LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO 2

Are you saying this out of pity????

please vote and comment.......................this is the 2nd chapter i posted today.please read the first one

Cupping her face, he apologized, "Sorry. I couldn't tolerate your family's toxicity. I had to speak up."

Her face now lacked tears and emotion. "The moment I told my mom about you, I knew my relationship with them was over. But I'm relieved you spoke up. They now know someone will confront them if they wrong me."

She felt no pain about this possibly being her last conversation with her parents. Instead, she felt liberated from the suffocating chains that had bound her. Josh, looking into her eyes, tried to gauge her thoughts, worried this might have shattered her. But her eyes were clear, free of pain or regret, as if she had awakened from a nightmare.

Concerned, he asked, "Baby, are you okay? No one will hurt you anymore, but I'm sorry this happened because of me......My insecurity."

With a dry laugh, she replied, "It's actually for the best. Now, I can live the life I choose, free from suffocation."

She embraced him gently, resting her head on his chest and listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Although she appeared calm, Josh couldn't hide his emotions; tears welled up in his eyes as he thought about her past struggles. He closed his eyes tightly, letting out a small whimper.

She stepped back and tenderly wiped away his tears. "Everything is over now. But why are you crying? It's as if you've been banished," she said, her voice soft but puzzled.

Josh with his voice trembling, replied, "I'm a six-foot-tall guy, practically a stranger, and I can't handle this. And you..."

Shivi interrupted, a determined look in her eyes. With a newfound clarity in her voice and a look of resolution in her eyes, Shivi said to Josh, "I have cried about this all my life. But now, I've come to a realization. The way they speak, the way they behave, it shows what kind of people they are, not who I am. I deserve love and respect, which they can't give me. So, there can't be any truce. You know, I was always worried about having to choose in such a situation. That's why I initially tried to keep my distance from you. You've shown me genuine care and affection. Now, being with you, I understand how one should be treated—with love and respect. So, I didn't just choose you; I chose what I deserve. I chose to be with people who value me." Her face was firm yet calm, reflecting the inner strength she had gained from her realization and the decision she had made for herself.

Admiring her strength, he said, "You're more sorted than I thought. You always surprise me. We'll handle this together."

He kissed her forehead lovingly. "I love you so much, Bella."

Smiling, she responded, "I love you too, honey. We Indians believe in karma and rebirth. Maybe I've exhausted my quota of bad parents in this life and will have Italian or American parents next time."

"No, Shivi, Indian parents can be truly wonderful. I've seen it firsthand with the Kumars. They treated Mithra like a treasure, even better than how my parents raised me. In fact, when I was a kid, I didn't even understand the concept of adoption. I used to think that if I married Mithra, I could permanently stay with them at their place."

"And you'd have demanded paneer biryani from Mrs. Kumar every day," Amid her messy situation, she tried to make a joke.

Josh laughed heartily, "I definitely would have."