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With that, she turned and strode from the room, leaving Ranveer alone with his tormenting thoughts. He grimaced, balling his fists. She had held up a mirror to his past ruthlessness, and the reflection sickened him. With one callous act, he had destroyed any chance at winning her trust and affection.
The Maliks left in some time, and also Dhruv, who had insisted on seeing Ranveer once, but the servants told him that he was busy on a call with his clients. In truth, Ranveer avoided facing Maya again for the time being, still shaken by her candid reminder of his greatest mistake.
*********************
Exhausted after the day's events, Maya tossed and turned, struggling for sleep. The religious ceremony had drained her energy, and arguing with Ranveer had dampened her spirits further. She agonized over his state of mind though. Did he feel remorse? Would this alter things between them going forward? Or would he withdraw even more now that she'd rejected his advances?
Distracted by her thoughts, Maya forgot to lock her door. Late at night, it creaked open and heavy footsteps approached in the darkness. Maya's pulse quickened, skin prickling with unease. Before she could react, a body slumped against her bedside table, and a familiar voice mumbled.
“I set you up.”
It was Ranveer, heavily intoxicated. Oblivious to Maya lying awake, he sat next to her on the bed and rambled on in his drunken confession.
“I set you up, Maya” he repeated. “There was no such auction there. It was all a set-up.”
Maya choked at his confession, dismayed, as Ranveer described fabricating the entire situation just to frighten her years before.
“There was no auction. I just wanted to scare you off,” he slurred incoherently. “I ruined you... your career... I shouldn't have...wasn't thinking...”
She was stunned by the lengths he'd gone to out of bitterness back then.
“But that doesn’t make me any sane. You were right. I didn’t think about its consequences. I have taken worse decisions in my anger, and it was one of them. I—”
Ranveer's weight pressed the mattress beside her. “Sorry,” he rasped before passing out completely.
Maya's thoughts raced as she looked over at Ranveer's sleeping form. He'd apologized, but could a few garbled words make up for the damage done? Ranveer's soft snores filled the room. Despite everything, she couldn't help but admire his strong jawline and the way his hair fell softly over his forehead. The sincerity of his drunken apology sparked a flicker of something in her heart. With a sigh, she gently pulled the duvet over him and tucked it around his shoulders. Ranveer murmured in his sleep but didn't wake. Maya watched him for a moment more, a bittersweet ache in her chest. Then she quietly slipped from the room to find somewhere else to sleep, jarred by his late-night admissions but also feeling the faintest stirring of forgiveness.
Chapter 31
Next Morning
Ranveer stirred in his sleep, the bright morning light filtering through the windows disturbing his slumber.
“Prakash,” he yelled groggily. “Close the effing curtains.”
But no one came, and the bothersome light continued to stream in. With a grunt, Ranveer forced his eyes open, ready to curse his staff. But instead of his bedroom, he found himself gazing up at an unexpected yet tantalizing sight - Maya, standing somewhere between the bed and the windows holding a glass of clear liquid.
For a brief moment he thought he was dreaming. “Come here,” he rasped, voice still husky from sleep as he stretched his arm toward her.
Maya's eyes narrowed at him. As she approached, his body reacted with intense anticipation, yearning for her touch. But as she reached the edge of the bed, instead of holding his hand, she offered him the liquid.
“A cure for your hangover,” she stated flatly.
The events of the previous night came rushing back to Ranveer. This was not a dream at all, nor his hallucination. Maya was really present here and this was her bedroom. He sat up slowly and took the drink, gulping it down in one go.
“Damn,” he grimaced at the taste. “Who the hell made this?”
Maya didn't dignify that with a response. Ranveer glanced around, memories piecing together hazily.
“Why am I in here?” he asked.
“You don't remember stumbling drunk into my room last night?” Maya replied coolly, arms crossed.
Ranveer stared at the empty space beside him on the bed, then met her challenging gaze. “Where did you sleep then?” he purred suggestively.
Maya stiffened, unaffected by his attempt at seduction. “Do you at least remember the apology, or did that get washed away with the alcohol?” she snapped.
Ranveer shrugged. “What apology?” he feigned ignorance as he rose from the bed and approached her. Maya stood her ground.
