The Arranged Bride

" Our son may say otherwise. " She turned to look somewhere behind us.

" Ethan , come here baby , you're mumma is here." She cooed . I froze at my point. Looking at Nick , I found him mirroring my expression.

Ethan was there, all along, listening to us!

Shit!

........................

I turned back to see Ethan standing at the foot of the staircase. He was intently looking at Clara with furrowed eyebrows. He averted his gaze from her to look at Nick , then me and went back to look at her. There was pin drop silence as if everyone was contemplating Ethan's answer. Honestly I was scared that he may choose his biological mother over me.

I knew I sounded insecured but I couldn't help it. I had come to love him so much that I couldn't think of him calling someone else Mom. I sure am possessive but that doesn't hurt right?

" Ethan, see I have come , your mumma has come. Come and give me a hug." Clara spoke in a sickeningly sweet voice. I felt like smacking away that smile from her face and dispose her off in the trash. It was like hearing those words broke the trance Ethan was in. His lips curved downward and his face contorted in what seemed like anger.

" No!" He yelled and furiously shook his head. Tears slipped out of his eyes. I so badly wanted to hold him close to me and calm him down. I was happy that he didn't want to be with this gold digger. But before everything I wanted this woman out of my house.

" Baby , please. You don't want to come to your Mumma? Are you angry on your Mumma ? I am so-" Ethan cut her off.

" No, no you're not my Mumma, no." He yelled and ran off back to his room.

" Ethan, sweethea-" Her sugarcoated words were cut short.

" Out of my house. Right now." Nick folded his arms across his chest and glared at Clara. He was gritting his teeth so hard that it felt like it would break from the force. His knuckles were white from how hard he was clenching them. I could see that he was trying so hard to control his anger. He looked dangerous and I would never want to know what would happen if he looses control.

" Nick , you can't separate your son from his mother." Clara shouted at Nick. The nerve of that woman!

your rights as a 'mother' in exchange for a million dollars right ? So what now ? You want more ? Well , you ain't getting any. Moreover you heard Ethan. He wants nothing to do with you and the only mother he will ever have is me. So you and your new found motherly concern can go and suck a lemon. " I seriously wanted

Why don't you understand dammit? Just leave and never show your filthy face to me. " Nick yelled causing her as well as me to

me before marching out of the house. We instantly took off to

saw Ethan lying on his bed , his head stuffed in the pillow. I

Ethan, sweetheart-" I was cut off by

said his voice hoarse from crying. His words shocked both of us. His

She is gone. Look at us. It's me and your Mom." Nick spoke in a soft

gently caressed his head. After a few minutes, he sat up and turned around.

don't replace Mom with that lady. I only want her as my Mom." He spoke amidst sobbing. His words instantly warmed my heart. He saw only me as his mother and it

I replace Sophia with anyone. She is and will always

stared at him with

reassured but that didn't stop Ethan from sobbing. His face was red because of all this crying.

my lap and cradled him close to my body. After a good amount of

crying. Everything is fine." I

for sometime before Ethan decided to

told that she left us. Why ?"

dumb. How could he tell a child how much of a money thirsty woman Clara is, how he didn't ever

trailed off not knowing what to say. He

as if asking himself. It was paining to even look at his sad dejected face. I hugged him tightly to my body. I hated that woman

aren't bad , at all. You're one of the

Then why did she leave ?" His

you are. " Before I could say anything, Nick answered. I looked at his face . He had a pained expression that I could understand was from seeing Ethan so sad. He looked desperate to wipe away all sad thoughts from

here , she loves you. You shouldn't care for someone who doesn't deserve being with you."

Nick and we were both confused of what he was