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I can feel the emotion behind his words. The surprise. The sudden shift in our lives. I nod, swallowing hard, my throat dry.

“I will take care of everything,” he continues, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Telling the family, handling the political implications—leave it all to me. You just focus on keeping Simran safe and preparing for the wedding.”

“Thank you, Dad” I whisper. “I wish you could stay for the wedding.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I’ll return if you allow it,” he says with a smile.

But I shake my head. “No, you’ve already travelled here, bypassing crucial commitments and security protocols. I can’t let you do more.”

Sensing my underlying tension, his face grows serious.

“What’s going on? What’s the threat? Tell me about this situation with Simran. How bad is it?”

I clench my jaw, the image of that damned masked man flashing in my mind.

“It’s a stalker—this masked man who’s been targeting Simran. We don’t know who he is or why he’s after her. My men are working day and night to figure it out.”

Dad listens intently, his political strategist mind already accessing the situation.

“Why not take Ayaan and his team’s help?” he suggests. “It could speed up the investigation.”

“Not yet,” I respond. “My men are handling it well for now. Besides, I’m planning to return to India with Simran and Veer two days after the courthouse marriage here.”

He looks pleased with that.

“That’s good to know, Vishnu. The family needs to meet them. In that case, let’s have a wedding with all the rituals once you are back in India. We’ll need an official announcement too.”

“Simran isn’t ready for any of this yet, but I’ll talk to her. I’m okay with the wedding in India, but let’s keep it a small, private ceremony. Nothing grand.”

“Private, just among family and friends,” he agrees. “But the reception must be grand. Our political circle needs to be informed, and they’ll expect a big event.”

I appreciate how he understands Simran’s fragile emotional state, ensuring the initial ceremonies remain intimate.

“Leave the rest to me,” he adds confidently. “The media, the PR team, everything—it’s already in good hands. None of this will affect your future as the NEP Party president.”

I can’t hide the stress flickering across my face, and Dad notices immediately.

“I know this is overwhelming,” he says softly. “And on top of that, Simran isn’t making things any easier. But Vishnu, I’m confident about one thing—you will be the best father to Veer. Better than I was to you.”

His words catch me off guard. “You always prioritised keeping the family together,” I start to protest.

He interrupts, “You are the one who truly kept us together. Safe. Secure. You understand emotions in a way I never could. And now, as Veer’s father, I know you’ll do even better. You’ll be the kind of father that I couldn’t be to you.”

A sense of pride swells in my chest.

“Mind you, I won’t hear a word againstmydad,” I tease back.

He chuckles, pulling me into a tight hug.

“I can’t believe my son is now a father,” he whispers. “I can’t wait to see us all living under one roof again. Just handle everything here and come back soon.”

“I will,” I promise.

Seeing the fatigue on his face, I gently urge him to rest. This time, he doesn’t resist. The jet lag and emotional journey have finally caught up with him.

As he settles into the guest room, I stand by the door, watching him until he falls asleep—a son protecting his father, just as I will protect my own son.

CHAPTER 19