Chapter Fourteen.
Devraj’s eyes kept darting from the door to his laptop screen.
Thirty minutes. It’s been thirty minutes since she left, and she still hadn’t returned.
He could feel every second of it crawl under his skin, he glared at the clock again.
Where is she?
A muscle in his cheek twitched. He tried to focus on the reports open on his laptop, but every word blurred into nothing.
Instead, his thoughts were on her, her soft voice, that vanilla scent she always carried, the quiet footsteps that usually came back by now.
But there was only silence. And he hated it.
“She should’ve been back.” he muttered under his breath, voice was rough.
A shadow of unease crossed his face.
Did something happen? Did she trip? Fall? Did someone…
He froze, staring at his legs. Still weak. Still a reminder of his helplessness.
His fist clenched tight, veins popping out.
With a sharp breath, he canceled the file he was working on and switched to the live CCTV feed.
One camera after another, his gaze flicked across the mansion, the kitchen, the corridors, the living hall where laughter echoed faintly from Vivaan’s guests.
Nothing. Just few maids and guards..but no Ira.
He gritted his teeth, frustration sparking under his skin.
Then his thumb hovered over the next feed, and there she was.
He went still, relief hit him first, a deep, silent exhale, before his expression shifted.
Because Ira wasn’t alone.
She was coming out of Vivaan’s room.
Devraj’s eyes darkened instantly. His heartbeat quickened in an uneven thuds.
She smiled at Vivaan. She smiled. And Vivaan chuckled at something she said.
The sound that left Devraj’s throat was barely audible, a quiet, dangerous growl.
The more he stared, the more it burned.
His blood boiled, his thoughts spinning out of control.
Why was she in his room? Why him?
What did he say to her that made her smile that way?
Did she… like it there? Are they that close now?
Does she like him?
Devraj slammed his laptop shut so hard the sound cracked through the silence of the room.
He shoved the device aside, breathing hard, and reached for his crutch.
His legs ached, but he ignored the pain. He needed to see her. Now.
Every step felt heavier than the last, but he kept going, his teeth gritted, the echo of the crutch striking the marble growing louder with each hit.
His mind was a storm, jealous, and desperate.
Then, he froze.
At the end of the hallway, Ira appeared.
She was holding a tray of food, completely unaware of what her presence was doing to him.
Devraj’s heart stuttered in his chest. His hand trembled slightly against the crutch.
“Ira…” he whispered, the word barely escaping his lips.
She looked up, startled, and gasped when she saw him.
“Sir?” she called, her voice full of concern as she quickened her steps toward him.
Devraj’s gaze locked on her as she hurried toward him.
For a brief, fleeting second, something inside him eased, she came to him.
The tension in his shoulders loosened slightly.
But the moment his eyes swept down and noticed her change of clothes… that warmth vanished.
His jaw tightened. And suddenly, his mind pieced it together...Vivaan.
A shadow passed over his face. His grip on the crutch tightened until his knuckles went pale.
She was with him.
Meanwhile, Ira got nervously as she got closer. Devraj’s eyes were darker than usual, too intense.
Is he okay? Why is he out of his room? she wondered, her concern quickening her steps.
“Sir… are you okay?” she asked softly when she reached him.
Devraj didn’t answer immediately. His gaze didn’t waver, it pierced through her like he was trying to read the truth off her eyes.
Then, in a low voice that carried both restraint and fury, he asked, “What took you so long?”
Ira blinked, “I’m so sorry, sir. I had… some issues, and I needed to–”
“Why are you wearing that?” he cut in, his voice dropping colder.
Her eyes flicked down at her fresh clothes, and she stammered, “Um… like I said, there was a little issue–”
“And why..” he snapped, cutting her off , “were you in Vivaan’s room?”
Ira froze.
Her pulse raced as she took a small step back. How… how did he even know that?
“I… I’m sorry, sir, I–”
“Why are you close with him?” he demanded suddenly.
Will he let me finish??
Her brows knitted. “W–what?”
“Answer me!” His voice rose, echoing down the hallway.
His chest heaved with every breath, anger and jealousy colliding inside him.
Ira’s voice came out small, trembling. “Sir… he just helped me, that’s all.”
Devraj’s gaze darkened further, the veins in his forearms visible from how hard he was gripping the crutch.
Helped her?
Helped her how?
Did Vivaan touch her? Was he close to her?
That thought alone twisted like a knife in his chest.
“You’re here to take care of me,” he growled, voice breaking, “to stay with me... Lnot with him!”
His breathing was uneven now, his self-control cracking in pieces.
“I–I’m sorry, sir..” Ira whispered, her voice fragile.
Devraj looked away, jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.
He hated this. Hated how seeing her with another man set his mind on fire.
“Sir, please..” she said softly, “let me help you back to your room–”
“No.” he snapped quietly. “I’ll do it myself.”
He turned sharply, using his crutch as he forced his weakened legs forward, every step a quiet hiss of pain.
Ira followed him carefully, her brows furrowed in confusion and mostly concern.
“Why is he so angry?” she wondered, biting her lip. “Did I do something wrong? Is it about me bringing his the meal late?”
But as she watched his stiff shoulders and the way his hand trembled slightly against the crutch, another thought crept in.
How did he even know I was in Vivaan’s room?
Her eyes flicked toward his back again, then to the ceiling where she knew a camera sat, half-hidden in shadow.
Her stomach dropped slightly. She gulped..
"So that's how he knew.. why was he angry though?"
She sighed quietly and followed him upstairs.
~??????~
"Good day, sir." Ira said softly, straightening after arranging the last of his pills and checking his schedule for tomorrow.
Devraj didn’t look up. His eyes stayed fixed on the screen, the steady clacking of his keys the only reply she got.
Ira sighed quietly.
Since the hallway incident, he’d been like this, quiet, curt, his temper always hidden behind that heavy silence.
Not that she cared. Her job was to take care of him, not to understand him.
She picked up her bag. “I’ll be leaving now, sir.”
No reply. Just the faint sound of typing.
So she left.
The moment the door clicked shut, Devraj’s fingers froze.
His gaze lifted to the door, silently. Seconds passed before he exhaled and switched the display on his laptop.
The CCTV feeds blinked to life, one after another.
There she was. Ira..
His eyes followed Ira’s every step, how she walked down the hallway, the way her hair brushed against her shoulders, how she even brush few strands of her hair. Every small movement captured him. He couldn’t stop watching.
When she reached the grand staircase, Vivaan appeared, from the corner of the hallway,
holding a small bag.
His brother’s easy smile, the casual way he approached her, then stretched the bag to her.
It made something heavy twist inside Devraj’s chest.
Devraj’s jaw flexed.
He leaned closer to the screen. The sight of Vivaan smiling at her, talking so casually as if they shared some secret, made Devraj’s pulse spike.
Then, another man came into the frame. One of the Vivaan's friends, perhaps.
Ira turned her head and chuckled softly at something he said.
That soft, smile, meant for someone else, burned through him.
His hand curled into a fist. His pulse thundered in his ears as the image replayed over and over in his mind.
He fell back against the headrest, exhaling harshly through his nose.
The darkness in his eyes deepened, storming behind the calm fa?ade he always wore.
Why is she talking to them? Does she enjoy it? Does she like their attention?
He couldn’t stand it anymore.
His fingers curled around the phone beside him, gripping it so tightly his knuckles whitened.
He dialed.
After a few rings, Vivaan’s voice came through, bright and carefree
“Hey, Bhai.”
“Come here. Now.” Devraj said, his voice hoarse.
Before his brother could respond, Devraj ended the call.
His grip lingered around the phone for a moment, as he closed his eyes and forced himself to breathe.
But his chest only rose heavier, his mind still replaying the sound of Ira’s laugh, with someone else.
??????
A few minutes later, Vivaan stepped into the room.
His usual carefree expression dimming when he saw his brother’s face.
Devraj’s eyes were dark, way too dark, his Amber eyes was literally dark, the kind that made the air heavy, cold, and it made Vivaan pause mid-step..
“Bhai, you called me?” Vivaan asked cautiously, taking a slow step forward.
Devraj’s voice came low. “Why was Ira in your room?”
Vivaan blinked frowning at the question “Uh..she needed to clean up after she got stained.” he said after a pause, rubbing the back of his neck. “That’s all.”
Devraj’s fingers curled against the bedsheet. His jaw ticked.
“In your room?” he repeated, his voice heavier this time, but slower, like he was holding something back.
Vivaan raised an eyebrow, confused. “Yeah, it was closer. She just needed to change her clothes, that’s all. There’s nothing serious about it.”
He didn’t realize that with every word, Devraj’s chest grew tighter.
“You should’ve let her come back here..” Devraj seethed, his tone trembling with restrained fury. “She could’ve cleaned up in my room.”
Vivaan gave a dry chuckle, confused. “Firstly, Bhai, you hate anyone touching your things, or using your things. You don’t even–”
“Not Ira.” Devraj snapped before he could finish.
Vivaan froze, his brows knitting together. “What?”
"Bhai, all I'm saying was she needed a new clothes, she was wet a bit and–"
“What happened?” he asked, cutting him off again.
“It’s nothing serious, just–”
“What. Happened?”
The change in tone was enough to make Vivaan’s stomach knot. He sighed, realizing there was no escaping this, he gave in.
“It was just a small misunderstanding between Ira and Sugar." He explained. " You know Sugar, she can be wild sometimes. She spilled something on Ira’s hair and clothes, that’s all. It was handled.”
Devraj’s gaze didn’t move. His expression didn’t shift.
“So..” he said finally, his voice lower than before, “a girl made Ira uncomfortable?”
Vivaan nodded slowly. “Yeah, but it’s fine now. I took care of it, Bhai.”
Devraj’s eyes lingered on him for a long moment, long enough to make Vivaan shift uncomfortably.
There was something in those eyes... something cold and quietly enraged.
But Vivaan couldn’t pinpoint. Bit sometimes else was there.
“You can leave.” he said suddenly.
Vivaan hesitated. “Bhai, I–”
“Leave now, Vivaan.” Devraj said, his voice wasn't loud, just...low.
Vivaan frowned, confused, but before he turned to go, Devraj added, “And one more thing…”
Vivaan looked back.
“Stay away from Ira. I don’t want you near her.”
He blinked, unsure if he heard that right. But when he met Devraj’s gaze, steady, serious, he knew his brother meant every word.
Vivaan swallowed, a nervous chuckle slipping out. “You’re joking, right?”
Devraj didn’t answer.
The silence was answer enough.
Vivaan exhaled, nodded once, and left the room quietly. The door clicked shut behind him.
The moment he was gone, Devraj leaned back, eyes still fixed on the door.
His pulse drummed hard against his neck. His fingers trembled slightly as he exhaled.
The thought of Ira in another man’s room, his own brother’s room, was clawing at his mind.
He clenched his fists, breathing uneven.
She’s supposed to be here.
With me.
Then that girl....Sugar...
???
Sorry for this short chapter... ???? I will increase the words it in the next.. I'm running out of time and thought to drop this...
I'm going to finish it now...???♂????♂????♂????♂?
And while at it, how many votes?? Can I get 50? ??