Vansh stiffened the moment he saw her.

The girl sitting across from him frowned.

“Who is she, Vansh? Do you know her?”

Before he could answer—

Siya stepped forward.

A slow, sharp smirk curved on her lips.

“Oh? You didn’t tell her about me?”

The girl looked confused.

Siya turned to her calmly.

“Once, Vansh here was supposed to be my groom. But he never showed up at our wedding.”

Silence fell over the table.

The girl’s face drained of color.

“What?” she whispered, staring at Vansh.

Siya’s voice remained steady.

“If you didn’t want to marry, you should’ve said no. Why agree? Why let families prepare? Why let a girl stand there waiting?”

Her eyes hardened.

“You’re a coward, Vansh.”

He stood up abruptly. “Just shut up, Siya!”

The restaurant had gone quiet now.

Siya didn’t hesitate.

Her palm struck his cheek sharply.

The sound echoed.

He staggered slightly.

“You deserved that,” she said coldly.

Then she leaned closer, her voice lower but firm.

“And don’t pretend you were helpless. You knew everything. You’re related to the Mittals. You knew exactly what you were doing.”

The girl stepped back from Vansh slowly.

Disgust replacing confusion.

“I can’t believe this,” girl muttered before walking away.

Vansh tried to call her name, but she didn’t stop.

Siya straightened.

“I’m glad,” she said, looking him directly in the eye, “that I didn’t marry a coward like you.”

No tears.

No trembling.

Only strength.

Then she turned and walked away.

Paakhi followed quickly behind her.

Vansh remained standing there—

Hand on his cheek.

Watching her leave.

Realizing too late—

The girl he once humiliated now stood far above him.

That evening, Siya returned home.

She walked inside calmly, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.

But word travels fast.

At his office, Aarav leaned back in his chair when he heard the news.

“She slapped Vansh?” he repeated.

His assistant nodded.

For a second, he tried to stay serious.

Then he couldn’t help it.

He smiled.

Shook his head softly.

“This girl…” he muttered under his breath.

There was pride in his eyes.

Not anger.

Not jealousy.

Pride.

He loved her fire.

He loved the way she refused to bow.

Now he was impatient to go home.

To see her.

To confront her about it.

Raj looked up lazily. “What now?”

Akhil smirked. “Today Siya saw Vansh in a restaurant. She humiliated him. Slapped him in front of everyone.”

Raj went silent.

Then slowly—

A dangerous smile appeared.

“That girl…” he murmured.

There was something darker in his eyes now.

Akhil frowned slightly. “What?”

Raj leaned back.

“Even after her father and brother died… she stood in front of us. She didn’t beg. She didn’t break.”

His smile deepened.

“I like fire.”

Akhil thought for a moment. “But everyone has a weakness.”

Raj’s eyes sharpened. “Yes.”

Akhil added carefully, “Aarav Goenka, I guess. He’s her husband. He can’t tolerate a single word against her.”

Raj tapped his fingers on the table.

“Yes.”

Silence.

Then he stood.

“First, we defeat the Goenkas in business.”

His voice turned colder.

“Then personally.”

Akhil understood immediately.

They weren’t just planning rivalry.

They were planning war.