Nina was dragged into the underground chamber of Zayden’s private estate, her wrists bound behind her back. Blood trickled from her lower lip where one of Zayden’s men had struck her. But even in pain, she smirked.Zayden stood before her, his face devoid of emotion, but his dark eyes burned with the fire of vengeance. He didn’t waste time. His hand lashed out, slapping her so hard that her head snapped to the side, blood splattering against the cold concrete wall.“You knew,” Zayden growled, his voice like a blade slicing through the air.Nina let out a bitter laugh, her lips curling in mock amusement. “Knew? Oh, Zayden… I was behind it.”Her admission sent his rage spiraling out of control. His fist slammed into the metal table beside her, the sound echoing through the room.“Tell me where is she,” he demanded.Nina wiped the blood from her mouth and looked up at him, her eyes shining with something unsettling—admiration. “You never even noticed me, did you? Always running after her
Two days had passed since Hema vanished. Zayden’s men scoured the city, storming every possible hiding place. Abandoned buildings, secret hideouts, distant inns—nothing was left unchecked. His men moved like shadows, intimidating, threatening, and breaking down doors, but she was nowhere to be found.There was only one logical conclusion—Hema was still in the country. She had no passport, no visa. If she had crossed the border, there would have been records. That meant she was hiding, and Zayden was prepared to burn the entire country down if he had to.Then, the breakthrough came. One of his men found an abandoned car, half-sunken in a muddy pond on the outskirts of a remote village. The vehicle was traced back to Nina, the secretary his father had assigned to assist Hema. But there was no sign of the two women.Zayden arrived in the village in the dead of night. The moment his polished black boots touched the soil, an uneasy silence spread through the crowd of villagers gathered aro
Hema’s hands trembled as she fastened the buttons of the baby’s tiny onesie. The little girl giggled, grabbing at Hema’s fingers with her chubby hands. Even in the dim candlelight, her bright eyes sparkled with innocent trust.Hema swallowed hard. She shouldn’t have gotten attached.This wasn’t her child. This wasn’t her home. And soon, if she wasn’t careful, this wouldn’t even be her life.She had to leave.Every breath she took felt like borrowed time. Zayden’s men were everywhere. The village had already paid the price for sheltering her once—she had seen the flames licking at the sky from the far end of the fields. She couldn’t let them suffer more because of her.And yet, when Karan told the babysitter not to come tonight—when he said she could watch the baby instead—she hadn’t hesitated.For a few stolen hours, she had held the child, soothed her cries, whispered lullabies in the darkness.Now, the danger was back. And this time, it was inches from her doorstep.⸻The WarningKa
Hema and Karan never shared a room.It was unspoken but understood.She stayed in the small guest room at the back of the house, a quiet space with a simple bed and a window overlooking the courtyard. Karan’s room was on the other side, closer to Aara’s .They lived together, shared meals, raised Aara side by side—yet they kept their distance.Maybe it was out of respect.Maybe it was because if they got too close, they’d have to acknowledge the feelings they were pretending didn’t exist.Or maybe, deep down, they both knew that this was temporary. That one day, she would leave, and it would hurt far less if they never crossed that line.But some nights, that distance didn’t matter.⸻Midnight WhispersAara had always been a restless sleeper.Some nights, she would cry softly, stirring in her crib. Other nights, her wails would echo through the silent house, shattering the fragile peace of the night.And every time, before Karan could even wake up—Hema was already there.She moved qu
Karan had planned everything carefully.It had taken months of quiet negotiations, bribes, and secret meetings in dimly lit alleys. Finding the right people to smuggle Hema out of the country had been dangerous, but he had done it without hesitation.Because Hema’s life depended on it.And maybe—maybe his heart did too.⸻The Final GoodbyeThey stood near the port, hidden in the shadows of towering cargo containers. The salty sea breeze carried the scent of rust and diesel, the air thick with tension.Hema was draped in a black hijab, her face mostly concealed, blending in with the other women in the group who were about to cross the border illegally.But before she could leave—She turned back.Karan stood there, his hands clenched into fists, his jaw tight. He had told himself he wouldn’t make this harder than it already was. He had promised himself he wouldn’t ask her to stay.But when she stepped closer, holding Aara one last time—Something inside him cracked.Hema cradled the ba
The roar of the engine echoed through the empty streets as Karan sped through the city, his hands gripping the wheel tightly. The air was thick with tension, every passing second bringing the weight of inevitable danger.In the passenger seat, Hema clutched Aara against her chest, her heartbeat frantic, her breath uneven. The little girl whimpered, burying her face into Hema’s neck, sensing the fear in the air.Hema held her closer, whispering soft reassurances, though her hands trembled. The terror gripping her heart wasn’t for herself—it was for them. For Aara. For Karan.She couldn’t let Zayden find them.And she knew he would.“Karan…” Her voice was weak, barely above a whisper. She turned to him, her face half-hidden in the dim glow of passing streetlights. “You need to let me go.”Karan’s jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the wheel. “No.”Her throat constricted. “Please.”He didn’t answer.She reached out, grabbing his wrist. “Karan, listen to me! You don’t und
The house loomed before them, silent and dark under the moonlit sky. A place that once felt safe, a sanctuary hidden from Zayden’s reach, now felt like nothing more than a temporary illusion—one that had shattered the moment their escape failed.Karan pulled the car to a stop in front of the house, his grip on the wheel tightening. The weight of defeat settled over them like a heavy fog, thick and inescapable.Hema sat motionless in the passenger seat, her body drained of every last ounce of fight. Her mind had stopped racing, her heartbeat had slowed.It was over.The night stretched on, quiet except for Aara’s soft breathing against her chest. The little girl had fallen asleep, her tiny arms curled tightly around Hema’s body, unaware of the storm raging around them.Karan stepped out of the car, moved to her side, and opened the door for her that she snapped out of it.She hesitated.Her entire body felt numb, but Karan didn’t give her time to sink further into hopelessness. He reac
The room was suffocating with silence.Hema’s heart stopped the moment she stepped inside.There, in the dim glow of the room’s overhead light, Zayden sat like a king on his throne—his long legs stretched out lazily, one arm resting on the couch. But it wasn’t his presence that sent terror down her spine.It was Aara.She was in his arms.Tiny. Vulnerable. Oblivious to the monster holding her.And then—Karan.Two massive men flanked him, pressing cold steel against his temple.But Karan didn’t look at them.Didn’t look at the gun.His eyes were locked on Aara.Fearless—but not for himself.Hema couldn’t breathe.A slow, cruel smirk pulled at Zayden’s lips as he stared at Aara like he was inspecting a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit.His fingers traced the baby’s tiny arm. “She doesn’t resemble me,” he murmured.Hema felt the blood drain from her face.Zayden’s dark eyes flickered up, locking onto hers.“But she should, shouldn’t she?”Her stomach twisted.He thought—he thought Aara
The hospital lights were far too bright for Zayden’s comfort, but nothing about this day was supposed to be comfortable. He paced the hallway outside the operating theater, Ira cradled carefully in his arms. She looked up at him with those curious eyes, still too young to understand why her usually composed father was walking in frantic loops across polished tiles.Across the hall, Mark looked equally stricken. His face was pale, and his fingers drummed nervously on the side of the chair as he watched the double doors of the maternity wing like a man waiting for a verdict.“Mommy will be here soon,” Zayden muttered, adjusting Ira’s blanket answering her,Zayden nodded. “You think Mia’s okay?”“Mia is okay but I am not,” Mark fired back, trying to force a grin but failing. “Mia threatened to castrate me if I faint during delivery. So yeah, my brain is doing backflips.”Just then, the double doors opened.A nurse walked out, pulling off her mask. “Mr. Zayden?”He stepped forward, heartb
He crashed his mouth to hers—hard, needy. Her hands tangled in his hair as he pressed his body against hers, her thighs wrapping around his waist instinctively. His kiss was urgent, deep, the kind that made her forget where she was. He pulled back just enough to yank her top over her head, exposing her soft breasts, nipples already hard.Zayden groaned at the sight of her and buried his face between them. He licked, kissed, nipped—lavishing each breast with slow, deliberate attention. Hema arched into him, her fingers gripping the bedsheet. His mouth worked her expertly, moving from her breasts to her neck, sucking gently, leaving a trail of wet heat down to her belly.By the time he reached between her legs, she was trembling. His fingers teased her clit, slow circles that made her moan into the air. He loved watching her unravel under his touch—loved seeing her lose control.“Zayden…” she gasped, her thighs twitching. “I need you… inside me.”His lips made a curl. “ you are losing y
The drive stretched endlessly, winding through green hills and coastal turns, the golden hue of the sun bathing the road in warmth. Zayden had planned this break meticulously—no calls, no business, no parenting duties. Just Hema and him, for five full days. Their daughter Ira was safely with Mia, and for the first time in over a year, Hema felt… untethered.She sat in the passenger seat, hair loosely tied, her eyes half-lidded as she stared at the moving landscape. The windows were down just enough for the wind to tousle her strands. Zayden glanced at her sideways, and the way her lips parted ever so slightly—it stirred something primal in him.“You know,” he said, reaching over to entwine his fingers with hers, “I’ve been imagining this trip for weeks.”Hema looked over, already smiling. “I can tell. You’ve been grinning like a maniac since we left.”“I just missed having you to myself,” he said, his voice dropping. “No diapers. No meetings. No interruptions.”She giggled. “And what
The following evening, the golden light of sunset poured into the wide windows of the mansion. Ira was curled up peacefully in her little crib beside the cushioned couch, her tiny hands resting near her face, making gentle sleepy sounds as she dreamed. Hema sat cross-legged on the plush rug nearby, brushing out her hair while Zayden sat beside her, lazily scrolling through photos of Ira’s first steps with an affectionate grin plastered on his face.Mia strolled into the room in her usual confident gait, dressed in her casual yet elegant loungewear, holding a small gift box in one hand.“For the little queen,” she said, placing the box near Ira’s crib and kneeling to press a soft kiss on the baby’s forehead. “I still can’t believe she walked. I missed it!”Hema smiled warmly, setting her brush aside. “She’ll walk into your arms next time. Or maybe run.”Mia’s eyes twinkled as she looked at Hema. “She better. I’m planning to bribe her with toys and secrets.”Zayden chuckled, “Spoiling h
The grand mansion buzzed with life as little Ira, now a spirited one-year-old, filled its halls with her infectious laughter. Her tiny hands and knees propelled her swiftly across the marble floors, making her the darling of everyone—from the seasoned housekeepers to Zayden’s meticulous assistant, Mark. Each had succumbed to her charm, their days brightened by her presence.One particular afternoon, Ira’s curiosity led her on an unexpected adventure. The distant sound of raised voices echoed through the corridors, drawing her attention. Recognizing her mother’s voice, she set off, her crawling turning into determined steps as she clung to walls and furniture for support. The babysitter, momentarily distracted, turned to find Ira missing from her side. Panic surged as she began her search, only to spot the child making her way toward the commotion.Inside the master bedroom, tension crackled. Hema stood her ground, arms crossed, eyes blazing with frustration. Zayden, looking remorseful
The grand black gates of the mansion opened slowly, the familiar creak echoing through the long driveway lined with blooming jasmine. The late afternoon sun bathed everything in golden light as Zayden stepped out of the sleek black SUV, carefully cradling Ira in one arm, while holding Hema protectively with the other. Hema’s steps were slower, her body still weak from the birth, but her heart was full—this was a different kind of return. One not born out of pain or escape, but healing.Mia stood at the entrance, wearing a simple beige dress and a soft, rare smile on her face. Her sharp eyes shimmered the moment she spotted Ira. She rushed down the stairs barefoot, arms extended. “There she is—my little angel!” Mia’s voice trembled with emotion.Zayden grinned as he gently passed Ira into her arms. “She missed her aunt, didn’t she, baby?” he murmured, planting a kiss on Hema’s forehead.Hema chuckled softly and nodded. “We named her,” she said, watching Mia’s eager face.“Oh?” Mia rais
Hema lay curled up beside Zayden, her body still sore from the C-section she had just a week ago. Their baby girl, Ira, was sleeping peacefully next to her in a bassinet . Hema and Zayden had been through so much together, and now, with their little family complete, they felt like the luckiest people in the world.Hema caught him staring and gave him a coy smile. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she slowly reached up and unzipping her kurti, exposing one of her full, heavy breasts."Have a taste," she purred seductively, her voice low and inviting. Zayden's breath hitched as he took in the sight of her perfect breast, the nipple already engorged with milk. His cock instantly hardened, straining against his boxers. He swallowed thickly, desire burning in his veins.Zayde arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure, my love?"Hema nodded with a smile,Zayden's eyes darkened with lust. "I'll be gentle. I promise."In one swift movement, he leaned over her, pressing soft kisses along the swel
The tarmac glistened under the late afternoon sun as Zayden led Hema gently toward the sleek, private jet waiting for them. The sound of soft wind mixed with the distant hum of the plane’s engines. Zayden had one arm securely wrapped around Hema’s waist, supporting her as they walked slowly, while the other held baby Ira against his chest with practiced care.Behind them, two of Zayden’s men followed with their luggage, handling everything swiftly without a word. The elderly couple had waved goodbye, tears in their eyes, just a few minutes ago. Now, as they approached the jet’s steps, Zayden helped Hema up first, handing the baby over for a moment so he could lift her easily.“You don’t have to carry me every time,” Hema mumbled, half-blushing, half-teasing as he lifted her as if she weighed nothing.“You say that as if I’m going to stop,” Zayden smirked. “Let me enjoy being your crutch for a while longer.”He helped her to the spacious cabin of the jet, where a luxurious bed had alre
Zayden stood by Hema’s side as she slowly made her way down the hospital corridor, holding tightly onto his hand. Every step she took was careful, her body still sore, but determined. She didn’t complain. Her grip on his hand tightened whenever the pain in her abdomen throbbed, but she said nothing—only looked ahead, her face slightly pale but strong.Zayden, ever watchful, didn’t take his eyes off her for even a second.“You don’t have to push yourself,” he said gently, adjusting his arm around her waist.“I’m not pushing,” she whispered. “I just want to feel normal again.”Zayden chuckled softly.They reached the end of the hallway, and Hema paused near the window, looking outside at the golden morning sun spreading across the hospital lawn. She took a breath, soaking in the warmth. But the next moment, her knees buckled slightly.“Hema!” Zayden immediately pulled her close.She didn’t fall. She collapsed forward—right into his chest, her forehead resting just above his heart. Her a