Morning came quietly with no alarms, no urgency. Just light spilling into the room, soft and slow, settling across the walls like the day had nowhere important to be.

It was the weekend. Aarav was already awake.

He stood near the window, sleeves rolled slightly, phone in hand but not really looking at it. The city below moved at a different pace today. For once, he wasn’t rushing to match it.

Behind him, Kiara shifted. There was a faint movement, then another.

She frowned slightly, eyes still closed before opening them just enough to register the unfamiliar space again. Her gaze moved and she paused. Aarav was awake, that alone was unexpected.

“You’re up?” she asked, her voice still laced with sleep.

He glanced back briefly. “It’s morning.”

“That doesn’t usually stop you.”

“It’s the weekend.”

She pushed herself up slightly, narrowing her eyes at him. “…right.”

Kiara got out of bed a few minutes later. There was no rush today, and for once, she didn’t try to create one.

By the time she stepped out, the house was already active with staff moving around.

The faint sounds of cleaning, utensils, quiet conversation. She walked into the kitchen, finding everything halfway done. Breakfast being prepared. Counters wiped. Coffee already brewing.

“Good morning, ma’am,” one of the staff members said.

Kiara nodded once. “Morning.”

“They’ll leave by eleven,” Aarav said from behind her, stepping in.

She glanced at him briefly. “I know.”

Breakfast was served within minutes. They sat across from each other, the table still too large, the silence still present but softer than before. Kiara had just reached for her coffee when her phone rang.

It was an unknown number. She frowned slightly but picked it up anyway.

“Hello?”

“So you do pick up unknown calls. Good. Makes this easier.”

It was the voice of a woman, it was soft but not pleasant. Kiara’s expression didn’t change.

“Who is this?”

A faint laugh came through.

“You don’t need to know who I am. You just need to understand what I’m saying.”

Aarav’s gaze lifted from his plate, settling on her. Kiara stood up slowly, walking a few steps away.

“What do you want?” she asked, her tone calm.

The voice sharpened slightly.

“You walked into something that doesn’t belong to you.”

Kiara’s grip on the phone tightened just a fraction.

“I don’t entertain vague statements.” she said

“Then I’ll make it clear,” the woman said. “Stay away from Aarav.”

Kiara didn’t respond immediately. Behind her, Aarav’s expression had gone completely still.

“Interesting,” Kiara said finally. “And if I don’t?”

The voice didn’t hesitate this time. “Then you won’t like what happens next.”

Kiara’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you threatening me?”

Another soft laugh.“I don’t make threats. I give warnings. You think this marriage protects you? It doesn’t.”

A brief pause. "Walk away while you still can.”

The line went dead. Kiara lowered the phone slowly. For a second, she didn’t move. Then she turned. Aarav was already watching her.

“What was that?” he asked, his tone controlled but sharper than usual.

Kiara walked back to the table, setting her phone down.

“A woman, maybe in early 20's,” she said simply.

His expression didn’t change. “And?”

“She told me to stay away from you.”

That was enough. Aarav leaned back slightly, his jaw tightening just enough to be noticeable.

“What exactly did she say?” he asked.

Kiara met his gaze directly.

“That I’ve walked into something that doesn’t belong to me,” she replied.

“That your name doesn’t protect me.”

“And that I should walk away while I still can.”

Silence settled between them not the usual kind, it was heavier than that.

Aarav’s fingers tapped once against the table. Then stilled.

“Did she say who she was?” he asked.

“No.”

“Do you have any idea?” she added.

Aarav didn’t answer immediately. Which was answer enough.

Kiara leaned back slightly. “That’s what I thought.”

“It could be anyone,” he said finally.

“Of course it could.”

Neither of them believed that. The staff moved quietly in the background, completely unaware of the shift in the room. By eleven, they were gone. The penthouse fell silent again.

Kiara moved to the living area, opening her laptop without another word.Aarav stayed where he was for a while longer before eventually doing the same. The silence wasn’t empty anymore. It had something in it now.

Time passed, Kiara worked without distraction, her focus absolute. By the time she closed her laptop, it had been exactly four hours. She leaned back slightly, exhaling once.

Done.

Aarav looked up from across the room. “Finished?”

“Yes.”

“That was fast.”

“It’s the weekend.”

“That doesn’t change work.”

“It changes how much of it I tolerate.”

Then she stood up.

“We’re not ignoring that call,” she said.

Aarav’s gaze sharpened slightly. “I’m not.”

“Good.”

Silence stretched for a second.

“Do you usually get threats with breakfast?” he asked.

Kiara met his gaze, unfazed.

“No,” she said.

“Do you usually come with them?”

For a second, something almost like a reaction crossed his expression. Then it was gone.

“Apparently,” he replied.

The air between them shifted again. And whatever this was it wasn’t simple anymore.