The drive back to the mansion was silent.
Painfully silent.
Kiara sat in the passenger seat, staring out of the window.
Raindrops blurred her vision…
Or maybe it wasn't just the rain.
Aarav didn't say a single word the entire time.
His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Too tightly.
Because if he spoke…
He wasn't sure what he would say.
The car finally stopped.
They stepped inside the mansion.
The moment the door closed behind them—
Aarav turned.
"Say something."
His voice wasn't loud.
But it was heavy.
Kiara froze.
"What do you want me to say?"
"The truth."
Her eyes flickered.
"I already told you—"
"No," Aarav cut her off sharply.
"You didn't."
Silence filled the room.
Aarav took a step closer.
"Were you involved in that betrayal?"
Kiara's throat went dry.
"It wasn't betrayal."
Aarav laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
"It's always something else when it's you."
Kiara's eyes filled slightly.
"You don't understand what happened—"
"Then make me understand," Aarav snapped.
"For once, stop hiding behind half-truths."
Kiara looked at him.
Really looked at him.
And for the first time…
She saw it.
The disappointment.
The doubt.
And that hurt more than his anger.
"I did what I had to do," she said quietly.
Aarav shook his head slowly.
"And people got destroyed because of it."
Kiara's voice broke slightly.
"I didn't have a choice."
"You always have a choice," Aarav said coldly.
Another silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Then Aarav spoke again.
Quieter this time.
"But I guess I was wrong about you."
Those words hit harder than anything else.
Kiara's breath stopped.
"What do you mean?"
Aarav looked at her.
Not angry.
Just distant.
"I thought you were different."
Kiara felt something crack inside her.
"I am."
"Are you?" he asked.
His voice almost calm.
"Or are you just better at hiding things?"
Kiara stepped back slightly.
As if his words physically pushed her away.
"You don't trust me."
It wasn't a question.
Aarav didn't answer immediately.
And that silence…
Was her answer.
Kiara nodded slowly.
"Okay."
She turned away.
Aarav frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Kiara walked toward the stairs.
"Leaving."
Aarav's voice sharpened.
"You can't just walk out."
Kiara stopped.
Then turned back.
Her eyes filled… but strong.
"Watch me."
Aarav stepped forward.
"You're still my wife."
Kiara laughed softly.
"But you don't trust me."
Silence.
"That's not how this works, Aarav."
Her voice was steady now.
"If you see me as a liar… a betrayer…"
She paused.
"Then what exactly am I doing here?"
Aarav didn't have an answer.
For the first time—
He didn't.
Kiara picked up her bag.
"I didn't expect you to understand everything."
She looked at him one last time.
"But I thought…"
Her voice broke slightly.
"…you'd at least try."
Aarav's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
But it was too late.
Kiara turned and walked toward the door.
This time—
He didn't stop her.
And that hurt more than anything.
The door closed.
And just like that—
The mansion felt empty.
Aarav stood there, staring at the door.
Because something told him—
This wasn't just another fight.
This felt like losing her.
And the worst part?
He didn't even know why it mattered so much.