unexpected accident

That night, as Kirti sleeping in her room phone suddenly rang. The screen displayed an anonymous number. She hesitated for a moment, but curiosity got the best of her, and she picked up the call.

"Hello?" Kirti's voice was tentative, unsure of who might be on the other end.

A pause. Then, a low, seductive voice responded. "Hello, Kirti." It was deep and slightly hoarse, with a tone that made her skin prickle. "I hope I’m not disturbing you."

Her heart raced as she instantly recognized the voice—Xiao Zhan.

"Wh-What do you want?" Kirti stammered, her palms beginning to sweat as she felt a sense of unease wash over her. She didn’t want to be rude, but she was also terrified of what he might say next.

There was a brief, almost amused silence on the other end of the line before he spoke again. "I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Kirti. I know you're not used to this, but I just wanted to talk. To get to know you better."

The way he said her name, so intimately, made her stomach churn. Kirti could feel her breath quickening as her thoughts raced. She didn’t want to be drawn into his games, but somehow, his presence, even over the phone, felt overwhelming.

"I... I don’t want to talk to you," Kirti said quickly, trying to remain calm despite the heat rising in her cheeks. "Please stop calling."

But Xiao Zhan’s voice didn’t waver. It only became more persistent. "You can’t run from this, Kirti. This is happening whether you like it or not. You and I... we’re meant to be."

His words made her heart skip a beat. She wanted to hang up, to block him, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it just yet. There was something in his voice, something dark and compelling, that kept her rooted to the spot.

"Good night, soon to be wife ," Xiao Zhan said, his voice dripping with smrik and confidence, before the line went dead.

Kirti sat there, stunned. Her fingers trembled as she held the phone. She didn’t know how he had gotten her number or what he truly wanted from her, but one thing was certain—this was just the beginning. And somehow, she knew it wouldn’t be the last time he called.

Kirti's hand shook as she held the phone, her mind racing with confusion and fear. Xiao Zhan’s words echoed in her ears, sending a chill down her spine. She didn’t want to deal with this, didn’t want to be caught up in his world. Without thinking twice, she navigated to her contacts and blocked the anonymous number.

Her heart was still pounding, and she felt a heavy weight in her chest as she stared at the screen. Blocking the number felt like the only way to take control, but part of her knew that Xiao Zhan wouldn’t give up so easily. She had no idea how he had gotten her number, but she was certain he had some plan in mind, and it didn’t sit well with her.

Kirti lay back on her bed, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She didn’t want to worry her parents, but she also knew they wouldn’t understand the depth of what was happening. This marriage, the pressure, the forceful presence of Xiao Zhan—it was all too much for her to handle.

She closed her eyes, hoping sleep would offer her an escape, but as she drifted off, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Xiao Zhan was determined, and now that he had made his move, there was no telling how far he would go to get what he wanted.

On the third day after the phone call, Kirti woke up, feeling the weight of the previous days' stress pressing down on her. She had managed to block Xiao Zhan's number, but the unsettling feeling lingered. Her routine had returned to normal—eating, sleeping, studying—but deep inside, she felt trapped in a situation she couldn’t escape.

That morning, after finishing her breakfast, Kirti was about to head back to her room when she heard the doorbell ring. Her father, as usual, went to answer it. Kirti, curious but dreading what might come, stayed where she was. A few moments later, she heard voices in the living room. They were speaking in Mandarin, but she could easily tell that one of them was very familiar.

When she walked into the living room, her heart sank. There, sitting comfortably on the sofa, were Xiao Zhan's grandmother and his younger sister. Kirti froze, her mind racing. She had no idea they were coming, and their unexpected arrival made her blood boil.

The grandmother, an elderly woman with a kind yet commanding presence, smiled warmly at Kirti as she entered. Xiao Zhan's younger sister, a bright and energetic girl around Kirti’s age, looked up at her and waved.

"Good morning, Kirti!" the younger sister said in an enthusiastic tone, clearly trying to appear friendly. "We’re so glad to meet you."

Kirti felt a wave of frustration wash over her. How could they just show up like this without warning? Without even asking if she wanted to meet them? She could tell immediately that this was all part of Xiao Zhan's plan to wear her down, and it infuriated her.

Her father and mother exchanged looks, clearly unsure of how to handle the situation, but their expressions seemed to show a sense of obligation rather than excitement. Kirti felt her anger rising, her fists clenching by her sides.

"What are you doing here?" Kirti asked sharply, not bothering to hide the irritation in her voice. Her heart raced with the urgency to end this situation.

The grandmother, unfazed by her tone, smiled gently. "We came to talk with you, Kirti. Xiao Zhan has spoken highly of you, and we thought it would be nice to get to know you better."

The younger sister chimed in, "We just wanted to make you feel comfortable! After all, we’re family now, right?"

Kirti’s face flushed with anger. "I don’t know why you’re here," she said, her voice tight with emotion. "But I’m not ready for any of this. I don’t want to be part of this marriage."

The grandmother’s expression softened, but there was a hint of determination in her eyes. "Kirti, dear, I understand you may feel confused or pressured, but sometimes we don’t get to choose our path. Xiao Zhan has made his intentions clear, and this is for the good of both families."

Kirti felt a surge of frustration. She wanted to scream, to tell them to leave, but she couldn’t. She was stuck in this situation, with no way out. They were all here, sitting in her home, talking as though everything was already decided.

“I don’t care about what Xiao Zhan wants!” Kirti snapped, her voice shaking with anger. “I didn’t ask for this, and I won’t just accept it!”

The room fell silent for a moment, the tension thick in the air. Her parents exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncomfortable with the confrontation, but they remained silent. They had been pressured by both sides to accept this marriage, and now it was affecting their daughter.

"I’m not ready for any of this!" Kirti shouted, unable to hold it back any longer. "I’m not some prize to be claimed!"

The grandmother sighed, her voice still calm but carrying a hint of sadness. "I understand, dear. I just want you to know that Xiao Zhan only wants what's best for you. He's a good man."

But Kirti couldn’t hear her. She felt overwhelmed, trapped in a situation she never wanted. It wasn’t just the marriage; it was the constant intrusion into her life, the feeling that no one was listening to her or respecting her wishes.

As Kirti stormed up the stairs to her room, her heart was pounding in her chest, filled with frustration and a desperate need to escape. She could feel the weight of Xiao Zhan’s family in her home, their eyes judging her, silently demanding her submission.

But before she could reach her room, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching quickly. She turned around, startled to see Xiao Zhan standing at the bottom of the stairs, his face tight with determination.

“Kirti,” he called out, his voice calm but firm, “We need to talk.”

Kirti's anger flared, and without thinking, she shouted back, “I have nothing to say to you!” She turned quickly, but before she could retreat fully into her room, Xiao Zhan reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back towards him.

His grip was strong, and the sudden pull caught her off guard. She tried to pull away, but his hold only tightened.

"Let go of me!" Kirti screamed, her heart racing, the overwhelming feeling of being trapped coursing through her veins.

“Kirti, please, just listen to me—” Xiao Zhan began, but Kirti, fueled by anger and panic, yanked herself free from his grip.

In the chaos of the moment, Kirti pushed her way past Xiao Zhan to break free. But in her haste, she accidentally shoved his grandmother, who had been standing behind him, just a few steps away.

The elderly woman stumbled, her balance lost as she collided with a nearby rack of decorative vases. The crash of porcelain shattering echoed through the house as she fell backward, her head striking the corner of the wooden shelf. The sharp impact sent a red wave of blood trickling down from her forehead.

Kirti froze, her eyes widening in horror as she saw the blood on the floor and the blood staining the grandmother’s white clothes. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, realizing the extent of what had just happened.

“Oh my God, I didn’t mean to—” Kirti gasped, panic flooding through her.

The grandmother let out a small moan, clearly dazed, but her eyes were still open, and she seemed to be trying to speak. Xiao Zhan’s face twisted in fury, and before Kirti could react, he rushed to his grandmother’s side, kneeling beside her and gently cradling her head.

“Grandmother, no...” Xiao Zhan’s voice was tight with anger and fear.

Kirti, still frozen in shock, watched helplessly as Xiao Zhan called out for help, his anger now directed at her.

“You did this!” he spat, his eyes burning with rage. “You made her fall! You pushed her!”

Kirti felt tears stinging her eyes, her whole body trembling. She had only acted out of fear, but seeing the consequences of her actions crushed her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, barely able to control her voice. “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

But the words felt hollow, and as much as she wanted to run to help, the sight of the blood and Xiao Zhan’s fierce gaze made her feel small, trapped, and more afraid than ever.

Without another word, she turned and fled up the stairs to her room, locking the door behind her. She slid to the floor, her back against the cold wood, her hands pressed against her face as the overwhelming guilt and fear overtook her.

She had never wanted any of this. But now, the consequences of her actions were real, and she didn’t know how to fix what she had broken.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Xiao Zhan's anger was building. His grandmother’s injury had shaken him deeply, and his mind raced. What had Kirti done? Why couldn’t she just accept what was happening? He knew he needed to control the situation, to make her understand that this marriage was inevitable.

But as he tended to his grandmother, his thoughts were clouded with rage and frustration. His gaze flickered up toward the stairs where Kirti had disappeared.

She would pay for this.

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