Priya nced at him as soon as she heard his question.


    “Nothing,” she replied, shifting her gaze outward once more.


    “You’re unusually quiet,” Priyank observed.


    He couldn’t decipher her thoughts, but her silence, coupled with her distant look, was certainly out of character for Priya.


    It was unsettling for him.


    He couldn’t pinpoint why he felt this way, given his fondness for silence, but Priya’s silence was different-it made him crave her usual banter, even if it was trivial.


    “Let me know if something’s wrong.”


    He wasn’t sure if he could fix it, but fretting over Priya’s thoughts seemed futile.


    “I told you, it’s nothing. I just want to admire the view; it’s beautiful,” Priya remarked.


    Though it hadn’t been long since she went to college, she already yearned for the carefree days and thefort of her own orphanage.


    At least there, she didn’t have someone like Priyank constantly in her case.


    “You’re more  stunning, Angel,” Priyank whispered, inching closer and taking her hand, the moonlight casting a ttering glow on Priya’s face through the window.


    ‘Beautiful?’ Priya pondered. She never saw herself that way, despite asionalpliments. To her, beauty meant nothing when everyone saw her as poor and orphaned.


    And being called dumb? It didn’t faze her; she dismissed suchments as ignorance. Yet, being praised for her looks rather than her character felt cold and heartless to her.


    “Why the long face after apliment?” Priyank asked, noticing the sadness in Priya’s eyes.


    “I’m just tired,” Priya murmured, trying to free her hand from his grasp.


    “You can’t sleep now. You need to clean up and eat,” Priyank insisted, tightening his grip, unwilling to let her escape.


    “Okay,” Priya relented, her expression still clouded with sadness, leaving Priyank puzzled.


    “Tell me, Angel. What’s weighing on your mind? You seem troubled,” he probed gently.


    “I’d rather not say. You’ll only get mad again,” Priya replied, her voice tinged with apprehension.


    Priya nced at him, attempting to decipher his intentions once more.


    Why is he so unpredictable?


    If she were to confide in him about missing her college and orphanage, he’d likelysh out at her again, just like when he restrained her to that pole. What’s the point of sharing when he’s not even her friend?


    He’s her kidnapper, after all.


    Despite her typically outgoing nature and disregard for consequences, Priya knew when to hold back, and he clearly ranked low on her list of confidants.


    “Don’t push my buttons. I’m asking nicely. What’s wrong? And you’re giving me the cold shoulder again,” Priyank said, frustration evident in his tone.


    “This is exactly the problem. You’re always like this-angry, forceful-and then expect me to trust you,” Priya retorted, her voice tinged with exasperation.


    One.


    Two.


    Three.


    Priyank counted silently in his head, trying to calm himself. If this was the issue, he’d do his best to approach her with kindness.


    This might not be who he truly was, but it was who he wanted to be.


    He longed to be the person she could confide in, even if it meant enduring her nonsensical chatter and her bearing his asional anger. She was the only one he had ever allowed to get close to him, albeit somewhat forcibly.


    He desired to unveil his wildest, most authentic self to her, and to witness her own unfiltered side.


    Sometimes, it felt as though she was cloaked inyers ofplexity, which frustrated him when she rambled aimlessly. But deep down, he knew his reactions were misced.


    “Now let go of my hand. I don’t want you holding it,” Priya said, breaking her silence as she observed him lost in thought.


    His expressions were inscrutable, but it was evident he was preupied with something she had no interest in.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    “Want some ice cream? It might lift your mood,” Priyank interjected, snapping out of his reverie as he made the suggestion.


    Being with her had its perks; she was easily pleased, especially with food. If she liked cake, she’d surely enjoy ice cream too. She seemed like someone with a sweet tooth.


    He knew his anger was a vtile force, always on the brink of eruption. But at least he could bring her moments of happiness when he was calm, as if it somehow bnced out the bad things he’d done. It was a delusional form of apology, unspoken and hidden behind his facade.


    Apologizing, especially to a woman, was beneath him, or so he believed.


    But deep down, his contempt for women stemmed from a ce much darker than mere misogyny; it was rooted in his own painful past.


    It runs deeper than the blood in his veins.


    Priyank brushed aside his thoughts, unwilling to dwell on memories that only disrupted his peace, tarnishing it with unpleasant recollections.


    “Ice cream?” Priya echoed, surprise evident in her expression.


    She couldn’t shake off the memory of when she had declined juice, what happened to her and today when she  asked for cake, only for Priyank to make a fuss .


    Now he was offering ice-cream?


    ‘Is this a test?’ The question raced through her mind, putting her on edge.


    She was uncertain whether to answer or if it was a ploy to ensnare her in the punishment he wished to mete out. It could very well be a trap.


    “No.”


    “No? You’re refusing ice cream?” Priyank questioned, puzzled by Priya’s response.


    Priya didn’t want to refuse outright, but she also didn’t want to find herself in a situation where she’d regret agreeing to have ice cream.


    “Yes. It’ste, and we shouldn’t eat something like that,” Priya lied, trying to justify her refusal.


    Priyank could see through her facade; her reluctance was written all over her face. He smiled knowingly. “In that case, I’ll enjoy the ice cream myself.”


    With that, he swiftly dialed the driver, instructing them to stop at a nearby ice cream parlor and to bring back the most delectable treat avable.


    Despite his dislike for sweet things, Priyank couldn’t resist indulging Priya’s obvious excitement. Her eyes betrayed her nervousness, yet also revealed her joy,pelling him to do it.


    “I already said I don’t want any,” Priya reiterated.


    She was taken aback by his sudden order, especially since she had already declined. Why was he insistent on this, only to punish herter?


    “Who said it was for you? I’m ordering for myself. So rx, Angel.”