Chapter 23: The Choice That Changes Everything

Aarav's gun was steady. His expression hard, unyielding.

"You have to come with me, Diya," he said.

Abeer stood in front of her, his body tense, his own gun raised.

"You're not taking her anywhere."

Diya's pulse pounded.

The air was thick with something deadly.

And she was caught in the middle.

"You're lying to her," Aarav pressed, his gaze locked onto Abeer's.

"You're keeping her trapped in a story that was never meant to be written."

Abeer laughed, low and dark.

"You think I care about what was 'meant to be?'"

He took a step closer, his voice dropping to something cold.

"Diya is mine. And I don't share."

Diya's breath caught.

Aarav's jaw clenched. "You don't own her, Rathore."

Abeer smirked. "Don't I?"

His gaze flickered to her, challenging. Waiting.

"Tell him, jaan," he murmured.

Diya felt her throat close.

Tell him what?

That Abeer had ruined her? That he had burned her alive in ways no man ever had?

That she couldn't breathe when he touched her, and yet she never wanted him to stop?

That he had turned her into something she didn't recognize?

A woman who didn't want to escape.

"Diya," Aarav's voice pulled her back.

"Choose."

Diya's hands clenched into fists.

She turned to Aarav. The man who had once been her future.

"I trusted you once," she whispered.

Aarav's expression softened. "You still can."

She exhaled sharply, then turned to Abeer.

The man who had become her addiction.

Her ruin.

And the only thing keeping her alive.

Abeer didn't say a word.

He just waited.

Waited for her to prove what he already knew.

That she was his.

Diya's pulse hammered.

She knew what she had to do.

But the words felt too heavy.

So instead—

She walked toward Abeer.

Step.

By.

Step.

Until she was right in front of him.

Aarav's breath hitched.

Abeer's smirk faded.

Diya's voice was quiet.

But unshaken.

"I'm not leaving him."

Aarav's face hardened.

"You don't understand, Diya," he said, his voice sharp.

"You weren't supposed to love him. He's not part of your story."

Abeer chuckled.

His hand curled around her waist, pulling her against him.

"Too late," he murmured.

Diya's breath hitched.

Aarav's gaze darkened.

"You're making a mistake," he said.

Abeer tilted his head, smirking. "I think we both know—

He leaned down, his lips grazing Diya's ear.

"She never really loved you."

Aarav snapped.

BANG!

A gunshot shattered the air.

Diya screamed.

But it wasn't Abeer who had been hit.

It was her.

Pain exploded in her shoulder.

Diya staggered. Fell.

Abeer caught her before she hit the ground.

His voice wasn't his own.

"DIYA!"

She gasped, blood soaking through her clothes.

Her vision blurred.

Aarav stood there, his hand shaking.

His eyes wide. Horrified.

"I—" he stammered. "I didn't mean to—"

Abeer's face was pure murder.

"You shot her."

Aarav took a step back.

"I—"

BANG!

A second shot rang out.

Diya's head spun.

Because this time—

It wasn't her blood on the ground.

It was Aarav's.

Abeer's gun was still raised.

His expression calm. Cold. Unforgiving.

"You shouldn't have touched her," he murmured.

Aarav collapsed.

Dead.

Diya's vision swam.

Everything was fading.

She felt Abeer's arms tightening around her.

His voice shaking.

"Stay with me, jaan," he whispered.

"Stay with me."

And then—

Everything went dark.