Secrets and Consequences

Dhruv stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of his mansion, the city lights twinkling below like a galaxy of stars. His reflection in the glass showed the new version of himself: the cold, confident billionaire who no longer let emotions rule him. Kartik had become the enemy, and Dhruv had made the first move. But this was just the beginning. He had bigger plans to ensure Kartik’s fall wasn’t temporary—it would be permanent.

His phone buzzed, and Dhruv turned away from the view, picking it up to see a message from Aman.

“Kartik’s panicking. He’s trying to do damage control, but the story’s spreading fast.”

Dhruv smiled to himself. The satisfaction was undeniable. Kartik’s perfect image, the one he’d built on charm, wealth, and arrogance, was now cracking under the weight of his family’s corrupt dealings. And the best part? Kartik didn’t know Dhruv was behind it. At least, not yet.

But this wasn’t enough. Ruining Kartik’s public image was only step one. Dhruv wanted more—he wanted to destroy everything Kartik valued, from his reputation to his relationships. Kartik needed to feel the sting of true loss, the way Dhruv had when he learned of Jasmine’s betrayal.

---

The next day, Dhruv met Aman at a café downtown, a place they used to frequent before Dhruv’s life had changed so drastically. It was strange being here now, with Aman still in his casual clothes, while Dhruv’s tailored suit marked him as someone who no longer belonged in such simple settings.

“So,” Aman began, sipping his coffee, “what’s the next move? Kartik’s already scrambling.”

Dhruv leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “The next move is to make sure Kartik doesn’t recover. The first article was enough to shake him, but we need more. We need something personal.”

Aman raised an eyebrow. “Personal? Like what?”

Dhruv’s eyes narrowed slightly. “He has skeletons in his closet—things he wouldn’t want the world to know. I want you to dig deeper. Find out who Kartik really is behind the mask he shows everyone.”

Aman looked uncertain. “That could get tricky, man. Kartik’s got a lot of powerful people protecting him.”

“That’s why we have to be smarter,” Dhruv replied, his voice cool. “Everyone has weaknesses. I want to know Kartik’s.”

Aman hesitated for a moment but then nodded. “Alright. I’ll see what I can find.”

---

As Aman worked on gathering more dirt on Kartik, Dhruv found himself pulled back into the social circles he was now a part of. His evenings were filled with high-society parties, business meetings, and conversations with people who had once seemed out of reach. He was quickly becoming a name in the business world, and his influence was growing.

But amidst the new wealth and power, there was one thing Dhruv couldn’t shake—Jasmine. Ever since their brief encounter at the party, her face had lingered in his thoughts. He had told himself that he was done with her, that she wasn’t worth his time. But deep down, something still pulled at him. Maybe it was the unresolved anger, or maybe it was the memory of how much he had loved her before everything had fallen apart.

His phone buzzed again, and this time, it was a message from Jasmine.

“Please, can we meet? Just to talk.”

Dhruv stared at the message for a long time, his mind racing. He didn’t owe her anything. After everything she had done, after she had chosen Kartik over him, she deserved nothing from him. And yet… part of him wanted to see her. To hear what she had to say.

After a moment of hesitation, Dhruv typed back:

“Fine. Tomorrow at 5, the same café as last time.”

He hit send before he could change his mind.

---

The next afternoon, Dhruv arrived at the café just as the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the city. He wasn’t sure why he had agreed to meet Jasmine, but now that he was here, he felt a mix of emotions—anger, resentment, and something else he couldn’t quite place.

Jasmine arrived a few minutes later, her usual confident demeanor replaced with something softer. She looked nervous, her eyes flicking up to meet his as she approached the table.

“Hi,” she said quietly, sitting down across from him.

Dhruv didn’t respond immediately, simply staring at her. For a moment, he remembered the Jasmine he had fallen in love with—the girl who had laughed with him, shared his dreams, made him believe in a future together. But then the memories of her betrayal flooded back, and his expression hardened.

“What do you want, Jasmine?” he asked, his voice cold.

She looked down, biting her lip before speaking. “I know I hurt you, Dhruv. I know what I did was wrong.”

Dhruv leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “You think saying that changes anything?”

“No,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I didn’t want to leave things like this. I never meant to betray you. Kartik… he wasn’t—” She paused, struggling for the right words. “He wasn’t what I thought he was.”

Dhruv raised an eyebrow. “And now you regret it?”

Jasmine’s eyes filled with regret as she nodded. “Yes. I was stupid. I thought… I thought I needed more. But now I see what I gave up, what I lost.”

Dhruv’s heart clenched, but he refused to show any weakness. “You didn’t just lose me, Jasmine. You threw me away. For what? A guy who treats everyone like they’re disposable?”

Jasmine flinched at his words, guilt written all over her face. “I know. I made a terrible mistake. I’m sorry.”

For a long moment, Dhruv said nothing, his mind racing. Part of him wanted to forgive her, to move on from the anger and resentment that had consumed him since her betrayal. But another part of him—the new Dhruv—refused to let go of the pain so easily. He wasn’t the same person anymore. He couldn’t be.

“I don’t think you’re sorry,” Dhruv said finally, his voice calm but firm. “I think you’re just sorry that Kartik isn’t who you thought he was.”

Jasmine’s eyes widened, but she didn’t deny it.

“I’m done with you,” Dhruv continued, his voice cold and final. “You made your choice. Now I’m making mine. There’s no going back.”

Tears welled up in Jasmine’s eyes, but Dhruv didn’t waver. He stood up from the table, throwing a few bills on it to cover the coffee, and walked away without another word.

---

That night, as Dhruv sat in his mansion, he felt a strange mix of emotions. Confronting Jasmine had given him closure, but it hadn’t felt as satisfying as he thought it would. There was no relief, no victory. Only the cold realization that he had truly become someone else—someone who could no longer feel the same way he once had.

His phone buzzed again. It was Aman.

“Got something. Kartik’s been hiding a personal scandal. You’ll want to hear this.”

Dhruv’s lips curled into a small smile. Kartik’s downfall was closer than ever. And this time, Dhruv would make sure it was absolute.

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