his mercy was her name

Episode3

Morning Chaos, Hidden Heat & Dangerous Comfort

The next morning—

Soft golden sunlight filtered through the curtains, spilling warmth across Pihu's room.

But even the peaceful morning couldn't calm the storm in her heart.

Because her dreams...

Were still full of him.

His intense gaze.

His fingers brushing softly against her lips.

The way his thumb had touched her skin so naturally...

So possessively.

Even in sleep—

Her cheeks flushed pink.

A shy smile curved onto her lips.

"Rudra..."

She whispered his name unconsciously, her voice soft and dreamy.

But before her heart could wander any further—

A sudden weight pounced on her.

"Oof!"

Wet licks attacked her cheeks mercilessly.

"Leo!"

Her eyes shot open.

A burst of laughter escaped her immediately.

The enormous white panther stood proudly on her bed, his giant paws pinning her down as he aggressively showered her face with affection.

"Leo! Stop! Stop—I'm awake!"

He huffed dramatically but continued anyway.

As if this was his sacred responsibility.

No one—

Absolutely no one—

Would guess that this same playful creature was the terrifying beast who had ripped apart a man the previous night...

Just for daring to look at his mother.

But for Pihu?

Leo wasn't a predator.

He was her baby.

Her oversized, spoiled, dramatic child.

"Okay! Fine! Good morning to you too!"

Leo finally stopped and flopped dramatically beside her, his large body taking up half the bed.

Pihu sat up, laughing breathlessly.

"You are impossible."

Leo blinked at her innocently.

She narrowed her eyes.

"You definitely got your attitude from Rudra."

"Blaming me this early?"

Her entire body froze.

That voice.

Deep.

Calm.

Dangerously familiar.

Pihu slowly turned her head toward the doorway—

And there he was.

Rudransh Singh Rathore.

Leaning casually against the doorframe.

Arms crossed.

Black fitted shirt.

Grey trousers.

Perfectly styled hair.

Cold expression.

And devastatingly handsome.

For a second—

Pihu forgot how to breathe.

His sharp eyes scanned her—

Messy hair.

Sleepy expression.

Panda night suit.

Bare face.

And somehow—

He thought she looked breathtaking.

His gaze softened.

Just slightly.

But enough.

Pihu immediately remembered last night.

Her face turned bright red.

"Oh God..."

His lips twitched faintly.

Interesting.

"Good morning."

"Morning..."

She couldn't even look at him properly.

Leo, the absolute traitor, instantly jumped off the bed and walked toward Rudransh.

Rudransh smirked.

"See? Even he knows who his favorite is."

Pihu gasped.

"Excuse me?! Leo is MY child."

Leo looked between them lazily.

Unbothered.

Rudransh raised an eyebrow.

"Your child?"

"Yes."

He stepped closer.

Too close.

"Then why does he obey me more?"

Her heart skipped.

"B-Because you spoil him!"

"And you don't?"

His voice dropped slightly.

Her brain officially stopped functioning.

Before the tension could become unbearable—

Leo shoved himself dramatically between them.

Demanding attention.

Pihu burst into laughter.

"See? He saved me."

Rudransh sighed.

Though inwardly—

He was slightly annoyed.

"Get ready."

Pihu blinked.

"For what?"

He gave her a look.

"We're going shopping."

Her eyes widened instantly.

"You remembered?!"

He stared at her as though she'd insulted him.

"I remember everything about you."

Silence.

Complete.

Fatal.

Pihu.exe stopped working.

And before she could combust—

He turned and walked away.

"Breakfast in twenty minutes."

Leaving behind—

A blushing disaster.

One Hour Later

Pihu descended the stairs wearing a soft baby-pink Kurti with white leggings.

Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders.

Simple.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

Too beautiful.

Rudransh looked up from his coffee—

And forgot how to breathe.

For one dangerous second.

His jaw tightened.

Because suddenly—

He didn't want the outside world seeing her at all.

"You're wearing that?"

Pihu stopped.

Confused.

"What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing."

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

"It's perfect."

Far too perfect.

She smiled brightly.

"Thank you!"

His coffee suddenly became very interesting.

Because if he looked too long—

He might cancel the entire trip.

Leo, sitting nearby, observed everything.

His golden eyes practically screamed:

Possessive human.

Pihu happily sat down at the table.

Her smile instantly widened.

"Pancakes?!"

Rudransh folded his newspaper calmly.

"You skipped meals yesterday."

"So?"

"So you're eating properly today."

She grinned.

"Did you make these?"

Silence.

"Maybe."

Her smile softened.

And just like that—

His cold morning became worth it.

Pihu took a bite.

Her eyes widened dramatically.

"Oh my God."

Rudransh's brows furrowed instantly.

"What happened?"

"These are AMAZING!"

He leaned back.

Slightly relieved.

"Obviously."

She giggled.

"You're secretly husband material."

Silence.

Dead silence.

Even Leo looked up.

Rudransh's hand paused mid-air.

Pihu froze too.

Realizing what she had just said.

Her cheeks burned violently.

"I-I mean—"

Rudransh slowly leaned back in his chair.

One eyebrow raised.

"Husband material?"

His voice had changed.

Dangerously amused.

Pihu wanted the earth to swallow her.

"I was joking!"

"Were you?"

No.

She absolutely was not.

"Eat your breakfast," he ordered.

But the faint smirk on his lips exposed him.

And for the rest of breakfast—

Neither dared mention it again.

Before Leaving

As Pihu prepared her bag, Rudransh stood near the entrance, already alert.

His guards were stationed.

Cars prepared.

Security doubled.

Because while Pihu thought this was shopping—

For Rudransh—

It was a mission.

Protect her.

At all costs.

"Rudra?"

He looked at her instantly.

"Why are there so many guards?"

"Because I said so."

She sighed dramatically.

"It's shopping, not war."

For him—

There was no difference.

"Pihu."

His voice turned serious.

"You stay close to me."

Her playful expression faded slightly.

"Why?"

A pause.

"Because I said so."

And somehow—

That was enough for her.

Car Ride Scene

Pihu sat beside him, humming softly to the radio.

Completely unaware that Rudransh's men were already tracking suspicious movement nearby.

But Rudransh noticed everything.

Every vehicle.

Every biker.

Every unusual glance.

Every possible threat.

Yet somehow—

Between all that danger—

His attention still kept shifting back to her.

The way she smiled.

The way she tapped her fingers to music.

The way she looked out the window like an excited child.

His greatest strength.

His greatest weakness.

And he hated how true that had become.

End of Chapter 3