𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬♛ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧⚚

27⚚ Melody

Vencie POV:

The entire day, Viraj made sure Amaira didn't have a single moment to dwell on the morning's events. He showered her with all the love, care, and attention he could muster.

Every time her thoughts threatened to drift back to the darkness, he distracted her with something sweet—a joke, a forehead kiss, or a playful nuzzle.

He pampered her endlessly, feeding her her favorite snacks, cuddling her close, and pressing gentle kisses to her cheeks and forehead.

When she seemed quiet, he pulled her into his lap and stroked her hair, whispering sweet nothings until her laughter returned.

He even indulged her whishes without a second thought, watching her favorite movies with her even when she fell asleep halfway through, her head tucked under his chin.

By the time night fell, Amaira was curled up in his arms, her breathing soft and even as she drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Viraj watched her for a moment, brushing a strand of hair from her face and pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

He sighed deeply, his heart heavy with everything weighing on his mind. Carefully, he slipped out of bed, tucking the blanket securely around her before grabbing his phone and heading to his own room.

Dialing Gaurav, he waited as the phone rang twice before his elder brother picked up.

"Vi? Is she fine?" Gaurav asked immediately, his tone laced with concern.

Viraj hummed in response. "She's fine, Bhai. Put it on speaker and let everyone hear."

There was a shuffle on the other end as Gaurav placed the call on speaker. Viraj could hear the faint murmurs of the other brothers gathering, their concern palpable even through the phone.

Once he was certain they were all listening, Viraj recounted everything that had happened that day. His voice was calm and measured, but the pain and frustration he felt seeped through every word.

When he finished, he heard the sound of things being thrown—books, pens, anything the brothers could grab—as their anger erupted.

"This is unacceptable!" Rithvik growled. "How dare someone do this to her?"

"I swear, I'll track down whoever sent that painting and end them," Daksh hissed, his voice full of venom.

"Enough!" Gaurav said, trying to calm the others.

Viraj sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We'll handle it, but right now, we need to focus on her. We need to do something to make her smile again, Bhai."

There was a brief silence before Rithvik spoke, his tone softer this time. "Leave it to me, Vi. You've had a tough day. Just take rest, yeah? We'll plan something."

Viraj chuckled faintly. "Yeah, Mom," he teased lightly, earning a small laugh from the brothers.

Ending the call, Viraj leaned back for a moment, his head resting against the wall as he took a deep breath.

The weight on his shoulders felt heavier than ever, but his resolve remained firm.

He stood and quietly walked back to Amaira's room. Opening the door, he saw her still peacefully asleep, curled up under the blanket.

His heart softened at the sight, and he slipped under the covers beside her, wrapping his arms around her and spooning her gently.

As he drifted off to sleep, the heaviness of his mind lingered, but the warmth of Amaira in his arms kept him grounded. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he would face them—for her.