Shadows of control

25. Obsession?

Sofia's pov:

I woke up late in the morning, feeling feverish and drained. The night had been restless, a consequence of the recent incident that had turned my family against me. Everyone, except for Ansh, seemed to have turned their backs on me. I wasn't sure about Devika, her silence was deafening.

Ansh, however, had been my rock. He had spent the entire night caring for me, his gentle touch offering comfort in the midst of chaos. But even as I appreciated his kindness, a sense of unease crept in. I knew that this newfound warmth was fleeting, a temporary reprieve before the storm returned.

A maid entered my room, carrying a tray of breakfast. I asked her about the family members.
She said
"Malaika & Alina are in the hospital. They'll be back with Kiara once she's discharged till evening. Naira and Devika are at home."

I waited for them to return until evening. I couldn't bear the weight of the false accusations any longer. Living with them, knowing their distrust, was becoming increasingly difficult.

I was standing on the balcony when I heard the sound of cars pulling up to the mansion. The increased security was a stark reminder of the tension in the air. As I watched, Ma, Alina, and Kiara stepped out of the car.

I waited a few minutes before entering Kiara's room. She was alone, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.
"Kiara,"
I said, breaking the silence. She turned to look at me.

"you know I didn't push you. It was a tragic accident. Why are you creating this unnecessary drama? Is it a part of your revenge?"

A smirk crept across Kiara's face as she yelled,
"Maaa!"
Ma rushed into the room, her eyes darting between me and Kiara.

"What's going on here?
Ma demanded.

"Sofia is threatening me,"
Kiara told Malaika.
"She's saying if I won't shut my mouth, she'll do something worse."

Ma glared at me, her eyes filled with anger and disappointment.
"For God's sake, stay away from us, Sofia. Enough is enough!!."
"I never treated you differently from my own daughters, I thought you were innocent how could you do this to us?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as Ma's harsh words cut through me. Before I could respond, Kiara hurled a bottle, shattering it against my skin near my eye.
"Get out!"
she screamed.

Ma stopped her gesturing me to go away.

I went to my room, grabbing an ice pack to soothe the stinging wound near my eye.

As the evening settled, Ansh returned home. The moment he stepped into the room, his presence filled the space. I felt a sense of dread. I knew I couldn't look at him, not yet. The mark on my face was a secret I wanted to keep hidden. I feared the inevitable drama that would unfold once he saw it.

He emerged from the washroom, and I instinctively turned away, my face pressed against the cool wall. His gaze followed my movement, and his voice, laced with concern, broke the silence.
"How are you feeling now?"

I remember the moment it was midnight when he was taking care of me, putting the wet towel on my head to maintain my temperature. The same thing I did with him when he had a fever.

I think he was just returning the favor.

"I asked something,"
he said, his voice firm. I realized I'd forgotten to reply.

"I..m...I'm fine,"
I mumbled, still facing the wall.

"Eyes on me while I'm talking to you,"
he insisted.

Knowing I couldn't win against him, I slowly turned to face him, keeping my head lowered.

He stepped closer, his fingers gently lifting my chin. His touch was firm, yet tender, compelling me to look into his eyes.

His eyes fell upon the mark on my face. A single word escaped his lips, a question heavy with concern and unspoken anger:
"You think you can hide it from me"

"Ah... actually.. I wasn't hiding"
I said in trembling voice.

He smirked saying
"Atleast learn how to lie"

"M...I'm not"
I replied.

"Who did this"
He asked his jaw clenched.

"I tripped"
I said my voice barely a whisper.

"You think I'm stupid?"
He said arrogantly.

He forced me to speak, but I remained silent. I refused to give in.

He gripped my hand tightly and led me towards the living room, where the family members were gathered. Kiara sat comfortably amidst them, and as we entered, every eye fell upon us.

Dad's (Vikram's)gaze held a mixture of pity and disappointment. Vijay looked helplessly at me, while Naira's expression was unfamiliar and unsettling. Malaika's eyes burned with anger, and Alina's gaze reflected her helplessness.

Ansh stepped forward, his voice low and menacing
"If anyone dares to lay a finger on her,
I swear, they'll face consequences they can't imagine." His eyes, dark and intense, swept across the room, a silent warning to anyone who might dare to harm her.

Vikram's voice, heavy with concern, cut through the silence.
"What happened to her?"
he asked, his gaze fixed on the mark on your face.

Ansh's gaze turned cold, his eyes boring into Kiara. "Ask your daughter,"
he said, his voice dripping with venom.

He took my hand, his grip firm and comforting. As we walked back to our room, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was deeply troubled by the confrontation with his family.

Is he really caring for me? Or it's just a obsession?