Page 95 of Right Where I Belong
Sabrina’s chin lifted, her eyes glinting dangerously. “He’smine.”
The words slammed into him, leaving him stunned. Sabrina was claiming him? Openly… like this?
Kanika turned to him, wide-eyed, searching his face. He ignored her, unable to look away from Sabrina.
“Aditya?” Kanika called out.
He finally looked at her.
“Are you withher?” Kanika asked.
Sabrina stepped squarely in front of him. “Yes, he is. You’re an engaged woman, Kanika. Have the decency to stay away from a man who belongs to someone else. Or are you truly so ill-mannered to throw yourself at a man who clearly doesn’t want you?”
Before Kanika could retort, a voice cut through the air.
“What is going on here?”
Aditya saw his mother standing a few feet away, her sharp gaze moving from him to Kanika, and finally to Sabrina.
Seizing the moment, Kanika hurried to her side. “Is it true that Aditya and she are together?”
Shock flickered across his mother’s face, but before she could respond, Aditya stepped forward, his voice firm and unyielding. “Enough, Kanika. Leave now, or I’ll have security escort you out.”
Kanika stiffened.
His eyes narrowed on her. “You and I were finished a long time ago. You’ll never be part of my life again, and it’s best you remember that. If you don’t, you’ll risk losing your chance with Soham too; I’ll make sure of it. I doubt you’d want another wealthy man turning you down?”
Without another word, Kanika turned and walked away.
His mother addressed him. “What was that?” Her eyes flicked briefly to Sabrina before locking back on him. “And you didn’t even deny her accusation.”
Aditya met her stare evenly, his jaw set. “Because there was nothing to deny.”
“Do you know the implication of this?” his mother raged. “Right this moment, she’s going to go tell her future mother-in-law that Sabrina and you are together. That woman is a known gossip. This news will spread through the party within seconds. Is that what you want?”
“Does it even matter what I want?” Aditya stormed at his mother. “Certainly not to you. Did you even care to ask me what I felt for Sabrina before you planned this event tonight, waiting for her to fail? What did you think? That you’d ensure she’d fail tonight, and that I’d stop loving her?”
“Love…” his mother squeaked. “You love her?”
“How does that matter?” His voice came out rough and cutting as he replied. “All you women seem to think that you have the right to decide everything for me. Sabrina pushed me away because of her past, then she decided to claim me because of Kanika. You believe you can manipulate my life and my heart because you are my mother. And Kanika is the worst; she thinks she can stroll right back into my life simply because she wants to. Not one of you stopped to consider whatIwant.”
He addressed his mother, “Your biggest worry is that you think Sabrina was with me because I’m rich.”
Sabrina gasped. Horror crept over her face.
Aditya continued, “Do you know one of the reasons she broke up with me is because I’m too rich? As if being rich is a crime!”
It was his mother’s turn to look shocked now.
“Aditya, it wasn’t just that…” Sabrina said. “Please, we need to talk.”
His mother looked between Sabrina and him.
“I also need to talk to you too,” his mother said. “I need to expl?—”
“Not right now,” he said sharply. “I’m done with both of you for tonight. I need time and space to think before I talk to either of you.”
Silence followed his outburst. His mother looked at him as if she didn’t recognize this version of him. Sabrina’s mouth opened and closed as if she were debating whether to say something. He was glad when she finally sealed her lips together. He rarely, if ever, lost his temper, but when he did, it was best that no one antagonized him further.
