chapter 29
A Love That Should Have Never Existed
The moment Anvi stepped back, everything shattered.
Agastya’s hands trembled, his grip on Veer loosening, his breath uneven.
But his eyes—they never left hers.
Dark.
Unforgiving.
Raging.
Because this wasn’t just a fight.
This wasn’t just a moment of betrayal.
This was the moment she chose someone else over him.
The moment she rejected him.
And Agastya?
He had never been rejected before.
Not in business.
Not in power.
Not in love.
A muscle in his jaw ticked.
Then—he let go of Veer.
Let him fall to the ground, coughing, gasping for air.
Because Veer wasn’t the problem anymore.
She was.
His Pari.
His wife.
His obsession.
And now?
Now, she was trying to break him.
---
"You never loved me."
Her words echoed in his mind, ripping through him like a bullet.
"You just wanted to win."
Agastya’s fingers curled into fists.
His breath came out uneven, his body vibrating with rage, with something darker.
"Win?" His voice was a whisper, deadly calm.
He took a slow step forward.
And she?
She took a step back.
Good.
Let her run.
Let her fight.
Because he would always catch her.
Always.
His lips curled, but it wasn’t a smirk.
It was something dangerous.
"You think this was about winning, Pari?" His voice was low, lethal.
"You think I would burn down the world for something as meaningless as a victory?"
She didn’t answer.
Didn’t breathe.
Because this wasn’t the Agastya she knew.
This was the monster no one survived.
And now?
Now, he was coming for her.
---
Before she could react—he moved.
Faster than she expected.
One second, she was standing.
The next—she was caged between him and the wall, his hands gripping her wrists, his breath scorching her skin.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"Let me go."
Agastya laughed.
Low.
Dark.
Borderline unhinged.
"Never."
His fingers tightened around her wrists, his body pressing into hers, forcing her to feel him.
To feel his rage.
To feel his obsession.
"You think I don’t love you, Pari?" His voice was raw, breaking, dangerous.
"Then why do I hate every man who even looks at you?"
His lips brushed against her jaw, soft, teasing.
"Why does your betrayal hurt more than a bullet?"
Her breath hitched.
Because for the first time—she saw it.
The truth.
The terrifying, dangerous, undeniable truth.
He loved her.
More than he loved himself.
And that was the problem.
Because Agastya Singh Rathore didn’t know how to love.
He only knew how to own.
And now?
Now, she was trying to take herself away from him.
And that?
That was something he would never allow.
---
She shoved at his chest.
Hard.
"You can’t keep me like this, Agastya!"
His grip didn’t loosen.
Instead—he smiled.
"You think so?"
Then—he grabbed the back of her neck, forcing her to look at him.
His lips ghosted over hers, teasing, torturing.
"Then run, Pari."
Her breath caught.
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Try to escape me."
His fingers trailed down her back, slow, possessive.
"See what happens when you do."
And for the first time—she believed him.
Because Agastya Singh Rathore wasn’t letting her go.
Not now.
Not ever.
Even if it meant locking her in this mansion forever.
Even if it meant burning down everything in his path.
Because he would rather destroy her than lose her.
And that?
That was the real war.
Not between him and Veer.
Not between their families.
But between him and her.
Between love and survival.
Between a woman who wanted freedom and a man who would never allow it.
And now?
Now, she had a choice.
Stay.
Fight.
Burn.
Or run.
And risk the wrath of the only man who had ever truly owned her.
___________________________________________
The night was suffocating.
The air too thick, too heavy with unspoken truths.
Anvi sat by the window, staring at the moon, her pulse still erratic from Agastya’s touch, from his words.
"Then run, Pari."
"See what happens when you do."
Her fingers trembled as she gripped the window’s edge.
Because she knew.
She knew if she stayed, she would lose herself.
But if she ran?
She would never survive him.
And yet—she had to try.
Before he broke her completely.
Before she forgot who she was.
Because Agastya Singh Rathore didn’t just love her.
He owned her.
And tonight—she was about to betray him in a way he would never forgive.
---
Her heart pounded against her ribs as she slipped out of bed.
The mansion was silent.
Too silent.
Like it was waiting for her to make a mistake.
She moved carefully, her bare feet making no sound against the marble floors, her breath shallow as she crept toward the back entrance.
The guards were stationed everywhere.
But Agastya?
He wasn’t here.
He had left earlier that evening, his face unreadable, his body radiating something dark, something she didn’t understand.
And that?
That was her only chance.
Her hands trembled as she reached for the doorknob.
Freedom was one step away.
One step.
One—
"Going somewhere, Pari?"
Her breath caught.
The world stopped.
And when she turned—her heart shattered.
Because standing in the doorway, dressed in all black, his eyes dark with fury, his arms crossed as if he had been waiting for her—
Was Agastya.
Waiting.
Watching.
Ready to make her regret everything.
---
Her stomach twisted painfully.
"You…" Her voice broke. "You knew."
His smirk was slow, deadly.
"Of course, I knew."
He took a step forward.
Then another.
And she?
She took a step back.
Because the look in his eyes?
It wasn’t just possession.
It wasn’t just anger.
It was betrayal.
"You really thought you could leave me, Pari?" His voice was calm, too calm.
"You told me to run." Her breath was uneven, her body shaking.
"And you actually believed me?"
His chuckle was cold, sharp.
Then—he moved.
Before she could react, his hand wrapped around her wrist, yanking her forward.
Her body collided with his, her pulse erratic.
And then—his lips were at her ear.
"You should’ve stayed in bed, jaan."
Her stomach dropped.
Because she knew.
She knew.
Agastya wasn’t going to let this go.
Not this time.
Not after this.
---
"You think I’m cruel, Pari?" His voice was low, almost mocking.
"You haven’t seen anything yet."
Her pulse slammed against her ribs.
His grip tightened around her wrist as he dragged her back inside.
Through the halls.
Up the stairs.
And then—he opened the door to his private wing.
A room she had never entered before.
A room no one was allowed in.
And when he pushed her inside—her breath caught.
Because the moment the door slammed shut, she knew.
She was trapped.
Her voice shook.
"You can’t do this."
His lips curved.
"I just did."
She turned toward the door—but he was faster.
Before she could even touch the handle, he grabbed her, spinning her back against him, caging her in.
His hand rested against the door beside her head, his body pressing into hers, his heat suffocating.
"You think you can run from me?" His breath was hot against her skin. "You think you can betray me and walk away?"
Her chest heaved.
"I—"
"Shh."
His fingers traced her jaw, tilting her face up, forcing her to look at him.
"You don’t get to lie to me, Pari."
His thumb brushed against her lower lip, teasing, punishing.
"You don’t get to pretend you don’t want this."
Her breath hitched.
Because the truth?
No matter how much she fought, no matter how much she hated him—
She did want this.
She wanted him.
And Agastya?
He knew.
He always knew.
---
"You have two choices, jaan." His voice was soft, but it wasn’t gentle.
"Either you accept your place…"
His lips ghosted over hers, not quite kissing, just waiting.
"Or I make you accept it."
Her stomach twisted painfully.
Because no matter what she chose—she would lose.
And he would win.
Like he always did.
Like he always would.
Because Agastya Singh Rathore wasn’t just her husband.
He was her cage.
And no matter how hard she fought—
She would never be free of him.
Not now.
Not ever.
Because now?
Now, she didn’t just belong to him.
She was his prisoner.