Chapter 34 — Her Own World

The next morning, Poornima slowly opened her eyes as sunlight spread softly across her room.

For a few seconds, she simply stayed there quietly.

Peaceful.

Again.

No nightmares.

No sudden panic waking her in the middle of the night.

And most shocking of all—

No sleeping pills.

Poornima turned slightly toward the empty side of the bed and sighed softly.

“He left.”

Somehow she already knew Veeresh would never stay till morning in her room. A man like Salvatore Dreewan belonged to shadows more than daylight.

Yet a small smile still appeared on her lips unconsciously.

Because somehow…

He had literally made her sleep.

Like calming her mind was the easiest thing in the world for him.

“Crazy man,” she murmured to herself while getting up.

After freshening up and dressing in a simple beige formal outfit, Poornima finally left for the one place that genuinely felt like hers.

Her restaurant.

Unlike the Rathore mansion, her restaurant chain carried warmth instead of pressure. Employees smiled naturally when she entered the main branch of Aurum Table, the flagship restaurant she built completely through her own hard work.

No Rathore money.

No family support.

Just Poornima.

“Good morning, ma’am!”

“Morning.”

The staff immediately relaxed seeing her normal mood today. Usually after family events, she returned colder and exhausted.

But today she looked calmer.

Almost lighter.

Poornima moved through the restaurant naturally, checking kitchen quality, reviewing menus, correcting presentation details, and handling customer feedback herself despite being the owner.

Because this place mattered to her.

Every corner carried years of struggle, sleepless nights, and silent determination.

Here, she wasn’t the unwanted Rathore daughter.

She was simply Poornima.

A chef walked toward her nervously. “Ma’am, the Italian fusion tasting menu—”

“Too much rosemary,” she interrupted immediately after tasting the sauce. “Balance it properly.”

The chef blinked. “You recognized it instantly?”

Poornima smirked slightly. “That’s why I own the restaurant.”

The staff laughed softly.

And for the first time in days, Poornima genuinely smiled without forcing it.

But even while working, her fingers unconsciously brushed against the black platinum ring on her hand.

And somewhere far away—

Salvatore Dreewan was still sitting quietly inside her thoughts.