Kharisma instinctively gripped her phone tighter. “What for?”
“I want to see it.”
Kharisma took a step back. “Babe…”
“Give it to me.”
Kharisma nervously looked at her husband. “It’s just an ordinary message.”
“If it’s just an ordinary message, why are you hiding it?”
Kharisma fell silent.
Kabir extended his hand again. “Give me the phone, Kharisma.” This time, his voice was lower. Somehow, that made it sound far more threatening.
Kharisma bit her lower lip. She knew that if Kabir read the message, their argument wouldn’t stop at a mere bouquet of flowers.
The man who sent it wasn’t an ordinary fan. Kharisma herself didn’t know who was behind the person calling himself her secret admirer.
“Babe, it’s just from one of my regular fans. You don’t need to pay attention to it,” Kharisma said. She really didn’t want to fight with her husband again. Then she went back into the bedroom to avoid Kabir.
Kabir growled, feeling as though he had completely run out of words.
Kharisma finally sat down on the edge of the bed.
She opened her phone again and glanced toward the bedroom door. After making sure Kabir wasn’t there, her fingers began to type.
She replied to the secret admirer who had been sending her all kinds of gifts lately.
[Who are you? Please, don’t act up again. I hope this is the last time. I don’t like what you’re doing.]
A reply came in shortly afterward.
[Are the gifts too ordinary?]
Kharisma furrowed her brow.
She was starting to get annoyed.
[You know what “I don’t like it” means, right? So please stop sending me these things.]
Another message appeared.
[Ah, I know… A young, beautiful woman like you must want luxury and designer goods. All right, next time I’ll give you something special.]
Kharisma rubbed her face.
Did this man really not understand human language?
She quickly replied.
[Please, don’t be crazy! I’m going to block you!]
His reply came almost instantly.
[Do it! I have plenty of ways to become your secret admirer. You understand, my darling?]
Kharisma felt her blood boiling.
What kind of secret admirer never gave up like this?
She had clearly rejected him, but the man only grew bolder.
Kharisma had never asked for any of those gifts.
Besides, Kabir already provided almost everything she needed.
Clothes, bags, jewelry—even the expensive things she wanted were easily given to her by her husband.
There was only one thing Kabir had never truly given her.
Freedom.
Kharisma felt stifled.
She wanted to interact with the outside world. She wanted friends. She wanted to do something that wasn’t always related to the house and family.
That was why social media became her escape.
Kabir had never really liked that habit.
But because he loved Kharisma too much, he eventually allowed it anyway.
The problem was that this freedom had now brought a new problem into their home.
Creak!
The bedroom door suddenly opened.
Kharisma jumped.
The phone in her hand nearly slipped out.
Kabir stood in the doorway.
“This is why I’ve never liked you being on social media, Kharisma.”
Kharisma hurriedly turned off the screen.
“Babe…”
Kabir stepped inside.
“How many times have I told you?”
“None of this was expected, Babe.”
Kharisma tried to explain.
“I never asked him to send me anything.”
“Then how was he able to contact you?”
“I don’t know.”
Kabir gave a humorless laugh.
“Are you sure?”
Kharisma looked at her husband.
“What matters is that my feelings for you have never changed.”
Kabir stared intently at her.
“Are you sure?”
His voice turned cold.
“Or are you trying to cover up another lie?”
Kharisma shook her head.
“That’s enough, Babe!”
She rose from the bed.
“I’m tired.”
Kabir remained where he was.
“I’m exhausted. It’s like this every day. I’m always being suspected, always being questioned. When will it end?”
Kharisma walked past Kabir.
But after only a few steps, Kabir reached for her phone. “Who were you chatting with?”
Kharisma immediately turned around. “Babe, give it back!”