Page 112 of One Hellish Love

Kashish blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Ruchi?” She racked her brain, trying to recall. “No, why?”

“She’s taking the family out for dinner tonight,” he replied, pausing before adding, “At the Taj.”

Kashish forced a weak smile. “Oh... I see.”

She quickly gathered her sketches, trying to focus on something—anything—but Rudra. He glanced at his watch.

“We should probably head there directly after work,” he suggested.

“I’m not going,” she replied bluntly, her frustration simmering beneath the surface.

Rudra’s gaze hardened, but he simply nodded. “Fine. If you’re not going, neither am I. Let them have their dinner.”

His calm indifference fueled her anger.

“I have my reasons for not going. What’s your excuse?”

Rudra stepped closer. “Because you’re the only reason I’d want to go.”

Lately, his bold confessions had started to unnerve her, and her pulse raced.

“You don’t need to keep reminding me of that,” she replied. “You used to be so reserved, so unwilling to even mention how you felt. What’s changed now?”

Rudra took another step forward, his eyes never leaving hers. “Because now, I want more.”

More?

CHAPTER 38

Kashish felt like her heart had been kicked, pounding harder and faster than ever. He wantedmore? What the hell was that supposed to mean? For a moment, she couldn’t speak, the words stuck in her throat. Rudra was watching her intently, reading every flicker of surprise, confusion, and fear on her face. She was the only woman who made him feel both invincible and vulnerable at the same time. But that note from her father had crushed her spirit, stealing the sharpness from her eyes, now clouded with guilt and self-loathing. He wanted to be her strength, to help her accept the bitter truth and move forward—if only she would let him in, if only she’d give him a chance to make her happy again.

Finally, she met his gaze.

“Nothing is ever going to change between us, Rudra. Did you hear that?”

Her words pierced through him, but he masked his disappointment with a smirk, folding his arms casually.

“My ears heard it, not my heart.”

A strange warmth fluttered in her stomach. She knew if she let this conversation continue, it would lead her down a dangerous path. She needed to shut it down. Quickly, she turned back to her desk, fumbling with the scattered sketches.

“I have work to do, so please excuse me,” she mumbled.

Rudra, amused by her attempt to escape, let out a soft chuckle. He could see her retreating from the conversation, trying to protect herself. But he wasn’t letting her off that easily.

“Take all the time you need to run from me, Kashish. But no matter how far you go, you’ll always end up beside me. The sooner you accept that, the sooner we can all be at peace.”

Kashish clenched her jaw, her frustration mounting.

“We were never meant to be together. The sooneryourealize that, the soonerwecan be at peace.”

Without waiting for a response, she abandoned the sketches, leaving them scattered across the table as she stormed out of the room. She needed something—anything—to clear her mind, and a strong cup of coffee seemed like the only remedy. Rudra watched her leave, his gaze lingering on her retreating form. She wasn’t going to give in easily, but that only made him more determined.

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Kashish unwillingly arrived at the Taj, where Ruchi had arranged dinner for them. She made sure to come with Shekhar and Anjali, not Rudra. The more she kept her distance from him, the better it would be for everyone. As she reached the table, she noticed Daadi and Ruchi already waiting. Ruchi didn’t bother to smile at her, instantly making her feel out of place.

“Where is Rudra? Why isn’t he here yet?” Daadi asked.

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