Page 61 of Since You Stole My Heart

Piyush clapped his hands together, trying to redirect the conversation. ‘So, what can I do for all of you?’

Kashvi took a step forward. ‘I’m here to sign the final documents for my inheritance. I turn twenty-five tomorrow, so I thought it would be best to complete the transfer process today.’

Karthik let out a full, unrestrained burst of laughter as he wheezed, ‘Oh, this is rich. Siya, you really need to fire that Namita girl you foolishly hired as an assistant, because this is incompetence of the highest level.’

Siya went still, her gaze turning cold as she faced him. ‘That’s funny, because from where I’m standing, the only person in this room who seems threatened by a woman’s competence is you.’

Karthik’s smile widened, clearly entertained. Resting a hand against the edge of the desk, he asked, ‘By someone who can’t even manage the basic paperwork I sent you?’

Siya spoke with a quiet edge. ‘Or it sounds like your messages didn’t make it past the filter.’

His smile slipped. ‘What filter?’

‘We have your email, your office, and every communication channel you’ve ever used flagged and blacklisted,’ Abhay said.

A flash of irritation sparked in Karthik’s gaze as he demanded, ‘Why the hell would you do that?’

Siya replied evenly, ‘If it comes from you, it’s not worth our time.’

‘Blocking communication because you don’t like what you might hear. Very mature of you. Just like your mother,’ Karthik spat. ‘But let’s not pretend this isn’t your fault. I sent over the rejected inheritance paperwork two days ago.’

‘And why did you reject it?’ Siya asked firmly.

There was a hint of sympathy in his voice, which only added insult to injury. ‘Because Kashvi is not eligible for it according to the trust deed.’

‘I’m sorry? What exactly makes me ineligible?’ Kashvi demanded.

The gleam in Karthik’s eyes was unmistakable as he said, ‘You have to be married by the age of twenty-five to qualify.’

Hot, immediate anger rose so swiftly that Kashvi had to dig her nails into her palms. She could clearly see the satisfaction he drew from trapping her. ‘It seems like you knew this all along. Why didn’t you tell me?’

Karthik waved it off with a laugh. ‘It must have slipped my mind. I’ve been having issues with my memory lately.’

Siya sneered. ‘That’s convenient.’

Karthik looked pleased with himself. ‘No. That’s old age.’

‘Of course, because accountability for your mistakes is just not your style, right?’ Siya’s remark cut through the air.

‘This is a legal matter, Siya, not a personal one. But I wouldn’t expect you to understand the difference because you’re not as smart as you think.’

Abhay placed a hand on her back as he said, alarmingly calm, ‘It does seem like you love the sound of your own voice, which is why you keep talking trash. But if you want to keep talking, you’ll keep my wife’s name out of your mouth.’

Karthik shook his head slowly. ‘Bunch of fools. All you need to understand is that there are rules, and we can’t exactly bend them for anyone, not even for the Kashyap princess.’

Swayam stepped up behind her, aligning his shoulder with hers. Kashvi drew strength from the warmth radiating off him and asked, ‘Memory issues? Is that what you’re calling it?’

Karthik raised a brow. ‘What would you call it?’

‘I would call it manipulation.’

‘You’re upset, I understand. You came here expecting to walk away filthy rich. Instead, you will leave empty-handed. But on the bright side, now you get to hear my residential plans for this land.’

He only wanted them here so he could take the very piece of legacy tied to their mother’s name and tear it apart while they watched.

The anger eroded her composure, and Kashvi snapped. ‘The foundation building is home to over a hundred kids and elderly residents. You’d be uprooting all of them.’

She desperately searched for a speck of humanity in his cold gaze, but found none.