Page 184 of Since You Stole My Heart

Kashvi stepped in before Swayam could answer.

‘You have such a limited vocabulary, Viraj. Everyone is a whore to you. Did you skip your English tuitions too?’ Kashvi asked, unable to stand the insult he threw at her man.

‘I went with him because Mausa is fun to be around. Did you even know we meet for drinks and catch up every other weekend?’ Swayam added, fuelling Viraj’s rage further.

Viraj’s sneer turned ugly and defensive. ‘Shut it before I smash your face in,’ he snarled, practically shaking with fury.

In contrast, Swayam stood relaxed, legs slightly apart and posture loose.

‘Did I hit a nerve? Do you do Karthik’s dirty work because you’re desperate to prove you’re a man, or becauseyouare the attention whore who’ll do anything for a scrap of daddy’s approval?’

Swayam stepped into his space, his eyes blazing with fury so potent it seemed to burn through the room. His mouth curved into a smirk. ‘Either way, you failed.’

‘You bastard!’ Viraj shouted, driving his fist straight into Swayam’s chest.

A scream tore out of Kashvi as her heart slammed violently against her ribs.

Before she could even process what was happening, Swayam slammed his foot into Viraj’s stomach with a brutal kick. The impact hurled Viraj backwards, and he stumbled into the wall with a sickening thud.

Swayam ripped the phone from his fist and threw it over his shoulder towards Dhruv, who caught it instantly.

Part of Kashvi wanted to sag with relief, but his anger seemed to thrum through her blood too. She could not look away from her husband.

When Viraj tried to swing at him again, Swayam grabbed him by the throat and pinned him hard against the wall, making the windows rattle. Viraj thrashed frantically, cursing, trying to push him off, but Swayam held him there.

His forearm flexed with strain while Viraj clawed at his wrist, trying to breathe.

Swayam’s gaze turned savage, making him look almost unrecognisable.

Kashvi had never seen him like this before.

Viraj shoved at him, growling. ‘Get the hell off me.’

Swayam tightened his grip on his neck. ‘Just because I didn’t run in here screaming with a knife, you thought I wasn’t furious?’

Viraj gagged, trying to push him off, but Swayam didn’t budge an inch. Instead, his gaze darkened as he finally let loose. ‘You’re wrong, because I’m feeling fucking murderous. I haven’t forgotten that you stalked, blackmailed, harassed, and assaulted my wife. Not even for one fucking second.’

Viraj’s face began to redden, the veins hammering in his temple. He swung his fist again, but Swayam swatted it away easily.

‘You don’t know how to fight, so stop trying. You’re embarrassing yourself.’

‘You played dirty, or I would’ve crushed you,’ Viraj wheezed in a raspy voice.

Swayam gave an amused snort. ‘No, you couldn’t handle me even on my worst day. But today? Not a chance. I’ve been furious for hours. Ever since I heard you scream at Kashvi on that call. But unlike you, I know how to use my anger like a weapon instead of letting it use me. And now… here you are.’

Viraj sucked in a rough breath, coughing once. ‘You’re the stray no one ever wanted. That’s why your parents abandoned your sorry ass. And one day, just like them, Kashvi will leave you too.’

Kashvi’s heart cracked open because she knew Viraj had struck a nerve.

But Swayam looked completely at ease. ‘You forced her to leave me, but did it work? My girl loves me, you fool. She’ll never walk away from me. But keep telling yourself that if it helps you sleep. I’ve heard it gets lonely in prison.’

Viraj grinned despite the blood trickling from his nose. He half-choked as he said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll just think about your wife. I’ve seen her pictures, remember?’

Kashvi recoiled at the vulgar image that flashed through her mind.

Swayam cut off what little air he could pull in with a crushing grip. Viraj’s shoes scraped uselessly against the floor as he struggled to pry him off.

With lethal calm, Swayam asked, ‘Do you think I’m leaving you alive because you’re related to me? The cousin I grew up with died the moment you put your hands on my Kash. But you’re not even worth killing, because a life away from her would be worse than prison.’