"I married her to save her from the disgrace and shame that society would have thrust upon her," Abhirath said, his voice steady but tinged with an edge of desperation. Vedanti's eyes flashed with anger and hurt. "Oh, and if you had made her your sister, you could have saved her reputation then too, couldn't you, Hukum?" she retorted, using the formal title with a touch of bitterness. "But no, you just had to marry her, didn't you? No explanation, no warning, just a decision made without a thought for what it would do to me." Abhirath took a step closer, his face etched with regret. "Vedanti, you have to understand-" "No," she interrupted, her voice rising. "You don't get to stand there and tell me what I need to understand. You don't get to justify your actions now. You broke my trust, Abhirath. You shattered my heart. How can you expect me to believe anything you say?" The pain in her eyes cut him deeply. He reached out, trying to take her hand, but she pulled away. "I was young, naive," she continued, her voice trembling with emotion. "I trusted you with everything I had. And what did you do? You left me alone in the dead of night, forced me to fend for myself. You planned my parents' deaths, manipulated every part of my life. How can you claim to love me when you've caused me so much pain?" Abhirath's eyes filled with anguish. "Vedanti, every action I took was to protect you, even if it doesn't seem that way. I thought I was doing what was best-" Vedanti laughed bitterly. "Best for whom, Abhirath? For me or for your own conscience? You talk about protection, but all you've done is bring chaos into my life." --------------- PART ONE OF HIS WIFE SERIES✨❤ ------------