Devarsh was the one who woke up first. As the soft morning light filtered through the balcony curtains, he slowly opened his eyes to find Nidhi sleeping soundly against him, hugging him tightly like a little koala.

Her small body was fully flush against his side, her legs completely tangled with his, and her breathing deep and even. She had slept in far longer than usual today, completely exhausted from the intense and the consuming passion of the night before.

Devarsh smiled tenderly, a soft look replacing his usual stoic expression. He leaned down and pressed a gentle, lingering kiss onto her forehead.

Moving with utmost care so as not to wake her, he slowly detangled his legs from hers, slid out from under the heavy blanket, and quietly made his way into the washroom.

A little while later, Nidhi began to stir. Still half-asleep, she instinctively reached her hand out across the mattress, searching for the familiar warmth of his body.

Finding nothing but empty, cold sheets, her eyes fluttered open. She sat up slowly, stretching her arms and letting out a soft yawn.

Glancing at the bedside clock, she realized it was Sunday. No office today.

She looked down and noticed she was still swimming in Devarsh's massive, oversized black t-shirt. The scent of his cologne wrapped around her, and within seconds, the vivid, burning memories of last night came rushing back into her mind-the ice cubes, his fiercely possessive words, and the way he had completely dominated her. A furious blush crept up her neck, her cheeks turning a bright, fiery crimson.

Then, suddenly, another realization hit her. Her inner CID mode instantly booted back up. 'So, Neha and Shiva are actually a couple?!'

Her thoughts swirled. She felt a sudden wave of embarrassment washing over her. She had literally accused Devarsh, thrown a massive tantrum, and even threatened to divorce him-all because she thought he was being too close to Neha! Meanwhile, Neha was actually her brother-in-law's secret girlfriend all along. She resolved right then and there that she needed to find both of them today and get the full, dramatic story.

Just as she was plotting her interrogation, the sound of the bathroom door clicking open broke her train of thought.

Devarsh stepped out, a towel draped around his neck, looking breathtakingly handsome with his hair damp and messy. Catching his gaze, Nidhi's heart did a familiar flutter.

Feeling suddenly shy after her memories, she quickly looked down, completely avoiding his eyes.

Devarsh's lips twitched into a wicked smirk. He tracked her flustered movements and walked deliberately over to the bed, sitting down right beside her. The mattress dipped under his weight.

"Hmm... so yesterday, someone got incredibly jealous," Devarsh teased, his voice dropping into a low, gravelly morning baritone.

Nidhi's head snapped up defensively, but seeing the smug satisfaction in his dark eyes, she quickly looked down again, pouting. "I'm not jealous," she murmured in a low, defiant voice. "I was just being possessive."

"Oho... endhuko possessiveness?" Devarsh asked, leaning in closer, his hot breath brushing against her cheek.

(Oh? And why the possessiveness?)

He reached out, his large, warm fingers gently tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, his touch sending a familiar shiver down her spine. "Didn't someone say, 'Go and marry her, just give me a divorce'?" he mocked softly, mimicking her tone from the night before. "Is that what you call being possessive, Mrs.nidhi devarsh Rudramaneni?"

Nidhi ground her teeth. The teasing was hitting her ego. "Devarsh, stop it!" she huffed, her face turning redder.

"I didn't know about Shiva and Neha, okay? Anyone in my place would have reacted the same way if they saw their husband smiling so brightly with another woman!"

"So you admit you can't bear to see me with anyone else?" Devarsh countered smoothly, trapping her in his logic. He leaned down until his lips almost grazed her jaw. "What if I smile at someone else today, Nidhi? What will you do then?"

That was the absolute tipping point for her stubbornness.

Determined to break his smug composure, Nidhi suddenly stood up on her knees on the mattress, gaining a height advantage.

Before he could react, she reached down and aggressively grabbed the collar of his t-shirt, pulling him forward with surprising strength until their faces were a mere inch apart. Her eyes flashed with fierce, untamed authority.

"champesthanu!" she whispered dangerously close to his lips, her voice laced with a mix of raw possessiveness and playful threat.

(...I will kill you!)

Before Devarsh could even process her sudden boldness, Nidhi leaned in, planted a hard, sudden kiss right on his cheek, and instantly released his shirt. In a flash, she scrambled off the other side of the bed and bolted toward the washroom like a wild deer, slamming the door shut behind her.

Devarsh sat frozen on the bed for a couple of seconds. Slowly, a massive, genuine smile broke across his handsome face. He reached up, his fingers touching the exact spot on his cheek where her lips had just been. He let out a low, deeply amused chuckle, shook his head, and stood up to head down to the mansion's private gym to burn off his remaining morning energy.

Inside the washroom, Nidhi rested her back against the closed door, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs. "Oh god, why did I do that?" she squealed softly to herself, a huge grin spreading across her face.

She turned around and walked over to the vanity mirror to take a shower. But the moment she caught sight of her reflection, her jaw dropped in absolute horror. Her neck, her collarbones, and the upper swell of her chest were practically covered in dark, unmistakable purplish-red love bites and teeth marks-courtesy of her very angry, very punishing husband.

"Devarsh....!" she gasped, inspecting the damage.

After taking a long, luxurious hot shower, Nidhi stood in front of the mirror with her makeup bag. She spent a solid twenty minutes meticulously dabbing, blending, and layering heavy-duty waterproof concealer over every single mark, making sure her skin looked completely flawless.

Satisfied that her secret was safe, she got dressed in a comfortable casual outfit and headed downstairs.

As she reached the dining hall, she saw her mother-in-law, Syamala, elegantly setting up the grand table for breakfast.

"Good morning, atthayya!" Nidhi said cheerfully, walking up behind her and wrapping her arms around her in a warm hug.

(...mother-in-law!)

"Good morning, thalli," Syamala smiled warmly, turning around to press a sweet kiss onto Nidhi's forehead.

(...my child.)

Syamala looked around the quiet hall. "Where is Devarsh? He usually reads the paper here by now."

"He is in the gym, atthayya," Nidhi replied smoothly, helping her arrange the plates.

"Ah, typical. Okay then, Nidhi, do me a favor. Go and call Neha for breakfast, thalli. She is staying in the guest room at the end of the east hallway," Syamala requested gently.

"Sure, atthayya," Nidhi said with a bright smile. Inside, her inner detective was practically doing backflips. Perfect opportunity to get the gossip. She immediately turned around and started walking toward the guest wing.

Meanwhile, Devarsh was just walking out of the home gym, wiping his brow with a towel. As he entered the main corridor, he spotted Nidhi walking with an undeniable purpose toward the guest wing.

'Why is she going toward Neha's room so early in the morning?' Devarsh thought, his eyebrows furrowing. Fearing that his impulsive, dramatic wife might start another fiery confrontation based on her lingering jealousy, he quickly adjusted his pace and silently followed her down the hallway.

Nidhi reached the guest room door and stood outside. She raised her hand and knocked firmly. "Neha? Are you awake? Breakfast is ready," she called out.

No response.

Nidhi frowned. She knocked a second time, a bit louder. "Neha?"

Still, there was absolute silence from inside. Nidhi's curiosity flared. She reached for the doorknob, expecting it to be locked, but to her surprise, the door was slightly ajar.

The lock hadn't clicked into place. Driven by pure instinct, Nidhi pushed the door wide open and stepped inside. "Neha, are you-"

The words completely died in her throat. Her brain instantly short-circuited.

Right there, pressed against the edge of the guest bed, were Shiva and Neha. They weren't just talking-they were locked in an incredibly deep, passionate, and breathless embrace.

Shiva's hands were tangled firmly in Neha's hair, pinning her lips to his, while Neha's arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, pulling him closer. The sheer intensity of their kiss was so consuming that neither of them even heard the door open, completely oblivious to the fact that they now had an audience.

Nidhi's eyes widened to the absolute size of saucers. Her hands flew up to cover her face in shock. But true to her nature, her fingers subconsciously parted, leaving a wide gap right in the middle so she could continue watching the scandalous romance unfold right in front of her.

Before she could take in another second of the view, a large, powerful hand suddenly clamped over her mouth from behind, cutting off her gasp.

An arm wrapped securely around her waist, lifting her off her feet, and pulled her backward out into the hallway. The bedroom door was quietly but swiftly kicked shut, cutting off the view of the lovers inside.

Nidhi was instantly pinned flat against the hallway wall beside the door. She looked up, trembling, only to find Devarsh looming right over her, his chest pressing against hers, his eyes dancing with deep amusement.

The moment he released his hand from her mouth, Nidhi panicked. She looked exactly like a teenager who had just been caught red-handed by her strict parents while watching a scandalous romantic scene on TV.

"Nenu em choodaledhu! Nenu em choodaledhu!" she started chanting frantically in a single, rushed breath, shaking her head vigorously.

(I didn't see anything! I didn't see anything!)

Devarsh leaned his weight against the wall, effectively trapping her between his arms. A slow, highly entertained smile spread across his face. "What are you doing here?" he asked in a low whisper. Then, catching the guilty look in her eyes, his smirk widened. "Kadhu kadhu... em choosthunnav there through your fingers?"

(No, no... what were you watching...)

"I didn't see anything!" Nidhi defended herself at lightning speed, her voice squeaking. "I swear! I just came here because atthayya asked me to call Neha for breakfast! The door was already open!"

Devarsh leaned down closer, his face coming so near that his nose brushed against hers, completely intoxicating her senses. "They are just doing their personal things, Mrs. Rudramaneni," he murmured, his voice dripping with smooth, wicked suggestion.

"If you find it so interesting to watch... we can also go back to our room right now and do the exact same things. What do you say?"

Nidhi's entire face flushed an intense, bright crimson. She tried to push against his hard chest, but he didn't move a single millimeter.

Devarsh's eyes then slowly drifted down her face, settling on her neck and collarbone. He squinted slightly, studying her skin under the bright hallway light. He noticed the slight texture difference where she had frantically dabbed layers of makeup.

"Bane cover chesav," he observed, his voice dropping into a dark, rough chuckle as he realized she had tried to hide his possession marks.

(You covered it up quite well.)

Nidhi held her breath, her heart thumping against her ribs.

"So, you like challenges, hmm?" Devarsh whispered, his eyes flashing with a dangerous, predatory glint that promised delicious trouble for the coming night.

"Next time, I will make sure to bite you so deeply and leave so many marks that no amount of concealer in this world will be able to hide them. I am taking this as an official challenge."

Nidhi's eyes widened in absolute, utter horror. She had spent a grueling twenty minutes in the bathroom just to hide today's marks! Before he could tease her any further, she used all her strength, shoved his chest, and darted underneath his arm, running down the hallway toward the staircase as fast as her legs could carry her.

Devarsh stood by the wall, watching her retreating figure, a proud, victorious laugh bubbling in his chest.

But just as he turned around to follow his wife downstairs, a sudden, distinct sound echoed from right behind the guest room door.

"Shivahh... mmhh..." Neha moaned out loudly, her voice clear, breathless, and laced with undeniable passion as things evidently escalated inside.

Devarsh froze dead in his tracks. The sudden, raw sound of his brother's intimate moment hit his ears with full force. In an instant, the stoic, alpha Devarsh Rudramaneni completely lost his composure. His ears turned a bright, furious shade of red out of pure, unadulterated awkwardness.

Without wasting a single microsecond, he spun on his heel and practically flew down the hallway, eager to put as much distance between himself and that door as humanly possible.

Nidhi practically flew down the stairs, her heart pounding as she reached the grand dining area. She tried to catch her breath, smoothing down her clothes just as Syamala walked out of the kitchen with a fresh batch of steaming hot idlis.

Syamala looked behind Nidhi, noticing she was alone. "Where is Neha, thalli? Didn't you call her?" she asked, adjusting the serving bowls.

At the mere mention of Neha, Nidhi's cheeks flashed a brilliant shade of crimson as the memory of what she had just witnessed-and Devarsh's teasing words-flooded her mind. "Uh... she is busy, atthayya," she blurted out, her voice a little higher than usual.

(...she is busy, mother-in-law)

Syamala paused, looking at her daughter-in-law's flushed face with a puzzled expression. "Busy-aa? Early in the morning?"

(Busy?)

Before Nidhi could weave an excuse, the heavy footsteps of the men signaled their arrival. The entire family gathered at the lavish breakfast table. Ramakrishna sat at the head of the table in his usual commanding posture.

Nidhi quickly took her seat right beside Devarsh, while Shiva and Neha walked in a few moments later, trying their absolute best to look casual. Neha took a seat directly next to Shiva, her eyes glued to her plate, her face still slightly pink.

Ramakrishna, a man of immense observation, sharply scanned the table.

His eyes lingered on the subtle shift in body language between Shiva and Neha-the way they sat a little too close, the tense silence, and the stolen, nervous glances. A quiet understanding passed through the family patriarch; he already knew something major was brewing between them.

Under the table, Shiva nudged Devarsh's foot, frantically giving his older brother a desperate look.

He gestured with his eyes, silently pleading: 'Tell uncle right now. You promised!'

Devarsh calmly took a sip of his water, acknowledging the gesture with a subtle nod. He slowly turned his head toward his father and cleared his throat, breaking the morning silence.

"Nanna..." Devarsh started, his deep voice drawing everyone's attention. Ramakrishna looked up from his newspaper, his piercing gaze locking onto his eldest son.

"Nanna, shiva edho cheppali anta," Devarsh said with a completely straight face, casually passing the blame.

(Dad, it seems Shiva wants to tell you something.)

Shiva's eyes widened to the size of saucers. He choked slightly on his breath, glaring at his bestfriend in utter betrayal. 'Rey, mottham cheppi oppistha annav kadha raa drohi!' he screamed inside his head, his fists clenching.

(Hey, you said you would explain everything and convince him, you traitor!)

Devarsh merely leaned back in his chair, a slow, incredibly smug smirk playing on his lips as he enjoyed his bestfriends absolute misery.

Ramakrishna shifted his heavy, authoritative gaze directly onto Shiva. "Yes, Shiva. Tell me."

Shiva swallowed hard, the confidence he usually carried completely evaporating under his father's intense scrutiny.

"Uncle... I... uh..." he stammered, his voice losing all its power. He looked at Neha for backup, but she was busy counting the mustard seeds in her chutney, completely refusing to look up.

"What is it, Shiva? Say it," Ramakrishna said strictly, his tone demanding a direct answer.

Sweat broke out on Shiva's forehead. Panicking, he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. "Neha... neha wants to say something, uncle!"

Neha's head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock and fury. How dare he push her under the bus?! Under the safety of the heavy dining table, she swung her leg and kicked Shiva's shin with full force. Shiva's face contorted in pain, but he bit his lip hard, refusing to make a single sound in front of his uncle.

Ramakrishna's gaze now shifted to Neha, his eyebrows raised. But she froze, her tongue completely tied.

The silence stretched on, turning agonizingly thick. Syamala stopped serving, looking between everyone with growing concern. "Evarina chepthara ledha?" Ramakrishna finally demanded, his voice echoing in the dining hall.

(Is anyone going to speak or not?)

"Enti Shiva? Cheppu, em ayyindhi?" Syamala asked, her motherly anxiety kicking in as she saw her nephew and Neha acting so strangely.

(What is it, Shiva? Tell me, what happened?)

Still, not a single word came out of Shiva's mouth. He looked completely paralyzed. Devarsh sat there like an amused spectator, casually eating his breakfast without offering a single shred of help.

Nidhi looked at the unfolding drama, her inner matchmaker losing all patience. 'Oh god, these two are completely useless! I have to take care of this right now,' she thought to herself. She took a deep breath and decided to drop the ultimate bomb right in the middle of the table.

"Mavayya, em ledhu... Neha and Shiva love chesukuntunnaru!" Nidhi announced loudly, her voice clear and bright.

(Father-in-law, it's nothing... Neha and Shiva are in love!)

The word 'love' hit the dining room like a massive shockwave.

Syamala gasped out loud, nearly dropping the serving spoon, her hands flying to her mouth in pure, unadulterated shock.

She looked at Shiva, then at Neha, her mind spinning at the revelation. Shiva and Neha instantly lowered their heads even further, their hearts hammering against their ribs, waiting for the explosion.

Devarsh's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected his wild wife to just blurt it out so ruthlessly without any filter.

But Nidhi wasn't done yet. Seizing the momentum, she continued cheerfully, "They have been in love for many years, mavayya! Today, both of them wanted to confess to you and ask for-"

Suddenly, Nidhi's voice hitched, her words cutting off into a sharp, stifled gasp.

Beneath the table, Devarsh's large, burning hot palm had suddenly slid over her thigh. He gripped her soft skin, squeezing it firmly in a silent, commanding gesture to shut her mouth before she spilled every single secret they had.

Nidhi's entire body shivered at the sudden, intense contact. The heat of his bare hand through her clothes sent a jolt of electricity straight up her spine, her cheeks instantly turning a brilliant shade of pink.

Ramakrishna remained completely unreadable. He ignored Nidhi's sudden breathlessness and looked dead at the silent couple. "Is this true? What do you both have to say about this?" he asked, his deep voice carrying the full weight of the family authority.

The silence returned. Nidhi, unable to see her friends suffer, parted her lips to speak up again.

"Mavayya, actually-"

The moment her mouth opened, Devarsh's hand slid even higher up her inner thigh, his thick fingers squeezing the sensitive skin ruthlessly under the dining table. The sheer intimacy and possessive grip made Nidhi's mind go completely blank. She shut her mouth instantly, a soft whine catching in her throat.

She tried to subtly shift her leg away from his grasp, wriggling against his touch, but Devarsh only tightened his iron hold, his thumb caressing her thigh in a slow, torturous rhythm that demanded her absolute silence.

Feeling the suffocating tension in the room, Shiva finally found his courage.

He lifted his head, squaring his shoulders, and looked straight into Ramakrishna's eyes with newfound determination.

"Yes, Uncle. We love each other," Shiva announced confidently, his voice steady.

"We want to get married. I want Neha to be my wife."

Ramakrishna's expression didn't change. He turned his gaze toward the girl sitting next to him. "What about you, Neha?"

Neha lifted her head, her eyes shining with a mix of fear and absolute certainty. She looked at Ramakrishna, the man who had always been a father figure to her. "I want to marry him, mavayya," she said softly but firmly.

Syamala looked at her husband, her hands clasped tightly together, her eyes pleading with him to be gentle.

She knew both children grew up right in front of her eyes, and the thought of them together slowly brought a beautiful, emotional smile to her face.

Ramakrishna stared at them for a few more agonizing seconds, letting the suspense build to its absolute peak. Then, slowly, the stern lines on his face relaxed. A genuine, warm smile broke across his face.

"Then... I will talk to your parents this weekend neha," Ramakrishna said calmly, taking a bite of his breakfast.

Shiva and Neha snapped their heads up, looking at him in utter shock. The realization hit them-they had been granted permission! A massive, radiant smile broke across both their faces, the heavy burden instantly lifting from their shoulders. Devarsh let out a quiet sigh of relief, finally relaxing his posture, though his hand still remained possessively resting on Nidhi's thigh.

Nidhi was absolutely over the moon, her happiness bursting at the seams.

Forgetting all the tension, she leaned across the table, winking playfully at the newly official couple.

"Bavagaru, mee pelli settu...!" Nidhi cheered happily, her eyes sparkling with mischief as Shiva and Neha shared a beautiful, blushing look of love across the table.

(Brother-in-law, your wedding is set...!)

Hey cuties how's the chapter 💓

Please do vote and comment.

So sorry, guys! I couldn't post the chapter on time. It's totally my mistake, and I promise to update very soon! ❤️

​Also, I noticed you guys only vote when I give you a target? 🤨 That's not fair, haha!"

So next chapter target is 200 votes and 30 comments.