Falling in love with my CEO.

39 - A Sacred Promise and a Binding Vow

I crossed my fingers, hoping for a miracle. The tension in the air was palpable, and the dread of what might unfold was almost unbearable. To my surprise, my mother simply smiled. "We haven't made any plans yet. It all depends on their wishes," she said softly.

What?! Was I hearing her correctly? The uncertainty gnawed at me as I tried to grasp the situation. Sadha Chowdary, sensing my confusion, approached me with a knowing look. "Akhil hypnotized her," she stated matter-of-factly.

So, it was true that everyone in my apartment had been treating Akhil like a beloved family member—an act that, as it turned out, was not entirely genuine. "No, he didn't hypnotize all of them," Sadha Chowdary added, turning her gaze to me. My mind raced with thoughts, realizing that my vampire was reading my every unspoken word. I needed to be more careful with my thoughts around him.

I spent the entire day with Granny, who was surprisingly delightful and full of humor. I enjoyed her company and found myself growing quite fond of her. As night fell, and the clock struck twelve, Akhil was still nowhere to be seen, nor had he called from his office. His condition weighed heavily on my mind. Where was he?

Everyone else had gone to sleep, including Granny. I was left alone, unable to fathom how Mr. Chowdary's family could so convincingly mimic human behavior. They slept just like ordinary people, or at least, they appeared to.

I was watching TV when my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted off. The next moment, I found myself waking up to discover that I was lying across Akhil's lap. When had he arrived? Despite my drowsiness, I forced myself to sit up.

"Where have you been? You didn't call," I said, my voice tinged with concern.

Akhil smiled lazily. "Missed me, did you? Someone has been taking care of me," he said with a teasing glint in his eyes.

His smugness only irritated me further. "Shut up, bloodsucker," I retorted.

Before I could say more, he swept me up into his arms and carried me to his bedroom. My mind raced with questions. What was he planning? He gently placed me on the bed and instructed, "Sleep."

"You're treating me like a child. Every chance you get, you carry me around like I'm two years old," I protested, trying to maintain a scowl. His chuckle only heightened my frustration.

"You'll always be my princess," he said, his tone affectionate.

"You know there's no one here. No need to keep up the pretense," I said, challenging him. "And why did you hypnotize my mother?" I demanded.

Akhil's grin widened, clearly enjoying my agitation. Just then, Granny appeared as if summoned by magic. Her arrival interrupted our conversation. "Is everything alright?" she asked, her gaze shifting between us.

We nodded in unison. "It seems you both had a disagreement," Granny observed, her eyes narrowing slightly. Her suspicion made me uneasy.

"It was just because he's late," I said quickly, trying to cover up the situation. Akhil, however, offered a different explanation, leaving Granny even more puzzled.

"Do you two really love each other?" Granny asked, her tone skeptical.

Before Akhil could respond, I took his hand in mine. "More than anything in this world. I love this man," I declared, looking deep into his eyes. The connection between us was undeniable, a silent bond that spoke volumes.

Akhil's initial surprise melted into a heartfelt smile. It was a smile that radiated genuine happiness and a depth of emotion I hadn't seen before. I couldn't help but smile back.

Granny cleared her throat. "Good! Now, Sushvi, I think it's time for you to head home. You know you shouldn't sleep together before marriage," she winked at me. I blushed deeply, realizing that our secret was now out.