The devil's Enigmatic bride

(Chapter - 17)

As her grandfather spoke, Maya lowered her head, a slight smile gracing her lips.

The enmity between the Arya family and the Singhania family was deeply rooted, a feud that spanned generations. Maya's grandfather harbored a strong dislike for the Singhania family, particularly for Vidyut.

But it wasn't always this way.

Once, the Arya and Singhania families shared a bond that was the envy of high society. Their friendship was celebrated as exemplary among the wealthy elite. Maya's grandfather, Virendra Arya, and Vidyut's grandfather, Angad Singhania, had once been the closest of friends.

They had attended the same schools from middle school through college. But their friendship unraveled over a woman. During their college years, both Virendra and Angad fell in love with a girl named Sunita, setting their hearts on the same woman.

Neither of them won her heart, but their affection for her tore their friendship apart, turning them into lifelong enemies.

Unbeknownst to them at the time, Sunita was already married with a child during their college days. By the time Virendra and Angad discovered the truth, it was too late. The damage to their friendship was irreparable.

In the years that followed, they regretted the loss of their bond, but pride and ego eroded any hope of reconciliation. Now, only bitterness and enmity remained.

As her grandfather's anger simmered, Natasha spoke up in a sweet voice,"Grandpa, I heard some girl tried to seduce Mr. Vidyut by entering his room without permission."

Maya paused, lifting her gaze to meet Natasha's, her expression calm and unyielding.

Natasha continued with feigned innocence,"Please don't take it the wrong way, sister Maya. But from a business perspective, I think our hotel management shares the blame for the $45 million loss and the damage to Dream Emperor's image. Improvements are clearly needed."

Though Natasha's words seemed considerate and wise, her true intentions were anything but. She was subtly trying to tarnish Maya's reputation in their grandfather's eyes.

Zara, eager to align with her daughter, added,"Dad, Natasha isn't wrong. $45 million is a significant amount. Even setting that aside, the reputational damage to our hotel, family, and company cannot be ignored. It's clear that Dream Hotel's management needs to be reassessed."

Maya, however, remained silent. She focused on her meal, a light smile playing on her lips as she resumed eating.

To many, including their grandfather, Maya was seen as gentle, innocent, and wise. But to Natasha and Zara, she was merely a fool.

Yet, there were three people at that table who knew the truth about Maya's darker side: Maya herself, Ayansh, and her father, Mr. Rudra.

Hearing Natasha and Zara's criticisms, their grandfather's eyes grew sharp.

Instead of directing his anger at Maya, he sternly addressed Natasha and Zara. "What are you trying to say? Do you think I can't afford a $45 million loss?"

Natasha and Zara were stunned by his reaction. They couldn't understand what hold Maya had over him that made him deaf to any criticism of her.

Zara, trying to backtrack, quickly said,"No, Dad, that's not what we meant. We were just advising Maya. We had no ill intentions."

But their grandfather was unmoved."Under Maya's management, Dream Hotel has generated multi-billion-dollar returns. She doesn't need advice from either of you. She knows better than anyone how to handle this situation."