"Who did this to you? Because whoever it was... they just declared war on me." Her fragile form trembled in my arms, blood seeping from her wounds as her pain became my consuming rage. In that moment, nothing else mattered; all that existed was the burning need to protect her, to avenge her suffering, and to ensure she was safe. The world narrowed to her pain and my fury, a primal urge to shield her from harm and crush anyone who dared to hurt her.

"You think this marriage makes you mine?" His voice was low, almost dangerous - like a warning cloaked in silk. She didn't flinch. Didn't lower her gaze. "No," she said softly, but firmly. "But I think it terrifies you that I never wanted to be." For a moment, the air between them thickened - not with hate, but something far more dangerous. He took a step closer, the shadows playing across the sharp lines of his face. "Careful, Ridhima," he murmured, voice dipping into something raw, something real. "You're starting to matter more than you should... And I don't know what scares me more - losing control... or losing you."