26
Chapter 26
The Gala Night
The next day arrived faster than anyone wanted.
Months of planning had led to this moment.
The charity gala.
For everyone else, it was an important event.
For Anaya, it felt like a ticking time bomb.
Because Rhea's words refused to leave her mind.
"You haven't lost everything yet."
The threat followed her throughout the day.
While she supervised decorations.
While she coordinated staff.
While she checked guest lists.
It was always there.
Waiting.
---
By evening, the hotel looked stunning.
Crystal chandeliers reflected warm light across the ballroom.
Elegant floral arrangements decorated every corner.
Guests began arriving one after another.
Business leaders.
Celebrities.
Politicians.
Influential families.
Everything appeared perfect.
Exactly as planned.
Which made Anaya even more nervous.
Because disasters usually arrived when things looked perfect.
---
Aarav noticed her anxiety immediately.
He found her near the stage reviewing schedules for the tenth time.
"You're doing it again."
Anaya looked up.
"What?"
"Reading the same page."
She glanced at the clipboard.
He wasn't wrong.
Unfortunately.
"I'm fine."
Aarav raised an eyebrow.
The famous Rathore eyebrow.
The one that silently called people liars.
"Try again."
Despite everything, she almost smiled.
Almost.
"Just stressed."
His expression softened slightly.
For a brief moment, neither mentioned Rhea.
Neither mentioned threats.
Neither mentioned the past.
The silence felt comfortable.
Then a tiny voice interrupted.
"Dad!"
Both turned.
Kabir came running across the ballroom.
Aarav automatically bent down and caught him.
The movement was so natural that neither adult noticed it.
Not at first.
But several nearby guests did.
And they smiled.
Because the bond was obvious.
Even after only a few days.
---
Kabir looked very proud of himself.
As usual.
"Dadi gave me three sweets."
Anaya immediately became suspicious.
"What dadi?"
"The old one."
Aarav closed his eyes.
His grandmother.
Of course.
Only she would ignore every parenting rule in existence.
"Three?"
Kabir nodded.
"Maybe four."
Wonderful.
Anaya could already feel the sugar-fueled chaos approaching.
---
Across the ballroom, Rhea watched the scene.
Her smile disappeared.
She hated it.
The happiness.
The family.
The way Aarav looked at Kabir.
The way Anaya smiled around him.
It should have been her.
For years she'd convinced herself that Anaya had ruined everything.
Stolen everything.
And now she was about to make sure neither of them got it back.
---
The gala officially began.
Speeches.
Presentations.
Charity announcements.
Everything proceeded smoothly.
Until one particular video appeared on the giant screen.
At first, nobody noticed anything unusual.
Then the images changed.
And Anaya's blood turned to ice.
Photographs.
Old photographs.
Her photographs.
Pictures from six years ago.
Pictures of her and Aarav together.
The ballroom fell silent.
Confused murmurs spread through the crowd.
Aarav immediately stood.
His expression darkening.
"What the hell?"
The slideshow continued.
More photographs appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Until the final image filled the screen.
A hospital report.
Kabir's birth record.
The father's name section highlighted.
The entire room froze.
Completely.
Because everyone understood what they were seeing.
---
Anaya felt sick.
Someone had hacked the presentation.
Someone had planned this.
And she already knew who.
Slowly, she turned toward Rhea.
The woman wasn't even trying to hide it.
She looked satisfied.
Victorious.
Like she'd finally won.
The sight made something inside Anaya snap.
For five years, she'd stayed quiet.
For five years, she'd endured fear.
For five years, she'd run.
No more.
---
Before anyone could react, Anaya walked directly across the ballroom.
Straight toward Rhea.
The crowd parted automatically.
Watching.
Whispering.
Confused.
Rhea looked amused.
Until Anaya stopped in front of her.
Then-
Slap.
The sound echoed through the ballroom.
The entire room went silent.
Every conversation stopped.
Every camera froze.
Every guest stared.
Rhea slowly touched her cheek.
Complete disbelief on her face.
Because nobody had ever done that before.
Not publicly.
Not in front of hundreds of people.
Anaya's voice trembled.
Not with fear.
With anger.
"You followed my son."
The ballroom remained silent.
"You threatened me."
Rhea's smile disappeared.
"You ruined five years of our lives."
For the first time since meeting her, Anaya wasn't afraid.
Not even a little.
---
Rhea laughed.
A harsh, ugly laugh.
"There it is."
The mask finally cracked.
The real villain stepped out.
"You think you're the victim?"
The crowd exchanged confused glances.
Nobody understood the full story.
Yet.
Rhea stepped forward.
Eyes blazing.
"If you had stayed gone, none of this would've happened."
The words stunned everyone nearby.
Including Aarav.
Because suddenly the obsession became obvious.
Painfully obvious.
This was never about justice.
Never about truth.
Never about helping anyone.
It was jealousy.
Pure jealousy.
---
Aarav moved between them instantly.
Positioning himself in front of Anaya.
Protecting her.
The gesture wasn't lost on Rhea.
And it broke something inside her.
Because after all these years...
He still chose Anaya.
Every single time.
"You never loved me."
The accusation slipped out before she could stop it.
The ballroom fell silent again.
Aarav stared at her.
Then answered with brutal honesty.
"No."
One word.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
And somehow it hurt more than a speech ever could.
---
Rhea's face went pale.
For a second, she looked genuinely shattered.
Then hatred replaced the pain.
She pointed toward Anaya.
"She lied to you for five years!"
Aarav's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
"She kept your son from you!"
The hurt flashed across his face briefly.
"Yes."
Rhea smiled.
Thinking she'd won.
Then Aarav spoke again.
"But she's still the woman I love."
The words echoed through the ballroom.
And Anaya forgot how to breathe.
Because this wasn't a private conversation.
This wasn't a quiet confession.
This was Aarav Rathore declaring it in front of everyone.
Including his enemies.
Including his family.
Including the woman who hated her most.
The silence that followed was absolute.
And somewhere in the crowd, Kabir grinned.
Because unlike the adults...
He thought this was the best event of the night.
To be continued...