“You’re insane,” she whispers.
“And you’re wasting our time,” I reply. “Every second you stand there debating, my mind runs with new ways to make you pay for what you’ve done. Decide now, before I make it even worse for you.”
“How can you stoop so low?” she asks, her voice shaking with anger.
My eyes darken. “You started this war. I am merely retaliating.”
She looks at the papers, her fingers trembling visibly. “I won’t forgive you.”
“I don’t want your forgiveness. I want you to sign the papers.”
She looks like she wants to slap me, scream, break down, and run, all at once. Anything except what I am forcing her to do. But then her spine straightens, and she takes the pen from my hand.
Her hand trembles as she reluctantly signs. I take the papers from her, add my signature, and hand the documents to my lawyer.
My lawyer takes them, glances over the pages, then nods. “Congratulations, sir.”
“Leave,” I tell him.
He hands me Veer’s bail documents and exits without a word.
Once we’re alone, I toss the documents onto the coffee table and lock eyes with her. That victorious smile she wore when she walked in now settles comfortably on my face.
“Welcome to hell, Mrs. Rathore.”
She glares at me. “Don’t call me that.”
“You’d better start getting used to it. Because for the rest of your life, you’ll live with my last name, the one you despised so much and tried so hard to ruin.” I wink. “Mrs. Rathore.”
Chapter 11
Meera
My hand trembles as I lift it to ring my house’s doorbell. The simple white button I’ve pressed a thousand times before now looks like a detonator. One ring, and my parents’ world will shift forever. Just like mine did with a single signature.
God… how did I even get here? I never expected this. None of this was supposed to happen. Not this life. Not this fate. Not this man.
I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting for breath. I was supposed to marry someone who loved me. Someone caring and honest. Someone who respected my parents. Someone who made me feel safe, not trapped.
Rage scorches my throat, not just from being forced into this marriage, but from the deeper fear tightening around my lungs.
How am I supposed to tell my parents about this nightmare I’ve been dragged into?God,how do I tell the people who raised me, protected me, and trusted me that their daughter is now married… without their blessing, without their knowledge?How do I explain to them that I didn’t choose thismarriage, that I was forced into it? How do I tell them that this is not love… it’s punishment.
“Will you ring the damn bell and get done with all the drama?” Dev taunts beside me. “So that I can…”
I snap my head towards him, my fury flaring. “You can what?”
“So I can finally begin what I promised,” he says coldly, “making sure you cry every single day from here on.”
He actually has the audacity to wink at me.
“Don’t think for a second that choosing this marriage makes me weak or a loser,” I snap, my voice blazing. “If anything, staying under your roof makes my work easier. I get to monitor your every move.” I keep my glare locked on him. “Trust me, your precious Rathore clan won’t survive me for long.” My anger hardens into steel. “And that’s not another threat. It’s a promise. My revenge won’t end until I destroy you.”
For a moment, Dev simply stares at me. Then the asshole laughs, a low, amused, disbelieving sound that slices through my fury.
He steps closer… so close I can feel his breath burn my cheek.
“Destroy me?” he repeats, his gaze dragging down my face and lingering on my lips. “Mrs. Rathore, you still don’t have the faintest idea who you married. Still wasting your breath on useless threats.” He raises his hand and tilts my chin with the tip of his finger. “I do like a wife with spirit.” I shove his hand off, but he keeps going. “But let me educate you on one thing.” He leans in until his lips hover near my ear. “No one destroys a Rathore. Your one stupid mistake has you tied to me for life. So don’t get so lost in your revenge, Mrs Rathore…” He pulls back, his eyes locking onto mine. “…that you end up burning yourself first.”
