The evening inside the Malhotra mansion was unusually quiet.
Kiara stood in front of the mirror inside Aarav's bedroom, fixing the cuff of her black blazer.
She had a meeting with the Kapoor Global board in an hour.
Just as she picked up her phone—
The door suddenly opened.
Aarav walked in.
His tie was loose, his expression unreadable.
Kiara looked at him through the mirror.
"You know knocking exists, right?"
Aarav closed the door behind him.
"My room."
Kiara turned around.
"For now."
Aarav ignored the comment.
Instead, he stepped closer.
"You told Alisha you're not interested in me."
Kiara folded her arms.
"That bothered you?"
Aarav stopped in front of her.
"No."
His voice lowered.
"But you sounded very confident."
Kiara tilted her head.
"I usually am."
The tension between them slowly built again.
"You like provoking people," Aarav said quietly.
"And you like controlling people," Kiara replied.
"Someone has to."
Kiara rolled her eyes slightly and tried to walk past him.
But Aarav suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Kiara froze.
"Let go," she said calmly.
Aarav didn't.
"You think this is a game."
Kiara met his gaze.
"It is."
Their faces were suddenly very close.
Too close.
The anger between them felt electric.
"You're arrogant," Aarav murmured.
Kiara smirked faintly.
"And you're obsessed with revenge."
"Because of your family."
Kiara's expression darkened slightly.
"Maybe one day you'll realize the truth."
Before Aarav could ask what she meant—
Kiara tried to pull her hand away.
But in that moment—
Her heel slipped slightly on the floor.
She lost her balance.
And instinctively grabbed Aarav's shirt.
Both of them stumbled forward.
A second later—
They crashed lightly against the wall.
And their lips touched.
For a moment…
Neither of them moved.
The kiss wasn't planned.
It wasn't gentle.
It was sudden.
Electric.
Confusing.
Aarav pulled back first.
His eyes dark.
Kiara's heart was beating faster than she expected.
Silence filled the room.
Then Kiara spoke first.
"That was an accident."
Aarav stared at her.
"Yes."
But neither of them sounded very convinced.
Kiara quickly stepped away.
"We should pretend that didn't happen."
Aarav ran a hand through his hair.
"Agreed."
But as Kiara walked toward the door—
Aarav's voice stopped her.
"You're a terrible liar."
Kiara turned slightly.
"And you're thinking too much."
She opened the door.
But just before leaving, she said calmly—
"Next time, Mr. Malhotra…"
Her eyes flickered toward him.
"Try not to stand so close."
Then she walked out.
Leaving Aarav alone in the room.
And for the first time in days…
The war between them had just become far more dangerous.