Changed
Priya’s eyes widened as she registered that he had just said he loved her.
She had never had a boyfriend, but she knew what love was.
It’s selfless.
The same kind she showed to her Mother Mary and the orphanage kids.
How could he love her? He had just hurt her, and now naming it as love was something beyond what she could comprehend.
Priyank didn’t react to her words, knowing she wasn’t lying about her feelings on the topic love. He didn’t know how to do it.
But somehow, what he felt about her fell under love.
Maybe in his own twisted way.
He wouldn’t argue with her about what he felt or what it should be called.
That wasn’t him. He could only express his feelings in one word.
He couldn’t explain it in the same way of love she wanted from him.
“I do love you, sweetheart. That’s why, despite disrespecting me so many times, you are still breathing just fine. I don’t think anyone else would be doing that if it weren’t you,” he explained, his hand grabbing hers as he played with her fingers.
Priya’s whole body shivered, feeling the kind of love he had for her.
She could feel how unsafe it was.
Not just unsafe, but fatal. It was death. It was something she couldn’t even name.
“Let go of my hand. Don’t touch me, you’re scaring me,” Priya pleaded, trying to pull her hand out of his grasp.
“I don’t think I can let go of your hand, sweetheart. You’re mine to hold now, and let’s just enjoy the beach. Leave everything else to me,” Priyank said, kissing her fingertips.
Priya gasped, “I’m not leaving anything to you. Just let go of my hand, or else…” She trailed off, unsure of what else to say.
Because no threat seemed to work on him, and she didn’t have any leverage she could use against him.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“Or else what, sweetheart? You don’t have to keep me on my toes, unless I want to be,” Priyank teased, winking as he softly bit her forefinger.
Priya closed her eyes, feeling like he was going to eat her fingers.
Was he capable of doing it?
Who knew? She found him scary enough to consider the possibility.
With a sense of unease settling in her stomach, Priya tried to gather her thoughts.
“Listen, Priyank, I’m not playing your games anymore. Let go of my hand, or I’ll scream for help,” Priya said, her voice trembling slightly.
Priyank chuckled, unfazed by her threat. “Go ahead, scream all you want. No one will hear you out here,” he replied, his grip tightening on her hand.
He wanted her to scream, to witness the futility of seeking help. Even if anyone attempted to come to her aid, they would meet their death.
This way, he could ensure that the idea of seeking help would be permanently etched in her mind, deterring her from ever reaching out for help in the future.
Only he could help her; no one else could intervene on his behalf. If he could, he would create a different reality for her, one where she wouldn’t have to breathe the same air as everyone else.
But he couldn’t change the circumstances. This was the depth of his obsession with her.
Priya glanced around and noticed that there weren’t many people on the beach, perhaps because it was daytime. The few individuals who were there were far away from her.
Would they come to her help if she screamed?
“Go ahead and scream, Angel. What are you waiting for? I’d love to see who would come to your rescue. Isn’t it like inviting their own death?” he taunted.
Feeling a chill run down her spine, Priya realised the gravity of her situation. She was alone with a man who seemed capable of anything, and there was no one nearby to come to her help.
“I won’t scream,” she declared, her voice steady despite her fear.
“Why not? I thought you found it interesting. I thought you liked screaming. I have many ways to make you scream, Angel. It’s not such an issue. But now you’re changing your mind, so I can’t say more,” Priyank chuckled.
He could see how scared she was, despite her attempts to sound brave.
Priya’s heart raced as Priyank’s words sent a shiver down her spine. She couldn’t deny the fear creeping into her every fibre, but she refused to let him see how much he was affecting her.
“I’m not afraid of you,” she said, her voice quivering slightly despite her best efforts to sound confident. “I don’t want to scream, because it’s my choice.”
Hahaha!! Hahaha!!
Priyank’s laughter echoed in the half empty beach.
“Did I say you’re scared, Angel? I never said you’re scared. I know you are…” Priyank paused, then continued, “Terrified.”
He didn’t know why teasing her brought him such amusement, but now he understood.
Her innocent demeanour tempted him to provoke her further.
‘She might have her episodes again, it won’t help,’ his conscience reminded him.
Priyank quickly released her hand from his grip, not wanting her to lose consciousness like she did for two days.
That was like a living nightmare for him, one he didn’t want to experience again.
He could face death, but he couldn’t bear to see Priya pale and unconscious in his arms.
Priya immediately pulled her hand back, perplexed by the sudden change.
Perhaps he was frightened by her display of courage?
That was the only conclusion she could come to with her limited IQ.
Despite her uncertainty, Priya couldn’t shake off the feeling of relief that washed over her. She was grateful to no longer be under his tight grasp, even if she didn’t fully understand why he had let her go.
Looking at Priyank, she saw a flicker of something in his eyes-was it guilt? Regret? It was hard to tell.
“Angel, let’s head back now. We’ve been here for a few hours, and evening is approaching. It’s best we go back before you catch a cold, especially considering your health,” Priyank said gently as he lifted her into his arms without waiting for her response.
He began walking towards his car and carefully placed her inside before settling into the driver’s seat.
Driving back to the penthouse, Priyank couldn’t shake off the uneasiness that lingered in the air. Despite the peaceful surroundings of the beach, a sense of tension still hung between him and Priya.
Glancing at her from the corner of his eye, he noticed the furrow in her brow and the distant look in her eyes. It was clear that she was lost in her thoughts, and he couldn’t help but wonder what was going through her mind.
“Priya, are you okay?” he asked softly, breaking the silence that enveloped them in the car.