The weeks following the night in the study were a whirlwind of business, intimacy, and profound possessiveness. Adhya was no longer just his wife; she was his second shadow, his trusted strategic partner, and the singular focus of his physical need. The boardroom battles continued, but now Ranvijay rarely made a move without her counsel, and their private intensity was a silent, unbreakable bond.

The immediate threat was identified as Aarohi, the investment broker from the gala—the one whose shared history with Ranvijay had sparked Adhya's devastating jealousy. Aarohi was a competent, ambitious rival, fiercely resentful of Adhya’s sudden, total claim on Ranvijay's attention.