Life with him: An Extended Epilogue of Scintilla Series

This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series Scintilla Universe

The Chase (Installment 1): The Beginning – A Dark Billionaire Romance
The Chase (Installment 2): Unveiling Paradise – A Dark Billionaire Romance
The Chase (Installment 3): The Masked Guy – A Dark Billionaire Romance
Her Terrifying Monster: Broken but Irresistible (Love, Madness, Vengeance)
Life with him: An Extended Epilogue of Scintilla Series

Life with him. A dream I live.

Scintilla Universe is divided into 4 parts (Click to read):

Life with him

London felt different this time. Not the nightmare I’d endured before. This was something else entirely—a dream wrapped in warmth, the kind you want to sink into and never wake from. A sweet, lazy dream, where the air seemed softer, the hours slower.

Maybe it was the villa—an old-world beauty with the kind of elegance that felt lived-in rather than staged. Swanky without screaming for attention, it had that rare magic of making you feel like you’d stepped into another time. It wasn’t sprawling, but every inch was decadence.

Aayansh knew me too well; this trip was tailored to me, not his usual tastes. That alone made it rare.

One bedroom, a sun-drenched living room with an open kitchen and dining space, and the rest devoted to pleasure—an expansive pool that caught the light like liquid sapphire, a steaming jacuzzi, a hot tub that seemed designed for sin, and a patio with a grill that already smelled like temptation.

I didn’t know if my husband had rented it or quietly purchased it. My money was on the latter—he kept mentioning we could come back anytime. I wanted to bring the kids here, but as far as my husband was concerned, that wouldn’t be a vacation.

Aayansh Ahluwalia was an exceptional father, a husband who could make me feel like the center of the universe—but he was also selfish. Selfish with my time, my attention, always competing with the kids for it, whether he realized it or not. He didn’t understand that life shifts when you have a family. Agni already clung to me, and I adored Sara and Saumya like my own. But outings with six kids meant my hands were never free. Which, in his mind, meant no time for him. And that… was unacceptable to the devil.

Especially the devil who now stood at the grill, sleeves rolled up, tending to sizzling skewers and flipping burgers like he was born to it. There was a focus in him I rarely saw outside the boardroom. I sank deeper into the hot pool, watching him the way a girl watches the boy she’s crushing on for the first time.

I’d expected early retirement to gnaw at him, to make him restless. But no—he’d traded his three-piece suits and diamond-cut authority for soft tees and faded jeans. My God, those jeans. I would give up every luxury in the world to keep him in them.

His birthday came every year like a formality—time seemed to skip over him. He still looked like the dangerously charming thirty-something I had met all those years ago at the party he’d thrown in his Paradise.

“Sweetheart, care to come out?” His lazy drawl snapped me from my staring. I was still looking right at him, but my mind had drifted somewhere dangerous.

“Or are you content just ogling me?” he added, a smirk curling his lips.

“Content,” I answered without shame.

“Get your ass out,” he ordered, in that no-nonsense tone that always made my pulse skip.

God, I loved him. Loved him so much it ached. And that kind of love always carried consequences. But I had paid my dues—fully, with interest. I deserved this. I deserved him.

“Baby, the food is ready.”

I sighed, but I didn’t make him wait. Rising slowly, the tender ache between my thighs reminded me of his unrelenting appetite. Last night had been wild, this morning too—and the hours between had been filled with a kind of joy I didn’t know I’d been missing.

Droplets slid down my skin as I stepped out of the hot tub. I didn’t bother drying off. My feet carried me straight to him. I wrapped myself around him from behind, soaking his crisp white tee.

He groaned—low and deep—but didn’t push me away. Instead, he turned me, bending me backwards into an angle that felt as much a claim as it did a command. When I married a devil, I never expected him to turn into a saint—and I never wanted him to.

His lips ghosted over my collarbone, lingering just enough to make my breath catch before they trailed to my neck. The kisses were deceptively soft, coaxing my guard down, until his tongue brushed over my skin and I knew exactly where this was headed. I braced, but still shivered when his teeth sank in, sharp and unapologetic.

The bite burned, quick and fierce, but his tongue was there immediately, soothing the ache—only to strike again. “You have no idea how crazy you make me,” he murmured, his voice a sinful vibration against my skin.

“How crazy?” I asked, breathless, half-tease and half-demand.

“A lot.”

“Sure it’s not just the fact that you’re jobless now?”

“I don’t even care about work. Maurya handles everything.”

“You trained him.”

His only answer was a low, noncommittal hum before his mouth claimed mine.

The kiss was consuming—one of those kisses that stripped the world away until nothing existed but his taste, his heat, his hold. He’d always been a good kisser, but I also knew he hadn’t learned it from me. That knowledge was a bitter pit in my chest, petty and unshakable. And as if sensing the flicker of jealousy, he pulled back just enough to study me, his brows lifting in silent question.

“I hate every girl that came before me.”

“Before you? There was no one before you.”

I rolled my eyes, tugging back with folded arms. “Are you saying you were a monk before me?”

His sigh was quiet, but the shift in his eyes was not. They narrowed, darkened, and the air changed. Heat curled low in my stomach and a tingle of nerves swept through me. How could he still do this—still unravel me with nothing but a tone?

I glanced down, caught off guard by the sight. My mouth parted. “I’m naked.”

His chuckle was warm, dangerous. “You are.”

He crossed to the lounger, picked up a bathrobe, and came back to me—not with the arrogant smirk the world knew, but with a smile I’d never seen him give to anyone else. Carefully, almost reverently, he wrapped the robe around me.

“I’ve never smiled for anyone else,” he said.

“No one?”

“No one. I promise.”

The words slid right past my defenses. My chest tightened, and I looped my arms around his neck. He didn’t hesitate—he lifted me, and I locked my legs around his waist.

Knowing I was holding myself, he freed his hands and turned back to the grill. The cheesy fries were already waiting, golden and perfect, and he plated the burgers without ever setting me down. One arm curved behind my neck, the other balancing the plate as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

Our small dining table sat outside in the open air, waiting for us, but instead of placing me on a chair, he set the plate down and carried me right back into his hold. There was a peace in being wrapped around the devil—an impossible, irrational peace that belonged only to him. He reached for the ketchup and sauces, stacking them on a tray one-handed, never loosening his grip on me with the other.

“You look adorable making dinner for me,” I told him.

“For us.”

“Sorry?”

“I’m making dinner for us, not just you. That one burger is mine.”

I huffed, feigning indignation. “Yeah, yeah. It is.”

He carried me and the tray back to the table. A single candle flickered in the center, its soft glow painting shadows over his sharp jaw. Then he picked up a remote and let slow music hum into the background. Finally, he sat, and I sank onto his lap as if I belonged nowhere else.

“Are you sure you want me here? Eating a burger with me on your lap wouldn’t be easy.”

“You have no idea how much I can manage.”

I shrugged and reached for my burger, but before I could taste it, his fingers curled around my wrists. He brought the burger to his own mouth, biting into it with infuriating satisfaction.

“Yum… that was delicious,” he murmured, his lips grazing my skin as he lowered my hands.

“I’m not eating your spicy one.”

“You are. We share. Remember.”

I groaned, knowing that when my devil wanted something, resistance was pointless. I set mine down and took his instead, biting cautiously. The chili hit instantly—sharp, searing heat sliding down my throat. I winced.

Setting it back on the plate, I scanned for water, but the table was empty. Aayansh, ever the tease, pulled a chocolate from his pocket. Instead of handing it to me, he slipped it into his own mouth, his eyes glinting with mischief. Then he kissed me, slow and deliberate, letting the melting sweetness pass between us.

I kissed him back greedily, wanting every last trace.

“See… my greedy little minx. Now you know how to kiss. Normally you let me take the lead.”

“Your burger was too spicy.”

“Hmm…”

“What was the point?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Last night you told me I always take over the kisses, but it’s just that you never try hard enough for control.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t bother arguing. “I don’t mind letting you take the lead.”

“You know… now that I’m not distracted with work, I see things I didn’t before.”

“Like?”

“Like how you always make the bed the first thing in the morning.”

“You lost your temper the first month we met—just because there was a wrinkle in the bedsheet.”

“Hmm… I used to be uptight.”

“You are. There’s no past tense to that.”

He nodded with mock solemnity, and I let it go. My dad had always taught me one thing—don’t try to change people unless it’s truly necessary. And craving a perfectly neat bed wasn’t exactly a vice.

We finished our meal in comfortable silence. When dinner was over, we stepped outside for a walk. The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of rain. I ignored Antonio and Raghu, our ever-present shadows, and laced my fingers through my husband’s, holding on as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.

The next morning, I slipped out of bed while my jobless husband was still tangled in the sheets, his arm draped lazily over the pillow where I’d been. My feet sank into the plush rug as I padded to the kitchen, switching on the coffee maker. The soft hum filled the quiet villa, but my mind was already back home. We were leaving today, and God, I had missed the kids.

Aarna. Then my sweetest Agni… my baby boy must be crying for me. Just the thought made my chest ache. I’d loved this vacation, but I was glad it was short.

The air here was fresh, the forest views breathtaking—but my heart was already miles away. I didn’t know exactly what waited for us back home.

We’d left just after the party, and I was certain Maurya had claimed the study by now. Once, it had been Aayansh’s private sanctuary; now, I pictured Maurya with his feet on the desk, rearranging everything.

I opened the refrigerator, pulling out the premade meals Aayansh had got stocked up for our trip. They were made by some hotshot chef. They’d be easy enough to heat later. Then I padded outside, loving the silence.

Raghu and Antonio were stretching out but they froze as they saw me. Then they bowed their heads before going out of sight. They could still see me but I couldn’t. That’s the way I liked, to have a feeling I was alone when I wasn’t.

The cool morning air greeted me as I settled on the bench overlooking the endless stretch of green, the forest mist curling between the trees. My fingers were cold against the phone screen as I dialed home.

“Hey, Mini,” I said the moment the call connected.

Her smile came instantly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Something in her face was tight, guarded. “Hi, Di.”

The video quality wasn’t that great but I was sure she was stressed.

“What happened?”

“Nothing, Di. How are you? How’s London?”

“Good,” I said, leaning forward, my pulse quickening. “What’s wrong, Mini? Please… tell me the kids are okay.”

“Yeah, yeah… don’t worry. Everyone’s okay. Agni’s been making sure Saumya, Sara, and Aarna don’t miss you but then he keeps asking me when is Tishaaa coming.”

I took a content sigh. “Oh… that’s adorable. See? You guys don’t appreciate him enough. He’s a sweetheart.”

“Only for you, Di.”

Her voice carried an edge—soft but clipped. My instincts bristled. Something was wrong.

“What’s wrong?” I pressed.

“It’s Arya. I don’t want to ruin your vacation.”

The name hit me like a cold splash of water. “What happened? Don’t worry… it’s almost over now.”

“He came home last night with a bloodied shirt. And guess who was with him?”

“Who?”

“Shivay,” she said, spitting the name out like a bad taste.

“Oh,” I murmured, my grip on the phone tightening.

“There was blood on his shirt too. It looked like they… God, I don’t even want to say it.”

“Ignore it, Mini,” I whispered, my stomach knotting. “Don’t get involved in this.”

“Two days, Di. Two days and Arya has changed. He has fucking changed.”

“Mini… this job comes with stress and—”

“It’s not the stress,” she cut in sharply. “It’s power.”

“You think it’s getting into his head?” I asked.

“No.”

“Then what?”

“It’s making him inhuman. He sat at the table with blood all over his clothes and asked Manju to make him coffee. Sir never did that.”

I gulped. The kids. The thought hit me like ice water. What if they’d been there? What if they had seen it?

“The kids… were they there?”

“No, no… don’t worry. He came in at one in the morning. Told me to go to bed, but I think he and Shivay kept Manju running the whole night. She looked exhausted this morning.”

I frowned. Had Aayansh ever bullied Martha like that? I couldn’t recall—but the idea sat heavy in my chest.

“We’ll return today,” I said, as if our presence could somehow fix everything.

“Yeah. I’ll speak to Sir. This is wrong and—”

“Don’t,” I cut her off, my voice sharper than intended. “Aayansh has no control over this anymore. I’ll talk to Maurya, but don’t say a word to Aayansh.”

“Oh… okay. Come soon, Di.”

The line went dead, but the churning in my stomach only intensified.

Something had happened at that party. Aayansh hadn’t told me, and I’d let it go—but whatever it was, it had ignited something in Maurya. I still remembered his face, twisted in a rage so feral it made the air feel heavy. The way he’d hurled that chair—it wasn’t just anger, it was something darker. Kartik had restrained him, but the wildness in Maurya’s eyes… I’d never even seen that in Aayansh.

Whatever had happened that day, Maurya was still carrying it like a loaded weapon. I needed to know. I needed to ask Aayansh.

He’d told me the dynamics had changed, that he was no longer the decision maker. I didn’t know how I truly felt about that—but a part of me was quietly relieved he was stepping away from the illegal side of things.

I stood and made my way back inside, heading for the bedroom. I eased the door open, careful not to wake him if he was still asleep—but the sight that met me stopped me cold.

Aayansh was making the bed.

Not just tossing the duvet back into place—actually making the bed. Precise, methodical folds, tucking in corners like he’d been trained for it. His movements were measured, almost ritualistic, the crisp sound of the sheets snapping into place oddly satisfying.

Five minutes later, the bed looked perfect. Immaculate. Better than I had ever managed.

Wow. Totally unexpected.

“This deserves a trophy. You make a mean bed,” I said, unable to hide my surprise.

Aayansh turned with a slow, satisfied grin. He held his arms wide, and I closed the distance in a few quick steps. His embrace was warm, his lips brushing the top of my head in a quiet good morning.

“Good morning, sweetheart.”

“Did you take it to heart, what I said last night?”

“No, no,” he sighed, the sound heavy with memory. “This used to be my job when my parents were alive—making the bed in both bedrooms, every single morning.”

“Oh.”

“My dad taught me. And because I had a good memory, I captured every step exactly. Still remember them like muscle memory.” His voice carried a trace of pride, a hint of the boy he must have been back then.

I tilted my head. “How can it be that even after so many years, you still manage to surprise me?”

“You do too. Every day.”

I smiled, though my mind was already elsewhere. “I can’t wait to head back though.”

“Of course. I’m sure you already called home.”

I hesitated, my fingers knotting and unknotting the hem of my top, as if the fabric could anchor me. “Yeah… I spoke to Mini. She was worried… Maurya—”

“Don’t.” His voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and final. “You say nothing to me about Maurya. He’s the boss now.”

“But—”

“Don’t, Tisha. Giving up power means giving up everything.” His gaze didn’t waver, and there was a steel there I didn’t like. “I gave it willingly because I trust Maurya. He has passed all my tests and you have no idea what all I have put him through.”

“I know he is capable but… my kids are growing there… and—”

“And he has the power of attorney to make all their decisions.”

The words landed like a punch. My chest tightened. “What?”

“Yes. Legally they still belong to me, but when I gave the power to Maurya, I told you—he would be the only one making all the decisions.”

“And you trust him not to make mistakes? I get no say in what I want for my kids?”

“You talk to him. That’s your say.”

“This is wrong. He came home last night with blood all over him. What if my kids had seen that?”

“What is this with my kids? Aren’t they mine?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

His jaw locked, a muscle ticking as he frowned. “I’m not. He’s in his twenties—he might make some mistakes, but I know he’s the right person for the job.”

I shook my head slowly, the heaviness in my chest hardening into an unmovable knot. He wasn’t hearing me. I didn’t care about the empire, the money, the throne they were so obsessed with. But the idea that every choice about my children’s lives now rested in Maurya’s hands? That was a kind of power no one should be trusted with.

“You never came home with blood on your shirt.”

Aayansh exhaled, slow and weary, as if my words weighed more than he wanted to admit. “Cut him some slack.”

“What happened that day? At the party? Something happened, didn’t it? I saw Maurya—angry like I’ve never seen before. And the rage in his eyes…” My voice faltered. “…it was murderous.”

“Something bad happened,” he said finally, eyes turning distant. “His life was taken away from him. Forget it. Let’s have breakfast and then we’ll go buy presents for the kids.”

“Tell me what happened.”

“I don’t want you involved in this. And I’ve already hinted twice for you to let this go. I won’t do it a third time.” His tone was quiet but carried that dangerous edge, the kind that didn’t need to raise its volume to make the warning clear.

I breathed out slowly, but the air sat heavy in my lungs, pressing down on my ribs.

Ansh was already in Ahluwalia training—learning the art of control, the politics of power. Agni would be next. The thought iced my spine. There was no stopping that tide.

Whatever had happened to Maurya that night, I knew it was about a girl. Someone he liked. She hadn’t been at the party, and when I’d asked Aayansh, he brushed me off. But Ranjit, Kartik, Maurya, and Aayansh had locked themselves in the study for over two hours. That’s when I went and saw Maurya, his face carved with a rage so sharp it didn’t look like him at all.

What had happened?

Had that girl broken up with him?

Was that why he was acting so weird?

I couldn’t get answers. I couldn’t even speak to my husband about it without hitting a wall. But deep down, I knew one thing—I would have to find a way to keep my children out of whatever darkness was swallowing him whole.

Thank you for reading- Life with him.

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