NOTE

Hey there! First of all, thank you for clicking on my story. This is my first-ever attempt at writing, so buckle up—it's going to be a fun ride. Or a bumpy one. Either way, I promise it'll be worth it!

Now, let's address the elephant in the room: character introductions. Yes, I know—some of you hate seeing a flood of names right at the start. But guess what? I'm still going to do it because I care about you not getting lost. So here's your cheat sheet:

Main Characters:

Ava, Abhi, Darsh: The VIPs of this story. If you're here, it's probably to unravel their drama, romance, and everything in between.

Supporting Cast:

Kyra and Priti: Ava's best friends, armed with sass and loyalty in equal measure.

Virin: Kyra's twin brother, because what's a story without a wildcard?

Disclaimer

Let's clear this up right away—this story does not promote any kind of assault or cheating. Nope, not here. You can sip your tea and relax.

Now, go ahead and dive in. Laugh, cry, cringe, or roll your eyes—I'll take it all as a compliment. Let the chaos begin!

*****

"Ava, now!" Virin's voice cut through the suffocating air, sharp and urgent. That was all it took to jolt me into action. My legs moved before my mind could catch up, propelling me toward the van where Kyra and Priti sat, their eyes wide with fear.

"Run! Faster, Ava!" Priti's frantic scream echoed, her fists pounding the steering wheel as if sheer willpower could speed me up. My lungs burned, my legs screamed in protest, and bile rose in my throat with every desperate breath. But I couldn't stop—not when freedom was just within reach.

The van was ten steps away. Ten steps separating me from safety, from escape, from him. Ten. Nine. Eight—

"Ava!" His voice tore through the night, cold and deadly, halting me mid-step. It wasn't just a command. It was a threat, dripping with venom. "If you don't stop right now, I'll kill every person standing between us!"

The promise in his words wrapped around me like a vice, squeezing the air from my lungs. He wasn't bluffing—I knew what he was capable of.

"Not now, Ava! Run!" Virin's voice shattered my paralysis. He appeared beside me, his grip firm as he dragged me the final few steps to the van.

We tumbled inside, and the doors slammed shut behind us. For the first time, I dared to look back.

He was there, standing in the distance, his chest heaving with exertion. His dark eyes burned with an intensity that made my stomach churn. Slowly, he pointed a finger at me, his lips curling into a snarl.

"You are mine," he growled, jabbing the same finger into his chest.

Over my dead body.

****

Virin's voice broke through the silence, raw with emotion. "I'll kill him," he hissed, tears glistening in his eyes. "Whatever he's done, I'll kill that bastard!"

I wanted to be strong for them, for the friends who risked everything to save me. But his threat circled in my mind, suffocating any flicker of courage I had left.

"Here, drink," Priti said gently, handing me a bottle of water. Her calm demeanor cracked as I took it, and the dam holding back my emotions broke. I crumpled, sobs tearing through me as the weight of everything crushed down.

Kyra's voice trembled, her anger barely concealed. "I can't believe he'd go this far," she said, her eyes darting to the bruises marring my wrists.

That's what hurt the most—the betrayal.

But as the van sped into the darkness, one thought burned brighter than the fear: I wasn't just running. I was reclaiming my life. Whatever it took, this wasn't over.

~~~***~~~