Page 101 of Twisted Alliance

“I feel it’s better if you leave as soon as possible,” her brother continued. “I’ll have arrangements made for mother to leave in three days. But before that I need something urgently… Shivay Thakvar’s mobile phone. The one he uses to talk to people in America.”

Ishani finally spoke out. “Why?” she asked. “Why do you need my husband’s phone?”

Her brother’s eyes flashed when he heard her refer to Shivay as her husband.

“Husband? Did you forget how you begged me not to get you married for an alliance? Did you forget that Shivay Thakvar is a fraud who is fooling people to steal the Singoor riches?”

Ishani’s heart sank as she heard her brother repeat the things he had said before.

“I have seen Shivay talking to the clans,” she said in an appeal. “I have seen him with his father. He is the real heir.”

“Stop!” her brother thundered. “Do as I say, Ishani. Or I’ll have other ways to get it done. I need the phone to prove he is not the true heir.”

Ishani’s heart thudded in panic. What did he mean by other ways? Is he going to have Shivay attacked?

“I want you to bring the mobile phone to me tomorrow before sunset. I will be waiting near the Eastern point of the Singoor temple.”

Ishani remained silent, processing her brother’s words. Her brother refused to accept Shivay as the heir. He wanted proof beyond her words or what Shivay had provided to the other clans as proof.

If her brother was looking for the possession of Shivay’s phone purely to prove Shivay as a fraud, then he would not succeed. There would be nothing on the phone to prove Shivay as a ruthless businessman who wanted to acquire the oil wells.

Maybe then her brother would calm down and accept Shivay as the heir who wants to bring peace to the land. And her brother would also stop scheming to sabotage Shivay’s effort in uniting the clans.

Possessing the phone would stop any impending attack on Shivay.

Ishani sucked in a deep breath. “All right,” she said. “I will get you Shivay’s phone.”

Her brother’s eyes flashed in satisfaction. “Good. Come before sunset. I’ll have a vehicle waiting for you outside the Thakvar mansion. Don’t tell anyone or bring security with you. This should remain a secret.”

She nodded, even as she trembled inside.

How am I going to get Shivay’s phone without telling him anything? Will he trust me again after this? What if he thinks of this as another betrayal?

***

Later that evening, Ishani’s hands trembled as she mixed rose water in the drink she planned to serve as a part of their intimate dinner. Although a voice inside her screamed not to, she still continued with the plan. It was the only way to alleviate her brother’s suspicions about Shivay.

Her brother was stubborn, and no matter who told him Shivay was the real heir, he wouldn’t believe it until he saw the proof for himself. Even if she were to ask Shivay to address her brother’s concerns, it would be a futile effort and only further rupture the family dynamics from the alliance.

This is the only way.

With a small, shuddering breath, she finished checking on the arrangements for an intimate dinner. That evening they would not be eating at the family dining table but in the privacy of their suite. The staff had already placed the silver dishes and plates on the polished granite table along with a beautiful arrangement of flowers and decorative oil lamps.

Under normal circumstances, she would have enjoyed the beautiful setting for an intimate dinner, but right then, she was too nervous.

She went into her dressing room to brush her hair once again. She would normally have her hair loosely braided, but she let it fall loose that night.

She was still brushing her hair when she heard the sound of the door opening.

Her heart began to thud loudly. Dropping the comb, she quickly got up to greet Shivay.

Her heart raced when their eyes met. She was wearing a dress that she had purchased from the city—a pale peach gown that was meant to be worn at night, and only in front of her husband. The gown clung to every curve of her body, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Without breaking their gaze, he walked up to where she stood frozen and pulled her to him, his lips finding hers. A soft moan escaped her throat in response to his demand, but she quickly pulled back before they got carried away.

“D-dinner is ready. A-and we have a lot of special dishes.”

He watched her for a moment, and then his mouth twisted. “All right. I’ll be right back.” With those words, he stepped away from her and entered the bathroom.

---