He did everything, tried every possible way so that I could back out of this marriage; Jaiveer hasn't left a chance to humiliate me, remind me how successful he is, and how much of a loser I am.

He never stopped to taunt me that I am an opportunist and so privileged.

And still I am the bitch that I couldn't stop myself from loving him. Since when did I fall so hard for him?

Was it that day when I was crying because my first pet died, and it was him who hugged me? I was just 14 that time, and my heart fluttered at him for the first time.

Or that day when he slammed the takeaway on my face and said that he is doing this because my mum told him to and he respects her so much.

Mom and Dad love me and Savannah so much, but still, there were times when they were not present when we needed them, and I totally understand due to their hectic schedule.

I've been seeing Jaiveer since childhood; he is always so cold and closed off, but he does smile with my family, and he does spend time with his brothers. He used to be at least a little approachable to me until I ruined everything when I proposed to him on my 18th birthday. I couldn't stop myself; he thinks it was just a crush and my feelings will fade away with time.

But it didn't; it increased to such an extent that even if I wanted to, I couldn't stop myself.

Jaiveer never looked at me in that way; his gaze never holds passion or desire for me. Is it because of our 8-year age gap? Even his friend Abhimaan Raichand and his wife Sayantika Sharma have the same 8-year age gap, and they are so happy; they even had a son and are living their life happily.

Then why can't we?

It's toxic that there are so many guys out there wanting to date me, and here I am obsessing over someone who doesn't even spare me a glance.

Jaiveer is my ruin, and I've tried to get away from him, tried to remind myself that it will be me who will get hurt at last, still I want him.

My love for him is obsessive and toxic, and I still want him.

My parents have warned me; they told me not to get married this soon and to concentrate on my well-growing career. They know why Jaiveer wants to get married. They are totally aware of it.

He wants an heir.

And I am ready to ruin myself for it.

"To Earth, Shravani." I was snapped out of my thoughts and turned to find Sayantika standing there with little Agastya in her arms, whose nose and eyes were red as if he had cried just a few minutes back.

I've never thought I would be friends with Sayantika Raichand; she is just too good, and she doesn't know about me and my tendencies. I've never had genuine friends in my life; all are just snakes, and then there is Sayantika, who is just too good, too calm.

While Jahnvi Khurana came out with another surprise, I've known her for years; she has studied with Jaiveer and the group, and she was the only girl whom they all used to hang out with, and on top of it, she has dated Abhimaan Raichand as well. Anyways, that doesn't matter; it's been close to two years that she has been married to Yuvraj Khurana, the billionaire, single dad, and so fucking hot.

Sayantika and Jahnvi are the sweetest, and I am glad to have them in my life. They are genuine, unlike others.

"Hello, Agastya." I wished the little one, placing a kiss on his cheek, and he instantly shook his head before turning his face away.

Sayantika chuckled and turned to me. "Why aren't you ready yet, Madame?" she asked, giving me a once-over. "Did you forget that today is your wedding?"

Wedding? Nah, it's my way to destruction.

It's been more than a year already since that day in his penthouse when I said I was ready to be the typical housewife for him. A freaking year.

A lot happened; I took time because I was 19 at that time, and I at least wanted to get married in my 20s, and on top of it, I also had my modelling contracts to fulfil, which I did in a year. I've wound everything up and have said bye to my career.

"There is still time left, and I've already worn the outfit; just hair and makeup is yet to be done." I explained. Sayantika was ready in a white-coloured lehenga, which is expensive as fuck. She has left her hair open and wore the earrings, leaving the neck only for her diamond nuptial chain. Her hands were donned with red bangles, and the vermillion rested on her hairline.

"Agastya, you have to be a good baby and sit," she made him sit only for the little one to sniff again. The cutest thing is he is wearing the customised little sherwani, which is giving him the adorable look.

"Agastya, my baby, you know I love you, right? Don't cry, baby; this lehenga is already heavy and irritating me." She complained while I looked at them in awe.

I will have my little one soon, who is going to make everything fine between me and Jaiveer.

"Why is he so cranky today?" I asked while wearing the clips in my hair.

"He wants to be with his dad, but his dad has left him here with me because he wants to enjoy and dance it out with his friends." Sayantika said, huffing out loud.

We had a blast with the haldi, mehendi, and sangeet here in the villa, which was booked by us, and now the other side is occupied by the Rathores and this side for us.

I could hear the little sounds of drums as the makeup and hairstylist walked in.

My little sister visited me for a second before running out of the room as if her ass was on fire. She is enjoying being outside very much; the ungrateful brat did not even ask me whether I drink enough water or whether I have been comfortable enough here.

"I guess you should use this colour as a lipstick instead of red; it would look good with her outfit." I heard Sayantika saying to the makeup artist.

"Hii guys." Jahnvi walked inside with her son trailing behind her; she had a plate in her hand. "Aunt Claire has sent food for you." Of course I am fucking starving from the morning.

"Thank you so much, Jhanvi. I was starving." Taking the plate from her, I started to dig on it as the hairstylist started to do what I instructed her. Yuvansh was talking with Agastya, who just hopelessly stared at him, giggling sometimes.

"Mark my words, Sayantika and Jahnvi, these two are going to be the best friends." I started making them laugh.

"Abhimaan will be so pissed." Jahnvi uttered.

"Oh, for sure." Sayantika joined, hi-fiving her. For me, it's shocking to see them on good terms because if it were me and Jaiveer's ex, I would have surely plucked out all of her hairs and punched her as well.

But it's different with them; they both are happy with their spouses, and at least neither Jahnvi nor Sayantika is a vamp here.

ANYWAYS,

It took 40-something minutes for my hair to be done, and then it was time for me to wear the jewellery. Sayantika and Jahnvi helped me with it as the photographer clicked our pictures in those poses; Mum, Dad, and Savannah came to click pictures as well.

My eyes welled up, and I wiped them before Mom could see.

"Now sit silently," Mum and Dad left after kissing my forehead.

"Ugh, this baby fat is now irritating me," Sayantika groaned out, fixing her lehenga skirt.

"You look good, babe." I showed her a thumbs up before fixing the huge-ass nose ring, which has now started irritating me.

"I second you, Shravani." Jahnvi joined me as she fixed Yuvansh's hair.

"Seriously? Don't lie, guys. I've been trying to work out as much as I could, but this shit is not getting out of my skin." Sayantika is not insecure, but she is irritated by the way her body has changed after the pregnancy.

I've spent years keeping myself fit, sacrificing all of my favourite foods just to be in shape, and maybe after a year or two I would be insecure with my body as well. I have to carry a child and give birth, and the aftereffects are going to ruin me.

"Give yourself time, Sayantika. It will be fine." Jahnvi's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I nodded, agreeing with her.

Aashika walked in after some time; I requested her to click a picture with Sayantika and Jahnvi when we were doing the touch-up.

Our outfits looked so good and in on synced, with me wearing the pink pastel lahenga, Sayantika wearing white while Jahnvi on pastel blue. And it's because our lehengas were designed by my talented mum.

________________

Jaiveer's POV.

"I've bought the best and most expensive condom for you. I glared at Vikram when he whispered the words in my ear.

He is acting like a sickly clown from the day of my haldi, and I know this is just his defence mechanism; he just wants to show he is happy and unfazed. But I just know this bastard a little too much and the things he has gone through.

Anyways, I can't just sit and pretend that I am happy. Because I am not fucking happy, not at all.

But there is no looking back; Shravani is so fucking stubborn. I've done everything I could in this one year, humiliated her with my words, and made her realise how she is such an opportunist and privileged.

I tried to prove to her how much of a misogynist bastard I am and that after marriage her life will be hell.

Firstly, I never wanted to get married, but that old hag of a grandfather has his own fucking ways; if I don't get married and have a kid, he would not give me my share of the property.

Like, what the flying fuckery is this, huh?

Even though I don't care about the money and shit because I do have all of my mother's side of the fortune, I can't let off the Rathore Empire; that's my fucking efforts. I've taken Rathores' to the heights, and there is no way I am letting it slip out of my hand.

I wanted a calm and simple girl to impregnate; she would sit silently at my penthouse, not talk back, and give me the heir or heiress. The only thing is I don't want her to go earn for herself; she should be dependent on me and only fucking me.

And there are many girls out there who want to be the housewife, enjoy their husband's money, and be the trophy wife; that's it.

I don't have any problems with the women who work outside and earn for themselves. But they aren't my type, and I don't think it's an issue.

On the other side, Shravani The Stubborn Datta is totally opposite of what I want.

And the thing that irked me is, she fucking left her career for me? Why the fuck did she do this?

How could she do this for a misogynist bastard like me?

She is not a gold digger, not the typical girl I want, then what is her fucking reason?

She loves you.

Fuck, this is not even love; this is self-destruction, and I know she is going to regret it big time. She still has time to say no and back out of this marriage---

"And there she is," My eyes snapped up at Viraansh's voice, which was eerily calm from the last few minutes.

Shravani walked down the stairs with her mom and dad on either side; Jahnvi and Sayantika were just behind them. Abhimaan got up, who was sitting with me, and went to his wife to take the little tool from her, who immediately squealed when his dad picked him.

Anyways, back to my to-be wife, who is struggling with her lehenga; her face was covered with the veil, and she is wearing a pastel-coloured lehenga. By the posture, I could make out that she is nervous.

Good, Shravani, now lift the veil and scream, 'I don't want to get married to him.'

Even if she insults me in front of everyone, I will let it go. I just want her to say no.

"Bhai, you are being too obvious; don't look at her too dreamily." Samarth jumped in my space and said to me in a hushed tone.

Dreamily?

Seriously?

No, my little brother, there is no dreamy shit going on in here. I want her to deny; she still has a chance to, though.

"Stop acting like a fool and go hold her hand," when Ryan said, I averted my gaze and walked towards her, clearing my throat.

Uncle Kabir held his daughter's hand, placing it on mine, all the while giving me a silent glare. Well, Uncle Kabir has cornered me way too many times in this span of one year and told me that if I even try to hurt his daughter, he won't back off shooting me with his gun.

He has threatened me enough. Just because I respect him too much; otherwise, I am not a man with patience.

Shravani's hands were cold as if she had dipped them in ice before coming back here; she even flinched a little when I held her hand in mine.

"You can still say no," I whispered in her ear, which she ignored and tightened her hold on me so tight, as if she wanted to draw out blood from my skin with her long nails.

"It's time for the jaimala." Well, I am hating this big fat Indian wedding now. I mean, we could have just gone for the court marriage, but my good-for-nothing family wanted to show off.

Yeah, they want the world to know we are a perfect family. But we aren't. I fucking hate each one of my family members except Viraansh and Samarth.

The Jaimala was done, followed by the other rituals of the wedding, and damn, it fucking took hours to complete all the rituals.

Ryan and Vikram teased me throughout while Abhimaan was kind of silent, though he took part in the teasing session, but the little bitch knows me more, and just because he is a few months older than me, he cornered me as well and gave me fucking peace of mind—not mine, his words, though.

Why are you hell-bent on making her agree to say no to this marriage, Jaiveer? You can just go and say no, that you don't want to get married to her.

Abhimaan's words rang in my ear.

"Now fill her hairline and make her wear the nuptial chain." The priests instructed after we were done taking the 7 rounds of holy fire.

Aunt Claire came forward, helping her to lift her veil while I filled her hairline, trying to control my urge to gape at her face like a creep. The vermilion fell on her nose due to the way it was done harshly.

Next was the nuptial chain; grabbing it, I leaned closer, noticing how goosebumps erupted on her skin. "You've made the biggest mistake of your life, Mrs. Shravani Jaiveer Singh Rathore; welcome to hell now." I whispered in her ear only for her to hear.

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