The next few days were hell.

Ayush woke up before dawn, reported to the warehouse at six, and spent hours lifting, sorting, and managing inventory. His body ached, his hands were covered in cuts, and his patience was running thin.

No luxury cars. No expensive suits. No meetings in air-conditioned offices.

Just sweat, dust, and humiliation.

And Arnav?

He never once acknowledged Ayush beyond cold, evaluating glances.

The workers didn’t care that Ayush was an Oberoi. To them, he was just another nobody.

And Ayush hated it.

But what he hated even more?

The doubt creeping into his mind.

"What if Arnav was right?"

"What if I really wasn’t ready?"

The thought infuriated him.

The Breaking Point

One evening, after an exhausting 14-hour shift, Ayush returned to the mansion—only to find Avni waiting for him.

She was sitting on the staircase, arms crossed, looking guilty.

Ayush ignored her and walked past.

"Ayush, wait," she called.

He didn’t stop.

"Ayush!"

This time, she grabbed his arm. "Can we talk?"

He yanked away. "Now you want to talk?"

Avni bit her lip. "I— I didn’t think it would get this bad."

Ayush laughed bitterly. "Oh, really? What did you think would happen when you made me miss that meeting?"

Avni looked away. "I just… I didn’t want you to become like them."

"Like them?" Ayush’s voice rose. "You mean responsible? Disciplined? You mean someone Arnav could actually trust?"

Avni flinched. "That’s not what I—"

"But that’s exactly what I should have been!" Ayush’s voice cracked. "Instead, I let you and Aryan manipulate me. And now? I have nothing!"

Avni’s eyes glistened. "You still have us."

Ayush let out a dry laugh. "Yeah? And what good did that do me?"

She looked at him, wounded. But Ayush didn’t care.

For the first time, he saw things clearly.

Avni and Aryan weren’t looking out for him. They were holding him back.

And he wasn’t going to let that happen again.

Without another word, Ayush turned and walked away.

Avni sat on the staircase, feeling something she had never felt before.

Guilt.

A Shadow in the Dark

Meanwhile, Arnav stood in his study, watching through the glass windows as Ayush walked outside, fists clenched.

Anirudh entered, placing a file on the table. "He’s changing."

Arnav didn’t reply.

Anirudh sighed. "You’re pushing him too hard."

Arnav’s jaw tightened. "If he breaks, he was never meant to rise."

Anirudh studied him for a long moment. "And if he doesn’t?"

For the first time, something unreadable flickered in Arnav’s cold eyes.

"Then maybe… he’s finally ready."

To Be Continued…