Devil's Bride

Displeased Father

It was on one of those quiet mornings when Maya was feeling particularly under the weather that Ayaan's concern for her reached new heights. Maya was on her period, and though she tried to keep it to herself, the discomfort was obvious. The normally lively Maya was quieter, more reserved, and the usual sparkle in her eyes was dimmed with pain.

Ayaan noticed immediately. He didn’t miss anything, especially not when it came to Maya. As soon as he saw the way she moved, the way she winced every time she shifted, he was by her side.

"Maya," he asked softly, a tone of genuine worry in his voice, "What's going on? You don't look like yourself."

Maya tried to brush it off with a faint smile, but Ayaan wasn’t fooled. He knew her better than that.

"It’s nothing, Ayaan," she said, trying to sit up straighter. "Just... a little discomfort. I’ll be fine."

But Ayaan wasn’t having it. He leaned down, his hand brushing her forehead as he checked for any signs of fever. "Don’t lie to me, Maya," he said, his voice low but firm. "I know when you're not feeling well."

Maya sighed, unable to keep up the act. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of frustration and embarrassment. "It’s just my periods, Ayaan. It's nothing serious, I just need some rest."

Without another word, Ayaan lifted her up gently, adjusting her in his arms so that she was comfortable, before placing her back down on the bed. He sat by her side, rubbing small circles on her back as she leaned into him, exhausted.

"I don’t care about that," he murmured softly. "I'm not letting you go through this alone. I’m staying with you. I’ll take care of you."

Maya opened her mouth to protest, but Ayaan cut her off before she could say anything. "You’re not leaving this bed, not while you're like this," he said with a finality that left no room for argument. "I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you."

For the next two days, Ayaan didn’t leave her side. He became her rock, attending to every need she had, making sure she was as comfortable as possible. He kept a watchful eye over her, bringing her food, water, even her favorite tea to soothe her. His presence was constant, and he didn’t seem to mind at all.

Maya, who had always been fiercely independent, found herself relying on Ayaan more than she ever thought she would. She didn’t want to admit it, but his tender care made her feel safe in a way she hadn’t known before. Every time the pain flared up, he was there, soothing her with soft words or a gentle touch.

But while Maya was resting, Ayaan’s mind was far from peaceful. His father had called earlier in the day, and Ayaan could tell from his tone that he wasn’t pleased. His father, the patriarch of the family, was not one to appreciate distractions, especially not from his son. The business, the empire—it all demanded attention. And Ayaan had been giving too much of it to Maya, to the point where his father had noticed.

"Ayaan, you need to focus. This... softness of yours is a weakness," his father had said, his voice filled with contempt. "Running around after a woman—when will you learn? The business is falling behind. You’re getting distracted by trivial matters."

Ayaan had clenched his jaw, his anger rising at his father’s words, but he’d kept his calm. "I will handle it," Ayaan had replied coolly. "But right now, there’s something more important."

His father had been silent for a long moment before he finally spoke. "Fine. But this... can't go on forever."

Ayaan hung up without responding. He knew what his father was implying—he needed to get back to work, back to being the ruthless, calculating man his family wanted him to be. But Ayaan wasn’t ready for that yet. Not when Maya needed him.