She glared at him. “How is that the only thing you heard out of what I said?”
Ignoring him and his annoying grin, she faced the girls. “I couldn’t even believe he and I had happened. How was I supposed to say it out loud?”
“Exactly the way you said it now,” Jiya said.
Rhea remained silent for a long moment, watching Akash and her. Then she nodded once. “You know what? I think this is a good idea. It will benefit both of you. I agree. You should do it.”
“What?” Jiya gasped.
Shauna blinked, her breath catching. She hadn’t expected such quick acceptance from her sister.
Jiya caught Rhea’s elbow, turning her to face her. “Are you crazy?”
Rhea shrugged. “I do think it will be good for Sehgal Media if they get married. And it will give each of them what they want. Won’t it?”
Jiya’s jaw dropped, her eyes widening. Rhea lifted her brow. Something unspoken passed between them, and Jiya’s expression softened as she nodded slowly.
“Alright,” Jiya said. “I agree with her.”
Rhea turned back to Akash and Shauna, her eyes sharp. “Have you thought about a date?”
“Six weeks from now,” Akash said easily.
Shauna frowned. He said it so confidently as if he had already thought all of it through.
“Why that timeline exactly?” she asked.
“Because my house will be ready by then,” he replied. “I’d like us to live there once we’re married. Most of the work is already done. Structural changes, the layout, everything major is complete. It’s just paint, furniture, and finishing touches now.”
Her confusion deepened. “I thought you lived in Keya’s old apartment.”
“I do, for now,” he said. “But I’m talking about my family home. It’s been closed for years. My grandfather left it to Keya and me. And Keya gifted her share to me. It’s mine now. I’ve been working on it for a while. I tore parts of it down—walls, rooms, things that no longer made sense. I wanted it to breathe again. I want to live there again. I want us to live there.”
“Oh, and FYI, Aaliya is designing it,” Jiya added, her eyes twinkling, “And it’s a massive mansion on Malabar Hill.”
Shauna stared at her in shock. Aaliya Singh Talbot was one of the most exclusive interior designers in the world. She was very selective about what project she took up, and for her to take up this meant it would be truly very special.
“How do you?—”
“He and I are childhood friends, remember?” Jiya said dryly. Her eyes narrowed on Akash. “And yet he never told me he was the heir to Sehgal Media. The idiot.”
Akash winced, looking genuinely guilty. “We already discussed this, remember?”
Shauna looked at Akash—really looked at him—and realized how much she didn’t know about him. At least the parts thatmattered, like his past, his family history. But once she was married to him, she would know everything.
Her gaze dropped to her hand. He was still holding it, his thumb tracing circles around her wrist. Her breath stilled. The ring caught the light.
Fuck. She was actually marrying him.
Akash turned to her fully. “I’d like you to come with me and look around. See the interiors. And I want you to change anything you don’t like.”
“You want me to make any changes I want?”
He frowned. “Yes, of course. It’s going to be your home too. I want you to be happy living there.”
Warmth rushed through her chest. He genuinely was trying. Maybe she should try as well.
“I’d like that,” she replied gently.
