Midnight did not feel magical this time.
There were fireworks. Cheers. Laughter from distant rooftops. The world celebrated beginnings.
For Ishita and Avy, it was an ending.
And then — a return.
....ISHITA....
I woke up on a marble floor.
Not silk sheets. Not the high ceiling of Avy's mansion.
Marble.
Cold. Real.
For a moment, I thought it was a dream.
Then I saw it.
The chandelier above me — not the one from Avy's house. Bigger. Brighter. Mine.
Mine?
I stood up slowly.
The living room stretched endlessly. Glass walls. City skyline below. A villa.
My villa.
"No…" I whispered.
On the glass table lay a folder. My name engraved in gold.
Ishita Rao – Chairwoman.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
Ownership documents. Company shares. Hotel chains. Investment structures. Legal transfers.
Twenty companies.
Ten hotels.
All registered under my name.
Tears blurred my vision.
"Avy…"
She really did it.
I walked through the house like a stranger. Every corner carefully designed. Elegant. Minimal. Strong — like her.
Two staff members approached cautiously.
"Ma'am, welcome back."
Welcome back.
They looked at me with respect — not fear.
She chose good people.
She built everything and left it in my hands.
Not as charity.
As trust.
I pressed my hand against my chest.
Why would someone who didn't know me protect me like this?