The room was silent.
Only the faint sound of the monitor and Anaya's slow breathing filled the space.
On the bed lay Anaya Sen, still weak… but no longer completely unconscious.
Beside her stood Aryan Malhotra.
Unmoving.
Watching.
Waiting.
The moment she whispered Viktor's name…
Something inside him had shifted again.
This wasn't just about protection anymore.
This was about truth.
And danger.
Deep danger.
Anaya stirred slightly.
Her fingers moved.
Her lashes fluttered.
"Aryan…" she murmured faintly.
He leaned closer instantly.
"I'm here."
Her eyes opened slowly.
Still hazy.
Still confused.
But this time—
There was something else in them.
Fear.
"I remember…" she whispered.
Aryan's gaze sharpened.
"What do you remember?"
Anaya swallowed.
Her voice weak but steady.
"My father…"
She paused.
Her breathing uneven.
"He wasn't just hiding the chip…"
Aryan didn't interrupt.
Didn't rush her.
Because every word mattered now.
"He was hiding… me."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Aryan's expression changed.
Slightly.
But enough.
"What do you mean?" he asked quietly.
Anaya's fingers tightened on the bedsheet.
"I was there that night…"
Her eyes stared at something far away.
Something only she could see.
"He gave me something…"
Her voice trembled.
"A small box…"
Aryan's grip on the table edge tightened.
"The chip."
Anaya nodded slowly.
"But not just that…"
She looked at him.
And for the first time—
There was clarity in her eyes.
"He made me memorize something."
Aryan stepped closer.
"What?"
Anaya hesitated.
Like her mind was fighting her.
"Numbers…"
She whispered.
"Codes…"
Her breathing quickened again.
"I don't remember all of it…"
"But I know… it's important…"
Aryan's mind started connecting everything instantly.
The second chip.
The hidden access.
Her father's secret.
Everything pointed to one thing—
She wasn't just involved.
She was the key.
Before he could say anything—
The door burst open.
A guard rushed in.
"Boss!"
Aryan turned sharply.
"What?"
"Security breach!"
The words hit like a gunshot.
"What kind of breach?" Aryan asked coldly.
The guard hesitated.
"Internal…"
Silence fell.
Deadly.
Aryan's eyes darkened instantly.
"Lock the entire mansion," he ordered.
"No one in. No one out."
The guard nodded and ran.
Anaya tried to sit up.
"What's happening?"
Aryan moved instantly—
Placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't move."
His voice was calm.
But something in it had changed again.
More dangerous.
More controlled.
"Someone's inside," he said quietly.
Anaya's heart started racing.
"Viktor?"
Aryan didn't answer.
Because he didn't know.
But his instincts told him—
This wasn't random.
This was planned.
Perfectly.
Suddenly—
The lights flickered.
Then went out.
Darkness filled the room.
Anaya gasped softly.
"Aryan—"
Before she could say anything—
A shadow moved near the door.
Fast.
Silent.
Deadly.
Aryan reacted instantly.
Pulling Anaya behind him.
His gun already in his hand.
"Show yourself," he said coldly.
Silence.
Then—
A familiar voice echoed in the darkness.
"You're getting slower, Malhotra."
Aryan's eyes narrowed.
Even in the dark—
He knew that voice.
"Nikolai Volkov."
A faint chuckle.
"Good. You still recognize allies."
Aryan didn't lower the gun.
"You broke into my house."
Nikolai stepped slightly into the faint emergency light.
"I came to warn you."
Anaya frowned from behind Aryan.
"About what?"
Nikolai's expression turned serious.
"Viktor knows."
Silence.
Aryan's voice dropped.
"Knows what?"
Nikolai looked directly at Anaya.
"About her."
Anaya's breath caught.
"What about me?"
Nikolai didn't look away.
"Everything."
The word echoed.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Aryan's grip on the gun tightened.
"How much time?"
Nikolai's answer was simple.
"Not much."
Anaya felt fear crawl into her chest again.
Because now—
She understood.
This wasn't just about survival anymore.
This was about being hunted.
And this time—
She wasn't just a target.
She was the reason.