What the hell is wrong with me? Why did I answer his ridiculous questions? I need to stay strong. God, please help me. I don't even know what to say next.

"Mhm," I nodded signifying the awkwardness that has been created in the air. "I don't know if you remember but you are about to marry my cousin and yet you're checking out your soon to be ex-wife," I added on flatly.

Karan opened his mouth to say something but then the elevators commenced again. He got up whereas I stayed rooted to the ground.

The elevators doors opened. "Let's go," Karan finally spoke. I got up and went towards the hotel's employee parking lot with him. I took out my phone as I slipped into the passenger's seat of his BMW. I didn't even realize when my phone was bombarded with messages from Kat and Dave. I opened up the group chat and quickly texted them, explaining to them what's going on and that everything will be fine.

Karan started driving while I simply scrolled upwards to see the earlier messages and saw that Dave had sent pics of Avi and Adi finger painting. Then in the next couple of pictures, it was of them eating macaroni. I smiled looking at their pictures. I really wanted to have them in my arms. I shouldn't have agreed to come to New York.

"Who are they?" Karan questioned sending chills down to my spine.

My eyes widened upon hearing his question. "Who?" I asked, feigning innocence locking my phone.

"The kids." Karan articulated. "They're twins, right?" Karan inquired.

"Um, yeah. Twins. They're my friend's children." I lied, looking straight ahead.

"Oh. The boy looks so much like me when I was his age. They're two, right?" He recalled as his gaze was fixed on the road.

"Yeah, they're two years old" I answered apathetically.

He didn't say anything afterwards and the rest of the car ride was silent. I can't believe that I am finally getting a divorce. Part of me was glad that I'm no longer his, but then a part of me still wanted to remain his wife.

I kept stealing glances of him until we reached court. He parked the car and we headed inside of the court's main entrance. After we were finally done with the security check, we went inside the courtroom and waited for the judge to arrive. Honestly, I just want to go back to Canada.

The deposition clerk came inside and informed the rules of the court.

"Karan Jaitley vs. Shraddha Rao. Karan Jaitley?" The deposition clerk asked in a raucous tone.

"Ready by the court," Karan declared with a devilish smile pasted onto his face. At times, I feel like I ruined my life by falling in love with this devil. He didn't deserve any of my love.

"Shraddha Rao?" The deposition clerk asked.

"Ready by the court," I announced, trying to hold back my tears.

We are not together anymore and although I thought that we had officially divorced, it still hurts to know that our relationship, our marriage, was meaningless to Karan.

"Ms. Rao and Mr. Jaitley, the judge is going to be here in ten minutes," the deposition informed us.

I pressed on the lock screen of my phone to check the time and it's half past six.

"Who was that?" Karan inquired bitterly.

"Who?" I questioned furrowing my eyebrows at him. Who is he talking about?

He snatched my phone from me and pressed on the home button which showcased a picture of Dave and I on my lock screen.

Holy shit. Good job Shraddha, my inner-voice mocked.

"That's none of your concern," I responded grabbing my phone from him.

"It actually is," Karan seethed, gripping my upper arm and applied pressure on it.

"Let go of me!" I commanded as I winced in pain. "Just because I didn't send you behind bars the last time you raised your hands on me, doesn't mean I won't do it now!" I added, trying to squirm out of his grasp.

He finally let go of me. I rubbed my arm trying to alleviate the pain he had caused me.

"I'm sorry," Karan said.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head at him.

"He's my husband," I whispered putting my phone in my back pocket.

I looked up at him since he didn't respond and he was staring at me with mixed emotions.

"Husband?" He finally spoke.

I nodded as I let out a sigh.

"All rise!" The deposition clerk announced saving me from this man's questions.

We followed the order as the Judge made her way into the courtroom.

We sat down when we received the signal and waited for our proceeding to take place.

"Good evening Mr. Jaitley and Ms. Rao, I am Judge Nimrah Waqas and I will be handling your case. I will start the case by asking both of you basic details such as where you live and how long have you been separated for."

We obliged and answered her questions. My heart has been beating fast since I answered my part of the questions. I did not want to undergo through this.

"Although, this is an uncontested divorce, I'd still like to ask you both a few questions. So Mr. Jaitley, why do you want to divorce this beautiful girl?" Judge Waqas asked.

"Ma'am, I wanted to divorce her long ago but when she signed the divorce papers, she had left the country and I had no idea where she went. She traveled to Canada and got married there." Karan responded flatly showing no interest in this case although I don't understand why he had to include the married part.

"I had no proof whatsoever that she, herself, had signed the papers and this is why I remained in this incoherent marriage," he added on. I raised my eyebrows at him when he said that. He is so dramatic about this.

"Mhm. Okay. Ms. Rao, you're married?" the Judge questioned ignoring everything else Karan had said. I looked at Karan and he had a puzzled look plastered on to his face. I really wanted to laugh due to his facial expressions.

I let out a sigh. Guess, I kinda have to tell the truth. "Well not exactly, I live with my boyfriend," I revealed.

"Boyfriend?" Karan questioned shooting me an angry look.

"Yeah, but to the world..." I sighed. "We're married."

"Explain." Judge Waqas stated raising her eyebrows with a big smile. It seems that she's getting really entertained with this case.

Great, how do I even start this? "So um.. Basically.. Uh.. I did not wish to get married again and my boyfriend was fine with not marrying me. But his parents at least wanted the world to know that we're married since we lived together and hence, we simply had a reception party just to show that we are officially married." I explained, looking straight ahead at Judge Waqas. She seems to have a sympathetic expression.

"People actually bought that?" she questioned.

I nodded my head yes. "My boyfriend's parents told their friends and family that since my boyfriend is Catholic and I'm Hindu, it was best that we just simply have a court marriage due it being an interfaith marriage... although we never wed."

"Do you have any kids?" she asked innocently. My eyes widened at that question. What should I say? I can't lie in court. Sweat beads began to formulate on my forehead. Oh my God.

"Ms. Rao, I asked you something."

"Er... Nope, not with him," I articulated, rubbing my forehead

"Are you okay, Shraddha?" Karan asked. "You kind of look sick," He added with concern in his tone.

"I'm fine. Just tired. I didn't get a moment to rest when I came from the airport" I answered, silently taking long breaths.

"How about you, Mr. Jaitley?"

"I have a daughter with my fiance," He responded, stressing on the word fiance.

"Okay then. So after reviewing this case and obtaining the necessary information, I have come to a decision. Starting today, you two will have to live with each other for a month." Judge Waqas declared, causing Karan and I to be in shock. I felt like as if the ground underneath had slipped away. I looked at Karan and glared at me with anger.

"Ma'am, I am getting married next month," Karan raged, with his face fully red in anger.

"Oh, you're getting married next month?" Judge Waqas asked. Who honestly made her a judge? "Well, it's a good thing I gave you both only a month to live with each other rather than two, right?" She put out.

"That doesn't make any sense!" Karan seethed, running both of his hands through his hair, ruining his perfectly gelled hair.

"Mr. Jaitley, talk to me in that tone one more time and I'll be sure that you regret it," She fought back.

"But this is an uncontested divorce," I spoke with angst in my voice. "We both want this divorce and besides, I don't live in New York anymore."

"Well, get accustomed to living here, Ms. Rao. Because for one month, I will be keeping tabs on both of you. My decision is final!" She shot back with annoyance. "Anyways, Mr. Jaitley, you are dismissed. You can leave the courtroom. Ms, Rao, I'd like to talk to you in private."

Karan banged his hand on the chair really hard as he proceeded to leave. "I'll wait for you outside," He said with no emotion in his voice. I gulped in fear. God knows what's in store for me.

He barged out of the courtroom and it was just me, the deposition clerk, and the woman who had just decided my fate for one freaking month. I looked at her angrily. I cannot believe that she did this to me.

"Are you mad?" She questioned.

"No, why would I be mad?," I said with a hint of sarcasm. 

"Nimrah! How could you do this to me?!" I questioned, feeling my eyes watering up.

"I'm sorry, Shraddha. But I did this for you. Wait, first meet Barry." Nimrah stated as pointed to the deposition clerk. "Barry, this is my childhood best friend, Shraddha." She stated, introducing us.

"Nice to meet you, Shraddha. I agree with Judge Waqas. Something seems fishy with pretty boy," He stated.

"Nice to meet you too. But whatever the case is with Karan, it's evident that he wants a divorce. He's also getting married next month!"

"Okay, Shraddha. Listen to me carefully, he could have easily gotten a divorce from you without you being present in the country. I told you this last week when I had received your case. Something is going on and I gave you a month so that you can figure this out."

"Okay, well why'd you ask about the marriage and the kids since you already know the truth?" I demanded.

"First of all, you kinda lied in court. You hid the truth about your kids which is equivalent to lying but I'm not going to penalize you for that since I did know the truth from beforehand. And second of all, you're my best friend so obviously, I had cut you some slack. And I really think you should tell him. He has the right to know Shraddha," Nimrah stated while walking towards me.

She sat down next to me. "He's going to take them away from me. Nimrah, try to understand. And how the hell am I supposed to stay away from my kids for a month?"

"I promise you that he will not take them away from you, okay? And I really think you should bring them here. I feel everything can be sorted out between you and Karan once he knows that you're the mother of his children" Nimrah stated.

"No way in hell I'm letting them step foot into New York," I muttered, shaking my head.

"Okay then, that's up to you. I was really hoping that I would meet them again. Anyways, hug me, it's been so long since I've seen you!"

I nodded my head yes as I wiped some tears that dripped from my eyes and hugged her really tight. "Shraddha, it'll be okay."

We broke from the hug. "Now go, he's waiting for you otherwise, he's going to get really suspicious."

"Okay," I said getting up from my chair. "We'll make plans soon," I stated and proceeded towards the exit.

"Of course we are!" Nimrah said smiling at me. "Now, leave!" 

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Hello, my lovelies! 

How's everyone doing?! I'm so sorry for the very late update.  I became extremely busy!

I hope you all enjoy this chapter. 

Please vote and comment! I love you all!!