There are two kinds of silence in this world.The peaceful kind that hugs you.And the dangerous kind that holds its breath before it strikes.
Right now, my life is drenched in the second kind.
It's been three days since I walked out of Darian's office.Three days since I found out everything I believed about us was a marketing campaign.Three days since I've spoken a single word to my husband.
("Husband." God, the word tastes like irony now.)
Aria keeps calling, reporters keep circling, and the internet is having an emotional breakdown over our "mysterious disappearance."#WhereIsMrsMalhotra is trending like a bad punchline.
I've been staying in my old apartment — the one with the peeling paint and the kind of silence that doesn't expect anything from me.But peace doesn't last long in my world.
Because peace has Riven Kaul's phone number.
The knock on my door is soft, hesitant.I open it — and freeze.
He's standing there.Riven Kaul.
The man from the photo.The ghost behind the messages.The person who blew my life apart with one click.
He looks… different.Tired. Thinner. A faint scar near his jaw that wasn't there before.And eyes — sharp, calculating, but threaded with something almost human.
"Hello, Lyra," he says smoothly, like he's introducing himself at a board meeting.
I cross my arms. "Wow. The homewrecker in HD. What do you want?"
He smirks. "To talk. You deserve to know the truth."
"Pretty sure your version of the truth comes with plot twists and malware."
"Fair," he says. "But still — you've only heard Darian's side."
"And yours is…?"
He steps closer, lowering his voice. "He destroyed me."
The words hang in the air, heavy and dangerous.
"He stole my work, my reputation, my company," Riven continues. "I was his partner, his brother in everything but blood — until I found out what he was doing."
I frown. "What he was doing? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you were the corrupt one."
"Corruption?" he laughs, bitter. "That's the story he told the press. Convenient, wasn't it? One man falls, the other becomes the hero CEO."
"Stop," I say, heart pounding. "I saw the messages. The photo. You blackmailed him—"
"I tried to warn him," Riven snaps. "But he was already in too deep. The photo wasn't meant to hurt you, Lyra — it was meant to wake you up."
I don't realize I've backed into the wall until my hand hits the light switch.The room glows faintly, painting shadows across Riven's face.
"Why me?" I whisper. "Why drag me into this mess?"
"Because you were the one person he couldn't manipulate," Riven says quietly. "I thought… if you saw the truth, you'd run. You'd save yourself."
His gaze softens — too much for comfort."But you stayed. You married him."
My throat tightens. "You made me ruin his life. You made me ruin mine."
He looks away. "Maybe. But now you can fix it — by helping me expose him."
Before I can reply, there's another knock.A harder one.And then — Darian's voice.
"Lyra. Open the door."
Riven's smirk returns. "Speak of the devil."
I whirl on him. "You need to go."
"I'm not leaving you alone with him."
"I don't need protection," I snap. "I need answers."
The door opens before I can stop it.
Darian steps inside, eyes like thunder.His gaze lands on Riven — and the air cracks.
"Get away from her," Darian says, voice dangerously low.
Riven raises an eyebrow. "Still playing the savior?"
"This conversation is over."
"No," I say sharply. "This conversation is finally happening."
They face each other — two men with too much history and not enough forgiveness.The tension between them feels electric, ancient, like it's been waiting years for this.
Riven laughs softly. "Still protecting your image, Darian? Still lying to everyone, including her?"
Darian's jaw tightens. "You've done enough damage."
"Funny," Riven says, stepping closer. "That's exactly what you said before you stole my company."
"Your company?" Darian snaps. "You were laundering money through our charity fund."
Riven's smile is pure venom. "Prove it."
I look between them, my mind spinning.Lies on top of lies, truths wrapped in ego.And somewhere between them — me, the fool who thought love was the headline.
"Enough," I say finally. "Both of you."
They stop, both turning toward me.My hands shake, but my voice doesn't.
"I'm done being your collateral. You want to destroy each other? Fine. But leave me out of it."
And before either of them can respond, I walk past them — out of my own apartment, out into the night air that smells like rain and freedom and heartbreak.
Behind me, I hear Darian's voice, low and raw:
"She was never supposed to get hurt."
Riven's reply drips like poison:
"Then you shouldn't have fallen for her."