The heavy silence of the bedroom seemed to expand, waiting for her words. Under the steady weight of his hand resting over hers, the last remnants of Kritika's resolve completely collapsed. The emotional exhaustion of a long, sleepless night, combined with the absolute security of Vedant's unyielding presence, made it impossible to hold back any longer.

She took a shaky breath, her eyes welling up with tears once more as she looked at him.