𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞: 𝐀 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲

Chapter 21

A U T H O R

Nikshant leaned back in his leather chair, tapping his pen rhythmically against the glass tabletop. His office was immaculate, just like the rest of his life appeared to be—on the surface. But inside? Chaos. A tangled mess of emotions he couldn't begin to unravel.

It had been a month since the honeymoon. A month of pretending everything was fine while his mind raged with suspicion and fury. The photograph haunted him. Aaravi's face in that intimate moment with another man. The betrayal etched into the pixels made his blood boil every time he thought of it. And yet... there was something else.

A knock interrupted his brooding, but before he could respond, Yash and Rishabh, barged in unannounced. They plopped themselves onto the couch in his cabin as if they owned the place.

"Don't you two have jobs?" Nikshant muttered, glaring at them.

"Don't you have a wife?" Yash shot back, smirking. "How's married life treating you?"

Nikshant's grip on his pen tightened. He didn't respond immediately, instead spinning the pen between his fingers as his jaw clenched. Rishabh exchanged a glance with Yash before leaning forward.

"Come on, man. Spill. Is it that bad?"

"I can't say anything until I figure it all out," Nikshant replied curtly. His voice was measured, but the tension in it didn't escape his friends.

Rishabh sighed dramatically. "Nikshant, let it go. You'll only make yourself miserable if you keep clinging to... whatever this is."

"I can't," Nikshant snapped, the pen snapping in his hand. He exhaled sharply and threw the broken pieces into the trash. "You don't understand. There's too much—"

Yash interrupted, his tone softer now. "Nikshant, do you even know how you look at her?"

Nikshant frowned, his head tilting slightly. "What are you talking about?"

"The way you look at Aaravi," Rishabh said, leaning back with a knowing expression. "It's like she's the only star in your sky. Even when you're angry, it's there."

Nikshant's scoff was immediate, but it lacked conviction. "Don't be ridiculous. Aaravi is a mystery. She has a past she refuses to share, and it's eating me alive. She cries when she thinks I'm not listening. I heard her on our honeymoon—outside the washroom. Sobs and broken words I couldn't piece together. Only Karanveer knows what happened, but that friendship is gone. He doesn't trust me enough to tell me."

Rishabh sat up straighter. "Karanveer? Her brother? What do you think he's hiding?"

"I don't know," Nikshant admitted, his voice thick with frustration. "But her past... I think it's connected to Vikram Sachdeva. There's something there. Something dark." He paused, running a hand down his face. "And then there's the picture. Ravi is investigating whether it's real or fake, but until then, every time I see her, I see that photo. And it fuels this anger I can't control."

Yash's voice was calm but firm. "You don't hate her, Nikshant. Maybe you love her."

The words were like a slap, and Nikshant shot up from his chair. "I just hate her!" he bellowed, his fists slamming onto the desk. "Only hate. Nothing else!"

His friends exchanged a look, one that spoke volumes. Rishabh stood, crossing his arms. "You can keep lying to yourself, but one day, you'll realize the truth. I just hope it's not too late when you do."

"I don't love her," Nikshant said through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with defiance. "That's final."

Yash approached him, his expression serious. "Do what you want, Nikshant. But mark my words—if you hurt her, you'll regret it. I warned you before the wedding, and I'm warning you again."