"What the hell? " The sound of Khushi roar echoed in the study of her mansion as Preeto shrugged.

"It's as the contract says...... ARD is the company Mr Sinha recommended for the fundraising. " Preeto exclaimed sounding calm and Khushi groaned annoyed.

"Why the hell do God keep putting me in the path of that man?....... Isn't it enough that I might end up co parenting with him, now I also have to work with him...... Call Mr Sinha and tell him to kick ARD out immediately...... I want someone else. " Khushi commanded and Preeto glared at her.

"Khushi do you still love Arnav? "

"What the fuck?..... Are you crazy?...... Why will I love a monster like him. " Khushi defended feeling rage bubble inside her.

"Are you intimidated by him? " Preeto asked staring directly into her eyes which pissed Khushi off.

"No am not so get to the point Preeto. " Khushi exclaimed annoyed and irritated.

"You don't love him, you are not intimidated by him so why the fuck will you care about working together for a good cause...... There are few honest business people and Mr Sinha is one of those few...... It's not the first time we have worked with him and he has proven to be trustworthy so put all the animosity between you and Arnav, you know deep down when it comes to business, the man is honest and hardworking and he doesn't mind shelling out a couple of millions for the project....... Stop letting your personal issues hinder your professional decisions...... Think about it, Mr Sinha will definitely want to know the reason for your wanting ARD out and it will get to Arnav..,... He will take this as a sign of weakness from you and I doubt you want that. "

No matter how angry she was, Khushi knew Preeto was right.

Arnav may be a failure in his personal life but was a professional and honest business man which is rare in the business world.

"Get the team ready and make sure we get the best treatment or else I will run ARD to the ground if our team is made uncomfortable...... Make sure this is known to Mr Sinha so that he relays this to ARD. " Khushi said sternly and dismissed Preeto who walked out smiling and pulled out her phone and texted her partner in crime.

"𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆. "

Her partner in crime. replied with a thumbs up emoji.

Back in the study, Khushi leaned into her swivel chair and a devilish smile spread on her lips.

"Get ready ASR, you won't know what hit you....... Fate is definitely on my side and I will milk it to make your life a living hell and when am through with you, Lulu herself will hate you. "

RM.

Anjali's Room.

Anjali smile watching her daughter sleep looking peaceful while holding her teddy bear.

It hurts her knowing she will probably never have a sibling bond with Kiki and she knew she was to be blamed but her selfish and self centered nature had refused to let her see reason and she was more determined to make that impossible bond happen not knowing she will soon create another version of herself with her daughter but unlike her, Naina will grow up miserable and resentful of her cousins.

The ringing of her phone broke her reverie and she smiled seeing her husband's name on the screen.

She picked it up but before she could speak, he went off on her.

"Anju, are you for real. " Siddharth the husband of Anjali's angry voice boomed making Anjali flinch.

"Siddy, why are you angry?"

"Don't you dare Siddy me because I know everything...... Maa told me everything. " Anger overtook Anjali as she knew exactly what Shruti had done or rather twisted everything to be more dramatic than it seems. "When will you learn?....... Just when I thought you will learn from your mistakes and for once be understanding and reasonable, you prove time and time again that you are still selfish and self-centered but I will not allow you to use my daughter for your schemes. "

"She is my daughter too and I did nothing wrong. " Anjali retorted and the stunned silence could be felt from his side. "I did nothing wrong...... Naina deserves to bond with her cousin and shouldn't be punished for my sin. " Anjali cried.

"It's useless speaking to you but I don't blame you..... I blame maa  for allowing Sheetal's to do those stupid diy projects on the house then we wouldn't have had to renovate an entire mansion to make it livable and you wouldn't be a pain in the neck on your family which you fractured with your greed. " Siddharth spat out in a brutally honest tone hurting Anjali.

"Why?.... Why? Do you always take your mother's side? " Anjali cried out.

"Because you put yourself in situations that forces me to take her side and am getting  really fed up. "

Anjali gasped in shock and was about to speak but the line dropped making her realize Siddharth had hunged up on her.

All this while, Mami and Nani who were coming to wish her and Naina good night heard everything as her door was slightly opened.

It hurts them seeing this but Nani somehow agreed with Siddharth while Mami was fuming seeing Anjali cry.

Nani dragged a reluctant Mami out of there before Anjali could see them.

It was no secret Siddharth loved Anjali but he always the kind of man who stood up for what's right even from when they were teenagers.

And he didn't mind going against his own family for what's right and that's why Nani immediately agreed to his marriage to Anjali as she knew he was the kind of man who won't be swayed by Anjali's manipulative tears or actions and will help her transform into a better person but she was too stubborn to admit her mistakes.

Laxmi Nagar.

Buaji and Garima stared at Shashi standing out staring at the night sky lost in thought.

He has been lost in thought since he returned from delivering sweets for a children's football and picnic game in the afternoon but they were scared to ask him what was on his mind as they didn't want to poke the bear since Payal had not only disowned them but prohibited Akash to help them financially so they depend on their pay from the sweet shop which had boomed in the past years.

"My daughter is back and I have a granddaughter. " Shashi thought smiling which the women noticed. "Should I go to her or wait for her to come to me...... Devi maiya, what do I do. "

He turned to enter the house when he found the women staring at him nervously and he frown at them.

"What? " Shashi asked annoyed making them flinch.

"We wanted to ask for an advance to buy gifts for Kiki..... We plan to give her gifts since tomorrow is our off day and a weekend. " Buaji voiced out nervously and Shashi nodded and walked away making them sigh in relief.

Shashi entered his room and picked up the picture of Payal and Khushi and stroked it as tears streamed down his cheeks.

Shashi couldn't help but feel quilty about his lie of forgiving Arnav to Payal.

He wanted to hurt Payal for her part in Khushi's pain and he knew pretending to forgive Arnav will hurt Payal and he had succeeded like he wanted but the guilt wouldn't leave him.

"I can't keep on punishing you....... Now that Khushi is back, I will grant you your freedom....... You made have been a horrible sister but I can't deny you raised Kiki into an admirable little girl and I know they will both bond really good with each other........ Am sorry for all the hurt I put you through all these years by making you stay will Akash...... I will soon right my wrong. " Shashi whispered and kissed Payal's picture and doing the same for Khushi.

The next day, Khushi felt a soft warm body climb on top of her and she opened her eyes to find her Lulu smiling widely at her.

"Buongiorno mama. ( Good morning mama) . " Lulu greeted and pecked her mother's cheeks and Khushi did the same making her giggle.

"Buongiorno il mio piccolo fiore.( Good morning my little flower.)...... How are you this morning."

Lulu got up and lifted the top of her pj with the most adorable pout.

"Hungry."

Khushi laughed and picked her up, walked into the bathroom and they both brushed their teeth and headed downstairs to the kitchen.

Khushi dismissed the staffs who were about to cook as she wanted to make something special for her little princess and they eat Khushi delicious pasta.

"Wow, spaghetti carbonara this early morning. " Preeto exclaimed as she took her seat and served herself some of the pasta.

"I promise Lulu to make her pasta this morning and Missy here definitely won't let me have my peace if I don't deliver. " Khushi said pinching Lulu's cheek which earned a toothy smile from her.

"Mmmh, this is really delicious. " Preeto exclaimed as she wolfed down her pasta giving Khushi a thumbs up as Lulu nodded in agreement.

"Mama? "

"Yes baby. "

"When are we meeting papa? " Lulu asked causing the room to tense up.

"Tomorrow dear..... Tomorrow you will finally meet your Papa. " Khushi replied making Lulu smile widely.

"Yay...... Now my classmates won't make fun of me anymore and I will tell papa to punish all of them. " Lulu exclaimed enthusiastically as Khushi forced a smile and excused herself.

Preeto knew she was pissed and hurt at the same time and she began regretting her actions that caused this.

Khushi entered the kitchen and washed her face to calm herself down.

She will never forget the day her joyful little princess came to her office with snot running down her nose and her eyes puffy from crying.

Flashback.

Khushi had just completed a project she had been working on for weeks and was about to close the meeting with her employees in the conference room when Preeto rushed in startling everyone and dragged her out to her office.

She asked what was going on but Preeto insisted she sees for herself and what she saw in her office broke her heart.

Her princess was sitting on the couch in the middle of her office crying uncontrollably with snot running down her nose and her red eyes and indications she has been crying for a long time.

She immediately scooped her baby up and hugged her which made Lulu wail more and pulled out of the hug.

"Mama tell papa to come back...... Am a good girl...... Please tell him to come back for me. " Lulu wailed and hugged Khushi's neck again as she turned to Preeto for answers.

"Some of her classmates taunted her saying she didn't have a father because she was a bad girl and it turned into a fight..... The school called but your were not picking so they call me instead and I went to pick her up. "

Khushi looked furious but controlled herself as Lulu needed her more than any confrontation she would have with the school or the parents of the kids who caused her baby to cry.

Things got worse when Lulu ended up having a high fever and had to be rushed to the hospital.

This infuriated her and she decided to met the principal but Preeto stopped her and convinced her to handle it wanting her to focus on Lulu instead.

The next few days went by as Lulu was discharged but withdrawn and barely eat her favorite food or played her favorite games.

She knew there was one thing that could make her get his little princess back to her old self and it was meeting the last person she ever wanted to see, Arnav Singh Raizada and it worked when Khushi told Lulu they will be leaving to India to see her father.

Flashback ends.

"When all this is done, I will destroy those brats and their family. " Khushi whispered wiping away her tears but Preeto who was behind her heard it and knew the day Khushi finds out the truth, she will lose her friendship forever but a part of her will fell contented seeing Lulu happy and her friend going back to the girl she was before.

Arnav's Penthouse.

Arnav smiled adding the final touch to the feast he prepared for Lucrezia.

A few hours ago he received the result of the DNA test and just like her knew, the child was indeed his and he immediately phone Khushi and sent the result to the email she sent him.

For the next three hours after he sent them, he has been impatiently waiting for Khushi's response and she delivered when she confirmed the test was original.

Arnav beamed knowing this will mean seeing his daughter the next day but he was in for a shock when Khushi called him a few hours ago about meeting him together with his child and he immediately agreed and wanted to pick them up but khushi was opposed to this and asked to met a neutral place but he made is known that he was at his penthouse and Khushi asked for the address.

Arnav immediately ordered for foodstuff delivery and spent the next three hours cooking all of Khushi's favorite meals and things he suspected kids like.

The alarm indicating someone was at the door broke his reverie and he run to the door, stood there for a few seconds to control the overwhelming mixed of emotions engulfing him all at once.

He opened the door and was mesmerized seeing Khushi in a lilac tie dye saree and she looked so ethereal to an extent that Arnav couldn't take his eyes off her.

A sound of an adorable giggling broke Arnav's reverie and he looked down from a frowning Khushi to find the most beautiful little girl he had ever seen with a huge smile on her face wearing a leopard dress paired with a red bag and a lamara Paris bumps.

Arnav let them in as Khushi looked around admiring his taste in decor.

"Hi." Lucrezia waved at Arnav and he smiled and kneeled to her level.

"Hi beautiful. " Arnav exclaimed smiling and Lucrezia blushed and giggled.

"My name is Lucrezia but everyone calls me Lulu and you. "

Arnav loved the name and took a sneak peek at Khushi  who glared at him making him smile but he turned back Lulu and stretched his hands to her which she shook.

"Am Arnav Singh Raizada aka your father but you can call me anything you want. "

Lulu went into thinking mode and beamed finally making up her mind.

"I want to get to know you first before calling you papa but until then, I will call you Mr Raizada. "

Arnav was stunned by the maturity of such a little girl and if he was to count from the time they first consummated at the hut that night, she will be around three and a few months years old.

Arnav took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"Anything for my lady. " Lulu blushed and giggled.

Arnav then lead them to the dinning room which Khushi wasn't pleased about but seeing Lulu happy, she didn't want any awkward situation that will ruin it but she was in for a surprise when she saw the spread of all her favorite foods on the table and Lulu wowed at the food as she was a foodie just like her mother.

From paneer pasanda,plain fluffy basmati rice, tandoori roti, vegetable dum biryani and for sweets, Khushi saw her favorite jalebi, Kaju Katli and Gulab Jamun and a tub of vanilla ice cream and creamy tomato pasta.

"How did you know my favorite foods? " Lulu asked as she climbed the table with Arnav's help and he mentally patted his back for this achievement.

"Your mama told me. " Arnav lied leaving Khushi stunned and Lulu learned closer to her mother and kissed her cheek thanking her.

"Now why don't we eat and get to know each other. " Lulu nodded and Arnav served Lulu some paneer pasanda with plain fluffy basmati rice and a few slice of tandoori roti on Lulu's orders.

For the next two hours, Khushi watched in amazement to how easily Arnav and Lulu was interacting and she was happy seeing Lulu all smiles as she eat her ice cream but for some reason she couldn't pin point why she felt scared but shrugged it off as she continued to stare at them.

Arnav on there other hand was amazed at how intelligent his daughter was and shocked knowing she speaker not only Italian but French and Spanish fluently and he felt proud of how Khushi had raised her.

He finally understood why he couldn't find Khushi, she was out of the country but for years his private detectives said she couldn't have left the country as her name or face wasn't recorded in the database of flights leaving the entire or neighboring countries.

Arnav wondered how Khushi left the country and how she became rich because her outfits he saw her in can't be afforded by the average person and the yearly salary of the average person can cost her necklace alone.

"You did great and thank you. " Arnav exclaimed as he placed a bowl of vanilla ice cream and some gulab jamun in front of Khushi and sat by her as they watched Lulu watching her favorite cartoons from the living room. "So what now? " Arnav asked and Khushi pushed away the bowl and reached into her bag and pulled out a file.

"It's a contract...... Let your lawyer review it before your sign...... It's all of conditions you must fulfill and things that will happen if you violate them. "

Arnav read through them but wasn't surprised by it content which surprised Khushi seeing him walk to the kitchen and back with a pen and signed them.

This wasn't what she expected, she expected Arnav to blow up at her like he always did and knew will think this will let Khushi's guard down but it did the opposite and increased the wall she had built around her.

He pushed the file towards Khushi after signing and she stared at him stunned.

"Come on papa..... Come and watch it with me. " Lulu squealed from the hall watching her parents.

Arnav smile widely hearing Lulu call him papa for the first time and he left a stunned Khushi and rushed to his daughter.

Khushi stared at the documents detailing Arnav's punishment if he ever let his family near Lucrezia which was imprisonment.

He was to prioritize Lucrezia over everyone including himself.

And the list goes on but all pointing to her not wanting the Raizadas or Guptas in Lucrezia's life.

"Lulu baby, it's late..... We have to leave. " Khushi exclaimed as she walked up to them and the smile on Lulu's face dropped as she hopped from the couch and to her mother.

She stopped in front of Khushi and looked up with a sad expression and pout which made her look irresistible and Khushi immediately knew she was about to demand for something outrageous so she put on her puppy face.

The mother and daughter duo were on a war of puppy faces but Arnav on the other hand looked amused by the exchange between the mother daughter duo and smirked.

"Can we stay will Papa tonight. " Lulu asked innocently and without malice.

To be continued.

This is the final update for the week.

See you all on Monday.

Don't forget to hit the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ button, comment and follow for more.

٩(ര̀ᴗര́)ᵇʸᵉ.

Xoxo xoxo.