Bound By Promises

16: The Fragile Trust

Alaina's Pov

"You need to come back to Mumbai, we are going to have a public interview and hopefully all the allegations will be removed, and your public image will be restored," Officer Kunal says from the other side of the phone.

I looked over at Veer, his jaw tight, his shoulders tense as he held the phone as I gave him a small, encouraging smile.

"Have I been cleared of all charges then?" he asked, his voice calm, though I could hear he was angry.

"Yes," Kunal replied, "We interrogated your staff members, your clients, and everyone connected to you and everything proves that Trisha's claims were false, she can be arrested for defamation," he adds as my lips curved into a smile before I could stop them.

"Officer, have you taken Trisha into custody?" I ask.

"Yes," he confirmed, "but we suspect she wasn't acting alone, someone helped her plan all this," he adds, and I froze, my eyes go towards Veer, who was frowning deeply, his fingers gripping the phone so hard I thought it might break.

"Did you find out who it is?" Veer asks.

"Unfortunately not, we're still investigating. But for now, I need you back in Mumbai, the crowd is quieter since we released your interview, some people are starting to believe you. But most still side with Trisha, they think you're lying," he explains as I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood.

These people... blind, cruel, ready to believe a stranger over a man who had built everything with his own hands.

"I'll be back tomorrow, officer," Veer said finally, ending the call as he turned toward me, his eyes heavy.

It was late, we had just got back to our room after the Pooja this morning, I was about to change when the call came. Now, sitting in the quiet of our room, I realized how desperately I wanted things to go back to normal. I had a fashion even coming up, and Sam couldn't handle everything alone.

"I'll start packing," I said, standing up, but before I could take a step, his fingers wrapped gently around my wrist. Goosebumps spread through me instantly, like fire under my skin. His touch... God, how long had it been since I had felt it?

"Can you... please sit with me for some time?" His voice was so soft, that I almost thought I had imagined it.

I turned back, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, shoulders slouched, his face tired, his eyes empty. For a moment, he didn't look like the Business Tycoon Ranveer Mehra, the man who rules the business world, who was feared and respected, instead, he looked like a man who was breaking, who was alone, as if he has lost all hope, he looked so alone.

Without thinking, I sat down beside him and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close, "Everything will be okay, Veer," I whispered, kissing his temple.

He melted against me, burying his face in my neck, his arms wrapping around me so tightly it almost hurt, but I didn't complain. Because that warmth, that closeness, that need, I had missed it more than I could admit.

"I'm so sorry, Lana," his voice heavy, "I feel like everything is slipping out of my hands, I don't think I can live if you leave me too," he says as tears filled my eyes. His arms only tightened around me, as if he feared I'd disappear if he let go.

"Don't say things like that, Veer," I whispered, my throat aching, "You know I hate it when you talk like that," but he only shook his head, his breath brushing against my skin, making me shiver.

"I've started to think... this is my punishment, for ignoring you all these months, for not listening, for not caring what you felt, for thinking you were only jealous of Trisha," he says as my eyes widened.