Heartless Husband

-bonus chapter-

-abhimanyu-

If someone had told me I would be giving up on my alcohol addiction a few years back, I would have laughed.

Now, sitting between other addicts, I couldn't feel anything but desperation.

When the session ended, I nearly sighed and got up to leave before the others. The counsellor stared through her black-framed glasses but quickly looked away when I caught her staring.

That was something Vedika would give me her signature scowl for even when I wasn't the one at fault. My lips twitched upwards and the familiar warmth returned in my chest at her thought.

As I expected, I found Roman leaning against the car with a cigarette between his lips as I moved outside. The people looked at me with wide eyes. They knew who I was but even if that bothered them, they kept their eyes on the ground when I passed them.

"Boss." Roman regarded me and crushed the cigarette under his shoes as I out inside the car.

"Home," I said, leaning my head against the leather seat and closing my eyes briefly for a second even when the driver already knew where to head next.

"I need a day off, Boss." Roman's clipped voice coursed with frustration.

I cocked an eyebrow at him. "And from where did you get this exceptional idea when you never asked for a day, Roman?"

His jaw clenched. "Khaos is becoming annoying day by day and that's something not good for my health."

God, he sounded like Shravani in the last sentence and that reminded me why I haven't sent Roman on a mission in the past years.

My daughter was afraid someone would hurt him and I couldn't deny her wish to let him go. Even that sometimes annoyed him but he never complained.

"I'll consider it," I replied as the Palace came into view. Vedika insisted on staying here for a week for a vacation or some sort because now, my family didn't get on her nerves unlike in the past.

Or maybe she had got used to their behaviour. Maybe both.

"Abhimanyu," Vivaan cheered the moment I stepped inside the living hall and they all stared at me. "How about you join your lovely cousin for a moment?"

Vivaan had really gone on my aunt for such words carried out in a tone no one could deny. I nodded even though joining them tonight was the last thing I wanted on Earth.

My eyes narrowed on Aranya who leaned her head against Shaurya's shoulder. I raise my eyebrows at the scene. "I thought you didn't like physical touch?"

Shaurya shrugged. "Nandini does so I am left with no choice."

"I still can't see what Nandini saw in him. Drop-dead elegant woman in love with Shaurya Rajvansh who is a waste of oxygen," Vivaan spoke casually, unbothered by Shaurya's heated eyes fixed on Vivaan's back.

"You don't get to talk about my woman like that, Vivaan. You don't get to talk about her at all," Shaurya gritted out.

Vivaan rolled his eyes as he poured a glass of whiskey and pushed it into my away. I didn't even touch it.