Chapter:30 happily ever after
The golden hour light spilled across the nursery floor, catching the dust motes dancing in the air. Two years. It felt like a lifetime ago that Janvi had been looking over her shoulder, heart racing with every shadow. Now, the only thing making her heart race was the rhythmic, heavy thud of the tiny life growing inside her.
Janvi stood by the window, her hand resting on the high curve of her seven-month bump. She wore one of Vihaan's oversized white shirts, the cotton soft against her skin. The glow everyone talked about wasn't just a myth; there was a peace in her eyes that had finally replaced the flickering fear of the past.
The door clicked shut, and she didn't even have to look to know who it was. The air always seemed to shift when he entered the room—becoming warmer, safer.
"You're supposed to be resting," Vihaan's deep voice rumbled.
He didn't wait for an answer. He walked across the room, his suit jacket already discarded, and wrapped his arms around her from behind. His large, warm palms settled over her stomach, his touch possessive yet incredibly gentle. He pressed a lingering kiss to the side of her neck, his stubble grazing her skin.
"She's quiet today," he whispered, his voice vibrating against her back.
"She was waiting for you," Janvi smiled, leaning her head back against his shoulder. "The moment she hears your voice, she starts her gymnastics routine."
As if on cue, a sharp, distinct kick hit Vihaan's hand. He let out a low, breathy laugh—a sound he only ever made when they were alone. The cold, ruthless man the business world feared didn't exist in this room. Here, he was just a man deeply, almost desperately, in love with his wife and the daughter they were waiting to meet.
He turned her around in his arms, his dark eyes searching hers. He still looked at her like she was a miracle he couldn't quite believe he'd been allowed to keep.
"I bought something today," he murmured, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a small velvet box. Inside sat a delicate gold locket, engraved with a single date—the day they had finally left the chaos behind and started their life for real.
"Vihaan, you've bought her enough clothes to last until she's ten," Janvi teased, though her eyes shimmered with tears.
"This isn't for her," he said, his voice dropping an octave as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "This is for you. For staying. For making this house a home."
He fastened the chain around her neck, his fingers lingering on her skin. Janvi looked up at him, seeing the reflection of the life they had fought so hard to build. The secrets were buried, the enemies were gone, and the silence of the villa was no longer empty—it was full of the promise of tomorrow.
"I love you," she whispered, pulling him down by the collar.
"I loved you before I even knew how to," he replied against her lips.
Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, but inside the nursery, the light had never been brighter. They were no longer survivors of a broken story; they were the authors of a new one.
THE END