Chapter 31: Between Anger and Belonging

The next day, they returned to the mansion.

Everything felt the same… yet nothing was.

Veeresh walked in, calm as always. “I’ll freshen up. Be ready, we are leaving for work.”

She nodded softly.

Before she could move further—

A sharp sound echoed.

Riya had slapped her.

Poornima’s face turned slightly with the force, her cheek burning instantly.

“How dare you go to work?” Riya’s voice was filled with anger.

For a second, everything went silent.

Then—

Veeresh stepped forward and pulled Poornima aside.

His eyes fell on the mark forming on her cheek.

And something in him snapped.

“How dare you slap my wife?” his voice was low, but filled with anger.

Riya looked at him. “She is my daughter.”

“She is my wife,” he replied immediately.

Clear.

Firm.

Unmoving.

“I have no problem with her working. She is working in my company.”

The tension in the room grew.

His anger was rising.

Poornima could see it.

And she knew what came with it.

His headaches.

His silence.

His pain.

She didn’t want that.

“Poornima,” he said, his voice sharp now, “if you don’t come to work today… forget me.”

Her breath caught.

The words hit her harder than the slap.

Before she could respond, he turned and walked to the room.

She stood there, stunned.

Tears filled her eyes.

Lakshmi came near her and held her hand. “Go, beta. I will take care here.”

Riya’s voice came again, “If you go to work… forget me and your papa.”

Poornima’s heart tightened.

Two sides.

Two worlds.

Pulling her.

But she didn’t stay there.

She ran.

Straight to him.

She opened the door.

He was standing there, smoking, his anger still visible in every movement.

“Veer… please…” she said softly.

He turned.

And in that moment of anger—

He slapped her.

The room fell silent again.

She didn’t react.

Didn’t step back.

Didn’t hold her cheek.

Because she saw something else.

Not just anger.

Pain.

His breathing was uneven.

His head slightly lowered.

She knew.

His headache.

Without wasting a second, she stepped forward and held him.

Pulled him close.

And before he could react—

She kissed him.

Soft.

Firm.

Trying to calm him.

Trying to bring him back.

His body stilled.

The anger didn’t disappear instantly.

But it slowed.

She guided him gently to the bed.

Made him lie down.

Then sat, pulling his head onto her lap.

Her fingers moved into his hair, massaging slowly.

The same way she always did.

The same way he needed.

His breathing softened.

The tension left his face gradually.

Minutes passed.

His eyes closed.

He fell asleep.

Peacefully.

She looked down at him, her eyes still filled with tears, but her touch never stopping.

Slowly, she adjusted him, making him rest more comfortably against her.

His head moved, settling against her chest.

Her arms wrapped around him gently.

Holding him.

Like she always had.

Like she always would.

Her back leaned against the bed, her fingers still lightly moving in his hair.

And without realizing—

She fell asleep too.

In the middle of everything…

They found the same place again.

Each other.