Page 225 of One Hellish Love

“What are you talking about?”

“You left a note for Rudra, threatening to disappear, and now he’s out there looking for you—driving himself, no less!”

“Note? What note? I didn’t write any note!” she protested.

“Then explain this!” Shekhar snapped, shoving his phone in her face, displaying a picture of the note Jay had sent him.

Daadi’s face paled. Kashish and Anjali rushed over, and Kashish snatched the phone, reading the note with growing dread.

“Shekhar,” Daadi stammered, “I didn’t do this. I swear…”

“Then who did?” Shekhar growled. “Do you even realize what you’ve done? Rudra read this and probably thinks he’s about to lose you. That’s why he’s out there, recklessly chasing after you. And worse—he’s driving! If something happens to him, Daadi, you’ll have no one but yourself to blame.”

Kashish staggered back, her heart sinking.Rudra is driving?Memories of his fear of driving flooded her mind. What if he lost control again? What if he crashed? Panic clawed at her, but before her thoughts could spiral further, her eyes landed on something that shattered her.

Rudra.

He was here… and walking toward them, but something was horribly wrong. His steps were slow, uneven. Blood trickled down the side of his face from a gash on his forehead. He was hurt—badly.

“Rudra!” Kashish cried, rushing toward him, her heart in her throat.

CHAPTER 68

Kashish’s scream pierced the silence, cutting through the tension like a blade.

Everyone turned to see him. Relief washed over them, but it was short-lived. Their relief turned into shock as they saw the blood running down his face. Daadi was the next to run to him.

“Rudra, what happened to you?” she cried, reaching out to touch his face, but he stopped her, gripping her wrist tightly before she could make contact.

“You crossed the line today, Daadi,” he growled, his voice heavy with hurt. There was no softness in his eyes, only the sting of betrayal. “You were always the one who protected me, the one I could trust, and today you risked my life? Do you even realize what I went through when I read that note? I thought you were gone... forever away from me.” His voice cracked, the weight of his emotions suffocating him. “I felt guilty. Selfish.”

Tears welled in Daadi’s eyes as she saw the devastation in her grandson.

“Rudra,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “I didn’t write that note.”

But he didn’t believe her. How could he? The pain in his eyes refused to fade. Daadi cupped his face in desperation.

“Please, believe me,” she begged. “I had no idea about that note.”

Before he could respond, another voice interrupted them.

“She’s telling the truth, Rudra,” came Suman’s voice as she stepped into the temple. Daadi’s eyes widened in shock at seeing her there.

“Suman?” Daadi muttered, confused and taken aback.

“I’m sorry, Daadi,” Suman said as she approached them. “I wrote that note. It was me.”

Kashish fumed.

“What? You?” Daadi looked at Suman in disbelief.

“Yes,” Suman confessed. “I planned it all. I asked you to leave before Rudra and go to the temple so that he would chase after you. I wrote that letter and placed it in your room. I knew he’d come to you for blessings before leaving for the temple, and I counted on it working.”

“What the hell!” Kashish stepped forward, fury blazing in her eyes. “You risked his life, Suman? Do you have any idea how terrified he is of driving? How could you do this?”

“I thought it was the only way to stop him from reaching the temple,” Suman explained, her voice shaking. “I believed that note would remind him of Daadi’s worth, that it would pull him back to his family.”

“Shut up,” Kashish snapped. “He never needed reminding of his love for Daadi. She’s his world. You didn’t open his eyes, you almost cost him his life!”

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