The Mumbai monsoon drummed against the floor-to-ceiling glass of the Singhania Tower. Below, the city was a smear of yellow headlights and grey rain, but up here, in the penthouse office, everything was sterile.
Vihaan Singhania adjusted his cufflinks, staring at his reflection. He had just closed a 500-crore deal. He should have felt on top of the world. But his gaze kept drifting to the empty desk outside his door. For the first time in four years, the lights in the lobby were off. Akshara was gone.
He didn't know yet that she wasn't just gone for the night. He didn't know that the "prank" he had laughed about with his friends an hour ago was the match that would burn his entire world to ashes. He thought he was the king. He didn't realize that without his queen, the crown was just a circle of thorns.
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