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Chapter 18
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 19
The revelation had numbed Shanaya’s senses. Since she had looked into Neil’s eyes, her mind had barely registered anything she was doing right until his car had halted outside a restaurant. Sometimes during the drive earlier, it had started raining. The windows had turned hazy, cutting off her view of the world outside. Her mind was in a similar state—unsure of how to respond to the news of Neil wanting to get married to Kirti. “We’re here,” Neil said, nudging her arm lightly. Without a word, she stepped out and walked inside. Shanaya sensed their collective gazes burning holes into her back but pretended to not notice. A few more minutes passed. Shanaya knew of the awkwardness she was making the couple feel, and yet she could not bring herself to act normally. This is not normal, she thought to herself. Suhala would never agree to this. Dhruv decided to break the silence with his cool voice. “Well, this is interesting,” he commented, his teasing eyes glued to her face. “Neil
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 20
“You can stay tonight,” the words left Shanaya’s mouth before she could hold back. She bit her tongue then, an inaudible curse rising from her chest. Dhruv’s dark eyes swept to her face in an instant. In them, she found uncertainty and curiosity. She was sure he was wondering what intentions she held. If only she knew herself… As their eyes met, the air stood still for a moment. She heard the sounds of their breath mingle, and her gaze drew to his lips impulsively. Feeling her cheeks heat up, Shanaya looked away. But she knew it was too late. He’d caught her."You don’t have to say please, Shanaya. Not to me. Just promise not to smother me in my sleep. My parents are still holding out for that party," Dhruv said, stepping out of the car. His voice was calm, his steps smooth. However, on the other hand, Shanaya felt like she was losing control of herself, like sand slipping between her fingers. There was no point in even trying. Dhruv walked closely behind her, quiet as a ghost. This
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 21
What began as a slow, teasing kiss soon became demanding. Dhruv’s lips moved in a rhythm similar to hers while his hand held her neck, pulling her closer still. Shanaya felt her toes curl, her veins filling with desire. Involuntarily, she shifted and settled on his lap. His lips were warm and welcoming, and when he moved his lips to her neck, sucking the soft skin there, Shanaya bit her lip to stop herself from moaning. This feels so good, she thought, noticing how her body shivered at his touch. She opened her eyes momentarily to look at Dhruv—leisurely tracing lips further and further down her neck—and felt her cheeks burn. She wanted him. All of him. And there was no denying that. He noticed her eyes on him and paused, his lips forming a smirk. “Enjoying this?” he whispered, leaning so close that her lungs defied her, refusing to breathe. His dark gaze met hers and she drowned herself in those eyes. “Very much,” she replied, her voice almost inaudible. Lowering her eyes to his
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 22
Shanaya recalled how the night had ended: with a kiss that was light and quick and yet so fulfilling. She wanted to seal that moment and keep it forever in her mind. “You’re tempting.”“I’m happy you’re not denying that,” Dhruv expressed, beaming. “Can you also agree that this is very comforting?” He drew her close until their breaths mingled. She nodded, her nose brushing against his. “But this isn’t what I should be doing right now,” she reasoned. “Who decides that?” Dhruv raised a brow, and continued in a low voice, “I think you’ll spend the rest of the day thinking about the offer.”“Let me prove you wrong,” she told him, making an impulsive decision. She called Shaheer as Dhruv watched her, mouth agape wondering what she was about to do. “I’m not coming today, Shaheer. I’ll see you directly on Monday,” she conveyed, her free hand caressing Dhruv’s back. As soon as the call ended, his lips collided with hers in a rough kiss. Shanaya could not help but smile and recovered soon
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 23
Kabir exhaled heavily and placed his elbows on the desk. “Okay,” he said in a way like he always did when it was not. "How old is Neil?" Shanaya sighed, remembering how that was the first question that had entered her mind when Dhruv had told her about the matter. "Twenty-three. He's five years older than us." "We should've known that they're more than friends, " he commented. "I admire how well he managed to keep it hidden though. And he already proposed!""A diamond ring," she said, trying to sound bored. Kabir regarded her with a look she did not understand. "Kirti would expect nothing less." Shanaya had just recited all that had gone down in the last few days, excluding particular details of the previous night. She was in his clinic, sitting across his table piled with reports and notepads and medicines and pens that lay astray. The view was distracting. Her hands itched. Discreetly, she picked another pen and placed it in the holder. Kabir’s eyes watched her action closely,
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 24
Driving in her new car, Shanaya recalled how she had been tormented the last few days. Now she did not need to pester those around her to lend her their cars. When she looked back, she blamed the presence of a certain someone for the delay in dealing with this matter. On her way back to the Arora mansion, she had stopped by the garage and given the mechanics a mouthful for being incapable of fixing her old car—although one could argue it was a little too old. Regardless, she had as much as told them to set it on fire for all she cared. But as soon as the words left her mouth, regret swooped in. Her father’s voice echoed in her mind: ‘No matter how rich you become, every penny will have the same worth. So spend judiciously, because you never know when the gods may turn on you for disrespecting the wealth they have blessed you with.’ He had hated it when people discarded things carelessly—things they had once craved and begged to own. Shanaya believed Dhiren Arora would have liked
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 25
No words left Suhala's mouth for what seemed like an eternity To Shanaya. But her gaze was unwavering, holding within them the threat of burning down mountains to dust. Her lips quivered as she took a step forward. "Is this a sick joke?" Her voice sounded constricted as if she had forced herself to speak. Shanaya frowned and shook her head softly. Her grandmother raised her chin, still considering the possibility of this being a farce before turning around abruptly.“He can marry her,” she said, startling Shanaya. But her next words brought her back to reality. “When I’m nothing but ashes.”“Please don’t say that,” Shanaya pleaded, reaching forward to place a hand on her arm but her grandmother flinched. "Yes. He can marry her when I'm dead." Suhala's voice was not stern, telling that she would not change her mind even if her life depended on it. "Dadi, we're talking about Neil… "There was a sharp increase in the pitch of her voice, "Anything that involves the Kapoors… ! My dear c
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 26
By the time Monday morning rolled in, Shanaya was tired beyond measure. This was very rare. If she could be very honest with herself she would admit that this was happening for the first time—the urge to stay back rather than attend work was strong. She had always been a workaholic and there was a good reason behind it. She knew how her mind conjured up the darkest of thoughts when it was unoccupied. Despite every nerve in her body pleading with her not to, she convinced herself to get out of bed that morning, even though it took more than a cup of coffee for that to happen. The bright daylight outside mocked her gloomy mood. To make things worse, she found the tire of her car flattened. She was sure she would lose a tooth or two from how she suppressed groaning at her state. Could it get any worse? she questioned herself rhetorically, silently fearing it could indeed happen. The aches in Shanaya’s body made themselves known as soon as she stepped out of the cab. Any sleep ha
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The Billionaire's Second Chance Epilogue
Epilogue *A year later* “I need two more minutes, Shan,” Dhruv said through trembling lips. He let out a loud exhale. “Today’s an important day. I’ve never felt this way before any of my business meetings.” Shanaya placed her hand over his in a reassuring manner, passing him a genuine smile. “Hey, silly. This is a lot more difficult than any business meeting you’ll ever have.” Leaning forward, she reached out her hand to touch his cheek. “I’m glad I’m doing this with you. When we see her, everything will feel great. All this nervousness is going to fade into joy which will last a lifetime.” He nodded. “Of course, babe. I know that.” He wetted his lips before letting out another sigh. “Wow, I’m so ready to do this with you. Just give me one minute.” Shanaya agreed, nodding. She had never seen him so nervous. It was surprising and amusing at the same time. The air carried with it the scent of petrichor, greeting her senses as stepped out of her car. It was still warm despite the re
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 28
Shanaya couldn’t get any words out of her mouth as she watched Dhruv easily knock against the door to her grandmother’s room before he walked inside with a smile. How could he do that so casually? What was Shanaya missing? When she turned around to see Kirti’s face, she found amusement on it—not confusion like she had expected. “Is this really happening right now, Kirti? Please pinch me!” she said hurriedly, her voice filled with panic. Kirti laughed in response, instead urging her, “Go inside. I bet he needs you by his side.” “He’s not just about to do what he said he was going to,” Shanaya mumbled more to herself than to Kirti, gently patting her chest that stirred in anticipation. “Please, tell me.” His sister inched closer, a look of understanding crossing her eyes. “Dhruv hasn’t mentioned it to you, but he has been secretly visiting Dadi ever since she got sick. Actually, she was the one who requested him to meet her.” “But why would she do that?” “She… she felt sorry an
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 27
Ahail cleared his throat, adjusting the tie around his neck before he persuaded himself to press the doorbell. The moment was exhilarating. He felt as though he was going on an adventure—even though confronting someone did not count as one. But that night, he was determined to set things right. He had delayed far too long already. The door opened with a jerk and Noor’s face fell as she spotted him. The curious look faded away into a frown before she quickly replaced it with a difficult smile. He knew her enough to see right through it. Right then, as the moment stood silent, he debated with himself. He could walk away, ending the conversation before it started. Noor was already uncomfortable, he could see that. But the annoying voice inside his mind—that had been bothering him for days—urged him to stay put. He had to do this. He had to do it for Shanaya. And for himself. “Hey,” he managed to say, his voice coming out thick despite clearing his throat seconds before. When he he
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 26
The conversation with Nazir swirled inside Shanaya’s mind long after he left with Shaheer. All through the day as she sat through meetings and walked around her office, she pictured how things would’ve been had Nazir found the courage to confess his love for her grandmother, Suhala. If fate had favoured him, Shanaya would not exist. And if Suhala had indeed rejected him, it would have likely ruined their friendship. Shanaya was more baffled than sorry for the old man. Not once had she sensed even the hint of unrequited love from Nazir despite seeing her grandmother with him for several years. He did a great job hiding his feelings, and she could only imagine how heavy it weighed on him. She realised how lucky she was to get a second chance with Dhruv. Where would she be had he not stormed back into her life? Everything was better with him. And she had missed that feeling for all these years never knowing she had been craving it. She sighed, an audible cue for when she was do
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 25
As the morning sun bathed her white cabin in warm hues, Shanaya sat at her desk, engrossed in her work. She had things to take care of that day and with Priya back to work, she was glad to have someone to rely on. After the previous night had ended, Shanaya was reluctant to leave Dhruv’s side. She wanted to continue being in his arms, his touch bringing her the comfort that she craved. But then when Dhruv told her that at the end of the day, she’ll be back in his arms, she smirked at her and laughed it off. She teased him, making him look like a lovesick person. Once more, the world was abuzz with discussions about them. The rumors surrounding their relationship intensified, particularly when Anjali confidently appeared in public with her high school sweetheart and declared their engagement. Speculations arose regarding the nature of the bond between Anjali and Dhruv, yet neither of them contributed to the gossip mill. Dhruv reassured Shanaya that if she wasn't bothered by people's
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 24
Hours later Shanaya was in Kabir’s clinic, staring at the pictures hung up on the walls with other posters that gave out important information about hygiene as she recited the incident to him. Kabir’s eyes were wide as saucers. “She really asked you that?” “Yes,” Shanaya said, chewing on her bottom lip. “Future husband.” Kabir shook his head, sighing in disbelief. “Are you sure you didn’t just hallucinate that?” he emphasized, placing his elbows on the table. “Kabir, come on. She has… changed. I think she believes she doesn’t have enough time to hold grudges anymore.” “I think,” her best friend began. “She realizes that he makes you happy. And that’s what she wants for you. She has seen you struggle, Shanaya. No one else has been an active observer.” Shanaya shrugged. “So, that’s a good thing, right? It means she approves.” Kabir checked his wristwatch, his eyebrows narrowing. He stood up and took off his whit coat. He tried to sound nonchalant but Shanaya sensed the curiosity
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 23
The sun was shining outside, casting a bright and warm glow into the room through the pushed-back curtains. After a continuous spell of rain that had almost got Shanaya worried, the sky had cleared. ‘Everything is fine,’ she told herself. ‘I’m happy.’ But that was the way to jinx it—admitting that things were good. And then her brain did all it could to dampen her mood. This time, however, Raunak was there to distract her. “Alright, one more step… Ah, that’s great. You’re doing good,” Raunak claimed, helping Suhala get back to her wheelchair. “You’ve made a lot of progress, Mrs. Arora. It won’t be long before you’re sprinting up and down these stairs.” Suhala laughed it off, the sound of her croaky laughter echoing in the room. She sat down with a sigh, leaning her head back. If the venture had exhausted her, that was the sign. However, Shanaya could see nothing on her face that implied any pain. Shanaya smiled to herself, acknowledging that Raunak’s words were an exaggeration
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 22
When the next morning dawned, Shanaya was eager to leave. She had begun regretting her decision of coming to her family house. She was sure nothing would’ve changed had her uncle revealed the truth to her on the phone call. But even then, a part of her knew she would not resist being away knowing her brother had been injured in a fight. Shanaya’s puffy eyes were noticed by everyone at the table during breakfast. Ahail was of course absent, so Suhala had sent breakfast over to his room. The old woman had let her go but not before giving her an emotional lecture, pleading at the end to find Ahail a job in their family business. Shanaya had no choice but to agree despite all the questions that had rushed past her mind. Did Ahail even want to work for the company? Suhala seemed not to care. Her only concern was to see him being busy yet again but everyone knew perfectly well what happened when he had nothing to do. Shanaya drove to her office that foggy morning after making sure
The Billionaire's Second Chance Chapter 21
When Shanaya entered through the door of her family mansion, her doubt was confirmed. Something was definitely amiss. Harish, her uncle, sat with his hand holding his head. His face was covered with a worried expression. She could breathe the discomfort in the air—something grave had happened. Suhala was sleeping in her wheelchair. Well, at least her eyes were closed as her she leaned back, her head resting against the edge of the backrest. “Uncle,” Shanaya greeted, carefully treading forward. Harish jumped in his seat, startled by her approach. He held a hand against a chest before he stood up and nodded. “Shanaya,” he said. That was all he said. “Tell me what has happened,” she demanded, her voice unwavering. Suhala was awakened by their loud conversation. Her wearing eyes looked around the room in search of someone, before they finally landed on Shanaya. “Oh, my child. You’re here finally.” “Dadi,” she mumbled, facing her momentarily before she gazed at Harish again. She
