Chapter 2: A Deal with the Devil

The wedding preparations began immediately. Ishani found herself surrounded by luxury, drowning in a world that wasn’t hers. Lavish fabrics, glittering jewelry, and endless discussions about floral arrangements—none of it felt real. She was merely playing a part in someone else’s grand performance, a role she hadn’t chosen but had accepted nonetheless.

She sat stiffly in the grand bridal boutique, her fingers running over the embroidery of an expensive lehenga, but her mind was elsewhere. How had her life come to this? A contract marriage with Veer Rathore, the cold, ruthless CEO who seemed to find amusement in her misery.

“Do you always look this miserable?”

Veer’s deep, commanding voice pulled her from her thoughts. He stood beside her, arms crossed, his sharp gaze assessing her with something between curiosity and amusement. His presence was overwhelming, like an unshakable force that demanded attention.

“I didn’t realize forced brides had to be cheerful,” she shot back, her tone sharp.

Veer smirked, tilting his head slightly. “You agreed to this, sweetheart.”

Her jaw tightened. “Don’t call me that.”

His smirk didn’t waver, but there was a shift in his eyes—something darker, something unreadable. “Then stop looking like you’re marching to your execution.”

Ishani crossed her arms, her glare unwavering. “This might be just business to you, but my life is changing overnight. Forgive me if I’m not thrilled.”

Veer stepped closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “You’re not the only one making sacrifices, Ishani. But remember this—you walked into my office and took the deal. No one forced you.”

She hated that he was right. Hated that she had willingly entered this arrangement. But that didn’t mean she had to make it easy for him.

A designer approached, holding up an intricate lehenga with delicate gold embroidery. “This would look stunning on you, ma’am.”

Ishani barely glanced at the outfit before shifting her gaze to Veer. He was watching her, his expression unreadable, but there was a challenge in his eyes. She straightened her shoulders. If she was going to do this, she would do it on her terms.

“Fine,” she said, turning back to the designer. “Let’s get this over with.”

Veer’s lips twitched, as if he had expected more resistance, maybe even a tantrum. But Ishani Mehta was proving to be more unpredictable than he had anticipated.

He leaned in slightly, his voice low. “I’m curious, Ishani. Are you always this defiant, or is it just for me?”

She held his gaze, refusing to back down. “You’ll have plenty of time to find out.”

His smirk deepened, but there was something else in his eyes now—something that almost resembled intrigue. He had expected a submissive, reluctant bride, someone who would simply endure. Instead, he had found a woman who wouldn’t break so easily.

And for the first time, he wondered if this contract marriage would be far more complicated than he had planned.

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