Chapter 96: chapter 96

MADHAVI run a hand through my hair and sigh, looking at the list. I still have to invite a lot of guests, and this is already exhausting. My stomach is full of tea, coffee, and snacks. Planning a jewellery expo is no joke. With Sruthi's social media posts, the jewellery expo is gaining more popularity.My account is buzzing with a lot of action. I’m getting follow requests from random strangers and DMs about my love life. I could do with the unwanted attention.My thoughts drift back to the time we spent at the Boiren Mountains. It feels like a different era, but in reality, it's only been a week since we returned from there.I keep replaying Sruthi's words. Something doesn’t feel right. Her social media posts and the way she’s sulking at home don’t align with what she said that day. I remember how she flinched every time I was near her. Even if my fingers accidentally brushed against hers, she would wince like it was some kind of poison.Yet, she willingly asked me to hold her in my arms. She snuggled closer to me and even initiated hand-holding at times. There are only two possibilities I can think of. Either she is a very good actor—which I know isn’t true, as she sucks at controlling her emotions—or, the second, which is the most unlikely and gives me hope: she’s getting comfortable around me and trusts me enough to know that I wouldn’t touch her against her will.I let out a frustrated breath and rub my temple. I feel overwhelmed with the work. I wish I could go home and complain about these stuff to Sruthi like most men do to their wives. But I doubt she would be interested. I can't come up with a reason or proper explanation for her words and actions. Until I heard her say those words, I believed she had feelings for me. But after hearing them, I don’t know what is true and what is false.There is only one way to know. I need to confront her. I should ask her outright about this, but I suck at directness. Ah! There I go again thinking about her when I must be focused on my work. Focus, Madh..A knock on my office door disturbs my train of thought. I ask the person to enter and glance at the clock.“What are you still doing here? It's already ten,” I ask the manager of the ground floor. He oversees the welcoming of customers and directs them to different floors.He rubs his neck and looks nervous. “Well, sir, I wanted to inform you that when Madam was here, the actress Anandhi tried to stir up trouble. I know you told me to keep an eye on the actress, but you know how she is.”I hold up my hand to stop him. “Wait a minute. Who is the 'madam' we are talking about here?”“Huh?” he looks confused before giving an unexpected answer. “Your wife, Miss—no, Mrs. Sruthi, sir.”My jaw hangs open in shock as my brain processes his words. “Come again, did you say, Sruthi, my wife?”“Uh, yes, sir. She was here to drop a black file in your office. Wait...weren’t you the one who asked her to put the file in your office?” the manager asks, looking shocked and afraid.“Um... yes, I did tell her that. I’m sorry, I forgot about it,” I lie, not wanting to make it obvious that things are strained between Sruthi and me in front of my subordinate. The last thing I need now is rumours spreading about our rocky relationship. It would undo all the effort Sruthi put into her posts. “What is this about Anandhi?”“Well, the actress was here, as usual, looking at the new jewels and trying to catch a glimpse of you. She was in the cafeteria, eyeing your office. We told her you weren’t in today, but she insisted that her thoughts alone would get you here.“When Sruthi madam entered your office, the actress was on the phone and didn’t notice. She assumed it was you and barged into the room. I don’t know what happened between them, but after five minutes, the actress stormed out, fuming.”I try to keep my voice steady. “And Sruthi? Did she say anything?”“I  tried asking Sruthi madam about it, but she just dismissed it and asked me not to make a big deal out of a silly issue. But I thought you should know this, sir.”I give him a nod. “Thank you for informing me. Now, get going. If my wife says it’s a silly matter, then it must be a silly matter.”“Of course, Sir.” He leaves, and I stare at the door. My fingers rake through my hair again as I try to think through it all. What was Sruthi doing here? And what happened between her and Anandhi?Thinking won’t help. I need to ask her. This conversation has been long overdue.I might as well bring up the divorce.❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥❤‍🔥I park my convertible and get out. I slam the door shut and walk to the house. Two dominant emotions course through me: anger and anxiety. I’m angry at Sruthi for leaving the house without a bodyguard and sneaking into my room. I’m more frustrated because I can’t think of one reason why she’d sneak in. Besides, I have no idea what went down between her and Anandhi. Knowing them both, I’m sure Anandhi would have tried to humiliate or manipulate Sruthi to her advantage. I just hope my wife didn’t fall for it. The second emotion is anxiety. Anxiety about the conversation we’re about to have. I don’t know how it will end, but things are going to change tonight. That much is clear.I open the door to the house, expecting an empty hall, but I’m shocked to see Sruthi waiting for me. One look at her, and everything else around me fades away.The first thing I notice is the dress she’s wearing. It’s the same navy blue cocktail dress she wore when we first met. The only difference is that the dress, which hit her calves then, now reaches her knees, and it hugs her curves in all the right places. Her hair is down in loose waves, just like it did then.I stand in the doorway blinking like an idiot for a few seconds. She doesn’t speak either. She’s watching the way I’m ogling her. There’s an appreciative smile on her face as she walks toward me.I take a deep breath and calm my racing heart and raging desires. Focus! I can’t be distracted by how hot she looks. I need to ask her a few things. Remember, she hates you and only wants to use you.But those words of warning sound like a lie in my head, with the way she’s looking at me. Her eyes are filled with warmth. It’s genuine. No matter how hard someone tries, they can’t fake the intensity in her eyes. Yep, that’s how intense her eyes are as she holds my gaze.I open my mouth, but the words fail me as the distance between us becomes dangerously small. She’s just a step away from me, and her scent is driving me nuts. I shove my hands into my pockets to stop myself from doing something impulsive like pulling her into my arms. I still need to maintain the image of a man in love with another woman. I can’t let Sruthi see how much she affects me.For some reason, Sruthi looks amused. She passes me to close the door. My eyes involuntarily follow her movements. The dress fits her even better now than it did before. She looks smoking hot. Why is she dressed up like this all of a sudden?Holy Freak!That should have been the first question. Why is she dressed like this?“Sruthi, why are you dressed like this?” I ask when she turns to me after locking the door. I suddenly feel nervous as she takes a step toward me. Instinctively, I take a step back. Her gaze is predatory and challenging as she takes another step forward. I take another step back.“Because I wanted to know if I still look like a sin in this dress. Tell me, Madhav, do I still look like the greatest sin in this dress?”My brain is too slow to process what’s happening, but my mouth has a mind of its own as it answers, “Yes, you do.”“Why don’t you confess to the woman you love about your feelings?” she asks, taking another step forward. That question sobers me up, and I take a couple more steps back, looking everywhere but at her.“She won’t like it because she hates me.”“She doesn’t hate you, Madhav,” Sruthi says. Her voice carries a conviction that sends a shiver down my spine. She steps closer, and I meet her eyes, seeing something there I’ve never allowed myself to hope for. Love.“How do you know that?” I ask in a shaky voice.“Because I don’t hate you, Madhav,” she answers with a smile.“You’re not her,” I reply automatically, my mind still processing things slowly. My eyes widen in shock as I recall her words.‘Tell me, Madhav, do I still look like the greatest sin in this dress?’There is no way she knows the truth. Vikram would never rattle about my love to her. Then, how did she find out?Sruthi points at something on the coffee table. My gaze follows her hand and I have the answer to my question. I gasp as the puzzle pieces suddenly fall into place. The letter! How could I have forgotten? I wrote it after meeting Sruthi at a party. I had completely forgotten about the letter. Vikram knows about it because he once accidentally saw the contents of the drawer when he took the pistol from it. “Is that why you sneaked into my office?”She nods and continues, “I don’t know what made you think I hate you, but the truth is, I don’t. Not one bit. On the contrary,” she takes a step forward. Her eyes hold mine with a steady gaze. There is no doubt or hesitation in them as she utters the next words, “I love you.”The world comes to a screeching halt. My heart pounds in my chest, and my knees feel weak. I lean against the wall for support, trying to process what she just said. Did she just… say she loves me?My heart wants to melt, but my brain is still stuck in disbelief. There’s no way. No way this is happening. There has to be a catch. What if this is just another trick?“You still don’t believe me?” Sruthi asks, placing her hands on either side of my shoulders, caging me between her and the wall. She’s too close, and with the unstable emotions swirling inside me, I don’t think I can stay sane for long.I don’t answer her question because I’m sure my face says it all. I can’t bring myself to mask my emotions.“All right, then, don’t hate me for what I’m about to do,” she says, leaning closer.“What are you going to do?” I ask, feeling a mix of anticipation and excitement. We haven’t sorted things out, but she loves me. My brain can’t come up with a logical reason for her words and actions, but to hell with logic. My emotions take over, and I’m more curious about what she’s going to do.“Kiss you,” she warns, and the next thing I know, her lips are on mine. I freeze in shock.HOLY GOD!❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥