Page 133 of She will Always be Mine

“Your parents love you and they’ll want you to be happy more than anything. It may take some time but they will come around. All they need is to see the two of you together and they’ll know like I do that both of you are perfect for each other. No matter what happens, you’ll have me by your side. I love you like my own daughter,” she promises, kissing my forehead.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice thick with gratitude.

We pull away just in time as the men walk in. Riaan comes straight to my side and I give him a secret smile, ensuring everything is well. His body relaxes as he slides into the chair beside me, his warm hand squeezing mine under the table.

Dinner goes by smoothly and I enjoy it thoroughly.

No touchy topics are brought up and we only share small and mundane talk. My aunt’s cooking reminds me of home and I miss my family terribly.

I receive calls on alternate days from either Mom or Dad in the evenings. Mom pointed out once that I look happy and healthy during one of our video calls and all I wanted was to tell her that it’s because of Riaan.

I’m lying to her all over again but I’ll stop that soon.

After helping my aunt clean up, I silently make my way upstairs. Riaan went to talk to his dad, so I wasted no time taking the opportunity afforded to me.

My heart is in my throat as I climb the stairs while making sure I’m alone. Since Riaan’s parents’ bedroom is on the other side of the house, I easily sneak into Zain’s room at the end of the hallway.

The door creaks slightly when I push it open, and I’m glad it wasn’t locked. A huge four poster-bed sits in the middle with a black headboard. The room is neat and spacious, done in colors of light gray and black with a separate closet.

As I look around, I can’t tell if he’s been here recently or not. Maybe he’s organized just like his older brother.

On my right, there’s a desk cluttered with some papers and when my eye catches on his laptop in the corner, hope flares inside me.

Maybe I’ll find the copies of my photos in there. Otherwise, I’d be left with no choice but to confront him. He will fucking lie and deny it, which is why I need to have concrete evidence.

I hurry to switch on his laptop. My foot is tapping nervously on the floor as I watch the screen light up and I log in easily as it doesn’t ask for a password. Zain has always been cocky, which might work in my favor.

Opening his files, I search through different folders while praying I catch something. I pull at my hair in frustration after coming up empty.

Everything is clean. There are no pictures except some old ones with his friends. I’m half tempted to smash it in anger but calm myself down.

Think, Nyra. Think.

He must have saved them somewhere else like in a hard drive or pen drive. Maybe he made copies. I just have to keep looking. Finding the laptop bag on the chair, I search inside, but find nothing. Bending down, I open drawers and other than some stationery and papers, there’s not much in here.

Damn it! I got absolutely nothing. I underestimated him because he’s smarter than I thought. My shoulders sag in defeat as I shut the laptop down and put everything in its place. The foreboding feeling returns with a vengeance. The last option that I’ve been dreading the most is the only one I have left.

Luring him out.

I need to lure him out so I can get him to confess.It’s risky and dangerous but if I want this game of his to end, then I have to take it. Only then I can be completely Riaan’s.

“Looking for something?”

Chapter Forty-Three

RIAAN

Nyra jumps at my voice and sharply looks up, looking awfully like someone got caught red-handed. Her hand rests on her chest as she calms down her racing heartbeat.

Her nervous eyes clash with mine and I arch my brow while leaning against the door frame, my hands casually inside my jeans pockets.

“What are you doing in Zain’s room, Nyra?”

She doesn’t miss the hard edge in my voice and swallows while smoothing down her dress. The gesture betrays her frayed nerves. “I-I was using the bathroom.”

“There’s one downstairs.”

“Your mom said to use the one upstairs,” she answers without missing a beat. “Are you done interrogating me now?”

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