Richard's POV"Nikkie! Keep running. I'll catch up with you soon. Try to keep your phone on you!" I called out as I stepped on the gas pedal deeply.There was only the sound of gurgling noise, panting breath, and clattering feet. I also saw a heavy-voiced man yelling at Nikkie and telling her to stop."Nikkie, are you hearing me?" I called again to ensure that Nikkie had heard my instructions. "I, hah, hah, I hear you," Nikkie responded. She sounded overwhelmed and exhausted. I overtook several vehicles at once. Bad images began to haunt me. And regrets. Why was I so careless? I should have prepared for the worst by adding more people to guard Nikkie.Instead of doing that, I was busy thinking about my feelings. To hell with inferiority. Nikkie and the baby's lives were at stake because of it!Too focused on the road, I didn't realize our call had been disconnected for some time. I tried to stay calm and reason then decided to call Shawn."Hello Shawn, trace Nikkie's whereabouts. Sh
Nikkie's POV"Richard, help me!" I cried to my own hands. My legs were tired of running, and I lost focus to realize that my phone was no longer in my hand. It had been thrown somewhere, I don't know when.There were three big guys, and one of them was huge. They were still excitedly chasing me. Running around suddenly made me feel like my stomach was cramping, and I had to stop on the side of the road while holding my stomach. Even so, I still walked away from them. At least I had to try, even if it would end in vain. "That's enough. I said, stop right there!" one of them shouted. I didn't know who was crying, too scared to turn my head because it would only make me panic even more. "Never mind, this isn't working. I feel bad for forcing a pregnant woman," said one of the others. I continued to listen as I hobbled along."Don't equate this woman with other pregnant women. She's willing to impregnate for money! She's even willing to take our client's husband!" said another man
Richard's POV"Nikkie!" I called out to hear Krystal scream inside. What kind of injection was Krystal referring to? Was she trying to inject something wrong into Nikkie? I pounded frantically on the tightly closed cottage door.After coordinating with Shawn, I decided to follow her to the cottage. I left my car at the intersection leading to the cottage's entrance. I ran as fast as I could up the slightly climbing road. The climbing terrain made me quite out of breath after reaching the top. I stopped a few meters from the cottage courtyard, which was filled with jeeps and sports cars in bright red. One look and I knew it was Krystal's car.Trees slightly hid the cottage, and there was a ravine behind it. My heart was racing at the thought of Shawn's words coming true; they had dropped Nikkie into the ravine to die without anyone finding her."No, Nikkie is alive. I'm not late, she's okay!" I shook my head vigorously, trying to get rid of the frightening image that came to my min
Nikkie's POV"Richard...," I called weakly. My eyes, which had been closed, opened forcefully to hear Richard's cry. He sounded terrified and panicked. Richard breathed a sigh of relief. His gaze looked very sad. "Please stay with me," Richard's whisper sounded heartbreaking. He hugged my body tightly to his body, and I suddenly felt something warm and liquid on my forehead. Amongst the pain that wracked my entire body, I could still think if those were Richard's tears. If so, why isn't it me who is in pain?The scenery outside the car window was moving fast, making me nauseous. Not to mention that my eyelids felt very heavy to keep open. But I didn't want to make Richard even more panicked and sad, so I forced myself to stay awake. I never thought that Richard would come to save me. When he appeared, breaking down the front door like a superhero with the sunlight behind his back. I felt like I was dreaming.Or like my dreams and hopes had come true. But when I discovered that Rich
Richard's POV"Richard!" exclaimed Nikkie irritably. I chuckled happily, leaving Nikkie in the room while I finished the paperwork. I didn't forget to ask one of the nurses to look after Nikkie until I returned. I was really grateful that all my fears didn't happen. After this, I would tighten my guard for Nikkie and keep her at home as much as possible. My mind drifted back to when Nikkie asked me to buy food this afternoon. Never in my life had Krystal worried about me in the same way that Nikkie did. I no longer had time to feel hungry because of all the surprises and stressful events that had just passed. But Nikkie, whose condition was full of wounds, still managed to remember that I hadn't eaten anything for the past 20 hours.The longer I lived with Nikkie, the more stunned I became by her excellent qualities. It made me even more convinced that I did have more feelings for her."Ready to go home?" I asked Nikkie after finishing the paperwork. Nikkie nodded enthusiastically.
Nikkie's POV"Nikkie!"I jerked awake when I heard someone shouting my name loudly. I didn't recognize the owner of the voice. The sight I saw after I woke up was something I didn't recognize. I was in a vast green meadow on a summer afternoon that didn't feel hot."Where am I?" I asked in astonishment. I looked around but found no one but myself. "Hello? Is anyone here?" but I did something else stupid, shouting. After waiting for a full minute, no one answered me at all.I looked down at myself in a calf-length, short-sleeved white dress made of silk that fell beautifully."Why does this look like a wedding dress?" I muttered, looking at my dress. The cut of this dress reminded me of Richard. Most of the dresses he bought for me were cut like this."Wait. Richard? Wasn't I with him earlier?" I asked again. I walked forward, ran, and walked again when I felt tired. Surprisingly, I couldn't find the end of this meadow. I felt tired and fearful at the same time. The sunlight in this
Richard's POV"Nikkie, please wake up. Don't you miss me? Nikkie, our child...," I couldn't continue. My words were stuck in my throat, painful, and I could only swallow them back.Nikkie had been unconscious for three days. Her body, which was already covered in wounds from the kidnapping, was now even more frightening as it was adorned with bandages everywhere. I wiped away the tears that were dripping down Nikkie's cheeks. The doctor said she was in a coma. I had to call and talk to Nikkie often so she would wake up soon. For the past two days, Nikkie has been crying a lot. I don't know what she saw in her dreams."Did you have a beautiful dream? That made you want to stay there? Or did you meet our baby?" I asked quietly. My hand moved to hold Nikkie's slightly cold one, then gave it a lengthy kiss. My tears fell on her hand, which was free of IV needles. Instead, there was a bandage on her arm. All in all, the accident we had was pretty horrible.Miraculously, neither of us suf
Nikkie's POV"But that makes me unable to accompany her. She's all alone because her mom cannot take care of her. I shouldn't have provoked Krystal. I should have been more patient, at least until the baby was born ...." I whimpered. Then I just cried silently. Richard climbed onto my bed with awkward movements, then positioned himself next to me so he could hug me tighter. I soon realized the strangeness. Just like me, Richard was not okay either. He had many small cuts and bruises on his face. I glanced at Richard's legs and found that they were tightly bandaged. My heart was racing. "What happened to you? What happened to your leg?" I asked quickly. Richard smiled faintly, his lips looking pale. "It's okay. I just sprained my foot a bit," he said calmly, as if a sprain wasn't a big deal!No wonder Richard seemed to be having trouble climbing onto the patient bed where I was lying. I again scanned him well from head to toe."Calm down, I'm fine. You see, I'm even off the IV?" s