Happened..

Next Day – Arora Family at Rajawat Mansion

The Rajawat Mansion was filled with an air of grandeur as the Arora family arrived for brunch. The servants moved swiftly, setting the table with an elaborate spread while both families sat together, discussing the upcoming wedding. Laughter and polite conversation filled the room, but amidst it all, Ridhima felt suffocated.

She glanced at Veer, who sat comfortably beside his father, engaging in business talk with her father. His usual smug expression hadn't left his face, and that only fueled her frustration.

Not wanting to waste another second in this orchestrated setup, she stood up abruptly. "Excuse me," she said, her voice calm but firm.

Veer raised an eyebrow at her, sensing something was off. Before anyone could question her, she walked behind his chair and whispered low enough for only him to hear. "Come with me. Now."

Veer smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Sweetheart, if you wanted to be alone with me, you could've just asked."

Ridhima rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to snap at him in front of their families. Instead, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him up from his seat.

Aarti Arora noticed this and smiled knowingly. "Look at them. Already so comfortable with each other."

Meera, sitting nearby, chuckled. "Looks like Di has something important to say to her future husband."

Ridhima shot them both a forced smile before quickly dragging Veer out of the room, up the grand staircase, and into her bedroom. The moment she shut the door behind them, she turned around, arms crossed.

Veer leaned lazily against the doorframe, amused. "So, what's this about, Ridhima? Couldn't resist having a private moment with me?"

She exhaled sharply, stepping closer. "Cut the crap, Veer. Did you know about this?"

He raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

"The sudden wedding preparations! You told me we had four months, and now, everyone is talking about guest lists and receptions as if the wedding is happening tomorrow!"

Veer sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Trust me, I'm just as surprised as you are. My father ambushed me with this last night. I tried to delay it, but he—" He paused, jaw clenching. "Let's just say he has ways of making me comply."

Ridhima narrowed her eyes. "What does that mean?"

Veer looked at her for a moment before shaking his head. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that we need a plan."

Ridhima exhaled, pacing the room. "I can't let this marriage happen, Veer. There has to be a way out."

Veer's lips curled into a slow smirk. "You know, for someone who claims to hate me, you spend a lot of time scheming with me."

She shot him a glare. "This isn't funny, Veer."

He shrugged. "I never said it was." Then, he stepped closer, lowering his voice. "But let's be honest, Ridhima—are you really fighting against this marriage because of the deal... or because you're afraid of what might happen if you actually marry me?"

Ridhima's breath hitched for a second, but she quickly masked it with a glare. "Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Arora."

Veer chuckled, stepping back. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, sweetheart."

She clenched her fists. "Stop calling me that!"

"Make me." His voice was teasing, but his eyes held something deeper—something unreadable.

Ridhima inhaled sharply, knowing this conversation wasn't going anywhere. "Just... find a way to stop this wedding."

Veer tilted his head. "And if I don't?"

She stepped closer, looking him dead in the eye. "Then I'll find a way myself."

Their eyes locked, the tension thick between them. Neither of them spoke, but the challenge was clear. This war between them was far from over.

As Ridhima and Veer stepped out of her room, tension still crackled between them. Their conversation had left unresolved sparks in the air, but neither addressed it. They walked down the grand staircase in silence, both lost in their own thoughts.

Just as Ridhima took a step down, the smooth marble betrayed her balance. Her heel twisted slightly, and before she could react, she felt herself slipping.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips— but before she could fall, Veer's hand shot out, gripping her wrist with lightning-fast reflexes.

Her body lurched forward, but instead of crashing onto the cold marble, she found herself pulled against Veer's chest, his arm wrapped securely around her waist.

For a few seconds, neither of them moved.

Ridhima's heartbeat pounded in her ears, her breath caught in her throat. Veer's grip was firm yet effortless, as if he had done this a hundred times before. She could feel the warmth of his touch seeping through the thin fabric of her dress. His scent—subtle, masculine, intoxicating—lingered between them.

Veer held her there, his gaze burning into hers. His dark eyes flickered with something unreadable, something intense.

"Why do you hate me so much?" he finally asked, his voice low and unwavering.

Ridhima swallowed hard, trying to compose herself. "Because..." she hesitated, forcing herself to hold his gaze. "Because there is nothing to love about you."

The words barely left her lips when Veer's expression darkened.

In one swift motion, he pulled her closer—so fast, so sudden—that she barely had time to react. Their faces were just inches apart now, breaths mingling. The heat between them was undeniable, almost suffocating.

His voice dropped even lower, rough yet dangerously smooth. "You don't even know me. How can you decide there's nothing to love?"

Ridhima's fingers curled into fists. She refused to be drawn into his intensity. "Because you only care about power," she whispered, her voice steady but her heart betraying her. "And I care about values."

Silence.

For a moment, they simply stood there, their bodies so close, they could feel the rise and fall of each other's breaths.

Neither spoke. Neither moved.

Then—

"Di!"

Meera's voice rang from below.

Like a spell breaking, Ridhima and Veer abruptly stepped back, creating distance between them.

Her breath was still uneven. His jaw clenched.

Without another word, they turned and walked down the stairs, as if nothing had just happened.

But they both knew—something had.

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