The Arranged Bride

Chapter - 49

Nick's POV

" How was your school, baby?" Sophia asked after kissing Ethan's forehead who was seated on Sophia's lap in the passenger seat. He cringed at the name "baby" but didn't bother protesting ,knowing that it never took him anywhere. We took an early off to pick Ethan up from his school.

" Boring ." I chuckled at the face he pulled off.

" And I hope you didn't fight with anyone?" It came out of Sophia's mouth as a question.

" Uh huh. " Ethan shook his head looking out of the window. We were having some small talks when all of a sudden, Ethan decided to speak.

" Can I ask something?" Ethan asked in general. He asks for permission only if he is really serious about something. Else he just puts forward his demand.

" Ofcourse." I waited for him to speak.

" I want a brother. " He blurted out. I looked at him shocked because honestly I wasn't expecting him to ask for a sibling all of a sudden. I looked up at Sophia to see her gone stiff.

" Can I get a brother? Axel's Mom and Dad have brought a brother for him. I want one too." Ethan asked when he didn't get any response. I blinked a few times before speaking.

" Why brother? What's wrong with a sister? " I asked Ethan while Sophia remained quiet.

" Nothing is wrong. Though I prefer a brother." Sophia was unnaturally quiet while she bit down on her lower lips. It seemed like she wanted this conversation to be over.

" We can think about it , right Sophia ?"I said keeping my stare at her. Ethan looked up at her expectantly.

" Uhm yeah. Ethan, what about some ice-cream right now? " I furrowed my eyebrows at how Sophia changed the topic.

" Yes , let's go." He cheered.

The previous day , when she went stiff at the reporter's question , I let it pass thinking that she was nervous but her response today, was unusual. I mentally noted to speak to her about this before I drove to the nearest ice cream parlor.

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I followed Sophia to our bedroom thinking of the little conversation in our car. I wasn't sure of my assumptions but I had to find out.

I entered just behind Sophia. Closing the door , I spun her around and caged her in my arms against the wall.

" Nick what are you-" She cut herself off as I trailed kisses along her jawline. Her breath hitched at my touch. I loved how responsive she always was to me.

" Do you think we should give Ethan what he wants ?" I whispered against her lips . She immediately tensed up confirming my thoughts. I pulled away to look at her face . She was avoiding my eyes , clearly nervous.

" What's the matter , Sophia ? I asked tucking a loose hair behind her ear.

" What do you mean ?" She tried playing it off but I could see it in her eyes that she had some concerns.

" Sophia , I can understand when you are hiding something. I have seen you stiffen whenever the topic of baby arises. " She closed her eyes before taking a long breath . It looked like she was having an internal battle.

" I need to tell you something." I was the one who was forcing her to speak but now that she was about to , I wasn't sure anymore if I wanted to hear what she had to say. I couldn't help the anxiety that was building up in me. The last time I had the talk about a baby was with Clara and it was anything but pleasant but I did trust Sophia more than to expect something so cruel from her. I nodded at her before moving away.

She walked a bit away creating some distance between us.

" Nick , about what Ethan said earlier, I...." She breathed out , to calm herself but it did nothing to help the panic rising in me.

" I can't give him a sibling." I could feel my breath getting heavier. The thought that she didn't want to carry my child , the thought of rejection was too much to bear for me. Ignoring the stiring in my heart , I decided to ask one more question.

" Can you conceive or not ?" I was holding my breath hostage, anticipating her answer . I was sending desperate prayers to prove my thoughts wrong.

" Yes , I can but..." She trailed off and closed her eyes. I felt like my world had come crashing down. She can but she doesn't want to. It was like my brain had stopped working. Without wasting a second I turned to open the door and started walking out.

" Nick! .. Nick wait !" I heard Sophia call behind me but I couldn't bear to listen to those words from the woman I love with my everything. I wouldn't have been able to hear those damn words for the second time in my life.

"Nick ... wait !" She came running out of the house but I slipped into my car and sped off.

So many things were going on in my mind that I couldn't think properly. I drove to nowhere in particular until I came across a park.

I sat down on a bench, numb. I desperately wanted to not think of what had happened to avoid the pain but it was inevitable. The pain was sipping into my heart , clenching it in unimaginable ways. I roughly wiped away the tears that slipped out of my eyes but it was as if the dam was broken.

I was frustrated with the situation I was in. I didn't want to believe that Sophia didn't want to carry my child. But she made it clear. I could no longer comprehend what to feel though deep down I very well knew that no matter what, I could never live without Sophia, even if she didn't want my child. She came crashing into my life and now it revolves around her .

It was hurting like a bitch but somewhere things weren't clicking. She never seemed to care much about her figure. She loves kids because she had been more than a mother to Ethan and it was clearly impossible for me to think that she faked her love for me. Then why ?

I replayed her words in my mind again and again.

" I need to tell you something."

" Nick , about what Ethan said earlier, I...."

" I can't give him a sibling."

" Can you conceive or not ?"

" Yes , I can but..."

" I can't give him a sibling."

" Can you conceive or not ?"

" Yes , I can but..."

" Yes , I can but..."

But ! Did she have something else to say ? She would only say what I was thinking right ? I had asked her if she 'can't' or she won't and she clearly said that she 'can' which means she won't. I tried reasoning with myself and justifying my assumptions but somewhere I felt like I had to listen what was there after that 'but'. What if she had a reason why she had taken the decision? Maybe her intention wasn't to hurt me because she is definitely much much different from Clara.

I ran back to the car and ignited the car back to life. I had to listen to what she was about to say. There was this faint hope rising in me again.

Maybe it isn't just what I had thought. Maybe.