Page 133 of Since You Stole My Heart

Vihaan lowered himself onto the edge of the sofa. ‘You thought the exit was this way. I believe you even asked Dhruv why someone would keep a sofa out on the road.’

‘I was that drunk? Brilliant.’ Kashvi dragged a hand over her face, fighting the sharp embarrassment. She didn’t even like drinking, but she had acted on impulse, and now it was kicking her in the ass. ‘What else did I say?’

Vihaan rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. ‘Maybe you should talk to Dhruv first.’

She was about to argue when she looked at the time.

Noon.

Kashvi rushed towards the table where her purse lay and began searching for her phone.

Vihaan stepped closer. ‘Hey, before you leave, please talk to Dhruv.’

She fumbled through the bag. ‘I’ll call him later. Thanks for letting me stay here, and tell Dhruv I said thanks too, but I really have to leave.’

Her hands shook as she remembered she’d switched off her phone, so she tipped her bag over, scattering everything across the table.

Where was Swayam?

Had he gone through with the engagement?

Had Viraj called with more demands while her phone was off?

‘Kashvi, breathe. Calm down,’ Vihaan said, gently tugging at her elbow. ‘You don’t remember what you told him?’

The hair at her nape prickled at something in his tone. ‘Why are you asking me like that? What did I say?’

‘Just wait here and I’ll get Dhruv,’ Vihaan said carefully.

Kashvi stiffened. ‘What did Dhruv tell you?’

The night before was an absolute blur, and that freaked her out.

For a while, her stepbrother had been their father’s spy. What if he still was? What if he told him whatever she’d foolishly revealed in her drunken stupor?

Her breath caught with fear, and she snapped. ‘If you two get some clever idea to hand Dad something to use against me, I swear I will punch both of you.’

‘You’re too late for that,’ came a voice from behind her.

Kashvi whirled towards the door where Dhruv stood, leaning against the wooden frame.

The sight of him knocked the anger out of her instantly because the bruise was impossible to miss.

The dark mark around his right eye had already turned an angry shade of blue and purple. His collar sat crookedly, torn along one side, and his shirt was completely crumpled. She had never seen him look so dishevelled.

‘What happened to you? Did you get into trouble again?’ she asked.

Dhruv rolled his eyes. ‘No, Mom,’ he said mockingly.

‘Don’t you dare,’ Kashvi snapped, closing the distance between them. ‘Don’t act smart right now. Who did this?’

His right eye was swollen badly enough to distort the natural line of his cheekbone, and an instinctive, visceral anger surged through her.

How dare someone hurt him like this?

‘You should see the other guy,’ he said, his eyes darkening, stripped of any civility.

The tension practically radiated off him, and Kashvi swallowed hard. ‘Am I supposed to see the other guy at the morgue or…’