“I’m not backing off, Dev,” Samarth snaps. “I care for her too much to let her stay with criminals like you.” He jerks his arm, tugging against my hold, and I release his wrist.
“Go ahead and try. I am genuinely curious how you’ll manage to even touch my wife, let alone make her step out of this house with you, once your hands are in pieces.”
Samarth draws in a harsh breath, ready to spit out whatever pathetic retort he has left, but Meera cuts in before he can.
“Will youbothstop?” She yanks her hand free from both of us and steps right between our locked glares. She turns to me, her eyes stern. “You’re not harming my friend, Dev.”
My jaw ticks, but I stay silent.
Then she spins towards Samarth. “And I amnotleaving, Samarth. You need to know that Dev saved my life today. And I trust my life isnotin danger with him.”
My chest swells at her words, pride and possessiveness mixing into a fierce heat, while Samarth stares at her as if she’s speaking a language he doesn’t understand.
“Fine,” he snaps after a few tense seconds. “If you want to stay here, then so will I. I am not leaving you here alone.”
“The hell you are,” I hiss. The guy issurelytesting my limits.
“You are being stupid—” Meera begins, but he cuts her off immediately.
“You know I always listen to you. Always,” Samarth says, his voice cracking with desperation. “But not this time. I am not stepping back.” His eyes reveal raw panic. “Meera, please… don’t push me away. Don’t ask me to leave you here. Please, for the sake of our friendship, let me stay. Let me be here for you… at least this once.”
That’s it.
I step between them, blocking his view of her completely, my chest inches from his.
“Look at me, not my wife,” I snarl. “Talk to me.”
Samarth lifts his chin. “Fine. Then hear this. I’ll stay wherever Meera stays. For her protection.”
“Then let me make one thing very clear. This ismyhouse. And I will not allow my wife’s lover boy to stay under my roof.”
Meera immediately bristles and snaps, “He is not—”
“What the hell is happening here?” Dad finally roars, cutting her off mid-sentence. “First this woman, and now this boy? This is my house, not a bloody orphanage!”
I turn towards Dad. “Don’t worry, Dad, he’s not staying.” Then my gaze snaps back to Samarth. “Now get the hell out of my house before I have my men throw you out.”
Meera’s hand grabs my arm, spinning me sharply to face her. “Dev, your men will not touch him. And heisstaying here.”
“Meera…” I growl, but she just folds her arms, defiant as ever.
“He’s staying. I don’t care what you say or what anyone else thinks. Your friend Esha stayed here, so my friend will too. And since you’re so fond of reminding me we’re married for real, that makes this my house as well. Which means I get to have my friend stay with me.”
“Fine. He can stay.” I grind the words out, each one scraping against my pride. Because as much as it kills me, I can’t deny my wife.
“Dev! Have you lost your mind?” Dad explodes.
“I am agreeing for my wife,” I answer firmly. “And she’s right. This is her house as well, and she doesn’t need anyone’s permission to have her people over.”
“That’s more like it,” Samarth says smugly, a triumphant grin glinting in his eyes. “Meera, now please, show me to my room.”
Before I can snap, Samarth is already striding down the hallway. Meera gives me a quick glance before she follows him. I catch a glimpse of Dad’s face, tight with fury, his mouth twitching like he’s seconds away from exploding, but I don’t give him the chance. Because the thought of my wife with that bastard, alone, has my blood boiling, and I am already following them.
“Meera, we need to talk. Alone,” Samarth says as he stops outside the guestroom.
“She’s not talking to you alone,” I cut in, stepping next to Meera. “And since you’re staying here, get used to calling her Mrs. Dev Rathore.”
“Dev—” Meera begins, but I raise my hurt hand, catching her full attention.
