As I walked out of that house, my chest felt like it was caving in. Each step away from her was like tearing pieces of myself apart. The silence of the night offered no solace—only the deafening echoes of her words ringing in my ears.You don’t have a heart to get broken.
I wasn’t just walking away from Kiara; I was walking away from the only thing that had ever made my life feel full—her.
My thoughts raced, colliding into each other like waves in a storm. I had gone into this pretending, telling myself I could handle it, that I could keep my emotions out of it. But it was a lie. A lie that had unraveled so completely it left nothing behind but destruction.
Her tears. God, her tears. They weren’t just tears—they were shards of my failures reflected at me. I had never felt so powerless. She had given me her vulnerability, and instead of protecting it, I became the reason for her pain.
What hurt most wasn’t even her anger. It was the disappointment in her eyes, the way she looked at me like I was no better than the others who had let her down. And maybe I wasn’t. Maybe she was right. Maybe I didn’t deserve her.
But I loved her. Oh, how I loved her.
It wasn’t a slow realization. It had hit me like lightning the moment she laughed at something ridiculous, the moment she teased me about my suits, the moment she stood next to me like she was the missing half of my existence. And now? That love was a weight I couldn’t bear because it had no place to go, no one to hold it.
I was supposed to protect her, to be her haven, and instead, I became her storm.
I sank into the driver’s seat of my car, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. Myheart felt like it was fighting against my ribcage, trying to break free and run back to her. But what could I say? That I was sorry? That I never meant for any of this to happen?
Would she even believe me? Would she even care?
I leaned my head against the wheel, my mind flooding with memories—her laughter, her sarcasm, the way she looked at me like I was the only man in the world. And now, all of that is gone. I had ruined it.
I let out a shuddering breath, tears blurring my vision. There was no mask, no facade of control. Just raw, unfiltered guilt and love and pain.
And the worst part? I wasn’t sure I could ever fix this. But one thing was clear—I couldn’t lose her. Not without a fight. Because if I did, there would be nothing left of me worth saving.
One part of me wants to storm into her house, throw her over my shoulder, and make her listen to every single thing I need to say. But the other part knows better. She needs space, and I owe her that, no matter how much it kills me.
I picked up the phone and dialed. Myra picked up after two rings, her tone groggy but instantly concerned.
“Manav?” She asked, the sleep evident in her voice.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, my voice barely steady. “Kiara needs you…”
There was a beat of silence on the other end. I could hear her shift, the sound of sheets rustling, and then her voice came, sharper now, more alert. “What did you do?”
“I think I’ve lost her.” The words tasted bitter in my mouth. “She can’t be alone right now.”
Myra sighed heavily, and I could picture her pinching the bridge of her nose. “I’ll be there.”
28 ♥?Kiara
“Are you serious?” Myra handed me a steaming cup of coffee while I lay curled on the bed. “You can’t keep ignoring him forever, you know.”
“I can,” I muttered, pressing my fingertips against my throbbing temples.
“Babe, it’s been days since Dadi’s birthday,” she said, yanking the curtains open. Harsh sunlight flooded the room, making me groan and shield my eyes. “He’s called you a hundred times a day—literally. And the texts? Endless. At least hear him out.”
“Why do you always have to be so unbearable?” I squinted at her, my voice edgy with irritation.
“Because I love you,” she retorted, placing her hands on her hips. “At least give him a chance.”
I sat up sharply, my patience hanging by a thread. “If you say one more word about how wonderful Manav Oberoi is—I swear to God, Myra, you and I are officially over.”
Myra sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “You’re allowed to be angry, and you’re allowed to feel betrayed. But you’re also allowed to hear him out. Maybe he made a mistake, but that doesn’t erase everything he’s done for you.You owe it to yourself to get closure, even if you never want to see him again after that.”
I turned my head away, staring at the wall. “I don’t want closure, Myra. I want to forget he ever existed.”
“And how’s that working out for you?” she shot back. “You haven’t slept, you’ve barely eaten, and you’re crying every other hour. Is this the life you want to live?”
