"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you deserve to know. You're not my pawn anymore, Advika. You're not anyone's pawn. You've made yourself into a queen." He stood, preparing to leave. "I'm proud of you. For what it's worth."
The words should have meant something. Should have filled the void his neglect had created.
Instead, they just felt... empty. Too little, too late.
"It's worth something," Advika said finally. "But not as much as you think. I don't need your pride anymore, Father. I don't need your approval. I've built a life without it."
He nodded, accepting that. "Good. You should never need anyone's approval but your own."
After he left, Advika sat for a long moment, processing. She'd spent so much of her life craving her father's acknowledgment. And now that she had it, it didn't matter.
Because she'd found her own power. Built her own kingdom. Become her own person.
She pulled out her phone, texting Sidharth.
Advika: Just met with my father. I'm okay. Coming home soon.
His response was immediate.
Sidharth: Want me to come get you?
Advika: No. I'm good. See you at home.
Sidharth: I love you.
The words still made her heart skip. Still felt new and precious.
Advika: I love you too.
She drove back to the estate—home, she corrected herself. Home.
Sidharth met her at the door, pulling her into his arms the moment she stepped inside.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Strange. He said he was proud of me."
"He should be. I'm proud of you."
"I know." She pulled back to look at him. "And that's what matters. Not his approval. Yours. Mine. Ours."
"Ours," he agreed, kissing her forehead. "Come. I have something to show you."
He led her to his office—their office now, since she'd started attending meetings there. On the desk was a set of documents.
"What is this?"
"Partnership papers. For the legitimate businesses." He handed them to her. "I want you to be an official partner. Not just my wife, but my business partner. Equal stake, equal say."
Advika's eyes widened. "Sidharth—"
"You've earned it. You're brilliant at this. And I want it official. You and me. Partners in everything."
She looked at the papers, then at him. This man who'd started as her enemy, become her captor, and finally, finally become her partner.
Her equal.
