Chapter 13 – The Truth He Hid

Poornima followed him into the room, her hands shaking—not from fear, but from fury.

Before he could turn, she slapped him.

The sound echoed sharply between the walls.

“What is all this?” she cried. “Have you completely lost your mind?”

Veeresh turned slowly, his jaw tightening. Instead of anger, there was something steady—almost resigned—in his eyes.

“What?” he said calmly. “You’re my wife. Stop slapping your husband. Have some respect.”

Her breath hitched.

“Your wife?” she repeated, disbelief flooding her voice. “When did I become your wife?”

Veeresh didn’t hesitate. “Ask your parents,” he said quietly. “They’ll tell you the truth.”

The room spun.

“What?” she whispered. “Why are you doing this to me? Why now?”

He stepped closer. Too close.

Before she could step back, he caught her hands, pulling her toward him—not roughly, but with desperation.

“Because you’re the only person,” he said, his voice breaking for the first time, “with whom I can be me.”

She froze.

“There is no one who can tame me,” he continued softly, his forehead resting against hers. “No one who can stop me, argue with me, fight me—and still stay.”

His hands trembled.

“It’s only you, Poornima.”

The walls she had built cracked.

He pressed his lips to hers—not demanding now, but aching, confessional. Years of restraint collapsed into that single moment.

Her body responded instinctively.

Her heart had chosen him long back—before anger, before pain, before distance. She felt herself soften, her breath catching, emotions flooding in all at once.

But she didn’t kiss him back.

She couldn’t.

Not yet.

Her heart had always been his—but it was bruised, wounded, unsure. She rested her forehead against his chest instead, tears slipping silently as she clenched his shirt.

Veeresh held her tighter.

“You’re mine,” he whispered, not as possession—but as truth. “You always have been.”

Poornima closed her eyes.

She didn’t deny it.

Because somewhere deep inside, despite everything, she knew—

She had never truly belonged anywhere else.