Chapter 89: Matthew Has Missing

Chapter 89: Matthew Has Missing
Nicole's POV
When Hodgson said he wanted to carry me to the bath, I nearly suffocated.
Matthew was still hiding in the bathroom. If Hodgson pushed open that door, I was dead.
I clutched his arm tightly, my mind racing.
"This bathroom doesn't have a bathtub. I want to soak."
Hodgson's movements paused.
"Want to soak?" His voice came from above, carrying an unreadable tone.
That feeling of him seeing through everything sent chills down my spine.
I forced myself to stay calm, wrapping my arms around his neck and acting coy.
"You were so rough earlier. I'm sore all over now."
Hodgson's Adam's apple bobbed.
He lowered his head, his nose brushing my hair. "Did I hurt you?"
His hand covered my inner thigh, fingers tracing those ambiguous marks.
"Here?"
"Or here?" His hand moved higher, circling my entrance.
My vagina was indeed swollen badly.
I gasped, instinctively clenching my legs together.
"Everywhere hurts." I pretended to look aggrieved and glared at him. "It's all your fault."
He stared at me for a long moment, then lowered his head to kiss my forehead.
"Fine, my fault. I'll take you to soak and make it up to you properly."
He lifted me and turned to leave the room.
I heard the door close behind us, and my heart finally relaxed a little.
Hodgson carried me into the adjacent room, where there was an enormous bathtub.
He placed me in the warm water, then climbed in himself, pulling me into his embrace so my back rested against his chest.
His semen was still inside me. This awareness made me uncomfortable all over.
I quietly reached my hand down, wanting to clean myself.
My fingers had just probed inside when he grabbed my wrist.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm uncomfortable. I want to clean up." I said quietly.
"No."
He pulled my hand out and wrapped his other arm around my waist, locking me completely in his embrace.
"If you dare clean it out, I'll pin you down and do it again until you're filled up again."
My face burned hot.
My lower body began to ache faintly again. I really couldn't handle another round.
I didn't dare move anymore. He took the body wash and began cleaning me.
His palm covered my shoulder, slowly sliding over my collarbone, his fingertips lingering on those purple kiss marks.
After the bath, he carried me back to bed.
When he went to the balcony to take a call, I quickly fumbled in the nightstand for emergency contraception.
But just as I opened the pill box, he walked back in, striding over and snatching the box from my hands.
"Give me the pills back!" I panicked, reaching to grab them.
He held the box high above me, completely out of my reach.
"Hodgson!" I stamped my feet in frustration. "If I don't take the pill, I'll get pregnant!"
"Pregnant?" He leaned down, one hand braced beside me, enveloping me in his shadow.
His hand covered my lower abdomen, palm pressed there, suddenly saying seriously.
"Good. Then let's have a child."
My eyes widened.
"Are you insane?!"
His thumb gently rubbed my abdomen, his tone low and dangerous.
"With a child, you won't leave me."
My throat tightened.
So he wanted to use a child to bind me to him completely.
"No, Hodgson, you can't do this."
I shook my head desperately, my eyes burning.
"Please, give me back the pills."
"Am I not good enough to you?"
Tears fell from my eyes. "Between us... you know perfectly well that we..."
He looked at me, his expression complex.
"You know what, Nicole? Watching you cry makes me want to fuck you again."
I felt his groin pressing against me harden, and I instantly froze.
"Please, Hodgson."
I tilted my head back, eyes red, my voice so soft it nearly melted.
"I really don't want to get pregnant. I'm not ready... Don't force me, okay?"
Under my desperate pleading, he finally pressed the pill box into my hand.
"Fine, I'll agree this time."
"But," he gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze, "Nicole, I won't always give in. Next time I see you cry, I can't guarantee I'll control myself."
He released me. I seized the opportunity and immediately swallowed the pill.
As the tablet slid down my throat, I saw Hodgson's expression darken, but he ultimately said nothing, just pulled me into his arms and ordered me to lie down.
That night, I slept restlessly, constantly wondering if Matthew had escaped safely.
The next morning, after Hodgson left for the company, I immediately called Matthew's number.
No answer.
I called over a dozen times consecutively, each with the same result.
After I left that room with Hodgson last night, he should have escaped.
So why wasn't he answering?
Was he angry?
Or... had Hodgson discovered him?
Countless terrible scenarios flashed through my mind.
With Hodgson's possessiveness, if he really found Matthew, what would he do?
No, it couldn't be.
I desperately pushed those dark thoughts from my mind.
Matthew had to be fine!
At noon, Hodgson came home.
In the dining room, I worked up my courage.
"Hodgson, didn't you say you'd send people to Gardella for an inspection soon? Can I go with them?"
He set down his knife and fork. "You want to go?"
"Yes." I nodded. "I want to use this opportunity to investigate the truth from back then."
I thought he would agree, since he'd previously said he'd help me investigate.
But he simply refused coolly. "No."
I was stunned. "Why?"
"You're safest by my side. As for investigating the truth, I can have others do it."
He was putting me off!
"But I want to go myself. It's about my adoptive father. I should—"
"Nicole." He cut me off. "Are you trying to use returning to Gardella as an excuse to escape my control?"
My heart skipped a beat.
"Of course not." I quickly shook my head.
"Vera is still in Astoria. If I go to Gardella, it's just a business trip. How could I not come back?"
He held his wine glass, fingers tapping the rim.
Then he curved his lips. "Good. Don't go anywhere. Just stay here and look after Vera."
I was so choked up I couldn't speak. Furious, I stood up and went upstairs.
Back in my room, I felt increasingly uneasy.
Hodgson suddenly talking about having a child, then refusing to let me go to Gardella.
Did he know something?
I sat on the bed edge for a long time before finally calling Derek.
I made up an excuse.
"Derek, it's Nicole. I think I accidentally left some documents at Percy Corporation last time I visited. Could you help me look for them?"
Hearing my voice, Derek paused. "Wait, I'll check the office."
After a while, he returned and told me he hadn't found any documents.
I quickly said, "I remember I gave them to your assistant Matthew, but his phone has been unreachable."
Derek was silent for a moment.
"I can't reach him either. He's been missing for a whole day."