Isha returned from the office on time. After freshening up, she changed into the traditional attire expected of the King's wife before making her way downstairs. The moment she saw Amrita... a smile spread across her face.

She walked straight to her mother-in-law and wrapped her arms around her in a warm hug.

"Ma..." She settled beside her, still holding onto her arm. "What did you do the whole day? Did you miss me?"

Amrita looked at her daughter-in-law with an amused smile.

"You already know the answer." She lovingly patted Isha's cheek. "And yet you ask me the same question every single day."

"Ma..." Isha pouted adorably. "Bolo na."

Amrita chuckled.

"Yes... I missed my daughter-in-law very much. Just like I do every day." She dramatically folded her arms. "But I know my daughter-in-law didn't miss me. Just like every other day. I'm sure she was busy enjoying herself with her friends."

She narrowed her eyes teasingly.

"Hmm? Reetu and Ragini?" Isha couldn't help but giggle. "Umm... Actually... Yes. Reetu and I played a prank on Ragini today." She burst into laughter remembering it. "Ragini got so angry with both of us. But we somehow managed to pacify her in the end."

Amrita smiled lovingly at the excitement glowing on Isha's face.

"No shame at all." She shook her head dramatically. "You admitted so easily that you didn't miss me. Very bad, Isha."

"Hehe... I'm Abhyansh Singh Ranawat's wife." Isha laughed. "I am not afraid of speaking the truth."

She puffed up her chest dramatically. But unlike Isha... Amrita didn't laugh. Instead... hope flickered in her eyes.

"You really want to become Abhyansh Singh Ranawat's wife?"

The question caught Isha completely off guard. The playful smile slowly disappeared from her face.

"Ma..." She looked away. "Let's talk about something else."

She already knew... her answer would only disappoint Amrita. And that was the last thing she wanted to do.

"Isha..." Amrita's voice softened. "Please answer me."

Isha let out a quiet sigh.

"Ma... He doesn't want anything to do with me." A faint smile appeared on her lips, though it carried no happiness. "To him... I'm just a maid."

Amrita remained silent for a few moments before asking the question that had been weighing on her heart.

"What if..." Her voice barely rose above a whisper. "What if one day he wants to give this marriage a chance?" She searched Isha's face. "Will you?"

She knew she was hoping for the impossible. Yet she was a mother. How could she stop hoping that one day her son would find happiness in his marriage? And somewhere along the way... Isha had become her daughter too. She wanted this innocent girl to experience the happiness every married woman deserved.

"Ma..." Isha looked at her gently. "What has gotten into you today?"

"Answer me, Isha."

Amrita cupped her cheeks lovingly. Isha remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking.

"No, Ma..." She corrected herself almost immediately. "No... He hasn't given me any reason to think about this marriage. The day he gives me one... I'll give everything I have to him...and to this marriage." 

She paused before looking into Amrita's eyes. 

"But... We both know that's impossible. One thing I can say for certain... I'm fulfilling every duty towards him sincerely because I'm his wife. I know he doesn't see this marriage that way. But I accepted it wholeheartedly and I'll continue fulfilling all my responsibilities towards him with the same sincerity." She smiled with quiet conviction. "Just as he hasn't given me a reason to consider this marriage... He also hasn't given me a reason to break it. So... I'll remain his wife until the day he gives me that one reason."

Amrita's eyes brimmed with tears. She pulled Isha into a tight embrace. Her heart ached for the girl who continued to choose hope... despite enduring nothing but cruelty from her son. Silently... she prayed. She prayed that God wouldn't test her daughter-in-law's patience much longer. Only time would decide whether those prayers would ever be answered.

"Now leave all this." Isha gently wiped the corner of Amrita's eye before smiling. "Come... Let's prepare dinner."

Without waiting for a reply, she held Amrita's hand and dragged her towards the kitchen. The two of them prepared dinner together. While Isha cooked... Amrita stood beside her, chopping vegetables and occasionally helping with the preparations.

After everything was ready, they, along with the servants, arranged the dining table. Soon, the family began making their way to the dining hall. A few moments later... Abhyansh entered. As always, everyone stood until he occupied his seat at the head of the table. Only then did the rest of the family sit down.

Isha quietly stepped forward and began serving him. Dinner passed in complete silence. Once he had finished eating, Abhyansh rose from his chair and was about to leave.

Just then... hurried footsteps echoed through the palace.

"Hukum!" A servant rushed inside, panting heavily. "An injured man has entered the palace. We tried to stop him... But he said he has come to meet Queen Isha."

The servant lowered his head respectfully.

Before anyone could react... Isha ran out of the dining hall. The rest of the family hurried after her. Abhyansh, however... walked behind them at his usual unhurried pace. Almost... as though he already knew what awaited outside. The moment Isha stepped into the entrance hall... her eyes fell upon the blood-soaked man lying on the floor.

"Balwant Kaka!"

A heart-wrenching sob escaped her lips. She immediately ran towards him. His condition was horrifying. Knives were still lodged in his stomach and back. Blood streamed from deep wounds across his arms and legs. His body bore countless signs of brutal torture. He looked like a man who had been dragged through hell itself. The sight left everyone frozen.

A horrified gasp escaped almost every member of the family. Everyone... except Abhyansh.

His face remained as emotionless as ever.

"Hukum..." Balwant struggled to breathe. "Yu... Yuvraj Ranveer...He... He isn't at fault..."

His strength gave out. He collapsed onto the floor. Isha cried. She immediately sat beside him and gently lifted his head into her lap. Looking at his condition... it seemed impossible that he would survive much longer.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

"Kaka..." She gently stroked his blood-soaked hair. "Who did this to you?" She looked desperately at everyone around her. "Someone call an ambulance! Please! Help me take him to the hospital!"

Avyan instinctively stepped forward. Before he could move any further... Abhyansh spoke.

"He won't survive." His voice remained cold. "Let him speak."

Silence fell.

Balwant spoke...

"He... is right, Hukum."

He knew. He wasn't going to survive. Before death claimed him... there was one truth he had to tell her.

"Who did this to you?" Isha cried once again. "Tell me."

"Prince..." He struggled to form the words. "Kailash Rajput."

The name struck Isha like lightning.

"Kaku sa?" She stared at him in disbelief. "Why?"

Balwant coughed violently, blood oozing out of his wounds... 

"I... I told Yuvraj Ranveer...how Prince Kailash convinced you to agree to this marriage."

Another mouthful of blood escaped him. Isha broke down.

"Why?" She cried helplessly. "Why did you risk your life, Kaka?"

Balwant smiled faintly despite the unbearable pain.

"Yuvraj...Ranveer... You know... He was tricked." He struggled to breathe. "Please... Forgive him...Forgive him..."

His voice weakened with every passing word. Just then... a middle-aged woman came running into the palace. The moment she saw Balwant lying in Isha's lap...her legs gave way. She collapsed beside him, crying uncontrollably. From her desperate cries... everyone understood she was his wife.

Balwant slowly turned his head towards her.

With the last of his strength, he whispered,

"Take care...of Princess Isha."

His gaze lingered on the two women before him for one final moment. Then... his hand fell limp, shutting his eyes, forever.

Isha cried, but the man's wife consoled her.

"Don't cry, Your Highness. I'm happy that my husband could do something for you before he died," the woman said.

Isha looked at her in confusion.

"He informed Prince Ranveer about you to save you. That is why Prince Kailash killed him. He..." the woman looked at her husband's lifeless body with tears in her eyes before continuing, "...wanted to see you once before he died. That's why he rushed here."

Tears streamed down the woman's face, yet there was a proud smile on her lips.

That smile angered Isha.

"What about your children?" Isha asked, unable to control her emotions. "He gave away his life for me. What would have happened even if he had informed Prince Ranveer? Nothing! He sacrificed his life for nothing, doing injustice to you and your children... and you're proud of it?"

Though her voice remained soft and gentle as always, the anger in it was unmistakable. Everyone was surprised to see her speak like that. They had always seen her smiling sweetly and speaking softly. Never once had they seen her angry.

Abhyansh already knew that Kailash had severely injured one of his brother's loyal men, but he never knew the reason behind it. Now he did.

He also knew that Isha had agreed to marry him in exchange for something, though he neither knew what it was nor cared enough to find out.

What truly piqued his interest, however, was Ranveer's name.

Ranveer was the only person who had ever managed to impress Abhyansh Singh Ranawat, and now Abhyansh wanted to know the complete truth behind everything.

Balwant hadn't informed Ranveer about how Kailash had manipulated Isha into lying by making Madan misbehave with her because Balwant himself was unaware of it. The only people who knew the truth were Kailash, Madan, Sheela, Isha herself, and a kitchen helper at the Rajput Palace.

What Balwant did tell Ranveer was that Kailash had promised Isha she could work for a few months before marrying the man of his choice. According to him, she would be married off either way, so it was better that she chose the best option herself. 

And that was why Isha had agreed to marry the BEAST.

Ranveer wanted to come to India immediately, but he couldn't.

His father's men had reached London and kidnapped his friend. Until Ranveer rescued him, leaving was impossible. Moreover, his men had informed him that his sister appeared to be safe and had even started working. So, he decided to resolve the situation at hand before returning to India permanently.

Ranveer also believed that his sister had accepted the marriage willingly in exchange for her freedom. Because of that, he didn't think there was much he could do other than convince her to separate from Abhyansh and then take her back to London. 

But all of that required time. And careful planning. Because he knew he wasn't dealing with an ordinary man. He was dealing with The BEAST.

He called his father, demanding that his friend be released, but Kailash feigned ignorance, pretending he had no idea what Ranveer was talking about. That only deepened Ranveer's frustration.

The woman didn't respond to Isha's questions, nor did Isha expect an answer.

Without saying another word, Isha walked to her chamber, brought back her bag, and took out every rupee she had saved from her salary along with the incentives she had earned from the sale of the outfits she had designed.

She placed the bundle of notes into the woman's trembling hands.

"Take this. It will help with his last rites and your children's education," Isha said softly.

"No, Your Highness... I can't accept this," the woman replied, instinctively glancing at the Ranawat family. She assumed the money belonged to them, and in her eyes, they were the people who had ruined their princess's life. She couldn't bring herself to accept anything from them.

Isha understood exactly what was going through her mind.

"This money is mine," she said gently. "I earned it."

She then removed the bangles from her wrists, her earrings, and the necklace adorning her neck, placing them in the woman's hands.

"And these belonged to my mother... your late Queen."

"But, Hukum..." the woman said tearfully, "these are your mother's remembrance. No... I can't take them."

"My mother's remembrance lives in my heart," Isha replied with a faint smile. "These are only material possessions. She would be much happier knowing they helped you than seeing them remain with me. So... please take them."

She softly embraced the grieving woman. Amrita discreetly wiped away her tears as she watched her daughter-in-law's boundless kindness.

For the first time, Avyan questioned the hatred he had harbored towards his sister-in-law. After witnessing this side of her, could he truly continue to hate her?

Even the expressions of the others softened, including Pratap Singh Ranawat, who believed he had suffered the most because of her father.

But Abhyansh's cold eyes remained unchanged.

"And please do one more thing for me," Isha said as she stepped back. "Call all of my father's followers to Balwant Kaka's last rites. Tell them not to try helping me anymore. They shouldn't think about me or worry about my well-being from now on. Tell them I'm fine. I get to work, I get to do everything I ever dreamed of, and I don't need anything else."

She paused before continuing,

"Ask them to focus on their own families. Ask them to take care of them... not me."

"But, Your Highness... how can we—"

The woman tried to protest, but Isha gently interrupted her.

"If any of them tries to help me... or if even one more life is lost because of me..." She looked at the woman with quiet resolve. "...I will starve myself to death."

Her voice remained as soft and gentle as ever. Yet the unwavering determination in it left no room for argument.

The woman lowered her head and nodded silently.

Isha looked at the dead man's lifeless body one last time. Two silent tears escaped her eyes. She quickly wiped them away before turning towards the King.

Even now... she couldn't bring herself to look at his face.

"M... Maharaj..." she said softly, keeping her gaze lowered. "Can someone please help the lady... take her husband's body home?" When no response came immediately, she clasped her hands together. "Please do this favour, Your Highness. I beg you."

In the past two and a half months, she had understood one thing about her husband. He enjoyed it when people surrendered their dignity and pride before him.

"Help the woman." Abhyansh's voice was as cold as ever.

Without waiting for another word, he turned around and walked away. Isha embraced the grieving woman, consoling her as the servants made arrangements to take Balwant's body home.

After a while, Amrita walked up to her, gently patted her cheek, and comforted her, asking her not to blame herself. When Isha nodded, assuring her that she was fine, Amrita too left.

The incident had taken away whatever appetite Isha had. She quietly stood there, her thoughts refusing to settle.

From that day onward, she resolved that no life would ever lose their lives because of her again.

She had already asked Balwant Kaka's wife to convey her message to her father's followers, and she knew they would abandon their attempts to save her if doing so endangered her life. But would her uncle stop? That was the real question.

After thinking about it, she found only one solution.

Her husband. Only he could stop her uncle from claiming any more innocent lives. And if seeking his help required her to sacrifice something in return... she was prepared to do it. Determined, she walked towards her husband's study.

She hadn't stepped into that room since the day he had punished her for returning late from work. Even the memory of that day filled her with fear.

But she had to do this.

------------

Abhyansh was already waiting for his wife. He was intelligent enough to anticipate her next move.

The day she had refused to accept his money and insisted on returning every penny, he had understood that she wasn't someone who was greedy for wealth. After witnessing her actions today, that belief had only become stronger. She wasn't a gold digger. Yet, instead of diminishing his hatred, the realization only intensified it.

'If not for money... then why did she marry me? What agreement did she make with her uncle in return for this marriage?'

The thought crossed his mind, but it didn't intrigue him nearly as much as another name did.

Ranveer Rajput.

'Who exactly is he? Is he his sister's protector... or does he hate her just like her father does?'

But judging by today's confrontation, and by Balwant and his wife's words, one thing had become clear.

Ranveer had wanted to protect his sister from marrying him.

'Then why didn't he?'

A faint smirk tugged at Abhyansh's lips. The questions intrigued him. The answers could wait. If he truly wanted them, he could uncover the truth within minutes. But he didn't. He enjoyed the thrill of the unknown. He preferred watching the truth unfold at its own pace.

Abhyansh called his younger brother to his study to pass a few orders. The moment he heard his wife vow to give up her life if even one more person died because of her, he decided to protect everyone Kailash intended to kill—not because he cared about her, but because he couldn't torture her if she died.

"Yes, Bhai sa, you called?" Avyan asked, bowing his head respectfully.

Abhyansh gave a slight nod and gestured for Avyan to take a seat. Avyan silently obeyed.

Even after ten minutes of complete silence, he didn't dare ask why he had been summoned. He lacked the courage to question his elder brother, so he simply sat there, waiting for him to speak first.

Just then, Isha made her way to the study.

"M... Maharaj..." she began softly, her eyes fixed on the floor. "I am here to ask you for help."

She silently cursed her fate. For the past two and a half months, she had been relieved that she no longer had to interact with her husband.

Now... she had no choice.

"Hm..." Abhyansh responded, signalling for her to continue.

"I want you to stop my uncle from taking any more innocent lives. I mean..." She quickly corrected herself. "I am requesting you."

Silence. No response came from him.

Left with no other choice, she set aside the little self-respect she still had.

"I beg you, Maharaj... please."

A faint smirk appeared on Abhyansh's lips, though neither of them noticed it. Neither possessed the audacity to look him in the eye.

"And what do I get in return?" Abhyansh asked. He paused briefly before continuing. "Or rather... what do you have to offer me?"

The devilish edge in his tone made Avyan's eyes widen.

He immediately rose to his feet.

"Bhai sa... I'll come later."

He didn't want his sister-in-law to endure such humiliation in his presence.

Judging by his brother's tone, he feared the worst and wanted no part in it—not even as a silent witness.

"Sit."

Abhyansh's single command froze him in place. Having no choice, Avyan quietly sat back down.

"I... I didn't understand, Maharaj," Isha said innocently.

Something about his tone unsettled her.

"Be my slave." Abhyansh's voice remained as cold and emotionless as ever. "...For life."

The words left both Isha and Avyan stunned. Tears welled up in Isha's eyes. Becoming someone's slave was the greatest humiliation she could imagine. It meant surrendering her dignity for the rest of her life. She couldn't fully comprehend everything his demand implied.

Avyan, however, understood enough.

At that moment, he could only hope his brother wouldn't force his sister-in-law into doing something that would rob her of her dignity.

"Maharaj..." Isha whispered.

Her trembling voice pleaded with him without needing to say anything more.

"If you agree... they live" Abhyansh said, his tone as icy as ever. He held her gaze for a brief moment before finishing, "If not...they die."

Isha had no choice. She couldn't let any more lives be lost because of her.

She lowered her head and nodded, hiding her tears of humiliation. The entire conversation had taken place in front of her brother-in-law. The fact that her husband didn't care even the slightest bit about her dignity shattered the tiny hope her optimistic heart had nurtured.

A devilish smirk played on Abhyansh's lips at her silent acceptance.

"Avyan, call Kailash Rajput and warn him to stop all the atrocities immediately," Abhyansh ordered.

Avyan nodded, dialed Kailash's number, and put the call on speaker at Abhyansh's signal.

As the phone rang, Isha turned to leave. She wasn't in the state of mind to endure her uncle's voice tonight. Her emotions were already in turmoil.

But would he be called the BEAST if he let her go so easily?

"Stay..."

Abhyansh's voice stopped her the moment he noticed her turning away.

She froze before slowly turning back towards him, silently offering a small prayer to God to save her tonight. She only hoped her uncle wouldn't say anything that would degrade her.

But luck wasn't on her side today.

"Hello, Mr. Ranawat. I'm honored to receive a call from you."

Kailash's voice boomed through the phone.

The moment she heard it, every torture he had inflicted upon her—memories she had almost forgotten over the past few months—came rushing back. She closed her eyes, trying to suppress them.

Abhyansh noticed her distress.

Yet, unlike before, he felt none of the satisfaction he usually derived from seeing her in pain. Lately, he had become obsessed with her, almost as though he alone had the right to inflict pain upon her.

The only thought occupying his mind was that she should be free from the pain and torment Kailash Rajput continued to put her through.

"Enough of the nonsense, Mr. Kailash Rajput. Listen to me carefully. Stop all these atrocities immediately. It's an order from the King," Avyan said, restraining himself, thinking his sister-in-law would be hurt if he spoke harshly to her uncle.

"What are you talking about, Mr. Ranawat? And by the way, I don't have a king. The King of Mewar, my elder brother, died years ago, and the throne of Mewar has remained vacant ever since," Kailash said with a laugh.

He had no idea the call was on speaker.

Nor did he know that Abhyansh was listening.

"Kailash..." Abhyansh's cold voice carried a subtle warning, instantly silencing his laughter. "If another life is lost from this moment onward, you will witness my BEAST side." His voice remained calm. "And you know... you won't be able to witness anything after that."

A shiver ran down Kailash's spine. But he also knew Abhyansh wouldn't kill him. He had given his son his word, and Abhyansh was a man who never broke his promises.

So, Kailash decided to make the most of that assurance.

"Why are you doing this, Mr. Ranawat? For that sl**ty daughter of my brother? Is she w**ming your bed so well that you're protecting the very people who hate you? In fact, I'm doing you a favour by eliminating your enemies. I thought you'd torture my b**ch of a niece, but here you are—"

Kailash was cut off by Abhyansh's voice. Hearing her uncle's words, Isha cupped her mouth and broke into sobs.

Avyan's heart clenched for his sister-in-law. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to kill Kailash.

"Careful there, Kailash." Abhyansh's voice was low... menacing. "I promised your son I wouldn't kill you, but there are many other things I can do. I can chop off your arms and feed them to my pets before your own eyes. I can tear your legs apart, one by one, making you feel every bone breaking and every limb being ripped from your body. I can drive your favourite pen into your eyes—the same pen you used to make me sign my marriage certificate. Remember?"

He paused for a brief moment.

"And you'd still be alive."

His tone carried an unmistakable promise. If Kailash didn't stop... he would do every single one of those things. Everyone present, except Isha, knew how dangerous Abhyansh's pets were.

They included a lion, a tiger, and dozens of hounds.

Isha gasped. Even hearing her husband's words made her stomach churn.

Kailash gulped, his entire body drenched in sweat as he listened to Abhyansh's menacing tone. He knew Abhyansh wasn't bluffing. If he uttered even one word too many, he would carry out every single threat.

"F... Forgive me, Ma... Maharaj. I... I'll do as you ordered," Kailash stammered.

Abhyansh let out a satisfied sigh, hearing the unmistakable tremor in his voice.

"Forgiveness isn't what I do, Kailash. You insulted Abhyansh Singh Ranawat's wife, and you will be punished for it. I'm taking control of every possession you acquired by marrying your niece off to me," Abhyansh declared.

Kailash cursed his loose tongue. But he lacked the courage to argue with Abhyansh. So, he silently obeyed, leaving Isha stunned. Abhyansh disconnected the call and turned towards Isha. Seeing her calm face, devoid of even a trace of fear, pleased him.

I should be the only one she fears, he thought.

A part of Isha felt sorry for her uncle. He had committed every vile act to gain control of those possessions, yet now he had lost everything he cherished. Then... she remembered something. Her husband had called her his wife. Just like that, the tiny hope she had lost returned.

Her tender heart found comfort in those two simple words.

"Avyan, ask our men to keep Kailash Rajput under surveillance. One wrong move, bring him to the den. I'll see him," Abhyansh ordered before getting up and walking towards Isha.

Though Isha was a tall woman herself, she still felt intimidated by her husband's imposing height and dark personality.

"You agreed to become my slave. Now let's discuss the terms huh," Abhyansh whispered before dragging her towards their room.

Avyan let out a quiet sigh, silently prayed for his sister-in-law's safety, and walked out of his brother's study.

Abhyansh shoved her onto the floor before turning back to lock the door. Her heart pounded in fear. He walked back to the bed, sat down, and rested one shoe-clad foot on her right thigh while roughly gripping her face between his fingers.

"You are my slave from today onwards. I show no mercy to my slaves. Whenever I call you, you will come to me. Even a minute's delay could cost you dearly. Do you understand?" Abhyansh said in his usual cold tone.

She nodded through her tears.

"Words," he commanded.

"Y... Yes, Maharaj..." she whispered as tears streamed down her face.

He grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her close to his face. The sudden proximity terrified her. More tears rolled down her cheeks. But the words that left his mouth shocked her even more.

She knew they would leave a permanent scar on her soul.

"Don't worry. I don't go near sl*ts like you. I wouldn't touch you even if you begged me to." His eyes filled with undisguised disgust. "You disgust me."

He shoved her away. She fell back onto the floor.

Slowly, she dragged herself to the wall and sat there, resting her back against it as the disgust in his words turned her entire body cold.

"Sleep peacefully tonight. From tomorrow onwards, you won't have that luxury. Your slavery begins tomorrow."

With that, he walked away, leaving her shattered. Her uncle had called her that word countless times. Yet it had never hurt the way it did when it came from her husband. She didn't understand why he hated her so much. Nor did she have the courage to ask him. And now... she no longer wanted to know. She cried for nearly an hour. After that... she felt nothing. Only numbness.

The entire night passed without Isha getting a moment's sleep. By morning, she resumed her daily routine. The usual excitement she felt every morning was gone, yet she still wore a smile for her mother-in-law, who loved her like a daughter. She prepared breakfast while talking to Amrita as though everything was normal.

After a while, everyone gathered at the dining table, and Isha began serving Abhyansh. Surprisingly, no one—not even Amrita—noticed the change in her. Except Abhyansh. He sensed the stiffness in her. Yet, there wasn't even an ounce of guilt or regret in him. That was how deeply he hated her.

After breakfast, Isha left for work and immersed herself in it, trying to regain the positivity that had always been her strength. But today... it didn't work. Her husband's words and treatment kept flashing before her eyes. Unable to hold herself together, she rushed to the washroom and broke down in tears.

When she stepped out, she noticed a message on her phone. It was from the BEAST himself. He had ordered her to reach home within thirty minutes. He needed something from her. Reaching the palace in thirty minutes was already a challenge. Now that she had seen the message five minutes late, it had become impossible.

She hurried to Ragini, sought her permission, and immediately left for the palace. She urged the cab driver to take her all the way inside the Ranawat Palace, but he apologized, saying he could only drop her at the main road because cabs weren't permitted inside the palace premises at that hour.

Only then did she understand why the drivers dropped her near the palace every day. They were allowed inside only between five and six in the evening. She requested him to drive faster. The moment she reached the main road, she paid the fare and ran towards the palace.

She knew covering the remaining fifteen kilometres in ten minutes was impossible. Even so... she ran. More than half an hour later, she finally reached the palace.

She was gasping for breath. Her legs had almost given way beneath her. Still, she forced herself towards his home office. The moment she reached the entrance... she collapsed face-first onto the floor. Her legs refused to support her any longer. She struggled to breathe as her chest rose and fell violently. Abhyansh had expected exactly this. He had already summoned the doctor to his office.

The doctor rushed to Isha, immediately placed an oxygen mask over her face, and after a few minutes, her breathing gradually returned to normal.

Abhyansh dismissed the doctor before walking towards her.

"You are thirty minutes late." His voice remained cold. "On your knees till evening."

She immediately obeyed. Her legs were throbbing with unbearable pain, but she couldn't disobey him. She was his slave. Just as he had promised... he was treating her like one. By evening, he finally permitted her to relax. The moment she tried to straighten herself, excruciating pain shot through her back and legs.

She attempted to stand... only to collapse onto the floor again. She cried out in pain. The BEAST simply sat in his chair... watching her misery.

"Why do you hate me, Ma... Maharaj?"

She couldn't stop herself from asking after enduring so much torture.

"You are my slave. I don't owe you answers." His expression remained unchanged. "But... if you prove to be a good slave, perhaps one day I'll tell you."

He paused before continuing.

"Listen carefully. From today onwards, you will take my permission for everything. You will inform me before leaving for work and report to me the moment you reach the palace. You will not speak to anyone other than family members without my permission."

She nodded, her eyes swollen with exhaustion and tears. 

Days turned into months. The torture never stopped. With each passing day, Isha grew quieter. Duller. Yet her spirit never broke. Just as Abhyansh had promised, he treated her like a slave. He deliberately assigned her tasks he knew she couldn't complete, only to punish her for failing. He even stopped the cabs from entering the palace premises, forcing Isha to walk fifteen kilometres every evening, while Avyan continued dropping her off every morning.

Her life had turned into hell. Even then... she continued holding on to the tiny ray of light that still remained in her heart. Slowly, however, she became nothing more than a robot whenever it came to obeying Abhyansh's orders. She no longer cried. And that worried Amrita. To her, Isha was still the same cheerful, affectionate daughter-in-law. But it seemed as though whatever her son did... no longer hurt her.

As though it simply didn't matter anymore.