This chapter contains scenes of violence that may be unsettling to some readers"

Read the chapter with the above song for a better experience.

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The silence in the warehouse was suffocating. Not a word, not a breath dared to disturb the stillness. Fear hung heavy in the air, thick and choking, as if even the walls knew who was coming.

Then, the sound.

Click.

Clack.

Her heels.

Each step echoed with a cadence that made grown men flinch. The iron doors creaked open, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. A presence entered-one that demanded attention, that commanded submission.

She stepped into the dimly lit space, her figure framed by the faint moonlight spilling in behind her. Draped in a tailored black coat, her silhouette was regal, her every movement calculated and precise. Her eyes, sharp and unyielding, swept across the room like a predator sizing up its prey.

The men standing along the walls instinctively lowered their heads. Even the most hardened among them couldn't meet her gaze. She wasn't just their leader. She was their queen.

At the center of the room knelt a man, his hands bound, his face streaked with blood and tears. He was trembling so violently that the chains around his wrists rattled, a pathetic sound in the oppressive quiet.

She paused, letting the weight of her presence settle over the room. Every second stretched unbearably long as the tension thickened.

When she finally spoke, her voice was low, calm-lethal.

"Look at me."

The man hesitated, his head shaking in silent refusal.

"I said, look. at. me"

This time, her voice cut through him like a blade. He lifted his head slowly, his bloodshot eyes meeting hers for a fraction of a second before dropping again, unable to withstand the sheer force of her gaze.

" So you dared to betray me," she said, each word deliberate, like a verdict. "You stole from me. From my family. You thought you could hide that and I wouldn't find you?"

"I-I didn't mean to-"

"Shut up"

The single word was a command, and the man froze, his mouth snapping shut as if his life depended on it which, in truth, it did.

She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the concrete, each step a harbinger of doom. Stopping directly in front of him, she crouched down, her eyes level with his.

"Do you know what makes me different?" she asked, her tone almost conversational.

The man didn't answer, his lips quivering.

" I never forgive. Forgiveness is a myth," she said, her voice razor-sharp. "And forgetting? A luxury I never afford."
She straightened, pulling a gun from her side. The polished silver gleamed, reflecting the dim light as if mocking the darkness around it.

"Mercy is for the weak," she said, raising the weapon.

"Please, I-"

The sound of the gunshot drowned out his final plea. The man's body collapsed, lifeless, as the sharp echo faded into the stillness.

Her men stood frozen, their eyes fixed on her. She turned slowly, her gaze sweeping over them.

"Let this serve as a reminder," she said, her voice ringing with unshakable authority. "Loyalty is not optional and Betrayal has only one consequence."

The men nodded in unison, their fear palpable. She slid the gun back into its holster with a practiced ease and adjusted her coat, unbothered by the blood staining the floor beneath her.

"Clean this up," she ordered, her tone final.

As they scrambled to obey, she walked toward the exit, the sound of her heels the only thing punctuating the silence. The night air hit her as she stepped outside, but it did nothing to cool the fire of power that radiated from her.

Pausing at her sleek black car, she pulled out her phone and made a call.

"It's done," she said curtly. "Prepare the next phase."

This was her empire. Her rules. Her throne.

And she would burn the world to keep it...

She leaned back in her seat, the faint hum of the car engine the only sound as it sped through the city streets. Her mind was already three steps ahead, calculating, adjusting.

As the skyline blurred past her window, she allowed herself a rare moment of reflection. Each move was deliberate, each piece of the puzzle falling exactly where she wanted it. And tonight, another threat had been neutralized.

As the car pulled into the long driveway of her mansion, she stepped out, heels clicking against the polished stone. The air was cool, but the fire in her veins burned steady. Tonight was a victory, but the game was far from over.

She paused on the steps, turning her gaze toward the horizon. "They think they've seen power," she scoffed."Wait until they see what I can really do."

With that, she disappeared into the house, the weight of her empire firmly on her shoulders and her mind already plotting its
next move.

👑🖤✨️

As Ishita entered the mansion, the silence enveloped her like a thick fog. The scent of freshly prepared food wafted through the halls, a reminder of the woman who had been a constant in her life,the cook. A woman who, despite her age, still worked tirelessly in the kitchen, never once questioning her orders.
But tonight, that would end.

Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she walked down the corridor with calculated steps. This mansion, her empire, was a reflection of her power. Every inch was hers to command, every shadow beneath her rule.

She reached the kitchen door and paused, listening to the familiar sounds of cooking and the soft clatter of utensils.

Inside, the cook was busy, just as she'd always been. But as Ishita stood there, she felt an unsettling certainty. It was time. The woman who had been a second mother to her would have to step aside.

The door to the kitchen creaked open, and Ishita stepped in, the familiar warmth of the room washing over her. The aroma of spices and fresh food filled the air, and the soft hum of Lata, the cook, brought an unusual sense of calm. But when Lata looked up and saw Ishita's expression, her smile faltered, sensing something was different.

"Maa," Ishita said, her voice calm but firm, a tone that only those close to her knew well. The word came with an almost unspoken weight, a bond that ran deep.
Lata put down the ladle, concern flickering in her eyes. "Yes, beta?"

Ishita took a moment before she spoke again, stepping closer. "You've worked for years, Maa. You've done more for me than anyone else. But it's time for you to rest."

Lata looked up at her, confusion clouding her features. "Rest? But beta, I'm still strong. I can still help you."

"I know you can," Ishita replied, her voice steady, but softer now. "But I won't let you keep pushing yourself. You deserve more than this life of constant work. You deserve peace." Her gaze softened, but only just. "You've given me everything, Maa. Now, it's my turn to take care of you."

"I saw you wincing, clutching your lower back, the pain evident in the way you moved"

Lata's hands trembled slightly as she set the ladle down and wiped her hands on her apron. The woman who had been a second mother to her who had raised her, cared for her. She looked at her with a mix of concern and hesitation.

"But... who will take care of you now? Who will look after you like I did?" Lata whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Ishita's gaze sharpened slightly, but there was no anger,only a calm certainty. "I'll take care of everything, Maa. You don't have to worry about anything. I'll make sure you're comfortable. I'll take care of all your expenses. I want you to go live your life. Spend time with your son and grandchildren. You've given me everything I needed, and now, I want you to have your peace."

Lata's heart ached at the sincerity in Ishita's voice, and for a brief moment, the hardness in Ishita's eyes softened. Lata's life had been so tied to this house, to Ishita's every need, that the thought of leaving felt impossible. But seeing the determination in Ishita's eyes, she knew there was no arguing.

"Ishita ji... I've been with you since you were five," Lata said quietly, her voice full of years of love. "How can I just leave?"

"I know, Maa," Ishita said, her voice unwavering but kind. "And I'll never forget what you've done for me. But You need to go and live the life you've worked so hard for and you'll always be my family. That will never change."

Lata blinked, swallowing the lump in her throat. There was no anger in Ishita's voice, no coldness just an unyielding, quiet strength. "I... I don't know what to say," she murmured, her voice shaky with emotion.

"You don't need to say anything," Ishita replied, with a soft tone. "Just trust me. I'll take care of everything here.

Lata's eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she nodded slowly, understanding now. "Alright, beta. I will. I'll find someone to take my place."

Ishita gave her a small, but genuine smile. "I'll be waiting for them tomorrow."

With a final look at Lata, Ishita turned and left the kitchen, her steps purposeful but heavy with the weight of what she had just asked. It wasn't easy. But it was necessary. Lata had raised her, had been the mother she never had but now, she had to step aside.

As the door closed behind her, Lata stood still, her heart full of gratitude and sadness. She would leave, but not because she was forgotten. No, Ishita would always need her but now, she had to let her live her life.

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