Aurora's office was finally quiet.
The attack had slowed.
But the tension hadn't.
Aarav stood near the glass wall, watching the city.
His mind wasn't on Vikram.
It was on one thing—
Arjun.
The way he looked at Kiara.
The way Kiara reacted.
He didn't like it.
Not at all.
Behind him—
Kiara closed her laptop.
"It's handled for now."
Aarav didn't turn.
"You didn't tell me he'd show up."
Kiara sighed.
"I didn't know."
Aarav finally faced her.
"Really?"
His tone wasn't loud.
But it was sharp.
Kiara frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Aarav stepped closer,
"you still have things with him."
Kiara's eyes hardened.
"No, I don't."
"Then why does he act like he still matters?" Aarav snapped.
Silence.
Kiara looked at him—
Hurt. Angry.
"Because he was part of my past," she said.
Aarav laughed bitterly.
"Doesn't look like just past."
Kiara stepped closer now.
"Why do you care?"
That question hit.
Hard.
Aarav's jaw tightened.
"I don't."
Kiara's lips curved slightly.
"Liar."
Silence again.
Heavy.
Real.
Aarav looked at her.
Then finally—
"Because I don't like someone else thinking they still have a claim on you."
There it was.
Raw.
Unfiltered.
Kiara's breath caught.
"That's not your decision," she whispered.
Aarav moved closer.
"It is when you're my wife."
For a second—
It almost turned into something else.
Again.
But Kiara stepped back.
"We're not doing this again."
Her voice steady.
"Not until you trust me."
Aarav froze.
Because she was right.
Again.
Suddenly—
A phone buzzed.
Kiara checked it.
Her expression changed instantly.
"What?" Aarav asked.
Kiara's voice dropped.
"Arjun just made his move."
Aarav's eyes darkened.
"What did he do?"
Kiara turned the screen toward him.
A news headline flashed—
"Confidential Leak: Aurora Heir Involved in Past Corporate Betrayal."
Aarav's expression hardened.
Kiara's fingers tightened.
"He's exposing me."
Across the city—
Arjun sat calmly, watching the news spread.
His eyes cold.
"This time, Kiara…"
He whispered.
"You don't get to hide."
Back at Aurora—
Everything was about to explode again.
But this time—
It wasn't just business.
It was personal.