SHADOWS OF THE BLOODLINE

Chapter 24

Raina was in a state of shock and disbelief as he sat watching the footage. The recording clearly showed Ishan entering Gambhir's room, rifling through the documents, and taking pictures. The sight of it all was like a punch to the gut, especially considering how Ishan had just seemed to be reconnecting with his father.

Raina's mind raced as he tried to process what he had seen. Ishan had always been a dutiful son, never one to betray his family. But this footage told a different story, one that was hard to reconcile with the boy he knew.

The phone call from Gambhir only deepened his sense of dread. "You don't need to explain, Raina," Gambhir had said, his voice cold and detached. It was clear that Gambhir had seen everything and was now grappling with the betrayal he believed had occurred.

Raina could feel the weight of responsibility bearing down on him. "Ishan will never betray you. He may haven't realised what it was," he said into the phone, his voice thick with emotion.

"I know," Gambhir replied, though his tone was hard. "Somebody corrupted my son. Find out who it is."

The directive was clear, but Raina knew the task ahead would be anything but easy. The family was now caught in a web of deceit, and it was up to him to untangle it before more damage was done. He needed to find out who had manipulated Ishan into taking those photos and why.

As he ended the call, Raina felt a deep sense of urgency. Time was running out, and the stakes were higher than ever. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes. The truth had to be uncovered, and it had to be done swiftly, for the sake of Ishan, for the family, and for the fragile peace that still held them together.

Raina's frustration was evident as he confronted Ishan, but he could see the fear and confusion in his son's eyes. Ishan's reluctance to reveal the truth, despite the evidence, spoke volumes about his innocence and the weight of the situation he found himself in.

Raina's heart softened a bit as he saw how scared Ishan was. It was clear that Ishan had been caught in a difficult situation, manipulated into actions that were not truly his own.

The footage had shown Ishan with the phone, but he was clearly protecting someone he trusted. Raina's suspicion had quickly zeroed in on Athiya, knowing she had been in touch with Ishan and Rahul.

"Okay, Ishan. You can go to your room and rest now," Raina said, his voice calmer but still carrying a note of authority.

Ishan nodded, visibly relieved, and went back to his room, still shaken but grateful for the reprieve.

Ishan's instincts were screaming that something was deeply wrong. The moment Rahul took his phone, the weight of the situation became undeniable. His brother's tense expression and the urgency in his voice confirmed that whatever was happening was serious, and it involved both Rahul and and his sister in law.

Ishan knew something was wrong when Rahul bhaiya took his phone. His eyes told something serious happened.

Now he had to know what it is. He didn't want anything bad happen to Athiya. Rahul was also involved.

So he layed out the plan he was preparing for years now. He meticulously planned it. His idea was to run away when time comes. But this needs to be done. There wont be a chance to escape this hell but his brother needs him now. So he carefully went out of the mansion.

Once outside, Ishan knew he was on his own, but he also knew that his brother needed him. The next steps would be dangerous, but Ishan was ready. He had no intention of returning to the mansion, at least not until he knew the truth and had a plan to protect those he cared about.

 He had been planning his escape for years, quietly preparing for the moment when he could break free from the suffocating control of his father and the toxic environment of the mansion. But now, with Rahul in potential danger and Athiya's involvement making the situation even more precarious, Ishan knew he had to act sooner than planned.