The morning sun was bright, but the atmosphere in Shila's room was heavy with unspoken words. Shila was dressed and ready, her eyes red from a sleepless night.
"Ana, come with me for shopping today," Shila said, her voice small.
Ana looked at her, baffled. "Shopping? Are you serious, Shila? In the middle of all this wedding mess, you want to buy clothes? Do you really have the heart for it?"
Shila looked away, hiding the fact that her wedding was only twenty-four hours away. "Please, buddy... let's just go. It might clear our heads. I just need you with me." After much pleading, Ana finally gave in, unaware that she was walking into a giant trap.
At the city's most luxurious high-end mall, the air felt expensive. Aryan Roy stood near the grand entrance, leaning against a marble pillar with Jimmy by his side. Aryan looked like a king in his casual designer wear, his dark sunglasses hiding his sharp eyes.
Suddenly, two figures walked through the revolving doors.
The moment Ana stepped into the light, Aryan's world narrowed down to just her. He slowly reached up and pulled off his sunglasses, his gaze literally melting as he watched her. She looked effortless, her presence outshining every glittering storefront in the mall.
Jimmy noticed the change in his friend immediately. "What happened, Roy? What are you staring at?"
Aryan didn't even blink. "Nothing... she's just here. My Miss Puddle is here."
Jimmy looked toward the entrance. He saw two girls—one in a simple outfit and the other in a striking white and navy blue dress. "Which one, Roy? What color is she wearing?"
"The one in white and navy blue," Aryan whispered, his voice filled with an uncharacteristic softness.
Jimmy froze. His jaw almost hit the floor. He knew that face. He knew that fire. 'That's not Shila! That's Ana!' his mind screamed.
He realized his suspicion was 100% correct. Aryan was about to marry the wrong girl because he was obsessed with the best friend! Jimmy grabbed Aryan's arm, his face turning dead serious.
"Roy, listen to me. I have something incredibly important to tell you. Right now," Jimmy urged.
Aryan was barely listening, his eyes following Ana as she walked toward a nearby store. "Yeah, yeah, Jimmy, tell me later. I need to..." Suddenly, his phone rang. He checked the screen and sighed. "Wait here, I have to take this call. It's business."
Aryan stepped away to a quieter corner, leaving Jimmy standing there in a panic. Jimmy turned to go after him, but before he could take a step, Shila suddenly appeared in front of him.
She wasn't looking at Jimmy; she was looking directly at the spot where Aryan had been. Her face was pale, but her eyes were determined. She saw Aryan returning from his call and stepped right into his path.
"Hey, Aryan Roy," Shila said, her voice trembling but clear. "Stop. I have something very important to tell you. Something you need to know before this goes any further."
The air in the luxurious mall suddenly felt ice-cold as Shila poured her heart out. She confessed everything—how she was too terrified to face him, how Ana had stepped in to protect her best friend, and how every "crazy" thing that had happened was actually Ana trying to save Shila from a marriage she didn't want.
Jimmy stood there, paralyzed, watching the expression on Aryan's face shift from surprise to a deep, unreadable intensity.
Aryan stood perfectly still. He didn't erupt in anger. He didn't shout. Instead, his gaze sharpened like a blade. He looked at Shila, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous register that made the hair on her arms stand up.
"I only have one question for you," Aryan stated, his eyes piercing through her. "That first message... the one that said 'I'm not interested in marrying you'... who sent that? Was it you, or was it Ana?"
Shila swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. "That was Ana. I was too scared to even touch my phone. She did it to end the matter quickly so I wouldn't have to suffer."
A slow, dark smirk spread across Aryan's face—a look of pure, predatory triumph. He slowly reached into his pocket, pulled out his expensive sunglasses, and slid them back onto the bridge of his nose, masking his eyes once again.
"I see," Aryan murmured, his smirk widening. "So the 'rejection' came from the Wild Cat herself."
He turned to Shila and Jimmy, his aura shifting from cold businessman to a man who had just won the ultimate prize. He leaned in and whispered something to them—a plan so shocking that Shila's eyes widened and Jimmy's jaw dropped.
"But for now," Aryan said, straightening his suit jacket and looking toward the store where Ana was still browsing, oblivious to the fact that her secret was out. "Keep your mouths shut. The game hasn't ended... it has just become much more interesting."
What was the secret plan Aryan told them? And how is he going to confront Ana now that he knows she is the one who rejected him?