The evening sky stretched endlessly beyond the glass walls of Leo Alexander Kane's hotel suite. The city of Bangalore glittered beneath him, alive with endless movement, but none of it managed to quiet the storm inside his mind.
For the first time in years, the Mafia King wasn't thinking about business.
He wasn't thinking about rival families.
He wasn't thinking about power.
He was thinking about a woman.
A woman who looked at him as if she knew every scar he carried.
A woman who insisted she had never met him.
A woman whose eyes betrayed every word she spoke.
Leo stood silently near the window, one hand tucked into his pocket while the other lazily swirled the untouched glass of whiskey in his hand. After a long moment, he placed it back on the table without taking a single sip.
His thoughts returned to the same question.
"Why do you look at me like that, Mia?"
A gentle knock interrupted the silence.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Mark walked inside carrying a thick brown file.
"You asked for the complete investigation, sir."
Leo turned around.
"Everything?"
"Everything we could legally and privately gather."
Mark placed the file on the coffee table before stepping back respectfully.
"The Acharya family has been one of Bangalore's most influential families for decades. Their hospitals, research centers, charities... everything is listed inside."
Leo picked up the file and sat down.
The first few pages contained information about the Acharya family.
Acharya Multispecialty Hospital.
Founded over thirty years ago.
One of the country's leading private hospitals.
Branches across multiple cities.
Thousands of successful surgeries.
Medical research recognized internationally.
Leo continued turning the pages.
Then came the family members.
The eldest son managed the hospital's finances.
The elder daughter handled administration.
Finally...
Dr. Mia Acharya.
Youngest daughter of the Acharya family.
Gold medalist.
Top graduate in medicine.
Specialized in trauma and emergency care.
Several international medical awards.
Volunteer programs.
Free medical camps.
Humanitarian recognition.
Leo couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Helping people really is your entire world..." he murmured.
He continued reading.
Every achievement spoke of kindness.
Every article described her as compassionate.
Every interview praised her dedication to saving lives.
It suited her.
Perfectly.
Then one small line caught his attention.
His fingers froze on the page.
Medical Research Exchange Program – Switzerland (Four Years Ago).
Leo stared at those words.
Switzerland.
His heartbeat slowed.
Then suddenly became louder.
"...Mark."
"Yes, sir?"
"When exactly did she go to Switzerland?"
Mark looked through another document.
"Approximately four years ago, sir. She stayed there for nearly two months for medical research and volunteer work."
Leo didn't answer.
Instead, he quietly opened his own travel records stored on his tablet.
His fingers moved quickly.
Travel history...
Private jet logs...
Hotel records...
Then...
He found it.
Switzerland.
Four years ago.
Almost the same month.
Almost the same city.
Almost the same dates.
Leo stared at both records side by side.
His breathing became uneven.
"Same country..."
He whispered unconsciously.
"...Same city..."
His eyes refused to leave the dates.
"...Almost the same time."
A strange feeling settled inside his chest.
It wasn't fear.
It wasn't excitement.
It was...
Recognition.
He leaned back slowly.
"Did we meet there?"
"Was fate really this cruel..."
He closed his eyes.
"Or this kind?"
Questions flooded his mind one after another.
Why did she panic after seeing him?
Why did she lie so confidently?
Why did his heart trust her while his mind doubted everything?
Why did every instinct tell him she was hiding something?
More importantly...
Why did seeing her tears hurt him?
His fingers unconsciously pressed against his temple.
The familiar headache returned.
This time...
The memories came with it.
Snowflakes falling silently.
A young woman laughing.
The soft flutter of a white coat dancing in the cold wind.
A silver ring glimmering beneath warm apartment lights.
Someone...
Crying.
The images flashed before disappearing into darkness.
Leo's eyes shot open.
"Damn it..."
He clenched his fists.
"Who are you..."
"...to me?"
Silence answered him.
Mark watched quietly from across the room.
For years, he had seen Leo face bullets without flinching.
But tonight...
Questions were defeating him.
Before either of them spoke again...
Leo's phone vibrated on the table.
Unknown Number.
Mark immediately frowned.
"Sir, shall I trace it?"
Leo shook his head.
"I'll answer."
He pressed the green button.
"...Hello?"
For a second...
Nothing.
Then suddenly—
"Iron Man Friend!!"
A tiny cheerful voice exploded through the speaker.
Leo blinked.
Then smiled without realizing it.
"Well..."
He leaned back comfortably.
"Look who's calling me."
Mayank giggled happily.
"I called you!"
"I noticed."
"You didn't forget me?"
Leo chuckled.
"I don't think it's possible to forget someone who talks as much as you."
"I don't talk too much!"
"Oh?"
"No!"
"Really?"
"...Maybe little."
Leo laughed.
A real laugh.
Warm.
Natural.
Even Mark looked surprised.
The little boy continued talking excitedly.
"I ate chocolate today."
"Did you?"
"Mhm!"
"Did your mummy scold you?"
"...Little bit."
Leo laughed again.
"What about Grandpa?"
"He played cars with me."
"Did you win?"
"Of course!"
"So Grandpa lost?"
"He always loses."
Leo shook his head, smiling.
"I'll have to teach Grandpa how to beat you."
"No!"
"You are my team!"
"I am?"
"Yes!"
"We are Iron Man Team!"
Leo smiled so softly that even he didn't notice it.
"...Alright."
"Iron Man Team."
Across the room, Mark quietly lowered his eyes.
I've guarded Boss since childhood...
I've seen him angry.
I've seen him cold.
I've seen him covered in blood.
But...
I've never seen him smile like this.
At that exact moment...
The bedroom door inside the Acharya mansion slowly opened.
Mia stepped inside carrying a glass of warm milk.
She froze.
Mayank sat on the bed holding the caretaker's phone tightly.
"...Iron Man Friend is funny!" he giggled.
Mia's expression slowly changed.
Without saying a word...
She walked toward him.
Mayank looked up innocently.
"Mama....."
She gently took the phone from his tiny hands.
Leo heard only silence.
"Mia...?"
No answer.
Her trembling finger pressed the red button.
The call disconnected.
Inside the hotel room...
Leo stared quietly at the dark screen.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
The silence suddenly felt much heavier than before.