Sacred Games Of Twisted Fate {18+}

*ex encounter*

***author's pov***

"Didn't’t I tell you how stunning you look tonight?” he said, his voice smooth and teasing. “That saree is practically begging to be admired.”

Aayara rolled her eyes, trying to maintain her composure. “Zehan, this isn’t the time. You know I’m with Arjun.”

“Come on, Aayara,” he said, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a more intimate tone. “You can’t deny that there’s still something between us. I can see it in your eyes.”

She took a step back, heart racing, but he moved closer again, invading her space. “Remember the fun we used to have? The laughter, the excitement? Don’t you miss that? I can give you that thrill again.”

“Zehan, please. This isn’t right.” Aayara’s voice trembled, but she couldn’t help but feel a pull toward him, despite herself.

He chuckled, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. “Right? Or wrong? What’s the difference if you’re not truly happy? Look at you. You’re here, dressed to the nines, and yet you’re standing alone. Doesn’t that tell you something?”

“I don’t need you to tell me how to feel,” Aayara shot back, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “Arjun is—”

“Busy pretending to care?” Zehan interjected, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Let’s face it, Aayara. You’re too good for that. You deserve someone who actually appreciates you.”

She felt heat rising to her cheeks at his words, a mixture of anger and confusion flooding her senses. “And you think you’re that person?”

“Why not? I’ve always been there for you. I know what you like. I know how to make you smile.” He leaned in, his voice low and enticing. “And I promise, I’ll treat you like a queen. No more being treated like a trophy.”

Aayara looked around nervously, feeling exposed under his intense gaze. “You don’t get to come back into my life and try to manipulate me, Zehan.”

He smirked, undeterred by her protests. “Is that what you think? I’m just here to remind you of what could be. I can give you what Arjun can’t—a real connection. Just imagine the two of us, back where we started. Fun, laughter, passion.”

“Stop it,” Aayara whispered, feeling torn. She hated that his words were stirring up old memories, memories she had tried to bury.

“Just give me a chance,” he urged, his eyes sparkling with allure. “Let’s not pretend we don’t have a history. You can have the best of both worlds—Arjun’s stability and my excitement.”

At that moment, Aayara caught a glimpse of Arjun across the room, and the sight of him, standing tall and commanding among the other guests, made her heart race. She wanted to turn to him, to reach out and feel his strength, but she felt rooted in place by Zehan’s persistent presence.

“Zehan, this isn’t fair to me, or to Arjun,” she said, attempting to regain her footing. “I need to figure things out with him.”

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her. “I’m just offering you an escape. One night to remember what it’s like to be desired and wanted. You don’t have to choose now, but think about it.”

Aayara’s breath caught in her throat as she stared into his eyes, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. Did she really want to go back to that life, or was she being pulled away from the commitment she had with Arjun?

Before she could respond, she felt a presence behind her. Turning, she found Arjun standing there, his expression darkened, eyes glinting with anger and something else—possessiveness.

“What’s going on here?” Arjun’s voice was low and dangerous, making her heart race in a completely different way.

Zehan straightened up, a sly smile on his face.

Zehan straightened up, a sly smile on his face. “Just catching up with an old friend, Arjun. I was reminding her of how much fun we used to have together.”

Arjun’s jaw clenched, and Aayara could feel the tension crackling in the air between them. She didn’t know how to respond. Was she ready to confront Arjun about her feelings, especially with Zehan standing right there, stirring the pot?

“Old friends shouldn’t get too close,” Arjun said, his voice steady but dripping with menace. “Especially when one of them is married.”

Zehan smirked, taking a step back, clearly enjoying the power struggle. “Just trying to bring a little excitement into her life, that’s all. Wouldn’t want her to be bored.”

Aayara felt trapped between the two men, both of whom had very different views of her life. How was she supposed to navigate this?

Zehan flashed a confident smile, his eyes glinting with mischief as he leaned in closer to Aayara. “I’ll let you think about what I said,” he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.

Then, before she could react, he pressed a hard kiss to her cheek, the gesture both bold and possessive. Aayara’s breath hitched in surprise, and she felt a rush of warmth flood her cheeks. She opened her mouth to protest, but the words got stuck in her throat as she caught a glimpse of Arjun’s face behind him.

Zehan straightened up, taking a step back to look at Arjun with a playful smirk. “Take good care of her, Arjun. She deserves it.” With that, he winked at Aayara and sauntered away, leaving her standing there in a whirlwind of confusion and unease.

Arjun’s dark gaze followed Zehan’s retreating figure, his jaw clenched tight as anger simmered just beneath the surface. He turned to Aayara, his expression unreadable, yet the tension in the air was palpable.