The Arranged Bride

Chapter - 42

Sophia's POV

" Good morning, Sophia." Nick pecked my forehead, waking me up. As I opened my eyes I was welcomed with the sight of a smiling Nick.

" Good morning." I yawned and looked at him.

" You're here so early?" He chuckled at my words causing me to frown.

" I was here only and it's around ten , not so early I guess." I smiled sheepishly at him on realising that I had been sleeping for about twelve hours straight.

The medicines were making me drowsy and last night I was out just as I closed my eyes.

" Nick , you should go home and take rest. You look so tired." He was here for two continuous days and his face showed signs of pure exhaustion.

" Not happening. I will not go home and moreover I am not tired . I slept here." He pointed to the sofa in the room. Seriously? Just by looking at it, one can tell it is uncomfortable.

" Oh you aren't tired ? But the eyebags suggest otherwise." I narrowed my eyes at him to which he sighed.

" Trust me Sophia when I say that yesterday I got the best sleep in days. The last few days when you weren't there, I didn't get an wink of sleep. Being here , close to you, keeps me sane." He gently caressed my cheeks. I instantly melted at his action and words.

" Fine , atleast go and shower. You stink." I scrunched up my nose showing how bad he smelled though it wasn't true.

" Oh is it ? But last night you didn't say that when you asked me to kiss you." His fingers were lazily caressing my lips. He was so close that his breath was hitting my face. I can never get used to being so close to him . I shivered at our close proximity and he had observed that as his lips curved up into a smirk. Before I could get hypnotised by his presence, I pushed him back lightly with one hand.

" Yes , it is. Now go and shower." I said and quickly looked away. He chuckled at my actions.

" Ok , I will go, but only when one of our family members is here." He ran his hand through his hair when I took my time to look at him. Even in his t-shirt and messed up hair , he was the most handsome man in my eyes.

" I am fine Nick. Besides the nurses are here to take care of me. " I argued only to loose.

" Leave it Sophia , I am not leaving." He crossed his arms against his chest which made his muscles buldge out. He looked seriously hot for someone who was clearly sleep-deprived for days. How I wanted to snuggle close to his body and kiss him!

Oh God ! Either I missed him a bit too much or it was the effect of the medicines but I couldn't just help my thoughts about him.

" What makes you grin ?" I was broken out of my thoughts by Nick who was staring at me with a confused look.

" Nothing much, I was just thinking of a certain hot man." I dreamily said in an attempt to tease him.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and raised a brow at me.

" Man ?" He said in a cold tone.

" Yep , a hot one." His jaw slightly clenched while he kept his gaze on me. If I would have honestly done something wrong, I would have been seriously scared of his looks but the situation was different. I

knew he was trying to control himself .

" Who is it ?" He asked in a low voice.

" Oh, he happens to be my husband. Nicholas Carter, you know the CEO of Carter Enterprises?" He quickly recovered from his shock and looked at me amused.

" I see! He must be seriously hot to have his wife daydream about him on the hospital bed." He played along. My smirk dropped at that.

" Oh please , you're not that hot. You're.....okay ." I shrugged to which he chuckled.

" Only if you weren't on the hospital bed, you wouldn't have got away so easily after you pull such a stunt on your hot husband, you know." I grinned at him causing him to smile and shake his head. Just then the door opened.

" Sophia ." I turned my head to look at Mom. She had tears in her eyes. She quickly rushed to my side and pulled me in a careful hug.

" My baby, you're fine." My eyes were moist as I cherished the warm hug. My mom's hugs are the warmest one could ask for.

" M-Mom." I whispered. I felt her patting my head very gently like a bit of pressure would break me. After a few minutes she pulled back . She wiped away her tears and offered me a big smile.

I looked back and saw Dad standing at the end of the bed. His face held so much of sadness. He was always a strong man who always hid his worries for us . Today , the broken expression on his face was enough to break my heart.

I motioned him to come towards me. He took careful steps and sat beside me. He took my hand in his while looking down.

" Princess." He whispered in a strained voice as drops of water slipped out of his eyes . That one word was all that was needed to break my control.

" Dad ...... I l-love you. I love you all s-so m-much" Tears freely rolled down my cheeks. I didn't know where from did this sudden thought pop up but honestly I was scared , scared that again this might happen and that time I may not be able to survive to say how much I love all of them. Call it childish , but it was what I was honestly feeling.

" We know princess . We know . We love you a lot as well." Dad kissed my forehead softly and retreated. When I was wiping away the tears , the door opened once more and this time Nick's parents came in. Both of them were smiling at me but there was a certain despair in their eyes which they were trying to mask.

I smiled at them but then my eyes moved to a much lower position. Everyone's eyes followed my line of sight and rested on the small figure of Ethan who was holding Mama's hand. He was staring at me intently with his lips slightly parted in what seemed like disbelief. As it registered in his mind that I was honestly sitting there in front of him, tears welled up in his eyes threatening to fall. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

" Mom." He softly called which teared me up as well. It felt like I was seeing him after years . I brought up one hand , motioning him to come here. Dad got up from beside me and lifted him up to place him beside me.

I carefully brought my hand around his small body . He brought up his trembling hand and placed it on my cheek , gently touching the bruise as the tears slipped off his eyes. I closed my eyes relishing the warmth of his small hand. Having him so close to me made me realize that I had missed him so much more than what I had thought .

" Mom , I-I missed y-you . I missed y-you." His lips trembled which filled my heart with despair to no extent. My poor Ethan was in so much pain.

" Oh baby. I missed you too. I did." I tried hugging him. Although my ribs pained from that awkward bending but I was desperate to reduce the pain of my son.

" Those bad people, t-they hurt you so ba-bad . " He looked at me through his tears.

" Oh sweetheart, they did hurt me but it's not that bad. Moreover I am here right? Now that you're here with me, I will be fine. Now wipe your tears . Will you do that for me ?" He nodded and wiped away his tears .

" That's like my strong li'l man." I smiled at him and he grinned. His happy face was the best thing I had seen in days. I was feeling content.