The room was filled with a hushed stillness, a tension that crackled in the air like a storm waiting to unleash itself. Vaani stood at the far end, her delicate fingers wrapped around the edge of her saree, her heart pounding in her chest. She had spent the last six months in this marriage, one that felt more like a prison of silence and unspoken words than a union of love. The man before her, Advay Singhania, was a storm she could never predict—a tempest in human form who knew how to make everyone around him bend to his will, but remained unreadable to her.

"Advay ji," she began, her voice trembling with a mix of hesitation and resolve. "You promised me... you said you would never lie to me. That you would answer my questions honestly."

Advay's eyes, dark and intense, flicked towards her, but he didn't respond immediately. Instead, his gaze drifted down to where her hand rested against the sleeve of his shirt. For a fleeting moment, his thoughts betrayed him. Why the hell is this shirt still in the way? he mused, his mind betraying the primal need to feel her skin against his, to bridge the distance that had kept them apart for months.

"Yes," he finally replied, his tone gruff yet unwavering.

Vaani swallowed, gathering her courage. "You married me... even after knowing the truth about my past, knowing that I could never truly give you my heart." Her voice was soft, but the pain beneath it was unmistakable.

Advay's jaw clenched, his fingers twitching as though he wanted to reach out and touch her but restrained himself. "I don't know," he confessed, his eyes locking onto hers, searching for something he couldn't quite name. "I just wanted you, and I did it. No questions asked."

He was staring at her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Those big, kohl-rimmed eyes of hers were a trap, and her lips, painted a tempting shade of red, seemed to call to him, whispering desires he had tried to ignore. The urge to erase the distance between them, to capture those lips in a kiss that would claim everything she was, clawed at him, but he held back.

Vaani felt her resolve slipping, but she needed to know, to understand this man who had bound her to him without ever revealing his own heart. "If I hadn't confessed that day... if I hadn't told you that I would marry you but you shouldn't expect love from me because my heart belongs to someone else... where would we be now?"

Her words were like a challenge, a desperate plea for some kind of truth. She searched his face, hoping for a flicker of emotion, anything that would give her a glimpse of the man behind the mask. The man who had not once in these six months shown her a hint of vulnerability or affection, but who tonight, for some reason, seemed different—curious, almost desperate, to engage with her words.

Advay's lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile, a look that sent a jolt through Vaani's veins. "Babe," he began, his voice low and smooth, like velvet drenched in sin, "if you hadn't told me that, then I don't know about all the other days, but tonight..." He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming, the heat of him drawing her in like a moth to a flame. "You would be in my bed, not standing here in that beautiful saree. The saree would be half-undone, draped over the floor by now, removed by my hands. And this lipstick..." His gaze dropped to her lips, and Vaani felt her breath hitch. "It's too damn tempting. It's taking everything in me not to push you down on that bed, kiss the hell out of you, and show you the stars behind your closed eyes."

He leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. "I'd be tasting every inch of your mouth, leaving this party and everyone else to burn if it meant having you."

The words hung in the air, heavy with promise and something darker, something that sent a shiver down Vaani's spine. She could barely stand, her knees turning weak as the full weight of his confession sank in. She had never expected this—never imagined that he would be capable of such raw, unfiltered desire.

Her mind was a whirlwind. Did he just confess? she wondered, her heart stuttering in her chest. Does he see me as his wife, or was this just another one of his games, another way to keep me tied to him, bound by the chains of his obsession?

Advay pulled back, leaving her with nothing but the ghost of his touch and the echo of his words. The air between them crackled with unresolved tension, a promise of something more that neither of them was willing to voice just yet.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Vaani standing there, her thoughts a tangled mess of confusion and newfound longing. For the first time in months, she felt a flicker of hope, a dangerous, intoxicating hope that maybe, just maybe, there was something more to this marriage than just a hollow vow.

But as she watched him disappear into the crowd, she knew one thing for sure—Advay Singhania was a man who could set her world on fire, and whether she would rise from the ashes or burn alongside him was yet to be seen.

Hi Readers! 🌸

Welcome to the beginning of an exciting new journey! If you've just joined us, the Prologue sets the stage for everything that's to come in this story. 🌟✨

In the Prologue, we were given a sneak peek into the complex lives of the Singhania and Verma families, hinting at the tangled web of emotions, past secrets, and future dilemmas that will shape this tale. We glimpsed the powerful Singhania empire, the weight of family expectations, and the promise of a fateful meeting that will change everything. 🌹🏰

What did you think of the mysterious and intense atmosphere? Did it spark your curiosity about the characters and their hidden stories? 💭💫

I'd love to hear your first impressions! 💌
What are your thoughts on the powerful Singhania family?
Are you excited to uncover the history between the families and what lies ahead for Vaani and Advay?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below — your feedback fuels my passion for storytelling! 💬❤️

Stay tuned for Chapter 1, where we dive deeper into Vaani Verma's world, her dreams, and the unexpected turn her life takes. I promise you, it's just the beginning of an unforgettable emotional rollercoaster! 🎢🌹

Thank you for your support, and happy reading! 📖🌼