#1 in the London Universe series:
Anaya Oberoi, a final-year student at a prestigious college in India, was thrilled to be selected for a student exchange at King's College London. But there was a catch-she had to live with foster parents. To her su...
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As I summed up the work I had done so far that week, Anaya busied herself in the kitchen—she had gotten quite good at cooking. But within moments, my mind drifted elsewhere, back to when we had just returned from Delhi. She had been terrified the entire time. I ensured she ate every meal, checked on her constantly, and reassured her that she was safe. She had even started therapy, and after eight months, as the scars on her body faded, she began to heal mentally too.
Despite juggling my college work, I never let a day pass without knowing how she was doing. She always kept me informed of her whereabouts, and I always had her location. She wore a chain around her neck with a tracker—I needed that reassurance. After what had happened that day, I couldn't bring myself to trust anything blindly again.
I remember all those nights when she woke up trembling from nightmares, and how I held her close until she calmed down. It took me a year and a half to bring back the Anaya who used to tease me, the bold and fearless version of her that had been buried under fear. I pushed her to learn self-defense, and now, I'm certain—she can protect herself, even when I'm not around.
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"Noah," I yelled, but he didn't respond.
"Babe, are you listening?" I called out again, louder this time. Still nothing.
Frowning, I set the plate down on the table and walked toward our bedroom. As I stepped inside, I found him sitting at his desk, staring at his laptop screen, completely zoned out. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, unmoving.
"Noah, I've been calling you for so long. What's wrong?" I asked, stepping closer.
At my voice, he suddenly shivered, as if I had just pulled him out of a deep trance. His eyes blinked rapidly before he turned to look at me, dazed.
I let out a small sigh, closing the distance between us. Cupping his face gently, I kissed his cheek.
"You were lost in work again, or is it me, Mr. Carter?" I asked with a grin.
Noah blinked a few times before his lips curled into a soft smile. His hands found my waist as he pulled me closer, pressing a lingering kiss to my forehead.
