Myra: “Tell me honestly… how terrifying was he?”

Aadhira removed her earrings irritably.

Aadhira: “Annoyingly confident.”

Myra gasped dramatically.

Myra: “That means he’s attractive.”

Aadhira: “That means he’s arrogant.”

Myra smirked.

Myra: “Same thing.”

Aadhira threw a pillow at her.

Aadhira: “I’m serious, Myra. Something about that family feels wrong.”

Myra’s expression slowly turned serious.

Myra: “You noticed it too?”

Aadhira nodded.

Aadhira: “The security, the nervous staff, the way everyone feared Bhairav Rathore…”

She paused.

Aadhira: “And those warehouse trucks.”

Myra frowned.

Myra: “You think it’s connected to your case?”

Aadhira: “I’m sure it is.”

Myra looked worried.

Myra: “Then stay away from them.”

Aadhira gave a humorless smile.

Aadhira: “Little late for that.”

The next evening…

Rathore Palace was decorated like a royal festival.

Politicians.

Celebrities.

Business tycoons.

Media reporters.

Everyone gathered for the engagement of Aryaman Singh Rathore and Aadhira Kapoor.

Inside his room, Aryaman adjusted his black sherwani while Rudra leaned against the wall.

Rudra: “You look nervous.”

Aryaman: “I don’t get nervous.”

Rudra laughed.

Rudra: “You changed outfits three times.”

Aryaman glared at him coldly.

Aryaman: “Shut up.”

Rudra smirked knowingly.

Rudra: “Obsessed.”

Aryaman ignored him.

But deep down—

Even he couldn’t explain why he kept thinking about her eyes.

Meanwhile…

Aadhira stood in front of the mirror wearing a dark maroon lehenga.

Naina smiled emotionally.

Naina: “You look beautiful.”

Aadhira sighed softly.

Aadhira: “I look trapped.”

Naina’s smile disappeared.

Naina: “Aadhira…”

Aadhira turned toward her mother.

Aadhira: “If something happens to me in that family, will anyone save me?”

Naina immediately held her hand.

Naina: “Don’t say such things.”

But her silence carried fear.

And Aadhira noticed it.

As soon as Aadhira entered the engagement hall—

Aryaman looked up.

And forgot every conversation around him.

She looked unreal.

Like elegance mixed with danger.

Rudra whispered beside him—

Rudra: “Bro, breathe.”

Aryaman ignored him completely.

His eyes never left Aadhira.

Meanwhile reporters surrounded them instantly.

Reporter: “Sir! Ma’am! Look here please!”

Reporter: “One picture together!”

Aadhira stood stiffly beside Aryaman.

But Aryaman calmly moved closer.

Too close.

Aadhira whispered through her teeth—

Aadhira: “Personal space exists.”

Aryaman replied smoothly—

Aryaman: “Not between engaged couples.”

Aadhira glared at him.

Aryaman looked amused instead.

Soon the ring ceremony started.

The entire hall watched silently.

Aadhira picked up Aryaman’s ring reluctantly.

Aryaman noticed her hesitation.

Aryaman: “Relax. I’m not forcing you to love me.”

Aadhira looked at him sharply.

Aadhira: “Confidence without reason is embarrassing.”

Aryaman smirked.

Aryaman: “Good thing I have reasons.”

Before she could reply, he extended his hand toward her.

Aadhira slowly slid the ring onto his finger.

The crowd clapped loudly.

Then it was Aryaman’s turn.

But instead of immediately making her wear the ring—

He looked directly into her eyes.

Aryaman: “One question.”

Aadhira frowned.

Aadhira: “What?”

Aryaman: “Why do you look at me like I’m your enemy?”

The sudden question caught her off guard.

Aadhira quickly recovered.

Aadhira: “Maybe because you are.”

For a second—

Aryaman’s expression darkened slightly.

But then he smiled again.

A smile too calm to trust.

Aryaman slowly held her hand.

His touch was warm.

Dangerously steady.

Then he slid the ring onto her finger.

Aryaman: “Enemies make the best partners.”

Later during the party…

Aadhira quietly walked toward a restricted hallway after noticing two guards whispering nervously.

Guard 1: “The girls were shifted last night.”

Guard 2: “CM sir said no mistakes this time.”

Aadhira instantly stopped.

Girls?

Shifted where?

Before she could hear more—

A hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her backward.

Hard.

Aadhira crashed against a wall.

Aryaman stood in front of her with sharp eyes.

Aryaman: “What exactly are you searching for?”

Aadhira immediately pulled her hand away.

Aadhira: “Nothing.”

Aryaman stepped closer.

Aryaman: “Lie better.”

Aadhira glared at him.

Aadhira: “Move.”

Aryaman didn’t move.

Instead, his gaze dropped to the engagement ring on her finger.

Aryaman: “You should stop wandering alone in dangerous places.”

Aadhira crossed her arms.

Aadhira: “Is that a threat?”

Aryaman looked directly into her eyes.

Aryaman: “No.”

He leaned slightly closer.

Aryaman: “That’s concern.”

And somehow—

That scared her more.