"You know what your problem is, Nisha?" Advika set down her mug carefully. "You're threatened by me. You've been the only woman in this house for years, the princess of the Singhania estate, and now there's someone else. Someone your brother married, someone who has a claim you can never touch."
Nisha's face flushed red. "Don't be ridiculous—"
"And you," Advika turned to Mihika, "are even sadder. Hanging around a man who's never looked at you twice, hoping against hope that one day he'll notice you're alive. Spoiler alert: he won't. He's married. To me. And no amount of accidental meetings in provocative clothing or touching his arm at dinner is going to change that."
Mihika's mouth dropped open. "How dare you—"
"How dare I what? Point out reality? You're not subtle, Mihika. Everyone sees what you're doing. The staff whispers about it. Rishabh makes jokes about it. The only person who doesn't acknowledge it is Sidharth, and that's because he genuinely doesn't care enough about you to notice."
"You're a bitch," Mihika hissed, standing up.
"And you're pathetic." Advika stood as well, done with this conversation. "But here's some free advice—stop trying to meddle in my marriage. Stop playing these little games with Nisha, thinking you can somehow push me out. Because I've been nothing but civil to you, and that ends today. Next time you try to interfere in my life, I won't be using words. Understand?"
The threat hung in the air, unmistakable.
Mihika's eyes widened. She looked to Nisha for support, but even Nisha seemed taken aback by Advika's sudden venom.
"This is my house," Nisha finally said, though her voice lacked its usual confidence. "You can't threaten my guests—"
"Then stop inviting guests who make it their mission to disrespect me." Advika grabbed her coffee. "I'm going to the library. Try not to plot my demise while I'm gone."
She walked out, her heart pounding with adrenaline and satisfaction. Behind her, she heard Mihika's voice, high and indignant: "Are you going to let her talk to me like that?"
Advika smiled. Small victories.
She found out later that afternoon that Nisha had gone straight to Sidharth.
Advika was in the kitchen, working on a batch of croissants that required her full concentration, when Lakshmi appeared in the doorway, her expression troubled.
"Mrs. Singhania? Mr. Singhania would like to see you in his office."
The tone suggested it wasn't a request.
Advika wiped her flour-covered hands on her apron, anxiety knotting in her stomach. She'd known there would be consequences for this morning. She just hoped Sidharth would at least hear her side before taking his sister's.
She knocked on his office door, entering at his curt "Come in."
Sidharth sat behind his desk, his expression unreadable. Nisha stood by the window, her arms crossed, looking righteously angry.
"Close the door," Sidharth said.
Advika did, steeling herself for whatever came next.
"Nisha says you threatened Mihika," Sidharth began, his tone neutral.
"I told her to stop interfering in my marriage," Advika corrected. "There's a difference."
"You said you wouldn't use words next time," Nisha jumped in. "That's a threat."
"It's a boundary." Advika looked at Sidharth, willing him to understand. "She's been coming here for months, touching you inappropriately, making comments designed to undermine me, and I'm supposed to just smile and take it?"
"She's Nisha's friend—"
"She's a woman who wants my husband and isn't subtle about it!" The words burst out of her, raw and honest. "And your sister encourages it. Sets up these little scenarios where Mihika is draped all over you while I'm supposed to sit there and pretend I don't notice."
"That's not—" Nisha started.
"Yes, it is." Advika's gaze didn't leave Sidharth's face. "You know it is. You've seen it. And you do nothing."
