Chapter 38: CHAPTER 35: THIRD WHEEL PROBLEMS

Neti

I had to get away.

Every second in his presence felt like a battle I was losing.

I turned on my heel, ready to retreat into the dressing room, to put space, fabric, anything between us. But Adolph was faster.

Before I could escape, his fingers curled around my wrist, firm yet teasing.

“Running away?” His voice dripped amusement, but beneath it lay something darker. Something predatory.

I swallowed hard, refusing to meet his gaze. “I’m going to change.”

His grip didn’t tighten. He didn’t have to.

With just his presence alone, I was trapped.

"Why rush?” His fingers traced along my wrist, lazy and slow. “You haven’t heard my opinion yet."

I didn’t want to hear it.

I knew it would be something that made my knees weak, something that would settle deep in my bones and haunt me.

And I was right.

His other hand lifted, fingertips ghosting along my waist.

“You look sinful, Neti.”

His voice was a whisper, rough and deep, like it was taking every ounce of his control to keep it together.

"You expect me to let you walk around looking like this? In front of others?”

I exhaled shakily, my stomach twisting. “This is a bridal boutique, Adolph. Everyone is looking at dresses, not me.”

The sharp chuckle that left him sent a wave of heat through me.

He leaned in, lips barely an inch from my ear, his breath hot against my skin.

“They can look. But they can’t touch.”

His fingers tightened against my waist.

I sucked in a breath.

“You, mi vida… are mine.”

My life

His lips ghosted over my ear, his voice lowering into something thick, dangerous, intoxicating.

“And when we get home, I’ll remind you just how much.”

Just then—

A loud whistle.

“Damn, Adolph. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

I froze. Oh, no.

I turned my head slowly to see Pranav, standing there with the smuggest expression possible.

Adolph’s jaw twitched. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Pranav grinned, crossing his arms. “I was gonna check if you were done picking out the dress, but now I see you’re a little… occupied.”

His eyes flicked to Adolph’s grip on my waist, then back up to his face, wiggling his brows.

“Oh, don’t stop on my account,” he teased. “Keep whispering sweet nothings, lover boy.”

Adolph’s grip tightened slightly before he exhaled sharply and stepped back, his usual coldness returning.

Pranav grinned wider.

“Man, I gotta say, watching the infamous Adolph turn into a lovesick fool is hilarious.”

Adolph gave him a flat stare. “Leave.”

Pranav gasped dramatically. “That’s not how you treat your best man, bhabhi ka deewana.”

Bhabhi's crazy lover

I blinked. “Best man?”

Pranav shrugged. “Well, I assumed! I mean, who else is gonna keep you from completely scaring off your poor wife before the wedding?”

Adolph pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Pranav,” he muttered, voice dangerously low. “Shut up.”

Pranav just grinned wider.

“Alright, alright, I’ll leave… for now. But hey, Adolph?”

Adolph didn’t answer, just glared.

Pranav winked. “Don’t get too handsy in public, yeah?”

And before Adolph could kill him, he bolted out of the boutique, laughing the whole way.

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Adolph

I was about two seconds away from murdering Pranav.

His stupid grin, the way he waggled his eyebrows every time he caught my gaze—it was infuriating.

And he knew it.

“Adolph, you’re supposed to save the handsiness for the honeymoon, not the bridal fitting,” he snickered, leaning against the doorframe like he didn’t have a care in the world.

I shot him a glare that could’ve frozen fire. “Pranav, I swear—”

He raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning like a damn fool. “Hey, no judgment here. I just didn’t think you had a romantic bone in your body.”

“Get. Out.”

“Oh, come on,” he laughed, pushing off the wall. “You know, you two should really work on your PDA. It’s very... what's the word... medieval?”

I clenched my jaw, my hand still resting possessively on Neti’s waist, feeling the tension radiating off her. “Pranav—”

“Or should I say barbaric?” he continued, eyes twinkling with mischief. “I mean, whisking her off to a boutique to claim her in a wedding dress? Adolph, that’s some serious villain shit right there.”

Neti, still pinned against my side, crossed her arms and huffed. “If he’s a villain, you’re the sidekick who’s too dumb to realize he’s working for the bad guy.”

Pranav gasped dramatically, hand over his heart. “I’m wounded! And here I thought I’d be the charming rogue who swoops in to save the day.”

I snorted. “The only thing you’re swooping in on is Aliya’s block list.”

Pranav pretended to wince, laughing it off. “Hey, you miss all the shots you don’t take, right? Speaking of shots—Adolph, are you planning on taking one to calm down, or are you gonna keep glaring at me like you want to kill me?”

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I can do both.”

Pranav leaned closer to Neti, stage-whispering loud enough for me to hear. “I think he’s cranky because he hasn’t kissed you yet today. You should probably help him out with that.”

Neti’s face turned a shade of red I’d never seen before. “Pranav, I swear—”

“Oh, the chemistry!” he sang, spinning on his heel. “Don’t mind me, I’ll just be over here, swooning.”

I lunged for him, but he was already darting out of the room, his laughter echoing down the hall.

“Catch you lovebirds later!” he called, and I could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

I exhaled sharply, turning back to Neti. Her eyes were blazing, her cheeks flushed, and I couldn’t help the smirk that curved my lips.

“Annoying, isn’t he?”

She glared at me, though the fire in her eyes was… exhilarating.

“You’re both insufferable.”

I leaned in, voice dropping to a murmur just for her. “But only one of us makes your heart race.”

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, her defiance faltered.

And that—that was exactly what I wanted.

Few minutes later...

Neti

The moment I stepped back into my regular outfit, I let out a relieved sigh. The wedding dress—breathtaking, luxurious, and impossibly perfect—felt like a cage around me. A beautiful, expensive cage.

Adolph stood near the boutique’s lounge area, arms crossed, watching me with that unreadable expression of his. Pranav was still lounging on the couch, tossing a grape from the fruit platter into his mouth like he owned the place.

“Ah, finally back to your peasant form,” he teased, looking me up and down. “Not that I mind, but I have to say, princess mode suits you, bhabhi.”

I shot him a glare, but Adolph’s voice cut through before I could snap back.

“Pranav, if you keep calling her that, I’m going to make sure Aliya files a restraining order against you.”

Pranav gasped, clutching his chest in mock hurt. “That’s low, even for you.”

Adolph smirked. “So is your success rate with her.”

Pranav grumbled under his breath, mumbling something about how persistence was key, while I folded my arms and turned toward Adolph. “So, are we done here?”

He tilted his head, eyes darkening with something I couldn’t quite place. “For now.”

The way he said it sent an unsettling thrill down my spine.

Pranav, ever the chaos gremlin, nudged Adolph. “You know, traditionally, the groom doesn’t see the bride’s dress before the wedding. Bad luck and all that.”

Adolph didn’t even glance at him. “You think I care about luck?”

I stiffened, but Pranav just grinned. “Nope. But you do care about control.”

A muscle in Adolph’s jaw twitched, but instead of snapping, he only smirked. “Exactly. That’s why I know she’ll look perfect in it.”

The arrogance was infuriating.

I exhaled sharply. “Can we just go?”

Adolph finally nodded, stepping forward and placing a hand on my lower back, guiding me toward the exit.

His touch burned.

Pranav followed behind, grumbling about how he needed a drink after being forced to witness such “gross, tension-filled romance.”

I rolled my eyes.

Romance?

This wasn’t romance.

It was a game.

And I was still figuring out who the real winner was.

Half an hour later...

The drive back to Adolph’s ridiculously extravagant mansion was silent—except for Pranav, who was anything but.

He lounged in the backseat, kicking his feet up like he wasn’t sitting in a car that probably cost more than most people’s houses. “So, what do we think, folks? The bride looked drop-dead gorgeous, the groom looked like he wanted to eat her, and I, as always, was the comedic relief keeping this show together.”

I ignored him, staring out the window, watching the city lights blur past.

Adolph’s hand rested casually on the gear shift, way too close to my thigh. Not touching, but close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him.

Pranav clicked his tongue. “You guys are no fun. Oh! I know! Let’s play a game.”

I sighed. “No.”

Adolph didn’t even bother responding.

Pranav continued anyway. “It’s called ‘What’s Running Through Adolph’s Mind Right Now.’” He leaned forward between our seats, resting his chin on the backrest. “I’ll go first—‘Damn, my bride-to-be looked sinful in that dress. I should’ve just married her right there and taken her straight to the—’”

“Shut up.”

Adolph’s voice was calm. Too calm.

Which meant he was actually pissed.

Pranav grinned like an idiot. “See? I knew it.”

I turned toward Adolph, raising a brow. “Is that really what you were thinking?”

He didn’t answer right away. Just tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, gaze locked on the road.

Then, without looking at me, he said, “No. I was thinking I should’ve picked the dress for you myself. You’d look even better in something I chose.”

The way he said it—low, possessive, a statement, not a compliment— made my breath hitch.

Pranav let out a loud, dramatic gag. “You two are disgusting. Actually, scratch that, Adolph is disgusting. Neti, blink twice if you need saving.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’d rather be kidnapped than be saved by you.”

Adolph smirked. “Smart girl.”

Pranav groaned, flopping back against his seat. “I hate it here.”

I didn’t bother responding, but my gaze flickered back to Adolph’s hand—still too close to my thigh.

And the worst part?

I didn’t move away.

The rest of the ride was filled with Pranav’s endless complaints about how he was third-wheeling his own best friend.

“You know what? I should’ve sat in the front. At least then, I wouldn’t have to physically feel the tension in this car.” He dramatically waved his hands around. “It’s suffocating me.”

“You’re suffocating me,” I shot back.

“Exactly!” Pranav groaned. “I’ve been suffering all day. First, I have to watch Adolph stare at you like he’s about to devour you, then I have to witness you two practically have eye-sex in the dressing room—”

I gasped. “We did not!”

“Oh, please.” He pointed accusingly at Adolph. “I saw you practically stripping her with your eyes.”

Adolph smirked, unbothered. “And?”

Pranav clutched his chest. “God, I hate you.”

“You’re still here, though,” Adolph mused, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the steering wheel.

“Against my will!”

I sighed, leaning back against my seat. This was my life now.

When we finally pulled into the long driveway leading up to Adolph’s mansion, Pranav let out a relieved sigh. “Finally. Freedom.”

Adolph parked smoothly, and before I could even process it, he was out of the car and opening my door for me.

The sudden chivalry threw me off. I hesitated before stepping out, but the moment my hand brushed against his, his fingers closed around mine.

Firm. Possessive.

I glanced up at him, about to protest, but he only smirked down at me.

“Don’t start thinking you can run, princesa. I’ll catch you. Every time.”

My breath caught in my throat.

Pranav, already halfway to the front door, turned back and groaned. “Oh my God, can you two stop flirting for five seconds? My single heart can’t take it.”

Adolph ignored him, still holding my hand as he led me inside.

I should’ve pulled away.

I didn’t.

And that terrified me.

The moment we stepped inside the mansion, Pranav dramatically collapsed onto the couch, groaning like he had just run a marathon.

"This has been the worst day of my life," he declared. "I have never third-wheeled this hard. I feel like a literal extra in your twisted little love story."

I scoffed, trying to pull my hand away from Adolph’s, but his grip tightened.

"It's not a love story," I muttered under my breath.

Adolph chuckled darkly beside me. "Yet."

I whipped my head toward him, glaring, but his smirk only deepened.

Pranav, now lying completely sprawled out on the couch, waved a hand in the air. "Yeah, yeah. I don't care. Just tell me when dinner’s ready because I’m starving."

Adolph didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, he leaned in, voice low enough that only I could hear.

"Hungry, princesa?" His lips almost brushed my ear. "I can feed you myself if you ask nicely."

I stepped back instantly, my face heating up.

"You’re insufferable," I hissed, shoving his hand off mine and storming past him.

"That’s not a no," he called after me.

I ignored him.

Or at least, I tried to.

I could still hear Pranav laughing behind us. "Damn, Neti, just admit it. The man’s got you wrapped around his finger."

I turned around and pointed at him. "Shut up, Pranav."

He mimed zipping his lips but kept grinning like a fool.

Adolph only smirked. "Keep talking, Pranav. I enjoy watching her get all riled up."

"Oh, do you now?" Pranav wiggled his eyebrows. "Is that why you were looking at her in that dress like she was your last meal?"

Adolph sighed dramatically. "I was just appreciating fine craftsmanship."

Pranav snorted. "Craftsmanship, my ass."

I groaned, turning away from both of them. "I’m going to my room before I lose my mind."

Adolph’s voice stopped me in my tracks. "Don’t lock the door, princesa. You know I’ll just come in anyway."

I clenched my jaw and stormed off without another word.

Behind me, Pranav whistled. "God, I need a drink."

Adolph chuckled. "I need something sweeter."

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