Page 160 of Lawfully Yours

Again, silence. Just his grip tightened around the wheel.

“You did say it,” she pushed, grinning. “Claimingme. What’s that supposed to mean, Kushal?”

Finally, his head turned hard towards her, just once. “It doesn’t have to mean anything. You’re still my wife on paper until the court approves the divorce.”

Her smile fell, but only for a beat.

“And the court is never going to approve it.” She shot back. “Even if they do,Iwon’t.”

Before she could throw more fire, the car slowed. She frowned as he pulled up not outside their office, but in front of her favourite Italian restaurant. Her brows furrowed.Why here?He switched off the engine, stepped out casually, and she followed.

She recalled that, early in their marriage, she had told him this was her favourite spot in the city. They had never managed to dine here together, though. Maybe he had noticed she hadn’t eaten all day and decided to bring her here for lunch. A small, thoughtful gesture. Was this his way of making peace? Of finally taking a step toward her?

Still, she needed confirmation.

“Why are we here?” she asked softly, almost hopeful.

Kushal shrugged, scanning the entrance. “To eat.”

Her heart warmed. “Finally. Someone’s taking the lead. Let’s get inside. I’m starving.” She turned toward the entrance, took a few eager steps, but he still stood rooted by the car, making no attempt to follow.

Confused, she retraced her steps. “Come on.”

“Youneed to eat, Aru. Not me.”

Her brows knitted. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means this isn’t a date.”

Her annoyance flared hot. “So you expect me to go in there alone and eat?”

Before he could reply, Akash, their junior lawyer, hurried over, beaming at the two.

“Good afternoon, Ma’am, Sir!”

“Akash…” Arundhati looked between Akash and Kushal in irritation. “What areyoudoing here?”

Akash was still grinning ear to ear. “Sir messaged me a while ago to meet here for lunch. Honestly, he’s never invited me like this before, so how could I miss the chance?”

Arundhati shot a glare straight at Kushal, who didn’t flinch. Instead, he looked at Akash calmly and replied, “Correction, Akash. Your lunch date is with your Arundhati Ma’am. Not me. Enjoy. I’ll be off.”

Akash blinked, clearly bewildered, while Arundhati’s temper spiked, heat rushing up her neck. “You want me to have lunch with Akash?” she demanded, in disbelief.

“Why not?” he replied. “You can use him to spy on your husband, but can’t share a meal with him? Doesn’t sound very fair, Aru.”

That was the final straw. She closed the distance between them in two furious steps, fisting his shirt at the collar and yanking him toward her. “What you’re doing to me isn’t fair, Kushal.”

For a breathless second, their eyes locked, his scent surrounding her, his control visibly fraying. But then he caught her wrist, peeled her hand off his shirt, and dropped it.

“Nothing between us was ever fair,” he said flatly.

Sliding his sunglasses back on, Kushal turned without another word. He walked to the driver’s side casually to show how little her fury moved him.

She stood fuming in place, but he didn’t glance back. He simply got into the car and drove away. If she thought winning him back would be easy, she was sorely mistaken. He wasn’t going to bend. And as for her so-called game of wooing, he had no intention of even playing along.

****************

Two days later