The trip day finally arrived.
Sachi and Urvi stood at the airport entrance, dragging their suitcases behind them. Urvi was buzzing with excitement; Sachi was calm… suspiciously calm.
While they were standing in the check-in line, someone called out,
"Urvi!"
Both sisters turned.
Yuvan stood there—hands in pockets, impossibly handsome in a black jacket, carrying a travel duffel. Beside him was Varun, waving casually.
Urvi waved back with full enthusiasm.Sachi froze.
Her face went blank—no smile, no irritation, just pure what-is-this-universe-trying-to-do-to-me energy.
Yuvan smiled at her. "Hi, Serious face."
She narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
Before he could answer, Varun stepped forward politely. "Hi, Sachi. Then he turned to Urvi. Hello, I am Varun. You must be Urvi, right?"
Urvi shook his hand, smiling brightly. "Yes! Nice to finally meet you."
Then Yuvan gave her the excuse he had prepared since morning."I have an official meeting. Short trip. So… flying today."
Sachi didn't reply. She simply nodded once and started walking ahead with her boarding pass, choosing silent ignorance over any conversation.
She thought that was the end of the coincidence.
It wasn't.
When she reached the gate and saw Yuvan and Varun again—her jaw tightened. And when they joined the same queue for the same flight—that was strike two.
Then came strike three.
The attendant looked at their tickets and smiled."Ma'am, both your seats have been upgraded to Business Class."
Sachi blinked. "What? I— we booked economy."
Urvi tossed her hair casually, lying like a professional actress. "Oh, I got an offer. Limited-time thing. Lucky us!"
Lucky?Sachi stared at her suspiciously.
Urvi simply winked at Varun when Sachi wasn't looking.
Onboard, it only got worse.Urvi and Varun were chatting like old friends.Yuvan joined the conversation, laughing, giving inputs, the three of them blending together like they planned a reunion.
Meanwhile Sachi sat stiffly, headphones on, pretending to be deeply interested in the flight safety card.
Every time she glanced sideways, Yuvan was already looking away—as if he wasn't stealing tiny glances.
At Airport
The moment they stepped out, a large black SUV was already waiting.
Sachi stopped walking. "SUV? Really?"
Urvi put a hand on her shoulder. "I tried booking a cab but everything was full. Then Yuvan offered a ride. I mean… how could I say no? Free hai!"
Her tone was cute, convincing, but Sachi's suspicion grew.
Still, she remained polite and quiet. She sat on the far side of the SUV, staring out the window while the others chatted like best friends from school.
Outside the hotel
When they reached the luxurious resort, Sachi turned sharply toward Urvi.
"The hotel too?"
Urvi opened her mouth to explain, but Yuvan stepped in smoothly.
"This hotel is partnered with Magnus Group. For New Year, we reward employees for their hard work by covering part of the stay."
Sachi folded her arms. "Since when?"
Yuvan didn't even blink. "Since… today."
She raised one eyebrow.
He tried again. "I mean—since I'm the company— I mean, I'm with the company— I—"
Sachi sighed long and loud, cutting him off.
"Forget it," she said and walked straight into the lobby to check in.
Urvi hurried behind her.Before disappearing through the doors, she turned back slightly and gave Yuvan a subtle thumbs-up.
Yuvan's shoulders relaxed, and he smiled—soft, relieved, hopeful.
The rooms were assigned, and destiny was clearly in the mood to tease.
Sachi scanned her key card sleeve: Room 307.
Urvi whistled. "Nice. Mine is 308."
Varun looked at his. "309."
Yuvan checked his and smirked internally. 306.
Sachi walked down the hallway and stopped in front of her door. As she tapped the card, another lock clicked right beside her. She turned—and froze.
Yuvan, opening the door to 306.
Their eyes met.
She inhaled sharply. "You're next to my room?"
Yuvan shrugged casually. "Coincidence."
Sachi ignored him and went into her room.
By afternoon, they all headed out for sightseeing—snowless mountains, cold wind, the stunning blue sky. Everything was beautiful except one thing.
Sachi kept glancing around the valley and muttering to herself,
"…still no snow."
Urvi rolled her eyes. "It's not like a tap, Sachi."
Yuvan overheard.
They visited the market, a monastery, and a viewpoint. Urvi and Varun took dozens of photos, stopping every two minutes. Yuvan tried to walk beside Sachi whenever possible, but she was determined to keep a safe two-step distance.
Yet every time she stumbled slightly on the icy path, he was the first one to steady her without saying a word.
Every time she said she wanted tea, he already knew which stall she'd go to.
Every time she looked up at the sky quietly, wishing, he noticed.
Dinner
By the time they returned to the resort, the four of them were starving. The restaurant was warm, cozy, and crowded with tourists celebrating early.
Sachi sat between Urvi and Varun.Yuvan sat across from her.
During dinner, her irritation only grew as the trio talked like they were old friends.Urvi teased Yuvan about "accidentally showing up everywhere."Varun asked Sachi why she hated snowless weather.Yuvan stole glances at her every few minutes.
She spoke only when needed, and never to him directly.
But even then… he watched her like she was the only person in the room.
When they finished, Sachi excused herself. "I'm tired. Going to sleep."
Yuvan's eyes softened a little. "Good night."
She nodded once and left.
Back in the room
Sachi stood on her balcony for several minutes, staring at the mountains. No sign of snowfall. She sighed and went to bed.
Meanwhile, in the room next door…
Yuvan didn't sleep.
He kept checking the balcony.The sky.The weather app.His watch.
His heart ached at the thought that she might go back home without seeing any.
At 12:17 a.m., he stepped onto his balcony again.
And froze.
Snowflakes were falling.
Soft. Delicate. Silent.
His chest tightened with excitement.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed his phone and texted Urvi.
Yuvan: It's snowing. Wake her up. Now.Urvi: On it, jij— Yuvan. On it, Yuvan.
Urvi shook Sachi awake. "Sachi! Sachi! Get up!"
Sachi groaned. "What—"
"It's snowing!"
Sachi shot up from bed as if someone electrified her. "Where?!"
"Outside! Hurry!"
They both wore jackets and ran out into the hallway, meeting Varun and Yuvan at the same second.
They stepped outside the resort doors, and the cold air hit them.
Snowflakes drifted around them like soft pieces of light.
Sachi inhaled sharply. Her lips parted slowly, her eyes wide.For the first time in days, she smiled—genuinely, like a child seeing magic.
Yuvan stood right behind her, watching that smile like it was the only snowfall he needed.
Soon, they all ended up in the open area, playing like four kids who had escaped adulthood.Urvi made a snowball and threw it at Varun.Varun chased her.Urvi hid behind Sachi.
Varun prepared another snowball—aimed at Sachi.
But before he could throw, a snowball hit Varun straight in the arm.
He turned, shocked.
Yuvan stood there, arms crossed."I'm not letting you hit her."
Sachi blinked, surprised, then looked away before he could read her expression.
Minutes later, everyone was laughing, throwing snow, taking photos. Varun captured the entire chaos on his phone—Urvi posing, Sachi laughing, Yuvan staring at Sachi when she wasn't looking.
After almost forty minutes, they finally went back inside.
Inside Sachi and Urvi's room
Sachi rubbed her palms together. Her cheeks were red from the cold but glowing with happiness.
"That was… really beautiful," she whispered.
Urvi handed her a towel. "You're welcome, Di."
"Thank you," Sachi said genuinely. "If you didn't wake me up, I would have missed all of it."
Urvi smirked. "Well… you should thank Yuvan too."
Sachi frowned. "Why?"
Urvi stretched on the bed dramatically."Because he woke me up. In fact, he was the first person to see the snowfall. He called immediately. If not for him, we would've slept through it."
Sachi froze.
A single, warm, complicated emotion moved in her chest.
She didn't respond, but she didn't deny it either. She simply walked to the window, watching the snow fall softly, silently.And her heartbeat… wasn't silent anymore.
Yuvan's phone buzzed relentlessly in the quiet of his room. Without a second thought, Yuvan grabbed his jacket and dashed out.
The next morning, Sachi and Urvi sat at the buffet, sunlight streaming through the glass windows. Plates of fresh fruits and pastries were spread before them, but the conversation was far from casual.
Urvi, unable to hide her curiosity, asked, "Where's Yuvan? Didn't he come for breakfast?"
Varun, who had arrived alone, smiled wryly. "He left. Urgent work called him away."
Sachi sipped her coffee, unfazed. Urgent work? What kind of work does he have besides irritating me? she thought, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
Urvi nudged her. "You don't seem worried."
"I'm not," Sachi replied casually, though a part of her wondered if she'd ever truly understand his life.
Back in Mumbai, the scene was starkly different.
The old building stood silent, dark, and almost abandoned. A single bulb flickered overhead, casting long shadows across the empty room. Yuvan's eyes scanned the dim space as he stepped inside.
The man waiting there was familiar—the driver who had been behind the wheel on the day of his parents' accident. Fear and tension coiled around the room.
Yuvan's voice was cold, controlled. "Start talking."
The driver hesitated, shifting uneasily under the weight of Yuvan's gaze. After several failed attempts to speak, he finally blurted out, trembling:
"I… I never drove the car that day. Your father was driving..your mother…they both were in your car. Your grandfather… he knew everything. To cover it up, they gave me money and told me to leave town."
Time seemed to freeze. Yuvan's mind blanked for a moment, his thoughts colliding like storms.
His jaw tightened, and his fingers gripped the driver's collar. "If any part of what you're saying is false… remember this—you're dead. Keep that in mind."
The driver nodded frantically, fear etched into every line of his face.
Yuvan released him, his mind a hurricane of thoughts and questions. "Keep him under watch," he instructed the men standing nearby, then turned sharply and left the room.
Yuvan rode his bike through the quiet streets, the night air sharp against his face, each turn bringing him closer to MM's residence. His mind raced with the revelations from the driver—every heartbeat pounding with the weight of the truth.
When he entered the mansion, a chill ran down his spine. MM lay on the floor, motionless, and panic surged through him. "Grandpa!" Yuvan yelled, rushing forward. His hands hovered over MM as he pulled out his phone. "Ambulance—now!"
But before he could act further, Sanjay appeared, calm as ever, a twisted smile playing at his lips. Yuvan's gaze sharpened, sensing the danger, but before he could react, Sanjay moved closer, sliding MM's asthma pump into his jacket pocket with casual precision. Then, as if on cue, he placed a call.
Within minutes, sirens blared. The ambulance whisked MM away while police arrived at the scene.
Sanjay played his part perfectly—his voice trembling with faux horror as he accused Yuvan. "Officer! He tried to… he tried to kill my father! My father! He's on the floor because of him!"
Yuvan's jaw tightened. "He was already down when I arrived," he said evenly, meeting the officer's gaze. "MM had a fall—nothing I did caused this."
The police exchanged looks but left Yuvan to come down to the station for questioning, citing the need for a proper investigation. The news spread like wildfire—the story of MM's sudden collapse, with hints of Yuvan's "involvement," dominated every channel.
Sushant and his mother rushed to the hospital, panic written across their faces. Meanwhile, Yuvan, trying to piece together the scene, felt the weight of suspicion crushing him. The police, methodical as always, examined his clothing and found—of course—the missing asthma pump Sanjay had planted.
Before he knew it, handcuffs clicked around his wrists. Yuvan's heart pounded, but his mind remained sharp.
Miles away, Sachi's phone buzzed incessantly. Megha's voice was tense on the other end. "Sachi… Yuvan… something's happened. MM… police… you need to check online."
Sachi's fingers trembled as she pulled up the news. Her chest tightened, panic clawing at her throat. Without hesitation, she grabbed Urvi and Varun. "We're going," she said, her voice steady despite the storm inside.
Yuvan stood there, numb.
The room felt smaller, the air heavier. His ears rang as voices blurred around him, but one thought kept repeating in his head like a scream trapped inside his chest.
My grandpa… take me to him.
"I need to see him," Yuvan said hoarsely. "Please. Just take me to him."
Before the officers could respond, Sanjay stepped forward, placing a hand on the table with practiced authority. "May I speak to him alone?" he asked calmly. "He's in no condition right now."
The police hesitated, then nodded and stepped outside.
The door shut.
Silence settled between them.
Sanjay looked at Yuvan—not with anger, not with concern—but with something far colder.
"You know why I've always hated you?" Sanjay said quietly.
Yuvan didn't respond. His eyes were unfocused, his body frozen.
"Because of you," Sanjay continued, voice steady, cruel. "I lost my brother."
Yuvan's breath hitched.
"If your parents hadn't took your car that day…" Sanjay paused, then let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh. "Parents?"
Yuvan looked up, confusion flashing across his face.
"Oh," Sanjay smirked. "Don't tell me you still think they were your real parents."
The words landed like a blow.
"What?" Yuvan whispered.
"They picked you up from God knows which filthy place," Sanjay went on, unmoved. "You were adopted."
Yuvan's world tilted.
"Do you have any idea what your existence did to this family?" Sanjay's voice hardened. "Rumors spread. People whispered. My kind sister-in-law had to endure accusations of affairs because of you."
Yuvan's hands trembled, but he couldn't move.
"You were a curse the moment you stepped into our lives," Sanjay said coldly. "From that day on, we kept losing things—peace, reputation, my brother."
Sanjay leaned closer.
"You don't deserve the Magnus name. You don't deserve the empire. And if you feel even a shred of guilt," his voice dropped to a whisper, "you'll disappear from our lives willingly."
Yuvan didn't blink.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't react.
Sanjay straightened, adjusted his coat, and walked out as if he had merely finished a business meeting.
Moments later, the door opened again.
Varun rushed in with the lawyer, relief flickering in his eyes—until he saw Yuvan.
Yuvan sat exactly where he was, staring at nothing.
"Yuvan," Varun called softly.
But Yuvan didn't respond.
Too many truths had shattered him in one night.
The accident.The lies.And now—his own identity.
For the first time in his life, Yuvan wasn't fighting back. He was completely, devastatingly broken.
Later, The interrogation room was cold.
Not just in temperature—but in intention.
Yuvan sat across the metal table, hands folded, eyes fixed on a point somewhere beyond the wall. A recorder blinked red. Papers lay untouched. Questions hung in the air, unanswered.
"Mr. Yuvan Manjrekar," the officer said again, patience thinning, "you were found at the scene. Your fingerprints were on the door. The asthma inhaler—"
Silence.
Varun leaned forward, voice tight with worry. "Yuvan, say something. Even a single line. We can handle this."
Nothing.
The lawyer cleared his throat. "My client is advised to—"
"I asked him," the officer snapped, "not you."
The officer sighed, switched off the recorder, and stood. "If he won't cooperate, we pause. But understand this—silence doesn't help your case."
When they left the room, Varun stayed back.
"Yuvan," he whispered urgently. "What happened. Talk to us."
Still nothing.
Yuvan sat like a statue carved out of shock, not defiance.
Mumbai roared on, uncaring.
By the time Sachi's flight landed, the news had already detonated.
MAGNUS GROUP HEIR HELD FOR QUESTIONING.MM COLLAPSES—GRANDSON SUSPECTED.INTERNAL POWER STRUGGLE?
Her phone buzzed nonstop.
She handed her luggage to Urvi outside the terminal. "Take this home," she said calmly. "I'll see you later."
Urvi hesitated. "Di—"
She was heading straight to the police station, her phone rang.
Megha. "Sachi," she whispered, panic barely contained. "Things are bad. Clients are calling. Some are already talking about pulling out. SM is trying to manage but—this is beyond damage control."
Sachi closed her eyes briefly.
Then opened them, clear and steady.
"I'm coming to the office," she said. "Now."
The cab turned toward Magnus Tower.
Inside the building, tension buzzed like static electricity. Employees whispered in clusters. Screens replayed news clips on mute. Speculation spread faster than facts.
Sachi walked in without breaking stride.
Her posture straight. Her expression unreadable.
She didn't ask what happened.
She took control.
"Megha," she said, setting her bag down. "List the top five clients threatening to freeze contracts."
Megha blinked. "Now?"
"Yes."
She turned to Neha. "Call the legal team. Ask them to prepare a neutral statement—no defense, no accusation. Just facts."
To Ricky: "Pause all outbound campaigns immediately. Nothing promotional goes out today."
Hitesh looked uncertain. "Sachi… the clients—"
"Are scared," Sachi finished. "And scared clients don't want noise. They want stability."
She finally addressed the room.
"Listen to me carefully," she said, voice calm but firm. "We are not denying anything. We are not admitting anything. We are separating the company from the investigation."
All deliverables will be met. This matter is personal, not organizational."
Megha exhaled slowly.
"And if they ask about Yuvan?" Neha asked.
Sachi didn't hesitate. "We say he has voluntarily stepped back from operational duties until clarity is achieved. That's it."
No drama.
No emotion.
Just control.
Phones started ringing again—this time with responses.
One client stayed.Then another.Then a third asked for written assurance instead of termination.
The chaos softened.
Not vanished—but contained.
Outside the police station, the night felt heavier than usual.
Only then did Sachi allow herself to sit down her phone rang.
Varun.
"Sachi," his voice cracked, exhaustion and panic tangled together. "He's not saying anything. Not reacting. Not even denying. I don't know what happened, but this silence… it can destroy him. Please come here. I think—" He paused, swallowing. "I think only you can make him talk."
The call disconnected.
Before she could move, another notification lit up her screen.
BREAKING: Sources confirm Yuvan Manjrekar is not the biological child of late Nitin Manjrekar and Sneha Manjrekar.
Her breath caught.
The world didn't stop—but something inside her did.
She stared at the screen for a long second, then locked her phone and walked outside the office.
The interrogation room looked smaller than it should have.
Yuvan sat exactly where Varun had described—still, unmoving, eyes vacant. His shoulders were tense, but not defensive. It was the posture of someone who had already lost.
Sachi pulled a chair and sat across from him.
"Yuvan," she said softly.
Nothing.
She leaned forward slightly. "Look at me."
Still nothing.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table, but her voice stayed steady.
"Do you know why I overwork?" she asked quietly.
That made his eyes flicker—but he didn't lift his head.
"I drown myself in work," she continued, "because guilt is loud when you sit still. I thought if I kept moving—studying, achieving, working—I wouldn't have to hear it."
Her voice trembled, just a little.
"I carried that guilt for years. And do you know what it gave me in return?" She let out a hollow breath. "Nothing. Just exhaustion. Distance. Silence."
Her eyes burned, but she didn't look away.
"Until you came into my life."
That made him inhale sharply.
"You forced me to stop running," she said. "You made me face my past. And when I finally did… I realized how much pain I had created by not speaking, by not trusting, by staying silent."
Her throat tightened.
"That's why I fell in love with you."
She paused, letting the words settle.
"I don't know what you're holding inside right now. I don't know what they said to you. But I know this—your silence will only create more damage. To you. To the people who care about you."
Tears slipped free despite her effort.
"I know you," she whispered. "You would never hurt anyone. Not your grandfather. Not anyone."
She reached across the table, slowly, giving him time to pull away.
He didn't.
Her fingers wrapped around his hand.
"Let's get out of here first," she said gently. "And then we'll figure everything out. Together." Her voice broke on the last word.
That's when Yuvan finally looked up.
His eyes were red. Shattered. Lost.
Tears slipped down his face without resistance.
Sachi nodded, squeezing his hand—grounding him.
Outside the glass wall, Varun and the lawyer stood frozen, watching the moment unfold.
Sachi turned her head slightly. "Call them in."
The door opened.
Yuvan straightened slowly, wiped his face once, and finally spoke—his voice hoarse, uneven, but real.
"MM was already unconscious when I arrived," he said. "I didn't touch him. I didn't hurt him."
The lawyer listened carefully, nodding, already connecting the dots.
"This changes everything," he said firmly. "MM's medical records will confirm he collapsed before Yuvan arrived. And the inhaler—fingerprints alone don't prove intent."
By evening, the interrogation room finally opened.
Varun looked up first.
The lawyer exhaled, tired but relieved.
"Bail is granted," he said quietly. "Interim. Investigation will continue."
Yuvan didn't react at first.
Not relief. Not anger. Just exhaustion settling deep into his bones.
He signed the papers mechanically, his name feeling unfamiliar under his own hand.
Outside, the cameras were already waiting. Questions flew. Accusations followed.
Yuvan kept his head down.
He wasn't free.He was only allowed to breathe outside the bars.
Sachi stood beside him, steady, unflinching.
The doctor stepped out of the ICU, removing his mask as Sushant and Sanjay rose from the waiting chairs at the same time.
"How is he?" Sushant asked, his voice tight.
The doctor exhaled slowly. "He is stable—for now. But the next few days are critical."
Sanjay leaned forward. "What exactly happened, doctor?"
"A severe asthma attack," the doctor replied calmly. "His oxygen levels dropped dangerously low. He did not have his inhaler when he needed it. By the time he was brought in, his lungs were already under extreme stress." "He lost consciousness due to oxygen deprivation. We had to sedate him and place him under intensive respiratory support. At his age, the body takes longer to recover."
Sanjay folded his arms. "How long before he wakes up?"
The doctor paused. "It's hard to say. It could be a few days. It could be a week. We are monitoring him closely. Right now, waking him up too early could be dangerous."
"A week…" Sanjay repeated softly.
The doctor nodded. "Yes. During this time, we are focusing only on keeping his lungs stable and preventing complications."
Sushant swallowed. "There was no… external injury?"
The doctor shook his head. "None. This was purely a medical emergency."
After a few more instructions, the doctor left, disappearing back behind the ICU doors.
For a moment, neither one spoke.
Then Sanjay slowly straightened, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips—gone almost as quickly as it appeared.
"One week," he thought.
One week where Yuvan sat behind bars, accused, abandoned, and broken.
Plenty of time to make sure that by the time the old man openhis eyes…There would be nothing left for Yuvan to return to.
As the car finally turned onto a quieter road, far from the flashing cameras and shouting reporters, Yuvan broke the silence.
"Stop the car."
Varun glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "But Yu—"
"I said stop," Yuvan repeated, his voice flat, empty.
Varun pulled over.
Before anyone could react, Yuvan pushed the door open and stepped out. The cold air hit his face, sharp and unforgiving.
Sachi reached for his arm instinctively. "Yuvan, don't—"
He didn't look at her.
For a second, she wanted to say more—to stop him. But the look on his face made her let go. This was something he had to face by himself.
She turned to Varun quietly. "Let him be alone. Let's go to the office."
Varun hesitated, then nodded, and drove away.
When Sachi and Varun arrived at the office, something felt wrong even before they stepped inside.
Yuvan's cabin door stood open.
Too open.
Inside, the desk was bare. The files stacked so carefully had disappeared. Even the small plant near the window—something Sachi had once absentmindedly watered—was missing.
It looked like Yuvan had never existed there at all.
Sethi stood nearby, overseeing a few staff members as they cleared the last of the space.
Varun walked up to him. "What's going on? Where are Yuvan's things?"
Sethi didn't meet their eyes. "He's been terminated."
Sachi felt the words hit her chest before her mind could process them.
"Effective immediately," Sethi continued. "Mr. Sanjay Majerekar will be taking over Kindle Creations."
The office buzzed softly around them—keyboards clicking, murmurs traveling between desks—but for Sachi, everything went silent.
She stared at the empty cabin.
And for the first time since everything had begun to fall apart, she felt fear—not for Yuvan's position, not for the company…but for how much more the world seemed determined to take from him.
Three days passed.
No call.No message.Nothing.
Sachi checked her phone between meetings, during coffee breaks, even while walking down corridors she had walked a hundred times before. Yuvan remained unreachable. Varun hadn't heard from him either. It was as if Yuvan had stepped out of the world entirely.
By the afternoon of the third day, Sanjay Majarekar appeared on the branding floor.
The sudden stillness said enough.
He didn't waste time with pleasantries. His gaze landed on Sachi almost immediately."Sachi," he said, "come with me."
His cabin felt colder than the rest of the building—larger, quieter, heavier with power.
He gestured for her to sit.
"I'll be direct," Sanjay said. "I want you to transfer as Marketing Head for the Magnus Group."
Sachi blinked once.
Marketing Head.
Magnus Group.
This wasn't a promotion. It was a leap—out of a smaller, focused department into the heart of the empire. A role people waited years for. Fought for.
"I believe you're ready," Sanjay continued smoothly. "Your work speaks for itself. This is a chance to move beyond Kindle Creations and into something bigger."
Sachi listened carefully. She didn't yet know the full depth of what was happening to Yuvan—the legal details, the personal wreckage behind the headlines. Only fragments. Only noise.
"I need time," she said after a moment.
Sanjay studied her, then nodded. "Take it. But don't take too long."
When she walked out of the cabin, the floor felt louder than before.
Opportunity had just knocked.
By evening, the office buzzed with quiet conversations again.
Yuvan's name hadn't left the building—not for a second.
Near the workstations, Rekha leaned back in her chair, arms crossed."News channels are having a field day," she said. "As if they're just waiting for someone to fall."
Hitesh shook his head. "I don't buy it. You don't just wake up and decide to ruin everything."
Ricky scoffed softly. "Media loves villains. Especially when they're powerful and silent."
Megha eyes drifting instinctively toward Sachi's desk."What do you think, Sachi," she said quietly.
Sachi closed her laptop slowly and looked up.
"I don't believe in assumptions," she said, her voice even. "When the truth comes out, everyone will know."
There was no hesitation in her tone. No defensiveness. Just certainty.
Rekha nodded immediately. "I'm with her. I've worked under him for short period but still—he's not that person."
Hitesh added, "Yeah."
Ricky leaned forward. "If he did something wrong, facts will prove it. Until then, I'm not buying the story they're selling."
Megha smiled faintly, relief crossing her face."Good. Because neither am I."
Sachi stood, slung her bag over her shoulder, and paused for a moment before leaving.
Their support wasn't loud.But it was steady.
And right now, that mattered.
She walked out of the office as the lights dimmed behind her.She had made up her mind. Enough waiting. Enough silence. She needed to see him—no matter what.
After hailing a cab, she sat quietly, her mind racing with questions and worries. Minutes felt like hours, and finally, she arrived outside Yuvan's residence. Taking a deep breath, she rang the bell.
No response.
She waited, the seconds stretching, then tried again. Still nothing. Her fingers hovered over her phone as she called him, but the call went straight to voicemail.
Sachi lingered for a few moments, hesitant, hoping he might appear at the window. When he didn't, she let out a soft sigh and started walking away, her shoulders squared but her heart heavy.
Behind the window of his living room, Yuvan watched silently. May, stood beside him, eyebrows raised."Yuvan, she came here… at least see her," May urged gently.
"No, May," Yuvan muttered, his jaw tight. "I'm not going to let anyone come near me."
Outside, oblivious to his watchful gaze, Sachi disappeared down the street. That's what Yuvan thought.
But she wasn't done yet.
He stepped outside his house moments later, hoodie pulled over his head, headphones in, black joggers moving with casual precision. The city sounds barely registered as he walked, lost in thought.
Then, she appeared. Firm, serious, determination in every line of her face.
"Yuvan," she said, tone low but sharp, "this… this silence, your behavior—it's not fair. Not to me."
He met her gaze for a fleeting second, then looked away. He didn't tell her the truth—that he'd been pushing her away because he feared losing her.
He kept walking.
Long strides, hood pulled low, jaw clenched—every part of him screaming distance.
But Sachi wasn't someone who knew how to give up.
She followed him, her steps quickening, calling his name once, then again. No response. Not even a glance back. He acted as if she didn't exist, as if silence could erase her from his life.
"Yuvan, stop," she said sharply.
Nothing.
That's when frustration finally got the better of him.
He turned around abruptly, eyes cold, words already sharpened to wound."Why are you following me?" he snapped. "Don't you have better things to do than interfere in someone else's mess?"
The insult was deliberate. Cruel. Meant to push her away.
But Sachi didn't flinch.
She inhaled deeply—slow, controlled—steadying herself. Then, without warning, her hand rose and struck his cheek.
The sound echoed between them.
Yuvan froze.
Sachi stood inches from him, her eyes blazing, voice firm and unshaken."Stop this," she said. "Just stop."
He stared at her, stunned.
"You've been thrown out of your own company," she continued, every word cutting through him. "You're being accused of killing your grandfather. Your entire world is collapsing—
Her chest rose as she fought to keep her voice steady."These are serious things, Yuvan. Real things."
For a moment, he stood frozen as her words cut through him—raw, honest, unafraid.
For a second, the world went silent.
Then something inside him broke.
Without warning, Yuvan pulled her into his arms. Hard. As if letting go would shatter him completely. His shoulders trembled, breath uneven, the weight he'd been carrying finally spilling out.
Sachi didn't speak. She didn't move away. She simply wrapped her arms around him and rested her palm against his back, steady, grounding. She stayed like that while his quiet sobs soaked into her shoulder.
"I don't want to lose you," he whispered hoarsely. "Everyone I thought was mine… I'm losing them. I can't— I can't let that happen to you too."
Sachi pulled back just enough to look at him. Her voice was calm, firm, unwavering."Nothing is going to happen to me, Yuvan. And even if it does… I know you'll save me. Just like you always have."
His breath hitched. Slowly, he lifted his hand and cupped her cheek, his fingers trembling slightly, his eyes still glassy. He looked at her as if she was the only solid thing left in a collapsing world.
They moved to the bench along the sidewalk, sitting side by side. The city continued around them, unaware of the quiet devastation unfolding between two people.
Yuvan leaned back, eyes fixed on the sky, jaw tight."I found out I'm adopted," he said finally, voice flat, hollow. "The man I called my father… wasn't. The woman I called my mother… wasn't. Even my grandfather— none of them were mine."
He swallowed hard, a bitter smile tugging at his lips."And still… they loved me. Completely."
His fingers clenched together. Sachi watched him closely, her chest aching, her eyes soft but steady.
"And what did I give them in return?" he continued, his voice cracking. "I'm the reason my parents are dead."
Sachi's breath caught. She reached for his hand immediately, holding it tightly, as if afraid the thought alone might destroy him.
He laughed softly then—a broken, humorless sound."The worst part?" he said, shaking his head. "I didn't even know. I lived all these years unaware… smiling, believing I belonged somewhere."
His smile faded. His eyes shimmered again."And now I know I don't belong anywhere."
Sachi turned toward him fully, her grip on his hand firm, deliberate. She didn't let him disappear into his thoughts.
"You're wrong," she said quietly. "You belong right here. You belong to the love they chose to give you. You belong to the life you wanted to build. And you belong to the people who stayed— not because they had to, but because they wanted to."
He looked at her then, really looked at her. Her eyes held no pity. Only faith.
Yuvan closed his eyes, a tear slipping free.
Sachi exhaled slowly, gathering herself before she spoke again.
"Yuvan, this isn't the time to sit here and watch everything fall apart," she said firmly. "Adopted or not—it doesn't change anything. They were your parents. They chose you. And they always will be."
He looked at her, eyes still clouded, but listening.
"Right now, the priority is clearing your name," she continued. "Your grandfather's condition hasn't changed. The only real truth will come out when he wakes up."
She paused, then added quietly, "Varun told me everything."
Yuvan stiffened.
"Your uncle has filed a lawsuit against you," she said, her voice steady. "Your accounts are frozen. You don't even have access to your own money."
She turned to face him fully now, frustration slipping through."How exactly were you planning to handle all of this alone?"
He didn't answer.
She looked away, shaking her head, then muttered, almost scolding, "Stop acting like tough. You don't have to carry everything by yourself."
Then, softer—but pointed, "And if you've forgotten… I'm useful in many ways."
That earned a faint smile from him.
Some color returned to his face as he leaned closer, teasing despite everything."In which way?"
Sachi shoved his shoulder lightly, irritated. She stood up and took a few steps ahead, then turned back, hands on her hips."I said in many ways."
Her expression hardened into focus."Now tell me," she said, "what's your plan?"
Yuvan watched her—really watched her—
That night, silence crept into the homes of Magnus Group's directors—one by one.
An envelope lay outside each door. No sender. No markings. Thick. Deliberate.
Inside, papers.
And the moment they began reading, sleep became impossible.
Bank statements.Shareholding trails.Board resolutions—old ones, quietly buried.Emails they had forgotten existed.Signatures they never thought would resurface.
One director dropped into his chair, the color draining from his face.Another reread the same page three times, hands trembling.A third reached for his phone—then stopped, realizing calling anyone would only make things worse.
This wasn't gossip.This wasn't intimidation. It was evidence.