Ananya's POV

"Because I love you," I said. As soon as this words left my mouth, Siddharth froze in his place. Yes, I love him. All this while I was confused and couldn't name the feelings I had for him. But, the moment before I lost my consciousness, I realized that it is LOVE. At that moment all I wanted was to live with him for the rest of my life. If it wasn't love, then there is nothing else I can define my feelings.

"What?" he asked me.

"I love you Siddharth. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our baby. I cannot imagine anyone else in your place. Please forgive me for almost killing our baby. I promise you, I will be careful after this," I said, controlling my tears.

"Yeah, love. Please don't give me that heart attack again. I cannot live without you or our baby. And, no. It is not your fault. It is that bastard's fault," he said and hugged me tightly.

"I love you," I said again, hugging him tightly.

"I love you more," he said and chuckled.

"So, now please tell me. I want to know why," I asked him.

"About?" he asked me, playing dumb. I gave him a look that says don't-play-with-me.

"Fine, but its a long story. I will tell you on the way back," he said and I nodded. This morning, Siddharth brought mine and his luggage from the hotel, so we will leave straight from the hospital. We quickly took our belongings and left after making sure we are not leaving anything behind. Harish, Kavya, Sandhya and Abhi are coming in their car as last time.

"Fine, tell me now," I demanded as soon as we both settled in the car.

He sighed out loudly before starting. "As you know, he is the one who stole my design. That day, I went to my office to do some final touches to the design, because I had to present my design to one of the biggest investor in two weeks time. But, I was shocked when I couldn't find it in my laptop. I had a backup drive in the drawer of my office and I couldn't even find that. You know how I felt at that moment? Like I lost everything in my life. It was my only goal for the past two years and when I realized I couldn't found it, I lost it. The only person that crossed my mind to calm me down was Abhi. So, I called him," he said. He had a devastated look on his face.

Flashback(Siddharth's POV)

"What do you mean it is lost?" Abhi asked barging into my office. I am surprised the door didn't come out of it hold.

"It is not lost Abhi. Someone stole it. If something is wrong with my laptop and the file got deleted, then where is the back-up drive I had?" I said, frustrated tears welling up in my eyes. I shouldn't cry. Men don't cry. I should stay strong.

"Can you find anything in the CCTV?" he asked me. I shook my head. After I hung up on the phone call with him, I went to the server room of my office and checked the CCTV.

"There is nothing. Someone deleted it, I think. I couldn't find it Abhi," I yelled. I was beyond frustrated. That design was like my baby. I spent all my lunch break, vacations, holidays doing that project. I had missed my lunch and dinner many times, because I wanted it to be perfect. I spent most of the time, in google and in library trying to find my best to have this design. Now, it is lost and I couldn't fucking do anything to find it.

"Relax dude. We will find something out of this," he patted my back in comfort.

"No Abhi. It's gone. My two years of hardwork, my dream, I can see it going away from me. I couldn't do it. I don't have anything to present to Mr.Singh in two weeks. I cannot redo the design in two weeks, it took me two years to make the perfect one. Then, I won't even get a second chance. That is it. It's all over," I mumbled.

"Shut it Sid. Try to think. Crying over it won't help you. We can definitely try to find the culprit. Do you suspect anyone? Anything weird have been happening around you?" he asked and I shook my head.

I heard take a deep breath in before saying, "Siddharth I want you to think now. Do you suspect anyone? Have you received any threat from anyone?" he asked me again.

"I said no," I shouted at him. He looked taken aback by my shouting.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have shouted at you," I mumbled. I am loosing it.

"Wait, the backup drive that you had on your drawer is lost, and the CCTV footage is deleted. Who could possibly have access to both?" he asked me.

"The only person who could enter my office without me is my assistant, Gaurav because he have my ID card. But, there is no way Gaurav could get into the server room. Even though, he is using my ID card, it is only usable for the office," I said.

"But what if someone else is helping him?" he asked and I was silent.

"Okay, listen. Let's find Gaurav first. Only then we can have some idea, where is this going," Abhi said and I nodded, agreeing with him.

After getting myself together, Abhi and I went to Gaurav's house. I had to look through his personal details at the main office to get his address. It took some convincing as it is not appropriate giving out our company's staff. Since Ayushi, the receptionist is a good friend of mine, I managed to get it.

But, when we went to his house, it was empty. The house owner said he kind of left in a hurry two days ago.

"Did you ask for the reason?" I asked the house owner.

"He said he was having some personal problems. He didn't look good, so I had to let him go. I didn't question further," the house owner said and gave me suspicious look.

"Thanks," I muttered and went back to the car.

"What am I going to do now?" I sighed to Abhi.

"Well, him missing is definitely a sign that he have something to do with this. Why don't you hire a private detective to find him?" he suggest. At that time, it was the only logical thing I could manage to do. I nodded and went back home.

1 week later

I got a call from the detective, Aadvik that he found Gaurav's hiding place. I quickly called Abhi to go with me, because I know I can't handle him alone. I might end up killing him, if he have anything to do with this, which I am 80% sure. If he is not related to this whole thing, why would he leave without any notice for a whole week?

My mind just refuse to accept that Gaurav did this. Even though he is just my assistant, I saw him more like a friend. I know about his family situation. His father had a very serious heart disease and his mother is not in a good shape as well. He had two younger sister who haven't finished schooling. All this while, I have been helping him taking care of the expenses for his family.

I didn't do it expecting something back. I just did that because I saw him as my own family. I wanted to help him do all those so he won't feel too pressured. But, I didn't expect he would repay me like this. What wrong did I do for him to do this to me?

I went to meet Aadvik first, he gave me the address and said he was caught on the CCTV on a shop near the address. So, following him from the shop, he got the address. I quickly thanked Aadvik and left to the address he gave.

"Listen, act like we got evidence that he is the one did that. Tell him you retrieve the CCTV footage he deleted. Ask him who asked him to do this, or else we would give that to the police. When he confesses to the truth, I will record it in my phone," Abhi said and I nodded. I wasn't in the mood to talk. I seriously don't know what I am going to do when he admits to what he did. Despite everything, I still want to believe he is not the one who betrayed me.

I knocked on the door and waited for him to open the door. My heart was beating faster than normal. I certainly don't know how to take the possibility of someone who I saw as my own brother betraying me.

When he opened the door and saw me standing in front of him, he looked nervous more than shocked, "B-Boss," he stuttered. The moment I saw his face, I already knew he had everything to do with this.

"Gaurav, you've been missing for one whole week. I was worried about you," I smirked.

"Boss, how did you find this place?" he asked. I acted like frowning and asked, "What do you mean by that? Am I not supposed to find? Or wait, you was hiding from me?" I asked him.

"N-no boss. Why....why would I h-hide from y-you?" he was really nervous but tried his best to cover it with a smile.

"So, why this change of place now?" I asked him.

"I... I wanted.... The owner of my house wanted me out so.... I had to move," he lied to my face. He didn't know I met his owner before coming here. I couldn't believe he would lie through his teeth like this. It breaks me because I believed him, the man who lies and back-stabs me.

"Oh really? I thought you moved because you don't want me to find you. Because you know how angry I will be when I found out you were the one who stole my design. Guess I was wrong," I said, trying my best to keep calm.

"W-what? I-I don't know what you are t-talking about," he lied again and it frustrated me.

"Quit the act now Gaurav. I already retrieved the footage that you deleted. Don't lie to me again," I gritted out. I made sure Abhi had a clear view of him so that he could record all this.

"B-boss," I put my hand before his face to stop him.

"I don't need to hear anything else from you. I just want to know for whom you did this? Who else is in this together with you? And don't try to lie again. I know you don't have access to the server room, so just tell me the truth who helped you," I asked.

"B-boss I am really sorry boss," he fell onto his knees and begged. "I know what I did was unforgivable. But, S-Sanjeev forced me into this. I am really sorry," he said.

Sanjeev? He was my colleague as well. When the last MD resigned, he tried his best to occupy that post. But, Mr.Kalyan, the CEO has approved me as the MD because of my continuous progress and dedication for this company. I wanted to reject because as a MD, I would have a greater pressure, but Mr.Kalyan was the only reason I didn't. Mr.Kalyan is in his fifties and he is like a father for me and I didn't wanted to disappoint him. I always knew Sanjeev was jealous of me, but in this four years of me being the MD he had never acted on his jealousy. He would just glare at me or disagree with me at the most. I didn't expect he would do something like this.

"Why would he do like this?" I muttered mostly to myself.

"I don't know boss, but he threatened me if I didn't do as he said, he will kidnap my sisters. I am sorry boss, I had no choice. I wanted my sisters to be safe, so I did as he told. I deleted your design and I stole the drive and gave it to him. I know you believed me boss, but I am really sorry. I had no choice," he cried on his knees.

"You should've told me Gaurav. I would've definitely helped you. You was there with me when I worked day and night for that project. You should've known better than that to betray my trust. Just go to hell," I said and turned to leave.

"Boss, I was really scared. I am sorry. I am really sorry boss," I heard him crying, but I just ignored him and got into my car. Abhi followed me and got into the passenger side.

"I shouldn't have trusted him this much. Damn, it hurts," I said and hit the steering harder. I couldn't control my anger nor my tears.

"It's not your fault that you trusted him that much. Now, we have to go meet Sanjeev and ask what is his motive. If it is something we can do, maybe we can get our design back. You still have a week for the presentation," Abhi urged. Abhi has always been the optimistic one out of all of us. He would always try to look to the more positive side, even if it doesn't exist. I am the complete opposite. Even if there is a lot positive side, I would always look into the what-ifs and lose my mind in it.

Just like now, I already gave up before even trying to talk to him. We drove to Sanjeev's house. Again, I had to convince Ayushi into giving me his address. The nearer I got to his house, the more I became sure he won't budge that easily. He always wanted the position I held, but I always wanted my design that he is now holding. If he asked me to resign my post for him to give me back the design, I would gladly do it because I am not too happy with it anymore.

Now that I am going to have my own family, I need to spend more time with them. Being the MD of a company, the time I got for my personal time is much lower. I will gladly give up on this position. Plus, this job is nothing compared to my design. If I managed to convince Mr.Singh into investing in my project, I could succeed more than I've had until now. So, I had a silver lining of hope that I could get my project back.

Something that I normally don't have.

I knocked onto his door and waited for him to open it. Abhi stood beside me and constantly reminding me that we are here to talk. He asked me not to beat him up. I had to talk to myself out of the idea of lunging onto him the moment I saw him. The door opened and Sanjeev's face turned nervous after seeing our face. But, he quickly covered it with a smirk.

"Didn't expect your presence Siddharth," Sanjeev said.

"Listen, I know you the one who blackmailed Gaurav into stealing my design. Let me come straight to the matter. What you need in exchange of MY design?" I asked him, straight to the point. You could tell I was expecting the answer he will be giving.

"Now, now. What is the hurry, mate? Come inside. Let's have a table talk?" he smirked and before I could refuse, he made his way inside. Abhi nodded at me to enter and I complied.

"You are eager to get your design I see," he said as he took a seat in his sofa. I sat across from him with Abhi beside me.

"I don't have time for small talk. Just come straight to point," I said. I had a really hard time controlling my anger. I had the urge to punch the smirk off his face.

"I want the MD post that you are holding. Resign and you will get your design back," he said and I smirked. Exactly what I expected.

"Alright, I will resign," I said, but after acting like I was thinking.

"Cut the act Siddharth. I know you expected this and you came ready to accept it. How innocent of you to think this will be that easy," he laughed and my face hardened.

"What do you mean?" I asked him.

"What I mean is, I don't need your MD post. In fact I know if your project succeed you can have any post you want in any company. Do you think I am a fool to give the design away that easily?" he laughed like a maniac and anger rose in me.

"Then tell me what the fuck you want from me?" I yelled.

"The fuck I want? You asking me the fuck I want? Yes, I want to fuck your cute little wife. Wait, she is not your wife yet. So, I want Ananya. The Ananya that I love since my college days. I want her. You don't have any rights to take her away from me. Now, you know how you will feel when someone take something you own. I tell you, give her to me. You can have your precious design back," he said and smirked.

This definitely was not what I was expecting from him. He knew Ananya since his college days? And the reason he acted on his jealousy after four years was not because he wants the MD post but because he wants Ananya?

Every ounce of self control I had, I can feel it going away. I lunged onto him and punch him in his jaw causing both of us to fall onto the floor. I was on top of him, so I repeatedly punched him in his face. Catching him off guard didn't give him chance to fight back.

How dare he? How dare he ask what is mine? How the hell he decided I would exchange the girl that carries my baby for the design? I know I put my soul in the project for two years, but Ananya is more important to me than it. She is innocent and no girl deserve to be sold like that. Especially the girl that decided to trust me.

Fuck the design.

Thank god, Abhi pulled me away from Sanjeev before I killed him. His face was covered with blood and it gave me an odd kind of satisfaction seeing him like that.

"You are pathetic to even think I would give the girl that carries my blood inside her for a design. I am not that cheap. The moment she stepped foot inside my house carrying my child inside her, I decided she was the one for me. And, you made a huge mistake by asking for her," I said.

"I thought I could talk you out of it. But, it's okay. I will use the legal method to get it from you. I have evidence that you forced Gaurav into this. I have the video of him confessing the truth. I know how to get my design from you," I said and he laughed.

"Do you think I wouldn't have thought about that? I always know that my plan could fail anytime. I am observing her every move Siddharth. The moment you go to police, I would take her away from you. That time, I can do anything I want to her, including killing your child. I am not playing Siddharth. I thought you will be smart enough to give her to me. But if you want a fight, I am ready to fight," he smirked.

"I would not let anything happen to her. I will protect her with all my life. You can never come near her again," I yelled and got out of his house with Abhi. This meeting didn't go as I planned. I said I will protect her but I am not sure how.

Flashback ends