Married to the Billionaire Strange

## Chapter 9: The Mask Falls

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Anjali stared at the woman in front of her — poised, confident, and terrifying.

Kiara stepped into the room slowly, the old diary in her hand and a mocking smile on her lips.

“You know,” she said smoothly, “Rhea used to sit here and write in that thing every night. I warned her it was dangerous to keep secrets on paper.”

Anjali’s breath caught. She didn’t speak.

Kiara walked over to the piano and placed the diary down gently.

Then she turned to face Anjali. “What did you read?”

Anjali swallowed. “Enough to know she was scared of you.”

Kiara chuckled. “Of me? Or of losing Aaryan?”

Anjali didn’t blink. “You were her best friend. How could you—”

“Best friend?” Kiara interrupted, stepping closer. “Rhea was weak. She didn’t deserve Aaryan. She wasn’t powerful enough, not smart enough, not… *me*.”

There it was.

The mask had finally fallen.

“You manipulated her,” Anjali said, her voice trembling. “You pushed her until she broke.”

Kiara tilted her head. “And yet, no one can prove it. Can they?”

Anjali clutched the letter behind her back, heart racing.

“I can,” she said boldly. “I found her letter. She wrote everything. I’ll take it to the police.”

For the first time, Kiara’s smile faltered. But only for a second.

“Don’t be naïve, Anjali. You’re just the second wife. No one will believe you. And Aaryan? He’s too ashamed to even speak her name now. You think he’ll help you?” she laughed softly.

Anjali’s hands shook. But she stood tall.

“I’m not afraid of you.”

Kiara’s eyes narrowed. “You should be. You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving behind the diary — but the threat still hung in the air like poison.

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That night, Anjali met Aaryan in the study. She placed the letter and the diary in front of him.

At first, he didn’t move.

Then he read. Slowly. Word by word.

By the end, his eyes were filled with tears — not of sorrow, but of **fury**.

“She knew,” he whispered. “She knew everything… and I didn’t protect her.”

Anjali touched his hand. “Then protect her now. Tell the truth.”

Aaryan looked at her.

For the first time in weeks, she saw something new in his gaze.

**Purpose.**

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The next morning, Aaryan made a call.

“To whom?” Anjali asked softly.

He looked up at her. “The only person who can clear Rhea’s name... and expose Kiara.”

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