ENCHANTED - BY INNOCENCE (ongoing)

77

Hey guys, sorry for the late update, that's on me, but here I am with a new chapter ❤️

Next update will be on Wednesday if the target is completed or Sunday if it isn't

This chapter has 4000+ words and ends with a question so make sure you read till the end

Target for next chapter: 1200 votes and 700 comments  (atleast finish one)

*** Shanthi ***

I followed Vinod as he took me to his office room. My heart raced while he closed the door, my eyes scanning the corners of the room nervously.

Is he going to ask me why I went to the general? Is he going to scold me for disrespecting his general?

Maybe I should do what Mayil always suggests—accuse him before he gets a chance to accuse me.

"Sweetheart... what did you—" Vinod began, the moment he turned around after locking the door.

"All because of you," I interrupted before he could finish his sentence.

"What's because of me?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Me being disrespectful to General Sir," I answered, closing my eyes for a second to gather my courage. "If you didn't love me so much, I wouldn't have loved you back so much. And if I didn't love you back so much, I wouldn't have gone to ask General Sir about why you didn't get the Veer title—and then tried to hide it from you—"

"WHAT?" Vinod's voice thundered, cutting me off. I opened my eyes immediately to see his face frozen in stunned disbelief.

"YOU CONFRONTED GENERAL SIR?" His tone now sounded like a mix of shock and hurt. "THE GENERAL OF THE FIVE KINGDOMS?"

"You... you didn't know?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, confused and hesitant.

"Of course not," he replied, his eyes wide, "The idea of you confronting the General didn't even cross my mind! I thought you met him for something related to the Brindavanam community."

"Ohh," I murmured, finally understanding the depth of the misunderstanding.

I spoke too soon!

"Sweetheart, why would you do that?" he asked, still sounding a little offended. "Confronting the General? Really?"

"I..." I faltered, "I just wanted to help you... to know why you weren't selected... and you were so upset, so..."

"Upset at my own incapability," he corrected gently, "Not at the General."

I looked down, my fingers nervously fumbling with the edge of my saree, not knowing what to say.

Mayil, dear, why is your plan not working....should I try green saree too? Maybe Vinod will follow his general in this....

"Sweetheart, look up, please." His hand softly lifted my chin until my eyes met his.

"General Sir has been very kind to us," he continued, his voice steady but warm, "That's why he gave you the honour of being his little sister. But that doesn't mean you go and confront him at the slightest inconvenience, depriving him of the respect he rightfully deserves."

"But—" I tried to explain, my lips parting, but he spoke again.

"I know. My fault," he admitted, although that wasn't what I was trying to say. "I'm sorry. I should've shared the learnings and positive experiences I had with the General, instead of just my failures."

So... Mayil's plan actually works?

Is she a genius?

I looked into my husband's eyes—still full of love.