Chapter 6

Raghav, why don't you dance with Natasha?" she suggested brightly. "It's been so long since we've seen you two together on the dance floor."

Before he could respond, his mother chimed in.

"Yes, just one dance. It will look lovely. Every couple's dancing, son."

Raghav remained still.

More voices joined in. The relatives were smiling, clapping, coaxing us.

And then the host looked at us and definitely sensed tension at our table

And it's very disrespectful for the host if their guests don't join for any particular event..

"Just one dance. Please let's just pretend to be an ideal couple for our reputation"

I whispered slowly in his ears.

My heart thudded nervously as I looked at him, silently pleading. Not for love. Not even for affection. Just... not to be humiliated.

"Please," I whispered again under my breath. "Just this once."

"You're going to walk onto that floor, and you're going to dance with Natasha. Now." His father again.

Raghav’s jaw tensed. "No."

His father didn’t blink. "You will."

"I'm not here to put on a show."

His father leaned in closer, voice ice cold. "Is this because of that girl? Are you tempting me to do something you wouldn't like?".

"You wouldn't dare," Raghav growled, barely controlling the rage boiling inside him.

"I would,"

Raghav's face went pale like all the color drained from his face.

Hi body has become so tense, as he slowly stood up and slowly took my hand .

With every step he took toward the dance floor, it felt like a betrayal.

But he had no choice.

Because if pain was the only thing he could take on for Kiyara…

Then he was willing to take it all.

His palm was warm, but his grip held no affection. Still, I didn't complain.

I smiled.

He led me to the center of the room. A soft, romantic melody began to play, and the lights dimmed just a little. All eyes were on us. A hush settled over the room.

His hand rested on my waist. His other hand held mine. Just enough to play the role. Not an inch more.

We moved together, bodies close but souls miles apart.

To everyone else, we must have looked beautiful. Timeless. A couple in love.

But I knew what we truly were. Strangers bound by expectations.

Still, I rested my head lightly against his chest, hoping he wouldn’t pull away.

"You hate me, don't you?" I whispered, barely audible.

He said nothing.

I smiled anyway. For the guests. For his parents. For the cameras flashing quietly in the corners.

For once, I wanted to be part of something good.

Just once.

But it wasn’t real.

He was going through the motions. His movements were graceful but distant. He didn’t look at me. He looked everywhere else.

Still, I danced.

I stayed close, my fingers barely resting on his shoulder, my heart pounding beneath the silk of my dress.

He was so close. The man I had spent 2.5 years beside, loving, waiting, breaking slowly.

I looked up at him.

We moved together slowly, every step choreographed by duty.

To everyone else, we must’ve looked perfect.

But I felt the emptiness in his touch. The calculation in his distance.

Still... I didn’t step away.

I leaned in slightly, my cheek brushing his shoulder. Not enough to startle him. Just enough to feel the warmth he didn’t know he still gave off.

He looked away. His gaze wandered past me. Always past me.

And I looked up at him.

Raghav.

The man I had waited for. Fought for. Longed for.

How could someone be so close and still feel like a dream?

For a moment, my eyes drank him in. The hard line of his jaw. The gentle scruff on his skin.

The lashes that shadowed those deep, unreadable eyes. His scent clean, familiar, distant.

I felt a rush in my chest. A desperate, aching pulse.

And I acted before I could stop myself.

Without thinking, I leaned in.

And pressed my lips to his.

It was soft. Barely more than a whisper. But it was real.

A soft kiss.

A desperate one.

The world fell silent around me for a heartbeat.

Then it happened.

Raghav's hand jerked away from mine. His fingers tightened against my waist

And he pushed me back.

Hard enough that I stumbled a step.

But no one noticed..

Raghav looked at me with eyes that burned not with love, but fury.

"How fkkin' dare you?" he said under his breath, greeted his teeth, his voice low, sharp, and full of venom.

I froze.

His eyes were buring with anger.

Like my touch is the most disgusting thing to him.

My lips trembled. My fingers curled around the fabric of my dress.

I wanted to say something. Anything.

But he had already turned.

And walked away.

Just like that.

Leaving me standing alone beneath the chandelier, the entire room staring at the woman who tried to love a man who couldn't even pretend anymore.

Cameras flashed.

Again.

And again.

Capturing the moment.

The perfect illusion crumbling before everyone's eyes.

I stood there, every inch of me trembling, my throat tight with unshed tears.

He didn't even look back.

Not once.

And for the first time, even pretending felt too painful.