HER SAFE PLACE

The game begins

Rocky's POV

I couldn’t stop smiling as I watched her. My Shivangi. She was glowing, her laughter echoing through the air as she moved from one ride to another, her excitement like a child’s. My heart swelled seeing her this happy.

This was exactly what I wanted for her—a place where her worries didn’t exist, where she could be carefree, where the world wasn’t as cruel as it had been to her.

I remembered her drunken confession one night, her words slurred but her pain evident: "I should be a Disney princess in a Disneyland, not stuck in this stupid world." That was the moment I decided. If anyone deserved to be in the happiest place on Earth, it was her.

Now, as she wandered through the park, the joy on her face was everything I’d hoped for. I had done this for her, and seeing her like this made every effort, every penny, worth it. Nothing could ruin this day—nothing.

But then I saw it.

Her laughter faded, her movements slowed. Her face, once lit with joy, turned pale, her body stiffening as she stared at her phone. It was as if the life had drained out of her.

My heart sank. Something was wrong.

“Shivangi?” I called out, my voice laced with concern as I moved toward her.

She didn’t respond. Her hands trembled as she clutched her phone tightly, her eyes wide and filled with…was that betrayal?

I reached her and gently touched her shoulder. “Shivangi, what’s wrong?”

She flinched at my touch but didn’t pull away. I glanced down at her phone—and froze.

It was a picture of Priya and me.

From that day in the shower.

The angle made it look like we were…kissing. My heart sank further, dread filling every corner of my being. The memory of that day flashed in my mind: she was attacked and I helped her. That was it. That was the truth.

But this picture? This picture told a completely different story.

“Shivangi, please,” I said urgently, my voice trembling. “It’s not what it looks like. I swear—”

She looked up at me then, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. Her lips quivered, but she didn’t say a word. Instead, she raised her hand, stopping me from speaking further.

And then, without a word, she turned and ran.

“Shivangi!” I shouted after her, panic gripping my chest. I chased her through the crowd, weaving through people as I tried to catch up to her.

She ran into the castle, disappearing into its grand halls. I followed, my heart pounding as fear and confusion battled inside me. I couldn’t let this misunderstanding fester. I had to explain.

But as I was about to reach her, Arun stepped in my path, his expression unreadable.

“Move, Arun,” I said through gritted teeth, my patience hanging by a thread.

“Not so fast, Rocky,” he said, his voice calm but his eyes sharp. “We need to talk.”

“Not now!” I snapped, trying to push past him, but he blocked me again.

“Oh, I think now’s the perfect time,” he said, his tone laced with mockery. “You see, I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I growled, anger bubbling under my skin.