Page 173 of Since You Stole My Heart

Siya’s eyes widened with alarm, her brows pulling together. ‘You lied to me about this too?’

Kashvi curled her fingers helplessly into a fist. ‘Di, I just... I didn’t want your life revolving around worrying about me again. I thought I could handle it. I wasn’t trying to hurt you.’

‘But you did! I asked you that night at my house if the seizures had come back. You looked me in the eye and lied to me. Just like you lied to me all these years about the accident.’ Siya took a step back, her eyes glassy with unshed tears.

Panic surged through Kashvi, because every inch of distance Siya put between them felt terrifyingly permanent.

Swayam spoke again. ‘She hid it because of Karthik’s manipulation and the guilt he buried her under. There’s a difference.’

‘I don’t care!’ Siya snapped, furiously wiping away her tears, her eyes fixed on Kashvi. ‘Every year on Maa’s death anniversary, I cried on your shoulder. I told you I hated myself for passing out with a migraine because maybe I could’ve done something. I told you it killed me not knowing what happened in her last moments. And you said nothing.’

Guilt burned viciously through Kashvi, sweat lining the back of her neck.

‘Why did you let me suffer like that? Why didn’t you tell me everything right after the accident?’

Her knees nearly gave out as Kashvi said brokenly, ‘You were in a coma for a week. Then there were endless physical therapy sessions. After that, the years just blurred together. I kept telling myself I could make it right with time, but instead I only got more scared to tell you.’

‘There is nothing you can do to fix this!’ Siya burst out, her red-rimmed eyes wild with grief. ‘You can never bring Maa back.’

Kashvi squeezed her eyes shut. The words hurt so badly she physically ached. But carrying this secret alone had always felt like living with a blade lodged in her chest, and deep down, she had always known it would end like this.

‘You’re right. And you have every right to hate me for it. I can’t bring Maa back, but I can make sure she gets justice.’

Siya let out a disbelieving laugh. ‘And how exactly would you do that?’

‘I know I’m too late, but I’ll confess everything. I’ll turn myself in to the police and make sure Dad goes to jail with me.’

Siya stared at her in shock while Abhay swore softly under his breath.

Swayam looked at her in disbelief and blurted out, ‘What the hell? Absolutely not!’

Kashvi couldn’t face him, so she pulled away and walked towards the sofa where Vihaan sat.

The second he saw her reach for Viraj’s laptop, he snapped it shut and shoved it behind his back. Luv took it from him and moved two steps away.

Swayam grabbed Kashvi’s arm and stepped between her and Luv. When he refused to let her move past his hulking frame, she snapped, ‘What the hell is your problem?’

His expression tightened.

‘Wrong question,’ Swayam shot back. ‘What the hell are you doing?’

‘I need the laptop.’

‘For what?’

Instead of answering, Kashvi looked past him at Luv and held out her hand. ‘Give me that.’

Luv slid the laptop farther behind her back. ‘Not a chance.’

‘Why do you need the laptop?’ Swayam asked again, guiding her chin up until she met his eyes.

‘I can’t do this without the evidence. If I confess without proof, he’ll walk away too easily,’ she said urgently, needing him to understand.

‘You’re not turning yourself in,’ he said flatly.

Kashvi wiped at her cheeks angrily. ‘Why? Are you scared you’ll have to wait years for me if I go to jail?’

‘Baby, I’d wait for you as long as I’m breathing. But I’m too selfish to stand back and watch you throw your life away because you think you deserve punishment,’ Swayam said, his gaze dark with devotion. ‘I want to wake up beside you, spend my life loving you, and grow old with you. For any of that to happen, I need you here with me.’