Devil's Bride

Time for a Change

Ayaan stood at the window of the Rathore mansion, staring out over the sprawling grounds, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. He had spent years building this empire—his legacy, his power, his family’s name—but now, it all felt empty. The mansion, with its cold, opulent walls, no longer felt like a home. His world had shifted, his priorities reshaped by the love he had for Maya and their unborn child.

It was time for a change.

Turning to Maya, who was seated on the couch, her eyes watching him with quiet concern, Ayaan knew what needed to be done. He had promised her so much—promised to be the man she deserved, to be the husband and father that could give her a better life. And yet, here he was, still entrenched in a world that he now saw as toxic for them. He wouldn’t let their child grow up in the same suffocating, oppressive environment he had been forced into.

"Maya," he began, his voice steady, yet filled with determination. She looked up at him, her gaze soft but questioning. "I can’t keep living here. I can’t keep pretending that this place is what I want for us. I built this mansion, I built this empire—but it’s not our home. It’s not where I want to raise our child."

Maya’s heart skipped a beat. She had seen the pain in his eyes, the internal battle raging within him, and she could see now that he was ready to make a change.

"What do you mean, Ayaan?" Her voice was barely a whisper, uncertain yet hopeful.

"I’m taking you away from here. Away from the life we’ve known. I’ve already prepared a place—a mansion I built, just for us." His words were firm, carrying the weight of his resolve. "I’m going to give you and our child everything you deserve. I won’t allow my son or daughter to grow up in a world like this. I won’t let them face the same darkness I did."

Maya’s heart swelled with emotion. She had always known that Ayaan was a man of strength, a man who could conquer anything. But hearing him speak of their future, of a life built on love instead of power, made her feel like she was seeing a new side of him—one she had always hoped for, but had never dared to expect.

"You don’t have to do this for me, Ayaan," Maya said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "I love you, and I’ll be by your side no matter where we are. But if this is what you truly want… I’ll follow you anywhere."

Ayaan reached out, his hand cupping her cheek gently, a tender smile curving his lips. "It’s not just for you, Maya. It’s for all of us. I’m going to be the man you need, the father our child needs. I’ve already failed in so many ways, but I won’t fail you again. I will make things right. We’ll have the life we’ve always dreamed of—together."

With those words, Ayaan gently pulled her into his embrace, feeling the weight of the promise he had just made. They would leave this place, this symbol of his past, behind. They would create a new future—a better future.

The next few days were a whirlwind of preparation. Ayaan arranged for everything to be moved out of the mansion, his old life being packed away as they prepared for the next chapter. Despite his father’s objections and his family’s disapproval, Ayaan remained resolute. He would not allow anyone, not even his father, to dictate how he lived his life or how he would raise his family.

Maya, though overwhelmed by the drastic change, supported him every step of the way. She knew that this was a turning point for both of them—one that would reshape their future.

On the day they left Rathore mansion for good, Ayaan held Maya’s hand as they walked through the grand gates, the mansion receding behind them. Ayaan had built his empire, but now he was building something far more precious—his own family.

When they arrived at Ayaan’s new mansion, the place he had designed with Maya and their child in mind, it felt different. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and full of hope. It was a place where they could truly begin their lives together, free from the shadows of Ayaan’s past.