Author pvo///

Avani froze, her gaze locked with Vrishabh's dark, menacing eyes. Fear gripped her, sharp and suffocating, as the weight of her mistake crushed her. Her fists clenched, trembling uncontrollably.

The teacher stopped mid-sentence, his face drained of color as Vrishabh strode into the classroom, his aura silencing every murmur. Each step he took toward Avani was slow and deliberate, but it felt like thunderclaps in her ears.

"Stand up," he commanded, his voice low and razor-sharp. Avani's legs felt like lead, but his piercing glare forced her to rise, her body trembling. Before she could utter a word, his hand closed around her arm like iron, pulling her from her seat.

"I'm... so-rry... ple-ase," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

He didn’t respond. Instead, in one swift motion, he lifted her into his arms, ignoring her struggles. The gasps around them were deafening, but no one dared intervene. Even the teacher stood frozen, a flicker of fear in his eyes.

"Put her down," a voice broke through the tension.

Vrishabh turned, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Arjun, who stepped forward, his defiance trembling but firm.A dangerous glint flickered in

Vrishabh's eyes as they turned impossibly darker.

"I said, put her down," Arjun repeated, his voice steady despite his shaking hands.

Vrishabh's hard gaze darkened with a cold, deadly glint, his presence growing more ominous.

Abhishek entered, flanked by guards. Within seconds, Arjun was restrained, his struggles futile.

Abhishek leaned close, murmuring something into Arjun's ear. Whatever he said drained the fight from him, leaving him paralyzed, his expression stricken.

As Avani saw how his men were gripping Arjun tightly, terror consumed her. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words died on her lips as her eyes met Vrishabh's. The sheer intensity of his dark, menacing gaze froze her in place. He looked like a predator ready to devour anyone who dared to stand in his way, leaving her too frightened to utter a single word.

She wanted to scream, to protest, but the oppressive aura around Vrishabh silenced her.

Avani’s heart pounded as Vrishabh cast one last icy glare at Arjun before striding out, carrying her like a prisoner. Her silent protests dissolved under the oppressive weight of his presence.

The hallway bristled with guards, parting to let Vrishabh pass. Outside, he shoved her into the sleek black car , his movements sharp and devoid of care.

She flinched as he slammed the door and slid into the driver’s seat. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the low growl of the engine as he started the car.

Her breaths came shallow and fast, her trembling hands gripping the seat as she tried to steady herself. Her lips moved in a silent prayer, begging for deliverance from the storm she had unleashed.

Her gaze flickered toward him, then quickly away. She dared not meet his eyes. She could feel his anger radiating, suffocating the air in the car.

The events of the morning played vividly in Avani's mind, her regret deepening with every passing second.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

///Flashback///

When she woke up, the bed beside her was empty. Relief washed over her as she realized Vrishabh hadn't come to her room the previous night. It was a small mercy, and she clung to it as she hurried to get ready for college.

But then, a new problem arose how would she ask him for permission? She couldn't bring herself to face him. His intense gaze alone could strip away every ounce of courage she had.

Thinking quickly, she rummaged through the drawer and retrieved a pen and a sheet of paper. She scribbled a note explaining that she needed to go to college and was asking for permission. Folding the note with shaky hands, she hoped it would be enough.

A knock on the door startled her, making her nearly drop the letter. When she opened it, a maid stood there, her expression neutral.

"The boss has asked you to come to his office," the maid said calmly.

Avani's heart began to race, each beat hammering against her ribcage. She nodded wordlessly, her throat too dry to respond. As the maid walked away, Avani felt her knees go weak.

Why has he called me?

Her thoughts spiraled as she made her way to his office. Her hands trembled, clutching the letter tightly. Every step felt heavier than the last, her fear mounting.

When she finally reached the large wooden door of his office, she hesitated. Her hand shook as she raised it to knock. The courage it took to tap against the door was monumental.

But before she could wait for a response, a reckless idea struck her. She bent down and slipped the letter under the door. she turned and bolted.

Her feet carried her as fast as they could, not stopping until she was outside the mansion. Breathless and trembling, she leaned against a pillar, clutching her chest as if trying to calm her frantic heartbeat.

///Flashback End///

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The car veered onto a road unfamiliar to Avani, far from the path leading back to the mansion. Panic clawed at her chest as she wondered what Vrishabh intended to do. Her eyes darted nervously out of the window, but the towering trees and winding road offered no clues.

When the car finally came to a halt, Avani's heart sank. They had stopped in front of an imposing building. It stood tall, sleek, and modern, with tinted glass windows.

Vrishabh stepped out of the car without a word, walking to her side and opening the door.  "Out," he ordered, his voice deceptively calm yet laced with authority.

his jaw clenched, his eyes colder than she had ever seen them .

A shiver ran down Avani's spine, her body frozen in fear, but his sharp glare left no room for defiance. Trembling, she stepped out.

Before she could gather her bearings, he grabbed her effortlessly, hoisting her onto his shoulder.

A sharp scream escaped her lips, raw and desperate, as his hold tightened like iron.

"Put me down! Please!" she pleaded, her voice quivering. She squirmed, trying to free herself, but his iron grip didn't budge.

Her struggles intensified until, suddenly, a sharp slap landed on her butt. The sting made her gasp, her movements halting instantly. Embarrassment and shame surged through her, burning her cheeks.

She bit her lip, tears of frustration pooling in her eyes as he carried her toward the elevator. Her heart pounded as they stepped inside, and she noticed how the elevator required a keycard and a fingerprint to operate.

Vrishabh swiped his card and placed his finger on the scanner. The elevator doors closed, and they began their ascent. The numbers on the panel climbed higher and higher, making Avani's stomach churn.

When the doors finally opened, Avani was greeted by the sight of the luxurious penthouse. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased a breathtaking view of the city skyline, and the spacious, modern interior was immaculate.

But Avani couldn't focus on the beauty around her. All she could see was Vrishabh's determined stride as he carried her into the living area, then down a sleek hallway.

He stopped in front of a door, pushed it open, and entered a lavish bedroom. Without hesitation, he threw her onto the large, plush bed.

Avani landed with a soft thud, scrambling to sit up. Her wide eyes were fixed on Vrishabh, who stood at the edge of the bed , His eyes, dark and dangerous, were locked on her with an intensity that left her feeling small and vulnerable, like prey in the grip of a predator

Her pulse raced, and she felt as if she were going to die just from the intensity of his stare. Her hand trembled uncontrollably, sweat beads forming on her forehead as she struggled to breathe.

As Avani bolted from the bed, her instincts screamed for escape. She pushed open the large glass doors in a frantic hurry, not realizing where they led. The rush of cold air hit her face as she stepped onto the balcony, her heart hammering in her chest.

Her heart stopped.

The towering height sent a shiver down her spine as her vision blurred. She gripped her dress tightly, her hands trembling as her fear of heights consumed her. The city below looked like a miniature world, and the realization that she was on the top floor of one of the tallest buildings only made her panic worse.

Her breathing became uneven as she heard heavy footsteps approaching behind her. She turned, her eyes wide with terror, and froze as Vrishabh emerged.

His face was a mask of controlled fury, his eyes dark and dangerous. Avani's heart raced, and her body trembled at the sight of him. She knew in that moment she had made the biggest mistake of her life by running from him.

He stepped closer, his imposing presence making her shrink back instinctively.

"I-I'm sorry..." she stammered, but her words were barely a whisper, lost in the icy tension between them.

Vrishabh didn't reply, his silence was more terrifying than any words. His eyes burned with an intensity that promised she wouldn't escape unscathed.

As he closed the distance, Avani's steps faltered, and her back hit the cold railing. She gasped, glancing down at the dizzying height below. The sheer terror of her situation made her legs weak. She stumbled sideways, away from the railing, but in her panic, she collided with Vrishabh's solid frame.

Before she could react, his hand shot out, gripping her arm tightly. His strength was unyielding, his grasp making her wince.

"You made the biggest mistake of your life by defying me," Vrishabh said, his voice low and laced with menace. "And I promise, you'll never dare to repeat it."

As Vrishabh's grip tightened on her arm, his dark gaze pinned her in place. Avani's trembling body was no match for his strength.

Suddenly, without warning, he pushed her forward.

Her body lurched over the railing, and the world seemed to tilt as she was sent hurtling toward the edge. Her scream tore through the air as her stomach dropped.

The wind whipped past her face, and her vision blurred as her body dangled in the open air.

Her heart stopped.

This is it. I'm going to die.

But just as she thought she is going to die , she felt a firm, unrelenting grip on her wrist.

Vrishabh's hand.

Her body dangled in the air, held only by his iron grip as he leaned over the railing. His expression was cold and emotionless, his strength unwavering. He didn't look at her with pity or concern-only a dangerous calm that sent chills through her entire being.

Tears streamed down her face as she cried out, "Please! Please don't let me go! I'm sorry!" Her voice cracked, and she was shaking uncontrollably, as if every part of her was screaming for mercy.

Desperation surged through her, and she began to beg, her voice breaking, "I promise I won't do it again, please... Please don't leave my hand. I'll never defy you again. Please, I'm begging you!"

Vrishabh didn't respond. His face remained a mask of icy indifference. He didn't show any signs of pulling her back up. Her panic intensified, clawing at her insides like a wild animal. "Please! Pull me up! I have a phobia of heights! Please, don't leave me !" she cried, her voice raw with fear.

But he only stared at her, unblinking, cold as stone. His silence was deafening, and it felt as though every second stretched into an eternity.

Her sobs became uncontrollable as the terror overtook her. Tears blurred her vision, but she couldn't tear her gaze away from him, even as the world around her spun wildly. She felt so small, so powerless, hanging in the air like a fragile thread, dangling at the mercy of a man who had none. Her breath came in desperate gasps, and she could feel her strength slipping away. Her head grew heavy, and her chest tightened painfully.

"I'm sorry! I won't do it again! Please, please don't let go!" She pleaded, her voice barely more than a whisper, as if her very life depended on those words.

Her body trembled violently, and her vision began to fade, the darkness creeping in. She could feel herself losing consciousness, her body on the brink of collapse. She couldn't hold on anymore-her eyes fluttered closed, her cries growing weaker, and all she could feel was the pull of the abyss below her.

Just as the last of her strength slipped away, Vrishabh moved. In a single swift motion, he pulled her back over the railing. His grip was firm and unyielding, dragging her up like a ragdoll.

But as her body was pulled onto the balcony, her weak legs gave way. She lost her balance and crumpled, her vision spinning out of control. Before she could even understand what was happening, the world went black, and she fainted in his arms.

Vrishabh caught her effortlessly, his expression still cold and emotionless as he held her limp body against him.

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#Author note∆

First of all, I sincerely apologize for the delayed update. I had written this chapter earlier, but I hadn’t gotten around to editing it.

The story Shadow of Dark Heart holds a very special place in my heart. I’ve been thinking about creating it for over a year, but I wasn’t sure at that time. Now, as I finally upload this story, I’m committed to completing it. I’m determined to add all the twists and mysteries I’ve planned. There are only a few people, maybe four or five, who truly support and encourage me here, and for them, I promise to finish this story.

English is not my first language, and sometimes, I find it challenging to express all the emotions I want to convey in the story. But I will keep trying and learning to improve my writing.

If you'd like spoilers or want to stay more connected, you can follow me on my Instagram account .