Chapter 43: The Truth Unmasked

Poornima’s hands trembled as she opened the door to their room.

Veeresh stood near the window, the light from the city reflecting off his sharp profile. His expression was unreadable — silent, cold, distant.

“Veeresh,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

He didn’t turn.

She stepped closer, tears rolling down her face. “I didn’t kiss Pavan. Believe me… please.”

He still said nothing.

Her chest tightened. “I know… I made mistakes,” she continued, words tumbling out between sobs. “I bullied you, insulted you, humiliated you — all because I was stupid enough to think it would make your brother notice me. But that was the past. I’ve changed, Veeresh. You changed me. I could never cheat you. Not now… not ever.”

Veeresh slowly turned his head, his eyes fixed on her — calm, but unreadable.

“Who told you I saw that?”

Poornima swallowed. “Sahana. She said she dressed like me that night… and kissed Pavan, knowing you’d see. She wanted you to doubt me.”

Something dark flickered in Veeresh’s eyes — rage, disbelief, then cold fury.

Without a word, he grabbed Poornima’s wrist and stormed out of the room, dragging her gently but firmly along.

“Veeresh, what are you doing?” she asked breathlessly.

He didn’t answer. His jaw was tight, his eyes burning.

Downstairs, Sahana was sitting on the couch, pretending to scroll through her phone.

The moment she looked up, the mask slipped off Veeresh’s face — and what replaced it made her blood run cold.

He walked straight to her and slapped her hard.

The sound echoed through the hall like thunder.

“Sahana!” Poornima gasped, shocked — but Veeresh’s eyes were blazing.

“Stay away from me,” he said in a low, dangerous voice. “And stay away from my wife.”

Sahana’s face went pale. “Veeresh, I—”

“I know everything,” he cut her off sharply. “You planned this. You dressed like her, kissed Pavan, and wanted me to doubt Poornima. You wanted to break us the way you broke me years ago.”

Sahana tried to speak, but his words hit like knives.

“Enough. I won’t tolerate another word. You wanted to see me destroy her… but I won’t. Not anymore.”

Tears welled in Poornima’s eyes — not from fear, but from relief.

Veeresh turned toward her, took her hand in his, and said firmly, “Let’s go.”

He didn’t look back at Sahana as he pulled Poornima along with him, his grip protective, not angry.

Back in their room, Veeresh shut the door quietly.

Poornima was still trembling — from shock, from emotion, from the way he had defended her for the first time.

He looked at her — really looked at her — and said in a softer tone,

“I believe you, Poornima. Don’t cry.”

Her lips trembled as tears streamed freely, but she smiled through them — for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t alone in the fight.