Shanaya sat in her lavish penthouse, staring at her reflection in the large vanity mirror. Her fingers gripped the edge of the table so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The memories of Luca's words echoed in her mind, each sentence feeling like a stab to the heart.

"I don't love you, Shanaya."
"You deserve someone who can love you fully, and that's not me."

Her lips quivered with a mixture of rage and disbelief. How could Luca say those things to her? After all they had been through together—after the years of hoping, of believing that he would come to see her as the one. She had been patient, giving him space when he needed it, always thinking that eventually, he would return her feelings. But instead, he had rejected her, cast her aside for Elena—that woman who had somehow managed to sneak back into his life.

Shanaya's heart raced as she paced the length of her room. She couldn't lose Luca. He was everything to her—her love, her obsession. She had built her entire life around the idea of being with him. He belonged to her. No matter what Luca said, no matter how much he thought he loved Elena, Shanaya was determined to have him. She wasn't going to let Elena, or anyone else, take what was rightfully hers.

Shanaya's mind spiraled into darkness, her thoughts consumed by jealousy and anger. She couldn't let Luca slip away. Not now. Not after everything she had done to stay close to him. Her obsession with him had grown over the years, and now it had reached its boiling point. She would marry Luca—by hook or crook.

As she walked over to the window, staring out at the city lights, a plan began to form in her mind. Luca might think he had made his choice, but Shanaya wasn't about to give up so easily. She was going to make sure that Luca had no other option but to marry her. She was going to play every card she had—manipulation, emotional leverage, and whatever else it took.

With a determined look on her face, Shanaya grabbed her phone and dialed her father's number.

"Dad, we need to talk," Shanaya said as soon as her father answered. Her voice was sharp, and the urgency in her tone didn't go unnoticed.

Her father, the powerful and controlling businessman who had always indulged his daughter's every whim, responded calmly. "What's going on, Shanaya? Is something wrong?"

"Luca rejected me," she said, her voice cold. "He says he doesn't love me. That he's still in love with her."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and Shanaya could hear her father sigh in frustration. "We've invested a lot in this relationship, Shanaya. His family and ours... this union is supposed to be the future. We can't afford for it to fall apart."

"Exactly," Shanaya snapped, her eyes flashing with intensity. "That's why we need to do something about it. I won't let him walk away from me. I need you to help me make sure he marries me. We've put too much into this to let Elena ruin everything."

Her father, never one to shy away from using his influence, was silent for a moment before he spoke again. "I understand. If this is what you want, Shanaya, I'll take care of it. But you need to be sure. Once we start this, there's no going back."

Shanaya's lips curled into a twisted smile. "I'm sure, Dad. I need Luca. And I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he's mine."

Over the next few days, Shanaya's obsession deepened. She began to orchestrate a series of moves designed to push Luca into a corner. She knew Luca's sense of duty and his loyalty to his family would be his undoing. If she could just manipulate the situation enough, he would have no choice but to marry her.

First, she began sowing seeds of doubt in the minds of Luca's business partners and friends, making subtle comments about Elena's suitability for someone of Luca's stature. She painted Elena as someone who didn't understand the complexities of Luca's world, as a woman who would ultimately pull him down.

Then, she started working on Luca's parents, particularly his father, Victor, who had always had a soft spot for her. During one of their family gatherings, she managed to get a private conversation with Victor.

"Uncle Victor," she said sweetly, her tone dripping with concern. "I'm worried about Luca. Ever since Elena came back, he hasn't been himself. I'm afraid she's not good for him... She's stirring up old emotions that should've stayed in the past."

Victor frowned, his protective instincts kicking in. "Luca's always had a complicated relationship with Elena. I'm not sure what's going on between them, but I'll have a talk with him."

Shanaya smiled inwardly. Victor was always so easy to influence. He adored her, and she knew he would do anything to protect Luca and the family legacy. She left the conversation knowing that Victor would pressure Luca to make the "right" decision.

But that wasn't enough for Shanaya. She needed more. She needed something to push Luca over the edge—something that would make him feel like he had no other option but to marry her. And then it hit her. A scandal. If she could create a situation where their relationship was publicly scrutinized, Luca wouldn't be able to walk away without ruining his reputation.

A few days later, Shanaya invited Luca to a high-profile charity gala. It was the perfect setting for her plan. The media would be there, business elites, and of course, their families. As the night unfolded, Shanaya made sure to stay by Luca's side, making it appear to the public that they were still a couple. She charmed the reporters, giving them coy smiles and dropping subtle hints about their "future."

As the evening wore on, Shanaya decided it was time to make her move. She slipped away from the party for a moment, texting Luca to meet her in the garden. When he arrived, she was standing by the fountain, her expression serious.

"Luca, we need to talk," she began, her voice soft but urgent. "I know things have been difficult between us, but I can't let you go. I love you too much."

Luca looked tired, his emotions conflicted. "Shanaya, we've been through this. I care about you, but—"

"But nothing," Shanaya interrupted, stepping closer to him. "I won't let Elena take you from me. You belong with me, Luca. We've built a life together, and I'm not letting anyone come between us."

Before Luca could respond, Shanaya leaned in and kissed him, knowing full well that several photographers had followed them into the garden. The flash of cameras lit up the night, capturing the moment.

Luca pulled back, his expression shocked and confused. "What are you doing?"

Shanaya smiled, her eyes glinting with triumph. "I'm making sure you realize that we belong together. The world thinks we're a couple, Luca. You can't just walk away now—not without causing a scandal."

Luca's heart pounded in his chest as he realized what Shanaya had done. She had trapped him, orchestrated the entire scene to force him into a corner. If he walked away now, the media would have a field day. His family, his business partners—they would all be dragged into the mess.

"This isn't the way, Shanaya," Luca said, his voice cold. "You can't manipulate me into marrying you."

Shanaya's expression hardened. "I won't let Elena have you, Luca. I won't. If I can't have you, then no one will."

Her words sent a chill down Luca's spine, and for the first time, he saw the depths of Shanaya's obsession. She was no longer the woman he had known; she had become someone who would stop at nothing to possess him. And that realization terrified him.

As he walked away from the garden, Luca knew one thing for certain: Shanaya's obsession with him had reached a dangerous level, and she wasn't going to back down easily.