3 . Kian's Confrontation

As night fell, Kian entered the room once again. This time, his face bore the same sternness as before. He glanced at Arya and sat on a chair.

"So, Arya… or should I say, Serena. Why are you even trying to escape when you know it's futile? You can't run away from here because you're trapped in a prison. You won't gain freedom until you set everything right. So tell me, what have you decided about proving your innocence?" Kian asked in a cold tone.

Arya took a deep breath and replied, "First of all, I am not Serena. Secondly, I don't know how your mother died. But if you give me a chance to prove my innocence, I can help you. And most importantly, if you keep me locked up like this, how am I supposed to prove myself? Let me go."

Kian didn't respond to her words. He continued staring at her in silence.

"If you're innocent, you'll have to prove it. I'll give you one chance. But remember, if you betray me, my gun will be back on your forehead."

Arya nodded, though fear and confusion clouded her mind. Yet, she had faith that she could prove her innocence—that she wasn't responsible for his mother's death.

After a moment, Arya looked at Kian and asked, "Tell me something first—about your mother and me. I can't remember what happened that makes you think I killed her."

Kian's eyes locked onto hers. His gaze carried both anger and an underlying pain. He said softly, "I'll make you remember everything, Arya. Or Serena. Whoever you are. But if you're playing games, I will destroy you."

Kian got up from his chair and retrieved an old photo album from a cupboard. He placed it in front of Arya and pointed to a specific picture.

"This is my mother, Mrs. Revathi Malhotra. This picture was taken the last day she smiled. Everything changed after that day. And the reason… is you."

Arya's hands trembled as she looked at the photo. She couldn't recognize herself in the image, but one face stirred memories buried deep in her mind.

"I… I don't understand. This has to be a misunderstanding."

Kian took a deep breath and leaned closer to her. His voice was colder and more dangerous than ever.

"Have you lost your memory, or are you pretending to forget everything? I don't care. But you're the one who called my mother that night to meet. And that very night… she died."

Arya was stunned.

"I never called anyone. I swear! If I had, I would remember."

Kian grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the window.

"Look at this city. It's all mine. But I would give it all up if it could bring my mother back. I'll go to any lengths to uncover the truth. And if you're hiding something, the consequences won't be pretty."

Tears welled up in Arya's eyes.

"If I were responsible for your mother's death, why would I even be here? I'd be scared that you'd find me. But I want to find the answers to your questions too. Just give me a chance."

Kian let her go and turned toward the window.

"Fine. You have two days. Bring me proof of your innocence. But if you try to run, remember this city will become your cage."

Arya listened to his ultimatum and resolved to uncover the truth, no matter what it took—even if it cost her life. Gathering herself, she replied,

"Alright, two days. But you'll have to give me all the information you have. Only then can I do anything."

Kian glanced at her for a moment before saying,

"Only two days. After that, you'll either prove your innocence… or remain silent forever."

As he walked out of the room, Arya clenched her fists.

"If I'm innocent, I'll prove it. And if not… I'll accept whatever the truth is."

Now, she was racing against time. Every hour brought greater danger. But this journey wasn't just about the truth; many hidden secrets were about to surface.

The first rays of sunlight peeked into the room. Arya lay half-asleep on her bed, but the restless night was evident on her face. She had been thinking constantly about how to prove her innocence.

A light knock interrupted her thoughts. Without waiting for her response, Kian entered the room. His cold eyes fixed on Arya.

"Still sleeping?" he asked in his usual stern voice.

Arya immediately sat up.

"No, I was just… thinking."

Without saying a word, Kian handed her a file.

"You'll need this to prove the truth. Read it. But remember, you only have 48 hours."

Arya took the file nervously and looked at it.

"Kian, I need to know more about your mother… and me. I don't remember anything clearly…"

Kian stared at her for a moment, his eyes as cold as ever.

"Finding the answers is your job. I don't want to hear your excuses."

The tension in the room was palpable, and Arya's heart pounded loudly in her chest.

Just then, the door opened again, and Aryan walked in, holding a cup of coffee and smiling as he approached Kian.

"Oh, brother! Interrogation so early in the morning? What's going on between you two? Looks… interesting."

Arya panicked and clutched the file to her chest.

"There's nothing like that!" she said hastily, her voice betraying her nervousness.

In a sharp, icy tone, Kian said,

"Aryan, this isn't your time to interfere. Get out."

But Aryan remained unfazed. He maintained his cheerful demeanor and leaned toward Arya, jokingly saying,

"Arya, you're truly brave to stand tall in front of this frosty guy. Just looking at him gives me chills."

"Aryan, get out," Kian said in a deep, commanding voice, his anger as cold as a glacier.

Shrugging, Aryan smiled and headed toward the door.

"Alright, alright. But brother, learn to smile a little. It'll do more than just scare people away."

After Aryan left, silence filled the room again.

Arya lowered her head and softly said,

"I… I don't know if I can do this."

Kian looked at her, his eyes still icy.

"You don't have the time to doubt yourself. If you fail to prove the truth, you'll face the consequences."

Without another word, he walked out of the room. But Arya felt as though his words carried an unspoken trust. This wasn't the beginning of love between them but the start of a tangled connection full of mystery and emotion.

---

What lies ahead?

Will Arya uncover the truth behind Kian's mother's death?

Who is the real culprit?

Stay tuned with "The Villainess's Second Chance."