"Theo is walking very well now, it is so cute, he wants to start running already, he is scattering the whole house and though it's frustrating, I just love to watch my child grow," Sarah said and Nicholas smiled.
"It has been long since you brought him here. I miss my nephew, you have to bring him next time you are coming," Nicholas said and Sarah nodded. It seemed like she was about to say more when her phone rang.
"It's our guy from the police. Maybe there is some news," Sarah said before picking the call. Nicholas could feel his heart beating faster than usual as she talked on the phone.
"You found the owner of the car?" Sarah asked with a smile. Nicholas smiled and gave her thumbs up as she continued talking.
"Raymond Emerson? Okay okay, thank you Sir. We will keep in touch. Thank you so much," Sarah said as she disconnected the call.
"I just figured it would be something huge, but it's someone we don't even know. Who the hell is Raymond Emerson?" Sarah asked and Nicholas closed his eyes. He was in denial. Maybe it was a coincidence, but it could not just be.
"Raymond Emerson is one of Astra's closest friends from childhood. The policeman said he owned both of the cars?" Nicholas said and Sarah frowned. It was obvious that the wheels in her head were turning too, she was trying to come to a conclusion.
"Yes, he owns both cars," Sarah replied.
"Well he was always a freak for cars," Nicholas reasoned. He was still trying to wrap his head around all the information he was getting.
"I just knew this would all boil down to Astra," Sarah said. Nicholas was barely listening anymore, several scenarios were flying in his head, before he got married to Astra, while they were still in marriage and even what to lead to their divorce. It didn't make any sense, or maybe it all made sense, Nicholas was not just sure he wanted to accept the sense it made.
"I am going to call Astra," Nicholas said.
"Why? Do you know if she in the league with him? You said he was one of her closest friends, you might be endangering yourself," Sarah said. He knew that she was just worried about him, but he did not have the time to calm her nerves.
"I will explain later," Nicholas said and picked up the phone to call Astra. Sarah was frowning and tapping her leg on the ground as the phone rang. It was obvious she was against the call. He called thrice and she did not pick up the phone.
Nicholas figured it was because of the fact that he hadn't talked to her since they had sex. Nicholas dropped the phone on the sofa, and had already given up on calling her when his phone rang, it was Astra.
"I need your help," she said as she picked up the call.
"What is the matter? Whatever it is, we should meet, I have a lot to discuss with you," Nicholas said to Astra. Astra was a bit far from her phone when he called at first and that was why she did not pick. When she saw his missed calls, she figured it was a sign. She had to meet him and tell him about Stephanie too, maybe he will be able to help her.
"Okay, I will come to your place right away," Astra said. There was no need to be coy, it was a matter of urgency.
"Oh, okay," Nicholas said. He sounded confused by her reply but he did not say anything to show his confusion.
"I am at home. I will wait for you," he replied.
"I am on my way," Astra said before disconnecting the call. Astra fidgeted as she picked up her car keys and her purse, leaving her apartment. A lot of things were bothering her, first, there was the problem of Ray threatening Jared and the fact that it could end up ruining her relationship with him. There was also the problem of Stephanie claiming that she didn't want a divorce anymore, Astra was almost sure that Ray had a hand in that.
Astra drove to Nicholas' house with a high speed and shaky hands. Thankfully, she got there in one piece and no injuries were procured.
Astra knocked on the door, and Nicholas' butler ushered her into the house. She had a feeling of de ja vu as she entered the house seeing Sarah seating close to Nicholas. Astra could not help but wonder if there was something more than the simple cousin relationship between them.
"Astra," Nicholas said and she could feel memories from the night they had sex coming back to her. She hadn't seen Nicholas since the night they had sex and so she almost forgot the effect he had on her. The fact that remorse filled his eyes did not help. He seemed like he was regretting a lot of things.
"Nicholas," she said in reply. She did not have other words.
"Sarah please can you give us some privacy?" Nicholas asked Sarah and Sarah looked absolutely shocked, appalled even. Astra was relieved though, she did not want to talk to Nicholas while Sarah was just there listening in on their conversation.
"I will be upstairs," Sarah said after looking at Nicholas for a long, it was almost as if she was waiting for him to change his mind.
"Okay," Nicholas said to her. Sarah still hesitated though before she finally walked up stairs. Astra let out a breath she did not know she was holding before she collapsed on the sofa.
"Everything is just wrong," Astra said, placing her hands over her head. She was frustrated as it was.
"What's the problem Astra?" Nicholas asked her, he was seated beside her.
"It's Stephanie. She wants to leave Ray, we talked about it, we agreed even. She has bought a house and she wants to start life afresh with her baby, and suddenly Ray comes back from wherever he went to and she doesn't want any of those anymore. She says she is okay with Ray now and wants to build her family but I don't believe her. I think he is blackmailing her. Or worse, he is hurting her," Astra said. She was not exactly sure she wanted to tell Nicholas all the details about Ray. She was not sure what to believe even, it was all speculation on her side. Nicholas looked shocked by her words. But not as shocked as she would have expected. She wondered why he had called her then.
"Why are they having a divorce? And why do you think he will go to such l lolengths to stop her?" Nicholas asked and Astra frowned. She should have known that Nicholas would ask for all the information he could get.
"I don't know how to put this," she started and Nicholas looked at her with curious eyes.
"Stephanie tells me that Nicholas is obsessed with me, and that he never loved her and even asked her to abort their baby, and I am inclined to believe her," Astra said and Nicholas frowned.