Chapter 40
The showroom had finally gone quieter.
Most of the staff had disappeared downstairs.
The chandeliers still glowed warmly above the marble floors while soft instrumental music echoed faintly through the giant bridal hall.
But my heartbeat still hadn't calmed down after what happened.
My wrist still hurt slightly where Advik had grabbed me.
And honestly?
The only reason I wasn't shaking anymore,
Was because Dhruv was somewhere nearby.
Veer bhaiya and Meera bhabhi had already left half an hour ago for some family friend's dinner.
Advik's parents too had gone ahead to continue wedding preparations.
Which now left only,
Me.
And Advik.
Dangerous combination.
Currently Advik was inside the trial room changing out of his sherwani.
And the second he disappeared,
A hand suddenly caught mine from behind.
Strong.
Warm.
Familiar.
I turned instantly.
Dhruv.
Still disguised.
Still wearing the turban and fake beard.
But his eyes?
God.
His eyes looked terrifying.
Dark.
Furious.
Barely controlled.
Before I could even speak,
He pulled me quickly into the empty jewelry corridor nearby away from cameras and staff.
The second we were hidden behind the giant mirrored wall,
Dhruv grabbed my wrist gently.
The same wrist Advik had twisted.
And the look on his face afterward made my stomach drop.
Because beneath the fake beard,
His jaw clenched violently.
His fingers brushed the faint red mark on my skin.
So softly.
Like he was trying not to break.
"Did he hurt you?"
His voice came low.
Deadly calm.
I shook my head immediately.
"I'm okay."
Lie.
Dhruv looked at me once.
Just once.
And instantly knew I was lying.
His eyes darkened further.
"I'm going to break his hand."
The sentence came so casually it genuinely scared me.
I blinked quickly.
"Dhruv-"
"The same hand."
His thumb pressed lightly over the red mark.
"The same hand that dared touch my wife."
God.
The way he said my wife.
Possessive.
Dangerous.
Mine.
Heat rushed through my chest despite the situation.
But before I could react emotionally,
Dhruv stepped closer.
Too close.
And suddenly I realized something horrifying.
He wasn't joking.
At all.
The man looked seconds away from actual violence.
"Dhruv calm down."
"No."
His answer came instantly.
Cold.
Certain.
"I've controlled myself enough."
I grabbed his arm quickly.
"We need proof first."
"I don't care anymore."
His voice cracked slightly now from rage.
That scared me more.
Because Dhruv almost never lost control emotionally.
But today?
Today Advik crossed the line.
Dhruv looked away sharply trying to calm himself.
Failed.
"I should've broken his face when he touched you."
My heart squeezed painfully.
Because beneath all the anger,
There was guilt.
Protective devastating guilt.
I stepped closer immediately.
"Dhr-"
"He pinned you against a wall."
His breathing turned heavier now.
"And I stood there."
"You had to."
"No."
His eyes met mine again.
Raw.
Furious.
Broken.
"No man touches my wife like that and walks away breathing."
God.
I held his face quickly before he spiraled further.
"We need evidence."
I whispered firmly.
"If you lose control now everything goes to waste."
Dhruv shut his eyes briefly.
And for one dangerous second,
I genuinely thought he might ignore me completely and go kill Advik anyway.
Then suddenly,
A voice echoed from outside.
"Riya?"
Advik.
My stomach twisted instantly.
Dhruv's eyes opened slowly.
Murderous.
I inhaled nervously.
"I need to go."
But the second I turned,
Dhruv caught my hand again.
Harder this time.
Not painful.
Desperate.
His gaze locked onto mine intensely.
"I'm still going to break his hand."
My breath caught slightly.
"Dhr-"
"I mean it."
His voice lowered dangerously.
"He has to suffer."
God.
The sheer rage in him right now.
I stepped closer quickly placing both hands against his chest.
"Listen to me."
Dhruv looked down at me breathing unevenly.
"We'll destroy him properly."
I whispered carefully.
"Not emotionally."
My eyes hardened slightly.
"Legally."
That finally made him pause.
Because Dhruv Malhotra understood destruction better than anyone.
Not temporary rage.
Complete annihilation.
I touched his jaw softly.
"Just trust me a little longer."
The tension in his body slowly loosened.
Barely.
Then suddenly,
The idiot leaned down slightly.
And muttered near my lips:
"You're very lucky you look pretty while giving orders."
My face heated instantly.
Even now.
EVEN NOW THIS MAN FLIRTED.
I shoved his chest weakly.
"Not the time."
Dhruv smirked faintly beneath the fake beard.
Then his expression darkened again hearing Advik call my name a second time.
I turned quickly leaving the hidden corridor before suspicion grew.
And immediately found Advik near the exit adjusting his watch casually.
Like he hadn't threatened me twenty minutes ago.
Psychopath.
The second he saw me,
His expression softened artificially.
"There you are."
I forced a smile.
"You ready?"
"Hm."
He stepped closer afterward.
Too close.
Then casually,
"Come to my penthouse tonight."
Every alarm bell inside me rang instantly.
I kept my expression neutral.
"I can't."
Advik's brows furrowed.
"I have work."
Lie.
But necessary.
Then suddenly,
He grabbed my wrist again.
Harshly.
Not enough to create a scene.
Enough to warn me.
My body stiffened instantly.
"You have to come."
His voice lowered.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
My eyes slowly dropped toward his hand gripping me.
And honestly?
It took every ounce of self-control not to break his nose right there.
I looked up slowly instead.
"You're hurting me."
Advik loosened his grip slightly.
But didn't let go.
His eyes studied my face carefully now.
Almost suspiciously.
"I miss you."
The words sounded wrong now.
Manipulative.
Possessive.
Not loving.
I forced myself softer.
"I'll try."
"No."
His grip tightened again.
"I want you there."
Before I could answer,
A staff member suddenly walked past nearby.
And right behind him,
I saw Dhruv.
Still disguised.
Still carrying garment bags.
But his eyes?
Pure violence.
Because from where he stood,
It absolutely looked like Advik was manhandling me again.
My heartbeat stumbled instantly.
Oh no.
OH NO.
Because the way Dhruv's hand tightened around the sherwani bag,
I knew.
I KNEW.
One more second,
And somebody was dying tonight.
.....
The entire drive to Advik's penthouse felt wrong.
Every instinct inside me screamed to turn around.
To go back.
To call Dhruv.
To tell him I was abandoning the plan.
But I couldn't.
Not now.
Not when we were finally getting close.
Not when Advik was becoming careless.
Not when the truth was almost within reach.
The penthouse doors opened.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city.
Golden lights glittered below like stars.
Everything looked expensive.
Perfect.
And somehow that made it feel even colder.
"Come in."
Advik smiled.
The same charming smile that once made me trust him.
The same smile that now made my skin crawl.
I forced a small smile back.
"I'm glad you came."
His gaze lingered on me for a second too long.
Possessive.
Satisfied.
Like he'd won something.
I hated it.
Dinner had already been arranged.
Candles.
Flowers.
Music.
The whole thing looked like something out of a romance movie.
Except I knew the villain was sitting across from me.
And he thought he was the hero.
For the next hour he played the perfect fiancé.
Asking about wedding colors.
Talking about Switzerland.
Talking about future houses.
Future children.
Future plans.
Every sentence made my stomach twist.
Because the entire time I knew he was lying.
And the worst part?
He didn't even know I knew.
That was what made him dangerous.
Eventually his phone rang.
He stood.
"I'll be back."
I nodded casually.
Advik disappeared toward another room.
The second he was gone,
My smile vanished.
Immediately.
I stood.
Fast.
Heart racing.
This was my chance.
I moved through the penthouse quietly.
Office.
Study.
Bar area.
Guest room.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Then,
A locked door.
My pulse jumped.
Of course.
A locked room.
I reached for the handle.
Locked.
Damn it.
Footsteps.
I immediately stepped away.
Advik appeared again.
"Everything okay?"
I smiled.
"Just looking around."
His eyes lingered on me for a second.
Like he was trying to read my thoughts.
Then,
He smiled again.
"I'll take a shower. Long day."
My heart skipped.
Opportunity.
Finally.
"Sure."
The second the bathroom door shut,
I grabbed my phone.
And called only one person.
The call connected before the first ring even finished.
Like he'd been staring at the phone waiting.
"Riya."
Just hearing his voice made me breathe easier.
For a second I closed my eyes.
God.
I missed him.
Even after seeing him this morning.
"Hi."
There was a pause.
Then immediately:
"Are you okay?"
No greeting.
No small talk.
Straight to that.
Are you okay?
My chest squeezed.
"I'm fine."
"That's not what I asked."
Typical Dhruv.
I smiled despite myself.
"I'm okay."
A long silence.
Then:
"Put me on speaker."
I blinked.
"What?"
"Put me on speaker."
"Why?"
His voice turned suspiciously calm.
Too calm.
Which was always dangerous.
"Because if that psychopath is standing behind you, I want him to hear exactly what I think about him."
I laughed softly.
For the first time all evening.
And immediately Dhruv's tone softened.
"There she is."
My heart melted.
"You're impossible."
"Mhm."
A pause.
Then quietly:
"Come back."
The words hit harder than they should have.
I swallowed.
"Dhruv-"
"Come back."
Softer this time.
Almost tired.
"I don't like you there."
The honesty in his voice nearly destroyed me.
Because beneath all his jealousy and possessiveness,
Was fear.
Real fear.
Fear that he'd lose me again.
I sat on the edge of the sofa.
Holding the phone tightly.
"I need proof."
"I know."
"I have to finish this."
"I know."
Another silence.
Then:
"Doesn't mean I have to like it."
I laughed quietly.
And somewhere across the city,
I could practically imagine him pacing.
Jaw clenched.
Probably planning fifteen different ways to eliminate Advik.
"Dhruv."
"Hm?"
"When this is over..."
His voice immediately softened.
"When this is over what?"
I smiled.
"When this is over, I'm taking a month off."
"A month?"
"Yes."
"Impossible."
I rolled my eyes.
"Listen first."
"I'm listening."
"We disappear."
Silence.
Then:
"Go on."
"No companies."
"No board meetings."
"No kidnappers."
"No billionaires."
"No royal drama."
I smiled softly.
"Just us."
The line went completely quiet.
Then finally,
Very quietly,
"Promise?"
My heart squeezed.
Because for all the power he had.
For all the influence.
For all the fear he inspired.
In that moment,
He sounded like a man who just wanted his wife back.
"Promise."
A knock sounded somewhere nearby.
I instantly sat up.
Advik.
Coming back.
My pulse jumped.
"I have to go."
Dhruv's voice immediately sharpened.
"Riya."
"Hm?"
"Be careful."
The concern in those two words alone could have made me cry.
Then he added:
"And if he touches you again-"
I already knew where this was going.
"Dhruv."
"I'm serious."
"Dhruv."
"His hand is still on my list."
I laughed despite the tension.
The bathroom door opened.
Footsteps approaching.
"I'll call you later."
And then the call ended.