AUTHOR POV

A sharp thud shattered his thoughts.

He stood abruptly, but before he could move, the door burst open.

Vikram stormed in first, walking straight toward Vedant furiously. Aditi followed, her eyes red from crying.

Behind her, Rhea and Neha rushed inside, scanning the room until their gazes locked onto Ishani on the bed.

Aditi let out a strangled sob, running to Ishani's side as Neha and Rhea followed.

"Oh my god..." Aditi's hands trembled as she touched Ishani's forehead, brushing away strands of hair soaked in dried sweat. "Vedant, what have you done?!"

Neha gasped, covering her mouth and  Rhea stood frozen.

Vikram, however, was furious.

With one swift move, he grabbed Vedant by the collar and yanked him forward.

"Do you have ANY idea what the fuck you just did?!" His voice boomed through the penthouse.

Vedant didn't flinch. His face stayed blank---until a hard slap cracked across his cheek.

The force made his head snap to the side, a sharp sting spreading across his skin.

"How can you stoop so low?!" Aditi's voice trembled with rage..

Vedant slowly straightened, but he didn't look at her

Her face twisted with anger  as she continued, "You just destroyed that girl's life"

"I told you to stop this madness!" Vikram roared yanking him .."When will you ever listen to me?!"

Vedant's lips curled into something close to amusement as he lifted his gaze to Vikram.

"You wanted me to get married didn't you"  he said, his voice calm. His cold and  dark eyes locked onto Vikram's burning one "I got married. I don't see the problem."

Aditi let out a choked gasp. Her hands trembled as she turned him, shaking him

"Problem?!" she whispered her voice laced with pain. "Vedant, you held a girl captive for a days and forced her into marriage!!! How can you say this so casually?!" She paused..

"Your mother would have hated you!!" She whispered

He stiffened and looked at her.

"..I didn't expect this from you," she continued while wiping her tears

"Me neither," he murmured..

Neha turned to him next, her eyes shedding tears... "You did wrong, Bhai."

However, Rhea stood been silent, tho she looked disgusted but said nothing.

But vedant wasn't in any mood he had better things to do instead of listening to them,"If you all are done with your lecture.. leave"

Vikram's fist connected with Vedant's jaw before anyone could stop him and the force sent him stumbling back, the taste of blood filling his mouth

"Dad!" Neha and Rhea cried out in unison.

"Vikram!!" Aditi gasped, holding onto his arm as he breathed heavily..

But Vedant only smirked, licking the corner of his lips where the skin had split... He exhaled, before turning his dark gaze back to Vikram.

Vikram glared at him,  his fists clenched as he warned him "You will sign the divorce papers and set her free ----This. Ends. Here. Vedant."

The words had barely left his mouth before Vedant stepped closer, their faces inches apart now as he said with a clenched jaw , "Over my dead body."

For the first time in years, Vikram chadda felt helpless.. he felt himself wanting to kill vedant right now but he knows better...

His fist clench and unclench.. as he took heavy breaths

Aditi placed a gentle hand on his arm, her voice filled with worry, "Vikram... Calm down please."

A sharp slap landed on Aditi's face--by Vikram as he shouted at her.. "It's all because of you I told you not to call him here--"

"How dare you!!" Vedant roared as he held Vikram by the collar.

"Vedant!" "Bhai!" Aditi, Rhea, and Neha cried out in horror

Aditi pulled Vedant back. "Vedant, don't," she whispered looking down tears threatening to spill.

Vikram exhaled straighting his shirt sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. "If this news gets out now..."

His words hung heavy in the air..

"We'll be ruined!!" he roared, slamming his fist into the nearby table so hard the glass vase shattered on impact.

"DO YOU THINK I CARE?!" Vedant's voice echoed throughout the penthouse. He stepped closer to him pointing his at Vikram who stood unfazed "And If you touch her again, I will end you," he snarled...

Aditi clutched his arm tighter, shaking her head slightly... "Vedant, please..." Her voice was barely a whisper, her face still stinging from Vikram’s slap.

His jaw ticked. His fingers ached to break something--preferably his fucking face. But he forced myself to breathe

Vikram let out a bitter laugh..."You’re just like your father. A man who---"

Vedant didn’t let him finish.

His fist connected with his jaw so fast, so hard, he staggered back, knocking into the table.

"Say his name again," Vedant dared... "Say it, Vikram Chadda And I swear, you won’t be leaving this place in one piece" he threatened him as Neha and Aditi rushed to pull Vedant away, their  hands gripping his arms, trying to break his hold on Vikram. But Vedant wasn’t letting go. His fingers curled tighter around Vikram’s collar, his chest rising and falling with fury.

"Bhai, stop!" Neha pleaded, tugging at his arm, but he was unmoving..

On the other side, Rhea scrambled to her father’s side, pushing against Vedant’s hold. "Let him go! You’re hurting him!" she shrieked, her voice shaking as she was crying now looking at her father condition

Vikram coughed, struggling against Vedant’s grip, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to show his weakness.

Aditi pulled  Vedant harshly, both hands pressing against his stomach "stop," she screamed punching him continuously...

Rhea was already at Vikram’s side, helping him to the sofa

"Dad, breathe," she murmured while crying and reached for the glass of water on the table and urged him to drink.

As he drank, Rhea slowly straightened, turning back to Vedant.

"How can You hit him." Her voice filled with disbelief..."You.. how can you hit --him?"

Vedant didn’t answer, but his fingers curled into fists.

"He raised you," she spat, her voice rising. "He protected you when no one else would. And this..this is what you do?"

"Fucking shut up Rhea" Neha shouted at her and she flinched

"Rhea," Vikram warned  her

"I hate you " she whispered as tears spilled down her cheeks

For a moment, everything went silent--just  their heavy breaths

Vikram  set the glass  ,took a deep breath forcing himself to think logically. Losing his temper wouldn't fix this mess.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke "NO ONE WILL KNOW ABOUT THIS." His tone was decisive. "This girl... whoever she is... I don't want it to destroy everything that I worked hard to build"  

His head snapped to Vedant who remained silent facing the window, refusing to even look at him as stood

"Do you understand what I'm saying? You will not go around parading her as your wife or even think laying a finger on her. You will keep your damn emotions in check." Vikram said calmly..

But vedant still didnt reply..

"DO YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND, VEDANT SINGH RATHORE?!" Vikram roared, getting up

"I don't give a damn about your public images." Vedant shouted turning back to him

Vikram's eyes darkened as he stood up fixing his his shirt. "You will, unless you want to watch everything burn...including yourself"

He said and left for Ishani's room.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Ishani's hands trembled as she gripped the blanket around her, her entire body still raw from everything she had endured last night. The sight of unfamiliar faces surrounding her only added to her confusion.

Aditi sat beside her, offering a warm cup of haldi milk. "Drink this, beta. It will help."

Behind Aditi, she noticed a tall, imposing man.. His sharp eyes softened slightly as he spoke. "I'm Vikram, Mayank and..." he hesitated as if ashamed"--Vedant's uncle. And this is Aditi, my wife."

.... She knew him as mayank used talked about him, but she had never seen him.

Rhea and Neha stood a little further away. "We're Vedant's sisters," Neha added hesitantly, while Rhea simply rolled her eyes, looking uninterested.

Ishani swallowed hard, her heart hammering against her ribs. "I didn't do anything... I swear I didn't do anything," she repeated, her voice cracking..

Aditi reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "Shh, we know. You don't need to say it.... Drink it first"

She urged her to drink the milk

She hesitated before taking a sip of the milk..Her eyes flickered to Vikram as who exhaled.

"Listen. Beta What Vedant did was.. wrong, and I won't justify it. But.. "he paused before taking a deep breathe

"we... can't let this marriage become public--not right now... Mayank death is still fresh and if the media finds out about all this.. it'll destroy everything."

Ishani's grip on the cup tightened. "Then let me go," she whispered, hoping she can leave...

Vikram shook his head. "We can't. We really can't ..But I can protect you. You'll stay with us, and don't worry  you won't be introduced as his .. wife

Ill find out a way how to handle this mess. I promise beta I will take you out of this...hmm" he brushed her hair gently with a smile

Ishani exhaled shakily, nodding slightly. Anything is better than being with him

But then, the air in the room shifted.

The door creaked open, and every muscle in her body stiffened.

Vedant.

He stepped inside, his presence suffocating, his dark eyes locking onto her the second he entered.

"What makes you think I will agree with your shitty plan ," he drawled, taking slow steps toward her.

" And what makes you think vedant I need YOUR PERMISSION" Vikram growled...

Vedant smirked " ofc you do as I'm her husband"

He stepped closer to her , ignoring the way Aditi shifted protectively in front of Ishani...

"Isn't it wife? " he asked her at her

Vikram's anger rose high "the hell you are"

he stepped closer to meet his eyes ,"You can't deny the truth and let me make one thing very clear.. She. Is. Not. Leaving-----"

His gaze locked to Vikram, a  smirk tugging at his lips.

"And  if anyone-anyone-tries to take her from me. It won't be good "

Vikram clenched his jaw. "Vedant--"

Then he took a deep breath, trying to control his anger he didn't want to raise his voice in front of her or repeat what just happened outside

"You can't keep her like.. a prisioner."

Vedant chuckled " prisoner?.. She's my wife"

Everything went silent

He wasn't looking at Vikram. Or anyone but her

And it made her skin crawl even though she didn't lift her lashes to see him she can feel him..fear curled deep inside her as her hands tightened on the glass..

his dark gaze sweeping over the room. A slow smirk curled his lips as he turned back to Vikram, his voice deceptively calm yet laced with finality as he said "Now, I would like you all to leave me and my wife alone."

Aditi's brows furrowed, concern flashing in her eyes. "Vedant-"

He looked at Aditi assuring her he wouldn't do anything without saying anything

Aditi sighed and turned to leave..

As he saw neha, Rhea and Vikram hesitated, he smirked.

"Unless, of course, you'd all prefer to stay and watch?"

Rhea huffed in annoyance, flipping her hair as she stormed out. Neha followed silently, avoiding his gaze.

Aditi hesitated for a second  before she pulled Vikram with her.

Vedant walked  to the door and The heavy door clicked shut.

And then... silence.

Vedant turned back to Ishani, his smirk still in place, his eyes burning with something unreadable. He took slow, deliberate steps toward her until she had no choice but to retreat..until her back hit the headboard.

He tilted his head, watching her, taking in the way her chest rose and fell with every uneven breath.

"Finally," he murmured, trailing his fingers along the edge of her jaw but not touching "we're alone, wife."

And she jerked his hand " don't touch me "

He smiled...as he sat on the edge of the bed.." I wouldn't unless..you give me the reason..take this" He held out some pills.

Her eyes burned with rage... "You're a monster."

Vedant let out a dark laugh... "I know..You don't need to remind me every time."

She turned her face away that only made vedant annoyed.

"I thought...by now, you must have realized that I don’t like being disobeyed," he said, his voice turning cold... As he ordered.. " take it"

She didn't ..and his patience snapped

His fingers slid down her throat, pressing lightly over her pulse, feeling it race beneath his touch. His other hand still held the pills. "be a good girl Ishani  and take it unless..you want me punish you again" he said barely controlling himself

She looked at his eyes... Searching for something... But there was no emotions.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for the glass. The moment she took it, his hold on her throat eased, his fingers brushing down her neck in a slow and deliberate caress before he pulled away..

She hated the way his eyes gleamed with satisfaction when she obeyed...

Her hands shook as she took the medicine from his hand , swallowing it with difficulty.

He watches her every move with satisfaction, "Good girl."

Her stomach churned in disgust.

He reached out and she flinched but he  ignored while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear "See? That wasn’t so hard. If you had listened to me earlier..

things would have been so much different ."

His smirk deepened, his voice dipping into something almost gentle--she knows it was anything but gentle. "Now, don’t stress too much, hmm? Get some rest."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice.

"an then… we’re going to meet my dear mother-in-law."

It took a sec to realise who he meant

His fingers patted her hair, as if she were nothing more than a doll, as if all of this was normal...?

Ishani shut her eyes, forcing down t

he sob lodged in her throat.

And just like that, he left.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

::: This chapter might be boring, but it's important to build the story... :) ::::