The morning light slipped into our bedroom, making the glow of the bedside lamp fade.
I woke up with Mira in my arms.
All my worries from last night disappeared.
My head felt lighter.
My heart felt content.
And in that moment, the world felt complete.
I brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
How adorable.
She stirred slightly, stretching lazily.
I realised I was smiling too wide, so I forced my expression to relax.
"Did you sleep well?" I asked softly.
She let out a sleepy chuckle.
"I don't want to wake up," she murmured.
"Okay… princess… anything for you," I teased quietly.
I sat up, about to leave the room, when her voice stopped me.
"Where are you going?"
"Coffee or tea?" I asked, holding up two fingers like options.
"Riaan…" she blushed, "just come back here."
"Come on. Place your order, princess," I insisted.
"Stop calling me that," she tried to act annoyed, but the tiny smile on her lips betrayed her.
"I'm not a teenager," she mumbled in a cute little whine.
"My princess is blushing," I mimicked her tone and got hit with a pillow straight to my face.
"You…" she laughed.
I smiled.
"Mira…" I breathed unable to look away.
She slid the blanket off and stood up, tying her hair loosely as she walked toward me.
Her footsteps padded softly on the floor… matching the rhythm of my heart.
Her brown eyes caught the morning light, turning them warm and golden.
My breath hitched.
"Mira… what are you doing to me?"
The confession slipped out in a whisper, more to myself than to her.
Everything felt so safe… so perfect.
For a moment, I forgot who I was.
All I could think about was the way she looked at me…as if I was her favourite piece of jewelry.
"Riaan…" she said gently.
"Mhm?" I replied, leaning unconsciously against the doorframe.
"You'll be late."
"Huh?" I blinked, my mind realising slower than my tongue.
"I… yeah," I finally stood straight, clearing my throat.
"I'll make breakfast. Go get ready," she said with a small smile before walking past me out of the doorway.
I took a shower, the warm water relaxing my muscles as I prepared myself for a long day ahead. I changed into my work clothes, choosing a navy Burberry suit for the day, buttoning the jacket slowly.
By the time I came downstairs, Mira had already set breakfast on the table.
She sat there, waiting for me, as if nothing in the world had ever gone wrong between us last night.
I took my seat across from her.
"You haven't been eating properly lately," she said, sliding the plate a little closer to me.
She noticed that?
Yeah… I hadn't been eating well.
"I'll eat properly from now on," I said, obediently picking up my fork.
She smiled and went back to her food.
For a few seconds, the silence between us felt… warm. The chaos from yesterday was just a silly misunderstanding in my head.
Maybe I did overreact.
Maybe I bothered her.
I never want her to feel uncomfortable because of me.
For a moment, I thought about asking if I embarrassed her by bringing her home so abruptly.
Suddenly my phone buzzed.
It was my secretary. I answered.
We discussed the final details for today's agreement…the one I had been preparing for all week.
When I hung up, Mira was already looking at me, listening intently.
"Anything important?" she asked.
"Yeah. The deal I told you about," I nodded, keeping it casual.
"Oh that one… I fell asleep while you were explaining it," she remembered.
I chuckled at the reminder.
"I'll probably be late tonight," I said, already thinking about the hectic schedule.
"Oh…" she paused for barely a second before smiling softly as she continued, "I have a salon appointment today. I'll be out for a while too."
I pushed my chair back and stood up, leaning down to press a small kiss to her forehead.
"Take care. And call me if you need anything."
She smiled.
"Take care," she said back.
I drove to the office, the morning still lingering in my mind. I shook my head, trying to push her out of my thoughts.
You have a long day ahead, Riaan…
The moment I stepped inside, work consumed me. Calls. Documents. Meetings.
People asking for decisions.
Numbers and graphs thrown at me faster than my mind could process.
Somewhere in between, I caught myself thinking about how different I've become lately. Like I'm one person at work…and a completely different man at home, around her.
I didn't even realise when the evening light replaced the bright daylight.
"Let's take a break," I finally said.
My employees let out a quiet sigh of relief, heading out to grab coffee.
I glanced at my phone.
No calls.
No texts.
Is she home already?
Still at the salon?
Did she get a new haircut? Which one?
Is her hair shorter now?
The strong aroma of espresso interrupted my thoughts.
My secretary placed a mug in front of me.
"Thank you," I said casually, flipping through the documents I had to sign before the day ended.
The team returned one by one, taking their seats ready to continue.
"Shall we continue?" someone asked.
I nodded once flipping through the document one last time. The meeting picked up speed again voices overlapping, deadlines, negotiations.
My phone vibrated on the table.
Once.
Then again.
I checked it instinctively, expecting Mira.
An unknown number.
Since I already took a pause, I decided to answer
"Excuse me" I gestured before picking up.
There was a shuffle on the other end… hurried voices… then someone finally spoke.
"Is this Mr. Riaan?"
A man's voice, tense, like he was choosing his words carefully.
"Yes. Who is this?" My eyebrows pulled together.
"I'm Mira's friend."
My grip on the phone tightened immediately.
"Mira had an accident"
Everything around me went silent. The voices in the room faded into a distant blur.
"Which hospital?" I asked sharply.
My feet were already moving as he said the name, until my business partner stopped me physically with a hand to my chest.
"Mr. Riaan, this is an important..."
He trailed off the moment my piercing gaze met his.
"It's about my wife."
Without breaking eye contact, I opened the document and signed it without a second thought.
"Here."
I ran out of the conference room immediately.
My heart was pounding in my ears, every movement rushed and unsteady.
I struggled with the seatbelt, my hands trembling. Every second of the drive felt like torture.
The moment I reached the hospital, I parked abruptly and rushed inside, pushing my way straight to the inquiry counter.
My voice broke as I asked, "Mira… has someone named Mira.."
Before I could finish, I heard her voice.
"Riaan…"
I snapped my head toward the sound, scanning the hall desperately until my eyes landed on her.
Those bandages around her leg...
Sh-she was on a wheelchair.
My heart dropped.
I rushed to her and kneeled in front of her, gripping the wheelchair on both sides.
I was panting.
"Breathe…" she whispered, looking just as concerned about me.
"What happened? Why are you.. when...why didn't you call me?" I asked desperately.
Before she could answer, a masculine voice interrupted.
"Mira insisted not to worry you," the man behind her said.
I was so focused on her that I hadn't even noticed him until he spoke.
"I still called you," he added, looking at Mira with a mix of concern and anger.
For a moment, I didn't know what I was supposed to say or do. Until I realised my vision was already blurring with tears.
I swallowed hard.
My jaw clenched immediately after.
I stood up, trying to compose myself as my concern for her twisted into something darker… something fierce.
For the very first time I just wanted to yell... ask her why is she like that.
"Riaan… it's just a minor injury…" Mira tried to brush it off.
"You can leave now. Thank you." I said, my words came out rougher than I planned, directed at the guy behind her.
Mira's expression faltered at my sharp tone.
He nodded and stepped back.
Without another second wasted, I scooped Mira into my arms, not even looking at her face.
I walked out of the hospital toward my car.
Opened the door.
Set her down inside.
Not a single word.
I moved to the driver's seat.
The moment I sat down, she spoke softly, "I really just didn't want to disturb you. You were..."
"I was what, Mira?" I snapped, slamming the door shut.
"I WAS AT WORK."
"I WAS BUSY."
"I WAS AN IDIOT."
My fist slammed hard against the steering wheel, the sharp sound cutting through the silence. It was easier than breaking down in front of her.
"I didn't mean to offend you," she said, her voice breaking slightly.
"I'm not angry, Mira. I'm scared."
My voice cracked despite my attempts to keep it in check.
"Is it so difficult to understand?"
I finally looked at her.
Those watery eyes… that scared expression…
it was tearing my heart apart.
"Riaan… I am..." she began.
"Don't."
My voice snapped again, but it was hoarse this time… slightly breaking.
"Don't dare apologize right now. I swear to God… I will..."
Before I could finish, she leaned forward and pulled me into a hug,
her hand gently patting my back.
"It's okay, Riaan…" she whispered.
"I'm okay.
You're okay."
I leaned into her touch, closing my eyes as a tear slipped out before I could hold back any longer.