My vision blurred with unshed tears as I stood at the back, watching Avi. Dressed in that stunning red lehenga as she took those steps around the fire with Viktor Schwarz. The man who was now her husband. My chest ached as I stood there, watching them.

Each fera felt like a dagger through my chest, twisting deeper with every step they took. The moment he tied the nuptial chain around her neck, I couldn’t breathe. My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms hard enough to draw blood. I couldn’t look away. Couldn’t tear my gaze from the way he claimed her like she was his and only his. When he applied the vermilion to her hairline, marking her as his wife, I thought I would shatter right there.

“Aryan...” Riya’s soft voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. I didn’t move, couldn’t speak. She stepped closer, her hand brushing my shoulder gently. “Aryan, please... you’re hurting yourself. You have to let her go.”

I sucked in a shaky breath, forcing myself to tear my eyes away from them. The pain was suffocating. I never thought it would hurt this much. “I can’t...” I whispered. “I can’t just let her go like that.”

“She’s already gone,” Riya whispered back, guilt and sympathy lacing her words. “You need to let her go, Aryan. Holding onto this will only destroy you.”

My jaw clenched, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I know,” I mumbled, the bitterness thick on my tongue. “But it doesn’t make it hurt any less.”

Riya slipped her arm through mine, her voice gentle. “Aryan... get a grip. Aise toot kar mat gir jaa. Koi faida nahi hai.”

I swallowed, forcing the bitterness back down. “Toot gaya hoon, Riya... sambhal nahi paa raha hoon.”

Before she could say anything else Max strolled over and wrapped his arms around her from behind grinning like an idiot as usual, pressing a playful kiss to her shoulder, completely oblivious to the tension. “I’m extremly happy with my angel,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck with a grin. Riya rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away, her lips quirking up despite herself.

“Max, not now” she huffed, trying to sound annoyed, but her cheeks were flushed. He just smirked and buried his face in her neck, mumbling something about how his world was perfect.

I glanced at them, almost jealous of their simple happiness. But my gaze was pulled back to the mandap, where Viktor was still stone-faced, yet oddly possessive, like he’d just claimed the most precious thing in the world. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. Everything inside me was breaking.

“Hey, lover boy, snap out of it. You’re too handsome to be sulking. You’ll scare away all the girls.” Max muttered.

Riya shot him a glare, but Max just tightened his grip on her and grinned even wider. “Shut up, Max,” she muttered, trying to shove his arm off, but he held firm.

Max gave me a  serious look, his expression softening despite the teasing. “Look, Aryan, it’s done. You’ve got to move on. Besides...” He looked at Viktor and Avira, his tone dropping to something almost understanding. “Some battles aren’t meant to be won. You fought for her, and that’s what matters. Now, don’t let it eat you alive.”

I swallowed hard and nodded, even though the pain didn’t lessen. Riya gave me a sad smile, squeezing my shoulder before letting Max drag her away, still bickering. I stood there, watching Avira take those final steps around the fire, her eyes shining with unshed tears. My heart felt like it was being ripped from my chest.

One last glance at Avi, who would never be mine. Then I turned away, forcing myself to walk out of the hall before the tears finally escape, but just as I took a step, I collided with someone.

“Elena?” I muttered, surprised. She looked breathtaking—her blue lehenga shimmering under the soft lights, her hair braided and adorned with tiny flowers, she looked like a goddess. For a moment, I couldn’t tear my gaze away, lost in how effortlessly beautiful she looked. I couldn’t help but stare, momentarily stunned by how angelic she looked. But then reality crashed down again, and I lowered my gaze, trying to push past her.

She quickly stepped in front of me, her eyes widening as she noticed my bloodied palms. “Aryan! Your hands... What did you do?”

“It’s nothing,” I muttered, trying to hide them, but she caught my wrists, pulling my hands toward her.  I tried to pull away, but she didn’t let go, giving me a stubborn look. “Don’t move,” she scolded softly. Then, without hesitation, she tore a small strip from her dupatta and carefully wrapped it around my knuckles, tying it with delicate hands. I couldn’t help but notice how gentle she was, her fingers brushing against my skin, and how her brows furrowed with concentration as she tended to me.

Her voice was soft, almost like a whisper. “I know why you’re hurting,” she said gently, not meeting my eyes. “But don’t run away. Please... stay with me.”

I hesitated, not knowing what to say. I didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to feel anything. But the way she was looking at me—so concerned, so sincere—it made something inside me ease just a little.

She gave me a small, comforting smile. “You don’t have to pretend to be okay. Just... let me be here with you.”

I glanced down at her handiwork—the makeshift bandage around my fist—and then back at her. Her touch was soft, almost hesitant, like she didn’t want to break me more than I already was.

“Fine,” I mumbled, giving in, letting her lead me to a quieter corner. I didn’t have the strength to push her away anymore. And maybe, just for a moment, I didn’t want to be alone. I hadn’t even noticed how much my heart had slowed down during those moments with her.

I almost stumbled back when Aryan crashed into me, his eyes red and swollen, his fists bloodied and trembling. My heart clenched at the sight of him—he’s usually so bright and full of life, but now... shattered. His charm and sunshine smile were nowhere to be found, replaced by a hollow, broken look that made my chest ache.

“Aryan! Your hands...” I gasped, grabbing his wrists gently despite his attempt to hide them. I didn’t care that my dress cost millions—if it could be of use to tend his wounds, I’d tear it apart with pleasure. Without thinking twice, I tore a piece from my scarfs, ignoring that this dress cost was one million, and carefully wrapped it around his knuckles. My fingers brushed against his skin, and I couldn’t help but notice how cold and rigid his hands felt.

He didn’t protest, just stared at the floor, his jaw clenched and shoulders tense. I bit my lip, trying to think of something, anything that might ease the pain etched across his face.

“Come on,” I whispered, giving his hand a gentle tug. “Let’s sit down for a while.”

He hesitated, his eyes flickering to the wedding pavilion where Avira and Viktor were now seated, surrounded by blessings and rituals. I squeezed his hand, grounding him back to me. Reluctantly, he followed me to an empty table in the corner. I pushed him into a chair and hurried to grab a couple of glasses of juice from the nearby table.

“Drink,” I urged, setting one in front of him and taking a sip from the other. He didn’t move at first, just stared at the glass like it was a foreign object. My heart sank deeper.

Before I could say anything more, Max showed up with Riya by his side, practically glued to her as usual.

“Oi, lover boy, why the long face?” Max teased, letting go of Riya for just a moment to clap Aryan on the shoulder. Riya shot him a glare, but he just grinned wider and tugged her back into his arms, pressing a kiss to her neck.

“Max, give him some space!” Riya hissed, trying to pry herself free from his hold.

Aryan just sipped the juice with a numb expression. I bit my lip, exchanging a worried glance with Riya.

“Hey,” I said softly, reaching out to touch Aryan’s hand again. “I know it hurts. But... you’re not alone in this. We’re here for you, okay?”

Riya leaned over, her voice dropping to a soft murmur. “Aryan, tu har jagah apni sunshine leke aata tha. Chal, apni usual energy wapas le aa. Tere bina to maza hi nahi aa raha yahan.”

Max nodded, still holding Riya tightly. “Exactly! You look like someone killed your puppy. Come on, bro, snap out of it. We can’t have you sulking around and ruining the vibe. Plus, I need my drinking buddy later.”

A small smile tugged at Aryan’s lips, just for a second, and I let out a breath of relief. It wasn’t much, but it was something. I scooted closer, patting his shoulder. “Just... be here with us. You don’t have to say anything. Just... let us stay with you.”

Aryan looked at me, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. He nodded slowly, still not saying much, but I knew it was enough for now. Max went back to being clingy, practically smothering Riya with affection while she scolded him under her breath, and Aryan’s lips twitched upward again, just a little.

Maybe, just maybe, he’d be okay. I’d stay right here with him until he was.

****

He lost her.

But in the shadows of shattered vows and trembling hands, someone else saw him—saw all of him.

While Aryan bleeds silently in the corner of a wedding that wasn’t his, a girl in blue offers him more than a bandage. She offers him a reason to stay.

Elena Schwarz—the sister of the man who just took the love of his life—should’ve been the last person to comfort him.
And yet... her soft hands, her silent understanding, and that stubborn heart?
They might just be the first thing to make him breathe again.  

Next chapter drops soon, Schwarzlings.

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