Page 43 of The Defiant Wife

No way.

Human beings don't work like that. You cannot spend your entire existence looking mildly disappointed by everything. At some point something has to break through.I just need to figure out what.

The moment the idea forms, excitement sparks through me.

A challenge. This is a challenge. And I love challenges.

Across the courtyard, Veeraj looks up.

Our eyes meet.Immediately his expression changes. Not much. Just enough. His brows pull together slightly. Suspicious of me.I haven't even done anything yet and somehow he already looks concerned.

I smile sweetly. Very sweetly. The kind of smile that has gotten me banned from multiple school meetings.

His eyes narrow.I almost laugh.Even from this distance I can practically hear his thoughts.

Absolutely not. Whatever she's planning. No.

I wave at him cheerfully.His expression becomes even more wary.Which only makes this better.

Rani notices immediately. "Didi?"

I lean closer. "Yes?"

She follows my gaze."Are you planning something?"

I place a hand over my heart. "Rani."

"Yes?"

"Do I look like someone who causes trouble?"

The child doesn't even hesitate."Yes."

The betrayal.

The disrespect.

The accuracy.

Around us, several children begin nodding enthusiastically.Wonderful.I have created tiny monsters.I blame myself.A laugh escapes me despite my best efforts.

Across the courtyard, Veeraj is still watching.Still suspicious.Still trying to figure out what's happening.

Good. Let him worry. Because I've finally reached a conclusion.

Veeraj Singh Shekhawat may be impossible.He may be stubborn.He may be annoyingly handsome.He may also be the most emotionally repressed man I've ever met.But nobody gets to be that calm forever.

Nobody.

And if it becomes the last thing I do, I am going to make him react. I don't know how yet. I don't have a plan. I barely have an idea. But I do have determination. And a group of children who enjoy chaos almost as much as I do.Which honestly feels like enough.

Across the courtyard, Veeraj sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.Like he already knows his peaceful existence is about to end.

For the first time all day, I grin. A real grin. Because for the first time since meeting him, I finally have a goal.

Operation Make The Prince Reacthas officially begun.

And something tells me it's going to be very, very fun.