Chapter 22: The Prison of Lies

Diya's breath felt too loud.

She was trapped between two men.

Two versions of her past and future.

Abeer. The man who had ruined her. Consumed her. The one who made her feel more alive than she ever had.

Aarav. The man who was supposed to be her future. The one who had once been safe. The one who had found her in a world she never should have entered.

And now?

They were seconds away from killing each other.

Abeer leaned back, arms crossed, his smirk sharp as a blade.

"So let me get this straight," he murmured, his voice slow, mocking. "You followed my jaan across dimensions because you just missed her?"

Aarav smiled. Too calm. Too knowing.

"She doesn't belong here," he said. "And you know it."

Abeer's jaw ticked.

Something flickered in his eyes—something dark.

He knew something.

But before Diya could even process, Aarav turned to her, his voice softer.

"Diya," he whispered, his fingers brushing hers.

"You don't belong to him."

Abeer laughed.

But it wasn't amusement.

It was rage.

Cold. Sharp. Deadly.

"Funny," Abeer murmured, standing up. "Because last night, she seemed to think otherwise."

Diya flushed.

Aarav stiffened.

Abeer smirked. "Should I tell him, jaan? Should I tell him how sweet you sound when you moan my name?"

Diya whipped around, shoving him. "Abeer!"

Abeer caught her wrist easily.

His fingers tightened.

"You're mine, jaan," he whispered. "No matter how much you try to run."

Diya's pulse raced.

Because he wasn't lying.

And God help her... she didn't want him to be.

Before anyone could speak, Diya's phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: You shouldn't have met him.

Her stomach dropped.

Unknown Number: Now, you'll pay the price.

Diya's hands shook.

Her head snapped up. "We need to go. NOW."

Abeer's eyes narrowed.

Aarav stood up, instantly alert.

And then—

A gunshot.

The window shattered.

Diya screamed.

Abeer grabbed her, shielding her.

Aarav cursed, pulling a gun from his jacket.

More shots rang out.

The door burst open.

And then—

Everything exploded.

Diya's ears rang.

Everything was chaos.

Gunfire. Screams. The sound of bodies hitting the floor.

She barely had time to think before Abeer pulled her behind him.

His gun was already out.

He fired without hesitation.

One. Two. Three men dropped instantly.

Aarav grabbed her arm. "We have to run!"

Abeer's head snapped toward him.

His grip on Diya's waist tightened.

"Touch her again," he murmured, "and I'll put a bullet in your head."

Aarav scowled. "You think this is about your ego, Rathore? Look around you! They don't just want her dead. They want to erase her."

Diya's blood ran cold.

Erase?

But before she could ask—

A man lunged toward her, knife in hand.

Diya gasped.

Abeer turned just in time.

BANG!

Blood splattered across the floor.

The attacker collapsed.

And for a second—everything stopped.

Diya stared.

Abeer's gun was still raised.

But his hand?

His hand was shaking.

He turned to her, his eyes wild. Terrified.

"You could have died," he whispered.

Diya's breath hitched.

"I—"

Abeer grabbed her face, his fingers digging into her skin.

"You could have died, jaan," he repeated, his voice breaking.

And then—

He kissed her.

It wasn't soft.

It wasn't gentle.

It was a war. A fire. A plea.

Abeer's lips crashed into hers, hot and demanding.

His hands tangled in her hair, gripping, pulling, needing.

Diya gasped, but he swallowed the sound.

He kissed her like he was punishing her. Like he was claiming her all over again.

And God help her... she let him.

Her hands fisted in his shirt.

She kissed him back just as hard. Just as desperate.

Like she needed him.

Like she couldn't breathe without him.

And maybe...

Maybe she couldn't.

Aarav's Ultimatum

Aarav pulled them apart.

"ENOUGH!"

Diya staggered back, panting.

Abeer wiped his lips, smirking.

Aarav's jaw was tight.

"You really think he'll save you, Diya?" he demanded. "Look around you! This world is a TRAP!"

Diya's chest rose and fell too fast.

"He's lying to you," Aarav pressed. "You weren't meant to be with him. You were meant to escape."

Diya froze.

Escape.

That word burrowed into her mind.

And for the first time... doubt crept in.

Abeer's expression darkened.

His hand curled into a tight fist.

"You think I'd ever let her go?" he whispered.

Aarav's lips curled. "Then you're not her savior, Rathore."

He lifted his gun.

"You're her prison."