Song:- Let me down slowly.

Our greatest joy and our greatest pain come in our relationship with others.

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Third POV.

The air was heavy with the weight of silence.

Anaya sat curled in the grand bed of the Rajvansh chamber, her fragile body barely holding onto itself. Her eyes were red, cheeks stained with silent tears, her soul shaken. She had been humiliated—ripped apart by words not of her own making.

She was breaking.

And only one man stood between her and complete collapse.

Arjun.

He was no longer the composed Yuvraj of the kingdom, nor the cold-blooded businessman who commanded fear. He was a man on the verge of losing his mind—his wife broken, humiliated, slandered in front of his entire family.

And he had done nothing.

That was what killed him the most.

Anaya's trembling fingers gripped the bedsheet as she whispered, "Arjun..." Her voice was fragile, like glass moments from shattering.

He immediately knelt beside her, taking her hand in both of his.

"I'm here..." he whispered, his voice low, strained. "I'm not going anywhere. I swear to you."

She looked at him then, vulnerable, empty. "Why did he... say all that? Why would he lie like that...?"

Arjun's jaw clenched.

"He dared to breathe filth against you..." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "And I stood there like a coward. I'll make him pay, Anaya. I'll destroy him."

"No... I don't want revenge," she murmured, holding onto his shirt like he was the last thing keeping her from drowning. "I just wanted... someone to believe me..."

Arjun's chest tightened. He gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing away the tears. "I believe you, dammit. I should've dragged him to his knees the moment he opened his filthy mouth."

He leaned his forehead against hers, eyes burning with an emotion far too intense to name.

"You're mine, Anaya. Mine to protect. And I failed."

She shook her head weakly. "No... you didn't."

A knock at the door broke the moment.

Aashi stepped in quietly, her face grim. "The whole family's gathered downstairs... It's turning into a circus. Chitra and Viraj are twisting the narrative. Arjun Bhai, they're poisoning everyone."

Arjun stood up, his features hardening instantly. The softness vanished.

"Stay with her," he growled. "No one—no one—is to come near her."

Aashi nodded.

Anaya looked up at him, fear creeping in again. "Arjun... please don't leave me alone... not now..."

He paused, walked back to her, and took her face in his hands.

"I'll be back before you blink," he said darkly. "But I have to clean this filth. For you."

And then he was gone.

Scene: Rajvansh Grand Sitting Area

The atmosphere downstairs was thick with tension. Everyone was gathered—Rana Udhav on his throne, his face unreadable but stern. Krish and Virat flanked him like loyal sentinels. Pavitra and Sampoorna sat with composed silence, while Vedika looked anxious beside her mother-in-law.

Viraj was nestled between his mother and Shruti, his arm bandaged, his expression that of a wounded saint. Chitra was fuming, her words venomous.

"Your son, Bhai sa, dared to beat mine like a criminal. All because of that manipulative witch he married!"

Virat's voice boomed. "Enough, Chitra!"

"Oh, please! You'd defend Arjun even if he set this palace on fire! You worship the ground he walks on!"

"I said enough," Virat warned, his voice ice cold.

Just then, Arjun entered.

The temperature in the room dropped.

He looked like a storm about to descend—his shirt slightly open, sleeves rolled, eyes dark with fury. His posture was composed but his presence screamed rage.

"I see the liar is already playing victim," he said coldly, eyes locked on Viraj.

"Arjun..." Rana Udhav warned. "Don't speak without proof."

"Proof?" Arjun took slow steps forward, like a predator stalking his prey. "Should I drag his bloodied hands to your feet?"

Viraj stood up nervously. "Bade papa, I tried to remain silent out of respect... but that girl—Anaya—she tried to seduce me."

Silence.

Everyone froze.

"She did it twice. The day she arrived and today again. I tried to push her away. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to break Arjun's heart."

Arjun's body went still. Krish stepped forward, but Arjun raised his hand.

"No. Let him finish."

Chitra gasped with fake shock. "I told you, Bhai sa! That girl is a disgrace. A woman of no morals! Look what she's done to our Viraj!"

Krish muttered, "You all make me sick."

But Chitra wasn't done. "She is characterless! Manipulative! Throwing herself at men! What kind of woman is this?"

Arjun's fists clenched.

Shruti chimed in, "That bitch should be thrown out—"

CRASH!

Everyone turned to the entrance.

Anaya stood there—broken, pale, and barely breathing. Aashi was trying to support her but she stood on her own. Her eyes locked on the scene—on Chitra, on Shruti, on Viraj.

Arjun's eyes widened. "Anaya..."

But before he could reach her, she turned and ran.

"Anaya, stop!" Arjun shouted, rushing after her like a man possessed.

His warning voice echoed behind. "If anything happens to her, Viraj, I swear—you'll beg for death."

Scene: Outside – Arjun Finds Her

He found her on the palace terrace, gripping the railing, trying to breathe, her sobs breaking her.

"Anaya!" he shouted.

She turned, looking like a ghost of herself.

"Why am I always blamed?" she cried out. "Why is it always me?"

Arjun rushed to her and pulled her into his arms, wrapping her tightly.

"Let them burn in their lies. Let them drown in their hatred. You don't belong in that dirt. You belong here, with me."

"I'm tired, Arjun," she sobbed. "I'm so tired..."

"I know, baby, I know..." he whispered into her hair, his lips trembling. "But you're not alone. Not anymore. I'll fight them all. I'll ruin anyone who even breathes against your name."

He pulled back and cupped her face, his eyes burning with dark, possessive fire.

"They declared war the moment they touched what's mine. And I won't rest until they're crushed."

Anaya looked into his eyes and for once—despite everything—felt like maybe, just maybe, she wasn't entirely alone in this battle.

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Hey guys,

So that cunning Viraj played the victim card...

What will Arjun do...

Atleast Krish, Vedika and Aashi knows Anaya well...

Let's see what happens.

Thank you,

Please leave your valuable comments. I love to read all your views...

Don't forget to VOTEeachy chapter guys... it's a die heart request...