Chairman's Beloved Wifey

Bella glanced at the caller ID—it was Akira, her loyal subordinate.

She answered the call, and Akira's distressed voice immediately filled the silence.

"Boss! Emma is no more."

"What?" Bella's heart stopped for a moment as Akira's words hit her like a thunderclap.

She couldn't believe her ears. Emma had been perfectly fine yesterday. Bella had personally ensured her safety and had her escorted home. Even Kartik had promised that no harm would come to her. Then who could have killed Emma? And how?

Rising from her seat, Bella demanded, "Akira, tell me exactly what happened. Who told you Emma is dead?"

Her voice, laced with worry and disbelief, trembled slightly.

Though Bella and Emma had always shared a volatile, fire-and-water relationship since childhood, their bond was far from being devoid of care. Emma's death wasn't something Bella could take lightly, nor could she imagine Emma ever resorting to such hatred as to harm her own sister.

In a quieter tone, Akira replied, "Boss, Emma's body is right in front of me. Her head was riddled with so many bullets that her face is unrecognizable. We had to rely on DNA reports to identify her. Please, you need to come here. Your uncle and aunt... they're inconsolable."

The mention of her uncle and aunt drained the color from Bella's face. They weren't just Emma's parents; they held a place in Bella's life far more significant than even her adoptive parents.

Clutching her forehead as though trying to steady her thoughts, Bella said, "Alright. I'm on my way. Take care of them until I get there."

After giving Akira a few more instructions, Bella called Rawat, instructing him to prepare the jet. Her mind was in turmoil, a storm of questions brewing within.

She raised her gaze to Kartik, who stood quietly, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, observing her without a flicker of emotion.

Draped in a custom-made black Raymond suit, Kartik looked strikingly charismatic. Even at 34, his sharp features and exceptional physique made him appear a decade younger.

The moment her eyes met Kartik's, doubt crept into Bella's mind. Kartik wasn't a man to let anyone who threatened her walk away unscathed.

To the world, Kartik's calm demeanor was a mask, hiding the darkness that lurked beneath.

For him, taking a life was as insignificant as swatting a fly. Years ago, he had burned an entire island to ashes in a matter of hours, all to avenge his father's death.

It was only natural for Bella to suspect him first.

In a voice barely above a whisper, she asked, "Please, tell me you didn't break your promise, Kartik."

Kartik's response was measured, his tone as calm as ever. "I'm not as cruel as you think, wifey. Even if I had broken my promise, I wouldn't have killed her. After all, she was your sister."

Bella scrutinized him for a long moment. There wasn't a trace of falsehood in his expression.

Their quiet exchange was interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

Instead of answering it, Bella let out a deep sigh and stepped closer to Kartik. She seemed to already know who was waiting outside.

Wrapping her arms around him, Bella murmured, "I hope what you said is true. Please convey my condolences to Grandma on my behalf. I need to leave for France. My family needs me."

Kartik gently stroked her back, his voice tender. "Go, but take care of yourself and our little one. There shouldn't be tears in their eyes."

Bella offered a faint smile at his words.

He kissed her forehead.

Before leaving, Bella said, "If Bartika comes back, call me. I haven't spoken to her since yesterday."

Kartik nodded. "I will."

As Bella stepped out of the room, she found Rawat waiting patiently nearby.

"The jet is ready, Boss," he informed her.

She nodded. "Let's go, then."

By evening, Bella was in Paris, at the cemetery where Emma was to be laid to rest.

The crowd had been waiting for Bella's arrival. After the funeral ceremony was over, she returned to the Richard Mansion with her grieving uncle and aunt.

The mansion was eerily silent, weighed down by the loss of its young daughter.

As soon as she returned, Bella retreated to her study.

Riba and Rawat quietly followed her, leaving the others to their grief.

Luke Richard, her uncle, lingered outside the study's closed doors. He wanted to speak with Bella but decided against it. For now, his priority was to comfort his wife. With that thought, he gently led her to their bedroom.

In the Study Room,

Bella sat gracefully, her back resting against the leather chair, her expression unreadable.

Akira, as she handed over the entire report, spoke calmly, "Boss, as the servant told us, last night around eleven o'clock, Emma left her room in a fit of anger. She had been shot in the arm. However, despite repeated questions from the servant, she refused to reveal the identity of the person who shot her. She was muttering angrily under her breath. After receiving treatment, she returned to her room. The next morning, when Uncle Luke and Aunt went to check on her, they found her lifeless body."

Bella's brow furrowed as Akira finished speaking. With every word, the enigma surrounding Emma's death grew more complex.

It was evident that the person who shot Emma in the arm could not have been responsible for her death. But who had done it? And why? Who was the one who shot Emma in the very spot where she had shot Bella the previous day? Kartik had made it clear that he had not harmed Emma, but who had fired the shot?

After a brief silence, Bella's voice broke through the tension. "What did the autopsy report reveal?"

Akira replied promptly, "The autopsy confirms that Emma died between one and two a.m. Thirty bullets were fired into her head. It appears the person who killed Emma held a personal grudge against her."

Bella, who had remained calm until now, suddenly picked up a paperweight and hurled it across the room, the sound of it crashing against the wall ringing out. Her eyes, once serene, now blazed with fury.

Akira and Rawat instinctively stepped back. Bella's rare fits of rage were nothing short of intimidating. When she became angry, it felt as if the world around her trembled.

With a voice sharp and cold, Bella spoke through gritted teeth, "Someone entered my home last night and shot my sister with thirty bullets, and no one could do anything to stop them? Akira! You were in charge of security, weren't you? How did this happen?"

Akira could only lower her head, unable to meet Bella's gaze. She knew the mistake lay with her.

Bella's eyes turned icy as she fixed Rawat and Akira with a dangerous look. "Within the next two hours, I want that person at my feet—the one who killed my sister."

Rawat and Akira responded in unison, "Yes, Boss."

Before they could leave, Bella spoke again, her voice as cold as steel. "Give me access to all the hidden cameras around the mansion and bring that boy here immediately."

She was referring to Charlie. Rawat and Akira quickly acknowledged, "Understood, Boss," and exited the study.

While the Richard family had little regard for most people, they all feared Bella's wrath.

A while later, Bella, her expression unwavering, scrolled through the CCTV footage on her laptop. The study door creaked open, signaling another visitor.

Without looking up from her screen, Bella's voice was calm yet commanding. "Come in."

A young man entered the room. He appeared to be around Bella's age—elegant, composed, with an aura befitting royalty.

Upon seeing him, Bella glanced up briefly and said, "Bin. What brings you here at this hour?"

Bin, one of Bella's childhood friends and the current president of Rockwave, took a seat across from her. Though once vice president, Bin had taken her place after Bella's resignation.

"I heard about Emma," Bin said, his tone soft but sincere. "I wanted to check on you. Nikhil and Sam will be joining us soon."

Bella nodded silently, her mind still preoccupied with the mystery of Emma's death. Nikhil and Sam were also childhood friends, and she was glad to see them.

After a brief pause, Bin spoke again, his voice light, "My engagement is the day after tomorrow. The ceremony will take place on a cruise. Will you be attending? If it's inconvenient for you, I won't insist."

Bella's expression softened, her usual aloofness giving way to something more genuine. "No, it's not inconvenient. I'll be there. It's your engagement, after all."

Bin smiled warmly, pleased by her answer.

A few moments later, Bin shifted the conversation. "Rockwave wants you back. You can expect them to reach out soon."

At the mention of Rockwave, Bella's brow furrowed in thought. She had stepped away from the company long ago, but her ties to it remained strong.

---

Royal Academy,

Reyansh had come straight from school, making his way up the hill with a certain expectation. But what he found was not what he anticipated.

The hill was eerily peaceful.

Two boys were sitting with their feet dangling over the edge. They appeared youthful and carefree—one was about thirteen, the other around twelve.

Reyansh stood still for a moment, observing them. This was unusual. Whenever his younger brother, Aditya, and cousin, Arav, were together, they were always at odds, constantly bickering.

Reyansh silently approached them, his hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers.

Aditya, offering a handkerchief to Arav, said with some irritation, "You didn't have to come. I could've handled them alone."

Arav, with a sarcastic grin, took the handkerchief. "Really? They had you pinned down, beating you? If I hadn't stepped in, they might have killed you today. You'd have been forgotten. Besides, your parents have Reyansh and Bartika. They'll forget about you in no time."

Aditya's face flushed with anger at Arav's words.

With a sudden motion, Aditya grabbed Arav by the collar and retorted angrily, "If I die, you die with me. Let's both end it today. I've had enough of you."

With that, Aditya jumped toward the ravine, pulling Arav along with him.

___________________________________

Will Akira and Rawat uncover the truth behind Emma's death within two hours?

Will Aditya and Arav truly meet their end today?

To be continued...