Page 102 of She will Always be Mine

But if I want to win her back, it’s what I’ll have to practice.

As I watch her sitting across from me, I see the struggle on her face and the memories she’s trying to forget. I rub her soft thighs as she gathers her thoughts and consider whether to answer or push me away. I try to convey with my eyes that she can trust me.

I don’t expect her to tell me everything but I hope anyway.

She puts her plate down on the table before pushing her hair behind her ear and meeting my gaze. Her voice comes out low as she speaks. “It was awful and the worst days of my life, Riaan. I hated pretending like everything was fine in front of Priyanka and Dad when, in fact, it was the exact opposite. My mom wasn’t talking to me and hardly ever looked at me when it was just us. I could feel her disappointment, see the anger and the disgust on her face like I committed the worst crime in the world by falling in love with you.”

Tears gather in her eyes and as much as she tries to hold them back, they fall. Before I can wipe them away, she roughly swipes them away before continuing, “I was alone, trapped and so afraid that everything was falling apart, that I’d never see you again. Every morning I woke up, I dreaded the thought of Dad finding out the truth and staring at me with the same look I see in my mom’s eyes. It only got worse, hopeless. So many times, I got the urge to reach out to you but I didn’t even have my phone and when I finally got it back, Mom caught me texting you. She threatened to tell Dad, so I blocked your number and promised to stay away.”

My fingers tighten into a fist as anger and pain racks my body but I calm down for Nyra’s sake. I knew something had happened when her texts abruptly stopped. But I also sense it wasn’t why she called me that night a few days later.

Something even worse had to have occurred for her to break her promise and unblock me. She’s hiding something big.

Why the fuck can’t I see it?

“Then what happened?” I probe.

“Afterward, it was the repeat of the same and Dad began to notice it too. If it wasn’t for him, my mother and I would go on without talking. She told me some truths about her life that made me understand her behavior. It brought us closer and we’ve been working on mending our relationship ever since.”

I listen patiently and I remember my aunt’s reaction when she confronted me. I was right, it was connected to her life somehow. But I’m more concerned with Nyra.

While I’m glad she and her mom are close again, it still doesn’t explain her nightmare and the constant pain in her eyes. I know there’s more she isn’t telling me.

“I felt like no matter what choice I make, I end up hurting everyone who loves me. The last week at home was the only time I didn’t feel it. While I don’t like how you fooled my parents, I’m still glad I’m back,” she says with a small smile.

“What happened that night, Nyra?” I ask. “Why did you call me?”

Terror shadows her soft features as she swallows nervously and I don’t miss the shudder that racks her body.

“Did your mom hurt you?” My voice angry.

“No.”

“Then who did?” I search her eyes as I ask her because I can’t get her voice out of my head as she begged to let her go in her sleep. No one reacts that way unless someone has a toxic hold on them in a way. I hate where my mind goes but I need to know. “Did anyone touch you, Nyra?”

“No!” She gasps while pulling away.

“Don’t lie to me.” I warn coldly and ask again, “Why did you really break up with me, Nyra? Did someone force you?”

She goes utterly still like my words triggered a memory and my stomach drops.

“I can’t. Please.” She whimpers as her face pales and uncontrollable sobs causes her spine to tremble. “I had no choice. I had to do it.”

Before I can probe further, she falls apart as thick tears fall like rivulets down her face. She looks so frightened and frail. Afraid she’ll have a panic attack, I lean forward to push her hair away, but she shakes her head sideways.

Just like during her nightmare, she attempts to pull away from me. My heart breaks into pieces seeing her like this and I pull her onto my lap and hold her head against my chest. She struggles harder but I don’t let go, hating every second of seeing her like this.

Hating the fact that I didn’t protect her like I had promised.

“It’s okay, baby. You’re safe,” I murmur as I rub her back. “I’m here now.”

“I’m sorry,” she mumbles against me. “Please don’t hate me.”

“Never,” I vow, kissing her head. “I’ll fix it. No one is going to hurt you ever again.”

As she cries in my arms, I take in everything she told me. It wasn’t much but at least I now know my fears were valid. Somebody is trying to take her away from me and I won’t let them.

There’s a small part of me that believes Zain might be behind all of this but I can’t be certain until I have proof. He’s the only one who’s been against us from the beginning, who set a trap for us to get caught, and the person who found out about our relationship first.

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