Poornima walked back into the Rathore mansion with a glow she couldn’t hide.

Her cheeks were pink.

Her eyes softer.

Her steps lighter.

She told no one anything—but the change was obvious.

Rehan, sitting in the living room reading the newspaper, lifted his eyes and observed her quietly.

He didn’t question her.

He didn’t tease.

He simply smiled to himself.

A daughter only smiles like that when her heart has found peace, he thought.

Poornima disappeared upstairs, humming under her breath like she used to when she was sixteen.

And then—

Veeresh walked in.

Even his silence was different today.

He stood straighter, his face softer, eyes brighter.

A man who always hid every emotion suddenly looked like he was… alive.

Rehan folded his newspaper slowly.

“Something happened,” he said calmly, not as a question, but a statement.

Veeresh took a breath.

This conversation wasn’t part of his training.

No weapon had prepared him for this.

No discipline could hide the truth in his eyes.

“Sir,” he began formally, his voice steady but his heartbeat loud enough to feel in his throat.

“I want to talk to you. Privately.”

Rehan nodded once.

“Come.”

They walked into his study, a place where every big decision of the Rathore family had been discussed.

Veeresh stood in front of him, hands behind his back—like a soldier.

But what he was about to say… was not a soldier’s duty.

“Sir…”

He exhaled slowly.

“I’m going to date your daughter.”

Rehan did not react immediately.

He simply watched him with those sharp, observant eyes.

Veeresh continued, voice firm:

“Last night… Poornima agreed.

And I want to marry her.

Not now—but soon.

I know I hurt her before, and I have no excuse, but I’m going to spend every day proving I’m worthy of her.”

He looked directly into Rehan’s eyes.

“I want your permission.”

A long silence followed.

Then Rehan’s lips curved into a slow, meaningful smile.

“I have no problem, Veeresh.”

Veeresh felt something unclench in his chest.

Rehan walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder—a rare gesture.

“I trusted you with my life,” Rehan said softly.

“And now I trust you with my daughter.”

Veeresh bowed his head slightly in respect.

“Thank you, sir.”

Rehan chuckled.

“One more thing.”

“Yes, sir?” Veeresh asked.

“If you ever break her heart again…”

He paused, eyes narrowing with a dangerous smile.

“…you won’t have to worry about enemies. I’ll take care of you myself.”

Veeresh’s lips twitched.

“I deserve that, sir.”

Rehan nodded.

“Good. Now go. She must be waiting.”

Veeresh left the room with a rare, small smile on his face—

A smile he didn’t even try to hide.

Because for the first time in his life, he felt something he never thought he deserved:

A future.

With her.