Page 133 of The Defiant Wife

For the first time in my life . . . That difference means everything.

"You are being far too emotional for someone who loves organizing events,"That deep voice reaches me before the familiar scent of woodsmoke does. "You really thought there would be no birthday party?"

I don't even have to turn around.

My heart already knows it's him.

Veeraj steps beside me, his sleeves rolled up, looking far less like a prince and much more like the man who spent two hours helping children decorate this hall without complaining once.

His eyes meet mine.

And suddenly the noise around us fades.

He reaches up and gently fixes the cardboard crown that has slipped sideways. His fingers brush my temple."So careless," he murmurs."My queen deserves a properly fitted crown."

Heat rushes straight to my cheeks."I am not emotional, Kunwar Sa," I murmur, trying very hard to sound serious."I am simply conducting a professional inspection of the sugar levels in those sweets."

I point toward the dessert table.

"If Rani eats six laddoos and starts climbing the curtains, I'm sending the repair bill directly to the palace."

He laughs softly."I'll approve the budget." Then he leans just a little closer."But only because today belongs to you."

His eyes don't leave mine. "Happy birthday, my wife."

His voice is quiet now.

Gentle.

"So many people failed you before they ever gave you a chance."

His thumb brushes lightly against my cheek."I can't change your past. Iwish I could." His expression so soft, it almost makes me cry,"I wish I could go back and celebrate every birthday they ignored." He cups my face,"I wish I could tell that little girl she was always worthy of being loved."

My vision blurs.

His smile softens."But I can promise you this . . . You will never spend another birthday wondering if someone remembered."His words hold meaning, "You'll never celebrate alone again." He pecks my cheek,"As long as I'm here . . . I'll celebrate every version of you." He kisses my eyes,"The little girl who deserved better." Then my nose,"The woman who built a home for these children." Then my forehead,"And the wife who somehow made a man like me believe in happiness."

A tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it.

My heart feels impossibly full.

How did I get so lucky?

How does someone who spent years believing she wasn't enough end up being loved like this?

Sometimes I still wait for it to disappear. For someone to tell me this isn't really mine. But then Veeraj looks at me like this . . . And every fear quietly melts away.

I grip the front of his shirt to steady myself.

"You keep saying things that make it impossible not to cry," I whisper.

"That's because you keep looking beautiful when you do."

I let out a watery laugh. "You are impossible."

"I've been informed of that several times."

He smiles before lowering his voice just enough that only I can hear."I do have one more birthday gift waiting for you."