Krishna didn't linger.
She packed nothing.
No farewell. No lingering scent to make Michael fall further. Just her heels clicking against marble, the hush of a departing car, and silence.
Back to Country X.
Back to her domain.
Where her dogs waited with teeth bared and ears flat, sensing her return before the plane even landed.
She didn't announce her arrival. She didn't have to.
The Queen was home.
And Michael?
He only received a single message, buzzed directly to his encrypted line:
"Don't get too worked up. I've left for Country X.
Get things done on your end in Country M.
Book a flight to Country X when it's all set.
We'll establish the partnership under Aaron Triton's name.
I still need you to act as the CEO.
It's not time for them to know who truly owns it."
No emojis. No warmth.
But beneath every clipped line, Michael could hear her voice.
Cold. Sharp. Controlled.
And he could feel the weight of what wasn't said.
Who truly owns it.
Who truly pulls the strings.
Aaron Triton, beloved. Untouchable.
But not the mastermind.
Michael clenched the phone in his hand, pulse kicking up again.
Krishna had only let him glimpse the edge of her power. Just the faintest taste.
And now, she had vanished back into the shadows, where her name was only ever whispered.
But where her empire roared.
She stepped out of the elevator, quiet as a ghost. No guards. No calls ahead. Just her. A duffel bag in one hand, and the same calm face she wore when she left.
The moment she opened the penthouse door, the sound hit her.
"Allyssa, if you touch my side of the sofa one more time,"
"It's not your side if you're never here!"
"Oh my god, both of you shut up!" Alliyah's voice cut through the air, high and exasperated.
Krishna didn't even have to take a step to picture the scene, Aaron lounging with both twins draped over him, one elbowing the other while pretending to cuddle, and Lucius-
"Would you all shut up, for once," Lucius growled, pressing two fingers to his temple, eyes closed in restraint. "She's not even back yet and I already want to jump out the damn window."
The twins kept bickering anyway.
Krishna pushed the door open fully.
Lucius opened one eye.
Aaron turned first, freezing mid-word.
Alliyah caught her breath. Allyssa actually squeaked.
No one moved for a second.
Then Aaron stood, the twins scrambled off the couch, and Lucius, finally, dropped his hand from his temple with a sigh that sounded more like relief than frustration.
"You're late," Aaron muttered, voice low but fond.
"I wasn't on a schedule," Krishna said, stepping in, kicking the door shut behind her.
No dramatic entrance. No speeches.
Just her.
Back in her penthouse.
Back where chaos was comfort.
And without missing a beat, the twins launched into talking over each other, Aaron reached for her bag like he always did, and Lucius, still in his usual spot by the window, leaned back with a quiet exhale.
She didn't need to say anything.
After the bag was taken by Aarond and her boots kicked off, Krishna disappeared into her room, only to return in her comfort uniform, an oversized white shirt slipping off one shoulder, no bra, hair tied up loosely, skin still fresh from the shower. She padded barefoot across the hardwood and dropped herself onto her usual spot on the sofa.
Immediately, they followed.
Aaron was first, already shifting to stretch out, head settling on her lap, arms folded, cheek resting against the softness of her thigh. He sighed, eyes closing like it was instinct, like this was the only place he could breathe properly.
Allyssa climbed up next, curling at the bend of her other knee, dragging the throw blanket up without asking. "You took your time," she muttered, poking her finger against Krishna's leg like a pouting cat.
"I came back," Krishna replied simply.
Alliyah was last, but the most possessive, crawling up and pressing her face into Krishna's neck, one arm sliding around her waist. She didn't say anything. Just purred softly, lips brushing skin with a silent welcome home.
Back to how it should be.
Lucius didn't move from the single couch facing her. His legs were crossed, fingers steepled under his chin. Watching. Waiting.
The second Krishna lifted her gaze to meet his, the room sobered.
Lucius leaned forward. "Bella arrived a day ahead of you."
Krishna didn't react.
"Triton Holdings didn't release a statement. No press. No confirmation of a deal. No photos. No sightings. Just… nothing."
A beat passed. Aaron tensed against her. Allyssa stilled. Alliyah lifted her head just slightly.
"Hollow," Lucius repeated. "Like she was never here."
Krishna's fingers absentmindedly threaded through Aaron's hair. "And?"
"And while you were gone," Lucius continued, his tone firm, "I trained Aaron."
Aaron blinked up, his face unreadable but the twitch in his jaw betrayed the pride he tried to mask.
"No more hiding behind the Triton name," Lucius said. "He knows how to use it now. When to bend it. When to break it. What it costs to wield something that heavy."
Krishna looked down at Aaron.
He didn't flinch.
"He'll never be a warhound," Lucius said quietly. "But he doesn't need to be. He knows the field now. Enough to fight back. Enough to make them regret underestimating him."
Krishna smiled, just a ghost of it. Then leaned her head against Alliyah's and closed her eyes.
"Good," she murmured. "We'll need him standing tall when we flip the whole board."
Lucius didn't smile. But his eyes gleamed.
They were almost ready.