The air in the room felt frozen.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Kiara was still pressed against Aryan's chest, her body tense, her breath uneven. Her heart was pounding wildly, as if it might burst out at any moment.
Aryan's eyes were locked onto hers.
Deep… sharp… filled with suspicion.
"Are you really… my wife?"
The question echoed inside her head, over and over again.
Her throat went dry.
This was the moment—
The moment that would decide everything.
Should she tell the truth?
Or continue this lie?
Her father's face flashed in her mind… lying helplessly on a hospital bed… struggling to breathe… waiting for her.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"…Yes," she whispered.
One word.
One lie.
But that lie carried the weight of her entire life.
Aryan stayed silent for a few seconds, staring at her.
The suspicion in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by something else—
Relief.
Possession.
A faint shadow of affection.
He lifted his hand and gently brushed her hair back.
"I knew it…" he murmured softly.
Kiara's chest tightened painfully.
Did he really believe her…?
Aryan didn't let her go.
Instead, he pulled her even closer.
Too close.
Her breath hitched.
"You've changed…" he whispered.
"You weren't like this before."
Kiara froze.
Before?
She knew nothing about his past.
Nothing about their supposed relationship.
"It's because of the accident…" she said softly, forcing the words out.
Aryan nodded slowly.
"Maybe…"
But something in his eyes still lingered—
A trace of doubt.
A silent question that refused to disappear.
Time passed slowly.
Too slowly.
Soon—
They were both lying on the bed.
The same bed.
Under the same blanket.
Kiara stayed at the very edge, her body stiff, as if even the slightest movement would break something fragile.
Aryan turned toward her, watching her closely.
"Why are you so far away?" he asked.
Kiara closed her eyes.
"I'm sleepy…"
Aryan moved closer.
She could feel his breath against her back.
Warm.
Close.
"Come closer to me…"
Her body trembled slightly.
"Please…"
That one word—
It weakened her resolve.
Inside her, a silent war was raging.
This is just an act.
But why does it feel so real?
Why does his touch feel so… different?
So real… so dangerous…
Slowly… hesitantly…
She moved a little closer.
The moment she did—
Aryan wrapped his arm around her waist.
Pulling her against him.
Kiara froze.
Completely still.
"This feels right…" he whispered.
There was satisfaction in his voice.
And in that moment—
Tears slipped silently from Kiara's eyes.
She was crying…
But making no sound.
Because this closeness—
This warmth—
This illusion—
Was never meant to be hers.
The night grew deeper.
The silence heavier.
And then—
Aryan spoke again.
"You'll never leave me… right?"
Kiara's heart skipped a beat.
She couldn't answer.
Her lips parted slightly—
But no words came out.
Because the truth…
Was that she would leave.
One day.
She had to.
"Promise me…" he whispered.
Kiara bit her lip.
Her chest felt tight.
"…Promise."
Another lie.
Another chain binding her deeper into this illusion.
The night stretched on.
At some point—
Aryan's breathing became steady.
Calm.
He had fallen asleep.
But Kiara—
She couldn't.
Her eyes remained open in the darkness.
Her mind restless.
Her heart heavy.
Carefully… slowly…
She moved his arm away from her waist.
Holding her breath—
Afraid he might wake up.
But he didn't move.
Didn't react.
Kiara quietly slipped out of the bed.
Her bare feet touched the cold floor.
A shiver ran through her body.
She walked toward the sofa and sat down.
Then slowly lay down.
Staring at the ceiling.
Tears rolled down her temples silently.
"What am I doing…?" she whispered to herself.
Her voice barely audible.
"This is wrong…"
Everything about this—
Was wrong.
The lies.
The closeness.
The feelings…
Especially the feelings.
Because somewhere deep inside—
She had already started to feel something real.
And that was the most dangerous part of all.
If she continued like this—
She wouldn't just lose him.
She would lose herself.
She turned to her side, curling slightly.
As if trying to make herself smaller.
As if trying to disappear from this situation completely.
But there was no escape.
Not anymore.
She had made her choice.
And now—
She had to live with it.
Morning came slowly.
Soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, filling the room with a pale glow.
Kiara stirred slightly.
Her eyes fluttered open.
For a moment, she didn't understand where she was.
Then—
Everything came rushing back.
The accident.
The hospital.
The lie.
Aryan.
She quickly realized—
She was lying on the sofa.
Her heart raced.
If he finds out…
She turned her head.
Aryan was still asleep on the bed.
His face looked calm.
Peaceful.
Completely unaware.
Kiara quickly stood up.
Without wasting a second, she rushed back to the bed and lay down beside him again—
Trying to make it look natural.
Trying to hide the truth.
Just then—
Aryan moved.
His arm wrapped around her suddenly.
Pulling her close.
Kiara froze.
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
She tried to gently free herself—
But before she could—.
Aryan opened his eyes.
"Good morning… wife."
A faint smile curved on his lips.
Kiara forced a smile.
"Good morning…"
Aryan didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
He kept staring at her.
Intensely.
As if trying to read something hidden beneath her expression.
Something she was trying desperately to hide.
"Why don't you kiss me?"
Kiara froze completely.
Her mind went blank.
"What?"
"You used to…" Aryan said calmly.
Her heart started racing again.
What should she do now…?
What if he gets suspicious…?
What if everything falls apart right here…?
Aryan leaned closer.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
"Or… should I?"
Kiara's breath stopped.
Her eyes widened.
"No—"
But before she could finish—
He moved even closer.
Their faces were inches apart.
Too close.
She could feel his breath.
Warm.
Dangerous.
Her heart was pounding so loudly, she was sure he could hear it.
Time seemed to freeze.
Everything slowed down.
Her thoughts tangled—
Should she push him away?
Should she let it happen?
Should she continue this lie… no matter how far it goes?
Her fingers tightened slightly against the bedsheet.
Her entire body felt trapped—
Between truth and survival.
A strange tension filled the air between them.
Not just closeness—
But something deeper.
Something fragile.
Something dangerous.
Kiara could feel it in the way Aryan was looking at her.
Not just curiosity.
Not just suspicion.
But something more intense—
Something possessive.
His gaze moved slowly across her face—
As if memorizing every detail.
As if afraid she might disappear.
Her breath became uneven.
She wanted to look away—
But couldn't.
Because his eyes held her there.
Locked.
"Why are you hesitating…?" Aryan whispered.
His voice was softer now.
But sharper too.
Kiara swallowed hard.
"I…"
Her voice failed her.
Because no answer would be right.
If she refused—
He might doubt her.
If she agreed—
She would sink deeper into this lie.
A lie she was already struggling to carry.
Aryan's hand slowly lifted.
His fingers brushing lightly against her cheek.
Kiara flinched—
Just slightly.
But he noticed.
His eyes narrowed faintly.
"You're afraid of me?"
The question hit her harder than anything else.
Afraid?
Was she afraid?
Of him…?
Or of herself?
Of how easily she was getting pulled into this world…?
"No…" she whispered quickly.
"I'm just…"
She stopped.
Because she didn't know how to finish that sentence.
Aryan didn't move away.
If anything—
He came closer.
Reducing the distance even more.
"You're hiding something…" he said quietly.
Not accusing.
But certain.
Kiara's heart skipped.
Does he know…?
No.
He couldn't.
But still—
That look in his eyes…
It felt like he was seeing right through her.
Her chest tightened.
"I'm not…" she said softly.
But even she could hear it—
The lack of confidence in her voice.
Aryan's gaze lingered on her lips for a moment.
Then back to her eyes.
"You've changed," he murmured again.
Kiara felt that same uneasiness return.
Changed…
Of course she had.
Because she wasn't the woman he thought she was.
And yet—
Right now—
She had to become her.
Even if it meant losing herself in the process.
Her fingers loosened slightly from the bedsheet.
Her breathing slowed—just a little.
And then—
Very slowly—
She closed her eyes.
As if making a decision.
As if surrendering to the moment.
Aryan noticed.
A faint flicker of something crossed his expression—
Satisfaction?
Relief?
Or something darker?
His hand moved from her cheek to her jaw—
Holding it gently.
But firmly enough to keep her there.
Kiara's heartbeat echoed in her ears.
Every second stretched longer.
He leaned in—
Closer.
Closer—
Just as the distance between them was about to disappear—
Kiara's hand instinctively gripped his shirt.
Not pushing him away—
But not pulling him closer either.
Caught in between.
Just like everything else.
Her mind screamed—
This is wrong.
But her body—
Refused to move.
Because somewhere—deep inside—
A dangerous feeling was beginning to grow.
One she didn't want to acknowledge.
One she couldn't afford to feel.
Aryan paused.
Just for a second.
As if sensing her hesitation.
As if testing her.
His voice dropped even lower—
"Tell me to stop… if you want me to."
Kiara's eyes snapped open.
She looked at him—
Shocked.
Because that option—
That choice—
Made everything even harder.
Because now—
If she stayed silent…
It would mean she was choosing this.
Choosing the lie.
Choosing him.
Her lips parted slightly.
But no words came out.
Silence.
And that silence—
Was answer enough.
Aryan's gaze darkened slightly.
And this time—
He didn't stop.
The tension between them reached its peak—
Sharp.
Intense.
Unavoidable.
Kiara's eyes fluttered shut again.
Her heart pounding wildly—
As if warning her—
That once she crossed this line—
There would be no going back.
Because this wasn't just acting anymore.
This wasn't just survival.
This was something else.
Something real.
Something dangerous.
And something that could destroy her—
Completely.
And then—
Knock! Knock!
The sudden, sharp sound shattered the moment completely—
like glass breaking in the middle of a fragile illusion.
"Sir, there's an urgent meeting!"
Raman's voice came from outside the door, firm yet controlled, carrying a sense of urgency that couldn't be ignored.
Kiara immediately pulled away, as if she had just woken up from a dangerous, suffocating dream.
Her breath was uneven, her heart still racing wildly in her chest.
Aryan frowned, clearly irritated by the interruption.
A dark shadow crossed his expression.
"Later!"
His voice was cold, edged with annoyance, as if nothing in the world mattered more than the moment he had just been in.
But Raman spoke again—
This time more firm.
More insistent.
"Sir, it's very important… it's about your past."
The words didn't just reach Aryan—
They struck him.
Aryan went completely still.
As if time itself had paused.
The air in the room shifted.
Past.
The word hung in the air—
heavy… sharp… dangerous.
It echoed silently between them.
Past.
Something unseen flickered in Aryan's eyes.
A shadow.
A question.
A darkness that didn't belong to the man Kiara had seen so far.
His grip loosened slightly.
Not completely—
But enough for Kiara to feel the change.
That single word had done something.
Something powerful.
Something unsettling.
Kiara's heart trembled.
Because she knew—
That word…
Could destroy everything.
A cold fear crept into her chest.
Past…
The one thing she was afraid of.
Because if he remembered—
Everything would end.
The lie.
This relationship.
This fragile connection.
Aryan slowly released her.
His expression changed.
Colder.
Sharper.
More distant.
Almost like the man she had heard about—
Not the one who held her close just moments ago.
"Come in," he said.
The door opened.
Raman stepped inside.
Professional.
Calm.
But his eyes briefly flickered toward Kiara—
As if reminding her silently—
Be careful.
"We have information regarding the accident," Raman said.
Aryan's gaze darkened.
"Speak."
Kiara felt her fingers curl tightly into the bedsheet.
Her heart wouldn't stop racing.
Something was about to change.
She could feel it.
Raman continued,
"There are indications… that this was not an accident."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Aryan's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…Go on."
Kiara's breath hitched.
Her chest tightened.
Not an accident…?
Then—
What was it?
And more importantly—
Who was Aryan Backwood… really?
Because deep down—
She had a feeling—
She had stepped into something far more dangerous than just a lie.
Something darker.
Something that could destroy everything.
And this time—
Walking away…
Might not be an option anymore.