5

Chapter 5

BRYCE WINSTON

I woke up to myself lying on the hospital bed with an IV infusion attached to my hand.

I groaned and pressed a hand against my forehead as memories of what happened flooded back into my mind.

The last thing I remembered was Felicia’s blurry face hovering over mine with worries.

My mind drifted to Nora, and I sat up immediately, my eyes searching around the room.

I was hoping she would be by my side, holding my hand like she always does whenever I fell ill.

She wasn't here.

‘Mrs Winston moved out, Sir’

My throat itched as Felicia's voice echoed in my head.

I shook my head in denial.

“No. I must've heard wrong." I muttered. “Nora is not gone. My wife is still at home." 

I need to go to Nora.

My hand reached for the needle to rip it off, and the door opened at that moment. 

“Oh, my God, boss…” Felicia rushed in and held my hand. "What are you doing?”

"Where is my wife?” I lifted my gaze to her. "Where is Nora?”

She had the same expression as last night.

"What you said yesterday…” I swallowed hard. "It's not true, right?”

"You should get some rest, Sir…” She placed both hands on my shoulders and tried to help me back into the bed.

"Answer my question, damn it!” I yanked her hands off.

"Sir…”

I ripped off the needle before she could finish speaking, then slipped out of the bed, my eyes searching around for my clothes. 

“The doctor said you need to rest, Sir." 

“Leave, Felicia. I need to change my clothes." 

She didn't move. 

I turned to her and lifted a brow. "Do you want to watch me change clothes?”

She quickly lowered her gaze and stepped out of the room.

I quickly changed from the hospital gown, then grabbed my phone from the bed and rushed out of the ward, hauling down a cab once I was outside.

Back home, I dashed into our bedroom, panting heavily, my hands shaking as I pulled the closet open.

Her clothes were gone.

I stared at the empty closet, my fingers tightening on the door.

Still, I told myself this wasn't true. Nora wouldn't leave me, but a part of me was already freaking out.

I rushed to her vanity and pulled the drawers open. Her things were gone as well. 

The bathroom was empty. Her favorite hair shampoo and conditioner were not there. She'd always taken them wherever she went.

I was already exhausted from running around the house by the time I dropped to the bed, running my fingers through my hair.

“She didn't leave. She didn't.” I shook my head, rubbing my palms together.

Then… my eyes caught something on the nightstand. A folded paper.

My eyes lingered on it for a moment before I quickly picked it up and opened it.

I froze.

It was a letter from Nora.

Heat rose in my throat, my hands already shaking, afraid of reading it. 

I hesitated, then read it anyway.

‘By the time you're reading this, I would probably be gone from your life. I'll mail the divorce agreement to you when it's ready. Let's never cross path again, Bryce’

My eyes were already blurry by the time I finished reading, my lips trembling.

“No. No. You can't do this, Nora…” My voice trembled. "You can't leave me.”

I rose to my feet and paced restlessly, the paper crumpled in my tight fist.

This is all my fault. She would never have walked away from me if I treated her better.

I can't let her leave like this. I need to make things right.

I tried to think of where she could be.

Her parents?

I closed my eyes and brushed it off. She hasn't kept in touch with them after the wedding, so I doubt she would go there.

A friend?

Nora doesn't have one. At least none that I know of.

I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated.

Then… 

The CCTV footage.

I could find something if I check the footage.

Without wasting another second, I grabbed my phone and sat on the bed to check the footage from last night, and I soon found it.

The camera showed when Nora walked into the house and broke down in the living room. The moment she curled up at the corner of the living room, shaking and crying.

That must've been the time it was raining last night.

My chest wrenched painfully, waves of guilt surged through me, thinking about the fact that I wasn't there for her.

She spent just a few minutes in the living room, then the camera in the hallway caught her going into our master’s bedroom, then she stepped out later with her luggage.

I tilted my head back slightly and breathed shakily, then returned my gaze to the phone.

I switched to the CCTV camera outside, and paused.

A car pulled over in front of the building, then a man stepped out and helped her take her luggage into the trunk.

I paused the footage and zoomed in on the man's face.

It was pitch dark, so I couldn't see his face properly.

As the car drove off, I zoomed in and took a screenshot of the number plate. 

I should be able to find my wife if I can get to that man.

I forwarded the image to my assistant, and dialed his number right after.

He picked on the first ring.

“Hello, Mr Winston. How are you—”

"I sent you a picture. I need you to run a background check on the number plate and get back to me. Make it fast.” I said in a single breath, and ended the call immediately.

*****

My phone chimed as I paced restlessly in my room, and I halted, reaching for it quickly.

Lewis. My assistant.

I clicked on his text and froze.

It was the details of the owner of the car.

Nolan Charleston.

He's Nora's attorney.

Why did he pick my wife up?