Arranged to my hater

Chapter Sixty-One

Ishita:

"Where is Aarav?" I ask, my voice trembling as I face the man who used to be my father.

"He's here. Don't worry. You'll see him... once you hand over the money."

His smirk sends a chill down my spine. The person before me is not my dad. His smile, once warm and reassuring, now twists with malice. For too long, I've clung to the memory of who he was—a loving father who called me his little princess. But standing here, staring into his cold eyes, I realize that man is gone. He's been gone for a long time. And today, I let go of the last thread of hope that he might come back.

"I... I want to see Aarav first," I say, my words barely audible.

"Spare me the drama and hand over the money."

"I won't give you a penny until I know Aarav and Emma are safe. Let me see them, or I'll transfer the money back to Abhimanyu. You'll get nothing."

His eyes narrow. "You always were a stubborn brat. God, I should've abandoned you, just like your mother. She left because of you, you know? You drained her—drained her energy, her love. I should've told her to get an abortion the moment we found out about you."

The words hit me like a blade to the chest. My breath catches, but I refuse to let him see me break.

"Maybe you should have," I whisper, my voice brittle but defiant. "Now bring Aarav and Emma here and get this over with. After this, I never want to see you again."

"They're in your room," he says, turning on his heel.

I follow him, every step heavy with dread. The sight in my room stops me cold—Aarav slumped in a chair, his small body tied up, his head lolling to one side. Emma is across the room, bound and gagged, her eyes wide with terror.

"Aarav?" I rush to him, my heart hammering in my chest. "Baby, Mamma's here. Open your eyes."

"He's fine," my father says, leaning against the doorframe. "Just sedated. The kid wouldn't stop crying."

"He's two years old! Of course, he was crying! What kind of monster are you?"

"Watch your tone," he snaps. "Now, transfer the money."

I ignore him and kneel in front of Aarav. His chest rises and falls in shallow breaths. "Aarav, baby, it's Mamma. Wake up for me." His lashes flutter, and he stirs weakly. Relief floods through me.

"You're a monster," I hiss, my voice shaking with fury. "Who treats their grandchild like this?"

"He's not my grandchild," he spits. "I wanted him gone before he was born, but you were too stubborn to give him up. And look where that got us. Even Abhimanyu will leave you when he finds out about your little secret. Maybe you should take some of that alimony and start over."

I start untying Aarav.

"Stop!" he barks, stepping forward. "Untie him, and I'll shoot."

I freeze, my hands trembling as I glance at him over my shoulder.

"Dad... You wouldn't."

His laugh is cold. "You think I won't? I've got nothing left to lose."

I finish untying Aarav and lift him into my arms. As I turn, the deafening crack of a gunshot reverberates through the room. I flinch and whirl around to see the gun pointed directly at us.

"You don't listen, do you?" he growls, his voice low and venomous. "Put him down. Now."

I carefully lay Aarav on the bed, his eyes fluttering open. He reaches for me, tears streaming down his face. "Mumma..."

Before I can comfort him, my father grabs Aarav by the arm and drags him to the edge of the bed. The barrel of the gun presses against his temple.

"No!" I cry, my voice breaking. "Please, he's your—"

"Enough!" he roars. "Transfer the money, or I'll pull the trigger."

My hands shake as I pull out my phone, fumbling to open the banking app. Aarav's cries grow louder, his tiny body trembling.

"What's taking so long?" he snaps. "Don't try anything, or he's gone."

The shadow behind him moves again. Someone is here. Did someone hear the gunshot? My heart races with a mix of hope and fear.

Finally, the transaction is complete. I show him the screen. "It's done. You have the money. Now let him go."

He sneers, lowering the phone. "Why would I do that?"

"You promised!" I shout, desperation clawing at my throat.

"I promised you'd go free," he says. "But not him."

"No..." My voice cracks. "Dad, please, don't do this."

"I'm doing you a favour," he says coldly. "Now you can live your life without the burden of this child. Say goodbye, Aarav."

"No!"

The gunshot splits the air.