The Arranged Bride novel Chapter 25

Sophia's POV

I was talking to Char when I heard a loud voice.

" Nick , is that you?" I turned to look at the owner of the voice. There stood a red haired woman in a black plunging neckline dress. Her blue eyes and hourglass figure made her look absolutely stunning.

I saw Nick's shoulders were tensed a bit . He slowly turned to face the woman but his face didn't have any greeting or acknowledging smile.

" Clara." , It seemed like her name tasted bitter on his tongue. But the ignorant woman walked up to him and straight away hugged him . I looked at Caleb to see him extremely bothered . Last time I saw this expression was when Christina was at home but this time it looked more serious. I hope this isn't something like that.

"Who is she ? " Char asked looking curious.

" I don't know. Never heard of her." I replied keeping my eyes at them.

" Of course you don't. Must be another fling of that jerk-face." Char venomously said. Her words did strike my heart. I was desperately hoping that it wasn't.

Nick didn't return the hug. Instead he roughly held her hands and shoved her away. He turned to look at me , his expression calm, but his eyes pleading to understand. I didn't know what. So I did what I thought was right. I walked up to him .

He put a hand around my waist and smiled at me. I returned a small smile.

" Well well aren't you his pretty wife, Sophia , right ? I am Clara but you must be knowing me." She said with an arrogant smile.

" Well , I have never heard of you before." I innocently said which instantly wiped off the smile from her face. I heard Caleb chuckle.

" Then I must say you are ignorant." , She said.

" Or should I say, you aren't that important?" I retorted . A few people who were listening to us snickered. Clara looked really angry but decided not to work on it.

" What do you want?" I heard Nick who was coldly looking at her.

" You know that." She said as if Nick was dumb to ask that.

" No , I don't." Nick maintained his cold attitude. Clara rolled his eyes at him and spoke.

" I want to be with my son." Nick gave out a humourless chuckle.

" Son ? You amuse me." Nick shook his head.

" I know I was wrong and I am sorry for that . We can start over ." What ? What the hell is going on ?

" As far as I remember , Ethan was your last concern . Why now ? Let me guess ... Ryder left you ." Nick mocked her.

Son... Ethan.... Clara is Ethan's biological mother? I was praying that she wasn't some random fling and God indeed answered my prayers!

" Nick please , let's not do it here. " Her tone wasn't at all pleading.

" Actually I got nothing to do with you. So , just leave us alone." Before Clara could say anything more , he pulled me with him out of the hall and I let him.

.........

Throughout the ride, he neither looked at me , nor spoke. I wanted answers but I was waiting for him to cool down. So I looked out of the car , waiting to reach home.

The car soon stopped in front of the house but neither of us got out nor said anything. Nick kept looking in front with his jaw clenched while I looked at him. He seriously looked hot when he was so angry but it was not the time.

All of a sudden he slammed his hand on the steering.

"Nick!" I yelled and put my hand on his. He closed his eyes for a moment to control his anger and then looked at me.

" Let's go in and check on Ethan and then we can talk." I softly spoke. He was disturbed and I needed to be patient. He sighed and nodded.

Entering Ethan's room , we saw him soundly sleeping. I kissed his forehead and Nick followed suit. We walked out closing the door behind us.

.....

After changing into my pyjamas, I came out of the closet. Nick was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands.

I climbed up the bed and sat beside him. When I put a hand on his shoulder, he looked up.

" Sophia , I know you should know everything but I don't want to talk about it . Please?" Nick looked at me.

I sighed and spoke.

" If you don't want to talk about it , I won't push you. I don't know how bad it is , but I think sharing it will make you feel better. You know , whenever you want I am there to hear it out." I ended with a smile. He nodded.

" You're right . I should tell you." He decided and I smiled at him.

" When I was in high school, I had a girlfriend , Katie. We dated for about two years. We were so much into each other but one day , I saw her making out with one of the guys in the school. The betrayal felt so hard. After a few years , Clara came into my life." He paused with a bitter smile. From his expression I knew that what they had was deep.

" She was a struggling model at that time. I was skeptical about another relationship but then her way of talking, her smiles , everything about her seemed to captivate me." I would lie if I say that I didn't feel my heart clench hearing the way he was describing it.

" We eventually became extremely close and were a couple in love." Love.

" We went on dates , spent our time cooking together. Even my parents knew about us. I was on the top of the world when I came to know that we were expecting. I was so excited to be a father but then things started to change. She became extremely moody and picked up fights on any and everything. Sometimes her words hurt me but I kept blaming everything on the pregnancy hormones . She started going out more , partying , returning late. I used to be worried sick but she didn't drink. But one day I was late at work and when I was back I saw her sitting on the floor , totally drunk. That day , I was so angry at her carelessness but then what she said , knocked the wind out of my lungs." He paused before continuing.

" She told that she didn't want the baby in the first place and how much that bastard child of mine was a hindrance in her career. " By now his jaw was clenched. I remembered my Mom , my beautiful memories with her. I could never imagine a mother cursing her own innocent baby.

" I didn't know what to say but then under the effect of alcohol, she confessed that she was with me because my influence could shape her career and she was right. My image had indeed helped her become a model and then she was struck with Ethan. She was so concerned about the contracts she could have signed, if not pregnant , about the stretch marks that were going to destroy her model like body, but she was not even a bit concerned about our child. " I could imagine what he felt like on hearing such things from his partner about their child which was supposed to be their sign of love.

" I helped her to the bed and drove back to office. I spent the night there thinking over everything. I sure knew that she loved it when I took her to costly shops , shower riches on her but I never imagined her as an opportunist ,maybe I never opened my eyes. Next day I went back home and made her sign a contract saying that after the child's birth , I would have his sole custody. She would receive one million dollars from me and would leave my house just after the child was born. I was so fucking stupid to even expect that she will put up a fight to get the child's custody . She right away signed it. " Nick closed his eyes to control his emotions.

" Nick-" I started speaking but he cut me off.

" There's more." He said. I didn't know what to expect more.

" I had appointed a guard who would keep an eye on her so that she doesn't do something reckless. One day , he informed me that Clara used to meet some guy thrice a week. I knew not to expect anything from her because we were already done but still I used my resources to dig up everything about that guy to make sure she wasn't in bad hands. ..... Well that went real nice and I found that she was having an affair with Ryder , my childhood friend for almost one and a half year by then. Caleb, Ryder and I were the best of friends. Eventually he grew apart from us but still we were close. I felt so stupid that I let everyone fool me." He let out a bitter chuckle and this time I closed my eyes to comfort myself. I couldn't help the unsettling weight on my heart. Betrayal for the second time was too much to bear for anyone. That too from two extremely close people in your life.

" When I was stupidly in love with her , she was sucking off my best friend's face . The pain was unbearable. I never spoke to her or looked at her but I was hurt. I was so fucking hurt!...... Since then I gave up on love and relationships. I had difficulty in trusting people.Clubbing and meaningless one night stands became my life. " He had a sad smile on his face while he looked at his lap.

" You know I love Ethan so much , I always look after his needs and spend time with him but I am afraid of being too close to him , afraid that the hollowness and bitterness inside me would affect him, that I would instill the trust issues in him . I couldn't be the ideal father for him.......But you sure are the ideal mother for him." He smiled at me.

I got up and stood in front of him . Taking my hand , he pulled me to his lap. I hugged him tightly and he hugged back.

" Nick , you have had bad experiences in love and I can't imagine the pain of having your heart broken twice and that too by some of your closest people. But if you give up on love then you're letting these people win , letting the betrayal win . And secondly you're an amazing father. Don't ever doubt yourself. I see you as a father to whom his child means everything and I am sure Ethan would beat your ass once he knows what you think of yourself." He chuckled at that.

I kissed his forehead for the first time and then his nose but before I could move back he caught my lips in a kiss. I instantly gave in . His one hand massaged my scalp while the other held me securedly in place. He pushed his tongue inside my mouth and explored it. He was in control and I was fine with it. Our lips moulded perfectly like they were made for each other. When we were out of breath, we pulled away. Our eyes were closed and foreheads rested against each other. Then I suddenly blurted the question that was in my mind.

" Do you still love her ?" Just as I asked it , I felt him moving away. Way to ruin the moment. Great job done Sophia !

I opened my eyes to see him smiling at me.

" I don't." He honestly spoke.

" Do you like her ?" I asked again.This time he looked amused but still answered.

" No."

" Good ." I again hugged him and felt the vibration as he laughed at my actions but hey, I needed it for my mental satisfaction.

" Sleep , shall we ?" He asked and I nodded my head.

He switched off the lights.

" Good night Nick."

" Good night Sophia ." He pulled me towards him.