CHAPTER 28: EQUAL MORONS

Adolph

Pranav sprawls in the chair across from me, his face buried in his hands like a man questioning every life decision he’s ever made. I sip my whiskey, watching him suffer. It’s quite entertaining.

"I can’t believe this," he mutters, voice muffled. "I’m a stalker. You’re a kidnapper. We’re horrible people, Adolph."

"You’re just realizing that?" I raise an eyebrow. "I accepted my sins years ago, Pranav. Catch up."

He lifts his head just to glare at me. "No, see, I like to pretend I’m better than you."

I chuckle, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. "And how’s that working out for you?"

"Terribly."He groans and drags a hand down his face. "I mean, I put a camera in a dressing table, Adolph. Who even does that?"

"Apparently, you."

"Shit."

"Yeah."

He sighs. "Meanwhile, you literally chained a woman up in your basement and are now forcing her to marry you."

"She’ll thank me one day."

"You genuinely believe that, don’t you?"

"Of course." I sip my drink. "Unlike you, I don’t need cameras—I prefer to keep my woman right where I can see her."

"That’s—" He points at me, opening his mouth. Then he pauses. "Actually, that might be worse."

"Might be?" I smirk. "Pranav, it is worse."

"God, we’re so messed up."

"Completely."

He groans, tilting his head back. "We’re both red flags, aren’t we?"

"Oh, no doubt."

"And idiots?"

"Absolute morons."

Pranav sighs dramatically, lifting his glass. "To being unhinged bastards with zero morals."

I chuckle, clinking my glass against his. "Cheers, stalker."

"Cheers, kidnapper."

We both take a long sip, sinking into the inevitable truth:

We’re beyond saving.

And honestly?

We’re fine with that.