Reyansh, Ishaan, and Ayaan immediately called their PR and cyber teams to take down the video as quickly as possible. Reyansh also contacted the Minister of Media and Communications, requesting an emergency notice to all TV channels to stop broadcasting the news about the leaked video. But it was already too late, the greedy, attention-hungry media had made it their top headline.
Ishaan and Ayaan drove straight to Rey’s Arcade, where the head of the cyber team greeted them as soon as they arrived.
“Sir, the video was transferred to multiple mobile phones through data cables before being uploaded to social media. All the accounts used are ghost accounts. We’ve taken them down, but many people had already downloaded the video and started sharing it via WhatsApp, Instagram, and other platforms. Our team is working on tracking and blocking every source,” the cyber head reported.
Ishaan nodded and stepped into the room with Ayaan following closely behind. He called the cyber head from his own office, putting both teams on a joint call while they coordinated their actions.
Meanwhile, Reyansh and Mithun alerted the guards and instructed the head of security to tighten surveillance around the manor. Everyone in the family was advised to stay indoors.
Upstairs, Pari was in Ishika’s room with Adhvika and Zara, watching the news channels and social media tear Ishaan’s reputation apart. The media had turned savage and now, some were even demanding that Vaishu step down from politics.
Pari’s hands trembled as she hugged her knees to her chest, tears streaming down her face. The girls tried to console her, but she was already hyperventilating from panic and stress.
Zara quickly called the elders, and within moments, everyone rushed to the room. Mithun knelt beside Pari, holding her and patting her cheeks gently, while Reyansh rubbed her back soothingly.
“Pari, darling… calm down. Everything is under control,” Mithun whispered, trying to comfort her as her sobs filled the room.
They managed to calm her down, but the guilt ate her alive. Reyansh stepped out of the room and called Ishaan immediately, updating him about Pari.
Ishaan told the staff to continue their work and drove back to the manor. When he entered Ishika’s room, he saw the most devastating sight of his life. Pari was utterly broken, her face wet with tears, hiccupping, a complete, fragile mess.
Just a few hours ago they had been celebrating their wedding, ready to leave for honeymoon, now their world had been turned upside down. He hated himself for leaving her alone, knowing how scared and vulnerable she could be.
He pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her forehead. Carrying her back to their room, he felt her face buried against his chest the whole time.
“Pari, I’m sorry I left you, Stop crying, baby. Everything will be fine. We are fine. Look at me.” he murmured.
He gently raised her face and wiped the tears away, but Pari refused to meet his eyes.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I don’t deserve you. I’m only a curse in your life. I bring nothing but pain, and now I’m ruining your life. I’m sorry, Ishu,” she sobbed.
Ishaan cupped her face and kissed her to hush her crying. When he stopped, Pari swallowed hard, her eyes still closed. He kissed her eyelids softly.
“Please open your eyes and look at me, Pari. Don’t blame yourself for what’s happening. That bastard is trying to ruin our lives again. Don’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he succeeded. Stand by me, and I will fight the world for us. I will shred him into pieces, not for my reputation, but for all the tears you’ve shed. I can rebuild my name any time, but you are my treasure. I want to cherish you forever. So please, look at me.”
Ishaan’s voice was low and steady. Pari slowly opened her eyes and looked at him.
Ishaan’s heart ached to see her, lashes still wet from tears.
“We’re together, Pari. Did you forget my words? We won’t let a sour enemy win so easily. We’ll give back a thousand times what they hand us. Let him play dirty, very soon he’ll regret it,” Ishaan said. His phone began to ring, he saw it was his PA. Holding Pari close, he answered, then a moment later dropped the call and turned on the TV in their room.
Live on screen, a different scandal unfolded, footage of boys partying with drugs, supposedly filmed at three of his hotels, was already going viral. Pari pressed a hand to her mouth and then, overwhelmed, collapsed unconscious. Ishaan caught her and laid her on the bed just as a loud knocking began at the door. The whole family rushed in to find Pari unresponsive.
Ishaan sprinkled water on her face until she stirred. As she opened her eyes, he gently wiped her cheeks, before any sob could escape, he silenced her with a finger to her lips.
“Pari, you were meant to run the Rey legacy. Do you think you can do that if you fold at the first sign of trouble? This is exactly what they want. We can’t sit here and cry every time they hit us. You hear me?” His tone was strict, firm. Pari nodded slowly.
Ishaan pulled her to the closet and picked out a jumpsuit. “Get ready. We’re leaving now. You’re staying with me. Watch everything. We’ll rise back and I’ll make him pay. Do you want to watch him get what he deserves?”
Pari nodded vigorously, stripped off her clothes, and put on the outfit he chose. They walked out, Ishaan told the family to rest and left the manor. As he drove, he noticed Reyansh’s car tailing him. He only shook his head with a small smile, then parked at Rey’s Arcade.
He entered the boardroom with Pari, Reyansh and Mithun followed close behind. Ayaan sat there, fists clenched, watching the breaking news about Ishaan and Vaishu.
“There’s a major protest, all of Mr. Ishaan Rey’s hotels are being targeted. People and activists are demanding the hotels be shut down, and they want Mrs. Vaishnavi Rey removed from the cabinet and the party. After the viral video, there are calls for a full audit of the trusts, orphanages, and old-age homes run under Minister Vaishnavi Rey’s name.”
Reyansh ground his teeth and rose as if to leave the room, probably to search for Varun, but Ishaan stopped him.
“Appa, please. This is my battle to finish. Trust me, let me handle it,” Ishaan said.
Reyansh reached out, touched Ishaan’s cheek, and patted his shoulder. “I trust you, Ishaan, but this isn’t just about you. The trust is your mother’s dream to help people. I won’t let anyone destroy that, not after all these years. I have to fight for my wife.” Reyansh’s temper flashed then softened, the urge to act was visible in him.
“I understand, Appa, but this happened because of me. I failed you, let me try to fix it,” Ishaan pleaded. Mithun placed a hand on Reyansh’s shoulder. Reyansh hummed, then, with a last look, left the boardroom with Mithun.
Ishaan’s PA entered, wiping sweat from his brow. “Sir, the police have arrived at the hotels to investigate drug use. The boys who were partying have already left, but the police are asking for addresses and we provided booking details.”
Ishaan rolled up his sleeves and fixed his PA with a hard look. “Let the police do their duty. Contact the Commissioner and tell him we want the boys questioned but I want them found before the police track them down. Call every man we have. Use local contacts, pay whatever it takes. I want every one of them in custody within 24 hours. And get me updates every thirty minutes on how the takedown of the videos is progressing.” he said.
His PA nodded and left immediately to execute the orders as Ishaan’s jaw tightened with the weight of what needed to be done.
Pari called for her PA, Swathi, who came running in, out of breath.
“Swathi, I need my laptop. Arrange for a video release, I’m going to address the footage of me and Ishaan immediately.”
They were still speaking when another flash bulletin lit the screen.
“Reports claim that Mrs. Pari, the new bride, was forced into the marriage to preserve the family legacy. While there’s no conclusive proof that the wedding was staged for business purposes, the rumours have sparked a major backlash across the industry. The stock market is crashing, wiping out huge investments in the Rey Group. Stay tuned for further updates.”
Ayaan grabbed a chair and slammed it into the plasma in frustration, then ran his fingers through his hair.
Ishaan’s phone began to ring. He frowned when he saw the caller ID, one of the twins who had helped Varun back in college. He glanced at Pari and put the call on speaker.
“Hello, Ishaan sir. Sorry to call at this hour. I know you must be devastated, but I wanted to help. I have some photos of you and Pari from college, ones we took when we used to follow you. Do you want me to send them? I can even admit that Varun did this.”
Ishaan looked at Pari and Ayaan, then spoke into the phone with a tight smile. “Send me every photo you have. Don’t bother confessing or revealing anything about that bastard. I don’t want anyone to know he’s behind this. I won’t punish him publicly if his face is exposed so don’t make it public. And thanks.”
He ended the call.
Within five minutes, Ishaan’s phone flooded with photos, shots of him smiling at Pari, candid moments of them walking hand in hand, him carrying her bag, and opening the car door for her.
“This is fucking fantastic, let’s make a full video and a short reel with all these photos and clips, this should put an end to at least one of our problems.” Ishaan muttered under his breath.
Ayaan immediately called the technical team to start editing.
Meanwhile, Swathi returned with Pari’s laptop, and Ishaan’s PA arrived carrying his own. They gathered more photos, from childhood memories to the recent wedding and instructed the expert team to prepare a complete video and reel.
Pari pinched the bridge of her nose and walked out of the boardroom, Ishaan following close behind. She entered her room, pulled out her makeup kit, and began touching up her face for the video shoot. But Ishaan sat beside her and gently held her hand.
“Pari, calm down and listen to me. You don’t have to do this, not now. Let the blaze settle down first. We’ll reply with our actions later. For now, the videos and reels will do enough. There are other issues that need our attention too, and we can’t waste all our energy on just one. People will demand answers for everything, and we have to stay composed. So please, rest for a while.” he said softly.
Pari leaned against his chest, and he stroked her arm, easing her nerves. When they returned to the boardroom, Swathi served them coffee. Just then, Pari’s grandpa called Ishaan to check in, and Ishaan updated him on everything that had been done so far.
Within the next two hours, the video and multiple reels of Pari and Ishaan were ready. Two special teams organized by Reyansh and Pari’s grandpa worked to trend the new footage, gradually replacing the old one online.
By early morning, the viral video of Ishaan forcing himself on Pari was finally under control. The new videos and reels dominated social media feeds. Under the influence of Vaishu and Pari’s grandpa, news channels halted coverage of the drug allegations at Ishaan’s hotels. The PR team had managed to bring the situation under control, giving Ishaan room to plan his next move.
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