Page 125 of Trapped By the Maharaja
She lifted her hands and cupped his hard jaw. “But I didn’t get hurt,” she said. “You reached me on time.”
Ram’s hand shot up, cupping her jaw with a roughness born out of desperation. His lips crashed onto hers, a fierce, searing kiss that stole her breath.
It wasn’t gentle. It was raw, demanding, his mouth claiming hers as though he needed to prove to himself she was alive. She kissed him back, just as hungrily and just as desperately.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, clinging. The taste of him, the heat of him, and the safety in the storm of his arms broke the barriers around her heart.
When he spoke, his voice came low and rough, vibrating against her lips.
“I love you, Sanjana,” he said. “I never stopped. Not for a single day in those eight years.”
Her heart slammed painfully, tears stinging her eyes. She whispered, barely able to speak past the lump in her throat, “I love you too, Ram. I’ve always loved you… even when I thought I hated you.”
His arms tightened around her, as if to seal her words to his soul. For a moment, it was only them with no titles, no contracts, and no betrayals.
But then, another raw truth burned inside her. Truth that she couldn’t hide anymore.
Sanjana drew in a shaky breath. “Ram… there’s something you need to know.”
His gaze intensified, hearing the tone of her voice.
She told him everything, her voice halting at first, then spilling out in a rush. About the sabotages in the hospital. The switched medications, the elevator incident, and what Keya had said about an older woman asking Keya to drug and seduce Ram. Rishan had told Sanjana in the warehouse about the royal matriarch planning their breakup in college, and also initiating the recent knife attacks, and then pushing Rishan to kidnap and kill her. Sanjana also haltingly told Ram about the confrontationshe had with his mother at the Rewa palace after overhearing her name mentioned in the investigation file.
When she finished, her chest was tight. Ram’s expression was unreadable. But she saw his jaw flex and his eyes darkened with anger and pain.
Her heart thudded painfully at the hurt the truth must have caused him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He cupped her cheek. “Don’t be sorry,” he said. “I’m glad you told me the truth. Sometimes, the truth can hurt.”
She nodded.
He tilted her chin and gazed deeply into her eyes. “I love you, Sanjana,” he said again. “I promise you that no one,not even the ones I love, will break us apart again.”
“I love you too, Ram. I promise I will never leave your side again.”
They sealed the promise with a deep kiss.
CHAPTER 55
The helicopter descended onto the Rewa Palace grounds.
Sanjana’s heart beat hard in her chest as the familiar palace towers came into view. This wasn’t a planned visit. And judging by Ram’s expression, it wasn’t going to be a polite one either.
Ram stepped out first and then extended his hand to hers. She placed her slightly trembling hand into his and stepped out.
The Rewa palace guards stood at attention. Although they bowed and greeted, their faces held surprise at Ram’s unannounced arrival.
Ram acknowledged them with a nod. His hand closed firmly around Sanjana’s as he led her across the grounds and into the palace.
The staff looked shocked, seeing Suchitra Devi’s eldest son in the palace halls with his wife by his side. The last time the Devara maharaja had come unannounced was to declare that he had gotten married and introduced his commoner wife.
Sanjana knew the staff expected another such shocking reason for the unplanned visit.
Sanjana’s heart raced knowing they were right.
Ram’s stride was long and purposeful as he led her through the marble corridors. His grip was steady, but Sanjana could feel the tension and dark, simmering anger.
