Chapter 37 — The Devil Stayed

Days slowly passed after the engagement announcement.

And without either of them realizing when it started becoming routine—

Veeresh came to her every night.

Sometimes through the balcony.

Sometimes already waiting inside her room like darkness naturally belonged there.

At first, Poornima argued.

“Don’t you have your own house, Salvatore?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you here?”

“To make sure you sleep.”

“Psychopath.”

But eventually, she stopped questioning him.

Because every night he stayed, she slept peacefully.

No panic attacks.

No nightmares.

No sleeping pills.

Just silence and sleep.

And somehow, Poornima became used to the feeling of falling asleep against his chest while Veeresh lazily held her close like it was the most natural thing in the world.

One night, half asleep, she mumbled softly against him,

“If someone told me mafia people work as sleeping medicine, I would’ve laughed.”

Veeresh looked down at her with amusement. “Go to sleep.”

Poornima smiled sleepily before tightening her grip on his shirt unconsciously.

And Veeresh felt something dangerous settle deeper inside him.

Because this no longer felt temporary.

Meanwhile, Samuel still hadn’t found the complete truth.

Every file connected to Poornima’s past was either erased, sealed, or manipulated. Witnesses changed statements. Records disappeared. Even the juvenile home staff avoided answering directly.

Someone powerful had buried the past carefully.

But Salvatore Dreewan was not a man who stopped digging.

Especially now.

Because every day Veeresh spent beside Poornima only made one thing clearer—

Whatever happened years ago had destroyed parts of her soul.

And he wanted answers.

Not just for Zoya anymore.

For Poornima too.

One night, while she slept peacefully beside him, Veeresh stared at the ceiling silently, his arm around her waist while the city lights flickered outside.

Something was changing inside him.

Months ago, he would have called it weakness.

Now?

He no longer cared.

Because the devil himself had become addicted to protecting one broken girl.

And Salvatore Dreewan always protected what belonged to him.