The first night in the Thorne mansion was anything but romantic. As the heavy doors of the master suite closed, the silence between Sia and Reyansh became suffocating. The room was decorated with flowers and scented candles—a cruel joke played by the servants who thought they were celebrating a love marriage.
Sia stood near the door, her hands clutching her saree. Reyansh was already loosening his tie, his movements sharp and aggressive.
"Why are you standing there like a statue?" Reyansh snapped, not looking at her. "The drama for the family is over. You can stop acting now."
Sia's eyes flashed. "I'm not acting, Reyansh. I'm just wondering how I could have ever believed your lies."
Reyansh smirked, walking toward the massive king-sized bed. "Believe what you want. But this is the reality. Now, I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."
As he sat on the edge of the bed, Sia moved toward the wardrobe and pulled out a spare pillow.
"What are you doing?" Reyansh asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I am not sleeping on that bed with you," Sia said, her voice trembling but firm. "I'd rather sleep on the floor than share a space with a man who married me just to destroy my father."
Reyansh stood up, his tall frame looming over her. For a second, his ego was hurt. No woman had ever rejected him, and here was Sia, a girl who had nothing, looking at him with pure disgust.
"Listen to me carefully, Sia," he said, his voice a low, dangerous warning. "This is my room, my bed, and my house. I am going to sleep on this bed because I own it. As for you... I don't care where you sleep. You can sleep on the floor, in the balcony, or on that couch. This room is your prison now, so get used to it."
Sia didn't back down. She walked over to the small, velvet couch in the corner of the room. It was narrow and uncomfortable, but to her, it was safer than being near him.
"Fine," Sia replied, her voice cold. "I'll take the couch. At least there, I won't have to pretend that my husband has a heart."
Reyansh's jaw tightened. He wanted to say something, to hurt her more, but the sight of her small figure curled up on that cramped couch made him feel a strange, unwanted pang in his chest. He quickly brushed it off. She deserves this, he told himself.
The Next Morning
The sunlight hit Sia's face, waking her up from a restless sleep. Her neck was stiff from the awkward position on the couch. She saw Reyansh already dressed in a sharp suit, looking perfectly composed.
"The family is waiting for breakfast," he said, checking his watch. "8 AM sharp. Get ready."
"Go ahead. I'll be there," Sia said, standing up and trying to hide the pain in her back.
Reyansh paused at the door. "And Sia... remember. Outside this door, we are the happiest couple in the world. If Ma or Dadi suspect that you slept on the couch, your father's 'special' treatment in the medical wing ends today. Do I make myself clear?"
Sia looked at him, her hatred deepening. "Perfectly."
At the breakfast table, the atmosphere was heavy. Savitri Devi (Dadi) was observing them closely. Gayatri (Reyansh's mother) sat with a stiff posture, her disapproval of Sia evident in every glance.
"Sia beta, you look tired. Did you not sleep well?" Dadi asked, her eyes darting between Reyansh and Sia.
Reyansh immediately reached out and placed his hand over Sia's on the table. He leaned in, giving her a fake, affectionate smile. "She's just not used to such a big bed, Dadi. She was tossing and turning all night, wasn't she, sweetheart?"
Sia felt a shiver of disgust at his touch. She wanted to scream the truth, but then she remembered her father. She forced a smile, though it looked strained. "Yes, Dadi. It's just... a new place. I'll get used to it."
"I hope so," Gayatri remarked coldly. "Because in this family, we don't have room for weakness. Reyansh, I have a list of rituals Sia needs to perform today. As the Thorne daughter-in-law, she must handle the charity event preparations."
Vikram, Reyansh's younger brother, winked at Sia. "Don't worry, Bhabhi. Ma is tough, but I'm on your side. If Bhai troubles you, I'll deal with him."
Reyansh's grip on Sia's hand tightened slightly. He didn't like Vikram's friendliness toward her. He didn't like that Sia was handling the insults with such grace.
"She can handle it, Ma," Reyansh said, finally letting go of Sia's hand. "She's a fast learner. After all, she learned how to trap a billionaire in just a few weeks, didn't she?"
The table went silent. The insult was sharp and public. Sia's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
She stood up, her head held high. "I'll be in the study to start the work, Ma. Excuse me."
As she walked away, Reyansh watched her. He had won the round, but he felt like he was losing the war. Her silence was louder than her words, and her dignity was starting to pierce through his shield of revenge.
Note: Is chapter mein couch wali behes aur breakfast ka drama dono cover ho gaye hain. Reyansh use "Sweetheart" bol kar family ke samne natak kar raha hai, par akele mein wo use torture kar raha hai.