Rain fell from the dark sky like it was crying for her.
Aisha Rao stood in front of the luxurious Crystal Crown Hotel, completely soaked from head to toe. Her fingers were freezing, her clothes were wet, and her heart felt like someone had crushed it with their bare hands.
She didn't care about the rain.
She didn't care about the cold.
The only thing she felt… was betrayal.
Just one hour ago, she had come here excitedly.
She wanted to surprise her fiance, Rohit.
It was supposed to be a sweet date night. She had bought roses. She had dressed nicely. She had even practiced how she would hug him when he opened the door.
But instead of love… she found a nightmare.
The image was still fresh in her mind—like a knife stabbing again and again.
Rohit.
Her cousin.
Together on the bed.
Laughing. Touching. Betraying her.
Her legs trembled on the wet pavement as tears mixed with raindrops on her cheeks.
Why? Why did this happen to me?
She loved him for three years. She trusted him blindly. She supported him when he had nothing.
And he repaid her by destroying her heart.
Her umbrella slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. She didn't pick it up. She just stood there, shivering, trying not to break down.
Her phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the screen.
"Mom."
Maybe… maybe her parents would support her. Maybe they would tell her to come home.
Aisha wiped her tears and answered with a shaking voice.
"Mom…"
Her mother's tone was cold. "Aisha, don't come back home."
Aisha's breath caught. "W-What? Mom… I—I need you."
"You don't need us," her mother snapped. "Your cousin, Riya, is going to marry Rohit now."
Aisha felt her heart collapse. "But… he was supposed to marry me."
"He changed his mind," her mother said like it was nothing. "Your father and I agree Riya is a better match. You should not interfere."
Better match?
Her own mother said that?
"Mom… please… don't do this to me," Aisha whispered.
She heard a deep sigh. "Aisha, don't embarrass the family. Stay away. Riya and Rohit will announce their engagement this weekend."
The call ended.
Aisha froze.
Her own family had chosen her cousin over her. They didn't care about her tears, her pain, or her broken heart.
They just threw her away.
Her legs gave up and she crouched down on the wet pavement. Cars passed by, splashing water, but she didn't even notice.
Everything she loved was gone.
Her fiance.
Her family.
Her dignity.
Aisha lifted her head weakly, and that was when she noticed a long, black luxury car stopping right in front of her.
The backdoor opened slowly.
A tall man stepped out, holding a black umbrella.
He wore a perfectly tailored black suit. His shoes were shining even in the rain. His face was sharp, handsome, but with an icy expression.
He looked like a man the world obeyed.
Aisha recognized him instantly.
Arjun Malhotra.
The famous young billionaire.
Owner of Malhotra Industries.
The cold-hearted CEO the business world feared.
What was he doing here?
Aisha stared at him with confused eyes.
Arjun looked down at her, his expression unreadable.
"You'll catch a fever sitting here in the rain."
Aisha swallowed hard.
"Sir… do I know you?"
"No," he replied calmly. "But I know what happened."
Aisha's heart skipped. "You… saw?"
"I was in the lobby," he said. "I saw your fiancé cheat. I saw your cousin. And I saw you running out."
Shame and pain washed over her again. She wiped her tears quickly.
"Why… why do you care?" she whispered.
Arjun extended the umbrella over her head, shielding her from the rain.
"Because," he said in a low voice, "I need something. And you need something too."
Aisha blinked.
"What can I give you? I have nothing now."
Arjun looked directly into her eyes.
"A wife."
Aisha's mind went blank.
"I-I'm sorry… what?"
"A wife," he repeated. "A marriage. A one-year contract."
She stood up in shock.
"Why are you saying this to me? You don't even know me!"
"I don't need to know you," Arjun said coldly. "I just need a woman who is… unattached."
His eyes reflected the truth—he had seen her family reject her. He knew she had no one left.
Aisha clenched her fists. "Are you pitying me?"
"No," he said firmly. "I don't pity anyone. This is a business offer."
Aisha looked away.
"Why… why do you need a wife?"
Arjun's jaw tightened slightly.
"That's not something you need to know right now."
Aisha stared at him.
He was powerful.
Dangerous.
Emotionless.
Everything about him screamed danger.
But everything about her life screamed helpless.
"Think carefully," Arjun said softly. "You can stand here crying over someone who never loved you… or you can let me give you a new life."
Aisha felt her heart twist.
A new life?
A home?
Respect?
A place to belong?
After what happened tonight, she had nothing else to choose.
"What will I get?" she asked in a small voice.
"Protection," Arjun answered. "A place to stay. Financial stability. And no one… no one will ever hurt you again."
His voice was calm, but there was something in it—something dark and powerful—that made her believe him.
Still, she hesitated.
"What do you want from me?"
"A marriage," he said. "Just one year. After that, we go our separate ways."
Aisha looked at him with trembling eyes.
Marrying a stranger…
A cold CEO…
A man everyone feared…
Was she really going to do something this crazy?
But then she remembered Rohit's betrayal.
Her cousin's smile.
Her mother's rejection.
She had no home.
No job.
No support.
No future.
Slowly, she lifted her hand.
Arjun looked at her, waiting.
Aisha breathed in deeply.
"I… accept," she whispered.
A small flicker—barely noticeable—appeared in Arjun's eyes.
He gently held her hand.
"Good. Your new life begins now."
He guided her to the car, opened the door, and helped her sit inside.
As the car drove away, Aisha stared at the city lights through the window.
Just one hour ago, her world ended.
But tonight…
She had stepped into a new world.
A world ruled by a heartless CEO.
A world where nothing would ever be the same again.