Chapter 1 – The Deal That Changed Everything

“Marry me… and I’ll clear your father’s debt.”

I thought I heard him wrong.

Out of everything I expected today…

This wasn’t one of them.

Ten minutes ago, my life was already falling apart.

Now?

It felt like someone was rewriting it completely.

I stood frozen outside the apartment door, my hand still on the handle.

Inside, I could hear laughter.

Her laughter.

My best friend.

And his voice… soft, familiar… the one that used to say my name like it meant something.

My heart started pounding.

“No…” I whispered, pushing the door open.

And then I saw them.

Together.

Too close. Too comfortable. Too wrong.

“Aanya—wait, it’s not what you think—”

“Stop.”

My voice came out colder than I expected.

Funny how betrayal can do that.

One moment, you’re in love.

The next… You don’t recognise yourself.

Rhea looked at me, not even guilty.

Just… annoyed.

Like I had interrupted something important.

“You weren’t supposed to find out like this,” she said casually.

I almost laughed.

“Find out?” My voice shook. “You mean find out that my best friend and my boyfriend are liars?”

He stepped forward. “Aanya, please, just listen—”

But I didn’t.

Because there was nothing left to hear.

I walked out.

Just like that.

No crying. No shouting.

Just silence.

Because sometimes… silence hurts more.

I didn’t realise how fast everything would collapse after that.

By the time I reached home, my father was sitting on the couch, his face pale.

“Aanya…” his voice trembled. “We’re in trouble.”

My stomach dropped.

“What happened?”

He looked away.

“The business… I lost everything.”

Everything.

The word echoed in my head.

Debt. Loans. Pressure.

Our house. Our life

Gone.

That’s when I heard it.

A car door shutting outside.

Slow. Confident footsteps approaching.

And then—

A knock.

I opened the door… and my breath caught.

He stood there like he owned the world.

Tall. Calm. Untouchable.

His eyes landed on me like he already knew everything.

Aryan Khanna.

I had seen him before.

Everyone had

Rich. Powerful. Dangerous.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice barely steady.

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he stepped closer.

Too close.

Close enough for me to feel the shift in the air.

“I heard about your situation,” he said finally.

Straight. Direct.

No sympathy.

My jaw tightened. “Then you’ve heard enough. You can leave.”

I moved to shut the door.

But his hand stopped it.

Effortlessly.

“You’re in debt,” he continued, his voice calm.

“Your father’s company is gone.

Each word hit harder than the last.

“And you don’t have a way out.”

I swallowed, refusing to look weak.

“So?”

He leaned in slightly.

And that’s when he said it.

“Marry me… and I’ll clear everything.”

My heart stopped.

“What?”

“I’ll pay off every debt,” he said, like it was nothing.

“Your family stays safe. Your life stays intact.”

“This isn’t funny,” I whispered.

“I’m not joking.”

I searched his face for even a hint of humour.

There was none.

Just cold certainty.

“Why me?” I asked, my voice shaking now.

“Out of all people… why me?”

For a second… something flickered in his eyes.

Something dark.

Something dangerous.

Then he smiled.

Not kindly.

Not warmly.

But like he already knew how this would end.

“Because, Aanya…”

His voice dropped.

Low. controlled.

“You’re perfect for my revenge.”

My breath caught.

“Revenge… against who?”

He stepped back, fixing his watch like this was just business.

“You’ll find out,” he said.

“After you say yes.”

And just like that—

My broken life turned into a deal I didn’t understand.

And I had no idea… saying yes would destroy me.

What would you do in her place? 💔

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