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Rathore Mansion: The Fire Burns Stronger
Siddharth Rathore sat at his massive desk, the city lights outside his window casting shadows across his office. He had spent the entire night going through the information Reyansh had compiled on Aaradhya. Her career. Her family. Every detail, no matter how small.
And yet, none of it mattered.
It wasn't her career that intrigued him. It wasn't even her beauty, though he couldn't deny the way she haunted his thoughts. It was her strength, her defiance. The way she stood her ground when every other woman had cowered in front of him.
That fire in her eyes? It was the one thing he couldn't control.
He leaned back in his chair, a small smirk playing on his lips. It wasn't enough to simply have her. No, he wanted her to surrender to him. He wanted to see that defiance crumble beneath his gaze.
And he would make sure it did.
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Aaradhya's Film Set: A Clash of Worlds
Aaradhya arrived at the set, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling from the previous day. The memory of Siddharth's dark eyes watching her lingered in her mind, but she pushed it aside. There was no room for distractions—not when she had worked so hard to build her career.
Yet, every glance she caught of him in the distance, lurking like a shadow, made her feel exposed. Unseen eyes were following her every move, and despite herself, her heart raced when he was near.
She focused on the task at hand. A scene where she was supposed to showcase vulnerability. But no matter how hard she tried to immerse herself, her mind kept drifting back to the man who couldn't seem to take his eyes off her.
"Cut! Aaradhya, are you alright?" the director asked, noticing her distracted expression.
She blinked, startled by the interruption. "Yes… sorry. Just… tired," she murmured, giving a half-hearted smile.
As the crew began to break for lunch, Aaradhya stepped aside, her mind running in circles. She didn't like feeling vulnerable. Not like this.
A sudden voice broke through her thoughts.
"You're still avoiding me."
Aaradhya's breath hitched as she turned to find Siddharth standing at the edge of the set, his dark gaze fixed on her. He was calm, but there was something dangerous in the way he looked at her—something that made her pulse quicken despite herself.
"I told you," she said, her voice steady but her insides twisting, "there's nothing to talk about."
Siddharth's lips curled into a small, amused smile. "You know, you're fascinating. Most women would've at least tried to get to know me by now."
"And most men wouldn't have shown up uninvited, either," she shot back, crossing her arms defiantly.
He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "But here's the thing, Aaradhya… I don't need an invitation."
She glared at him, fighting the urge to take a step back. "I don't care what you want, Mr. Rathore."
"You will," he said softly, his voice low and intense, "whether you admit it or not."
Before she could respond, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and smirked. "I'll let you off the hook for now. But this game isn't over."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Aaradhya standing there, heart pounding, her thoughts a tangled mess of frustration and something else—something far too dangerous to acknowledge.
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Aaradhya's Apartment: A Flicker of Hope
Later that evening, as Aaradhya walked through the door of her apartment, she sighed in relief. Alone at last. She needed the quiet, the peace of her own space to collect her thoughts.
But even in the solitude, she couldn't escape the constant pull of Siddharth Rathore's presence. The man was a storm—dangerous, captivating, and impossible to ignore.
She sat on the edge of the couch, trying to clear her mind. Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. A message from Ashwin.
I've arranged for an interview tomorrow with that top magazine you've been wanting to work with. You'll look amazing in that dress we picked out.
Aaradhya smiled faintly at the message, appreciating Ashwin's constant support. But no matter how hard she tried to focus on the positive, her mind kept returning to the man who seemed determined to invade her thoughts.
Just as she set her phone down, a knock echoed through the apartment.
Her heart skipped a beat. Who could that be at this hour?
She opened the door, and her breath caught in her throat.
There, standing in front of her, was Siddharth.
Without saying a word, he stepped inside, his gaze piercing. His presence was overpowering, filling every inch of the room.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, though her voice betrayed her, softening just slightly.
"I came to talk," he said, his voice dangerously smooth.
"You've made your point," she replied, trying to sound unaffected. "There's nothing left to discuss."
Siddharth's lips twitched in amusement as he closed the door behind him. "I think there's a lot more to discuss than you realize, Aaradhya."
She stood her ground, but deep down, she knew something was shifting between them. And the more she resisted, the more she felt herself being drawn in.
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Vihaan's Apartment: A Dangerous Obsession
Back in the shadows, Vihaan sat in his dimly lit room, staring at the image of Aaradhya on his screen. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, a twisted smile spreading across his face.
"She doesn't know it yet," he muttered to himself, his voice dripping with malice, "but she's already mine."
The game was changing. And soon, Aaradhya would have no choice but to play by his rules.
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