Chapter 9: Trapped in the Web

Diya barely managed to close the door before her legs gave out.

She collapsed onto her bed, heart hammering.

Abeer's words echoed in her mind.

"You're not going anywhere."

Why? Why was he still obsessed with her when she had done everything to stay away?

No. She couldn't let this continue. She had to leave.

She grabbed her laptop and immediately started looking for ways to escape.

New passport? It would take weeks.Secret flight booking? Abeer controlled half the airlines and security in Delhi.Run away on foot? Yeah, and get kidnapped within hours.

Dammit.

Just then, her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: We need to talk. Now.

Diya's stomach twisted.

She already knew who it was.

The campus café was nearly empty, save for a few students and a barista who looked half-asleep.

Diya spotted Tara immediately.

She was sitting by the window, fingers drumming against the wooden table. Her sharp, hazel eyes locked onto Diya the second she stepped inside.

This was not the Tara Vaidya she had written.

The sweet, innocent girl who fell for Abeer was nowhere to be seen.

This Tara looked like she had been through hell.

And the worst part?

Diya had no idea why.

Diya sat across from her, crossing her arms. "Alright. Talk."

Tara leaned back, studying her. "You're different."

Diya's pulse spiked.

Not this again.

First Abeer, now Tara?

She forced a laugh. "What are you talking about?"

Tara tilted her head. "You don't love him anymore, do you?"

Diya felt a cold chill creep up her spine. "Who?"

Tara gave her a sharp smile. "Abeer Rathore."

Diya stiffened.

She forced her expression to stay neutral. "That's ridiculous."

Tara leaned forward. "Is it? Because the Sia I knew would have thrown herself at Abeer's feet if it meant getting a second of his attention."

Diya's fingers curled into fists under the table.

Tara's eyes narrowed. "But you? You're avoiding him. You're terrified of him."

Diya swallowed. She was too close.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said coolly.

Tara smirked. "Liar."

Diya exhaled sharply. "Why are you here, Tara?"

The smirk vanished.

And for the first time, Diya saw it.

Fear.

Tara's hands clenched on the table. "You need to leave."

Diya's breath caught.

Tara looked her dead in the eyes. "You think you're safe here? That Abeer will let you go?"

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"You don't understand what he is."

A shiver ran down Diya's spine.

"I know exactly what he is," she said quietly.

Tara shook her head. "No. You don't."

She took a deep breath, glancing around before leaning in. "Sia... listen to me. I've seen what he does to the people who betray him."

Diya's heart pounded.

"He doesn't just kill them," Tara whispered. "He ruins them first. Breaks them until there's nothing left."

Diya's throat tightened.

Tara's fingers trembled against the table. "I was supposed to be his."

Diya froze.

Tara laughed bitterly. "I was supposed to be the one he loved. The one he protected. But love? Love doesn't exist in his world. Only control."

Her voice wavered. "I tried to leave, Sia. I tried to run."

Diya's breath hitched. "What happened?"

Tara's hazel eyes met hers.

"He brought me back."

The café suddenly felt too small.

Too suffocating.

Tara reached out, grabbing Diya's wrist. "Leave, Sia. Before he decides you belong to him."

Diya swallowed hard. "And what about you?"

Tara gave her a small, sad smile.

"I never really left."

Diya barely made it back to campus before her phone buzzed again.

Unknown Number: Come home.

Her chest tightened.

No.

No, no, no.

She wasn't going back.

She blocked the number.

Then, a second message came through.

Unknown Number: You have two hours, or I'll come get you myself.

Her heart stopped.

Because this time—

It wasn't an unknown number.

It was Abeer Rathore.

Next Chapter Preview:Diya finally realizes there is no escaping Abeer.A confrontation at the Malhotra mansion.Abeer gives Diya a terrifying choice.And the biggest twist yet: Was Tara telling the truth... or hiding something worse?