“Ayaan,” I finally admit. “Ayaan changed the plan. New passports. New identities. New destination.” I close my eyes briefly knowing how my one revelation is going to turn the brothers against each other.
There’s a long pause before I hear him again.
“Where the hell are you taking her?” he asks.
I can already hear his voice. He’s controlling his anger right now, holding back from venting it on me.
“I… I can’t tell you that. Those are his orders.”
That’s enough to anger him further.
“Trisha...”
Just then, I hear the sound of something crashing through the line. Glass maybe. Or whatever poor object happened to be near him.
“You will bring herhere,” he commands.
“But Siya wants this, Raghav,” I say firmly. “She was happy when she saw where she was going.”
“I don’t care.” The reply comes instantly and loudly. “My brother doesn’t get to decide where Siya goes.” I can practically hear his jaw clench through the phone. “And if Siya thinks I’m helping her disappear frommylife too…” he mutters bitterly to himself. “Then she’s wrong.”
For the first time since this call started, I can sense something in his voice other than rage. He ishurt.Raw and ugly.
“Bring her here, Trisha.” He warns me this time.
“Raghav, please understand. This is not fair.”
“Fair?” he scoffs. “My brother changes my mission behind my back, decides to ship Siya halfway across the world without informing me, and you’re talking to me about fair?”
“He’s trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection,” he bites out. “I need control over a mission that exists becauseIdecided to bring her out.”
I rub my forehead slowly.
God. I knew this would go badly. I just didn’t realise it would be this explosive. Because the truth is impossible to ignore now.This man is so deep into Siya that he’s willing to tear apart everything he rebuilt for himself.
Suddenly, I hear footsteps outside the door. It’s probably the Vardhaan guards. I can’t risk having this conversation here anymore.
“Raghav, look,” I say in a rush. “Ayaan gave me direct orders. And only because Siya wants it too, I have to do this. I’m not betraying you. But I don’t have a choice right now. Someone’s outside. I have to go. Bye.”
The call disconnects before I end it.
I lower the burner phone slowly and stare at the blank screen. “I’m sorry, Raghav,” I whisper. “If only Siya, too, hadwanted to come back… Then even Ayaan’s orders wouldn’t have stopped me from bringing her to you. I’m so sorry.”
I close my eyes and press the phone against my chest. This is going to turn into a disaster. I can just feel it.
CHAPTER 21
SIYA
Marriage Day - Cape Town
The wedding muhurat is around 7:20 this evening, and the Vardhaan Mansion is drowning in wedding chaos. Voices echo through the hallways outside my bedroom as staff rush up and down, making sure everything is in place. Security personnel stand at every corner of the estate like armed statues, dressed in black suits, with weapons hidden beneath their jackets. More guards patrol the outer perimeter with rifles openly visible now instead of concealed. Luxury cars continue to stream through the massive front gates downstairs, carrying underworld names powerful enough to make governments nervous.
I stand in front of the mirror and stare at myself, barely able to recognise the woman looking back at me. The bridal lehenga I’m wearing is breathtaking. A deep crimson silk with heavy embroidery at the border. Diamonds rest against my throat, and bangles cover both my wrists. My makeup is flawless. Hair perfectly styled beneath the bridal dupatta draped over my head.
I look exactly the way a bride should.
