Page 222 of One Hellish Wedlock
Aanya wrapped her arms around her father, holding onto the moment for as long as she could. The thought of leaving again, even after everything they had shared during her re-marriage, made her sad.
“I’m going to miss you, Dad,” she whispered.
“I’ll miss you too, baby girl. Now give me a proper bear hug, like the ones you used to,” Anand replied warmly.
She clung to him tighter, resting all her weight against him. He hugged her back. Anand had been her role model once, andsomehow, even after all the distance and silence, he still was. Mistakes had been made on both ends, but the man standing before her had accepted those mistakes and made amends. That made him a winner in her eyes.
Aanya pulled back and turned to Kyle, who stood quietly nearby, waiting for her turn.
“Take care of yourself, Aanya,” Kyle said gently, brushing a hand against her cheek. “And don’t worry, I’ll convince your father to plan a trip to the U.S. soon. We’ll do this again.”
“I’d like that,” Aanya replied softly.
Kyle hesitated, unsure if a hug would be welcome. Aanya noticed.
“Don’t overthink it. We’re good now, aren’t we?” she said, stepping in and giving her stepmother a hug.
Kyle chuckled, relieved. “Yes. We’re good.”
Just then, Reyansh entered the lobby with his sister’s family in tow, Ruhi cradled in his arms. The toddler had her fists curled in his shirt and, surprisingly, wasn’t asleep.
“The jet is ready, sir,” Sunny announced.
“We’ll be down in a few minutes,” Reyansh replied.
Aanya walked over to her husband, drinking in the sight of him and her heart ached. Ten days without him already felt unbearable.
“I’m missing you already,” she confessed with teary eyes.
He swallowed hard and cupped her cheek, his eyes dark with emotion. “Don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying,” she murmured, wiping a stray tear with a quick smile.
He leaned down and kissed Ruhi’s cheek. “Look after your silly aunt for me, Ruhi. Will you?”
Aanya chuckled. “Excuse me! I look after her, not the other way around.”
Radhika came over and scooped Ruhi from Reyansh’s arms. The baby immediately fussed at being separated.
“Let’s give your uncle and aunt a minute, sweetheart,” she teased before walking away, leaving the couple alone.
Reyansh pulled Aanya into his arms. “I’ve doubled your security. No more ghosts in the shadows. You’ll see my guards around this time because I’m not taking any risks.”
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him. She could see how seriously he had taken Vicky’s threat now that he knew everything. It comforted her more than she could admit.
“I’ll join you in eight or nine days, tops,” he promised. “Until then…text me, email, video call, anything you want. Just stay in touch.”
“Yes, sir,” she teased.
“I love you,” he said, tilting her chin up before kissing her full on the lips. Aanya simply melted into the kiss, wishing the moment could stretch forever.
California
“Oh my God, someone’s looking sexy as hell,” Shikha blurted as soon as Aanya entered their shared accommodation.
They had landed earlier that evening and now, back in California, things already felt different, especially with the security stationed outside the villa.
“I don’t know about looking sexy, but I’m surely exhausted,” Aanya muttered, slumping onto the couch.
