PROLOGUE

The slamming of the car door sounded like a gunshot in the silent night.

Adline tossed Aashi onto the premium leather backseat of his sleek, black SUV as if she weighed nothing at all.

Before she could even scramble toward the opposite door, the heavy central locks clicked into place with a definitive, chilling snap.

Locked in. Trapped.

Aashi pressed herself against the far corner of the seat, her muddy red lehenga bunching up around her knees.

Her chest heaved as she stared at the glass window, watching the heavy rain wash away the dirt from the forest outside.

She was shivering violently, the freezing water from her hair dripping onto the pristine interior of the luxury car.

The driver's side door opened, and Adline slid into the front seat. He didn't look back at her. He didn't need to. His presence alone was enough to suffocate the entire space.

He started the engine, the powerful roar of the car cutting through the sound of the thunderstorm.

"Ghar chalo," Adline ordered his driver in a flat, ruthless tone.

[Head home.]

Mu... Mu... mu... mujhe mere ghar vaapas bhejiye!" Her voice cracked, her usual billionaire confidence completely shattered as she leaned forward, gripping the back of his seat. You can't do this. My father... the Raichand lawyers... they will destroy you for this!

[Send me back to my house!]

Adline slowly adjusted the rearview mirror, his piercing, cold red eyes locking onto her tear-stained face through the glass. A ghost of a cruel smile touched his lips.

"Your father signed you over to me to save his own skin," he murmured, his voice smooth like velvet but deadly as a blade.

"The Raichand empire belongs to the Rathores now. There are no lawyers coming for you. You are completely, utterly on your own."

The words felt like a physical blow to her chest. Her hands slipped from the seat, and she fell back against the leather, staring blankly ahead as the car tore through the dark, deserted highway.

An hour passed in agonizing silence. The city lights disappeared completely, replaced by the imposing, iron gates of the Rathore Estate. The massive, gothic-style mansion loomed ahead like a fortress of shadows.

The car pulled up to the grand entrance. The door was opened by a guard, and before Aashi could even process it, Adline was already standing at her side of the vehicle.

He reached in, his large hands gripping her arms to pull her out.

"Don't touch me!" she hissed, trying to pull away, her wet wedding bangles clinking furiously.

Adline didn't waste his breath. Ignoring her resistance, he bent down, locked his powerful arm under her knees and behind her back, and lifted her into his arms once again.

He walked up the grand marble steps of the mansion, carrying his rebellious, soaking-wet bride into his kingdom.

He marched past the silent, bowing servants, straight up the winding staircase, and threw open the double doors to the master bedroom.

He set her down on her feet. Aashi immediately stumbled back, her bare, bleeding feet leaving faint red stains on the white marble floor.

He stood by the door, unbuttoning his damp black sherwani jacket and tossing it onto a chair, leaving him in a sleek black shirt that defined his broad shoulders.

He walked over to a crystal decanter, pouring himself a drink without taking his eyes off her.

"This is your cage now, Mrs. Rathore," he said, taking a slow sip.

"You will wash the mud off your skin, you will dress in the clothes I provided, and you will accept your reality."

Aashi wiped a stray tear from her cheek, her jaw tightening as the fierce Raichand pride flared up inside her one last time. She looked at the massive bed, then back at him.

Main mar jaungi... lekin aapki biwi ban kar kabhi is kamre me nahi rahungi, she whispered, her voice laced with pure venom.

[I will die... but I will never live in this room as your wife.]

Adline set his glass down on the table with a heavy thud. He walked toward her, his steps slow and predatory, trapping her between his towering frame and the cold wall behind her.

He leaned down, his breath brushing against her lips.

"Death is too easy an escape," he whispered darkly, his hand rising to trace the line of her jaw, his thumb stopping right on her trembling lip. "And I plan on keeping you alive... for a very, very long time."

You belong to the Rathore household now. You think a Raichand heiress can just walk away from my altar?

His eyes glowed with a dark, possessive fire under the moonlight.

"From this moment on, your smiles, your tears, your very breath belongs to me. You won't even look at the sky without wondering if I gave you permission to do so."

Main aapko kabhi apna pati nahi maanungi... aap ek jaanwar hain, she spit out, glaring at him through wet eyelashes.

[I will never accept you as my husband... you are a beast.]

A dark, dangerous smirk tugged at the corner of Adline's lips. His grip on her waist tightened until she gasped.

"Then let me show you how a beast treats a rebellious wife," he whispered against her ear.

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Dear Readers,

And now that you've read the prologue, I'd love to know what you think!

How did you like it? Which part caught your attention the most? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

I would also love to know how this story is making you feel so far and what you're expecting from the upcoming chapters.

Your comments, votes, and support motivate me to keep writing and updating.

Thank you for reading, and see you in the next chapter! 🖤

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