Intensely Twisted Fate

Chapter : 28

Shravan's POV

The moment I let Lara in, I collapsed into her embrace, wrapping my arms around her like she was the only thing keeping me anchored to the world. Her warmth, her scent, her steady breathing-everything about her felt like the only familiar thing left in my life. I buried my face into her shoulder, holding on as if I'd fall apart if I let go. She kept whispering soft reassurances, her voice trembling with concern, but I stayed quiet. My throat felt tight, and the words wouldn't come.

She kept trying to coax something out of me, anything-asking how I was feeling, what was going through my mind, telling me it was okay to talk, that she was here for me. But I just couldn't. Every thought felt like a tangle I couldn't unravel, a mix of rage, hurt, and the sting of betrayal. It was suffocating.

After what felt like forever, I finally spoke, my voice cracking under the weight of everything. "I don't at all feel it was worth my life," I choked out, the bitterness spilling over. "What am I even now, Lara? A mistake... the son of a manwhore and a bar dancer who would probably be looking for men my age to fuck her?" The words burned as they left my mouth, and I could feel the tears welling up again, the fury mixing with despair. I felt so fucking lost.

Lara pulled back slightly, her hands cradling my face, forcing me to meet her gaze. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but there was a fire in them too. "Shravan, don't you dare talk about yourself like that," she said, her voice trembling with intensity. "It wasn't just about where you came from-it was about the life that your mother, your *real* mother, gave up to make sure you had a chance. She made her life hell just to protect you. She took all the beatings, she quit the drugs... do you even realize how hard it is to break an addiction like that? But she did it, for you. Because you meant more to her than anything in the world."

Her words hit me like a slap, forcing me to confront the truth I had been pushing away. Lara kept going, her grip on me tightening as if trying to pull me out of the darkness. "Dipti, Yash-they were there when no one else was. Your dad, Shravan... he didn't even care about having his own biological son because he saw his son in you from the moment he laid eyes on you. That's what you meant to him. And to your mom... she may not have given birth to you, but did that ever matter before today? They're still the ones who loved you, who raised you, who chose you every single day."

Her voice softened, but it was still firm. "And what about me?" she continued. "You think it doesn't matter to me who you are? You think this changes anything between us? It doesn't. You are still Shravan-the guy who holds me when I'm scared, who knows all my secrets, who makes me laugh even when the world is falling apart. You're still the man I fell in love with, no matter who your biological parents are."

The truth in her words chipped away at the numbness that had settled in my chest. I had been so focused on the lies, the feeling of betrayal, that I hadn't even thought about what my real life had been-about the love, the sacrifices. I wrapped my arms tighter around her, burying my face in the crook of her neck as I let the tears fall freely.

"You mean so much to them, Shravan," Lara whispered, her voice breaking. "And you mean so much to me. Don't you ever think that your life wasn't worth it, because it was worth everything. To them... and to me."

Her words slowly melted the ice that had formed in my heart. For the first time since hearing the truth, I felt a small spark of warmth, of hope. I was still angry, still hurt... but with Lara's arms around me, I didn't feel completely lost anymore. For now, it was enough. For now, I could breathe again.

She guided me gently to the bed and helped me sit down. Her touch was tender, grounding me when I felt like I was still floating in the aftermath of everything. She handed me a glass of water and stood in front of me, holding the jar as I took slow sips. Her fingers ruffled my hair, the familiar touch calming me as she asked, "Feeling any better?"