The devil's Enigmatic bride

(Chapter - 12)

Maya didn't linger any longer. With a final glance around, she swiftly got into her car. The moment the door clicked shut, a swarm of media and reporters descended upon the scene.

Sumit frowned as he observed the sudden arrival of the press. Their timely appearance left no doubt-Natasha had orchestrated this. She must have tipped them off about Maya's arrival in Frankfurt.

Anger flared within Sumit as he took in the scene. Maya had always kept a low profile. At just 19, she had entered the business world, and by 24, she had elevated the Dream Hotel chain to an unprecedented level, surpassing even the Arya family's crown jewel, Emperor Industry.

Before Maya's stewardship, Emperor Industry was the Arya family's most lucrative venture. But under Maya's management, Dream Hotel began to outshine Emperor Industry. The chain's worth had multiplied exponentially, eclipsing the former titan of the family's portfolio.

In just five years, Maya expanded the hotel chain from 50 to 90 countries, an achievement that took her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather decades to accomplish. Her entry into the hotel industry sparked a revolution-her business strategies and acumen were unparalleled, leaving competitors bewildered by her rapid rise to dominance.

Maya's success was shrouded in mystery. While many speculated, the truth was that her triumphs were the result of relentless hard work. Despite her achievements, Maya shunned the spotlight. She never attended business events or social gatherings, delegating such appearances to Riba and Sumit. Her life revolved around work and her son, Ayansh.

Maya could handle the world and the media if she chose, but she preferred to stay out of the limelight. Socializing was not her style. However, Natasha and Zara delighted in provoking her, and this time was no different-they had called the media. Fortunately, Maya had already made her escape before they arrived.

Sumit's eyes burned with fury as he glared at the sea of reporters. His phone buzzed with a notification, momentarily breaking his focus. Ignoring the clamoring questions, he pulled out his phone and read the message from Maya: "Show all your worries, concerns, fear, and anxiety to these people. Tell them what they want to hear. The most important thing, don't forget to collect evidence at the end. Also, make sure to explain things to that manager as per our plan."

Maya's instructions were clear, yet Sumit couldn't help but wonder why she seemed intent on empowering her enemies. But her word was final, and Sumit, as always, would follow her lead.

While Sumit and Riba managed the media, Maya departed for London.

At Arya Mansion, as Maya stepped out of the jet, her gaze locked onto Natasha, who stood by her room's window. Natasha waved cheerfully, but Maya only returned a slight smile before heading to her bedroom.

Inside, Maya found her once immaculate master bedroom in complete disarray. She sighed, having anticipated this. It wasn't the first time Ayansh had reacted this way when she left without telling him.

She summoned a servant to clean the mess and then made her way to the attached balcony, where she found Ayansh sitting on a swing, his head bowed as he methodically solved and scrambled a Rubik's cube.

Maya stood quietly at the door, watching her son. Sensing her presence, Ayansh looked up, only to quickly avert his gaze, ignoring her.

Maya approached him softly. "Baby, look at me," she coaxed gently, but Ayansh remained stubborn, his small hands busy with the cube.

Understanding his silent anger, Maya felt a pang of guilt. She knelt beside him, stroking his hair tenderly. "I'm sorry, baby. Something urgent came up, and I had to go. I would never leave you if I didn't have to."

Ayansh quietly removed her hand from his head, still refusing to meet her gaze. He got off the swing and walked to the balcony's corner, his voice small and sad. "You could have taken me with you, Mommy. But you didn't. Your work is more important than me. You don't care about me or my feelings. You always leave me whenever you want."

Each word pierced Maya's heart. She hadn't realized the extent of her son's pain until now.

She closed her eyes briefly before moving towards him. Wrapping her arms around him from behind, she whispered, "This was the last time, baby. I promise. I won't go anywhere without telling you. Please forgive Mommy this last time."

Ayansh stayed silent, his gaze fixed on the ground, even as Maya turned him towards her, cupping his small face in her hands. She touched her forehead to his, her voice filled with love and remorse. "Please, baby, forgive Mommy."

After a long pause, Ayansh finally looked up at her. His silence and downcast eyes spoke volumes. When he was sad, he didn't cry-he just withdrew.

Seeing the anger slowly fade from his eyes, a relieved smile spread across Maya's face. She pulled him into a tight embrace. As Ayansh rested his head against her, he whispered, "It really hurts, Mommy. Please, never do this again."

Maya's heart sank at his words, guilt washing over her. She had hurt him without even realizing it, but now she was determined to make amends.

She lifted Ayansh into her arms, her voice gentle as she suggested, "Let's go horse riding today, baby. Just you and me."

"Okay, Mommy," Ayansh agreed, his spirits lifting.

Horse riding was one of Ayansh's favorite activities, and Maya knew it would cheer him up. Together, they headed to the stables to choose a horse for their ride.

Meanwhile, back in India, Vidyut had just entered the living area of Singhania Palace when his grandfather called out, "Vidyut, I need to discuss something important with you."

Vidyut halted, his blue eyes cold and tinged with red as he turned to face his grandfather. He had just returned to India, and his tone was icy as he replied, "I have nothing to discuss with you, Mr. Singhania."

His grandfather's lips curled into a slight smile. "Think carefully, Vidyut. This is about Maya."

At the mention of Maya's name, Vidyut's expression darkened. Without another word, he followed his grandfather to the study.

His grandfather chuckled at his reaction. Inside the study, he retrieved a black box from the locker, placing it on the desk before Vidyut.

Vidyut's eyes flickered from his grandfather to the box, his face betraying no emotion.

Opening the box, his grandfather said,"Bring my daughter-in-law and grandson back home as soon as possible, Vidyut."

Vidyut's brows furrowed sharply at the command.

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What will happen next?

To find out...

To be continued...