Bound by Hearts

40. Cruel Love

Amara's Pov.
(Six months later)

The hallway leading to my office is usually quiet. But today there was a whisper of confusion and murmuring echoing through the hall.

The employees at here knew better than to disturb me, especially when I was working. So, why are they all suddenly being so chatty today?

But soon the answer slammed me as Aarav stormed inside my office without so much as a knock.

Aarav had pushed open the heavy mahogany doors to my office, the force of his entrance slamming them against the walls. I looked up from the stack of papers on my desk, my usual mask of calm control slipping for just a moment as I registered the fury in my baby brother's eyes.

His steps echoing off the marble floors, I saw some women ogling him and others heads turned in curiosity and concern.

But, No one dared to stop him.

"Aarav," I began, trying to keep my voice even, "what the hell are you doing? You can't just barge in here without—"

"Cut the bullshit, Di!" Aarav interrupted, his voice low but sharp enough to slice through the tension in the room as the doors shut behind him. He plopped himself on the sofa in front of me.

"I don't need an appointment to talk to my sister, especially not when she's acting like a goddamn tyrant."

My eyes narrowed at his tone.

"Watch your mouth, Aarav Roy. I am your older sister. No matter what the issue is you can't talk to me in that tone. Also you don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I?" Aarav shot back, his fists clenched over as he sat his hands resting on the couch casually.

"I know exactly what you're doing."

"And what exactly am I doing?" I asked as I dropped the pen now glaring at my brother who seemed to glare back at me with equal ferociousness.

"You're killing Abhimanyu Acharya. A.k.a your husband and for what? To prove some twisted point? To show everyone how strong you are? How much power you have because you are Anurag Roy's daughter? Or Because you just want to be fucking cruel."

The words hit me like a slap to the face. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, a mixture of anger and something else—something I didn't want to admit to.

"Cruel? You have no idea what I've been through, Aarav. You don't understand the pressure I'm under, the expectations—"

"Don't give me that shit," Aarav cut in, his voice rising.

"You think I don't know what it's like to be under pressure? To feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? But this isn't about you, Di. This is about Abhimanyu today. The man you married. The man who's drowning because of you."

I stood up, the chair scraping against the floor as I did. "He knew what he was getting into when he married me, Aarav. This is what it means to be part of this family. To carry his legacy on like his father wanted."

"This isn't about legacy di! You very well know how much he hates business and how he had vowed to never enter Acharya Empire's business because of said shitty father" Aarav shouted, his eyes blazing with a fury I hadn't seen in him like this ever. He always supported who was right. He wouldn't tolerate anyone doing bullshit. Even if it was me who was doing it.

"Di... you need to understand that... This is about you turning into someone I don't even recognize anymore. The Di I grew up with, the sister I love, wouldn't hurt the people she cares about just to prove a point. But that's exactly what you're doing. You're pushing him to the edge, and for what? To show everyone how invincible you are? Or that you can hurt him as much as he hurt you throughout your twisted romance saga?"