# New File
Chapter 2
The Return of Heir Arshaka
Alya couldn't move.
All the sounds in the party room seemed to vanish. The music, the guests' conversations, even Lovi's voice as she stood a few steps away were no longer clear.
There was only one person in sight.
Arshaka Revander.
The man who was supposed to be dead.
The man who had bled in front of her.
The man Alya had spent the past year trying to forget.
Now he stood only a few inches away from her.
Alive.
"Why are you so quiet?"
Arshaka's low voice brought Alya back to her senses.
She immediately stepped back.
"I don't know who you are."
Arshaka raised one eyebrow.
"You still lie when you're nervous."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
The man's gaze traced Alya's face.
There was something in his eyes that made Alya uncomfortable. It wasn't merely anger over being shot.
There was longing.
As if Arshaka had truly been waiting for her all this time.
Arshaka lowered his head slightly, then whispered right beside her ear.
"I came back because I wanted to see you, Alya."
Alya's body tensed.
"Don't get so close."
"Why?"
"Because I'm uncomfortable."
Arshaka gave a small smile.
"You were the one who approached me with a gun back then."
Alya clenched her fists.
"It was an accident."
"An accident?"
"Yes."
"Then," Arshaka moved closer again, "why did you cry when you saw me fall?"
Alya froze.
She still remembered that night.
After shooting Arshaka, she had watched the man fall. Strangely, relief wasn't what she felt.
It was fear.
For years, Alya had always believed her instincts were never wrong.
But that night, her instincts told her something different.
Arshaka wasn't merely the monster people said he was.
Something was being hidden.
"I don't know what happened that night," Alya said softly.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Before Alya could answer, someone approached.
"Mr. Arshaka."
A man in a black suit stood behind him.
Doni.
Arshaka's personal assistant and one of the most trusted people in the Revander family's network.
Doni's face was calm, but his gaze was sharp.
"The important guests are waiting."
Arshaka didn't answer right away.
His eyes remained fixed on Alya.
"Tell them to wait."
"Sir..."
"I said wait."
Doni sighed softly.
"All right."
Doni then left.
Alya stared at Arshaka suspiciously.
"So it's true..."
"What is?"
"You're Arshaka Revander."
"Since birth."
"But every news report said you died."
Arshaka smiled coldly.
"The one who died was Ronan."
Alya frowned.
"Ronan?"
"The name I used to erase my tracks."
Arshaka then walked away.
But before he truly left, he stopped.
"Starting tomorrow, everyone will know Arshaka Revander as the heir to the Revander family who returned from the dead."
He turned his head.
"And you, Alya..."
His gaze softened.
"...will be the only person who knows that I was never actually dead."
Alya watched his back.
Her unease only grew.
The next morning, every media outlet was filled with news of the Revander family heir's return.
The name Arshaka Revander dominated television screens.
Alya sat frozen in front of the television in her office.
"After disappearing from the public eye for a year, Arshaka Revander has officially returned and taken control of most of Revander Group's shares."
The news anchor's voice rang out.
The screen displayed a photo of Arshaka.
"The Revander family's only son is reportedly set to become the company's new CEO. The heir's return has sparked various speculations surrounding the mysterious death that was previously reported..."
Lovi, sitting beside Alya, looked at her.
"You know him?"
Alya turned to her immediately.
"Who?"
"Arshaka."
"Why?"
"Your expression changed the moment you saw that report."
Alya fell silent.
Lovi narrowed her eyes.
"Have you met him before?"
Alya was about to answer when her phone vibrated.
A message came in.
I know you're talking about me.
Alya's eyes went wide.
A second message appeared.
Don't lie to your friend.
Alya looked around.
"Where is he?"
Lovi looked confused.
"Who?"
Alya didn't answer.
A third message came in.
I can see you.
Alya slowly turned toward the window.
Across the street, a black car was parked.
The car window slowly rolled down.
Arshaka was visible sitting inside.
Their eyes met.
Alya immediately stood up.
"What a psycho..."
Lovi grew even more confused.
"Alya?"
"I have to step out for a minute."
Inside the car, Doni handed a document to Arshaka.
"Sir, we've checked all the data on Alya."
Arshaka took it.
"What about Rehan?"
Doni was silent for a moment.
"He's still with Alya. They've been together for three years."
Arshaka's jaw tightened.
"How long?"
"Three years."
Arshaka closed the document.
His gaze turned cold.
"Get rid of any information about me that could put Alya in danger."
"And Rehan?"
Arshaka looked at Doni.
"Don't touch him."
Doni was slightly surprised.
"Sir?"
"I won't destroy Alya's life."
Arshaka stared at the building where Alya worked.
"But if he tries to take Alya away from me..."
The man's gaze turned terrifying.
"...I can't guarantee he'll remain safe."
That afternoon, Alya returned to her apartment.
But after taking only a few steps inside, she realized something was strange.
The door was unlocked.
Alya stopped.
Her hand slowly reached for a sharp object near the table.
She entered cautiously.
Her living room was empty.
But there was a black box on the table.
Alya opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A photo of her.
And Arshaka.
The photo had been taken the night Alya shot him.
There was handwriting on the back.
You shot me.
You thought I was dead.
Now it's your turn to find out what it's like to live with someone who was supposed to be dead.
Alya swallowed.
Suddenly, the lights in her apartment went out.
Darkness.
A voice came from behind her.
"Scared?"
Alya spun around.
Arshaka stood there.
Without a bodyguard.
Without a sound of footsteps.
Just her and the man everyone had believed was dead.
"What are you doing in my home?"
Arshaka stepped closer.
"I came to remind you of something."
"Remind me of what?"
He stopped right in front of Alya.
"Starting today, your life will never be normal again."
Alya glared at him.
"I hate you."
Arshaka smiled.
"I know."
Then he bent slightly and whispered in Alya's ear.
"But one day, you'll hate me for making you fall in love with me."
Alya held her breath.
For the first time, she realized that Arshaka's return wasn't merely big news.
It was the beginning of a war.
And without Alya realizing it, she had already become the center of that war.