Page 32 of She will Always be Mine

I don’t want to spook her into changing her mind about returning it to me.

Maybe she realized it, too, and wants to avoid Dad or Pri noticing its absence since hardly anyone in this day and age goes without their phone. Besides, she can’t make an excuse every time on my behalf, or she would be giving way to suspicion.

“I think it’s time I returned this to you,” she says, holding out the phone toward me. “Seems it can’t be avoided any longer.”

It’s not so easy to change Mom’s decision once she’s set her mind on something and if the reason behind it wasn’t a secret, she probably would have stuck with it.

Dare I hope that maybe she’s beginning to trust me a little?

Because until now, I haven’t uttered Riaan’s name like she demanded. Even when his family is mentioned whenever the conversation leads to Pune, I either keep my mouth shut or give short and curt replies. And I never let my emotions show when his name is spoken, especially feeling Mom’s heavy stare on me every single time.

I have no doubt that the real test will begin now.

I’ll have to be extremely careful.

Taking it from her hand, I express my gratitude, “Thank you.”

“Before you get any ideas,” she warns. “I still don’t trust you, Nyra, and as a precaution, I have cut off your service, as well as changed the Wi-Fi password. Now, I want you to block his number and then delete it.”

Of course, she did. My phone might as well be a box.

Why did I think my punishment would get any easier?

Sensing my hesitation, she narrows her eyes and snaps, “Do it.”

“Okay.” I unlock it with my face ID and then go to my contacts, doing as she asked while she watches from above. I tilt my screen toward her so she can double-check.

“Good.” She nods and reminds me over her shoulder as she walks out the door, “Your dad will be home any minute now so come downstairs.”

Guilt settles inside me for tricking her, but I actually didn’t delete or block Riaan’s number. Parents always think they know their kids better but they don’t realize, we are just as good at keeping secrets.

She wouldn’t have found out about Riaan and I so soon, had Zain not plotted against us.

I mean, I kept it hidden from her for all these years.

I was always cautious in never letting my feelings show or leaving any obvious clues behind, which is why I never saved his number under his name.

His nickname “Arrogant Thief” was both because I couldn’t resist and to keep his identity hidden. Today, it turned out to be helpful. As for the discontinued service, Pri can help me with that.

I’m pretty sure if Mom could get access to a jammer, she would have gladly used it to cut off any chance of getting in touch with Riaan.

I would laugh if it wasn’t so sad.

Locking my door, I settle back down on the bed and pull up my texts, eager to see if Riaan left me any during these past two weeks. If there are none, then I’d be devastated.

It’ll mean I’ve truly angered and hurt him.

The second I read his name at the top, my heart swoons for the first time in a while. Like I can finally breathe.

I silence the voice in my head that whispers I shouldn’t get my hopes up.

I can never be with him.

But when you’ve been starved for too long, none of what the little voices say matters.

ARROGANT THIEF:I know about Zain’s betrayal.

It was only a matter of time, and as if he already guessed where my mind went, his next text reads:

---