Vivaan's POV
The moment she left the hospital… I already knew.
Not guessed. Not assumed.
Knew.
Because nothing in my world moves without me knowing it.
I was in my office, leaning back on the chair, one leg over the other, lazily watching the CCTV feeds. Multiple screens in front of me. Different floors. Different angles. Different lives.
All meaningless.
Until—
There.
Screen 7.
I leaned forward slightly.
Aadhya.
Walking into the mall.
Bandage on her nose. Hair open. Looking around like she just landed in a different universe.
Clumsy. Careless.
…alive.
My fingers tapped lightly on the desk as I zoomed in.
She was at the pharmacy now. Talking. Paying.
Then stepping out.
And then—
I watched her struggle with that bandage box.
Turning it left. Right. Pulling it. Even trying to bite it.
I scoffed under my breath.
"Seriously?"
Behind me, Nikansh chuckled. "Kya kar rahi hai yeh…"
"She's not leaving," I said calmly.
He went quiet. "What?"
I didn't look at him. My eyes were still on the screen.
"She's not transferring."
That stubbornness. That refusal to back down.
It was clear now.
Which meant—
If my plan has to work…
I need to change my approach.
Break her? Yes.
But not directly.
Not yet.
First…
I need her guard down.
I stood up.
"Where are you going?" Nik asked.
"To fix something," I replied.
By the time I reached the floor…
She was still there.
Still fighting with that box.
"Yeh khul kyun nahi raha…" she muttered, almost ready to throw it.
Idiot.
I walked straight towards her.
And just as expected—
Thud.
She walked straight into me.
Her hand instantly went to her nose.
"Damn it… meri naak…"
Her face twisted in pain. Eyes squeezing shut for a second.
Something in my chest tightened.
Annoying.
I ignored it.
"You look stupid," I said flatly.
She looked up at me.
And there it was.
That fire.
"Tum…" she narrowed her eyes, "mere peeche aaye ho kya?"
Before I could answer, the others joined in.
"Haha Adi you look like Rudolph!"
She glanced at all of them. Irritated. Confused.
"What the hell are you all doing here…" she muttered.
Then she turned to leave.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Just walked away.
I stepped forward.
Grabbed her arm.
Firm.
"You're coming with us."
She resisted instantly.
"No thanks, I'm going home. Leave me."
Tried pulling away.
"Let go!"
But I didn't.
She struggled more.
"Vivaan leave me!"
Her voice sharper now.
Good.
Still fighting.
I pulled her along anyway.
Third floor. Ice cream parlour.
My place.
My control.
"Sit."
She didn't move. Just folded her arms.
"What do you want?"
"Sit."
"Just tell me what you want. If you have nothing to say I'm going home."
I felt irritation rise.
"DAMN IT IS IT HARD TO SIT?"
Silence fell around us.
People staring.
She inhaled slowly… then sat.
But turned her face away from me.
Avoiding me.
Interesting.
"Neel. Your specialty."
"Okay Vivaan."
While he went, I kept looking at her.
Her eyes wandering around like she's distracting herself.
But I wasn't distracted.
My eyes went straight to her nose.
Bandage slightly loose. Skin still red.
Because of me.
…
I stepped closer.
Grabbed her chin.
Turned her face towards me.
"What are you doing…" she snapped.
Ignored.
I removed the bandage slowly.
"Agh—"
She shut her eyes tightly.
Her fingers curled slightly on the table.
Pain.
Clear.
"Does it hurt?" I asked.
Stupid question.
"No, I'm quite enjoying it," she replied instantly.
Sarcasm.
Even now.
I pressed her nose.
Harder.
"Damn it—" she clenched her teeth. Eyes watering.
"You son of—" she muttered.
I heard it.
"I swear if I end up becoming Voldemort…"
I almost smirked.
Still joking.
Still resisting.
I held her chin again.
This time slower.
And when our eyes met—
Everything paused.
She wasn't shouting.
Wasn't arguing.
Just… looking.
Straight into my eyes.
Confused. Angry. But not weak.
That annoyed me.
And intrigued me.
I broke the moment.
"Are you crazy?"
Neel brought the ice cream.
Big. Rich. Over the top.
I pushed it towards her.
She looked at it. Then at me.
"What is this? A bribe?"
Direct.
I leaned back slightly.
"If that's what you call it… then yeah."
She didn't touch it.
Not even once.
"You think I'll let this pass with this?"
"Yeah. It's every girl's weakness."
She scoffed.
"No. Not me. I don't like it."
That…
I didn't expect.
I leaned forward slightly.
"Then what do you want?"
And in that moment—
I was already prepared.
Whatever she asked… it wouldn't matter.
Money? Done.
A new phone? Easy.
A car? I could get it delivered by evening.
A penthouse? I own three.
Cash? That's the simplest thing in the world.
People ask. I give. End of story.
That's how problems get solved.
That's how I solve them.
So I waited.
Calm. Certain.
Because there was nothing she could ask that I couldn't give
She looked straight at me.
No hesitation.
Her answer came almost instantly
"A simple sorry."
Her finger tapped lightly on her chest.
"From here."
Then she added—
"And then explain why you did that."
Silence.
For a moment…
I just looked at her.
Did she just—
Sorry?
Out of everything…
That's what she chose?
No demand.
No benefit.
No gain.
Just… a word?
A quiet laugh escaped me.
Something inside me said—
Say it.
Just once.
But—
No.
That's not me.
I laughed.
Cold.
Sharp.
"Apologising is not my thing."
"And explaining too."
Her expression didn't break.
Didn't react dramatically.
Just… accepted it.
"Okay."
She stood up.
"Then we're both wasting our time here."
Picked her phone. Wallet.
"I'm going home."
And she walked away.
No looking back.
No hesitation.
No weakness.
Silence.
Even the others didn't speak for a moment.
"She didn't take it…" Neel said slowly.
I didn't reply.
My eyes were still on the exit.
"She just left…"
Nikansh looked at me.
"So what now?"
I leaned back.
Thinking.
She didn't react to fear.
Didn't react to power.
Didn't react to money.
And she didn't even react to apology.
That means—
She's not easy.
Good.
I smirked slightly.
"Plan changes."
Nik narrowed his eyes. "Kaise?"
I turned to the screen again.
She was outside now.
Walking alone.
Careless.
Unaware.
Perfect.
"I'll make her trust me first."
My voice dropped.
Colder.
"And then…"
I looked at her again.
This time more carefully.
"I'll break her."
Slowly.
Completely.
From the inside.
Silence filled the room.
Because they know—
When I decide something…
I don't stop.
And Aadhya—
You think you walked away from me today?
No.
You just stepped into my game.