Author's pov :

Isha stood in her bedroom, her back turned to Ryan, her posture rigid yet fragile.

"One thing you should always remember, Mr. Ryan Walia ,I will never like you, nor will I ever fall for you. This marriage is nothing but a deal, a mere transaction orchestrated by your grandfather and my parents." Her voice was steady, but the slight tremor at the end betrayed the emotions she fought to suppress.

Ryan felt a sharp jolt in his chest at her words. A deal ,was that all their marriage meant to her? His heart shattered into pieces, yet he knew reclaiming Isha’s love wouldn’t be easy. Winning back his Cookie would take time, patience, and perhaps even pain.

"Marriage could never be a deal for me, Ms. Isha," Ryan said, his voice calm but laced with restraint. "My grandfather didn’t exchange you for anything. If you don’t want this, just say no."

Isha turned, fury flashing in her stormy gray eyes.

"Do you think I have a choice?" she snapped. "If I had even the slightest chance, I would never agree to marry you! But if not you, then another billionaire ,someone my parents will auction me off to. Don’t think for a second that I’m marrying you of my own free will."

A single tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it.

Ryan clenched his fists. If Isha truly didn’t want him, he had resolved to let her go and win her heart first. But after hearing the cruelty of her parents, he knew that walking away would be the worst mistake of his life. His decision was made,he would marry her, even if she hated him for it. He couldn’t leave her at the mercy of people who saw her as nothing more than a bargaining chip.

"Then be ready," he said, his voice unwavering. "In a week, you’ll be Mrs. Ryan Walia."

He stepped closer, wiping away the tear with the pad of his thumb. Leaning in, his breath ghosted against her ear as he murmured,

"I will not tolerate tears in my wife's eyes. So don’t cry, Isha. Because if anyone dares to be the reason behind those precious tears, I will destroy them."

He turned to leave, but Isha’s voice stopped him mid-step.

"What if one day, you become the reason behind these tears?"

Ryan stilled. Then, without hesitation, he turned to face her, his hazel eyes locking onto hers.

"Then take my gun and shoot me," he said, pressing a finger to his heart. "I won’t utter a single word."

With that, he walked out, leaving Isha drowning in turmoil.

How could she marry someone when her heart belonged to Ayansh, the boy she had loved since childhood? How could she forget him? How could she spend her life with a man she barely knew?

The questions swirled in her mind as she sank onto the bed, clutching the sheets as if they could hold her together.

"Why does God always play with my fate?" she whispered, anguish lacing her voice. "It’s been twelve years, and I still can’t forget you, Dumpling. How am I supposed to marry him? How am I supposed to live my entire life with someone I don’t love?"

Her voice cracked, and hot tears streamed down her face.

"Why did you leave, Ayansh? Why? I hate you! I hate you so much! I hate my whole life! I hate myself for still loving you, for being unable to forget you after all these years. And the worst part? I don’t even know if you ever loved me back."

She sobbed into the silence, unaware that Ryan stood just outside the door, his heart splintering with every word she spoke.

A deep fear clawed at his chest. If he told her the truth that he was Ayansh ,would she ever forgive him? Or would she hate him even more?

Looking through the slightly open door, Ryan watched her break down, and he made a silent vow.

"I know you’re in pain, Cookie," he murmured to himself. "And right now, I can’t erase it completely—but I swear, I will never let anyone hurt you again. Not even me."

His jaw tightened.

"I’m late, but I never stopped loving you. I am yours, and I always will be. Just give me time, Isha, I’ll make everything right. I want to tell you the truth, but what if you can’t forgive me? What if you hate me for leaving?

If things were different, I would have given you time. I would have let you choose. But now… I have to marry you. It’s the only way to keep you safe."

He exhaled sharply and stepped away from the door.

"I will win you back, as Ryan.

Just wait for me, love."

With that, he descended the stairs, his heart carrying the weight of the secret he could never reveal.

That's the prologue I hope it's intriguing to you all who is reading! Do give your love ❤