It was almost 10 PM. I was sitting on the bed, brushing out my hair and slowly braiding it down my back. The night felt unusually quiet.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed on the side table.
I turned my head, wiping my hands to clothes as I walked over to pick it up. But before I could reach
He got there first.
Karan picked up the phone, casually glancing at the screen.
His jaw tightened.
"Ayden," he read out loud. His voice low. Dark. Sharp enough to cut.
My heart stopped.

"He's just a classmate," I said quickly, trying to sound calm. "Maybe he wants to talk about our group presentation. It's scheduled day after tomorrow."

He looked at me.
Cold. Calculating.
Then, without another word, he answered the call and pressed the speaker button before handing me the phone.
I hesitantly took it.

"Hello...?"

"Oh hey baby," Ayden's voice came through the phone, too loud, too playful. "Finally! Where were you? I called you twice earlier."
I felt my skin crawl.
Karan's gaze didn't move from me.

"I...I was busy. Tell me fast, what's the matter?" I asked, trying to keep it formal.

"Yeah yeah, about the presentation," Ayden replied, "we'll meet tomorrow and go through the slides together. Also, let's have lunch together, okay?"

"No, Ayden, I can't. I have to come home early. You know the rules here," I said, trying to sound firm.

"Oh come on, Aira," he insisted, "It won't take long. I'll drop you back before time. Don't worry, baby." he said playfully.

"Ayden, please..." I tried again, feeling heat rise in my cheeks. "I said I can't.."

Before I could finish my sentence, Karan snatched the phone from my hand and in one swift motion.
Slam. Crack.
The phone flew from Karan's hand and shattered into pieces against the floor.

I gasped. My entire body froze.
His eyes didn't blink.

He turned to me, slow and deadly.
"You're done with your college."

My lips parted. "W-what?"
"You heard me," he said, voice like ice. "You don't get to talk to anyone. Especially someone who calls you baby."
"But Karan, he's just a classmate. I didn't even say anything back..."

"ENOUGH!"

His voice roared through the room. I flinched.
Before I could process anything, he stormed toward the drawer and yanked it open.
He pulled out a lighter.
My breath caught in my throat.

"K-Karan, please..." I stepped back.
"You broke the rule," he said. "You think a sorry is enough?"

He grabbed my hand.
"No! No-Karan, please!"
that night... he reminded me what I was to him.
His.

And he made me pay the price for someone else calling me baby.
He burned my hands.
Held the metal end of a lighter to my skin until I screamed and begged and broke.

"You want to be touched by someone else?" he said, pressing it harder. "Then I'll make sure no one touches you again."

I cried till my throat gave out. But he never flinched.
The night felt endless.

Next Morning

Sunlight spilled through the windows like nothing happened. But everything had changed.

I sat on the couch near the window, numb, one hand wrapped in cold cloth and burn cream.

My eyes stayed fixed outside-watching nothing, thinking everything.

Karan stood in the hallway, fixing his cuffs, getting ready for work like the man didn't just torture someone last night.

The maid entered with a breakfast tray. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw my state.
"Dear... please eat something," she said softly, placing the tray beside me.
I didn't respond. Didn't even glance at her.

Karan's gaze cut across the room, irritation flickering in his eyes.
"Leave," he ordered.

The maid nodded quickly and left, closing the door behind her.
He walked over and sat next to me.
Silent.
Staring.
Then came the order.

"Eat."

"I don't want to," I whispered. "I'm not hungry."
His jaw tightened. That familiar rage simmered just beneath his calm exterior.
"I said-eat."

"I said I don't want to!" My voice broke. Tears stung my eyes. "What more do you want from me?"

He inhaled slowly. Danger crawled into his voice.
"Get. Up. Aira."

I looked at him. His eyes were fixed on me-sharp, angry.
And then he shouted, loud enough to make me flinch.

"DON'T make me repeat myself."

I stood instantly.
He grabbed my wrist, yanked me toward him, and made me sit on his lap.
I gasped, startled, but he didn't stop.
He scooped a spoonful of food and raised it to my mouth.
He didn't speak. But his eyes did.

Fear tightened my chest as I opened my mouth.
He shoved the spoon in with more force than necessary.
I whimpered, pain and helplessness clogging my throat.

Tears slipped down my cheeks.
Every bite tasted bitter-not because of the food, but because of him.

The same man who burned me last night was now feeding me with his own hands.
Another bite.
Another shove.

Then his voice came-calm, dangerous, enough to prick my skin with fear.
"I told you not to disobey," he whispered.
"Now look what you've done to yourself."

🥀🥀🥀

After forcing her to eat, Karan finally stood up and walked toward the door.
But just before stepping out, he paused.
His eyes fell on her burnt hand - wrapped in cloth, trembling slightly.
For a split second, something flashed across his face.
Not anger. Not dominance.
Guilt.
Sharp. Quick. Hidden before anyone could catch it.

Then he turned away and left.
The door shut.
And Aira held herself together... for barely three seconds.
Then everything inside her cracked.

Silent sobs spilled out of her-the kind that hurt more because they make no sound. Tears rolled down her swollen cheeks as she shakily stood and walked into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

She didn't want the maid to see.
She didn't want anyone to see.

She splashed water on her face, but the reflection staring back at her was unavoidable...
Red, puffy eyes.
A bruised lip.
A burn that stung with every heartbeat.

She touched the edge of the bandage and whispered to herself, voice breaking "I need to survive this month... just one more week... for mom..."

Her body felt weak.
But her resolve didn't.

Meanwhile...
Karan hadn't even reached the gate, and already he couldn't focus.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white.
He kept replaying the night.

Her scream.
Her flinch.
The way she curled into herself when he burned her.
The tears streaming down her face.

He hated himself for losing control. But he hated something else even more. The way she had mentally stepped away from him today. Even for a moment. Aira pulling away felt worse than any wound.

His thoughts whispered-no, growled-inside his mind

"If she thinks she can leave me after this contract... she's wrong."
"I'll never let you go, Aira. Not now. Not ever."

His jaw clenched.
His foot pressed harder on the accelerator.
The car shot forward, speeding past the limit, but he didn't care.
All he could think was her.
Her tears.
Her distance.
Her fear.

And the terrifying possibility that one day... she might want to escape him.

🥀🥀🥀🥀

Author:- Hope you guys like this chapter. 🎀