Sunlight streamed through the high windows, spilling gold across the hardwood floor.
Ryan stirred first, waking to find Jane still asleep, her hand resting lightly over his heart. She looked so peaceful, so vulnerable, it made something tighten painfully in his chest.
He brushed a soft kiss against her forehead before slipping out of bed to prepare for the day.
By noon, they were out together—laughing, teasing, walking through parks and bustling streets like ordinary people. They ate at a cozy café tucked between two tall buildings, sharing pastries and coffee, ignoring the world around them.
Ryan found himself unable to stop smiling.
It felt normal.It felt like hope.
But the clock was ticking.
As the sun dipped lower, they returned to the mansion, and Ryan asked the servants to prepare his luggage. He needed to leave early tomorrow—Monday morning—for the airport with Maggi.
Standing near the grand staircase, he caught sight of Jane watching him from the shadows.
Her arms were crossed loosely, but her face was shadowed with sadness.
She approached him slowly.
"Be careful," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ryan smiled gently. "I'll be fine. Maggi's with me."
Jane shook her head. "I trust Maggi. But if anything happens... if anything at all feels wrong... you call me first. Promise me."
He reached out, cupping her face in his hands. "I promise."
"And take care of yourself," Jane whispered, her eyes glassy.
"I will," he said, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "And you... you take care of yourself too. Don't worry about me."
"I'll always worry about you," Jane breathed, and before she could stop herself, she pulled him close, kissing him fiercely.
Ryan kissed her back with equal hunger, pouring all his silent promises into that kiss.
When they finally broke apart, both breathless, she kissed him again—two, three times—unable to stop herself.
He smiled against her lips. "I'm coming back. You can't get rid of me that easily."
Jane gave a watery laugh, then buried her face against his chest.
"I don't want to get rid of you," she murmured. "I want to keep you."
"You have me," Ryan said, holding her tightly. "For life."
And deep down, both of them knew it was a vow far heavier than any casual promise.
It was destiny.
The Morning Departure
The next morning was a quiet whirlwind.
Ryan finished packing his luggage, and just before sunrise, he and Maggi were ready to leave for the airport.
To Ryan's surprise, Jane insisted on coming along.
Wrapped in a long, elegant black coat, Jane accompanied them in the sleek black SUV that wound its way through the awakening city streets of Mumbai. The soft city lights reflected off the windows, casting fleeting patterns over Jane's still, unreadable face.
At the Mumbai International Airport, the air buzzed with the low hum of announcements and the bustle of travelers. Maggi moved ahead, checking their tickets and final confirmations, while Ryan and Jane lingered by the curb.
"You'll be fine," Jane whispered, adjusting the collar of his jacket.
Ryan smiled. "Don't worry so much."
"I'll worry anyway," she said, her voice raw.
They shared another long, lingering kiss, uncaring of the world rushing around them.
Maggi called out from ahead, signaling it was time.
Ryan gave Jane one last hug, breathing her in, locking her scent and warmth into his memory, before turning to follow Maggi into the bustling terminal.
Jane watched them disappear through the security checkpoint, standing utterly still until they were lost in the crowd.
Only then did she turn away, stepping back into the waiting car with a hollow, aching heart.
Later that night, the estate was silent once more.
Jane was back in her study, buried in work, a single dim lamp casting long shadows across her desk. Her pen moved mechanically over papers, but her mind was elsewhere—following a certain boy who was now flying above the clouds toward his brutal training.
A knock echoed at the door.
"Come in," Jane said without looking up.
The door creaked open, and Eleanor entered, carrying a thin black file.
She approached the desk and placed it carefully before Jane.
"It's not complete yet," Eleanor said, her voice steady but cautious. "The people we contacted for the identity fabrication are standing by. They're ready to prepare everything—school certificates, college degrees, employment history—but before they start, they need a name."
Jane finally looked up, her eyes gleaming with sharp focus.
She leaned back in her chair, tapping the end of her pen thoughtfully against her lips.
"Ray Sterling," she said at last, her voice calm but commanding. "From today onward, the world will know him as Ray Sterling."
Eleanor nodded and quickly noted it down.
"There's one more thing," Jane added, her voice low and cold. "Once the documents are ready... our men on standby must make sure there are no witnesses left behind. No one must ever know who created these papers."
Eleanor hesitated only a second before answering, "It will be done."
For a moment, the room was heavy with silence—the kind that seeps into your bones.
Jane's lips curved into a small, almost gentle smile, but there was nothing soft about the gleam in her eyes.
"You're getting very... attached to him," Eleanor ventured carefully, forcing her voice to stay casual.
Jane's smile widened slightly, dangerous and knowing.
"I was already attached to him," Jane said softly. "From the very beginning. But when he proposed to Hazel... I stepped away. I gave him his choice, his freedom."
Her smile faded, replaced by something darker—something fierce and possessive.
"But now," Jane continued, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous murmur, "he's mine. He chose me. He belongs to me. And he cannot escape."
Jane's hands curled slightly into fists against the desk.
"I will claim him for myself," she whispered. "He won't even want to go away. He won't be able to bear it."
There was a burning certainty in her words—like prophecy. Like obsession.
Eleanor lowered her eyes quickly, hiding the unease that sparked in her chest.
Inside her mind, Eleanor made a quiet vow to herself:Keep your distance, Eleanor. Stay far away from Ryan Ashworth.Because if you get even a little close... if Jane Blackwood even senses it...she'll do to you exactly what she does to her enemies in the estate's underground basement. Torture you until you beg for death... and then after killing her she would feed her chopped pieces to the wild dogs of the estate for daring to touch what is hers.
The room fell back into heavy silence.
Outside the study windows, the dark trees shivered in the wind. Somewhere far away, a dog barked once—and was quickly silenced.
Jane returned to her paperwork as if the conversation had never happened, a slight, satisfied smile tugging at her lips.
Ray Sterling. Her Ray Sterling. And soon, the whole world would have to accept it too.
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There can mistakes in Chapters as I was not able give time because as my exams are going on but I will try to correct all mistakes in future as it is my first novel so add to the library and give me some vote for extra motivation.
You can also drop the comments about the book and I am also open about suggestion about book