A Night of Unspoken Promises
The next morning, Wick didn't show up at college.
The tournament preparations were in full swing, but he was nowhere to be found. The Shield felt his absence. The others continued their training, yet an uneasy silence loomed over them.
By evening, however, Wick appeared—just not at the college.
Instead, he found himself standing at Shristi's doorstep.
The moment she saw him, concern flooded her eyes. She took a step forward, scanning the bruises on his face, the faint stiffness in his posture.
"How are your injuries?" she asked softly.
Wick, leaning against the doorframe with a lazy smirk, shrugged. "Uhh, it's nothing… Forget about that."
But his expression darkened slightly as he tilted his head at her. "By the way, why the hell did you jump into that fight?" His voice wasn't harsh, but it held a quiet intensity. "Not just that—you actually challenged Vijay. The best among them."
He exhaled, shaking his head. "It was a bad move." His gaze softened, lips curving into something almost like pride. "But damn, I'm impressed. Not many can stand against him, but you—" He chuckled, eyes glinting mischievously. "You almost had him."
Then, as if slipping up, he muttered, "That's my girl."
A beat of silence.
Wick blinked, realizing what he had just said. "Oops. My bad."
Shristi's cheeks warmed, but she held his gaze, her lips twitching. "No… that's alright."
A flicker of something unspoken passed between them.
Wick, breaking the moment, crossed his arms. "But I still didn't get my answer. And what was that? 'Queen of The Shield'?"
Shristi smiled, straightening her back slightly. "I just didn't want you to lose." A playful glint shone in her eyes. "And 'Queen of The Shield'—because I'm the best."
Wick let out a short laugh.
She nudged him lightly. "And thanks to you for training me. But honestly… I still don't know how I managed to jump in and fight."
Wick's smirk softened. His voice dropped to something sincere. "Thank you."
Shristi raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"Risking your life for my pride."
Her answer was immediate. "Always."
A moment of quiet understanding settled between them.
Then, with a teasing grin, Wick added, "That's what happens when you learn from the best, you know."
Shristi let out a laugh, shaking her head.
---
A Conversation of Wounds and Betrayals
As their laughter faded, Shristi's expression turned thoughtful.
"What about your company? And your aunt?"
Wick's smile vanished. He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I got betrayed." His voice was flat, but something sharp lingered underneath.
Shristi's brows furrowed. "By who?"
Wick's jaw tensed. "Hamza and my uncle teamed up to break me." His fingers curled into fists. "Uncle convinced the board that I wasn't suitable to hold such a huge percentage in the company. So… he transferred it to his name."
Shristi's eyes widened. "He stole your company?"
Wick nodded, his expression unreadable.
"And my aunt?" He let out a dry chuckle. "That was just a distraction. She had a panic attack, but they exaggerated it to pull me away from the fight."
Shristi's fists clenched. "That's disgusting."
"It is what it is." Wick's tone was eerily calm, almost detached.
Shristi studied him, something unreadable in her eyes. "So what are you going to do?"
He glanced at her, amused. "You're a lawyer, so I assume you'd suggest filing a case?"
Shristi folded her arms. "Of course. You should fight back."
But Wick only shook his head. "Nah. Last night, I promised my uncle I wouldn't take any action." His eyes darkened. "In exchange, he keeps his mouth shut about this to my aunt."
Shristi inhaled sharply. "You let him take everything just for that promise?"
Wick smirked faintly. "I'm going to build it all again. Brick by brick."
Her eyes softened. "You're insane."
He arched an eyebrow. "I've been told."
She shook her head, her voice quieter this time. "I just… can't even imagine someone else doing this. Giving away so much, just like that." She hesitated before adding, "Please… take care of yourself. At least for the ones who love you."
Wick tilted his head slightly. "I should be telling you that."
Shristi exhaled. "I should go."
But before she stepped away, she hesitated.
Her voice turned softer, hesitant. "You really… need somebody right now."
A silence stretched between them.
Then she added, almost in a whisper, "And I don't want to be that person who takes advantage of that."
Wick's eyes locked onto hers. His voice, for once, lacked any humor, any teasing. "I don't need somebody."
A pause.
His next words made her heart stop.
"I need you."
Shristi's breath hitched.
Her cheeks warmed, but she quickly masked it with a small, teasing smile. "You know, we should really focus on the championship. We only have two days left."
Wick smirked, shaking his head. "You're terrible at avoiding things, you know that?"
Shristi just grinned.
But as she turned away, her heart pounded in her chest.
And Wick?
He watched her go, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
---
The Fall and Rise of a King
That night, Wick made his decision.
With his financial situation collapsing, he was forced to return to his old house.
Nick and the others urged him to stay with them. They offered their homes, their support.
But Wick refused.
He would not burden them.
This was his battle. His empire to rebuild.
And so, he stood alone once more.
But if there was one thing certain about Vikram "Wick" Kashyap…
It was that he never stayed down for long.
To be continued...