Ashriti's POV
I shouldn't have gone to meet him that evening.
But I did.
The ring was still on my finger.
Cold.
Heavy.
A reminder.
Or a warning.
We were near the college parking lot.
Classes were over.
The campus was quieter than usual.
"You didn't take it off," Shivrit said, his eyes dropping to my hand.
"No."
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Good."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
My back almost brushed the wall behind me.
"You know what that means, right?" he murmured.
"What?"
"That you chose me."
The air felt thick.
"I already chose you," I whispered.
His hand slid to my waist.
Firm.
Possessive.
"Say it again."
"I chose you."
That was all he needed.
His fingers moved from my waist to my jaw, tilting my face upward.
His thumb brushed slowly across my lower lip.
"You look so innocent when you lie to yourself," he said softly.
"I'm not lying."
"Then don't pull away."
Before I could respond—
He pulled me closer.
His hand tightened at my waist.
The other moved behind my neck, fingers tangling lightly in my hair.
And then he kissed me.
Not gently.
Not carefully.
His lips crashed against mine with hunger.
Possession.
Urgency.
I gasped, and he deepened the kiss instantly.
His grip tightened.
My fingers instinctively fisted into his shirt.
His breath was warm.
Rough.
Demanding.
He kissed like he was claiming something.
Like he wanted the world to know.
When I tried to pull back for air, he followed.
Not allowing distance.
Not allowing hesitation.
"Ashriti…" he murmured against my lips.
And then—
"Ashriti!"
The voice shattered everything.
We broke apart.
Breathing hard.
Lips still tingling.
Adray stood a few feet away.
Frozen.
His eyes weren't angry at first.
They were hurt.
Deeply.
Dangerously hurt.
He walked toward us.
Fast.
Before I could speak—
His hand connected with Shivrit's face.
The sound echoed.
"You don't touch her!" Adray shouted.
Shivrit laughed.
Actually laughed.
"She's not yours."
The next second they were pushing each other.
Collars grabbed.
Fists flying.
Anger exploding in raw, ugly ways.
"Stop!" I screamed.
Adray grabbed my wrist.
"Go inside. Now."
I had never heard that tone from him.
Sharp.
Commanding.
Protective.
"I said go!"
But I didn't move.
Instead—
I pulled my hand away.
And held Shivrit's.
Adray froze.
"What are you doing?" he asked quietly.
"I'm not leaving him."
The words came out steady.
Too steady.
"Ashu, go inside," he said again.
Louder.
Now anger trembled in his voice.
"Now."
"I won't."
Silence.
Shivrit smirked beside me.
Adray's jaw tightened.
"Even after everything?" he asked.
Even after I protected you.
Even after I warned you.
Even after I stood between you and every bad decision.
I couldn't answer.
Because he wasn't wrong.
"You're choosing him?" he asked again.
"Yes."
That single word changed everything.
He stepped back slowly.
Looked at the ring.
Then at my hand locked with Shivrit's.
"Ashriti Goyal," he said, his voice steady now.
"Even after I shielded you your whole life… you still chose him."
My chest tightened.
"You chose chaos over protection."
Each word landed like a verdict.
"You chose obsession over love."
Tears blurred my vision.
"But remember this."
His voice didn't shake.
"Even if one day you beg on your knees…"
He paused.
"I will not come back."
My breath caught.
"Never."
The finality in his tone was colder than anger.
He looked at me one last time.
Not with rage.
Not with softness.
Just disappointment.
"You did this," he said quietly.
"You chose."
And then he walked away.
Didn't look back.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't stop.
The parking lot felt hollow.
Empty.
I was still holding Shivrit's hand.
But for the first time—
It didn't feel powerful.
It felt like something had ended.
Shivrit leaned closer to me.
His thumb brushed over the ring.
"Now he knows," he said calmly.
And something about the way he said it—
Made it clear.
This wasn't love.
This was war.
And I had just picked my side.