Innocence, (Paperback)

<p>ANANYA: "I can't help but let my heart stumble for his mischievous yet innocent childlike smile." A young girl, hurt deeply by her own family, grows up to become a cold and heart broken woman. Her painful past makes her hard and unfeeling, driving her to pursue power with a heart that has long forgotten warmth. But what happens when she is forced to marry a man who is mentally a child? </p><p> RIHAAN: "Cinderella said that if you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true." A 26 years old man child who is still unaware of the dark world around him. He is told by his mother that he will soon have a friend who will be with him as a partner. But for how long? Will she be able to give him the love and care he always wished? The heart that is devoid of any warmth, how will it handle the warmth of that childlike heart of his? Will this forced marriage bring any good in the life of the heart broken woman? Dive in to know their cute but troubled life!</p><p>At the age of eight, Rihaan was too young to understand why his parents had sent him away. Boarding school felt more like punishment than an opportunity. The sprawling, cold stone building loomed before him as his parents waved goodbye, their faces filled with expectation. "You'll make friends here, Rihaan," they had said, but deep inside, Rihaan already felt a gnawing emptiness. He was shy, small for his age, and terribly unsure of himself. </p><p>The first night in the dormitory was quiet but unsettling. The older boys in the room whispered among themselves, their eyes occasionally flicking toward Rihaan. His tiny bed felt like an island in a hostile sea. The other boys laughed at each other's jokes, loud and unkind, but no one spoke to him. He stayed silent, holding his stuffed toy tightly under the blanket, pretending not to hear the mocking snickers and remarks tossed his way. </p><p>The bullying began almost immediately, as if the older boys had been waiting for someone like Rihaan to appear-a small, defenseless, quiet child they could torment. The next morning, as he walked through the hallways to his class, a boy named Karan, one of the seniors in the dormitory, stood in his path.</p><p>"Where do you think you're going, runt?" Karan sneered, his face twisted into a cruel smirk.</p><p>"To class," Rihaan whispered, his voice barely audible.</p><p>"I didn't say you could go yet," Karan said, shoving Rihaan back against the wall.</p><p>The force of the push sent a sharp pain through Rihaan's back. He tried to steady himself, but Karan was already yanking his schoolbag off his shoulder. With a malicious grin, Karan dumped the contents of the bag onto the floor-books, pencils, everything.</p>

• Innocence, (Paperback)
• Author: Stephanie Portman
• ISBN: 9789996492990
• Format: Paperback
• Publication Date: 2026-05-06
• Page Count: 296