Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 98

Nik's POV:

I had been calling and texting her since last night when she stormed out, but I wasn't surprised when she didn't show up for work this morning. If anything, it was what I expected. Victoria had always been unpredictable, rebellious, and far too stubborn for her own good.

But by midday, it was starting to get under my skin. I wasn't done with her-not by a long shot. She wasn't just supposed to work for me; she was supposed to live with me, share my space, eat at my table, sleep in my bed. She was my wife now, after all.

Fuck, I loved the sound of that.

Something felt off, though. The way she left, the look in her eyes... it nagged at me. So during my lunch break, I drove back to my flat, expecting to find her sulking in her room, ignoring me as some form of passive-aggressive punishment.

But as I pulled up and glanced through the window, something hit me-her room looked empty. Utterly empty, as if no one had lived there in years.

No.

Without wasting another second, I stormed out of my car and rushed up to the flat. I had spare keys-after all, I was paying for the place-but I had never used them. It was her space, I respected that one boundary.

Now, though? I didn't give a damn.

I shoved the key into the lock and pushed the door open, my heart racing as I stepped inside. Layla was casually watching TV, her legs crossed, not even flinching as I barged in.

"Where the fuck is she?" I demanded, my voice low and dangerous as I searched the place.

"Gone," Layla shrugged, not even bothering to avert her gaze from the TV.

I clenched my fists, trying to control the panic that was rising inside me. "Where to?" I snapped, my voice growing sharper, demanding an answer.

Layla finally glanced up at me, her expression bored. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

No. No, no, no, no, no.

Fuck no.

My mind raced. She could be anywhere by now, hiding somewhere I'd never find her. No trace, no leads. She had slipped right through my fingers again, and I had no way of knowing where she had gone. This time I couldn't just check Layla's information.

Fuck!

I turned back to Layla, who was watching me with that same infuriating look of indifference. My blood boiled. "Where did she go, Layla?" I demanded again, but this time, I could hear the desperation leaking into my voice.

Layla sighed, finally giving me her full attention, though she still looked like she couldn't be bothered to care. "You'll never find her, Nik. She's gone. And good for her."

I took a step toward her, anger flaring in my chest. "You're helping her hide, aren't you?"

Layla rolled her eyes. "Of course I am. I'll always choose here over you. Always."

Her words cut deeper than I'd expected. My step-sister, someone who used to be close to me, was standing here, helping her escape. Helping her disappear from my life. "You have no idea what you're doing," I spat. "You think this is some game? You think she's better off without me?"

"Better off?" Layla scoffed, sitting up straight, her eyes narrowing in fury. "You don't deserve her, Nik. Not in a million years. All you ever did was cause her pain. Why do you think I'm helping her? She needs to be away from you."

"Oh, and she was just so innocent back then, right?" I seethed, my voice rising as my control slipped further. "She dumped me, Layla. Not the other way around. She used me, broke my fucking heart, and replaced me like I was nothing."