Chapter Five
Iris
Kian’s been gone for an hour and I’m already missing him.
Roaming around his place in his shirt that he put on me this morning that smells like him isn’t helping. Putting on shorts, I decide to cook and make my way to the kitchen.
I’m searching for options in the refrigerator when the front door opens with a beep.
It must be Sonya─our house cleaner
A second later, she rounds the corner.
“Hii,” I greet her.
She smiles politely, studying my outfit. I don’t miss how she covertly glances at my left hand, where the engagement ring is missing.
“Is Mr. Singhania home?” she asks, stepping into the kitchen with the cleaning supplies.
“No, he’s at work.”
“Rough night?” She points under her eyes, then at me.
The dark circles I couldn’t tame from all the crying last night. I’ve been avoiding thinking about how I’ll rectify the blackmailing situation with Nathan. It’s my mess. Kian shouldn’t have to clean it up. I should confess everything to him. Doing so would take away Nathan’s leverage over me.
But the god-awful fear residing like a boulder inside my chest won’t let me.
I get hives every time I think about it.
What if Kian thinks I’m sick in the head? He says nothing can tear us apart, but what if this does?
Sonya clears her throat, jerking me out of my thoughts.
“Sorry,” I mumble, leaning against the counter. “I have a lot on my mind.”
“Is everything okay?” Concern etches her soft voice.
“Yeah, yeah, I need to catch up on some sleep.” Pushing off the countertop, I turn around and grab the pan. “Would you like some tea? I’m making it.”
“No, thank you. I don’t want to be in your hair.”
“It’s all right. I’d love some company.” I pull out tea leaves and sugar while the water boils on the stove. “Have a seat.”
“Okay. Just this once.”
She dusts the attached dining room while I make the tea. Once it’s ready, she washes her hands in the sink and takes a seat across the kitchen island from me.
Lifting the cup, she blows and takes a sip. “Oh, this is very nice.”
“Thanks.” Curious, I ask, “Are you married?”
“No, never.”
“Why not?”
“I wanted to when I was young. As I grew older, I realized people put too much stock in it. You can be just as happy being single.”
My brows draw together. “So, you’ve never been in love?”
“Of course I have,” she utters with a sad smile. “But nothing that lasted forever.”
“What about kids?”
Longing fills her eyes as she glances away, muttering, “That, I regret. I wanted a kid, but not a husband. In my time, you couldn’t have one without the other. I would’ve been a pariah. I didn’t want my kid to suffer because of my greed.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’ve made my peace with it. I know it’s not my place to pry,” she says nervously, then tilts her head. “Aren’t you engaged to Mr. Singhania’s younger brother?”
“I am.”
“Then why do you live with Kian?” It’s the first time I’ve heard her call him by his name, which shocks me. “Are you having an… affair? I’m not judging, I promise.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Love always is.” My gaze widens as I fight to keep my expression neutral. Her face becomes imperceptive. “You’ve both fallen for each other, haven’t you?”
“What makes you say he’s fallen?”
“He has let you in, honey.”
My heart skips a beat.
“An impenetrable man like him wouldn’t do it if the girl didn’t mean the world to him.” Voice taking an ominous edge, she warns, “Be careful, though. When shit falls apart, the woman always pays the price.”
***
“What’s bugging you, Guddu ?”
I snap my gaze to my dadu , who’s regarding me with a concerned frown on his forehead.
My heart hurts seeing him lie on the bed.
He’s become frailer than before. The bones in his cheeks protruded, his skin a little ashen, and his body weak and thin.
His eyes still have their spark, keeping my hope alive that he will get better.
“Nothing, Dadu ,” I answer him, forcing a smile on my face.
Once Sonya had left, I couldn’t stay cooped up at the apartment and came to visit my parents’ house. Of course, Seth brought me here and is waiting outside in the car parked down the street, so my family doesn’t see him and ask questions.
They’re still in the dark about the epic disaster my life has become lately.
I’m being hit by one bullet after another.
I feel bad about not being able to invite Seth inside since it’s over thirty-five degrees outside today, despite it being four in the evening. I suggested he leave and I’d message him once I’m ready to go back. However, he takes his duties very seriously and turned me down.
My dadu’s gaze narrows. “Since when do you lie to me?”
“I’m not!”
“You’re sad, sweet pea.”
“I’m fine. How are you feeling?” I switch the topic. “How’s the nurse? Are you liking her?”
He doesn’t miss my sly attempt, but he also doesn’t call me out on it. “She’s good. Then again, I’m being the best patient she could ever have.”
I laugh. “Oh yeah?”
“Being this old gives me a free pass to be a cranky and stubborn man. I could give her a run for her money. Then I remember my guddu went to trouble to bring her here and take care of me. I could never be mean.”
“It was all Kian.” This time the smile on my lips isn’t forced. “He made it happen.”
“Tell me about this boy.”
“He’s Nathan’s older brother and my boss.”
“How come I didn’t meet him at the engagement party?”
“He lives separately.” I shift, masking my agitation. “There’s some bad blood between him and his parents. So, he stays away.”
My grandfather goes quiet after nodding once. “I would like to meet him. Hopefully at the wedding.”
The wedding! The bane of my existence.
“There’s that face again,” Dadu exclaims, becoming serious. “Are you stressed about the wedding? Worried I won’t be there?”
“ Dadu! Don’t say things like that,” I scold.
He sighs, gaze softening. He reaches for my hand and I meet him halfway. “I know all of you constantly worry about my health, but your dadu is stronger than he looks. I will be here to see you as a beautiful bride, Iris. I promise.”
“Yes, you will,” I whisper thickly.
I know he will be here, but the question is whether there will be a wedding.
“As for whatever is troubling you, it’ll pass. Remember, every problem or obstacle is never as scary as it appears. Once you overcome it and look back on it, you’ll realize how silly you were being. Okay?”
I nod.
My phone pings just as the nurse appears in the doorway.
“It’s time for his medicine,” she says.
“Okay.” Peering at Dadu , I say, “I’ll be back.”
“Go spend time with your mom. She’ll say I hogged you all to myself.”
I chuckle, shaking my head as I rise from the seat. Out in the hallway, I pull out my phone to check the message I received, thinking it’s from Seth. A foreboding sensation runs down my spine when I read Nathan’s name.
NATHAN: You shouldn’t have sent Kian.
The feeling intensifies as I frown at his text. He’s the last person I would send Kian to. In fact, I don’t want them anywhere near each other until I come clean to Kian.
ME: What are you saying?
His reply is instant.
NATHAN: He came to see me at my office today.
No! Bile rises in my throat.
NATHAN: Had quite an interesting chat .
I can hear his smug and taunting voice in my head. Running to my bedroom, I ring him up. Dread coils in my stomach as he purposely lets it ring once, twice.
He picks up on the fourth ring.
“What did you do?” I hiss, keeping my voice down.
“I don’t even get a hello now?”
My hand shakes. “What have you done, Nathan?”
“I warned you what would happen if you went back to him.”
“Nathan! What. Did. You. Do?”
“He knows you’re a stalker.”
My world tilts on its axis as my worst nightmare comes to fruition.
Nathan sneers, arrogant and threatening, “I’m telling you again. End it with him, or the next time he comes my way, he’ll know how deep your treachery runs.”
The line goes dead.