UNWILLINGLY HIS

You can try escaping

Samaira’s POV

The soft glow of the morning sun spills through the massive windows, draping the room in a golden haze. For a fleeting moment, I forget where I am. The tranquility of the scene makes me think I’m back in my old life—a life untouched by Advait’s manipulations.

But the truth is undeniable, and it crashes over me like a wave. This isn’t my home. This is Advait’s domain.

The bed is too soft, the room too opulent, and the faint scent of roses from the vase by the window feels entirely misplaced in my reality. My eyes wander to the untouched plate from last night, and I’m reminded of the battle within myself. I had eaten, but the lingering weight of his words had stolen my appetite.

“You’re here because of me. And you’ll stay here because of me.”

His voice still echoes in my mind, bringing with it a torrent of frustration and confusion. I may have eaten last night, but I won’t let him think I’ve surrendered.

A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. Before I can respond, the door swings open, and Advait steps in. His sharp gaze scans the room before settling on me.

“Good. You’re awake,” he says, walking further inside. He doesn’t wait for an invitation, and why would he? In his mind, this is his space, and I’m just an occupant under his control.

“You’ll find everything you need here,” he continues, gesturing around the room. “Clothes, toiletries, anything you might require.”

I frown, the casual confidence in his tone unsettling me. “Everything I need?” I repeat, my voice laced with suspicion. “You planned all of this, didn’t you?”

His lips curl into a small, almost imperceptible smirk. “Of course. Did you think I brought you here without preparation? You should know by now, Samaira, that I don’t leave things to chance.”

His words send a chill down my spine. He isn’t lying. Every move he’s made feels calculated, every word spoken like a thread in some larger, tangled web.

“And one more thing,” he adds, his tone dropping an octave, making the air around us feel heavier. “There will be a guest visiting tomorrow. If you’re still thinking about escaping, I suggest you try today.”

The words catch me off guard, and I blink at him, unsure if I’ve heard correctly. “What?”

“You heard me,” he says, his expression unreadable. “Your body is too weak to go anywhere, but if you’re determined, you can give it a shot today. Because tomorrow, after you meet our visitor, I doubt you’ll even consider running.”

I stare at him, my heart pounding in my chest. His words are cryptic, but the underlying message is clear. Whatever he’s planning for tomorrow, it’s meant to shake me, to trap me further in his world.

“What are you talking about?” I demand, my voice rising despite my effort to stay composed. “Who is this guest?”

But he doesn’t answer. Instead, he steps closer, his gaze locking onto mine. My breath hitches as he reaches for my hand, his movements deliberate but surprisingly gentle.

“You need to take your medicine,” he says softly, placing the small pills in my palm before handing me a glass of water. His fingers linger for a fraction of a second longer than necessary, and I feel a shiver run down my spine.

“Advait—”

“No more questions for today,” he interrupts, stepping back. His voice is calm, but there’s an edge to it, a warning that I shouldn’t push further. “Take the medicine. Rest. You’ll need your strength for tomorrow.”

Advait’s POV

I watch her closely, noting the way her fingers tremble as she grips the glass. Samaira is trying so hard to maintain control, to keep her walls intact, but I can see the cracks forming.

She thinks she’s strong enough to fight me, but she hasn’t realized yet that this isn’t a battle she can win. Not because she’s weak, but because I won’t let her lose herself in the process.

Her question from last night still lingers in my mind. “How did you find me at the train station?”

The truth was unexpected, even for me—a phone call from an unknown number, revealing her location in precise detail. It was too convenient, too perfectly timed. But I hadn’t had the luxury to dwell on it then. My only priority was finding her before she disappeared from my grasp again.

Now, though, I wonder who it could have been. Aahana? Anay? Or someone else entirely?

I shake the thought away. It doesn’t matter. I’ll find out soon enough. For now, all that matters is keeping her here, under my watch.

“Take the medicine, Samaira,” I say again, my voice firmer this time.

She hesitates, her eyes narrowing as if she’s trying to decipher my intentions. Then, without a word, she swallows the pills and downs the water.

“Good,” I say, stepping back toward the door. “I’ll have someone bring your breakfast in an hour. Don’t make me force you to eat again.”

She glares at me, but I catch the faintest flicker of something else in her eyes. Confusion? Fear? Maybe even… trust?

I leave the room before I can analyze it further.

Samaira’s POV

The door clicks shut, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. My hands are still trembling, though I can’t tell if it’s from exhaustion or the weight of his words.

“You haven’t even seen a fraction of my power yet.”

“There will be a guest visiting tomorrow.”

“If you want to escape, try today.”

What kind of game is he playing? He speaks like a predator toying with his prey, yet there’s something unsettlingly genuine in his actions. The way he placed the medicine in my hand, the way he ensured I ate last night—it doesn’t match the man who left me broken at the altar.

And then there’s the matter of that mysterious phone call. I had no idea about it until he mentioned it, and now it’s all I can think about. Who would tell Advait where to find me? And why?

My mind races with questions, but I know I won’t get any answers today. For now, I need to focus on regaining my strength.

Because no matter what he says or does, I won’t let Advait win.