Chapter 1
Four years.
Four years since blood covered Vrikshika’s hands for the first time.
Four years since Carlos died beneath her blade.
The world moved forward after that night.
But Vrikshika didn’t.
Not completely.
For the first year after Carlos’s death—
sleep became her enemy.
Every night she woke gasping.
Blood on her hands. Carlos choking. Nisha screaming. Karthik’s shattered expression.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Sometimes she locked herself in the bathroom at three in the morning scrubbing her hands until Shanaya silently pulled her away.
Sometimes she sat outside Aaryan’s office because the light under the door made her feel less alone.
Sometimes Aarav stayed awake with her on the balcony until sunrise without asking questions.
And every single time—
Karthik came running first whenever she screamed.
Every time.
Like he still believed he could protect her from nightmares.
But time softened things eventually.
Not healed.
Just… quieter.
The nightmares became fewer.
The panic attacks stopped controlling her breathing.
She smiled more again.
Laughed more.
Started living instead of surviving.
And then—
she met him.
Adrian Vale
Adrian Vale entered her life accidentally.
Or at least that’s what Vrikshika believed.
He wasn’t afraid of her name.
Wasn’t impressed by her family.
Didn’t treat her like the infamous Raizada-Mehta princess everyone whispered about.
He treated her like she was normal.
And after growing up inside power and danger—
that felt intoxicating.
He was charming. Easy to talk to. Patient in ways she wasn’t used to.
For the first time in years—
Vrikshika felt like maybe she could have something outside the empire.
Outside blood.
Outside violence.
The family noticed the change immediately.
Especially Karthik.
Who nearly fainted the first time Vrikshika casually mentioned:
“I’m going on a date.”
Shanaya laughed for twenty straight minutes watching him spiral.
Aaryan investigated Adrian within twenty-four hours.
Naturally.
Clean background. Business family. No criminal ties. No obvious danger.
Still—
Aaryan never fully trusted anyone near Vrikshika.
Especially men.
But Adrian stayed.
Patiently.
Slowly.
And eventually—
Vrikshika fell in love with him.
Really fell.
The terrifying kind.
The kind where she let someone see the broken pieces too.
She told him about the nightmares.
Not the details.
Never the details.
But enough.
And Adrian held her through them.
At least—
she believed he did.
For the first time in her life—
Vrikshika allowed herself softness.
Allowed herself vulnerability.
Allowed herself to be loved.
And eventually—
she gave him something she never thought she would trust another person enough to take.
Herself completely.
Yesterday marked four years together.
Their anniversary.
Adrian planned dinner weeks earlier.
But Vrikshika canceled last minute because her younger brothers and sisters dragged her into family obligations.
The mansion was chaos as usual.
And Adrian sounded understanding on the phone.
Too understanding.
“It’s okay, baby.”
“We’ll celebrate tomorrow.”
So Vrikshika decided to surprise him instead.
It was raining lightly when she reached his apartment.
The city lights blurred against wet streets.
Vrikshika smiled softly while unlocking the door using the passcode he gave her two years ago.
She still carried the cake box carefully in one hand.
Like an idiot.
Like someone hopelessly in love.
The apartment was dark except for dim bedroom lighting.
She frowned slightly.
Then heard laughter.
A woman’s laughter.
Vrikshika froze.
Something cold slid down her spine instantly.
Slowly—
she walked toward the bedroom.
Then stopped at the doorway.
And the world ended quietly.
Adrian was on the bed.
Half-dressed.
Another woman beneath him.
His mouth on her skin.
His hands where Vrikshika once believed only love existed.
For one horrifying second—
nobody noticed her.
And somehow—
that hurt more.
Because this wasn’t a mistake.
Wasn’t confusion.
Wasn’t regret.
It was comfortable.
Familiar.
Easy.
Then Adrian finally looked up.
And everything shattered.
“…V?”
The cake box slipped from her fingers.
Hitting the floor.
Silence exploded through the room.
Vrikshika stared at him.
Unable to breathe.
Unable to think.
Because suddenly she felt nineteen again—
standing over blood.
Realizing the world destroys everything soft eventually.
Adrian immediately pushed away from the girl.
“Vrikshika wait—”
She stepped back instantly.
Like he physically burned her.
The woman on the bed looked terrified now.
Adrian hurried toward her desperately.
“Baby, listen to me—”
Vrikshika finally found her voice.
Broken.
“Don’t.”
That one word sounded terrifyingly empty.
Not angry.
Not screaming.
Just destroyed.
And somehow—
that scared Adrian more.
She turned and ran.
Adrian followed immediately.
Calling her name repeatedly.
But Vrikshika moved faster.
Years of combat training making panic look graceful.
By the time Adrian reached the parking area—
her car was already speeding away.
Rain blurred her vision while driving.
Her hands shook violently on the steering wheel.
She couldn’t breathe properly.
Couldn’t think.
All she heard was:
“It’s okay baby.”
“We’ll celebrate tomorrow.”
Liar.
Liar.
Liar.
The word kept repeating inside her head until she finally grabbed her phone.
Only one person came to mind.
Karan.
He answered on the second ring.
Immediately alert.
“V?”
Her voice cracked instantly hearing him.
“…Mamu…”
Karan sat up immediately from bed.
Because Vrikshika never sounded weak.
Never.
“What happened?”
Silence.
Then finally—
barely above a whisper:
“He cheated.”
Karan closed his eyes briefly.
Not because of heartbreak.
Because he knew what betrayal did to people in this family.
Especially women like Shanaya.
Especially girls like Vrikshika.
She laughed suddenly.
A horrible broken laugh.
“I feel stupid.”
“V—”
“I trusted him.”
That hurt Karan more than tears would have.
Because trust from someone raised in their world?
That was sacred.
Then quietly she whispered:
“I need to leave.”
Karan frowned immediately.
“What?”
“I can’t stay here right now.”
Rain hit loudly against her windshield.
Her breathing uneven.
“Everyone will look at me like I’m broken.”
Karan’s voice softened instantly.
“No one will.”
“They will pity me.”
That word came out almost violently.
Because Vrikshika could survive pain.
But not pity.
Karan stayed silent for a moment.
Thinking.
Then finally said:
“I have a friend.”
Vrikshika wiped her face quickly.
Trying to regain control.
“Who?”
“He’s chief at a military base outside the city.”
That made her blink.
“…Military?”
“You always said you wanted silence.”
“Discipline.”
“No family chaos.”
A pause.
Then gently—
“Go there for a while.”
Vrikshika gripped the steering wheel tighter.
Karan continued calmly:
“Stay until you feel better.”
“And when you’re ready…”
“Come home.”
Home.
The word nearly broke her again.
Far away—
inside Mehta Mansion—
Aaryan stood outside Advik’s office reviewing shipment reports.
Completely unaware that somewhere in the city—
the girl who once survived nightmares by sitting outside his office door—
was breaking all over again.
