"Don't expect anything from me." That's what Aryan Sharma tells Riya Shetty right after the wedding. Short. Heartless. Handsome. He's everything she didn't want - and everything her family insisted she needed. Riya is done pleasing people. If she has to play the perfect wife, she will. But she won't beg for his affection. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Riya Shetty - warm-hearted, soft-spoken, and fiercely loyal - works as a teacher and comes from a middle-class South Indian family. Aryan Sharma - cold, sharp, and emotionally locked away - is one of India's most powerful lawyers, born into a high-profile North Indian legacy. In a world where promises are made but hearts stay guarded, Riya dreams of warmth, laughter, and a love worth fighting for. Aryan, cold and distant, wears the scars of a past he can't forget - and a future he doesn't want. When an arranged marriage binds them together, two strangers must navigate years of silence, unspoken desires, and aching loneliness. As walls crumble and truths unravel, will Riya's quiet yearning be enough to thaw Aryan's guarded heart? Or will the shadows of blame and grief pull them further apart? Slow-burn romance. Heartbreak and healing. A love that's not given - but earned.

" You know very well why I married you?" He asked rudely. She replied controlling her tears," Yes, for your children." Then, he said calmly," If I find any kind of carelessness from your side regarding my children then trust me you will see the worst side of me." She remained silent when he shouted," Words, woman!!" " Yes, I won't give you any chance of complaining," She shuttered and a satisfied smile formed on his lips. Then, he declared stabbing her already wounded heart," I can never give you the place which my wife holds in my heart. You are just a substitute of her." Maryam, A 25-year-old woman just wanted nothing but a happy family with her long time lover. But, do we get what we want always? Copyright ©️ 2022 by Artemisia. Don't steal my work. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited.

COMPLETE Let me make this crystal clear, because you don't seem to understand," he said, his voice deceptively calm, but laced with venom. "I paid for you to be my wife. That means you do what I say. You're mine now." He flicked a check toward me, and it fluttered to the ground between us. I couldn't look away from him, though my chest tightened in panic. My hands shook as I fought back tears, refusing to let him see me break. But he wasn't finished. "What did you expect?" he scoffed, eyes narrowing. "This is what gold diggers like you get. Money has a price, and now you're paying yours. Enjoy it, wife." Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the massive, empty living room-speechless, breathless, and drowning in disbelief. I never expected this. © MaryRose 2018. All rights reserved. Content Disclaimer: This story contains scenes of physical and verbal abuse. Reader discretion is advised. My intention is not to romanticize or condone abusive behavior but to present a fictional story for entertainment purposes only. If themes of violence, toxic relationships, or power imbalances are triggering, please proceed with caution or choose a different story. This is a work of fiction and should not be taken as a guide to real-life relationships. Offensive or disruptive comments will be removed to maintain a positive reading experience for all.