"Mom… whatever happened last night has nothing to do with my condition."
Kunal's voice was calm—but the darkness in his eyes said otherwise.
Meera stood still, her sharp gaze fixed on him.
"You think I haven't tried everything already?" she said slowly. "Doctors, treatments… nothing ever worked on you."
Kunal didn't respond.
"And yet," she continued, stepping closer, "a random girl did what no one else could."
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
"You touched her," Meera said. "And not just once."
Kunal's jaw tightened.
"I've been told," she added, her tone cutting through the air, "that you were… more than satisfied."
That was it.
Kunal slammed his fist against the glass table.
The sharp crack echoed in the room.
"Enough," he said coldly.
For a second, even Meera paused.
"Maybe," Kunal continued, his voice low and dangerous, "it was just a different drug."
Meera narrowed her eyes.
"You should drop this idea right here."
Meanwhile—
Aarohi walked down the street, her steps unsteady.
Every part of her body hurt.
Her fingers tightened around her bag as she noticed faint bruises still visible on her skin.
"Damn it…"
She muttered under her breath.
That drug dealer had tricked her.
She had asked for something simple—just enough to make someone unconscious.
Not this.
Not something that would turn her life upside down.
Her chest tightened as flashes of last night forced their way back.
That man.
His strength.
His control.
The way she had completely lost herself.
Aarohi squeezed her eyes shut.
"Forget it…"
But she couldn't.
Because deep down—
She knew something wasn't normal.
And that scared her more than anything.
An illegitimate child will always remain illegitimate.
The words echoed in her mind.
Her stepmother's voice.
Cold. Sharp. Unforgiving.
You will never be equal.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
Her sisters—Kiara and Naina—were everything she wasn't.
Successful.
Respected.
Perfect.
And her?
Just a mistake.
A shadow in the Singhania family.
"I just wanted one chance…"
She whispered.
That audition.
That one role that could finally change everything.
If they hadn't humiliated her… ignored her…
She would have never taken such a desperate step.
Still—
She didn't stop walking.
Because no matter what happened—
Today was her audition.
The moment Aarohi entered the studio, the atmosphere shifted.
Eyes turned.
Whispers followed.
And then—
Tanya.
Her expression darkened the second she saw Aarohi.
"So," Tanya said, crossing her arms, "you finally showed up."
Aarohi forced herself to stay calm.
"I'm here for the audition."
But Tanya wasn't listening anymore.
Her eyes had already moved.
To Aarohi's neck.
To the marks.
A slow, knowing look appeared on her face.
"Oh…"
That one word was enough.
Aarohi instinctively pulled her collar up—but it was too late.
She glanced down.
And froze.
The marks were still there.
Clear.
Obvious.
Humiliating.
Her face burned with shame.
Without a word, she turned and rushed toward the washroom.
She stood in front of the mirror.
And stared.
At herself.
At the bruises.
At the truth she couldn't escape.
"This is his fault…"
Her voice trembled.
"That man…"
"He ruined everything."
Her career.
Her chance.
Her dignity.
Everything.
Her phone suddenly rang.
The name on the screen made her body stiffen.
Rajveer Singhania.
Her father.
She hesitated.
Then picked up.
"I had work last night—"
"I don't care."
His voice was cold. Authoritative.
"You stayed out all night."
Aarohi stayed silent.
"Your sister Kiara is discussing her engagement with the family today."
That meant nothing to her.
"You will come home. Immediately."
It wasn't a request.
It was an order.
"I'll come," she said quietly.
"Good," Rajveer replied. "Because if you don't…"
His voice turned deadly.
"I will dig up your mother's grave and throw her ashes into the sea."
Aarohi froze.
Her breath stopped.
The call ended.
And for a few seconds—
She couldn't move.
Her hands trembled.
Not from fear.
From anger.
From helplessness.
At the Singhania mansion—
Sonia stood beside Rajveer, watching him closely.
"Is she coming back?" she asked.
Rajveer nodded. "She has no choice."
A faint smile appeared on Sonia's lips.
"Good."
She stepped closer.
"You should talk to her properly this time."
Rajveer frowned. "About what?"
Sonia's eyes gleamed.
"The Chopra family has sent a marriage proposal."
Rajveer stiffened.
"That family isn't right for Naina."
"Exactly," Sonia said smoothly. "Naina is too good for them."
A pause.
Then—
"But Aarohi…"
Her lips curved into a cold smile.
"…is perfect."
Rajveer said nothing.
"She's already a burden," Sonia continued. "At least now she can be useful."
The silence between them grew heavier.
"But she's still my daughter," Rajveer said finally.
Sonia let out a soft laugh.
"Really?"
Her tone turned sharp.
"So you'd rather send Naina there? Let her suffer? Live like a servant?"
Rajveer looked away.
"I raised Aarohi," Sonia added. "Gave her everything."
Her voice hardened.
"Now it's time she pays it back."
She turned toward the window.
"For someone like her… marrying into the Chopra family should be an honor."
Back at the studio—
Aarohi slowly lifted her head.
Her reflection stared back at her.
But something had changed.
The softness in her eyes was gone.
Replaced by something colder.
Stronger.
"Fine…"
She whispered.
"If this is how it is…"
Her fingers curled into fists.
"Then I won't lose again."
Elsewhere—
Kunal stood by the window, his expression unreadable.
For the first time in years—
Something had broken inside him.
His control.
His certainty.
His limits.
And the reason had a name.
Aarohi.
His eyes darkened.
"This isn't over…"
And this time—
Neither of them would walk away unchanged.