Reborn as a Leader: King's Debauchery, SSS-Yandere Harem and Evolution

Niharika was chilling in the backseat of her car, sitting up straight with a totally unreadable look on her face.

City lights flashed by, hitting her sharp features, but honestly, her mind was somewhere else.

"Madam," her assistant said from the front, already knowing what was up without even turning around. "Banziham's taken care of. He's out of the city and probably won't be back."

Niharika just nodded, her gaze steady.

Tring

Then, out of nowhere, her phone buzzed, slicing through the car's hum.

She glanced at it and felt a flicker of unease when she saw 'Unknown Number' flashing on the screen.

To be exact, the phone in her hand had two SIM cards, and the call that came on the other SIM had its number only shared with Akhil and no one else. Seeing a call from an unknown number, unease settled in her as she picked up the call.

But her heart really stopped when she heard that voice.

"Niharika…" It was Akhil, sounding raw and desperate. He coughed, and it was the kind of cough that made her heart stop for a moment.

"Akhil?" The calm she usually had vanished as she straightened up, her hands gripping the phone above her head as the car, due to her sudden exclamation, came to a halt, the tires rubbing and the whole car sliding. "What's going on? Where are you!?"

"I…" His breathing was so rough, like every word was a battle for him. "They're after me… I'm hurt…"

Her grip on the phone tightened, knuckles going white, as she swiftly opened the door and stepped outside into the moonlight. One after another, five cars filled with several people, mostly guards, halted behind her. The cars crashed into one another as she stood in the moonlight, her hands clutching the phone, her heart sinking with each passing second. "Akhil, listen! Who's after you? Where are you right now!?"

"I… don't know if I'll make it…" he managed to say, his voice trailing off into a nasty cough.

"Akhil, no!" Panic slipped into her tone, but her brain was already going into overdrive. It was as if something had pierced her heart—the sheer pain of his voice making her panic. "Just tell me where you are—stay on the line! I'll send help right away."

Her assistant caught on immediately.

Without waiting for any further instruction, she whipped out a tablet and began to type like a pro. "I'm tracing the call now, Madam."

"I… I can't…" Akhil's voice was fading. "Niharika… I…"

Then, just like that, the call dropped, leaving her with nothing but silence.

For a beat, Niharika stood there with the phone still against her ear.

Then everything changed.

"Trace the call now!" she snapped, her voice cutting through as they swiftly opened the door of the car's driver seat, yanking the driver out. The convoy before her had the guards exiting from behind, swiftly entering their own cars, their walkie-talkies crackling, and the whole engine roaring.

Her assistant's fingers flew over the screen. "The call came from a moving vehicle heading east—probably on the highway. I'm narrowing down the location…"

"REPORT HIS LOCATION!" Niharika, not caring about anything, swiftly pressed the accelerator with both feet, ignoring the brakes as the tires screeched, creating visible smoke as it dashed directly onto the highway, rushing towards the direction of the turn. With utmost speed, her car aligned in that direction and accelerated.

"Got it," the assistant said, showing her the screen. "Last known location is along the eastern highway. Surveillance teams are on their way."

.

.

.

.

.

The room was filled with Laila's quiet giggles, her fingers caressing the recorder as if it were a lifeline. Akhil's voice murmured from the speaker in an endless, soothing loop.

:: Do you really like Laila that much? ~~ Of course, I love her ::

Her lips moved along with the sound, whispering his name like a sacred mantra. "You're mine, Akhil. Forever mine. Always…"

Bam!

The door burst open with a thunderous crash, cutting through her reverie.

Laila flinched, her head snapping toward the intruder, her eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you disturb—"

Her words froze in her throat when she saw Meera standing there.

Meera's face was pale, her usually calm demeanor replaced with an uncharacteristic mix of shock and dread.

Her wide eyes locked onto Laila, her body rigid, her breathing fast and shallow.

The tension in the room shifted, a sharp, suffocating weight descending over them. The tense expression on Meera's face was unusual, given the hint of visible sadness in her eyes, and was more than enough to tell Laila that it was something related to her—something which may hurt Laila to hear, increasing her feelings of unease. Laila stepped forward, her voice faltering, "Meera… what happened?"

Meera opened her mouth to speak, hesitating for a moment as if weighing her words. Her hands twitched at her sides, her jaw clenching.

"It's Akhil," she said at last, her voice tight and strained. "He… he's been attacked. There was an accident. He's…"

The world spun.

"No." Laila shook her head, stumbling a step forward. Her chest tightened, her pulse roaring in her ears. "No, that's not—what are you saying?"

Meera's voice trembled as she continued, her words slow and deliberate, like stepping over broken glass. "He's gone. He's… dead."

Laila staggered back, her breath hitching, her body trembling as if the ground beneath her had crumbled away. Her mind screamed at her to deny it, to fight against the weight of the truth bearing down on her.

"Aaahhh!! N-no! No!" Without even a moment's delay, Laila sprinted, her body brushing past Meera as she lunged forward, her surroundings blurring as she ran, ignoring all the voices in the background.

"Oh, Princess?"

"Laila!! Woo hoo!"

All the fans who were waiting at the back door seemed to stand still while her mind was shrouded in pain; everything seemed to have lost its meaning as she sprinted directly toward a car that skidded in front of her, driven by Meera who had swiftly taken a car even before Laila could flee the room.

Arriving, she yelled, "Princess! Come sit!"

Without hesitation, Meera pressed the accelerator, knowing well that this was it.

The most she could do right now was to have her young miss see Master Akhil one last time, considering the feelings that were swirling inside Meera's heart—the air of pain, the pain of knowing what would happen to her young miss now that Akhil was gone.