The Villainess's Second Chance

Arya had tried to read the file Kiyan had given her all night, but the facts and questions it contained only left her more confused. By morning, she stepped onto the balcony to refresh herself. The cool breeze brought some relief to her tired mind.

Just then, the door to her room opened slightly. Turning around, she saw Kiyan entering. His usual stern and serious gaze was fixed directly on Arya.

"Were you working on the file or did you just fall asleep?" Kiyan asked bluntly.

"I tried, but... it's all too complicated. I need your help," Arya replied nervously.

Kiyan said nothing and walked over to stand close to her. The space between them became so small that Arya instinctively tried to step back, only to be stopped by the balcony railing.

"You need to work on this yourself, Arya. I can show you the way, but you'll have to walk it on your own," Kiyan said in a low, firm voice.

Arya nodded and replied, "Alright. But why are you standing so close? It's uncomfortable."

Ignoring her words, Kiyan placed both his hands on the balcony railing, effectively trapping her.

"If discomfort pushes you to become stronger, then it's not a bad thing."

Just then, a gentle breeze blew Arya's dupatta onto Kiyan's face. Embarrassed, Arya quickly tried to pull it away, but her fingers accidentally brushed against his hand.

For a moment, there was complete silence between them. Their eyes met, and the closeness made them both feel an unfamiliar tension. Arya's heartbeat quickened, but Kiyan's face remained unreadable.

"I... I didn't do this on purpose," Arya stammered, trying to free herself.

"I never said you did," Kiyan replied coolly.

At that moment, the door opened again, and Aryan walked in.

"Oh! I just came to call you for breakfast, but it seems I've arrived at the wrong time," he said with a teasing grin.

Arya quickly stepped back, trying to compose herself.

"There's nothing going on, Aryan. You're misunderstanding," she said hastily.

Aryan, in a playful tone, remarked,

"Brother, you're always so angry, but this new side of you is quite interesting."

Kiyan shot Aryan a glare and asked,

"Aryan, don't you have anything better to do?"

"I do, but this scene is far more entertaining. By the way, a word of advice for both of you: work on your expressions. Your nervousness and silence are speaking volumes."

Laughing, Aryan walked out, leaving behind an atmosphere filled with awkwardness and embarrassment.

"Does he always act like such an idiot?" Arya asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Kiyan looked at her and said,

"You don't have time to think about nonsense. Focus on your work."

But his tone was slightly less cold this time. He turned and left, leaving Arya with a strange, unsettling feeling.

---

Arya glanced at the file, which contained all the information about Kiyan's mother. She decided to start from the beginning.

The first page of the file listed Antara's close friends. At the top of the list was a name: Naina Mehta. Learning that Antara had a close friend still living in the city, Arya decided to meet her without delay.

---

As Arya stepped out of her room and headed for the door, Aryan appeared and stopped her.

"Where are you going, madam? Don't you remember that my brother has forbidden you from leaving the house? And without his permission, I'm not letting you step outside," Aryan said smugly.

Arya crossed her arms and replied,

"Listen, if that's the case, stop wasting my time and call your brother to ask if I can leave or not. Because whether you let me or not, it makes no difference—I will leave."

Seeing her confidence, Aryan was momentarily stunned, but he quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Kiyan. After a few rings, Kiyan answered.

"Hello, brother. This girl was trying to run away again, but I caught her this time," Aryan bragged, acting as if he'd done Kiyan a huge favor.

But what Kiyan said next left him in shock.

"Let her go. She's no longer our concern."

"Brother, what are you saying? She was trying to escape, and I caught her red-handed—" Aryan tried to protest.

"I said, let her go," Kiyan repeated firmly before hanging up.

Aryan stared at Arya in disbelief. She, on the other hand, was smiling. Handing her the car keys, Aryan muttered,

"Fine, go wherever you want. And take my car—don't complain later about walking all over the city."

Humming a tune, he walked away. Arya glanced at the keys in her hand, took a deep breath, and left.

---

By afternoon, Arya reached Naina's house. It was an old, grand home that had seen better days but now showed signs of wear. When Arya rang the bell, Naina herself opened the door. She was an older woman, well-dressed, with an alertness in her eyes.

"Are you Antara's friend, Naina Mehta?" Arya asked politely.

"Yes, but who are you?" Naina replied cautiously.

"My name is Arya. I'm gathering some information for Kiyan. I thought you might know something important about his mother."

Naina seemed uneasy but forced a smile.

"Come in. But I don't know much; it's been a long time."

Sitting on the couch, Arya observed Naina closely. Throughout their conversation, Naina's hesitation and nervousness were evident.

"Was there anything in Antara's life that troubled her?" Arya asked directly.

"No, she was always happy," Naina replied, lifting her teacup.

"Did she ever share anything personal with you? About her life or any problems she might have had?" Arya pressed further.

"No, nothing like that... Was there really something wrong in her life?" Naina asked, feigning concern.

To Arya, her responses seemed insincere. During the conversation, Naina kept glancing at the clock, as if she were in a hurry.

"You seem worried. Is everything alright?" Arya asked.

"Yes, everything's fine. I just have an important errand to run," Naina replied with a forced smile.

"Alright, I'll leave for now. But I may need to speak to you again," Arya said as she got up to leave.

As Arya reached the door, she overheard Naina on a phone call. Her voice was trembling.

"Yes, she asked me questions, but I didn't tell her anything... I'm really scared."

Arya quietly peeked back and saw Naina quickly ending the call before retreating to another room. She felt certain that something was being hidden.

---

In the evening, Arya began gathering information about Naina. She learned that Naina often visited an old café in the city to meet someone.

That evening, Arya followed Naina to the café. There, Naina sat with a man dressed in black who kept glancing around nervously. From a distance, Arya discreetly listened to their conversation.

"What if she asks more questions?" Naina asked anxiously.

"You just need to do as you're told. I'll handle the rest," the man replied coldly.

Arya quickly took a photo of them with her phone. She was now certain that Naina was hiding something big and that this mysterious man was involved.

---

What happens next? Will Arya uncover the truth about Kiyan's mother's murder? Who is behind this conspiracy?

Stay tuned with "The Villainess's Second Chance."