Yuvaan pushed open the bedroom door, loosening his collar — exhaustion etched across his face. But what caught his attention wasn't the silence. It was Kiara, folding a blanket and picking up a pillow.
He frowned. "Where are you going?"
Kiara ignored him completely and walked toward the door.
In two strides, Yuvaan caught her wrist and turned her around. Their eyes met — her gaze fiery, his confused.
"Kiara?" he said softly. "At least tell me what's wrong."
She jerked her hand free. "Don't touch me. Stay away."
"What did I even do now?" Yuvaan asked, half irritated, half amused.
Kiara's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Why don't you ask Aish?"
Yuvaan blinked. "Aish? How did she come into this? You're still mad about the college scene?"
Kiara let out a shaky laugh — the kind that hides hurt. "You're acting like you don't know anything. Typical."
"I don't!" he said, his voice rising. "And why would I act?"
Kiara's voice trembled. "Because you were with her, Yuvaan. Don't even try denying it. Are you two having an affair?"
For a second, Yuvaan just stared at her — and then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
Kiara's expression darkened. "You're laughing? After betraying my trust?"
"Kiara, come on," Yuvaan said, still smiling faintly. "You really think I—"
But before he could finish, she snatched up her pillow and blanket. "I'm going to the terrace. At least there, I'll breathe in peace!"
She stormed out.
Yuvaan sighed and followed her. "Kiara, wait! I wasn't with Aish!"
"Don't lie!" she snapped as she reached the terrace. The cool night wind whipped her hair, mirroring her storm inside. "I called her — and she told me you were with her!"
Yuvaan patted his pockets — then froze. His phone was gone.
He looked up at her. "Kiara, my phone's missing. She must have—"
"Oh please," Kiara interrupted, spreading her blanket. "Next you'll say aliens took it."
He moved closer. "Kiara, listen. Yes, I had chemistry with Aish — and with a few others too. But that was before you."
Kiara stopped, mid-motion.
Yuvaan's voice softened. "My present and my future… is only you. You're the only one I lo—"
He caught himself mid-sentence. Silence stretched between them. Kiara's breath hitched.
"The only one you what?" she whispered.
Yuvaan quickly looked away. "The only one I lose arguments with," he muttered.
Kiara gave him an unimpressed look. "Wow. Smooth."
Yuvaan exhaled and said, "Fine. Call my number, you'll see who answers."
Kiara dialed. Aish picked up.
"Yuvaan's in the washroom," Aish's voice purred through the speaker.
Kiara's face fell. She ended the call wordlessly, realization dawning. "She lied," she murmured — and then glared at Yuvaan anyway. "But still, why was your phone with her?"
"It must've fallen when I left the mansion," Yuvaan replied, stepping closer. "You can yell all you want later, but right now, you're freezing up here."
Kiara crossed her arms. "I'm not talking to you."
He tilted his head. "Really? Not even a single word?"
She ignored him.
Yuvaan's smirk turned playful. "Alright, if you won't talk…"
He raised his palm, whispering a spell. Above her, a small dark cloud formed — and a gentle drizzle began, soaking only Kiara.
"Yuvaan!" she gasped, running for cover — but the cloud followed.
He chuckled, watching her squeal in frustration as she darted around the terrace. "Still not talking?"
"You're impossible!" she shouted, laughing despite herself.
The rain thickened, and in her attempt to dodge it, she slipped.
In an instant, Yuvaan caught her — his arms locking around her waist, her hands instinctively clutching his shirt.
The drizzle softened to a whisper. Water glistened on her eyelashes as she met his gaze — the storm between them finally giving way to something quieter.
Neither spoke. The air between them was heavy — not with magic, but with emotion.
And for the first time that night, neither of them wanted to move.
The mansion was quiet under the silver hush of midnight.
In their room, the soft hum of Kiara's hair dryer filled the silence as she stood before the mirror, running her fingers through her damp hair. Strands shimmered in the glow of the bedside lamp, the air scented faintly of jasmine shampoo.
Behind her, Yuvaan emerged from the bathroom, a towel around his neck, droplets of water tracing the lines of his chest. He tugged off his shirt in one swift motion, the faint flex of his muscles catching the corner of her eye.
Kiara froze — dryer still running — her gaze flickering to the mirror. For a heartbeat, she forgot to breathe.
Yuvaan noticed. A teasing smirk tugged at his lips. "Enjoying the view, Mrs. Pratap Singh?"
Kiara quickly looked away. "W–what view? I wasn't looking!"
"Oh really?" Yuvaan drawled, feigning innocence as he reached for his belt buckle. "Then I can take these off too, right?"
Kiara spun around, eyes wide. "What the fudge, Yuvaan!"
He laughed softly, the sound low and wicked. "Relax. I was just testing if you were really not looking."
Kiara glared. "You're impossible."
He stepped closer, droplets still glistening on his skin. "And yet, you were peeking," he whispered.
"I was not—" she started, but before she could finish, he pulled her closer with a gentle tug. Her palms landed flat against his bare chest, warm and damp under her touch.
The world seemed to blur. For a second, all she could hear was the thud of her own heartbeat. Her mind betrayed her with a rush of wild, romantic imaginations — candlelight, his touch, his lips—
"Kiara?"
His voice snapped her back to reality. Yuvaan tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Why are your cheeks red?"
Kiara stumbled over her words. "It's—uh—warm! The dryer heat! Too hot!"
She quickly wriggled free, dropped the dryer, and hurried to the bed, diving under the blanket.
Yuvaan chuckled under his breath, watching her hide her face like a flustered schoolgirl. He shook his head, smiling as he turned off the lamp.
"Goodnight, Mrs. shy hunter," he murmured.
Kiara peeked out from the blanket just enough to glare at him — only for her lips to twitch into a smile she couldn't hide.