his mercy was her name

Episode 8

Chapter 8: Watching Her Slip AwayPihu's POV

The hospital shift had been exhausting.

Three surgeries.

Countless patients.

Barely enough time to breathe.

Normally—

By the end of a day like this—

I knew exactly what waited outside.

Rudra.

His car.

His silent scolding about skipped meals.

His coffee.

His presence.

But not anymore.

Now—

Everything was different.

As I stepped outside the hospital entrance, adjusting my bag on my shoulder—

I froze.

A sleek black luxury car stood near the curb.

Leaning casually against it—

Advik Malhotra.

Expensive suit.

Easy smirk.

Eyes that lingered slightly too long.

"Good evening, doctor."

A strange discomfort settled in my chest.

Not fear.

Just...

Unease.

Because unlike Rudransh's gaze—

Which always felt protective—

Advik's attention sometimes felt...

Too aware.

Too deliberate.

"Advik?"

He smiled smoothly.

"Rudransh asked me to pick you up."

That name.

That single name still made my heart betray me.

"Oh..."

I forced a polite smile.

"Thank you."

He opened the passenger door.

And though his gentleman act was polished—

His gaze briefly trailed over me in a way that made me instinctively stiffen.

Subtle.

Barely noticeable.

But there.

"Long day?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

He leaned slightly closer.

"Then I'll make sure your evening improves."

Something about his tone made me uncomfortable.

Not enough to openly object.

But enough to miss Rudransh with painful intensity.

Rudransh's POV

I shouldn't have come.

And yet—

Here I was.

Parked across the street.

Watching.

Like a goddamn masochist.

The moment Advik opened her car door—

My entire body went rigid.

Leo, seated beside me, growled dangerously.

Good.

At least someone shared my homicidal instincts.

Advik's smile was too polished.

Too confident.

And the way his eyes lingered—

I noticed.

Of course I did.

My fingers tightened painfully around the steering wheel.

Because while Advik wasn't a direct threat—

He was still a man.

And men noticed beauty.

Especially hers.

"Sir?"

One of my guards spoke through the earpiece.

"Should we intervene?"

No.

I closed my eyes briefly.

This was my choice.

My sacrifice.

My torture.

"No."

The word tasted bitter.

"Maintain distance."

But God—

Watching another man take her where I should have been...

Was becoming unbearable.

Pihu's POV

Dinner was... pleasant.

At least on the surface.

Advik was charming.

Funny.

Well-spoken.

The kind of man many women would probably adore.

But there were moments—

Small moments—

That unsettled me.

His hand resting too long against my lower back while guiding me.

His compliments lingering closer to physical than emotional.

His gaze occasionally dropping lower than my eyes.

Nothing overtly inappropriate.

Nothing openly disrespectful.

But enough to make me quietly aware.

"You really are stunning, Pihu."

I smiled politely.

"Thank you."

Advik leaned back.

"You know..."

His smirk deepened.

"Rudransh is a fool."

My heart immediately tightened.

"Please don't."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Don't what?"

"Speak about him like that."

His smile shifted.

Interesting.

Even now—

I defended Rudransh.

Even now—

My heart remained exactly where it shouldn't.

Elena's Return

Just as I thought the evening might remain manageable—

A familiar voice interrupted.

"Well..."

I turned.

And froze.

Elena Moretti.

The same breathtaking woman from the ball.

Silver elegance.

Sharp beauty.

Dangerous grace.

And standing beside her—

Rudransh.

My heart instantly cracked all over again.

He looked devastating as always.

But tonight—

Seeing him with her again...

Felt worse.

Because now—

It looked intentional.

Elena's red lips curved knowingly.

"Pihu. Lovely to see you again."

Again?

I forced composure.

"You too."

Advik, clearly amused by the tension, smirked.

"Elena. Rudransh."

Rudransh's gaze found mine instantly.

And for one painful second—

I forgot everyone else existed.

But then—

Elena lightly touched his arm.

And my heart reminded me exactly why I shouldn't.

Rudransh's POV

This was a mistake.

A catastrophic one.

Because the second I saw Advik's hand near her—

Something dark surged inside me.

And when I noticed Pihu's discomfort—

Even slight—

My restraint began cracking.

Then Elena arrived.

Poor timing.

Necessary alliance.

But poor timing.

Because Pihu misunderstood enough already.

And the hurt in her eyes when she saw us—

Unforgivable.

I had done this.

I had created every inch of this pain.

And somehow—

Still couldn't stop.

Pihu's POV

Dinner continued.

Tense.

Painful.

Advik remained overly smooth.

Elena remained elegant.

Rudransh remained unreadable.

And I—

I was emotionally suffocating.

At one point, Advik leaned closer while speaking.

Too close.

His fingers brushed lightly against mine on the table.

Intentional.

I immediately withdrew.

But not before—

Rudransh saw.

The shift in him was instant.

His entire body hardened.

Jaw clenched.

Eyes lethal.

And suddenly—

The air changed.

"Advik."

Rudransh's voice was calm.

Far too calm.

Advik looked amused.

"Yes?"

"Control your boundaries."

Silence.

Complete silence.

My breath caught.

Elena's brows lifted slightly.

Advik smirked faintly.

"My apologies."

But his eyes gleamed.

Because he had achieved exactly what he wanted.

Jealousy.

Raw.

Visible.

And for the first time in days—

I saw it clearly.

Rudransh was furious.

Not indifferent.

Not detached.

Furious.

My heart, traitorous thing that it was—

Still reacted.

Date Night Continues

After dinner, Advik insisted on a walk through the private estate gardens.

I reluctantly agreed.

Because saying no felt more complicated than enduring.

The night air was cool.

Beautiful.

Quiet.

But my mind remained elsewhere.

"You still love him."

Advik's voice broke the silence.

I stopped walking.

"That's none of your concern."

He chuckled softly.

"It becomes my concern if I'm expected to date you."

His honesty was sharp.

Uncomfortable.

But not inaccurate.

"I'm trying."

The words felt hollow.

Advik studied me carefully.

Then leaned slightly closer.

Dangerously so.

"You deserve someone who actually chooses you."

My heart wavered.

Because those words...

They touched the exact wound I was trying to survive.

And before I could respond—

A cold, lethal voice shattered the moment.

"That's enough."

Rudransh.

Of course.

He emerged from the shadows like something dangerous and inevitable.

Leo beside him.

Silent death.

Advik sighed.

"You really do struggle with distance."

Rudransh ignored him completely.

His gaze remained locked on me.

"Pihu."

Just my name.

And somehow—

It still felt like home.

"Come."

That one word—

Commanding.

Protective.

Possessive.