Chapter 20: Between Betrayal and a Kiss

With tears streaming down her face, Naina throws herself into Romy's arms, her voice trembling as she confesses, 'Harsh betrayed me!' But behind those sorrowful eyes lies a deeper game—she seeks sympathy, yes, but also weaves a delicate web of love, hoping to ensnare Romy in her bittersweet trap

Naina collapsed into his chest, sobbing uncontrollably. "He… he cheated on me. I trusted him. I thought he was different… and he—he was with her."

Romy didn't speak. He just held her.

But their moment didn't last long.

A sharp, sarcastic voice interrupted them. "Wow. Crying on another man's shoulder already? That was fast."

Monty stood at the end of the corridor, his arms folded, eyebrows raised.

Naina froze. She turned slowly. "P—Preety? What are you doing here?!"

Monty walked closer, his voice full of mock innocence. "Oh, you know… just catching my brother's girlfriend in the arms of a married man. The usual."

"Please don't tell him," Naina whispered, panic flashing in her eyes. "Please, Preety. You can't tell Monty about this!"

Monty's face changed. Gone was the sarcasm. His voice dropped an octave, and it was no longer playful. "Are you seriously worried about me telling him—after you broke his heart?!"

Naina swallowed hard.

Monty stepped forward, his voice rising with rage. "How dare you cheat on my brother?! He gave you everything! And you—"

"Oh, stop!" Naina snapped, her tears replaced by anger. "You want the truth? Your brother is a walking museum piece! He kisses my forehead like I'm a temple idol. He won't even touch my lips because 'it's not proper before marriage.' I'm a woman, I have needs!"

Monty blinked. "Excuse me—what?!"

"I want passion, I want heat! And he wants to save it all for the wedding night like it's some secret prize! I'm not a robot!"

Romy snorted. "Okay, wow."

Naina whirled to face him. "And you! This was your plan, wasn't it? You two set this whole thing up to trap me!"

Monty's nostrils flared. "Yes, we did. Because something felt off, and clearly, we were right."

Naina glared. "Oh please. You're just mad because your husband is hot and nice to me."

Monty paused, then muttered, "He is hot… but that's not the point!"

She crossed her arms. "You both planned this. Romy's your husband. And this was all a trap. You wanted to catch me and make me look bad."

"You don't need our help for that," Romy said under his breath.

"ENOUGH!" Monty shouted, and the next moment, to everyone's shock—including his own—he slapped Naina across the face.

The corridor went silent.

Naina held her cheek, stunned. Romy stepped between them. "Monty, whoa—"

Monty pointed at her. "You don't know what love is, Naina. You don't deserve it. You just want instant gratification. My brother loved you. You spat on it."

Without another word, he dragged both Naina and Harsh, who had awkwardly appeared from behind, out of the hotel, threw some cash at Emma who stood watching all of it like a reality show, and slammed the main door shut.

Outside, Naina and Harsh screamed at each other.

Inside, silence.

Monty sat at the edge of the bed, his face blank, his eyes distant.

Romy slowly walked in, closing the door behind him. "You okay?"

Monty didn't look at him. "I don't know. I just… I just wanted to protect My brother. And now I feel like I'm the one who got hurt."

Romy sat beside him, gently placing a hand on his back. "You did what was right."

"I didn't want to be right," Monty said quietly, eyes glistening. "I wanted her to love him."

Romy's heart ached at the sight. He reached out and wiped the tear slipping down Monty's cheek with his thumb. "Hey… look at me."

Monty turned, their eyes locking.

"You've done enough saving today," Romy whispered, leaning in.

And then—like a slow magnet pulling two souls together—Romy pressed his lips gently against Monty's.

It started soft. Barely a touch. A question, not a demand.

Monty didn't move, shocked at the gentleness, the tenderness in that kiss.

Romy leaned in further, his hand cradling Monty's jaw, guiding him, deepening the kiss.

His lips explored Monty's with reverence—first kissing the upper lip, slow and deliberate… then tracing the lower lip, teasing it, tasting it.

Monty's breath hitched. He closed his eyes.

The kiss turned hungrier.

Romy parted his lips slightly, his tongue flicking out to taste Monty's lips. It was slow, sensuous, and unhurried—like he was memorizing every inch of him.

Monty gasped softly as Romy deepened the kiss, their tongues meeting—tentative at first, then bold, hungry. A dance of want, of comfort, of a connection long denied.

Their bodies leaned into each other, warm and close.

Monty's hands trembled as he placed one on Romy's waist, the other behind his neck, pulling him closer.

Romy groaned into the kiss, nibbling Monty's bottom lip gently, then tracing it again with his tongue.

It wasn't just a kiss. It was the closing of one door and the opening of another.