Chapter 8 — The Malik Mansion
The drive to the Malik mansion was unusually quiet.
Prema sat beside the window, watching the city disappear behind them. Zyan sat across from her, his phone in his hand, speaking occasionally with Harry and Rahul.
She could tell something was wrong.
He had become quieter since leaving the college.
Not angry.
Not impatient.
Calculating.
Prema finally broke the silence.
"Are you going to tell me what's happening?"
Zyan looked at her.
"Someone inside my security network is helping the person who's targeting you."
Her stomach tightened.
"So the threat isn't only against me."
"No."
"Then who?"
"We don't know yet."
Prema looked down.
"Your family?"
His expression changed slightly.
"We're increasing security around them."
She noticed.
"You think they're in danger."
"I think anyone connected to me could become a target."
"And you brought me to your family?"
"I brought you somewhere protected."
"Those aren't the same thing."
Zyan didn't answer.
She was right.
Bringing Prema into his home could place her even closer to his family—and closer to whoever was hunting them.
But leaving her at the hostel was no longer an option he could accept.
The car entered a private road surrounded by tall trees.
Prema stared through the window.
Then the mansion appeared.
It was enormous.
Stone walls, wide balconies, enormous windows, carefully maintained gardens and security gates surrounded the property.
Prema's eyes widened.
"This is your house?"
Zyan looked amused.
"Yes."
"It's more like a palace."
"My mother would agree."
The gates opened.
Several security personnel stood outside.
Prema immediately felt uncomfortable.
"I don't belong here."
Zyan looked at her.
"You don't have to belong anywhere except where you feel safe."
She looked at him.
For some reason, those words affected her more than they should have.
The car stopped.
Before Zyan could open the door, the mansion's front doors opened.
A woman hurried outside.
"Zyan!"
His mother.
She walked straight toward him.
"You promised you'd come yesterday."
"I know."
"You didn't."
"I had a situation."
Her eyes moved toward Prema.
She stopped.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
Then her expression softened.
"Oh."
Zyan closed his eyes briefly.
"Mom."
His mother smiled.
"So this is Prema."
Prema froze.
"You know me?"
"Of course."
She looked at her son.
"You've mentioned her."
"Mom."
"What?"
His mother smiled innocently.
"I've only heard your name."
Prema glanced at Zyan.
His expression suggested he regretted telling his mother anything.
His mother stepped forward and gently took Prema's hand.
"Come inside, dear."
Prema hesitated.
Then nodded.
Zyan watched them walk toward the mansion.
Something unfamiliar settled in his chest.
For years, his mother had asked him to bring someone home.
Now he finally had.
And somehow, the sight of Prema walking beside her made the mansion feel different.
Warmer.
His father was waiting in the living room.
He stood when they entered.
His gaze moved from Zyan to Prema.
A small smile appeared.
"So you're the young woman who has caused my son to remember that he has a heart."
"Dad."
His father laughed.
Prema's cheeks turned pink.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize."
His father smiled at her.
"Welcome."
A woman's voice came from upstairs.
"Did you say Prema is here?"
A young woman appeared at the top of the staircase.
Zyan's sister.
She hurried down the stairs.
"I've been waiting to meet her."
Zyan sighed.
"This family has no sense of privacy."
His sister laughed.
"Neither do you."
She hugged Prema before Zyan could react.
Prema smiled awkwardly at first, then relaxed.
The warmth was unfamiliar.
She hadn't experienced anything like this in years.
People welcoming her.
People asking whether she had eaten.
People arguing over what she might like.
People treating her as if she already belonged.
It hurt.
Not because it was unpleasant.
Because it reminded her of everything she had lost.
Zyan noticed the change in her expression.
He quietly stepped closer.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded.
"I'm fine."
He didn't believe her.
But he didn't press.
Instead, he whispered,
"You don't have to hide your feelings here."
Prema looked at him.
His mother noticed the exchange from across the room.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Dinner was served shortly afterward.
Prema sat beside Satya, who had been invited after Zyan insisted she shouldn't be separated from Prema.
Zyan sat opposite them.
His family talked.
Satya laughed.
His sister teased him.
His father discussed business.
For the first time in days, Prema felt normal.
Then her phone vibrated.
She looked down.
Unknown number.
Her smile disappeared.
Zyan noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
She handed him the phone.
One message.
Beautiful house.
Another arrived.
I wonder how long your new family will remain safe.
Zyan's expression went completely still.
Nobody else noticed.
Then a third message appeared.
Check the garden.
Zyan stood.
"Stay here."
Prema grabbed his wrist.
"Don't."
He looked at her.
"I need to check."
"You're going alone?"
"I'm not."
Harry appeared at the doorway.
"I'll go."
Zyan nodded.
The two men walked toward the garden.
Security immediately surrounded the property.
Prema stood near the window, watching.
Then she noticed something.
A small red light.
Blinking.
On the opposite wall.
Her heart stopped.
"Zyan!"
He turned.
She pointed toward the wall.
"There!"
Harry moved first.
He rushed toward the object.
It was a tiny camera.
Hidden inside the decorative stonework.
Zyan stared at it.
Someone had been watching the mansion.
Not just tonight.
Possibly for weeks.
Harry removed the device.
"We need to search the entire property."
Zyan nodded.
Then his phone rang.
His father answered his own phone at the same moment.
Both men looked at each other.
The call was from the family's security chief.
"Sir," the security chief said urgently, "we have a problem."
"What?"
"Someone breached the outer perimeter."
Zyan's expression hardened.
"Where?"
"North gate."
"Anyone injured?"
"No."
"Did they enter?"
A pause.
"We don't know."
Zyan's eyes moved toward the windows.
His mother.
His father.
His sister.
Prema.
All inside.
He immediately ordered the doors locked.
"Nobody leaves this room."
His father stood.
"Zyan, what's happening?"
"Someone is testing our security."
His sister's face paled.
Prema watched him.
She had never seen him like this.
Not the confident businessman.
Not the teasing man from the hospital.
This was the Zyan Malik everyone else feared.
Cold.
Focused.
Dangerously calm.
Then every light in the mansion suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Someone screamed.
Prema felt a hand grab hers.
Zyan.
"Don't move."
His voice came from the darkness.
Then came a sound from somewhere outside.
A gunshot.
The windows shattered.
And before anyone could react, Zyan pulled Prema against his chest and covered her with his body.
Another shot rang through the mansion.
Then a voice came through the darkness.
"Zyan Malik."
Everyone froze.
The voice laughed softly.
"You wanted to know who I am?"
A pause.
"Look outside."
Emergency lights flickered on.
Zyan slowly lifted his head.
On the mansion lawn stood a man holding a photograph.
A photograph of Prema.
And beneath it, written in red ink, were four words:
She will destroy you.