Chapter 9: Shadows of Betrayal
The night stretched over Mumbai like a velvet shroud, the city lights glimmering like a million watchful eyes.
Aanya sat by the shelter window, Meera's folder spread across the small table in front of her. Page after page confirmed the nightmare: Rajiv was preparing to sell off Malhotra Global's overseas assets through a complex network of shell corporations.
If he succeeded, the company her parents had built with their blood and sweat would vanish, its legacy buried under foreign control.
[Ding!]
Task Reminder: Prevent Rajiv's International Liquidation Deal.
Time Limit: 6 Days, 13 Hours.
Penalty: Permanent loss of Malhotra Global assets.
Her jaw tightened. "I won't let it happen."
Across the room, Arjun stood near the door, arms folded. He hadn't said much since the mall incident, but his presence was like a wall of steel — silent, unyielding, always there.
Finally, he spoke. "You're too quiet."
She looked up, meeting his sharp gaze. "I'm thinking."
"About Rajiv? Or about me?" His voice was low, unreadable.
Her heart skipped, but she covered it with a smirk. "Maybe both."
He tilted his head, lips curving faintly. "Dangerous habit."
Before she could retort, Meera entered, her expression tense. She shut the door behind her and dropped her phone onto the table.
"Bad news," she said without preamble. "Someone leaked our meeting."
Aanya's stomach turned cold. "What?"
Meera's eyes hardened. "Rajiv knows you have the documents. He's already started damage control."
The system chimed.
[Warning!]
Task Difficulty Increased.
Enemy Countermeasures Activated.
Aanya's hand clenched into a fist. "How is that possible? I trusted you—"
Her voice faltered. Meera's eyes widened. "You think I betrayed you?"
Arjun's gaze sharpened, watching silently.
Meera stepped closer, her tone firm. "If I wanted you gone, Aanya, I wouldn't have risked my career meeting you in public. But someone in my circle might have leaked our conversation."
"Or someone followed us from the mall," Arjun added quietly.
The thought sent a chill down Aanya's spine. The bounty. Rajiv's men could have eyes everywhere.
She exhaled slowly. "Then we need to move faster."
Hours later, the three of them sat huddled around the documents.
Meera tapped a line on one of the contracts. "This company here — Blackthorn Holdings. On paper, it's a Singaporean firm. But dig deeper, and you'll see it's nothing more than a shell. Rajiv owns it outright through a proxy."
Aanya frowned. "If we expose this, it'll prove he's moving assets illegally."
"Yes," Meera said. "But you'll need someone credible to bring it forward. If you come out with it yourself, the media will just paint you as a bitter ex-con."
The words stung, but Aanya knew she was right.
She leaned back, frustration simmering. "Then who?"
Arjun finally spoke. "What about Rathore Consultants? They already listened to you once. If you provide evidence, they might back you."
Meera raised a brow. "Rathore? Risky. They have ties to Rajiv."
"Which means," Arjun countered, "if they turn against him, others will follow."
Aanya studied him. He spoke with the quiet confidence of a man who wasn't guessing, but knew.
"How do you know so much about their ties?" she asked softly.
For the first time, Arjun looked away. "Because I've been watching Rajiv for years. Long before you came back."
Her heart skipped. "Watching him? Why?"
Silence stretched. Then his voice dropped lower. "Because his empire was built on the ashes of my family."
Her breath caught.
"You mean…"
Arjun's eyes were like steel. "The man you call uncle… is the same man whose decisions led to my parents' deaths."
The revelation hung heavy in the air.
Aanya whispered, "So it's not just my war. It's yours, too."
For the first time since meeting him, Arjun's mask cracked. She saw raw, unfiltered pain flash in his eyes. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the calm steadiness she'd come to rely on.
"Yes," he said simply.
The system chimed.
[Ding!]
Candidate Bond Strengthened.
Trust Level: 80%.
New Feature Unlocked: Shared Vision (Host and Candidate may exchange information through the system under mutual consent).
Aanya inhaled sharply as the notification faded. We're connected now.
The next day, they arranged a discreet meeting with a contact inside Rathore Consultants.
The café was quiet, tucked away in a side street far from the main roads. Aanya and Arjun arrived first, taking a corner booth.
Meera entered moments later, followed by a man in his forties, well-dressed, with sharp, calculating eyes.
"Mr. Desai," Meera introduced softly. "One of the senior partners at Rathore."
Desai shook Aanya's hand firmly. "I never thought I'd see you again, Ms. Malhotra."
Aanya smiled faintly. "A lot of people didn't."
They got straight to business. Aanya slid the folder across the table. Desai flipped through the documents, his expression tightening.
"This… this could ruin Rajiv," he said quietly.
"Which is exactly the point," Aanya said evenly.
But before Desai could reply, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen — and froze.
Aanya noticed. "Problem?"
Desai's lips thinned. "Rajiv just called a surprise board meeting tonight. He knows."
Meera swore under her breath. "That was fast."
Aanya leaned forward. "Then we crash it. If he's consolidating his move, we need to stop him there."
Desai looked torn. "That would be dangerous. If Rajiv sees you—"
"He already knows I'm alive," Aanya cut in sharply. "And I'm done hiding."
The system chimed again.
[New Task Generated:] Attend Rajiv's emergency board meeting.
Condition: Reveal evidence of Blackthorn Holdings.
Reward: Reputation +15, Strategic Influence Skill.
Penalty: Failure results in permanent blacklisting from Malhotra Global.
Aanya's pulse quickened. This was it. The moment she stepped back onto the battlefield.
Desai hesitated, then finally said, "If you're serious, I'll get you in."
Arjun's eyes narrowed. "It could be a trap."
"It probably is," Aanya said, her voice steady. "But if I don't go, Rajiv wins."
That night, as the city lights glittered below, Arjun stood by the window of the shelter, watching the streets.
"You shouldn't go in there alone," he said quietly without turning.
Aanya approached, her reflection in the glass beside his. "I won't be alone. You'll be there."
Their eyes met in the reflection. For a moment, the weight of vengeance, betrayal, and danger faded — leaving only the unspoken truth between them.
Neither moved. Neither looked away.
Finally, Arjun broke the silence. "Then tomorrow… we show them the queen has returned."