Page 96 of Since You Stole My Heart

Kashvi shook off the thought, because right then, what mattered was whether he cared enough about her to believe her.

‘I’ll prove it.’

‘With what evidence? You don’t have anything that shows I’m blackmailing you except some random texts from an unknown number, much less proof that such an image exists. None of it will trace back to me.’

The ground beneath her feet shifted, and she began to question whether she actually had anything solid.

What if he did believe Viraj?

What if she gathered enough courage to tell him, and Swayam looked back at her with hostility and doubt instead of belief?

‘Why would I ever leak something like that about myself?’ she asked, holding onto the hope that logic might back her up.

Kashvi caught a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but he recovered quickly.

Viraj tsked, shaking his head. ‘You’re asking the wrong questions. It won’t matter who leaked it once it’s out in the world for everyone to see.’

The implication violently pulled her back to reality. He was right.

People would not care. They would only judge and persecute her and everyone she knew.

Her stomach twisted, but she forced herself to stay present and not let fear completely consume her.

‘Why are you doing this? Why me?’

His soft, nostalgic smile made her cringe away. ‘Because I started thinking about you even when I didn’t have your pictures in front of me. Initially, I was furious when I found out you’d destroyed one of my cameras, but then I saw you. So angelic, so innocent. I wouldn’t say I fell in love, but I definitely became obsessed with you. That’s why I sent you my favourite picture of all.’

She tried to shift back, but there was nowhere to go.

‘I’ve waited a long time to get close to you, to touch you,’ he whispered, trailing a finger down her cheek. A thread of frustration echoed in his voice as he growled, ‘And now, to find out you’re his wife… it makes my blood boil.’

Adrenaline surged through her veins as the full weight of the danger hit her.

‘You have no idea how close I am to losing control. It’s only the people out there in the living room stopping me from dragging you into the bedroom.’

She opened her mouth to tell him off, but he shook his head in warning. ‘Now that you understand how this works, you’re not going to say a word to him. In fact, you’re also going to break this silly marriage of yours and send Swayam to meet a girl tomorrow at my engagement.’

Kashvi stared at him for a second before a disbelieving chuckle tore out of her. ‘You’re delusional. Swayam is my husband, and you think I’m just going to walk away from him? Or let you break us apart? There is no universe where I would ever agree to that.’

A dark shadow flashed in his eyes as Viraj coldly said, ‘I don’t care whether you agree or not. I just need you to do it and make sure Swayam says yes to the match.’

‘Fuck you,’ Kashvi spat.

Before she could react, Viraj grabbed her by the throat with aggressive force and bent her backwards over the railing. The impact knocked the breath out of her, and the hard steel dug into her back, making her whimper.

Any trace of reason vanished from his eyes, leaving behind only a raging monster. ‘I had to share everything with that bastard growing up. My house, my toys, even my mother. Now you expect me to just accept that he gets you too?’

Kashvi clawed at his arm with her nails, trying to push him away, but he towered over her as he squeezed her throat, cutting off her air.

‘No, not this time,’ he growled, finally letting go. ‘I won’t let him win this time. Mom has never been only mine, but you will be.’

She gulped in air, breathing through her mouth, and managed to shove him back a little.

‘If despite everything, he makes the mistake of choosing you, I’ll make sure he regrets it. I’ll rip him away from everyone, especially my mom. I’ll leave him empty and lost, with no family and the reputation of having a whorish wife.’

Viraj said it with such calm conviction that she realised he was not bluffing.

‘You actually think I’m going to stand here and help you trap Swayam into marrying someone he doesn’t even know?’ she snapped.