Chapter 12: The breaking point

The Next Day – A Vanishing Act

The next day, when Kyara visited college, she scrolled through her phone and noticed something strange—most of the horrible posts about her were deleted.

She let out a low whistle. Woah... almost all of them are gone. That was easier than I thought. She smiled slightly, feeling a sense of relief.

But as she passed by the principal's office, muffled voices caught her attention.

"You have crossed the line this time, Tara."

"Sir, I didn't—"

"Enough! Not only have you spread false rumors, but now we have an official complaint. If you think your actions will go unnoticed just because your father donates to this college, you're wrong."

There was a pause before the principal spoke again, his voice low but clear.

"Dr. Nikhil Agnihotri filed this complaint himself. Do you know who you're messing with?"

Kyara froze.

Wait—what?

She hadn't expected Niki to go this far.

When she walked out of college, waiting for a taxi, her hands clenched into fists. She was furious. She could handle her own battles. Before she could flag down a cab, Tara walked toward her, clapping sarcastically.

"Wanna hear some bad news?" Tara sneered. "I didn't get restricted from college."

Kyara raised an eyebrow. "And what should I do with this unnecessary information?"

Tara smirked. "Oh, look who's acting all innocent. Our so-called feminist can't fight her own battles, so she went crying to her rich fiancé."

Kyara rolled her eyes, calming her nerves so she wouldn't slap her.

"I will make you regret everything," Tara continued. "From high school to your engagement party—"

Kyara stepped closer, her voice cold.

"Do whatever the hell you can, Tara. I don't give a damn."

A taxi stopped beside her. Without breaking eye contact, Kyara got in, slammed the door shut, and flipped Tara off before the car drove away.

The Confrontation

She stormed into Niki's father's hospital, straight into his cabin without knocking.

She had come in with the intention to say something hurtful. To tell him off for interfering in her life. To throw the most cutting words she could find.

But the moment she saw him, something inside her calmed down.

Niki sat behind his desk, casually flipping through some documents, as if he had expected this reaction.

Kyara exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. Fine. Maybe she wouldn't yell. But she wasn't going to let this slide either.

"Are you out of your mind, Niki?" she demanded.

He didn't even look up. "Good morning to you too."

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Act like this isn't a big deal!" Kyara threw her bag onto the couch. "You filed a complaint behind my back? Do you even realize what you've done?"

Now, Niki did look up. His eyes were calm but sharp, as if he had already prepared for every argument she might throw.

"I did what should've been done a long time ago," he said simply.

Kyara clenched her jaw. "I don't need you to fight my battles for me."

"Then fight them," Niki leaned back in his chair, unfazed. "But do it the right way."

He slid a file across the desk. Kyara hesitated before picking it up.

Inside, there were documents outlining legal actions she could take against Tara. Steps to reclaim her stolen position in college. Proper channels to shut down the rumors permanently.

She blinked.

"You... researched all this?"

Niki shrugged. "I have better things to do than watch you waste your time on pointless fights."

Kyara felt something tighten in her chest. Why was he like this? Always pretending not to care, but still making sure she was okay.

"Fine," she muttered. "I'll handle it. My way."

A small smirk played on Niki's lips. "Good."

She turned to leave but hesitated when Niki spoke again.

"Why is she actually doing all this?"

Kyara frowned. "What?"

"Tara hates you. But I don't think it's just because of the wine incident at the engagement or because I removed her as a game tester."

Kyara stiffened. She had never told him the real reason before.

After a pause, she sighed.

"It started when we were kids," she admitted. "Tara and I were actually close in middle school. She was… different back then."

"Then what happened?" Niki asked, watching her carefully.

Kyara crossed her arms. "There was a big inter-school competition. Tara and I were both selected for it, but she got injured a week before the finals. Our coach replaced her with me. I ended up winning, and everyone praised me instead of her."

She looked away. "I thought she was okay with it, but later, I overheard her telling someone that I 'stole' her moment. She thought I was pretending to be her friend just to take her place."

Niki raised an eyebrow. "That's ridiculous."

"Yeah, well, tell that to the middle-school version of her." Kyara shook her head. "Since then, she started treating me like a rival. She tried to one-up me in everything. Even when we were in high school, she couldn't stand it if I got better grades or more attention."

Niki rested his chin on his hand. "And the wine incident?"

Kyara exhaled slowly. "At the engagement, she cornered me and said something disgusting. She claimed I am a gold digger and fake feminist and she successfully snatched my dream."

Her grip on the chair tightened. "I lost my temper. I had been holding back for years, but that night, I just… snapped. So I threw the wine on her."

Niki listened quietly.

"I know it was childish," Kyara continued. "But for once, I wanted to shut her up."

Niki leaned back, his expression unreadable.

"You know," he said, "there's another way."

Kyara looked at him warily. "What now?"

"You can make it to a better university, maybe abroad. Achieve something better than what was snatched from you."

Kyara blinked. "What?"

"I can help you," Niki continued. "I can help you. Don't let someone drag you down."

For a moment, both of them were silent.

Even Niki seemed a little surprised by his own words.

Kyara stared at him, a question forming in her mind.

"Why are you telling me this?"

After all, he was the one bound to her by contract. If she left, what would happen to their agreement?

Why was Niki being so selfless with her?

For the first time, neither of them had an answer.

And that question lingered between them.

Author’s Note:

Hey everyone!

This chapter was a mix of Kyara’s past coming to light, Tara’s obsession taking shape, and Niki stepping in—whether Kyara likes it or not. We’re seeing Niki not just as the sarcastic guy but as someone who acts before he speaks, even when he pretends not to care.

But the real question is—why is he offering to help her leave? And more importantly, why does that possibility bother them both?

Things are shifting, and I can’t wait to show you what’s next! Stay tuned!

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