Reyna's POV.
"I will kill you and your child as well!"
My heart pounded heavily in my chest, I struggled to get out of the wooden chair, but I was tied to it.
Heat crawled up my neck as my face broke into a small frown, accompanied by short breaths.
The figure came closer, the silhouette of the figure displaying a knife in hand.
"Please, don't…don't hurt me," I pleaded, my voice cracking from the endless screaming.
The next thing I heard was a loud cackle, "Your pleas are of no use, I'll make sure you both die!"
As the figure stepped closer, my nose picked on a familiar pumpkin scent.
I couldn't see the figure's face but I recognized that smell.
Beads of sweat rolled down my back as I tried to move back whilst sitting on the chair.
How did she find out about my baby? I never told her anything.
I couldn't let her kill my child, no matter what.
The closer she got, the nervous I became.
My eyes moistened with tears, and they flowed freely as fear gripped my insides.
"Please..Jessica…please, leave my baby out of this feud, I beg of you!" I implored amidst sobs.
She scoffed, "Oh? But isn't your baby the reason Nicholas married you? I want to end your marriage with him. Just like you made me live without love, you'll also live like that!" She spat, her voice dripping with the desire to devour me.
She lifted the knife above her head, her eyes focused on my belly.
My heart pounded heavily against my chest, I wanted to escape but I couldn't.
With a soft growl, she dragged the knife down in direction of my belly.
I screamed my lungs out, hoping it would stop the terror.
My eyes flew open, my chest rising up and down as I breathed heavily.
"It..it was a dream?" I said softly, my eyes scanning my surroundings.
I wasn't in the dark room anymore, I was in my bedroom.
Still overwhelmed by the nightmare, I tried to sit up but my eyes met the gaze of a man by my bed.
"Don't get up," he ordered, his voice etched with concern.
I laid back down, and he extended a glass of water towards me.
"Here, you will need this." He said.
I took the glass from him, and he wrapped a hand around me, setting pillows behind my back to help me sit up properly.
"Are you okay?" He asked, his face only an inch away from mine.
I didn't know if it was the way he asked or the way he cared for me, but my heart felt warm by the gesture. I couldn't explain the feeling but it made me feel at peace.
Which was strange.
"Um.. I'm fine," I said, gulping down the glass of water in a fit to avoid his gaze.
Nicholas released me from his grip, returning back to his sitting position by my bed.
"For how long have you been here?" I asked, handing him the glass.
"Long enough to see you were having a nightmare," he replied.
"So you watched me while I was asleep?" I asked, unable to suppress the feeling of being cared for.
He fixed his eyes on me, staring sternly.
"This happened by coincidence, I came to get some files from my table. I didn't come to watch you," he stated, his voice now sounding cold.
I pressed my lips together, wiping away my sweat with my hands.
Nicholas suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling it down.
I lifted a brow, "what are you-"
He wiped my face with a handkerchief, shutting me up with his actions before I could question him.
His hazel eyes looked dreamy up close, it felt like the more I stared, the more I lost myself.
They reminded me of how Jeremy's crystal eyes.
As soon as he was done, he rose up from the bed.
"I dropped you a dress, I'm attending an event and you're coming with me." He declared while pacing towards the door.
My lips parted but no words came out. I watched him leave while I wondered how he could be so distant yet act so caring.
****************
"I wonder how you manage to capture my sons!" My mother in law hissed as I walked down the stairs with Nicholas.
"Mother please, she hasn't captured anyone," Nicholas replied, tightening his hands around me.
His touch felt safe, I couldn't tell why. He was my husband's brother so I shouldn't feel this way yet I felt it.
"She hasn't captured you yet you have your arms wrapped around her? You're even planning to go out without her! Don't you know this will taint the family's image? The people can't accept this kind of relationship!" My mother in law cried out, her voice thickening with disgust.
"Well, she's mine now so the people would have to come to terms with it." Nicholas replied.
Hearing him say that made me feel good, I wish he meant what he said but I knew this was nothing more than a charade, like he had said.
Following his reply, my mother-in-law kept complaining but her words fell on deaf ears as Nicholas walked out of the mansion with me.
We uttered nothing to each other throughout the drive, and he kept his distance from me in the vehicle.
I occasionally stared at him, but he never spared a glance in my direction.
We soon arrived at a large hall, with golden lights flickering around the exterior.
"Don't say too much. Just follow my lead," Nicholas said, before plopping out of the car.
My eyes trailed his figure as he turned around the car, opening the door for me.
I stepped out of the car, nervous and anxious, I could barely keep a smile on my face seeing the eyes of the media boring into me.
Nicholas wrapped his arms around me, whispering into my ears.
"I'm here for you. Stay calm," his words eased out my anxiety and I sighed deeply.
As we walked down the red carpets, flickers of light from the cameras almost took my eyes out.
I had expected to be surrounded by a mob of paparazzi but I soon realized that Nicholas had his bodyguards keep us away from such drama.
The interior of the hall was beautiful, a crystal chandelier hung at the center of the room. The atmosphere screamed luxury and elegance.
A man clad in a green suit soon spotted Nicholas and I, he approached with a small smile.
"So glad you made it!" The man said, shaking hands with Nicholas.
His gaze darted towards me, "Isn't she your brother's wife?"
His question ignited the anxiety inside me, I lowered my head in a fit to avoid the gaze of the people around.
In that moment, I felt my stomach twisting into hard knots.
I couldn't explain if it was the anxiety or this was something more serious.
"How's the project?" Nicholas asked, ignoring the man's question.
"Oh it's great. I've been expecting your part of the project but it seems you've been having fun.." I heard the man say, and I felt embarrassed.
My shoulders slumped in Nicholas' arms as I bit my lips nervously, the knotty feeling increasing.
"Be careful, Mr Brown." Nicholas warned, releasing me from his grip as he stepped closer to the man.
My arms wrapped around my stomach as I crouched in pain.
I couldn't explain what I was feeling, it felt like I was being drained from the inside.
"Nicholas," I managed to breathe, as I held my stomach tighter.
My head started feeling heavy, my heart beat slowing down.
I found myself falling to the floor, but Nicholas grabbed me just in time.
He picked me up, his gaze glistening with affection as he stared.
Before my eyes snapped shut, I saw him press his lips against my forehead as he whispered for me to be calm.
Why was he this affectionate if he claimed this was only a charade?