Page 71 of The Promise of a Traitor

Yash paused. “I took way too long, son. I hope you’re smarter than me.”

“Apple, tree…all that.” Maya’s voice had them both glancing towards the door where she was watching them.

“When did you get here?” Yash asked, standing with a smile and walking over to hug her.

“Just now,” Maya said, leaning into his embrace, her gaze on her son who was still sitting, slumped on the floor, his gaze on the floor beneath his feet. “Aakash has been trying to reach you.”

“All okay?” Yash frowned, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

“I don’t know. It seems Aastha has requested for a meeting with him.”

Advik’s head snapped up. “What?”

“She’s at Thakkar Mansion right now.”

Advik scrambled to his feet, swearing. “What the fuck is she doing now?”

“Hold on.” Maya held up a hand. “I want to know exactly why she’s at Aakash’s house.”

“Advik asked Aakash to buy up her father’s debt to give her breathing room to pay it off,” Yash answered, taking the bullet for his son.

Maya shut her eyes, muttering under her breath. “I’m assuming you did this without consulting her.”

Advik nodded, scrubbing a hand through his hair.

“I hope she dumps your ass,” Maya snapped. “Men and their ‘fix it’ energy!”

“I was trying to help!” Advik protested.

“It was not your problem to fix.” Maya glared at him. “Not without her input.”

“She was struggling, Mom.”

Her face softened. “And you can help, Adi. But not by overriding her choices and her decisions.”

Yash cleared his throat. He was looking at his phone, scrolling through his messages. “Aakash says you might want to get over to his house.”

“Why?” Dread filled Advik.

Yash shrugged. “All he says is the sooner, the better.”

Advik ran for the door. “Try not to talk over her,” Maya called out from behind him.

“Stay out of it, darling,” Yash advised.

“You have dirty underwear stuck to your pant, sweetheart,” she retorted.

The last thing Advik heard before he left was his father muttering, “Our son is a pig.”

“Apple. Tree.” Maya’s soft laughter had him grinning as he made it to the front door. Then he thought of what was possibly happening at Thakkar Mansion and his smile disappeared.

Chapter Forty-Four

Aastha

“I don’t have much in the form of assets but,” Aastha hesitated, forcing herself not to look away from Aakash Thakkar’s steady gaze, “I have my café. It’s thriving, our profit margin has been steadily climbing.” She swallowed hard. “I can give you the business. I ask only that you keep me on as an employee because a large part of the cafes success is due to me.”

“I’m guessing all of it is,” Kanak said from where she sat beside Aakash. He glanced at his wife, his eyes softening, but to Aastha, he said nothing. His expression was as blank and impervious as always.