The sun had barely risen over the Thorne estate, but the atmosphere inside the master suite was already electric with tension. Sia had spent another restless night on the narrow velvet couch, her neck stiff and her heart heavy. In contrast, Reyansh had occupied the massive king-sized bed, acting as if she were invisible.
"I have a board meeting in an hour," Reyansh announced coldly, stepping out of the walk-in closet while adjusting his platinum cufflinks. "It's a multi-million dollar deal. Do not get in my way today."
He turned toward the bathroom, but Sia—fueled by a week of being ignored—was faster. She slipped inside and clicked the lock just a second before his hand reached the handle.
"Sia! Open this door! I don't have time for your tantrums!" Reyansh thundered, hammering his fist against the wood.
From inside, Sia turned on the shower, her voice calm and detached. "I'm taking a bath. And as you know, I like to take my time."
"Sia, I am not joking! This meeting is crucial!"
"Then use one of the other ten bathrooms in this mansion," Sia replied over the splash of water. "You're a billionaire, aren't you? Go find another shower. Since you've trapped me in this room, I'll use what's available."
Reyansh was fuming. His ego wouldn't let him retreat to a guest bathroom like a defeated soldier. He paced outside, checking his watch every thirty seconds, his blood boiling.
"Sia! Either you open this door right now, or I'm breaking it down!" Reyansh gave a final, dangerous warning.
Sia, now wrapped in a thick white bathrobe and towel-drying her hair, decided she had pushed him enough. She reached for the lock. The exact moment she clicked it open, Reyansh—expecting the door to still be resisted—threw his entire shoulder weight against it in a powerful shove.
The door flew open effortlessly.
"Aaah!" Sia gasped as the force sent her stumbling back.
Reyansh couldn't stop his momentum. He came crashing into the humid room, colliding with Sia. They both went down hard on the damp marble floor. Sia hit the ground with a thud, and Reyansh landed directly on top of her, his hands slamming onto the floor on either side of her head to break his fall.
The world seemed to stop. The only sound was the dripping shower. Reyansh's face was inches from hers. He could smell the fresh, floral scent of her soap and feel the warmth radiating from her damp skin. His anger evaporated, replaced by a sudden, violent thumping in his chest. For the first time, he didn't see an enemy's daughter; he saw the girl whose eyes were wide with a mix of shock and fire.
"Can't you... can't you wait for one second?" Sia finally snapped, though her breath was hitched. "Look at you! You've soaked my robe. Have you no shame? What if I hadn't finished dressing?"
Reyansh snapped out of his trance, his face flushing a deep, uncharacteristic red. He scrambled to his feet, avoiding her gaze. "Then... then you shouldn't have been so slow! I told you I was in a hurry!"
Sia pushed herself up, glaring at him with pure emerald hate. "Get out! Let me change. You've already ruined my life; at least leave my morning alone."
Reyansh retreated out of the bathroom without another word, his heart racing. He had forgotten about the millions of dollars. All he could feel was the ghost of her heartbeat against his.
Thirty Minutes Later: The Breakfast Table
The dining room was silent, save for the clinking of silverware. Savitri Dadi was watching the couple with a hawk-like intensity. Gayatri sat at the end of the table, her disapproval of Sia radiating like a cold mist.
"Reyansh? Is everything alright, beta?" Dadi asked, noticing Reyansh's distracted state and Sia's rigid posture. "I passed by your room earlier... the window was slightly open. I could have sworn I saw Sia lying on the couch. Is something wrong between you two?"
Reyansh nearly choked on his coffee. Beside him, Sia remained perfectly still, offering him zero help.
He quickly reached out and grabbed Sia's hand under the table, squeezing it firmly—a silent command to stay quiet. He leaned in, giving her a fake, radiant smile for the benefit of his family.
"Sia just had a minor back cramp, Dadi," Reyansh lied smoothly, though his ears were still pink. "She was just stretching on the couch to align her spine. Right, sweetheart?"
Sia felt a shiver of disgust at the word 'sweetheart.' She looked at him, her eyes screaming 'liar,' but for the sake of her father's safety, she forced a tight smile.
"Yes, Dadi," Sia said, her voice strained. "Reyansh was actually trying to 'help' me this morning. He's just a bit... clumsy when he's in a rush."
Vikram, Reyansh's younger brother, let out a loud laugh. "Clumsy? Our brother? The man who never misses a beat? Bhabhi, you must have a magic effect on him!"
Reyansh's grip on her hand tightened further, his knuckles turning white. He hated the mockery, but more than that, he hated that every time he looked at Sia now, he didn't see a pawn. He saw the girl from the bathroom floor.
"Eat your breakfast, Vikram," Reyansh snapped, finally letting go of Sia's hand.
He looked at his plate, but he couldn't eat. He was the hunter, he was the billionaire, he was the one in control—so why did he feel like he was the one who had just walked into a trap?