17. The Lies We Live

Author's POV

She went to Aditi's apartment and told her everything about the contract, asking her not to tell anyone. She then packed all her belongings so that after coming back from school the next day, she would only need to take her things and move to the Malhotra mansion.

Next Day,

She reached the Malhotra mansion at precisely 5 o'clock. The towering gates creaked open, revealing a path lined with blooming jasmine that did little to soothe her pounding heart. As soon as she stepped inside, the butler welcomed her with a polite bow and a warm smile, quickly disappearing to prepare a cup of tea. The silence of the house felt suffocating, every creak of the floor echoing louder than the last.

After sipping the tea, which tasted bitter despite its sweetness, she made her way to the bedroom. Her eyes fell on the neatly arranged luggage at the corner, a stark reminder that this was real-there was no turning back now. She scanned the room, her gaze locking onto the bed. A chill ran down her spine, and she shivered, unable to imagine sharing that space with him ever again. The thought made her skin crawl. The memories, sharp and relentless, of his temper, his volatile moods, the biting words that had wounded her in places no one could see, came flooding back. She clenched her fists. How could she lie beside him, pretend that everything was fine, when everything about him now repulsed her?

She exhaled shakily and forced herself to focus as she walked to the cupboard to put her things away. Every move felt stiff and unnatural, like she was acting in a play without knowing her lines. Once her belongings were in place, she sat on the edge of the bed, her mind racing. She needed to figure out how to keep up with this act. If she moved to another room, the butler would notice, and questions would follow. She had to keep up the appearance of a happy marriage for at least six more months.

After what felt like forever, an idea came to her. Tonight, she would sleep on the couch. Tomorrow, she would think of a better plan since it was a holiday. With a deep sigh, she looked at the clock. The ticking hands seemed to mock her, pushing her forward into the next chapter of this painful pretense.To her great relief, Sahil did not come home that day, and she had the whole bed to herself to sleep.

Sahil seemed to be on a business trip, having not returned for several days since the divorce filing. For Ishika, his absence felt different this time. In the past, she would have felt a deep sadness, spending restless nights waiting for him, consumed by longing. She had once been blinded by love, clinging to the hope that one day he would realize the depth of her feelings. But that day never came.

Now, she had accepted that she could never move him, so she was out of this delusion. Besides, with the divorce approaching, those feelings held no value in her life anymore.

Two days Later,

Ishika received a call from her father-in-law informing her that Grandma wasn't feeling well. Hearing this, Ishika, after returning from school, quickly packed some clothes and went to the old mansion. Upon arriving, she saw that Grandma indeed had a low fever and looked much weaker than the last time she saw her. Ishika greeted her and asked about her health.

Grandma simply said, "Now that I'm old, it's quite normal to feel weak. You shouldn't worry about me, child."

Ishika shook her head and replied, "Grandma, you shouldn't take it so lightly. Now that I'm here, I'll take good care of you."

Grandma smiled, silently thanking God for blessing her with such a wonderful granddaughter-in-law.

After Grandma drifts off to sleep, Ishika quietly slips out of the room and makes her way toward her own quarters. She's only climbed three steps of the grand staircase when hushed voices catch her attention. She pauses, frozen, as the whispers drift up from the maids below.

"Did you hear? That famous actress, Shanaya Kapoor, has a two-year-old child with the young master," one maid murmurs, her voice tinged with scandal. "But the old lady flat-out refuses to accept the child as part of the family. She won't even allow his name to be spoken as a potential heir."

Another maid chimes in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial tone. "And whenever Shanaya dares to come here with Sahil, Grandma practically throws her out! She's made it clear-she doesn't want that woman stepping foot in this mansion."

The first maid sighs, glancing around before adding, "Poor Madam Ishika. She's so innocent... I wonder if she even knows the full story."

Ishika clutches the stair railing, a chill running through her.

After hearing the maids' whispers, Ishika felt a deep tremor inside her. She hurried to her room, locking the door behind her as if to shut out the painful truth she'd just uncovered. She sank onto the bed, her mind swirling with the words she'd overheard. It was impossible to believe-Sahil had a child with Shanaya? And the child was already two years old, meaning their affair began long before her marriage to him. He had betrayed her from the very beginning, and suddenly everything clicked. That's why he was never interested in starting a family with her. He already had one... with the love of his life.

The thought hollowed her out, piece by piece. She remembered the endless days she had poured herself into being his wife-cooking, managing every detail of the household, taking care of his family as if they were her own. She had been so devoted, especially to Grandma, thinking she'd found a family, a place where she truly belonged.

A tear slid down her cheek, and then another, until they came in a silent, steady stream. She had sacrificed so much of herself, believing in the marriage, in him. And all along, he had hidden this from her, choosing to love another, to build a family in the shadows.

With a broken smile, she realized how blind she'd been, how naive. She had loved him honestly, even when it was hard, and now she was left with nothing but this betrayal. Drained from the storm of emotions, she eventually lay back, her pillow damp with tears, and drifted into a restless sleep, clutching the last fragments of her shattered heart.

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End of the chapter.

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