I Became His Replaced Bride

Chapter 26

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Past

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Gopinath Modi smiled at his son, the wind howling around them, heavy and fierce. The night was dark and bone-chilling, making the edge of the cliff they stood on appear even more menacing, a place where each gust seemed to whisper of danger. Yet, India's most formidable businessman stood there calm, steady, and composed, just inches from death. His eyes held a spark of realization, the faintest glimmer of amusement slipping through his otherwise guarded expression. He knew—of course, he did. A man as astute and experienced as Gopinath missed nothing.

"Go ahead, dikra," he taunted, his voice calm as ever. "Kill me."

Raghav Modi's fists clenched tighter, his jaw set, his narrowed eyes burning with barely restrained fury. His mind was a churning storm of anger and bitterness. Every muscle in his body trembled, but not just from the chill of the night—it was the weight of what he was about to do. He was preparing to kill his own flesh and blood, his father.

"Why?" The single word was laced with enough raw intensity to convey the depth of Raghav Modi's fury. Every fiber in him wanted to scream, to reach out and shake his father back to reason. Gopinath only smiled, as though amused. "Dikra, you already know everything I've done," he said calmly, his voice devoid of shame. "And, honestly, I don't regret a thing. Given the chance, I'd do it all over again."

Raghav's lips curled into a mirthless smile. "No one knows that better than I do."

Gopinath inclined his head, almost as if in approval. "Then go ahead. Finish me off. I'm not afraid."

Raghav steeled himself, a surge of grim determination washing over him as he took a deliberate step closer. Dry leaves and loose stones crunched beneath his shoes, their brittle sounds blending into the swirling wind. It was a prelude, a warning of the storm looming within him, ready to break.

Komal had followed the father and son under the cover of darkness, her steps careful, her presence undetected. She hid behind a large boulder, close enough to glimpse their figures yet too far to catch most of their words. But the snippets she did understand sent a chill down her spine. Her heart raced as realization dawned: Raghav intended to kill his father.

Komal clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle an audible gasp. She couldn't grasp the madness behind this turn of events. She thought of their son, Aarav—so cherished by his grandfather, a light in their family who had brought joy with his very birth. Raghav adored Aarav; he'd been a devoted father from the start. What could have gone so wrong between Raghav and his father to bring them to this brink of tragedy? The question tore at her, leaving her frozen, torn between disbelief and fear.

Raghav stepped closer until he stood mere inches from his father, his voice a lifeless whisper, "I will never forgive you for this, Papa." Gopinath met his son's gaze with a calm acceptance, nodding slowly. "I know, dikra. I understand. I deserve your hatred, and I don't blame you. Live a good life, Raghav... and give all my love to Aarav dikra."

Before Komal could react, Raghav pushed his father over the edge. The moment seemed suspended, silent, as Gopinath's form disappeared into the abyss below. A strangled gasp tore from Komal's throat, her hands flying up to cover her mouth in shock. Oh my god! Papa...! He was gone. And Raghav—her husband, Aarav's father—had done the unthinkable.

Raghav stood motionless for a moment, staring down into the darkness, before he turned and walked toward the car, his face unreadable in the dim light. Komal, still hidden, felt her legs buckle beneath her as she sank to the ground, heart racing, her mind reeling, as she watched Raghav drive away. She was frozen in horror, haunted by the sight of the man she loved committing an unforgivable act. The weight of what she had just witnessed pressed down on her, threatening to suffocate her as the reality set in—everything had changed.