Her Dangerous Obsession

Chap 74 - The Promise

Author's POV

Preeti's statement made both Jeet and Kriya look at her in stunned shock.

The silence that followed was heavy, and utterly suffocating. Preeti's uneven breathing filled the room, but it wasn't her weakness, that weighed on Jeet — it was her unwavering strength, her calm acceptance of a truth, he himself had buried deep inside.

Jeet's throat tightened. He looked away, his fists clenching, unable to gather the courage to meet either woman's eyes. His heart hammered like a drum, each thud driving his guilt deeper into his chest.

How the hell could he fall in love with another girl, despite being a married man?

"Jeet…", Preeti's voice softened, but there was an unmistakable firmness in it. "Either say it, or deny it, if you can. For once, don't hide behind silence."

Kriya's lips parted, but no words came out. She felt frozen, unable to comprehend, why Preeti was forcing Jeet like that.

A part of her desperately wanted him to deny everything, to say that Preeti was wrong, that he never had feelings for her.

But another part — the buried one, the one that still remembered his lingering stares, his hesitation, his unspoken concern — wanted him to accept everything. And she hated herself for that conflicting desire.

How the hell could she fall in love with a married man? Who had a family, and a loving wife?

Jeet finally raised his head, his eyes shimmering with conflict. "Preeti… I…", his voice broke midway.

He inhaled sharply, dragging courage from the very air around him. "Preeti... I... I am sorry. I tried. I swear, I tried to push it away. I tried to bury it so deep, that even I wouldn't find it again. But…", his eyes darted to Kriya for a moment, then fell shut. "I can't lie anymore. Not to you. Not to myself. Yes, I… I do have feelings for her."

He lowered his lashes, and continued in a low voice, "I don't know when it happened, or how it happened, but it just happened, and I couldn't even control it. Leave control, I didn't even realize it, until you yourself asked me that question."

Kriya's breath caught in her throat. Her hands trembled on her lap, her eyes wide in disbelief. She had never imagined this moment would happen, not even in her dreams.

Now, living it as a reality — hearing him confess in front of Preeti that he loved her — felt surreal, painful, and yet liberating, all at once.

Preeti, however, smiled faintly, as though she had known all along. "Finally," she whispered, tears of happiness rolling down her cheeks. "Finally, you admitted it."

Jeet immediately stepped closer, guilt pouring from every fiber of his being. "But Preeti, listen to me — I never meant to hurt you. I know that even if it was unknowingly, I have made a mistake. I know, I am at fault. You are my wife, the mother of my child. I respect you, I care for you. What I feel for Kriya… I never acted upon it. I never let it cross a line."

Preeti chuckled softly, though her eyes remained moist. "Jeet, I am not blaming you. Love isn't something we control. It happens. I am not angry, instead, I am very happy — happy to see you finally falling in love with someone. Love isn't a mistake, it is a blessing, and I am so happy for you, that you are also blessed with that blessing. Now, I just want you to embrace that blessing, instead of running away from it."

"And Kriya…", she turned her gaze towards her, her hand reaching out. "I know, you are still feeling guilty, but you never asked for it either, did you?"

Kriya's throat was dry. Her heart raced. She wanted to deny it, to claim that, she never once thought of Jeet that way. But her lips betrayed her silence. The tears in her eyes revealed the truth, she had hidden even from herself. She lowered her gaze, ashamed.