𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚~𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞 | 𝟐𝟏+

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫|𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲

The silence of the private chamber in Shivaay's Jammu estate was suffocating. Aadhisha sat on the plush sofa, her wrists still tingling from where Shivaay had gripped her earlier. She'd tried to keep calm, to compose herself, but the way his eyes bore into hers made it impossible. He stood by the window now, his back to her, sunlight cutting through the sheer curtains and casting sharp lines across his form.

For a fleeting moment, she thought she might have a chance to talk her way out of this-whatever this was. But when he turned to face her, his emerald eyes glinting with an intensity she had never seen before, she realized she was wrong.

Shivaay didn't speak at first. He simply studied her, his gaze tracing every detail of her face as though searching for cracks in her facade. The silence stretched so long that it became unbearable, and Aadhisha finally broke it.

"What are we doing here, Shivaay?" she asked, her voice quieter than she intended. "I thought you were taking me back to the Mahal."

Shivaay tilted his head, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Back to the Mahal? Do you really think I'd let you go that easily, CZarina?"

The name hit her like a slap. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe. But she recovered quickly, shaking her head as though to deny it.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice steadier now. "You've got the wrong person."

"Don't play games with me," Shivaay said, his tone low and dangerous as he stepped closer. "I've been patient. I've given you the benefit of the doubt more times than you deserve. But this? This ends now."

Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. But she refused to let him see her fear. She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze head-on.

"I don't know who this 'CZarina' is," she said, her voice firm. "But it's not me."

Shivaay chuckled darkly, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "You think I haven't done my homework?" he asked, pulling his phone from his pocket. With a few swipes, he held up the screen for her to see-a photo of her, dressed in black, her face partially obscured, but unmistakably hers.

"You've been careful, I'll give you that," he said. "But not careful enough."

Aadhisha's blood ran cold as she stared at the image. She wanted to deny it, to argue, but the evidence was damning. She was cornered, and Shivaay knew it.

"You've been lying to me since the beginning," he said, his voice sharp. "I trusted you, and you've been playing me for a fool."

"I wasn't playing you," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "I-"

"Don't lie to me!" Shivaay snapped, slamming his hand against the wall behind her. She flinched, but he didn't back away. Instead, he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "You've been working against me this entire time, haven't you? Spying on me, stealing from me, and then standing there with those innocent eyes, pretending you had nothing to do with it."

"I wasn't spying on you," she said quickly, her voice trembling. "I-"

"Then tell me why," he interrupted, his voice soft but no less dangerous. "Tell me why you did it."

Aadhisha's mind raced. She could feel the walls closing in around her, the weight of his gaze pressing down on her like a vice. She wanted to tell him the truth, to explain herself, but she couldn't. Not yet.

"I... I can't, you know I was given to you-" she whispered, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.

Shivaay's jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists at his sides. For a moment, she thought he might explode, but instead, he stepped back, his expression unreadable.

"You will say just that ?" he repeated, his tone icy. "Or you won't?"

Aadhisha didn't answer. She couldn't. The truth was too dangerous, too complicated.

"I see," Shivaay said after a moment, his voice tight with restrained anger. "You're still trying to protect yourself. Still trying to play your little games."

"I'm not playing games," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then what are you doing?" he demanded, his voice rising. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you've been manipulating me from the start."

"I wasn't manipulating you," she said, her voice stronger now. "I was..."

She trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence. What was she doing? She didn't even know anymore.

"You were what?" Shivaay pressed, his eyes narrowing.

"I was trying to survive," she said finally, her voice breaking. "You don't understand what it's like, Shivaay. You don't know what I've been through."

Shivaay's expression softened slightly, but only for a moment. "Then make me understand," he said, his voice quieter now. "Tell me the truth."

"I can't," she said again, tears spilling over her cheeks. "It's not that simple."

"Nothing about this has been simple," Shivaay said, stepping closer again. "But I deserve the truth, Aadhisha. After everything, I deserve that much."

Aadhisha looked away, unable to meet his gaze. The weight of her guilt was too much to bear. But when Shivaay reached out, his fingers gently brushing against her cheek, she couldn't stop herself from looking up at him.

"Tell me," he said again, his voice almost pleading now. "Please."

For a moment, she considered it. She considered laying everything bare, telling him everything. But the risk was too great. She couldn't let him see the full extent of her betrayal.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I can't."

Shivaay's hand dropped to his side, and his expression hardened once more. "Then you leave me no choice," he said, his voice cold. "You're not going anywhere until I get the answers I need."

Before she could respond, he grabbed her wrist again, pulling her toward the door.

"Where are we going?" she asked, panic rising in her chest.

"To a place where you can't run from me," he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Shivaay's private chambers were unlike anything Aadhisha had ever seen before. The walls were lined with dark wood, the furniture rich and ornate. But it was the bed at the center of the room that caught her attention-a massive four-poster draped in heavy velvet curtains that seemed to swallow the light.

"You're keeping me here?" she asked, her voice incredulous.

"Until I get the truth," Shivaay said, closing the door behind them. "Yes."

"And what if I don't tell you?" she challenged, her defiance flaring once more.

Shivaay smirked, but there was no humor in it. "You will," he said simply. "One way or another, you will."

Aadhisha's heart pounded as he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. She wanted to fight him, to push him away, but her body betrayed her, her pulse quickening as he leaned in.

"You think you can keep lying to me?" he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you can keep hiding from me?"

"I'm not hiding," she said, her voice trembling.

"Then prove it," he said, his hand reaching up to tilt her chin toward him. "Tell me the truth, Aadhisha. Or should I say... CZarina?"

Her breath hitched at the name, and she knew there was no escaping him now. He had her cornered, and there was nothing she could do but wait for the storm to come.

And come it did.

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