CH005

"What do you mean you're bringing your illegitimate daughter to the house? You can't try that Jaiswal!! She's your shame and is supposed to be hidden!! She's an embarrassment not just to you but I as well" the woman said with a very calm but skeptical tone, trying well to mask the tears that wanted to blur her sight.

" Never did I tell you any of that, I don't know where you heard it from but wherever it was you did, don't say that again!! Jasmin is coming to live with us. She's intelligent and a daughter anyone could ever ask for!!

Her results are clean unlike your children's, I've already made the choice and she's coming to stay! Let that stick into your damn fucking head!!"

" You can't do that!! You can't bring in the daughter of your mistress to stay with my children and I!! You fucking cheated on me with her and begot a baby, would you disrespect me way more just to please her late soul?"

" I will and fucking will!! This is my house, you don't tell me what I should and should not do!! Accepting her is the least you can do after murdering her mother!!" The man screamed back at her, intensifying the atmosphere.

"I killed her mother? Are you trying to pin the blame on me after you...... " Her words were cut short by a slap that was landed on her cheeks.

She gave out a shriek but her heart shattered the most when she saw the hem of her daughter's dress by the side of the opened door..

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The city of Qhezon was not unfamiliar with tragedy, but the news of the prison bus explosion sent shockwaves through its bustling streets.

It was the first in history for such an occurrence to happen. Sirens wailed, and helicopters hovered above as a sea of curious onlookers gathered at the crash site. The acrid smell of burnt hung heavily in the air, laced with the muted murmurs of disbelief.

Maya and Arun arrived at the scene in a sleek black car.

As they approached the cordoned-off area, Arun managed to weave through the throngs of people, parking just beyond the barrier. The couple exited the car, their presence immediately drawing the attention of those nearby.

Maya's elegant form draped in designer black dress and jewelries exuded an air of authority that demanded respect, while Arun, though equally well-dressed, appeared unnerved, his eyes darting from side to side as if seeking out something—or someone.

Maya's curiosity was palpable as she surveyed the wreckage, her eyes narrowing in search of Jasmine's remains or something close to it.

It was a morbid fascination, one that gnawed at her insides with the cold realization that Jasmine was truly gone. But with that realization came an unexpected emptiness, a void that throbbed with questions she wasn't ready to face.

What was the purpose of being with Arun if Jasmine was no longer around to see it? Her entire plan, her very reason for rekindling a relationship with him had hinged on the pleasure of ruining Jasmine's happiness.

Jasmine had appeared happy and fulfilled after she wedded Arun,the love of her life. The very thought of her being happy in her marriage was what had led her back to Arun, what had made her go back to her ex who still obsessed over her even after their breakup.

She couldn't let her be happy in her marriage when she was the reason her father had raised his hands at her mother the first time.

She was the cause of her family that drifted so it was justifiable she destroyed hers as well.

Without Jasmine, there was no purpose—no target for her simmering hatred, no outlet for her twisted need to destroy, no competitor to break.

Arun, on the other hand was struggling to mask his relief. The explosion had granted him an unexpected escape from the consequences of his actions. Jasmine's death meant the end of any threat to his public image, the secrets that had loomed over his head like a guillotine now buried in the rubble of the explosion.

It seemed to him as if his burdens had become well taken care of and that nothing would bother him again. He has the business, he had joined the billionaire's league and with time, he would propose to the love of his life --Maya Jaiswal and begin forever again but this time with her.

As they walked closer to the scene of the crash, Maya's gaze was drawn to a pile of smoldering debris, the twisted remnants of what seemed to have once been a bus.

The sight should have filled her with satisfaction but instead a hollow ache took root in her chest. What was the point of staying with Arun when there was no step sister to make jealous now? What was the need for when there was no hated step sister to cry her hearts out to her pillow? Of what use would it be now that she's gone? The thrill was gone, and all that was left was a bitter aftertaste.

Thoughts roamed through her head as they turned to leave the scene following the arrival of more onlookers.

"Why did you stop?" Arun asked, noticing Maya had paused mid-step as they were walking back to the car, her eyes glazed over as if lost in thought.

Maya blinked and her gaze shifted to Arun. His brown eyes were glittering as the sun shine on his face whereas his brown hair complimented the look.

His voice was tinged with impatience but she barely registered.

She felt no sparks for him anymore. Her fiancee Marshall Yugo was in every way better than he was, financially and in looks. More prospects lied in wait for her with her union with Marshall, lesser with Arun.

She realized with a startling clarity that she no longer needed him. The fire that had fueled her actions was doused, leaving behind only ashes and an unrelenting void.

"We should go," she said abruptly, continuing her walk to the car on her heel without waiting for a response. Arun hurried to catch up, bewildered by her sudden change in demeanor.

"What do you mean we should go? I thought you paused for us to stay back to know what happened" Arun's voice held a tinge of desperation. "Aren't you curious about what exactly happened? About... Jasmine?"

Maya stopped again, her cold eyes locking onto his. For a moment, Arun felt a shiver of fear run down his spine. The Maya before him was not the woman he thought he knew when she came back to him. There was something different—something dangerous.

"I'm done here, Arun," Maya said quietly, the finality in her tone unmistakable. "With everything."

And with that she entered the car, banging it's door as she did.

Arun's brows furrowed in confusion as he entered the car after her,the driver reeving the engines.

"What are you talking about?" He genuinely asked, knowing that what she had said and with the tone she had said it, he would be a fool to keep calm.

Maya sighed, signifying a sound that seemed to carry the weight of all her regrets and frustrastions.

"I used you, Arun. Just like you used Jasmine"

" You're getting me confused here Maya. Stop speaking in parables I do not understand" he replied her, raising his voice at her a bit.

" You think I did not know you married her to be close to me? I'm not my sister, Arun. I'm no fool" she replied with an equally raised voice, arching her eyebrows at him.

" I never came back to you because I wanted you. I came back because I wanted to ruin her. But now, she's gone, and there's nothing left for me here." She finished, not holding back any of the words that hung on her tongue.

Arun's heart pounded in his chest, "What do you mean, Maya? We can still be together. I have all the wealth and assets there is to, I have a six inched dick as well, I improved my stamina and can last 40 minutes in bed. We—"

He frantically tried winninghe back, he couldn't lose her again after how long it took him to make her desire him again.

"No," she interjected with her voice cold and cutting. "You don't understand. I don't need you anymore. I'm going to marry Marshall Yugo as planned. He is my fiancee and was even during the time of our shenanigans. You're nothing to me now, just a pawn I played with and discarded."

The words cut through Arun like a knife. He stared at Maya in disbelief, "You... you were going to marry him all along? You're betraying me for him?"

" Look who's talking about betrayals Arun. You framed your wife for a crime she didn't commit yet you're giving me a lecture on betrayals?"

" Please Maya, pleaseee!! Just this once tell me you're joking!! Are you really marrying Marshall Yugo?"

"Yes I am!! And now that Jasmine's out of the picture, there's nothing stopping me. Consider this the end of whatever we had."

Arun felt a surge of anger and desperation. "You think you can just walk away from this? From me? Don't you know what you made me become? What i can do to you?"

Maya laughed.

"There's nothing you can do Arun. The least I can let you be is a side chick. Your dick is too good to let go. I'm not sure how Marshall Yugo's is but like they say, half a loaf is better than none. I can't let yours go yet,so you can still be my sneaky link"

She said with a tone of finality and winked at him while he just stood staring at her, unable to do anything not even mutter a word.

Maya had always been unpredictable, but this—this was beyond anything he had anticipated. And as he watched her press her mobile in the car without acknowledging his presence, Arun couldn't shake the feeling that he had lost more than just Jasmine in that explosion.....