Page 78 of Married in Vengeance

“That is the most sensible option.” Virat watched her as he spoke. “But I think Aadhya should be the one to decide. She is the victim here.”

“I’m not a victim!” The words burst out of her, the pen snapping in her grasp.

The men stilled.

“Could we have the room?” Ram asked quietly.

Virat nodded and left without a word. Aarush hesitated a minute, waiting for a signal from Aadhya and when she nodded, he squeezed her shoulder and then left.

Ram stood, coming towards where she sat. Aadhya didn’t move, her gaze on his shiny, polished shoes as they approached her.

“Hey,” he said softly, going down on his haunches and peering up at her so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. And still, she noticed that he didn’t touch her. “It’s going to be over soon.”

“I know.” The words were a hostile mutter.

“You just need to hold on a little longer.”

“I know,” she snapped. “I’m not an imbecile.”

He fell silent but he didn’t move. He just kept watching her.

“What happens when this is over?” she asked, her voice trembling as a toxic spiral of emotion flooded through her.

In response, he pulled his laptop bag closer and pulled out a sheaf of papers. He held them out to her, but Aadhya didn’t take it. She eyed the folded sheets like it was a venomous snake.

“It’s the MOU for our divorce,” he said quietly. “Read it and let me know if the terms work for you. If anything doesn’t, all you need to do is let me know and I’ll have it changed immediately.”

Aadhya still didn’t reach for it. Her heart started a slow thud in her chest, picking up pace as she stared at the papers. This was what she wanted, wasn’t it? This was what she’d asked for. He was giving her exactly what she’d asked for. Freedom from him.

“I’ve already signed it. If you’re okay with the terms,” he continued. “Sign it and send it back to me. I’ll have it filed in court.”

He waited a moment and when she didn’t move, he dropped it into her lap. Again, not one inch of his skin touched any of hers.

“We’re near the finish line now, Aadhya. Don’t give up. Don’t let go. You’ve got this. And whether you want it or not, you’ve got me. I’ll see you through all of it until you don’t need me anymore.”

“Guilt is a powerful motivator,” she said bitterly.

“So is love,” he answered.

Anger fought with yearning in her heart as she looked at him. “You love me?”

“I’ve always loved you Aadhya. There’s never been a moment that I haven’t.”

“You have a funny way of showing it Gadde,” she mocked.

Pain tightened his face as her jab hit home.

“Let me know if you need any edits in the document,” he told her, rising to his full height. “I’ll get to work on the police complaint now.”

He was halfway to the door when she called out to him. “Ram?”

He stopped immediately, his face turning in profile towards her.

“I wish I’d never met you.”

She saw his shoulders slump, the weight of her words seeming to bear down on them.

“I wish that for you too,” he told her, his voice hoarse with emotion. “But I never wish that for me. You’re my shooting star, Aadhya. You blazed through my life, the brightest, most optimistic, hopeful part of it. You deserved the best of me. But it’s not what you got. And that will always be my life’s greatest regret.”

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