đ¤ Title: The Devil's Gentle Touch
đ Chapter 10: Tears He Never Meant to Cause
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The Raichand mansion had never heard a voice raised like this.
And never at her.
But tonight, Dev's patience snapped.
The doctor had just left.
Diagnosis: viral fever.
Symptoms: high temperature, fatigue, cold, cough, dehydration.
But Aanya had been hiding it for two whole daysâignoring the chills, pushing through the pain, even fainting briefly before he returned home.
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"What the hell were you thinking?!"
Dev's voice echoed through the marble walls, thundering over her silence.
She flinched. For the first time⌠afraid of him.
He rarely shouted. But when he didâit tore through steel.
And her heart.
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"I told you to call me if something's wrong!"
"Why the hell did you not say a word?"
Aanya looked down. Eyes glassy. Lips trembling.
"You were busy, Dev⌠the weapons deal⌠the Dubai shipmentâŚ"
He froze.
The words hit him harder than any bullet ever had.
Busy?
Was that what she thought he was?
That everything came before her?
---
And then, she swayed on her feet again. Body weak. Fever raging.
His anger shattered in a heartbeat.
He caught her.
Held her like she might break.
And whispered words he'd never said in that tone before.
---
"I didn't mean to scare youâŚ"
"I'm sorry, jaan."
"I'm so sorry."
She didn't say anything.
Just rested her head against his chest, burning up, exhausted.
And still, he felt her tears soak his shirt.
The tearsâŚ
he never meant to cause.
---
He lifted her in his arms.
Took her to bed.
Undressed her gently.
Wiped her skin with cold cloths.
Held her hand as she drifted to sleep.
And when she stirred awake, she found him sitting beside her⌠eyes bloodshot, lips pressed to the back of her hand.
---
He wasn't a monster.
Not to her.
Not when he whispered,
"Please don't cry because of me again, Aanya. I can kill the worldâbut I don't know how to kill your tears