What am I doing? How can I let him take control of me again?

"Please, let me go," I said, annoyed of his silly antics.

"No," he grunted. I somehow wiggled myself out of his grip and got off the bed.

"What is wrong with you?" I said as I stepped inside the bathroom and quickly did my morning routine.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, my eyes darted towards the clock and it was almost 7:30. I wonder how Kat is doing? I feel really bad. She's all alone in that hotel.

As I was about to step out of the room, I took one quick glance at Karan. It looks like he went back to sleep again. Seriously though, what is his deal? One moment, he can't stand me and the other he's... honestly... I don't even know anymore. I stepped out of the room and headed towards the kitchen. 

Oh God, I'm starving. I scanned the kitchen trying to figure out what to make. I guess I'll make pancakes and hashbrowns.

I quickly found the pancake mix and prepared the batter. As I was flipping the pancakes, I began grating the potatoes.  Quickly getting those into the frying pan, I began to toast the bread and got the butter out. I took a glance at the time on the oven and it was 8:30. I set the food on the dining table. I hope I made plenty of food for everyone.

I went back to the kitchen to grab the pitcher of orange juice I had prepared only to find Karan there. He took out his AirPods from his ears and put them back in its case, tossing it on the counter along with his phone.

He was still shirtless, his abs were glistening with sweat. He ran his fingers through his sweaty hair as he opened the refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of water. Seems like someone went out for a jog. It's quite evident that he hadn't noticed me yet. 

His eyes traveled to the dirty dishes that were lying in the sink, and then his eyes did a sweep of the surrounding area. And then we made eye contact.

He opened his mouth to say something, to which I'll never know because his phone went off.

He glanced down on the caller I.D., rolling his eyes before answering it on speakerphone.

"Good morning," He answered.

I immediately grabbed the orange juice and went back to the dining area with Karan following behind me.

"Yo Bhai, there's some chick who's been pestering me in giving her your address," the individual on the other end responded. His voice sounds familiar though.

"Let me remind you that you are the manager of my hotel and I don't care if you're my cousin, I can still fire you for not being able to handle these petty issues," He shouted. 

"Bhai, listen. She claims that you kidnapped her friend," his cousin answered. Wait, is his cousin the one who was hitting on me yesterday? I've never met him before when I was married to Karan.  "She said that she'll file a lawsuit against the hotel if you don't return her friend to her."

I chuckled at that as I placed the pitcher on the table. Kat is trying to recuse me from hell.

He immediately looked at me. "Tell her that the court gave me permission to keep her friend hostage for a month," Karan said, still maintaining eye contact with me. I rolled my eyes at him as I placed the hashbrowns and pancakes on my plate.

"But Bhai, I'm being for real." his cousin responded sounding desperate. Karan took my plate and mouthed thank you as he began splattering the pancakes with maple syrup. I gave him an annoyed smile.

Shaking my head at him, I grabbed another plate and placed my food on it. I started to eat my food quickly since I had to head back to the hotel to make sure that Kat is okay.

"Call my personal driver and have him make sure that she's at my place within two hours," he responded as he munched on my pancakes. I almost choked on my food when he said that. I grabbed my glass of juice and began to chug it down.

Karan gave me a concerned look. "Alright Bhai, I'll let you know when she's on her way."

I don't know how to feel about Kat coming over. Knowing her, she'd probably punch Karan the second she sees him. "Got it," Karan said as he hung up the call.

"These are good by the way," he said. I kept my gaze towards my food. "You finally learned how to cook".

I looked up at him and gave him a death stare. " For your kind information, I always knew how to cook. I fed your ass for like what 2 years?"

"You see, I never liked your cooking. I just didn't want to hurt your feelings back then," He smirked as he took another bite.

"How thoughtful. Are you really trying to get on my nerves this early in the morning?" I said annoyed as I finished my food.

"Maybe," He chuckled. "I just like annoying you."

"Oh yeah? Why don't you go annoy your soon to be wife?!"

"I would but she's not here. So I thought I'll just annoy my soon to be ex-wife."

Hearing those words, I immediately grabbed my dishes and dumped them in the kitchen sink.

I quickly climbed up the stairs and went to my room. As I walked in, I heard my phone ring. I immediately picked up the phone from the nightstand. "Oh lord," I muttered as I ran my finger across the screen and pressed it against my ear. "Hey Kat," I responded.

"Bitch! How dare you not call me last night?! I've been worried sick about you!" Kat shouted on the other end.

"I'm so sorry, Kat. It's just been a lot to process. I'm still Karan's wife. He is going to marry my cousin soon. We have been ordered to stay with each other for a month by my best friend. And he kissed me yesterday and I think last night, he slept in my bed as well. So yeah, this is what happened with me being in New York for one freaking day." I huffed as I paced around my room like a maniac.

"No. I'm sorry for everything. If I didn't drag you here, this wouldn't have happened." Kat responded apologetically. "Do you have to stay for a month?" she asked.

"Kat, no. It's no one's fault. And yes, I actually do since I am actually from here. I have to abide by the court's orders." I sighed. "Anyway's when are you getting here?"

"I think in an hour. I'm in the car right now. Guess I'm finally meeting that douchebag. Can't wait!" she said with a hint of sarcasm. "I can't believe that Karan lives in the Hamptons. It's really far from Manhattan. He could have lived in a penthouse or something? You know just to stay in the city."

"Yeah, but he has always wanted to live with his family," I said as I picked out my clothes to wear for today. "Anyways, I'll talk to you in a bit. I'm going to take a shower right now."

"Alright, babe. See you soon!" Kat said as she cut the call.

I took my shower at lightning speed and enveloped my body, in a white, fluffy towel, while slipping back inside the room.

As I grabbed my bra, the doors to my room opened. "Oh shit!" Karan said closing the doors behind him.

I twirled my heel towards the windows so that I don't have to face him. "Leave!" I shouted, clenching the towel tightly against my body.

I felt his hot touch on the back of my shoulder causing me to almost jump. His muscular arm engulfed me, pinning my body against his.

My heartbeat began to accelerate. I felt his fingers move my dripping, wet hair towards my left side of the shoulder, letting it fall over my breast. "Get dressed," Karan whispered as he let go of me. He grabbed a few documents that were resting on top of the chest drawers and immediately left the room. What was all of that about? He is so unbelievable.

I put on my undergarments and grabbed the clothes that were on my bed. I wiggled myself into my skinny jeans and slipped into a light pink tank top and then I put on a blue plaid shirt, leaving the buttons open. I rolled up the sleeves a bit. I combed my wet hair and left it out so that it can air dry.

I left my room and went downstairs to the living room. I saw Karan tapping his hand impatiently on the couch. Vicky was sitting on the opposite couch. Why do they look so tensed?

Both of them looked up at me. "Good morning, bhabie," Vicky said.

"Good morning," I responded. "What's going on?" I asked confused.

"Snehal's mother... is having a party tonight... and she wants you to come," Vicky said hesitantly.

"Okay?" I responded, giving off a sarcastic laugh. "That doesn't mean I'm gonna go. I don't even think she invited my mother."

Karan got up and walked towards me. He gently grabbed my shoulders. "Bella-" he started to say.

"Don't Bella me," I roared at him. "You lost the right to call me Bella a long time ago."

"Okay, sorry. Snehal's mother said that Sunaina cannot live with me anymore as long as you're here," Karan said as he grabbed my hand and gestured me to sit down on the couch.

"Wooow. That's kind of cruel," I said shocked by his words. "But she's your daughter. She can't do that."

"She is my daughter but you, out of all people should know how your masi(Aunt, mom's sister) is," Karan said as he sat down in front of me. His words are true. My masi isn't a very nice human being. She'll defame you no matter what it takes. And Snehal, she'll listen to whatever her mother tells her to do.

"Sunaina means the world to me. She is the one thing I look forward to coming home from work. She doesn't go to sleep until I read her a bedtime story. She doesn't even eat anything unless I feed her." Karan explained. He looks devasted by my masi's words. I'm just moved by the fact that he really loves his daughter.

"I understand that. But how would me going there help out with any of this? The only reason my friend and I even came to New York was just so that we could attend a wedding here. The wedding functions start tonight Karan."

Grabbing my hands, Karan said, "Look Shraddha, she said that she'll be comfortable in letting Sunaina stay with me only after she talks to you. Please come tonight."

There were a few faint knocks on the door. "Come in," Karan said as he rubbed his thumb against my hands. "Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Jaitly. But there is a lady here to see Ms. Shraddha." The butler stated.

Nodding his head, "Send her in, Pete. Thanks." Oh my God. Kat's here!

Kat walks in looking around the room with widened eyes. She was soaking in every detail of the room. Her eyes raked over the large couches, to the gigantic TV mounted on the wall, and then to us.

"Uh hi," Kat said sounding unsure. Karan gets up and goes to Kat. "Hi, I'm Karan," he said extending his arm for Kat to shake his hand.

Kat gladly shook it and by that, I mean she gladly squeezed the living daylights out of Karan. "I've heard so much about you," Kat said with gritted teeth. "I'm Katrina." She added on as she released his hand.

"Wow, you're quite the hand shaker," Karan acknowledged opening his hand and putting it into a fist back and forth. Did she really squeeze his hand that hard?

Kat giggled sarcastically, "That I am."

"Hi Katrina, I'm Vicky. Karan's brother. Please take a seat." Katrina smiled at him and sat next to me. "So when do you want to leave for the wedding function? I think today's rituals are the henna ceremony and the turmeric ceremony," Kat said really excited about tonight's events. I look at her and then Karan. I guess I have to do the right thing.

I let out a sigh. "Kat, I won't be able to go with you. My masi wants to meet me tonight."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. The evil masi who always made you feel terrible about yourself?!" Kat exclaimed in surprise. "You haven't even met your mother yet and you're going to go meet her first?! I can't with you Shraddha!"

I looked at Karan and then at Kat. "I'm sorry Kat. But it's important that I meet her," I articulated.

"Okay, I understand," Kat said nodding her head. "Guess I'm all alone for tonight."

"Or maybe I could go with you," Vicky suggested.

"Actually, that's not a bad idea," I said smiling at Vicky. "Yeah, definitely not," Karan agreed.

"Alright then, it's settled," I said a bit apprehensive about what's coming my way tonight.

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Hi my lovelies!

How have you all been? I am so sorry for updating this chapter almost a year later. I just got so busy with everything. I am truly sorry for everything. Thank you to those who have messaged me regarding the book and asking if I was okay. I really appreciate all of the love you guys have given me.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please vote and comment. It'll encourage me to write faster. I'll try my best to write the next chapter as soon as possible.