The Rathore Mansion was alive with laughter and joy. Anaya giggled as she chased her little brother Aarav around the living room, her tiny hands reaching to hold his. Aarav squealed with delight, trying to escape her playful grip, and Poornima’s laughter rang out, warm and full.

Veeresh watched from the doorway, leaning against the frame, arms crossed. A small, rare smile touched his lips. He observed Poornima as she cared for both children, her eyes shining equally for each of them. She never differentiated—her love was boundless, unconditional.

For a brief moment, Veeresh felt a pang of fear—what if he could never be enough? What if he couldn’t protect them, couldn’t live up to his promise?

But as he watched Poornima hold Aarav while Anaya climbed onto her lap, all his fears melted away. The weight he carried—the walls he had built around his heart—vanished in the warmth of this little family.

A buzz from his phone pulled him back to the present. Adwait’s message: “Syndicate empire, mafia meeting today, sir.”

Veeresh’s eyes hardened, the commanding, cold aura returning in an instant. He typed a quick reply: “Ok.”

One glance back at the living room, where Poornima’s laughter mingled with the children’s, and he steeled himself. Business and family—two worlds, both demanding, both dangerous. But for the first time, he felt ready to handle both.

He pushed away from the doorway, heading out to face the world he had built—while knowing, deep inside, that his family would always be his anchor.