Chapter 2: The Gilded Cage

Author's POV

Dia sat on the edge of the massive canopy bed in the room she had been led to. The space was overwhelming—walls painted in soft creams and gold, a chandelier casting a warm glow over the plush furniture, and large windows framed with heavy velvet curtains. It was nothing short of luxurious, yet she felt suffocated. This wasn’t home.

Her thoughts spiraled as she replayed the events of the evening. Her parents’ desperate cries, Ekansh’s cold declaration, and the humiliating way she had been carried out of her house. Her fingers dug into the silk sheets beneath her, the anger and helplessness finally bubbling to the surface.

The sound of a soft knock at the door startled her. Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and a woman in her mid-thirties entered, carrying a tray of food. She looked kind, her demeanor calm, but there was a quiet efficiency in her movements that suggested she was used to following orders.

“Sir asked me to bring this for you,” the woman said, placing the tray on the small table near the bed. She hesitated, studying Dia for a moment before adding, “If you need anything, my name is Radha. Just call for me.”

Dia nodded stiffly, her stomach growling despite the turmoil in her mind. As Radha left, she reluctantly moved to the table, taking small bites of the warm soup. It soothed her cramps slightly, but her thoughts remained in chaos. What did Ekansh mean by “you’re mine now”? What kind of life was he dragging her into?

---

Ekansh sat in his study, a glass of whiskey in hand as he stared at the city lights beyond the window. He had never been one to act on impulse, but tonight had been different. Something about Dia—the innocence in her wide eyes, the way she held herself despite her pain—had stirred something in him. She was nothing like the women he usually dealt with in his world of shadows and blood.

“She’ll hate me,” he muttered to himself, taking a long sip of his drink. But he didn’t care. Dia was his now, and he had no intention of letting her go.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. One of his men entered, bowing slightly. “The girl is settled in her room, sir. Radha is looking after her.”

Ekansh nodded, waving the man away. Once alone, he leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips. The road ahead would be messy—he knew that. But if Dia’s fire matched her innocence, this might be one battle he would enjoy fighting.

---

Dia didn’t sleep much that night. The unfamiliar surroundings, the constant hum of anxiety in her chest, and the memory of Ekansh’s penetrating gaze kept her awake. She finally dozed off as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, only to be jolted awake by a knock on the door.

“Miss Dia,” Radha’s voice called softly. “Sir wants to see you in the dining room.”

Her heart sank at the thought of facing him again, but she had no choice. She quickly changed into the simple dress Radha had left for her and followed the woman down the grand hallway. Every step felt heavier as they neared the dining room.

When she entered, Ekansh was already seated at the head of the table, dressed in a crisp black shirt, sipping coffee. His dark eyes locked onto hers, and she felt a chill run down her spine.

“Sit,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.

Dia hesitated but eventually obeyed, her gaze fixed on the polished wood of the table. The air between them was tense, and when Ekansh finally spoke, his words were calm but commanding.

“You’re in my world now, Dia. And you’ll follow my rules.”

---

Dia stared at Ekansh, her fists clenched under the table. She wanted to yell at him, to demand answers, but the weight of his authority silenced her. He sipped his coffee leisurely, as though everything that had happened the night before was perfectly normal.

“I have business to attend to,” he said abruptly, rising from his chair and straightening his shirt. His imposing frame seemed even more commanding as he stood over her. “You’ll stay here. Radha will look after you.”

Without waiting for a response, he walked past her, his cologne lingering in the air. Dia flinched as the heavy front door closed behind him, leaving the mansion eerily quiet. She finally exhaled, trying to process everything.

Radha entered the dining room shortly after, her kind demeanor from the previous night completely gone. Her expression was cold, her voice sharp. “You may have fooled Sir with your innocent act, but don’t think you’ll get any sympathy from me.”

Dia blinked, confused and startled. “I—I don’t understand,” she stammered.

Radha’s lips curled into a sneer. “Girls like you think you can waltz into this house and turn everything upside down. You’re nothing but a burden.”

Dia recoiled as Radha grabbed her arm roughly, yanking her out of the chair. “You think you’re special because he brought you here? Let me tell you something—you’re no different from anyone else who’s crossed him. And I don’t have time to babysit spoiled brats.”

Before Dia could protest, Radha shoved her toward the stairs. “Clean the room. And don’t make me repeat myself,” she snapped before storming out, leaving Dia shaken and on the verge of tears.

Alone in the cold, grand hallway, Dia felt a fresh wave of helplessness wash over her. She had no idea how long she would have to endure this nightmare or what Ekansh’s true intentions were. For now, she only knew one thing—she was utterly alone in this gilded cage.