Page 66 of Since You Stole My Heart

‘I think we need to get rid of him once and for all. Is there no provision to remove him from the board committee?’ Abhay asked.

Piyush sighed. ‘Unfortunately, the trust deed safeguarding Kashvi’s claim also protects his position. He won’t be chairman anymore, but he’ll still be a trustee because the older generation retains a board seat for life. Unless he resigns.’

‘Dad won’t do that,’ Dhruv said.

‘So he’s basically untouchable?’ Siya asked.

‘Yes. I know the organisation has been struggling under Karthik’s care. I do have my doubts about Kashvi’s sudden love story, but you’re giving me a way out, and I’d rather not let trust money fall into the hands of someone like him.’Piyush quickly added, ‘No offence.’

Siya chuckled. ‘None taken.’

Even as the conversation continued around her, Kashvi remained trapped inside her own mind, reliving her father’s words over and over.

What had he meant?

She knew her husband and family were around her, surrounding her with warmth and care. They had won the battle, after all.

Yet in that moment, as she stood in the aftermath of everything that had just happened, she felt unsettlingly, utterly alone.

Chapter 13

Swayam was perched on the sofa, his gaze drifting to the closed bedroom door across the living room for what felt like the hundredth time in the last hour.

He had hoped to catch a sound, a movement, any sign that Kashvi was no longer as agitated as she had been when they came home.

Though the outcome of the meeting had gone in their favour, Karthik had done a number on her. She had barely spoken all evening, lost in her own thoughts.

Swayam had hoped to talk to her, but she had walked straight into her room and slammed the door shut behind her without looking back.

That had been two hours ago.

His eyes flickered to his watch, the time glowing in the dim amber light cast by the lamp beside him.

11:55 p.m.

Swayam dragged a hand through his hair as he leaned back, then immediately shifted again when the cushion dippedawkwardly beneath him. Stretching out his legs, he stared up at the ceiling, trying to settle the restless loop of his thoughts.

Maybe she had already fallen asleep.

He didn’t like the thought of her spending the night of her birthday alone, but if she had finally given in to exhaustion, waking her just to wish her felt selfish.

Swayam hadn’t realised how still the apartment had become until his phone rang. He flinched, glancing once towards the bedroom door before checking the screen. An unknown number was blinking at him. ‘Hello?’

A familiar voice came through. ‘Hey, it’s Dhruv. Did I wake you up?’

Swayam pushed himself upright. ‘No, no. I was awake. What’s up?’

There was a muted tension in Dhruv’s tone as he asked, ‘I just… Is Kashvi okay?’

His gaze flickered back to her bedroom door. ‘She’s okay. I think.’

‘You think?’ Dhruv repeated. ‘What’s she doing?’

Swayam let out a quiet sigh. ‘I don’t know. She hasn’t come out once since she shut herself in her room.’

‘After the way our father behaved today, I’d be surprised if she was in a celebratory mood.’

Swayam tightened his jaw, pressing his thumb against the edge of his phone. ‘I swear I almost jumped over the desk to punch him.’