...Arshi leaned against the cold wall, her knees buckling as Joy followed her father into the dining room. Every breath she took felt like she was inhaling shards of glass.
"Arshi? Are you okay, dear? Your face is as pale as your dress," her mother called out from the kitchen, concern etching her features.
"I'm... I'm fine, Maa. Just a little dizzy," Arshi managed to choke out, forcing her feet to move. She had to act normal. If her father or mother suspected anything, Joy would make them pay. She knew how he worked—he isolated his prey before he devoured them.
In the dining room, the atmosphere was a sickening blend of domestic bliss and hidden terror. Joy sat directly opposite Arshi's usual chair. He was charming, laughing at her father's jokes, discussing his business success in Australia. He looked like the perfect gentleman, but every time Arshi looked up, she found his dark gaze anchored on her.
"The food is delicious, Aunty," Joy said, his voice smooth as silk. "But I think Arshi hasn't tasted a bit. Is the food not to your liking, Babygirl? Or are you too excited that I'm back?"
Her father chuckled, oblivious. "She's always been shy around you, Joy. Give her some time."
Joy's smirk widened. "Oh, I have all the time in the world, Uncle. After all, I'm not going back to Australia anytime soon. I've decided to shift my base here... permanently."
The fork slipped from Arshi's hand, clattering against the porcelain plate. Permanently? The word felt like a life sentence.
"That's wonderful news!" her father exclaimed. "You must stay with us until your apartment is ready. We won't take no for an answer."
"I wouldn't dream of staying anywhere else," Joy replied, his eyes locked onto Arshi's trembling lips.
After breakfast, as Arshi was clearing the table, she felt a sudden heat behind her. Before she could turn, Joy was there, trapping her between his arms and the dining table. The kitchen was empty for just a split second, and he had used it.
"White doesn't suit you, Arshi," he whispered into her hair, his voice vibrating with a dark possessiveness. "It's too pure. And you... you were made for the dark."
He reached down and picked up a strand of her hair, smelling it deeply. "Tomorrow, you will wear red. The deep, blood-red dress I sent to your room. If I don't see you in it by 8:00 AM... well, you know how much I hate being ignored."
"Why are you doing this, Joy Bhaiya?" she whispered, tears stinging her eyes.
"Bhaiya?" Joy hissed, his grip on the table tightening. "Call me that one more time, and I'll make sure the person you're trying to protect suffers for it. I am not your brother, Arshi. I am your owner."
Before she could scream, he pulled back, his face instantly transforming back into that of a polite guest as her mother walked back into the room.
"Arshi, why don't you show Joy the garden? It's changed a lot since he left," her mother suggested.
Joy smiled, a flash of white teeth that looked more like a predator's bared fangs. "I'd love that. Lead the way, Arshi."
Author's Note:
Joy is playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse. He's staying in the house! 😱
Will Arshi wear the red dress Joy demanded?
Who is the person Arshi is trying to protect? A secret friend? A crush?
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