He stepped closer to her, sensing her tension. Her hazel eyes barely met his—nervous and hesitant. She was scared. That's exactly what he expected… and wanted.
Suddenly, the sound of shattering plates filled the room. Glass pieces scattered across the floor. A shard sliced into her leg.
"Ah,"
Nabilar gasped, flinching back instinctively. But Lukinder grabbed her arm harshly, dragging her forward—forcing her to walk carelessly over the broken glass.
"No one talks to me like that. You're just a wife. Don't mistake that for having the right to speak to me. I'm Lukinder Kindz. Mind your business instead of trying to save a marriage built on nothing."
His words were sharp enough to draw tears from her eyes.
'But I fall for you, it's so hard to stop my heart now,'
She thought he'd like her cooking. Everyone did. Even her father refused to eat unless it was made by her hands when she visited home.
"What did I do wrong?"
She stated in low voice, watching every plate crashed down.
'Those crocodile tears won't work on me, I know you're just acting ' Lukinder thought coldly, still gripping her arm tightly. Her forearm throbbed—like it might break.
"Let me go, you're hurting me,"
she whimpered, trying to break free.
At that moment, Lukinder's assistant entered with the head maid, who gasped and covered her mouth.
"Madam, your foot is bleeding,"
the maid blurted out, not realizing Lukinder was right there. His gaze locked onto Nabilar's face again.
Yes. That expression. That's what he wanted to see.
He released her arm, letting her collapse to the floor beside the table leg. The maid rushed to her side, eyes silently pleading: Why so cruel?
Nabilar wiped her tears, forcing a smile, watching as Lukinder carelessly held a sandwich in his hand.
"This is what you call breakfast? Disgusting."
His voice shattered her heart. She had only thirty minutes, and the dishes she prepared were flawless.
"Get this sandwich out of my sight,"
Lukinder said, wiping his hand with a white napkin before tossing it away. His servant sensed the strange tension in the air.
'I never thought any woman but Lisa could provoke him like this,' the assistant thought, stepping forward—he had come to take his boss to the airport.
"S-Sir…"
One look from Lukinder silenced him.
"I want every piece of information about Nabilar you failed to get before. Didn't you say she was the perfect choice? A girl who wouldn't argue or resist."
He swept his hair back, glaring at his constantly ringing phone—his father calling again.
"Yes, sir,"
the assistant replied, bowing as he carried his boss's coat and tablet, quickening his pace to keep up with Lukinder's long strides.
"In this world, everything follows the rule of give and take. Crime and punishment are absolute."
Lukinder muttered, staring at a photo of Nabilar with her wedding dress. He was already overwhelmed with his twenty five hours schedule, and now he'd tied himself to this girl.
But he needed her father's business connections. He just had to endure her presence for one year. Just one.
Another call disturbed him.
"Lukinder, you've committed a grave mistake. No one marries just to multiply their fortune. No one in the family approves of this marriage,"
came his sister's voice the moment he answered the call.
"Evelyn, you have sixty seconds. I don't have time for your nonsense. And tell Father to stop calling me."
His voice was icy as he kept his eyes on Nabilar's picture. She looked… ordinary. Ordinary in a way that intrigued him. But he had buried his emotions long ago.
"You're going to destroy yourself, Lukinder. Not every woman is a tool. I know you never got over Lisa—"
The sound of glass shattering interrupted her. He had hurled his phone at the car window.
"Silence. No one utters that woman's cursed name again. No one. Understood?"
His assistant glanced at him through the rearview mirror. It wasn't the first time Lisa's name had triggered such a reaction.
They were already closer to the airport, his assistance seemed worried.
"Sir, the head maid is calling,"
the assistant said nervously.
"Put her on speaker,"
Lukinder commanded, adjusting his suit collar. He had to reach Paris before the day ended—an unmissable business deal awaited.
"Speak."
His voice cut like a blade.
"It's the madam, sir. She wants to change the entire house décor,"
the maid said, not hiding her concern.
Lukinder massaged his forehead and gestured to end the call.
"I'll deal with her when I return,"
he muttered, forcing himself not to think of Lisa—once the center of his life and dreams. He had only climbed this high for her.
"Damn it,"
he hissed, flipping through the documents beside him. Among them: a divorce contract.
I should've made her sign it yesterday. That would've made things clear.
---
Meanwhile, Nabilar finished dressing her wound and lay back on the bed with a sigh.
"It's okay if he's short-tempered. You can change that. Maybe it's family trauma. Or a tough childhood. Or maybe he has deep psychological wounds… and you're the healing he needs, Nabilar. This isn't the time to fall apart,"
she told herself, reaching for her phone.
"I want to renovate all the furniture in the house. This is Nabilar Kindz speaking,"
she said while staring at the ceiling. She didn't want to see the dull colors or antique furniture anymore. This house felt like a museum.
"Madam, the Master doesn't like his belongings being touched. Please reconsider. I understand you're angry, but this is just how he is… there's no other way to deal with him,"
the head maid pleaded, holding her phone in trembling hands, terrified of Lukinder's reaction.
Her real task was to keep an eye on Nabilar and report everything to her boss. Lukinder didn't trust her. He feared she might try to deceive him somehow.
"You know what? Call him and tell him I am changing the furniture. Better yet, don't. I don't care what he thinks. This is my home now, and I'll do what I want,"
Nabilar said, her voice clear and steady, as she rose and stepped out of the room.