After escaping from Adranksh, Maya rushed to her children. Mayank and Adhya were happily interacting with the family, their manners impeccable yet filled with childlike joy.

The moment they saw Maya, their faces lit up with excitement, as if they had been waiting for her all along. She smiled and walked toward them.

"Amma, we were waiting for you! Anna hurt his hand," Adhya chirped, grinning up at her mother.

Maya's gaze immediately shifted to Mayank. He put on a brave face, but she knew better. With a sigh, she knelt before him and gently took his hand, inspecting it.

"I already checked, Maya. He's fine-just a little pain in his right hand," Ishan reassured her.

"Thank you, Anna," she murmured as she stood up.

Just then, Ishani arrived with a plate of food. "You better eat before you leave, or I won't forgive you," she warned, her tone playful but firm.

Maya sighed before taking the plate. "Thank you, Ishu," she said, pulling her into a one-armed hug.

Ishani smiled and turned to the children. "Hello, babies! I'm your Atte-or Choti Maa. You can call me whatever you like."

Adhya studied the beautiful woman before her, then beamed. "You're so pretty, Atte!"

Ishani's heart swelled with warmth. Before she could respond, a voice called out her name. "I'll be right back," she said, excusing herself.

Maya turned back to her children and then to the plate in her hands. "Alright, time to eat."

She lifted Adhya and placed her onto a chair at the round table before settling Mayank on her lap. With practiced ease, she began feeding both of them.

She looked so different now. The fierce, untouchable woman had softened, revealing a tenderness reserved only for her children. The family watched in silent wonder-how could someone so strong, so ruthless, become this gentle and loving?

Maya and her children had become the center of attention.

Adhya chattered nonstop about how much she loved everyone, while Mayank remained quiet, scanning the room as if searching for something-or someone.

And then, as if on cue, Adranksh entered.

He stood behind Maya, his heart melting at the sight before him. His queen, his children-the family he had never known he needed.

Maya, oblivious to his presence, continued feeding the kids, her focus on Adhya's excited rambling.

Without hesitation, Adranksh stepped forward and lifted Adhya into his arms before sitting down with her on his lap.

Adhya squealed happily, wrapping her tiny arms around him. Maya's head snapped up, her expression darkening as she met Adranksh's gaze. But instead of reacting, she chose to ignore him, focusing on feeding Mayank instead.

Mayank, however, simply stared at his father-silent, observant.

Adhya, now animatedly talking to Adranksh, didn't notice the tension between her parents.

Maya sighed, glancing at them before looking away.
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That night, Maya had just put the kids to sleep. Silence wrapped the house as she walked back to her room, seeking a moment of peace.

The steam from her shower still clung to her skin as she stepped out, a towel the only barrier between her and the cold air. Her hair was wet, her movements unguarded.

Until she felt it.

A presence.

That electric charge in the air that only one person could bring.

She turned slowly, and there he was-sitting on her bed like he owned it. Like he owned her.

Adranksh.

Her jaw clenched. "What the hell are you doing in my room?"

He didn't answer.

Didn't flinch.

Didn't even blink.

Just watched her like a predator with its prey-leaning back casually, eyes raking over her without shame. "You've gotten reckless," he said, voice low and dangerous. "Walking around like this... leaving your window unlocked."

Her fingers gripped the edge of the towel tighter. "Get out."

But he stood instead, walking toward her, slow and measured-every step a warning. "You used to be smarter, Maya. You never let your guard down."

"Maybe because I never imagined you'd stoop this low," she shot back, her voice sharp.

He stopped right in front of her. Too close. The tension between them vibrated like a drawn wire.

"You thought I'd stop wanting you just because I hate you now?" he said darkly, his breath brushing her skin. "I hate you, Maya. But that doesn't mean I've forgotten what you taste like." Her heart broke. She hated him too but why did he hate her? Because she left him? Because she hid their kids from him?

Before she could reply, his hand gripped her jaw-firm, but not cruel. His mouth crashed onto hers in a brutal, consuming kiss. There was no gentleness. Only punishment. Possession. And something darker beneath it all.

For a second, she let it happen-let him kiss her like he still had the right.

And then, with every ounce of control she had left, she shoved him back.

His eyes burned. Hers, darker.

"Touch me again," she spat, wiping her lips with the back of her hand, "and I'll remind you why you lost me in the first place."

He smirked, licking his bottom lip where her taste still lingered. His hands exploring every curve of her body.

"Darling, I never lost you. You ran. And now... I'm just making sure you can't run again. You're still mine... you just haven't accepted it yet."

She turned her back to him-not out of fear, but to control the chaos rising inside her. If she looked into his eyes any longer, she might forget all the reasons she hated him.

That's exactly what he wanted.

In one swift motion, he closed the distance between them. His mouth crashed against hers again, all fire and fury. She tried to shove him, but he pressed her back against the vanity, making it clear-he was done asking.

His hands moved fast across the cluttered table.

Then he found it.

A knife.

He didn't hesitate. He dragged the cold metal across his thumb, a shallow cut-precise. Controlled.

She gasped.
She knew exactly what he was about to do.

He held her face still with one hand and stared into her soul with the other, blood dripping slowly.

"You think you can erase me?" he whispered, dangerously soft.
"You think any man will ever touch you without knowing I've claimed you?"

And then-he filled her hairline with his blood.

Marking her.

"You're mine, Maya."
"Even if the world forgets. Even if you try to forget. I'll make sure you remember who you belong to."

His bloody thumb moved down, brushing over her lips-painting them.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her body betrayed her. She wanted to lean in. To taste it.
But no.

She shoved him hard.
"Get out."

He smirked.
Not shaken. Not surprised.
Like he wanted the fight.

He leaned in close, his breath on her neck.
"You'll wash it off, Maya. But it won't matter. You'll still feel me under your skin."

He turned and left, the window slamming open behind him from the wind.

She stood frozen, heart racing, blood thrumming in her ears.

Then the silence broke-her phone ringing.

"Yeah, you can start over you can run free,
You can find other fish in the sea,
You can pretend it's meant to be
But you can't stay away from me
I can still hear you make that sound
Taking me down rolling on the ground
You can pretend it was me,
But no, oh,
Baby, I'm preying on you tonight, hunt you down and eat you alive."

She stiffened. It was his voice, singing. Dark, deep, beautiful. Heat rushed to her core.

That bastard.

She answered, still breathless.
"How did you unlock my phone?"

"It's not hard when the password is my birthday."
Her grip on the phone tightened.

"Hope you liked my little gift."
"See you soon, Malyshka."

The call ended.

She turned slowly... and that's when she saw it.

A bouquet of blood-red roses on the bed.

Tucked between the petals-a small black box.

She opened it.

Inside was a bullet.
Silver. Gleaming.

Engraved with her name.
Maya Adranksh Singh Rajput.