27
Chapter 27
After the Confession
For a few seconds after Aarav's words, nobody moved.
The ballroom remained silent.
Hundreds of guests stood frozen.
Some looked shocked.
Others looked fascinated.
A few were already pretending not to listen while very obviously listening.
Anaya's heart pounded.
Because out of everything that had happened tonight...
The public confession was the thing she had been least prepared for.
Aarav, meanwhile, looked completely calm.
As if he hadn't just turned the entire gala into a family drama.
---
Rhea stared at him.
Disbelief slowly turning into rage.
"You still choose her?"
Aarav didn't answer immediately.
He simply looked at Anaya.
The answer was obvious.
Painfully obvious.
Rhea laughed bitterly.
Then shook her head.
"After everything?"
"Enough."
The warning in Aarav's voice was sharp.
Dangerous.
But Rhea wasn't listening anymore.
Years of obsession had finally exploded.
"She lied to you!"
"I know."
"She hid your son!"
"I know."
"She-"
"I said enough."
The room fell silent again.
Even Rhea stopped talking.
Because for the first time, there was genuine fury in Aarav's eyes.
Not the controlled anger people usually saw.
Something much colder.
Much more dangerous.
---
Hotel security arrived moments later.
Aarav didn't even look at them.
"Escort her out."
The order was simple.
Final.
Rhea's expression twisted.
"You think this changes anything?"
Nobody answered.
Because nobody cared anymore.
Not even the guests.
The truth was already out.
The damage was already done.
As security escorted her toward the exit, she looked directly at Anaya.
Hatred burned in her eyes.
"This isn't over."
Then she was gone.
---
The ballroom remained awkwardly silent for several seconds.
Until Aarav's grandmother clapped once.
Loudly.
Everyone turned toward her.
The elderly woman looked around the room.
Then smiled.
"Well."
Another clap.
"That was dramatic."
The tension shattered instantly.
Laughter spread through parts of the crowd.
Conversations slowly resumed.
The gala began recovering.
Somehow.
---
Unfortunately, Anaya wasn't recovering.
Not even close.
The moment the crowd became distracted, she grabbed Aarav's arm.
"We need to talk."
His expression immediately became serious.
"Okay."
"No."
She pointed toward a private hallway.
"Now."
Aarav followed without argument.
Which should have worried her.
---
The moment they were alone, Anaya turned toward him.
"What was that?"
Aarav looked genuinely confused.
"What?"
"The confession."
Realization dawned.
"Oh."
"Oh?"
Anaya stared.
"'Oh'?"
A tiny smile appeared on his face.
The audacity.
Absolute audacity.
"You wanted me to lie?"
That wasn't the point.
At least she didn't think it was.
Maybe it was.
Actually, she wasn't sure anymore.
Everything felt complicated.
Again.
---
The smile disappeared from Aarav's face.
His expression softened.
"Anaya."
The way he said her name made her heart skip.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
"What?"
For a moment, he simply looked at her.
Then-
"I meant it."
The words landed harder than she expected.
Because she already knew he wasn't joking.
That was the problem.
The silence stretched between them.
Neither looked away.
Neither moved.
And for the first time in years...
The distance between them felt smaller.
Not gone.
Just smaller.
---
Unfortunately, peaceful moments never lasted.
A hotel employee suddenly appeared.
Panic written all over his face.
"Sir."
Aarav immediately turned.
"What happened?"
The man's voice shook.
"It's your son."
Everything stopped.
Instantly.
The employee continued.
"We can't find him."
For a second, nobody reacted.
The words simply hung in the air.
Unreal.
Impossible.
Then the meaning hit.
Kabir was missing.
---
Anaya's face turned white.
"What?"
The employee swallowed hard.
"He was with your grandmother ten minutes ago."
Aarav was already moving.
Fast.
"Check every exit."
His voice turned ice cold.
The dangerous man had returned.
"Lock down the hotel."
The employee immediately ran.
Anaya felt panic rising.
No.
No.
No.
Not Kabir.
Not after everything.
---
Within minutes, the entire hotel entered chaos.
Security teams searched every floor.
Guests were questioned.
Staff reviewed camera footage.
Nobody had answers.
Nobody had seen anything.
And with every passing minute, the fear grew worse.
Aarav stood inside the security room.
Watching dozens of camera feeds.
His expression terrified everyone present.
Because nobody had ever seen him this angry.
Not even Vikram.
"Find him."
The order sounded more like a threat.
Nobody dared respond.
---
Then one of the guards froze.
"Sir."
Aarav immediately looked over.
"What?"
The guard pointed at a screen.
A security camera from the underground parking area.
The footage showed a small figure.
Kabir.
Walking beside someone.
Holding their hand.
The room fell silent.
Because everyone recognized the woman.
Rhea.
Aarav's blood ran cold.
And for the first time that night...
Real fear entered his eyes.
To be continued...