Chapter 25: The Queen Behind the Screen

Kiara's POV

Reyaansh was finally asleep, his breathing steady and deep. I waited for a few moments to make sure he was completely out before slipping out of bed as quietly as possible. The tension of the past few days had been weighing heavily on both of us, but I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing anymore.

Reaching for my laptop tucked away in the bottom drawer of my bedside table, I settled on the couch across the room. The soft glow of the screen illuminated my face as I opened my secure network. It had been a while since I last tapped into my other identity—one that no one, not even Reyaansh, knew about.

In the digital world, I wasn’t just Kiara Malhotra. I was ShadowQueen, the top hacker in the world. Governments feared me, corporations sought me out in secret, and rival hackers respected my skills. But I didn’t use my talents for personal gain. My world revolved around protecting the innocent and exposing corruption.

Tonight, however, I was using my skills for a more personal reason—to help Reyaansh.

---

My fingers danced across the keyboard, bypassing firewalls and encryptions with ease. It wasn’t difficult to infiltrate Reyaansh’s network; I’d studied it enough over the past month to know its vulnerabilities. I scanned through logs, communications, and transactions, looking for any signs of betrayal.

It didn’t take long for something suspicious to catch my eye. A series of encrypted messages between one of Reyaansh’s trusted allies and an unknown recipient. I decrypted the messages, my heart racing as I read through them.

The evidence was clear—Aman Verma, a senior ally Reyaansh had always trusted, was the one betraying him. He’d been feeding information to their rivals for months, undermining Reyaansh’s operations.

My hands clenched into fists as anger surged through me. How could someone so close to Reyaansh betray him like this? I quickly gathered all the evidence, ensuring every detail was recorded. I wasn’t just going to expose Aman; I was going to make sure he could never hurt Reyaansh again.

---

I leaned back against the couch, exhaling a deep breath. It wasn’t just about finding the culprit—it was about protecting Reyaansh and ensuring his empire remained unshaken.

As I prepared to log out, I encrypted the evidence with a unique code only I could access. Tomorrow, I would show Reyaansh everything, but for now, I wanted to ensure the data was secure.

Before closing my laptop, I hesitated for a moment. A small, mischievous smile tugged at my lips as I decided to leave a subtle signature on the hacker forums. A simple message:

The Queen never sleeps.

I logged out, placing my laptop back in the drawer and locking it. Turning to look at Reyaansh, who was still fast asleep, I felt a surge of pride and affection.

---

The man who ruled the underworld didn’t know that his wife was the queen of the digital one. I wasn’t just his partner in life; I was his equal, capable of standing beside him in every way.

Sliding back into bed, I lay down beside him, careful not to wake him. As I closed my eyes, I felt a sense of calm. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for tonight, I was content knowing I had taken a step to protect the man I loved.

Whatever came our way, I would face it head-on—with my skills, my strength, and my unwavering devotion to Reyaansh Rathore.

---

I woke up before the sun rose, unable to sleep after the events of the night. My mind was still racing from what I had uncovered about Aman Verma. It wasn’t just about Reyaansh’s empire—it was about the betrayal from someone he trusted. My heart ached knowing this truth would hurt him, but it was necessary.

After making myself a cup of tea, I sat by the window, watching the soft hues of dawn paint the sky. The mansion was still silent, and I cherished this brief moment of peace. I replayed last night in my head, questioning if I had missed anything, but the evidence was rock solid. Aman was the traitor, and his actions couldn’t go unchecked.

By the time Reyaansh woke up, I had already prepared breakfast and placed it on the dining table. He walked into the room, his hair slightly tousled, looking as regal as ever even in his casual attire. He gave me a soft smile as he kissed my forehead.

“You’re up early,” he remarked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I admitted, trying to keep my voice steady. I wasn’t ready to tell him yet—not until I had planned how to approach the subject. “I thought I’d start the day early.”

---

The rest of the morning passed uneventfully, though I couldn’t shake the feeling of anticipation. Every time Reyaansh glanced my way, I felt as though he could see right through me, but he didn’t press.

It wasn’t until after lunch, when he was in his study going over some documents, that I decided to make my move. I knocked softly before entering, holding a folder in my hands.

“Do you have a minute?” I asked, my voice calm but my heart pounding in my chest.

“Always for you,” he replied, setting his papers aside and motioning for me to sit beside him.

I handed him the folder, watching as his brows furrowed while he read the contents. “What’s this?” he asked, his voice sharp with curiosity.

“Proof,” I said simply. “Aman Verma has been working against you. These messages and transactions tie him to your rivals.”

---

Reyaansh’s jaw clenched as he continued reading. I could see the storm brewing in his eyes, a mix of anger and betrayal. “How did you get this?” he asked, his tone low and dangerous.

“I have my ways,” I said cryptically, knowing now wasn’t the time to reveal everything. “But trust me, this is real. You need to act before he causes more damage.”

He closed the folder and leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on me. “You’ve done more than I ever expected, Kiara,” he said, his voice softer now. “But this isn’t your fight.”

“It is,” I insisted, meeting his gaze. “Anything that affects you affects me too. I’m your wife, Reyaansh, and I’m not going to sit back and watch you face this alone.”

A small smile tugged at his lips, though his eyes remained serious. “You’re full of surprises, Mrs. Rathore,” he said, reaching out to take my hand. “And I’m starting to think I don’t deserve you.”

“You deserve everything, Reyaansh,” I replied, squeezing his hand. “And I’ll make sure no one takes it from you.”

In that moment, we weren’t just husband and wife—we were partners, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

---

Reyaansh leaned forward, his piercing eyes locked onto mine, a mix of curiosity and wariness in his gaze. “Kiara,” he began, his voice calm but insistent, “I need to know how you got all this. These aren’t things anyone can find easily. How did you do it?”

I took a deep breath, my fingers nervously clutching the hem of my saree. This was it—the moment of truth. He deserved to know who I really was, beyond the simple, cheerful girl he married. “You’re not the only one with secrets, Reyaansh,” I said softly, trying to steady my voice. “There’s a part of me I’ve kept hidden for years. Not because I didn’t trust you, but because I never thought I’d need to reveal it.”

His brow furrowed, and he leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. “Go on,” he said, his tone cautious but intrigued.

I hesitated for a second, then let the words spill out. “I’m not just Kiara Malhotra Rathore. In the digital world, I’m known as ShadowQueen—the youngest and most powerful hacker in the world.”

---

His reaction was immediate. His eyes widened in shock, and he straightened in his chair. “What?” he asked, disbelief coloring his voice. “You’re… ShadowQueen? The one who has every government and corporation on edge?”

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips despite the gravity of the moment. “Yes, that’s me. I’ve been hacking since I was a teenager. It started as a hobby, then turned into a way to fight injustice and corruption. I’ve exposed criminals, stopped cyberattacks, and even helped law enforcement—without them ever knowing who I am.”

He was silent for a moment, processing the information. Then he let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “You really are full of surprises, aren’t you?”

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, though my heart was pounding. “I didn’t think it was relevant to our lives until now. But when I saw how tense you were, how much this betrayal was affecting you, I knew I had to do something. So, I used my skills to dig deeper.”

---

Reyaansh stood and began pacing the room, his hands running through his hair as he tried to wrap his head around the revelation. “You mean to tell me,” he said, turning to face me, “that my sweet, innocent wife is actually the most feared and respected hacker in the world?”

I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow at his tone. “Sweet and innocent? You underestimated me, Mr. Rathore,” I teased, though my voice held a serious edge. “But yes, I’m the one they all talk about in whispers. And now, I’m using my skills to protect you.”

He stopped pacing and looked at me, a strange mix of admiration and pride shining in his eyes. “Kiara,” he said, his voice softer now, “I don’t even know what to say. You’ve turned my world upside down more than once.”

I stood and walked toward him, placing a hand on his arm. “You’ve done the same for me, Reyaansh. But I promise, I’ll never let anyone hurt you. Not as your wife, and not as ShadowQueen.”

---

He took my hand, his grip firm but gentle. “You’re incredible,” he said, shaking his head as if he still couldn’t believe it. “But this world of mine is dangerous. You’re already in it because of me, but now, knowing who you are, it feels even riskier.”

“I can handle it,” I assured him. “I’ve faced worse, trust me. And now, we’re a team. You handle the physical world, and I’ll take care of the digital one. Together, we’re unstoppable.”

A slow smile spread across his face, and he pulled me into a hug. “You really are my equal, aren’t you?”

“Always,” I replied, resting my head against his chest.

In that moment, I knew we had reached a new level of understanding. No secrets, no barriers—just us, ready to face the world together, one challenge at a time.