Not my woman

His POV

I fell asleep while talking to my jaan.

When I woke up around six in the morning, I walked toward my room—and then I saw her.

She was on the floor.

I took a step closer, my chest tightening for reasons I refused to name. Her cheeks were streaked with dried tears. Her nose were still red probably from crying, and there was a faint frown etched between her brows, like the pain hadn’t fully left her even in sleep.

Why was she crying?

Did she hear me last night?

A memory surfaced—how I had sensed someone’s presence earlier. I’d felt it. Someone had been there. I’d chosen to ignore it.

So… it was her.

Whatever. I’d told her from the very beginning not to expect anything from me.

Pushing the thought aside, I walked past her, changed quickly, and headed to the gym. I buried myself in my routine, letting the weights drown out everything I didn’t want to feel.

When I finally returned and walked into the dining area, she was there—standing by the table, serving breakfast as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

“Oh, you’re here,” she said softly, looking up at me with a gentle smile. “Good morning. I made breakfast for us. Let’s eat.”

I nodded and took a seat, my expression unreadable.

“You don’t have to do this,” I said coldly. “There are butlers for all of it. And don’t act like a wife—because you’re certainly nothing like that to me.”

I saw it then—the flicker of pain in her eyes. It hit her hard. But just as quickly, she masked it, her lips curving into a calm, almost serene smile.

“I know,” she replied quietly. “But you are my husband. Whether you accept it or not.”

She placed the plate in front of me, her hands steady despite the storm behind her eyes.

“So I respect you,” she continued softly. “And cooking is something I love… I just wanted to do it.”

She stood there for a moment longer, waiting for nothing, expecting nothing—yet giving everything.

After finishing breakfast, I left for my office—my empire. Drake’s Pvt. Lt.

Taking the private lift, I went straight to my cabin, only to hear—

“Ohhh hello, my brotherrrr, finally!”

A mocking grin. Annoyingly familiar.

“How was your wedding night, huh?”

I clenched my jaw.

This fucker. My so-called best friend. The permanent pain in my ass. Aarav Rathore.

“Shut up,” I snapped, tossing my coat on the chair. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, come on,” he said casually, leaning against my desk. “I just came to see my newly married best friend. Heard your woman is really pretty. Care to introduce me?”

“Fuck off.”

My voice was cold. Sharp.

“First—she’s not my woman. My woman died six years ago. And second—about her being pretty… I don’t know.”

The room went silent.

The playful demonour on Aarav’s face vanished.

I knew that look.

I knew exactly where this was heading.

“Listen, Adhvik,” he said quietly now. “She is your wife, for God’s sake.”

I looked away, my jaw tightening.

“How are you even saying these things so easily?” he continued. “I know you don’t love her. I know you never asked for this marriage. But don’t—don’t disrespect her.”

His voice cracked just a little.

“She’s a girl who deserves happiness. She deserves love. And even if you can’t give her that… at least don’t hurt her, man.”

Something twisted painfully in my chest.

“You think I don’t know that?” I snapped back. “You think I wanted this?”

Aarav didn’t flinch.

“That doesn’t matter. She didn’t want this either.”

Silence again.

For a second—just one cursed second—her face flashed in my mind.

Her nervous eyes.

The way her hands trembled while holding the wedding garland.

The forced smile she wore like armour.

I hated it.

“I’m not going to touch her life,” I said finally, my voice low. “She’ll live in this house like a guest. No expectations. No emotions.”

Aarav laughed bitterly.

“That’s worse, Adhvik. That’s emotional cruelty.”

I slammed my palm on the desk.

“Enough.”

He stared at me for a long moment, then shook his head.

“One day,” he said softly, “you’ll realise she wasn’t your punishment… she was your second chance but by then you will be too late ”

He walked out, leaving the words behind like wounds.

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes.

Why did it feel like the walls of my empire were closing in on me…

on the very first day of my marriage?