Sara managed to gather all this information by talking to the helpers around the mansion. After some persistence and a bit of coaxing, they finally opened up to her, spilling the details about Kannan's family. Through these conversations, she learned about his father's affair, his mother's strange acceptance of it, and how Kannan was trained from a young age for something unknown. The more Sara heard, the more she understood the kind of life Kannan had lived, one filled with loneliness and strict expectations, but without much warmth or support.I had been wandering the vast mansion for what felt like hours, the silence amplifying the thoughts swirling in my head. Kannan had disappeared for two whole days after our heated moment together, and I couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that settled in my chest during his absence. I missed him—his warmth, his presence, the way he made my heart race just by being near me.The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow that lit my path as I roamed. The night air was cool and breezy, sending shivers down my spine. It was oddly eerie, and the mansion felt more like a labyrinth than a home. The absence of Kannan's strong, commanding presence left me feeling vulnerable and uneasy.My curiosity got the better of me, leading me to a part of the mansion I hadn't yet explored. A dark, shadowy hallway stretched out before me, and at the end stood a large, foreboding door. It had an air of secrecy, as if it was hiding something that I wasn't meant to see. But that only fueled my determination.With each step I took, the excitement mingled with trepidation. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I approached the door. It was tightly secured, but that never stopped me before. I had always been the kind of person who followed my instincts, even when they led me into risky situations.I opened the door, the strong, metallic scent of blood hitting me like a wall. My body trembled, unsure if I had the courage to step further into the darkness. The room looked old, its walls stained with time and secrets, and it felt like I had entered another world within the mansion—one that was completely sinister.As I took a cautious step inside, the sound of screams echoed through the air, chilling me to the bone. My heart raced, panic clawing at my insides. What was happening here? The screams sounded like they were coming from deep within the room, filled with pain and desperation.As I moved deeper into the room, following the gut-wrenching screams, I was met with a sight that made my stomach churn. A bloody man was tied to a chair, his body slumped and weak, struggling to speak in Malayalam. His voice was choked with desperation, begging for his life as tears streamed down his face.In front of him stood Arvalan, his expression cold and merciless as he methodically cracked the man's fingers one by one. Each sound echoed in the room like a gunshot, a cruel reminder of the brutality unfolding before my eyes. My heart raced as I felt the weight of what I was witnessing, a world far removed from the one I thought I knew.And then there was the figure sitting just beyond Arvalan, his back turned to me. He exuded an air of indifference, a man who seemed utterly unfazed by the suffering happening mere feet away. He was smoking a cigar, the smoke curling lazily into the air, as if he were bored by the entire affair.But there was something familiar about him—his posture, the way he held himself. My blood ran cold as the realization struck me. Could it be?I watched in horror as Kannan held a gun in one hand and a cigar in the other, the burning embers glowing ominously. He leaned back casually, as if this were all just a game, and pressed the cigar into the bloody man's hand. The shriek that erupted from the man sent chills racing down my spine, and I felt a cold knot forming in my stomach.I was frozen in place, my heart pounding against my chest, every instinct screaming for me to run, to escape this nightmare. But all I could do was stand there, horrified, as I caught a glimpse of Kannan's face.His expression was terrifying, a mask of cold indifference that made my skin crawl. There was no hint of the warmth he had shown me—the man who had held me when I was sick, who had whispered sweet words against my skin. This was someone else entirely, and it scared me to my core.I watched in horror as Kannan pulled the trigger, the gunshot echoing through the room, silencing the man's pleas for mercy in an instant. The lifeless body slumped in the chair, blood pooling beneath him. My breath caught in my throat, and I instinctively stepped back, my heart hammering against my chest.The floor creaked under my weight, betraying my attempt to retreat unnoticed. The sound was so slight, yet in the silence that followed the gunshot, it rang out like thunder.Kannan's head snapped in my direction, his eyes locking onto mine. I could see the fury swirling in them, dark and dangerous, and for the first time, I felt real, bone-deep fear. His expression was nothing like the man I had known, nothing like the warmth and tenderness he had shown me. This was someone else entirely—a predator, cold and unfeeling.The intensity of his gaze rooted me to the spot. I wanted to run, to disappear, but my legs refused to move. The air between us crackled with tension, and I could feel his rage directed squarely at me. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, and though he hadn't moved, the way his eyes darkened made my blood run cold."Kannan..." I whispered, my voice barely audible, trembling as I tried to understand the man standing before me.His eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer, each movement deliberate and calculated, like a hunter closing in on its prey. I could see the murderous intent in his eyes, the way his jaw clenched and his hand gripped the gun tightly."You shouldn't have seen that," he said in a voice so low it sent a shiver down my spine. There was no warmth, no trace of the man I thought I knew. Only darkness.My heart raced, and panic surged through me. I opened my mouth to speak, to explain, but the words got caught in my throat. "I—I didn't mean to—"I tried to steady my breath, but it only came out in shaky gasps as he closed the distance between us, each step deliberate and menacing. My body froze, trapped between him and the cold wall pressing into my bare back, heightening the vulnerability of my position. My instincts screamed at me to move, to run, but fear held me rooted to the spot.Kannan's eyes swept over me, taking in every detail, every tremor in my body, every tear sliding silently down my cheeks. I hadn't even realized I was crying, but I could feel the wetness on my skin now, betraying my raw fear. He reached out, his fingers brushing a tear from my cheek, his touch both gentle and frighteningly possessive."You're scared," he murmured, his voice low and dark, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "But you're not running."I opened my mouth to respond, but words failed me. My throat was tight, my heart pounding painfully in my chest. He tilted his head, studying me with a look that sent chills through me, as though he was fascinated by my fear."I could be your worst nightmare," he whispered, his hand lingering at the side of my face, "or everything you never knew you needed."His words sliced through the silence, hanging heavily between us, and my breath hitched. I felt a shiver run through me, though I wasn't sure if it was from the fear or the heat of his closeness."Are you afraid of me now?" he asked, his voice almost taunting, eyes dark with intensity.The room spun wildly around me, darkness closing in as my knees buckled. I felt my breath hitch, each gasp pulling me further into a dizzy haze, my mind shutting down from the overwhelming fear. My vision blurred, and everything seemed to fade as I felt myself slipping away.Just before the world went black, a steady warmth enveloped me, strong hands catching me before I hit the floor. Kannan's voice reached me, low and insistent, but the words were muffled, distant, as if they were coming from underwater. His grip tightened, grounding me as I drifted in and out of consciousness, the chaos of emotions fading into a strange sense of safety in his arms.The last thing I registered was the feeling of his hand brushing gently across my cheek, the surprising tenderness in his touch cutting through the darkness surrounding me. And then, everything faded completely.I jolted awake, my breath catching as I took in my surroundings. Soft moon light filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. For a split second, I wondered if everything I'd witnessed last night—the blood, the coldness in Kannan's eyes, the fear that gripped me—had been nothing but a twisted nightmare.I closed my eyes, letting out a shaky breath, hoping it would bring some reassurance. But the chilling memory of his merciless gaze lingered, refusing to fade. The thought clawed at me, leaving me more unsettled than before. Maybe it wasn't a dream after all. Kannan is talking someone in phone returning his back towards me "I will be in a minute, pack him up" his voice is so cold and cruel. i pretended to be unconscious until he is gone.As his footsteps faded, a wave of relief washed over me, though my heart still hammered in my chest. I took a steadying breath, listening intently to ensure he was really gone. The silence in the room felt suffocating, yet somehow, it gave me the courage I needed.I slowly opened my eyes, scanning the room for any sign of movement before slipping out of bed. Every step felt like a calculated risk, my mind racing with questions and plans. But the one thing that stood out clearly was the realization: I needed to get out.'sara please yaar abb pyar ke baree mat soch ,mar jaaye tu behenn!'Heart racing, I scrambled to throw my things into a bag, my fingers shaking as I grabbed clothes, toiletries, and the essentials. My mind was a whirl of panic and desperation, Kannan's cold voice echoing in my head. The way he said, "pack him up"—it wasn't a side of him I had ever seen, or ever wanted to see again.I glanced at the door, half-expecting him to walk back in any second. I knew I couldn't hesitate. With trembling hands, I took my passport from the drawer, the realization settling in that I had to leave, and it had to be tonight. I stuffed it into my bag, threw on a jacket, and made my way to the door, every instinct telling me to run and never look back.Slipping out of the room, I moved quietly down the long corridors, praying that no one would notice me.Tears slipped down my cheeks before I even realized it, a wave of emotions crashing over me. My hands trembled as I pressed them against my face, trying to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape. This wasn't supposed to happen. Never in my life had I seen anything so brutal, so utterly merciless.And yet, there I was, my mind grappling with the sight of Kannan—someone I'd been so drawn to—taking a life as if it meant nothing. My head throbbed with confusion, anger, and... fear. I wanted to believe it wasn't real, that my mind was playing tricks on me. But deep down, I knew what I'd seen. The thought left a dark, unsettling mark on me that no amount of denial could erase. I want to be delulu .I whispered a silent farewell to the room, letting memories flash through my mind—the warmth of his presence, his intense gaze, those fleeting moments where his harshness softened just a little. But then I reminded myself of the cold truth I had seen. My resolve hardened, and I told myself, Sara, get your shit together.Slipping out the back way, I realized the security was, for once, nowhere in sight. Luck was on my side. The air felt heavy with finality as I quietly crossed the mansion's grounds and hailed a taxi for the airport. This was where it ended; the chapter I thought would hold so much promise had become a story I could no longer stay in.