𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧: 𝐀𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢 (𝟏𝟖+) ✅

8

Wedding DAY

"Riya, are you sure about this, I don't understand this but I believe your dad won't do anything bad for you, anyway I'm here with you and Akshu is a great guy, I know him personally and I would surely kick his ass if he..."

"It's okay Aishu, breathe"

Right now, I am calming my best friend down on my wedding day when I am freaking out a lot because she is freaking out more, nobody told her that we are still in the mafia and anyway Akshat ji is the hacker of the group so he is not involved in any torturing as such, he is just in the background, so it makes sense, I'm safe with him, but Aisha doesn't know anything and I hate to break her trust but it is for her good.

"You know I love you right?" she said pinching her eyebrows and holding my arms.

"I know" I said giving her a sad smile.

What should I tell you when the husband I am going to have has decided not to love me?

Flashback

The tentative sound of my voice broke the silence as I extended my hand toward Akshat ji. His response was a quiet hum, leaving the air thick with unspoken tension.

"So, it seems we're to be married," I ventured, my fingers nervously twisting together.

"Is there someone else you like?" His voice remained distant, his gaze fixed beyond the window as I stood, facing his back.

"Yes," I confessed, only to find myself jerked closer as he grasped my arm with sudden force.

"Who?" His voice was a snarl, the anger palpable enough to shatter glass.

"You," I admitted, noticing a fleeting hint of a smirk he tried to conceal.

"That shouldn't be," he retorted sharply.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not meant for love, princess."

"Who told you that?"

"I know it. I'll never love you."

"I'll make you," I declared, the words tasting like the bitterness of sea salt in my mouth. Who did he think he was, assuming he wouldn't fall for me? I resolved to give my all to this relationship, refusing to be trapped in a marriage devoid of genuine affection.

His words hung in the air, heavy and final. Yet, I refused to accept them as the truth. I could see the walls he had built around himself, but I was determined to break through them.

"I won't give up on us," I insisted, my voice unwavering despite the tension crackling between us.

"You don't understand," he countered, his grip on my arm loosening slightly. With that, he left the room.

Flashback End

Remembering his words, it was like daggers in my chest but I calmed myself down and made sure to show a happy face because everyone around here was stressed for my safety but nobody was telling who that person is, which has forced these people to cage me down.

Author's POV

Riya was walking down the stairs holding her pink lehenga in which the top is adorned with intricate gold and silver embroidery, forming beautiful peonies. The skirt flows elegantly, with layers of silk embroidered with shimmering beads and crystals. The sheer pink dupatta completes the look, adding a touch of ethereal beauty with delicate silver details along the edges. She looked towards Akshat who was already sitting in mandap. When their eyes met, it felt like the sparkles in the sky, they were getting married in Malhotra Mansion only because of security reasons if Matteo had known that she was getting married there would have been war then and there.