The Arranged Bride

Nick's POV

I was getting tensed by then. It had been fifteen minutes since she had been to the washroom and I was waiting there. I turned to look inside the car. Ethan was sleeping in the backseat. I called her number but it was switched off.

When it was around twenty minutes I was done waiting. I opened the car door and picked Ethan up. Putting his head on my shoulder, he kept sleeping. Locking the car , I walked towards the restaurant.

She wasn't at the entrance, nor in front of the reception. I eventually was in front of the washroom. There was a waitress standing at a corner.

" Can you please check if there is a lady in green dress inside the washroom? It had been a pretty long time since she walked in." My voice came out impatient.

" Sure Sir." She went in but came out a little later .

" No Sir , no one's there." I was expecting or let's say hoping for a positive answer. Never in my life had I been so disappointed with anything.

I swiftly walked over to the reception. As soon as the receptionist saw me approaching, she stood up.

" How may I-"

" Did you see my wife walking out of here in a green dress?" I didn't have the time for formalities. My patience was running thin. She looked a bit baffled at the sudden question and then after pondering over it a while, spoke up.

" Yes , I saw a lady, a brunette in green dress leave from here." I felt my anxiety rise at her words. She said a brunette in green dress. Obviously it's her. She left !? Then where was she ? Why didn't she come back to the car?

CCTV footage of the entrance, now." Knowing of what I could do with a snap of my fingers , they

room. I stood in front of the screen and the

of what I was going to see. She took a few steps before a hand was placed on her mouth and another around her waist. I couldn't make out anything of the man's appearance as he was completely dressed

in his hold and I saw him drag her out of sight. That was it. There was nothing

thing about her current location.

eyes shut in pain.

was my fault. I shouldn't have left her alone. How could I be so fucking careless? The familiar feeling of guilt hit me with full

startled the workers who looked frightened of my outburst but I couldn't care less. The sound woke Ethan up. He rubbed his eyes before taking in his

calm myself but nothing seemed to

trying to get into a comfortable position in my hold once again. But suddenly as if remembering

to reply .

a few days . Why don't I drop you off at Grandpa's house? You can stay there until Mom returns?" I came up with a lie. Considering how paranoid he was these days about staying away from Sophia, I didn't want him to know what had happened.

But Aunt Char and Uncle Ryan are her only friends." Obviously, he knew it. He has to

in ages. Even I came to know about her today itself." I ended with a nervous chuckle. At this point I didn't know if I made sense or not but I wanted nothing more than to start my search for Sophia , which needed convincing Ethan

didn't look very happy . Instead a gloomy expression covered his face.

was assuring him but I realized that somewhere I was trying to find a bit of comfort in my own words. I wanted to believe that she is

a soft nod and a faint

.........

I signaled them not to ask anything in front of Ethan and they agreed. Mom took away Ethan with her leaving