His hands are clenched so tight around the steering wheel, his knuckles are pale.
“I hope...” he begins, voice raw, “I hope you don’t take this as manipulation. But I stopped lying a long time ago. I’m so sorry, Aarohi.So fucking sorry for everything.”
He breathes hard through his nose, like he’s holding something back. Then, barely above a whisper, he adds—
“It’s worse because... because I love you.”
His eyes are shut, like the words physically hurt to say.
My heart jumps. Then stumbles. Shit. Not this. Not now.
He’s said those words before. I had scoffed at them then. Tossed them aside like they meant nothing. But now? Now it sounds like...truth.
“You make me want to be better,” he says, more composed now. “So Iwillbe. I’ll get there. Because at one point—the man, the real me that I showed you... you adored him. And I want to be worthy of that.”
Then—he unlocks the doors.
I blink, stunned, still trying to compute what the hell just happened.
Before I can even react, he’s out of the car. Circles around. Opens my door gently like I’m glass.
I get out on instinct, heart thudding loud in my ears.
Because I am too caught off guard.
Too focused on the sound of his confession still lingering in my head.
And that’s the only reason—the only reason—what happened next wasnotmy fault.
THIRTY-ONE
Lucian
I don’t know what I did. She’s not speaking. Hell, I’m not even sure she’sbreathing.
She’s in full autopilot after I said the words—I love you.
Sure, I’ve said it before. But this time... it was different. Vulnerable.
So naturally, I dared to hope.
Right up until her mother appeared behind me.
“Oh good, you’re here!” Her mom yells, already walking toward us with the world’s heaviest fruit basket wrapped in gold mesh. It looks like it weighs more than my emotional baggage.
Before I can process anything, I instinctively rush forward and take it from her.
Aarohi still hasn’t spoken. Or blinked. I’m starting to worry.
“Hello, ma’am!” I manage politely.
“Lucian,beta! You’re here. How are you?” she beams, but then her eyes laser in on my rental SUV like she’s just spotted a free Uber XL.
She turns back and shouts toward the house, “Raaaaj! We’re okay. We have an SUV here!”
I blink. Once. Twice. What just happened?
She opens the passenger door and gestures for me to place the fruit basket inside. I... comply. Because sayingnoto Indian aunties is how people die.
