Page 24 of Shattered

“Argh... I don’t have time for this,” I mutter as I hang up and drop my phone into my purse.Just as I’m about to gather my things and stand up,I spot Reyansh entering the coffee shop. I quickly slump back down, noticing the smirk playing on his lips as his eyes lock onto mine, as if saying,‘Caught you. You can’t escape now.’Looks like luck isn’t on my side today.

‘Mission: keep Reyansh at arm’s length failed,’I murmur to myself.

Gulping,I watch himtake predatory stepstowards me, looking effortlessly handsome in his casual jeans and a black t-shirt. Gosh! Things would be a whole lot easier if he would just take the hint and leave me alone instead of appearing like a spectre every damn time.

As he comes to stand near my table, I begin to open my mouth, unsure of what to say. But all my words die in my throat as he places one hand on the back of my chair and the other on the table, effectively caging me in place with his deep brown eyes glaring at me.

“Why are you avoiding me?” he asks, his proximity turning my insides into jelly,making it nearly impossible to think straight. Yet I manage to let out a nervous laugh. “Avoiding you? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His eyes narrow. “Do you really think it’s wise to play the pretend game with me?” he retorts, his firm stance sending a shiver down my spine. Holding my gaze, he continues in his baritone voice, “Not when your constant ignoring has left me feeling frustrated, making it hard for me to focus on anything except figuring out what I did to deserve this treatment from you.” Ilook over his shoulderand notice the coffee shop staff stealing quick glances at us.

“People are staring at us,” I whisper, turning my head to meet his intense gaze,my heart pounding in my chest.

“Do I look like I care?”he replies, unfazed.

“Please,”I plead softly.

He glances at me briefly, then finally straightens, creating the much-needed space I need as he settles into a chair across from me, crossing his arms over his chest. “Now, explain why you’re avoiding me.”

“I haven’t been avoiding you. I’ve just been really busy,” I scoff, and his eyebrows shoot up in pure disbelief.

“Busy, huh? That’s your excuse?” hechallenges, scepticism evident in his tone. “Too busy to even give me a second of your life?”

“Reyansh—” I whisper, trying to gather my thoughts, but he cuts me off and leans closer over thetable.

“Talk to me, Kavya.And be honest, because if you don’t, I won’t hesitate to draw attention in a way that will make you very uncomfortable,” he warns firmly. The intensity in his eyes tells me he’s not joking. It seems wiser to come clean now and end this right here rather than prolong the drama and emotional stress.

Ignoring the nervous flutter in my stomach, Iput on a brave face. “I overheard your conversation,” Iadmit, and he furrows his eyebrows in confusion. Pulling in a deep breath, I continue, “I heard you talking to Akash about you... you wanting to confess your love to me.”

He leans back in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his lips as he says. “Good.”

“Good?” I echo, staring at him. Now, it’s my turn to look at him with confusion.

He shrugs nonchalantly. “Yup, good. I was struggling to figure out how to broach the topic, but now that you’ve heard it for yourself, it savesme the stress of trying to tell you that you’ve begun to mean a lot more to me than I’d ever imagined.I lov—” he starts to say, but I cut him off abruptly, not wanting to hear the words that will weaken whatever resolve I am clinging to.

“We barely know each other wellenough to take this any further,” I state plainly, taking a deep breath in an attempt to steady my racing heart.

“We’ll get there, sweetheart,” he replies, his expression softening. “I just want you to give me a chance to prove to you that what we have between us is special.”

“There is nothing between us, not now, not ever. And I... I don’t even like you,” I stammer out the last bit,knowing very well that it’s a lie.

Instead of seeing his smile vanish, it only grows wider. “You do enjoy lying to me, don’t you?”

I look away, biting my lip, before shaking my head and meeting his gaze again. “I’m not lying.”

Disregarding my statement, he speaks softly yet firmly, “Kavya, I know you’re afraid to take a risk. But I am not backing down. I refuse to give up on you, and I won’t let you slip away, no matter how hard you try to push me away. I am here to make you own up to those feelings you’re so hesitant to face.”

“I can’t enter into a relationship right now, no matter how I feel about you,” Iadmit, omitting the fact that I might never be able to commit to a relationship.I just don’t think I have it in me anymore.

He runs his hand through his hair. “Why are you fighting this, Kavya? Deep down, in your heart,you know that what we have is more than just attraction. It’s something special and unique. It’s not something you can just walk away from.”

“Because I have a sister who needs my attention, and let’s be real, I don’t think youwant to be involved with someone who comes with so much baggage and a complicated life,” I point out bluntly, observing his jaw tighten, and his eyes darken in response.

“Do you think I’m some selfish asshole who doesn’t know that?”he snaps, his tone fierce but steady. “Kavya, my love for you isn’t driven by selfish desires for something in return. Yes, I want you to stop running from me and give our relationship a chance.But more than that, I want to be there not just in your joy but also in your struggles. I want you to always feel cherished and loved. And I understand your responsibilities towards yoursister. It doesn’t scare me—it only deepens my respect for you and makes me want to be by your side even more.”

His words make my heart race in my chest.Can this man truly be real?The way his words touch me feels almost unreal, like a dream that will shatter the moment I open my eyes.

“My fiancé broke up with me and cheated behind my back because I couldn’t give myself completely to him,” I say quietly.

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