Page 233 of One Hellish Passion

“Yes. Just a few hours ago. It's made to look like a suicide, but it's not.”

Dhruv was shocked.

“But… who could do this?”

“Yet to find out,” Ranveer gulped. “But that’s not the only cause of worry. There is more.”

Dhruv cautiously listened.

“Adira is arrested. We got the proof needed to drag her behind bars. She and Cindy had planned Maya’s accident.”

“I knew it. Adira was a big trouble for all of us.”

“She was just a pawn, Dhruv. Cindy was using her to hurt me by targeting Maya. And that’s not the only thing Cindy died for. She was blackmailing your father.”

“Blackmailing?”

Ranveer clenched his teeth. He didn’t want to share his suspicion with Dhruv that their mother was killed by Dev Malik. Not until he was there personally to share his grief with all the proofs against Dev Malik in hand. But if he delayed anymore, it might not be good. He wanted Dhruv to know what a monster his father is.

“Cindy probably had proofs that Dev Malik killed our mother.”

“Wait,” Dhruv snapped. “You mean Dad? My Dad killed Mom?”

Ranveer didn’t speak. He shut his eyes, trying to calm his burning soul.

“Bro, you are mistaken. Dad loved her. He wouldn’t hurt her. I… No… No, that’s impossible.”

“Dhruv,” Ranveer interrupted. “We don’t have solid proofs yet. Before my men could trace Cindy and get the proofs, someone killed her and stole the proofs too. We have to wait to get a clear picture about it.”

“I cannot believe this, Bro. Dad loved Mom. And if he ever wanted to kill her, why marry her in the first place? Why stay with her happily all these years? Why would he kill her all of a sudden?”

His questions raised another alarm in Ranveer’s head. Dhruv had a point. Why would Dev Malik wait all these years if he didn’t want his wife?

“Something is missing, Bro. There has to be some reason. I don’t believe it. Not until we get the proofs. And I hope this is false. I can live with the fact that my father has committed some horrendous crime, but he killed my mother? I don’t want to live with it. I…” Dhruv burst out in tears.

Ranveer fisted his fingers, feeling responsible for bringing that pain upon his brother.

“Dhruv, just come here, okay? We will talk. Stop crying,” Ranveer almost shouted.

“I am not crying,” Dhruv wiped his tears. “I am hurt, Bro.”

“I know. I am hurt too.”

Ranveer swallowed the pain forming in his throat, and after once again informing Dhruv not to step out until his guards reached, he disconnected the call.

Dhruv was in his room waiting when he heard a harsh sound from Kunal’s room. He peeped from his door and watched Kunal lock the bedroom as if he had hidden something precious inside and strode out. Where was he going again? And why did he lock the room? Dhruv’s suspicion increased when Kunal got scared upon seeing Aisha enter the house. Kunal hid himself behind a pillar while Aisha made her way to Dhruv’s room. The moment she reached the lobby, Kunal took the opportunity to rush out of the house.

“Hey,” Aisha stated, seeing Dhruv opening the door for her. “Sir send me to pick you up from here. Let’s go.”

Dhruv nodded.

“You look tensed,” she said. “Is everything okay?”

“Cindy is dead.” He muttered to himself.

“Yes, Ranveer told me. I am aware of that and also of what suspicion Ranveer has regarding your mother’s death.”

“Aisha, I think Kunal is also conspiring something. Or maybe he is involved in something which is not right.” Dhruv confided in her.

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