Chapter 28 — What Happened Yesterday?

Poornima slowly opened her eyes, wincing slightly at the bright hospital lights above her.

For a few seconds, she looked confused.

Then her gaze shifted beside the bed.

Veeresh.

Still sitting there.

Still watching her.

“...How am I here?” she asked weakly. “What happened?”

The moment he heard her voice, something inside Veeresh finally relaxed.

“You fainted.”

Poornima frowned slightly, trying to sit up. Veeresh immediately moved closer and adjusted the pillow behind her carefully.

“Slowly.”

She stared at him suspiciously. “You’re being too nice. That’s scary.”

A faint smirk appeared on his face before disappearing quickly.

Then his expression turned serious again.

“What happened after the engagement yesterday?” he asked quietly. “After you reached home.”

Poornima blinked at him.

Then suddenly glared.

“You asshole.”

Veeresh raised an eyebrow.

“You kissed me in front of everyone,” she complained weakly. “And then you forcefully put a ring on my finger.”

“No regrets.”

“Salvatore!”

For the first time since entering the hospital room, Veeresh almost looked amused.

But then Poornima’s expression slowly faded again as she tried remembering.

“Dad was… pretty angry,” she murmured softly.

Veeresh’s eyes remained fixed on her carefully.

“And after that?”

Poornima pressed her fingers against her forehead slightly.

“I don’t know…” she whispered. “I don’t remember properly.”

Silence.

Veeresh studied her face closely.

No acting.

No lying.

She genuinely couldn’t remember.

That confirmed what the doctor said.

Something inside her mind was protecting itself by blocking parts of the trauma.

And suddenly, Veeresh realized something terrifying—

Poornima Rathore had probably suffered far more than anyone knew.