“I don't even know what you will get from this” I mutter, scribbling my signature across the papers with shaky hands

The corner of his lips curves into a slow smirk as he slides the paper back to himself “Not now but maybe in future. I have business relations across the world, except in your country”

I frown, lifting my gaze to him “You need some connections from an Indian business person? Why not someone else”

He scoffs, shaking his head “Right now? I don't think they are as desperate as you” Even though he is telling the truth, I feel like he is mocking me “And as Royal Crest spreads almost across the country it's perfect for us”

“I hope you aren't involved in drugs or trafficking” I say, my eyes narrows slightly in suspicion

He chuckles and shakes his head in denial “No, I don't pollute the youth or innocent. You can believe me in that” He assures, I know he doesn't go that low, a billionaire with some morals I guess.

“Liam and Stella have also joined the Indigo club” I ask, carefully “Did you make them sign something like this?”

He hums, tilting his head “Not exactly, every member has signed an agreement based on different conditions. All of them confidential” His voice drops to a serious one “I hope you know I mean”

I gulp and nod.

I am not allowed to say this to anyone.

“Will you take me to him now?” my voice cracks despite my efforts to stay composed “Please?”

He nods, stepping aside and gesturing me towards the door

✄┈┈

“This is a hospital, don’t run” Jeff calls out as he walks behind me then quickens his pace to catch up.

I stop abruptly and turn around, my breathing already heavy. “Oh yeah?” I whisper sharply. “You said it was a minor injury. Then why is he admitted?” I try not to tell when I see a few patients passing by

He shrugs nonchalantly, looking unfazed by my outburst in the car earlier when he said Lucas was admitted in the hospital “For someone who has taken bullets” He says , slowly “That's not much”

I scoff in disbelief “You should try being empathetic then”

He raises his eyebrow “Me being sympathetic is the greatest privilege already, okay?”

“I don't know why I am wasting my time on you” I mutter, turning on my heels and searching for the room. I scan the room number plate that shows the direction  towards — 312. I quickly turn left and my steps halt when I see a familiar figure.

“Stella!”

Her head whips toward me so fast that the woman beside her pauses mid-sentence. I barely take another step before Stella rushes forward and wraps her arms around me into a tight hug.

“Oh my God, Jasmine, I am so sorry,” she mutters, hugging me in an almost crushing grip.

She pulls back slightly, her face ceasing with worry. “What are you doing here? Are you okay? Is everything alright?” Her words came rapidly “We tried calling you so many times,I was terrified. Are you fine—”

“Stella! Stella! calm down” I stop her, holding her arms and squeezing them gently to ground her. She shudders slightly before taking a deep breath “I am glad you came” she whispers again, almost broken.

My expressions softens looking at her state, her skin pale and dark circles under her eyes “My phone was hacked, that's why we couldn't communicate”

Her eyes widens in surprise, then her gaze follows behind my shoulder where I sense Jeff’s presence. She opens her mouth to say something but stops herself “I…” She sighs softly “Things have been a mess, I don't even know how to explain everything”

I take a deep breath and nod in understanding “Yeah, Jeff told me” I reveal. She blinks in surprise, looking back and forth at him and me “Everything?” she asks, almost cautiously to Jeff.

Jeff gives out a vague expression “Nott everything” The tone of his voice makes me tense up a bit

I gulp, my grip loosens on her before I release her completely. My eyes drift to the closed hospital room “Is he alright?”

The woman who was talking to Stella earlier steps forward. Stella moves a side to give her space “This is allison, Lucas’s therapist"

I have heard of her

“He is stable,” Allison explains slowly. “He had a concussion, which caused him to collapse. During the fall, he hit his healing shoulder, resulting in a minor scratch on his forehead.” She pauses “However, he also sustained a muscle tear in his arm.”

My eyes widens, a horrified gasp escapes my lips “Muscle tear?”

“His shoulder,” she replies calmly. “He had a sprain during his last match and the impact worsened it. It will take a few weeks to recover.” My expression falters at her words.

When was he injured?

Why didn’t he tell me?

“He is stable,” she assures gently, but then her expression drops slightly. Her voice grows softer, as if walking on thin ice. “Physically, yes. But mentally… he is strained. The past few days have been overwhelming with grief, the funeral, unresolved matters” A quiet sigh escapes her. “But what affected him the most was not being able to reach you”

My stomach twists with a sickening feeling. Guilt and fear

He called and I wasn't there

Allison takes a deep breath “Go in, you should see him but be careful.”

I nod, even though my legs feel boneless. My heart is pounding in my chest, not ready to see what's behind that door. Jeff and Stella step back, giving me space to move closer to the door

My palm trembles around the doorknob before I twist it gently, opening the door and entering inside. I feel my chest coiling with an indescribable feeling, the whites making me dizzy. The room is slightly dim due to the curtains being half drawn. The smell of antiseptic fills my senses as I walk in further.

The sound of machines — never thought they would be this scary.

Lucas lies on the bed, motionless, his eyes closed, yet there isn't any sign of peace on his face. A small frown covered his face like a shadow haunting him. My throat tightens painfully as my gaze drifts to the bandage wrapped around his forehead, then to the one stretched across his shoulder.

My eyes fall on the vase placed on the table beside his bed — Jasmine flowers. Their fragrance barely present, the petals withering, the presence barely there. Like mine

I take a step closer hesitatingly.

I should have come sooner.

I should have followed him the moment I got the news. I stayed, I let the fear and the words get the best of me and now he is in that position because of me.

The sheets rustle slightly, he lifts his hand. His eyelashes flutter as his eyes open slowly, his head turning toward me. His eyes look confused before widening.

I open my mouth to speak when he suddenly starts laughing. I flinch at that sound — a laugh forced out of pain, cracking, in disbelief.

A sound that horrifies me.

“So this is it?” He whispers, voice dry and barely present, “Am I finally losing my mind? Hallucinations. Great. Fantastic,” He scoffs, shaking his head and then closing his eyes as if expecting this to be a dream

I feel my heart break

Without a word I rush towards him, reaching out to hold his hand in mine, feeling how his always warm hands are cold against mine “Lucas?” I whisper gently, trying to get his attention.

His eyes snaps open, his breath hitches and I feel his fingers wrapping around my hand in a tight grip like iron —almost painful but I don't protest

“Jasmine” he breathes, his eyes flickering all over my face as if making sure I am real. “I thought you—” His voice cracks. And suddenly he sits up not giving me time to react.

His arms wrap around me tightly as he pulls me against his chest. His breath crashes against my neck, uneven and desperate. His grip is tightening as though he is afraid of letting me go. My eyes widen in shock, instinctively placing my hand between us, remembering his injuries.

The monitors spike, his heartbeat racing

He winces, the pain rippling through his muscles, I feel his body flinch against mine. “Lucas!” I gasp, holding his forearm trying to steady him but he doesn't budge.

If anything he just holds me tighter.

His fist curls on the back of my shirt, trembling violently and I couldn't separate him. His forehead presses against my shoulder as he lets out a sharp breath “Don’t” He chokes out.

"Don't move, stay like this, Jasmine” He pleads

My heart tightens painfully, filling with guilt, my fingers gently loosens on his arm “You are hurting”

“I don't care” He snaps, his voice snapping slightly "I don't care, that pain is nothing to what I felt in your absence” My hand flatters down along with my protests against his words.

His breathing is still fast with his heartbeat, he is shaking, like holding back an inner turmoil.

“I am sorry” that's all I could say right now.

He shakes his head, not saying anything but still clinging onto me like a lifeline

“Stay” he pleads

I wrap my arms around him, pulling him closer but being careful about his wounds, I feel the strain of his skin under the bandage “I am here, I aint leaving”

The room went silent for a while, the sound of his heavy breathing slowly calming down, he still clenched to me while I was panicking internally not to hurt his wounds. I ease my hand down his back, he just buries his face in my neck seeking comfort. “I am here” I repeat softly.

It takes him a while, I don't know if it was hours or minutes for him to finally loosen his grip. Not fully but just enough to pull back and look at me.

His eyes remained red and swollen, the dark circles under his eyes showed the lack of sleep. When he finally speaks again, it comes out ragged “I tried…I really tried” His throat bobbles as he swallows.

“I tried calling, we all did. I was scared something happened to you. Or if your opinions changed about me after knowing the truth” His voice breaks by the end of the sentence.

“I didn't want to leave, I wanted to stand in front of your family and prove them that I am worthy of you” He lets out a laugh, shaking his head but its out of pain rather than humour “But guess the god had other plans for me”

“Oh Lucas” I whisper softly, taking his hand in mine “You didn't need to prove anyone and nothing about you would change my feelings about you” I gulp nervously, my breath hitching.

I wanted to tell him why, I couldn't contact him but not wanting to divert the topic

“Still” He mumbles, his eyes flickering here and there. He lets out a pained groan rubbing his face “Your father said I don't deserve you. My lies, I have lied to you and your family, I wanted to confess sooner, I tried my best but I was scared of your reaction. Maybe I was just insecure because of what happened in my past”

He lowers his hands, staring at the white blanket before looking at me “It was Iris who told me I was adopted, she disclosed it so casually not knowing how it would impact me. Only my uncle knew about this and he didn't care much”

My expression flatters down, hearing his words.

Whenever I hear about iris, it just goes lower and lower

“That day of the final match?” He asks, his gaze coming back to me trying to see if I remember. I slowly nod, recalling his sudden panic attack that he didn't explain about.

“Also…when she pushed you down the stairs?” He asks, his voice hesitant, eyes filled with guilt.

My heart quickens it's pace “Yeah? What about them?”

He inhales sharply “Both times…my uncle brought her..” His voice cracks as he looks at me, yet suddenly his eyes go numb “My biological mother, that day two years ago? It was the first time I saw her and I looked so much like her”

He clears his throat “I got to know about her during her burial” He exhales softly “She was eighteen when she got pregnant with me, her high school boyfriend left her at that news. Apparently she wanted to have me…but couldn't. The condition was she would give me up for adoption”

My expressions softens hearing that, the pain in his voice, the struggle to share this with me

“You might have heard the rest…my parents' second son was born prematurely and couldn't survive. They wanted to adopt someone and my mother heard about it and reached out to them. Hoping for a better future for me and then disappeared”

He scoffs shaking his head before he continues “Only to reappear after years on my uncle’s request. I realised he always wanted this, never took me as a part of the family. When dad left us, he wanted to make me leave too but mom stopped him"

“I am sorry, Lucas” I mutter, my thumb strokes his hand gently, trying to provide him comfort despite feeling overwhelmed.

“You don't need to be,” He says softly, a forced smile appearing on his lips which makes my heart ache. “I don't hate her, I don't hate or despise anyone, I somehow tried to understand them. Yes I was angry but not hated them” There's something in his eyes that hurts to look at , the fear of abandonment and mixed with confusion

“But being kept in the dark made me confused, making me feel unwanted to her and a replacement to them. That made me believe I never belonged to these people, that I don't belong anywhere”

I shake my head quickly “No! no” I deny, making him look at me. The way he has slowly unraveled his past “You will always belong with them, with us, with me, that isn't gonna change. Okay?”

“I have this unexplainable feeling, Jasmine, I can't describe it, I can't express it, I don't know what to say, how to cope or how to feel about everything. How to explain? He asks, his eyebrows frowned in deep confusion, his eyes getting moist again

“You don't need to explain anything right now, you don't need to think about anyone else but yourself right now” I say, bring my hand to his cheek and wiping off the tear that slips from his eye

“Through all the struggles, which you wanna share just wanna stay silent on, I will be right by your side Lucas” I promise.

I will make sure they regret it

✄┈┈

The moment I close the door behind me with a click I feel something inside me shutting down too. His voice still echoes in my mind, the pain and vulnerability in his voice when he held me. The moment of him breaking down is still stuck in my head

The guilt

But mostly angry, not towards him but towards the people who are the reason for his state.

Stella is waiting for me on the chairs aligned with the corridor. I slowly walk towards her, my palm sting by how tightly I clench it, she notices it and looks at me concerned “Everything alright?” She asks softly, I sit beside her.

Allison and Jeff nowhere in sight.

“This wouldn't have happened if I didn't ask him to come to India, no one would have been triggered, they wouldn't have plotted against you all if you all were away…” I trail off, burying my face in my hands and rubbing it harshly.

She rubs my back slowly “It's not your fault okay? I suggest this to you. But even if I didn't, I feel like you both would have found your way towards each other” She whispers, making me look up at her. She smiles a little “Like today

I sigh, shaking my head “Still..”

Stella shakes her head “No, it was them who held stupid grudges against you and dragged him into this mess. You did what you felt was right, you didn't harm anyone, Jasmine. Its not your fault” She repeats, her voice firm, trying to assure me yet my heart feels heavy

“I just..” I take a deep breath, looking up to stop the tears from falling. Her expression softens as she pulls me into her arms for comfort and I sink in without any protests. Because I couldn't hold on anymore, I couldn't cry at home nor in front of Lucas.

I just couldn't show how much this all was affecting me, not in front of him, not in front of my family when they are already worried. I couldn't have given them more trouble because of me

“Everything will be alright” She murmurs against my head, rubbing my back slowly.

Suddenly, a hand comes forward and I pull up from Stella to see Jeff standing beside us, his eyes distant at the wall as he holds a phone “New phone, with your sim” He says.

My eyes widen in surprise, taking the phone from him while Stella frowns in confusion. “Her phone was hacked, got it ceased, she can use this one to stay in contact with her family” Jeff explains, noticing Stella's confusion.

Yeah, I haven't messaged Veer yet. Even if I did, who knows what Kavya would have done.

I quickly switch on the phone and dial my brother's number first. I know he might have tried to contact me so many times till now as it has been so many hours.

In a couple of rings he picks up “Jasmine! Kya hua! Tumhara phone nahi lag raha tha, is everything alright there? What happened?” He asks in one breath, his tone worried and concerned.[Translation - Jasmine! What happened! Your phone was unreadable]

“I am okay,” I sigh softly, rubbing my forehead as I feel a headache building inside me. “It’s complicated, I can’t explain everything right now…”

The line goes silent before he speaks. “Papa wants you home,” He mutters hesitantly. I can feel the tension in his voice, something might have happened for him to say that. “He isn’t happy that you left without informing. If the things are cleared out there, then maybe...”

He trails off, I don't need him to complete his sentence to understand what he means. Stella looks at me in surprise and worry, hearing his words.

He wants me to come back

But how? When the situation here is like this

Jeff watches quietly, his expressions unreadable but eye sharp as if calculating something.

I take a deep breath, making up my decision. My stomach twists with dread, this might not get the best reaction, but I just can't leave like this

If I leave now, I don't know if he can take that feeling again

And even I won't, I don't want to leave him, especially in this state of his

I stare at the door in front of me, letting a few heartbeats make up my mind. “I am not coming back,” I say, firmly leaving no place for doubt or convincing. “Not yet, not until I make things right, not until he is alright.”

Veer pauses, inhaling sharply as if he was expecting it. “Jasmine,” he says my name. I could hear the slight plea in his voice, but I couldn't go back. He sighs softly. “I will take care of it here. If any of the elders call, then   pick up, okay?”

Relief washes over me at his words, a bit of burden off my shoulders atleast right now “Thank you..”

“Take care of yourself and stay in contact.” he says before hanging up

My breath leaves me in one long exhale.

I lift my gaze up to meet Jeff’s

I don't say a word

I don't need to

A flicker of silent exchange crosses my eyes. He nods once, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips at my silent agreement.