Chandni turned sharply on her heels, her heart hammering against her ribs as she rushed toward the staircase. Her vision blurred with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. This was too much-far too much for her to endure. The air in this house felt suffocating, pressing down on her like an unbearable weight. Every second spent here was a reminder of the wounds that had never healed, of the love she had once craved but never received.

She needed to leave. Now.

Her pace quickened as she climbed the stairs, her footsteps heavy and unsteady. The moment she reached her room, she shoved the door open and stepped inside before slamming it shut behind her. Without a second thought, she turned the lock with a sharp click, securing herself away from the world outside.

Her breathing was ragged, her chest rising and falling unevenly as she pressed her back against the door. For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to close her eyes, willing the storm inside her to settle. But it was futile. The anger, the hurt, the betrayal-it all churned within her like a raging fire, refusing to be extinguished.

Pushing herself off the door, she strode toward her wardrobe with determined urgency. She yanked it open, her hands trembling as she pulled out a suitcase and flung it onto the bed. The zipper screeched as she unfastened it, the sound cutting through the silence of the room.

Without pausing to think, she began stuffing her belongings inside. Her movements were rushed, fueled by a mix of aggression and desperation. Clothes were thrown in carelessly, some crumpled, some barely folded. She didn't care. She just needed to get out, to put as much distance as possible between herself and this house, between herself and the ghosts of her past.

Her fingers clutched at the fabric of a shawl, the same one she had worn during a cold winter night years ago when she had stood outside this very house, begging to be let in. A bitter scoff left her lips, and she shoved it into the suitcase with more force than necessary.

Her hands moved frantically, grabbing essentials-documents, jewelry, anything she might need. But in her haste, her fingers knocked over a small framed photograph sitting on the bedside table. It tumbled to the ground with a soft thud, the glass cracking upon impact.

Chandni froze.

Slowly, she bent down and picked it up, her breath hitching as her gaze fell upon the image. It was an old photograph, slightly faded with time. In it, a younger version of herself smiled brightly, her tiny hands clutching onto a man's arm-her father. He was laughing, his eyes filled with warmth as he looked down at her.

A lump formed in her throat, but she forced herself to swallow it down.

"This is not the time," she whispered to herself, her grip tightening around the frame.

With a deep, shuddering breath, she placed the broken photograph inside her suitcase before zipping it shut.

She wiped at her eyes hastily, straightened her shoulders, and grabbed the handle of her suitcase. There was no room for hesitation. No room for second thoughts.

She was done here.

As ahe descended the staircase with slow, deliberate steps, her heart pounding against her ribs. As she stepped into the grand main hall of Shekhawat Haveli, her sharp gaze fell upon the two women standing there. One of them wore an unmistakable expression of disgust, her lips curled in distaste, while the other's face was laced with concern, her eyes filled with unspoken questions.

A tense silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

But she had no time for their judgment. No time for their opinions.

Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin defiantly. Without sparing a single glance toward her mother, she spoke, her voice ringing through the vast hall with a sharp finality.

"I have canceled the divorce. Virendra and I are moving to London."

Her words were cold, void of any hesitation. Each syllable was laced with a determination that left no room for argument. She refused to let anyone-especially them-question her decision.

For a moment, the hall remained silent, as if her announcement had sucked all the air out of the room. But she didn't wait for a reaction. She didn't need to hear what they had to say.

Turning on her heels, she strode toward the grand main door of Shekhawat Haveli. Her steps were firm, unshaken, as if she were walking away not just from the house but from everything it represented-every wound, every betrayal, every painful memory that had chained her to this place for far too long.

As she reached the entrance, she pushed open the heavy wooden doors, the cold evening breeze hitting her face as if welcoming her into a new chapter of her life. Without looking back, without second-guessing herself, she stepped outside with unwavering determination.

She took one last glance at the towering walls of Shekhawat Haveli, the place that had once been her home. Memories-both bitter and sweet-flashed before her eyes, but she refused to dwell on them. The weight of the past pressed against her chest, but she pushed it away, unwilling to let it break her resolve.

As she turned toward the sleek black car waiting for her, a single tear escaped from the corner of her eye, sliding down her cheek like a silent betrayal of the emotions she had buried deep within. But before it could reach her chin, she wiped it away abruptly, as if erasing any sign of weakness.

Her fingers curled into fists by her side, her nails digging into her palms as a cold determination took hold of her heart.

"You ruined my life, Virendra," she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with suppressed fury. "Now, I will ruin yours. I will make your life a living hell-you will weep blood and scream for mercy."

Her vow was not just a fleeting thought; it was a promise, etched into her soul with the fire of betrayal and pain.

Just then, the car engine roared to life, snapping her out of her thoughts. The sound was a stark reminder that everything she had known, everything she had once held dear, was now behind her. There was no turning back.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and stepped inside the car. As it pulled away from the haveli, the realization settled deep within her-this was the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

♡♡♡

Some hours Later

The hum of the airplane engines filled the silence between them. Chandni sat stiffly in her seat, staring out of the window as the endless stretch of clouds blurred past. The reality of her decision settled deeper into her bones with every passing mile. She had agreed to this marriage. To Virendra. To a life she had spent years trying to escape.

Yet, here she was, bound to him once again-not by love, not by choice, but by necessity.

Virendra sat beside her, calm, composed, and unreadable as always. His dark eyes remained fixed on a document in his hands, his fingers methodically flipping through pages. He had barely spoken to her since they boarded the flight, and for that, she was grateful. She had no energy for another battle, not now.

Her mind drifted to Tara. She was safe now-that was all that mattered. But at what cost?

A sigh slipped past her lips, and Virendra's gaze flickered to her. "Regretting your decision already, wife?"

Chandni's grip on the armrest tightened. "Don't call me that."

His lips twitched in amusement. "It's what you are now."

She turned to face him, her eyes burning with defiance. "A forced wife. A prisoner in a gilded cage. Is that what you want, Virendra?"

He leaned back in his seat, unbothered by her hostility. "I want loyalty." His voice was measured, firm. "You made your choice, Chandni. There's no turning back now."

Her nails dug into her palm. "And you made yours. Trapping me."

His smirk faded. "I don't need to trap you, Chandni. You walked into this yourself."

She looked away, hating how right he was. Hating that she had no other choice.

The flight attendants passed by, serving refreshments, but Chandni barely touched her food. She was too restless, too aware of the man beside her.

Hours passed in silence, until finally, the pilot's voice crackled through the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing in London shortly. Please fasten your seatbelts."

Chandni exhaled shakily, her fingers curling around the edge of her saree. London. A city of strangers. A place where she would have no one-except him.

Virendra remained as composed as ever, fastening his seatbelt with practiced ease. "Welcome to your new life," he murmured.

Chandni clenched her jaw. Not my life. Just another prison.

The plane landed with a smooth jolt, and soon, they were walking through the private terminal. The air was colder than she expected, crisp and unfamiliar.

A black luxury car awaited them, and a man in a dark suit stood beside it. He nodded at Virendra before opening the door.

"Mr. Thakur, welcome back."

Virendra barely acknowledged him as he gestured for Chandni to step in. She hesitated, her heart pounding, before finally sliding into the seat.

As the car pulled away, Chandni pressed her forehead against the window, watching the city lights blur past.

She had left behind one nightmare, only to step into another.

And this time, there was no escape.

♡ ♡ ♡

T  H  A  N  K  Y  O  U