Broken Vow – 5

The next day : Reception ✨

The soft knock on the door was followed by the voice of a servant.

“Sir, ma’am — the guests have started arriving downstairs.”

Aditi sat at the vanity, staring at her reflection. Her face looked flawless — too flawless. Her makeup covered the swollen redness around her eyes, her lips tinted in a soft rose pink. But nothing could hide the dullness in her gaze.

Behind her, Vihaan adjusted the cufflinks of his ivory sherwani, eyes cool, focused. “We’re late.”

She didn’t respond.

He walked up beside her, picked up a small diamond necklace from the vanity, and gently fastened it around her neck. His touch was clinical, not tender. Yet, in the mirror, it looked like a groom lovingly dressing his bride.

He met her gaze in the reflection.

“You know what to do.”

She nodded slowly. “Smile.”

He gave a mock smile of his own. “And don’t forget to look like you love me.”

......................

Downstairs, the Oberoi estate was glowing with lights and luxury. Guests filled the reception hall, clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries. Business tycoons, socialites, and paparazzi all waiting for a glimpse of the newlyweds.

The moment Vihaan and Aditi descended the grand staircase, flashbulbs erupted.

“There they are!”

“Mr. and Mrs. Oberoi — congratulations!”

“You two look perfect together!”

Vihaan reached for her hand without hesitation. Aditi didn’t flinch this time. She forced herself to smile, stepping closer as he gently pulled her into his side.

“She’s even more beautiful in person,” one of the guests whispered.

Vihaan turned to Aditi, a charming, lover-boy expression on his face. “You’re glowing, sweetheart,” he said loud enough for nearby ears to catch.

Aditi looked up at him with a smile that barely reached her eyes. “You’re a good actor.”

He leaned in, lips dangerously close to her ear and murmured, “You’ve only seen the trailer, Mrs. Oberoi. The full movie is darker.”

......................

They posed together, hand in hand, smiling for every camera — the perfect couple with the perfect love story.

And no one in the room knew the truth.

That her heart was a prisoner.

And his smile... was revenge.

The last guest had left.

The lights dimmed. The fake smiles faded.

And the silence between them turned suffocating.

Aditi threw her heels aside as she stormed into the bedroom, ripping off the heavy dupatta that had suffocated her all evening. Her hands trembled — from rage, exhaustion, and the unbearable ache in her chest.

Vihaan entered a moment later, removing his sherwani jacket with methodical calm.

That calm broke the moment Aditi turned on him.

......................

"You think you've won, right?" she snapped, eyes wild, voice trembling. "You think all this—” she waved her hand around the room, "— makes you powerful? That marrying me somehow fixes what happened years ago?"

Vihaan raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "Don't start, Aditi."

"No, you don't start," she spat, stepping forward. "You destroyed my family. You humiliated us. You had my father dragged to jail like a criminal. And for what? Revenge? For something you don't even understand?"

His expression darkened. "I understand enough."

"No, you don't!" she shouted. "You don't know the truth. You don't know the deals, the people involved, the betrayal behind the scenes. You just came back swinging, thinking we were the villains in your sob story."

Vihaan's jaw tensed. He stepped toward her, slowly. "You dare say that to me?"

"Yes!" Her voice cracked. "Because it wasn't us! Not me. Not even my father, Vihaan. He didn't—"

“Don't you DARE say his name!”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***