Page 181 of Since You Stole My Heart

Siya had taken the picture herself.

‘We made a list of every person you’ve taken advantage of,’ Siya said coldly. ‘They deserve to know exactly how you violated their trust and privacy, so we plan to tell them everything.’

Abhay crossed his arms. ‘I recognised a few of those names. They have... interesting ties to the underworld, from what I’ve heard. I’m curious to see how they’ll react on seeing this.’

Dhruv let out a low chuckle. ‘Guess I finally understand why he worked so hard to become friends with them.’

‘And they will protect me!’ Karthik shouted.

Swayam stepped forward, his glare hardening. ‘No decent man is going to protect monsters who prey on women. You’re both going to prison for a very long time.’

Karthik exploded, slamming his fist against the desk again. ‘How dare you threaten me in my own house!’

Swayam didn’t back down. ‘You had the audacity to get your wife killed, extort your daughter with private pictures, and exploit your family for money. Honestly, you should be grateful all I’m doing is sending you to jail.’

Karthik looked at Siya, a taunting glint entering his eyes. ‘You won’t do that.’

‘Why not?’ she asked.

He flashed her a smug smile. ‘Because I know you love your sister. You won’t send her to jail.’

Her expression turned glacial. ‘Really? Watch me.’

Kashvi’s breath hitched as fear curled low in her gut.

Swayam wrapped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer against his side. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t let that happen,’ he whispered in her ear.

She squeezed his hand but didn’t answer.

Karthik seemed to realise his eldest daughter was far too furious to fall for his manipulation now, so he turned to Kashviinstead. ‘You know how your sister gets carried away when she’s angry. Tell her to stop before she ruins all our lives because she’s too cheap to give me some money.’

Kashvi stared at him. Her father was actually asking her for mercy. The memory of him disconnecting the call when she had asked for help after the accident made it easy to deny him now. ‘Some money? You don’t deserve a single rupee.’

‘How can you do this to me? I’m your father.’

Kashvi lifted her chin. ‘All you are to me is my mother’s murderer.’

‘Then that makes you one too!’ he shot back with a cruel smile, pointing a finger at her.

She didn’t even flinch. ‘Yes. It does. And I fully intend to make both of us pay for it, even if I have to drag you to hell with me.’

‘You’re better than this, Kashu,’ Karthik pressed desperately, realising his younger daughter was slipping out of his control too. ‘You’re not cold-hearted like Siya. She was always your mother’s pet, but you... You were my girl.’

Kashvi braced her hand against the desk and leaned down until they were eye level.

‘You’ve got it all wrong. You feared Di because her anger was loud. You should’ve feared me, because my rage has lived in silence for years. Now it’s your turn to choke on it.’

Her lips curled into a sharp, vicious smile as she stared straight at him. ‘After all,’ she said softly, ‘I’m your favourite daughter, am I not?’

He recoiled as if she had struck him. ‘There’s too much of your mother in you,’ he sneered.

A genuine smile flickered across her face. ‘That’s the best compliment you’ve ever given me.’

Karthik held her gaze for a moment, then dragged a hand down his face. He sighed. ‘Fine. Keep your money. I’ll leave you alone.’

Siya laughed in disbelief. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. I won’t stop until you’re rotting in prison.’

‘You can even have the photos back,’ Karthik ordered, snapping his fingers at Viraj to hand them over.