The car rolled to a stop before the enormous iron gates of the Malhotra mansion, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

The gates themselves looked like they belonged to some royal estate—polished to perfection, with the Malhotra family crest carved across the center. The guard at the entrance gave one quick nod of recognition before pressing a button, and the heavy gates swung open as though the entire world was making way for us.