Page 55 of One Hellish Wedlock
“Yes. You should. But wait for the right moment.” She stepped closer. “Timing, Anand. That girl only listens when she’s cornered by consequences.”
Anand nodded slowly. He had long ago learned to trust his wife’s instincts. And right now, she was absolutely certain about Reyansh and Aanya’s sudden togetherness: this wasn’t just a reconciliation. It was for show. And one of them, if not both, was about to get played.
***************
Aanya and Reyansh sat in silence as the car glided through the traffic, heading back home. He kept his gaze fixed on the road, fingers drumming against the steering wheel.
But Aanya wasn’t watching the road. Her eyes were fixed solely on him, absorbing every feature of his face, from the stern curve of his jaw to the intensity in his eyes.
He felt her stare and cut a quick glance toward her.
“What?” he snapped. “Never seen a man drive before?”
Aanya let out a soft chuckle.
“Oh, please. I drive better than this. Want to know something crazy? Once I was slightly drunk, and Navya refused to let me drive. But the moment she pulled over to puke, I jumped behind the wheel. She barely sat back in before I sped off. We covered like twenty miles in five minutes.”
Reyansh rolled his eyes.
“I just hope you didn’t kill anyone on the way.”
“Of course not. I know exactly what that would cost me.” Her tone was playful, but there was a flicker of seriousness in her eyes.
He smirked. Sometimes, even in her nonsense, she made a disturbingly valid point.
“Thank you,” she added after a beat.
“For what?”
“For what you did at the store. Backing me up in front of Kyle. Making her believe we’re together…happy.”
He said nothing. His fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel. She tapped his arm, nudging him to respond.
“Say something. At least say you’re welcome.”
“I won’t,” he muttered, glancing sideways at her. “Because you’re not welcome to make me do that again. I don’t like committing to things that aren’t real.”
Without warning, Aanya pinched his arm hard. He jerked.
“What the hell was that for?” he snapped.
“For being a flaming hypocrite,” she shot back. “You’re happy to fake it all for your sister, but when it comes to me? Suddenly you’ve grown a conscience? You’re a two-faced animal.”
Reyansh slammed the brakes and swerved the car to the side of the road, parking it harshly.
“Oh,I’mthe animal?” he growled. “You’re the one who sleeps like one. Kicking, sprawling, claiming three-fourths of the bed like it’s a war zone.”
Her mouth fell open in dramatic disbelief.
“How would I even know how I sleep? It’s not like anyone’s ever complained!”
“Unbelievable,” he scoffed.
“Oh please,” she rolled her eyes. “Who sticks to sleep etiquette anyway? If you’re so disturbed by my sleeping style, feel free to relocate to the recliner. Be my guest.”
His brow shot up. “Why should I take the recliner? That is my room. My bed. My contract.”
“And you’re the all-powerful boss, right?” she shot back, folding her arms like a challenge.
