Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, but the room felt cold.

Abhina stood frozen at the doorway, tears silently rolling down her cheeks.

Hrittik was desperately trying to explain himself.

"I don't remember anything after she gave me that drink. Please believe me."

Just then, Krutika slowly opened her eyes. She looked at Abhina and then at Hrittik. A satisfied smile crossed her face.

"So... she knows now."

She sat up dramatically, pretending to cover herself.

Looking directly at Abhina, she said,

"Yes... Hrittik was alone with me last night."

She paused deliberately before adding,

"We slept together."

Abhina's face went pale.

Krutika continued,

"It just happened. We were together... as a man and a woman."

Before she could finish—

Slap!

Hrittik struck her across the face.

His voice trembled with anger.

"Enough!"

"How dare you lie?"

"I don't remember anything because you drugged me!"

"I never betrayed my wife."

Krutika held her cheek but laughed.

"Really?"

"Can you prove it?"

"You don't even remember the night."

She looked at Abhina.

"Ask him."

"He himself said he remembers nothing."

Abhina looked at Hrittik.

His eyes were desperate.

"Abhina... please..."

"I swear on everything I love..."

"I would never betray you."

But Abhina was too heartbroken to think clearly.

She stepped back.

"I trusted you."

"Hrittik..."

Her voice broke.

"I don't want to see you anymore."

She turned and walked away before he could stop her.

"Abhina!"

She never looked back.

---

That afternoon, Hrittik went straight to Roy Mansion.

His face showed exhaustion and grief.

Mareena opened the door.

Seeing him alone, she immediately understood something had gone terribly wrong.

"What happened?"

Hrittik folded his hands.

"Didi... please let me explain."

Within minutes, everyone had gathered in the drawing room.

Abhina sat silently beside Mareena, refusing to even look at him.

Abhinav's face hardened.

Hrittik narrated everything.

"Krutika came late at night asking for help."

"She gave me something to drink."

"After that I blacked out."

"When I woke up... Abhina was standing there."

"I don't know what happened."

Silence filled the room.

Mareena struggled to believe it.

She had always trusted Hrittik.

Yet the situation looked terrible.

She whispered,

"Hrittik..."

"I know you as an honest man..."

"But how do we ignore what Abhina saw?"

Hrittik lowered his head.

"I don't have proof."

"But I know I never cheated."

Abhinav stood up in anger.

"I trusted you with my daughter's life."

"You promised to protect her."

"And now this?"

Hrittik tried to speak.

"Abhinav da—"

"Don't call me that."

Abhinav's voice echoed through the room.

"Until the truth comes out..."

"Stay away from my daughter."

"I don't want you meeting her."

Hrittik stood speechless.

The people who had once accepted him as family were now looking at him with disappointment.

---

Outside the mansion, Krutika had followed him.

She smiled triumphantly.

"See?"

"Even your wife doesn't trust you."

She stepped closer.

"Hrittik..."

"Leave all this."

"Marry me."

"We've known each other since childhood."

"I can still make you happy."

Hrittik looked at her with disgust.

"My marriage isn't broken because of love."

"It's broken because of your lies."

"I will never marry you."

"Not in this lifetime."

Krutika's smile faded.

"You'll come back."

Hrittik replied firmly,

"I would rather live alone forever than spend a single day with someone who destroys another person's home."

He walked away without looking back.

Krutika stood there, furious that even after everything, he had rejected her.

---

Inside Roy Mansion, sorrow had settled over every corner.

Only days earlier, they had mourned Zainab's death.

Now another tragedy had struck.

Abhina sat in her room, clutching her wedding photographs.

Fresh tears stained the pages.

Mareena quietly entered and hugged her daughter.

Neither of them spoke.

Downstairs, Abhinav stared silently through the window.

The house that had finally found peace after years of conflict had once again been consumed by grief.

Far away, Hrittik sat alone in his apartment.

For the first time since marrying Abhina, he truly felt what loneliness was. He knew that unless he uncovered the truth behind Krutika's deception, he might lose the woman he loved forever.