5.The Weight of Unrequited Love

Elena's POV

Eight years of marriage, and I still think about the first time I saw Rivaan. How could I not? It was the moment that changed everything. Sometimes, I wonder if I fell in love with him too quickly, too easily. But the truth is, from the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew I wanted him, no matter what it took.

I was 19 then, engaged to Jay, the son of my father's best friend. Jay, like me, came from a wealthy family. He was a billionaire, just like my father, but I couldn't stand him. I hated the way he made fun of me. He never respected me, never saw me as an equal. I was just a means to an end, the perfect match to secure both families' business interests. Every interaction with him left me feeling small, insignificant, like I was just another part of the business deal.

We were engaged because of our fathers. It was an arrangement neither of us truly wanted, but we went along with it because that's what was expected. When I broke off the engagement, Jay didn't even fight it. He was happy. I could see it in his eyes, though he never said why. It didn't matter, though. The moment I saw Rivaan, I knew Jay would never stand a chance.

Rivaan was working in my father's company, just another employee, but there was something about him. I remember walking into my father's office one day, and there he was, sitting at a desk, completely focused on his laptop. He looked so handsome, so confident, with his dark hair slightly tousled and his intense eyes fixed on the screen. I could barely breathe. He didn't notice me, but I couldn't take my eyes off him. I was drawn to him in a way I had never been drawn to anyone before.

After that, I found every excuse to visit my father's office, hoping to catch a glimpse of Rivaan. I would linger near his desk, ask pointless questions just to hear him speak. He was always polite but distant, never giving me the attention I craved. It frustrated me to no end. I was used to getting what I wanted, and I wanted him.

One day, I couldn't hold it in any longer. I went to his office and confessed my feelings. I told him how much I liked him, how I couldn't stop thinking about him. I was nervous, yes, but I was also confident. No one had ever said no to me before, and I didn't expect him to be any different. But he did. He rejected me, flatly and without hesitation.

It was a blow to my pride, something I had never experienced before. I was the daughter of a billionaire, engaged to another billionaire, used to being treated like a princess. My father and brother never denied me anything. My mother passed away when I was just one year old, so my older brother, who was 15 years older than me, raised me like his own daughter. I was spoiled, protected, and sheltered from the harsh realities of the world. No one had ever said no to me. Until Rivaan.

I couldn't accept it. The more he pushed me away, the more determined I became to have him. It wasn't just about love anymore; it was about proving to myself that I could make him mine. So, I did something drastic, something I regret to this day. At the time, I thought it was justified, but now… now I see how wrong I was.

I kidnapped his sister's fiancé, one day before her wedding.

It sounds insane, even to me now, but back then, I was blinded by my obsession with Rivaan. I knew how much his family meant to him, especially his sister. I knew that he would do anything to ensure her happiness, and I used that to my advantage. I told him that if he wanted his sister's wedding to go ahead as planned, he would have to marry me. And he did.

It was a quiet ceremony, just the two of us and a few witnesses. There was no love, no joy, just a sense of obligation on his part and triumph on mine. I had won. He was mine. But I hadn't won his heart. I had forced his hand, and in doing so, I had destroyed any chance of genuine love between us.

After the wedding, I apologized to both Rivaan and his sister. His sister, unsurprisingly, hated me, and to this day, she still can't stand to be around me. She ignores me at family gatherings, refuses to speak to me directly, but she loves my children. For that, at least, I'm grateful. Her husband, on the other hand, forgave me. He understood the lengths I had gone to for love, even if he didn't agree with my methods.

But Rivaan? He never forgave me. He never let go of the resentment he felt toward me for forcing him into a marriage he didn't want. For eight years, he has been emotionally distant, cold, and indifferent. We live in the same house, sleep in the same bed, but it's like we're worlds apart. He's a good father, I'll give him that. He loves our children deeply, and they adore him. To them, we're the perfect couple. But to me, our marriage is nothing more than a hollow shell, a façade we maintain for the sake of our family.

I was madly in love with him back then, and I still am. But his ignorance, his refusal to show me any affection, has left me feeling more alone than I ever thought possible. I spend my days surrounded by luxury, by the life we've built together, but it all feels meaningless without his love. Sometimes, I wonder if anyone truly loves me, or if I'm just the spoiled daughter of a billionaire who always got her way, no matter the cost.

But then I look at my children, and I feel a flicker of hope, of love. They are my world now. They are the reason I keep going, even when it feels like my heart is breaking a little more each day. I stay for them, because I want them to have the life I never had—a life filled with love and happiness.

But how long can I keep living like this? How long can I wait for Rivaan to love me the way I've always loved him? I don't know. I'm not sure how much more I can take.