Atharv glanced downstairs before turning to Inaya. "Do you want to keep watching?""No," she said firmly. "I want you to help me move."Atharv nodded, paid the bill swiftly, and led her out through the side door. Soon, they arrived at Inayaâs house. Just as he was about to step inside, she stopped him. "Wait here for five minutes."He obliged, leaning casually against the doorframe. When she finally let him in, all traces of Neil Gulati had disappeared. Not that there had been much to removeâNeil had never truly been a part of her home."Give me a moment. I need to pack a few things," she said before heading to her bedroom.Atharv took a look around. His gaze landed on a large framed photo in the living roomâInaya, standing on stage, receiving her trophy for being the number one model. If she hadnât stepped away from the industry, she would have already gone international by now.Five minutes later, she returned, clutching a teddy bear. "This is everything.""Thatâs all you want?" he asked, raising an eyebrow."Yes. I want to leave the memories behind," she said with certainty.Without warning, Atharv pulled her into his arms, capturing her lips with his own. At first, Inaya was taken aback, but soon, she melted into the kiss. It wasnât until his hands wandered under her skirt that they both suddenly stopped."Letâs save the rest for when we get home," he murmured against her lips. "But tell me, has my kiss made your memories better?"Inaya wrapped her arms around him, feeling the steady rhythm of his breath. From now on, she wouldnât allow anyone to hurt her again. What belonged to her, she would hold onto tightly.---Back under the cherry blossom tree, Neil had been waiting for four hours. He wanted to wait longer, but his phone rang. "Neil, where are you? Iâm at your place and I canât find you! My stomach hurts⦠Neil, why havenât the photos been removed yet? Iâm afraid this will ruin me!" Laylaâs panicked voice came through the receiver.Instantly, Neil snapped to attention and rushed home. When he arrived, he found Layla standing pitifully on one foot outside his door. His heart clenched with guilt as he hurried to her side."I wonât let you be ruined. I wonât let Nova Entertainment be destroyed," he reassured her."Neil, I only have you. Please donât leave me⦠and the baby," she whispered, tears glistening in her eyes.Holding her close, he stroked her back gently. That night, desperate to salvage his reputation, Neil ordered his PR team to release a statement claiming the scandal was a misunderstanding. The photos, he explained, were misleadingâLayla had simply lost her balance due to an injured leg and had fallen into his arms, causing them to land on the bed together.It wasnât how it looked.But more than anything, Neil was still willing to use Inaya as a scapegoat. He hinted that someone had orchestrated the entire situation, warning the public not to fall for deception.Even now, he was willing to throw her under the bus to protect himself.
Chapter 23: chapter 23
🤎🍂Marriage Gamble🧡🤎•Words: 3026