God. How long had she been standing there? How much had she heard?
Damn. I’d been so focused on Samantha—on holding myself together through her tirade that I never even realised we had an audience.
Samantha doesn’t notice a thing. She’s still spilling venom with that smug smile plastered on her face, unaware that the mother of the son whose life she’s vowing to ruin, is standing right there, just a few steps behind, witnessing every word, every drop of poison falling from her lips.
“Just a few more days,” she sneers, her voice full of arrogant confidence. “I have to smile, flatter, and pretend for his foolish parents and make them believe I am the perfect choice. Convince their precious son to marry me… and then?” She laughs, low and cruel. “Then I’ll ruin him. Break him piece by piece. Make him pay for thinking he could reject me and walk away unscathed.”
I continue to stay silent as my eyes drift back to Aditya’s mom. She hasn’t moved an inch. She’s still watching, her expression unreadable, yet there’s an intensity in her gaze that makes it impossible to look away.
But in the next second, I can’t help it—my lips twitch, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner, uninvited. Not out of pride, but at the sheer irony of it all.This… this is the kind of woman she wanted for her son.
I’d often heard that sometimes being in the right place at the right time changes everything. And standing here, seeing her watch the truth unravel, I realise that this is one of those moments.
Samantha finally turns her gaze to where I’m staring, and immediately, her smirk fades. A look of horror flashes across her face.
“Aunty, I didn’t—I can explain. I…” She stammers, her voice faltering as she straightens her spine, smoothing her hair back as if that would somehow erase the venomous words she’d just spoken. But it’s too late. The damage is already done, and no amount of posturing can undo the truth.
Aditya’s mom ignores her completely as she steps forward—slowly, deliberately. Her eyes lock onto mine, completely ignoring Samantha. No glance, no word, not even a flicker of attention. She’s only focused on me.
As she comes to a stop in front of me, I brace myself for her disdain. But as I meet her gaze, something in her eyes has shifted. I blink, unsure of what I’m seeing, because there’s no rage on her face now, no disgust like the day she’d thrown those hateful words at me. Instead, there’s something else—something quieter. Conflicted. Her posture is rigid, her pride still anchoring her stance, but her eyes… her eyes carry the weight of everything she’s just heard.
The certainty she once wore so proudly is gone, replaced by a flicker of disbelief. The cracks in her so-called perfectly arranged world have begun to show. And maybe—just maybe—there’s regret lurking beneath that polished facade.
But before I can even open my mouth, she turns and walks away without a word, leaving Samantha and me frozen in place.
Seconds pass before Samantha turns to me, shifting uncomfortably, her eyes darting between me and the empty space where Aditya’s mom once stood. I don’t miss the fear in her eyes, the confidence she once wore starting to crack as she realises how her petty game has just cost her.
“You… you don’t have to be so smug,” her voice wavers, betraying her fear. “This means nothing. His mother might’ve walked away, but that doesn’t change a thing. She’ll get over it. I’m still the one they want.” Her eyes narrow, frustration bubbling to the surface. She’s trying too hard to convince herself of something she no longer believes. “She’ll never accept you. You know that, right?” she adds, her voice mocking.
But I don’t say a word. I don’t need to.
Sure, I could stand here all day, but there’s no need anymore. The silence speaks louder than anything I could ever say. Her words are hollow. And just like that, I simply turn and walk past her, not sparing her another glance.
But damn, as I step into the pharmacy, it feels like I’ve just walked out of a storm, the chaos still swirling inside me. My legs feel unsteady, my thoughts a blur. I try to focus, but my mind keeps returning to her—Aditya’s mom. She hadn’t spoken a single cruel word. No sharp remarks. But the way she looked at me… It wasn’t hatred, and it wasn’t judgmental either.
No, it was something deeper. Something more unsettling. She looked at me like she was seeing something she hadn’t expected. Something she wasn’t ready to face. And somehow, that felt worse than anything else.
Chapter 40
Aditya
It’s been a week since Sana’s mom was discharged from the hospital. A week since Sana has avoided me like the plague. But I can’t take it anymore. I need to fix this. I can’t lose Sana.
Taking a deep breath, I stare at her house before pushing the car door open and making my way to Sana’s door. I lift my hand to ring the bell, but then I notice the door is ajar. I furrow my brows as I let myself in.
But the moment I step inside, my blood runs cold… because sitting in the living room with Sana’s mom are my parents.
“Mom? Dad?” My voice comes out hoarse. “What are you doing here?”
It’s been a week since I last saw them. A week since I spoke to them. I haven’t even stepped into Dad’s office. I’ve only focused on running my own company.
Mom gets to her feet, guilt clouding her face. “Son, we can’t lose you. We’re here to make things right.”
“Right?” A bitter laugh escapes me as I shake my head. “After everything you’ve said and done?”
Dad stands too, his expression strained. “We know we messed up. But we’ve been trying to explain to Sana’s mom thatthe woman who said those awful things… she was just an angry, selfish mother who wasn’t thinking clearly, letting her fear and insecurity get the best of her. A mother who now realizes her mistake and is here to apologize.”
My mom lets out a slow breath, her hands clasped tightly. “I was wrong, son,” she admits softly. “I let my stubbornness and pride turn into hatred. And I hurt you—both of you. I won’t make excuses or try to justify it. But I am sorry. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I want to fix what I broke.”
