The Royal Chauhans

CHAPTER 4

AUTHOR  POV

When Adrika entered Abeer's cabin, she was startled to see Mr. Rajawat standing there. Abeer looked furious.

He walked toward her and commanded, “Say sorry to Mr. Rajawat.”

Adrika frowned, her voice firm. “Why should I say sorry to him?”

Mr. Rajawat sneered. “Look at your employees, Mr. Chauhan. They have no manners when it comes to speaking with investors.”

Abeer turned to Adrika, his tone cold. “Adrika, apologize to Mr. Rajawat. If you don’t, you’ll see the worst of me.”

But Adrika stood her ground and shook her head in defiance.

Mr. Rajawat, visibly annoyed, snapped, “This deal cannot proceed, Mr. Chauhan!”

Adrika turned to him, her glare sharp and unwavering. He faltered under her gaze and, clearly unsettled, stormed out of the cabin.

As soon as he left, Abeer grabbed Adrika’s arm and forcefully pushed her onto the couch. She gasped in fear, her eyes wide, tears beginning to spill. She hadn’t expected this.

When Abeer noticed the tears streaming down her face, he froze. He couldn’t remember ever seeing her cry—not even when he’d forced her into this marriage. His anger slowly gave way to confusion, and then to concern.

He sat beside her and gently made her sit upright.

“Why are you crying, Adrika?” he asked, his voice softer now, unfamiliar even to himself.

Unable to hold back any longer, Adrika burst into sobs.

Watching her cry so openly did something to him. A tightness gripped his chest, as if someone had reached in and clenched his heart. He didn’t understand it, but he felt it deeply.

He handed her a glass of water. “Drink this first,” he said, more softly. “Then tell me why you’re crying.”

Adrika took the glass and obeyed, but her tears didn’t stop. After a few minutes, she finally calmed down. Her gaze met his—painful, accusing.

“Why did you ask me to apologize to him?” she asked, her voice shaking.

Abeer’s brows drew together. “He told me you misbehaved with him.”

Adrika’s eyes burned. “And you believed him?”

Her sharp words caught him off guard. He stared at her in stunned silence before muttering, “This deal was very important to me.”

Her voice cracked as she whispered, “Am I not important to you?”

Abeer froze. Her words struck deep, silencing everything inside him.

He composed himself after a moment. “Tell me clearly what happened,” he said quietly. “Why did you react the way you did?”

Adrika told him everything—Mr. Rajawat’s comment, his inappropriate behavior, and what he had said outside the conference room. Abeer’s expression darkened with each word. His fists clenched.

As soon as she finished, he pulled out his phone, his voice ice-cold. “Mr. Rajawat is not to leave the building. Stop him. Take him to the basement. I’m coming.”

He ended the call and turned to Adrika.

“You’ll go home with the driver. You need to rest.”

Adrika opened her mouth to argue, but one look at Abeer’s eyes—dark and deadly—made her stop. Silently, she nodded and walked out of the office, her heart heavy with emotion.