Devraj’s Next Move

Devraj Malhotra was a patient man.

He had built his empire by waiting, watching, and striking when the moment was right. And right now, he believed the Oberoi siblings were crumbling, their bonds fractured beyond repair.

Avni’s hesitation at their meeting had only confirmed it.

"She’s slipping away from them," he thought with satisfaction.

But he needed to be sure.

So, he sent his men to do what they did best—dig deeper.

Inside the Oberoi Mansion

Back at the mansion, the atmosphere was tense.

Avni sat on the couch, her phone in her hands, waiting for the next message from Devraj. Ayush paced restlessly. Anirudh was reading through legal files, though it was clear his mind was elsewhere. Aryan scrolled on his phone, pretending to be relaxed.

Only Arnav remained still, seated at his desk, his fingers tapping rhythmically.

"We need him to believe Avni is drifting away," Arnav finally said. "Which means she has to create more distance between us—publicly."

Avni looked up. "You want me to start fighting with you all… in front of people?"

Arnav’s sharp gaze met hers. "Yes. And not just simple arguments—real, visible defiance. You need to act like you despise us."

Ayush let out a low whistle. "That won’t be too hard," he muttered.

Avni threw a pillow at him.

Arnav ignored them. "We don’t have much time. Devraj will be watching your every move."

The First Public Outburst

The next morning, the first staged fight happened at a well-known café where the media often lingered.

Avni stormed in, followed by Anirudh, who was playing his role well. His voice was sharp, his expression irritated.

"You can’t keep making reckless choices, Avni," Anirudh said loudly.

"Reckless?!" Avni shot back, crossing her arms. "Oh, I’m sorry—am I supposed to follow orders like some kind of soldier?"

"You don’t even know what you’re getting involved in!" Anirudh argued, his frustration believable.

Avni’s voice cut through the café.

"Maybe I don’t want to be an Oberoi anymore!"

The entire place fell silent.

The whispers started immediately.

"Did you hear that?" "Avni Oberoi doesn’t want to be part of her own family?" "Is the Oberoi empire really falling apart?"

Perfect.

Devraj Takes the Bait

By evening, Devraj received the news. His informants had already sent him clips of Avni’s outburst.

He smirked.

"She’s ready to leave them."

Without wasting time, he sent another message.

"Come meet me tonight. I’ll show you what freedom really looks like."

The Risky Meeting

Avni read the message, her heart racing. She looked at Arnav. "He’s asking me to meet him alone."

Ayush clenched his fists. "No way. It’s a trap."

Anirudh sighed. "Of course, it is. But we need to see where he takes her."

Arnav finally spoke, his voice calm yet dangerous.

"You go. But we’ll be watching."

Avni nodded.

She was walking straight into the lion’s den.

To Be Continued…

Avni is about to take the biggest risk yet. Will she be able to fool Devraj completely, or is she the one walking into a trap?