Chapter 27: Lines Drawn in the Dark

The penthouse felt different when Poornima entered alone.

Too quiet.

She changed, tied her hair back, and went to the kitchen. Cooking steadied her hands, gave her mind something simple to hold onto. As the curry simmered, doubts crept in anyway.

Can this really work?
Or am I just walking back into the same fire?

The door opened later than usual.

Veeresh came in without noise, jacket loosened, shoulders carrying the weight of the day. Before she could turn, his arms wrapped around her from behind—firm, familiar. He kissed her cheek, then the other.

“Veer,” she said softly, her voice careful. “Do you really want this marriage?” She paused. “Please don’t play with me again. I won’t survive that.”

He didn’t answer.

He stepped away.

The space he left behind felt colder than his anger ever had.

Poornima swallowed and walked to the balcony, the city lights blurring as her eyes filled. She didn’t hear him approach—only felt him again, his arms circling her from behind.

“I won’t play,” he said quietly, close to her ear. “But I will take revenge on the people who are responsible.”

She stayed silent, listening, her chest tight.

Then he said it—flat, final.

“You’re not leaving this place. And you won’t visit your parents.”

“Veer—” she began.

“What I said is final.”

The words closed around her like a door locking.

Before she could say anything else, he lifted her effortlessly and carried her to the room. He laid her down, pulling her close, his hold unyielding.

She didn’t argue.

Tears slipped free, silent and hot, soaking into the pillow. He felt them—his grip tightened, not softer, not cruel—simply desperate.

“Sleep,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her hair.

She lay there, awake for a long moment, staring into the dark, wondering when love had started to feel like captivity.

Eventually, exhaustion won.

He slept holding her as if afraid she would disappear.

And she slept beside him, tears drying on her lashes, caught between the man she loved and the freedom she was slowly losing—
one quiet night at a time.