“You didn’t think I had an affair with Shreya, did you?”
Tina frowned as she tried to think of an explanation that didn’t reveal too much. “I know nothing is going on between you and Shreya.” The magazine headlines bothered her because she knew the truth. She didn’t like the lies that were said about Dev and wanted people to know that he was a man worthy of her love and respect.
“I was sure you were canceling our agreement on our anniversary,” Dev said. “I thought you didn’t trust me. It turns out I had jumped to conclusions and ruined everything.”
“I trust you, Dev,” she whispered.
“If you’re pregnant, you can’t get rid of me,” Dev said as he held her gaze. “I will be there for you whether or not you want me around.”
“You don’t have to go through this again,” Tina said. “Get out now while you can.”
“I don’t want to get out,” Dev said in a growl. “I want to care for you. I protect what is mine.”
“I am not yours.” It hurt to say that out loud. Tina blinked away the tears that threatened to spill from her lashes. “You threw me out, remember?”
“I felt like I was the only one fighting for us. I wanted you to fight just as hard. Instead, you walked away.”
Tina’s deep sigh dragged from her throat. “I’m tired of fighting.”
“So I’ll keep fighting for us,” he vowed as he watched her intently. “But if I can’t have that, then let me support you. Let me be a part of this.”
She wanted Dev to be part of every step in this journey. She needed to rely on him if something went wrong. But if he knew what could happen, why was he volunteering to stay? “You’ve been through this before. Why would you want to go through it again?”
“Is that why you’re not telling me? Is this your way of protecting me? Or were you keeping the baby a secret so I didn’t take it away from you?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes, it matters!” He swore and lowered his voice. “I love you and I want to look after you. Why is it so hard to accept that?”
“You love me?” she repeated in a daze.
“Yes, I have always loved you.” He looked away, almost shyly. “I tried to fight it, but it overpowers me. I thought that the love I have was strong enough that it could carry the both of us. I was wrong. I want you to love me. Trust me. Need me.”
She hesitated, feeling like she was on the edge of a big cliff and ready to take a leap of faith. “Dev, did you wonder why I went to your office a month ago?”
“I thought you had come back from the lawyers and were going to ask for a divorce.”
Her skin felt hot as nervousness raced through her veins. “I was going to ask for you to give our marriage a second chance.”
He winced. “You were?”
“I wore a sari, Dev. That should have been your first clue that I was going to ask for something important.”
Dev leaned back in his chair and rubbed his hands over his eyes. “You wanted to try again. And I threw you out.”