Siya didn’t say anything.

The room fell silent.

Aarav lay down on the couch, staring at the ceiling—lost in his own thoughts.

Siya slowly turned her head and looked at him.

For a moment… she just watched him.

Then she turned away again.

But her heart—

It wouldn’t stay calm.

It was racing.

His words echoed in her mind.

“You matter more than anything… your happiness…”

She closed her eyes tightly.

A sharp ache spread through her chest.

Because she knew.

She knew how much he loved her.

How deeply.

How genuinely.

She swallowed hard.

“No…” she whispered to herself.

“First… revenge.”

As if reminding her own heart.

As if forcing herself to stay strong.

She shut her eyes again.

Trying to silence everything inside her.

But no matter how much she tried—

She couldn’t deny it anymore.

Not completely.

Because deep down…

She already knew.

She had fallen in love with him.

Aarav woke up early.

After some time, Siya woke up too.

She walked to the dining table and sat beside him.

Aarav was already there.

Eating quietly.

No teasing.

No conversation.

Just silence.

Siya didn’t say anything either.

She picked up her plate and started eating.

Paakhi sat there, glancing between them.

Something … off.

The usual energy was already gone.

The table felt strangely quiet.

Siya was lost in her thoughts.

His words from last night… still echoing in her mind.

And then—

She suddenly choked.

Aarav froze.

Without thinking, he immediately reached for the glass and handed it to her.

“Careful,” he said softly.

Siya looked at him for a second.

Then took the glass from his hand and drank slowly.

For a brief moment—

Their eyes met.

And in that moment…

Everything was still there.

His concern.

His care.

Siya looked away.

Her grip on the glass tightened slightly.

She knew.

She had always known.

No matter how distant he became—

He still cared.

The same way.

And that thought…

Only made the distance between them feel heavier.

After finishing, Aarav stood up and left for the office.

Without saying anything.

Siya sat there for a moment longer.

Then quietly got up and went back to her room.

Alone with her thoughts.

Siya sighed heavily and leaned back.

Everything had gone wrong.

She had come so close—

And yet, Akhil hadn’t even taken a sip.

The chaos had ruined everything.

—

Her phone buzzed.

She picked it up immediately.

“Yes?”

“Ma’am,” the man spoke from the other side,

“Akhil Mittal’s engagement is next Sunday.”

Siya’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Okay.”

Then she paused.

“That night… did the police actually come?”

“No, ma’am,” the man replied.

“There was no police raid. It was a false rumor.”

Siya froze for a second.

“A rumor…?”

Her mind instantly started connecting things.

Who would spread a rumor like that?

And exactly at that moment?

Then suddenly—

A thought crossed her mind.

What if… Aarav did it?

She wasn’t sure.

But the possibility stayed in her head.

“Wait,” Siya said suddenly.

“The spiked drink…”

The man replied,

“Someone disposed of the glass after everyone left.”

Siya went silent.

Everyone had panicked and run outside.

But that man—

He stayed calm enough to remove the evidence.

Which meant—

He probably already knew no police were coming.

Siya’s expression slowly changed.

Then she remembered something.

The man staring at her inside the club.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Okay,” she said finally.

“Tell Raghav to talk to me when he’s free.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The call ended.

Siya lowered the phone slowly.

Her thoughts drifted back again.

If Aarav really did this…

She exhaled sharply.

“This man…” she muttered under her breath.

And strangely—

Her heartbeat quickened.

At night—

Siya was sitting quietly in the room when Aarav entered.

As usual—

He didn’t even glance at her.

He walked straight toward the study.

Siya said “Aarav.”

He didn’t stop.

Siya sighed and followed him.

Inside the study—

Aarav stood in front of the large glass window, his hands in his pockets.

Silent.

Distant.

Siya walked up to him.

“I want to talk.”

He finally turned slightly and said “Then talk.”

She looked at him carefully.

“That day…” she began slowly,

“How did you know we were at the club?”

Aarav stayed silent.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Wait…”

Realization hit her.

“Your men were spying on me?”

Aarav turned his face away.

That silence itself was the answer.

Siya exhaled sharply.

“Stay away from me.”

That was it.

Aarav immediately looked back at her.

“I won’t.”

His voice was firm.

“You’re my wife. I can’t let anything happen to you.”

She shot him a glare.

“You don’t care about yourself,” he continued, frustration visible now.

“But I care about you.”

Siya paused for a second.

Then another thought struck her.

“And answer me honestly,” she said.

“That police raid rumor…”

Their eyes met.

“Was it you?”

A brief silence.

Then he replied “Yes.”

Siya pushed him angrily.

“Why?!” she snapped.

“My plan was about to work and you destroyed it!”

“Stop it, Siya!” Aarav said sharply.

“Murder doesn’t happen like this!”

“It was a bar!” he continued.

“Do you even realize how many innocent people could’ve gotten involved?”

Siya laughed bitterly.

“Oh please. People die in bars all the time.”

Aarav stared at her in disbelief.

“You don’t understand.”

“No,” Siya replied coldly.

“I understand everything.”

Her eyes hardened again.

“So just stay away from me… and stop interfering.”

The silence after that felt dangerous.

Because neither of them was ready to back down.

Siya turned and started walking away.

“Siya.”

She stopped but didn’t look back.

Aarav’s voice lowered.

“You’re destroying yourself.”

A brief silence filled the room.

Then Siya slowly turned toward him.

Her eyes were tired… but unwavering.

“If my revenge demands that from me,” she said quietly,

“then I’m ready to destroy myself.”

And with that—

She walked away.

Aarav stood there silently.

A heavy sigh escaped him.

He knew she was wrong.

But he also knew something else

Siya was stubborn.

Once she decided something…

She would burn herself before stepping back.

And that was exactly what scared him the most.