Rebirth: The CEO’s Revenge Queen

Episode 12: The Puppet Master

The weather at Vikram Singhania’s cliffside estate had taken a turn for the worse. Amidst the flashing red and blue lights of the police cruisers, Vikram was being dragged out in handcuffs. He was completely broken, yet his face no longer held fear—instead, it was twisted into an eerie, maniacal grin.

Nisha and Reyansh stood beneath the estate's grand awning, Reyansh’s heavy wool jacket still draped over her drenched shoulders.

As Vikram passed by them, escorted by the officers, he suddenly stopped. He raised his cuffed hands toward Nisha, spitting venomously, "You two really think you’ve won? You destroyed Arnav, you stole my 300-crore offshore funding... but you fools have no idea that you are just two tiny pawns on a massive chessboard!"

Reyansh stepped forward, gripping Vikram’s collar tightly, his eyes burning a dangerous crimson. "Shut your mouth, Vikram. Your era of conspiracies is over."

"My era?" Vikram burst into a loud, frantic laugh that sounded terrifying against the howling wind. "Reyansh Malhotra, your leaked shipping blueprint, Arnav’s alliance with your sister-in-law to sabotage you... none of that was my design. I was merely taking orders!"

Nisha’s heart skipped a beat. She stepped forward, her voice trembling but sharp. "Who was giving you orders? Who is behind you?"

Vikram looked at Nisha, a mocking sneer plastered across his face. "Ask your precious husband... the one whose grandfather left a mandatory condition in his will for this contract marriage. Find out why the Malhotra Group's oldest secrets are tied to a much bigger family. The real enemy hasn't even stepped into this city yet, Nisha. And when she arrives... she will burn your fake marriage and this entire empire to ashes! Hahaha!"

The police forcefully shoved Vikram forward, dragging him into the containment van. His mocking laughter still echoed through the stormy night.

Even after returning to the Malhotra Mansion, Nisha's mind was in total chaos. She stood by the massive glass windows of the master suite, watching the raindrops relentlessly pelt the glass. Vikram's words replayed in her mind like a broken record. The real enemy is someone else? All of this was happening on someone else's orders?

Just then, Reyansh walked up behind her, holding two mugs of steaming hot coffee. He handed one to her, his expression returning to its usual stoic mask, though his eyes betrayed a deep sense of concern for her.

"Don't take Vikram's words to heart," Reyansh said softly, droplets of water still dripping from his dark hair. "He’s just trying to keep us living in fear."

Nisha took the coffee mug but placed it immediately on the table. She turned around, stepping directly into his personal space, her hands gripping the lapels of his shirt as she forced him to lock eyes with her. "Reyansh... tell me the truth. That day when I approached you for the contract marriage, did you really not know who I was? Was there truly no mention of the Mansoori family in your grandfather's will?"

Reyansh averted his gaze for a split second—and that single second of hesitation confirmed all of Nisha's suspicions.

Reyansh slid his hand around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. "Nisha, the sole purpose of this contract was to protect my shares. But whatever has happened between us over the last few days... none of it was a lie."

Nisha placed her palms against his chest, firmly pushing him back a couple of inches. "I don't want your affection right now, Reyansh. I want the truth. If our marriage is part of a larger, dangerous game, I need to know. I was murdered by deception in my past life—I refuse to be used as a puppet in this one!"

Before Reyansh could formulate a response, the entire mansion was suddenly plunged into pitch darkness. The backup generators failed to kick in. The only light left in the massive suite was the eerie crimson glow from the crackling fireplace.

Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open. Aman stepped in hurriedly, the beam of his tactical laser flashlight cutting through the darkness. "Sir... Madam... You need to come downstairs immediately. Someone has arrived. And they have systematically disabled our entire outer security perimeter without making a sound."

Nisha and Reyansh locked eyes in the dim light. The chilling realization hit them both instantly. Vikram Singhania wasn't lying. The real puppet master had just arrived at their doorstep.

## What happens next?

This sets the stage perfectly for the grand arrival of Devika Rajvansh (The Golden Queen)! In Episode 13, she will step into the mansion and drop a bombshell about Nisha's mother's death that will completely shatter Nisha's world.