𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐜𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲 ( 𝐃𝐮𝐞𝐭 : 𝟎𝟏 )

47 | ᴍᴏʟᴇ

Her lips curved into polite, practiced smiles as she greeted one business investor after another. The air was thick with formalities, and though she seemed composed, there was a subtle strain in her posture. Kai stood by her side, his presence steady and reassuring.

Every now and then, his eyes darted toward her, silently checking if she was holding up. She caught his glance once, a flicker of unspoken understanding passing between them. It was as if he knew how suffocating this crowd could be for her.

Her gaze drifted across the hall, searching—no, hoping—for a familiar figure. But her husband was nowhere to be found. The absence hit harder than she cared to admit, leaving a hollow ache she couldn’t quite mask, not even with the best of her smiles.

Her eyes lingered in the background, scanning the crowd with a faint sense of longing she refused to acknowledge. Even as the investors exchanged pleasantries and took their leave, her focus remained elsewhere, lost in the shadows of the hall.

Kai, ever attentive, nudged her arm gently to pull her back to the moment. She flinched at the contact, her body stiffening instinctively. Turning her head toward him, she caught his subtle expression—half concerned, half urging. It was a silent reminder to maintain her composure, to not let her thoughts betray her in front of others.

Forcing a polite smile, she nodded briefly at the departing investors, murmuring words of gratitude that felt hollow in her chest. But the lingering touch of Kai’s nudge stayed with her, grounding her in a reality she wasn’t sure she wanted to face.

Samaira, who had been assigned the task of mending the ruined dress, had already informed Diya that she was done. Diya's heart swelled with pride and admiration for her little girl. She had always known Samaira was genuinely interested in fashion, but she had no idea the intensity of her passion ran this deep.

Since the matter with the dress was resolved, they decided to carry on with the fashion show, and Diya took charge confidently. Moments later, Advait arrived, his face dark with anger, his steps firm and controlled, but his fury was unmistakable. His frustration only deepened when his eyes fell on Kai standing beside Diya, talking to her casually, as if he belonged there.

Without saying a word, Advait moved to stand beside Diya, his towering presence making itself known. He didn’t need to speak; just being near her was enough to soothe the burning fire inside him. And as if by magic, it did.

Diya noticed his mood immediately and turned to him, concern softening her features. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly, her voice calm yet searching. Advait forced a small smile, nodding to reassure her.

But then, in a move that caught her completely off guard, he slid his hand around her waist and pulled her closer. He held her firmly, unapologetic, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Diya’s cheeks turned a deep shade of pink, heat rushing to her face as she struggled to focus on anything but his touch. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t pull away, even as her mind screamed at her about the audience around them.