Ch24 Marked by His Name #2
"I was only your wife on papers, right?" she said.
"Then what happened now? Why are you being so possessive about me?"
Rudraksh stared at her, his gaze intense. Pulling her even closer, he replied,
"Only by name. But wife you are mine. And I won't tolerate anyone even coming close to what belongs to me."
Rivanya immediately corrected him,
"I'm not a thing, Rudra."
Rudraksh bent closer, his lips near her ear, his voice slow and intoxicating,
"Not a thing... but my wife.
Even if only by name you're still mine."
Rivanya's breath faltered.
This closeness was unfamiliar. Before tonight, Rudraksh had never invaded her space like this, never spoken in such a low, dangerous tone. Her heart raced uncontrollably and right there, she melted.
Vyom cleared his throat loudly.
"Sir, before your possessiveness makes you break someone's head, maybe you should make today's special announcement."
Rivanya blinked.
"Special announcement? What is it?"
Rudraksh didn't look away from her.
"You are."
She frowned.
"Me? How?"
Rudraksh turned to Vyom.
"Tell your bhabhi why this party was arranged."
Vyom smiled slightly.
"Bhabhi, the success party is just an excuse. The real reason is to announce you to the world as Mrs. Rivanya Rudraksh Vardhan."
Rivanya's eyes widened in shock.
Before she could react, Rudraksh gently held her chin and said,
"What happened, wifey? Didn't like the surprise?"
Rivanya immediately pushed him away.
"Enough," she said sharply.
"You don't need to act so close. I know you don't consider me your wife you're doing this only for formality."
With that, she walked a little ahead, her posture confident, her steps graceful.
From where he stood, Rudraksh watched her go and smiled.
Vyom walked up to Rudraksh and stood beside him for a moment, watching Rivanya from a distance before speaking softly.
"Honestly, Rudra... after so many years, it finally feels like there is someone who can change your life. Give this relationship give Rivanya bhabhi a real chance. She has the power to fill your life with happiness."
Rudraksh's expression hardened instantly. His jaw clenched, his eyes turning distant.
"Vyom," he said seriously, "happiness and my life have no connection. You know that. Happiness never stays in my life. With time, I've learned to compromise with that truth. This relationship is temporary only for some time. I don't want Rivanya's life to be ruined because of me. She is young,
talented, someone who still believes in relationships. And then there's me someone who hates marriages and bonds. So don't nurture pointless hopes."
With that, Rudraksh walked away, leaving Vyom standing there.
Vyom watched his retreating figure and thought silently,
You can deny it all you want, Rudra... but you're already melting for Rivanya bhabhi.
I'm sure of it. She will bring permanent happiness into your life.
The day Rudra and Rivanya truly become Rudravanya, no one not even destiny will be able to defeat you.
Meanwhile, Rivanya stood alone, observing the party. Every wealthy and influential person of the city was present. Laughter, celebration, luxury everything sparkled around her.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her back.
Instantly, she knew this wasn't Rudraksh's touch.
This touch felt filthy. Heavy. Filled with lust.
She turned around sharply to find a middle-aged man, clearly drunk, staring at her shamelessly from head to toe.
Anger surged within Rivanya, but she knew engaging verbally with intoxicated men was pointless. She turned to leave but the man laughed crudely and grabbed her hand.
In the very next second, Rivanya reacted.
She grabbed his wrist and twisted it with such force that the sound of bones straining echoed clearly. The man screamed and collapsed onto the floor.
Rivanya said coldly,
"How dare you touch me?"
Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward and crushed his hand under her pointed heels.
"Now wait. I'll show you exactly what happens when you cross your limits."
The man screamed in agony.
"You don't know who I am! This will cost you dearly!"
Rivanya laughed a sharp, fearless laugh.
"That's fine. I don't like cheap things anyway."
At that moment, someone's heart skipped a beat for the very first time.
Rudraksh.
He had seen everything.
The way Rivanya stood up for herself, fearless and unshaken it left him deeply impressed. But more than that, it was the fiery expression on her face, the confidence glowing through her elegance, that struck him the hardest.
Rudraksh's gaze turned dark as he looked at the man lying on the floor.
Someone who dared to touch Rivanya...
His punishment is death.
Rivanya walked away calmly.
Rudraksh immediately ordered his guards to "take care of" the man and then followed Rivanya. From behind, he held her hand.
What surprised him was her reaction or rather, the lack of it.
She didn't flinch. She didn't defend herself.
Rudraksh frowned and asked,
"I saw how you handled that man, and I'm impressed. But when I touched you from behind, you didn't react at all. You couldn't even see it was me so why didn't you defend yourself?"
Rivanya smiled softly.
"It may sound strange... but I can feel your touch. I always know when it's you."
Rudraksh was stunned.
He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers.
"You've started knowing me this well?"
Rivanya looked straight into his eyes, her voice barely above a whisper.
"More than that."
Rudraksh swallowed, then asked quietly,
"Then... may I do something?"
Rivanya didn't blink.
"You don't need permission for anything, Rudra. Even if, for you, I'm not your wife...
for me, you are my husband."
Without saying a word, Rudraksh closed the distance between them. He placed his hand on her back.
Rivanya closed her eyes instantly. Her breathing quickened, her heart racing at the sensation.
Rudraksh simply looked at her face for a moment then gently fastened the open hook of her blouse from behind.
Rivanya opened her eyes in realization.
He had helped her.
After fastening it, Rudraksh stepped back, his eyes lowered. Without a single word, he walked away.
But the silence he left behind spoke volumes.
What touched Rivanya's heart the most was not what Rudraksh did but how he did it.
It was his lowered gaze.
Eyes that held no claim, no entitlement only an unspoken, profound respect for her.
And that respect was impossible to miss.
Standing there, Rivanya felt something quietly shift inside her.
On one hand, she thought, you refuse to accept me as your wife.
And on the other, you do things that pull me closer to you without even trying.
You confuse me, Rudraksh.
Perhaps... I'm starting to like you.
The truth was, Rivanya had carried feelings for Rudraksh in her heart for a long time.
But today today she finally recognized them.
Sometimes, clarity doesn't come from grand gestures or loud confessions.
Sometimes, it arrives through the smallest moments the quiet ones.
Not everything needs noise to be heard.
Some emotions create the loudest storms in complete silence.
And that was exactly what was happening to Rivanya.
Without saying a word, without touching her again, without looking back-
Rudraksh had stirred something deep within her soul.
Within moments, Rudraksh walked to the center of the grand hall, holding the microphone.
The lights dimmed, and a single spotlight settled on him, instantly commanding everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please," he began, his voice calm yet authoritative.
"First of all, thank you for joining us to celebrate such a major achievement. But the real reason for today's party isn't just our success in business."
A wave of curiosity spread through the hall. People exchanged glances surprised, intrigued.
What could possibly be bigger than business success?
Rudraksh Vardhan was not just a name; he was a phenomenon in the corporate world.
At such a young age, he had built his empire from scratch without support, without backing, without shortcuts.
Every move he made became news.
Every word he spoke made headlines.
And tonight, when Rudraksh Vardhan hinted at a special announcement, the entire media shifted into alert mode.
Cameras zoomed in.
Microphones adjusted.
All eyes remained fixed on him.
"This," Rudraksh continued, "is the biggest announcement of my life.
And today, I want to introduce someone to the world someone truly important."
With that, he stepped forward, his gaze finding Rivanya.
He extended his hand toward her.
For a brief second, Rivanya hesitated then placed her hand in his.
Together, they walked to the center of the hall, standing side by side before the world.
Rudraksh spoke again, firm and clear.
"So everyone... meet my wife.
My other half.
Mrs. Rivanya Rudraksh Vardhan."
The hall froze.
Shock rippled through the crowd followed immediately by thunderous applause.
Cameras flashed relentlessly.
Whispers turned into excited chatter.
All attention shifted to Rivanya.
People couldn't stop talking about how perfectly they complemented each other poised, elegant, powerful.
"This," Rudraksh added, "is the real reason for today's celebration.
Enjoy the evening, everyone. Thank you."
He placed the microphone down.
Almost instantly, guests began approaching them one after another offering congratulations and blessings.
Rivanya greeted everyone with effortless grace.
Not a single soul could guess that any of it was an act.
But one thing was certain
Tomorrow morning's headlines would belong to only them.
Time Skip
The party was already halfway through.
Rudraksh was engaged in a serious discussion with his business partners when something felt... off.
He glanced around.
Rivanya wasn't anywhere in sight.
Excusing himself, he began searching for her.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
His expression slowly shifted concern clearly visible now.
He checked one room.
Then another.
He searched the entire mansion.