forced marriage · billionaire · mafia boss · mma champion · possessive · ruthless · dominant · dark romance · indian setting · dangerous
The South Indian night hummed with a deceptive peace—temple bells chiming in the distance, the faint scent of jasmine and dust hanging in the warm air. Lantern light pooled in the courtyard of a modest home, casting long shadows that danced with every flicker. Inside, Siya sat on the edge of her childhood bed, her bag still clutched to her chest like armor. For the first time in a week, she had allowed herself a shallow breath. She was safe. She was home. Her mother’s voice drifted from the kitchen, asking about tea, about work, about everything but the truth. Siya’s fingers trembled as she touched the empty space on her ring finger—the mangalsutra she had left behind in Mumbai. Then the courtyard gate creaked. Not the wind. A footstep. Heavy. Deliberate. The air thickened. Siyaâ€â€¦