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The Rules of Her Cage

Author's POV:

Aaradhya barely slept.

Her body was exhausted, but her mind refused to shut down. Every second replayed in her head-the moment Rudra let his guard slip, the way he locked himself back up.

And now, morning had come.

She sat stiffly on the edge of the massive bed, staring at the door. She didn't want to know what today would bring.

But she had no choice.

A sharp knock.

Before she could even think of ignoring it, the door swung open.

Rudra.

Dressed in another dark suit, perfectly composed, perfectly in control. The man from last night-the one who had spoken of ghosts and revenge-was gone.

Aaradhya's stomach twisted.

"Get up," he ordered, his voice crisp, all business. "We have things to discuss."

She didn't move.

His jaw tightened, but he didn't lash out. Instead, he tilted his head, studying her.

Then, his lips curved into something almost amused. Almost dangerous.

"I assume you need motivation?"

Before she could process his words, he moved.

A blur of motion-and then he was in front of her, gripping her wrist, pulling her up from the bed with effortless strength.

A startled gasp left her lips. She tried to yank her hand back, but his hold was unyielding. Warm. Firm. Unshakable.

"Let go," she hissed.

Rudra leaned in, his dark gaze locking onto hers. "That's rule number one, gattina. You don't tell me what to do."

A shiver ran down her spine.

Rule number one.

This was happening. He was setting the terms of her imprisonment.

He let go, stepping back like she hadn't just tried to claw her way out of his grasp.

Aaradhya exhaled sharply, her pulse hammering.

He walked toward the open balcony doors, the wind rustling through the white curtains, then glanced at her over his shoulder.

"Sit."

She wanted to defy him. God, she wanted to.

But she didn't.

Not because she was afraid.

But because she needed to know what this game was.

She moved stiffly, sitting on the chair across from him as he leaned back against the glass railing, arms crossed.

Then, with an air of finality, he spoke.

"There will be rules."

Her heart pounded. Of course there would be.

"You don't leave this penthouse without me."
"You don't speak to anyone unless I allow it."
"You don't touch anything that isn't yours."

Her fingers clenched. "And what exactly is mine in this prison?"

His lips curved slightly. "Whatever I decide to give you."

Her jaw tightened.

He took a slow step forward, his presence suffocating.

"And the most important rule, Aaradhya."

She swallowed hard.

He reached out, tracing a single finger along the edge of her jaw, forcing her to look up at him. His touch was barely there, yet it burned.

"You are mine."

Her breath hitched.

"That is the only rule that truly matters."

Aaradhya's heart pounded against her ribs.

You are mine.

The words still echoed in her head, curling around her like an unbreakable chain.

Rudra stood tall in front of her, watching-waiting.

Daring her to defy him.

She wanted to. God, she wanted to.

Her fingers curled into fists beneath the table. She had to test the boundaries.

How far would he go? What would happen if she broke one of his precious rules?

A slow, steady breath.

And then-she moved.

Not much. Just enough.

Her hand reached for the glass of water on the table, but instead of lifting it, she tipped it over.

The sound of shattering glass cut through the air.

Silence.

Thick. Dangerous. Unyielding.

Rudra didn't move at first. He simply looked at the mess between them.

Then, slowly, oh-so-slowly, he looked up.

His gaze locked onto hers. Dark. Amused. Unreadable.

Aaradhya swallowed, her throat tight.

And then-he smirked.

Her stomach twisted.

"I see," he murmured, voice smooth as silk. "You want to play games, gattina?"

Her pulse spiked. She hadn't expected him to get angry-not yet. But she also hadn't expected this.

The way he seemed... entertained.

Rudra took a step forward. Then another. Slow. Calculated. Like a predator indulging in a hunt.

Aaradhya held her ground, refusing to shrink away.

"Tell me, sweetheart," he murmured, tilting his head. "Are you testing me?"

She didn't answer.

Because yes, she was.

She needed to know what happened when she didn't obey.

Rudra exhaled, shaking his head. "A messy little thing, aren't you?"

And then-he moved.

Faster than she could react, his hand wrapped around her wrist. Not painfully, but firm.

A startled gasp left her lips as he pulled her up from her chair, forcing her to stand before him.

Her free hand shot up to push him away, but he caught that too.

Now, both her wrists were trapped in his grasp.

Aaradhya's breath hitched.

His grip wasn't bruising. But it was unshakable.

His face was only inches from hers. Close enough that she could see the flicker of something dangerous in his dark eyes.

Control. Possession.

"Let go of me," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady.

Rudra's smirk deepened. "That's twice now, gattina."

Her brows furrowed. "What-"

"You just broke two rules," he murmured, tilting his head. "You touched something that wasn't yours. And then you tried to tell me what to do."

Her stomach flipped.

His grip didn't tighten. He didn't hurt her.

And yet-he didn't need to.

The raw authority in his presence alone stole the breath from her lungs.

Aaradhya's lips parted, but no words came.

Because in that moment, she realized something terrifying.

This wasn't about punishment.

This was about power.

And Rudra? He was enjoying this.

He leaned in, his lips just beside her ear.

"Now, tell me, gattina," he whispered, his voice a slow caress of heat against her skin. "Do you want to keep testing me?"

A shiver ran down her spine.

She should say yes. She should fight.

But for the first time since she had been trapped in this gilded cage...

She wasn't sure if she wanted to know what would happen if she lost.

Aaradhya's pulse pounded in her ears.

She could feel the heat of him, the way his grip held, but didn't hurt.

He was waiting. Waiting for her to fight. Waiting for her to give in.

She refused to do either.

Swallowing her fear, she forced her chin up. "I'm not afraid of you."

Rudra chuckled, low and slow. "No?"

Before she could blink, he moved.

His grip shifted-not tightening, but changing. His fingers slid down her wrists, his hold turning lighter, almost teasing.

Her breath hitched. Why was he touching her like this?

She jerked away-or tried to. But the movement only made things worse.

Because suddenly, she wasn't just standing in front of him.

She was trapped between him and the table, his body caging her in.

Aaradhya's heart slammed against her ribs.

She wasn't used to this-to being this close, to being touched like she was something delicate, like she was something meant to be handled carefully.

And Rudra?

He knew exactly what he was doing.

His hand lifted, fingers tracing the inside of her wrist, lingering over the erratic thump of her pulse.

A slow smirk tugged at his lips. "You sure your heart agrees, gattina?"

Aaradhya's breath stuttered.

She hated this. Hated that he was playing with her mind just as much as her body.

She needed to get away. Now.

Summoning every ounce of defiance left in her, she did the only thing she could.

She lifted her knee-fast, aiming for his ribs.

But-she never connected.

Rudra moved quicker, catching her leg before she could strike.

A gasp left her lips as she lost balance-only to find herself yanked forward, crashing against him.

A sharp inhale. Her palms pressed against his chest.

The worst part?

He let her.

He let her feel just how solid he was, how unshakable. How completely, terrifyingly real.

Silence stretched between them, electric, unspoken things hanging heavy in the air.

Aaradhya's fingers twitched against the fabric of his suit. She should push him away. She should fight.

But she didn't.

Because for the first time since he had taken her, Rudra wasn't the one holding her in place.

She was the one who hadn't moved.

His voice came, smooth and taunting. "Careful, sweetheart."

Aaradhya swallowed.

Rudra leaned in, so close his breath ghosted over her lips.

"Because if you push me far enough..." His hand lifted, brushing a single, featherlight touch along the curve of her jaw.

"I just might push back."

Aaradhya's breath shuddered.

This wasn't a warning. This was a promise.

And the most terrifying part?

She wasn't sure if she wanted to know what would happen if she lost.

Aaradhya's breath shuddered as Rudra stepped back, releasing her as if he hadn't just caged her against the table.

Like he hadn't just made her forget how to breathe.

A slow smirk played on his lips. Not victorious-just entertained.

Her fingers curled into fists. He's playing with you. Don't let him win.

Rudra exhaled, tilting his head toward the food on the table. "Eat."

Aaradhya's jaw clenched. Another command. Another way to control her.

She didn't move.

He sighed, stepping around the table and settling into his chair, pouring himself a cup of black coffee. His movements were slow, deliberate, as if he had all the time in the world.

But she wasn't fooled.

She could feel the weight of his gaze, waiting for her to defy him again.

Aaradhya lifted her chin. "And if I don't?"

Rudra took a sip of his coffee, unbothered. Too calm. Too knowing.

"Then you'll starve."

Her stomach twisted-not just from hunger, but from the realization that he meant it.

If she refused, he wouldn't force her. He wouldn't threaten her.

He would simply wait.

Because eventually, she'd have no choice.

Heat pricked her skin. She hated this. Hated that he was right.

Hated that he always stayed in control.

Aaradhya exhaled sharply, grabbed the spoon, and took a bite-not because he told her to, but because she refused to let him see her as weak.

Something flickered in his eyes. Amusement.

"Good girl."

She froze.

The spoon nearly slipped from her fingers.

Her stomach churned-not from disgust, but from something else entirely.

Something she didn't want to name.

She set the spoon down with more force than necessary, her pulse hammering. "Don't call me that."

Rudra smirked. "Why not?"

"Because I'm not yours."

His gaze darkened, the smirk vanishing so fast it made her breath hitch.

The chair scraped against the marble as he stood, rounding the table.

Aaradhya's body tensed.

He didn't touch her.

He didn't have to.

He simply leaned in, voice low, controlled. Dangerous.

"You will be."

A chill crawled down her spine.

Because for the first time, she believed him.

Aaradhya's pulse pounded in her ears.

You will be.

The words sat heavy in the air, a promise, not a threat.

Her breath hitched, her fingers curling around the edge of the table. She should look away-shouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.

But she couldn't.

Because for the first time, she felt it.

The weight of his control.

The inevitability of it.

And it terrified her.

She forced herself to speak, to push back, to say something-anything.

"You can't force me."

Rudra's lips twitched, but there was no humor in his gaze.

"I don't have to."

Her stomach twisted.

He wasn't talking about chains. He wasn't talking about locking doors.

He was talking about something far worse.

He was talking about getting inside her head.

Aaradhya's chest tightened. No. She wouldn't let that happen.

She shoved her chair back, standing abruptly. "I'm done."

Rudra watched her, completely still.

Then, he exhaled slowly and straightened. "Fine."

Her brows furrowed. Too easy.

He stepped back, giving her space.

Her heart pounded harder.

And then, he turned to leave.

Just like that. Like she was the one who lost.

Heat burned beneath her skin. No. No, he didn't get to do this.

He didn't get to act like she wasn't affecting him, like he didn't care.

Before she could think, the words slipped out.

"You're not as in control as you think you are."

Silence.

Rudra stopped.

For a moment, he didn't turn around.

Then-he did.

And the look in his eyes?

It stole the air from her lungs.

Dark. Lethal. Unreadable.

A slow, unsettling smirk curled at the corner of his lips. "Aren't I?"

Her pulse hammered.

She had challenged him.

And she had no idea what she'd just unleashed.

Aaradhya's heartbeat slammed against her ribs.

She had challenged him. And now, she had to survive whatever came next.

Rudra took slow, deliberate steps back toward her. Not rushed. Not angry. Just... certain.

Like he already knew the outcome.

Like she had already lost.

"You think I'm not in control?" His voice was silk laced with steel.

Aaradhya refused to step back, refused to let him see how the air felt heavier the closer he got. How his presence drowned out everything else.

"I know you're not," she forced out. "If you were, you wouldn't need to keep proving it."

Rudra exhaled a quiet chuckle-dark, amused, but not quite amused at all.

"Interesting theory," he murmured. "Let's test it."

Before she could react, he moved.

One second, there was space between them. The next-there was none.

Her back hit the table's edge.

Her breath hitched. He hadn't touched her.

But he didn't need to.

He had her trapped with nothing but his presence.

His hands rested on the table, caging her in without ever laying a finger on her.

Aaradhya forced herself to meet his eyes-and immediately regretted it.

Because there, in those dark depths, was something that made her stomach flip.

Not just control.

Possession.

Rudra leaned in, slow enough to let her feel every inch of the tension between them. His lips brushed close to her ear, his voice a slow whisper of heat against her skin.

"You think I need to prove it?"

Aaradhya swallowed, but said nothing.

"Then tell me," he continued, voice low, deliberate. "Why aren't you moving?"

Her breath stalled.

Her fingers curled against the edge of the table.

She could move. She could push him away.

But she didn't.

Rudra's smirk deepened as if he could hear the war inside her.

He pulled back just enough to look at her, his face still infuriatingly close.

And then, as if this wasn't already unbearable, he did something worse.

He touched her.

Not harshly. Not possessively.

Just the lightest brush of his fingers, trailing along her wrist.

Aaradhya inhaled sharply, her skin burning where he touched.

"Still think I'm not in control?" His voice was dark amusement, but his eyes?

His eyes told a different story.

This wasn't about control anymore.

This was about her reaction.

She jerked her hand away, her breath ragged. She had let him get to her.

Rudra tilted his head slightly, watching her like he was memorizing her every move.

Then, he did the last thing she expected.

He stepped back.

Giving her space.

Letting her breathe.

Like he hadn't just torn through her defenses.

"Next time," he said, adjusting his cuff like she hadn't just fallen apart in front of him, "choose your words carefully."

And with that, he turned and left, leaving her standing there-shaken, breathless, and more trapped than ever.

Because the truth had finally settled in.

She wasn't just fighting him anymore.

She was fighting herself.

Aaradhya stood frozen.

The room was silent. The air was heavy. Her pulse was out of control.

She should feel relieved.

He left. He gave her space.

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