The Charade

42| Heal Me

Chapter 43, 44, 45 , 46 are available on Scrollstack!!

AUTHOR'S POV

"You-" she stammered to find the right words. How can he do this to her? She felt betrayed for being kept in silence. But what overpowered her betrayal was the guilt. She felt like the worst person—so caught up in her own emotions that she hadn't seen his pain. The anger she felt toward herself grew.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely audible, her heart heavy with guilt.

Everything was clear to her now—all his actions, his silence, the distance between them. It all made sense.

Her leaving the estate, her asking for a divorce triggered something grave in his heart. "Kashi." He said softly, and she tried to pull back. To go away and hide under the warm layers of water. To pour her heart out.

How can she be so ignorant?

She knew she was a bitch. Brat.

But to this extent?

If only she had asked why he seemed so fragile, so distant. If only she had remembered to act like his wife, not some indifferent stranger.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered again, her voice cracking as she tried to free herself from his hold.

"Kashi, stop," he said, his voice gentle yet commanding, his grip tightening to keep her close. There was a pleading quality in his words, but he was firm, refusing to let her go. He knew how strong his wife tried to act, and this time he would not let her go.

She struggled against him, her mind racing, her emotions overwhelming her. Every part of her screamed to escape, to find a quiet place where she could break down in peace. But his arms remained around her, pulling her in until there was no space left between them.

"Please, let me go," she begged, her voice so faint it barely reached his ears.

"I won't," he murmured, resting his forehead against hers. "I can't."

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she swallowed hard, trying to fight the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry," she said again, her voice thick with emotion. "I didn't know... I didn't see..."

"You couldn't have known," he whispered, his tone soothing, though his words only deepened her guilt. "This wasn't your fault."

Kashi shook her head, tears spilling over. "It was. I was selfish. I didn't ask... I didn't try to understand." Her voice broke, and a sob escaped her, but still, he didn't let go. His arms were unyielding, as if afraid that if he let go, she might slip away forever.

"It wasn't your fault," he repeated softly, his voice a balm to her aching heart, though the words felt like a lie. She couldn't believe them, even if he did.

Kashi rested in his arms, her body still trembling from the tears that had finally subsided. She felt numb, emotionally drained, but the warmth of his embrace provided some fragile comfort.

"I promise I will fix everything between us, Mr Agnihotri." She whispered with guilt, her voice barely audible.

His hand gently stroked her hair, and he sighed. "You don't have to fix anything by yourself. I am here."

She closed her eyes, her breath uneven as she struggled to believe him. How can he be so selfless?

"But I hurt you," she choked out, her voice trembling. "I left you when you needed me the most. I thought you didn't care, but I was wrong. How can you trust me now?" Her eyes welled up with tears as her guilt poured out. "I'm a terrible wife... the worst person. So selfish." Her voice cracked with self-loathing. "You should hate me, Mr. Agnihotri. I deserve that. I'm so, so sorry." She buried her face in his shoulder, her fingers trembling as they gently cupped his face. "I'm no good, I know that," she whispered, her thumb grazing his cheek in a desperate attempt to soothe the ache she had caused.