The air in the dimly lit office was thick with tension as Arnica Pattnaik faced the man who had turned her world upside down. Zyden Raichand leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes piercing through the smoke of his cigar, a smirk playing on his lips. “You think you can just walk away from me?” he taunted, his voice low and dangerous. “I’ve made my intentions clear, Ishq. You belong to me now.” Her heart raced, anger and fear clashing within her. “You can’t just force me into this! I’m not some pawn in your game, Veer!” Zyden smile widened, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “Oh, but you are. You see, I don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. And believe me, I have ways of making you understand that and see still after years you call me Veer your Veer and world calls you Arnica but for me you are my ishq remember how in those days you used to call me Veer and I used to call you Ishq” “You think your money and threats intimidate me? I’m a surgeon. I save lives. I won’t be your trophy.” “Then perhaps I should remind you of the stakes,” he said, leaning closer, his voice a seductive whisper. “I have the power to ruin everything you’ve built. Your career, your reputation—it can all disappear in a heartbeat.” Ishq’s breath hitched. “You’re a monster.” “And yet, here you are, drawn to me like a moth to a flame,” he replied, the heat of his gaze igniting something deep within her. “This is your choice, Ishq. You can fight it, or you can embrace it. But know this—I will have you.” You kept him from me,” His voice was cold, edged with fury. “You took our son and disappeared.” “I had no choice,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “You… you left me no choice.” Veer’s dark eyes flashed with something dangerous as he stepped closer, his towering frame filling the space between them. “Don’t lie to yourself, Ishq This was never about choice. This was about control.” He grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but not painful—yet. “And now, I’m taking back what’s mine.”