(Ayesha’s POV)

The door slammed shut behind Rudra, making the walls tremble. Ayesha stood frozen in place, her pulse loud in her ears. She could still feel the weight of his fingers on her chin, the suspicion in his voice when he called her a liar.

He knew. Maybe not the whole truth — but he knew something was wrong. And that terrified her more than anything.

She barely had time to process the fear before Rudra stormed back into the room, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up — his fury crackling like a storm about to break.

"Take off your saree," he ordered, voice low and cold.

Ayesha took a step back, clutching the fabric to her chest. "Rudra, please—"

"Take. It. Off." he growled, advancing toward her. "Or I’ll rip it off myself."

Tears stung her eyes, but she knew begging would only fuel his wrath. With trembling fingers, she reached for the pallu, slowly unwrapping herself under his burning gaze. When the saree pooled at her feet, she stood there in her blouse and petticoat, vulnerable and exposed.

"You lie so easily," Rudra muttered, circling her like a predator. "You lied when you said you loved me. You lied when you said you wanted me. And now…" his fingers traced her bare shoulder, making her shudder, "you’re still lying."

Ayesha’s breath caught in her throat. "What do you want from me?" her voice was barely a whisper.

"I want to own you," Rudra hissed. "Every inch of you. Every breath. Every tear. I want to destroy you the way you destroyed me."

Before she could react, his mouth crashed against hers — brutal, unforgiving, tasting of whiskey and rage. She pushed at his chest, but he caught her wrists, pinning them above her head against the wall.

"Rudra, stop—" her plea was swallowed by his lips, his teeth grazing her lower lip hard enough to draw blood.

He didn’t stop.

His hands tore at her blouse, fabric ripping under his strength until she stood bare before him. His eyes darkened, roaming her body with a hunger that was both cruel and desperate.

"You still look like mine," he muttered, voice rough. "Even after all these years, you still belong to me."

Ayesha’s heart shattered at the words — because once, they would’ve been a promise. Now they felt like a sentence.

His hands were everywhere — rough, possessive — forcing her body to remember a love that no longer existed. She fought, weakly at first, but his grip only tightened. When he pushed her onto the bed, his body caging hers, she knew there was no escape.

His weight pressed down, skin against skin, every touch branding her as his. "You made me a monster, Ayesha," he whispered into her ear. "Now you’ll live with him every night."

Her tears slid silently down her cheeks as he took her — hard, fast, no mercy in his thrusts. It was punishment wrapped in desire, hate tangled with heartbreak. And the worst part?

Her traitor body responded.

Because even through the pain, through the humiliation, through the brutal claiming — a part of her still loved him. Loved the boy he used to be. Loved the man he could’ve been, if life hadn’t turned them into this.

When it was over, he collapsed beside her, chest heaving, hands still gripping her thighs like he couldn’t let go. Silence filled the room — heavy, suffocating, both of them drowning in it.

"You hate me," Ayesha whispered, voice cracking.

Rudra’s eyes stayed on the ceiling, his jaw clenched. "I hate how much I still want you."

Ayesha turned her face away, covering herself with the torn sheet. The man who once worshipped her now reduced her to nothing but possession. And yet her heart still beat for him — even if it bled with every beat.

In the darkness, Rudra’s hand found hers — a fleeting touch, softer than everything before. But before Ayesha could hold on to it, he pulled away, leaving her with nothing but the ache of a love neither of them could kill.

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End of Chapter 15