Page 70 of Shattered

Holding her close, I plant a gentle kiss on top of her head. “You make me so happy every single day.”

She looks up at me with a tender smile. “And you make me happier than I ever imagined possible.”

“I am glad to hear that. It means I am achieving my goals,” I say with a smile as I tug her closer. She wraps her hands around my neck, gently playing with the back of my hair.

“I love you,”she says softly.

“I love you too, sweetheart,” I kiss her nose. “Come, let’s go home. I think you’ve worked enough for today.”

She shakes her head adamantly. “It’s only three. I clock out at six, mister, and I still have work to do.”

“You can take the rest of the day off. You’re pregnant,” I growl loudly.

She immediately covers my mouth with her hands. “Shhh... that’s our secret, remember?”

I gently kiss her fingers before she lowers her hands. “You know how much I hate keeping that a secret. All I want to do is shout from the rooftops that I am going to be a dad.”

“Soon, but for now, you need to leave so that I can get back to work,” she says, pulling herself out of my arms.

“Can’t you just call in sick or something? We can go back to my place, and then I can cuddle you,” I suggest, coaxing her gently.

“As tempting as it sounds, I can’t,” she replies firmly.

“Can you listen to me, just this once?” I huff.

“Nope, but you’re free to find someone who follows your orders. You have an easy way out from me,” she jokes, but I feel a surge of irritation at her words and cup her face firmly with my hands.

“There’s no easy way out for me or for you. I want only you, no one else. You’re stuck with me. And now, with our baby on the way, you’ve sealed your fate with me.”

She looks at me with a tender smile, her hand resting on my cheek. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“There’s my girl,” I grin at her. “Now, get to work. I’ll be here to pick you up sharp at six, and this time, I won’t listen to any excuses,” I say, earning an eye roll from her.

“Yes, boss,” she mock-salutes me, making me laugh.

I kiss her forehead before kneeling down to kiss her stomach. “Hey there, little one. Your stubborn mom needs some help, you know? She’s carrying you, and she needs both of us to take care of her. But she puts up a fight every time I try to help. Can you help me make her understand that she’s everything I’veever wanted? She needs to let me take care of her the way she deserves. Can you do that for me? Help me look after her, okay?”

I look up to see her eyes glisten,mirroring all the love I feel for her.

Rising to my feet, I kiss her lips tenderly before pulling back. “I better go before I throw you over my shoulder and take you away from here. Take care, sweetheart. I’ll be back soon to pick you up.”

“I’ll wait for you,” she replies softly.

Giving her one more kiss, I leave her office and walk to my car.

Pulling my car out of the parking lot, thoughts of Kavya flood my mind. It’s crazy—I’ve only just met her, and yet I can’t get enough of her. I love her smile, her laughter, and the way she makes everything feel perfect. Lost in these thoughts, I fail to notice the oncoming vehicle until it’s too late. The screech of tyres and the sudden, jarring impact are the last things I hear before everything turns black.

Chapter 35

Kavya

Pounding. All I can hear is the relentless thud of my heart as I stare down at my mobile and read the message.

Unknown:I warned you to stop digging, but you didn’t heed my words. It appears one accident wasn’t sufficient to teach you a lesson. Nevertheless, another awaits you. I’m confident this one will jolt you to your senses and underscore the consequences of crossing me.

The hair on the back of my neck prickles as I read the message over and over again, trying to make sense of what he means.What accident is he talking about?Something inside me screams that I am in for a shock that will shatter my world all over again, perhaps even more drastically than the last time.My heart races and panic grips me, making it hard to breathe.

I squeeze my eyes shut, and immediately, Reyansh’s face flashes before me. I need him now—I have to call him. Opening my eyes, I am about to dial his number when my office doorbursts open with a loud bang, making me jump and drop my phone. I let out a small shriek.

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