Dhruv stood absolutely still, and his arm was tense under her touch, but he listened intently.
‘I failed you. I was angry at Dad about the affair, at the universe for stealing my mother from me and at you for reminding me that my family was never going to be whole again. But I should’ve looked past all of that andseenyou, and I’m sorry that I didn’t.’
A tear slipped from the corner of his eye, but he didn’t speak.
‘But Dad,’ she added, her voice dropping, ‘he failed us all. He used us all in different ways, for as long as he’s been able to get away with it. And he’ll keep doing it until we let him.’
His jaw flexed as he held his gaze.
‘I know you love him. I love him too but I’m done pretending that man is my father in any way that still matters. I know now just how self-serving, toxic, and manipulative he is. His greed will never end, and he will never stop using us for his benefit. That’s why I’ve decided to cut ties with him.’
The thought had only been swirling around the edges of her consciousness since dinner, but she had so much to do that it didn’t register. She smiled at him, feeling liberated with that call.
‘I don’t know what that will look like yet, but I know staying is worse.’ She placed her palm on his other cheek and said, ‘You can make that choice too. Don’t stay out of loyalty to a man who’s only ever hurt you. And if you do decide to—now, tomorrow, ten years later—I will be with you every step of the way.’
Siya looked down at her watch and saw that there were less than thirty minutes left. It was too late to look for the access codes. She had to find another way into that vault.
‘Thank you for suggesting Lumora for Meera’s birthday. She found happiness and I found a ray of hope for my future. I owe you, little brother,’ Siya said, and a pang of longing went through her. He was her little brother, and she hoped to be a part of his life, but not while Kartik was too.
She walked around him to the door, but turned around once to make sure he was okay. He was still rooted in the same spot. As much as she wanted to shield him, she could only offer him away out. Now it was up to him to reach for it. And god, she hoped he did.
‘I couldn’t keep you safe before but I will now, if you choose to give us a chance. This time, Dhruv, I promise.’
With that, she walked out of the room, and turned around the corner. The private hallway behind his office had always been off limits to everyone. She’d only been down this path once, when Kartik had once allowed her to accompany an investor’s visit to the vault. She quickly went down the floor through the private exit.
Finally, at the end of the corridor, the faint steel outline of the vault room waited for her. As she moved forward, her gaze caught on the large framed portrait mounted on the wall, and she halted in her steps.
Her breath snagged in her throat. It was a shrine for Arohi Kashyap, frozen in time. The picture of her mother, snapped mid-laugh, was the most overused campaign photo from the early days when Kartik took over. Its polished glass glinted under a soft amber spotlight.
The writing under the frame commemorated her as the best wife who died too young, the original muse and the immortal face of Kashyap Luxe.
Siya hated it, because now after everything her parents-in-law told her, after everything she had begun to piece together, she could no longer look at this picture without seeing her pain. The tension in her jaw didn’t match her laughter and the shadows under her eyes didn’t belong in a woman so full of life.
The silence of the corridor pressed against her as she stepped closer. She wondered what it was like for her to wake up next to an abusive husband, to live every day surrounded bycontrol disguised as affection, and be isolated from her friends and family.
There was no answer and the ache it left behind felt enormous. She could only hope that she gave her a few precious moments of happiness.
A wave of regret swallowed her, and she closed her eyes. She herself has been lucky enough to find love, and she’d messed it up. She’d foolishly spent so much time resenting Abhay, looking at him through her father’s filtered lens of power, betrayal, and fear. All because somewhere deep inside, she’d learned that good men were only good until they needed you to be quiet.
But Abhay had never made her feel voiceless.
He had patiently waited for her forgiveness, even with her overwhelming anger. He had stayed with her even when she had given him every reason to leave. He had chosen her, time and time again, even when she had given him every reason to give up on her.
Siya reached out, her fingertips brushing against the edge of the frame. She met her mother’s gaze with a burning resolve. ‘I’m sorry, Maa. I’ve been unfair to him, and I’m going to fix it,’ she vowed.
With one last look, she confidently walked toward the steel door that her father had guarded so possessively all these years.
She approached the lone security guard stationed at the end. He looked young, maybe in his mid-thirties but his muscular and hulking personality made up for it. His expression was stoic but his eyes were kind. With a respectful nod, he asked, ‘Good evening, ma’am. What can I do for you?’
‘I just need to step in for a moment to check the gemstones that got delivered today.’
‘Of course, ma’am. Can I have the access code, please?’
Siya pretended to look for her phone in her jean pocket and sported an apologetic smile. ‘Oh damn, I forgot my phone upstairs.’
His polite expression turned tense and hesitant. ‘I’m sorry, ma’am. I need the code. That’s protocol.’
She smiled at him even though her palms were beginning to sweat. ‘It’s fine, it won’t take long.’
