Page 14 of Lawfully Yours

Kushal’s eyes burned into hers.

“And what’s wrong with that?” he asked, his jaw clenched, his shoulders tense, but his expression?Unapologetic.“What’s wrong ifyouruncle thinksI’mthe best person to handle this firm after his retirement?”

“Are you jealous, Arundhati?” he taunted. “Because technically, it should be you, shouldn’t it? You’re his heiress, after all.”

Her blood boiled.

She hated how effortlessly he twisted the narrative, how he could strike where it hurt the most without a moment’s hesitation.

She wanted to snap back, to throw the truth in his face, but she didn’t.

She wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

But Kushal wasn’t done.

“Where were you,” he continued, mockingly, “when Raj Uncle needed your support to take this firm to newer heights?”

Her fingers curled into fists, but she didn’t break eye contact.

“It wasme,” Kushal pressed, taking another step closer. “Always me who stood by him. And if not all, I do have a major share in this firm, its reputation, its success. The reason Verma & Associates is where it is today? I played a damn big role in that.”

While her breath hitched, her face remained unreadable.

“And whilst all this was happening… you were in Bangalore, working for some other firm. Not wanting to ‘favour your uncle’s nepotism.’”

Arundhati’s temper flared.

“Yes, I didn’t want people to think I was getting favours or cases only because of my uncle,” she shot back. “I wanted to make my own way up, Kushal. Unlike you, who saw an opportunity and didn’t let it waste.”

His smirk faded, his expression darkening.

“The moment my uncle proposed to you to marry me, you jumped and grabbed that opportunity. At once.”

He opened his mouth to retaliate, but just then, a sharp cough echoed from the doorway, and they both froze.

Raj Verma stood there, arms crossed, glaring at them.

Shit.

The room felt smaller all of a sudden.

“I can’t believe you both started this again.” Raj’s eyes flickered between them, disappointed, tired, but not surprised.

Neither of them spoke.

“You have a client outside who can walk in at any moment, and you two are fighting like cats and dogs?”

“Sorry,” Arundhati said quickly. “This won’t happen again.”

Kushal turned to her, but instead of saying sorry, his voice dripped in sarcasm.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “You should be sorry… for digging up old graves.”

His eyes darkened slightly as he added.

“And that too in the wrong direction.”

Her fury spiked again. But before she could react, he turned and walked out. The door clicked shut behind him. She stood still, the room suffocatingly silent except for the rapid beat of her own heart.