Chapter 25 — Thinking Of Salvatore

The drive back from the hotel remained painfully silent.

Poornima sat beside her brother, staring quietly at the black platinum band resting on her finger.

Veeresh’s ring.

The memory of the engagement flashed inside her mind again — the kiss, the chaos, the way he confidently declared “We’re engaged.”

Insane man.

Absolutely insane.

Yet her fingers unconsciously touched the ring softly.

Her brother noticed immediately and gave her a small smile. “You might actually be happy.”

Poornima looked at him for a second before forcing a faint smile back.

“Don’t worry about me, bro.”

But that answer only made him feel worse.

Because everyone in the family knew one truth—

Poornima smiled most when she was hurting the most.

The car finally stopped outside Rathore Industries headquarters, where the family’s private residence occupied the upper floors.

The moment Poornima entered the house, Mr. Rathore grabbed her arm aggressively.

“Why did you do that?” he shouted furiously.

Before she could answer—

Slap.

Her face turned sideways instantly.

Then another.

And another.

Continuous strikes filled the room while Poornima stood there silently, not even trying to defend herself anymore.

Years of this had taught her one thing—

Resistance only made it worse.

“You embarrassed this family!” Mr. Rathore yelled. “I don’t want you marrying him!”

Poornima’s breathing slowly started becoming uneven.

Not again.

Please not now.

Her chest tightened painfully as panic slowly began crawling back.

But her father didn’t notice.

Or maybe he simply didn’t care.

Finally, after one last furious glare, he stormed out of the room.

The moment he left, Poornima hurried toward her room and locked the door immediately.

Her hands trembled violently now.

She slid down beside the bed, struggling to breathe properly as the walls around her suddenly felt suffocating.

Tears blurred her vision.

Her mind screamed only one thing.

Call him.

Salvatore.

She reached for her phone shakily, but her fingers wouldn’t cooperate properly. Her breathing became worse and worse until dizziness consumed her completely.

The last thought inside her mind before darkness took over was him.

Salvatore.

Then Poornima collapsed unconscious onto the floor.