It was almost evening now and I was still stuck in this room. Every time I got close to finishing arranging it, someone came rushing in and would ruin all my work

When I was finally about to step out first, the maid who had called me earlier rushed inside, panting heavily.

"What happened Miss Victor?" I asked for a startled by her distressed face.

"I'm so sorry, dear," She blurted and without another word, she began tossing things around the room.

"Miss, what are you doing?I just finished arranging everything! Why are you doing this?" I cried out in frustration.

But she didn't stop, she kept grabbing the long curtains that had taken nearly 45 minutes to hand, given my ahort 5'2" height and the number of times I'd fallen trying to hang them up.

"Miss please stop! Why the hell are you destroying the room? It took me so much time to arrange everything!" I shouted, my voice shaking with frustration.

"I know dear....but I can't help, it's the prince's order he said not to let you leave the room." Her tone was apologetic, bir her hands kept working, undoing everything I had just finished.

"What?" My heart sank, of course this was all his doing. Now I understood what message he wanted to send.

"Fine," I muttered bitterly, "but why this? I won't leave the room, but at least don't ruin all my hard work." I pleaded

But Mrs Victor just shook her head helplessly, "He also said not to  let you rest for even a second...and for that, he's given strict order to keep the room in a mess."

I stood there silently, watching my hard work being ruined - helpless, drained and tired.

After the maid left, I quietly began to arrange everything once again, though my body ached and my mind felt shattered. For the past week, my life had spiraled into chaos. I was exhausted both mentally and physically.

All I wanted was to rest, to close my eyes, to cry and scream and to finally let it all out.
I longed for his return, to see him, to feel him by my side ..... to hold his hand even just for once.

But I wasn't worthy of him, not anymore. Not after that dreadful night when I lost everything. But I had to stay strong, for him. I have to show him that I have moved on from him.

🍁

After going through the same ordeal twice : me carefully cleaning the room, only for the maid to mess it up again. I had slowed down this time. My movements were sluggish, each task taking longer as exhaustion weighed on me.

In between, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Rahul.
🍁

Rahul: hi are you okay?

Me: yeah, I'm fine.

Rahul: have you eaten anything?

Me: No....didn't got time. Have you?

Rahul: No, i was busy too.

Me: ohh, okay.

Rahul: listen....

Me: yes?

Rahul: I think you should tell Raghav Sir the truth about our wedding...about the circumstances that forced us into this.

Me: No, rahul. I can't. If he finds out, he'll ruin his life. He will blame himself and I can't see him like that.

Rahul: okay...as you wish. But please take care of yourself. Don't over-stress and eat something first, okay?

A faint smile appeared on my lips, "okay sir, as you say. Bye now, I still have a lot of work left."

Rahul: okay...I'll wait for you tonight. Take care.

Me: you too.
🍁

I slipped my phone back into my pockes and returned to my work. Slowly, I began spreading the soft, silk bedsheet, running my palm over its smooth surface. Its softness was soothing, and without realizing, I rested my cheek and hung on it...just for a moment.

But exhaustion got the better of me. Sitting on the floor, my face pressed against the silk,  I drifted into sleep.

But exhaustion got the better of me. Sitting on the floor, my face pressed against the silk, I drifted into sleep.

_______________

It was dark....
So dark...suffocatingly dark.
I couldn't see a thing, nothing but endless black, like thick coal smoke wrapping around me.

My eyes were open-at least, I thought theyw were, but it felt like they were sealed shut.
My body...frozen.
I couldn't move, couldn't feel.
Paralyzed.
A desperate urge surged inside me-to run, to escape this suffocating darkness, to reach the light.

But I was trapped...stuck in a place and then....i felt it. Not it-SOMEONE.
a shiver ran down my spine. I wanted to scream for help, to cry out-Riya...is it you?
Had she come for me?Finally?
I tried to call her name....but no voice came.

My throat felt empty, as though my voice had never existed. The presence moved closer. It wasn't Riya.
No....this was someone else.
I could feel the difference.
Broad. Heavy. Manly.
A think, looming shadow washed over me, the air thick with dread. My skin crawled, recoiling beneath the weight of it.

Every part of me screamed to run, to get away.
But I couldn't i was a statue trapped in this nightmare.
Then....the touch came.
Rough fingers brushing my lips-scraping against them.

I wanted to recoil, to tear myself away from that unbearable contact.
But I couldn't
His hand moved down, gliding from my lips to my neck.
Gentle at first...then tighter, rougher and harder.
Fingers curling with purpose, pressing hard.
It was as if he wanted to choke the very life out of me.
Pressure built-in...more tighter-my breath caught  in my throat.

I couldn't breath, I couldn't move. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring what little sense I had left. I gasped...desperate fir air that wouldn't come.

Suddenly, he released my neck, only to run those cruel hands down my arms...creeping low.
Then....
His hand gripped my breast hardly squeezing, pinching through the thin fabric of my dress.

Pain seared through me. It wasn't just an assault on my body. It was a punishment-vicious, deliberate.
My soul screamed in agony.

I wanted to die at that moment-anything to escape.
But I was trapped, still trapped. Helpless in the nightmare.

I wanted it to end. I couldn't take it anymore.

Please....let it stop...let this be my end....I want my body to move, to fight back-to shove his flithy hands away. But I was trembling. Every oart of me shaking, weak and useless.

I tried to cleanse my fists at my sides, forcing my hands to obey. But the paralysis still gripped me weighing me down.  His hands didn't stop.

They moved....from my breast, rough and unforgiving, sliding lower-towards my waist, my thighs.

I could feel it-his touch creeping closer. My heart pounded in terror. I was wearing a long gown, a soft frock that usually reached down to my knees-but now twisted and bunched up to my thighs from how I lay, leaving me exposed.

His fingers brushed along my bare legs-searching shamelessly. He was going to touch me - there. Cold terror flooded through me. No...no! Please no!

I wanted to scream-to cry out for help, to push him away, to fight...but my voice was trapped inside me, choking in my throat.

I tried again....and again....desperately trying to force a sound, any sound past my lips, and then-finally-through the panic, through the suffocating dread.

My voice broke free, trembling, hoarse with fear, "Nooooooo!"

🍁

I jolted awake, gasping for breath. Drenched in sweat-heart racing-still trapped in the after shock of the nightmare.
I could hear it.....the sound of the shower shutting off the bathroom. My heart skipped a beat. Then....I heard the soft click of the bathroom door unlocking and slowly opening.

Panic surged through me. No, no, no-he can't see me here! In a frantic rush. I threw off the quilt and scrambles to get out of the massive bed.

But in my haste-my legs tangles in the sheets.
I stumble with a sharp gasp, I fell hard on the thick carpet below.

"Ahhh!" A sharp pain shot through my ankle. Tears welled in my eyes as I grabbed it winching. I had twisted it badly. No....not now....not like this....

In the very next second, he was in front of me, without hesitation, he knelt down, his hands gently but firmly taking hold of my injured ankle.

"What the hell were you rushing for?" He asked, eyes narrowing as they carefully scanned the swelling.

My breath hitched-and then I noticed....he was wearing only a tower, loosely wrapped around his waist.

Droplets of water still clung to his skin, trailing down his bare, sculpted torso. My gaze, almost involuntarily, drifted upward-from the wet strands of his thick black hair-to those deep, intense eyes to his slightly parted, rough but pink full lips....then down again-across the expanse of his muscular chest, so close...so near....i felt small-vulnerable-beneath him.

Heat bloomed within me-my heart racing, my skin warming under his gaze and presence.

A sudden, forbidden urge curled through me-to ran my fingers through his damp hairs-to trace the lines of his bare chest-to feel the strength radiating from him.

In that moment-I forget everything. The nightmare, the panic, even the pain in my ankle. Nothing existed but him ...and this dizzy closeness.