She jerked when she heard her mother’s loud voice down the hall. Reema was complaining and giving orders. Some things were normal.
“I wanted to take you to the hospital.”
She froze when she heard Dev’s voice. Damn. She paused to gather all the courage she could muster and turned to see Dev lounging on the chair next to the bed. His jacket had been discarded and his tie was loosened. His hair was mussed as if he had raked his fingers through it continuously. And he still looked incredibly handsome.
“But I know how you feel about those places,” he continued. “So I brought you here and we’re waiting for the doctor.”
“I don’t need a doctor.” She needed to get out of here. Get out of Dev Arjun’s sphere where he ruled all.
Dev’s eyes narrowed with impatience. “Don’t make me regret this decision, jaan. The only reason we are here is because of your fear of hospitals.”
“I’m not afraid of hospitals,” she insisted. She had been going to doctors and specialists since she left Dev a month ago and the hospital settings didn’t bother her. “It just brings back the bad memories.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” he reminded her. “Are you pregnant?”
He knew. She was displaying the same dizziness as the first time she was pregnant. He didn’t need confirmation so why did he keep asking? “You don’t want the answer.”
“You don’t know what I want.”
“I know that you want me out of your life. You think life couldn’t be that cruel to have me carrying your baby. But I don’t know why you, who wanted to end this marriage as soon as possible, haven’t made a move towards a divorce.” His lack of action had surprised her. Confused her. Made her hope for things that weren’t possible.
“Because I don’t want a divorce. I never did.”
She scoffed. “You did when you thought I was giving a tell-all interview. You thought I was betraying you. Hurting you so I could further my career.”
He tilted his head in acknowledgment. “I was hurt and I said a few things I shouldn’t. What I should have told you, what I should have said a year ago, is that I want you as my wife.”
It was too late for her to hear those words and yet they pulled at her. “Don’t waste your time revising history,” she whispered as her chest ached with regret. “You’re only saying this because you think I’m pregnant.”
“I want this child, too.” He leaned forward and braced his arms on his knees. “I want the family life that I thought only existed in the movies. You made my dream come true and I want to hold on to it forever.”
“I want something else,” she said, her voice rising. He was saying all the things she wanted to hear and it scared her. Her heart was beating frantically and yet she was settling deeper into the bed when she should be launching out of it and running out the door. “I’m going to Hollywood, remember?”
“No, you’re not,” he said softly. “I know all about it. When you refused to go to Los Angeles, your mother came to me in a panic. She thought I was trying to control your career again.”
Tina wanted to scream with frustration. She didn’t think her mother would have said anything to Dev. She wanted him to think she had moved on so she could get through this pregnancy without any interference.
“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.”