Page 3 of Lawfully Yours

“Well, now that the mastermind is here,” she said, sarcasm dripping from every word, “I’ll leave you to it.”

She had just turned when her uncle Raj Verma, the founder of Verma & Associates, walked in. Even at sixty-four, his presence could command a courtroom without uttering a single word. He was a man who had built an empire on logic, strategy, and an ironclad reputation.His neatly combed silver-streaked hair and the sharp cut of his charcoal-grey suit made it clear that Raj Verma did not tolerate failure.

Arundhati halted mid-step, the urge to leave abandoned as her uncle entered the room.

“Mr. Mukherjee,” Raj greeted Anant. “I want you to understand that this firm only takes on cases we know we can win. Your case will be handled by my best.” His gaze swept the room with absolute confidence.

Anant exhaled in relief. “I trust you, Sir. And I trust Verma & Associates.”

Arundhati took that as her cue to leave. Her fingers flexed at her sides, her body shifting toward the exit when her uncle’s authoritative voice cut through the air like a gavel striking wood.

“Arundhati and Kushal, both, will be working on this casetogether.”

She stilled.

A thick, suffocating silence once again spread through the room. Her head snapped toward her uncle, her obsidian-black eyes burning with disbelief.

“Excuse me?”

She wasn’t the only one who froze. Kushal, standing across the room, stiffened ever so slightly before he let out a slow, mocking chuckle.

“I don’t think that’s necessary, Sir,” he said, adjusting his cufflinks. “You know I can handle this alone.”

“And I don’t needhimto work withmeeither,” Arundhati added coldly, folding her arms across her chest.

“This isn’t up for debate.” Verma’s gaze flicked between the two of them; the authority in his voice left no room for argument. “You are the best lawyers I have. And Anant needs the best right now—Arundhati’s intelligence and Kushal’s manipulation. We have to win this case. The firm’s reputation depends on it.”

The heat in the room was unbearable.

Arundhati glared at Kushal.

Kushal glared right back.

It had been fourteen months since their marriage.

Nine months since they had started living separately.

Seven months since she had demanded a divorce—andhe had refused.

And now?

They were fighting their own scandalous divorce battle in court because it wasn’t mutual.

Their cold war had played out in whispers among their colleagues, and already a full-blown scandal in the eyes of the media as the country’s two top divorce lawyers were fighting their own legal battle to end their loveless marriage.

And now, they were expected to work together?

Impossible.

“That’s settled, then.” Raj Verma sighed, turning to Anant again. “You have my word. Both of them will handle your case.”

Anant, although not oblivious to the war simmering between them, let out a relieved sigh. “Perfect.”

Perfect.

Arundhati had never hated a word more.

And across the room, Kushal Nair was still smirking.