Page 65 of Since You Stole My Heart

‘That NOC proves nothing, right?’ Karthik said, almost pleading with Piyush. ‘People can be forced or coerced into signing anything.’

‘You’d know. You’re the expert in shady tactics,’ Dhruv said without hesitation. ‘You’ve spent years cutting deals behind the committee’s back and misusing funds. I didn’t have to force anyone. They were more than willing to vote you out once they knew you were robbing your own daughter. And they respect Siya enough not to piss her off.’

‘You think I’m a fool? You think I don’t understand what’s happening here?’ Karthik demanded, an angry vein pulsing at his temple.

‘All you need to understand is that there are rules and we can’t bend them for anyone, especially not for a Kashyap reject,’ Kashvi said, throwing his words back at him. ‘Whether you believe it or not, I’m legally married and eligible to claim the blessing my mother left for me.’

‘She is correct,’ Piyush said, backing her up.

‘This is unbelievable,’ Karthik said, pacing the room as he ran a hand through his thinning hair. ‘You’re supposed to be a fairliaison, and you’re falling for this sham like you lack a sensible brain in your head.’

‘If you’re done with your bullshit, I would like to proceed,’ Piyush said.

Kashvi held her breath as Piyush retrieved a stamp from the side drawer.

Karthik took a step forward, agitated. ‘You can’t just—’

‘I can,’ Piyush cut him off, and brought down the stamp with a sharp, decisive thud that echoed through the room. ‘The process will be completed in a week, following which Kashvi will receive her inheritance and succeed Karthik, assuming the position of chairperson of KFT.’

Kashvi pressed her lips together to hold back the cry of relief.

Karthik threw his hands in the air, looking like a man who had run out of moves. He let out a scream of frustration, then locked his dark eyes on her.

He stalked towards her and stood uncomfortably close. ‘You really think you can rob me of everything, and I’ll just… let it go?’

Kashvi felt a flicker of fear settle into her chest, even as she forced herself to hold his gaze.

Swayam’s arm tightened around her, his fingers pressing into the curve of her waist. ‘You can do whatever you think you can, but don’t forget that to get to her, you will have to go through me.’

Karthik kept his focus firmly on his youngest daughter. ‘You spent years making a point of not wanting to get married. Thatwas the right decision, and you’ll realise it soon, because I’m going to make sure this will be the biggest mistake of your life.’

Kashvi refused to rise to his bait. ‘You can try, but you don’t know me well enough to decide what I can or can’t handle.’

Her father smiled with such delight that her blood ran cold.

‘Oh, I know you. Because you’re my favourite daughter, remember?’ he asked, winking to make sure she didn’t miss the implication.

She had heard those words before.

Kashvi went rigid, unable to stop the tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. She had been up all night mentally preparing herself to face his cruelty. Yet there was no bracing against a blow like that. His smile said he knew that too.

She bit down on the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood, hating that he could still reach inside her and drag out the memories she had worked so hard to bury.

Across from her, seeing her struggle to hold her composure, Karthik looked pleased. ‘Congratulations,’ he said to Swayam.

The undercurrent of mockery was impossible to miss as he added, ‘I hope you have a happy married life.’

With one last scathing look at her, Karthik strode towards the door. Just before he slammed the door shut behind him, he tossed over his shoulder, ‘You’re certainly going to need it.’

Abhay let out a breath. ‘I swear, that man is the worst excuse for a father I’ve ever known.’

Piyush eased back in his chair. ‘I have dealt with difficult people in my line of work, but no one comes close to him. I have no idea how living under the same roof as him didn’t drive you kids mad.’

Siya asked, ‘Who said we’re not mad? You just don’t see the worst of it.’

‘Still, that was… I mean, even for him, that was—’

‘Exactly what we expected,’ Dhruv finished.