Mafia's Revenge Or Love? ~ A Saga Of Love And Revenge

Chapter 28

Meera closed her eyes for a moment, as if collecting herself, before finally looking back at him. "Rudra, I can’t..." she began, but her voice faltered. She couldn’t find the words, and in that moment, the weight of what had been left unsaid between them hung in the air, heavy and thick.

Rudra smiled sadly, stepping aside to let her go. "I know," he whispered. "I know."

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Next day...

The unending rays of the sun finally decided to hide under the thick blanket of clouds, allowing the sky to drape itself in soft hues of morning light. The dawn came gently, but the sun still shone brightly, casting a golden sheen over the Singhania Palace. The palace, with its towering spires and opulent architecture, gleamed as though touched by a divine hand, its walls reflecting the morning sun like polished gold. It looked almost ethereal, an ancient, eternal structure standing proud and timeless.

Natasha stood on the balcony of her room, staring out at the vast expanse of the palace grounds. She could leave the room if she wanted to—the door was no longer locked, not like it had been for months. Yet something held her back, an invisible thread of hesitation that tugged at her insides. Her heart wasn’t racing from fear; it was something else, something she couldn’t quite understand. She was waiting for the maid to arrive with breakfast, as she had every morning since she was released from her confinement. But today, the maid was late, and there was no sign of her anywhere.

Taking a deep breath, Natasha pushed away her uncertainty. Enough waiting. She walked toward the door, opened it slowly, and stepped into the grand hallway. Her heartbeat quickened, though she still couldn’t pinpoint why. Was it anticipation? Anxiety? Something deeper? Her mind was a swirl of emotions she wasn’t ready to face. She descended the wide staircase, her footsteps echoing off the marble floors as she made her way toward the grand dining room.

When she reached the dining table, she paused, eyeing the empty chairs, each one meticulously placed. "Can I get my breakfast now?" she asked, her voice soft but carrying a note of expectation. The maid, who had appeared from the shadows like a ghost, nodded hurriedly and scurried off into the kitchen. Around her, other maids and workers busied themselves with their tasks, their movements quick and efficient as they polished, dusted, and arranged.

Natasha glanced around, watching them, noticing how their eyes would flicker toward her and then away, as though afraid to meet her gaze directly. There was a strange tension in the air, something unspoken. She could feel it but couldn’t understand why they were all acting this way. She sat down, feeling the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on her, the eyes of the servants still lingering.

“What?” Natasha asked, breaking the silence. Her tone was confused, not angry. “Why are you all looking at me like this?”

The maids and workers quickly shook their heads in unison, all denying any wrongdoing, but their furtive glances told a different story. Before Natasha could press further, the sound of laughter floated down the grand staircase. She looked up to see Shivan and Shanaya approaching, their chuckles fading as soon as their eyes landed on her. They stopped abruptly, their expressions shifting from lighthearted amusement to awkward hesitation.

“I... I’m sorry,” Natasha said quickly, misunderstanding their reaction. “If you want to eat first, go ahead. I’ll wait.”

“No, no, no. Please, sit, sit,” Shanaya stammered, waving her hand in reassurance. “We’re just... surprised by something else.”

Natasha narrowed her eyes, still not understanding what the fuss was about. Shivan and Shanaya exchanged a look, but neither moved. They stood frozen in place, like statues, while the rest of the staff continued stealing glances at her, their eyes darting between Natasha and each other.