Shadows of control

23. Realisation!

Sofia's pov

Four hours have passed since I've been trapped in this cage. I don't expect Ansh to come; he's probably in Bangkok, perhaps with his mistress. But the fear that once gripped me has faded. The darkness no longer terrifies me, yet I yearn for freedom, for the world beyond these confining walls.

With a heavy thrush the heavy door swung open and fell to the ground ,  and a shadowy figure emerged. At first, it was a mere silhouette, a dark blotch against the dim light. As the figure moved closer, it started getting visible . My heart pounded in my chest as I recognized the familiar features. It was Ansh. How could he be here?

I huddled on the cold, hard floor, my knees drawn up to my chest. He approached, his heavy footsteps echoing in the confined space. With a deliberate movement, he knelt before me, his intense gaze boring into mine.

In a voice that brooked no defiance, he asked,
"Are you okay?"

I simply nodded in response.

He removed his blazer and draped it over my shoulders, his eyes catching the tear in my top. With a swift motion, he handed me a gun, his grip firm on my other hand.
"Use this if needed"
he instructed, his voice low and urgent. And with that, he led me out of the room, into the vast, silent forest.

His car was parked nearby, waiting to whisk us away. He motioned for me to get in, and I obeyed without hesitation. As I settled into the seat, the driver started the car . Ansh was sitting beside me and he  turned to me.
"Did they lay their fingers on you?'
he asked, his voice filled with concern.

I simply shook my head, unable to find the words to express my disbelief.

"Sofia,"
he growled, his voice low and menacing,
"I want answers, not your mocking gestures."

I remained silent, my mind racing. I couldn't believe he was here. After weeks of ignoring me, denying my existence, why now? Was this a desperate attempt to salvage his reputation, to appease his rivals or family? Or was there something more sinister at play?

He cupped my face, his touch both gentle and forceful. His eyes, intense and unwavering, bored into mine. "Don't play games with me, Sofia,"
he warned, his voice was low and dangerous.
"Answer me honestly."

"You know him already right?"
he insisted, his grip tightening.

I thought he was talking about the one who kidnapped me
"I don't even know his name"
I said my  voice barely a whisper.

He let out a bitter laugh, his eyes flashing with anger. He pulled out his phone and thrust it in my face, displaying a picture of me in the kidnapper's arms.

"It was a business meeting at Reliance,"
I explained my voice trembling.

"I was just walking in the palace plaza when he pulled me against the wall and tried to force me to hug him. I managed to break free and ran away,"
I explained, my voice shaking.

A heavy silence settled over them. Two minutes ticked by, each second stretching into an eternity. Finally, Ansh broke the silence.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
he asked, his voice laced with both anger and confusion.

I hesitated, my heart pounding.
"I was going to,"
I began, my voice barely audible.
"But then I thought you'd hurt someone because of me. I couldn't risk it."

A heavy silence enveloped us  as we drove home. When we finally arrived Ma, Alina and Naira were waiting anxiously. They rushed towards me, pulling me into a tight embrace.

"Are you okay, my girl?"
Ma asked, her voice filled with concern.

Naira pulled me in a tight hug.
"Did that monster pull any stupida act?"

I shook my  head, assuring them,
"I'm fine, Naira."

Ansh, sensing the tension, intervened.
"Let her rest. We'll talk later."
He took my hand and led me towards our bedroom room.

"Take off your clothes,"
he demanded, his voice laced with a dangerous edge.

Fear gripped me. Was he planning to abuse me again? Or worse? I hesitated, my mind racing.
"I won't,"
I managed to stammer.

"Don't use your stupid mind here"
he retorted, his tone impatient.
"I want to see the damage they have done"

Reluctantly, I began to undress, my heart pounding with fear and uncertainty.

He meticulously examined every inch of my body, his gaze lingering on the marks he himself had inflicted. A wave of guilt washed over him, his eyes filled with remorse. Once he was done, he helped me put my clothes back on and made me sit on the bed . Kneeling before me, he took my hands in his, his voice heavy with apology.
"I'm sorry,"
he murmured.

I was stunned. In the five months we'd been together, he'd never once apologized for his actions.
"I'm sorry,"
he repeated, his voice barely a whisper.
"I thought you were betraying me again"

"And why would you think that?"
I asked shocked.

"I saw your pictures with Alexander volkov,"
he said, his voice was low and dangerous.
"At first, I didn't believe it. But when I learned about the data leak, I started to doubt you. Your secrecy only fueled my suspicions. I wouldn't have believed the photos if you'd just told me the truth."

He took a pause for me to respond but then he continued
"I thought you were with them to take your revenge from me"

"Alexander Volkov?"
I muttered, a wave of realization washing over me. "You mean Adrik Volkov's brother? Kiara's... associate?"

"You know Adrik?"
Ansh asked, his voice laced with surprise.

"I asked around about Kiara,"
I admitted, my voice barely whispered.
"Someone told me about her... affairs."

"We'll talk about this later,"
Ansh said, his voice low.
"But why didn't you tell me about the data leak?"

I hesitated ,unsure how to respond

"Don't forget,"
he said, his voice was low and dangerous.
"I still have the power to influence the orphanage's future. Answer me honestly."

I can't risk the orphanage here.
"Alright, I'll tell you,"
I said, my voice trembling slightly.
"But you have to promise me you won't hurt anyone because of this."

He nodded.

"It was Kiara"
I said

"Kiara?"
he asked, his voice low and dangerous. His jaw clenched, his eyes darkening with anger.

"Why did you want to protect her?"
he asked, his voice low.

I replied, my voice barely a whisper.
"I didn't want your actions to reflect on your sister."

"She's my sister, no matter what,"
he said, his voice filled with a strange mix of anger and sadness.
"I can't do anything that would hurt her..."

As he stared at me, a flicker of realization crossed his face. He knew he couldn't hurt his sister, yet he had inflicted pain on his wife. A wave of complex emotions washed over him, a silent turmoil within his mind.

"Did you have something with Kiara?"
he demanded, his voice low and menacing.

"Yes,"
I confessed, my voice barely audible.
"I went to her to try and fix the situation, but she was... hostile."

"It was all a plan,"
he said, his voice low and dangerous.
"Kiara wanted revenge, so she ordered Alexander to kidnap you."

With that he stormed out of the room with aggression.