The next morning dawned with a sense of purpose, one Sayantika hadn't felt in a long time. The quiet camaraderie she and Harshvardhan had shared the previous night filled her with hope. She had cracked open a door in their marriage, and though it wasn't yet fully open, she was determined to keep pushing until they found common ground.
As she sat at the dining table, Harshvardhan was uncharacteristically quiet, his mind clearly preoccupied with the looming business challenge. Sayantika could tell he was still grappling with what they had discussed. It wasn't just about the business; it was about learning to trust her, to see her as an equal partner rather than a figurehead wife. And Harshvardhan wasn't the type of man to easily share his burdens.
"Harshvardhan," she said gently, stirring her tea, "I've been thinking... maybe it's time we approach this from a different angle."
He looked up from his phone, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"
Sayantika glanced toward the window, gathering her thoughts. "Vishal plays dirty, right? He's been undermining you with rumors and false information. But what if we preempt him? What if we turn the tables and expose his tactics before he can do any more damage?"
Harshvardhan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, clearly intrigued by her suggestion. "Expose him how?"
"Through the media," Sayantika said, her tone calm but assertive. "Vishal thrives in the shadows, manipulating things from behind the scenes. But if we shine a spotlight on him—make his underhanded tactics public—it could discredit him before he can do any real harm."
He considered this for a long moment, his sharp gaze scanning her face as if weighing whether her plan was sound. "That's risky," he said finally. "If we don't have enough evidence, it could backfire. Vishal has powerful connections. We'd need to be absolutely sure of our case before making a move like that."
Sayantika nodded. "I understand that. But I've been speaking to people—old friends and contacts from my family's business days. Some of them know Vishal's reputation well, and they might be willing to come forward with information."
Harshvardhan looked impressed, though he tried to hide it behind his usual stoic demeanor. "You've been busy," he said, a hint of admiration in his voice.
"I told you I wanted to help," she said, meeting his gaze. "I'm not just here to be a trophy wife, Harshvardhan. I want to be your partner in this—just like you said last night."
He gave her a long look, his expression softening slightly. For a brief moment, Sayantika saw the man behind the powerful CEO—the man who was just as vulnerable as anyone else, though he rarely showed it.
"Alright," he said finally. "Let's do it your way. But we need to tread carefully. One wrong move, and Vishal could destroy everything."
Sayantika smiled, feeling a swell of pride. She hadn't expected him to agree so readily, but it was clear that her determination was starting to chip away at the walls he had built around himself.
The next few days passed in a whirlwind of activity. Sayantika and Harshvardhan worked together to gather as much information as they could about Vishal Malhotra and his company. Sayantika reached out to her contacts, discreetly asking for any dirt they might have on Vishal's business practices. Meanwhile, Harshvardhan's legal team worked to compile evidence that could be used against Vishal if the situation escalated.
The more they uncovered, the more apparent it became that Vishal had been playing dirty for years. He had sabotaged deals, bribed officials, and even blackmailed competitors to get ahead. It was a web of deceit that stretched far beyond just Harshvardhan's company, and Sayantika was shocked by the sheer audacity of it all.
YOU ARE READING
Vardhan's Bride
Romance"This marriage may be real on paper, but I don't expect us to act like we're anything more than strangers." His words stung, but Sayantika had expected no less. She had heard the rumors about his first marriage-that his ex-wife had betrayed him, lea...
