The rain pounded against the windows of the small, dusty registrar's office. There was no music, no celebration, and no red bridal lehenga. Sia stood there in a simple cotton saree, her heart thumping against her ribs. To her, this was a leap of faith. She was marrying the man who had stood by her when her world fell apart.
Beside her, Reyansh—still dressed in his worn-out 'Rey' persona—held her hand. His grip was firm, almost possessive.
Deepak sat in a corner on a plastic chair, his face pale and his breath shallow. Every time he looked at Reyansh, he saw the ghost of the man he had betrayed ten years ago. He wanted to scream, to pull Sia away, but his voice was trapped in his throat. He knew if he spoke, Reyansh would expose his past crimes to Sia, and he couldn't bear to see the hatred in his daughter's eyes.
"Do you, Reyansh, take Sia to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the official asked, bored.
Reyansh looked at Sia. For a second, his gaze softened, noticing how innocent she looked, how much she trusted him. But then, he remembered his mother's tears and his father's ruined reputation. His heart turned back to stone.
"I do," he said, his voice echoing with a finality that sounded like a prison door closing.
The ceremony was over. Sia was officially Mrs. Reyansh. She felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety.
"Rey... where are we going now?" Sia asked as they got into the car. She expected them to go to his small apartment, but Reyansh was driving toward the outskirts of the city, toward the hills where the air was cold and the mansions were hidden behind tall gates.
"I told you, Sia," Reyansh said, his voice now devoid of the shy stutter he used to have. "My 'boss' is letting me stay at his estate while he's away. It's better for your father's health."
As the iron gates of a massive, dark estate creaked open, Sia's eyes widened. "Rey... this place is a palace. Are you sure we're allowed to be here?"
"I'm very sure," Reyansh replied, a dark smirk playing on his lips.
As they entered the grand foyer, the lights flickered on, revealing marble floors and crystal chandeliers. A line of servants stood there, bowing deeply.
"Welcome home, Mr. Thorne," they said in unison.
Sia froze. She looked at Rey, then at the servants. "Mr... Thorne? Rey, what are they talking about?"
Reyansh turned to her. He slowly pulled off his faded hoodie, revealing a black silk shirt underneath that screamed power. He ran a hand through his messy hair, slicking it back, instantly transforming from a struggling boy to a ruthless king.
"My name is Reyansh Thorne, Sia," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low velvet. "The 'Rey' you loved was a shadow. A lie I created to get close to the man who destroyed my life."
He pointed a finger at Deepak, who had just entered the hall, supported by a cane.
"Rey! Stop it! You're scaring me!" Sia cried, reaching for his arm.
Reyansh shook her hand off. "Scared? You should be. You're not just my wife, Sia. You're the price your father has to pay for his sins. He stole my family's future, so I stole his daughter's life."
Deepak collapsed onto a chair, gasping. "Reyansh... please... she has nothing to do with this. Kill me, but let her go!"
"Death is too easy, Deepak," Reyansh hissed, leaning over the old man. "I want you to watch. I want you to see her realize that the man she gave her heart to... is the man who hates her more than anyone in this world."
Sia backed away, her world spinning. The ring on her finger felt like it was burning her skin. She looked at her father's guilty face and then at her husband's cold, vengeful eyes.
She wasn't in a home. She was in a battlefield. And the worst part was, she had already surrendered her heart to the enemy.
"Take the old man to the guest room in the basement," Reyansh commanded the servants. "And Sia... welcome to your new life. Don't bother trying to leave. The gates are locked, and so is your fate."
He walked away, his footsteps heavy and rhythmic, leaving Sia standing alone in the middle of the cold, golden hall.
The game was no longer a secret. The hunt was over, and the torture had begun.