Priyank couldn’t quite grasp why he had suggested the idea in the first place, but seeing the sadness in Priya’s eyes had prompted him to act.
Initially, he hadn’t wanted any sort of celebration for the marriage, but he couldn’t ignore the one and only friend he had, Edward, and his wife Misha.
He knew he had to have a small gathering, at least to invite John, his assistant, to appease his mother who disapproved of the court marriage. Perhaps once she realised he was throwing a small party to celebrate their marriage, she would feel more at ease.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to celebrate; he simply didn’t want to expose Priya to anyone. She was too innocent, and he didn’t want any unwanted attention on her.
Despite everyone knowing to keep their eyes off those who belonged to him, he couldn’t ignore the dangers of his mafia connections. He wanted to marry in peace, prioritising Priya’s safety above all else.
Though he knew his enemies were skilled at keeping tabs on him, he trusted his instincts. He was confident he could protect her, but he didn’t want to risk it unnecessarily.
Her safety outweighed any other consideration in his mind.
“Really?” Priyank blinked in surprise as Priya shed tears upon hearing that he would invite her orphanage kids and Mary.
It was totally unexpected, but Priya’s emotional reaction made him realise how much it meant to her.
To be clear, Priya did want it. She doesn’t want to marry.
But wants to include the kids from the orphanage and Mary into it.
“I will, if she agrees to come. I don’t mind,” Priyank replied, snapping back from his thoughts.
He wasn’t sure if Mary would agree to come, and he didn’t even want to invite her, but for Priya’s happiness, he would do it.
Deep down, he knew nothing would happen, especially since Mary had already pushed Priya away. Inviting her was more of a gesture after the marriage was done, so it didn’t sound threatening in any way.
Priya wiped away her tears, touched by Priyank’s unexpected gesture. She hadn’t anticipated him being so considerate, especially when it came to something as personal as her relationship with Mary and the kids from the orphanage.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. “It means a lot to me.”
“Don’t cry. I agreed to do it because you wanted it, but that doesn’t mean I’m sure about her agreeing to the invite. She already pushed you out of her life, and I don’t even know if she will agree to come here,” Priyank stated firmly.
Priya’s heart sank as the memories of being pushed away by Mary flooded her mind. The pain was still raw, a constant reminder of the rejection she had faced.
But deep down, she knew it wasn’t truly Mother Mary’s intention. She had spent her whole life with Mary and knew that wasn’t her character.
‘What if she doesn’t come?’ Priya questioned herself, her doubts creeping in.
The uncertainty lingered in the air, leaving Priya feeling anxious about whether Mary would accept the invitation.
Priya’s mind weighed heavily with uncertainty as she pondered the possibility of Mary declining the invitation. The thought of facing another rejection from someone she had cared for deeply filled her with dread.
Priyank placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I am with you sweetheart, you don’t have to worry”
“You’re here with me, that’s why I’m worried,’ Priya admitted silently to herself.
Despite Priyank’s reassurances, Priya couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was downplaying his role in the situation.
He seemed to be absolving Mary of any responsibility, as if she had made all the decisions on her own, when in reality, Priyank’s actions had played a significant part in the conflict.
Priya may not be the sharpest person, but she wasn’t naive enough to believe that her Mother Mary would intentionally hurt the kids from the orphanage, including herself. If there was any chance of danger, Mother Mary wouldn’t let her go with Priyank.
Still, Priya couldn’t deny the curiosity gnawing at her. Perhaps meeting Mary wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all. It might give her some insight into their situation and whether they were truly okay.
“Now, what’s wrong? Are you going to keep overthinking like this?” Priyank gently wiped away her tears, taking her hand and urging her to stand up. “We’re running late, we have a lot to buy. Let’s go,” he said, pulling her along with him.
Priya obediently followed, her mind swirling with thoughts. She knew she had to come up with a plan before the marriage took place.
She had always dreamed of a fairytale wedding, but here she was, about to marry someone she considered to be a devil. He scared her, and she couldn’t shake off the feeling of dread about her future with him.
He was the cause of her suffering, and the thought of marrying him filled her with fear. How could she marry someone she didn’t love, someone she barely knew aside from his volatile temperament?
She couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling in her gut. Marrying Priyank felt like singing her own death sentence, and she knew she had to find a way out before it was too late.
Despite Priyank’s insistence and the looming pressure of the marriage, Priya couldn’t suppress the growing sense of unease in her heart.
As they exited the office building, they made their way to the parking lot and settled into the backseat of the car. With Priyank beside her, Priya couldn’t shake off the feeling of being trapped, both physically and emotionally, as the driver started the car and pulled away from the building.
She couldn’t imagine spending her life with someone who brought her nothing but fear and uncertainty. The image of a fairytale wedding had long faded, replaced by the harsh reality of her situation.
Priya knew she had to find a way to break free from Priyank’s grip before it was too late.
‘I can’t marry him,’ Priya thought, the weight of her dilemma heavy on her mind. ‘But I can’t let him hurt Mother Mary and the kids. What can I do? Even Daisy Aunty can’t help me once I’m married to him. There won’t be a way out, no matter how hard I try.’