Page 144 of Entangled Vows
“What was that for?” Mahika asked, still dazed.
“To shut you up, you crazy woman. Let me talk for once now. Just listen.”
Vikram pulled back slightly, his jaw ticking as he sat straighter, like a man ready to protect his world. His handsplayed over her stomach, and when he looked into her eyes, his voice held a fierce determination.
“I don’t want your apology. I want your promise. You are not going to put yourself in danger again. Ever. I can’t handle it.”
“Is it… because you care about the baby now?”
His brow arched at her question. He was visibly pissed now.
“What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I care about the baby. But I care about thebaby’s mothereven more, you clueless woman. Can’t you see? I’m thrilled we’re pregnant. This isourbaby. We made this life together, and I can’t wait to be a father.”
“Seriously?” she frowned, “I just thought—”
“You thought I’m angry because you’re carrying our child and this marriage is temporary?” He looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “Come on, Mahika. Do you really believe any of this has been temporary over the last few months? I don’t think so, darling. I went mad with fear yesterday… not because of some stupid clause in the will. Nothing else matters to me. I don’t give a fuck about anything else except spending my entire life with you.”
“You… you want to spend your life with me?” Mahika asked, stunned.
His voice dropped, becoming a low, rough growl that vibrated in the air. “Yes, love. Don’t you get it? This undeniable thing between us… it’s not new. It’s always been there. You are my Momo, and I’m your Grizzly. This has been years in the making. From the very first night you slept in my bed, ourmarriage became more than just a formality. And the moment you blended chilli into my green smoothie and I kissed you, that clause became null and void. Do you really think I’d wear a lilac tux to a public event for just anyone? Do you think I’d let just anyone bring a pet into my house? No, that’s because I’m in love with you, baby. Even the thought of returning to my old life without you makes me want to erase every memory of it.”
“Why are you saying things like that?” she whispered in disbelief, her heart racing so fast that the monitor beeped in response.
“Shh. Relax, Momo. I’m saying exactly what you think you’re hearing. I am in love with you. Your happiness is mine. And if, for any reason, you don’t want to stay in this marriage, if you want a divorce, then I’ll give it to you... even if it kills me. Because you matter more than anything. Your happiness comes first. Always.”
He reached for her hand and placed it over his heart.
“I’ll still buy you a beach house in every state of Australia if that’s what you want. Even if you walk away from me, I’ll make sure you live the life you’ve always dreamed of. You’ll write, and you’ll become the best damn romance writer in the entire world.”
Mahika was crying freely now, her tears refusing to stop.
“Really?” she whispered.
“Yes, baby. Just say the word. I don’t give a damn about my needs or wishes. All I care about is you and your happiness. If you don’t want to be with me… then fine. But in another lifetime, or even in some other universe, if we never meet again, I swearI’d move heaven and earth to make it happen. I’d throw the planets into retrograde just to find my way back to you. In every life. In every version of reality.”
Mahika let out a breathless sob. “Stop saying things like that.”
“I won’t. Because I’m not scared anymore. I love you. I fucking love you, my baby dragon. Even before yesterday… before I realised how close I came to losing you… I knew this with every piece of my heart that if anything had happened to you, I would’ve died.”
“Don’t say shit like that, Grizz,” she sobbed, leaning her forehead against his. “I don’t want you to die.”
“Then stamp it in that pretty head of yours, sweetheart. You’re carrying our child now. There is no universe where I’ll let anything happen to you. You and this baby are mine. You are my whole world. And I’d do anything to protect you both.”
She stared at him, her eyes shimmering as if she had waited years for this moment. Her voice shook when she finally spoke, soft yet laced with everything she had buried for far too long.
“I didn’t want to love you,” she whispered, clutching his shirt as if she needed him to anchor her. “I tried not to. I told myself I hated you. I convinced myself it was anger, pride, or leftover pain.”
A shaky breath escaped her as tears continued to spill down her cheeks.
“But I lied to myself. Over and over again. Because the truth is, I’ve loved you for years, Vikram. Since the day youstopped me from falling off that scooty. Since you challenged me, infuriated me, and made me feel alive like no one else ever has.”
His gaze locked onto hers, fierce and burning.
“I didn’t stop loving you even when I thought I hated you, Grizz.” She pressed herself closer to him until there was no space left between them. “Even when you snapped at me. Even when you made me feel like I didn’t matter. Because deep down, you were already everything to me.”
“I’m so fucking sorry for ever making you feel like you were less. I was a jealous prick who just wanted your attention, Momo.”
“I know that now. I used to think love had to be soft and easy. But with you… it’s fire and thunder. It’s knowing I’ll burn and still walking right into the flame. And I don’t regret a second of it. Not the fights, not the messy feelings, not even the pain. Because it all brought me here. To you. To us.”
