If there is any old reader let me inform you it's an additional chapter.
It's more clarified hope you will enjoy it!!

As the car hit the main road, Vidharth questioned again,

"Where are we going?"

"My penthouse," she replied calmly.

"Why?" he questioned.

"Because it's safer to talk there," she answered.

"Why?" Vidharth pressed.

"Because if we stay here, rumors will spread faster than the speed of light, and we'll be caught in a situation no one wants to face right now." She sighed.

The car sped along, the tension inside palpable, as we headed towards her penthouse.

An awkward silence filled the atmosphere, and the rest of the drive passed in uncomfortable stillness.

After nearly 30 minutes, we arrived at a grand entrance made of white marble.
Two bodyguards opened the large metallic doors, and the car entered the premises.

We drove through a beautiful garden and arrived at the entrance of a stunning glass building. We all got out of the car, and Ava handed the keys to the valet.

We followed her quietly, the tension palpable, until Vidharth broke the silence in the elevator.

"Well, your place is quite lavish for a wedding planner," he voiced, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"Who told you I'm a wedding planner?" she stated.

Vidharth sighed dramatically, placing a hand on his chest. "Finally, we're getting to the truth!"

"Yes, we are," she declared, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, revealing a lavish penthouse.

"Come in" she offered, stepping inside.

Vidharth quickly made himself at home, sinking into a plush sofa. I followed, my eyes scanning the opulent space as I took a seat beside him. Ava strode in, her confidence and poise commanding the room.

She uttered, "Make yourselves comfortable," as she gestured to the sofa.

"We'll get to the bottom of this," Vidharth avowed, his eyes fixed on her.

"I'm shaking in my boots," she mocked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

I scanned the room, but she was nowhere to be found. "Anisha! Anisha!" I called out, my voice laced with concern.

"What?" Her voice rang out from the stairs, and I spotted her standing there.

I breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll be back in a minute!" she announced, and disappeared from view.

I turned back to Vidharth, who looked dumbfounded. "What's going on?" I inquired, sitting down next to him.

He simply shook his head, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Anisha returned promptly, sitting down across from us. "So, what are we waiting for? Let's get started!" Vidharth uttered, his voice filled with anticipation.

I nodded in agreement, eager to uncover the truth.

"So, the first thing I think you already know about the ring," she began, her gaze darting between us. We nodded in unison, our eyes fixed on hers.

Does she have something to do with the ring too? Oh god! My mind raced back to what Siddharth had said - the diamond belonged to the Yorks, and in the hotel, both Noah and the other man had addressed her as Miss York. It all clicked into place.

"You're from York Corporation, and you went there to get the diamond?" I voiced my suspicions, my eyes locked on hers.

She looked at me bewildered, then nodded reluctantly. "Yeah..."

Vidharth's eyes widened in shock. "Oh my god, you were the one behind all the problems!" he accused, his voice rising.

She glared at him, her face defensive. "No, I didn't do anything!"

"You married him," Vidharth shouted, his finger pointed at her.

"I didn't do it purposefully!" She retaliated, her voice firm.

"Let's calm down and figure this out before we start blaming each other," I intervened, trying to mediate the situation.

The room fell silent, and I gestured for her to continue.

"Well, the diamond wasn't the important thing," she began.

Vidharth's eyes flashed with anger. "Two people got kidnapped because of that diamond, and he was about to go bankrupt! How can you say it's not important?"

She shot him a stern look. "Can you please shut your mouth for a second and let me finish?"

I glared at Vidharth, and he pouted but remained silent.

"The diamond was just a disguise. What was truly important was the chip hidden inside it." She continued.

Our eyes widened in surprise, and I leaned in, intrigued.

"A chip? What kind of chip?" I inquired, narrowing my eyes. This is even messier.

"Well, York Corporation deals in arms, and we've been trying to acquire a highly sought-after mechanism for a long time. The researcher refused to sell it because it's extremely powerful. It can set its target within a range of 3500 meters. After a lot of effort, we finally got it! We placed it securely in a high-security facility, but..." she explained.

"But it got stolen!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah, and soon we caught some moles too!" she replied, clenching her jaws. "And they took your name." She finished.

"What? My name? What's that supposed to mean? Why?" I muttered, shocked beyond words.

"I know you didn't do it! It was fishy from the start. I sincerely don't know why they took your name, but one thing is clear: we have a common enemy." She sighed.

"And what about Noah and Mr. Santo?" I quired, thinking about the name Noah had mentioned as his boss. I had never met him personally, but I knew he was a well-known figure in the underworld.

"Santo was an acquaintance of my uncle's," she responded. "After his death, Santo started rebelling."

"So, it means he works..." I trailed off, my mind racing with connections.

"For us!" she finished my sentence. "Or at least, for my uncle. I'm not sure, but I have a strong suspicion that he was behind the theft of the diamond and Vritika's kidnapping."

I leaned back in my chair, trying to process her words. My anger surged at the thought of Santo's betrayal. I clenched my jaw and fists, struggling to keep my emotions in check.

"He will regret being born soon!" She affirmed, in a low and menacing voice.

"Yes, he will." I nodded in agreement, with determination flashing in my eyes.

"But didn't you say he's your uncle's acquaintance?" Vidharth asked, his voice laced with doubt. "Why would he do such a thing?"

"Power and money can change everything," she replied, her eyes gleaming with a hint of cynicism. "In this world, people value them more than anything. He wants his son to take over as CEO."

"And now?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

"Now, even he won't be able to maintain his position."She smirked.

"So, things are sorted now!" Vidharth exhaled, relief evident on his face.

But she locked her gaze with mine, her expression serious. "I think this is just the beginning of a new chaos."

"Do you think he'll try to attack again? Is he completely out of power?"Vidharth's eyes widened in concern.

She hesitated before responding, "It will take some time, but he'll be dismissed soon. However, we should remain cautious. An injured snake is very dangerous."

I nodded in agreement.

"You should tighten Vritika's security. I think he's found our weak spot."She suggested, her eyes locked on mine.

"Let me give her a call."

I dialed Vritika's number, but she didn't answer even after ten attempts. My mind raced with worry, my heart sinking with every unanswered ring.

"She's not answering!" I announced, my concern growing by the second.

"Call her guards or her friends," Vidharth suggested, his voice laced with urgency.

I nodded and quickly dialed her guards, but their response left me reeling. "What did they utter?" Vidharth interrogated, noticing my distress.

"They stated she's nowhere to be found," I acknowledged, my voice laced with worry.

The tension in the room was palpable. I quickly called one of her friends, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

"What did they mention?" Vidharth probed again, his eyes fixed on mine.

"They revealed they got rid of the guards and went to the club," I affirmed, my heart sinking. "And now she's nowhere to be found."

The room fell silent.

"Even they don't know where she is," I added, my concern escalating. "Where the hell did she go?" Vidharth muttered, frustration evident in his voice.

I shook my head, regret washing over me. "I wish I hadn't let her go anywhere," I uttered, burying my face in my palms. A sudden heaviness settled in my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Ava's voice broke through my despair. "Where was she last?" she inquired, her tone firm but gentle.

"AMT Night Club in New Jersey," I stated, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ava's eyes widened. "She's in New Jersey?" she queried, disbelief evident in her voice.

"Yeah." I nodded.

Ava's expression turned determined. "Wait, let me call Jarek. He's there too." She acknowledged, already dialing the number.

Just then, my phone rang on the coffee table. Ava picked it up, her eyes fixed on mine.

"It's his number?" She burst out.

"Whose?" I queried.

"Jarek's... why is he calling you?" She answered the call on speaker.

"Hello, Bhai!" Vritika's voice came through the speaker.

"Vritika?" I demanded, snatching the phone from Ava.

"Yeah, Bhai, it's me..." Vritika's voice trembled.

"Where were you? I called all your friends, but no one knew where you were..." I interrogated.

"I'm sorry, Bhai. I got lost..." Vritika's response relieved me, and I regained my breath.

"Give the phone to Jarek, Vritika," Ava instructed.

"Jarek!" Ava called out.

"Yeah, sorella!" Jarek responded.

"What are you two doing together?" Ava queried.

"I was driving on the highway when I found her trying to hitch a ride," Jarek explained.

"Okay, got it!" Ava acknowledged. "Just make sure she's safe!"

"Will do!" Jarek affirmed before the call ended.

"I'll tell him to bring her here," Ava stated.

"I still have a question!"Vidharth's eyes narrowed.

"What is it?" Ava asked, her brow raised.

"What did you do, and who are you in this corporation?" Vidharth asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Well, my grandfather, Nicolo York, founded this company. He had two children, Jeremy York and Serenity York. Jeremy was the younger son, while Serenity was the older sibling. They both joined the family business, and Serenity married an Indian man. Jarek is the son of Jeremy York, and I'm the daughter of Serenity." Ava smiled after launching us into this brief history of her family.

Vidharth's eyes widened in understanding. "Oh, I see! So you're also a part of the York family!"

"Yeah, that's right."Ava nodded.

"Well, I should leave then. I have some important work to attend to, but I'll be back soon!" Vidharth stood up, a grin spreading across his face.

He winked at me and turned to Ava.
"Can I borrow your car? I didn't think I'd be able to get a taxi around here."

Ava nodded and got up from her seat, disappearing into one of the rooms. "I'll give you both some time alone. Finish your talks before I come back," Vidharth said with a grin, and I thanked him.

"I've arranged for a driver to take you wherever you need to go. He'll be waiting at the entrance," Ava uttered.

Vidharth thanked her and departed, and as soon as the door closed behind him, Ava reappeared at our seat. "Would you like something to drink?" she inquired.

"You remembered to ask me that quite quickly," I teased.

Ava smiled. "I was already making tea, so I thought I'd offer you some too."

"Then please, give me a cup as well," I responded.

She headed into the kitchen, and I followed her, preferring her company to sitting alone. As she prepared the tea, I couldn't help but gaze at her. "Stop staring at me!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"I can't help it," I admitted, my eyes fixed on hers. "It feels like you might vanish if I blink..."

She narrowed her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper. "Like that day in Bengaluru."

I hummed in agreement, my mind flashing back to that moment. "But you said-" I started, and she interrupted me.

"You were asking Anisha about me, so of course, she would say no!" She turned to face me, our eyes locking in a gaze that felt like time had stopped. I was captivated by her brown orbs, unable to look away.

"I think we should continue what we left off in the hotel," I teased, with a low and husky voice. From the corner of my eye, I saw a faint blush spread across her olive skin, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Shut up!" she said, handing me the cup. She tried to brush past me to leave, but I was leaning on the door frame, and our bodies collided. I held her hands, and she carefully ensured the liquid didn't spill from her cup.

"What are you doing?" she glared, her scarlet cheeks betraying her true feelings.

I placed the cup back on the kitchen counter and snaked my hands around her waist, holding her tightly. Our eyes locked, and I gently took the cup from her hand, placing it next to mine. I held her with both hands, and her hands instinctively rested on my chest.

"What are you trying to do?" she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

I just stared into her eyes, my gaze intense and unyielding. The tension between us was palpable, and I knew she could feel the sparks flying between our bodies.

"I want to confirm that this isn't a dream and you're really here with me," I murmured, my words pouring out without conscious thought. "Stay like this for a bit, until my heart is convinced it's not a dream."

I was surprised by my own words, which sounded like clichés I once would have ridiculed. But Ava's presence made me speak from a place I never knew existed. I was lost in her captivating hazel eyes, her flawless olive skin, and the small scar on the right side of her neck, which I traced gently with my fingers.

"Adwait!" she gasped my name, sending shivers down my spine. I hummed in response, my gaze still fixed on hers.

"Let's... let's go to the living room," she breathed slowly, her eyes never leaving mine.

"Just a moment, baby!" I uttered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears before releasing her from my grasp. She quickly moved away, leaving me to wonder if I had misread the situation.

My inner voice reminded me that I barely knew her, but I was determined to change that soon.

I picked up the cups that had witnessed our intimate moment and joined her on the sofa, handing her her cup as I sat down beside her.

"Well, it's kinda awkward!" she declared with a sigh.

"It is," I concurred.
"So, what's next?"

"Whatever you dictate," I responded, our eyes locked.

"Well, what did the Malhotras divulge?" She inquired, narrowing her eyes.

"They stated that Sanya was abducted, and they were threatened, which is why they decided to switch the brides," I explained.

"Kidnapped for what?" she inquired.

"That diamond! Someone from SYL abducted her!" I responded.

"Oh, that's why those bastards were bragging about getting the mechanism!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with anger.

"Well, yeah!" I confirmed.

"They didn't get it, by the way," she revealed.

"Really?" I queried, my curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, I already exchanged the chip in the diamond," she divulged.

"When Sanya asked me to accompany her to her room, that's when I did it!" she shared, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I chuckled, drawn to her enthusiasm, and moved closer to her. "So, you got the last say!" I teased, my eyes locked on hers.

"Yup! And thanks for the medicines, by the way!" she smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

I smiled back, feeling a connection growing between us. "So, tell me more about yourself," I suggested, intertwining our fingers. When she didn't pull away, I held her hand in mine, waiting for her response.

"Yeah... like I told you about my parents' demise, and now you know about my uncle's too. The remaining people in my life are Jarek, whom you've met, my grandmother, and Aunt Jarek's mother," she shared, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and gratitude.

"There are a few more people, but never mind..." she trailed off, her voice barely audible.

I hesitated, wanting to ask if she had a boyfriend, but decided to let it slide for the moment.

"Ooh!" I mouthed.

"When did your parents... um, only if you feel comfortable," I added quickly, noticing her hands were sweating and her body trembling. I pulled her close, almost onto my lap, and held her tight.

"Take deep breaths... shh... calm down... calm down," I whispered in her ear, trying to soothe her.

After a few minutes, she began to calm down, her trembling subsiding. "I'm sorry... I..." she started, looking up at me with.

"You don't need to be sorry! It was my fault," I interrupted, trying to reassure her.

"You don't know about that!" she exclaimed, her gaze soft.

I held her close, feeling a surge of empathy and understanding. "It's okay, I'm here for you," I mumbled, my voice filled with compassion.

A sweet, melodious tone diverted our attention, and she glanced at the table where her phone was buzzing with an incoming call. She answered it and started talking, leaving me sitting there. She returned a few minutes later, a hint of a smile on her face.

"Well, guess you've got an invitation!" she declared, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Me?" I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Yeah!" she announced, her smile growing wider.

"From whom?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"My grandma invited you for dinner," she informed me, her shoulders shrugging slightly.

"She knows I'm here?" I questioned, surprised.

"Yeah, she's got every single detail!" she replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement.