The car glided through the quiet streets, the city lights casting fleeting shadows across Yuvaan's face. Kiara sat beside him, her hands still trembling slightly from the fire ordeal. She kept her gaze low, remembering the suffocating heat, the smoke, and the helplessness as Aishwarya had trapped her. But above all, she kept seeing Yuvaan's crimson eyes and the way he had carried her through the flames, unharmed, unflinching.
Yuvaan glanced at her from the corner of his eye. The memory of their kiss lingered on his lips, and he could feel it in the warmth spreading through his chest. He cleared his throat, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, though his voice carried concern.
"How did you… end up in the storeroom instead of the washroom?"
Kiara took a deep breath, her voice quiet but steady. "Aishwarya… she followed me. She hit me with a log. She tied me up and tried to—" Her hands gestured slightly, the words faltering as the memory of the fire flashed across her mind. "She tried to burn me. I… I thought—" She swallowed. "I thought I wouldn't make it."
Yuvaan's jaw tightened imperceptibly, and his hand clenched on the steering wheel. The anger simmering beneath his calm facade was a dangerous fire. Aishwarya had crossed a line, and he would make sure she paid—but not recklessly. Everything had to be calculated.
Kiara noticed the shadow passing over his face and felt a strange reassurance. She knew, without words, that Yuvaan's fury would protect her—but that same intensity made her heartbeat quicken.
For a few moments, they drove in silence, the hum of the engine filling the car. Kiara finally exhaled, leaning back, trying to shake off the lingering smoke in her lungs.
As the Pratap Singh mansion came into view, Yuvaan slowed the car. The grandeur of the estate, the manicured lawns, the soft glow from the windows—it all felt surreal after the chaos they had just survived. He opened his door first, holding his hand out for Kiara.
She placed her hand in his, letting him guide her out of the car. Her gaze flicked up at him, and he caught it, the faintest smirk playing at his lips, tinged with relief and something else—desire, protectiveness, and an unspoken promise.
Inside their room, Kiara set her bag down, her mind still buzzing from the events. "I'll freshen up," she said softly, retreating toward the washroom.
Yuvaan remained by the door, his stance deliberate, almost predatory in its patience. His eyes darkened at the thought of Aishwarya and the recklessness of her act. A calm, controlled storm brewed within him.
"She's going to pay," he muttered under his breath. "But first… I make sure my wifey is safe."
He took a slow step back, letting Kiara disappear behind the washroom door, and then turned, his mind already plotting, his movements measured. Every step he took toward Aishwarya would be precise—villainous, calculated, and unrelenting.
The night outside was calm, but inside Yuvaan, the storm had only just begun.
Kiara emerged from the washroom, her hair neatly tied back and her dress refreshed, the lingering scent of her perfume filling the room. She paused for a moment, glancing around the bedroom. Yuvaan was nowhere to be seen. The bed was untouched, the faint rustle of his jacket gone. A flicker of concern passed through her mind, but the exhaustion from the day's chaos weighed heavier.
She quietly descended the grand staircase, her footsteps soft against the polished floor. The mansion was unusually quiet, the usual hum of evening activity replaced by a gentle stillness. Every corner she checked held no sign of Yuvaan.
Sighing softly, Kiara shook her head. "He must have gone… to take care of something," she murmured to herself, trying to convince her heart. The adrenaline from the mall incident still coursed through her veins, and her muscles ached with fatigue.
She made her way to her bedroom again, slipping under the sheets. The plush comforter enveloped her, the softness offering a small sanctuary after the chaos of the day. As her eyes grew heavy, Kiara whispered quietly, half to herself, half to the empty room, "I hope he's safe… wherever he is."
Moments later, sleep claimed her, pulling her into a deep, dreamless rest.
Yuvaan returned to the mansion quietly, the night air cool against his skin as he entered. The chaos of the mall and Aishwarya's treachery weighed on his mind, but now, a sense of satisfaction settled over him—he had made sure Aishwarya would no longer threaten Kiara.
He ascended the staircase, each step measured, until he reached their bedroom. There she was, peaceful in sleep, her chest rising and falling gently, exhaustion still lingering on her delicate features.
Yuvaan stepped closer, his gaze softening. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and cupped her cheek gently.
"I've taken care of Aishwarya," he whispered, his voice low and warm. "Now, she won't harm you… ever again."
Leaning down, he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, careful not to wake her. For a moment, he simply stayed there, watching over her, feeling the weight of relief and love settle deep in his chest. Kiara, completely unaware, slept on peacefully, the world outside momentarily forgotten.