The safe room was silent… except for the distant sound of gunfire and crackling flames spreading through the upper floors of the penthouse.
Meherin's chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to catch her breath. Smoke lingered in the air, making every inhale feel heavy.
Ryan stood near the reinforced steel door, staring at the glowing security panel.
The override code was still flashing.
His jaw tightened.
"This code…" he muttered under his breath.
Meherin stepped closer, her voice shaking.
"You said someone from your inner circle used it."
Ryan nodded slowly.
"Yes."
His voice had turned cold again—deadly calm.
"Only five people in my entire company have access to this code."
"Five?" Meherin whispered.
Ryan's eyes darkened.
"And one of them just tried to kill us."
The Door Opens
Suddenly—
BEEP.
The safe room door slowly unlocked.
Meherin instinctively grabbed Ryan's arm.
"Ryan…"
The heavy steel door creaked open.
For a moment, only smoke filled the doorway.
Then a shadow stepped forward.
Ryan's eyes narrowed.
"…Farhan."
Meherin blinked in confusion.
The man standing in front of them looked calm, almost relaxed.
Farhan Malik.
Ryan's Chief Security Officer.
The man responsible for protecting the entire building.
Betrayal Revealed
Farhan clapped slowly.
"Well done, boss."
Ryan's expression was unreadable.
"You planted the bomb."
Farhan shrugged casually.
"Technically… yes."
Meherin felt a cold wave run through her body.
"But why?" she asked.
Farhan smiled slightly.
"Because loyalty doesn't pay as well as betrayal."
Ryan took one step forward.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly.
"You sold me out."
Farhan tilted his head.
"No. I upgraded my career."
Ryan's eyes flashed with fury.
"Who hired you?"
Farhan chuckled.
"You already know the answer."
Ryan's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"…Daniel."
Farhan's smile widened.
"Exactly."
A Deadly Fight
Before anyone could react—
Farhan pulled a gun.
But Ryan was faster.
He grabbed Meherin and pulled her down just as the gun fired.
BANG!
The bullet slammed into the steel wall.
Ryan launched forward like a predator.
He slammed into Farhan, knocking the gun away.
The two men crashed into the table inside the safe room.
Meherin's heart pounded wildly.
"Ryan!"
Farhan threw a punch.
Ryan blocked it and slammed his fist into Farhan's jaw.
Blood splattered across the floor.
Farhan staggered back, laughing.
"You're still strong, boss."
Ryan grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
"But not strong enough to stop what's coming."
Meherin's Intelligence
Suddenly Meherin noticed something.
The security screen inside the safe room had come back online.
But it showed something terrifying.
Several armed men were entering the building lobby.
"Ryan!" she shouted.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression hardened instantly.
"They're already inside."
Farhan grinned through the blood on his lips.
"Daniel sends his regards."
Ryan punched him again, knocking him unconscious.
But the problem wasn't over.
More enemies were coming.
Emotional Moment
Ryan turned toward Meherin.
She could see the storm raging in his eyes.
"Listen to me," he said.
"We need to leave. Now."
"But the building—"
"Security teams are evacuating everyone."
He stepped closer.
For a brief moment… his cold mask cracked.
His hand gently touched her cheek.
"You shouldn't be in this war."
Meherin looked straight into his eyes.
"But I chose to be."
Ryan froze.
No one had ever said something like that to him before.
The distance between them disappeared.
Smoke surrounded them.
Danger was everywhere.
Yet in that moment—
Ryan pulled her closer.
And finally—
He kissed her.
It wasn't soft.
It was intense.
Desperate.
Like two people who might die any second.
When they pulled apart, Meherin's heart was racing uncontrollably.
Ryan whispered against her forehead,
"Stay close to me."
🔥 Cliffhanger
Just as they prepared to escape—
The security monitor suddenly switched screens.
A live video appeared.
A man sitting in a dark chair.
Calm.
Smiling.
Ryan's face went completely still.
"Hello, Ryan."
The man leaned forward into the light.
Daniel.
His most dangerous enemy.
Daniel's eyes slowly moved toward the camera.
Toward Meherin.
"Well… your contract wife is even more beautiful than I expected."
Meherin felt Ryan's arm tighten around her.
Daniel smiled wider.
"And now… she belongs to my game too."
The screen suddenly went black.
Ryan whispered one chilling sentence:
"…He's coming for you."
➜ Next Chapter Teaser (Chapter 12)
In Chapter 12:
Daniel launches a full attack on Ryan's empire.
Meherin becomes the main target of the enemy.
Ryan reveals a shocking truth about why he chose Meherin for the contract marriage.
A dangerous chase begins through the city at night.
Cliffhanger: Meherin is suddenly taken by unknown attackers.
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