Chapter 2: Secrets in the Dark

The morning sun had barely risen, casting a soft golden hue across the room. The lavish bedroom that had witnessed the passionate union of Aarohi and Javier now felt different. The warmth of the night before still lingered in the air, but the reality of their situation began to settle like a heavy fog.

Aarohi stirred in the bed, her body draped in the luxurious silk sheets. For a moment, everything felt surreal. The memories of last night played in her mind—the heat, the passion, and the way Javier’s touch had ignited something deep within her that she hadn’t known existed. But now, in the cold light of day, doubt crept back in.

She turned over to find the other side of the bed empty. Javier was gone.

For a second, panic gripped her. Had he regretted it? Had he left without a word? She sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest, her heart pounding in her ears. But just as she was about to get out of bed, the door opened, and Javier stepped in, fully dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, holding two cups of coffee.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice calm, but his eyes revealed a trace of uncertainty. He offered her a cup, his movements careful, as if he was unsure of where they stood after last night.

Aarohi took the coffee, her fingers brushing against his briefly. “Good morning,” she replied softly, her voice still husky from sleep. She studied him, trying to read his expression, but his face was a mask of calm. Too calm.

They drank their coffee in silence, the tension from the previous night replaced by something else—something heavier. Aarohi could feel it in the air, the unspoken words hovering between them.

Finally, Javier broke the silence. “Last night... I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything, Aarohi. This marriage, it’s not what either of us wanted, and I don’t want to force anything on you.”

Aarohi looked up at him, surprised by the vulnerability in his voice. It was a stark contrast to the confident, controlled man she had come to know. She appreciated his honesty, but it also left her feeling exposed.

“I don’t regret what happened, Javier,” she said slowly, choosing her words carefully. “But this is all new to me. This marriage, you... I don’t know how to navigate it. I’m just trying to figure things out.”

Javier nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I understand. I’m trying to figure it out too.” He paused, as if debating whether to say more, but then he looked up, meeting her eyes with an intensity that took her breath away. “There’s something I need to tell you, Aarohi. Something about my family...”

Before he could continue, a sharp knock echoed through the room. Aarohi flinched at the sudden noise, and Javier’s expression immediately shifted to one of guarded caution. He put his coffee down and walked to the door, opening it just a crack.

From where she sat, Aarohi could hear a muffled voice on the other side, speaking quickly in Spanish. Javier responded in the same language, his tone curt, and then shut the door, turning back to her with a tense look on his face.

“I need to take care of something,” he said, his voice clipped. “But we’ll talk later. I promise.”

Aarohi watched as he hurried out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him. She felt a wave of frustration wash over her. Just when it seemed like they were starting to open up to each other, something always got in the way.

But more than that, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Javier was hiding something—something important. And whatever it was, it was tied to his family.

Determined to find out what was going on, Aarohi got out of bed and dressed quickly. She couldn’t just sit around and wait for answers. If she was going to survive this marriage, she needed to take control of the situation.

The Castillo family estate was sprawling, with endless corridors and rooms that seemed to stretch on forever. Aarohi wandered through the hallways, her mind racing with questions. Javier’s sudden departure had only heightened her suspicions. She had noticed the tension in his voice, the way he had spoken in hurried Spanish to the person at the door. Something was going on, and she was determined to find out what.

As she rounded a corner, she nearly bumped into Elena Castillo, Javier’s younger sister. Elena was as beautiful as she was mysterious, with dark eyes that seemed to hold a thousand secrets.

“Good morning, Aarohi,” Elena greeted her with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “How was your first night as a Castillo?”

Aarohi forced a smile in return. “It was... eventful,” she said, choosing her words carefully.

Elena’s smile widened, a hint of amusement in her gaze. “I’m sure it was. But be careful, Aarohi. The Castillo men have a way of complicating things.”

Aarohi raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Elena leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Just be careful who you trust. Not everything is as it seems in this family.”

Before Aarohi could press her for more information, Elena straightened up and gave her a wink. “Enjoy your day, sister-in-law. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other.”

With that, Elena sauntered down the hallway, leaving Aarohi standing there, more confused than ever. What was that supposed to mean? What secrets was this family hiding?

Determined to get to the bottom of it, Aarohi continued her exploration of the estate. She knew she wouldn’t get any answers by sitting around and waiting for Javier to open up. She needed to take matters into her own hands.

As she passed by an open door, she overheard voices coming from inside. She hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer, careful to stay out of sight.

Inside the room, she saw Javier and his cousin, Leonardo Castillo, in a heated discussion. Leonardo’s voice was sharp and accusatory, while Javier’s tone was calm but firm.

“You’re playing with fire, Javier,” Leonardo hissed. “This marriage was a mistake. She doesn’t belong here. She’s going to ruin everything.”

Javier’s expression darkened. “That’s enough, Leo. Aarohi is my wife, and she’s staying. I won’t let you or anyone else interfere.”

Leonardo scoffed. “You think you can protect her? You can’t even protect yourself from what’s coming. This isn’t just about you anymore, Javier. We’re all in danger because of your decisions.”

Aarohi’s heart raced as she listened to their exchange. What danger were they talking about? And why did Leonardo seem so intent on getting rid of her?

She pressed herself against the wall, trying to calm her breathing as she processed what she had just heard. There was more at play here than she had realized. Javier’s family was involved in something dangerous, and now she was caught in the middle of it.

As she turned to leave, she accidentally knocked over a small vase that had been sitting on a nearby table. The sound echoed through the hallway, and Aarohi froze, her heart pounding in her chest.

Inside the room, the conversation abruptly stopped. She could hear footsteps approaching the door, and panic surged through her. She needed to get out of there—fast.

Without thinking, she turned and ran down the hallway, her footsteps echoing in the silence. She didn’t stop until she was back in her room, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

She leaned against the door, her mind racing with everything she had just learned. Javier’s family was hiding something—something dangerous. And now, whether she liked it or not, she was a part of it.

But one thing was clear: she couldn’t trust anyone in this house. Not even her own husband.

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