MG SS - Blood and Betrayal - chapter 9 updated 12/03/2025 pg 11 - Page 2

Hi, nice prologue, l will love to read the story dear.

Originally posted by: aparna3011

congrats for new story

interesting

waiting to read more

continue soon

Thanks Aparna ..

Are you from Maharashtra?

Originally posted by: ranumohanty34

Hi, nice prologue, l will love to read the story dear.

Thanks dear. Will update chapter 1 today. ❤️

Interesting prologue..

Waiting for the update

Congratulations on yet another SS

Prologue is Captivating and filled with Suspense !!!

Looking forward to reading this SS

Originally posted by: taahir004

Congratulations on yet another SS

Prologue is Captivating and filled with Suspense !!!

Looking forward to reading this SS

Thank you :)

Will update soon

Will definitely read this one 😊

Originally posted by: Athuathulya

Interesting prologue..

Waiting for the update

thank youuu..will update soon

Originally posted by: kirtikaa

Will definitely read this one 😊

thanksss so much Kirtikaa

Chapter 1 -

The Khurana mansion, once a grand emblem of power and wealth, stood as a quiet, unsettling witness to a tragedy that had shaken its very foundation. The towering marble pillars and expansive gardens, bathed in the soft moonlight, seemed to mock the chaos that now reigned within the house. Inside, the warmth and laughter that usually filled the halls had vanished, replaced by an unnatural stillness that hung in the air.

Maan Singh Khurana stood in his father’s old study, a room that had witnessed countless decisions...some bold, others ruthless...all shaping the empire that his family controlled. Tonight, however, the space felt suffocating, as if even the walls were holding their breath, waiting for the next move.

He ran his fingers over the smooth, polished surface of the mahogany desk, the one his father had sat behind for years. The same desk where his uncle, Ranjit Singh Khurana, had also spent countless hours strategizing, building his own empire within the larger Khurana business. But now, Ranjit’s chair was empty. His cold, lifeless body had been found slumped over this very desk, a single bullet wound to his chest, a pool of blood staining the once-pristine wood.

Maan’s jaw clenched as he gazed down at the photograph on the desk...a black-and-white image of a younger Maan, Ranjit, and his late father, all standing together with faint smiles, a rare moment of unity captured in time. Ranjit had always been a complex man...hard, calculating, and sometimes cruel. But he had also been a pillar in the family, a man whose word was law in the business world.

Maan didn’t believe in coincidences. He had seen enough in his life to know when something didn’t add up. Ranjit’s murder was no random act of violence. It was calculated, deliberate. And it had been done by someone who knew exactly how to get past the security, who understood the mansion’s layout like the back of their hand.

His mind raced, but the truth was inescapable. The killer was inside the family. And Maan knew that the only way to uncover who had done this...and why...was to face the lies, betrayals, and old grudges that had festered beneath the surface for years.

---

In the living room, Geet sat by the window, her hands clasped tightly around a cup of tea, though it had long since gone cold. The soft ticking of the clock on the mantle was the only sound breaking the heavy silence. She had been with Maan for years, but she had never seen him like this. The stoic, controlled man she knew was now visibly shaken...though he hid it well.

Her thoughts spiraled. She had never been close to Ranjit...he was a distant figure in the family, always involved in the business side of things, rarely showing interest in personal connections. But his sudden, brutal death felt like an open wound. The shock of it was still fresh, and the question that kept haunting her mind was why? Why would someone kill him?

The police had come and gone, but Geet couldn’t shake the feeling that their investigation would only scratch the surface. Maan’s instincts were sharper than anyone else’s...he trusted no one. Not even the authorities.

Geet’s train of thought was interrupted when Maan entered the room. He didn’t speak at first, his eyes scanning her face as if weighing something. His gaze lingered for a moment too long, and for the first time, Geet felt as if she were being judged...not by the man who loved her, but by the man who now saw her as a potential suspect.

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly, even though she knew the question was as much for herself as it was for him.

Maan’s eyes softened for a fraction of a second before the mask of composure fell back into place. “We need to talk,” he said in a low, steady tone.

He didn’t wait for her to respond, walking toward the hallway with that same measured pace that always signaled when something important was about to happen. Geet followed him, her mind racing. What was going on in his mind? Why was he acting so distant? Why did he look so… cold?

---

Inside Ranjit’s study, the rest of the family had gathered...Arjun, Dev, Naintara, and a few of the household staff. The tension in the room was suffocating. Everyone was still reeling from the shock, but there was also a growing sense of fear, an unspoken understanding that none of them were safe from suspicion.

Arjun stood near the large window, his posture stiff, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes flickered nervously from the door to the others in the room. Geet had always thought of him as a quiet, somewhat brooding figure, someone who preferred to keep his distance from the drama. But tonight, there was something else in his demeanor...something that hinted at fear. Or was it guilt?

Dev, on the other hand, was pacing the room, his movements sharp, agitated. He had always been the more carefree of the two brothers, the one who could charm anyone with a smile, the one who often acted without thinking. But tonight, his usual bravado had faded. His eyes darted around the room, and his hand kept fiddling with the hem of his sleeve. It was clear he was struggling to process the events.

Then there was Naintara, her arms crossed, leaning against the wall, a cynical smile playing on her lips. She appeared calm, even amused, but there was a coldness in her eyes...a calculated detachment that made Geet uneasy. What was she thinking? Naintara had always been a mystery, someone who played her cards close to her chest. She had a sharp mind, and no one in the family could truly claim to know her.

Maan stepped into the room, his presence like a storm cloud rolling in. The others turned to face him, their expressions a mix of anxiety and apprehension.

"We need to be clear on something," Maan said, his voice low and controlled. "Ranjit Chacha's death is no accident. This wasn’t a random crime. It was planned. And the person responsible is someone here. Someone we all trust."

The words dropped into the room like a bomb. Everyone froze. The implications were clear, and yet, none of them were ready to face it.

"Do you mean one of us?" Dev’s voice cracked, betraying the fear that gripped him. His usual bravado was gone, replaced by an unsettling vulnerability.

Maan’s gaze swept the room, his eyes briefly landing on each person’s face. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in the way he carried himself...a quiet intensity that was unmistakable.

"Yes," he said firmly. "And I won’t stop until I find out who."

He walked over to Ranjit’s desk and began scanning the papers, his fingers brushing over various documents with methodical precision. Every detail mattered now. The small, seemingly insignificant clues would be the ones that told the story.

Geet’s breath caught as she watched him. She had always known that Maan’s mind worked differently...that he could see things others missed. But the weight of his words hung heavy in the air. You’re a suspect too, Geet.

His gaze turned to her then, and for a moment, she felt like she was under a microscope. Maan had never been one to show his cards, and right now, it felt like he was scrutinizing every inch of her face for a lie.

Her pulse quickened.

Could it be one of us?

Could she even trust the people she had shared her life with for so long?