EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE AN INDIAN BILLIONAIRE ENEMIES TO LOVERS ROMANCE (SEHGAL FAMILY & FRIENDS BOOK 6)

SAPNA BHOG

Copyright © Sapna Bhog All Rights Reserved. ISBN 979-888569684-5 This book has been published with all efforts taken to make the material error-free after the consent of the author. However, the author and the publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. While every effort has been made to avoid any mistake or omission, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that neither the author nor the publishers or printers would be liable in any manner to any person by reason of any mistake or omission in this publication or for any action taken or omitted to be taken or advice rendered or accepted on the basis of this work. For any defect in printing or binding the publishers will be liable only to replace the defective copy by another copy of this work then available.

To all my readers…thank you for taking a chance on my books - Sapna

Contents Prologue

vii

1. Chapter 1

1

2. Chapter 2

5

3. Chapter 3

9

4. Chapter 4

20

5. Chapter 5

25

6. Chapter 6

33

7. Chapter 7

39

8. Chapter 8

47

9. Chapter 9

56

10. Chapter 10

65

11. Chapter 11

77

12. Chapter 12

87

13. Chapter 13

96

14. Chapter 14

105

15. Chapter 15

116

16. Chapter 16

125

17. Chapter 17

133

18. Chapter 18

140

19. Chapter 19

153

20. Chapter 20

160

21. Chapter 21

167

22. Chapter 22

177

23. Chapter 23

196

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Contents 24. Chapter 24

201

25. Chapter 25

213

26. Chapter 26

216

27. Chapter 27

227

28. Chapter 28

234

29. Chapter 29

244

30. Chapter 30

261

31. Chapter 31

269

32. Chapter 32

275

33. Chapter 33

281

34. Chapter 34

286

35. Chapter 35

298

36. Chapter 36

302

37. Epilogue

319

Excerpt - Take A Chance On Me

325

Also By Sapna bhog

335

Find Me Here

339

About The Author

341

Acknowledgements

343

vi

Prologue “Don’t leave me, please Rhea. Don’t end us.” Rhea Sehgal looked into the face of the boy in front of her and felt nothing but revulsion for him. The cold London breeze blew against her cheeks, making her shiver. She needed to end this now. He gripped her hand. “You promised me that we’d try and work it out if I changed my attitude, and I am trying. I swear to you I am.” “It’s not enough, Krish. I’m tired of everything now,” she said firmly, pulling her hand out from his. “Please don’t make this harder for me than it already is. You and I were wrong from the beginning. We want different things.” “No, I want what you want. I’ll give you whatever you want. Give me a chance. I deserve it.” “But I deserve better. I deserve someone better than you.” She hardened her face. “It’s over, Krish.” His face fell. “No… I love you. I’ll try harder. I’ll be better, I swear it.” “Enough, okay! I’m done. Don’t call me or try and get in touch with me again. You and I were a mistake. Understand that and move on, please.” She held a hand out, hailing the cab she’d kept waiting for her. She quickly climbed into the taxi and he banged against the window. The taxi left, but not before she’d heard his parting words through the window-pane. “I will never forget you, Rhea. I will make you pay…one way or the other. In this life or the next.” A gentle arm shook her. “Rhea, wake up…”

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PROLOGUE

Rhea Sehgal jolted upright on her bed and stared at her twin, Shauna. The bedside light shone on her sister’s face, highlighting her worry. Rhea blinked. “What happened? What are you doing here?” “I heard you screaming and came to check on you,” Shauna said, dropping down to sit beside her on her bed. “Were you dreaming of him again?” Memories rushed to her mind and Rhea sucked in a harsh breath. His words, Krish’s words, returned to the forefront of her mind sending a shiver down her spine. She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “I dreamt of him again, h…his last words when I broke up with him.” Rhea pressed a hand to her quivering lips as that familiar fear washed through her. Fear that she hadn’t experienced in a long while now. She glanced at her twin, who was watching her carefully. “I’m scared, Shauna,” she whispered. “I haven’t dreamt of him in years and now suddenly, when life has finally begun to look up for me, he appears in my dreams like a bad omen.” Shauna scooted closer and put an arm around her. “Krish is gone. He won’t bother you again, I promise.” Krish Chopra. Years ago, Rhea had dated him until she’d realised how crazily obsessed he’d been with her. His fixation with her had eventually become unbearable and it had forced her to break up with him. But it hadn’t ended there. He’d sent her awful emails blaming her for his loss of control, for him becoming unhinged. Afraid of his actions, she’d quit

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studying in London and returned home, hoping to never hear from him again. But that hadn’t stopped him. He’d followed her to India and tried to hurt her, repeatedly. He’d even tried to kidnap her, but thanks to the support of her family, he’d been caught and handed to the police. His parents had begged her not to press charges, citing that he was unstable and mentally ill. And she’d agreed with the condition that they admit him to a facility to get him the help he needed to recover. Rhea had been broken for years after that ordeal, until…Nirvaan. He’d walked into her life like a ray of light. She’d been on the road to healing even before him, but Nirvaan…he made her feel like she was finally whole again. She took a deep breath. Nirvaan Kapur. Even saying his name in her mind made her breath hitch. “What are you thinking?” Shauna asked. “I’m scared that Krish will ruin what I have with Nirvaan…” Shauna cupped her face. Her twin stared at her, her dark eyes identical to her own. “Listen to me, Rhea,” Shauna said in a strong voice. “Krish can never hurt you again. You’re safe, okay?!” Rhea gulped. I will never forget you, Rhea. I will make you pay…one way or the other. In this life or the next. Krish’s words returned to her mind, taunting her in their blatant intensity. They made her question why she was remembering him now…after so many years of silence from him. After so many years of feeling safe and not looking over her shoulder. “No!” Rhea gasped. “Something’s happening…and he’s behind it all. I’m scared, Shauna…really scared.”

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“Listen to me. Krish can never hurt you because he…he’s dead.” Rhea jerked back. “What?” “He died nearly a year ago,” Shauna said. Her heart jumped. Fear washed over her skin. Krish was dead?! Oh God! Krish was dead. “How? What happened?” Rhea queried. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “I’ve kept a discreet tab on him for years through some friends here and in London. Krish had been in and out of various rehab centres for a while. He’d been into substance abuse for a long time. Somehow, he managed to smuggle some drugs into the last centre he was in and he…he overdosed.” Shauna sighed. “I never told you because you didn’t need to know. You’d finally returned to being yourself, you were happy, and I didn’t want even his shadow to fall on your life again. I only told you now so you can rest assured and take things forward with Nirvaan without worrying that Krish will come in the way of your new found happiness.” Rhea stared at her sister aghast. This was…unbelievable and so sad. Although she didn’t have very good memories of Krish, she didn’t want him…dead. She’d only wanted him away from her. A sudden thought struck her. Could she have handled him better? She’d asked herself this question so many times in the past already and now she wondered if she could have done anything, any small thing that would have helped him. That perhaps could have prevented his demise. “God! I can’t believe he died.” Tears leaked down her eyes for a life lost so soon. She looked at Shauna. “You should have told me.”

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Shauna crossed her arms. “Why? So you could have blamed yourself for it? You’ve done that enough already. His decisions in life were not your fault and neither is his death connected to you in any way. We all, everyone in our family, had promised never to speak of Krish because we saw how his actions took a toll on you. You became so quiet and withdrawn. You kept second guessing all your decisions for the longest. It took you years to return to being even a fraction of your former self.” Shauna looked her straight in the eye. “You have to let him go. He’s gone and you finally have a chance to live the life you want with the man of your dreams, without any fear. Nirvaan is that man, right?” Rhea’s heart sped and happiness filled her being. Nirvaan was perfect in every way. “He’s the one, Shauna. I know it. He makes me so happy. He’s gentle and quiet, and with him, I’m back to being myself. I even love teasing him.” She swallowed. “He makes me feel alive. Nirvaan… He’s just perfect in every way.” Shauna tucked a strand of Rhea’s hair behind her ear. “Then forget about Krish. He’s gone and you’re safe. Just focus on yourself and Nirvaan, and see how you both want to take your relationship forward.” Rhea gave her a watery smile. Nirvaan. She was falling for him. Every time she met him, she fell a little harder. They were opposites in every way possible and yet, being with him made her feel safe. His silent reserve spoke to the fun part of her soul. She’d thought that side of her had shrivelled up and died after the ordeal Krish had put her through. But with Nirvaan, she’d once again become the fun, free-spirited girl she once was.

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Destroying his calm and quiet with her spunk and sass was her favourite thing to do. They’d become so close in the few months she’d known him. But now she’d dreamt of Krish... No, she wasn’t thinking of that any more. She took a deep breath and let it out. Rhea was sad that Krish had died—she truly was—but she couldn’t help but feel like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Now, she could truly live free of him. She’d never have to worry that he might return to haunt her life again…to make her feel unsafe again. “Come on, let’s sleep,” Shauna said. “Do you want me to sleep here tonight?” Nodding, Rhea shifted to make room for her sister. Older by ten minutes, Shauna was her strength; she was her other half and her best friend. She had supported her throughout the difficult time she’d faced during and after Krish. Shauna switched off the light and while she fell asleep quickly, Rhea stayed awake for a long time, her thoughts everywhere, her brain alive and buzzing. Eventually, as was usual on most nights, her thoughts returned to Nirvaan. Thinking of him helped her calm her distraught senses and put a smile on her lips. Nirvaan Kapur, the man of her dreams. She was in love with him. She ought to tell him that and she would, soon. With that thought foremost on her mind, she drifted off to sleep.

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CHAPTER ONE

One month later Married! She, Rhea Sehgal, was married. A soft laugh escaped her mouth as she stared at her henna-painted hands. If a few months ago someone had told her that she’d be married so soon, she would’ve laughed in their face. But here she was, standing in the bedroom of her hotel suite waiting for her husband, Nirvaan, to come to her. It was their wedding night after all. She cast a shy glance at the rose petals splattered on the bed. Her sister Shauna and their closest friend Jiya had insisted on decorating this bedroom for her and they’d made it so pretty. Candles flickered in a soft glow all around her, and roses decorated the bed and the counter tops of every available surface in the room. The room was decorated for sin and sex. Her cheeks burned at that thought. Tonight, finally, Nirvaan would become hers in every way imaginable. A shiver coursed through her as she anticipated everything they’d finally do and share. Nirvaan. Her heart stuttered even as she whispered his name. She was deeply, irrevocably and utterly in love with him—her husband. 1

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE

But she hadn’t told him that yet. They’d had such a whirlwind courtship that she’d never gotten around to telling him how much she loved him. The last few times they’d been together, she thought she’d tell him what was in her heart, but the moment had never seemed right to admit something so significant. But now he was hers and tonight, she’d finally tell him how she truly felt about him. They’d just been married a few hours ago in a small ceremony, followed by a reception, attended by only their family and a few friends. When Nirvaan had proposed to her a week ago, his only request was to be married quickly and without any fuss. Although her family had protested, Rhea had wanted what he’d desired and they’d given in to her wishes. Nirvaan had barely introduced her to his father a day after he’d proposed. Everything had been so rushed since then. What was shocking, however, was that his mother hadn’t even flown from Delhi to attend their wedding. Rhea tugged her lower lip, thinking. She was aware that Nirvaan’s relationship with his mother was strained after she’d divorced his father—a college professor—and remarried her ex. But it was strange that she hadn’t attended her own son’s wedding. Well, it didn’t matter. Rhea was a part of Nirvaan’s life now and she had all the time in the world to understand his family dynamics. Tomorrow, she’d begin her new life, living and working together with Nirvaan. Her stomach fluttered. Gosh! She was so excited. A smile spread on her face. Falling for Nirvaan had never been in her plan. Actually, falling for anyone had been a big no for her. She’d never even looked at a man in years until Nirvaan had come along. With his intelligence and his quiet calm, he’d stolen right 2

SAPNA BHOG

into her heart. She loved that he challenged her and that he didn’t treat her like she was made of glass. The Times of India had labeled Nirvaan Kapur as Entrepreneur of the Year and a force to be reckoned with. He was hardworking and completely dedicated to his software firm, QubeCore. It was because of him that QubeCore was slated to become the number one gaming company in the world. His game, StreetZoneX, was topping all the charts worldwide and was seeing millions of downloads per month. Added to this, he’d taken a liking to art and had studied ancient art and the renaissance masters in his free time. His love for art was the reason he’d started QubeArt—an art gallery dedicated to showcasing some of the best artists from across the world and India—the place where she’d first met him, and also where she now worked. Meeting him at the gallery opening had been a benediction—a gift from God. Not only had he managed to sweep her off her feet, he’d even offered her a job to run QubeArt as she saw fit. Happiness bubbled inside her. With his grit and determination, Nirvaan would definitely add more businesses to his portfolio and now, she’d be right by his side and they’d succeed together. However, what she appreciated best about him was that he was a complete gentleman. He’d refused to kiss her even after he’d proposed. His reasons were his deep respect for her grandfather, Janak Sehgal, and the fact that her brother, Rishi and his wife, Mehak, were Nirvaan’s close friends. In fact, Mehak and Nirvaan had been childhood besties, and Mehak would skewer him alive if she thought he was fooling around with Rhea. Thus, he’d been waiting for tonight, their wedding night, and now, they were finally here at this point. She was so 3