Dia's POV

The day felt lighter, as though the air itself had shifted after my confession to Ekansh. For the first time, I wasn't fighting my feelings or trying to suppress the connection I felt with him. Instead, I allowed myself to bask in the quiet moments that followed.

Ekansh had insisted I take the day to rest, though he remained nearby. Every time I caught his gaze, the intensity in his eyes sent shivers down my spine. It was as though he was seeing me for the first time-or perhaps as though I was finally seeing him.

I wandered into the garden later in the afternoon, the scent of roses and jasmine filling the air. The sun cast a golden hue over the sprawling estate, and I felt a rare sense of peace. As I reached the fountain at the center, I felt his presence behind me before I even turned around.

"You like it here," he said, his deep voice breaking the silence.

I smiled, turning to face him. He was dressed casually, the sharp edges of his usual persona softened by the warm light. "It's beautiful," I admitted.

"Not as beautiful as you," he said, his words bold but his tone soft.

I felt my cheeks heat under his gaze. "You don't have to say things like that."

"I'm not saying it because I have to," he replied, stepping closer. "I'm saying it because it's the truth."

Ekansh's POV

The way the sunlight caught her features left me breathless. Dia wasn't just beautiful-she was radiant, a force of nature that had somehow become the center of my world.

I reached out, taking her hand in mine. Her fingers were small and delicate compared to mine, but she didn't pull away. "You don't have to be shy with me," I said, my thumb brushing over her knuckles. "Not anymore."

Her eyes flickered up to meet mine, and the vulnerability I saw there made my chest ache. "I'm not used to this," she admitted.

"Neither am I," I confessed. "But I want to try. For you. For us."

She smiled softly, and it felt like the first ray of sunlight after a storm. I couldn't stop myself-I leaned down, my lips brushing against her forehead in a kiss so gentle, it felt like a promise.

Dia's POV

The tenderness in Ekansh's gesture brought tears to my eyes. I had never felt anything like this before-so safe, so cherished.

As he pulled back, his hand reached up to cup my cheek. "Tell me if I'm going too fast," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You're not," I replied, my voice steady despite the fluttering in my chest.

He leaned in again, this time pressing a soft kiss to my temple, then my cheek. Each touch was deliberate, reverent, as though he was afraid of breaking me. Finally, his lips hovered near mine, his breath warm against my skin.

"Dia," he murmured, his voice laced with emotion. "May I?"

I nodded, my heart pounding as he closed the distance. The moment his lips met mine, everything else faded away. The world, the pain, the past-it all disappeared, leaving only the two of us in this perfect moment.

Ekansh's POV

The taste of her, the feel of her in my arms-it was everything I hadn't known I was missing. I deepened the kiss slightly, savoring the way she responded to me, her hands timidly resting on my chest.

When we finally pulled apart, her cheeks were flushed, her lips slightly swollen. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and searching. "What happens now?" she asked softly.

"Now," I said, brushing a strand of hair from her face, "I make sure you never have a reason to doubt how much you mean to me."

She smiled, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. And in that moment, I knew-I would move heaven and earth to keep her happy. Nothing else mattered.