Dia’s POV

I stayed in the library long after my impromptu dance, letting the calmness of the space soothe me. The shelves were full of books I wanted to lose myself in, their spines promising stories of adventure, romance, and faraway lands. But even as I read the words on the page, my mind kept drifting.

Something about this house felt suffocating. It wasn’t the grandeur or the silence—it was the weight of being here, of being under Ekansh’s control. He hadn’t hurt me, hadn’t even been unkind, but his presence was overwhelming. I didn’t understand him or why he had taken me. Every interaction left me with more questions than answers.

Pushing the thoughts aside, I focused on the book in my lap, its story pulling me in. I didn’t realize how much time had passed until the faint sound of footsteps echoed outside the library door. My heart skipped a beat. I had a feeling it was him.

The door opened, and Ekansh stepped inside. He looked different, less composed than usual, as though something had unsettled him. His gaze landed on me immediately, sharp and assessing.

“You’ve been here for hours,” he said, his voice low.

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Ekansh’s POV

She was sitting in the corner of the library, curled up with a book, her hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. When she looked up at me, there was a flicker of surprise in her eyes, followed by that familiar nervousness I’d come to expect from her.

“I didn’t realize how much time had passed,” she said softly, closing the book and placing it on the table beside her. Her voice was cautious, as though she was testing the waters of this conversation.

I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms. “You should eat. It’s late.”

She nodded but didn’t move. Her hesitation was palpable, and it only made me more curious about her. Despite everything, she hadn’t broken down completely. There was still a spark in her, something that made her different from anyone else I’d known.

I stepped closer, and her posture stiffened slightly. “You don’t have to hide in here, Dia. If you want something, ask. If you’re upset, say it.”

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Dia’s POV

His words caught me off guard. For someone so intimidating, Ekansh had a way of speaking that almost sounded... genuine. But I couldn’t forget who he was, what he’d done to bring me here.

“I wasn’t hiding,” I said, lifting my chin slightly. “I just wanted some peace.”

He raised an eyebrow, as though amused by my defiance. “And did you find it?”

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. The library had been a sanctuary, but his presence now disrupted that sense of calm. “For a while,” I admitted quietly.

His gaze softened, just a little. “Good. You deserve some peace.” The words were simple, but they carried a weight that made my chest ache. Before I could respond, he turned and left, leaving me more confused than ever.

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Ekansh’s POV

As I walked away, I couldn’t shake the image of her sitting there, trying so hard to hold herself together. She didn’t belong in this world, and yet, she was here because of me. A part of me wanted to protect her from it, but I didn’t know how without dragging her further into the shadows.

I returned to my office, but my mind stayed on Dia. She was like a puzzle—complicated and full of contradictions. And for reasons I couldn’t explain, I felt compelled to solve her.

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Dia’s POV

The moment Ekansh left the library, the tension in the air seemed to dissipate, but the weight in my chest remained. His words echoed in my mind: You deserve some peace. There was something unsettling about how he said it—like he meant it. How could someone like him, someone who thrived in chaos and danger, care about my peace?

I picked up the book I’d been reading, but the words on the page blurred together. My mind was too preoccupied with him. Ekansh Raghuvanshi was an enigma—one moment cold and calculating, the next unexpectedly kind. I hated the way he made me feel, like my thoughts weren’t entirely my own when he was around.

Setting the book aside, I walked to the window and looked out at the sprawling estate. It was beautiful, no doubt, but it felt more like a gilded cage than a home. I wondered if Ekansh felt the same way. Despite his power and wealth, there was a loneliness about him that mirrored my own.

I traced the glass with my finger absentmindedly, thinking about how drastically my life had changed. A week ago, I was just another girl navigating her final year of school, dreaming about a future far away from the constraints of my family. Now, I was here, in a mansion with a man who held my fate in his hands.

But despite the fear and uncertainty, there was a small, rebellious part of me that refused to give up. I wasn’t just going to survive here—I was going to figure out Ekansh, this house, and whatever plans he had for me. If he thought I would be a passive participant in this story, he was mistaken.

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Ekansh’s POV

I sat at my desk, the silence of my office pressing down on me. For years, I had thrived in this quiet, using it to plan, strategize, and execute. But now, it felt suffocating. My mind kept drifting back to the library, to Dia.

The way she had spoken to me, hesitant yet firm, lingered in my thoughts. She wasn’t like the others who had crossed my path—she didn’t cower entirely, nor did she try to manipulate me. She was genuine, and that authenticity was both infuriating and fascinating.

I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. Dia wasn’t just someone I had taken out of obligation or vengeance; she was becoming more than that. But what exactly that meant, I didn’t know. And that scared me.

The sound of my phone vibrating broke my train of thought. It was a message from one of my men, updating me on a business deal. Usually, I’d dive right into it, but tonight, I couldn’t bring myself to care. For the first time in years, something—or rather, someone—was distracting me from my responsibilities.

I stood up, walking to the window that overlooked the estate. Somewhere in this house, Dia was trying to make sense of the chaos I’d thrown her into. And here I was, trying to make sense of her. Whatever this was, it wasn’t going to end the way I had planned.