Kian's fiancée....!

When Kaira came downstairs after getting ready, her steps faltered at the sight in the living room. Sitting there with her brother was a girl. In just one glance, Kaira recognized her.

She was none other than her brother's fiancée — Anna Martin.

Anna had always been someone who preferred simplicity. Even today, she wore a plain white one-piece dress. No heavy makeup—just a touch of lip gloss and a bit of kohl—but still, her natural beauty and grace stood out effortlessly.

As soon as Anna saw Kaira descending the stairs, she immediately stood up and walked over to her. With genuine affection, she cupped Kaira 's cheeks in her hands and said in a concerned tone, "Oh Kaira , are you alright? Kian told me you fell into the water…"

Kaira gently moved her hands away and replied with a calm smile,

"I'm perfectly fine, sister-in-law."

Her words were calm, yet carried an unsettling weight.

Neither Kian nor Anna felt at ease hearing them.

Anna was taken aback.

"What… sister-in-law?" she repeated in surprise.

Ignoring both Anna's and her brother's reactions, Kaira added with innocent clarity,

"What else should I call you, bhabhi? You're my brother's fiancée, and soon to be his wife—so calling you 'sister-in-law' is only appropriate, isn't it?"

Before Kaira could even finish her sentence, Kian quickly chimed in,

"Kaira is absolutely right."

Hearing her response, Anna gave a faint smile, but behind that smile was a storm of emotions. Kaira quietly walked over to the other sofa and gestured for the housemaid to come.

The maid immediately approached and bent slightly in front of Kaira . "Yes, ma'am? What do you need?"

Without any hesitation, Kaira said,

"Do I really need to tell you? Can't you see? My sister-in-law has an injury on her hand. Go get the first aid box."

The maid nodded and quickly left. Just then, Kian's gaze unintentionally fell on Anna's hand—where there was a faint burn mark. He hadn't noticed it until now.

The mark was minor, but Anna had been hiding it.

She didn't want anyone in the house to notice it. In fact, she had come here only to check on Kaira . She had no other reason. She knew very well that most people in this house didn't really like her—especially Kian…

Their engagement had only been arranged because Kian's mother and Anna's mother had once been best friends. And perhaps that was the only thread still holding this relationship together.

But today… today something felt different.

Kaira 's calm smile, the way she said "sister-in-law," and Anna's concealed pain—all of it seemed to stir an unspoken storm.

In a few moments, the maid returned with the first aid box. Kaira took it from her, placed it on the table, and gently opened it.

But before she could take out any medicine, her eyes drifted toward her brother—who was calmly scrolling on his phone, as if nothing around him mattered.

Seeing this, Kaira 's face fell. Her brother's indifference made her really angry.

She slammed the cotton ball in her hand hard onto the table, the sharp sound echoing through the room. It was loud enough to finally pull Kian's attention away from his phone and toward Kaira .

Kian looked at her in surprise. "Kaira , are you okay?"

Kaira glared at him, her voice edged with anger. "I'm fine, brother… but the real question is, are you okay? Can't you see sister— in—law's hand is injured? You should've applied the medicine right away, but you seem completely lost in your phone world."

"You're here, aren't you…" Kian murmured quietly.

Kaira heard him, but without reacting, she said, "I have other things to do. I'm not free just to handle this. You do it yourself."

With that, she got up, grabbed the first-aid box from the table, and handed it directly to her brother.

Kian silently took the medicine kit.

Kaira had just turned to leave when her steps suddenly halted. She looked back at her brother for a moment and said in a calm, steady voice, "Make sure you apply the medicine…"

Then, without another word or emotion, she quietly walked away.

For a moment, the whole room was filled with an odd, heavy silence.

Standing nearby, Anna had seen and heard it all — and was deeply stunned.

Kian and Anna were engaged, but they had never even touched each other till now.

Kian picked up the first-aid box and walked over to Anna — the same Anna who always seemed to struggle for words in front of him.

His eyes lingered on her face for a brief moment. She looked frightened — eyes filled with fear, lips trembling.

But in Kian's eyes, there was no worry, no compassion.

Just that same old royal arrogance.

Without saying a word, he opened the box, took out the ointment tube, and extended his empty hand toward her.

"Give me your hand."

His tone wasn't harsh… but it carried that cold arrogance — the kind that made people lower their gaze without realizing it.

Anna remained seated in silence. No movement. Her eyes were cast down.

Kian tilted his head slightly, and a faint yet sharp smile played on his lips.

"Are you scared?" he asked, almost mockingly. "Or do I have to be the one to give in again?"

There was no kindness in his voice — only authority. The kind of authority he had granted himself.

"Your hesitation doesn't stop me, Anna. I have time to treat your wounds… not to offer favors."

Slowly, Anna raised her eyes. For a moment, their gazes met.

Her fingers trembled... but finally, she reached out her hand.

Kian's smile deepened slightly.

"Good girl..." he muttered, and began squeezing the ointment from the tube — like he always ended up being the one proven right.

He took her hand.

No urgency. No gentleness, either.

He applied the ointment on her hand like it was nothing more than a formality… something to be done simply because Kaira had asked.

Anna kept her eyes lowered.

She said nothing.

No complaint about the pain. No words of gratitude.

Just silence.

But even that silence said something. A lot, actually.

Sometimes staying quiet is a statement in itself — but Kian wasn't interested in listening to such statements.

"You people have such a strange habit," Kian murmured,"You endure the pain yourselves… but when someone comes to help, you either get scared or go silent."

His voice was sharper now — as if he was offering help and a rebuke at the same time.

As he applied the ointment, he looked up.

"You think I'm doing this for you?" A faint, mocking smile touched his lips.

"I'm not the kind of man who shares everyone's pain. I'm only doing this… because my sister asked me to. Got that?"

Anna's eyelashes fluttered briefly.

She said nothing.

Didn't lower her head. Didn't protest.

She just sat there — as if her silence was her armor.

Kian finished applying the ointment and gently let go of her hand.

Then stood upright, without uttering a single word.

A strange coldness settled into the room.

Wait for the next chapter