chapter 7:
The days after Dev's offer were restless. Ishani Kapoor tried to focus on her studies, but whispers of the Sen brothers followed her everywhere. Sanya , her best friend, grew increasingly protective, warning her at every turn.
"You can't trust them, Ishani," Sanya said firmly. "Dev hides behind charm, and Aarav… well, you already know what he's capable of."
But Ishani's cousin, Rhea, had a different perspective. She admired Dev's brilliance, his empire in the gaming industry, and the opportunities he promised. "Maybe you're being too harsh," Rhea suggested one evening. "Dev isn't Aarav. He sees your potential. Why not use it?"
The words unsettled Ishani. She hated Aarav, yes, but Dev's offer lingered in her mind like a dangerous temptation.
One afternoon, Ishani overheard something she wasn't meant to hear. Rhea, speaking quietly with Dev in the university courtyard, her tone eager. "She's stubborn, but I can convince her. Ishani trusts me."
The betrayal stung. Ishani's chest tightened as she realized her cousin was willing to push her into Dev's world, perhaps for her own gain.
That night, Ishani confronted Rhea. "You spoke to Dev. You promised him you'd convince me."
Rhea's eyes widened, guilt flashing across her face. "I only wanted to help you, Ishani. This could be your chance—our chance."
But Ishani's voice was cold, sharp as glass. "No, Rhea. You wanted to help yourself. You betrayed me."
Meanwhile, Aarav watched from the shadows, his obsession deepening. Ishani's fury, her pain, her betrayal — it all fed the fire inside him. He hated her defiance, yet he couldn't stop wanting her. And now, with Rhea's betrayal, the cracks in Ishani's world were widening.
Aarav whispered to himself, almost a vow: "Let them betray her. Let them push her closer to Dev. In the end, she'll see that I'm the only one who cannot be erased."
The bloom of betrayal had begun, its petals poisoned, its thorns sharper than ever.