But then something happened. Just for a fraction of a second, his eyes lingered on her face, then dipped to her lips, and her heart stumbled. The look in his eyes wasn’t gentle but possessive. As if he’d felt it too. The possibility of that spark…the unsaid connection between them.
But then, just as suddenly, it was gone as Kanika appeared beside him, pressing her hand possessively on his shoulder.Karan blinked as though waking from a dream. He immediately shrugged Kanika’s arm off and turned away, walking toward the bar without a backward glance.
Kanika followed him, but Mishti stood still. Even if for a few seconds, she had seen something real in his eyes. It wasn’t indifference, not cruelty… but something buried deeper.
Maybe this marriage still had a real chance. Maybe if she tried harder, making him see the real her, there was a chance that she would turn him from a cold stranger into a loving husband.
CHAPTER 3
Goel Mansion
The music still pulsed, the champagne glasses still clinked, and the newlyweds’ names still echoed across the hall in good wishes. But Karan had stopped hearing any of it. Every smile, every congratulatory tap on his back, every flash of a camera felt like grit in his throat. Because marrying Mishti Goel wasn’t a celebration, it was a move in a game far darker than anyone in that glittering room could imagine. Besides, just being within the walls of the Goel mansion was enough to make his stomach turn.
But what really turned the air to fire was the sight ofher.
From across the hall, he watched his best friend and his wife talking like they’d known each other for years. Rajat laughed at something Mishti said, and she smiled in response. The kind of smile that could win hearts.Except his.
“She is enjoying herself,” Kanika murmured, nodding toward Mishti. “Even making friends. But Rajat’s overconcern for your wife… that’s starting to test my patience.”
Yes.It was testing his patience as well. He didn’t want his best friend to show softness towards the Goels. In a single stride, he crossed the room straight towards his friend and wife. It was Rajat who noticed him first.
“Karan, man, finally! I was just telling Mishti—”
“Enjoying yourself?” Karan’s gaze flicked to his wife, then back to Rajat, who blinked, catching the undercurrent.
“We were just talking, buddy,” he said.
“Good.” His lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Keep it that way.”
Rajat could read his friend's jealousy, who now turned to his wife. “We’re leaving,” Karan said.
“Now?” she asked, worried. “But…the party isn’t even over. It’sourreception. How can we leave?”
“WhenIsay it’s over, Mishti.” He stepped in closer, almost intimidating her. “It’s over.”
Before she could respond, his fingers wrapped around her wrist firmly.
“I haven’t even said bye to Daksh Bhai and Divya Bhabhi—”
“Message them,” he cut in, already steering her toward the exit.
Rajat smirked behind them. “Hey, Mishti!” he called out, loud enough for half the hall to hear. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell the others you two vanished. No one’s going to mind. Everyone knows why anewly married coupleleaves early, right?”
Laughter rippled around them.
Mishti’s face burned, but Karan didn’t even flinch as he guided her through the doors of the mansion. The moment they reached the car, he let go of her hand.
“Stop being overfriendly withmyfriends. And be careful who you smile for, Mishti.”
Her pulse kicked. So that was his problem? That she was happy talking to his friend?
“I’m glad you noticed,” she mocked. “That, unfortunately, despite being my husband, you haven’t given me a reason to smilewithyou.”
His jaw flexed, eyes darkening further, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he got into the car and started the engine. Hiseyes were on the road, like he couldn’t wait to be away from this house, this family, this night. Mishti turned around once to see her home before getting into the car.
The drive was silent again, with Mishti texting Divya that they had to leave early, without goodbyes.
When they finally reached the mansion, she opened the car door, expecting him to follow. But he didn’t.
