Bound by Fortune

Chapter Six: Sabotage in the Spotlight

The grandeur of the Sapphire Pavilion reached its peak as the gala’s attendees, the crème de la crème of society, buzzed with excitement. The charity event had been a resounding success so far, but now, all eyes turned to the final highlight of the evening—Ava’s highly anticipated fashion showcase. For her, this was the moment of truth. Every stitch, every fabric choice, every sleepless night was about to be judged by an audience that could make or break her career.

Backstage, Ava stood on edge, pacing behind the velvet curtains. Her heart thumped against her chest as she watched models being prepped for the runway, her designs about to come alive under the spotlight. She wiped her sweaty palms on her dress, trying to keep calm.

Sophie appeared suddenly at her side, looking tense. “Ava, I need to talk to you.”

Ava barely glanced at her. “Not now, Soph. This is it. The biggest moment of my life, and if I don’t get it right—”

“That’s exactly why I need to talk to you,” Sophie interrupted, her voice low and urgent. “Someone here has copied your designs. I just saw them.”

Ava froze. “What? No, that can’t be. It’s impossible.”

“I swear,” Sophie continued, glancing around nervously. “I just saw a collection come through that looks almost identical to your signature pieces. It’s like they got their hands on your sketches. You’ve got to see this.”

Ava’s mind spun, her throat tightening. This was her worst nightmare. Just as she was on the brink of her breakthrough, someone was trying to steal it all. But before she could confront the situation, the music cue for her showcase started to play. The models were ready, and there was no backing out now.

“Later,” Ava whispered, swallowing the panic rising in her chest. “We’ll deal with it after. I can’t pull out now.”

Sophie bit her lip, but nodded. “Alright, but be careful. I’ve got a bad feeling.”

As Sophie disappeared into the bustling backstage area, Ava’s pulse quickened. She peered out into the grand ballroom. The elite audience was watching, waiting. And in the front row, Karan sat, his expression unreadable, the weight of expectation heavy on his shoulders. He was her husband, her partner—yet they had been so distant lately. She had sensed something was off, but he hadn’t said a word.

Suddenly, her focus snapped back as the models began to strut down the runway, draped in her creations. Ava felt a rush of pride, seeing her hard work on full display. But as the applause grew, so did her anxiety. The weight of Sophie’s words hung over her like a shadow—had someone really stolen her designs?

Across the Room: Karan’s Struggle

Meanwhile, Karan’s eyes drifted over the crowd, but his mind was elsewhere. His phone buzzed in his pocket. Again. He’d been getting strange messages all evening—cryptic ones from Arjun, his estranged brother. Arjun had been distant for years, choosing the arts over the family empire, and their relationship had been strained ever since. But tonight, the messages were different. The last one read: It’s about Dad. You’re not ready for what’s coming.

Karan’s jaw tightened. What was Arjun playing at? His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He wanted to support Ava, but his family’s secrets were catching up with him fast. Raj’s expectations were suffocating, and now Arjun’s cryptic warnings gnawed at him. Could it be that the empire wasn’t as solid as everyone believed? Was there something darker lurking beneath the surface?

He shook his head, forcing himself to focus on the runway. Ava was doing this for herself, for her career, and he had to be there for her. But the messages were like a splinter in his mind—impossible to ignore.

Just as Ava’s designs reached their c****x on the runway, the grand chandelier above flickered. Then, without warning, the entire ballroom plunged into darkness. Gasps erupted from the audience, the murmur of confusion spreading like wildfire. The models stopped mid-stride, uncertain of what to do.

Ava’s heart dropped. This couldn’t be happening—not now. Her pulse raced as she struggled to make sense of the sudden blackout.

Then, through the darkened room, a voice rang out—one Ava knew all too well. “Looks like someone didn’t want you to succeed tonight, Ava.”

She froze. It was Raj Mehra.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as the room remained pitch black. The weight of his words hit her like a freight train. Had Raj orchestrated this? Was this his way of sabotaging her showcase, keeping her in line?

The lights flickered back on, but the damage was done. The audience was unsettled, whispers of doubt spreading through the room. Ava’s dream moment had turned into a disaster. Her heart pounded in her chest as she shot a glance toward Karan, who looked as stunned as she was.

But behind the shock in his eyes, Ava saw something else—anger. Whatever had just happened, it wasn’t over.

And this was just the beginning.