Author's pov:

After the haunting night, the new day began with Sophia sitting silently by the window, her eyes weary from a sleepless night. She watched the sunrise, feeling lost in her thoughts. Her eyes were puffy from tears, but determination flickered within them.

The maid entered quietly, "Ma'am, would you like anything to eat?"

Sophia sighed, "I just want to go home."

The maid reassured her "Of course ma'am, you can take the driver"

Back home, Sophia tried to find calm, but the doorbell soon rang. It was Malaika there to pick her for wedding shopping. Surrounded by luxury, Sophia felt out of place, a stranger in this lavish world.

Malaika selected a wedding dress for sofia worth 2crores,Sophia denied but she couldn't win against Malaika,she hesitantly accepted believing it was Malaika's choice,it was actually Ansh's selection. Despite her discomfort, Sophia felt grateful for Malaika's kindness. She was treating her like her own daughter.

Back home, Sophia was weary. The days passed with tight security, preventing any escape attempts. She hadn't seen Ansh in a week, living in her own world of unease and confusion.

Sofia's pov:

Feeling the weight of the worst day of my life. I was to marry a man I despised, a ruthless mafia boss. I never wanted this, but circumstances forced my hand. Fear gnawed at me, leaving no escape. The house bustled with makeup artists, a vast team dispatched by Ansh, or perhaps Malaika it matters now?

The doorbell rang, and Naira entered, her presence a brief bubble of comfort. She hugged me tightly. She was there to accompany me till the venue because she knew I was alone There was no one from my side.

We were in the car when she said to me "Don't worry, Sophia. Today is just the beginning of a new chapter. Stay strong!"

But only I knew what was coming next. We finally reached the venue.Naira helped me to get out of the car. The venue was huge surrounded by luxury.

My heart raced, not just from fear, but from a desperate need to escape. I wasn't ready for this-none of it. The grand entrance, the stares of all the mafia lords and their wives... It was all too much. Too overwhelming.

Before entering, I looked at Naira, my last shred of comfort. I squeezed her hand, then in a sudden rush of panic, jerked it away.

"Naira... I can't do this," I whispered, almost pleading.

Without a second thought, I bolted, running as fast as I could towards the exit. The world around me blurred, and the heavy security at the venue was slow to react. I heard the shouting behind me, but it was drowned by the pounding of my own heart in my chest.



I was almost at the gate when I saw him-Vijay, standing like a figure of authority at the entrance.

"Vijay!" I called out, my voice desperate, breathless. "You promised me-you promised me you wouldn't let this happen!"

He didn't move. His cold eyes fixed on me, and for a moment, I thought he might let me go. But then his expression hardened.

"Sophia," he said, his voice unyielding. "I..I'm sorry."

"But you promised!" I cried out again, my hands shaking.

"You promised me Vijay...! How can you let this happen..? I almost burst out on him.

I stood there, heart racing, tears welling up in my eyes as I stared at Vijay. He promised me. I thought I could trust him, that I could escape with his help. But there he stood, like a statue, unmoving.

"Please," I pleaded once more, my voice almost a sob now. "Please, Vijay, I can't do this. I don't belong here. Help me."

I looked at him, broken. I needed him to move, to do something, anything. But he remained silent, his eyes hardened with an emotion I couldn't decipher.

I stepped forward, eyes welling with frustration and fear. "Please... Give me a side... Please..."

As my fingers brushed against his arm, a sudden chill ran down my spine. I heard a voice from behind, smooth and calm, but carrying a deadly undertone.

"Need some help?"

The words hit me like a blow to the chest, and I froze. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The air shifted, a cold presence enveloping me.

Ansh.

He pulled me away from Vijay, his grip tightening with each passing second. His voice, low and controlled, reached my ears, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Are you really dumb, or just acting like one?" His words were laced with a mockery that made my stomach twist in knots.

"What made you think my brother would help you?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at me. "You really think you can just run away like that?"

My heart sank as his words hit me. I glanced at Vijay, who stood there, unmoving, but something in his eyes told me he wasn't backing down. Ansh shot Vijay a cold, dangerous glare.

I stayed silent, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Don't even think about making a scene inside," he warned, his grip tightening slightly. "You'll only make it worse for yourself."

The moment we entered, everything froze. The sound of the door opening, the soft murmur of voices-it all vanished into silence. Every single pair of eyes in the room turned toward us.

I looked up at him, but his face was cold, unreadable. He didn't care that the entire room was watching us, judging us. He held my hand tighter, dragging me along like I was nothing more than a possession he was showing off to his world.

As we walked down the aisle, I felt small, like I didn't belong here. The grandeur of the place, the luxury, the polished faces of the mafia lords and their wives, all of them judging me... I felt like a deer caught in headlights. My legs were shaking, but I couldn't break free from Ansh's hold.

We reached the front taking our positions, and the priest stood there, waiting for us.

"Do you, Sophia Ellis, take Ansh Oberoi to be your lawful wedded husband, to cherish and respect for all the days of your lives?"

The solemnity of his words hung in the air as I gathered my courage. With a deep breath, I softly replied "Yes, I do."

Ansh, with a confident tone, echoed his promise, sealing our fates. As the priest announced, "You may kiss the bride," felt a wave of nervousness wash over me. Surrounded by so many people, this was my first-ever kiss, and I was completely out of my element. Ansh stepped towards me with purpose, gently removing my veil. He leaned in, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that terrified me

When Ansh pulled me into a passionate kiss, the world seemed to blur. As his lips touched mine, it felt unexpectedly divine, a sensation I'd never experienced before. My eyes closed, and I was caught up in the moment, unaware of the passing time. For those two minutes, everything else faded away. The cheering of the crowd brought me back to reality, and what started as a shock ended up surprising me with a sense of unexpected pleasure.

After the ceremony, we spent hours attending to guests. Ansh hadn't said a single word to me since the wedding began. We only exchanged smiles as greetings and congratulations surrounded us.

Finally, we sat at the long dinner table filled with family. Naira was alongside Vijay and his wife, Alina. Their father, Vikram exuded a cold authority that held the room's attention, with Malaika sitting next to him. All the couples were gathered, and I was sitting next to Ansh

As we began dinner, Naira, ever playful, started teasing the couples. Her laughter filled the room, breaking the formal atmosphere. "Come on, Ansh, feed Sophia! It's a tradition!" she cheered, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Ansh looked at her, then softly chuckled, turning to me with a warm, unexpected smile. "Well, if it's tradition, who am I to break it?" he said, gently offering me a bite. The lightness of the moment brought a surprising sense of comfort, easing the tension I hadn't realized I was holding.

Naira chuckled, unable to resist teasing him, "See people, who knew my bro could be this romantic?" Her light laughter filled the room, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise tense atmosphere.

Finally, the long wedding day drew to a close. As guests departed, each couple vanished into the night, heading home in their cars. We bid our goodbyes, and soon it was our turn to leave. I found myself sitting next to Ansh in the car, the silence thick between us. My gaze remained fixed on the passing scenery outside the window, each mile stirring the anticipation within me. What awaited at the mansion was unknown, for me Ansh was a mystery.