The temperature in the dining room seemed to plummet. Arshi's breath hitched as she watched Joy's eyes fixate on her phone screen. The name 'Rohan' seemed to trigger something dark and primal within him.
"Trash?" her father asked, confused, looking up from his coffee. "What do you mean, Joy?"
Joy finally looked away from the phone, a flawless, polite smile returning to his face. "Just some spam notifications, Uncle. These local apps are cluttered. Arshi deserves a device as sophisticated as she is. I'll take care of it."
"You're too kind, Joy! But her phone is quite new—"
"It's no trouble at all," Joy interrupted smoothly, his hand on Arshi's knee giving a sharp, painful squeeze. It was a silent command: Don't you dare say a word.
As soon as breakfast ended and her father retreated to his study, the mask fell. Joy stood up, his towering shadow engulfing Arshi.
"The phone. Now," he demanded, extending his palm.
"Joy... please, he's just a classmate. We were just supposed to study—"
"I didn't ask for an explanation, Arshi. I asked for the phone."
With trembling fingers, she handed it over. Joy took the device, his thumb grazing the screen over Rohan's message. Without a word, he walked toward the kitchen sink. Arshi followed him, her heart thumping against her ribs.
"What are you doing?" she cried out.
Joy didn't answer. He simply opened the tap, letting the water pour over the expensive smartphone. Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, he dropped it onto the hard marble floor and crushed it under the heel of his polished leather shoe.
The sound of shattering glass mirrored the feeling in Arshi's chest.
"There," Joy said, looking down at the wreckage. "The trash has been cleared."
"You're a monster!" Arshi sobbed, her voice muffled. "You can't just control who I talk to!"
In an instant, Joy was in front of her. He grabbed both of her wrists, pinning them against the kitchen counter. His face was so close she could see the flecks of gold in his obsidian eyes.
"I can, and I will," he hissed. "You think I didn't see the way you smiled when you saw his name? You think I'll let another man breathe the same air as you?"
"We are just friends!"
"You don't have friends, Arshi. You have me. You have a shadow that will follow you everywhere. And as for this... Rohan..." He leaned in, his lips grazing her ear, sending a chill of pure terror through her. "If he shows up at that library at 10:00 AM, he won't be walking back home. Choice is yours. Do you want his blood on your hands, or are you going to stay right here, in my sight?"
Arshi's eyes widened. "No... please, don't hurt him. I won't go! I'll stay here!"
"Good girl," Joy whispered, his grip softening into a slow, possessive stroke along her arms. "I've already ordered your new phone. It has a special feature—a GPS that links directly to my laptop. Every step you take, every word you type... I'll be there. You'll never be alone again, Babygirl."
He pulled away, leaving her shivering in the middle of the kitchen.
"Now, go to the living room. I have a few business calls to make, and I want you sitting where I can see you."
Arshi watched him walk away, feeling the heavy ruby necklace around her neck. It didn't feel like jewelry anymore. It felt like a collar.
Author's Note:
Joy has officially cut off Arshi's connection to the outside world! 😱 He's tracking her every move now.
• Will Rohan try to contact Arshi when she doesn't show up?
• How can Arshi escape Joy's 'digital' leash?
What do you think of Joy's 'gift' now? Let me know in the comments and Add to Library for the next intense chapter! 👇🔥