𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑.37

In DK VILLA

Dhriti

“Chris, book me a ticket to London. Right now. Check if there’s a flight tomorrow—I’m leaving.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me, DK.” His eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face.

“I’m not kidding. I’m serious.” My voice was flat, final.

“Why? Why London? Why now? What about the enemy we’ve been chasing? And the drug container? Without you, how the hell are we supposed to handle this?” His questions came in rapid fire.

“Who said I’m leaving everything behind? Revenge doesn’t need a city, Chris. No matter where I live, I’ll finish what I started. As for the container—you’ll handle it. I trust you more than myself with that. Just book the damn ticket.” I rose from the couch, my patience thinning.

“You still haven’t told me why you’re going.”

“That’s not important.”

“It is important. That person matters to you, DK.”

I froze. “What are you talking about?”

“Aarush. You’re running because of him, right? Because you feel something and you’re too damn scared to admit it.”

“Stop.” My voice cracked. “These… feelings, they make us weak. Weak people can’t get revenge, Chris. And Aarush—he’s already making me weak. That’s why I have to leave. This life, my second life, exists for one reason only: revenge. That’s the only reason I breathe.” I wiped the tears furiously from my face, hating myself for letting them fall.

Chris’s expression softened, almost breaking. “And when you’ve taken your revenge? What then? DK, when a person loses their reason to live, they destroy themselves. You’re walking straight toward that end. Forget revenge. Live, just live. You’ve built a career, a name. Let me take the blood on my hands—I’ll destroy them all for you. But you—go live with your love. You finally got a second chance.” His hands tightened on my shoulders, desperate.

I shoved him off me. My chest ached with rage and grief. “A normal life?” I laughed bitterly. “Once, I lived that. And life destroyed me. Once, I loved and trusted—and those words shattered me into nothing. Do you understand? Love ruined me, trust ruined me. I wish I had been cold, heartless from the start. Maybe then I wouldn’t carry these scars. So no, Chris—I don’t want to love again. I won’t make that mistake twice.” My throat burned from holding back sobs.

“Trust and love aren’t mistakes, DK. Not when they’re given to the right person. And Aarush—he isn’t the wrong one. He loves you. I’ve seen it.”

And that was the problem. Aarush wasn’t wrong—he deserved someone pure, untouched. Not me. I was filth wrapped in scars.

“I’m leaving tomorrow. End of discussion. If you won’t book it, I will.”

“You’re stubborn as hell.” His voice rose. “Fine. I’ll book the damn flight. But don’t expect me to lie for you without a price.”

“Don’t tell anyone. No one, Chris. Promise me.”

“Fine.” He stormed out, slamming the door behind him. His bike roared to life and faded into the night.