Preeta left the main hall, her breath escaping in frosty puffs as she greedily inhaled the crisp night air. She had finally achieved her goal. She knew the paparazzi lurked in the shadows, capturing every moment. The Luthras would dominate the headlines for weeks. The world would soon discover the truth: behind their meticulously crafted facades Kareena Luthra, the high-society matriarch, was nothing more than a venomous, envious woman, willing to sacrifice her own family for personal gain. And her daughter-in-law, Sherlyn, was cut from the same cloth.
Preeta knew exactly why Sherlyn bled. It was only a matter of time before she was rushed to the hospital, where her infidelity would be laid bare. The paparazzi Preeta had hired were already prepared to tail them, ready to capture every sordid detail. She had orchestrated everything perfectly, ensuring social media and news channels would keep the scandal trending, no matter how hard the Luthras' public relations team tried to spin it. This time, there would be no escaping the truth.
The shouts and screams echoed through the night, and Preeta sighed, her resolve hardening. This time, she would not relent; they needed to suffer, to learn their lesson. She gazed up at the sky, where the fading pink and orange hues of dusk were giving way to the twinkling silver stars. The sky was a beautiful, melancholic canvas.
A black SUV pulled up in front of her, and Neil stepped out. She smiled at him, though a profound loneliness shadowed her expression. Seeing this, Neil silently draped his jacket over her shoulders and gently guided her to the SUV. No words were exchanged; none were needed.
When they reached Neil's home, Preeta sat quietly, staring at the night sky through the window. Neil soon returned with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. She cradled it in both hands, the warmth seeping into her cold fingers. Her phone vibrated incessantly, but she ignored it, savoring the serene moment. The rich, melting chocolate and the faint minty scent of Neil's tobacco filled the room.
For the first time since her father died, she felt a semblance of home. The warmth of Neil's presence, the comforting silence, and the simple pleasure of the hot chocolate brought a profound sense of peace. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized how much she had missed this feeling. Neil sat beside her, his quiet companionship a balm to her weary soul. At that moment, words were unnecessary; the silent understanding between them was enough.
Unlike the serenity Preeta was feeling, the Luthra family was in deep turmoil. They rushed into the hospital, the Arora family arriving out of courtesy soon after. Rishab was frantically coordinating to get the best medical staff for Sherlyn, who was quickly wheeled into the emergency room. The women clustered together, murmuring prayers and clinging to hope, while Karan repeatedly tried to reach Preeta.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctor emerged from the emergency room with a grave expression.
"The patient is under extreme stress. Why is she in shock? She's severely sleep-deprived and appears to have been neglecting her nutrition for some time."
Sherlyn's mother, her voice trembling, asked, "Doctor, what are you implying? Wasn't it just wedding jitters?"
The doctor's gaze was stern. "Madam, the patient is showing signs of a miscarriage. The fetus is in a critical state. Early pregnancy is highly vulnerable, and this situation is perilous. We are doing everything we can to save the child, but you must be prepared for the worst."
The Luthras exchanged shocked, disbelieving glances. Miscarriage? Sherlyn wasn't married. How could she be pregnant, and by whom? Instinctively, they turned to Rishab, whose face mirrored their incredulity. When his father shakily called his name, he was stunned.
"Why are you all looking at me? I never touched her! How could you even think that of me?" Rishab defended himself vehemently, feeling both betrayed and humiliated. His fiancée, pregnant by another man, had shamelessly prepared to marry him, expecting him to give his name to a child of unknown paternity.
