I Became His Replaced Bride

Chapter 28

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Past

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Raghav Modi slipped into the room, dressed like an ordinary middle-class man, his face hidden beneath the brim of his hat. With a quiet click, he shut the door behind him. The room was swallowed in darkness—pitch black—but he didn’t need to see to know who was waiting for him. 

Leaning against the locked door, he exhaled sharply. "Why did you call me here? Our work is done." 

A low chuckle cut through the silence, slow and amused. "That job is done. But we have a new one. You need to keep Komal Modi trapped in a lie." 

Raghav’s jaw tightened. Komal—his wife. He loved her, in his own way. But for the greater good, he was willing to lose everything, even her trust. "Why?" he asked, his voice steady. "She was the one who orchestrated the Parekh family's murder. What’s the lie?" 

The unseen man’s voice dropped to a heavy murmur. "The lie is that it was her idea. She must never know you were involved. Ever. Understood?" 

Raghav’s fingers curled into fists, his expression unreadable. Then, after a pause, he gave a firm nod. "Understood."

The man let a beat of silence pass before speaking again. "Also, Vinay Shah is poking his nose into our business. Do something about it. Get rid of him." 

Raghav's eyes widened. "Vinay?" 

A slow, tired sigh came from the darkness. "Yes. He already knows too much." 

Raghav exhaled, his shoulders sagging. "Okay." 

"But that's not all," the man continued. "He has some documents—important ones. Make sure you get them." 

Raghav's expression hardened. His voice was steady, unwavering. "Don't worry. Nothing and no one will stand in our way."

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Present,

Parekh Textile Industries, Ahemdabad,

2:00 pm.

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The conference room was in chaos. Voices overlapped, accusations flew, and every pair of eyes burned into Aashna like she was an intruder in her own space. She sat in the head chair, stiff and uneasy, while Brijesh’s assistant stood behind her, offering nothing—not a word, not a glance of support. He was middle-aged, cold-eyed, and one of the many people in this room who despised her for reasons she didn’t even understand. 

Aarav had dropped her off at what was now her company. He was supposed to sit beside her in this brutal meeting with the board members and shareholders, but Ritesh had pulled him aside for an urgent matter. I’ll be back soon, he had promised before disappearing. That had been fifteen minutes ago. 

She was still alone. Alone among vultures circling, waiting for her to fall. 

Aashna was a teacher, not a businesswoman. She knew nothing about companies, shares, stocks, or how to run an empire. She was fresh blood in a room full of seasoned predators, all eager to exploit her weakness. 

Her mother and sister sat across from her, their glares cutting through the noise. Their hatred was deep, sharp, unrelenting—enough to last seven lifetimes. 

Aashna’s hands trembled under the table. Anxiety churned in her stomach, her pulse hammering in her ears. She didn’t know what to say, what to do. And the room was waiting, watching, ready to tear her apart the moment she stumbled.