Page 30 of One Hellish Love

“You?” His hesitation was palpable.

Rudra felt the weight of the unspoken words:You’re the reason she’s here in the first place. You, the culprit.He clenched his jaw, swallowing the bitterness rising in his throat. It was a stark reminder that no matter how much time passed, the world would always see him as guilty.

After a moment of indecision, Chaturvedi reluctantly handed over the papers. But just as Rudra was about to sign, the documents were yanked from his grip.

Kashish stood there, eyes burning with fury.

“How can you let him sign these papers?” she demanded.

Chaturvedi looked taken aback. “Beta, he is a part of this family—there’s no one else.”

“So what?” Kashish shot back, her gaze never wavering from Rudra’s. “I don’t give him the right to sign anything related to me.”

She shoved the papers into Ram Prasad’s hands. “Let him sign,” she said, her voice cold. “He’s been in this house as long as I have. He’s more family thanthis manever will be.”

Ram Prasad hesitated, his eyes darting to Rudra for approval. Rudra gave a subtle nod, signaling for him to go ahead. Chaturvedi handed the pen to the trembling Ram Prasad, who hurriedly signed the documents before retreating to the kitchen.

Kashish felt a sense of relief as she watched Ram Prasad sign the papers for her. He and Chanda Mausi were far closer to her than the one person she couldn’t stand—Rudra Raheja. With Chanda Mausi away on an extended leave due to a family emergency, all the household responsibilities had now fallen on Ram Prasad’s shoulders, and he was more than willing to help.

Chaturvedi continued his formalities, asking Kashish if she had any concerns about the family.

Watching from a distance, Rudra turned to leave, not wanting to intrude. But just as he reached the stairs, he heard her voice, filled with venom.

“Oh, I do have some concerns,” Kashish said, loud enough for Rudra to hear. “There’s a bug here that keeps sucking the life out of me.”

Rudra froze mid-step. A Bug?Did she just call him that?

He forced himself to stay composed, but inside, her words stabbed deep. She wasn’t pretending—her hatred was real, visceral. Chaturvedi understood the underlying message but chose not to dig deeper.

“But do not worry. Irritating that bug has become my full-time hobby,” Kashish added smugly.

Chaturvedi adjusted his glasses and sighed. “If that’s all, then I’ll take my leave.” He offered her a kind smile, and Kashish touched his feet out of respect—he was, after all, the only elder she ever honored.

With a lingering look at Rudra, Chaturvedi left.

Kashish turned to walk away, but Rudra was suddenly in her path, blocking her. She tried to move around him, but he stepped in her way again.

Her patience snapped. She raised her hands, ready to shove him out of the way, but Rudra caught her wrists, pulling her close. Their faces were inches apart now, her fiery eyes locked onto his.

How dare he touch her?

She opened her mouth to curse him, but before she could utter a word, Rudra’s hand clamped over her mouth, his other arm sliding around her waist to hold her to him. His grip was firm, yet there was something else in his eyes—something deeper than anger.

Her struggles only made him tighten his hold. Rudra wanted to warn her, to stop bad mouthing him at every occasion, but the way she looked in his eyes, somehow mellowed down all his anger. Those eyes had haunted him for years—filled with rage, but also an emptiness that mirrored his own.

For a moment, the storm between them stilled.

Kashish, realizing her struggles were futile, bit down hard on his palm. He winced in pain, but before he could react, she tore free from his grasp and bolted up the stairs.

Rudra watched her retreating form, the pain of her bite lingering on the edge of his palm. Her teeth marks were still visible, an imprint of her defiance. Strangely, the raw sting of that bite only fueled his desire. He raised his hand to his lips, pressing a kiss against the mark she had left, his eyes closing as if savoring the pain. His body never felt that ache before... the ache of wanting this woman in his arms,forever.

Shekhar and Anjali, who had just returned from the temple with Daadi, had witnessed everything. Shocked, they exchanged a worried glance, unsure of what to make of the scene they had just witnessed.

“What was that?” Shekhar muttered under his breath. “Is Rudra... falling for Kashish?”

Anjali’s eyes widened. “God... If she finds out, she’ll kill him.”

“She already sees him as a murderer,” Shekhar said, pressing his fingers to his temples. “How can he... How can he even think of her like that?”

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