The world outside was calm, unaware that inside a grand mansion, the Mafia lord was deciding the fate of a man who had dared to betray him. In Rudra Malhotra’s world, betrayal was not forgiven, it was the first and last mistake anyone could make. No one who crossed him ever walked away breathing.

The mansion was silent.

Rudra Malhotra—the name alone made men tremble, made them hold their breath when he walked past. The Mafia lord who carried dominance like a second skin, sat on his lavish sofa with an air of authority and dominance, his dark eyes gleamed beneath heavy brows, calm and calculating, as though he owned not just the room, but the world itself. And in a way, he did.

He leaned back, eyes cold and unblinking.

“Betrayal,” he said calmly, his husky voice filling the silence, “is the most dangerous thing.”

The man sitting before him shook violently, sweat dripping down his temples. His voice stuttered, broken with fear.

“I… I didn’t… betray y-you.”

Rudra raised a brow, tilting his head ever so slightly. A slow, dangerous smirk curved his lips.

“You sure?”

That smirk alone was enough to drain the color from the man’s face. His soul seemed to leave his body without Rudra even lifting a finger.

“You can leave him on me, boss. I’ll handle this matter.”Jaish's calm voice cut through the suffocating silence like a blade, his deep tone was steady, cold, and left no space for doubt.

His voice was calm, measured, and cold enough to freeze the air in the room. He didn’t raise his tone, he didn’t need to. Every word came out like an unshakable fact, stripped of emotion, stripped of hesitation.

Jaish didn’t talk much, and when he did, no one ever doubted him. He was silent most of the time, but a silence that spoke louder than chaos. The entire gang knew Jaish wasn’t a man of threats, he was a man of action.

He was the only man in Rudra’s entire empire who could speak like that in front of him, without fear, without hesitation. Others only bowed their heads and obeyed. But Jaish… Jaish had earned that place, carved it with loyalty, blood, and years of standing unshaken at Rudra’s side.

Rudra’s eyes, sharp and cold as steel, stayed locked on the trembling man before him. The traitor’s chest heaved, his breaths uneven, but it was Rudra’s stare, not the threat of death, that was tearing him apart from the inside. His sharp gaze lingered on the trembling man before shifting briefly toward Jaish. It wasn’t approval he gave, it was trust, something rarer than life itself in Rudra’s world.

“You better do that,” Rudra said finally, his voice husky and laced with quiet authority. “Because if I take the matter into my own hands…”

His smirk deepened, deadly and deliberate. “I’m sure it won’t be good.”

For a moment, no one dared to move. Then, with fluid authority, Rudra rose from the sofa. The fabric of his black suit stretched across his broad shoulders as he buttoned his coat, his every movement deliberate, like a king who knew no throne could ever be higher than his.

Without another glance at the man, Rudra turned and walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing with the weight of final judgment.

The heavy door shut behind him, leaving only Jaish and the terrified man.

And in that silence, it became clear, sometimes, the devil himself doesn’t kill you. Sometimes, he leaves it to the demon he trusts the most.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The weather was gentle, the kind that could melt hearts and soothe restless minds. In the wide garden of the orphanage, a young girl stood among the flowers, carefully pouring water over them. A soft smile lingered on her lips, and though she looked calm and innocent, there was a quiet maturity in her eyes—one far beyond her age.

“AARYA!”

The sudden call broke the silence. Aarya turned her head, strands of her hair brushing against her face, and asked,

“What happened?”

Her voice was soft, carrying a delicate sweetness that matched her gentle smile.

“Lady is calling you. She said to come fast.”

“Oh, I’m coming.”

“Okay.”

After the boy left, Aarya quietly made her way toward the Lady’s office. She paused at the door, her fingers brushing nervously against the wood before she knocked.

“Come in,” a firm voice answered.

Aarya pushed the door open and stepped inside. “You called me, Miss?” she asked politely.

“Yes.” The Lady folded her hands over the desk, her tone brisk but not unkind. “Pack your things. You’ve been adopted by a family. You’ll be living with them from now on.”

“What?”

The word escaped Aarya in a gasp, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“What is it?” the Lady asked, raising her brows at the girl’s reaction.

“I… I—umm…” Aarya’s fingers twisted together nervously. “How can I just leave like this? I’ve been here for so long… this place feels like home. I… I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Her voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes lowered, the faintest trace of fear and hesitation flickering across her face.

“You shouldn’t make an orphanage your home,” the Lady said in her authoritative tone. “You should be happy, you’re getting parents, a family. And they’re very rich. They’ll give you everything you want. Don’t you want freedom?”

Aarya lowered her gaze, her fingers curling against her dress. A storm of emotions churned inside her chest. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy being adopted meant a chance at love, at belonging. But fear lingered stronger than joy. Fear of strangers. Fear of how they might treat her. Fear of the unknown future that waited beyond these walls.

She stayed silent, because deep down she knew this day would come sooner or later. She couldn’t stay in the orphanage forever. All she could do was hope… hope that her future wouldn’t break her.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head slightly and whispered, “Okay.”

The word escaped with the breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding.

“Good. Now go and pack your luggage,” the Lady replied, her voice calm once more.

With that, Aarya stepped out of the office, quietly locking the door behind her. Her mind was heavy, tangled with doubts about whether this decision was right or wrong. She didn’t know what the future held for her, only that it was something she couldn’t avoid.

Back in the dormitory, she moved toward her bed and began packing her few belongings. As she folded her clothes with slow, deliberate hands, a couple of kids wandered over, curiosity shining in their eyes.

“Hey, Aarya,” Lily said. “I heard you’re going to your new home. Miss told us a really rich family adopted you. Why?”

Aarya looked up, confused. “How would I know why they chose me?”

Jack let out a scoff, his voice laced with sarcasm. “Oh, come on. Don’t tell us you don’t know anything. There are so many kids here, why you, out of everyone?”

Aarya’s lips pressed into a thin line as she watched them. They were just children, same as her age, but she knew well enough, they never liked her much. It wasn’t that they bullied her outright, but her presence always seemed unwelcome, like she didn’t belong here.

“Isn’t it good that I’ll be gone from here?” she asked quietly, almost as if to convince herself. “That’s what you wanted, right?”

The two kids exchanged a glance, then rolled their eyes as they walked away.

“Yeah,” Jack muttered under his breath, “it’ll be good once you’re gone. At least we’ll finally get rid of you.”

Aarya shook her head softly, a sad smile tugging at her lips. She continued packing in silence, folding each piece of clothing with care until her small bundle of belongings was ready. Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she made her way toward the lady’s office.

But before she could reach the door, her gaze was drawn outside. Several sleek, black cars were parked in front of the orphanage. The polished metal gleamed under the sunlight, so expensive-looking they seemed almost out of place here. Beside them, a few men stood in neat suits, speaking to one another in low voices.

Aarya slowed, curiosity pulling her closer. But as the men suddenly started walking toward the orphanage doors, she froze. Instinctively, she stepped back and pressed herself behind a stone pillar, heart pounding as she watched them pass.

Are they the ones who adopted me? she wondered.

Her eyes flicked once more to the cars, their glossy finish and intimidating presence filling her with unease. Why would a wealthy family want someone like me? The thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it.

Then she remembered Miss’s words,“They’re very rich.” Perhaps these really were the people who had chosen her.

Swallowing hard, Aarya gathered her courage and moved toward the office. She reached for the door, but just as her hand touched the knob, she froze. Voices drifted from inside. She hesitated, listening quietly instead of entering.

Inside the office, the air felt heavier, thick with the scent of leather and ink. Aarya’s hand hovered near the doorknob, but the voices drifting through the crack made her freeze in place.

“Did you bring the exact amount of money I asked for?” The lady asked, her voice a desperate plea.

“Yes. Now, you must make sure no one ever learns about that little girl’s existence,” The man replied, his tone was sharp, layered with authority, each word striking Aarya like a blow.

Aarya’s breath caught. Me…? Are they talking about me?

“Of course. I’ll erase her entire presence from here. You won’t have to worry about a thing,” The lady said, her voice dripping with greed as her eyes devoured the sight of the thick envelope laid on her desk.

“Good. Remember, once we take her from here, she belongs to us. We’ll decide her future,” The man replied calmly.

Aarya’s heart pounded so loudly she was afraid they would hear it.

“Yes, sir. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of everything.” The lady said, her voice softened into a honey-coated promise, masking the cruelty beneath.

Aarya’s hands trembled uncontrollably, her whole body frozen as the truth sank in. Her mind went blank, unable to process the horror, the lady wasn’t giving her a family… She was selling her. Selling her like she was nothing. Just for money. How cheap… How cruel.

Hot tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks before she even realized. She couldn’t stay there another second.

Her legs moved before her thoughts caught up. She spun around and bolted down the corridor, heart pounding like a drum. The orphanage’s main door loomed ahead open, waiting. Every nerve in her body screamed the same word again and again: Run. Run. Run!

And she did. She burst through the door into the open air, not daring to look back. Behind her, angry shouts echoed, harsh and sharp, clawing at her ears. They were chasing her.

She wanted to cover her ears, to block it all out, to go deaf just for this moment but she couldn’t stop. Her feet stumbled, almost giving way, but she forced herself forward, across the road.

A horn blared. Tires screeched. The signal turned green, cars rushing forward, cutting off the men behind her. Aarya staggered onto the other side, gasping for breath, the city swallowing her tiny figure as the furious voices faded into the chaos of traffic.

Aarya’s eyes darted frantically from one corner of the street to another, searching for somewhere, anywhere to hide. There was nothing. Panic clawed at her throat, her breath coming out in ragged gasps. Her chest heaved so violently that she could hear the thunder of her own heartbeat echoing in her ears.

She was terrified. Terrified beyond words.

Then she saw it, a sleek black car parked near the sidewalk. Without thinking twice, she dashed toward it, crouching low as the men behind her finally managed to cross the road.

Her trembling hands gripped the car’s handle. By some miracle, it clicked open. She slipped inside, pulling herself into the narrow space under the back seat. Curled up as small as she could, she pressed a hand against her mouth to silence her breath, praying the shadows would protect her.

Through the small gap, she saw their feet, the men were here. They scanned the street, their curses sharp and furious, but after a tense moment, they moved farther away.

Relief barely touched her before a low rumble made her blood freeze. The car jolted as the engine roared to life. Her eyes widened in horror, her tiny body stiff as stone.

No… no, not now…

But it was too late. The vehicle had started to move. And Aarya was trapped inside, with no way out.

Aarya’s throat tightened as the car lurched forward. She cursed herself silently, teeth biting down hard on her trembling lip. Why did I run here? Why this car?

But what choice did she have?

Her body shook uncontrollably, her fingers digging into the floor as if holding on could stop her fate from unraveling. Every nerve screamed at her to get out, to run, but she knew the truth, she couldn’t. Not now. The car was already moving, carrying her deeper into the unknown.

Her breath hitched, panic clawing at her chest. If I move, they’ll see me. If I stay, God knows where I’ll end up…

She was trapped.

Completely stuck between the hell she’d escaped and another she couldn’t yet imagine.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Author's note

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