Page 179 of Since You Stole My Heart

Karthik cursed under his breath. Beside him, the colour drained from Viraj’s face even as anger flared across his face.

Karthik looked like a caged animal as he shot Dhruv a furious look. ‘You fucking snake. You did this.’

Dhruv gave a steady nod. ‘I did. But I warned you first. When Siya threw you out of the business, I told you to stay away from my sisters. I told you I had enough dirt on you to ruin you if you hurt them, but you clearly didn’t take me seriously.’

Age-old resentment burned at the back of Kashvi’s throat as she remarked, ‘That’s his arrogance, isn’t it,bhaiya? He never takes us seriously.’

‘His mistake has come back to haunt him, so maybe he’ll learn his lesson now,’ Siya observed with a smug smile as she moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with Kashvi.

Karthik looked between the three of them, standing united, and for the first time, a flicker of fear flickered in his eyes.

He forced himself upright in his chair, but the dark smile tugging at his mouth looked brittle now. ‘You really think you can threaten me? That’s cute.’

Siya tilted her head, fury sharpening her voice. ‘Are you sure you can handle the answer to that? Because I don’t think you can.’

Kashvi silently thanked the universe that her sister’s glare was not aimed at her.

‘One law degree, and you suddenly think you’re invincible?’

‘Careful,’ Abhay cut in coldly. ‘If I were you, I wouldn’t push your luck any further.’

Kashvi urged, ‘Oh, come on, Di. Our old man simply wants to know what you plan to do.’

‘Oh, nothing much. Just this,’ Siya said, pulling her phone from her jeans pocket.

Confusion flickered across Karthik’s face as she made a call.

‘Good evening, Commissioner Singh. How are you?’ Siya greeted warmly.

For the first time, Karthik looked genuinely shaken.

‘Yes, yes. Abhay and I remember the fundraiser this weekend, but that’s not why I’m calling,’ Siya said, glancing at her husband as he rolled his eyes. ‘You remember that pro bono case I handled for your nephew? You said you owed me a favour. I’m calling to collect it.’

The man on the other end said something that made Siya smile faintly. ‘Oh, wonderful. I’m so glad you’re free today.’

Beside her, Abhay let out an amused breath. ‘As if he was ever going to say no to you.’

Holding Karthik’s horrified stare without mercy, Siya continued, ‘I have a private family matter I would appreciateyour help with. Could you come over to the Kashyap townhouse as soon as possible?’

After a brief pause, she added, ‘Ah, yes. Thank you. I’ll see you in ten minutes.’

The moment she ended the call, Karthik exploded, ‘What the hell are you doing?’

Siya met his gaze with icy, unnerving hostility. ‘Did you really think you were going to get away with killing my mother?’

Karthik’s head jerked towards Kashvi with such naked shock that a sick sense of satisfaction curled through Kashvi’s chest. ‘You really thought I wouldn’t tell Di everything?’

‘You always were too stupid for your own good,’ Karthik burst out.

For one awful second, she was six years old again, sitting in that car while he sweetly coaxed her into betraying her mother. The sharp contrast in his tone now made molten rage burn through her.

‘No, I was stupid enough back then to let you bully me into silence and destroy my self-respect piece by piece. But not anymore.’

Viraj moved forward, his eyes dark with anger. ‘Have you forgotten I still have your pictures?’

Before Kashvi could answer, Swayam silenced him sharply. ‘Quiet. The grown-ups are talking.’

Viraj’s head snapped towards him. ‘You think you’re funny?’