I Became His Replaced Bride

Chapter 25

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Past

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Neeti Parekh clutched her motionless two-year-old daughter tightly to her chest, her voice breaking as she screamed, "Drive faster, Darshan!" Behind the wheel, Darshan nodded anxiously, beads of sweat lining his forehead. Neeti looked shattered, her eyes wild with terror and grief as she cradled her daughter, whose small body was covered in blood. Darshan had felt a sickening weight in his gut when Neeti had burst out, her child limp and unrecognizable beneath the gore and bruises. The two year girl's face was all bloody that it was hard to tell her features.

But he had known this moment was inevitable. His maalik had given the orders long ago. He had known that today, the Parekh mansion would be empty except for the sisters, and that Komal Modi’s visit had only one cruel purpose.

Today was the day the Parekh family would fall.

And it was all by his maalik's design.

Darshan had followed his maalik blindly for years. The man had given him everything—his son had married Ketki, a beautiful and kind-hearted girl, and now worked directly under his maalik as an assistant. Darshan's life was perfect, all thanks to his maalik. For him, Darshan would do anything, even cross unthinkable lines.

"Darshan, stop the car!" Neeti’s panicked voice yanked him from his thoughts. He glanced back, confused, but obeyed, pulling the car to a halt. Neeti ignored his bewilderment as the door beside her swung open and in came her in-laws. Satish Parekh and his wife hurried inside, their faces pale with shock. Satish, shaking with urgency, barked, "Drive, Darshan! We don't have time!"

Darshan’s heart raced. This wasn’t part of the plan. The Parekh matriarch and patriarch weren’t supposed to be here. His orders had been clear: eliminate Neeti and her daughter. But now they were all in the car, complicating everything.

Fear and indecision gnawed at him, but he quickly steeled himself. No, he couldn’t panic. He had to stick to the plan, no matter what.

“Wait! That’s Subhrat! What happened to his car?” Ritu Parekh exclaimed, her voice sharp as she spotted her son standing stranded on the empty road. Darshan had no choice but to stop the car. Subhrat rushed over, his face brightening with relief as he saw his family. Without a word, he slid into the passenger seat, but Darshan could already feel the situation spiraling further out of control.

This was a disaster.

Neeti cried out, her voice cracking, “Subhrat! Our daughter!”

Subhrat’s gaze shot to the backseat, his eyes widening in horror at the sight of his bloodied little girl. "Oh my god... M-my daughter!" He gasped, his hands trembling as he took the child from Neeti’s arms, cradling her gently as tears filled his eyes. His face twisted with grief as Neeti, sobbing, recounted what had happened.

In the backseat, Satish and Ritu wrapped their arms around Neeti, their anguish palpable. “We never should have trusted Komal!” Ritu wailed, her voice breaking.

Subhrat’s expression darkened, rage flaring in his eyes. His jaw clenched, he spat through gritted teeth, “I’m going to destroy the Modi's. Komal dared to hurt my daughter—she’s going to pay with her blood!”

Darshan’s pulse pounded in his ears. The situation had gone from bad to worse. Every move now was a dangerous gamble, and the plan he had followed all these years was crumbling before his eyes.

Darshan bit his lip as they approached the site of execution. His hands tightened on the steering wheel, his heart pounding in his chest. He slowed the car and pulled over near a small roadside tea shop, just a few meters from the deadly spot. Subhrat, frowning in confusion, snapped, "Where are you going? We can’t delay—we need to get to the hospital!"