Married in Vengeance (Dynasty Rebels #4)

Chapter 39

Thirty-Nine

RAM

Ram dropped his files on the table beside which Aarush and Aadhya stood. Karthik stepped to the side, allowing him to take the space in front.

“Alright.” The judge adjusted his glasses. “Shall we begin?”

“Your Honour, may I speak?”

Hearing Aadhya’s voice after so many days of not hearing anything from her had Ram’s gut clenching. He didn’t look at her though. He kept his eyes on the judge, for his own sanity. He was a coward but there was no way he could meet her gaze and see her hate for him in it.

The judge stared at her, astonished. “I think you should allow your lawyer to speak for you, my dear.”

“But there is something I need to do first. Before we start.”

Ram felt his lips twitch as the judge gaped at Aadhya. He didn’t blame the older man. There was no one like his wife. She was truly one of a kind.

“Young lady,” the judge began.

“I would like to fire my lawyer,” Aadhya spoke louder than him, her voice ringing across the crowded courtroom. Ram continued to watch the judge. He wasn’t going to look at her. He couldn’t.

Aarush stiffened. “No sir, we don’t,” he interjected. “We are very happy with the legal representation we have. Please, let’s continue.”

“Anna, I-“

“Enough!” Aarush’s voice sliced through her protest.

Ram glanced at her. He couldn’t help himself. Aadhya’s angry, tumultuous gaze clashed with his for a second before he turned away to face forward again.

“If the defense is done with their internal politics, may we get down to the business of this courtroom?” the judge queried sarcastically.

“Yes, Your Honour,” Ram murmured.

Before the judge could chastise them any further, the opposing counsel cleared his throat. “Your Honour, we would like to ask for a continuance.”

The judge’s eyebrows shot up. “Already?”

“Yes, Your Honour. We would like a few more days before we appear before your august presence.”

The judge looked over at Ram, eyebrows raised.

“We are ready, Your Honour,” he said in reply to the silent question.

“Well then, I’ll grant a continuance for fifteen days from today. Be ready,” he told the opposing counsel. “There won’t be any further issuances.”

“Yes, Your Honour.” The other man nodded, stepping away from the table and making way for the next case to be heard.

Their little group filed out as well. The opposing counsel’s lawyer stopped Ram requesting him to step aside.

“We’d be interested in a conversation,” the man told him, mopping sweat off his brow with a handkerchief.

“Sure, we’ll talk,” Ram told him genially, patting his shoulder. “In court.”

“Don’t get cocky,” the other man huffed. “We’re asking for a lot of money in compensation.”

Ram grinned. “That’s nothing compared to what we’ll be asking for when we countersue for defamation.”

With another pat to the man’s stiff shoulder, Ram walked towards the bourgeoning argument between Aadhya and Aarush.

“I don’t want him for my lawyer!”

“Keep your voice down,” Aarush told her, steel infusing his own voice. “This is not about you. This is about the company. And Laxmi Builders needs the best legal counsel available. And that’s Ram.”

Cheeks flushed, chest heaving, Aadhya faced off with the rest of them. Her face was a mask of betrayal as she glared at her brother.

“You said-“

“Aadhya!” Whatever she had been about to say, Aarush cut her off before she could complete it. “Later.”

“Aarush,” Ram interjected, stopping beside them. “Virat and I need to discuss something with you.”

Aarush turned to face him, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Whatever you have to say can be said in front of my wife and my sister. This is their legacy too. Make no mistake, Gadde. I’ll accept your help for the good of my company, but my loyalties and my boundaries are very clear.”

Ram nodded, his face impassive. “Noted. Can we go somewhere to talk? It’s important.”

Without a word, Aadhya turned on her heel and walked out of the court building. Ram watched her go, a million unspoken words and emotions clogging his throat.

“Aren’t you going to apologise?’ Priyanka’s cold voice drew his gaze back to her.

“No.” He slipped his sunglasses on and moved to step around her.

“Why not? You should be on your knees begging for her forgiveness.”

“Priya,” Aarush sighed, clearly at the end of his tether.

“I want to know, Aarush! I want to know why the fuck he isn’t groveling from here to kingdom come.”

“Because I don’t deserve her forgiveness. So, I won’t ask for it.” He gestured towards the door. “Now could we please get back to saving her and your company? Right now, that’s my only focus.”

“For the life of me, I can’t decide what you are, Ram Gadde. Hero or Villain?” Priyanka shook her head, anger and confusion warring for supremacy on her face.

“Neither,” he told her. “I’m just a man. But if you really want to pick, you should go with villain. I’m nobody’s hero.”

None of them heard Aadhya approach them. Not until it was too late. She glanced from one tense face to the other, stopping on Ram’s. He couldn’t make out how much she’d heard.

“We need to talk,” she told him, her voice sounding hoarse from unshed tears.

“I agree. Virat and I-“

“No.” She slashed her hand through the air. “Not about the case. About us.”

His throat tightened. “Okay.”

“I want a divorce.”

He’d been expecting this. And still, why did it feel like the ground shook beneath his feet? His eyes roved over her pale, set face, noting the pain and fatigue lining it. His heart ached for the ruin he’d set in motion with his thoughtless actions.

But when he spoke, all he said was, “As you wish.”