"A deal was struck, a price was paid,

A soul now trapped, a love betrayed.

In the game of power, in the hands of fate,

She walks unknowingly toward a sealed fate."

SAISHA's POV:

A week more to go for my engagement... but honestly, I don't know what more storms are waiting for me. Will I ever get a normal life? A life where people actually get happiness without a price?

I was lost in my thoughts when a sudden knock on the door pulled me back to reality.

"Coming!" I called out, rubbing my tired eyes before walking over to open the door.

There stood Neha, my younger sister, but something was wrong. Her face looked pale, her eyes hesitant. My heart clenched.

"Papa called you downstairs," she said in a low voice, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her kurti.

My breath hitched. What now? What more drama was remaining? Hadn't I already sacrificed enough? I took a deep breath, trying to prepare myself for whatever was waiting downstairs.

As I stepped into the living room, my parents sat there, looking serious. Maa had her usual worried expression, but Papa... his face was unreadable.

I stood before them, my arms crossed. "You called me?" I asked, trying to mask my anxiety with indifference.

Papa finally spoke, his voice stern yet calm. "Saisha, about the engagement... it's cancelled."

I blinked. Wait... what?

For a moment, my world stood still. Did he just say cancelled? My heart leaped. Did he really do that for me? Did he finally realize how much I hated this arrangement?

Hope fluttered inside me. But it was short-lived.

"Your engagement with the Mehras is cancelled... a week later, you'll be getting married directly to the Khuranas."

My mind went blank. My body stiffened.

"Wait... what?" My voice barely came out.

"Marry?"

"Khurana?"

"What is happening?"

My heart pounded, my stomach twisted in knots.

Anger surged through me like wildfire, burning every ounce of hope I had felt a moment ago. My lips curled into a bitter smirk as I let out a sarcastic chuckle.

"Oh, so the Khuranas set a higher bid on me, I guess? What a businessman you are, Papa. Always sealing the best deal, right?" I spat, my voice dripping with venom.

Papa's face darkened, his fists clenched. Maa gasped, shooting me a look of warning, but I didn't care.

I didn't give him a chance to respond. Turning on my heel, I stormed back to my room, my vision blurring with unshed tears.

Slamming the door shut, I leaned against it, my breathing ragged. A sharp pain pricked my chest, but this time, I didn't cry.

Something inside me switched.

Right there, at that very moment, I knew— the old Saisha was gone. The pure, naive girl who once dreamed of love and happiness? Dead.

These people—my so-called family—had killed her.

And I would make sure to bury her deep.

I curled up on my bed, hugging my knees to my chest. My mind swarmed with questions, doubts, and anger.

Who was this Khurana?

Why did he want to marry me? Was this just another business deal for him, just like it was for Papa?

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"Fine," I whispered to myself. "If they want to play games with me, I'll make sure I play better."

This new version of me—I promised to ignite a fire inside her.

A fire that would burn down anyone who dared to cross my path.

VIHAN's POV:

I leaned back in my chair, a smirk playing on my lips.

Finally.

Everything was set. The deal with Rakshit Saksena was closed, and with that, all the loose ends tied up. In just a week... she would be mine.

A sense of satisfaction settled in me, but just as quickly, a sudden thought hit me like a slap.

Shit.

I cursed under my breath, running a frustrated hand through my hair.

I had left her on seen yesterday. No reply. No explanation.

I grabbed my phone off the table and quickly opened our chat. Guilt gnawed at me as I typed out a message.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Got caught up with work yesterday, didn't mean to leave the conversation like that."

I stared at the screen, waiting.

Seconds ticked by. Then minutes.

Still nothing.

Why wasn't she replying? She never took this long.

A strange unease settled in my chest. Something felt off.

I sighed, tossing my phone onto the desk, trying to distract myself with work, but my eyes kept flickering back to the screen.

Then—finally—it buzzed.

I snatched it up instantly.

"No problem."

That was it.

Just two cold, dry words.

I frowned. That wasn't like her.

"Are you okay? Is everything alright?" I typed quickly.

A few moments later, her reply came.

"Yes, everything is great."

My jaw clenched. Liar.

I could feel it in my bones—she wasn't okay. This wasn't her. It was like something had drained the life out of her, leaving only a hollow shell behind.

Without thinking, I typed again.

"Gummy Bear, you can share it with me. Whatever is bothering you, I'm here."

Three dots appeared on the screen, blinking... then disappearing.

My heart pounded.

And then, her response came.

"And will that make any difference? We are nothing but two strangers, masked man."

I froze.

"If I told you that my father just sold me to someone who put a nice amount of bid on me, would you be able to solve that? No, right? So let it be."

The words hit like a dagger straight to my chest.

She was talking about me.

She didn't know it, but she was talking about me.

The very man responsible for this.

I stared at her message, my fingers twitching over the keyboard, a thousand words swirling in my head, but before I could type anything, another message popped up.

"I'm off. We'll talk tomorrow."

And just like that, she was gone.

I let out a sharp breath, my fingers curling into fists.

I had expected anger. Maybe resistance. But not this.

I never thought it would break her like this.

Never thought that I would be the reason her soul felt crushed under the weight of betrayal.

I wanted to tell her. So badly.

Tell her that she isn't a price to be bid on. That no amount of money could define her worth.

That to me—she was everything.

I closed my eyes, running a hand over my face, frustration tightening in my chest.

"You're precious, my Gummy Bear," I whispered, staring at the screen. "So precious that I know you are the constellation I navigate by... the one that will always lead me home."

My home.

To you.

Mysterious Man's POV:

I sat in the dimly lit room, the glow of the single desk lamp casting long shadows on the walls. My fingers drummed against the wooden surface, a slow, calculated rhythm.

Everything was going according to plan.

Except for that idiot.

I clenched my jaw, recalling the moment that fool almost messed everything up. The second he found out she was being married off, he panicked—almost blew our entire operation.

"Useless pawn." I muttered under my breath.

I had to remind myself—chess pieces are disposable. He was just another pawn. Expendable.

But her?

Saisha...

She was never supposed to be a part of this game.

She was delicate, untouched by the filth that surrounded her. But no matter how much I wanted to keep her away, her blood betrayed her. The Saksena blood that ran through her veins made her valuable.

And that meant she had a role to play.

I leaned back in my chair, taking a deep breath.

"Don't worry, baby," I whispered to the empty room. "I'll take you out of that hell soon. Away from all of them."

But for now...

She had to suffer.

She had to pay the price for her father's greed.

My fingers curled into a fist. If only her father had known who he was messing with. If only he had made different choices. But he didn't. And now—she was caught in the crossfire.

I never wanted her to be associated with Vihan.

But fate had its own twisted sense of humor.

She was slowly becoming his weakness.

And a man like Vihan? Couldn't afford to have weaknesses.

A slow smirk spread across my lips.

That's exactly what I needed.

I picked up the glass of whiskey beside me, swirling the amber liquid before taking a slow sip. The warmth burned down my throat, but it didn't compare to the fire burning inside me.

"Saisha..." I murmured, rolling her name over my tongue like a sacred promise.

The girl I loved.

The girl I had to put on stake.

For the game I was playing.

And make no mistake—

This was a game I was set to win.

AROHI's POV:

I was more than happy—my brother was finally getting married. The house was buzzing with preparations, excitement filling every corner.

But life... life was never that simple.

Because while the world around me celebrated, I was drowning in my own storm.

Two weeks ago, Karan Sehgal—a name I once barely acknowledged—forced his way into my life.

It started with an unwanted confession.

I still remember the way he grabbed my wrist, his grip possessive, his voice dripping with arrogance.

"Arohi, you will be mine."

The words had sent chills down my spine, but I didn't hesitate. My reflexes were quicker than my fear.

I slapped him.

Loud and clear.

What I didn't know back then... was who he really was.

Karan Sehgal wasn't just some spoiled rich kid. He belonged to a mafia family. A family that didn't take humiliation lightly.

And now, for the past two weeks, he had been following me. Watching. Waiting. Taunting me with his presence. That was the very reason i used to ask vihan and ritvik bhai to drop me at college.

I didn't tell my brothers. I could have, but I didn't want to make a fuss.

No, this was my battle. And today, I was ready to end it.

The moment my class ended, I knew he'd be there.

Waiting.

And I was right.

"Hey, princess."

I didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.

Karan Sehgal.

I sighed, turning to face him.

There he stood, leaning casually against the wall, that infuriating smirk playing on his lips. He looked at me like I was already his.

Like he had already won.

"Karan, let's talk it out and make things clear." My voice was firm, my stance unyielding.

His smirk widened, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh? The princess wants to talk? Go on, I'm all ears."

I took a deep breath, then shut my eyes for a second before blurting out—

"I have a boyfriend!"

Silence.

And then—

Laughter.

Karan threw his head back and laughed like I had just cracked the funniest joke.

I stared at him, my surprise evident. What the hell was this reaction?

"Don't joke around with me, princess." He took a step closer, tilting his head. "I know everything about you. You don't have anyone."

Anger surged through me.

"There is. And I love him more than anything else." I said, my voice sharp.

He arched a brow, clearly amused. "Oh? Is that so?"

I clenched my fists. "Yes."

"Okay then, where is this mysterious 'Mr. Boyfriend'? Let me meet him."

I swallowed hard.

"He isn't playing around like you. He's busy. And if he finds out about this foolish shit you're pulling, trust me, he won't mind killing you." I said, my voice cold.

Karan's smirk deepened, a dark gleam flashing in his eyes.

"Oh my, that sounds interesting. Looks like I should—no, I must meet him then." He stepped even closer, his voice lowering. "Set a meeting with him, princess. Let's see who this so-called 'gentleman' is you've got one week."

I lifted my chin, feigning confidence even though my heart pounded in my chest.

"Bet."

His eyes darkened with intrigue, his smirk never fading.

But what he didn't know?

There was no 'Mr. Boyfriend.'

Hell, I had never even had a man before.

But now? I needed one.

Fast.

KHUSHAL's POV:

My world was always buzzing, busy, and relentless.

There was never a moment to breathe freely, never a time for things as trivial as vacations or leisure. My empire demanded my attention, my presence.

On paper, I was the owner of a successful chain of luxury hotels—a businessman admired and respected in the industry.

But that was just the cover.

Because underneath all the glitz and glamor, my real business was one that thrived in the shadows. A world hidden from the ordinary eye. A world where power was currency and fear was a weapon.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

I picked it up, my voice calm yet commanding. "Speak."

"Boss, the drugs that were shipped... we tracked them. The target group—young teens."

My jaw clenched, a sharp fury rising within me.

"Those fuckers really won't hold back, huh?" I muttered under my breath, gripping the phone tighter.

Young kids. Innocent lives. They were poisoning them, turning them into addicts before they even had a chance at life.

Not on my watch.

"Make sure they don't reach the port." My voice was laced with authority.

"Understood, boss."

The call ended, but the rage inside me didn't.

Mumbai was a big city—a city that thrived in light but was ruled by shadows.

And I was the man standing between the two. I exhaled, shaking off the thoughts, when something on my desk caught my eye.

A wedding invitation.

A smirk curled on my lips as I picked it up.

Vihan Khurana... was getting married.

I chuckled under my breath, shaking my head.

"Never thought I'd see the day," I muttered, flipping the invitation over.

Vihan, the same man who once scoffed at the idea of love, was now tying himself down.

Interesting.

Love... it was a fool's game.

A man's greatest weakness. A rope that slowly tightened around his neck until he lost everything—his control, his power, himself.

I had seen it happen before.

Which is why I never let myself fall.

I had women, sure. But it was never more than an exchange.

They fulfilled my needs. I filled their bank accounts. No attachments, no emotions. A clean-cut business transaction.

Nothing more.

I stared at the date on the invitation. One week from now.

Vihan was making a choice I'd never make.

But I'd still be there—watching, smirking, and waiting to see how long before love destroyed him too.

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