CHAPTER 40
Few days Later – Penthouse - California
It was the weekend, and Reyansh had spent the day helping Aanya shift from her shared office accommodation into the penthouse. This place was now officially their home for the next few months, until they returned to India.
“Reyansh… not there,” Aanya stopped him from setting her favourite vase in the corner. “It should go here, in the centre.”
“Yes, Mrs. Interior Designer,” he muttered with mock seriousness, bowing slightly as if taking orders from royalty. He moved the vase to the centre table. “Anything else, Ma’am?”
Aanya giggled.
“What’s gotten into you? Why are you acting like my personal house-help?”
However tempted Reyansh was to pull her close, he kept his hands to himself… for now.
“I have no higher purpose in life than to become your personal house-help forever.”
She laughed harder and patted his arm.
“Give up already, Reyansh Chopra. If I liked this house-help idea of yours, I’d keep you glued to me all the time. Your multi-billion-dollar empire would have to survive without you.”
“That’s the goal,” he finally gave in, tugging her into his arms and pressing a kiss to her temple.
“Oh, I forgot, I haven’t unpacked the books yet,” she pulled away. “Do you know I’ve got a whole thriller collection? Serial killers, dark minds… you’ll love it.”
“My serial killer is already here. Why would I read about others?” he murmured, brushing a kiss across her cheek.
She giggled again.
“I’ve never heard of a woman serial killer before.”
“That’s the tragedy,” he replied dramatically. “I get to live with one for life.”
Her jaw dropped. She smacked his arm in mock offense.
“Are we ordering lunch?” she asked, trying to change the subject.
“No invite from Di today?”
“I turned her down. We can’t eat there every day. Plus, I need some ‘me’ time with my husband.” She looped her arms around his neck with a mischievous smirk.
“Now you’re talking,” he said, reaching for her, but she quickly tickled his stomach and dashed away.
“What the! Aanya! Come back here!”
“Three more boxes to unpack!” she shouted from the bedroom. “Then I’m all yours!”
Reyansh sighed. She knew how to drive him to the edge and walk away like nothing happened.
But two could play this game. He smirked to himself and got back to work.
It had been her decision not to hire help for unpacking.
She wanted to set up their home personally, and Reyansh couldn’t say no.
He’d never done this kind of thing before, but doing it with her made it feel… right.
A phone rang from somewhere under the chaos of boxes. After a frantic search, he found it buried beneath a cushion.
“Yeah, Sunny,” he answered, sinking onto the couch. But as Sunny spoke, Reyansh’s body stiffened. “How sure are you it’s Vicky’s number?”
He listened carefully.
“So, he is really here...” he muttered. “You know the protocol. Follow it to the letter. And stay in touch.”
He ended the call and dropped the phone on the couch. His fingers dug through his hair as the weight of the news settled in.
“Whose call was that?” Aanya asked from behind. He looked up quickly, forcing a smile.
“Sunny.”
“Any update?” she sat beside him, eyes scanning his face.
“Just business,” he lied.
Aanya’s expression changed.
“We promised we’d be transparent with each other, Reyansh. What happened to that?”
He rolled his eyes.
“I told you…it’s business. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Her mood soured.
“Right. Keep lying. Clearly, you still don’t understand what honesty in a relationship looks like.”
She started to get up, but he caught her wrist and gently pulled her back down.
“Vicky’s here. In California.”
Aanya’s heart dropped. Her breath caught in her throat.
“We traced Shagufta’s call logs. She’s been in constant touch with one particular international number at least five times a day.
The number’s private, locked down through high-level political access.
But I had it hacked. It belongs to Vicky.
He was in Melbourne until recently. The last location pinged… was here.”
Her skin turned clammy. The fear she had buried returned, full force.
“I’ve doubled the security for your father and Kyle. Shikha’s place is still guarded. And you’re not going anywhere without guards either. If he came here with intent to strike, then we’ll hit first.”
She admired his planning and strategy.
“Hey,” he touched her cheek, calming her. “We carry on as usual, okay? I made a promise to you. He’ll never come close to you again.”
She didn’t reply. She just threw her arms around him, holding him tight. But deep down, her fear wasn’t for herself. It was for him. What if Reyansh became the real target?
He pulled back slightly, trying to lighten the moment.
“I don’t think my wife is too eager to place the food order today. Which means her personal house-help has to do it again.”
A weak smile lifted her lips. He was trying, like always.
“What would you like to eat, ma’am?”
“Pizza.”
“Nope. My wife’s eating healthy. We have babies to make in the coming months, remember?”
She burst out laughing and hurled a cushion at him.
“Helps don’t argue. Just obey.”
“Alright, but salad’s mandatory. No salad, no pizza.”
Aanya groaned.
“Fine.”
He grinned and pulled out his phone to place the order through the guards.
Day 280
Reyansh tossed restlessly on the bed, one arm reaching out instinctively for his wife. But his hand met nothing but empty sheets. His eyes flew open. She wasn’t there.
Without wasting another second, he slid out of bed, shoved on his slippers, and strode into the living room. There she stood…wrapped in a robe, silhouetted against the glass wall, staring out at the glowing skyline of the city. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders.
She had showered. At this hour?
“Aanya…” he called softly.
She flinched at the sound of his voice.
“What are you doing out here, baby?” he murmured, stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. He kissed her hair, trying to soothe her nerves. “Why did you take a shower?”
She placed her hands over his, around her waist.
“Just like that,” she whispered.
He wasn’t convinced. “Don’t lie to me. Talk to me.”
“I had a nightmare,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “Vicky… he caught me… I just… I needed to wash the feeling off.”
His jaw locked. He hated that Vicky still had that power over her, even in her dreams.
“Don’t let him crawl into your mind, Aanya,” Reyansh said, turning her to face him. He cupped her cheeks firmly. “That’s exactly what he wants. Every second you think of him is a second he wins. And we don’t let monsters win, do we?”
She shook her head and tried to steady her breath.
“Let’s go shopping tomorrow. Just the two of us. The whole day out. We’ll walk the city, laugh, eat junk, maybe buy things we don’t even need.”
It was a tempting offer, one that under any other circumstances she would’ve leapt at. But now? With Vicky possibly lurking?
“Will the guards come too?” she asked quietly.
“If you want them, they’ll stay close. If not, I’ll send them away. It’s your choice. But trust me, I won’t let you out of my sight.”
She held onto his arm tighter.
“This isn’t about me, Reyansh. It’s about you . I can take anything that comes at me. But I wouldn’t survive watching you get hurt. So yes, let the guards stay.”
He exhaled through his nose. “He’s not after me. And even if he is after you… he won’t succeed.”
She nodded, and he swept her up in his arms.
“Come on. Time for bed,” he whispered, carrying her inside like she weighed nothing at all. With him close, she could almost forget the fear.
Shopping – The Next Day
Her instincts screamed that someone was watching them.
But the place was crowded. Loud. Busy. It shouldn’t be possible.
And yet… the moment Reyansh had told her Vicky was in California, every shadow seemed more threatening.
Every glance suspicious. Reyansh had reinforced security flawlessly.
Still, all it took was one mistake for a man like Vicky to exploit.
An arm slid around her waist, and she jerked in panic.
“It’s me, sweetheart,” Reyansh said gently, pulling her close. “You okay?”
He knew she hadn’t been sleeping well, not since their conversation about Vicky’s arrival. He hadn’t planned to tell her, but she had found out anyway.
“I’m fine,” she forced a smile and held up a red bodycon dress. “What do you think?”
His jaw tensed. “Only for my eyes.”
She wanted to laugh at his possessiveness but the unease inside her still pulsed. The feeling wouldn’t go away.
She reached for his T-shirt playfully. “Half my wardrobe is already for your eyes only. Doesn’t seem fair.”
He smirked. “I’m not risking anyone else eyeing what’s mine.” He gave her nose a light pinch.
Laughing, she set the dress aside. “Let’s check out that other section.”
They walked away… unaware that behind them, a man in a black hoodie picked up the same red dress she had just held. His eyes were locked on Aanya’s retreating form as he ran his fingers along the fabric, then crumpled it violently and flung it aside.
So here she was!! Thriving… and married to Reyansh Chopra.
But not for long.
He’d been waiting for this moment. Watching her every move. Tracking every change. This time even her guards wouldn’t be able to save her.
Because this time, Aanya wouldn’t see it coming until it’s too late.
“It’s time for payback, Aanya,” he sneered. “You broke my engagement. Now I’ll shatter your entire life.”
With a wicked grin curling his lips, he turned and vanished into the crowd.
Day 210 – Icon Interiors Building Parking (California)
Reyansh had news for Aanya…news that could change everything.
Through Sunny and his network of informants, he had finally uncovered the real reason why Vicky had slithered back into their lives.
And he intended to tell Aanya face to face.
That’s why he was waiting outside her office building, a rare gesture he knew would surprise her.
He had planned a dinner, followed by a late-night movie.
A few peaceful hours…just the two of them.
She deserved that much after all they’d endured.
“Yes, Officer?” Reyansh answered the call, eyes locked on the entrance. “Has she been arrested?”
The officer confirmed what he wanted to hear.
“Perfect. Interrogate her. She’ll know where Vicky is hiding.”
He ended the call, slipping his phone into his coat pocket, only to glance at his watch. It had been ten minutes since Aanya texted saying she was in the elevator, heading down.
But she hadn’t come out yet.
Was she held up in the lobby? Caught up in a conversation with her friends or colleagues?
His gut said otherwise.
The seconds dragged like hours. He tried calling her once, then again. Still no answer.
“Pick up the damn phone,” he growled under his breath, fist clenched tightly at his side.
Her guards stationed discreetly nearby saw the shift in his demeanour and instantly sensed trouble. Without wasting another second, Reyansh stormed toward the building entrance, dialling again.
Something was wrong. He could feel it in his bones.
Inside, people filtered out of the elevators, but Aanya wasn’t among them. He turned to his team.
“Check her office on the 28th floor. You—get the CCTV footage of the last ten minutes.”
Two guards sprinted to the elevator while the rest rushed to the security office. Reyansh kept dialling her number, praying she’d suddenly appear from the restroom, scolding him for panicking.
But then he heard it.
The faint buzz of her ringtone… coming from somewhere nearby.
He followed the sound, heart racing, until it led him to a corner near the paper shredder. Her phone lay beneath the shredded scraps, partially hidden.
He froze.
What the hell was Aanya’s phone doing there?
One of the guards ran to him, breathless. “Sir, you need to see this.”
Reyansh followed him to the adjacent CCTV room. The building staff had already pulled the lobby footage. As the video rolled, Reyansh gripped the edge of the chair tightly.
There she was—Aanya stepping out of the elevator.
Her face glowed, carefree and smiling. Then her phone buzzed with some message notification and as soon as she checked it, her expression fell.
Horror replaced joy. Then her phone rang.
She answered, said something angrily, and seconds later, dropped the phone where Reyansh had found it.
Without hesitation, she exited the building through the back gate.
“She left willingly…” a guard muttered.
“Where’s the footage from the rear exit?” Reyansh barked.
Another screen flickered on. There she was again—Aanya slipping into a black car.
“Run those car plates. Now.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Reyansh was already dialling another number, storming out of the building, fury in his veins. He unlocked Aanya’s phone, hoping for clues. But whatever she saw, whatever message or photo had shaken her, it was gone. Deleted. As were her call logs.
“Track her number. I want the caller ID of whoever she last spoke to. Also recover the deleted media. I need to know what the hell she saw that made her walk straight into a trap.”
The men followed orders without hesitation.
He then called Rishi.
“Rey? What’s going on? You sound—”
“Aanya’s been abducted.”
“What?” Rishi gasped.
“I’ll explain later. For now, don’t let anyone from the family leave the house. Tell Shikha to stay with you until I find her.”
Reyansh ended the call and pulled up another app on his phone. Thankfully, he was prepared for this. He always knew if Vicky came for her, he’d make her toss the phone first. That’s why he’d gifted her that sleek, stylish smartwatch—one embedded with a GPS tracker.
He pulled up her location. The dot was moving.
“Where to, Sir?” the driver asked.
Reyansh rattled off the GPS coordinates. Then, switching to another phone, he dialled his high-level contact.
“Inform the Indian Embassy. Tell them my wife’s been kidnapped. I need a special task force assigned—ASAP. Location will be shared the second your team is ready.”
Hanging up, he stared at her blinking tracker on the screen. She was on the move. Fast.
He kissed the image of her on his phone’s wallpaper.
“I’m coming, baby. Just hold on. Be strong for me.”