Dia's POV

The morning sun streamed through the windows, illuminating the room with a warmth I didn’t feel. My sleep had been restless, leaving me more drained than refreshed. I sat up slowly, wincing as the lingering aches in my body reminded me of everything that had happened.

A soft knock on the door startled me. Before I could respond, the maid entered, carrying a tray of breakfast. She placed it on the small table near the bed without meeting my eyes, her demeanor as distant as ever. I wanted to ask her something—anything—but the words stuck in my throat.

After she left, I forced myself to eat, even though my appetite was nonexistent. The food tasted good, but it felt like a hollow gesture. I kept glancing at the door, half expecting Ekansh to appear. He hadn’t come back to check on me since last night, and I didn’t know if I felt relieved or disappointed.

Once I finished, I decided to explore the room a little. It was luxurious, far more than anything I’d ever known, but it felt cold and impersonal. The only signs of life were the faint scent of cologne lingering in the air and the books neatly arranged on the shelves. I ran my fingers over the spines, wondering if Ekansh actually read them or if they were just for show.

A sudden knock on the door made me jump, and this time, it was him. Ekansh stepped inside, his sharp gaze immediately locking onto mine. He looked calm, collected, but there was an intensity in his eyes that always unnerved me.

---

“You’re awake,” he said simply, closing the door behind him.

I nodded, unsure of what to say. His presence was commanding, filling the room with an energy that made me both uneasy and curious.

“I have some rules for you,” he continued, his tone firm but not unkind. “You’re free to move around the house, but there are certain areas you’re not allowed to enter. My office, for one, is off-limits.”

I swallowed hard, nodding again. “Okay,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.

His gaze softened, just a fraction. “If you need anything, tell me or one of the staff. And if anyone bothers you...” His jaw tightened, and I noticed the way his hands curled into fists. “Let me know immediately.”

---

The seriousness in his voice made me shiver. I wanted to ask why he cared so much, why he had gone out of his way to protect me, but I didn’t dare. Instead, I focused on his last sentence, a question tumbling out before I could stop myself. “What about Radha?”

His expression darkened instantly, his entire demeanor shifting. “Radha won’t come near you again,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “I’ve made sure of that.”

I bit my lip, unsure if I should feel relieved or worried. The way he spoke about her sent a chill down my spine, but I couldn’t bring myself to press further.

“Anything else?” he asked, his tone softening again.

I shook my head quickly, not trusting myself to say the right thing. He watched me for a moment longer, his gaze unreadable, before turning to leave.

---

As the door clicked shut behind him, I sank onto the edge of the bed, my heart pounding. Ekansh was a puzzle I couldn’t solve, a storm I couldn’t predict. One moment he was cold and commanding, the next he was protective and almost... kind.

I didn’t know what to make of him, but one thing was clear: my life was no longer my own. Every move I made, every word I spoke, felt like it was under his control. The thought was suffocating, but at the same time, I couldn’t ignore the strange comfort his presence brought.

I sighed, lying back against the pillows. There were so many questions I wanted to ask him, so many things I didn’t understand. But for now, I would keep my distance. I needed time to think, to figure out my place in this strange and terrifying new world.

---

Ekansh’s POV

She bit her lip nervously, and for a moment, I couldn’t look away. It was such a small, innocent action, yet it stirred something in me—something unfamiliar and unsettling. I forced myself to focus, to push those thoughts aside. I wasn’t here to get distracted by her fragility or the way her eyes reflected her unspoken fears.

When she asked about Radha, her voice barely audible, I felt a flash of anger. Not at her, but at the situation. Radha had crossed a line, and I had already dealt with her. No one would harm Dia under my roof again, no matter who they were. But the way Dia’s shoulders tensed as she waited for my response made me realize how deeply shaken she still was.

“Radha won’t come near you again,” I said, my tone colder than I intended. Her eyes flickered with uncertainty, and I hated that she doubted me. I wanted to reassure her, but words didn’t come easily to me, not when it came to emotions.

I watched her nod quickly, her silence speaking volumes. She was scared of me—I could see it in the way she avoided my gaze, the way her hands fidgeted in her lap. And yet, there was something else in her eyes, something I couldn’t quite name.

Turning to leave, I hesitated at the door. I wanted to say something more, but I didn’t know how to bridge the gap between us. Instead, I left without another word, closing the door softly behind me.

---

Walking down the hallway, I found myself replaying the conversation in my mind. Dia was an enigma—a mix of strength and vulnerability that threw me off balance. She was nothing like the people I dealt with in my world. She wasn’t manipulative, wasn’t calculating. She was... real.

I entered my office, pouring myself a drink as I tried to refocus. There were pressing matters to deal with—business, rivals, threats. But my thoughts kept circling back to her. Why did I care so much? Why did her pain feel like a personal failure?

Leaning back in my chair, I stared at the ceiling, frustrated with myself. I had brought her into this house as a means to settle a debt, but now, she was more than just collateral. She was someone I felt compelled to protect, and that was dangerous.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, setting the glass down with more force than necessary. I couldn’t afford to let emotions cloud my judgment, not in this world. Yet, every time I saw her, I felt an inexplicable need to shield her from the darkness surrounding me.

I clenched my fists, vowing to keep my distance. She deserved better than this life, better than me. But no matter how much I tried to convince myself of that, the thought of letting her go felt impossible.