Dear readers,

First of all, thank you-truly-to this growing little family of ours.
Your support means more than you know, and I'm deeply grateful to each one of you for giving Fated Destiny a chance.

But I'll be honest... it's been hard to tell whether you're enjoying the story. And that uncertainty hurts more than I expected.
Even so, I've already started writing the next two books in The Destined Series-because I believe in these characters, their journey, and the world we've begun to build together.

That said, if the interest isn't there, I understand. If this is where we part ways, I'll wrap things up after Book One.

Despite not reaching the vote target, I'm still posting this chapter-because some part of me hopes you're still out there, waiting.

With a heavy heart but endless hope,
Happy reading.
-Leela
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That's when Mayank and Adhya turned.

Their wide eyes landed on the tall figure before them.

Mayank's breath hitched-he looked just like him.

Adhya's gaze flickered between her brother and the stranger, confusion clouding her small face.

Mayank instinctively pulled her back, hiding behind Maya.

Too late, Adranksh had already seen him. He felt a tug at his heart when he saw them. It was his children. His flesh and blood. She hadn't moved on but she raised his kids. Alone.

Maya tightened her grip on their hands and turned to leave, but his voice froze her in place.

"Maya."

Her body betrayed her. She stilled, swallowing hard. Every nerve in her body screamed at her to run, but before she could, he was there standing before her.

Kneeling down, he met their eyes, his own dark with emotions too heavy to name.

"Won't you meet your father?" he asked, his voice gentle as he extended his hand.

Mayank and Adhya looked up at their mother, searching for permission.

"Maya, please." His voice was rough yet pleading.

She exhaled before nodding. He was their father, after all. No matter how much she wanted to guard them, she couldn't keep them from him.

The moment her head moved, Adhya launched forward, throwing her tiny arms around his neck as if she had been waiting forever.

A broken smile touched Adranksh's lips as he held his daughter close, his eyes shutting for a moment.

He had children. He had a daughter. A mini-Maya.

With his heart hammering, he turned to Mayank, extending his hand. The boy hesitated, looking at Maya again.

She met his uncertain gaze, her own filled with warmth.

"Go, baby," she whispered.

Mayank took a small step before finally wrapping his arms around his father.

Adranksh's arms tightened around both of them, something inside him shifting-settling.

For the first time in years, he felt complete.
However, this moment was short-lived.
"Mayank, Adhya, why don't you both go with Samay Mama, have some yummy food, and then you can continue later?" Maya coaxed gently, nodding toward Samay.

"But Amma, I want to spend more time with Pap-" Adhya started, only for Mayank to grab her hand.

"Adhya, let's go," he said firmly, leading her away.

Samay easily scooped them up, carrying them off while Maya let out a slow breath. Just as she turned to leave, a strong hand wrapped around her wrist, yanking her back.

"Where do you think you're going, Malyshka?" a husky whisper brushed against her ear.

Her body stiffened as she collided with his chest, the heat of him searing through the thin fabric of her saree. Their faces were just centimetres apart, his breath fanning over her skin.

She glared at him with nothing but hatred.

With all her strength, she tried to break free, but before she could, he suddenly lifted her into his arms, walking out of the hall with her-shocking everyone.

"Adranksh!" she shouted, struggling against his hold as they stepped outside.

His jaw clenched. She no longer called him Ansh. The pain of it cut deeper than he expected.

When she bit down on his shoulder, he only chuckled, setting her down for a brief second-just enough for her to think she was free-before he effortlessly tossed her over his shoulder.

Maya gasped, fists pounding against his back. "You bastard! Let me go!"

A sharp sting landed on her ass.

She yelped. "Ahh-"

He had spanked her.

"Stop kicking, unless you want more," he warned, his voice rich with amusement.

"How dare you?!" she seethed, writhing in his grip as he kicked the door to his room open.

"I dare a lot of things, baby," he murmured, stepping inside. "And I'm sure you already know that."

With that, he threw her onto the bed.

Maya gasped as her back hit the soft mattress, glaring up at him.

"Shut up," she hissed.

Maya pushed herself up on her elbows, fire burning in her gaze. "You think you can just do whatever you want?" she snapped.

Adranksh smirked, unbuttoning the top of his sherwani as he stalked closer. "I don't think, Malyshka-I know."

Her breath hitched when he climbed onto the bed, caging her in with his body. The scent of his cologne, rich and familiar, wrapped around her, making her head spin.

"Get off me," she growled, placing her hands on his chest to push him away.

He caught her wrists effortlessly, pressing them against the mattress above her head. "You left me, Maya," he murmured, his voice rough with unspoken emotions. "Do you have any idea what that did to me?"

She turned her face away, refusing to meet his eyes. "You deserved it."

His grip tightened ever so slightly. "Did I?" he whispered, his lips brushing the shell of her ear.

Her body betrayed her. The warmth of his breath sent shivers down her spine.

"I hate you," she whispered, but the tremor in her voice gave her away.

His dark eyes searched hers. "Liar," he murmured.

Before she could protest, his lips descended on hers, capturing them in a kiss that stole the breath from her lungs. It wasn't gentle. It was raw, desperate-a war between love and anger, passion and pain.

Maya knew she should fight him, push him away, remind him of the years he had lost, of the nights she had spent alone. But when his hands trailed down her sides, gripping her waist, pulling her flush against him-she couldn't.

Because deep down, she had missed him too.

Her fingers curled into his hair as she kissed him back with just as much fire, surrendering to the storm between them.

Adranksh groaned against her lips, flipping them over so she was straddling him. His hands roamed over her back, her curves, claiming every inch of her as if he was afraid, she'd disappear again.

"You're mine, Maya," he claimed against her lips.
Maya snapped back to reality, her hand stinging from the force of her slap. The sharp sound still echoed in the room.

"You think you can just walk back into my life after what you did?" she seethed, shoving him hard.

Adranksh barely moved, his dark eyes locked onto her with an intensity that made her breath hitch.

"I'm not your Maya anymore," she spat, turning toward the door, desperate to put distance between them.

But before she could take another step, he grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the door, his body caging hers in.

A slow, dangerous chuckle escaped his lips. "That's what you think," he murmured, his voice like silk and steel. His fingers brushed against her jaw as he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "You were, are, and will always be mine, Malyshka."

She shuddered, cursing her body's betrayal as he tilted her head, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss against her neck.
Maya clenched her fists, her body trembling not from fear, but from rage. And something else. Something she refused to name.

She shoved against his chest, but he didn't budge. "Let me go, Adranksh."

His lips hovered over her skin; his breath warm against her pulse. "Why?" he murmured. "Afraid of what you'll feel?"

She scoffed, tilting her chin up in defiance. "I feel nothing."

His grip tightened on her wrists, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Liar."

Her heart pounded against her ribs, her breath hitching as he leaned closer.

"I spent years without you," he whispered, his lips grazing her jaw. "And you think I'll let you walk away now?"

Maya's eyes burned, memories crashing into her like waves against a cliff. The nights she spent longing for him. The pain of his betrayal. The love she had tried so hard to kill.

She turned her face, her lips just a breath away from his. "Watch me."

But before she could push him away again, he crushed his lips against hers, stealing the air from her lungs. It was fire and fury, a battle of tongues and teeth, of anger and longing.

She hated him. She hated that he still knew how to make her body weak, how to ignite the fire she thought had burned out.

But just as quickly as the kiss started, Maya bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

Adranksh hissed, pulling back, his eyes flashing with something dangerous.

Maya wiped her mouth and smirked. "You don't own me, Adranksh. Not anymore."

She yanked the door open and walked out, leaving him standing there-breathing hard, tasting blood, and grinning like a man who had just found his favourite prey again.

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