“If I stay here, the list of people coming after him is only going to multiply. Samarjeet as well as the Reddys won’t stop. Every enemy connected tomewill eventually come looking forhim, for this estate, for his family. They’ll challenge him, provoke him, try to reach him through me because they know exactly what I’ve become in his life now. I know my leaving won’tmagically erase every danger around him. There will always be people who want the Dark Prince dead, people who have nothing to do with me at all. But at least he will have one less battle to fight. One source of trouble, one reason for bloodshed, one more excuse for the underworld to keep knocking on RK Estate’s doors will be gone. And right now, that feels like the right thing to do. For him, for your family, and for me.”
I don’t even realise I’ve been nervously fidgeting with my sweatshirt.
“The earlier I leave this place, the better it will be for everyone.”
Ayaan remains silent. He closes his eyes briefly, exhales, then places his coffee mug on the table before looking at me again.
“I tried helping you once,” he begins. “You already know how that ended.”
I don’t answer.
“You ended up married to him, Siya.” Ayaan drags a hand across his face. “Yes, I didn’t want Raghav to bring you here to RK Estate or anywhere near his life. That’s why I arranged for you to go to Queenstown. I stood between you and him, knowing he would hate me for it. And yet, I failed.”
“You didn’t fail,” I counter. “Raghav failed you. But this is your chance now. To set things right again for all of us.”
“No, you’re not understanding, Siya.” He shakes his head. “Things are different now.You’re his wife.So if you want out of this marriage, if you want to leave him, then you don’t come to me. You have to talk to him. I can’t help you run away from my brother anymore. I tried doing that once, but now I won’t. Because it’s not my decision to make anymore.It’s his.”
Anger flares within me.
“So that’s it? Someone is asking for your help, and you don’t even want to try?” Tears pool in my eyes, but I hold them, not wanting to break down in front of him.
“Ask me for any other help, Siya, but not this.” His reply is immediate. I look down, trying hard to control my emotions. I hadn’t expected this. He’d been my last chance to seek help.
Ayaan walks over to me and his hands gently close around my arms, forcing me to look at him.
“You weren’t even his wife before, and he turned the entire underworld upside down to get you back here,” he says quietly, noticing the tears threatening to spill. “So frankly, I can’t even imagine what he’ll do now if I help you escape him. In fact, I don’t think you should try it either. Don’t do anything that could worsen this situation further. Whether I agree with his reasons or not, Raghav is right about one thing. Even if we somehow help you start a new life somewhere else, you wouldn’t be able to keep the mafia away forever. One day they’ll find you. And when they do, it’ll be hell.”
My pulse stumbles. I shrug his hands off my arms and take a step back.
“Typical men.”
Ayaan blinks.
“You’re all the same. You all think a woman can’t handle the threats herself unless there’s a man standing beside her.” A bitter laugh escapes me. “Onlyyoumen can fight wars. Onlyyoucan protect. Onlyyoucan survive.”
“Siya—”
“No.” I cut him off sharply. “Tell me one thing, Mr. Ayaan Shergill. If Raghav weren’t your brother, if he were just another mafia guy whose wife came to you asking for help because she never wanted that forced marriage in the first place... would you still be saying the same thing?”
He stands speechless, as if he never expected me to ask him this.
“You’re the Director of GLEN. You spend your life helping people escape dangerous situations. So tell me honestly... if Iwere anyone else standing here today, asking you for help to start a new life away from a man I never chose, would you still refuse?”
Ayaan shakes his head in sharp denial. “You are not just anyone, Siya. You’re myBhabhi(sister-in-law) now. And I don’t have the authority to take you away from my brother. Period.”
That wordBhabhihits me hard. Two days ago, I was just Siya Vardhaan. Now, unwillingly, I’m someone’s wife, someone’s daughter-in-law, someone’s sister-in-law. The family may still be angry at Raghav for the way he got married, but that hasn’t stopped them from accepting me. They’ve already made a place for me in their family. The irony is that while everyone else seems to have accepted this marriage...I still haven’t.
That’s it. I won’t beg for help anymore. Forcing Ayaan won’t change anything. His decision is already made.
“Fine. I guess I have my answer.” A humourless smile touches my lips. “Thanks for your time.”
Wiping the corner of my eye, I turn towards the door to leave. But the moment I do, my stomach drops.
Raghav is standing in the doorway, his eyes fixed intently on me. And judging by the look on his face, he’s heard everything. Good.Let him.No matter how many walls he builds around me to keep me from leaving, I’m not going to stop wanting my freedom. And I’m certainly not going to apologise for it.
Lifting my chin, I break eye contact first, not out of defeat, but because he no longer deserves another second of my attention. I walk straight past him through the doorway, leaving both brothers behind.
***************
