Chandrika stepped beside Bhoomi, folding her hands with a firm expression.
"Kiara… we all discussed. To save Yuvaan… you must marry Dev."
Kiara froze.
Her eyes widened slowly… the words sinking in like poison.
"What the fudge?"
Her voice echoed through the hall.
She looked at them one by one—first Bhoomi, then Chandrika, then Susheela, Vinod—and each of them avoided her eyes in guilt, in fear.
Kiara exhaled, calming herself with visible effort.
"I understand you're scared. I understand you love Yuvaan."
She placed her hand on her heart. "But this is exactly what Dev wants. Don't trust him. Something is wrong, and I can feel it."
Bhoomi stepped forward, shaking her head. "Dev is trying to save us, Kiara. He's a divine being. Why would he lie?"
Chandrika added softly but firmly, "He is selfless, dear. He wants to save your husband."
Kiara's jaw tightened.
And then, slowly, she turned her head.
"Dev!!!"
Her voice sliced through the mansion.
Dev appeared from the corridor, calm, composed, hands folded behind his back—as if he had been waiting for this moment.
Kiara walked straight up to him.
"You're turning my family against me," she said, voice calm but sharp as glass. "And you know what? Let's expose you right here."
She pulled out her phone.
"I'll ask the people who should matter to you."
She dialed.
"Hello? Kamla aunty? Can you join us?"
Kamla,her aunt, stepped into the hall within seconds.
Kiara turned to Dev. "You came here as Ruchi's fiancé. Right? So let's call her too."
She shouted toward the staircase,
"Ruchi!"
Ruchi rushed downstairs, breathless.
"What happened?"
Kiara pointed at Dev.
"Your fiancé wants to marry me. Tell everyone the truth. Tell them he's been lying. Tell them this is wrong."
Everyone stared at Ruchi.
She looked at Dev… then at Kiara… and then—
She nodded calmly.
"It's okay, Kiara. I… don't mind."
The entire hall fell silent.
Kiara blinked—once, twice—unable to believe what she heard.
"What… did you just say?" she whispered.
Ruchi smiled faintly. "If Dev has to marry you to save Yuvaan… then I'm fine with it."
Kiara's heart dropped.
A cold, unsettling dread crawled up her spine.
Something was very, very wrong.
And Dev…
Dev only smiled.
Not sweetly.
Not reassuringly.
But with the smug calm of someone whose plan was working perfectly.
Kiara looked at Ruchi, baffled and hurt, her heartbeat stumbling as the entire family seemed to take Dev's side one by one. Everyone acted normal… calm… supportive… but their unity felt unnatural. Too quick. Too convenient.
Still, nothing was obvious.
Nothing she could point at.
Kiara took a shaky breath.
"I won't marry Dev," she said firmly. "My dad has gone to find a real solution. He'll be back any minute."
As if summoned by her words, the main door opened.
Vikram walked in.
Kiara's entire body relaxed. "Papa…"
He looked completely normal—his shirt neatly tucked, his usual composed expression on his face. No trance. No stiffness. No blankness.
Just… Vikram Shetty.
He walked toward her calmly.
Kiara stepped closer, hopeful. "Papa, please tell them. We don't need Dev. You were looking for another way. Tell them you found something."
Vikram placed a steady hand on her shoulder.
"Kiara… I spoke to many sages, scholars, and healers," he said with total conviction. "Every path leads to the same conclusion."
Kiara frowned. "What conclusion?"
Vikram exhaled deeply, his voice breaking just enough to sound genuine.
"To save Yuvaan… you will have to marry Dev."
Kiara's breath hitched violently.
"Papa…" she whispered. "No. That can't be right. You… you wouldn't say this unless—unless…"
Bhoomi stepped beside them, tears in her eyes.
"Kiara, we're not forcing you. But we cannot lose Yuvaan."
Chandrika nodded softly.
"Beta, this is not about Dev. This is about your husband's life."
Susheela added gently, "Think about the result, not the sacrifice."
They weren't robotic.
They weren't blank.
They weren't unnatural.
They were emotional.
Pleading.
Heartbroken.
Everything made sense.
Everything sounded logical.
And that was what made it terrifying.
Kiara turned toward Dev.
He stood silently at the back of the hall, hands clasped behind him, expression soft… almost sympathetic.
But his eyes…
Those eyes held the faintest glimmer of triumph.
Just enough for Kiara's heart to drop.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
She swallowed hard.
"Papa… you seriously believe this is the only way?" she whispered.
Vikram cupped her cheek, his voice filled with fatherly pain.
"I would never ask you to do something cruel. But right now… this is the only path I see."
Kiara's chest tightened.
Her father's love felt real.
His pain felt real.
His logic felt real.
And yet—
Why did it feel like the entire world had suddenly turned against her?
Kiara stared at Dev again.
His expression was gentle.
Too gentle.
Too perfect.
Almost as if every moment of this was unfolding exactly the way he wanted.
---