Chapter 13: Unraveling Expectations

Kiara’s POV

The next morning, I woke up with a heavy feeling in my chest, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on me. The idea of marriage itself was overwhelming, but the fact that it was with him—Reyaansh Rathore—made it ten times worse.

I tried to shake the thought as I got ready for the day. I wore a simple pink salwar suit, tying my hair in a loose braid.

Her look~

As I descended the stairs, the aroma of breakfast greeted me, but so did the low murmurs of my parents' voices in the living room. They were deep in discussion, and I could guess the topic.

“Good morning,” I said casually, walking into the room and grabbing a chair at the dining table. My father looked up, his expression neutral, but my mother gave me a small smile.

“Kia, beta, sit down. We need to talk,” my father said, gesturing to the seat near him.

---

I sighed but complied, bracing myself for whatever they were about to say. “What now?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.

My mother placed a hand on my father’s arm, as if to steady him. “Kia, we understand this has all been sudden for you. But the Rathores are a respectable family. Reyaansh is a good man,” she began, her tone patient.

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping me. “A good man? You mean the same man who decided I’m his without even asking how I feel?”

“Kia!” My father’s voice boomed, silencing me. “This isn’t about what you want right now. This is about our family. Do you have any idea how important this alliance is?”

I swallowed hard, my fists clenching under the table. Of course, it was always about the family. Never about me.

---

After a tense silence, my mother tried again, her voice softer this time. “Beta, we’re not asking you to love him right away. Just... give him a chance. He’s willing to make this work. Can’t you at least try?”

I stood abruptly, pushing the chair back with more force than necessary. “You’re not asking me, Mom. You’re telling me. And that’s the problem,” I said, my voice trembling with suppressed anger.

Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and headed for the door. I needed air. The walls of the house felt like they were closing in on me, suffocating me with their expectations.

---

As I stepped outside, the crisp morning air hit my face, but it did little to calm the storm brewing inside me. I walked aimlessly down the quiet streets, trying to make sense of everything.

How was I supposed to “give him a chance” when he represented everything I hated about this situation? Reyaansh Rathore might be charming, powerful, and undeniably attractive, but that didn’t mean he had the right to dictate my life.

I needed space, time to think. But with every step I took, one thought haunted me: no matter how far I ran, it seemed like Reyaansh was always one step ahead, waiting to pull me back into his world.

---

I walked for what felt like hours, my feet taking me wherever my restless mind led. The world around me blurred—familiar streets, the hum of passing cars, the chatter of people going about their day. But none of it felt real. Not anymore. I was caught in a whirlwind of expectations and choices that weren’t my own, and no matter how much I wanted to escape, I knew I couldn't.

The thought of Reyaansh was like a weight around my chest, tightening with every step I took. How was it that someone I barely knew could have such an impact on my life? He was everything I didn’t want—dominant, calculating, and so damn sure of himself. And yet, there was something about him, something I couldn’t quite place, that made him impossible to ignore.

I stopped in front of a park bench, sitting down with a huff. I rested my elbows on my knees and buried my face in my hands. What was I supposed to do? The truth was, I felt trapped. I could say no to the marriage, but that wouldn’t change anything. My parents had already made up their minds.

A soft breeze blew through the trees, the rustling of leaves the only sound that accompanied my thoughts. I didn’t even hear the footsteps approaching until a shadow loomed over me.

I looked up to see none other than Reyaansh standing there, a smirk playing on his lips as he looked down at me. He looked every bit the CEO in his black suit, the tailored fabric sharp against his chiseled frame. "Running away?" he asked, his tone light, but I could see the underlying amusement in his eyes.

I stood up abruptly, a mix of surprise and anger flooding me. "What are you doing here?" I demanded. I couldn’t deal with him right now. Not after everything that had happened.

Reyaansh’s smirk didn’t falter. "I could ask you the same thing. But I think I already know," he said, his voice low. "You’re avoiding me, Kiara."

I glared at him, my fists clenching. "I’m not avoiding you," I snapped. "I just need some space."

"Space?" he repeated, as if the word was foreign to him. "We’ll see how long that lasts." He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "You can run, Kiara, but you won’t get very far."

His words hit me harder than I expected. It wasn’t just what he said, but how he said it—like he knew something I didn’t. And suddenly, I realized that maybe, just maybe, Reyaansh Rathore wasn’t someone I could escape so easily.