The sound of the landline receiver hitting the cradle was like a gavel in a courtroom. Reyansh stood over Myra, his breathing heavy, his eyes dark with a mixture of betrayal and twisted satisfaction. He knew the truth now.
"A lie," he whispered, the word sounding like a curse. "The 'Stable Doctor' was just a mask you put on him to hide from me."
Myra tried to stand, but Reyansh pressed his palm against the drafting table, trapping her. "I had to protect him from you! You were obsessed!"
"I am far beyond obsessed now, Myra," he hissed. He reached out and grabbed the office landline again, hitting the redial button and switching it to speakerphone.
The ringing tone filled the silent office, echoing off the high ceilings.
"What are you doing?" Myra's voice went thin with terror.
"You wanted him to be your boyfriend? Then let's give him a boyfriend's update," Reyansh commanded. He leaned down, his face inches from hers, his eyes boring into her soul. "When he answers, you are going to tell him exactly how 'good' your night was. And if you hesitate, if you cry, if you try to signal him... I'll have his medical license revoked by sunset. Pick up the receiver."
Myra's hand shook so violently she could barely lift it. The line clicked.
Myra? Are you there? God, the line cut out. Did he find out? Is everything okay?" Rohan's voice was filled with genuine, heartbreaking concern.
Reyansh's grip on Myra's waist tightened, his fingers digging into her skin, a silent command.
"Rohan," Myra choked out, her voice trembling. "I... I just wanted to call and say..." She looked at Reyansh, his expression was cold, merciless. He mouthed the words: Tell him.
"I wanted to say that last night... was incredible," she whispered, a tear escaping and rolling down her cheek. "The storm... the penthouse... I've never felt anything like it."
There was a long, stunned silence on the other end. "Myra? What are you saying? You said he was a monster. You said—"
"I was wrong," she said, her voice breaking as Reyansh's hand slid up to her neck, his thumb tracing the mark he had left. "He... he knows exactly what I need. Better than anyone else ever could. Don't worry about me anymore, Rohan. I'm exactly where I want to be."
Reyansh leaned in, his lips brushing her ear so closely that Rohan could probably hear his ragged breathing over the line. He wanted the doctor to know he was right there. He wanted to hear the sound of another man's heart breaking.
"I don't believe you," Rohan said, his voice dropping. "He's forcing you to say this, isn't he?"
"Goodbye, Rohan," Myra sobbed, and before he could say another word, Reyansh reached over and slammed the button, cutting the connection.
The silence that followed was suffocating. Myra collapsed against the table, her face in her hands, her body racking with silent sobs. She had just destroyed the only person who had tried to help her
Reyansh didn't apologize. He didn't comfort her. He stood back, adjusted his cuffs, and looked down at her with the cold triumph of a king.