9. I AM MARRIED!
Brushing off the heaviness in his chest, He pressed the accelerator harder. The car mived not towards the mansion... but towards his space. The one place untouched by anyone else.
His house.
The place where only Kiara was allowed. Only her.
As he stopped in front of the gate, the guard came forward immediately.
"Is she ok?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
The guard shook his head. "Doesn't seem like, sir."
Without wasting another second, he pushed the door open and stormed inside.
The living room was in chaos. pillows on the floor, glass shattered, curtains tugged down from one side. His chest tightened as he rushed straight to her room.
The door wasn't locked. He barged in.
There she was.
Kiara sat on the edge of the bed, her hair messy, her hands clutching the sheets like she had been pulling them for hours. Her eyes were swollen, but the moment she saw him, they sharpened.
"Kia..." I called her softly, his voice automatically softening.
She let out a bitter laugh. "Did your wife allow you to come here?"
Vivan 's jaw clenched. "Enough is enough, Kiara. I already explained everything. Don't behave like a kid. You know very well that I only love you." His tone was calm, almost pleading.
Her eyes snapped up at him. "Oh, so now I'm behaving like a kid, huh?
" she mocked, her lips curling. She got up from the bed, walking closer to him, slow and deliberate.
"Tell me something, Vivan... do you even realise how it feels when the man who promised you forever ties his life with someone else?
And then walks in here saying don't behave like a kid? "
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Kia, you know this marriage means nothing to me. Aarvi means nothing to me."
"Does she really?" Her voice was low, teasing, as her hand trailed lightly across his chest. "Because from here, it doesn't feel like nothing... it feels like you're slipping away."
He caught her wrist gently. "Don't do this. You know my heart belongs to you. Only you."
She tilted her face up and said like challenging him "Then prove it."
Before he could react, she leaned in, brushing her lips against his. For a moment Vivan gave up but his mind couldn't.
He pulled himself back, startling Kiara.
"What happend huh? You said you love me then why did you back off?" Kiara said as tears brimmed in her eyes.
"You-you are not understanding Kiara, I-I love you but-" Vivan tried to explain her but got cutt off by her chuckle.
"But? But what?" Kiara said as she leaned further into him, her body pressing against his, her fingers already tugging at the buttons near his collar.
"Kiara..." He whispered against her lips, trying to steady his breath.
She didn't stop. Her hands slid over his chest, her touch was intimate. "Stop pretending, Vivan. We both know how much you're controlling yourself."
For a moment, his body betrayed him. The warmth of her touch, the way she said his name. His grip on her waist tightened, but then something inside him snapped.
He pulled back again, holding her wrists firmly. His voice was low but edged with restraint. "Enough, Kia."
Her brows furrowed. "What now? Don't tell me you're still holding onto that stupid marriage line thing."
He tightened his grip on her hands, grounding both of them.
“I’m here, Kiara,” He said firmly. “I chose you then, and I’m choosing you now.”
Her eyes searched his face.
“This marriage wasn’t my choice,” He continued. “But you are. And I swear to you, I won’t let anyone take your place in my life. Not today. Not ever.”
He looked away for a second, his breathing slow as he continued. "You know I've always said we shouldn't cross that line before marriage. But now..." He hesitated, his voice was low, "...I'm married."
The words hung heavy between them.
For the first time, she froze. Her eyes widened, her lips parting but no words coming out. His words had cut straight through her chest, sharper than any excuse he had given before.
Kiara's fragile ego cracked in silence. Her chest rose sharply, dug into her palms. Her silence wasn't surrender, it was control. She knew if she pushed further, Vivan's anger would snap, and when he broke, no one, not even her could handle him.
So she didn't argue. She just stepped back, smoothing her hair with trembling hands, masking her fury with a practiced smile. "Fine. Drop me home."
He took smiled softly and walked out of the room.
The car ride was suffocating. She didn't say a word, and he didn't dare break the silence. When he stopped in front of her house, she got out without looking back.
-
I went straight to the office after that, but my mind refused to stay here. I am physically in the office but mentally I am again and again questioning myself.
Did I do wrong?
The question burned in my chest. On one side, a voice whispered. "Yes. You're married now. Aarvi is your wife. Until this marriage exists, you owe her loyalty. Even if it's forced, even if it's unfair".
But then another side rose louder. "No. You're not wrong. Kiara is your girlfriend. She's the one you've chosen, the one you love. You've told Aarvi clearly this marriage means nothing. She never objected, she never fought back. That silence was her acceptance. She doesn't care, so why should you?"
I closed my eyes, gripping the armrest of my chair. The battle raged inside me, neither side winning.