Unraveling Feelings

She stared at the gown laid out before her, the rich emerald fabric gleaming under the soft glow of the bedroom lights. The material looked impossibly smooth, cascading like liquid silk, its deep hue a striking contrast against the pale sheets. It was breathtaking—elegant, sophisticated, yet undeniably alluring in a way that made her pulse quicken.

Her fingers hesitated before reaching out. When she finally brushed the fabric, a shiver ran down her spine. It felt like something out of a dream.

A dream she didn't belong to.

Aksh stood a few steps away, silent, watching. His presence was steady, unwavering, as if he already knew how this moment would unfold. Hands tucked casually into his pockets, his dark eyes held an unreadable expression, something unreadable and yet… possessive.

"You bought this… for me?" she asked, barely above a whisper.

The idea was absurd. This gown, with its undeniable richness, its silent command for attention—this wasn't something she had ever imagined wearing. It belonged to a woman with confidence, with a place in the world Aksh inhabited so easily.

He took a step forward, closing the space between them. "Who else?"

The low timbre of his voice sent a shiver through her. She felt the heat of his body, even though he wasn't touching her yet. His presence alone was enough to make her breath falter.

Her gaze flickered to his, searching for something—an explanation, maybe. She didn't understand why he had done this. Why he had chosen her for something so extravagant.

"It's too much," she murmured, swallowing against the sudden tightness in her throat.

Aksh reached out, fingers tracing the delicate strap of the gown before tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. His touch was light, almost reverent.

"You deserve too much."

Her heart skipped a beat.

His words shouldn't have affected her. They shouldn't have made her feel something dangerously warm, something that threatened to shake the carefully built walls around her heart.

"Wear it for me tonight," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Let the world see who you belong to."

The words should have stung. Should have made her push back, remind him that she wasn't something to be owned, displayed like a trophy.

But when she met his eyes—dark, intense, brimming with something raw—she knew.

This wasn't about ownership.

It was about a silent claim. A declaration without words.

And a part of her—one she wasn't sure she was ready to face— and other wanted that.

The grand ballroom shimmered in golden light, dazzling and extravagant, filled with the kind of people who spoke in polished tones and carried power in their very presence. Chandeliers hung high above, refracting light across marble floors. The air buzzed with laughter, murmured conversations, and the faint clinking of crystal glasses.

Her emerald gown fit like a second skin, hugging her curves, the slit teasing glimpses of her leg as she walked. She felt every pair of eyes that landed on her, some admiring, others scrutinizing. It was overwhelming.

But Aksh's hand was firm on the small of her back, his touch grounding. The heat of his palm burned through the fabric, a silent reassurance.

He hadn't let her stray far from his side, his presence a silent shield.

And she needed it.

Because this wasn't her world.

She had stepped into something foreign, where every glance held hidden meanings, where power wasn't just in wealth but in the way these people spoke, the way they moved.

She didn't belong here.

But with Aksh beside her, none of it mattered.

For a moment, she allowed herself to pretend. To believe that maybe—just maybe—she could fit into his world, even if it was only for tonight.

Then she appeared.

Tall. Elegant. The kind of beauty that was effortless, confident. Her silk dress clung to her body like it was made for her, each step she took exuding grace.

And the way she looked at Aksh—familiar, knowing—made something sharp twist inside her.

Then Aksh smiled.

Not the smirk he often wore. Not the dangerous, knowing curve of his lips that he gave to others.

This smile was softer. Unrestrained. Effortless.

Her stomach dropped.

The woman placed a hand on his forearm, laughing at something he said. He didn't move away.

She felt the floor tilt beneath her, the sounds of the party fading into a dull hum.

She wasn't naive. She knew Aksh's world was filled with powerful people, with women who understood him in ways she never could. Women who belonged.

She had told herself it didn't matter. That Aksh had chosen her.

But now, standing here, watching him with a woman who fit—the truth was suffocating.

The distance between them had never felt so vast.

Aksh was larger than life. A man who carried influence in his very presence.

And her?

She was just a girl who had stepped into his world by accident.

Her fingers curled into a fist at her side, her heart hammering painfully against her ribs.

She turned without a word.

Slipping through the crowd, she moved quickly, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps.

She needed air. She needed to breathe.

The heavy doors of the ballroom loomed ahead. She pushed through them, stepping onto the terrace. The night air was cold, biting against her exposed skin, but she barely noticed.

She gripped the railing, forcing herself to steady her breathing.

She shouldn't feel like this.

Shouldn't feel like something inside her was breaking.

But she did.

And the worst part?

It had nothing to do with the woman.

And everything to do with the way Aksh had looked at her.

Because this wasn't her world.

She had stepped into something foreign,

As she stepped outside into the crisp night air, she didn't know if she was running away from the party—

Or from the way Aksh made her feel.

The cold night air wrapped around her as she walked aimlessly through the empty streets, her heels clicking against the pavement. The city lights flickered in the distance, but her thoughts were far away, tangled in emotions she wasn't ready to face.

I fell for him.

The realization settled deep in her chest, heavy and inescapable. She hadn't meant to. She had tried to guard herself, to remind herself that Aksh was dangerous, that he belonged to a world where love was a weakness.

But how could she not?

No one had ever protected her the way he did. No one had ever looked at her like she was something precious, something worth keeping safe. From the moment he had stepped into her life, he had consumed it, making her feel things she had never felt before.

But… had he fallen for her?

He had claimed her. He had whispered possessive words, touched her like he owned her, looked at her like she belonged to him.

But he had never said he loved her.

And maybe that was why, as she had watched him with that woman tonight, something inside her cracked.

What if she was just another person he wanted to protect? What if she was just a fleeting part of his world, something he would one day let go of when it no longer suited him?

Her chest ached.

She had given her heart to him without realizing it.

And now, she didn't know if he even wanted it.