He rested his fists on the desk and forced himself to look at his wife. “My publicity department is in a panic,” Dev said. “It appears that your mother is shopping around a tell-all exposé.”
“My mother?”
“Not only will it discuss how horribly I treated you and how amazing I am in bed, but it will also explain your mysterious disappearance.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” she blurted out. “You know I would never do something like this.”
“Do I?” he asked silkily as the anger ate at him like acid. “And yet you threatened me with this not too long ago. At the time I didn’t believe it. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“When did I say that?” She tilted her head as it occurred to her. “Wait, do you mean when I found out that Shreya was playing Laila? I said that in anger but I wouldn’t do that. That would have hurt me just as much as you.”
Dev stared at her. It would have been suicide to her career if she had planned to stay in Mumbai. Now she was ready to throw a grenade on everything they had together and walk away. Tina’s action proved only one thing: she didn’t want another chance at this marriage.
The blow was staggering. He had done everything he could and she was ready to walk. Why had he thought he could change her mind? She had not mentioned a future together.
“Say something,” Tina whispered. She watched him with extreme caution as she wrung her hands together.
“You’re a better actress than anyone gives you credit for,” he said as he pushed away from his desk. “I believed you.”
She frowned as she nervously tugged at her sari. “What are you talking about?”
“You refused to take my name because you didn’t want anyone to accuse you of marrying an Arjun for career advancement.” He braced his legs and crossed his arms, ready for battle. “You refused to work with me or with Arjun Entertainment. You rejected my help every step of the way because you didn’t want to feel obligated to me.”
“I was wrong to do that,” she said. “I didn’t know that my decisions hurt you.”
Was that it? Or was she playing the devoted wife for another reason? There had been starlets who had wanted to be part of the Arjun dynasty. They had been traditional with perfect backgrounds, but none of them interested him. Had Tina known how to seduce him? Was she just as devious as the characters she played?
Her career would skyrocket if she didn’t play the dutiful wife. Salacious gossip—true or false—would put her in higher demand. But it was a short-term strategy. If she played it right and cashed in quickly, she would have the money and fame she’d always wanted.
“I take it you saw the magazine cover. The one with me and Shreya.”
“I don’t care about that.” She gestured at the magazine on the coffee table.
“Don’t lie to me, jaan. I know that you saw a divorce lawyer today.” He had seen the amateur pictures on a few blogs moments ago in his meeting with the publicity department. The publicist was annoyed that these pictures had been taken on their anniversary. Dev had been stunned. It had been like a sharp dagger to the heart. All this time he had thought they were reconciling but Tina wasn’t going to wait one minute longer to start the divorce process.
Tina gasped. “Divorce lawyer? What are you talking about?”
“You must have rushed right over there after seeing the magazine.” She’d sworn she would walk out if there was any evidence that he was having an affair. “Or did you make the appointment two months ago when we made our agreement? Or was it longer ago than that? When you walked away? The night after we got married?”
“You’ve got it all wrong, Dev.”
He tried to ignore her stricken expression. “You married me to improve your career in Hindi films. Now you’re going to Hollywood and you don’t need my help.”
Tina took a step forward. “I married you because I loved you.”
Dev scoffed at her declaration. “I don’t believe that for a second. If you had loved me, it was a very weak love. It broke the moment we faced trouble.”
“That’s not true. I have always loved you.” She squared back her shoulders and pressed her fists at her sides. “Do you know how demeaning it is to love someone who resents being married to you? Or how much it hurts to love someone who makes you feel unwanted and unworthy of his attention?”
“It wasn’t too long ago when you declared that you hated me.”
“I hated what you did to me.” Her chin wobbled as the tears shone in her eyes. “I hated that you had all the power and I had none. I hated that I could love you even under all the hate.”