Page 131 of Entangled Vows

Her mind went back to the week she’d been down with that stomach bug. Maybe the pill hadn’t worked properly with all the other medications she’d taken then. Or maybe her cycle was off for the first time ever.

She hadn’t missed a single dose of her pill. She was as disciplined about it as brushing her teeth. That should have beenenough. But it wasn’t. She knew the truth even as she tried to deny it. Sometimes, precautions failed. It happened to others. She just never thought it could happen to her.

A strangled sound escaped her as she dropped her head into her hands. How stupid she’d been to tell him not to use protection.

Damn it! She should’ve drawn a line. Should’ve kept her emotions on a leash. She should’ve… God, there were too many things sheshouldhave done.

And somewhere high on that list, buried just beneath the panic and nausea, sat the one truth she didn’t want to face.

She’d fucking fallen for him. For Vikram Khurana. Her husband for one year.

Blowing out a shaky breath, Mahika pushed back her chair and grabbed her bag. She straightened up, and with practiced grace walked towards the office exit. It was a little early for lunch, and she wasn’t remotely hungry. But she couldn’t sit here a minute longer. She needed answers. She neededcertainty. Only then could she figure out her next move.

Thankfully, the elevator doors were already open. Inside, people chatted away, unaware of her presence. She slipped in quietly, relieved to be ignored.

Mahika walked straight to the parking lot and spotted Max waiting by the car, ready as always.

“Afternoon, Mahika ma’am. Can I take you somewhere?” he asked, opening the door.

Emotion rose in her throat. She almost broke down right there on the pavement, but she swallowed hard and blinked back the tears. She was sure Max noticed.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

She knew she shouldn’t have accepted a ride with Max. She should’ve called a cab. He would report back to Vikram, no matter where he took her. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from sliding into the back seat and slamming the door shut, shutting out the world and having a moment to herself.

“Are you okay?” Max asked gently, his eyes catching hers in the rearview mirror.

“Yeah. Could you take me to the mall?” she said.

“Of course. Sit back and relax. I’ll get you there soon.”

“Thank you, Max. I really appreciate it.”

As she leaned back, she thought about how, not too long ago, she would have rejected help from Vikram’s driver without a second thought. But right now, she needed it more than she cared to admit.

Before she stepped out, Max asked, “Do you know how long you’ll be?”

“I don’t. You should head back if Vikram needs you. I’ll manage.”

He frowned. She knew Vikram had ordered him to prioritise her, but she didn’t want Max hanging around, witnessing whatever mess this trip might lead to.

“Mahika… Mrs. Khurana… I can’t. Not after last time.”

“Max,” she sighed, reaching out to squeeze his arm. “I promise I’m fine. It’s just the mall. It’s a public place, and it’s daylight. I’ll call if I need you.”

He hesitated, his eyes flicking to hers, clearly torn.

“Okay,” he said finally. “But please, call me.”

“I will. Have a good afternoon.”

“You too, Mahika.”

She waited just long enough to see him get into the car, then turned and hurried towards the pharmacy store in the mall.She should’ve waited until the car pulled away, but she needed answers. Right now. Her heels clicked against the tile as she all but marched inside and asked the middle-aged pharmacist for pregnancy test kits. Two of them. Her heart pounded with nerves as she nodded at the ones he showed her, the ones known to be most accurate.

He billed them quietly without a hint of judgment.Why would he?She was a grown woman, wearing a mangalsutra. As far as the world was concerned, she was a married lady.

If only they knew. That she had taken her vows just to get a beach house. That Vikram had exchanged garlands just to save the family business.