The hospital room had fallen into an unnatural silence.
Not the calm, peaceful silence that brings relief…
but the kind that presses heavily on your chest, making it hard to breathe.
Kiara was still standing there, frozen in place.
Her hand…
was trapped tightly in the grip of that unfamiliar man.
His fingers were warm—strong—unyielding.
As if letting go was not an option.
There was something in his eyes…
something unsettling.
A strange determination.
As if whatever he was saying—
was not just a belief…
but an absolute truth.
"Sir… please, calm down," Raman said softly, trying to keep his voice steady.
But the man didn't even spare him a glance.
Not even for a second.
All his attention—
his entire world—
was focused on Kiara.
"You're not going anywhere… okay?"
His voice was low.
Controlled.
Yet filled with an undeniable authority…
the kind that didn't ask—
it commanded.
Kiara felt a chill run down her spine.
She tried to pull her hand away.
"Listen… you're mistaken. I—"
"Not a mistake."
He cut her off instantly.
His grip tightened.
A faint shadow of irritation flashed across his sharp features.
"I know you."
His voice dropped even lower.
"You're everything to me…"
The air in the room thickened.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Almost suffocating.
Kiara's heartbeat grew louder in her ears.
What is happening…?
Why is he saying things like this…?
She looked around helplessly—
but no one stepped in.
No one stopped him.
Because no one dared to.
The doctor cleared his throat, breaking the tension slightly.
"Can you please step outside for a moment?"
He was addressing Kiara and Raman.
Kiara didn't wait.
It felt like a lifeline.
She quickly nodded and pulled her hand free—this time successfully—
before walking out of the room almost hurriedly.
The moment she stepped into the corridor—
She inhaled deeply.
As if she had been holding her breath the entire time.
The cold hospital air hit her face.
"Doctor… what is happening?"
Her voice was slightly shaky.
"Why is he calling me his wife?"
The doctor folded his arms, thinking carefully before answering.
"The patient has suffered a significant head injury."
He paused.
"It could be a case of… selective memory loss."
Kiara frowned, confusion clearly written on her face.
"What does that mean?"
"It means…"
The doctor spoke slowly, choosing his words with precision.
"He may forget everything from his past…"
"His identity, his relationships, his life…"
He paused again—
then added—
"…except the last face he saw before the accident."
Kiara's heart skipped.
A sudden, sharp thud.
"The last face…?"
Her voice came out softer than intended.
Almost like a whisper.
The doctor nodded.
"Yes."
His gaze lingered on her for a moment.
"Possibly… you."
Time stopped.
Kiara went completely still.
Her mind replayed the moment—
The crashed car…
The shattered glass…
The blood…
And her leaning in—
calling out to him—
"Can you hear me…?"
Her breath hitched.
So… she was the last person he saw…?
Before everything went dark?
Before his memories disappeared?
A strange, uneasy feeling settled inside her chest.
Just then—
Raman stepped forward.
His expression was serious.
Careful.
Measured.
"Miss… I'm Raman. Sir's personal manager."
Kiara nodded slightly.
Still trying to process everything.
"Yes…"
Raman watched her for a moment.
As if analyzing her.
As if trying to decide something important.
"You understand how complicated this situation is… right?"
Kiara let out a hollow laugh.
It didn't sound like her.
"I feel like I've walked into a movie…"
Raman didn't react.
Didn't smile.
Because for him—
This wasn't a movie.
This was a crisis.
"Sir… Mr. Aryan Backwood…"
He spoke slowly.
"…he's not just a businessman."
Kiara looked at him.
A hint of curiosity mixed with unease.
"What do you mean?"
Raman lowered his voice instinctively.
As if the walls might hear him.
"He's a billionaire."
A pause.
"And… he has many enemies."
Kiara's chest tightened.
"Enemies?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"This accident…"
Raman continued—
"…might not be a normal one."
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
Kiara instinctively took a step back.
"What are you saying…?"
Raman's gaze hardened.
"That's why I'm saying—"
"If sir becomes emotionally unstable in this condition…"
"…his life could be in danger."
Kiara shook her head slowly.
Trying to understand.
Trying to connect everything.
"But what does that have to do with me?"
Raman answered without hesitation.
"He believes you are his wife."
Silence.
"If you reject him… or suddenly disappear…"
He paused.
Letting the weight of his words sink in.
"He might become violent."
"…or mentally break down."
Kiara felt her throat go dry.
Her fingers curled slightly.
This is insane…
This is completely insane…
"So…"
Raman took a breath.
"I came to you with a request."
Kiara's body tensed instantly.
"What request?"
Raman looked straight into her eyes.
Serious.
Direct.
"Can you… act as sir's wife for a few days?"
The world tilted.
Kiara felt dizzy.
"WHAT?!"
Her voice echoed in the corridor.
"Please, just listen—"
"No!"
She cut him off immediately.
"That's not possible!"
"This is wrong! I'm not an actor! And this is not a game!"
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Her heart racing uncontrollably.
Raman stayed calm.
Surprisingly calm.
"We will compensate you."
Kiara laughed.
But there was no humor in it.
Only pain.
Only frustration.
"Money can't buy everything, Mr. Raman."
And then—
Her phone rang.
The sound felt louder than usual.
Sharper.
More urgent.
She looked at the screen.
Hospital.
Her face went pale instantly.
Her fingers trembled as she answered.
"Hello…?"
A hurried voice came from the other side—
"Miss Kiara? We're calling from the hospital."
Her heartbeat spiked.
"Yes… tell me!"
"The patient's condition is getting worse."
"The doctor says the operation must be done immediately."
"It cannot be delayed anymore."
Kiara stopped breathing.
"What…?"
Her voice cracked.
"Please arrange everything as soon as possible."
"This is an emergency."
The call ended.
Just like that.
Leaving behind silence.
And fear.
Kiara stood still.
Frozen.
Her fingers slowly loosened around the phone.
The words echoed in her mind—
"Immediate operation…"
"Condition worsening…"
Her vision blurred.
Tears filled her eyes.
Her father…
Lying helplessly on that hospital bed…
Struggling to breathe…
Waiting for her.
Depending on her.
"Baba…"
Her lips trembled.
Her chest felt like it was being crushed from the inside.
Raman watched everything silently.
Then he spoke—softly this time.
"How much is needed?"
Kiara looked at him.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"You don't need to know."
Raman didn't argue.
Instead—
"What if I say…"
"…I'll cover everything?"
Time froze again.
Kiara's breath hitched.
"What?"
"Hospital bills."
"Operation."
"Everything."
Raman's voice was steady.
Clear.
"In exchange—"
He paused.
"…you will act as his wife."
The world felt heavy.
Too heavy.
Kiara's mind spun.
On one side—
Her father's life.
On the other—
Her dignity.
Her truth.
Her identity.
Tears rolled down her cheeks silently.
"What if I refuse…?"
Her voice was barely audible.
Raman replied after a pause—
"Then we will try another way…"
"…but sir's condition may worsen."
Silence followed.
Long.
Painful.
Kiara closed her eyes.
Her father's face appeared again—
Weak.
Pale.
Helpless.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Slowly—
She opened her eyes.
Something inside her…
broke.
"…I agree."
Her voice trembled.
But the words were clear.
Final.
Raman exhaled slowly.
"Thank you."
Kiara didn't respond.
Because she knew—
From this moment on—
Nothing in her life would remain the same.
She walked back into the room.
Aryan's eyes lit up instantly.
As if the darkness had disappeared the moment he saw her.
"You came…"
His voice softened.
He reached out his hand again.
Kiara paused.
Just for a second.
Then—
She stepped forward.
And placed her hand in his.
Aryan smiled faintly.
"I knew… you wouldn't leave me."
Kiara's heart trembled.
It was all a lie.
Every second of it.
But still—
"…Yes."
Aryan pulled her hand closer to his chest.
Holding it there.
As if it belonged there.
As if she belonged there.
Her hand still locked in his, her thoughts spiraling out of control.
For a moment, she couldn't even hear the sounds around her.
Not the faint beeping of machines.
Not the distant footsteps in the corridor.
Not even her own breathing.
Everything felt distant.
Blurred.
Unreal.
Her eyes slowly drifted toward Aryan.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
As if nothing in the world could touch him.
As if everything was exactly the way it was supposed to be.
His fingers tightened slightly around hers again—subtle, but firm.
A silent reminder.
As if he was afraid… she might disappear.
Kiara's heart clenched.
Why… does he look at me like that?
That kind of gaze—
It wasn't something you could fake.
It wasn't something you could act.
It felt real.
Dangerously real.
She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself.
This is just temporary…
Just an act…
Nothing more.
But even as she told herself that—
Her heart refused to believe it completely.
Aryan slowly lifted her hand, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin.
The touch was soft.
Unexpectedly gentle.
A stark contrast to the strong, commanding aura he carried.
"You're tired…" he murmured, his voice low.
Kiara blinked, caught off guard.
"I… I'm fine."
But her voice betrayed her.
It was weak.
Unsteady.
Aryan frowned slightly, his gaze softening.
"You always say that," he said quietly.
As if it was a habit.
As if he had heard those words from her countless times before.
Kiara froze.
Her chest tightened again.
Always…?
That one word hit harder than anything else.
Because it meant—
In his mind…
They had a past.
A history.
Memories that didn't exist.
Memories that only he believed in.
And now—
She had to become a part of those lies.
Raman, who had been silently observing, stepped forward carefully.
"Sir, you should rest now. The doctor said you need to avoid stress."
Aryan didn't look at him.
Didn't respond immediately.
Instead, his gaze remained fixed on Kiara.
As if waiting for her approval.
As if nothing else mattered.
Kiara hesitated for a second… then nodded slightly.
"…You should rest."
Only then did Aryan relax a little.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Stay."
It wasn't a request.
It was a quiet command.
Kiara's breath caught.
"I— I'll be here."
She didn't even realize when she said it.
But the moment the words left her lips—
Aryan closed his eyes.
Trusting.
Completely.
As if her presence alone was enough.
Kiara stood there, unable to move.
Her hand still in his.
Her mind heavy with thoughts she couldn't escape.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
She wasn't supposed to get involved.
She wasn't supposed to feel anything.
But something had already changed.
Something subtle.
Something dangerous.
A bond formed not by truth—
But by illusion.
And sometimes…
Illusions were far more powerful than reality.
Kiara slowly sat down beside the bed, careful not to disturb him.
Her eyes remained on his face.
Calm.
Peaceful.
As if the storm inside him had finally quieted.
But deep down—
She knew.
This silence wouldn't last.
Because once the truth comes out…
Nothing will remain the same.
Not him.
Not her.
Not this fragile, dangerous connection between them.
And when that moment arrives—
Will she be able to walk away?
Or will she already be too deep… to escape?
"When are we going home… wife?"
Kiara's breath stopped.
Before she could respond—
Raman spoke,
"Sir, you will be discharged tomorrow."
Aryan smiled.
Satisfied.
"Perfect."
"I'll take my wife home with me."
Kiara felt the ground shift beneath her feet.
A new fear crept into her mind—
Dark.
Terrifying.
Under the same roof…
In the same room…
On the same bed…?
Her heart started pounding wildly.
Louder.
Faster.
Uncontrollable.
This wasn't just an act anymore.
This was a trap.
A dangerous one.
And she had already stepped inside it.
Will she be able to continue this lie…?
Or will it destroy her completely…?