Chapter Fifteen

Five hours later.

“We’ll keep an eye on this and let you know about any news.”

Nikolai tried searching to look for Belle everywhere, at a nearby park and apartments, and even knocked at some doors. Nothing.

“I get that she might want some time for herself, but she never leaves Liam alone here for a long time. She would never do that. Something's not right.”

Aubrey was right. Something wasn't right. They asked for the CCTV footage, and they saw Belle frantically walking outside. Her hands were shaking, and she looked like she was sobbing. There were no security cameras in the hallway, so they had no idea if someone tried to invade her unit.

“God, Belle. Answer the goddamn phone.” Nikolai said through his gritted teeth. He lowered his voice to keep Liam from waking up. The child cried himself to sleep. He must have sensed the tension and panic in the surroundings.

“Oh, no. No way. Just no way.” 

“What is it?” He ran to Aubrey who looked like she just lost her mind reading something on a piece of paper.

‘I didn't sign up for this. Everything is too much. Please take care of Liam. He deserves a much better mom than I.’

“What is the meaning of this?”

Nikolai frantically walked back and forth. This is wrong on so many levels. It is out of the question whether he believes it is true or not. This is so sudden. Belle can never do something like this.

“What happened?” Bonnie rushed in through the door.

At a loss for words after reading the letter, Nikolai handed her the note. Bonnie would know that Belle can disappear in a blink of an eye. He expected an assurance from Belle’s friend. What he got instead was another worried look.

Bonnie heaved a deep sigh. “Nikolai, you need to know something.”

Preston rushed to Nikolai and welcomed him with a punch in the face. As soon as Preston learned about Belle’s disappearance, he immediately booked a flight to Auckland.

“What have you been doing you fucking asshole!” He screamed at the top of his lungs.

The impact of the punch was immediately seen on Nikolai’s face. His lower lip bled because of the hit. Even with the unexpected attack, he stood frozen in front of his friend and Belle’s brother. Preston has every right to smack the heck out of him.

“Don’t just stand there, idiot. Tell me what happened!”

Bonnie, who was helping to take care of Liam, rushed to the both of them after seeing the scene. “I know all of our feelings are all over the place. However, I ask you, Nikolai and-” She looked at Preston who anyone can tell is Belle’s brother with their same facial features. “I assume, Belle’s brother. Can we fight in silence because the baby just slept?”

A rush of guilt and frustration dawned on Preston. This wasn't how he was supposed to meet his only nephew for the first time. His heavy breathing gradually evened. “I’m sorry. This is... I don't understand.” He apologized specifically to Bonnie. “This is too much.”

“I know. I’m sorry we have to meet through this. It’s been almost a week, and we haven’t heard a word from her yet.”

It has been frustrating for everyone. They have been cooperating with the police. Nikolai even hired private investigators in private. It would be a lie that it didn’t cross his mind that someone he knows may be behind this. His parents has been quiet since they learned about his marriage. That silence may be an implication that something has been going on behind his back.

He was willing to put the blame on him, the situation, and his parents. Hell, it even crossed his mind that maybe Claudia caused the shit show. All he needed was someone to point a finger at. It wouldn’t be okay, but it would be easier to fathom than to think Belle could just walk away like that.

“So, what do we know?”

The angry, uncontrollable man from earlier was far from the person that they are with right now. He had his pen and notebook in front of him. His laptop and phone are ready too. Preston’s eyes are locked on Nikolai, hoping to get some more information from him and got nothing.

Nikolai should be saying something. It is crucial to lay out all the information they know at that moment so they can get closer to the truth and have a chance of knowing where Belle could be. But he couldn’t say it. He refused to say it out loud.

“Belle…” Bonnie started. Like when she decided to tell Nikolai the truth, she began to get emotional before she could even let the words out. “Belle is suffering from postpartum depression. After she gave birth, I could never leave her on her own. She would walk around, her hand or her head would be bleeding from hurting herself accidentally and she wouldn’t notice. She was so distraught, but she would always take care of Liam. Even to the point of forgetting to take care of herself.”

Nikolai’s heart clenched after hearing about this. Belle has been through so much. He left her after a miscarriage, and he wasn’t present when she gave birth. He couldn’t even ask his own wife how she had been doing before sending him the divorce papers.

There is no doubt that Belle is strong, but what she has been through is too much.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you, but she didn’t want anyone to know. In fact, she didn’t even want to talk about what happened. Let alone acknowledge what she had been through in the past. She thinks it’s a moment of weakness that she shouldn’t have gone through. She received therapy and treatment. I encouraged her to get a nanny. She has been doing well until… until recently.”

“This is my fault.” The tears kept falling in Nikolai’s eyes. Belle was right. His presence has caused nothing but pain in her life. It was selfish of him to show up, kiss her, and confuse her again. “It’s my fault.”