Aishwarya's lips trembled. "You're insane."
"Maybe," Kiara said, pulling out her phone and switching on a live stream. "But the world deserves to know who the real ghost is."
The camera blinked to life. "Hello, everyone," Kiara said clearly, her voice steady. "This is Kiara Pratap Singh. And the woman beside me — yes, the one the world thinks is dead — is Aishwarya Sharma."
Aishwarya's face twisted in shock. "Turn that off!"
Kiara ignored her. "Aishwarya, tell the truth — why did you fake your death?"
Under the serum's control, Aishwarya's voice came out low and strained. "To… to frame Yuvaan."
Kiara leaned closer. "And why would you frame Yuvaan?"
Aishwarya's eyes darted around as if fighting herself — but the serum forced her words out. "Because… a veiled woman paid me."
Angad, standing beside her, frowned. "Then why did you kill Divya Bhatra?"
Aishwarya shook her head violently. "I didn't! I didn't kill her! The veiled woman… she brought her to my apartment and… set it on fire!"
Gasps flooded the live's comment section. Thousands of viewers tuned in within seconds — the truth spreading like wildfire. Even the police station's monitors flickered to life with Kiara's broadcast.
Kiara turned the camera toward herself. "You all heard it. This is the truth about Aishwarya Sharma — alive, and the one who faked her death to frame Yuvaan Pratap Singh."
She looked directly into the lens. "Now the world knows."
And with that, she ended the live.
Aishwarya stumbled to her knees, trembling, her body still under the serum's hold. The others exchanged sharp glances — Kiara's eyes burning with fury, Varun's with quiet satisfaction.
But somewhere in the dark, unseen by all, a faint whisper echoed through the wind — chilling, cold, and dangerously amused.
"Good job, Kiara. You've just declared war."
The chill of the night wrapped around them, but Kiara's eyes burned with quiet victory as she crouched before the trembling Aishwarya. The woman's face was streaked with tears, her body still reeling from the effects of the truth serum.
Kiara tilted her head, voice laced with mock sweetness.
"Now your truth is out in the open, Aishwarya."
Aishwarya looked up, panic flashing in her eyes. "You don't understand, Kiara—"
"Oh, I understand perfectly," Kiara interrupted, gripping her wrist tightly. "Didn't you want to go on a picnic?" She smiled, but her words carried venom. "Don't worry. I'll send you on one… straight to jail."
Varun smirked faintly, watching the once-arrogant Aishwarya reduced to a mess on the ground. "Nice delivery, Chutki. Dad would've been proud."
Kiara gave him a sharp look, but her lips twitched. "I'll take that as a compliment."
---
A few hours later, at the city police station, the fluorescent lights hummed softly as Kiara, Varun, Mishka, and Angad entered, escorting Aishwarya between them. The police officers inside stared in disbelief — the supposedly dead woman now handcuffed, her eyes downcast.
The ACP stepped forward, astonished. "This is—this is impossible! She's alive?"
Kiara handed over the phone with her live stream saved. "Alive and confessing, sir. Every word broadcasted to the world."
The ACP glanced between Aishwarya and the footage. Within minutes, his expression hardened. "Arrest her."
Two constables took Aishwarya away, and as she was dragged off, she turned back toward Kiara with hatred blazing in her eyes. Kiara, unflinching, folded her arms — her silence was louder than any insult.
Moments later, the heavy door of the holding cell opened.
Yuvaan stepped out.
He was calm, composed — almost too composed — his shirt sleeves rolled up casually, as though he'd been on vacation, not in custody. His faint smirk deepened when his eyes met Kiara's.
"Well," he said with a low chuckle, "I was starting to enjoy my stay. But it seems my wifey missed me a little too much."
Kiara crossed her arms, fighting the smile tugging at her lips. "Missed you? Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Pratap Singh. I just can't have my husband ruining my reputation."
Yuvaan leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Hmm. Keep telling yourself that, wifey."
Angad groaned dramatically. "Lalalala! Gosh, if only someone looked at me the same way."
Mishka rolled her eyes. "In your dreams, Romeo."
Varun laughed, giving Angad a pat on the back. "Don't worry, bro. Maybe in your next life."
Kiara shook her head, but as she turned to Yuvaan, her expression softened for just a moment. "Let's go home."
Yuvaan gave her a knowing smile. "Home sweet home — though I have a feeling peace won't last long there."
And as they walked out of the station together, the faint echo of that dark whisper from before stirred again — unseen, unheard, but dangerously close.
"The pawns have started to play… but the queen hasn't made her move yet."