Chapter 18

The room had gone still after her words.

Veeresh watched her quietly, his glass untouched now, his attention completely on her.

“Did it hurt you, Poornima?” he asked.

The question was simple.

But it carried weight.

She looked at him for a moment… and then smiled.

Not brightly.

Not lightly.

A tired smile.

“Usually I don’t speak about my pain,” she said softly. “But…”

She took a small sip.

“Hurt is a small word, Mr. Raj.”

Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass.

“I am broken into pieces.”

The words came without hesitation.

No drama.

Just truth.

“Outside… I show I’m happy,” she continued. “I smile, I speak, I manage everything.”

A pause.

“But inside…”

Her voice lowered.

“I’m a broken hell.”

The silence deepened.

“I don’t think I can ever join those pieces again.”

Veeresh’s jaw clenched slightly, but he didn’t interrupt.

She leaned back a little, looking at him now.

“You want to marry this?” she asked, a faint, almost mocking smile on her lips. “This broken heart?”

A soft shake of her head.

“How foolish you are.”

She placed the glass aside.

“Just leave it, Mr. Raj. Find someone else.”

Her voice wasn’t pushing him away harshly.

It was… resigned.

As if she truly believed what she was saying.

Then she stood up slowly, her steps slightly unsteady now.

“Sleep,” she said, gesturing vaguely. “Go tomorrow morning.”

She paused near the doorway.

“Anything happens to you, I’ll have to answer,” she added, her tone carrying a trace of her usual practicality. “I don’t want any cases.”

A brief silence.

Then, almost as an afterthought—

“But that Akash…” she muttered, her eyes narrowing faintly. “I’m going to break him.”

And with that—

She walked into her room.

Within minutes, exhaustion took over.

She lay down without changing, her breathing evening out as sleep finally claimed her.

Outside, the room remained quiet.

Veeresh stood there for a long moment.

Then slowly, he walked toward her room.

He paused at the door.

Looked at her.

She was asleep.

Peaceful.

As if none of the pain she carried existed on the surface.

Carefully, without making a sound, he stepped inside.

Pulled a blanket over her.

Adjusted it slightly.

His gaze lingered on her face.

The same woman who stood strong in front of the world…

Now looked—

Fragile.

Not weak.

But unguarded.

For a moment, something softened in his expression.

He leaned down slightly.

And pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

No words.

No claim.

Just a quiet, unspoken promise.

Then he stepped back.

Watching her for one last second—

Before turning away.