Page 150 of Lawfully Yours
When the elevator finally chimed open, it was his floor. Her knees almost gave way, but sheer will dragged her out. She staggered toward his door, her trembling fingers hovering over the keypad. Slowly, carefully, she punched in the numbers of her birthdate, the code that once opened his penthouse. But tonight, the lock beeped red.Access Denied.
She tried again, slower this time, biting down on her lip to steady her shaking hand.
Another harsh beep annoyed her.Access Denied.
He’d changed it. The password that used to beherswas no longer there. The code that once meant she belonged here was gone. He had locked her out, just as he’d begun locking her out of his life.
“No… no, you can’t shut me out like this, Kushal…”
She jabbed at the bell and pressed it again, and again, in desperation. Her bottle tilted again toward her lips, as she took another swallow to smother the sting of rejection.
That’s when he opened the door.
Kushal stood there, still in his white shirt crisp against the harsh lines of his body. For a moment, she forgot everything—forgot the code, forgot the fight, forgot the divorce. The sight of him stole the purpose from her mind.
His eyes flicked from her flushed face to the bottle clutched in her hand, and she saw the disappointment tighten his jaw. He looked shocked and a bit worried.
“Why did you change it?” she blurted, her voice broken, angry. “Why did you change the passcode?”
He sighed tiredly, like he didn’t have the strength left to argue. “Arundhati… go home.”
“Thisis my home,” she shot back, slurring. “I’m not going anywhere.”
As she stumbled forward, her heel caught on the rug. But before she could hit the ground, his arms wrapped around her.
Kushal knew Arundhati wasn’t someone who would lose her control like this. But again, these days she really surprised him with everything she did. Like she did today with the sudden decision of taking back her divorce petition.
Her head lulled against his chest as her eyelids grew heavy with sleep. She gripped his shirt tightly for support. But within seconds, the fight drained out of her, leaving her fragile in his arms, and she almost surrendered to unconsciousness.
Cursing under his breath, Kushal pulled the bottle from her hand and kept it over the cabinet next to the door. He then bent and lifted her fully into his hold…one arm under her knees, the other bracing her back. She was light, too light. Shutting the door behind him, and without another word, he carried her straight to the guest room and laid her gently on the bed. Arundhati wasn’t ready to let go of her hold from his shirt, but he gently pulled it out, freeing himself and helped her lie down.
For a moment, he just stood there, staring down at his wife, the woman he was supposed to let go of but couldn’t stop holding. Her breathing had evened out into soft, shallow sighs, her lips parted in restless sleep.
A strand of her hair had fallen across her face, and almost without thinking, he brushed it back gently.
His hand lingered a second longer before he pulled away.
That was when her phone buzzed faintly against her palm, still clutched weakly in her hand. The screen lit up, flashing Raj Uncle across it. For a second, Kushal hesitated, then leaned closer to read the notification on the lock screen:“Aru, have you reached upstairs? Did you find him? Message me, I won’t leave until you do.”
He then realised that maybe Raj Verma had brought her here, and who was now worried, protective, and waiting to hearshe was safe. With a heavy sigh, Kushal carefully slid the phone from her loose grip. His thumb hovered, then typed a reply:“She’s fast asleep. Don’t worry ~ Kushal.”
He set the phone quietly on the nightstand, but his gaze drifted back to her. She still looked so heartbreakingly his, even when she wasn’t supposed to be anymore.
With one last look at her sleeping form, he turned and left the room, shutting the door softly behind him.
No matter how much distance he tried to create, the truth was merciless. She was here, in their home, and he had no idea how to stop her from still being in his heart.
Chapter 28
Kushal’s Penthouse – Next Morning
Arundhati stirred restlessly on the bed. Her temples throbbed with a dull, merciless ache. Damn it. She hated mornings like this...lethargic, groggy, and to top it, a severe headache.
But then it hit her. Last night she had consumed too much alcohol. And worse, she also recalled her drunk, stumbling arrival at Kushal’s penthouse.
Her eyes flew open wide. She sat up, scanning the room. She was still here. Still in his home. He hadn’t thrown her out… he had let her stay. Her chest eased for a second until she realised this wasn’t their bedroom. It was the guest room.
Another groan tore out of her throat. Even if he hadn’t abandoned her outside his door, he had still made a choice. He hadn’t placed her in the bed they once shared. He hadn’t let her sleep beside him.
