Page 108 of The Defiant Wife

I quickly shake my head."It's nothing." The lie leaves my mouth automatically.

I look at the buttons on his shirt instead of meeting his eyes.If I tell him . . . Then I'm making him responsible for my problems too.And I never want him to feel trapped by my life.

His eyebrows pull together immediately.

He brushes away a tear with his thumb."Are you telling me the truth?"I stay quiet."Or," he continues calmly, "should I ask my office to find out what's happening at the NGO before the hour is over?"

My head snaps up."You wouldn't."

"I absolutely would."His answer comes without even a second of hesitation.

Then he leans down and kisses my forehead."I meant what I said before," he murmurs."I don't like seeing you suffer.So please . . . "His forehead rests against mine."Talk to me."

I close my eyes.There really isn't any point hiding it anymore.I let out a long breath."The building lease is under attack."

His expression changes immediately.

"A local land inspector is trying to create problems. If he succeeds, the NGO could lose the property." I force out a small smile."But it's okay. I'll figure something out."

"I just need a little time."His hands tighten slightly around my shoulders.

"And why," he asks gently, "are you trying to solve this alone?"

"You already have enough to deal with." I shrug weakly."You have a state to run. I don't want to add my problems to your list."

His eyes don't leave mine."Your problems aren't separate from mine anymore."

I blink.He continues."You're my wife, Diya. You don't trouble me. Your troubles trouble me . . . "

He gently squeezes my hand.I stare at him for a second before frowning.

"Can you please explain that in normal human language?My brain has stopped working after hearing the word 'trouble' three times in one conversation."

A laugh escapes him. A real one.

He shakes his head before stepping closer again."What I mean," he says quietly, "is that you're part of my life now."Hecups my face carefully."If something steals your peace . . . "His thumb strokes gently across my cheek." . . . it steals mine too."

His voice grows softer. "So why do you think leaning on me is a burden?"

The question catches me completely off guard.

I lower my eyes."Growing up . . . "My voice becomes little more than a whisper." . . . every problem I had felt like an inconvenience to my parents." I swallow the lump in my throat."If I needed help . . . My father acted like I was wasting his time."

A tear slips free again."So I learned to handle everything myself.It's easier than feeling like you're bothering people."

For a long moment, Veeraj says nothing.

I can almost feel the anger rolling off him. Not at me. At the memories.

His jaw tightens before he gently cups my face again. His thumb brushes over one of the pale patches on my cheek with surprising tenderness.

"I don't care what anyone else made you believe." His voice is low. "You will never be a burden to me."

"Not your tears."

"Not your anger."

"And definitely not your problems."