Amara's POV:
My stomach twisted. Someone? I froze, clutching my bag a little tighter, every heartbeat hammering in my ears.
The warmth I had expected this morning—the reunion I had imagined—was gone. In its place was something sharp, tense, and unpredictable. And I realized, as I stood there, that this was going to be far more complicated than I had ever imagined.
Eric stood behind me, equally confused. As we all waited for the person to enter. As soon as I saw the face of the person, I knew it was not something easy to solve.
Olivia Salvatore.
She moved with effortless grace, and, without a moment's hesitation, clung to Vihaan's arm as if she owned the space. My chest tightened so violently it was hard to breathe, and a single tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.
Vihaan looked at me, and for a split second, his expression faltered—but it was gone too quickly. The smile he wore now didn't reach his eyes; it was controlled, unreadable.
"Olivia," I said, trying my best to hold the flow of tears threatening me.
"Good morning, Amara," she said. I completely ignored her as my gaze shifted to Vihaan.
"Vihaan ..." I was about to say something, but Olivia cut me off mid-sentence.
"Vihaan, won't you properly introduce me to everyone?" she said, leaning on him.
"Yes, of course," he started, and I could sense something terrible I didn't want to listen to.
"Amara, I know you both have already met each other many times. But this time, it's different. It's different because next month we are getting engaged," he said.
The words hung in the air like a storm cloud—gettingengaged next month. My body went rigid, and for a long moment, I couldn't move, couldn't speak. The room seemed to shrink around me, every detail blurred as my mind tried to process what I had just heard.
I stayed silent, staring at Vihaan, heart hammering, unable to reconcile the man I knew with the one standing before me. My chest tightened, tears threatening to spill, but I couldn't force the words past my throat.
Eric's eyes narrowed, jaw tight, and he took a step forward. "Brother… what is going on here? How could you even consider this—after everything?"
Jia, equally stunned, crossed her arms, eyes flashing with disbelief. "Seriously, Vihaan! You guys have been in a relationship of almost five years, and this is what you have here?"
Vihaan ran a hand through his hair, expression carefully measured. "Jia, Eric… It's not what it looks like. It's complicated."
"Complicated?" Jia's voice rose, incredulous. "Vihaan, she's standing right here, and you—you're getting engaged to someone else? Do you have any idea how that looks?"
He sighed, leaning back slightly, hands raised in a half-defensive gesture. "I didn't plan for this to happen like this. Amara… I never imagined you'd come back today. This was supposed to be… handled before you returned. Circumstances—work, timing, responsibilities—forced my hand."
Eric's tone sharpened. "Forced your hand? Or you wanted it? Be honest, Brother!"
Jia jabbed a finger at him, frustration clear in her eyes. "We trusted you! And now you're telling her she has to… watch this?"
All the while, I remained frozen, chest tight, the room spinning slightly. Their words washed over me, but I couldn't process them yet. My mind was caught between disbelief and heartbreak, trying to make sense of what Vihaan had done—and why.
Vihaan's gaze flicked toward me briefly, and for a heartbeat, I thought I saw a shadow of the warmth I knew—but it was gone almost instantly, replaced by calm composure.
"Tell me what you are up to this time? You really can't live peacefully, huh?" Jia asked Olivia, once she had already tried to ruin our relationship.
"Can we talk?" The words finally came out of my mouth because no matter what, I still don't believe everything that is happening.
Vihaan's eyes shifted to me, steady, controlled—but I could see the flicker of something unspoken there, a shadow of hesitation he quickly masked.
"Amara…" he began, voice low, measured. "I—"
"I want to hear it straight from you," I interrupted, voice trembling but firm. "Why? After everything, why now? Why her?"
Olivia stayed close to him, leaning slightly as if her presence alone could reinforce his answer. "Amara," she said softly, almost cooing, "I'm not here to fight. I just… we were meant to be engaged. Vihaan and I… It's been planned."
I shouted. Irritated by her constant interruption. "Shut up,just shut up, I am not talking to you."
Jia's hands tightened into fists at her sides. "Exactly! Five years, Vihaan! And you just… decide to move forward like this? What kind of responsibility is that?"
Eric stepped forward, eyes blazing. "Brother, you can't just cover this up with 'circumstances.' You owe her—all of us—the truth!"
Vihaan ran a hand over his face, jaw tight, then finally looked at me directly, his expression softening slightly, but still guarded. "Amara… I never wanted to hurt you. I truly didn't. But there were things—commitments, timing, family expectations. I had to make a decision, and I thought it was… the only way forward."
I shook my head, tears threatening again. "Forward? This isn't forward, Vihaan. This is… cruel. You didn't even give me a chance to be here, to understand, to—"
He hesitated, his lips parting as if to say something, but Olivia's hand brushed lightly against his arm, a silent interruption.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to steady myself. "I don't know what I'm supposed to feel right now. But I do know one thing… I need answers, Vihaan. No rehearsed lines. No excuses."
The room fell silent, heavy with tension. Even Olivia's confident smile faltered slightly under the weight of my stare.
And for the first time since I walked in, Vihaan seemed… unsure.
"Can we talk… just the two of us?" I said, shifting my gaze to Olivia. "I think I have the right to this, at least." I took his arm firmly and led him to a corner, far enough that Olivia's sharp, intrusive voice couldn't reach us.
For a few seconds, my mind went blank. Words wouldn't form. What do I even ask? How do I even start?
"What… what are you doing, Vihaan?" I finally managed, staring straight into his eyes, searching for the man I knew.
"Amara…" he began, but I cut him off sharply.
"Stop calling me like you don't know me!" The tears I had been holding back finally spilled uncontrollably.
"Stop acting like this, Vihaan. I can't… I just can't," I continued, my voice shaking. "Please… please don't do this. I can't bear it."
I clutched his arm tighter, feeling my chest tighten, words tumbling out in a rush of panic and grief.
"Vihaan, you know I can endure anything—but not this. Not your back to me. Not her. Not this silence. Please… tell me this is just some cruel, weird surprise. Tell her to leave. I… I'm terrified. Please don't drag me through this. Just… just tell her to go."
I wiped at my tears, trembling, heart aching, and looked at him, waiting—desperate for a trace of the warmth I knew still existed somewhere beneath the cold mask he wore.
"If you're mad at me for lying about coming here… that's okay. I'm sorry," I choked out, voice trembling. "I just wanted to surprise you. But please… don't do this to me. I… I can't take it anymore."
"It's not a joke, Amara," he said, his voice low and steady, but devoid of the warmth I had known. "It's real. Whatever you heard… It's real."
I froze, staring at him, searching his face for a trace of the man I loved. But there was none. The Vihaan I knew—the one who had always made me feel safe and seen—was gone, replaced by someone I barely recognized.
"Why… why, Vihaan?" I whispered, tears spilling freely now. "I know there's something you're hiding from me. Please… tell me. We can face it together. We can get through it… together. But please… don't be like this. Please… be my Vihaan. Be the person I know… the one I love. Please… please."
My hands trembled as they clutched his arms, my voice breaking, every word a desperate plea. The silence that followed felt heavier than any words could carry.