Episode 3: The Beginning of an Obsession

King of Shadows..

Three days passed.

For V, those three days felt strangely long.

Normally, his schedule was packed with meetings, business deals, and handling enemies who constantly challenged his authority. His life moved at a relentless pace.

Yet somehow, his thoughts kept returning to one place.

A small bookstore.

And a girl named Riya.

---

"Boss, the shipment has arrived."

V sat at the head of a long conference table.

Around him were his most trusted men.

Everyone waited for instructions.

But V wasn't paying attention.

His mind was elsewhere.

"Boss?"

One of his men called again.

V blinked.

"What?"

"The shipment."

"Approve it."

The room fell silent.

His men exchanged confused glances.

Usually, V personally inspected every operation.

Today, he seemed distracted.

Very distracted.

After the meeting ended, his right-hand man, Arjun, followed him.

"Boss, can I ask something?"

V kept walking.

"What is it?"

"Are you alright?"

V stopped.

His cold gaze landed on Arjun.

"Why?"

"You've been acting differently."

The words annoyed him.

"I am fine."

Arjun raised both hands.

"Okay, okay."

But deep inside, Arjun knew something had changed.

The feared King of Shadows was hiding something.

---

That evening, V found himself standing outside the bookstore once again.

He stared at the sign for several seconds.

Then entered.

The small bell above the door rang softly.

Riya immediately looked up.

A smile appeared on her face.

"It's you."

For some reason, hearing those words made V feel strangely happy.

"You remembered me."

Riya laughed.

"Of course I did."

She pointed toward the novel he carried.

"Did you finish it?"

V nodded.

"I did."

"And?"

"It was good."

Her eyes widened.

"That's all?"

"What else should I say?"

She crossed her arms dramatically.

"It was a masterpiece."

A faint smile appeared on V's lips.

A real smile.

Something almost nobody had ever seen.

Riya froze.

"There it is."

V frowned.

"What?"

"Your smile."

His expression instantly returned to normal.

Riya giggled.

"See? You should smile more often."

If anyone else had said that, they would have regretted it.

But from Riya...

It sounded different.

---

Over the next hour, they talked.

About books.

Movies.

Dreams.

Life.

For the first time in years, V spoke about things unrelated to crime and power.

And surprisingly...

He enjoyed it.

Very much.

---

Across the city, trouble was already brewing.

Inside a luxury penthouse, Raghav sat with a glass of whiskey.

One of his men entered.

"We've been tracking V's movements."

Raghav immediately became interested.

"And?"

The man handed him several photographs.

Raghav examined them.

His eyes narrowed.

Every photo showed the same place.

The bookstore.

And in several pictures...

A young woman.

Riya.

A slow smile spread across Raghav's face.

"Interesting."

"Should we investigate her?"

Raghav leaned back in his chair.

For years, V had been untouchable.

No weaknesses.

No attachments.

No emotions.

But now...

Perhaps things were changing.

"Keep watching."

The man nodded.

"And don't let V notice."

---

Back at the bookstore, the sky had turned dark.

Riya glanced outside.

"It's late."

V checked the time.

Hours had passed without him noticing.

Something that had never happened before.

"I should go."

Riya smiled.

"Come back sometime."

V looked into her eyes.

For a brief moment, the cold walls around his heart weakened.

"I will."

And for the first time in many years...

V meant it.

As he walked toward his car, one thought remained in his mind.

He had entered the bookstore out of curiosity.

But now it was something far more dangerous.

He wanted to see Riya again.

Not because he needed information.

Not because he had a reason.

Simply because he wanted to.

And without realizing it, the most feared man in the city was slowly falling in love.

To Be Continued... 🖤👑❤️

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