The car barely slowed before the first flash went off.

It wasn’t just one. It was dozens of rapid, blinding bursts of white light that hit them the second the vehicle rolled to a stop, turning the entire entrance into something almost unreal. By the time the driver stepped out to open the door, the crowd had already closed in, voices rising over one another, cameras lifting higher, every movement being tracked.

Aarav stepped out first, his expression settling into something that looked effortless but was anything but. His suit was sharply tailored in a deep charcoal black, the design clean and precise, the fabric catching just enough light to stand out without appearing loud. There was no hesitation in the way he carried himself, no sign of the long day behind him, just control, the kind that came from years of knowing exactly how to exist in spaces like this.

Kiara followed a second later.Her gown held its own aura against everything around it. A deep midnight blue that almost mirrored the night sky, layered with delicate detailing that shimmered subtly under the flashing lights. The bodice was structured, fitted perfectly, while the fabric below fell in soft, fluid waves that moved with every step she took. It wasn’t overly grand but it drew attention without asking for it.

“Ma’am, this side—”

“Sir, together please—”

“How does it feel—”

The questions came fast, overlapping, barely giving them space to breathe.

Aarav stepped closer without looking at her, his hand settling lightly at the small of her back, guiding her just enough to align them for the cameras. The touch was brief, controlled, nothing more than what was necessary but it anchored the image instantly.

Kiara didn’t react. She turned with him when the cameras demanded it, her expression composed, her gaze steady, her posture perfect in a way that suggested ease even when there was none.

Aarav spoke first, his tone calm, controlled. “It wasn’t rushed. It just… happened faster than expected.”

“That’s a very diplomatic answer,” one reporter pressed.

Kiara smiled slightly. “We didn’t plan for things to unfold this way. But sometimes… you don’t question timing.”

Another voice cut in, sharper. “There are talks that this was more of a business alliance than a personal decision. Any comments?”

There was a pause for barely a second.

Then Aarav spoke “If that were the case, I don’t think we’d be standing here answering questions.”

A few chuckles rippled through the crowd.

Kiara added, “People will always have opinions. We’re not here to correct all of them.”

“Were you both seeing each other before this?” another asked quickly.

This time,fraction of a second too long.

Then Aarav said smoothly, “We’ve known each other for years.”

Kiara nodded. “That part isn’t new.”

“Are you happy?” someone called out.

Kiara’s smile didn’t drop. But it changed.

“Why wouldn't anyone be when they marry someone they love?,” she said.

Aarav didn’t interrupt.

Just added, “And that’s enough.”

More flashes. More noise. But they didn’t stay longer. A brief nod.Then they turned and walked inside.

The evening unfolded the way it was meant to.

Conversations, introductions, polite smiles, carefully measured interactions.

At one point, Kiara found herself speaking to a designer she knew well. The conversation came naturally, her posture relaxed, her tone steady.

“You’ve outdone yourself tonight,” he said, his gaze lingering.

Kiara gave a polite smile. “That’s generous.”

“It’s accurate,” he replied, stepping just a fraction closer. “You always had presence. But this—”

He reached for her hand. Kiara didn’t pull away immediately. But he didn’t get the chance to complete the gesture.

Aarav’s hand closed around hers first. Stopping the movement entirely. The designer stilled.

Aarav didn’t look at him right away. His gaze remained on Kiara for a second longer before shifting, his expression calm but unmistakably sharp.

“I think that’s enough,” he said, his tone even, but leaving no room for interpretation.

A pause followed.

Then the designer stepped back. “Of course.”

Aarav let go of her hand. Kiara lowered it slowly, her expression unchanged.

A while later, Aarav stood in conversation with someone from his circle when she approached.

She stepped closer to Aarav, her tone light, her smile easy. “You appeared in a scandal one day and come back married. That’s one way to stay interesting.”

Aarav gave a short nod. “Wasn’t planned that way.”

“Pity, would have been interesting if it was” she said, her hand lifting—resting lightly on his shoulder, lingering there as if it belonged.

She didn’t remove it, didn’t acknowledge Kiara standing right beside him either, just a passing glance before her attention returned entirely to Aarav.

“You clean up well,” she added, her fingers still resting against him.

Aarav didn’t move.

Kiara watched for exactly three seconds.

“Ms. Myra,” she said calmly.

The tone cut clean through the moment. Myra turned, her brows lifting slightly.

Kiara’s expression didn’t change. “I would prefer you keep your hands off my husband and mind your own business,” she continued, her voice even, controlled, but unmistakably sharp. “Because I don’t think you’d want to be blacklisted from the industry.”

A pause, then she added, just as calmly, “It hardly takes me a minute.”

The silence that followed was brief, but enough.

Myra’s smile didn’t disappear, but it changed.

Her hand slipped off Aarav’s shoulder immediately. “Of course,” she said lightly. “Didn’t mean to offend.”

“I’m sure,” Kiara replied.

And just like that the moment ended.They didn't look at each other but the air between them had shifted.

Hours later they finally found a corner away from everyone.

Kabir leaned back slightly. “Alright did anyone else notice Mr. Singhania?”

Rohan snorted. “The one pretending his company isn’t drowning in debt?”

“That one,” Anika confirmed. “He’s still talking like he’s about to acquire three firms next quarter.”

Dev shook his head. “He’s been saying that for one year.”

“Because no one calls him out,” Anika added calmly. “Everyone benefits from the illusion.”

Arjun leaned forward slightly. “Not for long. I heard two of his investors are already pulling out.”

Riya frowned. “That’s bad.”

“It’s worse than bad,” Neel cut in. “If one more deal falls through, he’s done.”

“Explains why he’s here,” Tanya said quietly. “Trying to stay relevant.”

“That’s nothing,” Ishaani added, lowering her voice slightly. “Did you see Mrs. Kapoor?”

“The one who cheated on Rishab with that sleazy 60 something Khanna?” Kiara asked.

“Yeah, she's pretending she didn’t just switch sides last month,” Aditya said.

Kiara’s brows lifted slightly. “She did?”

“Quietly,” Ishaani replied. “Left her old partners hanging mid-project.”

“Brutal,” Dev muttered.

“Vey calculative,” Aarav corrected.

Kiara glanced at him. “Or desperate.”

“Same thing sometimes.”

Rohan smirked slightly. “Forget them, what about Armaan Mehta?”

Kabir let out a low laugh. “The ‘perfect son’ what about him?”

Arjun shook his head. “Not so perfect anymore.”

“What happened?” Riya asked.

Neel leaned in slightly. “Let’s just say the ‘international expansion’ he’s been bragging about?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s not expansion. It’s damage control.”

A pause.

Tanya blinked. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope,” Aditya said. “One bad investment, and now he’s trying to cover it up before it leaks.”

Aarav exhaled . “That explains why he’s been avoiding certain people.”

Anika nodded once. “And overcompensating with others.”

Kabir leaned back slightly. “ Did anyone else notice the Oberoi situation?”

Rohan let out a low breath. “You mean the son or the father?”

“The father,” Kabir said. “The son’s just damage control at this point.”

Tanya frowned. “What happened?”

Dev exchanged a look with Arjun.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know,” Arjun said.

“I don’t,” she replied.

Neel leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. “Three months ago, one of their internal audits flagged something off.”

Riya's brows drew together. “Financial?”

“Partly,” Aditya said. “But that’s not even the worst part.”

 “Go on.” Kiara said leaning back slightly.

Kabir said quietly, “They’ve been running two sets of records.”

Silence.

Anika blinked. “That’s illegal.”

“That’s not even the problem,” Aarav added calmly.

Everyone looked at him.

He didn’t hesitate. “The problem is, someone found out.”

A heavier silence settled.

“Who?” Ishaani asked.

Arjun let out a slow breath. “The HR Head.”

“And?” Rohan pressed.

“…he resigned,” Dev said.

“That doesn’t sound—” Riya started.

“He didn’t just resign,” Neel cut in. “He disappeared.”

“What do you mean disappeared?” Tanya asked quietly.

“No statements. No follow-up. No public mention after that,” Aditya said. “Just… gone.”

Kiara’s fingers tightened slightly where they rested against her arm.

“That’s not normal,” she said.

“It’s not,” Aarav agreed.

Kabir exhaled slowly. “And now they’re here. Smiling. Talking like nothing happened.”

Rohan shook his head. “That’s not just damage control. That’s desperation.”

By the time they got home, it was late. But no one went to their rooms.

The living room filled quickly, both families settling in as the massive pile of gifts was brought forward.

“Stay tonight,” Aarav’s mother said casually.

Kiara’s mother shook her head immediately. “No, it’s fine, we’ll head back.”

“Head back?” Aarav’s aunt looked offended. “You call me your best friend and you won’t even stay one night in my house?”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“Then what did you mean?” she pressed. “You’ll come for visit, but not stay?”

A pause.

Kiara’s father exhaled. “If you put it like that…”

“I am putting it exactly like that,” she replied.

Kiara’s grandpa sighed faintly, and gave in. “Fine. We’ll stay.”

“Good,” Aarav’s mother said immediately. “That’s settled.”

Aarav’s mother sat with a notebook.

“Start,” she said.

Rohan didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the first box, tearing it open with zero patience. “Okay, this better be worth it.”

“From?” she asked immediately.

He checked. “Mr. Verma.”

Aarav let out a quiet breath. “Of course.”

Kabir opened it.

Paused.

“…this is a pen.”

Silence.

Rohan leaned forward. “A pen?”

Kabir turned it. “Gold.”

Arjun raised an eyebrow. “He’s losing money and still sending expensive pens.”

“Image,” Aarav said simply.

“Delusion,” Kiara muttered.

Next box.

Riya opened it carefully. “This looks promising—”

She lifted the lid. Then blinked.

“…is this a sculpture?”

Dev leaned in. “Of what?”

She turned it. Silence.

Kabir squinted. “Is that supposed to be a horse?”

Anika shook her head. “That’s not a horse.”

“It’s abstract,” Arjun offered.

“It’s confusing,” Kiara corrected.

“Who sent that?” Aarav’s mother asked.

Riya checked. “…Mrs. Kapoor.”

That made it worse.

Another one.

Dev opened it. “Okay, this is heavy.”

“Good sign,” Anika said.

He unwrapped it.

“…it’s a crystal bowl.”

Rohan leaned back. “Seriously? No one knows what to gift.”

Then Kiara picked one and opened it slowly.

Paused.

“What?” Aarav asked.

She turned it toward him. It was framed photograph of them from the engagement.

Aarav stared at it. “That is calculative.”

“Very,” she said.

“Who sent it?”

She checked.

Then raised an eyebrow.

“…Myra.”

Rohan choked on his laugh. “That’s intentional.”

“Very,” Arjun agreed.

The commentary didn’t stop.

“This one’s useful.”

“This one’s pointless.”

“This one’s expensive but ugly.”

“This one’s cheap but thoughtful.”

“Write that down.”

“I’m not writing that.”

“You should.”

It stretched longer than expected.

Much later when they got into their room silence lasted exactly two seconds.

“You couldn’t be more aware of what people are trying to do?” Aarav said, his tone controlled but sharp.

Kiara turned immediately. “Excuse me?”

“What do you think the media would say if another man kissed your hand in front of your husband?”

“I didn’t ask him to do that,” she shot back. “Maybe ask him why he thought it was appropriate.”

“And you didn’t stop him.”

“And what about you?” she stepped closer, her voice tightening. “What would they say when another woman is touching you while your wife is standing right there?”

“That wasn’t the same.”

“Oh, it wasn’t?” her laugh was short, sharp. “Because it looked exactly the same from where I was standing.”

Silence stretched.

“Are you jealous?” they both said at the same time.

They stopped.

“This is stupid,” Aarav said.

“This is outrageous,” Kiara replied.

Without another word they got into bed, turned away from each other and let the darkness take over like nothing had happened.