𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞: 𝐀 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲

Chapter 22

N I K S H A N T

The day had already been grueling, each moment dragging as I shuffled through paperwork, trying to untangle the mess that was Aaravi's past. The more I uncovered, the more questions arose, and the more hopeless I felt. Each answer led to another dead-end, pulling me deeper into a void I wasn't sure I could escape.

By the time I walked through the door, all I craved was the solitude of my office and the peace that came with being alone. Instead, I walked into what looked like a lively family gathering—laughter, chatter, a sense of casual comfort that felt too foreign. Aaravi sat on the couch, stiff and small, her body language screaming discomfort. Yash and Rishabh were sprawled out across the room, laughing with my siblings, Aarav and Aahana, as though they had known each other for years.

I cleared my throat sharply, making my presence known. The air shifted immediately. All eyes turned toward me. "What are you two doing here?" I demanded, my voice rough with the exhaustion of the day.

Rishabh leaned back in his usual confident manner, the cocky smirk plastered on his face. "We heard your wife's a fantastic cook. Thought we'd drop by for dinner."

Yash, ever the eager one, nodded. "Yeah, the rumors don't lie. Aaravi really knows how to make a meal."

My gaze snapped to Aaravi, who stood near the kitchen door, her posture tense, her hands tightly clasped in front of her. Her eyes were cast downward, her expression pale, as though she had been caught in some invisible storm.

I couldn't hold back the bite in my tone. "Really?" I asked, my words sharper than I intended. "And did it ever occur to either of you to ask before inviting yourselves?"

Rishabh shrugged nonchalantly. "Why would we? You're family, Nik. And family shares food."

I didn't answer, choosing instead to walk past them and into the kitchen. Aaravi flinched, her body stiffening as I approached. I ignored it, even though it stung more than I let on.

"Is the food ready?" I asked coldly, my voice a mere echo of what I really wanted to say.

She nodded, her gaze still lowered, avoiding my eyes.

A silence stretched between us, thick with tension. It bothered me more than I cared to admit. I wanted to ask what was wrong, why she seemed so distant, so unshakably lost. But then, the familiar barrier rose inside me, keeping the words locked away. She had her secrets, I had mine. We were both prisoners in our own silences.

The dinner itself was undeniably incredible. Aaravi had crafted a variety of dishes, each one more flavorful than the last. Yash and Rishabh didn't stop praising her cooking, gushing over every bite.

"Seriously, Aaravi," Yash said, leaning forward with a grin. "Nik's a lucky man."

I glanced at her, watching the faint smile that tugged at her lips. But there was something in her eyes—nervousness, unease—something that didn't fit the moment. Her answers were short, her body language closed off. Only I noticed.

Rishabh's loud voice cut through the silence as he clapped his hands together. "This was amazing! Aaravi, you're going to regret marrying Nik. You should've picked one of us instead."

It was a joke, a careless jest, but it didn't feel like one. My body tensed as Rishabh stood and hugged Aaravi in thanks, a simple, innocent gesture. But inside me, something dark and tight twisted into an uncomfortable knot. My jaw clenched involuntarily. The pull I felt, the jealousy gnawing at me—it was something I couldn't name.

I leaned back in my chair, picking up my phone, pretending to scroll through it as though the whole scene didn't bother me. But every smile she gave them, every touch exchanged between her and them, carved deeper into the wound I was trying to ignore.