Page 62 of Since You Stole My Heart

He only looked back at her with that same measured calm as he said, ‘I’ve asked my assistant to look into relocation options. I’m sure she’ll figure out where they can be moved.’

He clearly didn’t know that his assistant had leaked the proposal to Dhruv, but it made sense to Kashvi now why she had done it. She must have seen the sheer disregard he was showing towards the people involved.

She couldn’t keep the disgust out of her voice as she asked, ‘You’ve asked her to relocate an entire community of people without even understanding what they need?’

‘I’m not their nanny. Real-world matters require my attention, Kashvi. What happens to them is none of my concern.’

Kashvi willed herself not to react to the familiar undercurrent of condescension in his tone. ‘What happens to the children who are in the middle of their education programme? What about the elderly residents who require constant medical supervision? The staff depend on us for both employment and housing, so what about them?’

Karthik pressed his lips together as he slowly clapped. ‘Bravo. That was quite the speech. I have to say, Kashvi, the way you have thrown yourself into this… hobby of yours to help the unfortunate is impressive. But maybe now you should focus on getting a real job and leave the business to adults like us.’

Kashvi couldn’t help but wonder how someone so cruel and inhumane was tied to her by something as inherent as blood. The idea made her stomach churn.

She swallowed, forcing the bile down, and turned to Piyush. ‘You knew about the clause as well. Why didn’t you inform me?’

Piyush hesitated, his gaze flicking briefly towards Karthik. He looked frustrated as he said, ‘I’m sorry, Kashvi. If it had been solely up to me, you would have been informed. But all members of the trust are bound by NDAs, and only an authorised family member can disclose things if they choose to.’

‘That’s not important,’ Karthik cut in, glaring at Piyush. ‘The bottom line is that it’s too late for you to do anything about this.’

The implication was clear. Karthik was the only one who could have told her, and he had chosen not to.

Her father had planned her downfall down to the last detail. If she hadn’t gotten married, she’d be helpless and out of options right now, and that’s exactly what he had wanted.

He had tricked Siya out of her rightful share, and he had come for her next. Now he sat there looking self-assured and pleased because he believed he was still in control of their lives.

A quiet, sharp urge to wipe the smirk off his face struck her, and Kashvi said, ‘You’re right about how I have to be married to be eligible. But you’re wrong about one thing, Dad.’

‘And what’s that?’ Karthik drawled.

‘It’s not too late,’ Kashvi said, her voice resolute.

Swayam stepped closer behind her, sliding his arm around her shoulders. Though he had been quiet all this time, she saw the restrained anger in his eyes mirroring her own.

‘I’d like to introduce you to my husband, Swayam Sharma,’ Kashvi announced, affectionately patting his cheek once.

‘Namaste,Sasurji,’ Swayam said, though he watched him with open hostility.

From somewhere behind them, Abhay scoffed in amusement.

For the first time since they had walked in, Karthik said nothing.

Karthik’s smile faltered. His voice lost all civility as he asked, ‘What the fuck are you talking about?’

Kashvi pulled down the collar of her high-neck top just enough to reveal what she had kept hidden beneath it. His eyes widened with panic as he caught the light glinting off the mangalsutra resting against her collarbone.

‘That’s not possible,’ Karthik muttered, more to himself.

Swayam turned to her, looking thoughtful. ‘Maybe we should cut him some slack. He did forget to tell you about a rather important clause, and we forgot to tell him we got married. So it only seems fair that we forgive him.’

‘You expect me to believe this sham?’ Karthik demanded, nearly shouting. ‘This is not a game, Kashvi.’

‘No, it’s not,’ she said, sharp enough to cut through his derision. ‘But neither is what you’re planning to do to those children.’

Siya slammed down the stack of files she had been holding in front of Piyush. ‘You’ll find all the documentation required to initiate her inheritance transfer.’

Piqued with curiosity, Piyush quickly opened the files.

Colour drained slowly from Karthik’s face. A strange, almost reluctant sense of satisfaction moved through Kashvi, because maybe he finally felt a fraction of what he had put them through.