Author's POV :
He had always trusted her implicitly, believing that their love was unshakeable. Now, the ground beneath his feet felt unsteady, the walls of their marriage suddenly showing cracks he had never noticed before. Yet, amidst the turmoil of emotions, a strange calmness descended upon him. He knew he had to keep his cool, to understand the full extent of what was happening before he could respond.
"Ash," he began, his voice even, "tell me from the beginning."
Her eyes filled with unshed tears as she recounted the night that had changed everything. It had been months ago, during a particularly hectic week when Akarsh had been traveling extensively. She had felt lonely, lost in the cavernous space of their mansion, surrounded by the whispers of what could have been. That's when she met him, a charming stranger at a charity gala she had attended alone. He had made her feel seen, heard, and desired in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.
Ashritha had allowed herself to be swept away by his attention, the thrill of something new and forbidden. They had danced, talked, and shared laughs that had echoed through the grand ballroom. And then, in a moment of weakness, she had almost crossed the line, her hand lingering on his arm just a moment too long. But as she had looked into his eyes, she had seen a reflection of Akarsh's love, of the life they had built together, and she had realized her mistake.
With each word she spoke, the weight of her secret grew lighter, but the gravity of the situation remained. Akarsh's jaw was clenched tight, his knuckles white as he gripped the bedpost. He had always known that their marriage was not without its cracks, but he had never imagined it could be so close to shattering. Yet, as he listened to her every word, the love he felt for her didn't waver. It was a love that had been forged in the fires of time, a bond that was more than just a legal contract or a social expectation.
He took a deep breath, willing his heart to slow its erratic rhythm. "And then what happened?" he asked, his voice carefully controlled.
"I realized," she said, her voice thick with emotion, "I realized that no matter how much I might have wanted to feel something else, my heart belonged to you. I left the party early and came home, vowing never to let you down again."
Akarsh felt a tempest of anger and hurt swirling inside him, but he pushed it aside for the moment. He knew that his reaction could either be the glue that held them together or the wedge that pushed them apart. He took her hand in his, feeling the tremble of her pulse beneath his thumb. "Who is he?" he asked, his voice tight.
Ashritha took a deep breath, the name sticking in her throat like a briar. "His name is... Vikram," she whispered, her eyes cast downward. The name hung in the air, a specter from her past that had come back to haunt them both. Akarsh's grip on her hand tightened almost imperceptibly, and she could feel the tension in his body.
Vikram Chauhan, the heartbreaker, had always been a thorn in Akarsh's side. They had been rivals since college, their competitive spirits driving them to the pinnacle of success in the corporate world. While Akarsh had built his empire through hard work and strategy, Vikram had inherited his, using his charm and cunning to expand it. The two men had a storied history of back-alley deals and corporate takeovers, each one a silent declaration of war in their unspoken battle for supremacy.
Now, as the name echoed in the quiet of their bedroom, Akarsh's mind raced with the implications. The secret that had been eating away at Ashritha was now a weapon in the hands of the one man who could wield it to cause the most damage. The betrayal was not just personal; it was a strategic move, a card played in their endless game of power and control.
He remained silent, the name 'Vikram' hanging in the air like a noxious fume. His silence was a storm cloud, dark and ominous, and Ashritha could feel the electricity crackling between them. Her eyes searched his, looking for any hint of the tempest raging within him. His jaw was set, his eyes cold, and she knew that the man who sat before her was not just her husband but also the shrewd businessman who had built an empire on the bones of his enemies.
