his mercy was her name

Episode 5

Chapter 5: The Night of Silent SacrificePihu's POV

Something was wrong.

For days now—

I had felt it.

Not seen it.

Not heard it.

Felt it.

Rudra was still there.

Still ensuring I ate on time.

Still reminding me to rest.

Still sending Leo to sleep beside me whenever he had late-night meetings.

Still protecting me the way he always had.

But...

He was avoiding me.

Not physically.

No.

That would've been easier to understand.

Instead—

He was emotionally distant.

No quiet late-night talks.

No teasing.

No accidental touches that made my heart race.

No soft gazes when he thought I wasn't looking.

And somehow—

That hurt more.

Because when someone becomes your entire world...

Even their smallest withdrawal feels like abandonment.

I sat across from him at breakfast, stirring my juice absentmindedly while he calmly reviewed documents on his tablet.

Perfect.

Cold.

Unreadable.

As though he hadn't once touched my forehead like I was precious.

As though his fingers hadn't once lingered near my lips.

As though my heart hadn't already chosen him.

"Rudra?"

He didn't immediately look up.

"Hm?"

I swallowed.

"Did I do something wrong?"

That made him pause.

His fingers stopped moving.

And when he finally looked at me—

For one fragile second—

I saw something dangerous in his eyes.

Pain.

Real pain.

His voice softened.

"No."

A pause.

"Never."

My chest tightened.

"Then why are you avoiding me?"

Silence.

Heavy.

Leo, lying beside me, even lifted his head slightly.

Rudra's jaw clenched almost invisibly.

"I've been busy."

A lie.

I knew it.

He knew I knew it.

But I didn't push.

Because something about his face...

Told me he was fighting something I couldn't see.

And for some reason—

That scared me.

That evening—

I was standing in front of my mirror, adjusting my earrings with slightly trembling fingers.

Tonight was the Rathore Syndicate Ball.

The most powerful families.

The darkest alliances.

A world I had only heard whispers about.

And for the first time—

Rudra was taking me with him.

I should've been excited.

And maybe a part of me was.

But mostly—

I was nervous.

Because tonight...

I had decided something.

No more hiding.

No more waiting.

No more hoping he would magically understand.

Tonight—

I was going to tell him.

I loved him.

Simple.

Terrifying.

True.

A knock came at my door.

"Come in."

And then—

He entered.

For a moment—

I forgot how breathing worked.

Black suit.

Tailored to perfection.

Sharp jaw.

Cold eyes.

Power radiating from every step.

Rudransh Singh Rathore didn't walk into rooms.

He conquered them.

But when his gaze landed on me—

Wearing the maroon gown he had chosen—

Something shifted.

His steps slowed.

And though his face remained controlled...

His eyes betrayed him.

For one second—

He looked devastated.

Beautifully, painfully devastated.

"You're ready," he said quietly.

I smiled softly.

"Yes."

But what I wanted to ask was—

Do I look beautiful enough for you to finally see me?

He offered me his hand.

And of course—

I took it.

Because I always would.

Rudransh's POV

She looked breathtaking.

And that was the problem.

Every eye tonight would see her.

Notice her.

Want her.

And in my world—

That was dangerous.

Deadly.

I had spent years building an empire powerful enough to make nations tremble.

But enemies...

Enemies never disappeared.

They waited.

Watched.

And the moment they found weakness—

They attacked.

Pihu...

Was my greatest weakness.

Which is why—

I had to let her go.

Even if it destroyed me.

The ballroom glittered with wealth and violence hidden beneath elegance.

Politicians.

Mafia leaders.

Business tycoons.

Killers in designer suits.

Queens in diamonds.

And then—

She entered beside me.

Every conversation dimmed.

Every gaze shifted.

I felt it instantly.

Too many eyes.

Too much attention.

My hand moved instinctively to her waist.

Possessive.

Protective.

Mine.

I hated myself for it.

Because she could never truly be mine.

Not if I wanted her alive.

"Rudra..."

Her voice was soft.

"Everyone is staring."

I leaned slightly closer.

"Let them."

Though internally—

I wanted every eye removed.

Pihu's POV

The way his hand rested on my waist...

Firm.

Protective.

Dangerously intimate.

It made my heart race.

Maybe...

Maybe I was overthinking everything.

Maybe he still—

No.

Tonight, I'd know.

I stayed close beside him, smiling politely when necessary, though most people terrified me.

Not because they were rude.

But because they all seemed powerful in the kind of way that came with bloodshed.

And somehow—

Rudra ruled them all.

I had just gathered enough courage to ask him for a private moment—

When he spoke.

"Pihu."

His voice was unreadable.

"There's someone I want you to meet."

I blinked.

For one wild, hopeful second—

My heart thought impossible things.

But then—

I saw him.

A man stood before us.

Tall.

Well-dressed.

Confident.

Safe.

"Advik Malhotra," Rudra said calmly.

"One of the most trustworthy men here."

Advik smiled politely.

"It's a pleasure."

I smiled faintly, confused.

Then Rudra said the words that shattered me.

"I think you should spend some time with him."

I froze.

What?

My heart dropped.

My fingers went cold.

Rudra continued—

"Get to know each other."

My breathing became uneven.

"Date first."

No.

No no no.

This couldn't be happening.

"If things go well..."

His voice remained terrifyingly calm.

"Consider marriage."

The world stopped.

I stared at him.

Surely—

Surely I had misunderstood.

But his face...

His face held no softness.

No hesitation.

Nothing.

Just cruel composure.

My throat tightened painfully.

"Why?"

It came out smaller than I intended.

A broken whisper.

For a second—

Something dangerous flashed in his eyes.

Pain.

Regret.

Love?

But then—

It vanished.

And he said nothing.

Nothing.

That silence...

It broke me more than words ever could.

Because suddenly—

I understood.

He wasn't pushing me away because he didn't care.

He was pushing me away—

And refusing to tell me why.

Which somehow hurt even more.

I forced my lips into something resembling a smile.

Because if I shattered here—

I'd never recover.

"Of course."

My voice sounded distant.

"If that's what you want."

And there it was—

The first real crack in my heart.

Rudransh's POV

She looked at me like I had destroyed her.

And maybe—

I had.

But hatred...

Hatred I could survive.

Her death?

Never.

I wanted to explain.

To tell her—

Because they'll use you against me.

Because loving me is dangerous.

Because my enemies would paint this ballroom red just to hurt me through you.

Because I would rather break your heart than bury you.

But I couldn't.

Because the less she knew—

The safer she remained.

So I stayed silent.

And let her believe the worst.

Because sometimes—

Love isn't holding on.

Sometimes—

It's sacrificing everything.

Even yourself.

As Advik gently began speaking to her—

I stepped back.

Each second felt like torture.

Each smile she forced was another knife.

Leo, standing nearby, growled softly.

He knew.

He always knew.

I clenched my fists.

Because for the first time in years—

Rudransh Singh Rathore felt powerless.

And somewhere across the ballroom—

My enemies smiled.

Because they had no idea—

The devil had just begun his most dangerous war.

Against his own heart.