Beyond Destiny ~ A Saga Of Timeless Love

60 ~ The Care

"You're worth every mile between us."

Ruhanika

I was instantly terrified when I realized I was with Dev because I could not imagine what they would do if they discovered this. Yet, even in my fear, he handled me with such care, as if I were something precious, making me fall in love with him all over again. My fear wasn’t for myself—it was for him. That thought alone broke me, and I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.

My eyes, wet with longing and sorrow, caught a glimpse of Dev—the man I had missed so dearly. My tears intensified as he pulled me into his lap, his hand stroking my back in a soothing rhythm. How much had I craved this solace, this warmth that only he could provide? His arms around me, his familiar scent—it was all too much, yet exactly what I needed. His silent comfort began to chip away at the fortress of anxiety I’d built around myself.

He didn’t stop there. To my amazement, he made sure I ate something, gently coaxing me to take a few bites. When he placed a frozen spoon on my eyes to help with the swelling, I was overwhelmed by his attentiveness. It was such a small gesture, yet it held so much tenderness that it left me breathless.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. I wasn’t apologizing for yelling at him earlier, though I did feel guilty about that—I was apologizing for everything, for all the pain I had caused him. But he misunderstood my words. He thought I was apologizing for something I had said about myself earlier, and while I wanted to correct him, I held back. He didn’t need to know the weight of my guilt right now.

“Don’t get close to me,” I told him, my voice trembling. But he brushed off my words, his reply making my heart ache.

“I’d give my life for you,” he said.

Those words were a punch to my gut, bringing back memories I had desperately tried to bury. I was instantly reminded of that day—that horrific day when he had lain on my lap, covered in blood. The memory was enough to tighten my throat and make my heart feel unbearably heavy. I never wanted to remember that day. Never.

I can live without him—if I absolutely had to—but I cannot bear even the slightest scratch on his body. That thought alone was enough to make me want to run and hide, and I told him I needed to return to my apartment. To my surprise, he didn’t argue; his silent agreement was unsettling.

Yet even as I wanted to flee, I knew I was repeating a mistake I had made before—going near him despite knowing the consequences. The fear gripped me again when I saw him opening the car door in the parking lot. Unable to stop myself, I tugged on his hand, silently pleading with him to stop. He didn’t need words to understand me—he never did.

“Nothing will happen to you,” he said, his voice gentle and reassuring.

The sincerity in his tone forced me to comply, even as my heart hammered in my chest. When had I ever been able to resist him? His olive-green eyes, so full of unspoken promises, always had the power to captivate me.

As soon as he held my hand, warmth flooded through me, chasing away some of my fear. I rested my head on his shoulder as the car started moving, letting myself get lost in the quiet comfort of his presence. My mind drifted back to our time together, replaying every memory, every moment we had shared.

I wanted more of this. More of him.

I missed the way his eyes would soften when he looked at me, the teasing smiles that would play on his lips, the playful jabs, the sweet moments we shared, the shy glances, the passionate kisses, and the romantic evenings that made the world fade away. I missed everything about my Dev.