Devil's Bride

Drifting Apart

Ayaan stormed through the mansion, his fury radiating like a palpable force. He couldn't get Maya's words out of his head. The way she had looked at him, as though he was a stranger-someone she could no longer trust, someone she feared. It ignited something in him that he hadn't felt in a long time-rage, frustration, and a deep, bitter ache that twisted in his chest.

His footsteps echoed in the vast halls as he made his way to his office. Every passing person, every staff member he crossed seemed to feel the intensity of his anger. The fear in their eyes was clear, but none dared to speak, knowing the wrath of the man who controlled not just the empire, but everyone within it.

He slammed the door to his office behind him and stood by the window, his fists clenched, jaw tight. His reflection in the glass was barely recognizable-his usual composed and controlled demeanor had shattered, replaced by a man lost in his own emotions. His mind replayed Maya's words, her rejection, the look of disbelief and hurt in her eyes. He couldn't get it out of his head.

"How dare she... How dare she question me like that?" Ayaan growled under his breath, his voice low, laced with venom.

He needed to take control of this situation, to make it right. But the deeper he dug into his thoughts, the angrier he became. She didn't understand-she couldn't understand. This was his life. He didn't choose this path; it was the life he was born into, the life that was thrust upon him. And Maya... Maya was the one thing that had ever felt real to him. But now she was slipping away, unsure of him, questioning his every move.

Ayaan walked over to his desk and slammed his fist into the wooden surface, causing papers to scatter. He didn't have time for her doubts. He didn't have time for anything that wasn't directly in his control. And right now, Maya's hesitation was his weakness, and that was something he couldn't allow.

His phone buzzed on the desk. He looked down at the screen-his father's name flashed across it.

Without hesitation, he answered. "What?"

"Where are you, Ayaan? You should be here handling the business, not sulking around the mansion like a child. The empire won't run itself."

Ayaan's eyes darkened as he heard his father's voice. "I'll be there when I'm ready. I have other matters to deal with," he snapped, cutting the conversation short.

The conversation with his father only fueled the fire inside him. His family had never understood him. They had never understood his desire for something more than just power and control. And now, with Maya in his life, things were more complicated than ever.

His anger spread like wildfire, and it wasn't long before his temper reached a boiling point. As he walked through the mansion, anyone who crossed his path felt the heat of his rage. A staff member hesitated in the hallway, trying to approach him with some paperwork, but Ayaan snarled at him.

"Don't you dare come near me right now," Ayaan hissed, sending the man scrambling away in fear.

He stormed into the war room where his underlings were gathered, and the moment he entered, the room fell silent. His presence was overpowering, suffocating, and his anger was palpable. He looked around at the men in the room, each one awaiting his orders, but none daring to speak.

"None of you are doing your jobs properly," Ayaan growled, his voice dripping with menace. "I want results. I want action. And I want it now. If any of you are too incompetent to handle things, I'll find someone who can."

His eyes scanned the room, locking onto one of his most trusted men, who had been involved in a recent business deal that had gone south. The man's hands were visibly shaking, and he stammered as he tried to explain.