The mansion remained under heavy security through the night.
Rain finally stopped near dawn, leaving the gardens silent except for guards patrolling broken pathways.
Inside Aryan's private office, the atmosphere turned serious again.
The captured attacker sat tied to a chair while Rohan questioned him coldly.
Aryan stood near the window silently.
Beside him, Nithya calmly reviewed the interrogation files.
"He admitted Lucien funded the attack," Rohan reported.
Aryan's eyes darkened slightly.
"Directly?"
"Yes."
Nithya crossed her arms.
"That means Lucien stopped caring about subtle moves."
Interesting.
Because Lucien usually preferred manipulation before violence.
This attack meant impatience.
Or obsession.
Both dangerous.
The captured attacker suddenly laughed nervously.
"You don't understand him."
Aryan slowly looked toward him.
"Then explain."
Fear immediately spread across the man's face.
Because Eagle's attention itself felt terrifying.
"He won't stop," the attacker whispered. "Lucien always takes what he wants."
Silence filled the room.
Then suddenly Aryan walked closer slowly.
Every step felt heavy.
Deadly.
"And what exactly does he want?"
The attacker swallowed hard.
"Devil."
Wrong answer.
Very wrong answer.
The room temperature seemed to drop instantly.
Even Rohan quietly stepped back.
Aryan's expression became unreadable now.
Which was worse.
Much worse.
Nithya noticed the dangerous stillness immediately.
"Aryan."
But Eagle's eyes never left the attacker.
Then softly…
Almost calmly…
He asked,
"Do you know why people fear me?"
The attacker started shaking.
Aryan leaned slightly closer.
"Because when someone touches what belongs to me…"
His voice lowered dangerously.
"…I erase them completely."
The attacker nearly stopped breathing.
Nithya finally stepped forward and lightly touched Aryan's arm.
Small movement.
Huge effect.
Immediately the killing tension around him reduced slightly.
Interesting.
Only Devil could calm Eagle this easily.
Aryan looked toward her briefly before stepping back again.
"Continue interrogation," he ordered coldly.
Rohan nodded immediately.
"Yes, sir."
Later that afternoon, underground news channels exploded with new rumors.
"Lucien Moreau officially challenges Eagle."
"War between Europe and Asia expected."
"Devil caught between two kings."
Every major organization started preparing carefully.
Because if Eagle and Lucien truly went to war…
The entire underworld would shake.
Inside the mansion library, Nithya sat quietly reading reports while Aryan rested nearby.
The atmosphere felt calmer now.
But beneath that calmness…
Danger continued growing.
Finally Nithya closed the file slowly.
"You're angry."
Aryan looked at her calmly.
"Yes."
"Still?"
"He attacked our home."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"And he keeps talking about you like something he owns."
Dangerous topic.
Very dangerous.
Nithya walked toward him slowly.
"You know I chose you."
Aryan immediately pulled her gently closer by the waist.
"I know."
"Then why are you still angry?"
Aryan looked directly into her eyes.
"Because he looked at you like I wasn't standing there."
Possessive.
Again.
But this time…
Nithya smiled slightly instead of arguing.
Interesting.
Aryan noticed immediately.
"What?"
"You're jealous in a very dramatic way."
"I'm mafia."
"That's not an excuse."
"It absolutely is."
For the first time that day, both laughed softly together.
Then suddenly Aryan's expression softened.
His fingers brushed gently against her hair.
"I really love you."
Simple sentence.
But every time he said it…
It felt real.
Heavy.
Nithya quietly rested her forehead against his chest for a moment.
"And I really love you too."
Peace.
Small dangerous peace.
Suddenly the office doors opened quickly.
Rohan entered with serious urgency again.
"Sir."
Aryan sighed softly already.
"What now?"
Rohan placed a black envelope on the desk carefully.
"No sender."
Nithya immediately became alert.
Aryan opened it slowly.
Inside was a single photograph.
Nithya's university.
Taken recently.
And written below in elegant handwriting—
"If Eagle cannot protect you every second… perhaps Devil belongs beside a stronger king." — Lucien
Silence filled the room instantly.
Deadly silence.
Aryan stared at the photograph without moving.
Then slowly…
Very slowly…
He smiled.
Cold smile.
Terrifying smile.
Rohan immediately looked nervous.
Because that smile meant war.
Real war.
Aryan finally looked toward Nithya.
His dark eyes carried something dangerous now.
"Lucien wants my attention?"
He stood up slowly.
"Good."
The air itself felt colder around Eagle.
Because for the first time since falling in love…
Aryan was no longer protecting peace.
He was preparing destruction.