Page 74 of A Royal Deception

She hugged me tightly, and it was all I could do to hold back my tears. But I refused to shed even one more for a man who didn’t care about me.

“RV is a good man. He’ll come back and say sorry. If he doesn’t, you’ve still got me,” she whispered.

I kissed the top of her head and sent her off to school. Isha and Diya kept me updated on Kuhu’s condition, and I knew they wanted to discuss my fight with Ranvijay, but they were kind enough to leave it alone for now.

Kuhu was doing well, thankfully, and had been discharged from the hospital.

I kept looking at my screen, wondering if Ranvijay was ever going to call. But he didn’t.

I decided to update my CV because I needed a job soon. The day progressed very slowly. I wanted it to be over, but I also dreaded the day when I’d have to leave the palace for good. My husband didn’t come home that night either, and both Rani Ma and Sannata Mausi were going around tight-lipped.

Meanwhile, Zarna looked worried.

“I’m fine, Zarna. It’s just a little fight,” I lied, not wanting to stress her out before her exams.

The next day, I decided to pick her up from school and take her for some ice cream. But when I got to the school at pick up, Zarna was nowhere to be seen. I made my way through the crowd of students and mothers and caught up with her class teacher, who looked surprised to see me.

“Your Highness, what are you doing here?” she asked.

A feeling of foreboding came over me, and I tried to ignore it.

“I’m here to pick up Zarna.”

She frowned at me over her glasses.

“But your friend already picked her up half an hour early.”

“What friend?” I asked shrilly. “I didn’t send anyone.”

“She was around your height but thinner. And Zarna called her Baisa, which I thought was an inside joke that I didn’t get. But she seemed okay to go with that woman.”

My insides went cold at her words. It could only be one woman.Kavya Baisa.

But why the fuck had she picked up my sister?

A slow fury began to simmer through me. How dare she try to play such games with me? She had no business going anywhere near my sister!

I dialled Kavya’s number as I ran to the car, and she answered immediately.

“Where is Zarna?” I demanded.

“Hello to you too… Rani Sa,” she drawled. “What can I do for you today?”

“You know exactly what you can do, you bitch,” I snarled. “Where the hell is my sister?”

“Chill, Shivina. There’s no need to call me names. Your sister is right here,” replied Kavya. “Say hi to your Di, Zarna.”

“Di! I’m sorry! I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have gone with Baisa. And now she won’t let me go… ummmmffff…”

Her words were cut off, and Kavya came back on the line.

“These kids exaggerate so much. I never said I wouldn’t let her go. I’ll let her go as soon as you come to pick her up,” she said sweetly.

“Tell me where you are,” I demanded. “I’m on my way.”

She sent me the location pin.

“And Shivina… come alone,” she warned. “I don’t want to see that husband of yours ever again.”

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