Chapter One — The Day Everything Fell Apart

 

Chapter One — The Day Everything Fell Apart

Stine had imagined her wedding day a thousand times.

She had imagined the flowers, the music, the nervous smile of the man waiting for her at the registration office.

She had imagined everything except seeing him leave with another woman.

“I'm sorry, Stine.”

Those three words destroyed seven years of love.

John stood in front of her with the same face she had loved since college, but there was no love in his eyes anymore.

“There’s nothing left between us,” he said quietly. “I love someone else.”

Stine stared at the woman beside him.

She knew her.

Rhea.

Her colleague. Her friend. The woman who had helped her choose her wedding dress.

Stine's fingers tightened around the marriage documents.

“So you were cheating on me?”

John looked away.

That silence was answer enough.

Rhea stepped forward. “Stine, please don't make a scene.”

Stine laughed.

A broken, humorless laugh.

“A scene? You stole seven years of my life and you're worried about a scene?”

She turned before either of them could see the tears filling her eyes.

Outside, rain had begun to fall.

Stine walked blindly through it.

She didn't know where she was going.

She only knew she couldn't go home.

Her parents would ask questions. Her relatives would whisper. Everyone would want to know why the wedding had been cancelled.

She couldn't bear it.

She reached the steps of a nearby hotel and stopped.

Then a car suddenly screeched to a halt beside her.

A man stepped out.

Tall. Impeccably dressed. Cold eyes. An expression that suggested the entire world had been personally irritating him.

“Stine?”

She froze.

She knew him.

Everyone did.

Charles Foster.

Thirty-two. Billionaire. CEO of Foster Group.

And, according to every business magazine, the most ruthless businessman in the city.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

Stine wiped her tears.

“Trying not to die of embarrassment.”

His eyes narrowed.

Then he noticed the wedding documents in her hand.

“What happened?”

“My fiancé left me.”

Charles said nothing.

Stine looked at him through tear-filled eyes.

“Actually…”

She smiled bitterly.

“He left me for my friend.”

For the first time, something changed in Charles's expression.

Anger.

Not for himself.

For her.

“Do you still have the registration appointment?”

Stine frowned.

“Yes.”

“Then marry me.”

She stared at him.

“What?”

Charles extended his hand.

“Marry me.”

“You barely know me.”

“I know enough.”

“And why would you want to marry a stranger?”

His eyes remained unreadable.

“Because I need a wife.”

Stine almost laughed.

“And I need a reason to make my ex regret breathing.”

Charles's lips curved into the faintest smile.

“Then perhaps we can help each other.”

Neither of them knew it yet.

But that ridiculous agreement would change both their lives.

Part 12: Chained to you: Safely

Part 12: Chained to you: Safely

Days are passing by, but Kian could not express his feelings to Karissa till now. Also he cannot hold the hostel renovation thing for more time, because the management, to which he and his father are the members and plays an important role in decision making & command their orders, is also getting impatient for the reversal of vacancy notice to the hostel occupants.

He is getting tensed with each passing day as he is not sure, how to express his heart in front of her and on the other hand Karissa is also getting anxious, completely unaware of his feelings for her, by thinking that for how long she will be taking his favour for staying at his place.

Both of them are not at peace but the reason for both of them is very different and completely opposite in a way.

Karissa’s POV

Notice is there on the board today and it read so well. The building is ready to be occupied again and all we have to wait is for the office to get reopen next week after the weekend.

 I am feeling so good that again I will be on my own, without any favours and under a completely manageable expense which my fellowship can easily afford. And I am so excited to share the news with Kian. I am sure he will feel the same as I am feeling. Thank god it’s only about 3 more days in Kian’s house and after that he will be free from the entire burden which I am putting on him.

But during all this time, that I have stayed with him and got to know him; one thing is sure that I have got a very good friend in him. I really feel so blessed to have him with me because after the heart break and getting cheated by my best friend, I never thought that people like him really exist, who are there to help you without any expectation from you. He is really a gem and I don’t know what I have done to have him as my friend, savior and everything in this strange city.

Finally it’s evening and I am ready to see and share with him the great news of the day.

Hey Cara! You are looking very fresh, happy, vibrant and excited today! What is the matter? Is it related to your grades or there is something else (I hope it’s not about any boy)?

Oh Kian, can I please hug you, before I share my happiness further.

Comon. Fast. (what better I can ask for? I wish if you can do that forever)

I am so happy today and also so grateful for having you in my life as the best person here. Though I cannot thank you enough for whatever you have done and have been doing for me to save me from all the troubles, but I still want to mention that I am so very thankful to you. Now it is just for 3 more days I will be bothering and troubling you because the good news is that our hostel building is ready to be reoccupied and after doing the paper work next week, we can move back to the allotted rooms.

Is this is something you are happy for?

Aren’t you Kian?

Ofcourse I am because you are. But know this forever that you never bothers or trouble me in any way. And protecting you is something I always want to do and will be doing, no matter wherever you will be.

Thanks. You are always a sweetheart. Now come, dinner is ready. Go change, I will wait for you on table.

Karissa. You have it, I am not feeling hungry today. I am little tiered and want to have some rest and catch some early sleep.

Is there is something wrong Kian?

No.

Then why you called me with my name instead of Cara?

Oh! Did I? But is it not something that you always wanted me to call you with?

But I am so use to with the way you call me Cara, that it sounds so alien to hear my name from you.

Anyways! Go have your dinner and I go and catch some sleep. Good night.

And without waiting for my reply, Kian just went away and closed his door. I don’t know what, but there is something wrong with him for sure. But I cannot force him to share it with me, if he doesn’t want.

Kian’s POV

How can she even think that her shifting back to hostel will make me happy? How can she be ignorant about my feelings for her? I don’t know why she is been thing throughout that she is a burden and I want her to move away soon. Why she doesn’t understand that all I want is to be with her. She is my happy place. When she is around, I am the happiest person. Why this girl is so …… Ahhhh!

Saturday Morning

I don’t want to face her anymore if she does not understand that I am not happy with her decision of moving back. So I decided to work today also. Since I do not want to make her see me sad, so I just left a note for her and even before she was awake in the morning, I decided to move out of the house. But before leaving, I noticed that she also did not eat yesterday. Why? Why is she behaving like this?

“Dear Karissa,

There is something urgent that has come up in office, so I had to go even today and since it demands my presence urgently, so I am leaving early. May be it takes more time than usual, so don’t wait for me for dinner.

Kian”

Saturday Evening

Day is almost over and I know that she will be here for just one more day, but I don’t want to face her. She should know how it feels to have someone absent from your surroundings, whom you love this much. She should realize that I care for her because I love her. And she loves me too, otherwise she shouldn’t be caring this much for me. She also doesn’t eat when I do not. She also feels sad, when I am not happy. She also wants me to call her Cara instead of Karissa. Then why the hell she doesn’t understand that we should be staying together because this is how it is meant for.

I am home. It is late. By now, she must have slept. But to my surprise, she is sitting in the living room and doing her assignments.

Is she waiting for me? Or is it her for which she is awake till now. But if its work, she could have easily done that in her room too. Why living room. May be that’s how she decided to wait for me to come back.

“Hey you are home. How was your day? Was it really hectic? I know you must be tired, come I have cooked your favt. things. Let’s have it together. I cannot wait for you to praise me for my cooking.”

I don’t know why she said all of it in one go, without waiting for my reply. May be she is happy to have me back. May be!

Day was really hectic and I am really tiered now. I had my dinner already. I told you not to wait for me. But I guess, you are doing your work and not waiting for me. Anyways! You can continue with your work and have food. I go and take some rest.

“But……”

I knew she wanted to say something but I also wanted to make her realize that how it feels when you love someone and care for, but did not get back the same in return.

It is mid night, but the sleeps is miles away from me. I don’t know why, but I am feeling really uncomfortable. May be because I am curious to know how is she coping up with the things that are happening to her. So I decided to go out and check on her.

She is still in the living room. Not studying, neither sleeping, nor watching the big screen, rather lost somewhere in her thoughts with open eyes. I went close to her and called her with her name twice, but she is still lost and did not hear me.

Cara!

Yaa!

Why are you here till now? What are you thinking?

And to my surprise, she started crying like a baby. That very moment, I felt like slapping myself for putting her in this state.

Come here. Give me a hug. And tell me why are you crying? Is there something which you want to share?

Kian! Have I done something this bad that you are avoiding me this much? I promise I will improve and apologize if you tell me what is it? I am really sorry. But please forgive and be with me like always. I cannot bear your this behavior.

There is nothing Cara. It’s just that I have been busy with work and that is all.  Come let’s have food first. I am hungry and I know you also are. Afterall, you must be craving for my praise on your cooking too.

Can you stay like this forever Kian? Please don’t leave me like this, all alone, craving…… I may not be able to face it again. You know you are the only one I have here and I can not think of anyone or anything but you. I may die, if you leave me like this ever again.

And that was all. The moment I heard this word, I couldn’t control myself and pulled her closer to me to seal her lips with mine. And to my utter surprise, after her momentary shock fades, she kissed me back. As her lips move against mine it’s like there’s fire in my veins.

Her hands gently cup my face as mine timidly grab her by the waist. She pulls me deeper into the kiss, running her tongue along my lips and nearly making me moan.

I can’t believe this is happening.

We finally break apart when we are both completely breathless. She tilts her head so our foreheads are touching.

“Wow” she whispers.

I nod in reply.

“Does this mean…” she stammers.

Finally getting the courage, I grab her hands, pulling her towards me again,

Cara, will you be my girlfriend? You are so adorable and I cannot think of my life, my house, my days and my nights without you. The only though of you leaving back for the hostel makes me sad. Can you please stay with me here, forever?