𝕻𝖑𝖆𝖞𝖋𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖞 𝕽𝖚𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖉

34| Ride or die.

It was so thick it was almost suffocating.

I pulled her closer - desperate - but she wouldn't even look at me now.

She was trembling - violently - like her whole world had tilted.

I held her head against my chest, running my hands through her hair, murmuring anything, everything -
but nothing could erase what she had just heard.

The truth I had buried deep.

The truth that now - had ripped her apart.

My arms were wrapped around her - my queen - my everything -
but she wasn't holding me back.

She was shaking.

Broken.

And it was my fault.

"Indrani... listen to me-" I tried, my voice trembling, but Ritasha's venom hadn't finished poisoning the air.

"Poor girl," Ritasha taunted, fake pity dripping from her voice. "Didn't even know she's just the replacement. The second wife."

SNAP.

I stood up in a flash - teeth gritted so tight my jaw cracked.

"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!" I roared.

The entire hall shook with my voice.

Ritasha stumbled back a step - but then smirked, mocking me - mocking her.

"You chose her over your family, over your blood, Ambhreen," she spat. "Now face it."

Without waiting another second, Ritasha turned and strutted out the grand doors - her heels clicking, her smirk a dagger in my gut.

The second she left, silence caved in.

Dead. Heavy. Crushing.

I turned back -
and saw her.

Indrani was curled up on the couch - her arms wrapped around herself - sobbing, gasping - like the world was crumbling around her.

"Baby, no-" I rushed to her, falling on my knees in front of her.

I reached for her hands - but she slapped my chest hard.

And again.

And again.

Over and over.

"You lied to me!" she screamed, fists pounding against me weakly.

Tears streamed down her face - endless, heart-wrenching.

"All this time - you made me believe-" she choked on a sob. "You made me believe I was your only one!"

"You are!" I said hoarsely, grabbing her wrists gently to stop her from hurting herself.
"You are, Indrani. I swear to God, you are."

"THEN WHY?" she cried, voice breaking into a thousand pieces.
"Why didn't you tell me, Ambhreen? WHY?"

I pulled her into my chest - she struggled, she pushed - but I didn't let go.

I couldn't.

"I was scared," I whispered against her hair. "I was scared I'd lose you if you knew."

"You ALREADY LOST ME!" she screamed into my chest.

That broke something inside me.

I cupped her face, forcing her to look at me - even though her eyes were swimming with devastation.

"It was a mistake," I said, desperate, broken.
"That marriage was nothing - it wasn't love - it was duty - pressure - family - you were the first person I chose for myself."