Chapter 11 — The Night She Forgot Everything

Veeresh looked into her eyes one final time before his fingers slowly moved to the zipper of her dress, silently giving her another chance to stop him.

But Poornima didn’t move away.

Didn’t hesitate.

Her eyes remained fixed only on him.

That was all the permission he needed.

The black dress slipped from her shoulders slowly while Veeresh watched her carefully, as if making sure she was still certain about him, about this night, about stepping willingly into his darkness.

Then he removed his shirt, his gaze never leaving hers.

Poornima’s heartbeat quickened, but strangely, she wasn’t scared.

Not with him.

Veeresh cupped her face gently before kissing her again — deeper this time, slower, consuming every broken thought inside her. The world outside that room slowly disappeared with every touch, every kiss, every whispered breath between them.

And for the first time in years, Poornima stopped carrying the weight of being unwanted.

That night, she didn’t remember her family.

Didn’t remember the pain.

Didn’t remember the forced marriage waiting for her.

Her thoughts became consumed by only one name.

Salvatore Dreewan.

The dangerous man everyone feared held her like she was something precious instead of broken. And somewhere between his touch, his possessiveness, and the way he looked at her like she mattered, Poornima felt something she had never felt before.

Peace.

By the end of the night, her soul no longer felt empty.

It belonged completely to Salvatore Dreewan.