Page 90 of Since You Stole My Heart

He leaned in just enough to press a soft kiss on her forehead. ‘I know I should behave, but I can’t help it.’

A loud, exaggerated cough rang out behind him, and he pulled back slightly to see Lavanya glaring at him. ‘Please, by all means, take your time. I’d love to tell Fufaji we got late because Swayam was busy flirting with his girl.’

Swayam smiled apologetically. ‘I have to spend the next couple of hours around him. Every dying man gets a last wish, and this is mine.’

Kashvi felt a flutter low in her belly, and she smacked his arm to make him stop.

Lavanya gave him a look that was equal parts impatient and amused. ‘Come with me, or I’ll drag you out myself.’

With a heart-stopping smile, Swayam promised to be back soon and walked out after Lavanya.

Her phone buzzed. The fragile calm she held onto shattered the moment Kashvi read the text.

I’ll tell you who I am if you promise to fuck me.

She gripped the phone tightly, wishing she could crush it. Kashvi quickly tapped the option to block the number as she considered switching off her phone again.

Swayam would be back any minute, and he’d notice she was spiralling. He always did.

A cold spike of dread hit her gut as her phone buzzed again. She swallowed hard when she saw the aggressive threat.

YOU BITCH! STOP BLOCKING ME OR I’LL MAKE YOU VERY, VERY SORRY.

Defiance surged up to meet the fear blooming in her chest, and she immediately hit the block option again.

This was getting out of hand. Her first instinct was to push it away so she could deal with it later, but as the silence in the kitchen stretched on, she began to wonder if she couldn’t handle this alone. Maybe she should tell Swayam.

Kashvi looked towards the door, hoping he would appear just then, take her in his arms, and chase away this nightmare.

Her phone pinged with a notification from a new number.

I had better ways to reveal this surprise to you, something so romantic, but you’re such an attention whore that you chose to force my hand. This is on you.

Immediately after the text, an image popped up. Her stomach dropped, leaving a hollow ache in its wake as she tapped it open.

When the image appeared stark against the screen, a strangled shriek tore out of her, and Kashvi slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle it.

She sank her teeth into her lip as she fought the violent sob clawing its way up her throat. She tasted the metallic tang of blood, trembling with the sheer effort of holding herself together.

Her gaze stayed fixed on the image, her eyes wide and burning. A younger version of herself looked back from the picture, standing in front of a bathroom mirror clad in nothing but a bra.

She had spent years suffocating beneath the weight of this memory. It had haunted her, and now it had come to life.

No, this couldn’t be real.

The old memory of that party crashed into her with brutal clarity. Kashvi could still hear the echo of the song that had been playing in the room. She remembered smashing the camera with her stiletto until it was beyond repair. Yet somehow, it was back.

Her illusion shattered, slamming into her with enough force to make her knees weak, and she stumbled backwards.

Kashvi leaned against the marble counter, breathing unevenly, as she kept repeating the mantra she had clung to for seven years.

I had destroyed it.

Suddenly, the image vanished from her screen with a whoosh, leaving behind no trace except the shattered pieces of her soul.

Another message appeared, and Kashvi blinked rapidly to clear her blurry vision.

You really thought that was the only camera, babygirl? I have more pictures. Would you like to see?