After finishing his pudding, Veeresh leaned back in his chair, his expression softer now.

“I love chocolate,” he admitted in a low voice, almost like a secret.

Poornima smiled gently. “I know… Anaya told me.”

For the first time that evening, Veeresh’s lips curved into a genuine smile. It wasn’t his cold, intimidating CEO smile, but the rare one—warm, unguarded, and real.

Later, when they went to their room, Poornima tucked Aarav into his cradle and returned to bed. Veeresh lay beside her, silent for a moment, then shifted closer. Slowly, he rested his head on her chest, listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, while his arm wrapped firmly around her waist.

Poornima froze for a second, her breath caught, but she didn’t move. Her fingers hovered, then gently brushed his hair as sleep slowly claimed them both.

For Veeresh, who had lived years with only cold nights and empty silences, this was the first time he felt true warmth—a home in her heartbeat.