Nandini didn't answer immediately. She looked at him—the man who had seen her broken and decided to stay and help her put the pieces back together. She felt the heavy, warm weight of his seed still settling deep inside her, a physical promise of a future she hadn't dared to dream of. She leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to the scar on his forearm.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Yes, Manik."