The restaurant was quiet in the way expensive places always are—soft lights, muted conversations, glass clinking like secrets being exchanged politely.
Serena had chosen it well.
Aarav arrived first.
That alone told Mira everything.
She walked in moments later, heels steady, spine straight, heart loud but not visible.
Aarav glanced up, relief flashing for half a second before discipline took over.
“You shouldn’t have come,” he murmured.
Mira pulled the chair beside him and sat.
“You invited me into the truth,” she said calmly.
“This is part of it.”
Across the table, Serena smiled like she’d been waiting for this exact sentence.
“Welcome, Mira,” she said smoothly.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t hide.”
Mira met her gaze without blinking.
“I don’t hide,” she replied. “I observe.”
Serena laughed softly.
“Good,” she said.
“Then observe carefully.
This man” she gestured toward Aarav with her wine glass, “ has a habit of surviving storms by letting others drown.”
Aarav’s jaw tightened.
“That’s enough.”
“Is it?” Serena tilted her head.
“Or is it just uncomfortable to hear out loud?”
The waiter arrived.
Orders were placed.
Polite smiles returned like masks snapping back into place.
Mira leaned back slightly.
“You didn’t call us here for nostalgia,” she said.
“So let’s skip the performance.”
Serena’s eyes gleamed.
“Straight to the point,” she said approvingly. “Fine.”
She pulled out her phone and slid it across the table.
On the screen documents.
Headlines.
A familiar company logo.
Aarav’s company.
“I’m going public,” Serena said lightly.
“About how that empire was built.
About the man who didn’t pull the trigger but knew who did.”
Mira felt the air shift.
“You do this,” Aarav said coldly, “and you burn with me.”
Serena shrugged.
“I’ve already burned,” she said.
“Now I want ashes evenly spread.”
Mira leaned forward.
“And what do you want in return for your silence?”
Serena studied her really studied her this time.
“You,” she said simply. “Gone.”
A beat.
Aarav stood up so fast the chair scraped.
“No.”
Mira didn’t move.
Serena smiled wider.
“See?” she said.
“He chooses you.
That’s new.”
Mira finally spoke, her voice steady.
“You’re asking the wrong person to leave.”
Serena’s smile faded just a crack.
“I won’t walk away,” Mira continued.
“Not because I’m reckless.
Because I refuse to be controlled by fear yours or his.”
Aarav turned to her.
“Mira ”
She reached for his hand under the table.
“Let me finish.”
She looked back at Serena.
“You want power,” Mira said.
“Not justice.
And power only works when people are scared.”
Serena’s eyes hardened.
“And you’re not?”
Mira smiled softly.
“I am,” she said.
“But I stay anyway.”
The waiter returned.
Food arrived.
No one touched it.
Serena leaned back, considering.
“This isn’t over,” she said finally.
“But I’ll give you time.
Love stories deserve a second act.”
She stood, adjusting her coat.
“Enjoy your dinner,” she added.
“While you still can.”
She left.
Silence fell like dust after destruction.
Aarav exhaled slowly and looked at Mira like she’d just rewritten his reality.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he said.
“I know,” she replied. “I chose to.”
Outside, the city kept breathing unaware that lines had been crossed and wars politely postponed.
For now.
Hey my lovely readers,
this is Aarushi Singh Rajput your Aaru 🫶
Chapter 12 was all about quiet courage
the kind that doesn’t shout but doesn’t step back either.
I’m still learning, still growing, so please
comment, review, and tell me honestly what you felt,
where I can improve, and what you want next.
Your support keeps this story alive
1. Did Mira handle Serena well or did she make things worse?
2. Do you think Serena will actually stay silent… or strike harder next?
3. Has Mira become Aarav’s strength or his biggest risk?
