As I walk onto the deserted road, the silence feels even heavier. Or maybe it’s just the unease creeping in. I glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see headlights cutting through the darkness, but there’s nothing—just the endless stretch of road disappearing into the night.
What if something happens? What if a car stops, but not for the right reasons? What if no one stops at all? My pulse quickens at the thought.
I shake my head, trying to push the fear down.Focus. Find help. Keep walking.But the eerie feeling lingers. It just won’t go.
Just as I’m about to lose myself to the anxiety clawing its way up my throat, I see it. As if God finally answered my prayers, I spot a faint glow in the distance—a farmhouse.
Relief washes over me, and with every step closer, my nerves ease a little more. I might not be stranded all night after all. I still don’t know who lives there, but right now, it doesn’t matter. Help is help, and I need it.
I quicken my pace, the sight of the house pulling me forward like a lifeline. Just a few more steps. Just a little—
But before I can finish the thought, bad luck strikes again. My foot catches on a loose rock, and before I can stop myself, I go down on my hands and knees. I hit the ground hard, my hands scraping against rough gravel, its sharpness biting into my skin.
“Ahh—damn it!” I wince as pain shoots up my foot, sharp and burning. For a moment, I just stay there, sucking in a sharp breath, feeling the sting of my scraped palms and the deep, throbbing ache in my ankle.
Then, just as I begin to push myself up, a sound cuts through the silence. A low rustle. Somewhere in the distance, beyond the trees, something moves.
I freeze. My pulse spikes. It could be the wind, an animal, or maybe nothing at all.
But in this moment, with my nerves already frayed, even nothing feels like too much.
God, how many mishaps can one night throw at me before it ends?
I pull in a deep breath, forcing myself not to panic.Get up. Get to the house. Worry about ghosts and serial killers later.
I push myself upright, but the moment I put weight on my left ankle, a wave of dizziness slams into me. My vision spins, my stomach knots, and I suddenly remember—I haven’t eaten in hours. Probably since before I left.
Great! As if this night wasn’t already a disaster.
Gritting my teeth, I push forward, limping toward the farmhouse. Every step sends a fresh jolt of pain up my leg, but I don’t stop.
By the time I reach the porch, I’m breathless, lightheaded, and completely drained. I lift my hand, press the doorbell, and lean against the wooden frame for support, hoping I don’t collapse before someone answers.
A minute passes. Then another. The silence stretches into eternity. My breathing is uneven, my body swaying slightly from exhaustion, pain, and hunger. Just as I think I might have to knock again, the door swings open.
And the sight in front of me knocks the air from my lungs.
Of all people in the entire planet, it had to be him. Why God? Why?
Shock flashes across his face, his eyes widening as he takes me in. For a brief second, we just stare at each other, both frozen in disbelief. Then his expression shifts—his jaw tightens, and his eyes darken.
“What the hell…” he mutters, his voice low and sharp, edged with confusion and frustration.
But I don’t get to hear the rest. Every last bit of strength drains from me, and the dizziness I’ve been fighting finally wins. The world tilts and blurs into nothing. My knee buckles, and before I can steady myself, everything fades into darkness.
Chapter 28
Aditya
What were the odds of finding Sana here? At my farmhouse, of all places? If someone had told me this morning, as I stormed out of my office needing a break from the constant noise in my head, that she would be the one to shatter that silence, I would have laughed at the thought. Not in a million years did I think Sana would show up at my door. I was convinced the whole damn world, including her, was working against me when it came to us. Winning her felt like a battle I had to fight on my own. But now? It’s like the universe’s finally chosen a side—mine—and it’s hell-bent on keeping her in my orbit.
I look down at her and grin. She loves to drive me to the edge—pushing, pulling, making me crave her, making me burn. But soon, she won’t be fighting me for long… she’ll be confessing the love she’s been trying so damn hard to hide. Because fate doesn’t play fair. It drags you exactly where you’re meant to be, whether you like it or not. Just like this. Just like her in my arms. Unconscious, her body slack against mine, completely vulnerable.
I let out a slow breath as I tighten my grip, holding her closer. Making her surrender to her feelings can wait. Right now,I need to take care of her. And just like that, a storm of questions hits me.What the hell is she doing here alone at this hour? How did she even get here? Where’s her car? Did she even know this was my farmhouse? And most importantly—how the hell did she pass out?It can’t be just from the shock of seeing me. God, this woman’s gonna drive me bald one day, no doubt.
Carrying her into the house, I move past the living room and take her straight up to my room. Entering, I don’t bother to turn on the lights. The faint glow of moonlight from the open curtains spills in, casting soft shadows over the space.
Moving to the massive king-size bed in the center, I lower her down gently. My hands hesitate, unwilling to let go. For a moment, I just watch her—at the way she fits against my sheets, like this is exactly where she belongs. But eventually, I pull my hands away.
