The lies that broke us Novel – It started with a lie. A simple one. A careless one. A lie that slipped off Vidyut’s tongue so smoothly, so effortlessly, that if I hadn’t checked my phone, I never would have questioned it. “I have a work meeting, sweetheart. Don’t wait up for me.” I hadn’t thought much of it at first. Lately, Vidyut has been very busy, always caught up in the chaos of running his company. Meetings were part of his life.
But then, my phone buzzed—a notification from our shared location. And my chest tightened. He wasn’t at his office. He wasn’t at any corporate tower. He was at Lumière. The restaurant where he had proposed to me. My fingers tightened around my phone as I stared at the screen, my heart hammering against my ribs. Why would he lie? The question clawed at me, whispering dark, ugly things in my mind. There had to be an explanation. Maybe a last-minute business dinner. Maybe a client meeting. Maybe— But my gut knew better. Something was wrong.
I grabbed my keys and walked out the door, ignoring the voice in my head begging me to stop. To trust him. I did trust him. At least, I had. …. I hadn’t been here since the night the night of our second marriage anniversary 2 months ago. This place held so many memories of us. We celebrated all our special occasions here. He had got down on one knee, slipping a diamond ring onto my shaking hand, his voice raw with love. “Marry me, Seerat. Marry me. I can’t spend another moment of you not being officially mine.
So please marry me and put me out of my fucking misery. I’ll spend the rest of my life making you happy.” I had believed him then. But tonight, that promise felt like a cruel joke. The restaurant was as elegant as ever, the air thick with candlelight and whispered confessions. My stomach churned as I scanned the room, my heart lurching when my gaze landed on him. Vidyut. My husband. Sitting at a secluded table. A drink in his hand. A slow smirk on his lips. The woman sitting across from him was breathtaking—long hair cascading over bare shoulders, lips painted a deep red as she leaned in close, whispering something that made him chuckle.
My blood ran cold. My mind screamed at me to storm over there, to demand answers, to make a scene. But I didn’t. I knew better. My husband was a successful well known businessman. Causing a scene here would land me on the front page of every gossip column in the morning. Yeah, no thanks. I turned around and walked out. Because if I stood there a second longer, I might have shattered into pieces. …. I was waiting when he came home. Sitting on the couch, arms crossed, fury simmering beneath my skin. He walked in, looking surprised to see me awake. “Meri jaan, what are you doing up?” Meri jaan.
This endearment always warmed my heart but today it sounded all wrong. So fucking wrong. I tilted my head. “How was your meeting? He hesitated. A fraction of a second. Just long enough for my heart to splinter. “It was fine,” he said smoothly. “Dragged on longer than expected.” I let the silence stretch between us, let him dig his own grave. Then, I picked up my phone, pulled up a picture that I had clicked at the restaurant, and turned the screen toward him. “You weren’t in a meeting.” His entire body stiffened.
“You were at Lumière,” I said, my voice eerily calm. “With her.” His jaw clenched. “Sweetheart, it’s not what you think—” “What exactly am I supposed to think?” I stood, my hands shaking. “You lied to me, Vidyut. You went to our place with another woman and didn’t even bother to tell me the truth.” “She’s just a business associate,” he said quickly. “She’s interested in working with my company. That’s all.” I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Oh, of course. Because business dinners require candlelight and secret glances, right?” His eyes darkened with fury.
“That’s not what happened.” This asshole had to nerve to get angry at me? “Then why lie to me?” I shot back. “Why say you had a meeting? Why sneak around like I wouldn’t find out?” He exhaled harshly, raking a hand through his hair. “Because I knew you’d react like this.” My heart twisted.