Author’s POV
When Nancy read the news about Owen’s business trip for a month, she was both happy and upset. She knew why she was happy as he is not in the city so they will have fewer encounters, she just wanted to stay away from him. She was scared of him. She doesn’t know why she is upset.
She thought that it’s good that he is out for a month, so she can easily leave the city without any hurdles before he comes back to town.
It was her engagement day. She got up and did her morning routine and went for breakfast. Chris got discharged yesterday from the hospital so Chris, Riya, Angie, and Nancy had breakfast together chit chatting about the evening.
They spent the whole day doing the preparations for the evening. Soon it was evening and Nancy was seated in front of the mirror in the bride’s room which was provided by the hotel. Once Nancy was ready Riya said, “you just wait here, I will come back in some time to pick you up and take you to the party hall” and after that Riya closed the door and left.
All the arrangements were perfect; the hall was decorated with fresh flowers and lighting. Malcolm was wearing a black tuxedo which was perfectly justifying his body. He was looking handsome; the happiness of getting engaged to Nancy was visible on his face.
Malcolm had invited Johnsons also, but as Owen was out of town his Dad had come to attend the party. Malcolm greeted him with a warm smile and welcomed him. When Angie saw Mr. Johnson she threw herself in his arms and said “Grandpa, I miss you”
Mr. Johnson smiled and hugged her saying “Grandpa also missed my little butterfly”. Malcolm and other guests were surprised to see their bond. It was said that senior Mr. Johnson was not a very friendly person but the scene in front of their eyes was totally different.
Mr. Johnson and Angie were not directly connected but still share a good bond. Angie was playing with Mr. Johnson only. She was not ready to go with others.
Nancy was waiting in the bride’s room when she heard the knock on the door she said; “come in” and a waiter came inside with an orange juice glass and said “Mam, Mr. White sent this for you and said soon you need to be in the party”
Nancy smiled and took the class and thanked the waiter. After the waiter left Nancy sat on the sofa and drank the juice. She liked the way Malcolm takes care of her and Angie. She felt that she might fall in love with him in the future and they can be a happy family.
She smiled with the thought of a happy family. She felt a little dizzy; she ignored it thinking that she might be tired so she is feeling like this. She stood from the sofa and tried to walk towards the door but soon her vision got blurred and she was about to fall when two strong arms held her.
Before blacking out she saw a face very close to her face and it was Owen before she could react she fainted.
It was time to start the ceremony so Malcolm asked Riya to bring Nancy. Riya went to the room and knocked on the door but didn’t get the response from inside. She knocked on the door three-four times but still didn’t get the response. She asked the bodyguards who were standing at the door “did Nancy go out?” Both the bodyguards said “No Mam, we are standing here from the evening but Miss Jones didn’t come out”
Riya tried to call Nancy, her phone was ringing inside the room but she was not responding. She tried many times but still, she didn’t get any response, she felt something must be wrong Nancy never does that.
Riya called Malcolm, once he replied Riya said in a panic voice “Malcolm! Nancy is missing” Malcolm was startled he said “I am coming” and hung up the call. He excused himself from guests and came to the bride’s room. Riya had sweat on her forehead and she was dying thinking about Nancy’s security.
Malcolm came and punched both the bodyguards and said “you both are just piece of shit if she didn’t come out of the room then where did she go” both the bodyguards wanted to say something but Malcolm cut them off “open the bloody door”
Soon the manager of the hotel came with the master key and opened the door. Malcolm immediately entered the room but found it empty and Nancy’s phone was on the bed. Malcolm started shouting at the bodyguards and other hotel staff present there to look for Nancy.
Riya had never seen Malcolm like this; he was always polite and gentle. She offered a glass of water to Malcolm and said “we will do something, but first we need to cancel the party” Malcolm nodded but didn’t say anything.
Riya came back to the party hall and took the mic in her hands and done the announcement “Dear all, thank you for coming to the party and participating in our happiness, taking out your precious time but we are canceling engagement ceremony because Nancy health condition as she is not keeping well, we have just admitted to the hospital” Riya didn’t have much to speak so she switched off the mic and came down from the stage. But the hall was stirred with different reactions. Reports were bombarded with questions and guests were gossiping that there must be something wrong.
When she came down the stage Mr. Johnson came along with Angie in his arms and Angie said in a worried voice “Riya aunty what happened to MumDa” Riya wanted to hide from Mr. Johnson but he said, “let me see Nancy or tell me in which hospital she is?”