Page 187 of Since You Stole My Heart

With a final nod and a promise to keep them posted, Balram signalled to his team, and they filed out quietly.

The moment they were alone, Siya strode to the desk and slapped a document down in front of Karthik. ‘Sign it.’

Karthik looked at her in disbelief before snapping, ‘How do you expect me to survive with no money?’

Siya shot back, ‘I’m allowing you to stay at the farmhouse. That’s the most you get from me. Try getting a job. Though in this market, you’ll probably be ninety before anyone gives you an interview.’

Karthik narrowed his eyes. ‘You’re serious?’

Siya nodded. ‘I wanted to watch the trustees spit in your face, but I’m done wasting any more time on you. Sign the resignation, or I’ll call for a board vote.’

His jaw ticked. ‘And if I don’t?’

‘This house is huge. The commissioner is probably still in the driveway. I can call him back and have your name added to the chargesheet.’

‘Do it, Di,’ Kashvi pleaded, stepping forward. ‘The only way to stop him from terrorising us is to send him to jail.’

Siya shook her head. ‘No. This is a better punishment. I want the great Karthik Kashyap living with the fear that I might change my mind one day. I want him to wake up every morning wondering if the police are coming for him.’ Her expression hardened with pure hate. ‘I want fear to rule his life.’

Karthik exhaled sharply and grabbed a pen from the holder. ‘You’ll regret pushing me this far,’ he warned, and signed.

Siya snatched the paper back at once, her stare turning glacial. ‘Keep your threats to yourself and get out. Don’t ever come near us again, or set foot in this city.’

Karthik shoved his chair back and kicked it behind him. The violent thud spiked Kashvi’s anger.

‘Di, I don’t trust him. You know he’ll pull strings to come after us later. We have to put him behind bars and end this once and for all.’

Karthik stalked towards the door. ‘Not in this life, you insolent child.’

He had barely taken two steps before Swayam caught him by the collar and yanked him back. Their faces were inches apart as Swayam fixed him with a hard stare. ‘You may not be scared of Siya, but you should be scared of me.’

Kashvi hurried to his side and rubbed a hand over his back, but nothing could rein him in.

Swayam’s voice turned cold. ‘You saw what I did to my cousin, and I once cared about him. So just imagine what I’ll do to you if you ever go near her again?’ Swayam bit out.

A vein pulsed at Karthik’s temple as he snapped, ‘I get it, okay? Let me go.’

He staggered back the moment Swayam released him.

Karthik reached for the door, then looked over his shoulder one last time. ‘Fuck all of you, you ungrateful brats.’

The door slammed shut behind him, the sound leaving a dull echo in her ears.

Just like that, her father walked out of their lives, leaving a hot, ugly rage lodged inside Kashvi. She spun to Siya, the question tearing out of her. ‘Why did you let him go?’

Siya met Kashvi’s gaze, her expression unreadable. ‘Because I had to.’

The old wound inside Kashvi tore open all over again as she said fiercely, ‘Di, if you’re worried about me, I’ll do what you said. I’ll give a statement against him and hope for mercy.’

Siya let out a breath. ‘I was bluffing, Kashu. Even if you get only a few years, prison will scar you for life. The tag of a killer will never leave you.’

‘We have to do something. We can’t just let him walk free.’

Siya smiled ruefully. ‘I had to let him go, Kashu. It’s the only way to protect you.’

‘But why are you protecting me?’ The words broke out of Kashvi with such force that her vision blurred with tears. ‘I should suffer for what I did. It’s the only way I can help you heal.’

Siya shook her head and placed her hands gently on Kashvi’s shoulders. Her voice quivered as she asked, ‘How could you even think watching my sister suffer would heal me?’