Page 90 of The Ruin I Chose

Sahil blinked.

“Didn’t you stay at his place in Italy? Wouldn’t it be courteous to return the favour?”

She shot him a look.

“Fine.” She said through gritted teeth. “At least that debt won’t loom over my head. But he’ll have to stay at a hotel tonight. I need to get things straight at home.”

Sahil shrugged. “Nah. He can crash at my place tonight. With Priya already in Alibaug, I—”

“Fine then,” she cut in. “I’ve called a cab. Lock up. You can drop him off tomorrow. Any time after eleven.”

She didn’t say goodbye. Didn’t look back.

She stormed off, and I just stood there watching her leave.

CHAPTER 35

MARCELLO

The ride to Sahil’s place was quiet. Mostly.

I kept quiet. He kept yapping.

No wonder he and Roxanne made good partners—ideas bounced between them like second nature. Sahil was easy to talk to, even when I wanted anything but.

Sahil’s place was quiet. Too quiet for a man getting married in a week. But I guess he preferred it that way. His home still looked like a bachelor pad—minimalist brown sofa, no-fuss décor, a one-seater swing. Easy-going. Uncomplicated.

He handed me a glass of whiskey. I took it without a word. I wandered through the living room, letting my eyes settle on anything that held them. I paused at a photo on the shelf—Roxanne and Sahil, laughing.

She was in jeans and a loose white top, hair tied up, holding a clipboard. He had his arm around her shoulder, pointing at something off-frame. I stared at it longer than I should have.

Sahil noticed. “That was the day we finalised Studio Rasa,” he said. “First space we ever shortlisted. Total dump—cracked walls, rusty doors, and broken windows. It hadn’t been lived in for almost ten years—looked haunted. But she saw potential. And the rent wasn’t insane.”

I nodded, listening with intent, even though I’d heard it all before.

“She fought for it. Said it had good bones—that it would breathe once restored. And she was right. It’s been five years, and now I think it’s our lucky charm. She always saw what others missed.”

We sat at the breakfast counter—Sahil didn’t own a formal dining table. I was pretty sure that would change once he got married.

“I hope Chinese will do.”

I nodded.

“You know we went through quite a bit of drama and stress, all thanks to your buddy Lorenzo.”

I tightened my grip on the glass.

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Nah, we sailed through. But Roxy tried to absorb most of it. Did you know that bastard touched her?”

I froze mid-sip and looked at him in disbelief. I knew Lorenzo was in Mumbai, but I didn’t think he’d corner her like that. My blood turned cold. Sahil went on to tell me everything that Roxanne told him.

I thought I knew what happened, but I was mistaken. It was time Lorenzo met his fate. All this time, he made threats through his people. But now—he touched her. My woman. My Roxanne.

I smiled, imagining snipping off each of his fingers—slowly. Letting the pain crawl through his veins. His screams echoing into the sea.

That night, I barely slept. I knew Roxanne was safe. Healthy. Smiling. But danger still lurked around the corners. Every time I tried, the same cold stone room dragged me back—me staring down at Roxanne’s lifeless body. Still. Pale. Bleeding from places she shouldn’t. It haunted me even when I knew it was a dream.