Elizabeth suddenly felt an unknown current spread through her body. Just then, a faint sound made her alert. As soon as she turned around, a powerful hand wrapped around her throat.
Within seconds, she was suffocating. The pressure around her neck kept increasing, cutting off any sound that tried to escape her lips. A strange fear, like invisible chains, spread through every part of her existence.
When her trembling eyes fell upon the large mirror before her, her entire body shuddered.
Her heartbeat accelerated. Sweat began to form on her skin. Her breathing grew rapid while her hands and feet turned cold.
Inside Richard's ocean-blue eyes, a volcano seemed ready to erupt. The fury burning within them only intensified the terror in Elizabeth's chest.
Richard's entire figure was stained crimson with rage.
Like a starving beast, he growled,
"You shouldn't have let him touch you, right, Red? You know why? Because no one touches what belongs to me."
Every muscle in Richard's body was taut. His anger pushed every nerve to its limit.
As the harshness in his words deepened, so did the pressure around Elizabeth's throat.
Her breathing became heavier.
Panic flooded her body.
No matter how much strength she used, she couldn't move Richard's hand even an inch.
As darkness slowly consumed her vision, Elizabeth finally managed to force out a few broken words.
Struggling desperately, she whispered weakly,
"N-No... He didn't touch me..."
Richard released her immediately.
For a brief moment, it felt as though a cool breeze calmed the storm raging inside him.
But the fire in his eyes remained.
Elizabeth dropped to the floor, coughing violently while clutching her throat.
Even after being freed, it still felt as though someone was squeezing her neck.
Tears streamed down her face.
Her heart, poisoned with hatred, refused to look at Richard even once.
Using the sink for support, she staggered to her feet and rushed toward the door.
Before she could escape, Richard grabbed her wrist from behind.
With a violent jerk, he pulled her back and threw her against the wall like a discarded object.
Her head slammed into the surface.
A painful cry escaped her lips before she collapsed once more.
As she slid down the wall, a streak of fresh warm blood stained it.
In contrast to Elizabeth's bleeding, a sadistic smile curved Richard's lips.
Her tears left no mark on his desert-dry heart.
Gangsters lacked sympathy.
Other people's pain meant nothing to them.
If anything, it entertained them.
Grinding her teeth through the agony, Elizabeth shouted,
"Let me go! I'll scream!"
Suddenly, Richard burst into laughter.
His harsh voice echoed through every corner of the restroom.
After laughing for several seconds, he leaned closer and said in a low voice,
"Scream. Go ahead."
Elizabeth wanted to scream.
But fear had wrapped itself around her throat so tightly that no sound came out.
Seeing her own helplessness broke her heart.
Fate kept throwing her into darkness over and over again.
She only wanted a little happiness.
Yet all her life had ever offered was suffering.
Suddenly, suspicion flashed through her mind.
This was a luxury hotel.
Surely someone should have come by now.
Unless...
The realization made her chest tighten painfully.
Looking at Richard's broad, intimidating frame, she felt as though his very presence could burn the world to ashes.
There was no place for compassion in his life.
Only brutality.
Only destruction.
In a weak, trembling voice, she asked,
"Why did you come back?"
Richard appeared surprisingly calm now.
Leaning against the wall, he casually spun something around his finger.
When he finally looked at Elizabeth, his lips curved upward.
"To punish you."
Elizabeth gasped.
"Punish me? For what?"
Fire blazed within Richard's eyes.
His jaw tightened dangerously.
Then he shouted,
"For making me suffer from this f*cking headache for the last three nights!"
While speaking, his gaze shifted to the dark red lipstick on Elizabeth's lips.
He crouched before her.
His rough thumb touched her mouth.
Disgust crawled through Elizabeth's skin.
She forced herself to remain still.
Sliding his thumb across her painted lips, Richard smirked.
"You wore this for me, didn't you?"
His smile widened.
"Too bad I'm not in the mood. I have to fix this."
Before Elizabeth could react, Richard forced her beneath the faucet and turned the water on.
A powerful stream poured directly onto her face.
Water rushed into her nose.
She struggled to breathe.
The lipstick slowly washed away.
Even the blood on her forehead disappeared under the stream.
Once he was satisfied that not a trace of lipstick remained, Richard finally released her.
Elizabeth bent over beside the sink, gasping desperately for air.
Her body felt drained of all strength.
Water had entered her nose, leaving her face pale and lifeless.
Richard's arrival in her life was more poisonous than any curse.
Yet his anger still wasn't satisfied.
He stormed toward her again.
Grabbing a fistful of her hair, he forced her upright.
Pain shot through her scalp.
But this time, something awakened inside Elizabeth.
With all her strength, she shoved him away.
Her broken voice thundered through the room.
"Don't touch me with your filthy hands! I belong to someone else. I'm another man's wife!"
Richard stepped back.
For once, he didn't attack.
Instead, he tilted his head and listened.
Seeing his silence, Elizabeth gathered more courage.
"I'm wearing a red saree, yes. I'm dressed like a bride. But not as someone's mistress."
Her voice shook but remained firm.
"I was accepted as a wife through a sacred bond. Don't touch me again."
Richard slowly raised both hands as though surrendering.
A strange smile appeared on his face.
Step by step, he moved closer.
"Sorry... sorry... sorry..."
Then his expression darkened.
"F*cking sorry."
And before Elizabeth realized what was happening—
He attacked again.
Before Elizabeth could react, Richard lunged at her.
His strong arm wrapped around her exposed waist through the folds of her disheveled saree, pulling her tightly against him. The dragon tattoo on his arm looked even more menacing as he gripped her chin.
The pressure was so intense that the soft flesh inside her cheeks pressed against her teeth, causing blood to seep from the corners of her mouth.
Yet Elizabeth didn't look away.
With hatred blazing in her eyes, she stared straight into Richard's burning gaze.
Her courage only fueled his anger.
He tightened his grip even further.
Fresh blood trickled from her lips and stained his hand.
Richard laughed bitterly.
"This is exactly why I hate women. You sleep with one man and dream of building a life with another. A race of deceivers."
His eyes drifted toward the mark around her neck.
"See this? It carries me. Nothing that belongs to me has the right to be touched by anyone else. Understand?"
The filth in his words made Elizabeth feel sick.
Tears broke free once more.
She struggled desperately to escape his grip.
Their bodies brushed against each other as she fought.
Richard's gaze grew darker.
His hand wandered across her exposed waist.
Elizabeth trembled uncontrollably.
Leaning closer to her ear, he whispered in a husky voice,
"Stop moving. If you keep doing that, I'll lose control. And I don't think these bathroom sinks are very sturdy."
Terrified, Elizabeth began striking his chest repeatedly.
Richard only smiled.
Amused.
Eventually, he stepped away.
Elizabeth stood there, breathing heavily.
Taking out a cigarette, Richard lit it and inhaled deeply.
A cloud of smoke escaped between his lips.
His crooked smile remained.
Looking at her calmly, he said,
"I didn't even do anything, and look at your condition."
After a pause, he added,
"So, where's your beloved husband, f*cking Dark Red?"
The moment she heard Takbir's name, Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat.
Without another word, she ran.
This time Richard didn't stop her.
He didn't even look back.
Instead, he stood there laughing to himself.
Outside, the atmosphere remained wild.
The rooftop was crowded.
People swayed drunkenly to loud music.
Men and women danced recklessly, falling into one another's arms.
Elizabeth rushed toward the open rooftop.
Then she froze.
In the distance, Takbir sat slumped over a table.
His head rested lifelessly against the surface.
A crushing emptiness gripped Elizabeth's heart.
Fear.
Disbelief.
Despair.
Pain.
All of it struck her at once.
Her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
She forced herself forward.
Standing beside him, she looked into his motionless face.
Her chest tightened painfully.
With trembling fingers, she checked his breathing.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips.
He was alive.
Beside him sat a half-empty glass of juice.
It didn't take long for Elizabeth to understand.
This was Richard's doing.
Again.
With the help of the hotel staff, Elizabeth brought Takbir back to their apartment.
After settling him in his room, she quietly retreated to her own.
Without changing clothes or freshening up, she walked out onto the balcony.
A strong wind swept through the night.
The loose end of her saree slipped from her shoulder and fluttered downward.
Her waist-length hair danced wildly in the breeze.
Although the stars were hidden, the lights from the surrounding skyscrapers illuminated the darkness.
Standing on the twenty-second floor, with her hair untied and her saree fluttering behind her, Elizabeth looked almost tragic.
Almost broken.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
She stared silently into the distance.
No one knew the true reason behind those tears.
No one except her...
And God.
The next morning, Elizabeth woke up late.
The moment she moved, pain spread throughout her body.
Her throat hurt terribly.
Even swallowing was difficult.
As memories of the previous night returned, she sat upright with a deep sigh.
A sound came from the kitchen.
Frowning slightly, she slipped on her slippers and walked out of her room.
A familiar voice greeted her ears.
"Rupkotha tui to amar-i... Jiboner cheye aro dami..."
A smile appeared on her lips.
"Wow. You sing really well."
Takbir turned around.
He was standing in the kitchen wearing an apron.
The sight immediately softened Elizabeth's heart.
Without saying good morning, Takbir simply smiled.
While slicing onions, he replied,
"Just a little."
Curious, Elizabeth stepped closer.
"Really?"
Takbir smiled.
"If I were a poet, no beauty in the world would matter except you. If I were an artist, everyone would envy you."
Elizabeth's cheeks warmed instantly.
For the first time since yesterday, she felt genuinely happy.
She tried entering the kitchen, but Takbir stopped her.
"Absolutely not."
Pouting, she crossed her arms.
"Why? I can cook too. You could've just ordered food instead of working so hard."
Takbir calmly arranged the plates.
"First, I didn't marry you to make you work. Second, I simply wanted to cook something for you."
"But I know how to cook."
"Forget that."
His response came instantly.
Before she could argue, he continued,
"A doctor will be here soon to dress your wound. There's some ointment in the blue packet on the table. Put it on your neck. The marks will fade. Freshen up first. I'll make tea for you."
Elizabeth fell silent.
The memories of last night resurfaced.
Her throat tightened.
In a trembling voice, she began,
"I..."
Takbir gently interrupted her.
"I know. I know everything."
The words shattered her composure.
Tears filled her eyes again.
Removing his apron, Takbir walked over and stood before her.
His voice was incredibly soft.
"Even when you don't tell me, I understand, Elokeshi. Your swollen eyes... your tears... I see all of it."
His smile faded slightly.
"But I want you to be completely honest with me. Like an open book. Please don't hide anything from me."
Their eyes met.
Elizabeth's voice trembled.
"Let's leave. Let's go somewhere far away. That monster has followed us even here."
Takbir handed her a tissue.
"Nothing will happen. I'm here."
Then he smiled reassuringly.
"And in four days, we'll leave this place forever."
Elizabeth shook her head.
Fear still lingered inside her.
"He's not human. He's a psychopath."
"I'll handle everything."
Takbir spoke with confidence.
"Now go freshen up. We'll go for a check-up later."
Her tears finally slowed.
Confused, she asked,
"Where are we going?"
Takbir bit his lip thoughtfully.
"We'll move to another hotel. Somewhere farther away. Staying here is too risky now."
Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest—
But Takbir suddenly raised his hand.
His expression changed.
Both of them heard it.
A strange sound.
Distant.
Unclear.
Then realization struck Takbir immediately.
His sharp instincts recognized it at once.
Suddenly—
A bomb warning siren echoed through the air.
Before Elizabeth could even process what was happening, Takbir grabbed her hand and rushed toward the door.
But before they could reach it—
BANG!