CHAPTER 1: The Case Reopened
Rain poured outside the bakery.
Soft.
Steady.
Dangerous somehow.
And inside—
nobody spoke.
Because one sentence had destroyed everything.
“They suspect me.”
Laveshika stood near the counter with her arms crossed tightly like she was physically holding herself together.
Meanwhile—
Dhyansh looked seconds away from losing control completely.
“That’s impossible.”
His voice came out sharp.
Immediate.
Protective.
Laveshika laughed quietly.
Humorlessly.
“Apparently not.”
Navirika watched both of them carefully from beside him.
And suddenly—
she understood something terrifying.
Dhyansh wasn’t just scared.
He was remembering.
✦ TEN MINUTES LATER
“Nobody talks to the police without a lawyer.”
Sharvika’s voice cut through the silence instantly.
Cold.
Focused.
Professional.
The shift in her demeanor startled even Piyanshveer slightly.
Because suddenly—
she wasn’t just their best friend anymore.
She was a lawyer.
Laveshika looked exhausted already.
“They already assigned an investigator.”
Dhyansh’s jaw tightened immediately.
“Who?”
Silence.
Then—
“Aaryaveer Chauhan.”
Nobody recognized the name.
But somehow—
the room still grew heavier afterward.
Like instinctively—
everyone understood this was bad.
✦ THE NEXT MORNING
News spread faster than expected.
By morning:
media outlets picked up the reopening
old rumors resurfaced
social circles started whispering again
And suddenly—
the Singhania family name became entertainment for strangers.
Navirika found Dhyansh in the kitchen at 5 a.m.
Wide awake.
Coffee untouched.
He looked furious.
Not loud anger.
Worse.
Controlled rage.
“They’re going to destroy her publicly,” he muttered quietly.
Navirika walked closer slowly before resting a hand against his arm gently.
“She’s not alone this time.”
Dhyansh inhaled sharply.
Because years ago—
they WERE alone.
That was the problem.
✦ LAVESHIKA
Everyone thought Laveshika was calm.
And honestly?
She let them think that.
Because panic was weakness.
And weakness got used against you.
So instead—
she wore sarcasm like armor.
Sharp smiles.
Mocking comments.
Detached expressions.
But inside?
Inside she was drowning.
Because there was one horrifying truth nobody knew.
The investigation scared her for a reason.
✦ AFTERNOON
The first meeting happened at the law office.
And the second Aaryaveer Chauhan walked in—
Laveshika disliked him immediately.
Tall.
Calm.
Unreadable.
The kind of man who noticed too much.
His gaze landed on her once—
steady and observant.
Not judgmental.
Worse.
Analytical.
Like he was already trying to solve her.
Laveshika leaned back lazily in her chair.
“Well,” she drawled softly, “you look exhausting already.”
Piyanshveer physically closed his eyes.
Navirika looked stressed immediately.
Meanwhile—
Aaryaveer remained completely unaffected.
Interesting.
“You’re remarkably calm for someone under investigation.”
His voice was even.
Controlled.
Laveshika smiled faintly.
Dangerously pretty.
“And you’re remarkably rude for someone who just walked in.”
Silence.
Sharvika looked one inconvenience away from homicide.
Dhyansh watched Aaryaveer carefully now.
Protectively.
But Aaryaveer?
He only looked at Laveshika.
Studying every expression.
Every pause.
Every deflection.
And unfortunately—
she noticed.
“You keep staring,” she said softly.
“You keep avoiding direct answers.”
That almost made her laugh.
Because oh.
He was smart.
Annoyingly smart.
Laveshika tilted her head slightly.
“Maybe I just enjoy irritating you.”
A tiny pause.
Then finally—
for the first time—
Aaryaveer smiled faintly.
Cold.
Brief.
Dangerous.
“I think you enjoy hiding things.”
The room went still.
Because for one second—
something shifted in Laveshika’s face.
Tiny.
Almost invisible.
But Aaryaveer caught it immediately.
Fear.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The meeting ended badly.
Tense.
Sharp.
Unresolved.
But as everyone started leaving—
Aaryaveer spoke suddenly.
“Miss Singhania.”
Laveshika turned slowly.
And for the first time—
his expression lost all politeness completely.
“You’re hiding something.”
Silence.
Then—
slowly—
Laveshika smiled.
Beautiful.
Untouchable.
“Then prove it.”
And somehow—
instead of backing away—
Aaryaveer looked even more interested afterward.
✨ END OF CHAPTER 1
