Mrs. Chauhan (Mrs. #3)

Prologue

“You’re fucking vile, Mrs. Chauhan,” he taunted, dragging out the last word in a way that made his jaw twist even harder. His eyes burned like molten coal, every muscle in his body locked with fury. He looked ready to tear me apart at any moment, ready to skin me, kill me,and destroy me.

God! Maybe I deserved it. I was using him. I was using my own husband for my benefit.

“I’m more than vile,” I said with a sad smile, though my chest felt tight. “You’ll find out soon. I’m more than everything, Saurav… ”

“Don’t you dare,” he warned, stepping closer, his voice low and lethal.

“Don’t you dare take my name with your filthy mouth.

” His eyes, those eyes I once adored, glowered into mine.

“You’re a curse. My curse. And also …” He leaned in, every word slicing into me, “…your family’s.

Your family should have killed you the day you were born, because they don’t know what price they still have to pay for having you as their daughter. I really pity your parents.”

I swallowed hard as my chin trembled, but I refused to look away.

He was saying this because he didn’t know. He didn’t know what my family truly was. He had no idea how much I was already paying just to be their daughter.

I had traded Saurav Chauhan, my husband, for them.

I had traded my love for them.

“You don’t have to pity them,” I said slowly, forcing the words past the ache in my throat. “They’re glad they have me.”

“God, you’re so fucking disgusting!” Saurav spat, turning away sharply.

He ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard, like he was trying to control a volcano on the verge of eruption.

“Your father was right. Whatever you touch becomes a curse. I wish I could replay history and erase you. I never should have invited you that day.”

My fingers curled into tight fists. My heart felt unbearably heavy, like it was sinking straight into my stomach. My chin wobbled, my vision burned but I wouldn’t break in front of him. I wouldn’t cry. I wouldn’t beg.

I was still doing what I had done since childhood. I had been tolerating my family’s shit, swallowing pain with a smile and surviving quietly.

I was startled when Saurav stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him as hard as he could. The sound echoed long after he was gone. I stood there, staring at the empty space where he’d just been, my body frozen.

Then my breath hitched.

A broken sound tore out of me as I collapsed into tears, clutching my red lehenga in my fists, squeezing the fabric like it was the only thing keeping me upright. Sometimes I wanted to kill myself. But even that would feel like giving my family a victory.

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