HIS PROMISE ??

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........

Vishwanth stopped in his tracks, his expression unreadable. He was shirtless, his well-defined torso glistening slightly from the chill of the morning air. His dark eyes met hers, and for a moment, she thought she saw something vulnerable in them.

"Good morning," he said simply, ignoring the accusation in her tone.

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn't respond. The sight of him so casual, so unbothered, while she was drowning in confusion and anger, only irritated her further.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I know you hate smoking," he admitted, his voice softer now. "I've been trying to quit."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she couldn't hide the disdain in her eyes. "Trying ? You smell like an ashtray."

A flicker of amusement crossed his face, but it quickly faded. "Give me a few months," he said, his tone almost pleading. "I'll get rid of it. I promise."

Yashna folded her arms, turning her face away. "I'm not here to monitor your bad habits, Vishwanth," she muttered. "I'm here because I was forced to be."

The sting in her words wasn't lost on him. He nodded, accepting her bitterness without argument. "Fair enough," he said quietly. "But whether you like it or not, I'll keep my promises, to protect you, and to become better for you."

She scoffed, her anger flaring up again. "Don't flatter yourself. I didn't ask you to protect me or change for me."

His jaw clenched, but he didn't retort. Instead, he walked over to the corner of the room where a tray of fresh juice and breakfast had been placed.

"You should eat," he said, changing the subject. "We've got a long day ahead."

Yashna shook her head, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Stop acting like you care, Vishwanth. I'm not some helpless girl who needs you to hover over me. And it will be good if you wear a shirt."

He turned to face her, his expression suddenly hard. "You don't get it, do you ?" he said, his voice is low and intense as he grabbed a t-shirt from the wardrobe and walked back. "This isn't about you being helpless. This is about someone wanting to hurt you. And as long as I'm alive, I won't let that happen."

For a moment, the tension between them was palpable, the air is thick with unspoken words. Yashna broke eye contact, her heart pounding in her chest. She hated how his words affected her, how they made her feel both infuriated and... safe.

"I didn't ask for your protection," she muttered, but her voice lacked conviction.

"You didn't have to," he replied, his tone softening. "It's not something I'll ever need permission for."

With that, he turned and walked out onto the balcony again, leaving her alone to wrestle with her thoughts.

Yashna sank back onto the bed, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She hated the situation she was in, hated the way Vishwanth made her feel so conflicted. But most of all, she hated that deep down, a part of her believed him.  

...........

Vishwanth strode back inside with a cold yet determined expression, holding a sleek tablet in his hand. Without saying a word, he approached Yashna and placed the tablet on the table in front of her. The screen lit up with live footage from a camera stationed far away from the estate gates.

"Look," he said curtly, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Yashna hesitated but leaned forward to see the footage. A dark SUV was parked suspiciously near the estate's perimeter, its windows tinted. Shadows moved within the car, and another figure stood just outside, holding something metallic, it looked like a weapon.