(Rudra's POV)

The doctor's words rang in his ears long after the man left the room.

"Her body is weak, Rudra Sir. Stress, malnutrition... and she's pregnant. If you want to keep both mother and child safe, she needs rest. Care."

Care. That word felt almost foreign in his world - a world built on blood, revenge, and control. Yet here he was, sitting beside her bed, watching her sleep like a hawk guarding its prey.

Her face was too pale, her lips dry, her breath shallow. His fingers brushed over her forehead, then down her cheek - soft, too soft, as if he was scared she'd break apart at his touch.

But this was his wife. His woman. His child inside her.

The thought of her hiding this from him made his blood boil all over again. How dare she? After everything, after every cruel touch, every shattered moment between them - she still chose silence over him.

Why do you still fear me, Ayesha? Why do you believe I would hurt my own blood?

He leaned closer, his breath fanning against her ear. "You really thought you could keep something like this from me?"

She stirred slightly, eyes fluttering open - hazy, disoriented, but the moment they locked on him, fear flickered through her gaze. That damn fear that cut him deeper than any bullet ever had.

"R-Rudra..." her voice was hoarse.

"Shh." He placed a finger against her lips, but there was nothing gentle about his touch. "You don't get to speak. Not after what you've done."

Her brows furrowed weakly. "What... what did I do?"

He laughed, dark and bitter. "You lied to me. Again. About my baby."

Ayesha's body stiffened, her hand flying to her stomach instinctively, as if trying to shield the life inside her from him. That small movement made his jaw clench - both with fury and a twisted kind of pride.

"You think I would hurt you? Hurt my own blood?" His voice dropped dangerously low, his hand sliding over her stomach possessively, fingers pressing just enough to remind her who owned her body. "You belong to me, Ayesha. Every fucking breath you take, every heartbeat inside you - all of it is mine."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't dare pull away. She knew better.

"I didn't know how to tell you," she whispered, voice cracking.

Rudra's fingers slid up, gripping her jaw firmly. "You don't get to decide what I know and what I don't. This body? This life? You lost the right to make choices the day you walked back into my world."

He leaned closer, his lips ghosting over hers without touching. "You should've known, Ayesha Thakur, I take care of what's mine. Even if I hate you, even if I want to break you - I'll still protect you with my life. Because no one, no fucking one, touches what's mine."

Her tears slipped down her cheeks, and something about them made his chest ache. But Rudra was too far gone in his own storm to stop now.

"You're not leaving this bed until I say so," he commanded. "You'll eat when I tell you. You'll breathe when I allow it. And you'll carry this child - my child - without hiding a single thing from me again."

"Rudra-"

"Enough." His hand slid to her neck, not squeezing, just resting there - a constant reminder of his control. "You think you can keep secrets from me, but you forget... I see everything. Even the lies you tell yourself."

He pulled back slightly, watching her crumble beneath his gaze. "I'm not your protector, Ayesha. I'm your owner. And owners take care of their property."

And yet, despite his brutal words, the blanket was carefully tucked around her body, her pillow fluffed, her water within reach.

Even in hate, Rudra Thakur couldn't stop himself from loving her - in his own dark, twisted way.

End of Chapter 21