Page 110 of Trapped By the Maharaja

Her fingers shook as she closed the bathroom door behind her.

Only then, alone, did she let out the shaky breath she’d been holding, pressing her palms against the cool marble counter, her reflection staring back at her with hollow eyes.

I can’t fall for him again. Not after everything. Not when this marriage is nothing but a contract. I’ll survive these three years. I have to.

CHAPTER 47

The ride to the hospital was tense and silent. Sanjana shifted restlessly in her seat, feeling the weight of Ram’s presence beside her. He was accompanying her to the hospital that morning. But he hadn’t spoken a word. He had remained coldly silent during breakfast and the helicopter ride. His gaze was now fixed ahead, his jaw clenched.

When the SUV finally came to a stop outside the hospital entrance, Sanjana reached for the door handle in relief, only to freeze as his commanding voice broke the silence.

“Double the perimeter,” Ram ordered the security head. “No one steps inside without clearance. Double-check every log entry and screen everyone thoroughly, including the hospital staff.”

The head of security bowed his head respectfully. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Sanjana turned to Ram. “You can’t do that, Ram! Screening all visitors and hospital staff will cause chaos. These are my patients and my colleagues. No one is trying to harm me!”

Ram finally turned to her, his eyes dark. “You will not argue about this,” he said coldly. “If you obstruct security in any way, I will have you removed from the hospital permanently. You will stay confined in the Devara palace until the person behind these attacks is caught.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “You wouldn’t dare—”

“I would,” he cut in, his tone flat and final. “Don’t test me.”

The air between them felt charged, her anger sparking against his absolute control. She wanted to scream at him, but the hard set of his face told her it was useless.

“Fine,” she bit out.

She pushed open the SUV door and stepped out. Half a dozen guards immediately moved into formation around her, their presence suffocating.

Clenching her jaw, she strode toward the hospital entrance.

Ruthless. Overbearing. Infuriating devil.

She knew Ram was pissed at her. The confession of their past betrayals and the reasons behind them had laid open their wounds. But instead of healing from the hurt together, her insistence on sticking to their contract had driven the wedge deeper.

Taking a deep breath, Sanjana lifted her chin and strode into the hospital, the weight of Ram’s dark gaze heavy on her back.

???

There was a faint buzz of murmurs at the hospital because of the additional checking. Although it didn’t delay admissions of patients or the staff, it did cause commotion and speculation.

Sanjana tuned it out and focused on her work.

“Dr. Shetty, the board meeting is in an hour. They’ve asked you to be ready with the pediatric wing updates,” the administrative assistant said from the doorway.

Sanjana nodded. “Thank you. I’ll be there.”

Sanjana exhaled and went to the staff room, where she had put the thick stack of binders that held the notes she had prepared. Her desk was empty.

Frowning, she bent down and checked the shelves under the desk. Nothing. She crossed to the side shelf, tugged books forward, and scanned behind stacks of supplies. The files were gone.

Her stomach tightened.But I left them right here this morning. I remember it.

She straightened, brushing back a loose strand of hair that escaped from her ponytail.

Maybe one of the interns had mistakenly taken them. Or perhaps someone from the admin had borrowed the documents, assuming they were reference materials.

Still, unease prickled along her skin. These were notes she had compiled meticulously over weeks using current data.