Page 71 of Lawfully Yours

She went still. Her lips parted slightly, stunned.

“Just because I was ignoringyouto make sure you came here doesn’t mean I was ignoring the case.”

She blinked at him in disbelief.

“I already have sources on Noyonika,” he continued. “She flew to Dalhousie this morning, after the interview. She’s the one who caused this mess, and she’s the only one who can help fix it.”

Arundhati was speechless.

“We need to get her to confess who made her do this. That’s our only shot at salvaging this case before it collapses. That’s our only shot at proving she was fabricated. That this was a setup to break the case from the inside.”

He paused.

“I’m flying to Dalhousie early morning,” he said. “To get her to talk. To confess who put her up to this.”

She stared at him, stunned. “You… you already did all this?”

Kushal nodded. “You think I don’t care about the case? I’m playing five steps ahead, Arundhati. Always. I don’t need a spotlight to do my job,” he said flatly. “Just because I didn’t show up in a tie today doesn’t mean I wasn’t handling it.”

The admiration flickered in her eyes, despite herself. She hated him for being this infuriatingly prepared. For knowing her anger would lead her here. For always staying one move ahead.

Then, suddenly, he grabbed her hand again and turned toward the left side of the room, toward the floor-to-ceiling glass wall that overlooked the city skyline. He dragged her there, without warning, and before she could protest, he pointed out into the night.

“What—” she started, but then she saw it.

He pointed across to another tower in the distance. In the lit-up tower across from them, on a neighbouring high-rise balcony, stood a couple. Silhouetted. Holding each other. Lost in their own private world of intimacy and peace. The woman leaned into the man’s chest. He kissed her hair. They moved in sync, oblivious to being watched.

Kushal stepped behind Arundhati, pinning her softly but firmly between him and the glass.

“You know why I was chasing you last night?” he murmured into her ear. “What I wanted to tell you? Why I made sure you cameherelooking for me?”

She held her breath.

“Because of them,” he said, pointing.

She blinked.

“I watch them every night,” Kushal said, voice low and hoarse. “They torture me. Make me jealous with their displaysof love. Every night. Right in front of this window. Like some goddamn cruel reminder.”

“Kushal—”

“They kiss like nothing else matters. Like that balcony is the edge of their universe. And every night I stand here thinking—that should’ve beenus.”

She couldn’t speak. Her mouth parted, but no words came.

“Every night they remind me of what I lost. What Iletgo,” he said, leaning closer, his forehead almost touching hers.

She swallowed hard.

“I want what they have,” he whispered. “The love. The fire. The ache. But not with anyone else. Withyou. Only you, Aru.”

Her heart was racing now.

“I’m done pretending. I want you back. In this home. In my bed. In my goddamn arms.”

His breath hit her cheek.

“I—” she tried, but the words caught in her throat.