Page 86 of Married in Vengeance

“No.” Ram turned his face up to the rain, wondering if it was possible to purge his sins in the deluge. Then again, probably not.

“You two are going to be the death of me,” Aarush muttered, disconnecting the phone.

Ram was just pocketing his own phone when the gate creaked open and Aadhya stepped out, a bright yellow with white polka dots umbrella providing her with cover from the storm.

Ram smiled. Even in a deluge, she brought the sun.

Aadhya came to a stop in front of him, holding the massive umbrella over them both, even though Ram was already soaked beyond recognition at this point.

“What are you doing?” she asked, fighting to hold the umbrella straight against the wind that insisted on attempting to rip it from her hands.

“Plumbing new depths to my madness,” he told her, his hand wrapping around hers and holding the umbrella steady. He almost wept at the simple contact, the chance to touch her one last time. “I needed to see you. I couldn’t fight it.”

Aadhya cocked his head. “You were at court today for Prasad’s hearing.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t be there?” He would be by her side for eternity, even if he needed to do it from a distance.

“The case looks to be going well,” she said, ignoring his question.

He nodded, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. “Yes. Just a few loose ends to tie up. But it’s over. You’ve got your life back now.”

“My life,” she laughed hoarsely. “I’ve got my life back??”

He paled but he didn’t flinch away from the bitter condemnation in her voice. A harsh sob caught in her throat and she struggled to swallow it, to not let it escape. A losing battle but one he knew she would fight till the end.

“Yes,” he said finally. “Your life, the one you want. You can do whatever you want, be whomever you want…even be with,” his throat worked a bit, but he forced the words out as he continued, “Whoever you want.”

Aadhya stared at him disbelievingly. “Be with whoever I want?” she asked, her voice dripping disbelief.

Ram nodded, the movement clipped. “Yes,” he said, his voice quiet, his gaze dropping to his fisted hands.

“Maybe I should get on those dating apps,” she bit out.

His fingers twisted together harder, but he said nothing.

“Or maybe you know someone you could introduce me to.”

He watched her, each perfectly chosen word slicing through him. He saw the slight tremor that passed through her before she braced herself. He took in the exhaustion lining her face and the pain devastating her eyes. He saw their life together, the shattered dreams and the broken hearts, the bittersweet moments, the frozen hurt. He saw it all.

“Sure,” he said, finally, looking away from her. “Why not?”

She stepped closer, her chest brushing his as she looked up at his face, forcing him to meet her gaze.

“You’re going to introduce me to your single friends?” she asked, her hands coming to rest on his chest. His entire bodyjerked at the simple contact, the heat of her hands feeling like a brand through his shirt.

He stared, transfixed, at her hands on his body. Acutely aware of the fact that this was the first time she was touching him in weeks, he almost fell to his knees to beg her to hold on tighter.

“Do I get to pick?” she asked.

“Pick what?” His voice deepened with suppressed emotions.

“Pick the guy you’re going to set me up with.”

“Don’t Aadhya.”

The rough murmur had her swallowing hard. Yearning spilled through his blood, a depthless need for this woman, only this woman, swarming through him. There would never be another woman for him. Not in this lifetime, or the ones to follow.

“Don’t what?” she asked, her voice shaking with emotion.

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