Chapter 25
The arcade lights flashed brightly around us while loud music echoed through the massive gaming arena.
Children screamed excitedly.
Couples laughed.
People competed at different games.
And meanwhile,
I was having the time of my life.
"This is SO COOL."
I looked around the giant virtual boat race setup excitedly while Armaan laughed beside me.
The game arena looked insane.
Huge LED screens.
Moving simulator boats.
Water splash effects.
Professional scoreboards.
Actual commentators.
Because apparently billionaires couldn't do anything normally.
Armaan smiled watching my excitement.
"You really love this stuff, huh?"
I nodded immediately.
"Obviously."
Then dramatically whispering:
"Unlike your emotionally constipated billionaire friend."
Armaan burst out laughing instantly.
And unfortunately,
Someone nearby recorded that exact moment on their phone.
Which would've been fine.
If Dhruv Malhotra wasn't currently watching us from across the room looking like a man planning several murders.
Because he saw everything.
My smile.
My laughter.
The way I naturally relaxed around Armaan.
And the worst part?
He hated how much he noticed it.
Meanwhile I remained blissfully unaware.
A staff member handed us matching team bands excitedly.
"Team names?"
I gasped dramatically.
"We get team names?!"
The poor guy looked startled by my excitement.
Armaan laughed softly.
"You choose."
I looked around thoughtfully.
Then immediately:
"Storm Riders."
Armaan blinked once.
Then smiled.
"That's actually good."
I looked absurdly proud of myself.
Across the room,
Dhruv's jaw tightened visibly.
Because apparently watching another man smile at me repeatedly was becoming his personal villain origin story.
The commentator suddenly announced loudly:
"Next pair, Mr. Armaan Khanna and Miss Riya Malhotra!"
The crowd clapped excitedly.
I immediately bounced slightly in excitement.
Meanwhile,
Dhruv finally snapped.
He started walking toward us.
Slowly.
Dangerously slowly.
And somehow,
The crowd near him unconsciously moved aside.
Because rich people survival instincts were strong.
I climbed into the simulator boat happily without noticing him yet.
Armaan sat beside me adjusting the controls casually.
"You realize we're definitely losing, right?"
I gasped dramatically.
"Excuse me?!"
Then pointing at the screen:
"I was born for this."
Armaan looked entertained.
And unfortunately,
The exact second he leaned slightly closer helping me adjust the steering—
A cold voice interrupted behind us.
"Move."
The entire atmosphere changed instantly.
I turned quickly.
And froze.
Dhruv stood there.
Black t-shirt stretched slightly over his arms.
Sharp jawline tense.
Dark eyes locked entirely on Armaan.
And God.
The jealousy on his face.
Not hidden anymore.
Not subtle.
Raw.
Possessive.
Dangerous.
Armaan slowly straightened beside me.
The tension between them immediately became suffocating.
The commentator awkwardly looked between both billionaires like his salary wasn't enough for this.
I blinked rapidly.
"Dhruv?"
He didn't look at me.
His gaze remained fixed on Armaan while speaking calmly:
"I'll play."
AIR LEFT MY LUNGS.
Armaan's brows lifted slightly.
"Oh?"
Dhruv's voice stayed flat.
"You heard me."
The crowd nearby had fully stopped pretending not to stare now.
Because everyone could see exactly what this was.
Jealousy.
Pure billionaire jealousy.
Meanwhile my heartbeat lost all stability.
Because HE CAME.
HE ACTUALLY CAME.
Armaan looked at Dhruv for one long second.
Then suddenly smiled faintly.
Like he understood everything.
And somehow,
That irritated Dhruv more.
The older billionaire finally stood up calmly.
"Sure."
Then softly toward me:
"Good luck, Riya."
My cheeks warmed slightly.
"Thank you."
Big mistake.
Because Dhruv immediately looked at me afterward.
And the expression on his face practically screamed:
Why are you thanking him like that.
OH MY GOD.
Armaan walked away afterward still looking suspiciously entertained.
Meanwhile Dhruv climbed into the simulator boat beside me silently.
The tension instantly became unbearable.
Because now,
We sat extremely close.
His thigh brushing mine slightly because the seats were narrow.
His cologne surrounding me completely.
His jaw still visibly tight.
And unfortunately,
The closeness made me hyperaware of everything.
The commentator looked delighted by the drama.
"Well WELL! Looks like Mr. Malhotra changed his mind!"
The crowd laughed knowingly.
Dhruv ignored everyone completely.
I looked at him carefully.
"...you said it was childish."
Silence.
Then flatly,
"It is."
I blinked.
"Then why are you here?"
Finally,
Dhruv looked at me.
Dark eyes intense enough to ruin my breathing instantly.
Then quietly,
"Because I don't like him beside you."
My heart stopped.
Actually stopped.
The arcade noises blurred completely.
Because WHAT.
Sir.
SIR.
Before I could even process it,
The game started.
Water effects sprayed lightly while the huge screens lit up.
The crowd cheered loudly.
And suddenly,
The boat simulator jerked violently forward.
I screamed instantly.
Then burst out laughing.
"Oh my God THIS IS AMAZING."
Dhruv looked deeply unimpressed beside me.
Meanwhile I aggressively steered the virtual boat directly into a wall.
The crowd laughed loudly.
"RIYA."
"I'M TRYING."
The boat spun dramatically again.
Water splashed everywhere.
Children screamed excitedly nearby.
And honestly?
This was the happiest I'd looked in weeks.
Dhruv noticed immediately.
Because despite pretending annoyance,
His eyes stayed on me more than the game itself.
Watching me laugh.
Watching me smile.
Watching me exist happily beside him.
And somewhere deep down,
Something terrifyingly soft kept growing inside his chest.
He hated it.
Absolutely hated it.
Yet couldn't stop it anyway.
I grabbed his arm suddenly while the simulator dipped again dramatically.
"DHRUV TURN LEFT."
He stared at where my fingers held his arm for one tiny second.
And immediately,
The atmosphere shifted again.
Because physical touch between us still felt dangerous.
Intimate.
Electric.
My breath hitched slightly after realizing too.
But before either of us could react,
The crowd suddenly screamed loudly.
"YOU'RE WINNING."
I gasped dramatically.
"WE ARE?!"
The giant scoreboard flashed our team name at first place.
Storm Riders.
I immediately grabbed Dhruv's hand excitedly without thinking.
"We're winning!"
Silence.
The world genuinely froze for one dangerous second.
Because the second my hand wrapped around his,
Dhruv stopped moving entirely.
His gaze slowly dropped toward our joined hands.
Then upward toward my face again.
And God.
The look in his eyes nearly destroyed me.
Not cold.
Not irritated.
Something terrifyingly intense.
Like he physically felt every heartbeat I caused inside him.
Meanwhile I realized what I was doing one second too late.
I immediately tried pulling my hand back nervously.
But suddenly,
Dhruv held it tighter.
The breath left my lungs instantly.
The crowd noises faded again.
The flashing arcade lights blurred around us.
Because Dhruv Malhotra,
The man terrified of love,
Was holding my hand willingly for the first time.
And he wasn't letting go.
....
The party ended slowly after midnight.
Children half-asleep in their parents' arms.
Guests leaving one by one.
Luxury cars pulling out from the massive driveway.
The neon arcade lights finally dimming down.
And somehow,
Despite everything,
I still couldn't stop thinking about the boat race.
About Dhruv holding my hand.
Not accidentally.
Not briefly.
He held it like letting go physically hurt him.
And worst of all?
He never explained it afterward.
Classic Dhruv Malhotra behavior.
Destroy someone's emotional stability.
Then continue existing normally.
Coward.
Absolute coward.
I stepped outside the grand entrance quietly wrapping my light jacket closer because the night breeze felt colder now.
The parking area was huge.
Luxury cars everywhere.
Security guards stationed near the gates.
Most guests had already left.
Dhruv had gone to bring the car from the private parking section,
Meanwhile I waited near the entrance stairs alone.
Well,
Not entirely alone.
A few staff members still moved around nearby.
Some guests chatting.
The night felt calm.
Peaceful even.
I looked down smiling faintly to myself remembering the game again.
Then suddenly,
My phone buzzed.
A message from Dhruv.
"Two minutes."
My stupid heart immediately softened.
Such a dry text.
Yet somehow,
It still felt warm coming from him.
I smiled faintly typing back:
"Okay :)"
Then immediately deleted the smiley face.
Too embarrassing.
I retyped:
"Okay."
Dignity restored.
Mostly.
But before sending,
Headlights suddenly flashed sharply across the driveway.
I looked up instinctively.
Three black SUVs sped toward the entrance violently fast.
Too fast.
The tires screeched harshly.
People nearby turned in confusion.
Then suddenly,
The SUV windows rolled down.
And everything happened at once.
Gunshots exploded through the night.
SCREAMS erupted instantly.
Glass shattered somewhere nearby.
People dropped to the ground in panic.
My brain completely stopped functioning.
Because for one horrifying second,
I didn't understand.
Then I saw it.
The guns.
Pointed directly at me.
My breath disappeared instantly.
They were shooting at me.
ME.
Another shot rang out violently.
Something shattered beside my head.
People screamed louder.
And suddenly,
Strong arms slammed around me hard.
I gasped as someone pulled me violently downward behind a marble pillar.
Armaan.
"Riya!"
His voice sounded sharp.
Urgent.
Terrifyingly protective.
My heartbeat crashed violently as more bullets hit the walls nearby.
OH MY GOD.
OH MY GOD.
I couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
Armaan shielded me completely against him while pulling out his gun instantly.
Because of course billionaires apparently carried guns now.
His bodyguards moved immediately.
Weapons drawn.
Chaos exploded everywhere.
Gunfire echoed through the driveway brutally.
Security guards shouting.
People running.
Children crying.
The night turned into a nightmare within seconds.
Armaan held my head down protectively.
"Stay down."
Another bullet hit the pillar above us.
Stone cracked violently.
My hands shook uncontrollably now.
Because why,
WHY WERE THEY SHOOTING AT ME?!
I wasn't rich.
I wasn't important.
I was just...
Then suddenly,
A black car drifted violently into the driveway.
Dhruv.
The second he stepped out,
The entire atmosphere changed.
Because the look on his face?
Pure horror.
Not anger.
Not coldness.
Horror.
His eyes found me instantly behind the pillar with Armaan shielding me.
And for one terrifying second,
Dhruv Malhotra looked genuinely terrified.
Then rage hit.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
Deadly.
"DOWN."
His voice thundered across the driveway.
More gunshots exploded instantly.
Dhruv pulled his gun out immediately firing back without hesitation.
And somehow,
That scared me more.
Because I'd never seen him like this before.
Not controlled.
Not calm.
He looked absolutely murderous.
One attacker got hit immediately.
The SUVs suddenly tried reversing after realizing security had responded too quickly.
But Armaan's bodyguards surrounded them already.
More shots fired.
Chaos everywhere.
I covered my ears shaking violently now.
My breathing broke completely.
This wasn't real.
This couldn't be real.
Then suddenly,
One of the attackers aimed again.
Directly toward me.
I saw it.
The gun shifting toward my direction.
My body froze instantly.
But before he could shoot,
Dhruv moved.
Fast.
Terrifyingly fast.
He crossed the distance between us almost instantly and grabbed me violently against him just as another shot rang out.
The bullet shattered the pillar exactly where my head had been seconds earlier.
I gasped sharply.
Dhruv's arms locked around me brutally tight.
Too tight.
Like he was terrified I'd disappear.
His breathing sounded uneven.
Actually uneven.
And somehow,
That scared me most.
Because Dhruv never lost control.
Never.
Yet right now,
His hands shook slightly around me.
The attackers finally sped away after another exchange of gunfire.
Tires screeching violently into the night.
Silence crashed afterward.
Heavy.
Broken.
People crying nearby.
Security yelling into phones.
Chaos everywhere.
But I heard none of it.
Because Dhruv still held me against him like letting go would kill him.
I slowly looked up.
And immediately froze.
Because his face,
God.
I'd never seen Dhruv look like this.
Pale.
Furious.
Terrified.
His eyes scanned my face frantically.
My arms.
My body.
Checking for blood.
For injuries.
For proof I was alive.
"Are you hurt?"
The question came rough.
Almost broken.
I shook my head slowly unable to speak.
Dhruv closed his eyes briefly.
And for one horrifying second,
I genuinely thought he might collapse from relief.
Armaan approached us then breathing heavily too.
"You okay?"
I nodded shakily.
But both men ignored each other completely.
Because suddenly,
Something much more terrifying settled in the air.
The realization.
Those men,
They weren't targeting Dhruv.
Or Armaan.
Or any billionaire there.
No.
They aimed only at me.
Every bullet.
Every shot.
Me.
Dhruv understood it instantly too.
Because his expression darkened in a way I'd never seen before.
Deadly calm.
The kind before destruction.
Then slowly,
Very slowly,
He looked down at me again.
And quietly,
Too quietly,
"Who the hell are you, Riya?"
To which I had no answer, because I was equally confused why was I targeted.
.......
The drive back to the mansion felt suffocating.
Nobody spoke.
Not me.
Not Dhruv.
Not even the guards in the convoy behind us.
Rain hit softly against the car windows while the city lights blurred outside.
And the silence inside the car?
Terrifying.
Because Dhruv looked furious.
Not loud furious.
Not explosive.
Worse.
Controlled.
Deadly controlled.
The kind of anger that destroyed people quietly.
He sat beside me in the driver's seat still holding his gun loosely in one hand.
His knuckles had dried blood on them.
Not his blood.
Someone else's.
And somehow,
That scared me more.
I sat silently clutching my shaking fingers together trying to process what had just happened.
Bullets.
Gunshots.
Men trying to kill me.
Me.
The orphan girl with no past.
No enemies.
No life important enough for this.
My breathing became uneven again thinking about it.
Then suddenly,
Dhruv noticed.
Of course he did.
Without looking at me,
He kept his gun aside and moved his hand slightly toward mine.
Not fully holding it.
Just there.
Close enough.
Like silent reassurance.
And somehow,
That tiny gesture nearly made me cry.
The convoy finally entered the Malhotra mansion gates.
But tonight,
The mansion didn't feel luxurious.
It felt like a fortress.
The second the cars stopped,
Everything exploded into motion.
Security guards everywhere.
Phones ringing nonstop.
Men shouting orders.
Dhruv stepped out immediately transforming fully into billionaire war mode.
Cold.
Sharp.
Untouchable.
Terrifying.
And honestly?
Everyone around him looked scared.
Including his own staff.
I slowly stepped out too.
Dhruv immediately looked toward me.
"Inside."
The command came instant.
Protective.
I blinked softly.
"But..."
"Inside, Riya."
No argument allowed.
His mother rushed downstairs the second we entered the mansion.
Still in her night clothes.
Panicked.
"Dhruv?!"
Then her eyes landed on me.
Alive.
Unhurt.
And relief flooded her face instantly.
"Oh my God."
She grabbed my face carefully checking me over like I was her own daughter.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded shakily.
"I-I'm fine."
Lie.
I definitely wasn't fine.
Because my hands still trembled slightly.
Dhruv's uncle entered the hall too looking serious for once.
"What happened?"
Dhruv answered coldly while removing his jacket.
"Attempted assassination."
Silence.
The entire hall froze.
Even the servants nearby stopped moving.
His aunt looked horrified now too.
"On who?"
Dhruv's eyes shifted toward me slowly.
And somehow,
The entire room became colder afterward.
Because everyone understood immediately.
Me.
The bullets were for me.
His uncle frowned deeply.
"Why would anyone target her?"
Dhruv didn't answer.
Because honestly?
None of us knew.
That was the terrifying part.
I stood there feeling smaller and smaller under everyone's confused stares.
Because suddenly,
I felt like a problem.
A danger.
Something unwanted brought into their perfect billionaire world.
My throat tightened painfully.
Then suddenly,
Dhruv noticed my expression.
And instantly,
His face hardened.
Not at me.
At everyone else.
"Enough."
The single word silenced the entire room immediately.
Then calmly toward security:
"Double the guards."
Everyone moved instantly.
"Lock the outer gates."
"Nobody enters without clearance."
"I want armed security at every entrance."
His voice remained ice cold.
Efficient.
Emotionless.
Yet underneath.
I could feel it.
Fear.
Dhruv was terrified tonight.
Not for himself.
For me.
The realization made my chest ache.
He turned toward another guard sharply.
"I want every CCTV recording from the venue."
"Every angle."
"Every entry point."
The guard nodded immediately.
"Yes sir."
Dhruv continued walking while speaking into another phone now.
"Trace the SUV plates."
"Check weapons."
"I want names before morning."
Pure billionaire rage mode activated.
And honestly?
Nobody dared breathe wrong around him right now.
Meanwhile I stood there quietly feeling overwhelmed by everything.
Until suddenly,
My knees weakened slightly.
Not dramatically.
Just exhaustion.
Shock.
Too much adrenaline crashing at once.
But before I could stumble,
Strong hands caught me immediately.
Dhruv.
Always Dhruv.
His grip tightened around my arm instantly.
Dark eyes scanning my face sharply.
"You're pale."
"I'm okay."
"No you're not."
The rough concern in his voice made my throat tighten again.
Because despite everything happening,
He still noticed me first.
Always me first.
His mother immediately stepped closer worriedly.
"She needs rest."
Dhruv looked at me for one long second.
Then finally nodded once.
But before I could walk upstairs,
He spoke quietly.
"Riya."
I looked up instantly.
And for the first time tonight,
His expression cracked slightly.
Just slightly.
Enough for me to see it.
The fear he was hiding.
Then quietly,
"They almost killed you."
The sentence hit differently hearing it aloud.
Real.
Terrifyingly real.
My breath shook slightly.
Because until now,
Everything still felt unreal somehow.
But hearing Dhruv say it?
Made it terrifying.
I looked down softly.
"I don't understand why."
Silence.
Then suddenly,
Dhruv stepped closer.
Close enough that everyone else disappeared slightly.
His voice lowered.
Only for me.
"I'll find out."
The promise in his tone felt dangerous.
Not emotional.
Absolute.
Like the people responsible had already signed their death warrants unknowingly.
And somehow,
I believed him completely.
Because Dhruv Malhotra looked like a man ready to burn the world down tonight.
For me.
...
Two hours later,
The mansion still buzzed with security activity.
New guards arrived.
Phones rang nonstop downstairs.
Men moved around checking every corner of the estate.
Meanwhile I sat quietly on the edge of my bed unable to sleep.
Every loud sound made me flinch now.
Every shadow felt wrong.
I wrapped my arms around myself trying to calm down.
Then suddenly,
A knock came at my door.
Soft.
Controlled.
Dhruv.
I looked up instantly.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly.
Dhruv entered still dressed in black.
Still terrifyingly calm.
But his eyes looked exhausted now.
Like he hadn't breathed properly since the shooting.
He walked toward the table placing a file down silently.
"CCTV footage."
I blinked.
"Already?"
He nodded once.
Of course.
Billionaires apparently solved crimes at midnight now.
I looked toward the file nervously.
"Did you see anything?"
Silence.
Then slowly,
Dhruv opened the file.
Several printed CCTV images stared back at us.
Black SUVs.
Masked men.
Weapons.
Chaos.
Then one photo.
My breath stopped instantly.
Because in one blurry CCTV frame,
One of the shooters had pulled his mask down slightly while yelling something.
And around his neck,
A strange silver pendant hung visibly.
Not normal jewelry.
A symbol.
A crest maybe.
Something weirdly familiar.
My heartbeat suddenly stumbled violently.
Pain flashed through my head sharply.
A broken memory.
Rain.
Blood.
A woman screaming.
The same symbol.
I gasped softly clutching my forehead instantly.
Dhruv moved immediately.
"What happened?"
My breathing became uneven.
"I-I..."
The room blurred slightly.
Because suddenly,
For the first time in fifteen years,
Something from my past tried to come back.