Millions of reasons

Aaron who stepped out of the room didn't leave and returned inside soon. He knew if he doesn't say it, she will misunderstand everything and he can't afford that.

Turning her towards him, he hated himself for leaving her in that situation even if it was just a few seconds. He cupped her face carefully wiping her tears, "I am not sorry for kissing you. I said sorry for not taking your consent."

Aarvi stopped crying, she didn't struggle or try to speak. She continued to hear him. She had zero expectations because she didn't want to anticipate anything that could hurt her back.

Aaron knew it is now or never. "The one I love is YOU. The one who Shawn mentioned to you is YOU."

Aarvi stumbled back. If Aaron didn't balance her in time, she would have tripped by her own dress. He wasn't sure what was going to happen but he wanted to tell her everything seeing her disbelief.

"I had gone to meet your grandfather because I wanted to marry you. I searched for you because I wanted you safe. You have my sister's heart because it's you not because I wanted to save the heart. I looked after you because you are my favorite not because of my sister or Shawn. I always took care of you as Aaron, not as Doctor Rivas. Aarvi Evans, I am protecting you because I love you."

Aaron said everything in a breath while his heart kept ramming against his chest without being able to understand anything from her expressionless face or her void eyes.

Aarvi heard everything looking him in the eye. He was afraid of her misunderstanding, she could feel it wasn't planned by hearing him trying to clear her misunderstanding about everything.

He was anxious and desperate for her reaction but she was calm as a summer sea. She wasn't the one to believe the words so easily yet she found the truth in his eyes. She placed her right hand on his chest to feel his heartbeat. It was drumming as it was on the day they had bluffed a kiss.

That day he had evaded her but he didn't do it again. He didn't move away even if he wasn't able to compose himself. He didn't want to look unaffected either, he wanted her to know how much she means to him.

Aaron anticipated her to say something but she held his wrist and marched out without a word. At one point he thought she was throwing him out of her room without a bother to spare a word at him but she didn't.

Perplexed, Aaron couldn't help himself calling her, "Aarvi..."

Even though he didn't tell her, she realized why he purposefully stressed every time as the heart in the past. He didn't want her to feel insecure around him knowing his feelings and leave. She got the answer to why Aaron or her father were showering all the love and care.

Aarvi didn't stop till she reached Shawn's bedroom and entered inside. The latter was lying on the bed without caring to change to nightwear. Aaron understood why she brought him there.

Aarvi tried to speak to Shawn leaving Aaron's hand, "Shawn... Shawn..."

Groaning, Shawn stopped her from patting him and asked groggily, "Little Heart?" Then he closed his half-opened eyes to sleep again holding her hand.

Aarvi could say he was drunk and wasn't in his right senses which were perfect to know the truth, "Shawn, who is the girl your brother likes?"

Shawn chuckled hearing her but didn't respond. Aarvi tried again in a coaxing tone, "Shawn... Shawn... Who is the girl? Don't you know her?"

Shawn smiled saying lyrically, "I know her... She is my pretty Little Heart. She is cute, she is sweet. She is going to be my sister-in-law."

Aaron saw her pause hearing Shawn but she didn't speak anything to him. He had thought he would get to confess to her and she would take time and accept but his one second of impulse was causing her to doubt him.

"Shawn! let me help you remove your jacket."

"Noo..." Aarvi ignored his response and pulled him up to remove his leather jacket then Aaron helped them.

...

Aarvi was going to her room when Aaron stopped her pulling her to face him. The former blurted out, "I am moving out."

Aaron grunted without a second delay, "No." It was the reason he was taking the time to confess.

She pulled her hand away from his hold, "I am not asking you."

He didn't let her take a step and held her back, "Talk to me." He sounded helpless than authoritative and cold.

Aarvi tried to move from his grasp but failed, "Why do you want one at your private mansion and one at your main mansion?"

Aaron obviously understood what she meant but he didn't know anything about Naomi. Two women? He always yearned for only one and that is her. "If you are doubting me, then let's get married tomorrow. I will prove to you I only need you, in yesteryears, now, and futurity."

Aarvi frowned upon hearing him and stopped struggling by seeing his seriousness. She wasn't suspecting him, she just asked what she heard. She understood whatever she heard at the party was to trick her to send her away from Aaron, after all, he isn't a common man.

"Why do you love me?"

"There isn't one reason, I love you for millions of reasons."

"But you don't even know anything about me."

Aaron gently held her face and countered calmly, "You exactly know I know the real you better than anybody else. Your deep down fright to what brings you a smile. Don't I know them?"

Aarvi knew he was right, every word of it. "If you really loved me for many years, why didn't you come before three years? My narrow-minded parents wouldn't have stopped you just by hearing your name and I wouldn't... I wouldn't have gone through so much." She voiced her buried thoughts.

Aaron wrapped his arms around her. He knew that. If he hadn't believed his father, he wouldn't have lost his cupcake who always naively smiled and was happy around him. "The only thing I regret is leaving you alone here. The only one I need is you and I can't afford to lose you."

Aarvi couldn't understand why she was feeling hard and hurt to reject him and push him away from herself. It was like she had to lose a part of herself to go away from him.

She clenched her fist, breathed out slowly, and shoved him away. Her voice was hoarse, devoid of any emotions, "I am sorry, I can't reciprocate your feelings."

She tried to leave but Aaron held her back, cupping her face, he lifted it to meet their eyes, "Repeat it."

She could feel her response wasn't only burning herself but he is hurt too. She avoided his eyes to stop herself from making any mistake that she will regret later but heard, "Look at me." His voice was deep holding her attention to him.

Looking at him in the eyes, she tried to speak but just lips moved without a word and tears rolled down her eyes when she found her voice, "I can't reciprocate your feelings."

Aaron's thumb gently grazed on her soft skin to wipe the tears away. He wished he could wipe away all her troubles from her life the same way. He knew the reason behind her tears without asking her, "Because of what happened three years ago."

Aarvi nodded promptly, observing him unfazed and patiently taking care of it. There are only two who she never lied to even if it's smallest, her Apple Pie and Aaron. She might hide a lot from them but she never lied.

Aaron said softly trying to soothe her pain, "I am not asking you to change overnight. Stop running away from your life due to others, allow me to protect you, take your time. I will wait for you."

Aarvi shook her head trying to leave but she again reached his warm embrace. His voice was low and deep resonating near her ear that was trying to calm her trembling nerves, "I will heal you. I will help you come out of the closet, slowly but surely. If you don't believe yourself, trust me, proffer me a chance."