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Dev’s phone rang, halting whatever Vihaan was going to say. Dev fished his phone out of his pocket and checked the caller. He frowned before he answered the call.
“What?” Dev barked a few seconds later. “When did this happen?”
“Was anyone hurt?” he checked. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“What’s wrong?” Avantika asked once he was done.
“There’s been an explosion in one of the marble mines in Shimla,” he explained. “I need to go there and check out the extent of the damage. A few workers have been severely injured. I need to be there and help settle everything.”
“Just wait a Goddamn minute.” Vihaan charged forward. “You already signed all those mines to us. You have no business going there and checking anything out.”
Dev’s jaw tightened. “Those mines may belong to you, but the people there don’t recognize you or know you. They do, however, know me. They’ve worked for me for years. I have a responsibility toward them, and none of you can stop me from fulfilling it.” He faced Avantika. “Come with me to Shimla.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“Absolutely not,” Vihaan rejected. “Why would you even ask that of her? What are you intending now?”
“My intentions toward her have been clear from the start,” Dev declared. “She knows I want to marry her and give Neil a proper family.”
Tiya’s head jerked to her.
Vihaan’s eyes popped. “What? You want to marry her?!”
“I’m in this forever. Neil and Avantika’s life is not a game for me.”
“Fucking unbelievable,” Vihaan cursed.
Avantika tossed her hands in the air. She addressed Dev, “Why the hell did you have to tell him that?”
“Why are you mad at me?” Dev questioned. “He’s the one doubting my intentions. Besides, how was I to know Shaurya didn’t tell them I proposed to you?”
Vihaan rocked back. “Shaurya knew?”
“He didn’t tell you?” Dev asked, his tone affronted. A corner of his mouth lifted up mischievously. He knew he was stirring trouble in her family, and he was rather enjoying it. The fool.
Avantika glared at him. “Stop talking.”
She looked at Vihaan. “Shaurya didn’t tell you because I requested him not to.”
Vihaan didn’t even respond.
“Avantika,” Dev began, his tone sober. Serious. “Come with me to Shimla, you and Neil both. Let’s go end this war where it began.”
She inhaled and exhaled. She hadn’t been to India since that night. In all honesty, she’d never expected to return to Shimla, to the place where everything had ended.
“She’s not going with you, you bastard,” Vihaan growled.
Tiya held Vihaan’s arm, attempting to calm him, but he was seething with rage.
“Do you trust me, Avantika?” Dev asked, his expression wary. Hesitant. It hurt her to think that he still didn’t believe she trusted him.
“Yes.” She lowered her chin. “We will come with you.”
“Avantika…” Vihaan warned. “If you go with him now, I will consider it as a betrayal, and so will Aaryan and Shaurya. We will never speak to you again.”
“You are my brother, Vihaan.” Avantika began softly. “I don’t wish to hurt you. But I need to do this for myself. And for you. I need peace, and so do you all.”
Vihaan stomped away from her, exiting through the sliding door that led to the beach. Tiya gave her an apologetic look and followed after him.
