Many of you have been asking about my update schedule. I usually update within 8-15 days (when I'm usual)

⚠️Mention of self harm.

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Rhea's pov
I could slither into the dark shadows, I've enough sources for that but I wouldn't. I know Aarav. I know my brother. If he could hunt down those who assaulted me years back then he would hunt me down too as I again fucked up with his wife.

My legs dangled on the edge of the bed as my torso laid flat on the mattress. I matched my gaze with the ceiling fan, watching it rotating at its highest potential.

Remorse. It is something I never let take hold of me. But aren't we all fooling someone or the other ? I've been fooling myself all this time.

I've pretended that emotions don't matter. I've pretended I can dominate them. For all these years I've been living under its mercy, trying to evade it. But all this time, I've been striving to get away from the fear of getting crushed by it.

So pathetic.

Upon that, what pricked me was the fear of losing my brother. The remorse that would be brought down on him because I fuck up every time had me keeping everything hidden in the quagmire.

And now it's all over. I've lost the only thing that was always more important than anything. Even more important than stringently chasing after the stereotypical concept of normalcy or prevailing over the person I was obsessed with.

My impulsive decisions had always brought an invitation for doom for me. And here I'm, entangled in my own mess.

How fucking much I drank that got me so desperate to hurt Aarav ?

Karma is actually a bitch and I'm about to get my ass bitten by it.

Anyway I'm not going down alone. I'm going to mark myself as the personal downfall of my parents. They can eat shit for all I care. They never understood me and I don't want to understand them. This day was sure to come and I've kept my arms prepared for it.

I can't get hold of the company's authority then neither will my parents. Even their part of share or Ritika's part of share won't let them hold over the authority in their clutches.

I'm not lovable that the shareholders will pass over their shares to me. But there's always a loophole. A secret, a nerve that everyone tries to safeguard. And I've been tracking after that for years so that I can strike on it at the moment of call.

A weird noise pulled me out of my thoughts. The fan has now begun to spin with a strange sound. My lips curled into a relentless grin and I stared hard at the fan above my head wiggling strangely. Tampering with the wires wasn't that hard, now was it ?

Striving to meld my mind into impassiveness, I tried to dart my focus on the warm and fresh crimson liquid dripping through my wrist. While I kept my eyes zeroed at the fan, my body still.

The noise turned more odd and so did the fan's movement. Nevertheless a gasp of surprise flew past my lips when my body, out of blue, was pulled up. I was still in daze as my body collided with something robust while the fan crashed down on the bed, shrouding the room in petrifying tranquillity.

With a hazy mind, my gaze lifted up only to collide with a very familiar pair of glaring stygian orbs.

"I'm not allowing you to afflict me with any more guilt." Never did his voice sounded so distant and fuck I never thought it would be so agonizing. His eyes bore into mine as he held my forearm whereas the low painful mewl never reached my lips when he harshly put on a bandaid on my bleeding wrist.

"Take her away." He looked away, as if looking at me for another moment pained him. And next the cops trailed inside the room.
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It has been two days since I refused to meet anyone. I've been waiting for the right moment and now I guess it is the right time.

My father banged his fist on the wooden table, his demeanour oozing with rage. "What the hell did you do ?"

He was pulled back by the two guards present in the interrogation room. "Within two days, more than fifty five percent of our shares were sold to our biggest competitor. How ungrateful can you be ?"

Upon his words, finally my head shot up, my eyes colliding with the rage thronged eyes of my parents. I didn't bother to dwell for an answer whereas my lips tugged into a feral smirk. And instinctively, it infuriated them further.

"You shameless brat." I heard my mother's loud screech. "First you get into a sinful relationship. And then you go on tarnishing our reputation by stabbing your own sister-in-law and bringing us to a position where we will have to bow in front of our rivals in our own company."

They can swell their lungs by screeching day and night, that's none of my business. There would be a minimum six year prison sentence for me and by then everything would have gone haywire for me. I would be left with nothing by the time I come out and I'll have no one to turn to. Not even my brother.

From now onwards, I don't care what is going to happen with me next. The darkness I've always sought shelter in, had finally prevailed over me, ready to lesion me until and unless I'm breathing.

My life is officially ruined.

The commotion surging in the background snatched me out of the reverie. It grew louder and the door was opened with a thud as a very much distressed Saumya barged in. Why is she here ?

"Rhea" she paused, her eyes instantly found mine. I clenched my jaw as she brought herself closer to me. She fucking needs to leave. I don't want my parents to speak shit about her.

"Why would you do that ?" The quiver in her voice was palpable and it surged my body taut. "I don't want your money. The money isn't you."

Can't she keep her mouth shut and stop jumping in between every time ? I glared at her, warning her to bottle up.

As a void blackhole, my future is hollow in the same way. But there should always be a back-up plan.

There's no certainty in life. Darkness can't be fathomed neither its impact when you take solace in it. There's suffering engraved in everyone's fate. Even if they are seekers of comfort from blazing ruinous darkness or even no matter how virtuous their souls are.

Just because Saumya's fiance is chosen by her parents doesn't mean he is an epitome of perfection. Parents can't always be right and I've seen and experienced it myself.

Overall she needs a backup plan if she ever decides to get away. Aarav doesn't need anything from me. And I have no one else. So I transferred a part of my personal assets under Saumya's name. She means more to me than I can ever truly give her enough credit for.

"Is she the girl ?" I heard my mother asking my father.

She fucking needs to leave.

Sensing my parents' unwavering gaze upon her, Saumya diverted her attention to them from me. "It isn't her entire fault." My parents' brows furrowed and my reaction was no different. "You both are equally responsible for enforcing the stupid concept of normalcy in her head. She isn't alone to be blamed for her destruction, you two are accountable for it too."

Her voice never raised but the accusations in it were loud and firm. I saw how visibly my parents gritted their teeth, their eyes pinning Saumya with a glare.

For Satan's sake! These people need to stop making this interrogation room as their own drama room.

No one ever took a stand for me and neither did I expect anyone to do that. Not unless Aarav and then Saumya. And Saumya needs to stop chasing after me. Every path I step on is stipulated to lead to destruction.

I abruptly stood up, and my father who was about to bust out, halted midway. Fed up from the drama unfolding, the guards instantly came to take me back to the cell.

As I passed by my parents, my steps paused for a moment and my eyes met theirs. "Just because I'm behind the bars doesn't mean I couldn't find it to ruin your life further if you tried to touch her." On its own, my voice dropped a few octaves lower. "You will surely be wished hell if you decide to go after her."

"Stop spoiling your life chasing the unfeasible." These were my last words to Saumya and then I retreated away.
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Aarav's pov
Do I look like an intruder ? I don't give a damn for now.

My father-in-law's threat was straight and clear and anyway I never go for straight and easy. Twisting things for my convenience is what I opt for.

The daytime is his to thrive on the satisfaction of keeping me away from my wife. However the nights are mine. The dark lays out the path for me to slither my way to my wife.

So what if my father-in-law is stubborn to keep me away from my wife, I found my way to her by bribing the entire hospital authority.

Maybe not the money but seeing my desperation coaxed them. I don't care as long as I get to have at least a few hours in my hand to spend with my Honey-eye.

Ignoring the stolen glances thrown at me by the hospital staff, I kept my movements precise while opening the door of her room. Upon entering the dimly lit room, my eyes instantly raked around. The sight of Ishan sleeping on the couch was enough to put kerosene on my blazing mood. It should have been me, not him.

Stifling the red clouding my head, I made my way to my Honey-eye. The dim yellow lamp lighting beside her, the same way she likes, made my lips curl. I silently got seated on the stool before taking her hand into mine. "Hello, Honey-eye."

The clock ticked away as I remained seated at the same spot, aimlessly playing with her fingers, gaze fixed on her captivating visage. Even in the pale hospital gown and dishevelled hair, my Honey-eye looks no less enchanting. She just has to exist and I'm a goner.

"These wires must hurt." Fuck! I wish I could take this pain away from you, sweetheart. All the pain, all the torment, all the thorns should be mine, not yours.

Her fingers moved, making me stiff. I leaned in closer as I heard her mumbling gibberish to herself in sleep. She doesn't actually do that usually, but the medications keep her drowsy most of the time. Though she keeps waking up in between however her mind remains lethargic.

Caressing her hair softly, I ventured near her ear. "Shh! Sweetheart." My breath fanned across her skin. "Don't make any noise, we don't want him to hear us."

Dropping a chaste peck on her cheeks, I sat back on my previous spot. "Don't get upset, sweetheart. I didn't mean to finish your whole bottle of moisturiser."

Fondling her knuckles from my thumb, I continued to talk with her. "I remember you complaining that this brand isn't available much anymore. I promise to bring you dozens when you come back home."

When was the last time I talked so much, let alone talking so absurd ?

If dad wouldn't have asked me to hold back then I would come to you when you're wide awake. "Soon, darling. Very soon."

Bringing my phone out, I checked on the time only to realise that the sun will be up in an hour or so. An annoyed sigh exerted past my lips. I don't want to leave but I have to.

I stood up, ready to leave, unwillingly. Dipping my head down, my lips brush on her forehead, seeking delight of the proximity for a little longer.

"A roller coaster ride of six months. Happy half year anniversary, Honey-eye." Mumbling against her skin, I, simultaneously, pulled out a rose from my pocket and put it in her hair. "From here till eternity."

Chapter Word- 2066

Well, what's your opinion about the overall chapter.

I don't know what do you think of it, but according to me Rhea is losing her years, her brother, even the position she wanted, her luxury, even Ishan.
And from my research and a lil understanding, I just mentioned the minimum.

Signing off
~T.R