if not the Jindals.

I stood up without much difficulty and with the support of the wall, I paced towards Arjun's study.

I saw him through the glass walls. He was wearing his specs and staring at the laptop screen working most probably. I didn't want to disturb him but this was important. The moment I was about to enter the study, his phone started ringing and I received a reply from that unknown person.

It's your loving husband, Arjun.

I could have fainted that instant but didn't. I just couldn't believe what was written in the reply. I read it twice, thrice and on and on and then watched Arjun still speaking to someone over the phone.

Listen up, stop this shit!

I messaged.

LOL! Wanna see some proof?

Came an instant reply.
I kept on staring at the screen and then took a quick glance of Arjun who had just hung the call and searching for some files.

Hmm...

Was the only thing I could think of as my possible reply. I didn't know if I was ready to see the proof or not.

If it was Arjun all this while and the only thing he wanted was to divorce me, he could have done it way before. But then he stated that I left then he shouldn't have thrown me out of his house in the first place.

In another minute came a video clip. It just took my heart away. Exactly then Arjun glanced at me and smiled at me intently. I looked at him with teary eyes and left the place instantly.

It was a recording of Disha kissing the life out of Arjun and asking repeatedly, "Does Amaya matter to you at all?"

Arjun's reply came the next moment when he grabbed her waist and pulled her as close as he could, "No baby...it's just you and no one else,"

"Would you kill for me?" She asked as she leaned onto him and bit his earlobe.

"Yes baby," his reply came while he groaned over her bite.

"I don't want you to kill for me but will you divorce Amaya for me?" she asked and sucked his earlobe.

He did wait for about ten seconds but then firmly replied, "Okay,"

The clip ended.
I wiped my tears and put that video in a hidden folder. If Arjun could play this with me, I'm not in.

Who are you???

I messaged in frustration. I wanted to know why Arjun cheated on me...

Doesn't matter unless and until you trust me!

But who knows if Arjun really cheated on me??

I trust you. I replied back.

The reply came within seconds.

I'm Suhana Jindal this side. Remember me?

I dropped the phone in shock. I knew why Suhana sent me this. She didn't want to help me but take revenge on her ex-best friend, Disha who fought Zara's case and got her husband punished.

I knew she was also playing mind games with me and so I messaged her for something concrete as a proof!

She did as I directed and sent me an audio clip with a smiling emoji this time. With trembling fingers, I clicked on the attachment and the audio played.

"Sir, are you sure you want this news in our magazine?" Asked an unknown female voice.

"Yes," it was Arjun's voice as a reply. I was confused.

"So what could be a possible headline for this sir?" Asked that female voice.

"Something that is offensive...something that will be enough to hurt her sentiments!" came Arjun's reply.

"How about 'business tycoon Arjun Malhotra's wife has an affair with his best friend Parth Raichand?"

"Cool!" Was all Arjun said.

I collapsed on the floor resting my back on the pillar. So all this was indeed Arjun's plan. He did want to divorce me...it wasn't my fault at all. I was never at fault. Why me Arjun? How convenient it was for you to do this to me right?

You broke me again Arjun.

I typed back a reply...

But why would you help me?

I impatiently waited for her reply and it came after a few seconds.

I never said I was helping you. I was just breaking you from within Amaya. Nasty truth of your fucked up life! Enjoy.

I didn't care about anything right then. All I wanted was to confront Arjun for all that he did to me.

I stood up, regained my composure and barged straight into his study without knocking on the glass door.

Arjun stood up from his chair and glanced at me. I took long strides to reach him.

"Amaya why did you come downstairs? You could have called-"

And with that in a reflex, my palm crashed with his cheek and there came a cracking sound that echoed in the room.

Yes, I slapped him. The much awaited slap.

"You played well with me Arjun but you know what, it's over now. I know everything. I don't know who wants to kill me but trust me Arjun, I would be better off dead than be your prey in your dangerous heart games," I said as tears gushed down my cheeks by the time I finished my last sentence.

His expressions expressed how shocked he was but at the same time he was confused.

"Amaya-"

"Listen to me Arjun...just listen to me. You did what you wanted to do...now I'll do what I feel is right for us. Us as in my kids and me," I said.

"Will you just let me explain-" I cut him short again.

"Explain? You want to explain Arjun? What do you want to explain? That how you asked that magazine house to print a fake news about your best friend and me having an affair? Or how you promised Disha that you'd divorce me? Or how you were the one who cheated on me with my sister all along our two yearsbof marriage?" I was out of breath when I completed what I wanted to say.

"Who told you about the magazine and Disha thing?" He asked with a voice that seemed unsure yet vulnerable.

"So you agree that YOU were the one who had an affair isn't it?" I asked.

He was quiet.

"Speak up Arjun!" I shouted.

"Yes," he mumbled.

Wow!

I broke down into tears again.

"And you did all this non sense drama to make sure you looked all innocent and I looked like a cheat?" I asked with my voice losing it's volume.

He was quiet.

"Your silence is my answer Arjun," neither of us dared to look into each other's eyes.

"Who told you about this Amaya?" He asked once again.

"That's absolutely none of your god Damn business!" I replied and stomped out of the room with anger stirring in my mind. I had to leave this place and go away...even if it hurts.

While I was exiting the study, I heard him say this aloud. "Amaya, it was not just I who cheated on you. You played an equal part in this game," I didn't try to comprehend his words but certainly it held no meaning to it, I knew!

I checked on my kids who were sleeping. It was already nine and it was their time to sleep. I wonder who made them eat heir dinner and then I saw Arjun's mother walking out of the walk in wardrobe of the children's room. She put the duvet on them and kissed them on their forehead. She caressed their faces and looked at them with lots of love in her eyes.

I knew she liked my children that instant and it made me feel happy for a second but then the thought of leaving this place crossed my mind.

"I'm sorry Aahana and Aryan...this love you received from your family was all temporary. We have to go away and that's what your father! wants. I'm sorry I'll do this to you but trust me my babies, mumma will always love you," I repeated the last line...the same last line I had said to myself while departing for Paris with them in my womb.

I was going to leave this place after I sign the divorce papers tomorrow. This will be our end. The end of our story.

____________________________________

Hey everyone! A new update.

First of all, I'm really sorry I couldn't reply to your comments last time. I told you I had my exams right? So it just finished day before yesterday! Relief!!!
I'll try to reply to each one of you asap. 

So, how was the update?

Did you like the chapter??

The truth?? Arjun's truth?
Shocking right?

Well, I won't give a long author's note today. 

All I can say is pleaseeee do comment and vote on this chapter. I would love to know what you feel about the book, the characters and the chapters. Eagerly waiting for your response!