his mercy was her name

Episode7

Chapter 7: The Truth He Couldn't TellRudransh's POV

"She's beautiful."

Those three words—

Soft.

Broken.

Resigned.

They hit harder than bullets ever could.

For a second—

I forgot how to breathe.

Because the look in her eyes...

God.

It wasn't anger.

Anger I could handle.

It was heartbreak.

The kind that comes when someone stops fighting...

Because they've already lost.

"Pihu—"

"You don't have to explain."

Her voice trembled, but her chin lifted slightly.

Trying to stay strong.

Trying not to shatter in front of me.

And somehow—

That destroyed me even more.

Because she thought—

She actually thought—

That there was someone else.

That I had pushed her away because another woman stood where she couldn't.

No.

Never.

There had never been anyone.

There would never be anyone.

Not after her.

Not when every ruthless part of me had already surrendered to one soft-hearted girl in a panda night suit.

"Elena is nothing."

The words came sharper than intended.

Pihu blinked, startled.

I stepped closer.

Slowly.

Carefully.

As though approaching something fragile.

Because that's what she was tonight—

Fragile.

And I was the reason.

"She is a business alliance," I said firmly.

"Nothing more."

Her lashes fluttered slightly.

"Then why—"

She stopped herself.

But I knew.

Why did I look at her?

Why was I standing beside her?

Why was I pushing you away?

Questions I couldn't answer.

Questions whose truth was far too dangerous.

Because if I told her—

If I admitted that every cruel decision was built around protecting her—

Then she would become exactly what I feared most.

A target.

So instead—

I did what I had begun to hate.

I gave her half-truths.

"Not everything is what it seems."

Her eyes filled again.

And God—

That nearly broke my restraint completely.

"Then tell me what it is!" she whispered.

The desperation in her voice...

The pain...

The hope...

It all clawed at me.

I wanted to.

I wanted to tell her everything.

About the enemies.

The threats.

The blood.

The surveillance.

The names already whispering about her.

I wanted to tell her that every breath I took was built around keeping her alive.

But love—

Love demanded silence.

So instead—

I stood there.

And said nothing.

Her expression changed instantly.

Hope died quietly.

And that death?

I would remember forever.

"I understand."

No.

She didn't.

But the worst part?

She thought she did.

And she was walking away with all the wrong conclusions.

Pihu's POV

I should've stopped crying.

Should've stayed composed.

Should've protected whatever dignity I had left.

But how could I—

When the man I loved stood inches away...

And still wouldn't choose me?

He said she was nothing.

But that didn't fix anything.

Because the real wound wasn't another woman.

It was him.

His silence.

His distance.

His refusal to let me in.

And suddenly—

I was exhausted.

Exhausted from hoping.

From waiting.

From loving someone who kept building walls I couldn't climb.

So I smiled.

Not because I was okay.

But because sometimes—

When pain becomes unbearable—

You stop showing it.

"Thank you for clarifying, Rudransh."

The name.

Formal.

Cold.

Intentional.

I saw it hurt him.

Good.

Maybe now he understood what heartbreak sounded like.

"I think I should go home."

His jaw tightened immediately.

"I'll take you."

"No."

The answer surprised even me.

But I couldn't do this.

Not tonight.

Not when every second near him made my heart bleed.

"I'll go with Leo."

At least Leo never confused me.

Never pushed me away.

Never made me question my worth.

Leo, who had silently padded onto the balcony minutes ago, immediately moved closer to me.

Protective.

Loyal.

His golden eyes locked onto Rudransh as though even he disapproved.

For a second—

Rudransh looked almost offended.

Then resigned.

"Fine."

One word.

But beneath it—

A storm.

Rudransh's POV

Watching her walk away—

Destroyed me.

Not because she was leaving.

But because for the first time—

She didn't look back.

And that...

That terrified me more than any enemy ever could.

Leo followed her like a guardian.

A silent promise that even when I failed—

He wouldn't.

I remained on that balcony long after she disappeared.

Because I needed a moment.

A single goddamn moment—

To regain control.

My fists slammed against the marble railing hard enough to crack it.

Pain shot through my knuckles.

Good.

I deserved worse.

"Losing control, Rathore?"

I didn't turn.

Advik.

Of course.

He stepped beside me, unusually quiet.

"She loves you."

"I know."

The answer came instantly.

Painfully.

Advik studied me carefully.

"Then why are you handing her away?"

My silence answered enough.

His smirk faded slightly.

And for the first time—

He looked less amused.

More understanding.

"Ah."

He leaned back.

"Protection."

I said nothing.

But apparently—

I didn't need to.

Advik exhaled slowly.

"That's noble."

A pause.

"Also incredibly stupid."

My gaze darkened.

"Careful."

He chuckled.

"No disrespect."

His tone shifted, more serious now.

"But men like us?"

He glanced toward where Pihu had left.

"We don't get many chances at something real."

I hated that his words affected me.

Because he wasn't wrong.

And that truth?

Was dangerous.

Pihu's POV

The ride home was painfully quiet.

Leo rested his massive head on my lap, his presence grounding me.

I absentmindedly stroked his fur.

At least someone still chose me without hesitation.

My tears had dried.

But the ache remained.

Deep.

Sharp.

Unrelenting.

Maybe Rudransh cared.

Maybe he didn't.

Maybe there were truths I didn't understand.

But tonight—

None of that changed how much it hurt.

Because love shouldn't feel this lonely.

By the time we reached the mansion—

I was emotionally numb.

I stepped out without waiting.

Without searching for him.

Without hoping.

And perhaps—

That was the first real sign that something inside me was changing.

Chapter Ending

From the shadows beyond the estate gates—

A camera lens focused sharply.

Click.

Pihu.

Alone.

Vulnerable.

Emotionally shattered.

Perfect.

A voice murmured through a phone—

"So the devil and his precious weakness are finally breaking..."

A cruel chuckle followed.

"Good."

A pause.

"Prepare phase two."

Inside the mansion—

Pihu cried herself to sleep.

And down the hall—

Rudransh sat alone in darkness.

Bleeding silently from wounds no one could see.

Because protecting her from the world...

Was becoming far easier—

Than protecting her from himself.