Chapter 1: The CEO I Didn't Know
The rain had been falling since morning, turning the streets of Agartala into a shimmering mess of water and headlights.
I stood under the small roof of a closed tea stall, hugging my bag to my chest like it could protect me from the storm—and from the world.
My name is Purnima Roy.
Twenty years old.
A girl with big dreams and an empty wallet.
And tonight, I was about to make the stupidest decision of my life.
I glanced at my phone.
9:47 PM.My mother had called three times.
Mom: "Purnima, please come home. Your father is not well. Don't stay outside so late."
But how could I go home?
Not after what happened today.
The landlord had come in the afternoon, banging on our door like he owned our lives.
"Two months rent!" he shouted. "Either pay tomorrow, or leave!"
My mother had cried quietly in the kitchen.
My father… he had just stared at the wall, his breathing heavy, his face pale I didn't say anything then.
I just walked out.
Because when you're poor, your silence becomes your biggest shame.
A black car stopped in front of me, its headlights slicing through the rain.
A luxury car. The kind I had only seen in movies.
The window rolled down slowly.
Inside sat a man.
He was dressed in a dark suit, his hair slightly wet, his jaw sharp enough to cut glass. His eyes were cold, unreadable.
Rich.
Powerful.
Dangerous.
He looked at me for two seconds—then said, "Get in."
My heart jumped.
I stepped back. "Excuse me?"He didn't look away. "You're Purnima Roy."
My blood turned cold.
"How do you know my name?" I whispered.
The man's gaze sharpened. "Because I've been looking for you."
I wanted to run.
But the rain, the empty street, the fear, the helplessness… everything froze me in place.
He leaned forward slightly. "I'm not here to hurt you."
Then he paused, like the next words tasted bitter.
"I'm here to fix a mistake.""A mistake?" I repeated.
He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a file. He opened it and showed me a photo.
A photo of me.
My passport photo.
I stared at it, confused.
Then he flipped to another page.
A legal document.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
My eyes widened.
My name was written there.And next to it… a man's name.
Aarav Sen.
My breath caught.
"That's… that's not possible," I said, shaking my head. "I'm not married!"
The man's voice was low. "You are."
My knees almost gave up.
"No! This is fake! I never—"
He cut me off. "It's not fake."
Then he looked at me with something I couldn't understand—anger mixed with frustration.
"I didn't know who you were when it happened."
I blinked. "When what happened?"
His lips pressed into a thin line.
"That night."
The rain grew louder, like it was laughing at me.
I took a step closer, staring at him through the open window."What night?" I demanded.
His eyes darkened.
"The night I signed the papers… and married you."
My throat went dry.
I felt like someone had slapped me.
"I don't even know you!" I said, my voice breaking.
"You will," he replied calmly.
Then he opened the door from inside.
The car's warm air spilled out into the rain.
"Get in," he said again. "We need to talk."
I stood frozen, my mind screaming at me to run.
But my heart… my heart was curious.
Because this man didn't look like a liar.
He looked like someone who always got what he wanted.
And somehow…
I had become something he wanted.
I swallowed hard and stepped into the car.
The door shut behind me with a soft thud.The world outside disappeared.
And in that moment, I realized—
My life was no longer mine.
The man beside me turned his face slightly, watching the road.
"Purnima," he said quietly.
"Yes?"
He spoke the next words like a warning.
"I am Aarav Sen."
I stared at him.
"Aarav Sen?" I repeated.
The name sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
Then my phone buzzed.
A news notification popped up.
BREAKING NEWS:
AARAV SEN, CEO OF SEN GROUP, RETURNS TO INDIA AFTER 5 YEARS.My eyes widened.
My lips parted.
I slowly looked at the man beside me again.
This wasn't some random rich guy.
This was a CEO.
A billionaire.
And according to that certificate…
My husband.
I didn't know what scared me more—
The marriage…
Or the fact that I had just stepped into his world.