I Became His Replaced Bride

Chapter 29

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Present,

Modi Bhawan,

6:35 pm.

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Aashna's heart pounded, stumbling over its own rhythm like a nervous drum. It was erratic, uneven—just like the storm raging inside her. A lump formed in her throat, thick and suffocating, as if she had been caught in an act of betrayal. But that was the thing—she wasn't betraying anyone. She wasn't doing anything wrong.

So why did it feel like she was?

She trusted Aarav more than she trusted herself. The world had thrown accusations, warnings, and cruel words at her, all trying to rip her away from him. But Aarav had fought—fought like a man possessed—just to keep her by his side. He had proved his innocence. He had given her no reason to doubt him.

But now...

Her stomach twisted painfully. Kalpit's words echoed in her head, cruel and insistent. That file holds the truth. He married you for revenge.

No. She didn't believe it. She couldn't. Her Aarav—the man who had fought for her, held her through her worst, loved her in ways she never thought possible—couldn't be a lie.

But then why couldn't she throw the file away? Why did that tiny voice in the back of her mind refuse to let her let go?

Her mind screamed that it was a lie. Her heart knew it was a lie.

But...

A whisper. Faint. Poisonous. Creeping from the darkest corner of her mind.

What if?

She should have tossed the file away, should have burned it, should have laughed in Kalpit's face. But her fingers refused to let go. A deep, nameless fear coiled around her chest, pressing, tightening, making it hard to breathe.

Aarav walked towards her. His smile was easy, warm—his presence so effortlessly hers that it only made the weight in her chest heavier. A pang of guilt shot through her. If he saw the file—if he read it—

She panicked, slamming it shut.

Aarav sank onto the couch beside her, pulling her into his arms like he always did, his warmth instantly surrounding her. But this time, she felt stiff, cold, distant. His fingers traced slow, soothing patterns along her arm as he buried his face in her hair, his breath a whisper against her skin.

His voice was low, teasing, but touched with something softer.

"What's got you so lost that you're ignoring your husband, hm?"

Aashna's throat closed up.

Because for the first time since she had fallen in love with him, she didn't know how to meet his eyes.

Aashna's mind raced, her thoughts tangled in panic. She needed to say something—anything—but her voice failed her. Finally, she stammered, "I-I'm not ignoring you."

Aarav's grip tightened as he pulled her impossibly closer, his lips grazing the skin of her neck. A shiver ran down her spine, though fear twisted inside her more than anything else.

"Then what is this?" he murmured against her skin, his voice teasing yet sharp, his warmth seeping into her.

Aashna's breath hitched when she felt his fingers brush against the file. Her body reacted before her mind could catch up, clutching it close before shoving it aside, beyond his reach. Her heart slammed against her ribs.