I woke up with a warm smile and a familiar embrace. For the first time in over two months, I had a peaceful sleep. Slowly, I opened my eyes, my gaze landing on a broad chest–warm, familiar, and strangely safe. My eyes trailed upward, and there he was, my monster–Sarfaraaz Talukder Rayan looking almost angelic in his sleep.

I shifted slightly, drawn to him, wanting to observe him more closely.

His face, free from its usual harshness, held a serenity I’d rarely seen. Tousled jet-black hair fell over his forehead, softening his sharp features. His impossibly long, dark lashes rested against his skin, curling just like mine. The prominent mustache only enhanced his timeless allure, making him resemble a prince from centuries past. My Prince Charming, a small part of me whispered, sending a blush to my cheeks first thing in the morning.

My hand instinctively reached out to brush the silky strands of his hair away from his face. They were so soft beneath my fingers, almost addictive. Without realizing it, I kept running my fingers through his hair, my thoughts drifting back to the whirlwind of the past few months.

How I saved him. How we were bound together in a forced marriage. The bitterness that followed, and the slow, rare moments of softness that began to emerge. His raw confessions of what he felt for me, his relentless attempts to suppress the darkness within him just to keep me safe–they all overshadowed the pain I had endured.

I wasn’t sure when it began. Maybe it was when he regretted hurting me. Or when I saw him battling his night terrors. Perhaps it was when he took a stab meant for me, burned a man alive who dared to kidnap me, or when he held me during my own moments of despair.

He had shifted from being my annihilator to something more–a companion, a protector, a husband I could lean on.

Yes, I accepted him as my husband. I thought I could stop these feelings for someone I was supposed to despise, but in these past two months, I realized I was already consumed by him, no matter how much I tried to hate him or lie to myself. It felt like years.

It might sound insane to some, but no one is perfect. And maybe, just maybe, I found solace in the very person who once caused me pain.

As I lay in his embrace, all I could feel was safety. His warmth and, shockingly, his love-cherished in a way I hadn't felt in months. This man had once said he would be my world, and now, I could see his words gradually becoming true. I found myself embracing his darkness willingly, just as I was starting to enjoy being in his arms.

Tania Sarfaraaz was in love with her forced husband!

My cheeks flushed at the sharp realization. My pulse quickened, and an urge to kiss him overcame me. Without thinking, I leaned in to plant a kiss on his cheek, adorned with his stubble, my eyes closing instinctively.

But instead of meeting the rough surface of his cheek, I felt something softer, warmer, and infinitely addictive.

His lips.

My eyes snapped open, and I saw his dark eyes glinting with mischief. He was awake! Since when?!

I pulled back instinctively, but a soft smile tugged at his lips as he tightened his arm around my waist. Before I could even think of moving away, I leaned in again and placed a soft peck on his lips, my need for him overpowering my embarrassment.

"Good morning, my little wife. Did you sleep well?" His voice was low and husky, laced with amusement.

"You were awake this whole time," I said, my cheeks already heating up.

"So what? If I wasn't, how else would I know that my Édesem was secretly kissing her husband?" he teased, his voice a seductive whisper. "You were craving me first thing in the morning, Hazel. Still thinking about last night, aren't you?" He winked, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

His words brought back the vivid memories of last night-the fire he had ignited in me, the way I had craved him, needed him. My face burned as I turned away, my back now facing him.

"I don't remember, nor do I want to," I said, trying to sound firm but failing miserably.

"Are you sure?" His voice was closer now, a warm breath grazing my ear. "Or should we remind ourselves...together... In a joint effort?"

His words sent shivers down my spine, goosebumps rising on my arms.

"Stop saying nonsense!" I whined, my tone betraying my resolve. "I was just... watching you, and the kiss came naturally," I admitted softly, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my chest.

"Really?" he murmured, his tone softer now, almost tender. "Then watch me as much as you want. I'm yours, anyway."

He gently turned me to face him, his dark brown eyes meeting mine. They were warm, devoted, devoid of any coldness, pulling me into their depths.

And in that moment, I lost myself in those dark, addictive eyes, my heart surrendering all over again.

This man was my end. An annihilator of my heart too. But strangely I don’t hate it anymore.

___________________________________

"Kya soch rahe hain aap, Édesem?" (What are you thinking, Édesem?) His voice was gentle, carrying a note of curiosity as he caught her staring at him, her hazel eyes shimmering with an emotion she tried to hide.

"Wahi ki jis shaks se mujhe khauf tha, jisne meri duniya badal di, aaj kaise hum uski baahon mein itna mehfoos mehsoos kar rahe hain? Kya main pagal toh nahi ho gayi?"
(Just that the person I used to fear, the one who turned my world upside down; how is it that I feel so safe in his arms today? Am I going crazy?) Her fingers lightly traced invisible patterns on his chest, seeking answers in the warmth of his touch.

"Aap pagal nahi hui." (You’re not crazy.) His voice held a faint smile as his rough, calloused fingers trailed softly down her back, grounding her in a way she didn’t expect.

"Aapko meri tarah woh ho gaya jo humein badal diya... sirf aapke liye." (You’ve just experienced what changed me... only for you.)

"Kya?" (What?) Her gaze snapped to his, her eyes wide with curiosity and a flicker of fear.

"Aapko pata hai, bas maan nahi paate... kuch aur nahi... ishq ho gaya hai aapko. Aapke shauhar se, aapke annihilator se." (You know it, you just don’t want to admit it. Nothing else... you’ve fallen in love. With your husband, your annihilator.) His velvety whisper sent shivers down her spine.

Her cheeks burned, and her lips parted slightly, but no argument escaped them. Deep down, she knew her heart had already betrayed her rationality.

Avoiding his piercing gaze, she turned her focus back to her fingers, continuing to draw faint patterns on his chest. "How are your wounds now? Does it hurt?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, desperate to change the topic.

He exhaled deeply, frustration laced in his breath. He knew she was deflecting, but he didn’t push. "I’m fine. It’ll heal in a few days," he replied curtly.

"Okay, then I’ll clean it up for the last time before returning to my hostel," she said softly, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart.

His chest tightened at her words. Last time. The phrase clawed at his resolve.

"You’ll be going again, Hazel?" His tone was almost pleading, an unfamiliar vulnerability lacing his words.

"Yes. I have to," she admitted, her voice tinged with quiet determination. She needed space, a chance to think clearly. Her heart was already his, irrevocably so, but her mind demanded certainty before taking a step into the abyss from which there would be no return.

"Can you manage some clothes?" she murmured after a moment, her face flushing as she added hesitantly, "Or some underwear, as you tore it last night..." Her voice trailed off into an inaudible whisper, her ears and cheeks flaming with embarrassment.

His eyes darkened, his mind replaying the memory of her body trembling beneath his touch. The realization that she was without her inner wear sent a spark of possessiveness coursing through him, but he restrained himself, not wanting to make her discomfort worse.

"No problem. I’ll call someone to bring everything you need," he said smoothly. His gaze softened momentarily before his tone turned serious. "And if you really want to go, I won’t stop you. But remember this..." His voice dropped, laced with a dark promise. "I won’t let you go away from me. Not truly."

Her heart skipped a beat as his fingers brushed against her clothed back, his movements tender even as his words carried an unyielding resolve.

"I’ll be waiting for your answer, Hazel," he continued, his voice firm but calm. "But no matter what you decide, you’re mine. Forever. My heart already knows your answer. It’s only a matter of time before you accept it too."

Tania remained silent, her breath hitching as his words sank into her heart. She didn’t respond, knowing deep down that he was right. Her soul had already surrendered to him.

For now, she let herself stay in his arms, soaking in the warmth of his embrace. It might be the last time she allowed herself this comfort, this fleeting illusion of safety.

Who knows if she’d ever feel this again?

___________________________________

Three hours later...

My car stood a few meters away from the gate of Tania's hostel, tucked near the edge of the forest. Throughout the journey, I kept her hand in mine, gripping it as though the moment I let go, she’d vanish into thin air.

The old Sarfaraaz Talukder wouldn’t have allowed this. He would’ve taken her back to his house, whether she liked it or not, locking her in the confines of his world.

But living with her, loving her, had changed me. I knew she cherished her freedom, the way she thrived as a free soul. So, despite the ache in my chest, I accepted her decision. Letting her go felt like suffocating, as though I was breathing without air.

Still, deep down, I knew she’d come back. No, I was certain of it. Her hazel eyes had betrayed her, revealing what her lips refused to admit. They were mirrors to her soul, and no matter how hard she tried to deny her feelings, I could see the truth.

So, I decided to trust my heart.

"Rayan, we need to get out," her soft voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

Yeah, I have to let her go... so she can return to me forever.

"Yeah," I muttered, stepping out of the car.

I walked around to open the door for her. She stepped out gracefully, her small hand slipping into mine.

"Say goodbye... happily," she said softly, her eyes pleading.

Goodbye? How could I say goodbye? How could I let go of a part of my soul with a happy smile?

"I can’t," I rasped, my voice gruff with emotion. "Just go inside before I change my mind, Hazel. Or I might kidnap you again."

To my utter surprise, she tiptoed, her delicate fingers gripping the collar of my shirt, pulling me down to her level. And then she kissed me.

Her lips, soft and warm, lingered against mine, and for a fleeting moment, her touch washed away the storm raging inside me.

"I enjoyed every moment of yesterday evening... and night. Thank you," she whispered, her glossy eyes betraying the emotions she was trying so hard to suppress. "Now let me go... happily."

How could I not listen to her when she asked so sweetly?

I leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, my lips refusing to part from her warmth. But eventually, I forced myself to step back, releasing her.

"Okay. Goodbye, Hazel. Take care of yourself and study hard," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

"I will," she replied with the warmest smile, the kind that tugged at something deep inside me. "You take care too. And make sure to punish anyone who dares to hurt you," she added, her tone turning firm and resolute.

"I will," I said, my voice low and dark with promise. "Don’t worry about that."

She nodded, and as she turned to walk towards her hostel, I stood there, frozen, watching her retreating figure.

She paused at the gate, turning back to wave at me one last time.

I took a deep breath, forcing the words past my lips. "You better come back soon, Hazel. Or I’ll lose it completely," I muttered to myself before getting into the backseat of the car.

"Take me to the warehouse," I instructed my driver.

It was time to deal with the man who dared to mess with us.
___________________________________

When they were saying good bye to each other, a pair eyes was watching them from far afar. Kaan Barci.

He stood in the shadows, his fists clenched tightly as he watched them holding hands, unwilling to part from each other’s warmth.

His heart shattered when he saw Tania–the woman he called his angyal (angel), kiss Sarfaraaz Talukder, the man he despised most.

She smiled warmly at her husband, that monster. A smile Kaan had never seen on her lips in the past two months as he secretly watched over her.

But despite the unbearable pain coursing through him, a bittersweet smile crept onto his face.

She’s happy today.

"You should smile more like this, angyal. It suits you beautifully," he murmured to himself.

Kaan had been offered the chance to end Sarfaraaz, to quench the year-long thirst for revenge. But seeing Tania happy, truly happy, he knew he couldn’t go through with it. Hurting Sarfaraaz would only bring her sorrow–and that was something he couldn’t bear.

His heart calmed as he saw Sarfaraaz kiss her forehead, and she leaned into him as if he were her lifeline.

Yes, Kaan thought. My decision is right.

"I’ll let your husband go this time–for you," he murmured, his voice heavy with unspoken pain.

"But if he ever dares to hurt you, I’ll make sure he never even gets the chance to see you again," he vowed, his voice firm and resolute.

For now, he chose to watch from the shadows, his eyes lingering on Tania one last time before he turned and walked away.
___________________________________

At Tania's Hostel

"Oh dear! You finally arrived. I was about to go to the hospital to find you," Jubi, Tania's best friend, exclaimed, worry etched across her face.

Tania smiled apologetically, clasping her hands together. "I’m sorry! Please don’t be upset with me. Forgive me this time, okay?" She made a puppy face, hoping to melt her friend’s heart.

Jubi sighed in relief, her expression softening. "Fine, I’ll let you off the hook this time. But it looks like everything is fine now. How’s your husband?"

Your husband. The two words made Tania’s cheeks flush involuntarily.

"Yeah... he’s out of danger," she replied, her voice soft as she began unpinning her hijab.

Jubi raised a suspicious eyebrow, her gaze darting to Tania’s clothes. "Wait a minute. You’re wearing something different from what you had on when you left... Did you do something naughty, Miss Drama?"

Tania avoided her friend’s piercing gaze, a shy smile tugging at her lips as she removed her hijab completely.

Jubi gasped dramatically, her eyes widening. "Wait! Are those–are those hickeys?!" she almost screamed. "Oh Allah! Kya karke ayi hai waha tu? Jaldi bata mujhe!" (What did you do there? Tell me everything!)

Tania turned as red as a tomato, mortified. She rushed to press her palm against Jubi’s mouth. "Ya Allah, Jubi! Are you planning to let the whole hostel know? I’ll tell you everything, just let me change first!"

_____________________________

A few minutes later, after Tania had changed into her comfortable clothes, she finally relayed the events of the previous day to Jubi–well, most of them. She left out the intimate details between her and Sarfaraaz, her cheeks still burning at the thought.

Jubi’s jaw dropped in disbelief. "Oh my God! I can’t believe my ears. Your Prince Charming was right in front of you all along, and you didn’t know?"

"Yeah," Tania replied, her voice soft as a tender smile graced her lips.

Jubi grabbed her friend’s hand, grinning from ear to ear. "I’m so happy for you, girl! You deserve to be pampered like that. But wait... I’ll be even happier if you show me those chain jewelry pieces your monster gifted you."

Tania groaned, she could not bring those here with her. Her ears turning crimson as she recalled Sarfaraaz’s dark fantasy. "Don’t remind me about those! He’s mad for spending fortunes on something so ridiculous."

Jubi leaned in, smirking. "Ridiculous? Or romantic? Tell me, what did he say when he gave them to you?"

Tania’s mind flashed back to his deep, possessive voice: "I want to see you in these, Édesem. Only in these. When I bury myself deep inside you, like a princess from a medieval tale."

Jubi snapped her fingers in front of Tania’s face, breaking her reverie. "Earth to Tania! You zoned out again. Let me guess....you were daydreaming about your monster husband."

"Huh?" Tania blinked, her face turning even redder.

"You left crying, and now you’re back with hickeys?" Jubi teased, folding her arms. "Do let me know when you’re planning to leave this hostel to move in with your Prince Charming permanently."

Tania fiddled with the hem of her sleeve, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think... very soon. Because I don’t think I can live without him anymore. He’s already messing with my mind."

Jubi squealed, pulling her into a bear hug. "Oh God! My bestie is in love! Come here, you hopeless romantic!"

Tania laughed softly, hugging her friend back. In moments like these, she felt truly grateful for Jubi. She was one of the few people left in Tania’s life. To be exact, the only ones she had were Sarfaraaz, Jubi, Rahat, and Muneeb.

As Jubi pulled away, her tone turned serious. "But are you sure about him, Tania? Will you really be okay going back?"

Tania hesitated, biting her lip nervously. "I’m not fully sure," she admitted, her voice wavering. "I’m sure about my feelings, but... I’m not sure about our future together. What if it doesn’t work out? He still hates my... my ba...Major Shafiq Hussein." Her voice faltered, and her heart clenched as she uttered her father’s name.

Jubi reached out, holding her friend’s hands tightly. "Oh, dear. It’ll be fine. Just follow your heart, trust your instincts, and have faith in your destiny."

"But destiny is the problem," Tania whispered, her voice heavy with doubt. "How can I trust it when it’s been so cruel to me?"

Jubi gave her a reassuring smile, determined to lighten the mood. "Okay, enough of this gloom. Let’s focus on the present. Take some rest before we head to class, alright?"

Tania nodded, grateful for Jubi’s unwavering support. "Thanks, Jubi. For everything."

"Anytime, bestie," Jubi replied, giving her a playful wink. "Now go relax. You’ve had quite the adventure, Mrs. Talukder."
______________________________

After an hour of relentless torture, I threw the blood-stained whip into the corner of the room.

The bastard still hadn't said anything about the man who gave the order.

I already had my suspicions. Javier. That cunning son of a bitch. Whoever was pulling the strings was playing a dangerous game, but they wouldn't win. I'd make sure of it.

Reaching for the pair of gloves on the table, I slipped them on with practiced ease. My eyes fell on the thin iron rod I'd left in the fireplace earlier. Its edge glowed a sinister red, the heat radiating off it like a promise of pain.

"If you're not going to talk, there's no use keeping you alive," I said, my voice low and icy, devoid of mercy. "But first, let me have some fun. I'd love to play with your filthy eyes. God knows how many sins they've witnessed."

His screams of terror filled the room as I pointed the burning rod toward his right eye.

"No... Please, no!" he begged, thrashing against the restraints.

I stopped the rod mere inches from his eye, letting the heat lick at his skin, the scent of fear  filling the air. And I liked it.

"Talk," I ordered, my tone sharp and unyielding. "Tell me what you know, and I might consider letting you live. Or... should I let my monster out completely? It's been so long since I've had this kind of fun."

"I'll tell you! Please don't!" he cried, his voice breaking.

Satisfied for now, I placed the rod back on the table, the metal clinking against the surface. Leaning closer, I loomed over him like a predator over its prey.

"They told us to find the post-mortem report of your parents' deaths and destroy it," he confessed, his voice trembling. "And to kill you and your friend."

I clenched my fists, my suspicions confirmed.

"Was it Javier?" I demanded, my voice cutting through the air like a blade.

He hesitated, his silence testing the limits of my patience. I grabbed the rod again, letting its glowing tip hover in the air as a reminder of what awaited him.

"How did you know?" he stammered, fear dripping from every word.

"That's not important," I replied coldly.

"What's important is that you tell me everything you know about him. Any clue, no matter how small."

"He'll kill me," he sobbed, tears streaming down his face.

I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "And I'll do worse. So talk. If your answer satisfies me, I might ensure your safety"

"He... he has a dark empire," he stuttered, his words spilling out in desperation. "Drugs, human trafficking, money laundering-it's all under his control. He's infamous for sheltering criminals from around the world in his safe houses."

I narrowed my eyes. It was good information, but not enough.

"I'm not satisfied," I growled. "Keep talking."

"The post-mortem report," he gasped, his voice shaking. "It's crucial to him. There's something in it... something incriminating. His trace remained on it. That's why he's so desperate to destroy it."

My heart raced. There was more to my parents' deaths than I'd known. More lies. More secrets. Something that needed to be uncovered.

The only lead left was the case file-a file no longer available in police archives. The only place it still existed was in Major Shafiq's personal archive.

The day I tried to retrieve it, I'd failed. Because of him. Because he dared to hurt my Édesem. And I left with her.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Taylor, one of my best assassins. He was a shadow, skilled in the art of finding what others couldn't.

"Have you found it yet?" I asked, my tone clipped. "And don't forget the other thing I told you to bring."

There was a pause on the line before Taylor replied, his voice laced with hesitation. "Are you sure about this? If your wife finds out, she'll hate you for it."

I clenched my jaw. "She won't find out. Ever. This is something I need to confirm."

Taylor exhaled audibly but didn't argue. "Understood. I'll get it done."

Hanging up, I leaned back against the table, my mind racing.

Whatever was in that report would change everything. And no matter what it took, I would uncover the truth. Even if it meant letting the monster inside me run wild.
_________________________________

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