Chapter 18: Boundaries Meant to be Broken

Avni leaned against her door, pressing her fingertips against her lips, still swollen from Reyaansh’s kiss. The heat of his touch still lingered on her skin, haunting her.

This is wrong. This is dangerous.

She needed to put an end to whatever was brewing between them before it completely consumed her.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. A part of her knew who it was before even looking.

Reyaansh: Get some sleep, doctor. You’ll need your strength.

Her pulse stuttered.

She should ignore him. Should block him. Should erase every trace of him from her life.

Instead, her fingers hovered over the screen—tempted, reckless. But before she could respond, another text flashed.

Unknown Number: You should be careful, Dr. Avni. Some people don’t take kindly to those who dig too deep.

Her blood ran cold.

What the hell?

She read the message again, her hands tightening around her phone. A warning. But from who?

The hospital had been a minefield of politics and power struggles lately. But was this about that? Or was this about something else—something darker?

Her mind instantly flickered back to Reyaansh. The things he kept hidden. The threats he never spoke out loud but carried in his presence. Could this be connected to him?

No. She was thinking too much.

Shoving the phone away, she tried to push the unease aside. But as she climbed into bed, sleep refused to come.

Because for the first time, it wasn’t just Reyaansh’s presence that kept her awake.

It was the sense that she was walking straight into something far more dangerous than an affair with a man like him.

And this time, she might not be able to walk out unscathed.

\*\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\*

Avni barely got an hour of sleep. The weight of that message pressed against her chest, an eerie reminder that she was being watched.

By whom? And why?

By the time she reached the hospital the next morning, the usual hum of the corridors felt different—like there was something lurking beneath the surface, waiting to explode.

She walked into the pediatric ward, expecting the routine chaos, but instead, she was met with silence. Too much silence.

A nurse approached her hesitantly. "Dr. Avni, the director wants to see you. Now."

Her heart stilled.

She nodded, keeping her expression neutral, though her mind was already racing. Was this about the message? Was it Reyaansh? Or had something else happened overnight?

As she walked toward the director’s office, she saw Reyaansh standing near the large windows, his back to her. Even from a distance, she could sense the tension in his frame.

The moment she stepped inside, the director’s sharp gaze settled on her. "Dr. Avni, sit."

She did.

The director pushed a file across the desk. "Can you explain why a formal complaint has been filed against you?"

Her stomach dropped. "What?"

Reyaansh turned, his expression unreadable. "Anonymous complaint. Accusations of medical negligence."

A cold dread filled her. This was an attack. A deliberate attempt to ruin her. But from who?

The director exhaled. "Avni, I don’t believe these allegations. But this isn’t something we can ignore."

She clenched her fists. "This is ridiculous. I have never—"

"I know," the director interrupted. "But someone wants you gone. And they’re playing dirty."

Her mind reeled. This wasn’t just about her job. This was a warning.

Reyaansh finally spoke. "You have enemies, Avni. But do you even know who they are?"

She looked at him, searching for an answer in his face. Because deep down, she knew he was hiding something.