Chapter 18
Shaurya
Saying I’m close to losing my sanity doesn’t begin to describe the possessive fury ripping through me. My gaze locks with Reeva’s wide brown eyes before dropping to the bastard whose hand is still wrapped around my wife’s waist.
“If you don’t want me to break that hand, you’d better take it off my wife. Now,” I warn, my voice dangerously low.
I have always known the bastard was interested in Reeva.
Back then, I had taken a dark, possessive pleasure in knowing he could never have her because she had chosen me.
But now, with our marriage hanging by a thread and his hand wrapped around her waist, that satisfaction twists into the terrifying realisation that he is waiting for the chance to claim the woman I am desperately afraid of losing.
He finally removes his hand, but instead of showing even the slightest concern for his life, the bastard merely adjusts the cuff of his tuxedo and smiles. “Shaurya. You always did know how to make an entrance.”
My hands clench at my sides. The moment I saw my wife in that fucking red dress, I knew it would mean trouble.
The way it hugs every curve I have touched, kissed, and memorised, her hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders, and the light makeup enhancing the beauty I have never been able to resist…
all of it had already pushed every nerve in my body to the edge.
That is why I tracked down which party they were attending and followed her here.
And now, watching this jerk stand so close to her while deliberately taunting me destroys every sensible thought in my head, leaving me with one savage certainty. I want to kill the bastard.
Before I can act on that savage impulse, Reeva motions for us to move away from the dance floor. The three of us head towards a quiet corner of the ballroom, with me deliberately positioning myself between her and the bastard. The moment we stop, Reeva turns to face me.
“What are you doing here?” Reeva demands, crossing her arms furiously.
“You know me well enough to realise I would show up,” I reply coldly. “So why are you asking a question you already know the answer to?”
Ayaan chuckles beside Reeva. “Your husband clearly has a talent for appearing wherever he isn’t wanted, especially when another man has your attention.” His amused gaze shifts to me. “But I can’t blame you, man. If I had a wife as beautiful as Reeva, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight either.”
That is all it takes for me to step towards him, but Reeva immediately moves between us and places a hand against my chest. The light pressure of her palm stops me more effectively than any physical force ever could.
“Don’t,” she warns.
My gaze drops to where her palm rests against my chest. Her fingers curl slightly before she quickly pulls her hand away, as though she has only just realised she is touching me. The loss of her warmth leaves behind a cold emptiness that spreads through my chest.
Reeva folds her arms across her chest again. “You do not get to walk in here and create a scene simply because I danced with someone.”
“I’m not creating a scene.”
Her gaze sweeps over the people discreetly watching us before returning to me. “Of course not. This is an entirely normal conversation to have in the middle of a crowded ballroom.”
Before I can tell her that the jerk beside her is responsible, and that, scene or no scene, I will not stand by while he openly flirts with my wife, I look up to find Rudra walking towards us.
One glance at his satisfied expression tells me this is precisely what he has been waiting for all evening.
“Finally,” he says, stopping beside Ayaan. “I was beginning to think you had lost your touch.”
I glare at him. “You planned this. You brought my wife here on purpose.”
“Guilty as charged.” Rudra’s smile widens. “I admit, watching you suffer is extremely satisfying. And seeing my sister with a man who might actually deserve her might do you some good.”
My control snaps.
“Don’t you dare test me, Rudra,” I growl, taking a threatening step towards him. “If you push my wife towards another man merely to make me suffer, I will bring hell down upon you. Get one thing straight. Reeva is not a weapon for you to use against me, and she is completely off-limits.”
Reeva’s lips part in shock, but no words come out. For once, she does not step between her brother and me. Her wide gaze simply shifts from Rudra to me.
“I’m not you, Shaurya. I don’t use people for my own advantage.
” The humour vanishes from Rudra’s expression.
“I only want you to realise that my sister deserves better than you. Perhaps seeing her with a man who can give her that will finally make you understand and convince you to get the hell out of her life.”
“You’re wasting your time and succeeding only in pissing me off,” I say, my voice deadly calm. “I am not leaving Reeva. Not now. Not ever.”
“Calm down, man,” Ayaan intervenes, his amusement fading. “Let’s not turn this into a spectacle in the middle of the party.”
I turn my glare on him. “You should have thought of that before you put your hands on my wife.”
Before he can reply, Reeva cuts in. “I came here to enjoy myself, not to stand here while all of you behave like children fighting with one another.” She presses her fingers against her temple, her face suddenly paling. “All of this is making me feel sick.”
Every muscle in my body goes rigid, and I immediately step towards her. Damn it. The doctor specifically warned us to keep her away from stress, yet once again, I am the one causing it.
“Are you all right?” I ask, my anger instantly replaced by concern. “Do you want to go home?”
“No,” she replies, fixing me with a sharp look. “But I certainly want you to stop this.”
Rudra steps towards her, his expression immediately softening. “I’m sorry, Ree. It ends here.” Concern fills his voice. “You and the baby don’t need this kind of stress.”
“Baby?” Ayaan repeats, his eyebrows drawing together in surprise. His gaze moves from Reeva to me before dropping briefly to her stomach. “You’re pregnant?”
In that moment, nothing could have satisfied me more than the shock on his face. I hold his gaze, allowing every possessive emotion burning inside me to enter my voice.
“Yes,” I state firmly. “My wife is pregnant with my child.”
Ayaan drags a hand through his hair, visibly stunned. “I didn’t know.” His gaze settles on Reeva as he forces a faint smile. “Congratulations, Reeva.”
The words are sincere, but I catch the flash of pain and disappointment in his eyes. Perhaps I should feel sorry for him, but I don’t. Seeing the realisation that Reeva is carrying my child settle across his face makes coming to this party entirely worth it.
Reeva offers him a small, genuine smile. “Thank you, Ayaan.”
“Won’t you congratulate me too?” I cut in, unable to keep the smug satisfaction from my voice. “After all, I’m the father.”
Ayaan’s jaw tightens, but he gives me a curt nod. “Congratulations, Shaurya.” He glances around the crowded ballroom before adding, “If you’ll excuse me, I should check on my other guests.”
He walks away without waiting for a response.
“Good decision,” I mutter as I watch him disappear into the crowd.
“If you’re finished behaving like a possessive jerk, you can leave now,” Rudra says coldly. “I brought my sister here to enjoy herself, and I intend to make sure she does without any more stress from you.”
“I’m perfectly capable of helping my wife relax and enjoy herself,” I counter. “You’re the one who can leave.”
Reeva glares at both of us. “Neither of you is helping me relax. In fact, the only thing I need to enjoy myself is for both of you to stop deciding what I need.”
Rudra and I both open our mouths to argue, but the warning look Reeva gives us makes us stop.
For one reluctant second, we exchange a glance.
“Fine,” we mutter at the same time.
Reeva raises an eyebrow. “Was that so difficult?”
“Yes,” Rudra and I answer together, earning an exasperated shake of her head.
She shakes her head and walks towards a nearby table, with Rudra and me following behind her. She settles into one of the chairs, and I immediately take the seat beside her.
Before Rudra can sit down across from us, someone calls his name from the other side of the ballroom. I fail to hide my satisfied grin.
He notices it and narrows his eyes at me. “Don’t get too comfortable.”
Then he turns to Reeva, his expression softening. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, Ree.”
She nods, and he reluctantly walks away, glancing back once as if he still does not trust me alone with my own wife.
Once we are alone, she refuses to look at me. Her gaze moves restlessly around the ballroom, settling everywhere except on my face, while I remain incapable of looking anywhere but at her.
I want to pull her closer. I want to lower my mouth to hers and reassure myself that she is still mine.
The jealousy raging inside me urges me to claim her in front of the entire room, to make every man here understand that she is mine and mine alone, and that none of them stands a chance.
But I can’t. No matter how desperately I crave her, I need to keep my emotions under control.
I signal a passing waiter and take a glass of whisky from his tray, swallowing it in one burning gulp.
But even the harsh burn sliding down my throat does nothing to calm the possessive hunger consuming me.
My gaze remains fixed on Reeva, and the longer she refuses to look at me, the closer I come to losing the control I am fighting so hard to hold on to.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her quietly.
That finally gets her attention. She turns towards me, her wide brown eyes locking with mine.
“I know,” she replies, a hint of challenge entering her eyes. “Ayaan already told me.”
“You really enjoy provoking me, don’t you?” I ask, my jaw tightening.
“Maybe I do,” she replies, the slightest smile curving her lips. “Especially when you seem determined to ruin my mood.”
“Ruining your mood was never my intention,” I say, holding her gaze. “Ruining his face, however, came dangerously close.”
Her breath quickens as she catches the possessive heat burning in my eyes. For one charged moment, neither of us looks away. Then she abruptly breaks eye contact and glances towards the buffet.
“I’m hungry,” she announces, clearly changing the subject.
I nod and rise to my feet. “I’ll get you something.”
At the buffet, I take a plate and fill it with small portions of all her favourite dishes before returning to the table and placing it in front of her.
“Thank you,” she murmurs.
I settle back into my chair as she begins to eat, and something inside me eases at the sight. She may no longer trust me with her heart, but I still remember every little thing she loves. For now, I hold on to that.
Once she finishes eating, I glance at her nearly empty plate. “Do you want anything else?”
She shakes her head. “No, I’ve had enough.”
I nod and set the plate aside. She remains silent for a moment before finally lifting her gaze to mine, confusion and pain clouding her brown eyes.
“Shaurya, please give me some space,” she says softly.
“Having you this close all the time is messing with my head. I’m not asking you to leave Bhai’s house because I know you won’t.
” Her voice trembles. “But if you could keep your distance instead of following me everywhere, it would make things easier for me.”
“I’ll stop following you everywhere,” I say, holding her gaze. “But only if you promise me one thing. No other man gets close enough to put his hands on you again.”
“I don’t owe you that promise,” she replies firmly. “But I’m not interested in another man, not because you told me to stay away from them, but because I don’t want anyone right now. My only focus is my child.”
“Our child,” I correct quietly.
Her gaze holds mine for a moment before she looks away without arguing. I will give her the distance she needs, even if it tears me apart. But I will never give up on the two people who have become my entire world.