He married her for revenge, determined to break her heart, but her innocence shattered his resolve. Instead of despising her, he found himself falling in love.
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The sunlight streaming through the windows woke me up the next morning. The warmth of the rays on my skin was comforting, but the emptiness beside me wasn't. I turned my head, expecting to find Maan there, only to see an undisturbed side of the bed.
He hadn't slept beside me.
A wave of uneasiness coursed through me. Maan had been acting strange since Raj's visit last night. His smile didn't reach his eyes, and the distance he'd placed between us felt deliberate.
Had I done something wrong?
I tried to recall every moment of the previous days, but nothing came to mind. The tenderness between us was real, wasn't it? Then why did it feel like he was shutting me out?
Pushing away my thoughts, I got out of bed and quickly freshened up. As I walked downstairs, I found Maan sitting in the living room, sipping coffee. His expression was calm but distant.
"Good morning," I greeted, hoping to bridge the gap that had formed overnight.
He looked up briefly, his gaze unreadable. "Morning," he replied curtly before returning to his phone.
The coldness in his tone stung.
"Maan," I said hesitantly, sitting across from him. "Is everything okay? You've been distant since last night."
He sighed, placing his phone on the table. His sharp gaze met mine, and for a moment, I felt exposed under its intensity.
"Why wouldn't everything be okay, Anaya?" he asked, his voice steady but devoid of the warmth I had grown used to.
I faltered, unsure how to respond. "I don't know. You seem... different."
"Different?" he repeated, a bitter edge creeping into his voice. "Maybe it's because I've realized some truths that I should have known earlier."
I frowned, confusion swirling in my mind. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't act innocent, Anaya," he snapped, his voice suddenly harsh.
The abrupt change in his tone left me speechless. My heart clenched at the way he was looking at me—not with love, but with something I couldn't quite place.
"Maan, what's wrong?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
He stood up abruptly, towering over me. "What's wrong? That's what I'm trying to figure out, Anaya. Why don't you tell me?"
The accusation in his voice hit me like a slap. I stared at him, my mind racing. What could he possibly mean?
"I don't understand," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady.
He scoffed, shaking his head. "Of course, you don't. You're good at pretending, aren't you?"
The words cut deep, leaving me reeling. Maan, who had always been my anchor, was now the storm tearing me apart.
