The morning after the shocking confrontation, Rhea Malik woke up to a reality she couldn't ignore. The weight of Adrian Knight's words—and his offer—pressed heavily on her chest. The contract, the promise, the danger… it all felt unreal.
Her room was silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. She rubbed her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Did she really have a choice? The thought of marrying a stranger to save herself and her family seemed insane, but the alternative—Arhaan's revenge—was worse.
A knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts.
"Miss Malik? Breakfast is ready," a soft female voice said.
Rhea turned to see the maid standing nervously in the doorway. Her uniform was impeccable, and her eyes betrayed a hint of fear.
"Thank you," Rhea said quietly, trying to steady her voice.
The maid hesitated, then said, "Sir Adrian… he said… he'll see you after breakfast."
Rhea froze. After breakfast? How did he know she was awake? She had only just begun to process last night's events, and already, she was thrust back into his dangerous orbit.
The Knight Mansion
As she walked through the grand halls toward the dining area, Rhea felt like she had stepped into another world. The mansion was enormous—marble floors gleamed under the morning sun, chandeliers sparkled with crystal prisms, and priceless artworks lined the walls. Every piece seemed deliberately chosen to convey wealth, power, and control.
And yet, there was something unsettling. The silence in the hallways, broken only by the soft echo of her heels, made her feel like a guest in someone else's kingdom… one where she did not belong.
Her gaze fell on a painting of a stern man, and a chill ran down her spine. She didn't know why, but the eyes in the painting seemed to follow her.
"Breakfast is this way, Miss Malik," the maid whispered, guiding her into a sunlit dining room.
The table was laid with an elaborate spread: fruits, pastries, and a selection of teas. But Rhea could barely focus on the food. Her mind kept drifting to Adrian—his cold, piercing eyes, his dangerous presence, and the way he made her feel both terrified and strangely drawn.
First Encounter at the Table
Adrian Knight entered the dining room without a sound. One moment, she was alone with the sunlight; the next, his shadow loomed over her chair.
He was dressed in a dark tailored suit, crisp and commanding. Every movement was precise, deliberate, and impossibly graceful. He looked down at her with those grey eyes, as if measuring her courage—and her fear.
"Good morning," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undertone of authority that made Rhea's heart skip a beat.
"Good… morning," she stammered, her fingers tightening around her napkin.
Adrian's gaze swept over her, sharp and unyielding, before he sat across from her. Silence fell, thick and heavy, broken only by the soft clinking of cutlery.
Finally, he spoke.
"You will eat. And you will understand the rules."
Rhea blinked. "Rules?"
Adrian leaned back, his expression unreadable. "The mansion is my domain. You have boundaries you cannot cross. You will appear as the perfect wife in public. You will respect my privacy. And above all… you will not ask questions about certain matters. Do you understand?"
"Yes…" she whispered, unsure if she should be intimidated or enraged.
He stood abruptly and turned to leave. His last words, however, sent a shiver down her spine:
"Disobedience has consequences, Miss Malik. Remember that."
The Forbidden Floor
After breakfast, Rhea wandered through the mansion, trying to make sense of her new life. Her heels clicked softly on the polished marble floors as she explored. Every hallway, every room, seemed designed to impress—and to intimidate.
She noticed a staircase leading to the upper floors, but it was blocked by a massive wooden door, locked and imposing. Curiosity burned inside her. What was behind that door? Why was Adrian so strict about privacy?
Her fingers traced the door's edge, and she felt a cold draft seep through the gap. A whisper of wind—or perhaps a warning—made her pull back quickly.
Even so, she knew one day she would have to find out.
The First Lesson in Power
Later that afternoon, Adrian summoned her to his study. The room was enormous, filled with bookshelves that reached the ceiling, heavy curtains blocking the sunlight, and an enormous desk that seemed to dominate the space.
Adrian sat behind it, his hands steepled, his expression unreadable.
"Sit," he commanded.
Rhea obeyed, her back straight, trying to hide her nervousness.
"You must understand," he said, voice low and commanding, "my world is dangerous. People you trust may betray you. People who seem allies may be enemies. And I… I am not safe. Not for anyone."
Rhea's heart pounded. "I'm not afraid of you," she whispered.
His eyes flickered—surprise, perhaps admiration, or maybe amusement. "You should be."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not here to be scared. I'm here to survive. And if surviving means understanding your world… then I will."
Adrian leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Bold. Courageous. Or foolish. We shall see."
An Uneasy Alliance
The rest of the day passed in a tense routine. Rhea followed the mansion rules meticulously, but curiosity gnawed at her. Every glance at Adrian, every small interaction, was charged with an electric tension she could neither explain nor resist.
She realized something about him that was undeniable: Adrian Knight was dangerous—but not just because of his power or wealth. He carried secrets, pain, and a darkness that seemed almost alive.
And yet, in rare moments, glimpses of vulnerability surfaced—moments when he softened, when he revealed the tiniest hint of care.
Rhea understood that surviving in this mansion would require more than obedience. She needed courage, intelligence, and perhaps… a little daring.
The First Hint of Attraction
That night, as Rhea prepared for bed in her luxurious guest room, she could not stop thinking about Adrian. The way he moved, the way he commanded attention, the way his cold grey eyes seemed to pierce straight into her soul—it both terrified and fascinated her.
She knew one thing for certain: the next year of her life would be filled with danger, secrets, and forbidden attraction. And somehow, she sensed that this stranger—this billionaire—would change her forever.
And perhaps, just perhaps… she would change him too.