CHAPTER 46

Happy reading......<3

Meera's words spilled out like a dam breaking, her voice trembling with emotion, her pain and love colliding in a confession she could no longer hold back. Vidyuth stood frozen, his dark eyes fixed on her, every word she spoke piercing through him. His chest tightened, and for the first time in years, he felt something he hadn't dared to hope for her love, raw and unfiltered, laid bare before him.

But then, as quickly as she had let it out, Meera's walls came crashing back.

"I can't, Vidyuth,"

She whispered, her voice breaking.

"I can't trust you, not again. You broke me once, and I'm scared... I'm so scared to let you do it again."

She wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to shield her vulnerable heart. Vidyuth's happiness faltered, replaced by a pang of guilt and longing as he stepped closer. He reached for her, his strong arms pulling her into a gentle embrace. She resisted for a moment, but the warmth of his hold, the steady beat of his heart against hers, broke her defenses. She collapsed into him, tears streaming down her face as she clung to his shirt, her body trembling.

"Meera,"

Vidyuth murmured, his voice soft and steady,

"I know I've hurt you. I know I've made mistakes I can never take back. But I swear to you, I'll wait. I'll wait as long as it takes for you to trust me again. I'll prove to you that I can be the man you deserve, the man who will love you the way you need to be loved. No more lies, no more games. Just us, the way it should have been all along."

Meera didn't respond, but her grip on him tightened, her tears soaking into his shirt. Vidyuth held her closer, his hand gently stroking her hair as he whispered soothing words, promising her that he would never hurt her again.

Minutes turned into an hour, the tension in the room slowly easing as her sobs quieted. Vidyuth guided her to the bed, still cradling her protectively. He lay down beside her, pulling her into his chest, her head resting over his heart. His arms wrapped around her securely, shielding her from the world.

"Sleep, Meera,"

He whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her hair.

"We don't have to figure it all out tonight. Just know that I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. Not this time."

Exhausted from her confession and the storm of emotions, Meera closed her eyes, lulled by the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Vidyuth held her until her breathing softened, his heart swelling with determination. He would do whatever it took to win her trust, her love, and her forever. For now, he was content just holding her, knowing that she was finally in his arms again.

The next morning, Vidyuth woke before the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains. Meera lay beside him, her face soft and serene in her sleep, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions from the night before. He couldn't look away, his eyes tracing the delicate lines of her features the curve of her lips, the flutter of her lashes against her cheeks, and the faint furrow of her brows that always appeared when she was deep in thought.

A small, rare smile played on his lips as he realized how much he cherished this quiet moment with her. He didn't dare move, not wanting to disturb her peaceful slumber. For years, he'd thought Meera was out of reach, and now, even though the walls between them still stood, he felt closer to her than he had in a long time.

As the morning sun bathed the room in a golden hue, Meera stirred, her lashes fluttering open. For a brief second, she looked at him with vulnerability and warmth, but it was quickly replaced by her guarded expression. She sat up, brushing her hair out of her face.

"Good morning,"

She murmured softly, not quite meeting his gaze.

"Morning,"

He replied, his voice calm and steady, though his eyes lingered on her a moment longer than necessary.

The unspoken tension between them filled the room as they both freshened up, moving around each other silently, neither daring to say the words they wanted to. When Meera finally broke the silence, it was with a practical statement, one that felt like a wall going up again.

"I'll order breakfast,"

She said, already reaching for her phone. But Vidyuth surprised her.

"No need,"

He said, walking past her toward the kitchen.

"I'll make breakfast."

Meera froze, her brows furrowing in disbelief. She turned to look at him, certain she'd misheard.

"You?"

He turned back to her with a calm smile that completely disarmed her.

"Yes, Wifie. I do know how to cook, even if it doesn't fit into the image you have of me."

Her shock deepened as he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and tied an apron around his waist. Vidyuth Rathore the man who exuded power, control, and an air of untouchable dominance was now standing in her kitchen, rummaging through her cabinets with an ease that left her speechless.

She watched as he moved with surprising competence, chopping vegetables with precision. There was still a poker face with no expressions he worked, his usual cold, composed demeanor replaced by something softer, something that made her chest tighten in a way she wasn't ready to admit.

"Staring? Wifie!"

He said without looking up, his voice teasing but gentle.

"I just... I never thought I'd see you like this,"

She admitted, her voice low as she leaned against the kitchen counter.

"You've always been... you know..."

"Short-circuit? Bastard? Monster?"

He supplied with a smirk, glancing at her briefly.

"Exactly,.... NO... No, I mean"

She struggled, and sighed  folding her arms defensively.

"I mean, I never imagined this you, cooking, and looking like you actually enjoy it."

He chuckled, a deep, rich sound that sent a shiver down her spine.

"There's a lot about me you don't know, Wifie. And if you let me, I'd like to show you more."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, specially the way he refer her always as 'wifie', but she quickly masked her reaction.

"Don't burn"

She said instead, her voice sharper than she intended. He only smiled with ease.

"I won't. You'll see."

As he set two plates on the dining table and pulled out a chair for her, Meera couldn't help but feel as though she were seeing a different side of Vidyuth a side she hadn't known existed. And for the first time, the possibility of them finding something new together didn't seem so impossible.

They sat across from each other, the quiet morning punctuated only by the soft clink of cutlery against plates. Vidyuth occasionally glanced up from his plate, his dark eyes lingering on Meera as she ate in silence. She was still processing the surreal sight of him making breakfast, something she never imagined him doing. Yet here he was, sitting calmly as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Once they finished, Meera stood and excused herself to get ready for the day. Vidyuth stayed behind, tidying up the table with an ease that still felt foreign to her image of him. When she returned, dressed impeccably in a blazer and skirt, he was leaning against the kitchen counter, scrolling through his phone.

"Heading out?"

He asked without looking up.

"Yes,"

She replied, adjusting her bag.

"I have a meeting."

"Where?"

"With Vedansh Raychand,"

She said matter-of-factly, pausing to gauge his reaction, At the mention of Vedansh's name, Vidyuth froze for a moment, his eyes flicking up to meet hers. There was a flicker of recognition in his gaze, followed by something softer, more reflective.

"Vedansh,"

He repeated slowly, as if tasting the name.

"I know him well. Very well."

Meera frowned.

"You do?"

Viduyth nodded, setting his phone down and crossing his arms.

"He used to be Dominic's and my closest friend."

His voice carried a faint wistfulness, tinged with something she couldn't quite place perhaps, or nostalgia. Her eyes widened slightly at the mention of Dominic.

"Vedansh was close to Dominic?"

"Closer than you'd think,"

Vidyuth said, his tone softening.

"The three of us... we were inseparable once. Dominic, Vedansh, and I. We had a bond  a camaraderie that felt unbreakable, he was like younger brother to us a childish one but things have changed and he changed too"

He paused, his gaze distant as if he were reliving a memory.

"But life has a way of testing even the strongest bonds. Things changed after Dominic..."

His voice trailed off, the weight of his words hanging heavily between them. Meera felt a pang in her chest at the sadness in his eyes, but she didn't push him to elaborate. Shaking off the momentary silence, Vidyuth straightened, his usual composed demeanor returning.

"You're working with him?"

"Yes,"

Meera replied, her tone cautious.

"We're collaborating on a few projects. He's been professional and supportive."

Viduyth nodded thoughtfully.

"Vedansh is a brilliant businessman. Ruthless, yes, but fair. He's also my biggest rival in the industry. But,"

He added, a small smile tugging at his lips,

"We respect each other. Competition doesn't erase the history we share."

Meera raised an eyebrow,  his expression softening in a way that made her chest tighten.

"Wifie, I'm proud of you. You've built something incredible, and collaborating with someone like Vedansh only proves how far you've come. Dominic is proud too."

His words caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. Vidyuth rarely gave compliments, and when he did, they carried a depth that lingered.

"Thank you"

She said finally, her voice quiet.He stepped closer, his gaze steady.

"Good luck today. And don't let Vedansh intimidate you. If anything, he should be intimidated by you."

A small, involuntary smile played on her lips.

"No one can intimidate me"

As she walked to the door, Vidyuth's voice stopped her.

"Wifie"

Her heart skipped again, She turned to look at him, her hand on the doorknob.

"I meant what I said. I'm proud of you."

Her heart clenched, but she forced herself to smile.

"Thanks, Vidyuth. I'll see you later."

With that, she left, his words echoing in her mind long after she drove away.

After Meera left for her meeting, Vidyuth lingered in the quiet of the hotel room for a moment. The faint scent of her perfume still hung in the air, a delicate reminder of her presence. He moved to the window, his gaze falling on the bustling streets below, but his thoughts were far away.

Her words, her resolve, her determination it all reminded him of the woman she had become. Strong, self-assured, and unapologetically herself. It was bittersweet for him to see this side of her, knowing he had once been the reason for her pain.

Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair and glanced around the room. It was pristine, just as it had been when he arrived. But now, it felt empty, devoid of her warmth. Staying here didn't make sense anymore.

He picked up his phone and called Rohan, arranging for his things to be sent back to his suite. With one last look at the room, he grabbed his jacket and stepped out, his expression composed but his heart heavy.

As he walked through the corridor, he couldn't help but think of Meera and the way her eyes had lit up when she spoke about her work. She was thriving, and though he wished he could be a part of her journey, he knew he had to tread carefully.

This wasn't his place, not yet.

By the time he reached the hotel's lobby, his decision was made. He would give her space, respect her boundaries, and let her choose what she wanted—for herself, for them. And if that meant watching her from a distance, so be it.

For now, Vidyuth left the hotel, the cool morning air hitting his face as he stepped outside. He adjusted his jacket, his gaze resolute as he walked away, leaving the memories of that room behind but keeping the hope in his heart alive.

•••°•••

Hello Butterflies today I came with

happy news for you so from now on I'm going to post atleast two chapters in a week.

Stay tuned and let me know if you want Vidyuth and meera Spicy scenes umm HMM you know what I'm talking about and also your author is going loose her innocense you know I'm really innocent but you cant blame me don't you find Vidyuth A SNACK, hehe leave it

Good night...... Love you