The Arranged Bride

Chapter - 44

Sophia's POV

It has been three weeks since I had my last nightmare and Nick was the one to pull me through it . From waking me up whenever I had a nightmare, holding me close to him and whispering assuring words in my ears to talking about my nightmares, he did them all. I couldn't help but fall deeper for the caring and loving side he has shown to me.

I love him, I love him with my everything but confessing it seems to be the toughest job on Earth. I am scared of his rejection. What if his feelings are not mutual ? What if he doesn't feel the same about me? Yes , he likes me and cares for me but love...

" Sophia , are you alright ?" I came out of my thoughts to look at Tyler and all my friends looking at me. Yeah, I had joined office since two weeks now. Nick didn't want me to join so early but I was sick of sitting at home. Besides, taking undue advantage of being the boss's wife isn't something I appreciate much.

" Yeah , I am absolutely fine." He nodded at my reply.

" See you then." Skyler waved as we made our ways to the car. As I came to the parking lot, Nick's Porsche wasn't there. Instead Benjamin was there in another car.

" Where is Nick ?" I asked Benjamin after getting in.

" Sir drove back home early. He told me to take you home." My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Why did he not inform me that he went home early?

" Okay." He drove us back to the house. I went in to see Nick and Ethan cuddling on the sofa while they watched some movie. I mentally awed at the sight. They literally looked so cute together.

" So , why are you back early?" Both of them turned to look at me.

" I wasn't feeling well."

" Dad , was missing me " Nick and Ethan said at the same time and looked at each other. Not strange at all.

" Ofcourse, I missed you that was one and the more important reason. " He offered me a convincing smile.

" What do you mean by you don't feel well? What happened?" I asked him concerned.

" Just a little headache." Ok now I was sure he was hiding something. Nick getting back early just because of a 'little headache' seems so convincing!

But I didn't say anything. Mumbling a small okay I went to our room to change.

We spent the evening playing games with Ethan, watching movie and cuddling. Nick had ordered pizza for us. After dinner we kissed Ethan goodnight and went to our room.

Unlike every night , Nick wasn't holding me close to him. I could feel that he hadn't slept. After sometime, he sneaked out of the room. He carefully went out without making any noise. I acted to be asleep but I was really curious of what he was keeping from me. Before I could mentally ponder more, I was cut off.

" HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Birthday! Shit. I forgot my own birthday. I turned to look at Nick holding a cake and Ethan a bouquet of red roses. I sat up and smiled widely at them.

" Oh my God! Thank you so much." I gushed and they had the identical grins on their face. Ethan crawled up to me on the bed . I placed him on my lap and kissed the top of his head.

Nick set the cake down in front of me and lit up the candles.

" Make a wish and blow the candles." He smiled at me. I smiled back before closing my eyes to pray. I prayed for a long and happy life with my two boys and blew the candles off while they clapped.

I cut the cake after which , Ethan gave me a handmade card. After thanking him , I opened it. There was a large heart drawing with a ' Happy Birthday' . It was so cute and the fact that he had made it for me was the best thing I could ever ask for. I hugged him tight to me and kissed his cheeks.

" Thank you baby. Thank you so much. This is the best gift that I ever got." His eyes lit up at my words and he proudly grinned at me.

After Ethan left for his room, I turned towards Nick.

" So , where is my gift?" He walked away and came back a moment later with a box in his hand. I raised a brow in question as he gave it to me but he just gestured me to open it.

" This is..... beautiful!" I whispered as I looked at the diamond necklace sitting graciously inside the box.

" Nick this is too much. Why did you get such a costly gift?" I knew he had abundant money but still it doesn't feel right.

" Come on , I am a billionaire. Ofcourse my wife gets such gifts." He smirked at me , knowing that this arrogant side of him irks me to no extent. I rolled my eyes and looked back at the necklace. I closed it and kept it aside.

" Are you not going to take it ?" Nick looked at me with sad eyes. I climbed up on his lap , circling my hands around his neck. His hands went around my waist to keep me in place.

" Ofcourse I am taking it and I love it. It's beautiful. It's just that-" Nick cut me off.

" Don't think of the price. I want to shower you with every good thing in the world." His eyes reflected the sincerity behind his words.

" Thank you, thank you so much." I pecked his nose . This time when I climbed down , he didn't say anything. Normally, he doesn't let me get down.

When I looked at him , he looked a bit... uncomfortable? He was raking his hand through his hair , a habit of him whenever he is nervous.

" Nick -"

" I want to tell you something. " He nervously blurted out.

" Oh okay." I was a bit confused. Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

He took a deep breath calming himself down.

" Sophia , I haven't treated you right from the very first. I have behaved like an asshole towards you. I know we are past it but still I wanted to apologise for all the wrong things I have done.

It took me some time , but I had come to see the amazing and beautiful woman you are.

Sophia, I love you." I was frozen at that. He loves me ?

"I love you so much that I am scared of it. The way I feel for you is something I haven't experienced before. I know I had made mistakes and will probably make more in the future but If you let me, I would love to spend my life making up to you for all my mistakes. So ... Uhh.... will you go on a honeymoon with me?" He nervously scratched his head.

He brought his hand forward giving a box of chocolates. They were customized with letters in them saying ' I love u Sophia' , the love in symbol . When my mind processed that this was really happening, Nick really loves me , I smiled at him with glossy eyes.

" I love you too Nick. I love you a lot. You're the only one for whom I have felt this deep , intense feeling. I will spend my life with you . And yes, I will go on a honeymoon with you." We both chuckled at the end .

He leaned forward and met his lips with mine. I immediately kissed him back . He pulled me back to his lap and soon the kiss escalated to a deep passionate one , showing our love for each other . He pulled back and looked into my eyes with a longing look . He buried his face in my hair .

" I love you."

" I love you too."