Shauryaan 's POV

Her palms pressed flat against my chest, trembling.

Her breath was erratic, her lips still red and swollen from the kiss I stole. For a second, just a second, she looked at me like I was her gravity... but then her expression shifted.

Fear. Confusion. Guilt.

And then-

She pushed me. Hard.

"Stay away from me!" she hissed, her voice cracking like glass.

Before I could grab her again, she twisted out from between my arms and ran.

Her lehenga swept the marble floors, the bells of her anklet creating a frantic, chaotic rhythm.

I didn't chase.

Not immediately.

_____

Author's POV

The heavy palace doors creaked open as the two drenched figures stepped back into the golden-lit hallway. Laughter, music, and soft chatter came to a stunned halt.

Every eye turned toward the entrance.

Shauryaan and Shreya.

Drenched. Breathless. Disheveled.

A royal mess of secrets and unsaid confessions.

Their clothes clung to them shamelessly-his kurta transparent with rain, hair dripping over his forehead, jaw clenched.

And Shreya...

Her lavender lehenga, now translucent and sticking to every inch of her delicate frame, sent a visible gasp through the women of the family-followed by muffled giggles and knowing smirks from the cousins.

Phones were sneakily lifted. Snaps were taken.

And the teasing began like wildfire.

Avni, grinning wide: "Bhaiyya, this is not how people look in their engagement function... or was this a special ritual I missed?"

Aarav smirked, arms crossed: "Rajaji, rain dance bhi include tha ceremony mein? Alone rehearsal karke aa rahe ho?"

Karan leaned closer to Aditya: "Dono saath dance kar rahe the ya... kis cheez ka rehearsal chal raha tha?"

Ishika fake-gasped, holding Shreya's hand dramatically: "Di, you're redder than your lipstick... oh wait, you weren't even wearing any today!"

Shreya's mouth opened and closed, utterly scandalized.

"W-we... it started raining suddenly. We... I was just-he was-" she stammered.

Shauryaan remained silent. Still. Calm. His gaze unreadable. A drop of water slid from his jawline to his neck.

He didn't offer a single word of defense.

Shreya: "I slipped! And... and then he... helped. Yes. That's it!"

Avni raised a brow: "Slipped straight onto the bonnet of his arms?"

Then everyone noticed the mark of lipstick on his kurta.

Aarav clutched his stomach, laughing: "And bhai helped... with his lips, I'm guessing!"

Rakshita was still giving a teasing look to her.

A faint blush crept higher on Shreya's cheeks.

At that moment, Dadi stood up, eyes twinkling mischievously despite her aged grace.

"Enough, enough, bachon. Tum log toh bas mazaak bana ke rakhtay ho. Shaurya beta, you should've told her to change first. Look at her, she's shivering."

Shauryaan's eyes flicked to Shreya just once-sharp, unreadable-and then turned away.

"Avni, take her to your room," Dadi ordered gently.

Shreya nodded quickly, eager to escape. Avni, rakshita and Ishika hooked their arms around hers, still whispering and teasing as they whisked her away up the spiral staircase.

---

Later...

Shreya returned, dry and dressed in a pastel salwar suit. Hair tied up, but strands still damp. The warmth from the change of clothes hadn't reached her cheeks.

But as her eyes searched the hall-

Shauryaan was nowhere to be seen.

---

Kapoor Farmhouse - Night

The car ride back had been awkward. Her parents didn't comment, but her cousins hadn't stopped whispering about how "lucky" she was.

Back in her room, she threw the phone on her bed and paced.

Why hadn't he said anything?

No explanation. No word. Just that kiss... that moment... and then silence.

Her fingers hovered over her phone for a long time. Then, with a frustrated sigh, she typed:

Shreya: I want to talk. Can we meet?

Three dots. Typing.

Then the reply blinked onto the screen:

Shauryaan: Come to my office. Tomorrow. 10 AM.

Shreya: Can't we meet somewhere else?

Shauryaan: If you want to see me, sweetheart... you'll come to where I rule.

Shreya: You're impossible.

Shauryaan: And yet, you're still texting me.

She stared at his last message. Lips parted.

There it was again-that magnetic pull, that dangerous calm.

Shauryaan Pratap Singh.

India's youngest billionaire.

CEO of Pratap Industries.

A name feared and respected in boardrooms across continents.

And tomorrow...

She was walking straight into the lion's den.

---

Next day

Shreya's POV

I stood before the tallest skyscraper in Udaipur. The mirrored glass stretched into the clouds, and in gold bold letters at the top, the world saw:

Pratap Empire

The most powerful business dynasty in India.

And somewhere beyond those doors... him.

I tightened my grip on my bag, breathing in deeply.

This isn't just about a conversation... this is about Her insecurities. About the truth, I reminded myself.

The revolving doors hissed open. Inside, everything gleamed-marble floors, golden accents, men and women in polished suits. The air was crisp, perfumed with power and precision. Eyes darted to me, but no one recognized me.

Of course they wouldn't.

No one knew I was his fiancée.



I walked toward the reception, my cream ribbed top tucked neatly into a beige midi skirt, a delicate belt clasped at my waist, soft curls falling down my shoulders. I had tried to look... appropriate. Confident.

But the thud of my heart said otherwise.

The receptionist glanced at me, polite but distant. "Ma'am, do you have an appointment?"

"I... no, I don't. But if you call Mr. Shauryaan Rathore, he'll-"

"Mam?" a deep voice interrupted from behind.

I turned sharply. A sharply dressed man in black stepped forward and gave a small nod. "I'm boss's personal assistant. He's in a board meeting right now, but he's asked me to escort you to his cabin. Please follow me."

Nodding silently, I followed him down a hallway that seemed to stretch endlessly.

The world outside felt far away now.

Then the doors to his cabin opened.

His world.



Floor-to-ceiling windows showed a breathtaking skyline. Everything about the space screamed wealth, elegance, power. Sleek black marble walls, gold accents, leather armchairs, a mahogany desk that looked like a king's throne.

And the atmosphere... heavy.

It smelt like him. Dark cologne and danger.

The assistant gestured toward the seating area. "He'll be here in ten minutes." Then left.

I sat down, my fingers twitching against the edge of the cushion.

My feet tapped restlessly on the floor.

What if he laughs at me? What if he sees the same thing in me... they did?

Then... the door opened.

---

Shauryaan's POV

The moment I stepped into the room, the chaos of my empire faded.

She was sitting there, looking like something out of a dream I never wanted to wake from.

Cream top, snug against her soft curves. The beige skirt falling to her calves like silk waves. Hair loose. Eyes anxious.

Mine.

I couldn't stop the smirk crawling up my lips.

"Well, look who decided to grace my empire," I drawled, walking in with slow, deliberate steps. "Did you miss me already, sweetheart?"

Her eyes darted up, startled. She was nervous.

I liked that.

I settled onto the couch opposite her, legs crossed lazily, arm flung over the backrest like a predator waiting for the right moment.

"Don't worry. You're not the first girl who looked nervous before entering my office," I teased with a low chuckle.

She didn't laugh.

Two minutes passed in silence-just the sound of her shoes tapping the floor.

I watched her every move.

Then finally, she spoke-voice low, trembling.

Shreya: "I...I came here to say something."

I tilted my head. "I'm listening."

She didn't look at me. Her gaze fell to her lap.

Shreya: "I think you should call off this engagement..."

My jaw twitched, but I stayed silent.

Shreya: "I know you don't know everything about me. You only agreed because of family. But there's something you should know before you ruin your life by marrying me."

Still no eye contact. Her hands were clenched tightly.

Shreya: "I was once rejected by someone... because I have flat feet."

She whispered the last words like a curse.

Shreya: "They said I was a bad omen... and my family believed it because everyone used to say it from childhood. They said I bring misfortune to whoever comes close. And maybe they're right."

She finally looked up, her eyes glistening. "So if you want to leave... leave now. Before it's too late."

Silence.

Heavy. Burning. The kind that swallowed oxygen.

Then I stood.

Walked toward her. Each step deliberate.

She stiffened.

I stopped just in front of her, leaned in, and murmured,

"So... you think I care about your feet?"

Her lips parted.

"You think I'll leave you because some coward ran away from a girl who's stronger than he could ever handle?" I whispered, voice dark. "No, little hurricane... you've got it all wrong."

I took her hand gently, eyes locked on hers.

"You don't bring misfortune. You bring storms. And I've always liked chaos."

She blinked rapidly.

"You don't get to decide whether I leave." My voice dropped to a whisper, grazing the edge of obsession. "Because I've already decided-I'm staying. And you're mine."

---

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Spoiler for the next chapter -

He placed her on the bed softly, adjusting the pillow under her head.

He smi

led. Sat beside her. And placed a hand over her head, patting it gently.

"Done with your staring session, little hurricane?"

He looked up. "Hungry?"

I folded my arms. "No."

Then... my stomach betrayed me.

Grrrrowwlll.

His smirk widened into a grin. "Right. Not hungry at all."