Page 118 of The Ruin I Chose

As he lowered Kyra, I slid my hand down and grabbed his ass. He yelped, caught off guard.

I winked. “Payback.”

His eyes went dark with want. Mine sparkled. We were fire and mischief. And I was drunk on both.

The baraat was loud and joyful. Marcello danced with Vihaan and Kyra, mostly holding Kyra as she bounced in his arms. She squealed with delight as I watched them with my heart full.

The wedding was set in a stepwell-style courtyard—sandstone tiers descending into a mandap framed by marigolds and carved arches. It looked like something out of a movie. The scent of jasmine and sandalwood lingered in the air.

Luckily, the weather was kind, and fans were placed throughout to keep the air moving. Marcello and I sat side by side during the pheras.

My mother leaned in, explaining each ritual—the vows of duty, strength, prosperity, and love. Marcello listened intently, his fingers brushing mine, stealing glances. Like he was looking forward to the idea of forever.

His gaze held questions I wasn’t ready to answer. Questions about us. About vows. About permanence.

Did he hope we’d have one too?

But after Vihaan, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take the leap of faith again.

During the fourth phera, my eyes met Vihaan’s across the fire. He gave a quiet nod with a faint smile. We shared a past. Brought a beautiful daughter into this world. I nodded back with a smile, and then my eyes met Marcello’s.

And everything shifted. My heart pounded in my chest. I felt butterflies in my stomach. Like the universe itself was aligning for this. For us.

He sensed my uneasiness and took my hand in his, circling the top with his thumb—like he was calming a storm only he could see. I didn’t pull away. Instead, I just lay my head on his shoulder and stayed in the moment.

The fire crackled between us. So did something else. Vihaan smiled. It felt like the final thread was cut from Vihaan and a new thread was being woven to Marcello. Not fate. Choice.

Maybe Vihaan and I weren’t soulmates. Maybe we had to cross paths and come into each other’s lives so we could have a learning experience.

But was Marcello my soulmate? Only time would tell.

Maybe soulmates aren’t always written by fate. Maybe they’re written by choice. And I was choosing him.

CHAPTER 44

ROXANNE

After the ceremony, Sahil and Priya posed for photos. Marcello and I were heading back when I saw someone waiting in the garden. I squealed in surprise.

“Santino?”

Dropping Marcello’s hand, I rushed over to Santino, who opened his arms to pull me into a playful, laughing twirl. I looped my arm through his, casually. Marcello stood dumbstruck, jaw clenched as a dark shadow flickered in his eyes. Vihaan raised a brow, confused. And I looked like I was chaos in a saree.

Marcello and Vihaan exchanged confused looks. I couldn’t blame them. One moment, I was wrapped in Marcello’s arms. The next, I was hugging another man like he’d been here all along, and I was just waiting for him.

But Santino was family. Just not the kind Marcello expected. Not the kind that came with blood. But with secrets and history.

“Vihaan, this is Santino—Marcello’s right-hand man.”

“And cousin,” Santino added, offering a handshake.

His tone was light. His eyes weren’t.

“I didn’t know that,” I said, surprised.

“Distant,” Marcello muttered, frowning.

“Care to explain?” Marcello asked, looking sternly at Santino.