How long had she been wandering aimlessly? Her mind was in turmoil, overwhelmed by the thought of where she could possibly find ten lakh rupees."I should just run away somewhere. Yes, that’s the only way to escape Daniel. Otherwise, that cruel man won’t hesitate to hand me over to the police. And who knows if he’ll even leave me alone after taking the money?” she muttered to herself, her voice filled with despair. "He’s clinging to me like a shadow, a demon that won't let go. Despite all he has, he still won’t leave me alone." Tears welled up in her eyes as she stumbled forward, crossing the street without noticing her surroundings.Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear the blaring horn or see the car speeding toward her."Do you have a death wish?" shouted the driver, frantically honking the horn.But she was too far gone in her own world to hear it. A flash of yellow light caught her eye, snapping her back to reality. She turned her head, and her heart froze—there was a car racing
At last, the moment arrived; I glanced down at the paper clutched in my hand. It was the divorce certificate on which I needed the signature of Daniel Bruno. I have money he demanded and now he can free me. As I breathed on, terror gripped me, making me want to shed the garment of life. Summoning all my courage, I stepped into his office, but the scene before me rooted me to the spot.He was sitting on his revolving chair, and Anna, his secretary was on his lap. Their faces were so close that my cheeks start turning red. Fighting back the urge to sob, I turned to left, but his words halted me.“You are late.” his deep voice resonated, causing me to draw a heavy breath to steel myself. I knew I had to be brave, had to put an end to this torment. With a cold face, I approached and placed the paper on the table before him."The need for this marriage has expired long ago; I feel it is not appropriate to drag it further." I looked in his eyes and calmly stated, though turmoil raged with
At eight o'clock, I got dressed. I looked in the mirror, wearing a long white dress, shiny earrings, and my hair lightly curled. I smiled at my reflection, thinking that this might be the last time I’d have dinner with him. I was about to call him to say I’d be staying at a friend’s place when my phone rang. It was Daniel Bruno. "Come down," he said in his deep voice. Surprised, I looked out the window and saw his car parked outside. When I reached the car, the driver opened the door for me. To my shock, Daniel was sitting in the passenger seat. He never came to pick me up himself, always sending the driver. I wondered what had changed. “Ma’am.” The driver waited for me to get in. I nodded and climbed into the car. Daniel was engrossed in his phone, not even glancing up. Wanting to appear equally busy, I took out my phone and started scrolling. "Why aren't you dressed properly?" he asked abruptly. I looked at him, confused. "What?" I replied, puzzled. "Has being apart for
Today was his birthday. The house sparkled with lights, and she had poured her heart into every detail. The table was adorned with rose petals, and the centerpiece—a pineapple cake—awaited him. She sat anxiously, glancing at the clock. Just five minutes to midnight. Her heart raced with anticipation, hoping against hope that he would come. She wanted this night to mark the end of their pain and the start of something new. Her eyes darted to the door every few seconds, yearning for it to open. As the minutes slipped away, her prayers grew louder in her mind. “Where are you?” she whispered, the weight of each passing second crushing her spirit. At two minutes to midnight, desperation took over. She reached for her phone to call him. Before she could dial, the clock struck twelve, and her screen lit up with a notification. Daniel Bruno's name flashed across the breaking news banner. Her fingers trembled as she clicked. The headline hit her like a thunderbolt. *"Famous businessman D
Tasha's heart fluttered as the door creaked open. She shut her eyes momentarily, wondering who it could be. “The vegetables you brought yesterday were amazing—” Her words froze mid-sentence. It wasn’t Bisma. Instead, a strikingly handsome man stood before her. Dressed in a tailored black suit, his commanding presence filled the room. He had an air of cold elegance, with crystal-clear eyes that gleamed with quiet intensity and a faint smirk that revealed a charming dimple on his right cheek. Tasha blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his beauty. His tall, athletic frame and proud demeanor made the hospital room feel smaller, colder. The contrast between his dark beard and fair complexion only amplified his allure. “Who are you?” she asked in a cautious, unfamiliar tone. His smirk deepened, and he slipped his hands casually into his pockets. “And here I thought you might come up with something new, Tasha Bruno. What’s this latest drama? Running from the divorce now?” His v
asha had just stepped out of her bath when her skin began to flush with color. She retrieved her hairdryer from the bottom drawer of the dresser and placed it on the bed before picking up her phone. She had a peculiar habit of saving contacts under descriptive nicknames. Her half-sister's name was saved as "Greedy Woman." Seeing the name flash on the screen, Tasha felt a familiar bitterness rise in her throat. "Hello." She let the phone ring a few times before answering. "Are you ready?" her mother’s impatient voice crackled on the other end. "No. I’m just starting," Tasha replied, forcing herself to sound indifferent, though she felt utterly foolish. "Well, hurry up. I don’t want you making the *boy* wait." Her mother’s tone was sharp, laced with annoyance. "Boy? A forty-year-old father of three? Where exactly does 'boy' fit in, Mom?" Tasha couldn’t suppress a dry laugh. "You don’t judge a man by his age, only by his bank balance. Haven’t I taught you that by now? Be gr
“So, what are you going to tell Mom, then?” Tasha asked, her voice slow and uncertain. Saddam smiled, taking a moment before replying. “That’s why I like his daughter so much.” “What the hell. Ugly human being,” Tasha muttered, her disdain barely concealed. Before Saddam could respond, someone’s voice cut through the air from behind them. Tasha froze, recognizing it instantly. She turned sharply, her heart sinking. There stood Daniel Bruno, a glass of water in one hand and a phone pressed to his ear with the other. He appeared to be speaking on the phone, but Tasha knew better—his fiery gaze was directed squarely at Saddam. The insults Daniel spewed might have been meant for someone else, but Tasha was sure they were intended for the man in front of her. Daniel Bruno. Her mind raced. What was he doing here? Was this an accident, or had he come intentionally to humiliate her? Saddam, too, was stunned. He stood, staring at Daniel with widened eyes. “Daniel Bruno Rajput,” h
Night had settled over the quiet room as Tasha sat alone, absorbed in a book. The faint click of the doorbell startled her, pulling her gaze toward the door. To her surprise, Daniel stood there, his expression unreadable, exuding his usual indifference.Without a word, he stepped in, casually undoing his cufflinks as if Tasha’s presence were insignificant. She sighed and returned her attention to her book, refusing to acknowledge him. As always, Daniel adhered to his ritual. Within moments, he disappeared into the bathroom for a shower. When he reemerged, a white towel wrapped around his waist, Tasha couldn’t help but glance at him. Her eyes traced the drops of water sliding down his chiseled torso, his well-defined six-pack glistening under the dim light. She caught her reflection in the mirror, her face betraying admiration before she could look away. “Enjoying the view?” His deep voice, tinged with amusement, cut through her reverie. Startled, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson.
“Tasha, open your eyes.” The lights above flickered as the hum of machines filled the room. Daniel sat at her side, his hand gripping hers with a desperation that made his fingers ache. Tasha’s once-vibrant face was now pale, her breath shallow, a thin sheen of sweat clinging to her forehead. The blood that had poured from the wound in her side had soaked through the hospital sheets, staining them a dark red. Her body was fragile, lifeless, and as still as the silence in the room.His heart was breaking in ways he never thought possible, each beat a painful reminder that the woman he loved was slipping away from him, and he could do nothing to stop it. His eyes were swollen from tears, his face streaked with them.His grip tightened around her hand, as if he could hold on to the last fragments of her life with sheer will alone. But even as he held her, even as he whispered her name over and over, it felt like the world was slowly fading to black."Tasha, please… please, wake up. I’m
The opening of the mall had arrived, and excitement filled the air. Daniel, standing near a jewelry stall, was busy directing his workers, making sure everything was perfect for the big day. The mall was filled with people, buzzing with energy, and yet, Daniel's mind seemed distracted.A flicker of movement caught his eye in the mirror before him. A boy stood behind a pillar, but Daniel thought nothing of it at first. After all, it was such a crowded day, and people were everywhere.But when Tasha entered the makeup shop a little later, Daniel's mind was drawn back to the strange sensation that someone was watching her. She was absorbed in picking out lipstick shades, inspecting them carefully in the mirror, when suddenly, her heart skipped a beat. In the reflection, she saw the boy from earlier – Carl – standing just behind her.She spun around quickly, her breath caught in her throat, but no one was there. It must have been a trick of the light, she thought, dismissing the unease cr
For the grand opening of the mall, Daniel had decided not to invite any actors, actresses, or high-profile political figures as special guests. Instead, he wanted the moment to be about one person—his wife.Tasha’s car pulled up outside the mall, and without hesitation, Daniel stepped forward to open the door for her, right in front of the waiting media. His smile was warm and inviting as he extended his hand to her."Come on," he said, his voice full of affection. Tasha, her heart racing, placed her hand in his, stepping out of the car gently. She was standing in front of the media for the very first time, and it made her feel a bit anxious. But before she could get too nervous, Daniel wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. The simple act of his touch helped to calm her nerves, making her feel more at ease."Here, take the scissors," he said, holding them out to her. Tasha, still in a bit of a daze, had assumed he was joking, but seeing the serious expression o
That evening, after a long and grueling day, Tasha returned home to find Daniel waiting for her in the living room. The apartment was dimly lit, the soft golden hue of the table lamps casting a warm glow. The aroma of fresh coffee lingered in the air. She closed the door behind her with a tired sigh, and there he was—Daniel—lounging on the couch with an easy, mischievous smile on his face.“How was your first day as boss?” he asked, setting his laptop aside with a deliberate slowness, as if he were savoring the moment of her arrival.“Exhausting,” Tasha admitted, kicking off her heels with a grateful grunt and collapsing beside him on the couch. Her shoulders were tense, her muscles aching from a day filled with meetings, decisions, and memories she had been trying to bury for years.Daniel’s arm was around her in an instant, pulling her closer to him. His touch was grounding, like a lifeline. “And yet, you survived. That’s my girl,” he said, his voice full of pride.She smiled weakly
They had been working together for a week, but it seemed unlikely that this girl had even seen him once. He was lying beside his new bride, lost in thought, remembering Tasha. The image of her beautiful yet simple face, full of confidence, kept playing in his mind. A wave of deep regret swept over him. He wished he had appreciated her more, that he had valued her in the way she deserved. Maybe, if he had, she would still be with him now.Tears welled up in his eyes, and he quickly sat up, rubbing his eyes roughly, trying to push the painful thoughts away. His heart was breaking. The girl he had once known, the girl he had lost, was now married to someone else. She was no longer his, and it was all because of his own foolishness and insecurities."How's everything going?" She asked softly, her voice gentle as she styled her hair. She leaned her chin on his shoulder, wrapping her delicate arms around him, showing concern. He could feel her care for him, yet his thoughts were elsewhere.
Shehryar paced back and forth in his office, his brow furrowed with frustration. The weight of the company’s recent losses pressed heavily on him, and his temper simmered. His brother, Carl, sat across from him, visibly worn from the arguments they’d been having for weeks.“Has our time come?” Shehryar snapped, slamming his fist onto the desk. “Now we’ll work like employees in our own office under a girl?”Carl adjusted his glasses and sighed deeply, his patience thinning. “We’re not employees, Shehryar. We’re still partners.”“Partners?” Shehryar barked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Don’t joke with me, Carl. She owns 70 percent of the shares, and we only have 30 between us. That means she calls the shots in everything from now on!” He slammed the back of his chair in frustration, his anger palpable.Carl leaned forward, rubbing his temples. “Instead of yelling, maybe we should hope she’s competent enough to save what’s left of this sinking ship. We’ve got nothing left but this c
“Would you help me with something?” Daniel asked, holding a stack of papers in his hand. He extended them toward Tasha with a warm, encouraging smile.“Help? With what exactly?” she asked curiously, raising her eyebrows as she took the papers from him.“Well…” He leaned back casually, his tone light but deliberate. “I bought seventy percent of the shares of a failing company.”“What?” Her voice shot up in surprise, her brows furrowing in confusion. “Why would someone as smart as you invest in a company that’s going under?”“Because I thought I could turn it around,” he replied with a shrug. “But life has a way of throwing curveballs, and I’ve been too busy to focus on it. So, here’s the deal: I’m handing it over to you. You’ll be managing it from tomorrow.”Tasha’s jaw dropped. “Me? Are you serious? I don’t know the first thing about running a company!”Daniel raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk forming on his lips. “Why not? Did you get your degree just to decorate the house?”“That’s not
Tasha lay in bed, her eyes heavy but stubbornly refusing to close. Beside her, Daniel was peacefully asleep, his chest rising and falling with each steady breath. Yet, even in his sleep, he seemed restless, as if the memory of something unresolved lingered in his subconscious. A soft whisper escaped his lips, almost an apology directed at himself.Tasha couldn’t help but study his face, her gaze tracing every line and curve. “How beautiful he is,” she thought, a soft smile playing on her lips. Daniel was her prince, flawed yet captivating, and even in the darkness of the room, he exuded a warmth that drew her closer.She leaned in, her nose brushing lightly against his, and closed her eyes. The heat of his breath fanned her cheeks, and for a moment, the world stilled. “This,” she whispered to herself, “this is the most beautiful moment.”Daniel stirred slightly but remained asleep. Tasha chuckled softly, a memory tugging at her heart. “I remember,” she began, speaking to him though sh
"Let’s have breakfast quickly. You must be starving,” Daniel said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of concern. He watched Tasha closely, as though gauging her mood.Tasha raised her eyebrows, her lips curling into a wry smile. “I must be? How do you know?” she asked, her tone teasing yet laced with curiosity.Daniel hesitated for a moment, his confusion evident. “What do you mean?”“That I’m hungry,” she replied softly, leaning back slightly, her eyes never leaving his.Daniel smirked, though his gaze turned serious. “How could you think for a second that I’d have breakfast without you? Especially today, after you called me yourself. Do you know what that means to me?” His voice dropped, becoming almost a whisper.Tasha blinked, slightly caught off guard. Daniel wasn’t the type to show his emotions so openly. But when he referred to her as his “E” – the affectionate nickname only he used – her heart skipped a beat. He could have called himself Daniel, the name the world knew him