Chapter 6: A Dangerous Game

Days passed, and Ashnoor slowly adjusted to life in the Suthar mansion.

She had learned a few things about Arav in that time.

1. He was always busy. He left early, returned late, and hardly spoke to her.

2. He wasn't as emotionless as he pretended to be. Sometimes, she caught him staring. And once, she swore she saw amusement in his eyes when she nearly tripped on the marble stairs.

3. He had a weakness—his grandmother. No matter how cold he acted, he never refused her anything.

But the biggest discovery? His past was a mystery.

She overheard some of the servants whispering about a woman from Arav's past—someone who had left him broken.

Curious, she tried to ask Dadi about it one evening.

"Has Arav ever been in love before?" she asked casually.

Dadi hesitated before sighing. "There was someone, long ago. But she betrayed his trust."

Ashnoor's eyebrows furrowed. "What happened?"

"That is something only Arav can tell you, beta."

Ashnoor nodded, but inside, her curiosity grew.

That night, as she sat in their bedroom, she finally asked him.

"Arav… have you ever loved someone before?"

He froze for a moment, then slowly turned to face her. His gaze was sharp, unreadable.

"Why are you asking?"

Ashnoor shrugged, pretending not to care. "Just curious."

Arav took a slow breath. "Curiosity can be dangerous."

She frowned. "Why do you always avoid answering anything personal?"

For the first time, she saw a flicker of something raw in his eyes—pain? Anger?

Then, just as quickly, it was gone.

"You want to know the truth?" he said coldly. "Love is a weakness. And I don't believe in it."

His words sent a chill down her spine.

She should have dropped the topic. She should have nodded and let it go.

But something in her refused to back down.

"Maybe you don't believe in love," she said softly. "But that doesn't mean you don't feel it."

Arav stared at her for a long moment. Then, without another word, he turned away.

Ashnoor exhaled shakily.

What had happened to make him like this?

And more importantly…

Why did she care?