"Yuvraj, please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Don't do this."
"Get up," he ordered, his voice as cold as ice.
Tears streamed down my face. "Please, I'll do anything. Just don't make me-"
"Step on the glass," he interrupted, his eyes burning wit...
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I sat in the darkened room, the weight of everything pressing down on me. The quiet was overwhelming, broken only by the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. It had been hours since Yuvraj returned from his confrontation with Pradeep and Roopa. Hours since he'd confessed the grim details of what had happened.
I hadn't said much. I couldn't. My mind was tangled in knots, pulling me in two directions, leaving me unsure of what to think or feel.
Yuvraj had done all of this for me-every moment of pain, every ounce of suffering he inflicted on Pradeep and Roopa was for my justice. But somewhere deep down, I couldn't ignore the other side of the story. The side where Yuvraj wasn't just my savior but the man who had used me when this all began. The man who had lied, manipulated, and twisted me into something I barely recognized.
Was I supposed to forget that now? Pretend it didn't matter because, in the end, he came through for me? The conflicting emotions inside me were tearing me apart.
I pushed myself off the couch, pacing the length of the living room. The moonlight streamed through the windows, casting long shadows across the floor. It felt fitting somehow-my life had become a landscape of shadows, never quite clear, always shifting.
Yuvraj was still asleep upstairs. I had left him to rest, knowing he was exhausted after everything. Part of me wanted to go to him, to be by his side and pretend that we could move forward, that this dark chapter of our lives could be closed now. But another part of me, the part that had grown stronger since this nightmare began, refused to let me forget the hurt, the betrayal.
My mind drifted back to when Yuvraj and I first met. The whirlwind of emotions, the way he had swept me into his world. At first, I had believed him to be my protector, someone who would shield me from the darkness. But that illusion had shattered when I learned the truth-how he had used me to cover his own lies, to fulfill his family's selfish needs.
I clenched my fists, a wave of anger and confusion washing over me. How could I still care for him after everything? How could I still want to believe that he had changed, that he wasn't the same man who had once treated me like a pawn?
But hadn't he changed? Hadn't he proven that he was willing to fight for me now, to face the very people responsible for destroying my family? Hadn't he endured his own pain to ensure that I received the justice I deserved?
I collapsed onto the couch again, burying my face in my hands. I didn't know what to do. My heart and my mind were at war, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find a clear path forward.
The sound of footsteps startled me, and I looked up to see Yuvraj standing in the doorway. His hair was disheveled, and his face looked pale under the dim light. But his eyes-they were filled with concern, with something that resembled regret.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his voice soft as he approached me.
I shook my head. "No."
He sat down beside me, the space between us feeling like a canyon, wide and unbridgeable. "I know... you're thinking about everything. What I did. Who I've been."
I glanced at him, my throat tightening. "It's hard not to."
He nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the floor. "I've made so many mistakes, Aisha. I've hurt you in ways I can't even begin to apologize for. And I know that no matter what I do, no matter how hard I try to make things right, there's always going to be this... part of me that you can't forget."
I didn't know what to say. He was right-there was no forgetting the man he had been, the lies he had told, the way he had twisted my life for his own purposes. But at the same time, I couldn't ignore the man he was trying to be now. The one who had risked everything to help me, to fight for justice, even when it meant crossing into a darkness I wasn't sure either of us could escape from.
"I don't know what to think anymore," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Part of me wants to believe that you've changed, that we can move forward from this. But the other part... I don't know how to trust that you won't hurt me again."
Yuvraj turned toward me, his expression pained. "I don't deserve your trust. Not after everything I've done. But I swear to you, Aisha, I will never hurt you like that again. I don't expect you to forgive me. But I want to make things right, whatever that means. For you."
The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that we could find a way through this mess, that maybe there was a future for us beyond the lies and the pain. But the fear was still there-the fear that he could turn back into the man who had once used me so easily.
"I'm scared, Yuvraj," I confessed, my voice trembling. "I'm scared that no matter how much you say you've changed, the person you were will always be there, just waiting to come back."
He reached for my hand, but I hesitated before letting him take it. His touch was warm, familiar, but it didn't bring the comfort it once had. "I know you're scared," he said quietly. "And I understand why. But I promise you, Aisha, I am not the same man I was. I will spend every day proving that to you, if you'll let me."
Tears welled in my eyes as I looked at him. I wanted to believe that it was possible for him to change. I wanted to believe that we could find a way out of this darkness together. But the truth was, I wasn't sure if I could ever fully let go of the past.
"I don't know what to do," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I don't know how to move forward from this."
Yuvraj squeezed my hand gently, his eyes filled with a sorrow I hadn't seen before. "Then we'll figure it out together. One step at a time."
I didn't know if that was enough. But for now, it was all I had.
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Something big is coming on October 7th, so stay tuned! Until the next chapter, don't forget to like, share, and comment. We're super close to hitting 3k views! 🎉
I just wanted to let you know that my next chapter will be out on October 3rdsince I'm swamped with college assignments right now. 🎓📚 I really appreciate your patience and support!
Also, I'm feeling a bit down because after uploading almost 30 chapters, I haven't reached the number of views I was hoping for. 😕 It's tough seeing other new authors getting 4-5k views, but I'm still pushing forward! 💪
If you can help me reach 3k views, I'd be super grateful. 🙏 And trust me, a very special announcement is coming on October 7th that you won't want to miss! 😄 Stay tuned! 💖
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