Page 250 of One Hellish Wedlock
“He wanted leverage,” Reyansh said grimly. “And he found your weak point. Navya was outside the protection circle. I’d already secured everyone else—your dad, Kyle, Radhika, Nani, Shikha, Ruhi, even our staff. Navya was off my radar until that morning. The second I realized the risk, I sent Sunny after her. Luckily, he traced the men holding her back in India and coordinated with the Delhi police. While you were seeing that video in the lobby, Navya was already being rescued.”
“Oh God,” Aanya gasped, squeezing his hand. “I didn’t even get a chance to reach you or anyone. He was there, Reyansh…inside the building. Watching me. I didn’t see it, didn’t feel it. He sent that video from an unknown number. When I opened it and saw Navya tied up... he called right after. He told me he’d do worse to her than he did to me. I panicked. I couldn’t think.I just… I did what he said. Dropped my phone and went to that black car at the rear gate. You were right there, so close. And I couldn’t even scream for help.” Tears streamed down her face, hot and furious.
Reyansh cupped her face, his own eyes clouding.
“Sshh... I know you were scared. And it was my job to keep him away from you. I failed, Aanya. I failed—”
“No,” she interrupted, grabbing the front of his shirt with both hands. “You saved me. You saved Navya. You didn’t fail me. You’re my hero, Reyansh. You’ve always been.”
She wiped his tears before they could fall and kissed his cheek softly.
“So… was Mira really there when you said that to Vicky?” she asked after a pause.
Reyansh shook his head. “No. She never came. But we contacted her and made her aware of what Vicky had become. She was horrified. Guilt-ridden, too. She didn’t know the letter came from Shagufta, not you.”
“And what about his father?” Aanya’s tone dropped. “He’s a politician. He can pull strings, cover it up, do anything.”
Reyansh’s eyes darkened.
“Not this time, Aanya,” Reyansh said firmly. “There are too many charges against Vicky—stalking, abduction, threats of abuse, attempted molestation, and almost attempted murder. He’s not getting bail. And I have leverage over the political party his father belongs to. If that man dares support his son, he’ll be forced to resign. He’s too hungry for power to risk losing it. So no—he’s not getting Vicky out of jail.”
His words gave Aanya a wave of relief. The threat, at least for now, was finally behind them.
“And now that Vicky knows the truth, that it was Shagufta who betrayed him, not you, the only one who should be worried anymore is her.”
“She went too far this time,” Aanya said tightly.
“She crossed a line,” Reyansh agreed. “And maybe I should’ve stopped her a long time ago, when she first showed signs of wanting something more than friendship from me.”
He wasn’t wrong. If he’d confronted her back then, maybe this could’ve been avoided. Then again, maybe it wouldn’t have changed a thing. Either way, Aanya didn’t want to dwell on it. What mattered now was them—together. Blame wouldn’t help. Healing would.
“Thank God for that watch,” she murmured. “It’s what helped you track me.”
“You’re never taking it off again. Understood?”
There was still tension in his voice, that quiet fear that hadn’t quite left him.
“I won’t,” she promised. Then her tone softened. “I want to talk to Navya.”
“Now?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“She called twice asking to speak with you, but you weren’t strong enough to talk yet. I already explained and apologized on our behalf.”
Aanya gave him a look of mock disbelief. “You apologized to my best friend? That’s hard to imagine.”
He smirked. “I’ve done it before. Especially when she threatened to kill me if I ever hurt you again. That was a while back.”
Aanya giggled as he dialled Navya’s number and handed her the phone. She imagined that conversation—probably around the time Reyansh invited Navya to their re-marriage in Cape Town. Those were beautiful days. Her entire family had surrounded her with love. She couldn’t wait to relive moments like that again.
“Aanya?” Navya’s voice crackled through the phone. “Is that you or your husband? Hello?”
“It’s me, dear,” Aanya said, grinning as she watched Reyansh gesture for her to talk as long as she liked before slipping quietly from the room.
“Oh, thank God I’m finally getting to speak to you! How are you? Is your shoulder okay? Are you out of the hospital yet or—”
“Navya…” Aanya interrupted softly. “I’m so sorry for what happened. You were dragged into this because of me.”
