Chapter 28
The tension from dinner followed everyone even afterward.
The servants cleaned the table quietly.
Dhruv's aunt disappeared upstairs looking offended.
His mother sighed tiredly.
And meanwhile,
I sat silently in my room staring at absolutely nothing.
Because somehow,
Dhruv defending me should've made me happy.
It did make me happy.
Too happy.
And that was exactly the problem.
Because every time he protected me,
Every time he looked at me like I mattered,
I forgot this marriage had an ending.
Four months.
Just four more months.
Then he'd go back to his perfect billionaire life.
Maybe with Kiara.
A woman who actually belonged in his world.
The thought hurt more than I wanted to admit.
I sat quietly brushing my hair absentmindedly when suddenly,
A knock came at the door.
Before I answered,
Kiara entered.
Effortlessly beautiful even at night.
She smiled brightly.
"Riya!"
I looked up quickly.
"Oh...hi."
She sat beside me naturally.
And honestly?
Kiara wasn't rude.
That somehow made things worse.
Because I wanted to dislike her.
Wanted to feel justified.
But she genuinely seemed kind.
Confusingly kind.
She smiled excitedly.
"I need to go shopping tomorrow."
I blinked.
"Okay?"
Then dramatically:
"And your husband used to be my personal fashion consultant."
My heartbeat betrayed me immediately.
Of course he was.
Kiara laughed softly remembering.
"In college I'd literally force him to carry my bags for hours."
Excuse me.
Dhruv Malhotra carrying shopping bags?!
I physically couldn't imagine it.
Kiara grinned at my shocked expression.
"Oh yes."
Then proudly:
"He has amazing taste."
Somewhere deep inside me,
Jealousy twisted quietly.
Stupid.
Petty.
Yet impossible to stop.
Before I could answer,
Dhruv's mother entered the room too.
Perfect timing apparently.
"Good. You both are here."
She looked toward Dhruv standing near the hallway outside checking something on his phone.
"Take them shopping tomorrow."
Dhruv didn't even look up.
"Send security."
His mother rolled her eyes instantly.
"No."
Then pointing toward me:
"Riya needs clothes too."
I blinked.
"I do?"
She looked personally offended.
"Beta, half your wardrobe still looks like you're surviving college hostel life."
Fair.
Very fair.
Then smiling dramatically:
"So tomorrow you, Kiara, and Dhruv are going shopping."
Dhruv finally looked up now.
Expression blank.
"No."
His mother smiled sweetly.
"Yes."
Silence.
Then finally,
Dhruv sighed once.
The rare defeated sigh of a billionaire son bullied by his mother.
"Fine."
My stupid heart immediately reacted again.
Because somehow,
The image of going shopping with him felt weirdly intimate.
Dangerous thought.
Very dangerous thought.
...
The next afternoon,
I spent nearly forty minutes trying to decide what to wear.
Which was ridiculous.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Because WHY did I suddenly care so much.
I finally settled on a soft beige fitted top with high-waisted jeans and white sneakers.
Simple.
Pretty.
Normal.
Definitely not trying to impress Dhruv.
Absolutely not.
Lies.
Complete lies.
I grabbed my bag before walking downstairs.
And immediately,
My heartbeat forgot how to function.
Because outside the mansion gates,
Dhruv leaned casually against his black Porsche.
Black t-shirt.
Grey jeans.
Luxury sunglasses.
One hand resting inside his pocket.
And honestly?
He looked like the male lead of every billionaire Wattpad story ever written.
Illegal.
Completely illegal.
Meanwhile security guards looked terrified to even breathe near him.
Kiara walked downstairs behind me excitedly.
"Oh thank God, finally."
Then immediately,
She walked straight toward Dhruv naturally.
Comfortably.
Like she'd done this her whole life.
And before my brain processed anything,
Kiara opened the passenger seat door.
And sat beside him.
My steps slowed instantly.
Oh.
Something sharp twisted painfully inside my chest.
Because suddenly,
I felt stupid.
Of course she'd sit there.
Passenger princess seat.
The place beside him.
The familiar place.
The place she'd probably occupied for years before me.
Meanwhile I stood near the driveway awkwardly realizing,
The only seat left was the backseat.
The backseat.
Like a stranger.
Like a third wheel in my own marriage.
My chest tightened embarrassingly hard.
And the worst part?
Nobody even did anything wrong.
Kiara wasn't trying to hurt me.
Dhruv hadn't said anything yet.
Still,
It hurt.
A lot.
I slowly opened the back door quietly trying not to overthink it.
Pathetic.
Absolutely pathetic.
Because why did this matter so much to me suddenly.
But right before I could sit,
Dhruv looked up.
And instantly,
His eyes found me.
Then the backseat.
Then Kiara sitting comfortably beside him.
Silence.
The atmosphere shifted subtly.
Because Dhruv noticed immediately.
The hesitation.
The tiny sadness in my face I tried hiding.
And unfortunately,
He understood exactly why.
Kiara remained oblivious.
Busy fixing her hair while talking.
"We should go to the new luxury mall first-"
"Get out."
The words came suddenly.
Flatly.
Kiara blinked.
"...what?"
Dhruv looked at her calmly.
"Backseat."
The entire world paused.
My breath caught instantly.
Kiara stared at him confused.
"But I always sit here."
Dangerous sentence.
Very dangerous sentence.
Because Dhruv's eyes darkened slightly afterward.
Then calmly,
"Not anymore."
AIR LEFT MY LUNGS.
Oh my God.
OH MY GOD.
Kiara looked genuinely stunned now.
Because even she realized something had changed.
Something important.
Slowly,
Very slowly,
Dhruv looked toward me standing silently beside the car.
And God.
The look in his eyes ruined me completely.
Possessive.
Certain.
Like there wasn't even a question.
Then quietly,
"Sit beside me, Riya."
My heart stopped, forgot how to work normally,
Yet,
I obeyed of course..
The ride to the mall felt... strange.
Not awkward.
Worse.
Tense.
Because ever since Dhruv told Kiara to move to the backseat,
Something shifted permanently.
Kiara noticed it.
I noticed it.
And most importantly,
Dhruv didn't even realize how loudly his actions spoke anymore.
He drove calmly with one hand resting against the steering wheel while soft music played quietly in the background.
Meanwhile my nervous system struggled beside him.
Because sitting in the passenger seat next to Dhruv suddenly felt dangerously intimate.
Too natural.
Too right.
And unfortunately,
Kiara noticed that too.
The entire drive she kept trying to pull Dhruv's attention toward herself.
"Dhruvvvvvv remember that cafe near college?"
"We used to skip lectures there all the time."
"Oh my God remember when you punched that guy for insulting me?"
Every sentence included:
we.
us.
our memories.
And honestly?
It worked a little.
Because every time she mentioned his past,
I felt like an outsider.
Like someone temporarily borrowing a place in his life.
Meanwhile Dhruv answered mostly in monosyllables.
"Hm."
"Yeah."
"Maybe."
But Kiara refused giving up.
She leaned forward slightly between the seats dramatically.
"You've become so boring after marriage."
Her eyes flickered toward me briefly while saying it.
Subtle.
Still intentional.
Dhruv didn't react.
Meanwhile I quietly stared out the window pretending not to notice the weird energy building slowly.
The Porsche finally entered the underground parking of the luxury mall.
The moment we stepped out,
Chaos.
Because apparently billionaires couldn't exist peacefully in public.
People recognized Dhruv instantly.
Whispers everywhere.
"That's Dhruv Malhotra."
"Oh my God."
"Who's the girl beside him?"
"His wife maybe?"
Phones subtly lifted everywhere.
Meanwhile Dhruv looked entirely unbothered.
He simply walked beside me calmly.
And immediately,
Kiara inserted herself between us.
Literally.
Like physically.
She hooked her arm around Dhruv's casually.
"Oh my God, I missed this mall."
My steps slowed slightly.
Because excuse me?!
Dhruv glanced briefly at the arm around his.
But surprisingly,
He didn't remove it immediately.
My chest tightened painfully.
There it was again.
That stupid reminder.
Kiara belonged naturally in his world.
I didn't.
Meanwhile Kiara suddenly became the human embodiment of pick-me energy.
And honestly?
It was terrifying to witness.
"Oh noooo this bag is too heavy."
Girl it weighed less than oxygen.
"Dhruvvvvvv can you hold it?"
Dhruv took it silently.
Of course he did.
Then two minutes later,
"Oh my God I'm tired already."
We'd walked for approximately seven seconds.
Kiara dramatically touched her forehead.
"I think my heels are killing me."
SHE WAS WEARING SNEAKERS.
I nearly admired the dedication honestly.
Meanwhile Dhruv looked emotionally exhausted already.
And somehow,
That comforted me slightly.
Then came phase two of Operation Pick Me Princess.
Flirting.
Aggressive flirting.
Kiara entered one luxury store dramatically gasping.
"Dhruvvvvv look at this dress."
She held a short silver dress against herself before turning toward him.
"Wouldn't I look hot in this?"
AIR LEFT MY LUNGS.
Because WHO asks that in front of someone's wife?!
I awkwardly looked away immediately.
Meanwhile Dhruv barely glanced up from his phone.
"Buy it if you want."
Kiara pouted dramatically.
"You didn't even look properly."
Then suddenly,
She spun toward him holding the dress against herself tighter.
"Come onnnn."
And before anyone processed it,
She grabbed Dhruv's hand placing it lightly against the fabric near her waist.
I physically froze.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Because suddenly,
Dhruv looked up slowly.
And the expression on his face?
Ice cold.
Kiara seemed not to notice.
Still smiling.
"Feel the fabric, it's so soft-"
Dhruv pulled his hand away immediately.
Not rude.
Not emotional.
Just sharp.
Final.
Then flatly,
"Kiara."
One word.
Warning tone.
But unfortunately,
Miss Pick Me Billionaire Princess still continued.
"Oh please, don't act formal suddenly."
Then laughing dramatically toward me:
"He used to literally help me choose night gowns colors during college."
OH.
MY.
GOD.
My face immediately burned.
I looked down so fast I nearly got whiplash.
Because why would she SAY THAT.
Meanwhile Dhruv finally looked genuinely annoyed.
"Stop talking."
The coldness in his voice made even Kiara pause slightly.
But only slightly.
Because now,
She'd started realizing something terrifying.
Dhruv wasn't reacting to her the way he used to.
Not softening.
Not indulging.
Not paying attention.
Meanwhile,
His eyes kept drifting toward me unconsciously.
Always me.
Even right now.
The realization was slowly driving her insane.
And honestly?
She hated it.
Because until now,
She genuinely believed I wasn't competition.
Just temporary contract wife.
A placeholder.
But lately?
Dhruv didn't look temporary around me anymore.
He looked attached.
Possessive.
Protective.
And worst of all,
Interested.
Kiara suddenly grabbed Dhruv's arm again while walking out of the store.
This time tighter.
Practically hanging off him.
"Dhruvvvv let's go to the gaming section."
Meanwhile I quietly walked slightly behind them now.
Because honestly?
I felt stupid suddenly.
Like I was interrupting something old and familiar between them.
And unfortunately,
Dhruv noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
His eyes flickered toward me again.
Then toward the growing distance.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Kiara kept talking nonstop.
"Oh my God remember our Goa trip?"
"Remember when everyone said we looked married already?"
"Dhruvvvv remember-"
Suddenly,
Dhruv stopped walking.
Kiara nearly stumbled slightly.
I looked up confused.
Then immediately froze.
Because Dhruv was staring directly at me now.
Not Kiara.
Me.
And his expression darkened instantly after noticing how quiet I'd become.
Then calmly,
"Come here."
My heartbeat stumbled.
"...what?"
Dhruv held his hand out slightly toward me.
Right in front of Kiara.
Right in the middle of the luxury mall.
And the entire world genuinely slowed down.
Because he wasn't asking.
He was choosing.
Openly.
Publicly.
My pulse went insane.
Kiara stared at him shocked.
"Dhruv-"
He didn't even look at her.
His eyes remained fixed entirely on me.
Then quieter,
"Beside me."
God.
The air disappeared from my lungs completely.
Slowly,
I walked toward him.
And the second I reached close enough,
Dhruv's hand settled lightly against my lower back.
Possessive.
Protective.
Natural.
Like it belonged there.
Meanwhile Kiara looked like someone slapped her emotionally.
Because for the first time,
She realized something horrifying.
Dhruv Malhotra wasn't pretending anymore.
....
After a while
The luxury mall arcade looked less like an arcade and more like a billionaire playground.
Neon lights glowed everywhere.
Huge gaming arenas.
Private bowling lounges.
VIP sections.
Music echoing softly through the massive space.
And somehow,
Even the bowling alley smelled expensive.
I walked beside Dhruv quietly while Kiara practically glued herself to his arm again.
At this point she wasn't even hiding it anymore.
"Dhruvvvv please let's play bowling."
Dhruv looked deeply exhausted already.
"We're not teenagers anymore."
Kiara gasped dramatically.
"Exactly why we SHOULD."
Then instantly toward me:
"You know in college our whole friend group used to come here every night?"
There it was again.
Another reminder that she'd lived years of memories with him I never would.
Meanwhile Dhruv looked like he wanted corporate meetings instead.
Unfortunately for him,
Kiara had weaponized nostalgia today.
She grabbed his sleeve lightly.
"Pleaseee."
God.
The pick-me energy radiating from her could power cities.
Dhruv finally sighed once.
The sigh of a man spiritually defeated.
"Fine."
Kiara immediately lit up proudly like she'd won a national war.
Meanwhile my stupid heart quietly hurt again.
Because no matter how much Dhruv chose me lately,
Kiara still knew parts of him I didn't.
College Dhruv.
Young Dhruv.
Carefree Dhruv.
The version before coldness swallowed him whole.
We entered the private bowling section afterward.
And honestly?
It looked insanely cool.
Dark aesthetic interiors.
Neon purple lights.
Huge glowing bowling lanes.
Luxury couches.
Celebrity-level privacy.
Groups of rich people laughing around us.
The atmosphere buzzed with energy.
Meanwhile I stood there silently staring around like an excited child.
Because I'd literally never played bowling before.
Never even entered a bowling alley.
Back then,
Surviving mattered more than games.
Dhruv noticed my expression immediately.
Of course he did.
His eyes softened almost invisibly for one second.
Then gone again.
Meanwhile Kiara had entered full performance mode now.
"Dhruvvvv help me choose the bowling ball."
Girl.
It's a sphere.
Dhruv grabbed one randomly.
"This."
"Noooo not this color."
I physically had to look away to stop laughing.
Then came phase two.
"Oh my God I forgot how to hold it."
Dhruv flatly:
"You put your fingers inside."
I nearly choked.
Meanwhile Kiara continued anyway.
"Show me properly."
And before anyone processed anything,
She moved behind Dhruv dramatically while he demonstrated.
Practically pressing herself against him.
I froze instantly.
Oh.
Okay.
The atmosphere shifted weirdly.
Even Dhruv looked mildly horrified now.
Because unlike before,
He wasn't even tolerating it naturally anymore.
He looked annoyed.
Actual annoyance.
Meanwhile I quietly stepped away awkwardly.
Because honestly?
I suddenly felt stupid standing there.
Like some accidental extra in their history.
So instead,
I wandered toward the empty bowling lane beside theirs curiously.
The giant polished lanes glowed beautifully under neon lights.
People laughed around me.
Pins crashed loudly every few seconds.
And somehow,
The simplicity of it felt nice.
Fun.
I watched another group play carefully.
Okay.
So you throw the ball straight.
Easy enough.
Probably.
I walked toward the bowling ball rack curiously.
The balls looked ridiculously heavy.
How did people casually throw these.
I carefully picked one up.
And immediately almost lost my shoulder.
"Oh my God."
The ball felt like compressed planets.
But weirdly,
I still wanted to try.
Meanwhile behind me,
Kiara continued her Olympic-level pick-me performance.
"Dhruvvvvv my wrist hurts."
"Dhruvvvvv stand behind me and teach me."
"Dhruvvvv why are you ignoring me today?"
At this point even nearby strangers looked entertained.
Meanwhile Dhruv looked emotionally deceased.
Then suddenly,
He noticed me alone near the other lane.
His gaze lingered instantly.
Watching curiously as I adjusted the heavy bowling ball awkwardly.
And unfortunately,
Something about me trying new things always affected him.
Because I approached life so innocently.
So openly.
Like a child discovering the world for the first time.
Kiara noticed his attention shift too.
And immediately got annoyed.
"Dhruv."
No response.
His eyes remained on me.
I bit my lip concentrating hard before copying the stance I'd seen others use.
Okay.
Few steps.
Swing arm.
Throw.
Easy.
Probably.
I inhaled dramatically.
Then moved.
One step.
Two steps.
The bowling ball rolled out of my hand,
And immediately,
I panicked.
Because OH MY GOD IT WAS TOO FAST.
The ball flew perfectly straight down the lane.
Everyone nearby instinctively looked up.
The glowing ball spun sharply,
Then CRASH.
Every single pin exploded downward instantly.
STRIKE.
Complete strike.
The entire bowling lane lit up flashing.
People nearby gasped loudly.
My jaw dropped completely.
"I DID IT?!"
The excitement in my voice echoed across the bowling lounge.
Meanwhile several people actually clapped.
Because beginner luck apparently came with main-character energy.
I turned around so fast nearly tripping.
And instantly,
My eyes met Dhruv's.
Big mistake.
Because God.
The way he was looking at me.
Not cold.
Not annoyed.
Not even distant.
Just staring.
Completely staring.
And for the first time that night,
Dhruv genuinely smiled.
Not tiny almost-smile.
Not hidden smirk.
An actual smile.
Soft.
Real.
Beautiful enough to physically ruin me.
The entire bowling lounge seemed to pause for one dangerous second.
Because when Dhruv Malhotra smiled,
The world noticed.
Even Kiara froze.
Shock flashing across her face instantly.
Because she hadn't seen him smile like that in years.
Years.
And somehow,
He was smiling at me.
Only me.
My heartbeat completely lost stability.
I laughed breathlessly still shocked.
"Oh my God did you SEE that?!"
Dhruv slowly walked toward me now.
Eyes never leaving mine.
Then quietly,
"Beginner's luck."
Liar.
His voice carried unmistakable amusement.
I grinned proudly.
"No, I think I'm naturally talented."
Dhruv huffed a quiet laugh under his breath.
A REAL LAUGH.
AIR LEFT MY LUNGS.
Meanwhile Kiara looked like she was experiencing emotional collapse.
Because nothing about this felt temporary anymore.
Nothing.
I looked back toward the lane excitedly.
"I wanna try again."
Then suddenly,
My fingers slipped slightly against the heavy ball.
I almost lost balance instantly.
Before I could fall,
Strong arms caught me automatically from behind.
Dhruv.
My breath stopped immediately.
Because suddenly,
His chest pressed lightly against my back.
One arm around my waist steadying me.
The other hand covering mine against the bowling ball.
And the entire world disappeared.
Neon lights blurred.
Music faded.
Everything gone except him.
His cologne surrounded me completely.
Warm.
Dangerous.
Intoxicating.
Meanwhile Dhruv looked down at me from behind quietly.
Too close.
Far too close.
Then softly near my ear,
"Bend your arm slightly."
My pulse crashed violently.
He adjusted my hand carefully.
Large fingers over mine.
Guiding.
Teaching.
And somehow,
The intimacy of it felt unbearable.
People nearby had definitely started staring now.
Because the tension between us looked insane.
But neither of us noticed anymore.
Or maybe,
Neither cared.
Then quietly,
Dhruv spoke again.
And this time,
His voice sounded almost possessive.
"Focus, Riya."