Author's POV

The cool breeze of the night whispered secrets through the corridors of the Raizada mansion. Silence loomed like a watchful guardian, concealing the storm brewing within its ancient walls. In one of the dimly lit hallways, Mannat stood alone, her delicate hands trembling as her mind replayed the conversation she’d just overheard between Akash Singh Raizada and Shanti Devi.

"Mannat iss ghar ki zarurat hai… aur ab woh yahan se nahi ja sakti." (Mannat is necessary for this house... and now she can’t leave.)

The words echoed relentlessly in her mind, striking fear deep into her heart. Every glance, every command from Armaan’s grandparents suddenly made sense. Her presence here wasn’t just fate—it was a calculated move in a much larger game she didn’t understand.

Mannat's POV

I stumbled back, pressing myself against the cold wall as if the mansion itself could shield me from the reality I’d just discovered. My breath hitched as I struggled to make sense of their cryptic conversation. Why me? Why am I trapped in this twisted world?

Just as I tried to gather my scattered thoughts, the distant sound of shattering glass pulled me from my daze. My heart clenched. It came from Armaan’s study.

Without thinking, I found myself moving toward the source, my feet carrying me down the long corridor as if drawn by some invisible force. When I reached the heavy oak door, it was slightly ajar, and through the narrow gap, I saw him.

Armaan’s POV

The room was a disaster—shattered glass, broken files, papers scattered everywhere. Armaan stood in the middle of the chaos, breathing heavily, fists clenched, his expression a terrifying mix of rage and vulnerability.

"Mujhe kyun farq padta hai?" (Why do I care?) he muttered, slamming his fist against the table. His voice cracked with frustration, as if fighting a battle he couldn’t win.

I should’ve walked away. I should’ve turned back and disappeared into the shadows. But something about seeing him like that—so raw, so broken—held me rooted to the spot.

"Mannat... uski shaadi kisi aur se... nahi ho sakti!" (Mannat... her marriage to someone else... it can’t happen!) he growled, sending another object flying across the room.

I gasped, unable to stop the sound from escaping my lips. His head snapped up instantly, his piercing eyes locking onto mine through the narrow gap. Before I could run, he stormed toward the door and yanked it open.

We stood there, inches apart, his intense gaze burning into mine. His breathing was still uneven, his chest rising and falling like a beast barely restrained.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he snarled, voice low and dangerous.

"I... I heard something break... I was just—"

Before I could finish, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the room, slamming the door shut behind us. His grip was firm but not painful—possessive, as always.

"You love playing this game, don’t you?" he hissed, his eyes gleaming with something dark and untamed. "Peeking into things you shouldn’t... thinking you can run away from me."

I wrenched my wrist free, glaring at him despite the fear pulsing in my veins. "I’m not playing any game, Armaan. Maybe it’s time you stopped treating me like one of your possessions."

His jaw clenched, his fingers twitching as if fighting the urge to reach for me again. "You think you can escape this? You’re in my world now, Mannat... there’s no running away."

"I’m not afraid of you," I whispered, though my trembling voice betrayed me.

He took a slow, deliberate step closer, and I felt my back hit the wall behind me. His hands rested on either side of my head, trapping me in place. His breath was warm against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

"You should be," he murmured, his voice dark and possessive. "Because no matter how hard you try... you’ll always be mine."

For a moment, time seemed to stand still. His eyes held a storm of emotions—rage, desire, and something far more dangerous... longing. And despite everything, I hated how my traitorous heart skipped a beat at his closeness.

"Let me go, Armaan," I whispered, hating the way my voice faltered.

His gaze softened just for a second before hardening again. He slowly stepped back, letting the cold space return between us.

"You can hate me all you want, Mannat," he said, voice low and threatening, "But you’re not leaving. Not now... not ever."

Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving me shaken and breathless. As the door slammed shut behind him, I sank to the floor, overwhelmed by the storm of emotions raging inside me.

In that moment, I realized one terrifying truth...

No matter how much I fought, no matter how much I resisted... there was no escaping Armaan Singh Raizada.

Author's POV

The storm within Armaan Singh Raizada had reached its peak. His mind was a battlefield—emotions he didn’t want to name clashing with desires he could no longer suppress. The rage, the obsession, the need to dominate—it all led back to one person: Mannat.

He slammed the door to his private lounge in Raizada Mansion, drowning himself in the cold silence of the room. His head pounded with questions he couldn’t escape.

"Why can’t I get her out of my head? Why does it matter if she marries someone else?"

His hands fisted at his sides as the answer burned its way into his mind. "This isn’t love... this is madness. A dangerous infatuation."

But even as he thought that, he couldn’t ignore the fire that raged every time he saw her. Her defiance only fueled his obsession. His control slipped every time she stood against him, challenging the very power he held over the world—but never over her.

---

Armaan's POV

"There’s only one way to end this," I muttered, pacing the length of the room like a trapped animal.

I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t focus on work, family, or even my next business conquest—all because of her. Mannat had invaded my senses, haunting my every thought.

"Ek raat... bas ek raat... phir yeh sab khatam ho jayega," I whispered, voice laced with desperation.

(One night... just one night... and this will all end.)

The idea rooted itself in my mind like a poisonous seed. If I could have her—break the tension building between us—it would be over. This obsession, this unbearable need... would disappear.

I convinced myself that this was about control, about reclaiming power over my unruly emotions. One night to take what I wanted, and she would be out of my system for good.

But deep down, I knew it was more than that. I didn’t just want her—I craved her soul, her fire, her very being. And that terrified me.

---

Meanwhile – Mannat's POV

The quiet of the mansion felt suffocating, the weight of Armaan’s earlier words still pressing on my chest. His possessive eyes, his barely contained anger... it all felt like a storm waiting to explode.

I tried distracting myself, focusing on my books, my dreams... but none of it worked. His presence clung to me like a second skin, invading my thoughts at every turn.

"Why can’t he just let me go?" I whispered into the stillness. "Why do I feel like running will never be enough?"

As I sat by the window, staring at the moonlit garden, I heard the familiar sound of heavy footsteps approaching—firm, determined... his. My heart skipped a beat as I realized where they were headed.

Toward my room.

---

The door swung open with a loud thud, making me jump. Armaan stood there, his sharp features carved from shadows and moonlight. His intense gaze locked onto mine, burning with something primal—something dangerous.

"Armaan... what are you doing here?" I stammered, backing up instinctively.

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him with deliberate calmness.

"I’m done fighting this, Mannat," he said, his voice dark and commanding. "You and I... this ends tonight."

My heart raced as he advanced toward me, every step radiating dominance and desire.

"What are you talking about?" I whispered, my back hitting the edge of the bed as I tried to maintain distance.

His eyes gleamed with a predatory intensity. "I’m tired of pretending this isn’t real. You... me... we finish this game tonight."

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