The Devil's Substitute : Book #1 [Original Edition]

||Chapter 11||

Sitting on his gold-plated throne, Reyansh lounged with his legs propped up on the table. Eyes closed, he waited patiently, reigning in his anger. Outside his office, also known as the rage room, Samaya stood trembling, her husband by her side.

Though Ranveer seemed disinterested, Samaya had tethered him to her side, holding onto her pallu. He glanced at her, noticing her gaze fixed on the door, her nerves betraying her with every gulp.

"Thirsty?" Ranveer quipped.

"Huh..." Samaya raised an eyebrow.

Ranveer feigned a smile. "Your throat will soon rival the Sahara."

Samaya shot him a glare before scanning the room. "I'm waiting for Maa sa. Where is she?"

"Hmm...probably figuring out how to put Reyansh in his place," Samaya mused, answering her own question as Ranveer stood silently, uninterested in responding.

Meanwhile, Rani lounged on the balcony, listening to the radio. Raghuveer's irritation grew.

"Rani, Reyansh has summoned us," he reminded her.

Rani paused the music, fixing her gaze on her husband. "So what? Do you think the great Rani Raghuvanshi will bow her head and obey? Not a chance."

Raghuveer rolled his eyes. "Reyansh knows Samaya lied. You're partly responsible for that, Rani."

Rani chuckled, resuming her radio play. "But he can't accuse me, can he? I'm the senior here. No one, I mean no one, has the right to question or punish me."
 

                                 .ೃ࿐*ੈ✩‧₊˚.ೃ࿐

The car halted in front of Vedant House. Riya Raghuvanshi gazed at her sister-in-law, peacefully sleeping on her lap. With a worried glance at the house, she couldn't fathom the reactions of her parents and her brother upon seeing Piyali's condition.

Priyank Vedant emerged from his house, puzzled by the unexpected presence of a car outside. As Riya stepped out, Priyank's frown deepened, quickly turning to shock as he beheld his sister lying in the backseat.

"MAA... PAAPPPAAA..."

Priyank's urgent cry rang through the air, summoning his parents. Manohar and Ramya rushed out, concern etched on their faces, to find Piyali unconscious in Priyank's arms, Riya standing by with the driver, who held Piyali's luggage.

"I warned you," Priyank muttered angrily at his parents before darting inside.

Manohar and Ramya turned to Riya, seeking answers.

"What happened to our daughter?" Manohar asked sternly, his worry evident in his voice.

Riya gulped nervously, feeling the weight of his gaze.