Shattered Love - Punarbharosa

🦋 Chapter 33 🦋

The soft glow of the evening lights from the penthouse windows bathed the room in gold as Aaradhya stood before the mirror. The city below twinkled, but not as much as the woman reflected back at her.

She wore a stunning red bodycon dress, handpicked by Aditya himself. It hugged her curves with sinful elegance, sculpting her frame like it was tailored by the gods. The fabric shimmered ever so slightly under the light not too flashy, not too dull, but rich, velvety red like fine wine poured under candlelight.

The dress dipped low at the back, revealing her flawless skin, smooth and glowing. The backless cut ended just above her waist, a bold choice for someone usually so composed yet tonight, she wore it with quiet confidence. The neckline was a soft, asymmetrical curve, subtly exposing her cleavage and collarbone, letting elegance and allure dance together.

Her hair was styled in soft waves, cascading down her bare back like ink running down porcelain. Every strand seemed to fall exactly where it should messy enough to look effortless, yet graceful enough to make anyone stare.

In her ears, she wore diamond drop earrings, long and delicate, catching light with every movement. They brushed the top of her neck, adding just the right amount of shimmer to her look. Around her wrist rested a thin platinum bracelet, elegant and minimal.

On her feet were black stilettos, with thin straps and red soles that matched her dress perfectly. The four-inch heels gave her an added height, making her walk like poetry. The confident click of them against the wooden floor echoed like a quiet announcement of power.

Her makeup was kept soft yet magnetic smokey eyes, a hint of shimmer on her eyelids, long lashes, and a bold red lipstick to seal it all. A tiny amount of sindoor adorned her forehead, bringing balance to her Indo-western grace.

She wasn’t just dressed for a party. 
She was dressed to conquer a room. 
And behind that mesmerizing look was one quiet detail: Aditya Raichand had chosen it all.

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

Downstairs in the soft-lit living room of the penthouse, Aditya Raichand sat on the edge of the sleek leather couch, phone in hand, scrolling through emails with his usual razor-sharp focus. Dressed immaculately in a black tailored tuxedo, the crisp white shirt beneath hugged his frame, while a deep maroon silk pocket square peeked from his coat an echo of warmth in his otherwise cold elegance. A matching maroon tie knotted perfectly at his collar. His jet-black hair was neatly styled, not a strand out of place. He looked powerful, polished… every bit the CEO the world feared and admired.

But behind those sharp eyes, there was something restless tonight. A strange tightness in his chest, a flicker of anticipation he hadn’t felt in years.

Just as he glanced down to respond to a message, he heard it the rhythmic clicking of heels against the marble floor. Delicate, poised. Feminine.

He looked up.

And everything else stopped.

Time. Breathing. Thought.

Aaradhya stood at the end of the staircase a vision in red. His eyes locked with hers, and his world tilted slightly.

Her green eyes soft yet stormy met his with uncertain confidence. That red, backless dress hugged her like second skin, each step she took whispering of elegance and danger. Her hair flowed in waves down her bare back, her earrings catching the light like stars trailing behind her. And most importantly sindoor on her forehead. That did something to his heart.

Aditya’s breath caught in his throat. For a second, his grip tightened on his phone until he forced himself to set it down.

She was breathtaking. And completely his.... his mind whispered but not said aloud.