POSSESSED BY HER

CHOOSE YOU

"How dare you come here?" she shouted suddenly, her voice shaking with anger as she stepped forward. "HOW DARE YOU SHOW YOUR FACE HERE AGAIN?"

I flinched slightly at the sheer force of her voice.

Behind her, Adithya's sister stood frozen near the hallway while his father slowly appeared from another room, confusion immediately turning into shock the second he saw me standing there.

Mrs. Menon pointed at me with trembling fingers.

"You ruined my son's life!" she cried out. "Wasn't that enough for you already?"

I lowered my gaze silently.

"You threatened us!" she continued, her voice cracking with rage and fear buried together. "You came into this house like a monster! You threatened my family with a gun!"

"You destroyed our peace!" she shouted. "My son left this house because of you!"

"Do you even know what happened to my son after meeting you?" she cried. "He stopped smiling properly! He stopped talking to us! He lost everything because of you!"

"You rich people think money can fix everything!" she continued bitterly. "First you people threaten us, then throw money at us like we are beggars!"

My throat tightened instantly at that.

"I didn't come here for that," I whispered quietly.

"Then why did you come?" she shouted. "To scare us again? To take away whatever little peace we have left?"

"No."

"Then what?"

I inhaled shakily before finally forcing myself to look at her directly.

"Adithya didn't marry me out of his own will,I forced him to do it. This was supposed to be only a contract marriage.Just one year. I threatened him for my own selfish reasons. I told him that if he refused to marry me... I would harm all of you. So he married me to protect you people." I spoke.

The guilt crawled beneath my skin so violently that I could barely stand there properly while looking at them.

Because saying it aloud made everything sound even uglier.

Mrs. Menon suddenly stepped toward me and the next second her palm struck across my face sharply.

The slap echoed loudly through the house.

My head turned slightly from the impact as a sting spread instantly across my cheek.

"How could you do that to my son?" she cried out, her voice breaking violently now as she hit my shoulder harshly again through her tears. "What did my Adithya ever do to deserve this?"

"I am sorry." I muttered.

That sorry felt so pathetic.

His father stepped forward slowly, but the calmness on his face was far more terrifying than shouting.

"You think saying sorry will erase everything?" he asked, his voice trembling with restrained rage. "You walked into our house and destroyed our lives. My son lived in fear because of you."

"Do you know how many nights my wife cried after he left? Do you know how terrified my daughter became every time someone knocked on the door?"

Each word landed heavily against my chest.

"You rich people play with lives like it's business," he continued bitterly. "You threatened my family like we were insects beneath your feet."

"I am not here to justify myself," I whispered.

"Then what are you here for?" he shouted suddenly. "To clear your guilt? To feel better about yourself?"

Mrs. Menon stepped toward me again, tears pouring down her face uncontrollably now.

"My son was happy before meeting you!" she cried, pushing my shoulder hard. "He had a family! He had peace!"

I stumbled back slightly but remained silent.

"You ruined him!" she screamed before hitting my arm again and again in frustration.

The old version of me-the one who never tolerated disrespect, never tolerated anyone raising even their voice against me-rose violently inside my chest.

For one dangerous second, anger flashed through me so intensely that even Mrs. Menon froze slightly after seeing something shift in my eyes.

Because I wasn't built to stand quietly while being humiliated.

I was the woman who made grown men tremble with a single glare.

The woman who answered violence with worse violence.

But this time I swallowed it all down.

Every ounce of it.

Because this time, the mistake is mine. And this is for.....

For Adithya.

For the family he still loved.

I clenched my trembling hands behind my back so tightly my nails dug painfully into my skin and stayed still.

Mrs. Menon hit my shoulder again weakly.

"One year is going to be over, right?" his father asked, stepping closer toward me slowly.

My breathing faltered instantly

Because I already knew what was coming next.

"So please," he said, his voice finally cracking under all the anger and grief he had been carrying, "divorce him and give our son back to us."

My lips parted slightly but no words came out.

Because suddenly the mere image of it leaving Adithya felt horrifying.

The thought of waking up one day and not seeing him beside me anymore felt like someone was ripping something out of my chest violently.

I couldn't do it.

I could never do it.

My eyes burned instantly as tears blurred my vision again.

"I came here to tell all of you the truth. So that you would stop hating Adithya for whatever lies he told in the beginning."

No one said anything.

"The fault is mine," I whispered finally.

And before they could respond I turned around and walked out of the house.

The moment I stepped outside, the air suddenly felt heavier against my lungs.

My cheek still burned painfully from the slap his mother gave me. I wiped my tears angrily as I walked down the street quickly, trying hard not to break down in the middle of the road like some pathetic child.

But the humiliation kept replaying inside my head again and again.

I spotted Vihaan waiting near the car, leaning lazily against it with his arms crossed, though the second he saw my face properly, his posture straightened slightly.

I almost rushed toward the car and immediately got into the passenger seat without saying anything.

A few seconds later, he quietly got in too and started the engine.

"This is so embarrassing, Vihaan," I muttered. "Fucking embarrassing."

I kicked the air angrily in frustration as the image of Mrs. Menon slapping me flashed across my mind again.

"I have never felt humiliation like this in my entire life."

Vihaan stayed silent for a moment while driving.

"Did she hit you?"

I looked away immediately.

That alone was enough of an answer.

His hands tightened around the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned pale.

"She slapped you?" he asked again.

I inhaled sharply.

"Don't," I muttered immediately. "Don't start."

"She hit you."

"I deserved it."

Vihaan suddenly laughed once but there was absolutely no humor in it.

"No," he said coldly. "I expected shouting. Crying. Cursing. Not someone raising their hand on you."

"So what are you going to do now?" I asked irritably, turning toward him finally. "Go back there and fight with them because she slapped me?"

"Viyana," he said sharply, "you know very well how carefully I have raised you."

I rolled my eyes tiredly.

"And I cannot tolerate someone raising their hand on you," he continued, anger simmering beneath every word now. "I don't care who they are."

I rubbed my forehead in frustration.

"For the sake of my life, please don't go and create some huge scene behind my back," I muttered. "Please."

"Viyana, this is insane-"

"No," I snapped immediately, cutting him off before he could continue. "I know exactly what I am doing. This is my life, and I will handle it myself. You don't need to interfere in everything."

He laughed dryly under his breath before suddenly speaking in a tone that left no room for argument. "You are joining the company tomorrow."

I blinked at him. "Vihaan-"

"I said what I said." His voice hardened further.

"You are joining the company tomorrow."

I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you seriously bringing this up right now?"

"You asked me not to interfere in your life," he said coldly while keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Fine. Then do whatever you want with your personal life."

I crossed my arms and looked away in irritation.

"But," he continued sharply, "as the chairman of this company, I am ordering you to resume your position from tomorrow."

I turned toward him immediately. "Vihaan-"

"No arguments."

"I need some time to explain all this to Adithya-"

"I don't care," he cut me off instantly. "You can handle your marriage and emotions after office hours."

I stared at him in disbelief. "You are unbelievable."

"And you are irresponsible."

I scoffed loudly. "This is exactly why no woman tolerates you."

"Good." He said

The car suddenly slowed before stopping right in front of Adithya's house.

The moment the engine stopped, I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt aggressively and pushed the door open.

"You will literally rot in hell, Vihaan," I muttered angrily while getting out of the car. "I fucking hate you."

"See you tomorrow at office," he replied shamelessly.

I glared at him furiously before slamming the car door hard enough to shake the entire vehicle.

Then I turned around and walked straight toward the house without looking back.

A second later, I heard the car driving away behind me.

I exhaled sharply, still boiling with irritation as I walked toward the entrance.

God.

My entire life was becoming unbearable.

Adithya's family hated me.

Vihaan was forcing me back into corporate hell.

And now I somehow had to explain all of this to my emotionally unstable husband who already panicked every time the word "leaving" entered a conversation.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

I walked inside the gate absentmindedly, still irritated and emotionally drained from everything that happened, but the moment my eyes landed on Adithya's bike parked outside the house my steps halted.

Wait.

He came back already?

This early?

A strange nervousness immediately crawled back into my chest.

I quickly walked toward the front door and pushed it open slowly.

Inside, Adithya was sitting on the floor with his laptop open in front of him.

The second he heard the door open, he looked up immediately.

"Adithya?" I called softly while slipping off my footwear outside before walking in properly.

"You came early?" I asked cautiously.

He closed the laptop slowly before standing up.

"Yes," he replied.

But his voice sounded strange and that instantly made my stomach twist. Then he started walking toward me.

"But where were you?" he asked quietly.

I swallowed hard.

"I-I went to meet Vihaan," I started nervously.

"My mom called me, and told me everything." He said.

The guilt returned instantly, crashing into me so hard I lowered my gaze automatically.

I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could say anything, Adithya suddenly stepped closer and gently held my jaw, making me look up at him and the second his eyes landed on my cheek, his expression changed completely.

The faint red mark from the slap was still visible. His fingers tightened slightly against my jaw.

"What is this?" he asked quietly.

I looked away immediately. "It's nothing."

His eyes darkened instantly. "Viyana."

I stayed silent.

His thumb brushed softly across the reddened skin on my cheek.

"Why did you go there?" he asked.

I slowly took his hand away from my face, my fingers trembling slightly against his skin as I lowered my gaze.

"I don't want to be the reason you and your family stay separated," I whispered.

"I already ruined enough things in your life, Adithya," I continued softly, my throat tightening painfully with every word. "And I know very well what it feels like to live without parents."

Tears blurred my vision before I could stop them.

"I know what that emptiness feels like," I admitted shakily. "And I never... never want you to experience even a second of that because of me."

His expression softened immediately.

I wiped my tears quickly in frustration before continuing.

"I know your family hates me," I whispered. "And honestly they have every right to. But I couldn't tolerate the idea of them hating you for something that was completely my fault."

"I just wanted them to know the truth," I said quietly. "That you didn't betray them willingly. That you married me because I forced you to."

His jaw tightened slightly at that.

"And yes," I muttered bitterly through tears, "your mother slapped me. But honestly? I can't even blame her for it."

"You should have at least informed me, Viyana," he said. "Do you even understand how terrified I got when my mom suddenly called me crying and telling me you came there alone?"

My chest tightened.

"I left work immediately," he admitted quietly. "I drove back like a madman because I didn't know what was happening there."

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

He exhaled shakily before suddenly pulling me toward him.

I stumbled slightly before his arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me so close that I could hear the violent rhythm of his heartbeat again.

"When I came back home and you weren't here, I panicked," he admitted quietly as he tightened his arms around me even more. "But then I guessed you would probably be with your brother, so I messaged Vihaan... and he told me you were with him."

A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.

"Since when did you start texting my brother?" I asked softly, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere surrounding us. "You hate him, don't you?"

I pulled away slightly to look at him.

Adithya sighed dramatically. "I had no other option," he muttered.

But the moment I properly looked at him my chest tightened because his eyes were moist again.

God.

This man cried like his emotions were permanently sitting near the surface waiting to spill out.

I gently wiped the tears gathering near his eyes with my thumb before pulling his cheek softly.

"Why did she slap you, Viyana?" he whispered brokenly, his fingers carefully tracing the faint redness still left on my cheek like he hated even looking at it. "I am so sorry on behalf of her. I am so, so sorry."

"It's okay-" I started.

"No, it's not."

His voice came out firmer this time.

Then suddenly his expression hardened again.

"I'll just go there and-"

Before I could react, he turned around angrily and started walking toward the table where his bike keys were lying.

I blinked in disbelief.

"Where are you going?" I asked immediately.

"To meet my family," he replied without stopping. "How dare she slap you-"

"Adithya, stop this," I said, half irritated and half amused now as I followed behind him quickly. "You are literally sounding like those dramatic alpha male heroes who say they'll burn the world because someone touched their woman."

He turned toward me instantly.

"I can't burn my mother," he muttered seriously. "But she still had no right to slap you."

I stared at him for a second.

Before he could continue saying something even more dramatic, I quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward me and I smashed my lips against his.

He froze instantly.

The bike keys slipped from his fingers and fell onto the floor with a soft clink.

I held his face tightly between my hands as I kissed him again, shutting down every angry word before it could escape him.

For one second he stayed stunned.

Then suddenly his hands gripped my waist tightly, pulling me impossibly closer as he kissed me back with all the pent-up frustration.

His mouth moved roughly on mine, his teeth grazing my lower lip slightly. His one hand fisted hard in the back of my hair to hold me still, the other gripped my waist hard enough to leave faint indentations.

He pulled back just to take off his glasses and then came back, pressing his lips on mine roughly. I gasped in pleasure, as a strange sensation ran through my body and my fingers tightened on the fabric of his shirt.

He suddenly scooped me up easily into his arms, my hands automatically wrapping around his neck and never once he pulled his mouth away from mine as he walked inside the room.

He set me down gently on the mattress, caging me in with his arms on either side of me. His tongue brushed slow against my swollen lower lip, asking for entrance. As I patted my lips, he shoved his tongue, and goosebumps break out all across my arms and neck.

I moan into the kiss, and the sound made him groan back, pressing harder as he devoured my mouth completely. One of his hands slid down my side, fingers brushing the curve of my hip, every movement raw and hungry like he's been starving for years.

I pushed his away slightly because I couldn't breathe anymore. He pulled away immediately as both of us gasped for air. He brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear as he pecked my cheek softly.

"I love you Viyana." He muttered between the heavy gasps for air.

My heart swelled painfully inside my chest as I stared at him struggling to breathe properly, his face still flushed slightly from emotions, his hair messy from me pulling at it earlier.

I slowly lifted my hand and brushed my fingers through his hair gently.

"You love too roughly," I whispered softly as I pointed at my swollen lips.

He chuckled softly, before pushing me down onto the bed and laying beside me.

The mattress dipped slightly beneath his weight as he immediately pulled me into his arms again like he physically could not stay away from me for more than a few seconds.

Then he buried his face against the crook of my neck with a tired sigh, his arms tightening around my waist possessively.

"I love you, Viyana," he muttered again quietly, the words muffled slightly against my neck.

My heart fluttered helplessly.

I ran my fingers slowly through his messy hair before letting out a small laugh.

"You literally forgot what you were about to do, didn't you?" I asked teasingly.

"You kissed me and I forgot about it." He said, kissing softly on the crook of my neck.

I giggled as he groaned dramatically and held me even tighter.

"This is manipulation," he muttered. "You distract me with affection."

"That sounds like a you problem." I said.

"No," he replied instantly while lifting his head slightly to look at me. "This is definitely your fault."

I smiled softly at him.

How did this emotionally unstable man become so adorable to me?

He stared at me quietly for a moment before his expression softened again.

"I was genuinely ready to fight with my family five minutes ago," he admitted.

"And now?"

"Now I just want to stay here."

The simple honesty in his voice made my chest ache warmly.

I brushed my thumb gently beneath his eye.

"You are too emotional for someone who acts mature all the time." I muttered.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. "And you are too dangerous for someone who acts innocent after creating chaos."

"That's called talent." I said proudly.

He laughed softly under his breath before pulling me impossibly closer again until there was barely any space left between us.

"Adithya," I called softly while tracing random patterns against his arm.

He hummed lazily in response, still holding me close like he had no intention of letting go anytime soon.

I inhaled slowly before finally saying it.

"I'm going to join work again from tomorrow."

He suddenly pulled away from me and looked up so quickly that I almost laughed at the panic flashing across his face.

"Really?" he asked carefully.

I nodded slowly. For one second he simply stared at me silently, probably overthinking a thousand things at once exactly like I expected him to.

"You will come back here, right?" he asked quietly.

The vulnerability in that question made my chest ache instantly.

"Of course," I whispered.

The tension visibly melted from his face.

"Then okay," he smiled softly, before leaning closer and kissing the bridge of my nose gently.

I blinked at him for a second.

"That's all?" I asked in disbelief.

He frowned slightly. "What else should I say?"

"I literally told you I am going back to my billionaire corporate life and you just said 'okay'?"

He shrugged casually before laying his head back down against my chest comfortably.

"Viyana," he muttered tiredly, "you could become the president of the entire world tomorrow and I still would only care about whether you come back home to me at night."

My heart physically melted.

I stared at him speechlessly while he casually wrapped his arm tighter around my waist again.

"That's it." he continued sleepily. "That's my only condition."

I brushed my fingers through his hair quietly before whispering softly,

"You are so easy to love, Mr. Justice Saviour," I whispered softly while looking down at him resting against me so peacefully, like this was exactly where he belonged.

"I know," he muttered shamelessly. "You are obsessed with me."

I rolled my eyes but still couldn't stop smiling. Then slowly the smile faded slightly.

"Your parents asked me to divorce you," I admitted quietly.

Adithya immediately looked up at me again.

"In their dreams," he scoffed dramatically.

I stared at him.

"Absolutely not happening," he declared.

"Adithya-"

"No," he interrupted immediately. "They can be angry at you. They can hate you for some time. Fine. But divorce?" He shook his head stubbornly. "Not possible."

My chest warmed embarrassingly at the sheer confidence in his voice.

Then suddenly he narrowed his eyes slightly like some dangerous thought entered his head.

"You know what we should do?"

I already didn't trust that expression.

"What?"

He looked straight into my eyes with complete seriousness. "Let's ragebait them by staying together forever."

I burst out laughing immediately. He looked ridiculously proud of himself.

"That is genuinely your solution?" I asked.

"Yes." He said.

I laughed harder and buried my face against his shoulder.

Who would believe this was the same quiet, shy man who used to panic while even looking directly at me?

Now he was casually plotting lifelong rebellion.

He kissed my cheek softly before murmuring against my hair, "They'll calm down one day."

I stayed silent.

"And even if they don't immediately..." he continued quietly, "...I still choose you."

The words wrapped around my heart so tightly that for a second I forgot how to breathe properly.

Because despite all the pain, the mistakes, the guilt, he still chose me willingly now.

And maybe that was the most terrifying and beautiful thing I had ever received in my entire life.